Intentions + Dead China Doll

Intentions rule. Simple as that. It's a bit jumpy at the start and the vocals are blaringly loud.

Intentions - Black Wire to Common Ground, Sydney, 24/07/2010 - 25mb - 17 minutes

Dead China Doll rule. Simple as that. It's a bit jumpy at the end and the drumming is amazing.

Dead China Doll - Black Wire to Common Ground, Sydney, 24/07/2010 - 26mb - 17 minutes

Sally Seltmann - Heart That's Pounding launch

I don't normally go to shows like this, but I was entertained and Sally Seltmann writes a damn fine song. Darren from the Avalanches was on the drums as well. She plays quite a few New Buffalo songs as well, crowd was strange, 30-somethings trying to hold on to their youth through FBi vs. Triple J mouth breathers. The type of crowd that when the performer asks for quiet spends the entire song shushing each other.

Sally Seltmann - Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, 23/07/2010 - 91mb - 1 hour 5 minutes

Naked on the Vague + Southern Comfort

I'm not 100% on what Southern Comfort is. It's just Harriet and Angela yeah with Jack filling in whatevers vacant? Every time I see them he's playing a different instrument. Anyway, pretty cool.

Southern Comfort - Spectrum, Sydney, 23/07/2010 - 40mb - 28 minutes

Naked on the Vague played a sort of stripped down set, a lot less keyboards and pedals and such and lots more guitar, the result was brutal, one of the best sets I've seen them play.

Naked on the Vague - Spectrum, Sydney, 23/07/2010 - 52mb - 36 minutes

Aktion Unit + Alps

Went to the new Dirty Shirlows during the day for a set from Aktion Unit. It's pretty cool the way they've done it up, proper PA, a (wide but shallow) stage and even some lights. Didn't expect it coming in, so I guess that explains why they were closed for that time.

I guess Alps of NSW is just Alps now, but this set was el grande. I missed everyone before he came on though.

Alps - Dirty Shirlows, Sydney, 11/07/2010 - 34mb - 23 minutes

When Aktion Unit started it was some big band mode, there were 8 people on stage but my first impression that it was going to be some very low key ambient affair, but by about half way through everything was building up and by the end it was just an incredible cacophony of sound. A really great set all around. People were employing shit they'd learn from the Dead C the night before.

Aktion Unit - Dirty Shirlows, Sydney, 11/07/2010 - 24mb - 16 minutes

The Dead C for the Biennale

The Dead C played their first show in 7 years in Australia as a free one at the SuperDeluxe Artspace. Spent the whole week pretty excited for this one and it met expectations, I missed the first minute or so because I was playing pool. Everyone seemed pretty stoked about when they started raking their guitars around during the feedback section at the end, I'm glad the sound quality turned out as well as it did because I had pretty low hopes at the time. There are at least 3 other recordings floating around out there if you don't like this one.

The Dead C - SuperDeluxe Artspace, Sydney, 10/07/2010 - 80.6mb - 55 minutes

In Sepia/Nim split launch

Since it was just down the road from Black Wire, why the hell wouldn't I?

Hira Hira played, you know the deal, there's a bit of clipping from my shitty wire that caused problems all weekend. Sing-a-long good times.

Hira Hira - Jura Books, Sydney, 03/07/2010 - 25mb - 17 minutes

Been waiting a while to finally see In Sepia, totally entrancing stuff. They were really really great. One of those bands I realised I had never seen before until they mentioned that it was their first time in Sydney.

In Sepia - Jura Books, Sydney, 03/07/2010 - 44mb - 30 minutes

I had never heard of Nim before and assumed I like them by association. They frikken ruled, really showy stuff, but great, fun post-hardcore in the same vein of Life at These Speeds/Moving Mountains, but from Japan instead. A band I wish I had known of before going in, but what better way to discover them?

Nim - Jura Books, Sydney, 03/07/2010 - 59mb - 36 minutes

And so ends the most incredibubble weekend ever.

Black Wire to Common Ground in-store

So Black Wire is pretty much the new Paint it Black. First time I've been there and it rules. Great room for gigs and they have every Murder City Devils LP for $12! Entirely volunteer ran.

The Fighting League represented Canberra and were basically a shit load of fun. I dunno if I wanna bother describing it, just listen.

The Fighting League - Black Wire to Common Ground, Sydney, 03/07/2010 - 36mb - 25 minutes

I've been pretty obsessed with Assassins 88 tape the past couple of months, but I didn't know what to expect from them live. Just assumed it would be a duo and the bassist would sing, but turns out they both sing, with the drummer doing most of it with a mic (Telephone receiver? Ribbon mic? Same thing? Neither?) duct taped into his mouth. Live gave me mad Lightning Bolt vibes, without sounding like them at all. Just loud as shit pop music with crazy drumming.

Assassins 88 - Black Wire to Common Ground, Sydney, 03/07/2010 - 27mb - 19 minutes

Bitch Prefect again. Awesome again. What a band. Come back soon.

Bitch Prefect - Black Wire to Common Ground, Sydney, 03/07/2010 - 51.5mb - 37 minutes