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Events and Clinics

BLACKLEVEL EMBASSY/THE NATION BLUE The Espy Front Bar

When I got the word that The Nation Blue and Blacklevel Embassy were playing a show together at The Espy front Bar, I was stoked. It was on my side of town ie: this side of the river, and two ace bands were playing. Double whammy.
So the stage was set. Blacklevel Embassy had been off the live scene for a while since their departure abroad to record their debut album with Yank producer Bob Weston from Shellac. They recorded the album at Electric Audio, which is where Steve Albini, also from Shellac, recorded Nirvana’s In Utero. Rockin’.
With a humble welcome from the band’s axe man, they launched into their set with a fiery angular explosiveness that shook the foundations of the front bar. Combining aggressive guitar playing with a tight rhythm section pulling off odd time signatures all covered in a loud fuzzy bass and two angry men screaming in unison, Blacklevel Embassy almost punish their audience with a brash assault of the senses. It’s rock music in 2006. It quietly comes up behind you when your guard is down and then it smacks you in the face like some bad April Fools gag gone wrong.
Look out for their new album but in the meantime go forth and take it in.

Having been to the Espy Front Bar as a muso and punter on hundred of occasions I’m all too aware that by the time the headlining band takes to the stage, the schedule is totally out of wack. While 12:45 am seems late enough to the Horlicks generation, the head count at the front bar confirmed that Beer, Rock n Roll and partying were the sure order over some powdered malt drink. The Nation Blue are so good that we’d wait till about, ohh, say 1:15am. Sure, why not.
Having seen this red hot trio play the night before at The Prince of Wales, supporting Cog on their recent tour, I was well in the mood to too hear some more fucked up rock music closely resembling a war zone.

With a mellow intro, The Nation Blue launched into Bossanova featuring a brooding intro that occasionally sounds like its being played backwards.

As Dan Mckay switches from concert mallets to sticks, the volume explodes and war is declared. The kids up front are moshing like it’s 1991 and Tom on guitar duties swings his axe up and over his back as it feeds and squeals like a rabid animal. Mat screams into the mic while fists shake like they’re attached to political activists.
The Nation Blue move from one song to the next with a master touch of cohesion and finesse that is so hypnotising you can’t help but be drawn to it.
Having supported Foo Fighters on their recent tour, The Nation Blue demonstrates sheer power that relentless, honest and passionate.
The set list flies by. Idiot finds the crowd shouting the lyrics in unison while Damnation celebrated their genius take on noisy disjointed madness. And as the last song draws to a close, White Noise, Tom throws his guitar over his shoulder. It hits the roof and almost rips heads off. While Tom may have incurred some battle scars from his swinging axe collecting his forehead, no one else is injured.

While so much of the rock n roll that we are force feed these days is manufactured and watered down by accountants and C.E.O’s, tonight’s evening of music reminded us why we love loud live music. It’s free and liberating and it makes us feel good. No clichés, haircuts, hired groupies or hallmark chorus anthems. This is the real shit and if you don’t get that from your night out, throw down your cards, walk away and come forth to the next show. Your’e more than welcome.

 

Whiskey Ago-go.

 

DAY I DIE - THE TOTE Friday 14/4

Day I die Hello everyone out there surfing the internet wave. It’s Mr Inconspicuous here hope you have all been well, and had a good easter.

Day I Die are a Melbourne band, they recently released independently  the songs in the key of evil e.p. A fourpeice that consists of two guitarists, bass and drums, who cover the thrash metal, punk spectrum .The songs are well constructed, using an array of riffs and guitarmonies, while having a rock solid rhythm section.

There was a good turnout for the show at the tote.

Day I Die’s relentlessly fast style whipped the crowd into a frenzy .The bass player produced some bowel moving frequencies as well as a plethora of traditional rock manoeuvres. The drummer  effortlessly ploughed through the set playing ridicously fast beats incorporating devastating fills.

