Where are my Aussie / Kiwi homies?

Aural Fixation · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:09 am

Advise me as to whether or not I should catch any of the artists mentioned in this article --

Quote:

January 11, 2006, 8:00 AM ET
Oz, NZ Ready For Record SxSW Attendance

By Christie Eliezer, Sydney

A record 40 acts from Australia and New Zealand will be showcased at South by Southwest, to be held March 15-19 in Austin, Texas. More than 420 acts had applied to perform at the music festival, according to its Sydney-based Australian representative Phil Tripp.

Among those booked to perform are leading Australian acts the Living End, Missy Higgins, Wolfmother, Something For Kate and End Of Fashion. Key NZ acts the Bats, the Brunettes and Die! Die! Die! will also perform.

"South By South West has over the last three years proven to be an important place for Australian and New Zealand acts to get deals and be noticed," Tripp says. "In 2002, only five local acts showcased. Last year, there were 20 -- and ten of them got deals."

Singer songwriter Sarah Blasko was among those. She signed to U.S. booking agent Frank Riley of High Road Touring and toured North America through 2005, and subsequently began talks with Sony Publishing, according to her manager Bill Cullen.

Through its L.A.-based music office Austrade, the Australian government has funded an Australian stand at SxSW and organized various activities to showcase homegrown acts.

Likewise, the New Zealand government -- through the country's Trade and Enterprise and Music Industry Commission -- has funded a national stand and an opening night party where domestic acts will perform.

I know you boys won't lead me astray.

splates · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:21 am

Wolfmother have been getting a fair bit of praise round here, and I can imagine them being pretty good live - Im probably gonna see them next friday. They're probably worth checking out. End of Fashion is like Weezer-lite, and get played a bit on modern rock radio here. Avoid. Living End have been around for agees but i cant remember what they sound like.Dont know bout the other aussie bands, MGL can probably answer for them.

Brunnettes are boring indie tripe. Die!Die!Die! are ok, sort of pretentious though - i guess they sound a little like At The Drive In trying too hard. The Mint Chicks (another local band, think they were at last years SXSW) do that sort of stuff better. I wouldnt lose sleep if you miss DDD, but if youve got nothing better to watch then see them. As for the Bats, they're pretty good, although ive never seen them live. Theyve been around forever too (to me anyway). Theyve got a pretty classic NZ/Flying Nun type sound and are worth seein i would think.

Mick · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:32 am

definitely catch Sarah Blasko. Missy Higgins is like our Kelly Clarkson, except she plays poppy roots music (she is probably the most played artist in Australia, and is adored by 12 year old girls everywhere). Also, she sucks.

SOmething for Kate have been around for a while now, and you should probably check them out. End of Fashion's singer used to play guitar in the Sleepy Jackson, but don't see them; they suck.

If i see the full list i should be able to help you out a bit more.

Aural Fixation · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:35 am

SXSW are posting additional bands this weekend. I'll know more then. In the meantime, thanks boys!!

Mick · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:47 am

These are the ones i know:

Airbourne (Melbourne) pretty much like Jet, but they put on a good show when i saw them. I don't care much for their music though.

The Avalanches (Melbourne) they haven't put out a record since 1999, and haven't toured much since, so this would be a good chance to see what they're working on.

Sarah Blasko (Sydney) very good. RIYL: PJ Harvey, Cat Power.

Cut Copy (Melbourne) generic retro new wave electronica.

Decoder Ring (Sydney) mogwai-esque post-rock. Pretty darn good. RIYL: Mogwai, Tortoise

End Of Fashion (Perth) pomp-rock shit-fest.

Faker (Sydney) meh.

The Grates (Brisbane) they annoy me a bit, but are still alright. They sound kinda like the Black Keys if they backed the singer from the Dresdon Dolls.

Gyroscope (Perth) straight-forward rock music. Take it or leave it.

Missy Higgins (Melbourne) pitiful shit.

Kisschasy (Melbourne) embarassingly woeful.

The Living End (Chelsea) modern rockabilly. I don't care much for them.

The Mess Hall (Sydney) Guitar and drums duo with a pretty good sound. RIYL: The Black Keys, Mclusky.

New Buffalo (Melbourne) Sounds like a less-electronic Broadcast. The Last Beautiful Day is my #1 record of the year, but I don't know what she's like live. She's been doing a bit of work with Beth Orton, including a couple of duets on her debut LP. RIYL: Cat Power, Broadcast

Xavier Rudd (Torquay) he plays about 10 different instruments including the didgeridoo, but it's pretty bland surf music. Sounds like Jack Johnson with a little more talent. RIYL: G. Love

Something for Kate (Melbourne) consistently good rock music, and a good live band.

Wolfmother (Sydney) i don't recommend them.

