Hungry Kids of Hungary - The Factory Theater 12/11/2010

I'd never been to the factory theater before and for some stupid reason I was shocked when we arrived at a Factory in Marrickville. I found out a week before the gig that Hungry Kids of Hungary were being supported by Ball Park Music and Big Scary and was excited to hear that. I've heard a bit of both support bands being played on Triple J lately so I looked forward to a night of new exciting discoveries.

Ball Park Music were already on when we arrived and it seemed as though they'd sectioned the front half of the space for under 18's. These guys were so young and passionate and excitable it was really endearing. They are damn good and currently have a few tracks on Triple J, iFly is a cracker and Sad Rude Future Dude is so freaken catchy it should come with a warning. I love the way these guys make such taboo lyrics sound cute, 'I haven't had a friend in years, I only have sex with myself'' is one I find particularly humorous.

When these guys were done, Big Scary were up next, I knew these guys were a two piece but I wasn't expecting such a mis-matched looking duo. He looked like a country singer and she looked...well to be honest, she looked a little deranged, wearing a nannary dress with a self cut hair do and bashing on the drums so frantically I thought she was having a seizure, but Holy Toledo was she good!!! These guys do a bit of everything, they have punk songs, roots songs, indie songs, classical songs! I've never heard a band work their way through so many genres, very entertaining, if you have the opportunity to see these guys, do it!
BTW if you don't like spiders, DO NOT do a google image search for 'Big Scary'!!!

Last but certainly not least was Hungry Kids of Hungary and these guys are always good! I love their sweet poppy indie sound, I've heard people talk about 'Cuddle-Rock', and these guys fit into this charmingly named genre perfectly. By the time they got on, the stage was filled with blow up palm trees giving it a very surreal holiday vibe. Highlights were Wrist Watch, Let you Down, and Set it Right, with my fav being Arrest This Heart (that song certainly does!) These guys seem like nice people, who write nice music, with nice haircuts and outfits, its all very nice and maybe nice isn't for everyone, but for me there is just nothing not to love about them! Musically they are very tight and sound as though they have been playing together years longer than they have been. It was such a great night and I really felt like I got my moneys worth! For $15 I got to see 3 of Australia's new up and comers do what they do best! Bargain!

Location:HKoH

Loving this track - Rapunzel - Drapht

The track opens to somthing similar to Nirvana's About a Girl and gets better from there. I love this track and I know some fans are pissed that Drapht sings in this. OMG how dare a rapper sing in one of his songs, whatever, I give credit to good music, especially if its breaking barriers and still sounds good!
The film clip is a little lame, didnt impress me but the tune was enough for me.
Check it out, enjoy.

Pendulum - The Horden 05/11/2010

I know I know, it's been ages since my last post. Life is hectic when you're planning a wedding! Enough whinging and onto the music!

When I found out Pendulum were playing at the Horden I was pumped. I've seen them at a Big Day Out but seeing them in an enclosed venue was going to go off! Especially with the release of their brilliant latest album Immersion which has so many amazing tracks on it. Sure they may have overused the word SYDNEY in hyping up the crowd, and yes the smoke machine might have been over kill by my God these Perth exports tore the roof off the Horden and turned the crowd into a psychotic sweaty mess!

The support DJ Shockone had the crowd dancing and everyone seemed to be in the mood as though we all knew what was to come. It was interesting watching the different groups of people, the really young surfie kids scantily clad, the guys outfits looking disturbingly similar to the girls, and the goth old school ravers in black and fluro with glow sticks. I find it hypnotic to watch ravers dance, they always have skills.

The opening horns of Genesis floated magically out over the audience and filled the room. When Pendulum came on the crown erupted into dance as the music kicked up a notch and the place was a billion degrees in minutes. Didn't help that we were standing with a row to ourselves right at the back of the right hand stand watching all the steam rise to our level. Guys removed their shirts and I removed my stinken hot leggings and continued to dance like there was no tomorrow, sweating up a storm.

They played old favs like Fasten Your Seatbelt and Hold Your Colour and my all time favourite Tarantula was easily my highlight of my night! Loads of new track were played, such as Salt In The Wounds and Witchcraft. I really had no time to make notes because I was too busy dancing. I decided to put the note pad down and just take it all in, the energy, the noise, the movement, the band, the amazing lights and everyone else around me having a ball. It was a bit of an 'other worldly' experience and I was so impressed with how well Rob Swire's voice live matched the fantastic albums.

