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Puff 'n' Stuff
Everything that's happening in Adelaide this fortnight.
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Puff'n'Stuff
Public holidays, eh? They're like buses: there's none for ages, and then they're full of smelly, annoying people getting all up in Puff's face. That's why Puff's deciding to hold a series of private holidays over the coming months - holidays to which you, The Public, are not invited. And it's totally your loss too, since Puff's going to be celebrating some humdingers like The Day That 'Return Of The Jedi' Opened (Thurs 25 May), Neighbours Star Stefan Dennis' birthday (Mon 30 Oct) and Mars 2 Rover Launch Memorial Day (Mon 27 Nov). And those are just some of the spurious excuses offered up for when Puff's voicemail will be telling you to leave a message after the beep. And you don't need to press hash either: if Puff wants to speak to you, you'll know about it. Oh, you'll know.
Adelaide Bands That You Thought Might Have Broken Up But Are Now Playing Again Albeit With An Amended Lineup Part 1: Angelik. They're playing their first gig in 18 months with an all-new rhythm section and a bunch of equally new songs, which you can see/hear when they play at the Enigma Bar on Sat 20 May with Before The Aftermath and Kamikaze.
CD launch time, and Celtic-flavoured pop types Wintergreen are setting their full length 'Dubbin The Blundies' disc free at the Sa Folk Centre on Sat 29 April, with support from Chris Finnen's Guitar Safari.
Spiral Dance are also launching their new disc at the SA Folk Centre, but a night earlier: they'll be there on Fri 28 April.
Likers of comedy will be well served at the Queens Arms on Wright Street on Wed 3 May as "the Queens Jesters" take to the stage under the QA Comedy banner. It's not clear whether Mark Trenwith, Todd Raftery, Steve Weyland, Daniel Stone and Damian Woodards will be sporting those pointed cap-bonnet things with bells on the ends for the show, but if they want to be taken seriously as jesters by Puff, they'd damn well better be. They're also offering discount entry to the show for anyone who says that Puff sent them.
When you live somewhere as exciting and vibrant as Adelaide it's easy to forget that there's other places in the world - like, for example, Japan, which is where Legless have just been visiting and laying plans for a Japan/China tour next year. They're also judging the state finals of the air guitar competition at Sky City Adelaide on Fri 28 April and Fri 6 May. Meanwhile, the Ramonettes report they've kicked off their world tour in Japan on a high with some shows with all-girl Ramones freaks The Romanes, despite some challenging carrying-gear-on-subways moments. They're currently working their way through Europe after shows in France and Spain (and, apparently, a goodly amount of picnics). And finally Munchkin have returned from the US and are all inspired to finish off their forthcoming album 'Deny You're Here', so they're taking a break from gigging after their Fri 28 April show at the Austral with Cookie Baker.
The Molting Vultures are pretty chuffed with the response to their debut disc 'This Won't Hurt A Bit', so they've hooked up with Red Rascal for a show at the Jade Monkey under the banner "a sight for sore ears" on Thurs 27 April.
Adelaide Bands That You Thought Might Have Broken Up But Are Now Playing Again Albeit With An Amended Lineup Part 2: Diatribe. They've traded in Darryl Newsham for a new model guitarist Derek Bywaters, who they'll be testing out with a few laps around the carpark at the Bridgeway Hotel aka Le Rox before playing an all-ages show there on Sat 6 May with Enemy Of?, Deafening Silence, Splyne and Dead Hours.
The second Beer'n'Blues festival is happening in Mildura over the weekend of Fri 28 April to Sun 30 April, with locals Bluestone heading over to play with the likes of Chris Wilson, Broderick Smith and Nick Barker, among many others. They've also been added to the forthcoming blue'n'roots themed 'Bar Promotions' compilation, which is getting a worldwide release in June.
The Exploders are back again, mere seconds since they were last here, for a show at the Enigma Bar on Thurs 27 April with Perth 60s-flavoured popsters The Silents and similarly-themed locals The Trafalgars.
Sell out Frenzy! Gigs have been going like crazy for a bunch of gigs, so if you were planning on getting along to The Grates (having read Ben Revi's excellent interview this issue, for example), then you're out of luck. Similarly, you'd better hope a second INXS show gets announced, since their Thebbie gig on Thurs 14 Sept sold out in under a day. Take note, interstate promoters: Adelaide audiences love their live music.
