Book Accompanied by a side project

So I have been thinking recently and just said that this book/thesis is going to take the latter part of 6 months so why not a get started from the beginning? This, of course, means that I am going to put together a little history of modern rock. After seeing bands over the last five years reach such huge reception like Paramore, Jimmy Eat World and Fall Out Boy that I would work on the history of these bands and a few others.

1. Punk Rock
2. Hardcore Punk
3. Alternative/Punk
4. Ska Punk
5. Pop Punk

These will be the contents of it I think at the moment. Going to start doing it tonight. I also want to get some permission from some of the acts so I can get a detailed history of the bands.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3

Paramore - Courtesy of Drum Media

Openers, Kiwi duo The Jury & The Saints, have nit been around long, but you would not guess it with their confident stage show. Using samples to fatten up the sound produced by a powerhouse, back-flipping drummer and energetic guitarist/singer, the band sounded like the electronic-laced music of the new Good Charlotte, just a whole lot more fun. A cover of Tail Cruz's Dynamite and new single, Brand New, both got huge reactions from a quickly filling floor.

Christian pop/punkers Relient K took the stage next with a well-honed live set. The band played the three singles from Breakout album, Mmhmm, and drew heavily from most recent album, Forget And Not Slow Down. Sadly, a muddy mix made it difficult to hear their intricate, piano-laced pop/punk; for the majority of the set, the kick drum, one guitar and vocals were all that cur through. A cover of Toto's Africa seemed an odd choice considering the median age of the crowd wad about 15, but it was well received and featured a killer keyboard solo.

The crowd erupted as a black shroud dropped to reveal the new Paramore launching into Ignorance - with a sixth member, a huge show and confidence to boot. Hayley Williams showed why she deserving of all the praise heaped on her, as her vocal performance was incredible and it was amazing to hear such a powerful voice emitted from such a young, energetic performer.

Williams wasn't lying when she said the crowd could expect something akin to Soundwave, "but with heaps more songs." The band played a 16-song set pulling material from all of their three albums. Williams and guitarist paid homage to their Nashville roots with an acoustic cover of Loretta Lynn's You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man) and set the stage for an acoustic intermission, bringing a couch on stage. Showing their versatility, Paramore played lounge versions of When It Rains, Where The Lines Overlap and Misguided Ghosts, which gave an illusion of intimacy in such a big venue. The band closed with a rocked-up version of The Only Exception and solified their stadium rock status with pyrotechnics during the final chorus.

A literally deafening encore chant brought the band back out for Brick By Boring Brick and a rendition of Misery Business with Australian Idol winner Stan Walker and Farrow stripping down to reveal Aussie flag boxers.

- Dave Drayton

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3

Introduction to the Book

Hey guys.

So, I am going to give you a brief insight into how the book is going to work. I am planning to begin with a foreword by a respected musician on the topic of authenticity of music and then my own introduction before entering the realm of soul, jazz and blues in the early 1900s.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3

Paramore Revisited

Paramore, on the top of their game after touring North America with New Found Glory and Tegan and Sara on the Honda Civic Tour 2010 they enter down under on a high, back for another stint in Australia for the second time in 2010.

Back in February, they entertained Sydney with their half hour Soundwave set, making sure they kept it short fast and loud, while still promoting Brand New Eyes, and its upbeat tracks off the record like Ignorance and Brick By Boring Brick. Sure enough we knew that Paramore wouldn't leave Sydney without play the highly anticipated sideshow, featuring Rolo Tomassi.

Since, Paramore weren't headliners at Soundwave 2010 due to the Mega lineup that included Faith No More, Jimmy Eat World and Placebo. Nevertheless Sydney was entertained by Paramore at The Big Top at Luna Park, Milson's Point. Showcasing a full set, it was a fitting loud and fast performance, yet the venue didn't give them the praise that they should of, with a small and compacted arena. However, Hayley and her crew proved to SYDNEY that they are the band to be, further emphasized after claiming the KERRANG! Award for Album of the Year with Brand New Eyes.

Their arrival was imminent for Sydney siders and we see the band put on a huge sell out show at the Sydney Entertainment Centre with support from The Jury and the Saints and Relient K.

The clock was ticking down to 930, around the time when the headliner act would appear on stage. Nonetheless, the environment was vibrant and so was the introduction of Paramore to Sydney this time around. Opening with Ignorance, expected by most of the fans out there, it would be a night of promotion of Brand New Eyes, with the whole album being played throughout the night. The crowd grew excited and warm towards the ever vibrant Hayley Williams as Paramore kicked off the show with Feeling Sorry and fan favourites That's What You Get and For A Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic. As, the show progressed the crowd grew in energy and love towards the Nashville 5-piece and the noise erupted with the opening track of the first Twilight soundtrack - Decode. A title that the band accepts as the Twilight band has brought them a new group of young fans, and it seeks that every Twilight fans loves Hayley and Paramore.

