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MISSY HIGGINS ADDED TO HOMEBAKE
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 This year's 10th anniversary of Australia's infamous festival, Homebake, is hotting up with high profile acts being added to a line-up that already boasts acts like Jet, Kasey Chambers, Grinspoon, Pete Murray, Scribe, Eskimo Joe, Regurgitator, Spiderbait and Rocket Science. Australia's number 1 artist, Missy Higgins, will now join the array of quality performers, adding to a long lists of acheivements in 2004, including Aria nominations and two number 1 releases. At the complete opposite end of the scale, Machine Gun Fellatio are about to release their new album, On Ice and we all know what that means: a new stage show from the shock rockers. In true MGF style, the band have already circulated rumours of a very 'special' show on the Homebake stage. Other late additions to the festival include End Of Fashion, Gelbison, The Cops, Sarah Blasko, Koolism and Gerling. Homebake are obviously taking their 'Past, Present and Future' theme very seriously. Make sure you book tickets for this Homebake early. With a massive line-up and reduced capacity, this awesome event will definitely sell out early. Remember: Homebake at Sydney's The Domain, Saturday December 4, 2004.
(posted: September 29, 2004) |
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SCRIBE DOMINATES NZ MUSIC AWARDS
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 New Zealand hip-hop is thriving and the current star, Scribe, has single-handedly put the genre in the Kiwi spotlight after dominating the NZ Music Awards. Scribe's releases have attracted 8 of the prestigious awards, including 'Album Of The Year', 'Single Of The Year' and 'Songwriter Of The Year'. Since the release of The Crusader, Scribe has gone from strength to strength, becoming the first NZ artist to simultaneously hold the #1 position on both the singles and albums charts in his homeland. Not content with that achievement, the talented youngster recently released his new single, Dreaming and, of course, it entered the NZ charts at #1. On the eve of the single's release in Australia, Scribe will hit Aussie shores for a quick tour, bringing many of the guests that made his album such a monumental success. To check the dates on Scribe's 'The Stand Up Tour', click here. To order any of Scribe's releases, click here.
(posted: September 24, 2004) |
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R.I.P. PACIFIER: WELCOME BACK SHIHAD!
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 None of us were happy when Shihad were forced to react to S-11 (and their growing US audience) by changing their name to Pacifier. Firstly, it seemed like a commercially savvy move in reaction to the terrorist strikes; secondly, we've all grown up with the name Shihad, which seemed an integral part of this act. After a red-hot shot at success in The States, which resulted in a local U.S. release of their single Bullitproof, Pacifier have reclaimed their original name: Shihad. Confused? Good. The important thing is the announcement that Shihad are back and in fine form, leading up to the recording of their new album: Love Is The New Hate. Once again, producer Garth Richardson (Rage Against The Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers) will be cracking the whip as NZ's premier hard rock outfit lay down fresh tracks. Jon and the boys have been avidly writing enough songs to fill a few albums; over 40 tracks penned at different locations that included a Kiwi deer reserve called Ngamatea. Obviously the boys need absolute peace and quiet in order to write very heavy guitar music. So the band is off to Vancouver to work on album #6. But Shihad fans won't have to wait for long. The first single off Love Is The New Hate will be on Aussie radio by the end of the year. Choice Bro.
(posted: September 23, 2004) |
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HALFDAY LEAD THE 'BRISVEGAN INVASION'
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 Nathan Lockwood of Brisbane band Halfday had a pleasant surprise waiting for him when he returned from a recent promotional tour of Europe: hearing his band's latest single, You Make Me Want To Clean My Room, on Triple J. Nathan's successes abroad included popular performances at Oslo's prestigious 'Oyafestival', where filmclips for Heavy and You Make Me Want to Clean My Room (directed by Norwegian Anja Oesterli) were played as part of the festival. Here at Whammo we were impressed by the seductive sound of the Brisbane act when they released Downstairs King, a fine EP that displayed the writing talents of Lockwood, formerly of Pretty Violet Stain; one of our favourite Brisbane acts during the 90s. After the popularity of their album Now We're Happy and the return of their singer, Halfday are ready to join forces with fellow Brisvegans, Denvar and Shifter, on the Brisvegan Invasion Tour, which will travel from Adelaide to Cairns, dropping in to say hello to Melbourne, Wollongong, Armidale, Brisbane and Townsville plus a number of regional centres. To check the dates for the 'Brisvegan Invasion Tour', click here. To order Now We're Happy, click here.
(posted: September 23, 2004) |
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DELTA SET TO TOP CHARTS (AGAIN!)
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 Fresh from her team-boosting visit to the Olympic Village, Delta Goodrem is set to repeat her 2003 success with a new single, Out Of The Blue. To say that her second album is highly anticipated is a gross understatement. With 2.5 million album sales across the globe, Delta Goodrem is a rising international star. Her status as a 14 X platinum artist in Australia lifts her to the lofty heights of musical royalty, along with artists like John Farnham and Kylie Minogue. Australian radio will feature the new single by the end of September. Out Of The Blue was co-written by Delta and producer Guy Chambers (Robbie Williams, Jewel) and recorded in London. Get ready for the inevitable mass hysteria surrounding Delta's forthcoming single.
(posted: September 15, 2004) |
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HAPPY 10TH B'DAY TO HOMEBAKE!
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 Homebake's first appearance on the Australian festival circuit (Byron Bay, 1995) was a pivotal moment in Australian musical culture and history. The event's debut came at a time when local music was booming and independent/alternative music was encroaching on territories normally reserved for mainstream acts. Homebake #1 perfectly marked the era when the charts flipped upside down and major labels desperately reached for their chequebooks to sign a multitude of dirty pub rock bands. It's both justified and a little ironic that Homebake should celebrate its 10th birthday at a time when Aussie music has risen from the ashes to launch into another boom period. We all know Homebake totally rocks but with this year's theme, the renowned mud-fest is set to present its most impressive billing. 'Past, present & future' acts will not only illustrate the colourful history of this event, but also give us a taste of the emerging stars that promise to be the next generation of successful local acts. Homebake has traditionally given emerging acts their first taste of festival crowds and once again, the Hopetoun Stage will showcase the rising stars. But for many punters the jam-packed schedule for the main stage will be hard to top. After all, this year's Homebake is a celebration and promoters have secured a special array of high-profile partiers: Jet, Kasey Chambers, Grinspoon, Pete Murray, Hilltop Hoods, Xavier Rudd, Scribe, Eskimo Joe, Regurgitator, Spiderbait, Rocket Science, Katalyst, After The Fall, The D4 and Wolfmother. This year's extravaganza takes place at The Domain in Sydney, Saturday December 4 2004. Keep checking Whammo Tours as new acts are added to the already impressive line-up. For more info, including ticket details, click here.
