I voted for these :)

Air - Do The Joy
Animal Collective - My Girls
Bat For Lashes - Daniel
Brand New - At The Bottom
Camera Obscura - French Navy
Decoder Ring - Let A Thousand Flowers Bloom
Doves - Winter Hill
Metric - Gimme Sympathy
Royksopp - This Must Be It (Ft. Karin Dreijer Andersson)
Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch

So apparently this year I saw 34 gigs, which includes festivals and club events. These were my faves. In reverse order....


10. Metric – Metro Theatre
So I liked 'Fantasies', but I wasn't entirely convinced that Metric would be good live. Perhaps it was this lack of expectation that made it all that more impressive. They were an energetic and tight, and their songs, especially Sick Muse, sounded absolutely solid live. SOLID. I've been listening to heaps of Emily Haines' solo work lately. She reminds me of a more lively and stronger Sarah Blasko.

9. We Love Sounds/Armin van Buuren
So it was We Love Sounds festival, but I was there to see Armin van Buuren and Armin alone. His set was, as usual, absolutely stellar and it was one of those perfect nights where all your mates are together and you won't stop dancing til they kick you out. Since seeing him in 08 (and being totally blown away, again) I have had major girl wood for Armin.

8. The Flaming Lips – Hordern Pavilion
I thought Wayne Coyne inside the bubble would be impressive, but seeing the band emerge from a pulsating vagina at the start of the show to a shower of confetti really took the cake. The Lips are a genuinely interesting band, and one I tend to find so much more interesting live, maybe because they make an effort to really reach every last person in the audience. Also, Wayne Coyne still remains at the very top of my "guys with white hair I'd do" list.

7, Mogwai – The Enmore
One of my favourite live bands ever. I managed to not have ringing ears for three days after this gig (unlike the previous one I saw of theirs), but I did get my socks totally rocked off when they played Satan again. Holy shit, that quiet/LOUD/quiet/LOUD dynamic they have is explosively good.

6. Doves – Metro Theatre
Another live favourite, I love how these guys' electronica background always comes through at their concerts. 'Pounding' REALLY pounds in your chest, and their new material sounds so much more jangly and dynamic on stage. I gave Kingdom of Rust a second chance after this gig, and I liked it :D

5. Pearl Jam + Ben Harper – Sydney Football Stadium
Ahh I know people dissed this gig because of its size, its lack of the 'big' tracks and such, but for me it was awesome - lots of rarer, older tracks, some great guitar showmanship from mike mccready, and some great energy, despite eddie vedder sounding like he was about to cough up his lung, and despite the 40 degree heat.

4. Big Heavy Stuff – Factory Theatre
A reunion gig in all senses of the word. It was so good to not only see the Heavies, who I saw countless times years ago, but to see a lot of old friends and faces in the audience too. Nostalgia factor was high, but the performance was pretty impressive too - not bad for a band who kinda 'broke up' several years ago.

3. Fleet Foxes – Metro Theatre
So I don't think I'd even really slept (Ferry Corsten at Home was the night before this, which was also the night after New Year's Eve) and perhaps that's what made this gig so damn good. The luscious melodies and harmonies were EXACTLY what I needed, and seriously, was their album not one of THE best of the previous year?

2. The Swell Season – Opera House
If there was something that could touch me more than the movie Once, it would be the performance of the soundtrack (and other related musics) by that sweet pair, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. This concert was amazing. "Magical", I believe a friend described it as. It really was... very warm and intimate; funny too, and entertaining. Can't wait to see them again this year!

1. Ferry Corsten + Giuseppe Ottaviani– Hordern Pavilion
Holy shit, this gig took me by surprise. I'd already seen Ferry earlier in the year, so I honestly wasn't expecting much. He kicked some FREAKIN SERIOUS ARSE on this night. Especially the last hour or 90 minutes of his set... he brought out hit after hit, kept the energy high and by the end we were so hyped up and excited that nobody wanted to leave. A-FRICKEN-MAZING!

Why not go the whole dozen I say? 2009 was a great year for music. There were so many good albums - but I think these were my standouts:

1. decoder ring - you blind the stars, and the wild team
2. bat for lashes - two suns
3. animal collective - merriweather post pavilion
4. camera obscura - my maudlin career
5. the swell season - strict joy
6. james zabiela - renaissance masters series volume 12
7. the decemberists - the hazards of love
8. doves - kingdom of rust
9. brand new - daisy
10. dappled cities - zounds
11. metric - fantasies
12. silversun pickups - swoon

Well, apparently I'm now the moderator of bandphototrade, a community for live music photography posts and discussion. It kinda got palmed off to me under belief that it is dying/giving way to Flickr etc, but I intend to keep it alive and kicking. So if you have an interest in live music images whether as a photographer of, or just a music fan who likes looking at band pictures, or know anyone in either of these positions, then come and join the comm and help bring the fun back! :)

That's bandphototrade, folks.

OK so we're all familiar with New Order's classic track Bizarre Love Triangle. A true CHOON, from one of the finest purveyors of music. which is why I ask you, gentle LJ-ers... WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT SUPPOSED TO BE?



I almost cried. Really, I haven't been this traumatised by a cover/remix of a song since the time I heard that godawful "Hold me closer, shiny dancer" tune.

