News:
· Puff 'n' Stuff
Everything that's happenin in Adelaide this fortnight.
· Industry
The latest from the music industry.
· Puffio
Theatre news.
· Dance
Dance and electronica news.
· Metal
Updates from the wide world of metal.
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Puff 'n' Stuff.
We here at dB Magazine are currently putting together the next CD for the Music Index of SA & Vic: 'The Sound Of MISA #4' will have another 16-odd tracks from SA's best up-and-coming bands, and since the previous three have featured the career-subsequently-skyrocketed likes of Special Patrol, No Through Road, Bit By Bats, Wolf & Cub, The Hot Lies and Mere Theory, you'd be a damned fool not to send your music in asap. Post it to PO Box 8260 Station Arcade SA 5000, drop it into the dB Magazine office at 179A Hindley St, or email hello@misa.com.au for more details: but get a freakin' move on!
Puff likes Adelaide to be a-buzzin' with launches, and therefore
would like to direct you to the Prince Albert Hotel on Fri 2
July for the official video launch (yes, the launch of the clip)
for the title track to Leigh StarDust's recent CD-EP 'They Make
Great Pets But I Don't Have One'. She'll be sonically bolstered
by Ianto Ware, and Melbourne visitors Sugarcoated will round
out the bill nicely.
On Thurs 14 July Ben deHoedt says goodbye to Adelaide with a final show before heading overseas indefinitely, which will also act as the simultaneous launch of two CDs: the first by The Tender Jealousies (also known as Ben deHoedt), and the second a posthumous EP by The American Public (deHoedt's old band) remixed by Delorean (aka Ben deHoedt). Support comes in the form of Andrew P Street, who will possibly just be deHoedt wearing a pair of comedy sideburns.
Sumi are all set to unleash 'Next Year's Passing Fad' on the
world with an all-ages launch on Fri 15 July at the Enigma Bar
with Tiltmeter, Short Term Gain and Matt & Rachel, late of Edison.
Those hankering for something a tad more metal should get themselves to Earth (the old Weimar Room on Hindley St, don't you know) for the launch of A Red Dawn's 'This Urban Conflict' on Fri 15 July, with Tidal, Double Dragon and 8th Degree in suitably aggressive support.
GG Allan Bindig is perhaps best know for his bassmanship in
The Backseat Romeos, but he's stepped out on his own to launch
his solo debut 'Pirate Lullabies' at the Jade Monkey on Sun
17 July, supported by the deliciously-monikered Raw Sex.
And that's not all: expect word in the immediate future for CD launches from the likes of Dylan Ferguson, Straight To Video and The Unspoken Things, as well as the official launch for Diatribe's brand-spanking new 'A Product Of Hate'.
Blow Up Betty have augmented their already hearty all-female
rock lineup: they're once again a quintet, and they challenge
you to try to stop the rock at the Crown & Anchor on Fri 8 July
(with Muscle Car and Wollongong's Stone Ox), or at the female-only
Female Students Social Night at the Crown & Anchor on Wed 13
July, with Cookie Baker and DJ Hellcat. Check these Bettys out.
Hey Adelaide: form some new bands. Almost every week Puff receives news about another local band taking their bat and ball and going home. For example, word has come that A Tribe Is Forming, who've been combining the hip and the hop around Adelaide for six years now, are calling it a day with a final show at the Rhino Room on Fri 8 July, with guest DJs spinning the plastic in support.
If that wasn't enough, Close Call are also taking the one-way
bus to Splitsville: catch them for one last hurrah at the Crown
& Anchor on Fri 1 July, with Qantum Kaos and Sir Gerbil. Hey,
knock it off you palookas!
And the bad news just keeps on coming: Baby Doll reckon that they'll be playing a proper last ever show in September sometime, but Puff recommends that you catch them at the Crown & Anchor for what they reckon is their second-to-last-ever gig on Sat 2 July.
The above Baby Doll show is with Melbourne visitors Sin City,
incidentally, who are currently peddling their self-titled CD-EP.
You got the details already, right: Cranker, Sat 2 July. Oh,
Billion Dollar Bums are also playing. Here's what Sin City look
like:
Doc Neeson - yes, him out of The Angels - is returning to Adelaide at the helm of his brand new band Red Phoenix, who make their SA debut at Heaven on Thurs 30 June.
After The Fall never seem to stop touring, and with a brand
new album mere seconds away you might think they'd sooner get
a bit of home time in: however, instead they'll be a-rockin'
at the Enigma Bar on Fri 8 July with Kisschasey and The Open
Season. It's all-ages too, so get in early.
