Weekly News - January 7th

• If you haven't already heard, Skinny's is no longer closing down. Instead the store will remain open under new ownership, but no other major changes. This is great news for anyone made a purchase or witnessed an instore performance at Skinny's over the years. Fingers crossed there will be many more to come.

• A new year means a new Hot 100 from 4ZzZ. Congratulations goes to Texas Tea who took out the number one spot for the second year running with their song 'Whiskey And Wine', as well as eight spot with another song. Six Ft Hick and I Heart Hiroshima also performed strongly with two songs a piece. Head over to the 4ZzZ website to see the whole list.
  

• Congratulations also goes to the John Steel Singers who have won the Queensland leg of Triple J Unearthed, giving them the opportunity to play at the Gold Coast Big Day Out.
  

• Finally you should check out the new tracks from Violent Soho and Capital.
  

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Bands To Watch In 2008

A happy new year to all our readers! We here at Before Hollywood are hoping for 2008 to be a big year for this blog and Brisbane music. With a massive amount of artists puring out of the woodworks in 2007, I've made an attempt at whittling it down to a select few who are likely to kick it loud in 2008. This list is by no means definitive, but if I can introduce you to one or two new favourite bands then my mission is accomplished.

Influenza

Influenza are a band you'll either really love or really hate. Combining a sound reminiscent of Crystal Castles with a irreverent dose of late-1980s East Coast hip-hop thrown in for good measure, this duo has sneaked into this list on the back of a trio of good gigs this month.


Rooftop Nightwatch

Rooftop Nightwatch have been attracting a lot of attention (including from us), and there is no doubt they keep on rising in 2008. As this article is being typed the band is recording its debut EP with producer Miro Mackie. With the wealth of great songs the band already has in its repertoire you can expect the EP to be a keeper.

Shakes

Any mention of Shakes is bound to be accompanied by Arcade Fire comparisons. But there is so much more to the band than that. Shakes combines that current indie pop sound with layers of atmospheric distortion and off kilter drumming. Betony Dircks' haunting vocals tie together the awkward combination to create music that is just screaming to be put on vinyl.

Shakes - Don't Let The Wicked City Get You Down

Shiver Like Timber

Not one to rest on her laurels, Betony makes another appearance on the list in the guise of her solo project, Shiver Like Timber. While an EP was released in 2006, it has taken a while for Shiver Like Timber's music to catch on. A number of mentions in interstate blogs and street press' are sure to propel her into 2008, however, and hopefully will be a catalyst for further recording.

Shiver Like Timber - Arctic Esplanade (Live At The Harvest Room)

Capital

Capital have been a bit silent in recent times, but don't let that fool you. This is a band full to the brim with Beatlesque guitar hooks and vocal harmonies, and anyone who has caught them live will attest to their ability to make the punters dance. If the band can continue to write pop gems like 'On My Way' then they could turn out to be a formidable force.

Capital - On My Way


Monster Monster

Daniel Wright, a.k.a. Monster Monster is the black sheep of this list. Instrumental hip-hop isn't widespread at the best of times, and in Brisbane it is next to non-existent. This makes the beats and bleeps of Monster Monster's music all the more endearing. Between sampling Dr. Karl and releasing songs on SD Card's, he has had the time to create the truly epic 'Nine Minutes And Fifty Something Seconds', a composition that comes off as a miniature Endtroducing. The track will be the first of what will hopefully be numerous releases from Monster Monster in 2008.


Re:Enactment

The Re:Enactment are quite obviously influenced by Nine Inch Nails, but rather then simply going for a straight out industrial sound the band takes that sound and mashes it up with the current electro-rock trend doing the rounds. While the effect is not yet consistent, when things come together the Re:Enactment really shine. Shambolic vocals and 8-bit beeps give way to Rhodes organs and searing guitar with nimble ease to create a unique palette of sound. Having just recorded an EP you'll be sure to hear more about the Re:Enactment in 2008.

Re:Enactment - Arctic Circle


A Man Called Son

Including A Man Called Son, a.k.a Simon Pearlman, in this list might be cheating a bit. Simon has spent the last couple of months in Europe, and apparently has the intention of moving to Melbourne once he returns. But credit where credit is due, A Man Called Son creates some of the most beautiful music with even one foot in Brisbane at the moment. If the songs 'Been Here Too Long' and 'Sundogs' are anything to go by then A Man Called Son's Survive In The Shadows EP and debut album, both to be released in 2008, are certain to be well received.

Arrows

Arrows sound like a less whiny Smashing Pumpkins (I don't really like Smashing Pumpkins, I quite like Arrows however). They also sound like a more up tempo Slint. This combination works wonderfully as anyone who has heard the 12" they released with These Hands Could Separate The Sky back in October will attest. Having just signed to Victorian-based Hobbledehoy Records, Arrows are preparing to record their debut album which will hopefully build on their promising sound.

Arrows - Don't Interrupt Me While I'm Working

To The North

To The North also seem to utilise Slint as a touchstone, but end up spinning it off into a post-Hardcore sound in the vein of Fugazi or Big Black, with a little bit of jazz influence thrown in for good measure. The result is a sound as intriguing as it is messy. Although having just released an EP, To The North plan on returning to the studio in January. Keep an ear out for the results of this venture.

