The Optimen's '80's Babies' Film clip has Landed

Watch this space as the sophomore album's due for release on April 10th...but meanwhile check it out:

The Optimen - 80s Babies from TheOptimen on Vimeo.

The Optimen - '80's Babies' by HeapsaWill

Dubmarine & Laneous and the Family Yah Announce Double-Headline Show at The Zoo March 26 + Limited Edition Dual Band ‘Mash Up’ EP

Together at Last!

Laneous & the Family Yah vs Dubmarine - 'E.V.O.L.V.E.D' by HeapsaWill


Fresh off their killer sets at this year’s Woodford Folk Festival, Laneous & the Family Yah and their good friends Dubmarine are putting on a bit of a treat – a double blast headline down in ol’ Fortitude Valley on Friday March 26. The mega bash will see the release of the extremely limited ‘Mash Up’ EP remixtape, as two of Brissy’s tightest outfits team up to deliver an Alphabet soup of genres and grooves.

The Mash Up EP

Always ones for a great collabo, Laneous & The Family Yah and Dubmarine have gotten in the studio to specially rework their singles ‘Chip’ and ‘Bubblegum’. The result – two brand “new” tracks ‘E.V.O.L.V.E.D’ and ‘Non Stopper’, plus a couple of riddim remixes, that see lyrical brothers Kazman and Laneous trading ensembles to create a once-off blurring of bandlines. ‘Mash Up’ is an exclusive mix mash smash splash-up, copies will be available at the show – and not really anywhere else.

‘Mash Up’ Track Listing

1. E.V.O.L.V.E.D feat. Laneous and Dubmarine
2. Chip (Bubblegum Riddim) feat. Kazman and The Family Yah
3. Bubblegum (Chip Riddim) feat. Laneous and Dubmarine
4. Non Stopper feat. Kazman and The Family Yah

Get down to the Valley for the first shows for 2010 for both bands, for a night of mixing, matching, collabing, and one big musical mash up Dubmarine and Laneous & The Family Yah Double-Headliner Friday March 26 – The Zoo, Brisbane with Mad Occupants

$15 / $12 conc on the door ONLY | Doors: 8:30pm

Gareth Liddiard (of the Drones) Announces Solo East Coast Tour Dates

After five years of non stop touring, four albums, and numerous accolades, one of Australia's most acclaimed and unique songwriters Gareth Liddiard of The Drones has decided to put his pedals on ice for a while.

With his debut solo record set for release later in the year, Gareth will be undertaking a special run of acoustic shows to preview songs off the upcoming album alongside all your Drones favourites.

The Dates
(w’ special guests TBA)

Thursday 15th April @ The Troubadour, Brisbane
Level 2, 322 Brunswick St, FORTITUDE VALLEY
Tickets $20 + bf from www.oztix.com.au
Doors open 8pm

Friday 16th April @ Notes Live, Sydney
75 Enmore Rd, NEWTOWN
Tickets $20 + bf from www.oztix.com.au or (02) 9557 5111
Doors open 8pm

Friday 23rd April @ Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
301 High St Northcote
Tickets $20 + bf from www.northcotesocialclub.com / the box office 94861677 / in person via Corner Box Office
Doors open 8pm

“The show gave Liddiard a chance to play a few songs the band don't typically play in their live sets as well as providing quieter, though no less harrowing, interpretations of some The Drones' most enduring songs … The intensity of the songs was tempered with Liddiard's affable, funny and engaging manner between songs … The tales, sung with Liddiard's cracked and damaged vocals, cut right to the core of humanity's morality, corruption, and search for redemption. Amazing stuff.”
Polaroids Of Androids – 27 February 2009

“For fans of Liddiard’s verse, the unplugged show was a way to experience its horrible, apocalyptic glory free from rock postures and the distracting volume of amplification. His is a savage vision and one that’s often based in the past, but somehow it still feels more relevant than a thousand columnists in The Weekend Australian trying to give utterance to similar themes. If you haven’t listened yet, listen. And if The Drones’ screeching guitar hurts your ears, read the lyrics instead. As for Liddiard, if he plays solo again, don’t miss it. He’s likeable, he’s brilliant and he’s ours. And for better or for worse, compatriots, we’re his too.”
Musicfeeds.com.au – 5 March 2009