But despite our feverish out-selling, some artists still leave us off their national itineraries for May: French chanteuse Franoiz Breut is avoiding us while rock'n'riff bad boys Diamond Nights also can't be arsed popping over, and nor can art-noise sorts Xiu Xiu. Cheers.
But lest you feel disheartened, be advised that there are some bands that still love us. Wolf Eyes will be rocking the Rocket Bar on Fri 23 June (with The Grey Daturas in tow), US underground folk heroine Melissa Nadler visits the Grace Emily on Thurs 1 June (with Daniel Varricchio and Fertility Spells) and US slowcore indie gods Low have rescheduled after last year's cancellation and will be at Fowler's Live on Tues 6 June.
Also heading our way are the mighty Story Of The Year, who will be tearing Thebarton Theatre a new one on Fri 12 May - and if you haven't gotten a ticket as yet, might Puff suggest you hurry up about it?
Adelaide City Council are laying on the free rock for The Kids on Sat 29 April with Mr Wednesday, Fear Of Flying, former Adelaide kids Bit By Bats and Pharaohs playing out of door in Light Square from 4pm as part of the City Sparks festival.
And speaking of Pharaohs, they're playing their first headline show for the year at the Grace Emily on Sat 6 May with Centurion and Antony Of The Future, and they specifically asked that you come along. They've been meaning to catch up with you for a while, you know.
Stuff from Puff: Remember a few weeks back when Puff reported that Limp Bizkit's guitarist Wes Borland had announced that, as far as he was aware, the band was no longer a going concern? Well, frontman Fred Durst has responded by giving Wes a call and letting him know where things are at - sorry, that should read "responded by posting a Borland-themed diss track at his MySpace site". Yes, Durst felt that the best way to illustrate that the band was going strong was to rap over a tinny drum machine for 57 seconds on a track called Unacceptableinterlude which contains the immortal couplet "Manipulating like a crook who's arrestable / It's unacceptable, fucking unacceptable." Yep, he rhymes "arrestable" and "unacceptable". Poetry scholars, take note: a new laureate walks among us... It's been uncharacteristically quiet on the reformation front this fortnight: the best Puff's come up with is that Toad The Wet Sprocket have announced they're reuniting for a US tour mid-year and the the previously strongly-rumoured Smashing Pumpkins reunion is definitely happening - they're currently working on songs for an upcoming album, according to mtv.com - but there's still no word on who's in the band other than Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin... Those naysayers who reckoned that former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth was woefully out of his depth in attempting to replace the US's single most popular DJ, Howard Stern - who left "terrestrial" broadcasting for the greener pastures of satellite radio - have turned out to be right on the money: Roth's set to be let go after almost four months and huge ratings losses. Ironically, he'll be replaced in most markets by Opie and Anthony, who are licensing a version of their, ahem, satellite radio show... Who'd want to be Victor Willis? Drug charges, weapons charges, parole violations, more drugs charges, and now a likely jail stint after a federal judge found he had several cases to answer - and despite this bad-boy image, everyone still points out that the 54 year old performer was the original police officer in the Village People (and, incidentally, one of the co-writers of YMCA). He's being held without bail awaiting trial in San Francisco. Please Victor, get yourself clean and have a good meal - then, and only then, can you do whatever you feel... And Pete Doherty has managed to outdo himself by getting arrested on drugs charges again a scant couple of hours after appearing in court to plead guilty to seven charges of possession. Honestly, why doesn't he just pitch a camp bed in the court chambers and save himself the commute?... Whitney Houston is reportedly back in rehab in another attempt to get clean. At least she has her family's support - like sister-in-law Tina Brown, who was so worried about Whitters that she felt the best way to create a positive environment for change was to sell her story to the National Enquirer, complete with photos of Whitney's "crack den". Learning to profit off the suffering of your brother's wife: truly, that is the greatest love of all... The mystery surrounding the shooting death of Proof (aka Deshaun Holton), Detroit rapper and member of Eminem's D12 posses, on Tues 11 April has lifted somewhat, although there's still confusion over the exact details. Allegedly Proof shot Keith Bender Jr twice in the head during an altercation outside the CCC club in Detroit and was in turn shot by the club's bouncer Mario