Last week, I saw the Dropkick Murphys and Sick Of It All, two bands I’ve listened to for a very long time, but never seen live. I discovered Sick Of It All like I discovered a lot of new music, from snowboarding movies. The Dropkick Murphys, I discovered in a drunken haze somewhere or other .. possibly while also listening to Flogging Molly and The Gourds.

The show was at the Tivoli, and I do believe more of my friends turned up to this show then any other concert I’ve ever been to. It was a great night!

Sick Of It All were a lot more hardcore than I remember. When the ‘Murphys came on stage, even Al said “I asked those guys to take it easy, but like always they didn’t listen…” Now that I think about it, I don’t think I have any Sick Of It All albums - maybe I should have done a bit more research before I went there. But that’s ok - my time was well spent waiting in line for booze and catching up with friends.

When Sick Of It All left the stage, the “Let’s go Murphys” chant began and didn’t stop until the show got started.

The show was great, and the crowd was rougher than Queens of the Stone age at the Arena a few months back. In fact, my slight friend Ryan and I started a circle pit, the physical abuses of which I haven’t enjoyed for a couple of years. There was crowd surfing and moshing, all to the slowest punk music there is - Celtic punk (aka Irish drinking punk.)

I came out of there drenched in sweat, with a ‘Murphys football jersey and a smile on my face. Too bad it was a school night and nothing was open afterwards.

On June 21st, Brisbane will host Fête de la Musique for the very first time. Fête de la Musique is a free multicultural, multi-community event which began in Paris in 1982. Every year on June 21st, hundreds of cities worldwide celebrate this event.

Presented by Brisbane City Council, Brisbane Marketing and Alliance Française, Fête de la Musique offers free concerts in a variety of indoor and outdoor locations, not traditionally dedicated to music. There will be a number of performance spaces throughout the Queen Street Mall and Fortitude Valley malls with a huge finalé concert scheduled at Reddacliff Place at the top of Queen Street Mall on George Street.

This event is a unique opportunity to encourage major music institutions, like orchestras and operas, to perform outside their usual locations. Being a multicultural event, many styles of music will be represented, including classical, jazz, rock, electronic, rap, pop, folk and traditional.

This is a non-profit event and artists can perform as many times as possible during the day. When a schedule is available, your intrepid reporter shall provide. What this space for information about what’s going to be a massive free music festival!

Ok, first I have to admit I’ve never seen these guys live. But there is a reason for that - I saw them doing a live track on jtv last year and they were terrible! I love their first album Beams, so I just wrote them off as one of those electronic bands that just doesn’t cut it live.

At least they try, of course. Unlike some electronic bands who shall remain nameless (*cough* *cough* Chemical Brothers) who press play on their pre-recorded track, twist some knobs then raise their hands in victory. “Yay! We spent days preparing this pre-recorded track and now everyone is going off! High five Ed!”

Unlike the Chemical Brothers, who are just two guys as well, The Presets had live drums and vocals. That’s cool. And maybe I shouldn’t have been too hasty. The opportunity arose to see them at the Tivoli, I failed to act and it sold out. Then, a second show was announced, and sold out in less than two days. What do these people know that I don’t?

Now, I’m sitting here listening to the new album, Apocalypso. And, like Beams, it too is brilliant. In fact, it’s at the top of the ARIA album chart at the moment. It was the feature album in Triple J last week (or the week before..?) which no doubt helped sales, but it was interesting to hear Julian and Kim introduce each of the songs before they were played. I think I have a more in depth appreciation for some of the tracks, knowing where they came from or what the guys were going through when they wrote them.

So, now I’m starting to think I should have got me a ticket to the Tiv. Nova, if you’re reading this, see if you can get me a comp?

PS - I saw Pnau a few weeks back. I quite enjoyed the show, but I was off my tits at the time and don’t feel I am equiped to comment in a purely objective manner.

Also, the first Splendour in the Grass line-up announcement is tomorrow on Triple J. Will talk more about this next time. And remind me to get my Dropkick Murphies ticket k thanx…

Ok, so it’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog post. More than a month in fact! I find solice in the knowledge no one actually reads my rants, but still, if I don’t make the time to express myself, .. well, I’m sure something bad may happen.

What’s been happening? Queens of the Stone Age baby - that was the highlight of March. Those boys rocked the Arena on the 27th I seem to recall… I’d seen Black Rebel Motorcycle Club there earlier in the year, and it was the LOUDEST show I’ve ever been to. I was hurting for days afterwards. So this time I was prepared - feeling every day of my 31 years, I had earplugs in my pocket, you know, just in case. Luckily, the rock was just the right volume and I crowd-surfed my way to rock n roll heaven.

Also, I made a fine Brisbane live music discovery was made just yesterday. If you like your music a little sophisticated, getting drunk at the Powerhouse museum sunday session while listening to a Conservatorium of Music band classy the place up is a good way to start. Jokes aside, it never ceases to amaze me the depth of musical talent in this town. Definitely worth a look see.

One more thing - another unsigned Brisbane talent, Madeleine Paige, has her EP launch at the Globe Theatre this Thursday. Your intrepid reporter will be there; so should you!

One of my favourite unsigned local artists is Anna Weatherup. This chick has the most amazing voice and is starting to generate quite a buzz around Brisbane. March 6th will see the launch of her first EP Truth at the Globe Theatre, Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley. The first single off the EP - “Real” - made it to number 1 the Triple J Unearthed Rock charts (number 4 on the overall chart.)

You think that I’d know better this time
God give me strength tonight
                - Anna Weatherup

She plays on her own, with just her Maton guitar, her stomp box and her amazing voice. And her EP is no exception. I spoke with her about the recording process, and she said she did record extra guitar, bass and drums, and in the end scrapped the lot of it to keep the same feel you get when you see her play.

Her Unearthed profile suggests she sounds like Mia Dyson, Alanis Morisette, or Sarah McLachlan. She does do a wonderful acoustic version of Silence (Delirium featuring Sarah McLachlin), my you can also make comparisons to other Aussie breakthrough artists like Missy Higgins, The Waifs and Lisa Mitchell.

Speaking of the Waifs, last year, they were rushed to Australia to fill the headlining spot for the Splendour in the Grass music festival at Byron Bay (I can’t recall who pulled out - I’ll get back to you.) Anways, Anna was playing at a cafe in the Brunswick St mall around that time and did a version of Lighthouse, by the Waifs. One of the sisters, who happened to be walking past, felt compelled to come and tell Anna that she sang that song better than they did!

Next Thursday, she is supported by two wonderful immerging artists: Madeleine Paige & Shelly Evans. Tickets are $15 at the door or $12 from OzTix.