Of course, Paramore entertained us through the middle of the feature set with their acoustic songs, many of which appeared on Brand New Eyes. Opening with a cover of Loretta Lynn and followed by When It Rains and Misguided Ghosts, the reception of their slower and softer material was positive all the way through the absense of distortion and sustain.

Of course, we were all waiting for the return to their loud and fast material and it didn't take long. Re-introducing themselves as rock giants they returned with Looking Up and the long awaited acrobatics that accompanies the feature single from All We Know Is Falling, Pressure. Of course, they finished up their set with The Only Exception onto a huge reception by the Sydney Crowd.

A short wait for the encore and the return of the band back to stage, with the sing-a-long and feature single from Brand New Eyes - Brick By Boring Brick. What other way to bring the house down? MISERY BUSINESS! The popular track from Riot! blew the minds of fans and every member of the audience got into it to make the sold out show a night to remember! Paramore brought energy, youth and noise to the table tonight and they put on a show to remember for fans and performers alike.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3

Storm's Coming

There are a lot of good things about The Jezebels' new EP Dark Storm. For instance, it marks the final in the trilogy of three EPs as well as the fact that it is in itself, a great listen. A shining light amongst the negative coonotations of the word 'indie', their moody discourse is given amplified atmosphere live.

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3

Book in the Making

Boys and Girls,

I am having a book in the making. I see it as a future collaboration project about the authenticity of music and in particular popular music. At the moment, I am looking for writers and ideas but at the moment I am going to start off in the early 1900s and the emergence of blues and jazz as part of popular music.

For as for the big project, I don't know how long it will take or even it will be published, but I aim to get it done at some point in the near future. As for now, I have come with a title.

"How Does It Feel Be Unoriginal?"

Charts Update

U.S. (from Billboard)

Alternative Songs

1) Linkin Park - The Catalyst
2) Cage The Elephant - In One Ear
3) Neon Trees - Animal
4) Dirty Heads feat. Rome - Lay Me Down
5) Phoenix - Lisztomania
6) Brandon Flowers - Crossfire
7) Rise Against - Savior
8) Anberlin - Impossible
9) Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man
10) Switchfoot - The Sound


Alternative Albums

1) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
2) Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare
3) Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
4) Soundtrack - Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
5) Hey Monday - Beneath It All (EP)
6) Black Keys - Brothers
7) Jack Johnson - To The Sea
8) Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
9) Nickelback - Dark Horse
10) Paramore - Brand New Eyes


U.K. (from BBC)

Indie Songs

1) Katy B - Katy On A Mission
2) Example - Kickstarts
3) DJ Fresh - Gold Dust
4) Count & Sinden feat. Mystery Jets - After Dark
5) Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
6) Adele - Make You Feel My Love
7) Xx - Islands
8) Caspa & Mr. Hudson - Love Never Dies (Back For The First)
9) Kano - Upside
10) Vampire Weekend - White Sky


Indie Albums

1) Xx - Xx
2) Vampire Weekend - Contra
3) Example - Won't Go Quietly
4) Dizzee Rascal - Tongue N'cheek
5) Union - The Union
6) Jedward - Planet Jedward
7) Mogwai - Special Moves
8) Temper Trap - Conditions
9) Faithless - The Dance
10) Prodigy - Invaders Must Die

Charts - August 16

U.S. (from Billboard)

Alternative Songs

1) Cage The Elephant - In One Ear
2) Dirty Heads feat. Rome - Lay Me Down
3) Linkin Park - The Catalyst
4) Neon Trees - Animal
5) Phoenix - Lisztomania
6) Rise Against - Savior
7) Brandon Flowers - Crossfire
8) 30 Seconds To Mars - This Is War
9) Shinedown - The Crow And The Butterfly
10) Phoenix - 1901


Alternative Albums

1) Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
2) Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare
3) Buckcherry - All Night Long
4) Jack Johnson - To The Sea
5) Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
6) Black Keys - Brothers
7) Soundtrack - Twilight Saga: Eclipse
8) Korn - Remember Who You Are
9) Secondhand Serenade - Hear Me Now
10) Nickelback - Dark Horse


U.K. (from BBC)

Indie Songs

1) Example - Kickstarts
2) DJ Fresh - Gold Dust
3) Xx - Islands
4) Fake Blood - I Think I Like It
5) Basshunter - Saturday
6) Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
7) Dizzee Rascal - Dirtee Disco
8) Radical Face - Welcome Home Son
9) Dizzee Rascal - Bonkers
10) Vampire Weekend - White Sky


Indie Albums

1) Xx - Xx
2) Vampire Weekend - Contra
3) Skream - Outside The Box
4) Example - Won't Go Quietly
5) Jedward - Planet Jedward
6) Chicane - Giants
7) Dizzee Rascal - Tongue N'cheek
8) Katie Melua - The House
9) Caitlin Rose - Own Side Now
10) Prodigy - Invaders Must Die

Top 10 Albums (for a Desert Island)

So, a few months ago I had a conversation with a close friend about something similar to this, with the 10 albums that I would take on my deserted island. These are in no particular order.

Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking
Pixies - Doolittle
The Beatles - The Beatles
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
Sex Pistols - Anarchy in the UK
The Cure - Disingtegration
Pink Floyd - The Wall
The Runaways - The Runaways
Journey - Escape
NOFX - Punk in Drublic

She and Him

So usually I would stray away from any Hollywood actor/actress that him the music scene, especially the popular ones - of most recent times: Cyrus, Duff, Lohan and the list goes on. But, here I am going to break the rules. She and Him is an indie pop duo with Hollywood actress, Zooey Deschanel and indie singer-songwriter, Matt "M. Ward" Ward and have made some quiet success over the last 5 years, most prominent with their Volume 2 record which was released earlier in 2010.

Most know Deschanel from her appearances on Elf, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Manic and (500) Days of Summer. This side project, which in turn has seemingly become a major one for her has produced a relative amount of success without the mainstream pop title being labelled towards it. Her beautiful and innocent voice that she presents on She and Him EPs and 2 albums does she that she actually does have musical talent and her collaborations with M. Ward work wonderfully, and believe it or not, she does most of the songwriting.

I will be posting reviews and analysis on She and Him's two records shortly...

Updated Charts

U.S. (from Billboard)

Alternative Songs

1) Cage The Elephant - In One Ear
2) Dirty Heads feat. Rome - Lay Me Down
3) Neon Trees - Animal
4) Phoenix - Lisztomania
5) 30 Seconds To Mars - This Is War
6) Brandon Flowers - Crossfire
7) Rise Against - Savior
8) Shinedown - The Crow And The Butterfly
9) Phoenix - 1901
10) Civil Twilight - Letters From The Sky

Alternative Albums

1) Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare
2) Jack Johnson - To The Sea
3) Korn - Remember Who You Are
4) Soundtrack - Twilight Saga: Eclipse
5) Black Keys - Brothers
6) Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
7) Best Coast - Crazy For You
8) Nickelback - Dark Horse
9) Godsmack - The Oracle
10) Various Artists - Vans Warped Tour 2010


U.K. (from BBC)

Indie Songs

1) Example - Kickstarts
2) DJ Fresh - Gold Dust
3) Basshunter - Saturday
4) Xx - Islands
5) Ash - Carnal Love
6) Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
7) Dizzee Rascal - Dirtee Disco
8) Fake Blood - I Think I Like It
9) Radical Face - Welcome Home Son
10) All Time Low - Weightless

Indie Albums

1) Xx - Xx
2) Jedward - Planet Jedward
3) Chicane - Giants
4) Vampire Weekend - Contra
5) Example - Won't Go Quietly
6) Buckcherry - All Night Long
7) Dizzee Rascal - Tongue N'cheek
8) Black Crowes - Croweology
9) Katie Melua - The House
10) Faithless - The Dance

Spontaneous Pop Quiz

Try this one! The answer is below question, highlight the text to discover the answer.

1. Which Kate Bush song did Nada Surf cover in their 2010 covers record - If I Had a Hi-Fi?

Love and Anger

2. Less Than Jake, ska punk outfit from Florida, USA refers to Fiorello's pet. What kind of animal is it?

A dog

3. The 2010 Honda Civic Tour is an annual concert tour in which a Honda Civic is the raffle prize. Paramore and Tegan and Sara were two of the three leading notable acts on the tour. Which band/artist was the third act?

New Found Glory

4. Morrissey's full name is (no middle name required):

Steven (Patrick) Morrissey

5. Johnny B. Goode is the classic rock and roll track by which famous rock and roller?

Chuck Berry

6. The Talking Heads first formed in Rhode Island with three of the members in 1974 performing as:

The Artistics

7. What is Keith Jarrett famous for doing during his recordings and live performances?

Singing/Humming

8. Why did Jimmy Eat World rename their 2001 record Bleed American to Jimmy Eat World?

They deemed it an inappropriate album title because of the events during September, 2001.

9. The Beatles' song - Yesterday was originally written with what words instead of 'yesterday'?

Scrambled Eggs

10. Who joined Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green to play with 'Shotgun Express'?

Rod Stewart

Blitzen Trapper - Destroyer Of The Void

Written and produced by frontman Eric Earley, Destroyer Of The Void is the fifth offering from the Portland band and sees the convergence of 60s folk, 70s country, 80s prog and contemporary indie. To illustrate this, the title track leaps from polite, mid-tempo country-folk to piano balladry through stomping indie rock and vocal harmonies within its six minutes. It may show the increased ambition on this album, but it's hardly the Bohemian Rhapsody it perhaps hopes to be.