(posted: September 13, 2004) |
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 It only seems like yesterday that I received an e-mail announcing Eskimo Joe's signing to FMR. This week their brilliant second album, A Song Is A City, was certified platinum in Oz. It's a great boost for the lads as they tour the country and get set to release their next single, Older Than You. Of course, when it comes to info for Eskimo Joe fans, Whammo has it all covered: to read the Eskimo Joe Feature, click here; to read a review of A Song Is A City, click here; and to check out Eskimo Joe Tour dates, click here. Go The Joe!
(posted: September 9, 2004) |
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DARREN HAYES RETURNS TO OZ
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 The mercurial Darren Hayes will arrive in Australia this Friday (September 10) to promote The Tension And The Spark, the ex-Savage Gardener's 2nd solo album, due for release on September 13. The success of Popular (#3 debut on Aria's singles chart) should justify Darren's change of musical direction and fans are looking forward to the bluntly honest lyrics and musical diversity promised by the charismatic singer/songwriter during the long absence since Spin. The short promotional visit will include the eastern state capitals of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Hayes' many Aussie fans will be hoping for a successful album campaign and the promise of a tour in the near future.
(posted: September 6, 2004) |
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JET WIN AN MTV MUSIC AWARD
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 Jet will arrive in Australia for a homecoming tour and they'll be bringing a little extra baggage in the form of an MTV Music Award. The Aussie rockers became the first act from this country to win an MTV Award for 'Best Rock Video'. Sunday's award ceremony in Miami was a perfect way to farewell the U.S, which has opened its arms to the young 4-piece from Melbourne, making Get Born one of the most successful rock albums released in the last 18 months. Chris Cester accepted the award and dedicated it to their 'late great Dad, John'. With Get Born exceeding 5 X platinum in Australia, Jet will get a true taste of their massive following when they make the move from clubs to hall on their forthcoming tour. To check out the dates, click here. To order Get Born, click here.
(posted: September 1, 2004) |
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AMNESTY SERVES UP HIP-HOP WITH FREEDOM 04
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 For those of us who live in relative comfort, it's hard to realistically imagine the torment of distant people deprived of basic rights. Luckily, the veteran champions of human rights, Amnesty International, are the perennial defenders of the oppressed, wrongly incarcerated, mistreated and neglected citizens of planet Earth. But whether you've been fence-sitting or getting involved by supporting the organisation, Amnesty are making it easy to contribute to the cause by promoting Freedom 04; a string of star-studded gigs across the country. With acts like Good Buddha, Urthboy, Morganics, Debasa, Regal, Blaze and Bonez; Freedom 04 has an attractive billing, especially for lovers of homegrown hip-hop. Rising U.S. crew, The Procussions, will headline and a strong support cast of talented DJs will keep the vibes flowing; people like Simon Caldwell, Groove Scooter and Crucial D. So, if you've been angry about the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, now is the time to show your support and enjoy a great show at the same time. For full details on Freedom 04, click here.
(posted: August 30, 2004) |
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R.I.P LARRY DURYEA TAYLOR
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This is very belated, but we'd like to inform the Whammo faithful of a great loss. Larry Duryea Taylor, percussionist for many fine Aussie acts, passed away late last year. Larry's contribution won't be forgotten. His name appears regularly in our encyclopaedia and he will always be a part of Australian music's growing history. But he was more than a musician, as Debra Taylor explained in this recent e-mail:
'Larry Duryea Taylor, our old friend from times ago, lost his battle with cancer and passed away on December 9, 2003.
The percussionist for Heart & Soul, Tamam Shud, Duck, and the Stevie Wright Band, Larry made music with some of Australia's finest. He also did session work and performed with Tamam Shud on the soundtrack for Alby Falzon's classic "Morning of the Earth." Larry's early career was in photography, then music, evolving to acupuncturist and then gardener after moving to California in the early 1980's. He always worked with his hands! Larry will be remembered well by his sisters Fiona, Tracey and Cathy, his life partners Stephanie Stephens and Debra Taylor, and all his friends back in Australia.
Tim Gaze (ex-Tamam Shud guitarist), added this:
"...Larry was just cool - going along for all the right reasons, playing the music."
Larry will be missed for a very long time.
(posted: August 30, 2004) |
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AUSTRALIAN IDOL STAR INJURED IN ACCIDENT
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 Australian Idol star, Shannon Noll has been air-lifted to Sydney after injuring his leg. It's difficult to ascertain the exact nature of the incident but the accident is believed to have happened on the Noll family's Condobolin property. The Australian Idol star's family and friends remain tight-lipped, adding to confusing and conflicting reports that have suggested Noll either had a work-related mishap or a motorbike accident. After being flown to Sydney by air ambulance, Noll was rushed to a private hospital for treatment. Whammo will keep you informed.
