Lily Allen, Datarock... and Live Music Madness.

Weekends just don't get better than the one I just had. I got to witness a truckload of gigs including Ash Grunwald, Lily Allen, Datarock and a few others and all of them were free. If you wish you were there or want to read about them.. I have done some reviews below. But don't just read about musical experiences. Make sure you go and check out live music regularly. There is nothing more exhilarating than hearing the screech of a guitar or the sound of a thousand humans clapping or that special silence that falls just after the end of a song before everyone applauds. It's magical.

Peace Out Cats.

Lily Allen
June 8th
The Tivoli
There were way too many people at the Tivoli on the night of the 8th of June. It was hard to get a drink, hard to get a free toilet and hard to see the stage. Most people arrived just before Lily’s set and didn’t get to witness The Cassette Kids and all their glory. With a pending album on the way and a spot supporting all of Lily’s sold out shows across the country these guys are destined for the big time. Platinum blonde Katrina Noorbergen entertained a quickly growing crowd to frisky tunes but such as ‘You Take It’ and the bands new addition, ‘Meant to Be’. The White sheet covering the whole stage left little room for the Cassette Kids to move about but when it was finally removed to reveal what was behind, the dry ice was so intense that nobody could see Ms Allen for the first two songs. Clad in a backless black tee-shirt with glittery war paint on her face, the rat bag songstress entertained and enthralled the scores of women (and a few men) who came to marvel at her. If there’s one thing worse than being amongst sweaty guys in a mosh pit, its being in a crowd of bitchy women who all want to get a piece of the action. Those issues aside, Lily’s set was fantastic, her British brattiness shone gallantly with the songstress even lighting up a few cigarettes during her set (Only to be told it was illegal but she didn’t care anyway. ‘Fuck You’ saw everyone in the audience singing at the top of their lungs with their forefingers high in the air. A cheeky encore saw Lily do a drum and bass then dub version of ‘Smile’ followed by an enjoyable cover of Britney’s ‘Womanizer’. For those lucky people who got to witness one of the hottest tickets in town this year, congratulations. I just wish more people knew the lyrics to her songs and didn’t just go to hear the hits. It seems as though true Lily fans are hard to come by these days. (Vivienne Hill)

Datarock
June 6th
The Zoo
Recession, what recession? It was clear that fans had spent their stimulus packages wisely to witness some serious Norwegian magic. There were lookalikes all over the shop in Red Jumpsuits but the real thing would have to wait. Gold Coasters ELKE Started off the night with some zesty new wave. Their set was short but sweet with some promising beats flowing out through The Zoo’s windows onto the street below. There couldn’t have been a more fitting Australian support to get the crowd well and truly hyped up as Dan, Dan and Jim from Art vs Science. The Sydney siders played all their EP favorites including the ever increasingly popular Parlez Vous Francais. Most fans had no idea what the deuce they were on about but sang along anyway. (Even if they did make up their own Australian/French words.) Flippers went down a treat as well. It has been confirmed. Datarock fans are animals and what a better venue to hold them captive for a little bit of fun than that of The Zoo. There is no substitute for crazy Norwegians. They must breathe different air in that part of the northern hemisphere because when the boys in red stepped out clad in their trademark jumpsuits and sunnies, everyone just knew, it was business time. Instead of boring everyone with a whole show of new material, they pulled out all the stops and supplied what can only be called an eclectic selection of their hits from over the years. Fa Fa Fa, Sex me Up, Computer Camp Love, were all present amongst a few fresh melodies. Some crowd surfing by Fredrick Saroea was followed swiftly by an encore of the dirty dancing classic ‘I’ve had the time of my life’. And we had. Most people left wishing Scandinavia wasn’t so ‘Fa fa fa’ away. They had better return for some more fun soon. (Vivienne)

Some CD Reviews

REGULAR JOHN
The Peaceful Atom Is A Bomb
(Difrnt/Universal)
8/10
There is nothing regular about these guys at all. Ok, maybe their name, but everything else on this album is extraordinary. From the twisted guitar riff of the opening track to the last chord, ‘The Peaceful Atom Is A Bomb’ takes over your soul with hard hitting, grungy, psychedelic rock. ‘Language’ has been played to death on some radio stations but listeners shouldn’t be too quick to pigeon hole a band into a genre from one single. Every track is different from the next. ‘We spell love’ emanates a ‘Hives’ sounding vibe whilst ‘Panic’, the softest song on the album shows that the band can channel some White Stripes, style of rock as well. The albums versatility gives it an appeal to all kinds of cats. Maybe even your old man can handle this one and stop listening to Andre Reiu for a while. The themes covered in the lyrics aren’t your average ‘I love you, I hate you’ banter. Some anti establishment, free speech, social commentary hits your ears in the form of the words ‘Fuck You’ in the track ‘Hivey’. It seems that underneath the rock and roll Regular John have really thought about their message. (Viv)

THE TEMPER TRAP
Conditions
(Liberation)
10/10
For me this year, there has been no album anticipated as much as this one. Ever since the sweet pulsating rhythms of ‘Sweet Disposition’ hit my ears I have been yearning for more sounds from The Temper Trap. It’s finally here and the band are going to take over the world with their debut. It turns out that The Temper Trap’s singles ‘Sweet Disposition’ and ‘Science of Fear’ are only the start of a magical journey that takes place when this CD is played. Dougie Mandagi’s unworldly voice provides the some of the best falsetto to come out of Australian music in the last decade. One of the best demonstrations is ‘Resurrection’ which provides some beautiful accapella work by Mandagi. It’s clear that the band have influences from all genres with pulsating drums channelling drum and bass, horns giving off a jazz vibe and even choirs adding to the mix in ‘Down River’. The band are playing almost every European festival on the books. Let’s hope that their London bound touring schedule doesn’t see them lost overseas forever. Australian music just doesn’t get better than this. (Viv)

CHAIRLIFT
Does You Inspire You
(Sony)
7/10
Every time ‘Bruises’ touches my ears, I feel like bopping up and down in a stupor. Not just because their song was used on an ad for IPod nano but because listening to Chairlift just does crazy things to a person’s ego, persona and attitude. There’s no doubt that their cute Indie/Shoegazing tunes don’t just sell small electronic music players but they will also capture your heart. In addition to ‘Bruises’ highlights include ‘Evident Utensil’ and ‘Le flying saucer hat’ which sees singer Caroline Polachek combining French with English in a song about, you guessed it, a flying saucer hat. The bands use of synths and tambourines are innovative but a little bit predictable and the lyrics of some of the songs can have you questioning the sanity of the band a little but overall, it’s definitely worth a listen. Just don’t listen to them on your new IPod nano. That would be a little too freaky. (Viv)

ART VS SCIENCE
Art Vs Science
(Green Distribution)
7/10
This EP has been long awaited from the Art vs Science boys ever since they won the spot to play at Splendour In the Grass last year. But they have finally produced a killer little disc, worthy of dancing your ass off to. The latest single off the record is ‘Parlez Vous Francais?’ (Which translates into ‘Do you speak French?’ for all you monolingual types). Its cheeky French lyrics combined with some bangin’ beats provide the perfect mix of sexy, provocative dance. ‘Hollywood’ is also a winner, showing that these kids have a darker dancy side to them by playing some minor chords with equally haunting synth effects. But the winner on this album is the song that made Art vs Science. ‘Flippers’ is such a crack up with its lyrics and quirky sounds. The urge it gives the listener to flail about in a state of musically drunk unconsciousness is incredible. Keep it coming lads. (Viv)