Apparently this was their stage debut and the last time they played was in someones backyard.  For three ‘stage virgins’ The Lonely Sea and The Sky found their feet pretty damn quick. 

“It’s different playing on a stage where real bands play, I’ve seen heaps of really great bands on this stage, and now I’m here!”  said band front man Matt Redlich.

Listening to them for me, was like listening to Eddie Vedder’s soundtrack for ‘Into The Wild’; their sound was beautiful, deep, textured and layered with precision.  Redlich’s voice was exquisitely rich and blended perfectly with the vocals of Timothy Carroll and Rowley Marshall.

For a thought provoking aural experience check out The Lonely Sea and The Sky on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thelonelyseaandthesky.

Someone said “nine”, but I’m pretty sure I counted ten.  Nine guys, one girl or eight guys, one girl make up this loud, aurally complex sound called Velociraptor.  They rocked out so hard that Everett True (The Thin Kids) gallantly relinquished his claim on being the best band in Brisbane and handed over the reins to Velociraptor.

An overwhelming force of energy shot from the small Troubadour stage and encompassed every single person in it’s thrashing garage rock sound.

They had the look, and they surely had the sound of something long forgotten.  They were the 60′s, as close as I have been to it anyway.

Through perfectly ordered chaos, they belted out songs like ‘Hey Suzanne’ and ‘Oh Yeah’, and nailed them with little more than an inch to move on the overcrowded stage. 

It all worked, nothing was askew; the work of pure, throbbing passion co-existing within ten different musicians on one tiny platform.

I want a CD!  But I am required to ask myself, would recorded sound do these guys any justice?  Could it capture and showcase their ‘who gives a fuck, let’s just have fun and make music’ attitude?  Probably not.  But… I want a CD.

If the band had to have a front man, this would be him.

If the band had to single out one majour personality, this would be him.

Check them out, they were brilliant, sheer fucking talent, raw visible passion and well worth watching live.

Velociraptor on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/velociraptorfightclub 

What can I say? Seriously… They were funny as hell, highly entertaining but scored pretty low towards the chance of ever being swooped up by some talent scout and offered a contract… but then, I’m pretty sure that’s the point!

Everett True (big time music critic) and Edward Guglielmino (local Brisbane talent) created the band to… take the piss really.

Guglielmino’s partner, Maggie Collins (band manager – not theirs, Triple J presenter) does whatever the hell she feels like on the xylophone & backup vocals.

Scott Regan (The Gin Club) alternates between playing the drums, sipping his drink, playing the keyboard and occasionally swaying.

Towards the end they had out sheets of paper to the audience, so that we may sing along to a new song.  However, not having printed enough so that they too may read the words (they don’t rehearse, they have no idea what the lyrics are) they retrieve a few copys back and then Collins leads the crowd in:

Where you’ve been Ed? I’ve been out drinking
Where do you go? Been round the back
Was it worth it? Was it fuck, mate!
I’ve a fearsome pain down my neck

Where you’ve been Ed? Been out smoking
Where d’ya go? Just for the crack
Was it worth it?  Was it fuck, mate!
My head’s all swimming and I’ve got no words to answer “something”

If you’ve got a sense of humour, check them out.  Note: Only one member of the band is fat, the other one is all muscle.

Midway through their second set of the day, punctuating a break between songs, Matthew Somer’s, lead guitarist and vocalist for Brisbane’s own indie pop trio, I Heart Hiroshima, runs to one side of the stage and, leaning over, hidden from the audience behind a large amp, hocks and spits down into unused stage space.

“Gaaah! Put it in a cup,” responds Susie Patten, the band’s drummer and lead vocalist, as Cam, the backing guitarist and vocalist, stands by, a bemused expression written in the small smile playing over his features.

It’s clear from the get-go that I Heart Hiroshima love being around music.  With no roadies in sight, and only the venue’s two sound engineers providing technical support, the band sets up their own gear, tunes up, and begins to play. Their obvious comfort at playing gigs stems from a pedigree of live shows, and is illustrated by the constant banter between band members, as well as talking to the crowd. They breeze through their first set of the evening, playing most of their first album, 2007’s Tuff Teef, barely even breaking stride when skipping a song due to Matt’s ‘sickness’ – a lofty hangover from the night before.