(posted: August 26, 2004) |
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CONCERT FOR SLIM RELEASED ON DVD
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 Lee Kernaghan described the historic Concert For Slim perfectly as he warmed up during a sound check at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre: "It will be a night for all of us to honour the King and send our love to the man who made Australian Country Music what it is today." The concert included over 30 of Australia's finest performers and a capacity crowd of adoring fans, all gathered to celebrate Slim Dusty, the enduring legend of Australian country music. Thanks to EMI, Slim's loyal record label, and the Slim Dusty Foundation, this once in a lifetime concert can be enjoyed on DVD. All proceeds will go directly to the Slim Dusty Foundation, who recently announced government backing to develop the Slim Dusty Centre in Kempsey. As you'd expect, our biggest stars donated their services for the evening and performed 30 of Slim's legendary tunes. Take a look at the amazing line-up for this concert: James Blundell, Adam Brand, Lindsay Butler, Troy Cassar-Daley, Bill Chambers, Kasey Chambers, Nathan Charlton, Beccy Cole, Graeme Connors, Tracy Coster, Peter Denahy, Adam Harvey, Gina Jeffrey's, Paul Kelly, Lee Kernaghan, Tania Kernaghan, Anne Kirkpatrick, David Kirkpatrick, James & Kate Arneman and Hanna Kirkpatrick (Slims Grandchildren), Jimmy Little, The McKean Sisters, Lawrie Minson, Joy McKean, Norma O'Hara Murphy, Dobe Newton, Melinda Schneider, Sara Storer, Keith Urban, Felicity Urquhart, John Williamson, Brian Young, and the Travelling Country Band. Thanks to these contributing artists, the Slim Dusty Foundation, EMI and the government (I can't believe I just said that!), Slim Dusty will continue to contribute to the development of local country music through the Slim Dusty Centre. To order Concert For Slim, click here.
(posted: August 23, 2004) |
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SCRIBE BRINGS NEW ZEALAND'S FINEST TO OZ
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 The star of New Zealand's hip-hop scene, Scribe, is back on Australian soil with his producer P-Money, Savage & Mareko (Deceptikonz) and Con Psy & Forty One (Frontline). The Stand Up Tour will be a great celebration of a country that, like Australia, has a strong history of underground hip-hop. Scribe's recent performances with Daniel Merriweather, 1200 Techniques and Jurassic 5 have given fans a live sample of the quality that impressed on Scribe's The Crusader album; a devastating set of tunes including Not Many and Stand Up; the single that recently spent 12 weeks at #1 on the New Zealand charts. If you loved Not Many - The Remix, get ready for the live version as the same group of talented b-boys get set to rock stages on this headline tour. To check out Scribe's The Stand Up Tour, click here. To order The Crusader, click here.
(posted: August 23, 2004) |
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SOMETHING FOR KATE CELEBRATE 10TH ANNIVERSARY
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 Something For Kate have decided on a novel approach to their 10th Anniversary celebrations, reforming their original line-up to play a one-off gig and relive the early days of the band. Julian Carroll will be back on bass guitar as Something For Kate Mk #1 play songs from their early EPs. It's a fitting time for the Emo-rockers to remember the past. The band is now a truly international entity with the recent international release of The Official Fiction and here in Australia, their collection of B-sides Phantom Limbs, was released this week as a special 2 CD box set including 29 rare tracks. Something For Kate are renowned for the quality of their b-sides; in fact, they've withheld songs from album releases in order to include interesting tracks for their single releases, as Stephanie explained in our recent Whammo interview: "We dictate what we do: every aspect of it. We do the artwork, we decide what goes on the album, we decide what kind of videos we make: every single thing. There were songs on the single (Deja Vu) that the record company would have liked on the album but we made them b-sides instead. It’s really good to be able to make those decisions." To read our Something For Kate feature (including an interview and all available titles), click here.
(posted: August 23, 2004) |
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KEITH URBAN SETS NEW AUSSIE RECORD!
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 Keith Urban is absolutely on fire at the moment, metaphorically speaking. On the eve of his promotional tour of Australia, the rising international star of Country has climbed to #4 on the US Billboard Country Singles chart with Days Go By. With his latest achievement, Keith has become the first Australian artist to have eight consecutive Top 5 singles in the USA. Aussie Urban fans can expect to see the former mullet-topped heartthrob on national TV as Keith treats Australian media to a whirlwind promotional tour at the end of August. To order Days Go By, click here; to order Be Here, click here.
(posted: August 19, 2004) |
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HAYES BREAKS THE DROUGHT WITH POPULAR
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 Darren Hayes' new single Popular is officially released today. It's been a long hard road for Hayes after his first album, Spin, failed to match high expectations generated by the massive success of Queensland's most successful export: Savage Garden. But, undaunted, Darren set about changing his style and direction, penning his own tunes and working with more innovative producers. After what seemed like an eternity for Darren Hayes fans, the man himself treated his loyal devotees to special listening parties earlier this year; and in a move that would normally horrify labels and management, Hayes visited the listening parties in person, meeting and greeting fans as his new album was previewed. Now, with an increased interest in the new material, it will be interesting to monitor the success of Darren's 2nd solo campaign; especially since the U.S. arm of Sony decided, in their infinite money-squandering wisdom, that they would delay any American release of the new material. I know there are plenty of intelligent people in America; it would be great if they could make a few decisions instead of the out-of-touch fools that head the major labels...oh, and the government. Darren Hayes titles will always be available on Whammo, including both versions of the new Popular single.
