eardrumConundrum

They were amazing. I’m usually very picky with my choice of hip hop, especially Australian hip hop/rap. American and British hip hop are generally easy to win me over, but Australian not so much. Sometimes, I feel like I can’t relate to other Aussie hip/hop, lyrically and otherwise. But ever since I first heard TZU 5/6 years ago, I have been well and truly hooked. I brought a female friend of mine, who generally wouldn’t be into this genre of music, but she had a blast and was raving about them by the end.

We ran late and got to The Zoo just as they were finishing the crowd/radio favourite ‘Got To Do’. A cheeky and funky song with quirky lyrics like “arms in the air wave em round like seaweed”. Strange adjectives used to describe an Aussie hip hop/rap band I know. But have a listen and you’ll see. They’re lyrical genuises these boys, rhymes and words cleverly put together that certainly get their intended message across - political or otherwise; and this is evident throughout all their previous albums.

They performed the classic favourites such as ‘Dam Busters’, ‘Step with the Pressure’ and ‘Computer Love’ Their new material is very different, a more lyrical/singing style in comparison to old material. Refreshing and the crowd responded very very well. The album is sure to be a hit with TZU followers and I think they’ll definitely pick up new fans who mightn’t discover them otherwise. Seriously do not know why they’re not more well-known. Oh well, more circulation space for busting out the moves - definitely a luxury. Also, it was just a simple clean-cut no-fuss show - no visuals required. Good, genuine stage banter - I’m a stickler for decent stage banter to connect with the audience. Great crowd, great night and an impressive taste test of the upcoming release of their new album. Do your ears a favour and check it out. eC.

TZU - ‘Got To Do’ Verse 1:

It just hit the season everyone breathing
slap on my face elevate my breathing
I just got to see her so I’m off and leaving
tracks wind back to the coliseum
the villagers and aristocrats uneasy
Horde for the spectacle they want to see me
The sun done shine as they take their seating
Arms in the air wave em round like sea weed
and nothing be as good as you chick
We got a special unique loose fit
and everything we do is to prove we tuned in
We sticking to each other like paper to glue stick
Reminds me of kittens and newspaper
slipping in and out of it all like two vapours
intertwined and we smoke ring crusaders
caught in a crux I’m calling it love or
all the above and below the surface
This contact sport got me sort of nervous
Bliss and a little bit of sorta purpose
likely to cause all sorts of hurt
Let’s go.

Went to Prince’s concert on Friday night, it ran just under 2 hours. And I have to say I have never seen so many oldies busting out booty-shaking moves like I did that night. It was highly entertaining and made me muse about the fact that one day, 40 years on, that’ll be me. You can’t really tell from the pictures, but we were much closer than it looks and it was a great view despite being seated in row X.

As anticipated, he put on a spectacular show with plenty of lights, colour and of course purple and gold confetti. 4 female back-up vocalists and the dancing twins.  I was hanging out for his classics - I really wanted him to play ‘I Wanna Be Your Lover’ but I guess with a discography like his, you’ve got to be pretty selective. The show kicked off with his guitar solo, he’s an amazing guitarist. I really enjoyed ’Raspberry Beret’ (with which a few fans whipped out their raspberry berets). But I was really captivated by his piano solo, with ‘heaven’ stage lights shining down on him. ‘Diamonds and Pearls’ was a real treat. For a man of 53 he definitely still has it and there’s no slowing him down. He was busting out the moves like he was the love child of Mick Jagger & Michael Jackson - daaaammn. And wicked stage banter in that sexy voice of his:

“Brisbane, where are you?”

“I love you Brisbane, like I love my guitar”

“It’s my party too and I’ll play what I want”

“Brisbane, do you want to play with me?

“Do you like funky music? I don’t believe you.”

“Where’s the after party? Should we have it here?”

“Did you forget my number? That’s okay, it’s S.E.X”

“Brisbane you act like you’re in competition with Melbourne and Sydney. You’re loud.”

“The message is the same. We got to love on another. Sing loud. Sing proud.”

At one point the crowd got out their phones and waved them in the air, sang, swayed, creating a star-like backdrop. Beautiful moment. The show ended with 2 encores including a performance of ‘Kiss’. The after party show was at The HiFi and apparently he was busting it out on stage until 3.35am. I’m telling you, there’s no stopping this man. A wicked night spent with Rock n’ Roll Royalty and an important musician that I can now cross off the music bucket list. eC.

This would have been my 5th or 6th Kimbra gig and I was blown away as usual. The night began with an AMAZING Thai dinner and we were enjoying the food, bevvies and conversation so much we lost track of time and to my dismay, missed support act Sam Lawrence. We managed to make it in time for half of Daniel Merriweather. Towards the end of the set he tried to rev up the crowd and get them involved by singing along. However they weren’t all that enthusiastic and it’s not to the discredit of Daniel. But I just don’t think the bulk of the crowd were really all that familiar with his music. But despite that, he was fantastic and I think the crowd would agree - they just didn’t know the words!

