Lycra canon.

What did you do for your Christmas break? I sat on a canon in my lycra.

This photo is best viewed whilst listening to this:

Feel the power.

Review: Severed Heads at the Forum, Melbourne. 14th May, 2011.

“Who will tell my drunken friend that she will die and go to hell?” is a catchy lyric of the inspiring and long-serving Australian electronic band Severed Heads. Pioneering the use of video graphics in filmclips and during live performance (hello VJs),  I got reacquainted with the band after being given the CD collection of a good friend from the 1990′s. I was wondering what had become of Severed Heads in April this year when I noticed that they would be supporting Gary Numan for his latest Australian tour. Supporting?! I found it a real shame that they didn’t perform their own show, but having said that, the Forum was a good venue to get up close and have a good look at these Australian legends. I imagine a bit more dancing might have occurred if the audience was crammed into a small warehouse. (Are there are any left in Melbourne?)

Placed between the two band members was a central screen filled with engaging 3D graphics: cat’s head turning into flowers, skeletons, pilots from hell, humans with cars attached to their heads, a pinball machine and a naked man-machine walking in a pool of blood. As for the sounds, I do swoon upon hearing the elocutionary voice of Tom Ellard. This was beautifully coupled with choice synth sounds and driving beats. I was so pleased to have seen and heard Severed Heads play. I will admit that a slice of nostalgia did contribute to my enjoyment, but I wouldn’t have missed it.

p.s This has not much to do with anything – I think it’s called “painting a picture” in writing terms – but there were a lot of 40-something males at this gig who decided to take their leather jackets out of the wardrobe and give them a good outing/airing. Needless to say I was in close contact with a few stale smells. I think the leather was for Gary Numan, not Severed Heads. That is all.

Links: http://severedheads.bandcamp.com/    http://www.sevcom.com/

The Arthouse – Fuck I’m Dead.

I’m feeling sad about the impending closure of the Arthouse: my favourite pub in Melbourne. I was introduced to this place by my brother, who has regularly played in bands there for about 15 years. All were always welcome at the Arthouse, from the after-5-business-crew to the punks. The Galaga tabletop machine and the graffiti in the torlets were highlights, not to mention the friendly staff and music.
I attended a grindcore show there last Sunday with the following line-up:

FUCK IM DEAD
CAPTAIN CLEANOFF
THE KILL
THE DAY EVERYTHING BECAME NOTHING
SUPERFUN HAPPYSLIDE
ROADSIDE BURIAL [SYD]
GARBAGE GUTS
DIE PIGEON DIE
INTERNAL ROT

There was lots of fast drumming to watch, especially by The Kill. (Even with no double-kick pedal.) I have a special place in my heart for this 3-piece. Superfun Happyslide and Captain Cleanoff were also full of energy, however, Fuck I’m Dead pulled off the most amusing performance- with the lead singer spitting tampons into the crowd and managing to finish the second-last song whilst vomiting. Good times.

Read related Snippets post about Arthouse graffiti.

Listening to….

Artist – Song/s – Album
Speech Debelle- Live and Learn, The Key – Speech Therapy

King Cannibal- Dirt – Embrace the Minimum EP

The Big Pink- Velvet – A Brief History of Love

Anti-Pop Consortium – Volcano (Four Tet Remix) – Volcano EP