(posted: August 17, 2004) |
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AUSSIE ARTISTS UNITE AGAINST LIBERAL GOVERNMENT
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 Political dissent seems to have reached an all-time high with concert promoters and press in the U.S. combining forces to get people registered to vote against Bush. Now, here in Australia, the music industry is doing the same, uniting to oust the Liberal/Coalition government. After realising that every musician was unanimous in their disdain for Prime Minister John Howard, Lindsay McDougal of Sydney's irreverent punksters, Frenzal Rhomb, decided to do something about it. Since that time, his call-to-arms (unlike John Howard's literal take on that term) has resulted in countless acts submitting rare, unreleased or purpose-built compositions for Rock Against Howard; a double-CD featuring the best of Australian rock, guitar pop and hip-hop. So, what's the problem with the Howard government, anyway? Well, the official press release reminds us of govenment policies that have been 'responsible for so many attacks on basic human rights: the rights of workers, the rights of Aborigines, the rights of children, the rights of refugees, women’s rights, the right to healthcare, the right to marry whoever we bloody want to marry!' Oh yeah, and then there were the lies: 'the children overboard' scandal and Iraq. In my humble opinion, if you're keen to fly thousands of kilometres to kill complete strangers, you'd better be sure the premise is correct. Otherwise you're a tyrant. An impressive list of local talent must feel the same way because the response has been so enthusiastic that Rock Against Howard is a double CD with 34 tracks. Australia's finest musical creators have donated their work and this charity album will help to raise cash for the organisations that have fought to heal some of Howard's damage; pro-refugee and anti-howard charities, distributed around the country by the Refugee Action Coalition. Rock Against Howard organisers also scored a coup in the form of a rare track by Senator Andrew Bartlett and his 80’s supergroup Too Green For Summer. Bartlett voiced his opinion with a truly Aussie metaphor: “A grossly dishonest government undermines the foundations of democracy. Cricket umpires are always required to give the batter the benefit of the doubt. However, this government has shown such contempt for the public and the Parliament that they have lost the right to the benefit of the doubt on anything. There's no way they're going to walk, so it's time to give them out and show them the way to the pavilion for good measure.” And when it comes to voicing his opinion on the current govenment, Greens leader, Senator Bob Brown never needs too much prodding: “Liberal used to mean generous, fair and looking out for freedom and democracy. Under John Howard and Philip Ruddock it has come to mean mean, nasty and repressive … Voting Liberal means voting for razor wire, chainsaws and greed. That's why I am a Green. The feeling is good. There's a better world ahead.” One of the biggest problems with Australia's voting system is that not enough voters have taken a passionate interest in political debate, as Kerry Nettle of the NSW Greens says: “Politics doesn't have to be boring. The bands on this album are doing their bit to kick out the Howard government. What are you doing? Hopefully listening to this album will inspire you get out on the street at the next demo or ring up Alan Jones and tell him what you think or get into an argument at the pub about who you are going to vote for." Carmen Lawrence, President of the Labor Party and long time human rights defender, had this to say: “For the last eight years we've been subjected to the meanest and most manipulative government ever to hold office in Australia; a government whose stock in trade is the exploitation of fear; a government prepared to harm innocent bystanders to win votes … It's time to put an end to his regime of fear.” The most impressive selling point of Rock Against Howard (besides the sentiment) is the quality tracklisting. Mainstream acts fluidly mix with indie acts to deliver what is possibly the finest compilation of the year. Check out the tracklisting:
Disk 1:
H-Block 101 – Reason Why?
Even – Sunshine Comes
Something For Kate – Best Weapon
The Givegoods – Collar to Colour
David Bridie - Nation
The City Lights – A Big Star
Peabody – A Resurrected Man
78 Saab – Sound of Lies
Bodyjar – Is It A Lie?
Sulo - Wash
The Anyones – Gun him Down
Razel – The Arse Song
The Resin Dogs – Rebel feat. Abstract Rude
Youth Group – Drowned
Frenzal Rhomb – (ooh baby it’s a) White World
TISM – The Phillip Ruddock Blues
Disk 2 – Unreleased and Unreal!
The Herd – Honest J
Front End Loader – 4 Star Heritage Arsehole (live)
The Drugs – I Was A Teenage Voter
Godnose – At the End of the Day
Unpaid Debt – Call it a Day
Little Johnny (aka-Pauline Pantsdown) – I’m Sorry
Toekeo – John Howard is a Filthy Slut
Mindsnare – To The Boil
Demon Other – Keep on Raping in the Free World
The Persian Rugs - Half -Wit
Steve Towson – Tonight We Storm the Bastille
The Fauves – Get Fucked
The Reservations – Calling Out I’m Through
George’s Bush – Evil Little Man
Major – Liar
Eddie Perfect – John Howard’s Bitches
The Thighblasters – How’d You All Get To Be So Dumb?
Too Green For Summer – I Don’t Believe It
Rock Against Howard is now available through Whammo...click here.
(posted: August 9, 2004) |
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LOVE AUSTRALIAN BANDS? CHALLENGE THEM ON XBOX!
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 Fans of Gyroscope and Eskimo Joe will have the opportunity to challenge their favourite band members as XBox Live's 'Game With Fame' hits Australia. That's right, you don't need to be 'in the know' to get a chance to chat to bands; you can get chummy with musos from the comfort of your own home. Just hook up your XBox, pop on a headset and chat to the band live in real time. You'll need to register at www.xbox.com.au/gamewithfame and join in at 7pm (EST) on Monday 13th of September. That's when Gyroscope - the inform Aussie rockers - will be leaning into cyber corners as they challenge the fans to a few laps of Moto GP. So, if your girlfriend thinks "the singer is cute" what better way to let off a bit of jealous steam than edging the dude into a pilon? Oh, if only I had an XBox (sob, sob, hint, hint). I'd show those youngsters a thing or two about reckless driving! If you've been loving Eskimo Joe's A Song Is The City album, what better way to thank them for their musical efforts than to crush them in a game of Project Gotham Racing 2? So, they can play musical instruments huh? It's time to show those smart allec's a think or two about overtaking manoeuvres when the boys log on at 7pm, Monday 20th of September. If you haven't already joined the 'Game With Fame' team, you're running late. The service now boasts a membership of over 750,000 in the participating countries: North America, Asia, Europe and Australia. If a black car suddenly appears, swerving across the track and shamelessly knocking racers out of the game, you'll know that XBox have sent me a console! I look forward to being a terribly bad sport.
(posted by G: August 13, 2004) |
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MISSY HIGGINS DEBUTS AT #1!
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 A great moment in Australian music occurred this week when Missy Higgins knocked Australian Idol finalist, Paulini, off the #1 position on the Australian singles charts (Aria). Missy is a real singer/songwriter and her #1 debut marks a possible 'changing of the guard' as disenchantment with Australian pop reaches an all-time high. While programs like Australian Idol and Popstars Live have attracted a large audience, a groundswell of critics have called for an increased focus on real songwriters and original music. Public clashes between the forces of musical good and evil have been common recently, such as the well-publicised confrontation between Austereo's Kyle & Jackie O and Frenzal Rhomb's Jason Whalley. Missy Higgins' success can only be attributed to talent and deserved exposure. The young solo performer was 'unearthed' by Triple J while she was still studying at high school. The song which gained her a spot on Triple J's play list, All For Believing, was the first song she'd written. Now, with the help of producer John Porter (Ryan Adams, The Smiths, Los Lonely Boys) and mixer Jay Newland (Norah Jones), Missy has a #1 hit, The Scar EP. It is only her second release. Missy's album, The Sound Of White, will be released in September and is available for pre-order through Whammo now. To check out Whammo review and pre-order Missy's album, click here. To read a review of the Scar EP, click here.