Stuff from Puff: it's a mad, mad, mad, mad, mad reformation frenzy at the moment, not least because of Live 8. First up, the reformation that no-one thought could ever happen is now official: despite years of acrimony, lawsuits and intra-press bitchery, the longest-standing line up of Pink Floyd are reuniting for Live 8: guitarist David Gilmour and bassist Roger Waters have put the past behind them and will be gracing the stage with drummer Nick Mason and keyboardist Rick Wright (who Waters sacked during sessions for 'The Wall')... However, the rumoured Spice Girls reunion looks like a non-starter with news that hold out Mel B (known to a million Smash Hits readers as "Scary Spice") is refusing to commit as she's working in California and (according to organiser Bob Geldof on UK television) doesn't fancy "going back to something she did in the past." He's hoping she'll change her mind, though... In non-Live 8 reunion news, Alter Bridge's guitarist Mark Tremonti has put the kibosh on rumours that Creed are contemplating a reformation: in an interview with mtv.com he insisted that he'd never contemplate sharing a stage with ex-frontman Scott Stapp unless it was "for world peace". Cute sentiment, Tremonti, but Puff still says a world whose future was dependent on a Creed reunion isn't one worth saving... Similarly Bob Mould has reaffirmed that Husker Du will not be reforming any time soon, despite the lucrative reformation tours of contemporaries like the Pixies and Gang Of Four and a set earlier this year with former foil Grant Hart at a show to raise money for the cancer treatment of Soul Asylum's bassist Karl Mueller (who tragically died on Fri 17 June). "There's no animosity," Mould said to billboard.com of his former bandmates, "but I just don't want to go there"... Of course, other reformations are going just fine: The Lemonheads have just been added to the Benicassim Festival in Spain, while US emo types The Promise Ring (who split in 2002) have agreed to reform for a one-off show for their former agency Flower Booking's 15th anniversary in Chicago... Of course, then there are the bands doing their pre-reformation breakup: Destiny's Child have announced they'll split at the conclusion of their worldwide tour at the end of the year... Lostprophets are still together, but founding drummer Mike Chiplin has left "amicably" to "pursue other musical opportunities"... Hot Water Music are on "indefinite hiatus", but three-quarters of them have formed a new band called The Draft, while frontman Chuck Ragan is reportedly concentrating on "life off of the road", according to a statement from the band. Inverted commas are great, aren't they?... Sick of The Cure's endless line up shenanigans yet? It's been a scant few weeks since the announcement that guitarist Perry Bamonte and keyboardist Roger O'Donnell had been dumped because Robert Smith wanted to refashion the band as a trio, and now Puff gets news that ex-guitarist Porl Thompson is returning, at least for their upcoming festival dates. It marks the second time he's returned after quitting Easy Cure in 1978, then joining The Cure from 1983 to 1993... However, the most bizarre reformation news of the fortnight comes from Billy Corgan, who took out a full page ad in hometown paper the 'Chicago Tribune' (and just as an aside to all musicians reading this: taking out full-page ads to announce things is a fantastic idea. Call dB Magazine's advertising manager Kate Fabbian on 8231 4211 to discuss our excellent rates for South Australian artists) to announce a) the release of his solo debut 'TheFutureEmbrace', and b) that he's planning to reform The Smashing Pumpkins. "For a year now, I have walked around with a secret, a secret I chose to keep," the ad reads in part, "but now I want you to be among the first to know that I have made plans to renew and revive the Smashing Pumpkins. I want my band back, and my songs, and my dreams." Given his less than stellar relationship with two of his three former bandmates (sacked bassist D'Arcy Wretsky and guitarist James Iha, who Corgan has publicly blamed for splitting the band), it's not clear whether he just means to start using the name again or is actually planning to mend some fences. Of course, a mere month earlier he'd denied that the band would ever reform in an interview with mtv.com, so who knows? In any case, one thing is clear: those hoping for a second Zwan album might have a wait on their hands.
The charming lads from Motorace are swinging back through for
the first time in ages for a show with Neon at Fowlers Live
on Fri 8 July.
Speaking of Neon, they're supporting The Doves in their first ever Adelaide show at Heaven on Tues 26 July.