The truth is that Blitzen Trapper are actually best when keeping things simple. THe Man Who Would Speak True proves this, with just acoustic guitar and howling harmonica accompanying this old-fashioned country yarn. "On a drunken night with a stolen gun/I show my lover as she made to run," Earley sings, and it's clear this man is a fine storyteller. "The judge sent me away/And they buried my Grace, yeah, the very next day."

Heaven And Earth is similarly simple with piano and strings allowing the song to breathe and The Tree - a lovely folk duet with Alela Diane - further illustrates this is a band that doesn't need to throw the kitchen sink at songs.

It seems a waste then - considering how mich heart this record has - that the six-piece litters it with unmemorable and fairly bland outings like Love And Hate. Alluding the arena rock, there is nothing specifically wrong with it, but it demonstrates the unnecessarily overblown nature of much of Destroyer Of The Void. In this case, less would most certainly have been more.

Deez Nuts - This One's For You

When I Killed The Prom Queen called it a day, drummer JJ Peters formed hardcore outfit Deez Nuts, and not only does he handle all of the drumming and vocal duties on their second album, The One's For You, but also a vast majority of guitars. Peters has called it some mates to add guest vocals, most notably Ollie Sykes from Bring Me The Horizon on the angst-driven If You Don't Know, Now You Know, aiding the record's collective and inclusive nature.

Deez Nuts tread the line between the guitar-driven simplicity of hardcore and hip hop-inspired vocals that are riddled with common themes of self-expression and pure, unabashed anger. The music has common themes as well, the tracks have driving rhythm sections and simple guitar lines. The Deez Nuts project is about creating an atmosphere and a mood, with less emphasis on musical technicality and a stronger focus on conveying their mood of being pissed off into the world.

Opening track Don't Call It A Comeback has an old school punk ethic at its core, whilst title track This One's For You is dedicated to the downtrodden, blue-collar worker and is, surprisingly, an endearing song - a prime example of the Deez Nuts vibe. On the other hand, the ode to his party crew DTD is simply about getting drunk and enjoying the ride. The same goes for Party Song, which takes a less subtle tack in inciting excessiveness. Peters provides the atmosphere for yoy to shake the working week off and forces you to enjoy the little things in life, music, your mates and good times.

Teenage Fanclub - Shadows

Bandwagonesque (1991) and Grand Prix (1995): two albums, both by Glaswegians Teenage Fanclub, which together constitute an epochal moment in joyous pop music. That no other album quite matches the glory of these two is of little consequence. Grand Prix alone is almost perfect. The band's meticulous fusion of My Bloody Valentine's noise, Neil Young's guitar work and Big Star's sunshine pop remains a watershed moment in songwriting history.

Shadows is the first Teenage Fanclub album in five years and happily, it wipes the floor with its predecessor, 2005's Man Made. In keeping with the Fannie's protocol, it is a balanced mix of songs by Norman Blake, Raymond McGinley and Gerard Love, and as always, Blake's songs shine just that little bit brighter. Here it's in Baby Lee, another rolled-gold TFC hit: a little bit cheeky, just earnest enough to be meaningful and catchy as all hell. And Dark Clouds is playful enough to warrant its too-cute, fiddle-heavy production. Yet the Bowie-esque The Past loses its momentum within its polish, and Shock And Awe flounders without distinction. That said, When I Still Have Thee overcomes its pretentious title by being impossibly nice. The folk-waltz of Live With The Seasons is also impeccable, and the almost Beach House sunshine of Sweet Days Waiting and The Back Of My Mind actually work. It's not the Fannies' best - since toning down the Neil Young and the MBV, the band was become one-sided - but it's a nice side to keep.

New Releases - Week of July 13 2010

Admiral Radley - I Heart California
Autechre - Move Of Ten
Calibro 35 - Ritornano Quellidi
Crowded House - Intriguer
Danger Mouse And Sparklehorse - Dark Night Of The Soul
Fat Joe - The Darkside Vol.1
Innocence Mission - My Room In The Trees
Korn - Korn III: Remember Who You Are
Tony Lucca - Rendezvous With The Angels
The Maine - Black & White
M.I.A. - MAYA
New Politics - New Politics
Panda Bear - Tomboy
School Of Seven Bells - Disconnect From Desire
Chris Shiflett & The Dead Pheasants - Chris Shiflett & The Dead Pheasants
Sting - Symphonicities
Sun Kil Moon - Admiral Fell Promises
Paul Wall - Heart Of A Champion
Zoroaster - Matador

Good Riddance - Farewell

For a lot of fans who tracked Good Riddance's rise from the Santa Barbara, Calif. punk world to its position as undisputed melodic-hardcore kings in the early '00s, the band's almost a force of nature. Mixing idealist, left-leaning lyrics, sizzingly heavy guitars and enough melody to sweeten both up, Good Riddance seemed to come out of nowhere with 1995's For God And Country to rule the edge hardcore world for nearly a decade and a half.