“You can certainly hear the influence of that period's dark local underground in The Drones' capacity for assault and febrile movement, not to mention singer Gareth Liddiard's lean charisma and often brilliant lyrical ability.”
Sydney Morning Herald – 30 October 2008

“But it was in the final song for this evening, Sixteen Straws, when Liddiard broke a string and declared that he doesn’t do encores, that the crowd really showed their appreciation for the talented fellow who happens to front one of Australia’s most loved underrated music success stories.”
Fasterlouder.com.au – 12 March 2009

New Single from The Bedroom Philosopher

The Bedroom Philosopher - 'Northcote (So Hungover)' by HeapsaWill

In the lead-up to his third studio album Songs From The 86 Tram (set for release April 2 through Shock), wit-hot maverick The Bedroom Philosopher has officially unleashed new single Northcote (So Hungover), the follow up to previous single Tram Inspector (Inpress Single Of The Week – Dec 09).

Already on high rotation on triple J, new track Northcote (So Hungover) is a searing slice of scenester satire, and possibly the first time someone has dared attempt to capture the 'nu Australian' accent. From beneath the safety of a long fringe, our antagonist protagonist 'uh's' and 'yeah's' his way through the exploits of his band, giving you the intimacy of an overheard conversation in the comfort of your own phones.

The Bedroom Philosopher may have achieved the perfect blend between humour and music, his tighter-than-your-jeans band of hipster slayers The Awkwardstra, laying down a surefire shoegaze rock bed, the relentless 4/4 chug, driving the song forward on a one way route to cooltown. Finally, a playful point is struck against the Vice magazine army of Gen-Y fashionistas that hide behind trash fashion and fixed gear aloofness.

Northcote (So Hungover) follows in the footsteps of The Bedroom Philosopher’s 2005 hits I’m So Postmodern, Folkstar and Golden Gaytime, his ironic quick-wit comedy finding a cozy niche on Triple J and community radio Australia wide. Shows everywhere from The Melbourne International Comedy Festival to the Big Day Out are augmented by The Bedroom Philosopher’s (aka Justin Heazlewood) position as senior writer for national mag Frankie, his regular sketch comedy show on Triple R ‘Lime Champions’, and even a recent stint as a young John Safran on ‘Race Relations’.

With his new album Songs From The 86 Tram The Bedroom Philosopher has levelled the playing field as every demographic gets their turn; from Aussie hip-hop wannabees to bogans to backpackers, the middle aged and the elderly. The album has been sculpted from his award-winning 2009 Comedy Festival show of the same name, and was created with the help of producer Chris Scallan (Avalanches, Akon, Baz Luhmann's Australia), Harry Angus on brass, as well as his smokin' hot band The Awkwardstra.

New single Northcote (So Hungover) is at radio nationwide and available on iTunes now

Solo national tour dates are tba for April / May but in the interim, Melbournites can catch The Bedroom Philosopher at MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL playing Songs From The 86 Tram:

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL

Songs >From The 86 Tram

Thursday March 25 to Sunday April 18 – Victoria Hotel, Melbourne*

215 Little Collins

$23.50 / $19.50 conc. | Bookings www.ticketmaster.com.au or 1300 660 013

9:45 pm (8:45pm on Sundays & no Mondays)

“...ample musical invention flavours his dreams of alien abduction, caged bears and Jesus on Big Brother, and unlike the accidentally funny troubadours out there, he knows a joke should have a point.”