(posted by G: August 12, 2004) |
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AUSTEREO VS FRENZAL RHOMB: THE SAGA CONTINUES
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Kyle & Jackie O would dearly love for the Frenzal Rhomb Vs Austereo feud to blow over, but I'm afraid, thanks to ABC's Media Watch, we can't allow that to happen. The infamous whistle-blowing media monitors, as per usual, found the necessary footage to damn the arrogant radio duo who have already become the laughing stock of the industry, thanks to a backlash from music media and record labels. Media Watch found footage from the scene of the crime - the festival in Darwin that inspired a clash between the Sydney punk act and Jackie O - and they also played excerpts from the historic interview on 2Day FM that saw the disc-jockeys dig their own promotional grave. For those of you who missed the original story, Jason Whalley (Frenzal) accepted the invitation to an on-air confrontation where the popular commercial radio duo succeeded in embarrassing themselves and seemingly exposing their lack of support for local emerging artists. The ABC program, which traditionally has no fear of reprisal, asked Austereo General Manager, Patrick Joyce, about the incident, when Whalley was told that his band would be black-banned. As Joyce explained, Kyle Sandilands and his producer, Ryan Wellington had been cautioned over the incident and explained that 2Day FM's programming was determined by research and listener preference. Also under the spotlight was a cruel hoax that humiliated pop singer, Katie Underwood. Sandilands, posing as a burglar who claimed to have stolen sex tapes from Underwood's residence, offered to return the photos for an alleged $15,000. The prank was revealed, but not before Underwood had negotiated the figure down to $5,000. Her response was less than amiable and why not? I'd like to see Sandiland's reaction to a similar joke considering his childish reaction to the events that took place in Darwin. When Media Watch asked Joyce if he condoned the pranks, he pointed to radio's long history of rude gags, before admitting that he did not personally like jokes if they 'caused distress'. This may be the last instalment of this saga because if Sandilands hasn't already been told to keep his mouth shut, it's about time someone had a quiet word to him. Of course, if there are more new developments, we're more than happy to write more articles.
(posted: August 10, 2004) |
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FANS DECIDE NEW MGF SINGLE
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 It's so cute when bands and their record labels pretend to be in disagreement. This week it was those lovable leaders of porn-rock, Machine Gun Fellatio, who decided to leave their label out of the loop. MGF appeared on Triple J radio to give their fans a chance to vote for a number of songs and determine which track will be MGF's new single. Loveshark explains: "We couldn't make up our minds. Mostly we don't have minds to make up. Not anymore. I had a mind but it fled. Some time ago." Apparently (yawn), record label executives weren't amused by the band's innovative approach. Sources say that the big-wigs had been waiting impatiently to hear the band's new material and were 'dismayed' to hear the new tracks on radio. Pinky Beecroft, the band's demented front-man, had these kind words to say about Festival Mushroom Records: "Look. FMR is a great record company. They've stood by us and they've always fully supported us. But you know… f**k 'em." The best news for fans is the announcement that Machine Gun Fellatio - On Ice, the new album, has been completed and will hit shelves on October 17 this year. As for the new single, the fans have spoken and decided a winner: Troublemaker.
(posted: August 6, 2004) |
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BUTTERFLY EFFECT CAPTIVATE EUROPE
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 It took far too long for Aussie music media to give The Butterfly Effect some deserved respect, but it's only taken a fraction of that time for Europe's metal hierarchy to realise the potential of the Brisbane hard rock/nu metal outfit. Germany, the stronghold of the European music market, has fallen in love with the metalic sounds of the 4-piece and more than 20 radio stations have added the song, One Second Of Insanity to play lists while London’s XFM & the national UK broadcaster Kerrang Radio have also shown great support. If you want to be taken seriously in the metal world, you must impress the heavyweights of the European metal elite and The Butterfly Effect have had a tonic effect on the notoriously hard German critics with Metal Hammer, Rock Hard & Visions magazines publishing strong reviews with consistently high rating for the debut album, Begins Here. Metal Hammer in particular have decided to throw their weight behind the Aussies, listing the act at #2 on their global list of Best New Bands. Now an influential booking agent, Dave Chumbley of Primary Talent (No Doubt, Courtney Love, Ben Folds, Less Than Jake, Bloodhound Gang), has added the lads to his influential list of talent and you know what that means: Europe, The Butterfly Effect will soon be on 'the continent'. The Butterfly Effect's success is a tribute to the old school method of exposure: constant touring. In fact, much of the hype generated at the time of Begins Here's release was generated by hard work on the road, with the music press finally bowing to the overwhelming support of fans after readers polls (Voted in the top three live bands & best albums of 2003 by readers of The Drum Media), ticket sales (4 successful tours in 8 months) and record sales (45,000 units sold). Whammo looks forward to the inevitable passionate response the band will get when they hit European shores. Check out our Butterfly Effect page...click here.
(posted: August 4, 2004) |
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PLATINUM ROCKERS RETURN TO OZ
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 Jet fans may have been disappointed in May, when the lads were forced to cancel dates on their last national tour, but all will be forgiven as the lads return during October to finish what hey started. The Melbourne 4-piece has completed another round-trip of the US where their Get Born album has been certified platinum (1 million sales). The new single, Cold Hard Bitch, is reminding Aussie fans of Jet's ability to rock, so don't be surprised if tickets for the forthcoming tour sell out within hours; Sydney and Adelaide Jet fans will have to be quick when tickets become available on August 16, closely followed by Melbourne on August 17. After strong sales and many successful tours, Jet could put the icing on the cake at this year's MTV Music Awards. Are You Gonna Be My Girl has been nominated for 3 Awards (Best Rock Video, Best New Artist and Best Editing) and Jet also have a chance at winning the 'Viewer's Choice Award'. With so much happening for the retro-rockers overseas, Aussie fans will be hoping for an uninterrupted tour schedule in October. To check the forthcoming Jet dates, click here.