The truth is, the band didn't come out of nowhere, but just percolated on tiny regional labels as it perfected its sound on a bunch of splits and EPs. Now, with Good Riddance officially a done deal, the band dips back into its vaults and brings those early-days recordings to the surface. It also grabs a few other B-sides and rarities to fatten out the 21-track collection. If Capricorn One stands for anything, it's to remind us that Good Riddance didn't spring fully grown from Zeus' head, but spent years honing its craft in obscurity.

Longtime fans will enjoy watching as Good Riddance feels out its sound on early 7-inch singles, slowly morphing from another generic hardcore outfit into one whose chops and lyrical prowess were so difficult for its peers to match. That pretty much ensures that some of the tunes on the album aren't quite up to the standard Good Riddance would establish by its second album: "Class War 2000" juggles the mouthful of long-outdated fiscal policies like Reganomics and choppy, basic hardcore riffs. "Free" flogs the same ground musically, while singer Russ Rankin mixes his metaphors and targets, lashing out at pro-life activists and (sigh) the police as arms of the same sort of repressive culture. It's a little naïve, it paints in broad strokes, but it's still a good time out.

An early version of "Last Believer" gives fans the best glimpse at the burgeoning powerhouse Good Riddance would become. A slower, more restrained version than the sizzling cut on 1996's A Comprehensive Guide to Moderne Rebellion (Fat), holding it up against the album version is the most clear-cut example of how much the band grew: Capricorn One's version is lifeless and listless compared to the second take. Other songs showcase the band as it begins to hit its stride: There's a "Guilty of Being White" retread in "Me from Adam" that's slightly more than regurgitated Minor Threat, "Patriarch" is a scowling condemnation of American traditions and "Great Experiment," written during the sessions for 2006's My Republic, catches the band stretching its boundaries almost past breaking.

Capricorn One, like just about every other rarities collection by just about every other band, isn't nearly as good as a studio effort. That's to be expected. For a band like Good Riddance that thrived on honesty and openness, getting these old tunes to the fans is poetic: There's no secrets as Good Riddance goes to its grave. Hardcore warriors have to start somewhere, and on this album you'll see where Good Riddance got its start. The climb to greatness doesn't seem quite as steep now, does it? Now get off the computer and go start your own band.

Broken Social Scene - Forgiveness Rock Record

During their five-year hiatus, one could assume that Broken Social Scene frontman Kevin Drew had been trimming his garden of friends substantially. On Forgiveness Rock Record, he notes a mere seven collaborators - leaner indeed, compared with the 22 credited on their previously self-titled album. That said, he knows how to pick them, with Metric's Emily Haines, Stars' Amy Milan and the gorgeous Leslie Feist among the survivors. Perhaps ironically, then comes the forgiveness factor.

As the tile suggests, this is a rock and roll record that through its songs explores the emotional process of forgiving, forgetting and moving forward together. From the macro distress of World Sick to Haines' deeply personal Sentimental X's, it's thick with catharsis and human release. It's also the most song-based record the band has even mustered. Where You Forgot It In People was sprawling and tangential, Forgiveness Rock sets it up and knocks it down with steadier structures and that stronger rock inclination.

Co-produced by Tortoise/Sea and Cake drummer John McEntire, it's exactly as we remember their intense aesthetic only sharper, more focused and perhaps better behaved - much like the Broken Social Scene/Sea and Cake contrast. This may alienate those who fell for the granidose and immersing instrumentals of the band's recent history, though the joy here is within our human connection to story. It's a nice thought, and one that's terribly reliant. And after all, who couldn't use a little forgiveness?

The New Pornographers - Together

Put bluntly, The New Pornographers copped a lot of shit for their last release, Challengers, their 'mellow' album with a tonality that somehow escaped their power-pop fan base. It was by no stretch a bad record; if anything it was merely bland and smaller than its predecessors: Mass Romantic, Electric Version and Twin Cinema, three independently brilliant albums that each served to better the last.

Perhaps to avoid a similar fate, they're come out all guns blazing with Together, embracing that all-in quality so valuable to their first records. Neko Case is at her heady finest in The Crash Years, an earthy acoustic number up on the perils of First World economic depression. The graduating riffs of My Shepard build perfectly with jolting drums and moody strings, while Dan Bejar's three song credits play nicely against main-man Newman's more complex tendencies.

From the first dirtied strings of Moves to the flowing, upbeat keys of Your Hands (Together) it has all the markings of great New Pornos: the seminal harmonies, the jaunty acoustics, the dramatic twee of naturally suburban pop. It is more daring, more developed and at the same time, more relaxed.

