Puff'n'Stuff

You may have been mistaken, having been lulled into a sense of false security, and thought that Puff was getting out the wacky headgear, flicking dad bugs off the old cashmere scarf and heading out to the Cabaret Festival at the Festival Centre. Not likely! This here Puff 'N Stuff column is a cabaret free zone; there'll be no spicy stories from the backline here. Oh, no.

And so, in the spirit of finding a new gig, a new pulsing gland of creative juices in the city, a new and unheralded nightclub scene nestled 'neath the financial empires of this vast and great city, there's Urtext Studios. On Fri 15 June at Urtext Studios, a groovy little hidden club for the cogniscenti on Grenfell Street, you'll find a big big gig with a couple of interstate bands. There's Batrider and Johnny Saw Horses (both from Melbourne), and locals Star 10 # and Miss Golly Gosh.

Though his mother no doubt intended a somewhat different name, tha dude known as T-Pain is now confirmed for his first ever shows in Australia as part of the 'Roc Tha Block' Tour. He's got tha bling to make tha thing seem real; he's got the sass, the lip, the zip, and the chip on his shoulder to make that pain and anguish and real world 'I've done it on the streets' attitude seem all too real. And if he don't have the moves the others do... the 'Roc Tha Block' line up will also include acts such as Akon, The Game and Naughty By Nature. Naughty? That's sooo old school, dude. Anyway, they'll be performing at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Mon 13 Aug.

A quick 'you better not forget this' occasion for the Puffer, who reckons The Audreys are likely to sell out their 'Sheets To The Wind' Tour gig at The Gov this Saturday evening, since they sold out their five shows at The Vanguard in Sydney last week after posting full houses in both Melbourne and Brisbane. Don't forget that playing with them on the night will be locals Brillig, and Queenslander Andrew Morris.

He may be deadly, or deathly, or even have a deathwish, but he ain't dead yet. Death Rap pioneer Necro brings his 'Drugs, Gory Death and Sex' tour to Australia and New Zealand this year, which is a bit like having Halloween on tour all year round really, isn't it? After the trouble that nice Mr Dogg had earlier this year, this is one guy whose visa application you'd like to have a quick peek at, eh? Perhaps not. Anyway, Necro plays a licensed but all-ages gig at HQ on Mon 3 Sept.

It's been a couple of years since we saw her last, but there's a fair chance that this time around she'll be bringing all of her many and varied personalities on tour for the 'American Doll Posse' Tour. Yeah, talking about Tori Amos, who, along with her band, will embark upon their fourth Australian tour, which will see them perform at Thebarton Theatre on Thurs 20 Sept.

Every so often it rears its head, like a teenage zit which cannot be contained, like a fomenting sludge which breaks the riverbanks, like a spill of nuclear madness which burns through the reactor container, like blistering noise which buzzsaws free from the rehearsal studio. Usually, it happens in the northern suburbs, the legendary home of metal in Adelaide. And so, it happens again! The Northern Sound System is proud to present the first 'Northern Metal Madness', a licensed all ages gig offering a night of local metal with Double Dragon (returning to Adelaide after touring in Melbourne, Double Dragon have shared the stage with the greats of metal including Slayer, Mastodon, Arch Enemy and Dark Tranquility); Taunt (formed in 2001, and beginning to make a mark on the Adelaide Metal scene. Heavy music with groove and intensity); Splyne (new progressive metal band, based in Gawler with an electrifying stage performance) and newcomers Left By The Wake and Ridiculed Belief. The gig is Northern Sound System (corner Woodford Road and Elizabeth Way, Elizabeth) and the date is Sat 23 June from 7.00pm.

Evolutionary biologists from Sydney Furcurve are keen to present their album 'We Grew Legs To Flee The Water'. Well maybe Furcurve know nothing whatsoever about evolution, but the album title is pretty darn catchy and Puff is a sucker for a catchy (though admittedly long[ish]) title. Be that as it may, Furcurve perform in Adelaide at the Producers Bar on Fri 22 June (with Soft White Machine & Isle Of Capri), and at The Crown and Anchor on Sat 23 June.