Michael Dwyer, The Age

"As far as the greater population is concerned, I weep for musical comedy artists in this post-Flight Of The Conchords (*on HBO) age; Joe and Jo Blow tend to be able to stomach only one of each "thing" currently in the zeitgeist. However, their ignoring of other musically inclined funny people is their loss, because The Bedroom Philosopher's hysterical skewering of meat-headed ticketing inspectors falls somewhere between a Fame-era Bowie slink and inspirational Hunners balladry. I like my musical comedy to, as the name suggests, be musically captivating first, funny second. Luckily, with Tram Inspector, both come equal first."

Clem Bastow, Inpress.

“It is (like the man himself) entirely enjoyable, entirely likeable, and entirely odd”

Timothy Bocquet, BMA

Check out more of the Bedroom Philosopher's songs here: www.myspace.com/thebedroomphilosopher

Northcote (So Hungover) is available now on iTunes

Album Songs From The 86 Tram is out April 2 through Shock

The Dynamites feat. Charles Walker Set to Tour Australia

www.thedynamites.net/

www.myspace.com/thedynamitesband

Touring This April In Support Of Their First Australian Release 'Burn It Down'

“New York City has the Dap-Kings, the retro funk and soul band that recently backed Amy Winehouse. Nashville has the Dynamites, whose approach is about three-quarters James Brown — especially mid-1960s James Brown — with touches of Memphis, Motown and New Orleans. “
The New York Times

Direct from Nashville, Tennessee, deep soul 10-piece The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker are preparing to make their first trip to Australia this April. In support of their first Australian release Burn It Down (out April 2nd through MGM), The Dynamites play the East Coast Bluesfest in Byron as well as their own headline sideshows.

Soul music is here to stay, and it’s still evolving. The Dynamites Featuring Charles Walker are living proof. Lead singer Charles Walker doesn’t imitate, emulate or try to resuscitate a bygone nostalgic era. He is soul, the real deal, still carrying the flaming torch of funk and soul lit back in the late 60’s at the Apollo Theater where he opened up for icons like James Brown and Wilson Pickett.

The Dynamites have proven that national treasures of soul and funk like Charles Walker still walk amongst us. What’s more, the fresh songwriting approach of Dynamite band leader Bill Elder, a.k.a. Leo Black, continues to push the deep funk envelope, propelling Walker to sound equally at home singing a scorching hot, up-tempo rocker as he does on a heart wrenching 60’s-style soul ballad.

A 2008 article in USA Today included The Dynamites in the short list of “acts that are wowing live audiences coast to coast with fresh songs and slamming performances.” The article also got it right in asserting the relevancy and freshness of the deep funk movement: “These critically lauded acts aren't cover bands, paying homage to old heroes. They're creating their own legacies in a genre that the industry seemingly shelved long ago.”

Apropos to being timely, The Dynamites second album, Burn It Down has something to say about life right now. From its raw opening notes, it wastes no time getting to the gritty heart of the matter. Punctuated by staccato horn section bursts and Walker’s intense proclamation that “it’s been a long time coming,” the vibe evokes the ominous flames of incendiary times.

Their commitment to being a hard working touring act, throughout Europe and the U.S., has solidified an international following. When the band recently played the esteemed Austin City Limits Festival, a local journalist urged attendance but cautioned to: “just make sure you know where the nearest defibrillator is.” While their recordings capture much of the excitement, seeing the band live takes the experience to a whole other level. As Walker puts it: "You can only do so much on a record," he says. "The performance is a lot different. I can't stand doing songs exactly the same. I have to stretch out a little bit. That's part of my thing."

An essential authenticity comes across in The Dynamites music and message. Without a doubt, Burn it Down acknowledges that not all is right in the world, but it doesn’t get stuck there. Times might be rough and people might be grumbling about doomsday, but Charles Walker and The Dynamites are here to remind us that “it’s a sunny day.” Sure we could bitch and moan. But we could just as well get down to some funky assed grooves and burn that negativity down.