(posted: August 2, 2004) |
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REGURGITATOR SET TO MAKE HISTORY AS 'BAND IN A BUBBLE'
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 Over the last decade, Regurgitator (pictured left) has ripped popular music apart, and with startling results. Their tongue-in-cheek take on mainstream culture has lifted them to the top of the charts, where they have comfortably existed alongside the music they parody so well. Now, in an act that once again sees them balance between insanity and brilliance, the Brisbane 3-piece has decided to record their latest album in a bubble located in Melbourne's Federation Square. The glass structure will allow people 24-hour access to the band over three weeks and be closely monitored by Channel [V]. I guess it's like Big Brother, but with talented people. This concept has existed for many years but the band was inspired to make it a reality after seeing a well-known stunt by an illusionist. "I felt a bit ripped off by David Blaine," Yeomans said, referring to the lunatic who suspended himself in a glass box over the River Thames in London last year. "He was just sitting there not doing anything all. I thought we could put the creative process under that kind of scrutiny." If you're not familiar with this Aria-award winning act, just click here to be transported to a list of their releases. Stay tuned for more 'Band In A Bubble' news on Whammo.
(posted: July 29, 2004) |
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RECORD NUMBER OF CHART TOPPING LOCALS TO BE RECOGNISED BY ARIA
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 It's great to see Aussie artists topping the local charts and this year's Aria No.1 Chart Awards boast a long list of high-profile artists, thanks to bumper year for the locals. Kasey Chambers, Kylie Minogue, Delta Goodrem, The John Butler Trio, Guy Sebastian, Spiderbait, Shannon Noll, Pete Murray, Something For Kate, Jet, Paulini and the Hillsong Church have all achieved the coveted No. 1 position on either the ARIA Singles or Albums charts (or both) in the previous 12 months. Cynics may point to the success of Australian Idol finalists as a major contributor to that list, but even more impressive is rise of artists like John Butler; a rare independent chart-topper. While it might seem to be a strange awards ceremony - recognising the most commercially viable acts and labels - the point is to notice the success of locals and recognise the industry efforts that have helped to raise those acts to the top position. Maybe Aria can invent another awards ceremony to recognise the rising stars of our local music industry.
(posted: July 29, 2004) |
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JENNY MORRIS AND HUSH TO RAISE CASH FOR THERAPY CENTRE
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 For the second year running, Jenny Morris & Friends will raise money for The Golden Stave Music Therapy Centre by performing a one-off gig. Last year Jenny attracted a star-studded line-up including Diesel, members of INXS, James Blundell, Doug Williams and Melinda Schneider. 2004 sees the return of James, Doug and Melinda as well as Jimmy Barnes, Deni Hines, Rick Price, Billy Thorpe and re-introducing, for the first time on-stage together in 27 years, legendary 70’s glam rockers, Hush. That's right, the original line-up of Keith Lamb, Rick Lum, Smiley Pailthorpe and Les Gock will rock on stage together for this special occasion. “It's been nearly 30 years since this group of desparates have been on stage together," explained Les Gock. "We hope that Nordoff Robbins will forgive us for using their name as an excuse get together on stage. If it wasn't for Nordoff Robbins and APRA it would be another 30 years before HUSH got together on stage again". If you believe that music is therapeutic, you'll be happy to know that the The Golden Stave Music Therapy Centre is pushing the boundaries, exploring 'development and change through the power of music'. Music therapy at the Golden Stave Music Therapy Centre is based on the Nordoff-Robbins approach, which emphasises improvisation and other creative techniques. Let's hope Jenny & Friends can top 2003's impressive fund-raising effort ($35,000). Tickets are $175.00, which covers food, beverages and includes a tax deductible donation of $75.00. Tickets are available at http://www.nordoff-robbins.com.au/basement.
When: Tuesday, 17th August, 2004 from 6.30pm
Where: The Basement, 29 Reiby Place, Sydney
(posted: July 29, 2004) |
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KEITH URBAN: NEW ALBUM, NEW LABEL, NEW AUSSIE TOUR
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 Keith Urban, Australia's loveable contribution to the mainstream country market in the US, is virtually a permanent resident in the Billboard Top 50. Now, after chalking up over 2 million sales of his album Golden Road, Keith is the proud recipient of double-platinum status. Ironically, the guitar whiz still remains in the single platinum category in his homeland. Hopefully Aussie country music fans can get over the 'tall poppy' syndrome to welcome his new album, Be Here, with open arms. The fresh tunes will be available on September 20 and this time Capitol/EMI Australia will be handling the campaign due to a recent deal between the Aussie label and Urban. John O'Donnell, Managing Director of EMI Australia, was rapt to have the high profile country talent join his team:
"All of us at EMI Australia are incredibly proud to be working with Keith...(He) has gone from strength to strength over the past decade, both here and in the US, and we look forward to being part of that journey. Having heard many of the tracks from the upcoming album, I couldn't be more excited about what is ahead of us. This is definitely the record that will establish Keith as a global superstar."
For Keith's Aussie fans the near future looks bright; Urban will return to Australia in September and tour dates will be announced soon. Make sure you check Whammo tours for details and always remember: our tour page covers all genres including country, roots, folk and any other style of music you care to mention. Check it out. As for Be Here, Whammo will make the new album available for pre-order weeks before its official release date.
