Puff'n'Stuff

They may have had to cancel their show last month due to singer Daniel Sanders' sudden illness, but Puff is glad to announce that Gyroscope are all set to play the Adelaide Uni Bar again this Sat 26 and Sun 27 August and that pre-sale tickets will still be valid. Fellow Western Australians Streetlight, who recently took out WA's most prestigious band competition, The Next Big Thing 2006, have also been confirmed to support the Gyro boys for both shows.

There will be plenty of local action too, with Adelaide's melodic hardcore punk outfit The Rip getting ready for a double-header weekend on Sat 19 August at the Glenelg Jetty Bar with pals Line Of Departure and then on Sun 20 August at Jive with special guests Unpaid Debt, Stolen Youth, Change Of Face and Later That Night. The Rip are launching their debut self-titled EP out soon through Two Bucks Records, but Puff has already visited the band's site onwww.theripmusic.com for free downloads.

Plus there's melodic pop-rock coming your way on Sat 26 August at the Rhino Room when Benchplayer and rising prog-rockers The Spires unleash their textured epic ballads with, appropriately enough, Special Guest.

The band with quite possibly one of the coolest names at the moment, Blood Red Renaissance, are also playing a show at the Squatters Arms on Fri 18 August alongside Incarnadine and The FAK, while pioneers of Adelaide noise/math rock, TommyGun, will be launching their new self-titled record over two big nights on Fri 1 September at the Exeter Hotel (Rundle St.) with Mirrorline and on Sat 2 September with BTA at the Jetty Bar.

Meanwell College will also be playing a show on Fri 8 September with Running With Horses and No Through Road at the Jade Monkey, so make sure to check them out.

Local heavies Obdurate Seduction are playing at the Jade Monkey on Fri 18 August with Quasar, R Domain and One Step Beyond, which should make for one helluva good night of experimental metal that, according to the band, Pink Floyd and Opeth would be proud of.

Congrats to Adelaide's own surf/garage/punk band The Molting Vultures who just keep moving onwards and upwards these days, it seems - they have landed themselves a support slot for the legends of pub-rock Radio Birdman this Sat 19 August for a show at the Governor Hindmarsh, along with Melbourne's Mach Pelican. The Molting Vultures have also recently unleashed their self-funded mini-album 'This Won't Hurt A Bit' which has landed the band the number one spot on 3D Radio and some interstate shows.

Likewise, Little Ice Age have been making quite a name for themselves lately - you can catch them just about anywhere and with anyone these days. The band have a show coming up at Jive on Sat 19 August with Straight To Video and Bluebottle Kiss, followed by a gig with Running With Horses on Sat 26 August at the Prince Albert Hotel.

In more local news, take note that Thunderbox Carbunkle have cancelled their Sat 19 August gig at the Wheatsheaf Hotel, though you can still catch The Peccadillos at the said venue on Sat 26 August.

A great night of glam rock is also coming up on Sat 26 August at the Queen's Arms Hotel when Hollywood Gun Club play some classics by Motley Crue, Queen, AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen, Kiss, Iron Maiden and many more. Get ready for a trip to the wild rock partying and decadence of Hollywood's infamous Sunset Strip of the 1980s as this band captures the spirit of classic rock.

The manic addictive stylings of Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! are set to tear the roof off the Rhino Room on Sat 30 September with another scintillating set to lead up to the band's much-hyped EP launch. Prog-rockers The Spires and Special Guest will join in the fun, helping to shape a night to remember.

Midnight Juggernauts are also ready to unleash the next chapter of their sonic assault with a national headlining tour which will see them in Adelaide on Fri 8 September alongside Damn Arms and The City Riots. In further proof that the band are firing on all cylinders, the duo recently supported Scissor Sisters in their only Australian show.

The next few weeks will also see US four-piece Okkervil River head down-under for a memorable show at Fowler's Live on Sat 9 September with a support slot from Sydney's Jack Ladder and some other special guests.

Infamous for his unforgettable live performances and returning to Australia on Mon 18 September for one show only at the Governor Hindmarsh is Bob Brozman, while that crazy duo The Dresden Dolls are making an appearance at the Adelaide Uni Bar on Wed 20 September for a simply un-missable show.

Make sure you also catch Madball at Fowler's Live on Wed 20 September, as well as Little Birdy on Fri 8 September at the same venue. Little Birdy have recently recorded a follow-up album in LA with producer John King and the tour will see them launch their new single Come On Come On which is due to hit the stores on 16 September.

Something For Kate are embarking on their national Desert Lights tour which will see the trio travel across the country through August, September and October to launch the new album 'Desert Lights'. You can catch them at HQ on Sun 25 September for the last show of the tour.

Ash Grunwald is promoting his fourth album 'Give Signs' which continues in the soulful pop tradition and you can catch him on Fri 25 August at the Governor Hindmarsh with special guests Sweet Baby James and Rob Eyers.

On the back of their hugely successful new album 'Black Fingernails, Red Wine', Eskimo Joe are currently on tour with Josh Pyke and they will be coming our way on Sat 2 September at the Thebarton Theatre for a show that's not to be missed.