The show, held in Brisbane’s iconic Powerhouse Theatre, is the last before the band takes an extended hiatus. “I’m moving to the US for three months, and then to Berlin,” says Susie.

It comes at the end of a hectic few years for the band, producing two albums and four EPs, touring internationally and extensively playing live shows all over Australia.

“People get more excited over there,” says Matt, referring to the bands time spent touring in support of The Rakes. “I think the fact that we come from Australia, it’s like a band coming from Antarctica or something ridiculous, so they have to go check it out.“

Most recently, I Heart Hiroshima played at the Gold Coast Big Day Out festival. “It was awesome to be able to play it,” says Susie, “playing was good. It was everything else that sucked.”

“Yeah, battling through the throngs of …”, Cam’s sentence remains unfinished. Big Day Out festivals have, in recent years, been associated with aspects of ‘bogan’ culture: the Australian flags and Southern Cross tattoos sported by fluro clothing wearing attendees who pack hundred metre long bar lines to buy overpriced beer in an effort to avoid seeing bands they haven’t heard on B105.

“All of the music industry is commercialised, more so than a few years ago, I think,” says Matt. “All the main kind of alternative things like festivals…it’s just all changed now, you know?”

“It’s just a horrible festival,” says Susie.

The timing of the hiatus seems to be coming at a strange time, with the band enjoying some success in both indie circles and in mainstream media. Buoyed by the success of a free iTunes release, “Shakeytown”, the first single from the new album ‘The Rip’, won the coveted first position in Brisbane radio station 4ZzZ’s hottest 100 of 2009. The band also placed fourth for their cover of The Chills’ “Pink Frost”.

But the band plays down the “unexpected” result. “4ZzZ is really Brisbane-band focused, so it’s not a massive deal, but it was really awesome to be recognised,” says Matt.

The I Heart Hiroshima story is however, a story of Brisbane. The original line up, including Matt and Susie, as well as another guitarist, Mel, were friends. They had decided to play together at a party.

The name “sounded nice on a Sunday”, says Susie, “It just kind of popped into my head and I thought it sounded nice when you said it. We needed a band name very quickly.”

“We had a show two days later and they were making a poster,” Matt adds.

“I came on board a bit later”, say Cam, “I wasn’t invited to that party.”

Susie and Cam had attended the same high school years ago, but were two grades apart and moved in different circles. “We knew each other…we eyeballed,” says Susie with a smile. It was only later, after Mel had left the group, that Cam joined and the current line up was born.

The film clip to the “Shakeytown” single, directed by local filmmaker Paul W. Rankin, features iconic footage of Brisbane including the city’s infamous Riverside Expressway. The clip was picked up by the ABC’s music show ‘Rage’, as the ‘Indie clip of the week’.

But the band says the geographic themes are unintentional. “It just comes through,” says Matt.

The group are open-minded with their own choice of venue when listening to music. “You can’t be choosey in Brisbane. If something is on, you just go where it is,” says Susie.

“There are some good bands coming out of Brisbane,” adds Cam.

In four years of playing, I Heart Hiroshima put together an extraordinary number of tracks. “It’s generally just the guitars, then the drums, then whoever thinks of something first just starts singing,” says Matt. “A lot of the time, we don’t make up lyrics until we’re recording.

“It’s the only way. Anything else would be too hard.”

Back in the Powerhouse, a huge number of friends have turned up for the rare occasion of I Heart Hiroshima playing a Brisbane show. “It’s weird playing to my parents,” says Cam, “They’re coming today.”

With the number of people at the Brisbane Powerhouse show, it’s safe to say that I Heart Hiroshima will be sorely missed, and with the raw energy, musical talent, and unique sound exploding off the stage, the band will be one to watch when they return to the scene.