Non-reformation-related Stuff From Puff: The Melbourne-based
KissWorld, the planet's first official Kiss-themed retail store,
is having a closing down sale - which is most newsworthy for
the fact that the store never actually opened. It was meant
to begin trading in November last year but didn't, and now the
directors have decided to end the dream by selling everything
off in a Hallam warehouse. However, their failure hasn't soured
Puff's dreams of opening an emporium entirely devoted to Noiseworks
(to be called either "The Noiseworkery" or "Hot Chili $avings")
this spring... More reasons why we're all on the wrong side
of the planet: the promoters of All Tomorrow's Parties has gone
one better than its normal, ultra-rad idea of having a festival
entirely curated by cool musical types who book all their favourite
bands: this year they're also doing stand-alone concerts in
which bands are invited to select one of their albums and play
it in its entirety. Hence, if you happen to be in the UK over
August/September, you could catch entire sets by The Stooges
(playing 'Fun House'), Belle & Sebastian ('If You're Feeling
Sinister'), a double header of Mum and Cat Power (doing 'Yesterday
Was Dramatic, Today Is OK' and 'The Covers Album', respectively)
and The Lemonheads ('It's A Shame About Ray'), among others.
Whether Noiseworks would be invited to play the entirety of
'Love Versus Money' remained unconfirmed at press time... In
an unexpected show of taste, all the major US television networks
have reportedly turned down a reality show made by The Jacksons
about how they stood by Michael during his court battle over
child molestation allegations. According to imdb.com, a representative
for the family was shopping the program around while the jury
were deliberating the charges... The Bloodhound Gang have written
a song about their home state of Pennsylvania and are attempting
to have it adopted at the official state song. To bolster the
seriousness of ther cause, they've enlisted the wise and subtle
Bam Magera (yes, him from 'Jackass') to run their campaign.
The song will appear on their imminent 'Hefty Fine' CD. Where's
our song for South Australia, Noiseworks?... One man was killed
and three injured when a nut with a knife started stabbing people
at a Corrosion Of Conformity gig in Florida on Thurs 23 June.
Police are still looking for the suspect, who fled the scene...
A Queen tribute disc is on the cards for August: Brian May has
revealed a list of likely contributors (including Joss Stone
and Jason Mraz) and confirmed that several bands had already
recorded tracks, including Sum 41 (Killer Queen), Gavin
DeGraw (We Are The Champions) and The Flaming Lips (who,
Puff's delighted to hear, weigh in with Bohemian Rhapsody).
But you know who'd do a freakin' great Bicycle Race?
Noisew... oh all right.
The rather excellent Melbourne combo Souls On Board make their first ever trip to Adelaide for a show at the Exeter Hotel on Fri 8 July with Straight To Video.
OK, let's talk Live 8. You should know most of the lineup from
last issue, so let's mop up some of the last minute ones. First
up, there are now appropriately eight (count 'em!) gigs happening
around the planet: London, Philadelphia, Berlin, Rome and Paris
are now joined by Tokyo, Toronto and an African artists-only
event in Johannesburg. Australia's not getting one, mainly because
we're not a G8 country (but we're apparently not even getting
a free-to-air telecast. Cheers, Australian networks). Jet will
be able to enjoy the show, however, since they're playing at
the Ontario Live 8 alongside Simple Plan, Motley Crue, Bryan
Adams, Barenaked Ladies, Deep Purple and, Puff's delighted to
hear, a special satellite link for a performance by (ahem) Celine
Dion. Meanwhile, the Berlin bill has been fleshed out with the
addition of Green Day, Audioslave and Roxy Music, while the
Sex Pistols are now on the UK bill. 50 Cent, on the other hand,
has pulled out of the Philadelphia lineup due to scheduling
conflicts with his first movie, the poor lamb, but Destiny's
Child have taken the slot. However, Puff's still asking the
question that no-one else has the guts to ask: with no Australian
Live 8, how can we prompt the classic lineup of Noiseworks to
reform? After all, without bassist Steve Balbi, those guys have
got nothing. Puff's just saying is all...
Dexter Jones are gearing up for some recording shortly. in fact, they'll be recording their Fri 1 July show at Jive with a view to including it on their second CD, which they're hoping will see the light of day in September. The show will also feature Tracer and Tasmania's Waiter, the last of whom will be joining the 'Jones boys again the following night (Sat 2 July) at the Exeter Hotel on Rundle St before winding down with a joint acoustic show at the Grace Emily on Sun 3 July.
Speaking of Tasmanians, singer/songwriter Chris E Thomas will
be crossing the Tasman for a show with the always-splendid John
Baker Duo at the Wheatsheaf Hotel at 4pm on Sun 10 July in support
of her 'Long Day' CD-EP.
That's got to be enough for you, surely? After all, you can gather some exciting Adelaide-related news for yourself, simply by grabbing a nice warm coat and making the decision to...
Get Out Of The House!
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