Adelaide's original rock trio Unknown Truth are also proud to announce that they have finished their debut EP, 'The Mistaken View Of The Transitory Collection' which was mixed by Alex Cameron and mastered by Lawrie Bayldon. The guys are launching the final product at the Jade Monkey on Sat 9 September with support from locals Miracle Hat and Melbourne's own Three Letter Word.

The New Vague also have a few killer gigs coming up, with performances on Fri 1 September at the Stamford Grand to support their new web site at www.thenewvague.net, so check them out - these guys are soon becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Unpaid Debt are also celebrating the release of their debut album 'Southern Cross Bones' at the Crown And Anchor Hotel on Sat 19 August along with special guests The Backseat Romeos.

Coca-Cola is again putting the call out to unsigned Australian bands to take part in the Coca-Cola Live'n'Local Tour '06 which is slated for the end of the year. The annual competition will accept entries from original unsigned talent that has what it takes to perform in front of thousands of people on stage and this year will see Kram from Spiderbait enlisted to play alongside the winner. For more information on the unsigned competition call 02 8303 6464.

Doing it for a good cause are locals Mr. Wednesday, Poly And The Statics, Lady Strangelove and guests on Fri 1 September at the Governor Hindmarsh in support of the Red Cross International Middle-East Appeal. The doors will open at 8 pm, with the first band playing at 9 pm and entry is just $7, so make sure to head on down on the night.

Also lending a helping hand are The Hilltop Hoods who are giving something back to the industry in recognition of the important role that the South Australian Government funding played in their early career. Funding the Hilltop Hoods Initiative, which is valued at $3000, the Hilltop Hoods are helping youth and emerging South Australian hip-hop artists to manufacture and distribute a CD and will also include two mentorship sessions with the band's manager PJ Murton. Guidelines and application forms are available from www.arts.sa.gov.au, under Support And Funding.

Although it has been confirmed that there is definitely another Portishead album in the works, the release date is unfortunately not looking like it's going to be any time soon. After fans suggested that Danger Mouse produce the much-antiticpated record, Portishead's Geoff Barrow stated on the band's myspace blog that he'd "Rather poo in my mum's Sunday roast than have Danger Mouse produce our record, no offense, like." Commenting on the eight-years-in-the-making album, Barrow confessed that, "Work ain't good at the moment, we've got stuck, just a few more months and we can really go at it. It's really hard not to sound like you're doing a bad impression of yourself." Fair enough.

On the other side of the world this month, and also apparently feeling quite charitable, is one Axl Rose who has made a surprise visit tot the Teenage Cancer Trust Ward in London after completing the Guns'n'Roses' controversial European tour. According to Billboard.com, Axl has spent time speaking with each of the patients individuals, asking about their diagnoses and treatment and what they enjoyed doing when they were not in hospital. Well, stranger things have happen, right? The Teenage Cancer Trust actually has strong links with rock music, with The Who singer Roger Daltrey organising a week of shows at the Royal Albert Hall which included performances from the Bloc Party and Razorlight this year.

Not so fabulous is news this month that Andy Richardson, a fan who was violently attacked at one of Korn's shows during the recent Family Values tour with The Deftones and Stone Sour, has died from horrific head injuries. Korn are allegedly appalled and have appealed for witnesses to come forward, while the Atlanta Police Department have launched a murder investigation following the incident.

On the 10th anniversary of his death, Tupak Shakur's ashes will be taken to Soweto, South Africa by the rapper's mother Afeni Shakur, who will also meet with Nelson Mandela. Skakur has told NME she feels "Blessed to be able to visit South Africa...Events that happened there are so much a part of our history and it will be an honour for my son to rest in this special place."

In other, much lighter news, Pete Doherty and The Streets have formed a 'supergroup', which sees Doherty rapping his, er, poetry on a new version of Mike Skinner's Prangin' Out. The Streets' singer has claimed the song is about his own cocaine nightmare, though obviously the tune also has extra meaning for Doherty who has written a book on his excess problem.

Meanwhile, The Clash bassist Paul Simonon has got together with The Gorillaz's Damon Albarn for a collaboration on a single which is due for release sometime in October. Simonon has reportedly said about the project, "I came down to listen to two tracks and I could hear a bassline for it immediately. We thought 'let's give it a go' and we basically started a whole new record."

Closer to home, Puff is told that Mere Theory have completed their new album and are getting ready to join rockers Something With Numbers for the latter's Ripe And Ready tour which will see the two bands in Adelaide on Fri 25 August at The Basement, followed by Sat 26 August at Jive.

The Borderland's much-anticipated EP 'Your Heart Is My Captive' is also being mastered in Sydney at the moment so keep an ear out for the confirmed release date. In the meantime you can check out the new tunes on the band's myspace website at www.myspace.com/theborderland .

And finally, due for release in late 2006 is Brisbane act Transport's debut album 'The Inner Chimp' and to celebrate their latest single Stone Hearted, the band are launching a tour which will see them landing in Adelaide on Sat 16 September at Jive.





There's so much coming our way this August and plenty to get excited about next month too - Gyroscope, Midnight Juggernauts, Ash Grunwald, The Dresden Dolls, Eskimo Joe...take your pick and...