Congratulations go out to all the winners of the 2007 APRA Music Awards, announced last week at a ceremony which was undoubtedly star-studded (as these things so often are) and held in Merlbourne. There were performances by Katie Noonan, TV Rock featuring Seany B, Augie March, Eskimo Joe, Phrase, Colin Hay and a special appearance by Paul Kelly, Missy Higgins and Kev Carmody. A big congratulations to Augie March, who picked up the coveted award for Song Of The Year with One Crowded Hour.

Whilst it's not happening hereabout, Puff thought you'd like to know that the eagle has landed. Leastwise, the eagle has plucked its young from the nest and staggered aloft, weighed down by its own expectations and a bloated past history. That's right, INXS have begun their first full tour of the UK with their new singer JD Fortune, who either got his break from auditioning in a worldwide television contest, or from the back of a breakfast cereal packet, depending on which story you believe. As a side note: how long might he be referred to as the 'the new INXS singer'? Six months; or for the rest of his natural life? The current INXS tour of the UK kicked off at Bristol's Colston Hall on Tues 5 June and concludes at the Sheffield City Hall on Mon 25 June.

"A reminder to fans, the 'Grand National' tour is carbon neutral. The John Butler Trio 'Grand National' tour will be carbon neutral. Emissions associated with the tour (such as concert electricity generated from the shows, air and road transportation including touring party and freight) will be calculated and a reinvestment will be made into renewable energy projects. This will effectively balance out the impact the 'Grand National' tour will have on the climate and is a positive investment to assist the current situation of global warming. People travelling to the concert by carbon transport will be able to purchase a green ticket which will incur an extra cost of 50 cents - this money will also be donated to renewable energy projects to help make this a truly carbon neutral tour. For further information on this initiative, please visit the John Butler Trio website, www.johnbutlertrio.com" And on that sombre portentious, and slightly preachy note, fans will be pleased to know that due to overwhelming demand from South Australian fans, The John Butler Trio have announced a second show in Adelaide on their 'Grand National' album tour, at Thebarton Theatre on Sun 26 Aug, tickets being now on sale. Now, what to do about all that hot air???

It's not in the least bit funny but Rose Tattoo's latest press release certainly focuses the attention, since they pledge to donate royalties from their new single Black Eyed Bruiser to Support Act Limited for their support of Prostrate Cancer (sic). The reason is that powerhouse slide guitarist Pete Wells is currently fighting prostate cancer, though he is probably also lying down. Rose Tattoo, whose motives are above reproach, are also out on the touring trail, supporting Guns N Roses on their forthcoming national tour. The 'Tatts are also presenting their first new album in over 25 years, 'Blood Brothers'. Onya.

These guys look like a lot of fun, almost as though they'd been lost in a tropical forest for forty years or so since the rise and fall of the Beatles, and they'd been in the service of the Emperor for that entire time, Okay, so after that tortured attempt at humour, meet The Bawdies, who dress up in the appropriate manner and like to rock. Jim, Taxman, Roy and Marcy are The Bawdies, who combine maximum rock with maximum fun for their gigs, in celebration of rock 'n roll through the ages. A tribute band? Not likely? They play at the Gov on Thurs 14 June with Dallas Crane and 67 Special.

The Getaway Plan are one of those bands that just make a splash in the Australian music scene. Since forming in November 2004 they've become one of the most exciting bands in the country and played support to a plethora of bands including Eighteen Visions (USA), Silverstein (CAN), Strike Anywhere (USA), Anberlin (USA), Bodyjar, Antiskeptic, I Killed The Prom Queen and many more. They reckon it's time for them to take centre stage, and given the incredible strength and appeal of their live shows, they're equipped with the tools for the job. The Getaway Plan perform at Fowler's Live on Sun 24 June, possibly for the final time in Adelaide this year.

Back on the scene with what they describe as 'their infectious and soulful sound', Mojo Rising and will be belting out a performance at The Jade Monkey on Sat 16 June with the help of Nereeda and Nicholas Roy.

Hailing from parts unknown, weight unknown, The Neurotransmitters are touring the country promoting their debut self-titled EP. Their mission, then, is to awaken the world to the power of The Neurotransmitters, and as a way of achieving that end they'll be playing at The Electric Light Hotel on Thurs 28 June, with The Divide and Deepseaguns.