Youth Group (Melbourne) similar sound to the strokes.

Cotton · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 6:12 pm **Posts:** 17155

Jesus christ keep me the fuck away from anything that could be referred to as "Weezer-lite"

d · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:19 pm

Where the hell are Killing Heidi these days?

splates · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:14 pm

Killing Heidi? Christ, Im glad they disappeared off the face of the earth.

Natural Mike · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:01 pm

Another vote for The Bats - if they're as enjoyable as The Clean were in a live setting, you'll have a great time.

d · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:17 pm

splates Wrote:

Killing Heidi? Christ, Im glad they disappeared off the face of the earth.

hence the winky-face I gave ya!

duckyboy · **Posted:** Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:21 pm

Natural Mike Wrote:

Another vote for The Bats - if they're as enjoyable as The Clean were in a live setting, you'll have a great time.

Absolutely. They had a new album out last year, At the National Grid, which, if I had listened to enough '05 albums to compile a list, would be pretty close to the top. And their classic debut album Daddy's Highway is so fucking great that mere accolades don't do it justice. It's one of my favorites of all time. But, I'm a big fan of the "Dunedin Sound", so maybe I'm not being entirely rational.

I've never seen them live and would love to. I did see The Clean play "Block of Wood" with R Scott on vocals, but that's not really The Bats.

Billzebub · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:26 pm **Posts:** 6459

The Bats are pleasant. In the pantheon of NZ bands, as heard through the subjective ears of a North American, they're in the 6 to 10 tranche. They're more akin to The Verlaines or The Clean than, say, The Chills. Much more jangle and pop.

Their latest album is decent if not stellar. They've never played where I could feasibly see them, but their music sounds like it would translate to a live setting pretty well.

wenchlette · **Posted:** Sat Jan 14, 2006 2:34 am

a mighty good leader Wrote:

Something for Kate (Melbourne) consistently good rock music, and a good live band.

I concur (save the live part, because I've never seen them).

splates · **Posted:** Sat Jan 14, 2006 7:03 am

Billzebub Wrote:

The Bats are pleasant. In the pantheon of NZ bands, as heard through the subjective ears of a North American, they're in the 6 to 10 tranche. They're more akin to The Verlaines or The Clean than, say, The Chills. Much more jangle and pop.

sounds about right - theyre in the second tier of NZ bands - the first tier containing The Chills, The Tall Dwarfs/Chris Knox, The Clean et al

telescope · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2006 9:34 am

My 2c

I pretty much agree with what Mighty Good Leader Said, except Youth Group don't sound anything like the Strokes - they're more indie pop, apparently have done a cover of Forever Young for The OC

of the ones mentioned in the article, stay well away from End of Fashion - the kind of modern rock band that bland sunday paper entertainment writers in Aus like

Missy Higgins is also boring, and huge here - her album title SOund of White couldn't be more apt

Something For Kate were for a long time my favourite band, and are still pretty high up there. Their last album was patchy, but they are atm recording a new one and it sounds like they've embraced the guitars again and dropped a bit of the pop sheen. At any rate they are always good quality live, especially since I would think they will be playing with only 1 extra touring member

Wolfmother I am over - they've been hyped to the high heavens here, but are nothing more than Led Zep/Pink Floyd etc retreads - not necessarity completely bad (I like a couple of their songs) and would be good live, but you could prob find sth better

Mick · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2006 9:40 am

telescope Wrote:

My 2c

I pretty much agree with what Mighty Good Leader Said, except Youth Group don't sound anything like the Strokes - they're more indie pop, apparently have done a cover of Forever Young for The OC

of the ones mentioned in the article, stay well away from End of Fashion - the kind of modern rock band that bland sunday paper entertainment writers in Aus like

Missy Higgins is also boring, and huge here - her album title SOund of White couldn't be more apt

Something For Kate were for a long time my favourite band, and are still pretty high up there. Their last album was patchy, but they are atm recording a new one and it sounds like they've embraced the guitars again and dropped a bit of the pop sheen. At any rate they are always good quality live, especially since I would think they will be playing with only 1 extra touring member

Wolfmother I am over - they've been hyped to the high heavens here, but are nothing more than Led Zep/Pink Floyd etc retreads - not necessarity completely bad (I like a couple of their songs) and would be good live, but you could prob find sth better

Another Aussie! Where do you live?

telescope · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2006 9:45 am

Oh, I forgot. If you are interested in checking out a bunch of Aus bands, you could try the Aussie BBQ. Bands listed so far:

Something For Kate, The Grates, Decoder Ring, The Mess Hall, and THe Flairz

You already know what I think of SFK

THe Grates are a lot of fun, especially live. Saw them supporting The Go! Team in August, and they were perfect for each other - I have never danced so much at a gig before. I think they also toured the US together. Upbeat, guitar/drums/vox 3 piece. Will have their debut album out around that time as well, so will have lots of new songs. Watching their singer is worth the price of admission alone

Decoder Ring are really good. Not sure how to describe them - electronic kind of stuff, but I'm not really up on genres in that. I would reccomend them, even though I haven't seen them live

The Mess Hall are awesome live. My ears were ringing for days afterwards, even though they'res only 2 of them. Kinda in that retro rock vein, but I guess you could say they have a dirtier sound than a lot of those kinds of bands. Def worth seeing

The Flairz are a bunch of 12 yr olds. Average as you would expect, but don't let that put you off the other bands.