They had everyone chanting A, B, C! A, B, C! before they came on for an encore that began with their mind boggling reworking of the traditional ABC News theme.With everyone feeling thoroughly satisfied they finished the night kicking everyone in the face with their killer track Watercolour.

Whether you like Drum and Bass or dancey fast paced rock or whatever the hell you want to call Pendulum these days as they morph into a genre of their own, one things for sure, these boys always deliver an amazingly tight, high energy value for money show. No one can deny they left the Sydney audience very satisfied, as well as exhausted and very, very sweaty!

Sunset Riot EP - Review

I was given the Sunset Riot EP by someone close to the band, and asked to take a listen to it. I got the feeling, if I liked it I should put it on the blog and if I didn't like it, no hard feelings. When I put it in the car cd stacker and took a listen what I heard wasn't what I expected.
These guys have been born into the wrong era for sure! This young Sydney band have a sound that is so traditionally rock and roll they sound like they should have been opening for ACDC or Guns N Roses 15 years ago.The lead singer has a really interesting voice and occasionally sounds like he's channelling Bowie.

My favorite song on the 5 track EP is Rain. It has this amazing guitar riff at the beginning that features all through the track and definitely gets stuck in my head. Whilst Sunset Riot aren't of the sort of genre I usually listen to, their talent is obvious and I can appreciate the killer old school rock sound these guys kick out!

We should always do our best to support local talent so keep your ears out Sunset Riot. I've seen on their facebook page they doing what they can to get on next years BDO Sydney line up and they're in contention to support Bon Jovi in December. Check out their website http://www.sunsetriot.com/ for their massive list of upcoming gigs. Take a listen to Rattlesnake which I've added below.

Loving this track - Can it Wait by Illy featuring Owl Eyes

The Chase by Illy was the feature album on Triple J last week and I heard a few tracks that I really liked. A stand out one for me that I've heard a few times was definitely 'Can it Wait'. I love the female vocals by Owl Eyes a singer from Melbourne and the beat is quite poppy and very catchy. I had friends see him perform at The Coaster Festival we went to recently, I was cheking out someone else at the time but they said he was great.
Love it.

Paramore Entertainment Center 15/10/10

Last time Paramore came to the country for Soundwave I thought long and hard and decided not to go. I couldn't justify going to a festival mainly to see 1 band, especially a band I was slightly embarrassed to admit I liked. So when I found out they were touring again by themselves I was in!

They were supported by US band Relient K and not surprisingly the tween filled crowd knew every word to most of their songs (I've never heard of them). They had a pop punk sound, a very young sound, not unlike Blink 182. Much to my delight they played a cover of Toto's Africa. I think everyone else was too young to know it but considering we were the oldest people there we appreciated it (I went with my Mum...shut up she's cool!)

After we'd had a few champagnes out of little plastic cups, and to a roaring screaming crowd Paramore emerged from behind the big black curtain. They started with a few tracks off Brand New Eyes, Ignorance, Playing God and Careful. The crowd, from our higher vantage point were amazing and huge! That's the good thing about a young crowd, everyone was so energetic and just out to have a good time! They played several tracks of their old albums which the crowd also enjoyed.


The youthful Tennessee band were so amazing, much more than I thought possible and I enjoyed myself so much I thought I was going to bust at one point! I may have developed a girl crush on amazing Hayley Williams. With her fiery red hair like Florence, she has such a powerful voice and at 21 seems really grounded and professional and like the rest of the band, passionate about her music. 

They energetically punched out a huge gig and I struggled to see anyone not having a great time. Maybe it was because I went in with low expectations of the band and with the notion that I was going to be annoyed constantly by 12 year olds dressed inappropriately, but I was left shocked and amazed! The audience weren't too bad and the band was phenomenal I'm not ashamed to say. It's a big call but I'm putting Paramore up along side Vampire Weekend for Gig of 2010!! Next time they come back, I'm there!


Here is a KOL cover I heard a while ago, and while Kings of Leon aren't what they used to be, Paramore do a fantastic job of covering their track Use Somebody.

Love this track - Gotye - Eyes Wide Open

I missed the boat in 2006 when Gotye had his rapid rise to fame in Australia, due to fact that I spent 18 months out of the country, but I remember coming home and hearing my brother raving about this talented guy. He has a new track out Eyes Wide Open which to me sounds much more mature and possibly a little more commercial than the experimental stuff off his previose album, but thats not necessarily a bad thimg. On the contrary this new track is fantastic and full of sound and layers. Some things never change and typically Goyte, it is a very emotive track which makes my heart swell.  I love it, and I hope you will too. Cant wait to see him play at Laneway early next year.