To The North - We Are Not Ashamed (Live)

Do The Robot

If you felt the need to pidgeonhole Do The Robot you would most likely go straight for the Shoegaze tag, and you probably should given guitarist Matt's penchant for Kevin Shieldsesque guitar antics (My sincerest apologies for using that expression). But leaving it at that would fail to do justice to Do The Robot's unique sound, a sound that melds indie pop, trip-hop, and shoegaze into a beautiful, yet noisy affair.


Feathers

Sounding like some unholy trinity of The Stooges, Bauhaus, and The Slits, Feathers are following that long upheld tradition of Brisbane bands: making a lot of noise. This all female trio have yet to have a release yet so keep an eye out in 2008.


Willows

For a band that has only been playing live since September, Willows have a very unique sound, taking the sound of early 90's lo-fi bands like Archers Of Loaf and Guided By Voices and twisting into epic post-rock arrangements. If they can build on that sound they could turn out to be a major player in Brisbane music by the end of 2008.

Nova Scotia

No guessing where Nova Scotia's influences lay, as it blatantly states on their myspace, "sounds like (a) Pavement ripoff band." And while it is difficult to not conjure thoughts of Pavement while listening to Nova Scotia, it isn't difficult to realise that their debut EP, Bear Smashes Photocopier, was one of the best Brisbane releases of 2007.

Secret Birds

I can't admit to knowing a lot about these guys, but from the random tidbits of information I've gathered I really like the sound of them. Comprising of members of a number of good Brisbane bands from the past and present (On/Oxx, Stature::Statue, John Steel Singers) and excessive amounts of percussion, the Secret Birds ply a sound reminiscent of the new wave of psychedelic rock bands like Comets On Fire. I promise to catch them live early this year and give you some more solid information.

Let's Not (But Say We Did)

Let's Not (But Say We Did) is the vehicle of Nick Smethurst, a folkster of quite some talent. Trying to think of a comparison to his lyrical style my mind continually returns to Grant McLennan (and I don't say that lightly). While the band had planned to release its debut album in 2007, a lineup rotation with the addition of three members has lead to delays. The album, Epithets, will be recorded early this year.

Let's Not (But Say We Did) - Now See The Film (Live At The Troubadour)

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Capital, Shakes, Rialto Decibel Choir @ The Zoo (30.5.07)

Here's another live review for you (hopefully 'you' is a few more people now).

Last Wednesday saw The Zoo hold host to local bands Capital, Shakes, and Rialto Decibel Choir. I must admit that I had never heard any material from any of these prior to the night in question; my only motivation for attending was the juicy description in last weeks Time Off of Capital combining 'good looks and pop hooks in a similar fashion to The Beatles and Franz Ferdinand before them.' Never one to dismiss hyperbole, I made my way over to The Zoo.

As the two-piece Rialto Decibel Choir came on stage, to a crowd of less then a dozen people (including bar staff), my mate and I were queried by the sound techie as to whether or not we were Shakes. While I did entertain that thought of fulfilling my lifelong dream of rock stardom and taking the stage my complete lack of musical prowess persuaded my otherwise and I resigned myself to just watching on. I had heard positive comments about Rialto Decibel Choir before and I found their set to be charming, yet, at the same time, underwhelming. Vocalist Ashleigh came off as a Broadway-style Joanna Newsom which quickly lost its novelty appeal as the set went on. Accompanying guitarist James picked up the slack though with some beautiful melodies that could only come from a Brisbane-bred band.

Next up were Shakes who definitely did live up to the hype I had heard previously. While a comparison to the Arcade Fire on account of the presence of a violinist in their midst would just be plain lazy there is definitely something Canadian about this band. Their songs constantly contained the noise and feedback so many Brisbane bands ply these days, while at the same time combining the melody of a pop song with the calculated sound of post-rock, resulting in a very atmospheric performance. The only negative point in their set was the almost completely static performance. Shakes are definitely one to keep an eye on in the next few months.

By the time Capital was up i had lost my sobriety and was beginning to dance to The Smiths' 'This Charming Man' when the song was switched halfway through to enable Capital to hit the stage to The Libertines' 'Boys In The Band'. Such a move did not endear the band to me, but they soon redeemed themselves in my eyes with a well-placed Might Boosh reference. The four piece came on strong with some tight pop numbers that got many of the patrons dancing around. It soon became clear to me that each of Capital's songs all have an obvious influence; whether it be the Futureheads, Franz Ferdinand, The Beatles, The Libertines, Razorlight or whichever British band they were listening to when they wrote the song. This is not to be taken as a bad thing, however, as the songs they performed were all highly enjoyable (the comparison to Franz and the Beatles was definitely justified).

If you're wanting to catch Capital, hit up Ric's on the 25th June, I guarantee you won't regret it. You can also catch Shakes at Ric's this Friday, and Rialto Decibel Choir will be playing the Troubadour on the 20th June.

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