(posted: July 27, 2004) |
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PM GIVES THUMBS-UP TO SLIM DUSTY CENTRE
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 The Australian government will contribute most of the money they've stolen from me over the last few years to help make the Slim Dusty Centre a reality. Finally, our hard-earned cash is being spent on something decent. $1.5 million will go toward the centre that will continue to do exactly what the unforgettable godfather of Australian country did through his life-long career: support the growth of country music. Kempsey will be the location for the centre, not too far away from the property where Slim wrote his first tune. John Howard didn't leave out too many details when he made his official announcement:
"I am delighted to announce that the Australian Government will provide $1.5 million to help establish the Slim Dusty Centre in Kempsey. The Slim Dusty Centre will link Slim's life and his music with our culture, our land and people. The greater part of the Australian Government's contribution towards the Centre, which will come from the Government's Regional Partnerships programme, will be used to construct the Centre and to fit out two transport-related interactive displays in the museum: the 'Truckies' and 'Ridin' the Rails' displays. The Truckies display will highlight the life of long distance truck drivers through the song 'Lights on the Hill' and 'Ridin' the Rails' display will emphasise the importance of rail transport in Australia's development and culture. It is proposed that the Slim Dusty Centre will, in addition to a museum of Slim Dusty's life and music, incorporate a gallery and concert facility, an entertainment venue for country music and a recording studio. The Centre will provide employment and create further tourism opportunities for Kempsey. The Centre will be a celebration of a great life. Slim is Australia's most prolific and best selling recording artist. Slim was awarded 36 Golden Guitars at the Tamworth Country Music Awards, was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame and the Country Music Roll of Renown and was named Father of the Year and Senior Australian of the Year in 1999. I congratulate all those who have come together to support this project, including the Slim Dusty Foundation, and in particular Slim's wife Joy, Australia's Holiday Coast Area Consultative Committee, the local community and the state government. Through the Slim Dusty Centre, Slim's music will continue to touch the lives of many more Australians."
All cynicism aside, it's great news for the local country music industry. After all the warmongering expenditure of the illegal Iraq campaign, we're finally spending cash on something positive. I look forward to visiting what promises to be an icon of the local country music scene.
(posted: July 16, 2004) |
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HAYES SET FOR A MASSIVE COMEBACK WITH POPULAR
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 Well, after 2 years of ups and downs, Darren Hayes has finally emerged with a new single, Popular; the first single from his forthcoming album The Tension And The Spark. It's been a long and torturous wait for Darren's loyal fans who were treated to advance listening parties earlier in the year. August 23rd is the official release date for both formats of the new single, which went to Australian radio today. Australian media was less than kind to Darren when he released Spin but early signs suggest that both radio and television are appreciating his new musical direction; an obvious attempt to strive for a more alternative and creative sound. Channel [V] will feature Popular as their Ripe Clip of the week and you can be sure to keep up with Darren's career on Whammo. Musically, the new material is a departure from formulaic mainstream pop, recognising the changing sound of the genre, which seems to be shifting from light House production to a more electro feel. It's a gutsy move toward the future and a friendly jab at the industry, as Darren explains: “Popular is my take on our increasing obsession of Fame as a vocation. I’m pointing the finger at myself and the genre that brought me up – it is, also an incredibly exciting and crazy piece of music”. Two influential characters of electronic production, Robert Conley and Spike Stent, have contributed to the cutting edge sounds on the infectious new track. The video acts as a tribute to Darren's avid fans, with unrehearsed scenes in several London locations attracting warm and enthusiastic responses from the public and causing quite a stir on busy streets. In his 8 year career, Darren's musical projects have led to sales of over 23 million albums and The Tension And The Spark could tap into yet another new market; the electronic fraternity. Both formats of Popular are now available for pre-order from Whammo.
(posted: July 26, 2004) |
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GOODREM'S FIRST PRODUCERS REVEAL 'LOST ALBUM'
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 Oh dear, here we go again; another pop star may be drawn into a legal battle. First it was Holly, then Candice and this time it's the princess of Australian pop, Delta Goodrem! After the Candice Alley debacle, I've got to be careful in this article because I don't want another mysterious rich-sounding gent calling Whammo, trying to convince me to change my copy. God forbid! So here are the facts. Despite attempts to present Delta's Innocent Eyes album as a debut, the actor come pop star had actually recorded an earlier effort. Let's face it, everyone wants to believe that the Innocent Eyes songs represented Delta's first musical creativity. It's a lovely Cinderella story. But Trevor Carter and Paul Higgins aren't buying into that fairytale. They were Delta's producers prior to the Innocent Eyes sessions and were ignored when the shining light of success illuminated their ex-charge. Now the lads want a piece of that limelight; or at least a piece of the profits. They'll be lodging an official statement of claim against Delta and her business partners: her parents. Even more lucrative than the chance of receiving a cut of Delta's royalties is the existence of that original album, which could mean millions of dollars in revenue for Higgins & Carter's Empire Records. But how can the two Empire Records producers prove all this? Well, they have a star witness. Glen Wheatley, who - it seems - was snubbed by the Goodrem family on the eve of last year's Aria Awards, has volunteered his clear memory of the events. After all, it's speculated that Wheatley arranged that original creative team for young Delta and used the results of their efforts to secure Goodrem’s current record deal. Did the Goodrem family buy into their fantasy world and actually imagine that the early recordings would stay buried? Did Wheatley, incensed by his treatment at the hands of the Goodrems actually kick-start this whole drama by contacting Higgins & Carter? Will rising pop kids and their parents ever recognise that the producers and managers that develop talent are professionals, who intend to be paid? It all seems very obvious but these legal battles are getting so common that I may as well create a template for news articles like this one. Stay tuned to Whammo as this story develops.