Brunatex, whose appearances in these pages are sporadic, to say the least, want it known that they'll be performing at the Electric Light Hotel on Sat 16 June with Leigh Stardust and The Finishing School. Incidentally, you can purchase Brunatex' latest album and hear the unreleased tracks Beautiful Sounds and Never Forget at http://myspace.com/brunatex

In 'The Beggars Sing their Heads Off' these Beggars fire up a soup kitchen of songs, gags, wholesome harmonies and nutritious tales of life, love and the weather in a cabaret and musical performance of major meal proportion. The internationally acclaimed acoustic trio hit the roads around Adelaide, taking Quinton Dunne, Stuart Day and Renee Donaghey to a venue near you. See The Beggars at Marion Cultural Centre on Tues 12 June at 11am, and the Star Theatres (Hilton) Tues 12 June at 2pm, on Wed 13 June 13 at 11am to The Arts Centre, Pt Noarlunga, and on Thurs 14 June at 2pm to the Golden Grove Arts Centre.

All star superstars of the Adelaide scene The Peccadillos play a gig on Fri 15 June at the Wheatsheaf Hotel, and it may well be the last performance for them for some time. They don't exactly explain why that might be, but ask that the audience bear witness to their transgressions as Andy, Pat, Michael, Tristan and Brian confess their little sins and flog them off for a measly $10 a CD on the night.

Puff supposes birthday cheers is in order, for on Fri 22 June it's time for multiple celebrations at the Grace Emily Hotel, where the 'Classic Not Plastic' gig coincides with Rockdog's Birthday. Performing on the night will be Your Motive For, Lyla, Rejusa & Rocketbox, from 8.00pm. Rockdog sez (heh heh, 'sez') the gig will feature four of the best bands that have rocked the Grace "rockdog style" over the last 12 months.

Having kept on gigging under their original name since the tragic death in 2003 of their singer Matt Moffitt, Matt Finish are currently out on a national tour; one which will bring them into this magazine's orbit. Performing with special guest Kevin Borich, Matt Finish will be performing at the Gov on Tues 19 June. Support on the night will be local Adelaide band Tracer.

Hailing from Tucson, Arizona, Bob Log III is a man whose face you'll never see. Why? It's some kind of schtick, supposedly, and he does sport a natty line in full-face motorcycle helmets, so that's good enough for Puff. The one-man blues explosion is returning to Adelaide wearing a shiny blue spacesuit, and singing through an old 70's telephone handset installed in his helmet. Maybe he's chronically shy. "You might not see his face but you'll never forget the show!" is the claim de jour... so be aware that Bob Log III performs at Jive on Fri 22 June with Lady Strangelove.

Big up to the Sundance Kids, who sold out their CD launch show at the Gov a few Friday nights ago, getting something over 700 paying punters to the show and turning away another hundred or so. It's been a while since a local band had an impact like that.

From Sydney, and appearing together at the Gov on Sun 24 June, it's Dappled Cities Fly and Red Riders, who are currently on the road together on a unique co-headline tour in which the 'headline' act will be decided at the start of each show by the toss of a coin on stage. This travelling carnival will take in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide with both bands playing a full set of material, and perhaps a surprise or two along the way. The two indie-guitar bands, it seems, are swapping the punches, and the headlining, along the way. Good for them, and good on ya for having such fun in the touring Tarago. This is Dappled Cities Fly, looking splendid, and ready for their shot at the big time.

On Sat 16 June a benefit gig will be held at the Duke of York to raise money for the South Australian Student Environment Network to attend the Students of Sustainability conference in Perth, WA. Featured performers on the night will be John Woods, Les Tazos, Modulus, Business As Usual, Bennie Raw and DJ's tra-la-las and madd-e-matt-matt.

And here's a little of what you need to know to make your reading pleasure complete... Snow Patrol to play the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Wed 12 Sept... Dallas Crane bring The Bawdies and 67 Special to play with them at The Gov on Thurs 14 June... Melbourne's Children Collide play at the Gov on Fri 15 June... Sneaky Sound System will turn up with their special guests Donnie Sloan and The Levitators for one night only at The Shores Complex on Sat 23 June... and Adelaide rockers The Hot Lies have begun recording their highly anticipated debut album in Sydney with leading Australian producer Phil McKellar (Grinspoon, Kisschasy, silverchair).

Now go,

Get Out Of The House!!