Etheridge. Proof was declared dead on arrival at Conner Creek Medical Centre, with Bender dying from his wounds at St John Hospital and Medical Centre a few days later. Proof was Eminem's best man at his ill-fated remarriage to Kim Mathers earlier this year and leaves behind his wife Sharonda and five children... June Pointer, the youngest member of the Pointer Sisters, succumbed to cancer on Tues 11 April at the far-too-young age of 52... But yet, new life springs: Frank Black has just announced that his new daughter, Lucy Berlin Thompson, entered the world on Thurs 20 April - although, disturbingly, Black claims the new Pixiesling has "lips like Angelina Jolie" (but not, it would appear, hips like Cinderella)... Dave Grohl and wife Jordyn Blum have also welcomed a daughter: Violet Maye Grohl appeared on Sat 22 April and is, according to dad, "just perfect"... Similarly, Melissa Etheridge and her partner Tammy Lyn Michaels have announced that they're expecting twins. Etheridge has two children from her previous relationship with Julie Cypher, courtesy of the hard-living sperm of David Crosby. According to their joint statement Michaels was impregnated via "an anonymous sperm donor from a bank", but Puff will be scrutinising the offspring for similarities with Stephen Stills, Graham Nash or - god forbid - Neil Young... But finally, some good news: Elvis impersonators might be put out of business around the world, since billionaire 'American Idol' mogul Robert Sillerman has just bought 85% of Elvis Presely Enterprises and has plans to open an Elvis-themed cabaret and interactive museum in Las Vegas. "If we were going to do a show that was based on Elvis impersonators, then obviously it wouldn't make sense to have unauthorised Elvis impersonators," he told the New York Times, causing silver lam and quiff-wig stock prices to plummet worldwide. Puff's advice: start brushing up on your Michael Jackson impersonations, lads.
True Live were over here a little while ago for Fuse, but now they're coming back under their own steam to lay some live, jazzy hip-hop at the Enigma Bar on Fri 5 May with Poetikool Justice also in, as the young people say, "da house".
If you're one of our valued Barossa Valley readers, be advised that there's a mess of quality SA music coming your way as part of the musicsa.com.au Louder Than Words showcase at Angastown Town Hall. There's a free workshop on getting ahead in the SA music biz on Thurs 27 April followed by an all-ages show from 6pm on Fri 28 April with six bands with ties to the Barossa region: The Trafalgars, Pumpernickel, Blood Mason, Liquid Phoenix, the Matt Winter Band and Cloudy Davey.
And speaking of bands doing gigs in our state's wine regions, The Yearlings and The Audreys are joining forces for a show at McLaren Vale's Singing Gallery on Sat 29 April. Doors open at 7pm, so be early.
Or maybe you'd like something more classic? Then be advised that The Original Angels Band are heading to SA for three shows: they'll be at the Old Clarendon Winery on Thurs 27 April, Whyalla's Westlands Hotel on Fri 28 April and the Highlander Hotel on Sat 29 April. According to their press release the original Angels trio of Rick Brewster, Chris Bailey and Buzz Bidstrup "deliver the classic Angels repertoire with a new and intense subtlety". Your guess is as good as Puff's.
Angela's Dish can't get enough of Adelaide - they're back for a show at the Enigma Bar on Thurs 4 May with Wishful Thinking and Nazarite Vow.
Women In Docs make a welcome return to our town for a show at the Grace Emily on Wed 3 May with The Beggars.
Mr Alex Lloyd is swinging back to Adelaide with his band in tow and a bunch of songs off last year's self-titled album - which he'd like you to give your opinion on in applause form at the Gov on Wed 10 May.
Feeling nostalgic for Adelaide music of the past? You're in luck: Brer Mouse are reforming for a one-off show at the Grace Emily on Sat 29 April (with Aviator Lane) while Snap To Zero are getting back on the live horse with shows at the Jade Monkey (Sat 29 April with New Element and Satan's Cheerleaders) and the Crown & Anchor (Fri 5 May with Soft White Machine and Black Dog).
He's played with the likes of David Bowie, Frank Zappa and Talking Heads, guested on records with Tori Amos and Nine Inch Nails and is a long-time member of King Crimson: he's guitar maestro Adrian Belew and he and his band are playing at Jive on Thurs 27 April.
The Whitlams aren't about to release an album without doing some sort of national tour, and since 'Little Cloud' has already gone gold one might expect that their shows at the Governor Hindmarsh on Thurs 4 May and Fri 5 May will probably do rather well, mightn't one?
There's no aphrodisiac like Puff'n'Stuff - and so once you've, ahem, finished up you probably should...
Get Out Of The House!
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