(posted: July 22, 2004) |
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FRENZAL RHOMB V AUSTEREO IN BITTER FEUD
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 Just when we needed a good dose of Aussie music controversy, Frenzal Rhomb has kick-started an enjoyable feud with Kyle & Jackie O from the Austereo Network. Let's hope it snowballs into something particularly nasty. Of course, with several hot-tempered personalities involved, it's already become an entertaining story. Let's begin at the beginning: the Bass In The Grass festival held in Darwin on July 10. The Rhomb boys were headlining but before they could get to the stage they were told their set would need to be pruned due to several other acts running over time. Knowing the Frenzal boys, they would have only been slightly miffed, but tempers were about to get frayed when the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory decided to say a few words before the set. Add to that the late (9 hours late) Jackie O arriving to say a spiel and the band were justifiably irate, realising they'd have to cut 7 songs from their set. I'm not sure whether the Minister or Jackie had bothered to become acquainted with the music and lyrics of Frenzal Rhomb because, quite frankly, they were asking for trouble. Lindsay decided to play the Thunderstruck riff over the top of Jackie's spiel, which was followed by an cutting tirade on the evils of televised pop contests like Popstars and Australian Idol. Just to set the scene, a number of established Australian acts have been dropped by major labels over the last twelve months. While no one could actually prove that this has occurred to make way for people like Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll, it seems very obvious to anyone in the industry that this negative shedding of local talent is a consequence of labels' preference for transient short-lived pop acts. I hope companies like BMG don't lose any sleep wondering why they've become the enemy. That was the whole point of Frenzal Rhomb's outburst. Jackie O left the stage upset and the band played on, which is why they were there in the first place. Then the real fun began. On Monday July 12, Jackie's producer, Ryan, was busy on the blower, calling Epitaph (Frenzal's label) to request an apology. Those familiar with the band will now be having a little giggle. The band refused, inspiring threats from the network saying Austereo would "bury the band", meaning this totally underground punk act would suddenly be missing from radio playlists. Anyone who knows the band is now laughing. It was a dumb idea to threaten a band that has nothing to lose; Jason Whalley (picture left during happier times), articulate frontman of the act, decided to accept the invitation to join Jackie O and Kyle for an interview. I guess the dynamic radio duo was out for blood, but it's evident from the transcript of the interview that the ruse backfired. Here are some highlights of the conversation that I lifted from the Out With The Old site. To check out the whole dramatic transcript, click here. To set the scene, I can assure you that the only people yelling during this conversation were Kyle and Jackie O:
J: ...If you ring up our record company, you people ring up our record company...threatening to bury the band...saying that we're never gonna get played on Austereo again...
K: Yep.
J: ...What the hell are we supposed to think? I mean, you've never played us...
K: Triple M, Triple M have, haven't they?
J: ...You've never supported us...
K: Have Triple M?
J: ...You don't support good, original Australian Music...
O: Yeah we do, but to suit the station...
J: You're not, you're a mouthpiece for the corporate music industry, and you always have been!
K: ...you're just like a f**king idiot that sits in the background not trying to get into the scene.
J: ...You're in this position where you can promote good, new, Australian talent, and you don't.
K: You've got to get over it, because there's going to be different types of music for different sorts of people. That's why you guys have been around for ten years, because you appeal to a certain group of people. Otherwise you'd be finished long ago. And so does Shannon Noll, and so do Popstars, everyone's got different tastes.
J: I know, you know what I care about? I care about the fact that there are bands like You Am I, good Australian bands, that are being dropped from their labels right now because, to make room for not only the Australian Idol winner...we're not just talking about the Australian Idol winner, which is full fair enough, we're talking about six of the losers, that are now being signed to these major record companies for what? For these completely short term careers...
K: Yep.
J: ...So the record company can make a quick buck...these bands aren't being nurtured...and for us to get up on stage and say, "Popstars, f**k 'em, f**k the lot of 'em, fu**king get f**ked, I'll stand by that, and I don't think that that should be offensive.
K: I don't care about Australian Idol or Popstars, I only care about Jackie and the embarrassment that she had at the hands of your band.
J: Well, I'm very sorry if you felt hurt Jackie. It wasn't intended to make you personally feel in any way uncomfortable up there on stage. We were up there to do our show, this is what we do, we basically, I can't see very many people that are championing the cause of young Australian bands that are trying to get by...
K: Just let me say, if it was me up there, it would have been on for young and old from the start.
J: Okay, now for a start, I'd just like to say, Jackie...were you aware that one of your security guards threatened our guitar tech with the threat of violence - as you're doing now Kyle, "it would have been on for young and old" as you say.
O: Yeah.
J: That security guard came up and threatened us with actual violence? Do you endorse that?
K: Yes, well I do.
J: You do? You endorse that? You would have come and punched on because we said something about Popstars and Australian Idol?
O: It wasn't about Popstars and Australian Idol.
J: Because you felt that somehow we'd offended you, or not given you enough time to speak up. You were nine hours late for your show...
O: Well f**k mate, at least give me a chance to say something. Like, it's so rude to just come in and say f**k you, f**k Jackie O and play the guitar over me. I was only going to talk for like, ten seconds, seriously.
J: If we're going to talk about rudeness, can you please just explain why your people are ringing up our record company telling us you're going to bury our band...
O: We're not going to bury your band...
J: And never getting played on Austereo again?
O: But yeah, probably won't get played.
J: (laughing in exasperaton) It never did get played!
O: It got played on Triple M.
K: That's because it was pretty much shit.
J: It got played at bloody midnight so they could fulfil their Australian content, it's bullshit.
K: Mate you are just so bitter, you may as well just take a new career path.
J: I'm not...(laughing). Okay...
K: You're sad, see you later, goodbye. (hangs up) Man, what a cock. Sorry everyone, we've got to go to the hot thirty countdown now.
O: We've run out of time.
K: I apologise to all the people that would have liked to have ring up and complain about the traffic today, and I don't like kids wearing seatbelts, but we had to sort that out because I loathe that situation.
O: Oh you, you do, god.
K: And the old, what are they called? Friends Of Romb? (snickering from both) They're dead to us. They're dead to us.
Just in case you're not familiar with seedy undertones, the Austereo network audience are Jackie O and Kyle fans, not Frenzal fans. It was a pretty gutless and potentially dangerous forum for their disdain of this seminal punk group. It will be interesting to hear the roles reverse when Jason and Lindsay from Frenzal Rhomb take over Triple J's Today Today program. I have a feeling that interview will rear its ugly head again; this time for an audience who are more sympathetic to the band. Here at Whammo, we're praying for a continuance of this tasty feud. So far the score is Frenzal Rhomb: 2; Kyle and Jackie O: Nil.
(posted: July 14, 2004) |
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