Kimbra’s set was a captivating visual experience. She had the screens going with parts of her film clips flashing up, confetti, animations, fish, colourful lights and so much more (as you can see from the photos). It was very colourful and for some reason really reminded me of Prince (maybe because I associate Prince with flamboyance and colour). This is no surprise really as Kimbra is a Prince fan. I have to say having been to gigs prior to her superstardom I prefer her in her gorgeous outfits with minimal visual distractions, just like her Sing Sing Studio sessions. While the visual elements really added to the experience, I think it took away from her and her amazing voice. I know that seems strange?, but it’s the case of less is more. Also, The Tivoli is a much much bigger venue than say, The Spiegeltent and I always like an intimate setting for an artist like Kimbra (compared to the grandeur of an ampitheatre for a band like Muse - very appropriate). I think for a first-timer Kimbra gig-goer, despite the massive (but entertaining) visual stimulation, they were blown away. But you just can’t experience the stripped-back beauty and versatility of her voice with all that stimulation.

Overall great show, the crowd weren’t as boisterous and there wasn’t all that much dancing going on as at previous Kimbra shows. Perhaps because everyone came from an exhausting day of work and the crowd was probably made up of newer fans. Highlight: ‘Marigold’, ‘Warrior’, ‘Withdraw’ and Sam Lawrence was beautiful during the ‘Wandering Limbs’ duet. She also had some cool back-up vocalists with some groovy dance moves and confetti was definitely a highlight.

Do yourself a favour and get to a Kimbra show.

The galactical space bubble dress.

In a customised Jaime Lee Major dress.

Getting confetti bombed.

Up until a week ago, I had never heard of ‘One Direction’.  Since they’ve recently been in the country and wreaked complete havoc, I feel the need to weigh in on the mania. I’ve never seen anything like it, pre-teen and teen girls COMPLETELY HYSTERICAL.

I’m an indie, alternative rock, alternative pop darling and this is probably how One Direction slipped past my radar. I am well and truly past my teens, but I unashamedly admit I grew up a fan of the ultimate boy bands of the 90’s: Backstreet Boys, Boy Zone, Take That, 5ive, Blue, Human Nature. These were some of the most wonderful childhood memories - Gushing over Nick Carter and talking about which band member is my type/favourite (Louis in One Direction’s case, girls ;)), guessing which band member is singing which verse, choreographing dances to their cheesy songs and making admiration clubs dedicated to these bands in primary school. Cut these boys and their fan girls some slack. These will be some of the most memorable moments of their childhood and some, not all, will grow to develop a better, more refined taste in music and understand the difference between a singer and an artist. After all, N*SYNC did give us Justin Timberlake and his funky tunes following the band’s demise. Organic is better we know, but being put together is the ‘boy-band’ way. It’s the feature that defines ‘boy-band’, that and those dance moves where they do that jump with a change in beat, that pointing hand move they do and that running into the corner thing the whole group does to bop together – y’all know what I’m talking about.

These One Direction boys were individual contestants on The UK’s X-Factor, they were put together and BAM hello hit-makers, heart-breakers and money-makers. Simon Cowell knows what he’s doing that’s for sure. These boys are British/Irish, surprisingly articulate for their age and have a great stylist (albeit a little metro for me, but it works). They’re top 5, I hear, the world over - testament to the power of the teen masses. So I’m pretty sure they’re laughing and we’re cringing. But I have to say, they bring back my boy-band memories. 1D, I can’t promise complete and utter commitment like your hysterical fan girls, but you’ve got a fan in me ;).

One Direction | ‘Up All Night’

Who doesn’t want to be told that their hair-flipping makes these dapper boys – Louis, Zayn, Harry, Liam, Niall – feel overwhelmed? This album features 13 tracks and a consistent theme flows throughout - young love.  ‘What Makes You Beautiful’, ‘One Thing’ and ‘Everything About You’ are catchy numbers indeed.  The start of ‘Gotta Be You’ sounds like The Verve’s ‘Bittersweet Symphony’. Lyrically it’s boy bandish - the fuzziness of new love and the perils of love gone wrong. As for vocal versatility there’s not much there, but they have nice angelic voices. A favourite is the club track - ‘Stole My Heart’, there’s an intermission at the end with the distinct boy band croon, which then switches back to the catchy club beat. David Guetta would be proud. All in all, ‘Up All Night’ is everything you’d expect for their genre - poptastic boy band grooves, nothing special, but tunes that are definitely on my karaoke list.

1D, I can see the possibility of longevity. I’ll be watching, because you’ve forced your way into all our lives. I’m just glad I can embrace, because I’m pretty sure a lot of people’s ears are bleeding. In the words of an exceptional boy band (they’re not a boy band, but they’re all male), world-class musicians and pioneers of the best live music - The Cat Empire – “Music is the language of us all”. Each to his own. eC.

Coachella from the comfort of my home. One day I’ll actually be there. But until then… thank you technology!

The dates for Prince’s upcoming Australian tour have been announced! Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne will be graced with the iconic, flamboyant music icon in May for what is expected to be a spectacular stage show. eC.

Allphones Arena, NSW | Friday 11th May 2012

Rod Laver Arena, VIC | Monday 14th May 2012

Brisbane Entertainment Centre, QLD | Friday 18th May 2012 

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/books/new-chapter-with-go-it-alone-awards/story-fn9412vp-1226319431730#ixzz1rATwUxN9

Pull your socks up Campbell. Goodness gracious, guess QLDers should brace themselves for more of this nonsense?

I just wanna don my cons and get a groovin’ to this tune y’all ;)

Woah ELECTRONICA, bit of an 80’s groove too. A very different sound for Kimbra, but I like it. Show’s her versatility. Can definitely hear the Mark Foster/Foster the People influences there.