Most important of all though, after the somewhat lacking Challengers, Together remembers all that's truly great about this band: their ability to build and destroy entire structures before the first chorus and lift songs to entirely different places with gorgeous melodies and wildly beautiful arrangements. This is smart pop music, beautiful and quirky with foundations set in simple stone.

May 25th 2010 Releases (US)

All Time Low - Straight To DVD [Live CD/DVD]
Marc Anthony - Iconos
Beach Fossils - Beach Fossils
Andy Bell - Non-Stop
Caw! Caw! - Bummer Palace
D.M. Stith - Heavy Ghost
Fyfe Dangerfield - Fly Yellow Mood
Dogg Pound - Keep On Ridin'
Karen Elson - The Ghost Who Walks
Far - At Night We Live
First Aid Kit - The Big Black And The Blue
Framing Hanley - A Promise To Burn
Grosvenor - Soft Return
It's Alive - Human Resources
Leela James - My Soul
Adam Kesher - Challenging Nature
Bettye LaVette - Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook
Marina And The Diamonds - The Family Jewels
Neverever - Angelic Swells
Peter Wolf Crier - Inter Be
John Prine - In Person & On Stage
Solvent - Subject To Shift
Stone Temple Pilots - Stone Temple Pilots
Tobacco - Maniac Meat
Tomorrows Bad Seeds - Sacred For Sale
Transient Songs - Cave Syndrome
Various Artists - Ultra Weekend 6
Widespread Panic - Dirty Side Down
Hank Williams III - Rebel Within
Keller Williams - Thief
Will Young - Leave Right Now

Glastonbury 2010

Friday

Pyramid Stage
U2
Dizzee Rascal
Vampire Weekend
Snoop Dogg
Willy Nelson
Corinne Bailey-Rae
Femi Kuti
TBA

Other Stage
The Flaming Lips
Hot Chip
Florence and the Machine
La Roux
Phoenix
The Courteeners
Gaslight Anthem
The Stranglers
The Magic Numbers
TBA

John Peel Stage
Groove Armada
The Black Keys
Mumford & Sons
Ellie Goulding
Kele
Bombay Bicycle Club
Tegan and Sara
TBA
De Staat
Chapel Club

West Holts Stage
Mos Def (with full live band)
Femi Kuti
Nouvelle Vague & Guests
Breakestra with Chali 2na
Bonobo
Mariachi El Bronx
Tune-Yards
Matthew Herbert Big Band

The Park Stage
The XX
Broken Bells
Special Guests
The Big Pink
Local Natives
Steve Mason
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Beth Jeans Houghton
Lissie
TBA
TBA

East Dance
DJ Fatboy Slim
Live Chase and Status
DJ Zane Lowe
Live Plan B
DJ Rob da Bank
Live Example
DJ Roger Sanchez
DJ TBA
DJ TBA

West Dance
DJ Boys Noise
DJ Simian Mobile Disco
Live Delphic
DJ Fake Blood
DJ Rusko
Live Chromeo
DJ Aeroplane
DJ Boy 8-Bit
DJ Hannah Holland


Saturday

Pyramid Stage
Muse
Scissor Sisters
TBA
TBA
Seasick Steve
Jackson Browne
Lightning Seeds
TBA

Other Stage
Pet Shop Boys
Editors
The Cribs
The National
Kate Nash
Imogen Heap
Coheed and Cambria
Reef
Two Door Cinema Club

John Peel Stage
Jamie T
Foals
The xx
Marina & The Diamonds
Delphic
Field Music
Cymbals Eat Guitars
Sophie Hunger
TBA

West Holts Stage
George Clinton with Parliament / Funkadelic
Jerry Dammers Spatial AKA Orchestra
Os Mutantes
Devendra Banhart
Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba
Phenomenal Handclap Band
Brother Ali
Troy Ellis & The Longshots

The Park Stage
Midlake
Laura Marling
TBA
Special Guests
Stornoway
Beach House
Strange Boys
Frankie & The Heart Strings
The Ballad of Britain
Peggy Sue
TBA

East Dance
Live N-Dubz
Live Chipmunk
Live Kelis
DJ DJ MistaJam
Live Tinie Tempah
Live Giggs
DJ Yasmin
Live Chiddybang
Live McClean
Live BashyLive Dubfire
DJ Nick Warren
Live Mix Hell
DJ Sander Kleinenberg
Live Banco de Gaia
DJ Riva Starr
Live Neville Staple
Live Dub Pistols
DJ TBA
Live Foreign Beggars
Live Donaeo
Live Roll Deep
DJ TBA