Check out I Heart Hiroshima on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/ihearthiroshima

Planet Fiction are a Brisbane based, self proclaimed ‘Hard Rock’ band who have been out on the local scene for about 2 years building up their fan base and working on their first EP.  There are four of the somewhat mysterious fellows who make one hell of a sound on stage and then contradictingly step off at the end of the set to have a quiet drink in the smokers area looking nonchalant.  Adam is on lead vocals, Paw is on lead guitar, Gruff is on bass and Kelvin works the drums.

I asked Planet Fiction a few questions after seeing them at a gig for the second time and wanting a little more than just photographs.

So guys, the name, Planet Fiction, why?
Adam: I was watching He-Man: Master Of the Universe and thought the name “Eternia” would be cool, it’s a Planet in the movie.  I was describing it to Paw as a fictional planet and he said “Why not Planet Fiction”.
Paw: It also has some other meanings we’ve discovered, like if you get really hammered you could wind up on “Planet Fiction”.   Also relating it to earth, how stuff here can seem real but it’s in fact fake as f*ck.

You guys seem to be great friends as well as band members, how do you all know each other?
Paw: We all woke up naked on a hammock one morning in New Guinea.  It’s actually a front, we all hate each others guts and we wish we never met.

You initially had another drummer, (whom they claim to have left back in that hammok in PNG), Kelvin you have been with them for about 9 months now, do you feel/have you felt like you have someone elses shoes to fill?
Kelvin: Not really, we started on a bit of a new sound right away, so I bought my feel to the band.

Adam, have you had any voice training?  ‘Cause you belt that shit out there, ever scared of ruining your voice?
Adam: I’ve had a few singing lessons, the tutor said my throat’s nice and intact so no worries at all!  I’ll be doing it as long as I can.

What do you think of the growing Brisbane music scene?
Paw: It’s good!  Could be better… Less dance, more rock. It’s defiantly coming along though, very exciting.

Do you think Brisbane is aware of/fans of the metal scene?
Adam:  When you’re out there amongst it for so long, you realise how huge it is.

How do you find Brisbane audiences?
Gruff:  Pretty tame towards unknown bands, but the same as anywhere else in the world, they go off tap towards bands they know and love.

If you could play a headline gig anywhere in Brisbane, where would you want to make your noise?
Paw: The Tivoli, but right now, realistically speaking, The Globe or The Zoo.

Which local bands would you choose to support you at this headline gig?
Adam:  Damasyria, we’ve done a few shows with those boys and they’re always good fun and write good shit. In a perfect world Melodessy, Butterfly Effect or Mammal!

Can you see a future for your band, how do you forsee your band ending up?
Gruff:  Rehab or locked up for us 3… Kelvin will probably be a priest.

Who are your influences?  Are you the type of guys who only listen to your genre, or can we catch you chilling out to Neil Young on the weekends?
Adam: I defiantly don’t listen to only our genre, I like punk, rock, a little bit of rap, some pop?  I’m a huge fan of Finch, Refused, A Day To Remember… I will only list a few!
Paw:  I really like Sarah Blasko and The Wiggles.
Gruff:  I’m pretty open minded when it come to music, I listen to most things.  But, my influences are Finch, Grinspoon, A Day To Remember and The Smashing Pumpkins.
Kelvin:  DYING FETUS!!!

I have heard you are making an EP, how are you doing?  When is that coming out, whats the plans?
Gruff:  We have plans to have an EP ready soon, but as for dates etc, that’s undecided. We feel we have a lot more work to do on it.

I reviewed you last year at X&Y, someone left an unsavoury message on the post declaring your music to be ‘shit’.  How did that make you feel to hear something like that? 
Gruff:  Tracked the c*nt down, slit his neck…
Paw: And took a sh*t down it. We’re pretty cool now.

I guess when you are first on the music scene, negative comments can drag you down, but at the end of the day it means people are listening.  Do you feel like it impacted on you negatively as a band?
Kelvin: No, not at all, it’s going happen a lot more in the future, you have to take it on the chin.  It only bettered us.

Who writes the lyrics?
Gruff: Mainly Adam, there’s a few tracks Paw has written and I’ve had a bit of input too.

