My Music Brisbane

13 Questions with Tiny Migrants

Julien James (guitar/yelps) and Jacinta Walker (guitar/vocals) of Brisbane band Tiny Migrants squeezed 13 Questions into their busy space pirating schedule. (Note - this is Julien's second time round these 'ere parts - 13 Questions with Running Gun Sound)

1. Who are your heroes?
Gene Roddenberry...that is all.
2. The first band you saw live?
I think my dad took me to a Spiderbait concert and for that I hate my dad.
3. What's your favourite Brisbane music venue?
The Step Inn - it may be closed (for now), but it’s the best venue that ever was, and will ever be.
4. What’s the best (or dumbest) thing that’s been said to you at/after a show?
"You have to be in the band to get a drink ticket" which was absurdly said to Jacinta. A lot of promotors are sexist as hell and they can get bent.
5. Why 'Tiny Migrants' as your band name?
It's just one of those things I suppose - It was originally something like Tiny Migraines and then we all misheard each other. Chinese whisper band name.
6. What makes you cringe?
Cats in Hats.
7. Describe the raddest heist you’ve ever pulled off. What’d you steal?
We stole the hearts of millions with our ground-breaking hit collection – Tiny Migrants: Live! Tonight! Sold Out!. Also – we stole each others hearts.
8. What bands should people reading this be listening to?
Better bands. Per Purpose, Cannon, Fred Wood, James X Boyd are great locals. Bad Aches, Woollen Kits, Gooch Palms, Nugs are great interstaters. Nobunny, Dan Melchior, Intelligence, the Spits for outside Australia.
9. Give Brisbane some words to live by... we all know it needs some.
Stop being such a bunch of ignorant jerks. Where are your damn music venues? Dance is for jerks. Electro is for wimps. Nightclubs are for f*cking idiots.
10. You are guilty of shameful things. What are these BAAAAD things?
Who says? We’re a bunch of swell gals and guys. A packet of Orange tic-tac’s was stolen once… f*ck the police.
11. You can choose one musician/act, alive or dead, to perform with Tiny Migrants for one night only. Who do you choose?
Creedance!! They’re dead right?
12. If someone wrote a biography for Tiny Migrants what would the title be?
Tiny Migrants: Life in a Vomit Bucket.
13. What can we expect from Tiny Migrants in the near future?
Appearances on an Aussie compilation, a split tape with a band from Tijuana MEXICO and our own 7” EP that we wrote 2 years ago. Maybe some other stuff… probably not.

Tiny Migrants - Facebook - Bandcamp - Unearthed

Running Gun Sound - Best Of It All

Running Gun Sound have had a busy February, a tour, an album release and now a video. A video! It's for 'Best of it All' from their sophomore album Friends and its full of floating heads, guitars, cats and seagulls, everything you need really.

Around Australia - Bec & Ben

Bec & Ben are a Sydney-based duo that love messy big riffs, big beats and to-and-fro vocals.

It's fairly clear from the outset this is no cutesy brother and sister folk duo. Unless we're venturing into Cersei & Jamie Lannister territory. Though that would be more creepy than cutesy. But no, they're not siblings, Gumtree brought them together and after intital forays into folk they found their sound with Bec on drums and Ben on guitar.

So far their songs are streams of male/female perspectives on sex, frustration, anxiety, dependence, pride and jealousy, delivered with an energy and sincerity that forces you to take notice.

They've even got a Brisbane connection having recently been announced as a support act for Brisbane's ARIA winning DZ Deathrays when they stop through Sydney on their April national tour.

Bec & Ben - Facebook - Bandcamp

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Sacrilege

It's six weeks out from the release of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs new album Mosquito and they've made their first official release from said album, Sacrilege.

It's the third song from Mosquito to hit the internet, 'Under the Earth' and 'Mosquito' having been doing the rounds since last month.

The Trouble With Templeton Teaser

Brisbane band The Trouble with Templeton have a new single and album releasing soon. Here's a short preview clip for their upcoming single release 'Like A Kid'.

SLAM Day 2013

In recent years, the live music industry has suffered under government-introduced liquor-licensing laws, reducing abilities for venues to host live performances. In an effort to protect small gigs around the nation, SLAM was created – an entirely volunteer-run party that stands for Save Live Australia’s Music. In 2010, SLAM held a rally through Melbourne in protest of these stern laws and, ever since, hosts National SLAM Day on February 23 in its memory. As a part of the day’s festivities, bundles of small gigs will be performed throughout the country, which you can go and support.

Follow this - Link - to see what's been scheduled around Queensland today.

Rolling Stones 1973 Australian Tour Doco

It's been just ever so slightly over 40 years since the Rolling Stone's 1973 Pacific Tour.

This video above is a documentary about the Rolling Stones aforementioned tour including interviews with the band and some concert footage.