West Dance
Live Dubfire
DJ Nick Warren
Live Mix Hell
DJ Sander Kleinenberg
Live Banco de Gaia
DJ Riva Starr
Live Neville Staple
Live Dub Pistols
DJ TBA
Live Foreign Beggars


Sunday

Pyramid Stage
Stevie Wonder
Faithless
Jack Johnson
Ray Davies
Slash
Norah Jones
Paloma Faith
TBA

Other Stage
Orbital
lcd soundsystem
MGMT
We Are Scientists
Grizzly Bear
Temper Trap
The Hold Steady
Frightened Rabbit
TBA


John Peel Stage
Ash
Julian Casablancas
Broken Social Scene
Gang of Four
The Drums
Holy F***
These New Puritans
Everything Everything
TBA
Dan Mangan

West Holts Stage
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Toots & the Maytals
Quantic & his Combo Barbaro
Staff Benda Bilili
Dr John
Tunng
The Bees
Dizraeli and the Small Gods

The Park Stage
Empire Of The Sun
Dirty Projectors
TBA
Archie Bronson Outfit
TBA
Portico Quartet
Fionn Regan
TBA
Here We Go Magic
Travelling Band

East Dance
DJ Above & Beyond
Live Crystal Castles
DJ Filthy Dukes (DJ Set)
Live Professor Green
Live Reverend Sound System
Live Crystal Fighters

West Dance
Live Magnetic Man
DJ Jackbeats
Live Stanton Warriors
DJ Adam F
Live Blasted Mechanism
DJ Toddla T
Live Alex Metric Live
DJ South Central
Live Jaguar Skills
DJ A1 Bassline
Live Killaflaw
DJ Virus Syndicate

2010 Splendour In The Grass Lineup

The lineup for the 2010 Splendour in the Grass festival was announced this morning and it's pretty impressive!

Headlining are artists like The Strokes, The Pixies and LCD Soundsystem, plus you'll see Mumford & Sons and Florence & the Machine and stacks more.

Tickets for the event go on sale at 9am Thursday May 6 and this year Splendour will not be held at Byron Bay as usual. The new location is Woodfordia, QLD and the festival runs from Friday 30th July through to Sunday 1st August.

2010 Splendour In The Grass Lineup

The Strokes
Pixies
Frightened Rabbit
LCD Soundsystem
Broken Social Scene
The Drums
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Yeasayer
Mumford and Sons
The Temper Trap
Band Of Horses
Passion Pit
Florence and the Machine
Laura Marling
Grizzly Bear
Band Of Skulls
Surfer Blood
Alberta Cross
Two Door Cinema Club
Midlake
Foals
Goldfrapp
Jonsi
Ash
Scissor Sisters
The Ting Tings
Hot Chip
Ben Harper and the Relentless 7
We Are Scientists
Richard Ashcroft and the United Nations Of Sound
K-Os
Delphic
School Of Seven Bells
The Magic Numbers
The Temper Trap
Angus and Julia Stone
Empire Of The Sun
Wolfmother
The Vines
Tame Impala
Paul Kelly
Operator Please
Lisa Mitchell
Midnight Juggernauts
Little Red
Space Invadas
British India
Oh Mercy
The Middle East
Bluejuice
Washington
Whiteley
Dan Sultan
Cloud Control
Miami Horror
Clare Bowditch
Philadelphia Grand Jury
The John Steel Singers
Violent Soho
The Mess Hall
Jonathan Boulet
Boy and Bear
Gypsy and the Cat
Last Dinosaurs
Ernest Ellis
Tim and Jean
Yacht Club DJs

Splendour In The Grass Rumours 2.0

There's already been a few whispers as to which bands might play Byron Bay's Splendour In The Grass - the music festival that this year will be held at Woodford in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland (but every year prior has been at Belongil Fields in Byron Bay). One particularly reliable whisperer has mentioned the following acts as virtual lock ins:

The Pixies
The Strokes
Florence & The Machine
Smashing Pumpkins
Hot Chip
Mumford & Sons
LCD Soundsystem
Bat For Lashes

An intriguing list there's no doubt about that, but is there any truth to these rumours - thereby making them 'trumours'? We've analysed as much of the available data and studied the stats in order to come up with the most plausible odds for whether these names represent a legit lineup leak.

The Pixies

For: Last year Black Francis told NME that the Pixies would return to the studio to make their fifth album in 2010. "New Release" is often synonymous with "World Tour".
Against: They are playing in Australia at the moment so it's unlikely they would come back so soon. And they hate each other.
Odds: A major long shot at 100-1

The Strokes

For: They are about to finish recording their new album which means touring the new material. Australia is a likely destination because they love it here and they've never played Splendour.
Against: The Strokes also love Japan and might play Fuji Rock - which falls on the same weekend as Splendour.
Odds: Fab loves it. Julian loves it. They're a good bet at 7-1.