I would think that some others would be playing as well, so should be a good show, but I imagine it's tailored more towards garnering label interest, so might be hard to get into

telescope · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2006 9:55 am

a mighty good leader Wrote:

telescope Wrote:

My 2c

I pretty much agree with what Mighty Good Leader Said, except Youth Group don't sound anything like the Strokes - they're more indie pop, apparently have done a cover of Forever Young for The OC

of the ones mentioned in the article, stay well away from End of Fashion - the kind of modern rock band that bland sunday paper entertainment writers in Aus like

Missy Higgins is also boring, and huge here - her album title SOund of White couldn't be more apt

Something For Kate were for a long time my favourite band, and are still pretty high up there. Their last album was patchy, but they are atm recording a new one and it sounds like they've embraced the guitars again and dropped a bit of the pop sheen. At any rate they are always good quality live, especially since I would think they will be playing with only 1 extra touring member

Wolfmother I am over - they've been hyped to the high heavens here, but are nothing more than Led Zep/Pink Floyd etc retreads - not necessarity completely bad (I like a couple of their songs) and would be good live, but you could prob find sth better

Another Aussie! Where do you live?

Long or short answer?

I'm in Sydney for uni, but from Tamworth, and have tended to go back there for the summers. This time round though I'm near Newcastle

Hopefully from the end of next year Sydney will be permanent

Mick · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2006 10:26 am

telescope Wrote:

a mighty good leader Wrote:

telescope Wrote:

My 2c

I pretty much agree with what Mighty Good Leader Said, except Youth Group don't sound anything like the Strokes - they're more indie pop, apparently have done a cover of Forever Young for The OC

of the ones mentioned in the article, stay well away from End of Fashion - the kind of modern rock band that bland sunday paper entertainment writers in Aus like

Missy Higgins is also boring, and huge here - her album title SOund of White couldn't be more apt

Something For Kate were for a long time my favourite band, and are still pretty high up there. Their last album was patchy, but they are atm recording a new one and it sounds like they've embraced the guitars again and dropped a bit of the pop sheen. At any rate they are always good quality live, especially since I would think they will be playing with only 1 extra touring member

Wolfmother I am over - they've been hyped to the high heavens here, but are nothing more than Led Zep/Pink Floyd etc retreads - not necessarity completely bad (I like a couple of their songs) and would be good live, but you could prob find sth better

Another Aussie! Where do you live?

Long or short answer?

I'm in Sydney for uni, but from Tamworth, and have tended to go back there for the summers. This time round though I'm near Newcastle

Hopefully from the end of next year Sydney will be permanent

i'm starting uni in Brisvegas next month, but i'm from, errr, Townsville.

duckyboy · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2006 3:57 pm

splates Wrote:

Billzebub Wrote:

The Bats are pleasant. In the pantheon of NZ bands, as heard through the subjective ears of a North American, they're in the 6 to 10 tranche. They're more akin to The Verlaines or The Clean than, say, The Chills. Much more jangle and pop.

sounds about right - theyre in the second tier of NZ bands - the first tier containing The Chills, The Tall Dwarfs/Chris Knox, The Clean et al

Come on, people. You can't really think that Daddy's Highway doesn't stand up to anything put out be any of those bands listed above? Yes, I admit their other stuff is weaker.

splates · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2006 5:44 pm

^I like them, but they were never near Chills level

duckyboy · **Posted:** Sun Jan 15, 2006 8:41 pm

I don't know. The Chills best album isn't even an album, but a compilation. Just like The Clean. I think Daddy's Highway is just as good as Kaleidoscope World and The Clean's Compilation.

Now, say, The Law of Things vs. Submarine Bells...you are probably right.

How much do you like The Verlaines?

Billzebub · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2004 10:26 pm **Posts:** 6459

duckyboy Wrote:

I don't know. The Chills best album isn't even an album, but a compilation.

:shock:

"Brave Words" is light years ahead of anything the Bats ever produced. I'd throw "Sunburnt" or "Soft Bomb" as well.

duckyboy · **Posted:** Mon Jan 16, 2006 1:09 am

Where are my Aussie / Kiwi homies?

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