What is one song that defines who you are as a band?
Adam: If it’s one of ours, probably ‘Now That It’s All Gone’, because it samples a bit of everything we do.  If it’s someone else’s, ‘Afro Man – Because I Got High’.

If you are a fan of hard rock/metal and like it loud, check out Planet Fiction on MySpace:  http://www.myspace.com/planetfictionband

The Troubadour kicked off the New Year with *Over Ambition #6* featuring headline act Ramond Raposa AKA Castanets (USA). When asked to review Castanets I wasn’t entirely sure what I was going to expect or even if I would like the music.

After doing some research, many in the music industry unanimously have classed Castanets as psychedelic folk. For those not aware or familiar with this loosely defined genre, it was very popular in the 60’s (where it originated) and largely combined folk acoustic instrumentation with the influence of psychedelic rock – creating a peculiar atmospheric and “trance-like” sound. The lyrics often where concerned with the current state of the world, nature, love and beauty all of which tried to provoke the listener to take up some form of cause, and enhance the overall psychedelic experience. But when the “drugs” wore off, and a new decade was upon us, Psych folk began to disappear out of the limelight and paved the way for a new era where everyone had disco fever.

We didn’t hear or see much from this genre until its resurrection between the late 90’s and early 2000, when a “new weird American movement” lead many Indie bands to incorporate the unique style and sound in their music. With a fresh facelift it has been rebranded to what we now know as ‘freak folk’.

With all of this in mind I became somewhat intrigued and very excited to see what this style was all about and what Castanets had to offer. All I can say after the fact is “Wow’, what a powerful performance!

I was blown away by the intensity and passion displayed by Ramond Raposa. His voice has an eerie somewhat haunting quality to it that really sends shivers up and down your spine. I felt like it was a genuine privilege to experience the inner world of Castanets.  Raposa is able to capture the audience with his jam session feel; he goes where the music takes him and invites us to come along for the ride. His songs can appear mellow, at times moody and then when you least expect it; POW – he brings you hope and a real sentimental feeling.

His music depicts solitude and draws from life experiences, the good and the bad, and unlike most musicians doesn’t sugar coat topics and isn’t afraid to push the envelope no matter how ugly the situation or event is. What’s delivered is raw, honest and some would regard ‘self healing’. He’s quite a dynamic performer, and in my humble opinion I would refrain from defining or even pigeonholing Castanets into a specific genre given he is incredibly different. As I am new this Psych/Freak Folk genre, maybe therein lies the whole point. I can say his music is defiantly experimental and that he borrows from other styles such as Country, Soft Jazz, Indie, Folk and Rock. He ingeniously blends them all together to create a truly unique sound.

Overall I was in awe of Castanets performance and urge anyone and everyone to check him out next time he is in Australia – defiantly well worth the experience!

Check out Castanets on Youtube.

Rock band Astral Aliens headlined at heavy metal Club 299 over the weekend.  The band are doing a home tour “Direct from L.A.” after taking up residence in California in late 2007.  The Aussie band (with an American lead guitarist) rocked the club hard on Friday night.

Members Eric Slater (lead guitar/vocals) with Aussie brothers Jake (bass/vocals) and Mablo Fehres (guitar/vocals) pulled crowds from the pool tables, up onto the dance floor with their rock/alternative hard hitting songs. which failed to falter.

The passion for sound was evident between Slater and Jake as they shared an almost viewable energy across the stage.

Mablo was deeply entwined in the sound.  These guys really love what they do.

Astral Aliens are seasoned professionals when it comes to performing, there was no stage fright on this stage.  After battling it out against over thirty of L.A.’s top bands in 2009, Astral Aliens are the only 2x winners of the KROQ Battle for L.A.

With plenty of fans in America, the band now intends to showcase their sound in Aus. and are touring through Queensland until early February.

Mablo Fehres

Jake Fehres

Eric Slater

Check Astral Aliens out on their official website http://astralaliens.com/ or on MySpace http://www.myspace.com/astralaliens.