Florence & The Machine

For: She just killed it at Laneway and all her side shows were sellouts - the demand for mo Flo is strong. She's also doing a heap of Euro festivals in the middle of the year and her calendar is oddly blank over the Splendour weekend dates (30 July - 1 August 2010). Coincidence?
Against: Too soon to bother with the 15 hour flight from UK to here.
Odds: Decent at 10-1.

Smashing Pumpkins

For: Billy Corgan is a weird and unpredictable man so you just never know. A Greatest Hits-style Pumpkins set could be totally epic though...
Against: Billy Corgan is a weird and unpredictable man - i.e. he might be too busy being in love with Jessica Simpson.
Odds: Another long shot at 99-1.

Hot Chip

hot-chip

For: They should drop in to Oz to tour their latest album. Plus they've played Splendour before and killed.
Against: They have already been confirmed for Fuji Rock so they'll be in the right hemisphere, although that might also mean the cross over will be impossible and they won't be able to get here in time for Splendour.
Odds: 2-1. We are totally feeling Hot Chip for the first announcement.

LCD Soundsystem

For: They've got their new record coming out and already announced a world tour - without the Splendour weekend dates filled yet. They're confirmed for Fuji Rock too and there's no way Murphy would leave us out of the tour.
Against: Same issue as Hot Chip - the cross over time might make it impossible.
Odds: Nothing's impossible. Let's dance: 5-1 odds.

Bat For Lashes

For: Nothing specific. Pedestrian staff members just thinks Natasha Khan is totally hot. She also has never performed live in Australia as far as we know, and is currently "Not Available" for an Australian tour in 2010 suggesting she might already be locked in to an exclusive with a particular festival or promoter.
Against: She might be weirded out by desperate Aussie fan-bros and avoid.
Odds: We'll put the odds that Bat For Lashes to play Splendour at 20-1. The chance that any Pedestrian staff members will get to pants her? Not good.

RIP Malcolm

Malcom McLaren, the British entrepreneur and musician who's best known as the founder and ex-manager of the Sex Pistols, died Thursday morning. According to the Independent, the 64-year-old had been battling cancer.

The London native originally got involved in the music business through fashion, starting a clothing store in the city with his partner, Vivienne Westwood. After meeting the New York Dolls on a trip to the US in the early '70s, McLaren supplied the androgynous punk group with stagewear. After that modest success, his return to London in the middle of the decade changed his life permanently.

The clothing shop, now known as Sex, focused on bondage and S&M fashion and became central to the fledgling punk scene. Through acquaintances, McLaren began managing the Strand, a band that would eventually become the Sex Pistols. The band's lineup was cemented in 1975 when McLaren's friend and future Clash manager Bernie Rhodes spotted John Lydon. Intrigued by his fashion sense -- he sported green hair and a torn Pink Floyd shirt with "I hate" written above the band's name -- they had him audition for the band, creating Johnny Rotten.

The Sex Pistols released 1977's 'God Save the Queen' during Queen Elizabeth II's 25th anniversary celebration (aka Silver Jubilee) and to mark the occasion, McLaren planned for the band to perform the single on a boat outside Parliament. The ship was raided, McLaren was arrested and the legend of the Pistols grew, though it would be less than a year before they broke up.

In the following years, McLaren launched a career as a singer, releasing the hip-hop-influenced album 'Duck Rock' in 1983, with the songs 'Buffalo Gals' and 'Double Dutch' both reaching the Top 10 on the UK charts. Around this time, another McLaren-founded band, New Wave act Bow Wow Wow, had a hit with their cover of the '60s pop song 'I Want Candy.' In later years, McLaren collaborated with rappers like KRS-One and had several of his songs sampled by popular artists, including Mariah Carey and Eminem.

"He had been suffering from cancer for some time, but recently had been full of health, which then rapidly deteriorated," his spokesman, Les Molloy, told the Independent. "He died in New York this morning. We are expecting his body to be brought back to London and buried in Highgate Cemetery."

"For me, Malc was always entertaining, and I hope you remember that," Rotten said in a statement. "Above all else he was an entertainer and I will miss him, and so should you."

Splendour In The Grass Headliner Rumours

THE Splendour In The Grass line-up lotto game is in full tilt and if only half the bets are true, it's shaping up to be the hottest winter festival yet.

The Strokes seem all but confirmed as one of the headliners of the three-day event, which has had to move to Woodford this year thanks to the northern NSW NIMBYs stopping it from taking up residence at the purpose-built Yelgun site.

Other acts mooted for the 2010 event, which kicks off on July 30, include Scissor Sisters, Florence And The Machine, Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem, Jet, Mumford And Sons, The Middle East and Angus And Julia Stone.

A surprise late addition and potential headliner is the Pixies, who have a one-off concert in New Zealand on August 3 which has the bloggers speculating that they will stop into Woodford first.