Some Quick The Dynamites feat. Charles Walker Facts

• Just played a 2-night New Year’s Eve stand with BAND OF HORSES Dec. 30-31, 2009 in Atlanta (The Tabernacle)

• Partial list of previous North American festival appearances: Bonnaroo (2007), ACL (2007), Jam Cruise (2009), Outside Lands (2008), Langerado (2008), Wakarusa (2008), Montreal Jazz Festival (2008), Ottawa Bluesfest(2008),
Voodoo Fest (2008)

• Opened for Dave Matthews Band 2 nights in Los Angeles (Staples Center). Toured with Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Widespread Panic, New Mastersounds, Galactic, Dirty Dozen Brass Band & James Hunter.

• Major press for album releases include feature articles in USA Today, Harp Magazine, The Tennessean,New York Times, Austin Chronicle & Boston Globe; Most recent national feature: Blues Review Magazine (11/09)

• Just completed SIXTH European month-long tour in two years. Festival and headline club dates

The Dynamites feat. Charles Walker Australian Tour

Thursday April 1 - The Esplanade Hotel, Melbourne
(www.espy.com.au)

Friday April 2nd - Byron Bay Bluesfest, Byron Bay
(www.bluesfest.com.au)

Saturday April 3rd – Step Inn, Brisbane
(www.myspace.com/stepinn)

Monday April 5th – Byron Bay Bluesfest, Byron Bay
(www.bluesfest.com.au)

Burn It Down is out April 2nd through MGM

“Old-school shouter Charles Walker joins the established eight-piece Nashville based Dynamites and the union is a match made in hard funk heaven.”
All Music Guide

“… nothing less than a new dictionary of old soul, hard funk, and vintage R&B.”
Boston Globe

www.thedynamites.net/

www.myspace.com/thedynamitesband

Best comment ever!

Anyone who uses Blogger is used to the occasional SPAM generated comment from god knows where but today i think i got the best one yet...

It Read, from user "3D Movie":

仇恨是一把雙刃劍，傷了別人，也傷了自己......

Which intrigued me primarily because i study Mandarin at uni. So i translate what i don't get and arrive at:

"The hatred is a double-edged sword, has injured others, also has injured self"

What exactly this has to do Bluejuice i may never know, but this def. takes the cake for randomness. Knowing full well that comments like this don't really come from real people i feel compelled to answer it anyway. So...

3d電影:

停止发送同样的消息到多个新闻组我的网站笨蛋!

谢谢您.

I'd love to hear more competitors for random music blog comments, especially ones with answers inspired by Mr. T like that one above...

Bluejuice 'Ain't Telling the Truth' Tour Dates Announced

Bluejuice are dainty fellows. They know how to set a dining table, and they know the call of a rainbow lorikeet when they hear one. They’re too polite to take the last hors d’oeuvre, and they walk on the outside of a footpath to protect their lady-friends from a vehicular drenching on a rainy day. Bluejuice are your seats down, coats around, and doors open type of guys.

It’s a shame then that these suggestions of good manners boil away to nothing in the face of a deep-seated psychological need to lie. They lie to their grandmothers. They lie to their Chihuahuas. They lie to their manager about writing relevant press releases.

Bluejuice’s new single Ain’t Telling The Truth is an homage to their passion for the lie. The only thing truthful about the song is the title that it ain’t telling the truth. It’s one of those songs with a descriptive title (much like Stevie Winwood’s Valerie was most likely about someone named Valerie). It is the second single from their second album Head Of The Hawk.

But the real truth is that the single follows the giant success of ‘Broken Leg’ which picked up an ARIA nomination for ‘Breakthrough Song of the Year’ and hit the #5 slot on the world’s biggest music poll ‘Triple J’s Hottest 100’. The video scored ‘Video of the Year’ nods from Rage, Myspace and iTunes and it has sold more than a whopping 50,000 copies and still going strong.

And from March 31st through to until May 9th the band will take that mix of manners and miss-truths and The Holidays on the road with the “Ain’t Telling The Truth Tour” proudly presented by Nova, Video Hits, and Myspace.

Ain’t Telling The Truth Tour Dates with special guest The Holidays.