The interviews were filmed at Montsalvat Castle in Melbourne on February 16, 1973 and the concert footage featured is from the Kooyang Tennis Courts in Melbourne on February 17th. Sadly nothing from the Brisbane leg at the Milton Tennis Courts.

It originally aired on March 6th, 1973 on ABC. At times, it's actually a rather amusing piece with the reporter offering some charming observations about the band. For instance, she speculates that Keith Richard, the "Deadly Nightshade", won't live until 70 and that Bill Wyman will be the first to quit the Stones.

It also touches on the troubles Mick Jagger had entering the country and a brief scandal when drugs were found on the plane they arrived on in Brisbane.

February 14, 1973: Milton Park Tennis Courts, Brisbane
Set list - Brown Sugar / Bitch/Rocks Off / Gimme Shelter / Happy / Tumbling Dice / Love In Vain / Sweet Virginia / You Can't Always Get What You Want / All Down The Line / Midnight Rambler / Band introduction / Bye Bye Johnny / Rip This Joint / Jumping Jack Flash / Street Fighting Man

BIGSOUND 2013 Live Applications & Rego

BIGSOUND registrations and BIGSOUND Live showcase applications are opening early this year for the September 11-13 event. Held annually in Brisbane, BIGSOUND is recognised as Australia's leading international music industry gathering. Over three days each September, BIGSOUND draws a growing contingent of musicians, managers, buyers, industry experts and music lovers to meet, learn, and discover new music.

Showcase applications have been open for a week now and a confirmed closing date will be announced by February 25. That's only a few days! So if you're thinking of getting involved them move yourself son.

BIGSOUND Live Showcase Application - Link

BIGSOUND Registrations - Link

Around Australia - The Black Gypsies

Melbourne rock outfit The Black Gypsies are a weave of jangled, fuzzed guitars that will fairly quickly bring to mind the likes of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club upon listening.

The Black Gypsies are principally one man's baby, that man being Cale Mason. Mason writes all the songs and for the four track EP that was released last year he recorded the vocals, guitar and bass whilst leaving only the drums for former Children Collide drummer Ryan Caesar.

The aforementioned EP 'Revelations' was fairly well received, even prompting such review lines as "a very possible ARIA winner" and claims the Black Gypsies had outdone Johhny Cash on the track 'God's Gonna Cut You Down'. Hyperbole to be sure but there's nothing to suggest that those assertions won't be proved correct if Mason continues on his current path.

The Black Gypsies - Facebook - Bandcamp - Unearthed

Dune Rats Create DZ Deathrays Inspired Clip

Dude. Dude. Dune Rats made a clip for Red Light, Green Light that's a take-off of DZ Deathray's infamous clip for The Mess-Up. Needless to say it's pretty great.

And here's the DZ Deathrays original.

If that's not enough Dune Rats/DZ Deathrays for you there's an interview below that's taken directly after Dune Rats were done shooting their clip.

Around the World - Deap Vally

Deap Vally are a Californian rock duo that blew up on the internet in the latter half of last year. But with the recent announcement that they'll be doing one of those "Australian tours" that only takes in Sydney and Melbourne it makes them topical enough for a post. Hurrah. Not that there really needs to be a reason, but MMB likes to pretend it has it's finger on the pulse. It doesn't, don't forget that.

Explanations aside, Deap Vally is Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards, two LA natives who met at a crochet class and bonded over a love of Led Zeppelin and Joan Jett. Before long they were playing shows as Deap Vally and gaining attention for a sound that's commonly compared to the White Stripes. It is. But then it's not. There a moments where Deap Vally will grab you in a way that the White Stripes just can't, it's something to do with that voice, you can feel it.

The timing of the shows and the fact that they've been booked by Secret Sounds has sparked rumours that the duo could likely be back on our shores for Splendour in the Grass.

Their first album, Sistrionix, isn't due out til May so until then you'll have to get by on internet scraps.

Avaberée - 'Lover of Mine' Video

Brisbane song birds Avaberée have shot and released their first ever video. It's a little cool.

We’re incredibly excited to share with you all our music video for ‘Lover of Mine’! We had the privilege of working an incredible team of people to put this together and we couldn’t be more proud of the result!

Set in a nested basement, we took on the characters of three alluring birds, who hold hostage a male bird/ex-lover, in order to reveal his colourful facade for the inner truth.

Share it if you dig it! Love Ava x x x

The Blackwater Fever - Won't Cry Over You

Brisbane-based blues rock outfit The Blackwater Fever have a new album due out on March 22nd and in advance of that they've let one song escape from the dark recesses of, "The Depths".

That song would be Won't Cry Over You, combining rich raw vocals and that distorted bluesy sound that is Blackwater Fever. But better than before. Maybe. Have a listen.

The Blackwater Fever - Facebook - Bandcamp

Call for QLD bands to take part in 'Live!'

The Queensland State Library is set to run 'Live! Queensland band culture' a celebration of Queensland's muscial history this year from May to September.