Aubrey O'Day and Rosco Umali.. whoever the hell you are.. please learn how to properly interpret a song without completely raping and destroying it:



And just because we all need to be reminded of how good the original is:

I am happy to report that there ARE some interesting Australian bands out there. I may make it back to the ol' pub for some live music yet!

First cabs off the rank are Le Kingste and The Red Tree. http://greataustralianmusicsearch.blogspot.com/

Stay tuned for more

there was a time, in the not too distant past, when local music was all the shiz, and i was often found at any one of sydney's greatest indie music venues. nowadays, i flip open a drum media and stare blankly at the gig guide wondering who the hell these bands are.

so as of today, i am beginning The Great Australian Music Search. i am not convinced that there are that many amazing local acts around anymore; however, i'm very open to be proven wrong.

my mission: to find out what all the local kids are listening to, and see for myself what they're like. i'll list my findings, good or bad, and comment honestly on what i think. i warn you: i can be a harsh critic.

music lovers - please feel free to share with me your favourite local musicians; not just your mates' bands, but bands you really dig.

so.. let The Great Australian Music Search begin!

ps i will also be documenting my progress at http://greataustralianmusicsearch.blogspot.com as well. just cos.

Last weekend I was wandering through Central station in Sydney and I saw a random guy take a photo of an advertising poster on his phone. It was a 2Day FM ad for Kyle & Jackie O, and someone had scrawled over Kyle's forehead, on the glass, the word COCK.

This morning I saw hacked2death had posted what I had thought at first was that very same photo, but on closer inspection I think they're different: the one in Central is just outside the Devonshire St tunnel and indoors - this picture (which I totally ganked from h2d) is clearly taken from outside.



It may be juvenile, but it kinda warms my heart to think that someone out there might have gone out of their way to deface every poster in Sydney with the same graffiti.

Inspired by my recent visit to Dymocks, and subsequent discussion with Julia lunaminor about how their staff is ALWAYS friendly, and after commenting that people never praise great work enough, I penned this email (to be sent to the store, and to corporate):

Dear Dymocks Hunter Street,

I just wanted to commend your staff on your consistently excellent customer service. Although I only purchase books from your store occasionally, each time I do I am always met with exceptionally friendly and chatty people at the counter. Most staff at other Dymocks stores are very helpful and good, but at Hunter Street I feel like they make an extra effort. I don't think I have ever been served by anyone who hasn't been exceptionally lovely, or hasn't been extra nice(r) to their customers.

Thanks for making the pleasure of buying books even more of a pleasure!

Cheers,
Michelle

I am pretty sure I am the last person to actually see this, but Aure pointed these videos to me last night after I showed him an episode of The Sarah Silverman Program (which he voted to watch instead of Rock of Love - boo Aurelien!) and I though they were worthy of posting (or re-posting) - even if its just for Matt Damon's kickass dance moves.

Sarah Silverman subtley tells her boyfriend Jimmy Kimmel....



And of course you can't see that video without seeing Kimmel's awesome response (which features a really impressive list of guests by the way):

Find & post 5 songs beginning with the letter allocated to you by whoever did it last (in this case, sarin_girl).

Comment if you would like me to assign you a letter.

Songs in the key of 'S':

• Sparky's Dream by Teenage Fanclub: One of my all-time favourite pop songs (and bands).
• Society by Eddie Vedder: Taken from the soundtrack he penned for the film 'Into the Wild'. Interesting movie, and I can't sing the praises of this soundtrack enough. Lovely stuff, Mr Vedder.
• Sexy Boy by Air: Just because I think we all need a bit of sexy french electronica in our lives. I also love this clip!
• Say Yes by Elliott Smith: This song remains one of my favourites of the late Elliott Smith. Bittersweet. (this is a live version)
• Skull by Sebadoh: A song to appeal to the lo-fi indie kid that I know exists, somewhere, in all of us. Apparently this song was written by Lou Barlow for Evan Dando, about a particularly large drug binge he took Loobie on one time in Australia. Ha!

a little bit o' punk rock...

NOFX - Leave it Alone



Nitocris - Ten Stories Down

Tune of the night at Sydney We Love Sounds 09

i might be showing my age here, but does anyone remember The Jayhawks? I absolutely ADORED this song. i think i can probably still remember how to play it on guitar.

i love it when my iPod in shuffle mode picks a long-lost and almost-forgotten song. how quintessentially '90s is this song!

dear css,

i may not like your music, but i LOVE your music taste. excellent programming on Rage tonight.

best,
meesh

Dear Splendour in the Grass organisers,

Come on guys. You're not even TRYING anymore, are you?

http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/news/local/18097/Splendour-Line-up-2009.htm

Best,
Meesh

Trent Reznor (and as an aside, Bill Bailey) make my Twitter account worth keeping.

Loved Reznor's April Fools gag. no response from Chris Cornell yet though...

http://twitter.com/trent_reznor/status/1432430958

or just head directly to this page....

http://www.nin.com/strobelight/

music i'm currently enjoying:

the decemberists - the hazards of love
royksopp - junior
james zabiela - renaissance the masters series vol 12

what is everyone else listening to at the moment?

I vaguely remember someone on my f-list posted about places to buy cheap contact lenses. It just so happens that I am in the market for cheap contact lenses, but can't recall who/what/where etc.

Heeelp :)