Tickets on sale 9:00am Monday 22nd February

WEDNESDAY 31 MARCH – ARMIDALE UNI, ARMIDALE
Tickets: $29 P
Tickets available from www.bigtix.com.au and UNE Services Retail Shop.

THURSDAY 1 APRIL – METRO THEATRE, SYDNEY
Tickets available from www.metrotheatre.com.au or the Metro Theatre Box Office – 02 9550 3666

FRIDAY 2 APRIL – NEWCASTLE PANTHERS, NEWCASTLE
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au 1300 GET TIX or Moshtix Outlets

SATURDAY 3 APRIL – DOYALSON RSL, DOYALSON
Tickets available from DOYALSON RSL Reception or by calling 02 4390 0622

WEDNESDAY 7 APRIL – ROI BAR, ALBURY
Tickets available from Oztix www.oztix.com.au or 1300 762 545

THURSDAY 8 APRIL – EUREKA HOTEL, GEELONG
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au 1300 GET TIX or Moshtix Outlets

FRIDAY 9 APRIL – PRINCE OF WALES, MELBOURNE
Tickets available from www.princebandroom.com.au, venue box office or phone the venue on 03 9536 1168 (10am - 6pm, Monday to Friday). Also available from Greville Records (Prahran 03 9510 3012), Missing Link (City 03 9650 8208) and Polyester Records (Fitzroy 03 9419 5137).

SATURDAY 10 APRIL – KAROVA LOUNGE, BALLARAT
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au or 1300 762 545 and New Generation

SUNDAY 11 APRIL – THE SOUNDS LOUD ALL AGES FESTIVAL, MOONEE VALLEY

15 APRIL – ANU BAR, CANBERRA
Tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849 and via ANU Ticketek Box Office – Level 1, Administration Office, Union Building (above the Bar).

FRIDAY 16 APRIL – UNI OF TASMANIA, TASMANIA
Tickets available from TUU Contact Centre 03 6226 2495 and www.moshtix.com.au

SATURDAY 17 APRIL – HOTEL NEW YORK, LAUNCESTON
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au and Mojo Music, 81 Brisbane Street Launceston 03 6334 5677

FRIDAY 23 APRIL – HI FI, BRISBANE
Tickets available from www.oztix.com.au and all Oztix Outlets and http://tickets.thehifi.com.au

SATURDAY 24 APRIL – COOLANGATTA HOTEL, COOLANGATTA
Tickets available from Oztix www.oztix.com.au or 1300 762 545

SUNDAY 25 APRIL – GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL, BYRON BAY
Tickets available from Hotel Great Northern Mon - Fri 9-5PM (Jonson St, Byron Bay), on 02 6685 6454 and Oztix www.oztix.com.au or 1300 762 545

THURSDAY 29 APRIL – WOLLONGONG UNI, WOLLONGONG
Tickets available from www.bigtix.com.au / UNISHOP (42218050) / REDBACK MUSIC (422961169)

FRIDAY 30 APRIL – KATOOMBA RSL, KATOOMBA
Tickets available from the venue and Oztix www.oztix.com.au or 1300 762 545

SATURDAY 1 MAY – PANTHERS, BATHURST
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au 1300 GET TIX or Moshtix Outlets

WEDNESDAY 5 MAY – THE GOV, ADELAIDE (ALL AGES)
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au 1300 GET TIX or Moshtix Outlets, www.venuetix.com.au, over the bar at The Gov (11am-9pm Mon-Sat) or phone 08 8340 0744 (11am-9pm Mon-Sat)

THURSDAY 6 MAY – NEWPORT HOTEL, FREMANTLE
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au 1300 GET TIX or Moshtix Outlets

FRIDAY 7 MAY – PRINCE OF WALES, BUNBURY
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au 1300 GET TIX or www.heatseeker.com.au

SATURDAY 8 MAY – CAPITOL, PERTH
Tickets available from www.moshtix.com.au or Moshtix Outlet

www.bluejuice.info/