Along with a series of exhibitions and events that will focus on the state's musical history since the 1850's there's set to be a series of live performances and that's something that may be of interest to local acts.

There's set to be a House band spot that will involve gigs on Saturdays in the Queen Street Mall and the Music Box along with sales of your music at the Library Shop.

Along with the House band there will also be seperate Sunday performances at the Cultural Center and acoustic gigs throughout the Library itself.

If you want to be considered follow the link below.

Make it quick though, entries close Friday, March 1.

Link - Call for Queensland bands to take part in Live!

Around Brisbane - Ben Munson

Ben Munson is a wild haired Brisbane singer/songwriter with a penchant for Youtube covers and delightful melodies. He's only recently uploaded some of his stuff to Triple J Unearthed, and it's well worth a listen. One of his tracks, Machines in Love, is just below.

Ben Munson - Facebook
Ben Munson - Triple J Unearthed
Ben Munson - Youtube

13 Questions with Blonde on Blonde

Jack, one-fifth of Brisbane rockers Blonde on Blonde, took some time out recently to answer some questions for MMB. New posts. Shit yeah.

1. Who are your heroes?
David Bowie, My Dad, John Frusciante, Batman, Glenn Richards from Augie March. That guy is too good at writing lyrics and must be stopped.
2. The first band you saw live?
I pretty much grew up in pubs to that would be hard to pin point, but the first big rock show I went to was Red Hot Chili Peppers. But their support acts were Magic Dirt and Crazy Town, so Crazy Town would be the first band I saw live. How cool is that! CRAZY TOWN!? Not very.
3. What's your favourite Brisbane music venue?
I love the Zoo, I always wanted to play there growing up, and I've had the pleasure of playing there so many times I've lost count now. Also the Tivoli. Playing there is amazing, it's almost regal. It sounds a million dollars, and the staff are attractive as fuck.
4. What’s the best (or dumbest) thing that’s been said to you at/after a show?
I once walked off stage and a guy told me he had seen Jane's Addiction a few nights before, and that we were better. It's amazing the nerve some people have to lie directly to your face.
5. Why 'Blonde on Blonde' as your band name?
We wanted to make it hard for people to google us.
6. What makes you cringe?
My youth, Big nights out. Some of the people I've slept with. Our early demo's. Actually in the very early days of the group we recorded a cover of "This Is Love" and it's fucking horrible. All copies have been destroyed.
7. Describe the raddest heist you’ve ever pulled off. What’d you steal?
We haven't really stolen anything, that's naughty. However, we flew down to play some shows in Sydney and a friend of ours snuck beer into the venue in my pedal case because we didn't get a rider. There were a few left over and he forget to take them out, and when we got to the airport in Brisbane my name was called over the loud speakers, and all the beer had smashed and had leaked through my guitar pedals. Sorry Virgin Blue.
8. What bands should people reading this be listening to?
Red Spencer, Royal Blood, Woe and Flutter, The Happy Mediums, Oceanics. Vincent Kemp and the Dead Lovers, RVLR, Redshift, Elegent Shiva, Fiona Apple, Joni Mitchell, Us. Giants of Science = Best Brisbane band ever.
9. Give Brisbane some words to live by... we all know it needs some.
Don't try and speak Spanish to the girl at Mad Mex in the valley if you can't speak Spanish. She is lovely and is serving you nachos at stupid o'clock in the morning, it's not funny.
10. You are guilty of shameful things. What are these BAAAAD things?
We once sang the entire jagged little pill album on the way to Toowoomba because our stereo was broken. And by once I mean, that happens a lot.
11. You can choose one musician/act, alive or dead, to perform with Blonde on Blonde for one night only. Who do you choose?
Motley Crue
12. If someone wrote a biography for Blonde on Blonde what would the title be?
Being in a band is hard
13. What can we expect from Blonde on Blonde in the near future?
Nudity, swearing, tours, videos, dinner parties, Warm hugs, and an album once somebody has decided to pay for it. I don't know, we don't have a manager anymore and we are all hopeless at making decisions. If we all manage to stay out of prison I'll be happy.

Blonde on Blonde - Official
Blonde on Blonde - Facebook
Blonde on Blonde - iTunes
Blonde on Blonde - Triple J Unearthed

Brisbane 2012

Originally shown at Summit Sound last year this doco features six Brisbane musicians (Joel Stern, Laura Hill, Glen Schenau, Matt Earle, Blank Realm, Matt Kennedy) discussing the makeup and evolution of Brisbane's music scene of the past three to four years and at times a little earlier.

Friends - New Album From Running Guns

Brisbane garage popsters Running Guns released their new album 'Friends' today, you can listen to it for free, yes free, if you travel over to their Bandcamp page.
Or alternatively you can pay them money and even receive a physical copy. Maybe then they'll be your friends. Ah. Funny.