Having talked to various sources, I discovered that the singer had gotten in a fight gotten in a blue with a sexually frustrated genetic experiment the previous night .The gorilla man slipped past security at the club, as he had discovered the revolutionary mach 4 razor. Luckily the police where called and justice prevailed. If you are into hardout music of any form, get down to the next show.

day i die 2
P.S. Many brain cells were harmed

 

Reflections of Meredith

We arrived around 5ish ,grey clouds were marching along the ominous looking sky. We quickly set up camp, and stocked our eskies. The landscape was perfectly suited for camping, there was plenty of room and good access roads. I was lucky enough to have friends of friends who had brought couches and a massive tarp for shelter from the elements. Dear. I missed the first band but made it in time to see the Young Professionals, these highlighter leotard clad girls jumped, squealed and screamed through their set. By this time the clouds had thinned out, the suns rays were peeking through a hole in the clouds, beams of light shone down onto the stage and audience like some religious painting. A few drops of rain were felt but nothing more.
The British India cranked into it. A  band of fresh faced looking rockers. The on stage energy was great, “we are the counter culture”
the crowd chanted aloud with the band, City City City were up next, they were a mostly instrumental band who started with two drummers, then one of the drummers switched to guitar. The set was like going on a musical journey.
The Mess Hall a two piece power house of guitar and drums took
to the stage. Swampy sounding grooves that were impossible not to
dance to,the bass drum had a great whoooop to it. They skipped from
song to song without stopping to pause.
J live cut it up next, there was a D.J. and M.C. Some of scratching and beat chopping was awesome. The M.C. got behind the decks, rapping and scratching at the same time.
You Am I graced the stage, from what I could gather they don’t perform much anymore. Having never seen them play I thought these guy were magnificent, blusey rock. Tim Rodgers was on fire, breaking out some funky dance moves. Russel Hopkins the drummer was phenomenal, A brilliant set! It was 3am ‘better get some sleep,  big day tomorrow’. Arising to a clear blue sky and a refreshing breeze. It didn’t take long for the tent to warm up,
Dawn at the Stage was welcomed by the Ballarat brass band, then Eddy Current and the Suppression Rings a punky fast rocking way to gear up the morning. The Grates a three piece (2 girls 1 guy) played a mix of pop rock a great sound for just vocals, a guitar and drums, lovely melodies that the crowd warmed to.
Due to my grandma nap I missed a few of the bands ,but only to reserve my energy for the long night ahead.
The Kills were the band I caught first a 2 piece of vocal and guitar with wicked sequenced backing tracks.
Airborne descend onto the stage with all the 80’s rock attitude you could imagine. The crowd raised their tinnies while the vocalist shredded out an extended guitar solo.
Wolfmother played next, the guitarist sporting one of the largest afro's for a white guy I’ve ever seen. Well-orchestrated songs, with nice mellow interludes. The surprise guest was Bob LogIII , adorning a mask with a breathing tube. This freakish man from Texas was playing a bass drum with his right foot and a metal  clanger with his left foot while riffing away on slide, groovy and bluesy, At one point he got the crowd to heckle him There was an arousing boo! He sung songs about all sorts of things ie. The titty clapping and boob scotch.
Sunday another cracker of a day , The Hodangers played a blend of Jazz and hip-hop using a double bass, drums and two horns, nice and groovy. Clare Bowditch played a beautiful and haunting set, great to chill out to.
King Marong & Co lit up the stage with the colours and rhythms of Africa, outrageously good dancing and crowd involvement.
  The masses made room for the brave and daring 40 or so woman and men who where competing for the golden underwear. The ground thumped as they charged down the gauntlet to snaffle the undies that would decide the winner.     
The Legends of Motorsport were the last band to play .They kicked out a solid  set of rocking tunes the stayers revelled in the dance pit for one last time while the sun beat down.
During the festival I didn’t see a disappointing act, everyone I met were really cool. All in all it was a Tru Aussie rock Experience one which I hope will not be my last.
 
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