The UV Race @ Meredith Music Festival (2013-12-15)

The UV Race were a surprise hit at the end of a busy weekend. I had never stayed for the last band before but I'm glad I did this time. In typical UV fashion the set was a bit all over the place and unless you know what to expect you probably wouldn't have enjoyed this nearly as much as everyone else.

Lego Man was cool to see as I'd been wanting to for a while but I'm not sure if the song in the middle is a song or just a jam? Anyone able to help out with that one or the 4 other tracks I can't put a name on.

This was recorded up the hill a bit in line with the left speaker stack. There is a little talking between myself and my fiancé in it but hey, what are you gonna do? The sound is good and the set is great so yeah.

I didn't take the photo below but instead borrowed it from a photo set I found on fasterlouder. katie_fairservice took the picture and many more of the festival can be found here: http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/people/katie_fairservice/portfolio/photos



Setlist:
1.  Girl In My Head
2.  I'm A Pig
3.  Set Sail To Fail
4.  Cherry Bee
5.  Can't Go Back
6.  Lost My Way
7.  Burn That Cat
8.  Good Money
9.  Lego Man
10. Mash
11. Be Your Self
12. Gypsy King
13. The UV Know
14. Raw Balls

Length: 34:50

Sound Quality: B+

Download Here

Download Key: fkGLyEI49tGnWziVIA_hYhxOy6E-yJaV-NyyYhc7btM

The UV Race @ PBS Studios (2013-02-06)

I was interested to see this set mainly because of Marcus. Normally he would be going wild getting in the crowd and acting like a complete fool (which rules by the way don't get me wrong…) but in the sterile environment that is the PBS studios he would be behind glass and forced to act differently. What we got was a very reserved Marcus who sang the songs truer to their recorded counterparts than I've ever seen him do before. In fact, the whole band really played well for this set. Could be my favourite of theirs I've seen now.

This one I didn't record because basically the audio presented to the audience is just a feed of what is being played over the radio. Instead, I had my computer streaming it at home and recording it. As such, it is a very clear and sharp recording.



Setlist:
1.  Unknown Pleasures
2.  Raw Balls
3.  Set Sail To Fail
4.  Baw Baw Blues
5.  Burn That Cat
6.  Mash
7.  I'm A Pig
8.  Girl In My Head
9.  Sophie Says
10. Lost My Way
11. Outta Control Kids
12. Gore Orphanage
13. Acid Trip

Length: 34:26

Sound Quality: B+

Download Here

Download Key: SflOxXR04odgrgez9OIcuXxu7bpdC7F2JoeKk_6d8p4

Nobunny @ Hi-Fi Bar and Ballroom (2013-01-31)

Thee Oh Sees always have some pretty good supports when they come around and this show was no exception. Nobunny were a band I hadn't heard of before (much like Hunx at the show a few days earlier) but was impressed with their set start to finish. Stupid fun rock and an overly energetic frontman. Him calling out the 2 girls talking through the set was pretty awesome. Ballsy and awesome.



Setlist:
1.  Not That Good
2.  Mess Me Up
3.  Blow Dumb
4.  Boneyard
5.
6.  Live It Up
7.  Motorhead With Me
8.  I Am A Girlfriend
9.
10. Chuck Berry Holiday

Length: 24:46

Sound Quality: B+

Download Here

Download Key: fq6kR2pFUdDzz1JgZ2HizivSrVdqcOTwx-ovLziWOQI

DZ Deathrays @ Splendour In The Grass (2012-07-27)

Had not heard a single note by these guys prior to this set and in all honesty I'm kicking myself a little for it. This set was fun as balls and DZ are really fuckin' good. The mainstage tent was absolutely packed for this set because pretty much as it started the rain came and it came very thick. So much so that looking outside the tent you could barely see for more than 10 meters. Inside the tent it was still wet. The roof leaked onto the stage which prompted the stage hands to quickly move around some of the bands equipment while they played.

This was recorded towards the left side of the tent not too far from the speaker stack. The sound is quite true to how it sounded on the day. Not sure if there was anything before Cops Capacity but that's where my recording cuts in so yeah...



Setlist:
1.  Cops Capacity
2.  LA Lighting
3.  Teenage Kickstarts
4.  Gebbie Street
5.  Dinomight
6.  No Sleep
7.  Dollar Chills
8.  The Mess Up
9.  Debt Death
10. Teeth

Length: 35:19

Sound Quality: B

Download Here

Download Key: RHdi3GhoK5lZ8uP7Bl0eOCM2LN4Fg6nqHqTq8XuvAJQ

The Smith Street Band @ Meredith Music Festival (2013-12-14)

These guys were on of the surprise acts for me on the Meredith lineup this time around. The thought of seeing them play to the Saturday afternoon crowd was quite interesting seeing as every time I've seen them its to less than 200 or so people so to expand on that 50 times would be quite a step up. I'm very glad to say though that even in a giant setting like Meredith, Smith Street fit right in and played one of the standout sets of the weekend.

Opening with the triple of Sunshine & Technology, Postcodes, and Sigourney Weaver pretty much cemented my love for this band but as always seeing Get High, See Mice just ruled more than anything. Love that song so god damn much. As soon as it came on my boot was held high. The Smith Street Band deserved it. Lets do it again Meredith 2014?

I actually didn't record this one with my microphones on me. I knew I wanted to get a little rowdy so I left them in the care of my fiancé and a friend who were sitting on a picnic rug about halfway up the hill on the left side of stage. The mice were at ground level facing the microphone stack and I'm actually really surprised the sound came out as well as it did. I had to do a little work in post to reduce the lower end but that was it.
This photo below isn't mine but one I found on The Smith Street Facebook that came via instagram.



Setlist:
1.  Sunshine & Technology
2.  Postcodes (For People Who Will Not Arrest Me)
3.  Sigourney Weaver
4.  Don't Fuck With Our Dreams
5.  Ducks Fly Together
6.  I Can't Feel My Face
7.  Get High, See Mice
8.  Young Drunk

Length: 38:06

Sound Quality: B

Download Here

Download Key: R9J4wm5mxIveLwzy5Iqk5Hzyxh9EGspB_F3hvLd4WTQ

Dante vs Zombies @ Amoeba Music (2012-04-13)

I always had the idea that if I ever went to LA I'd go see a band at Amoeba. I'm not overly sure why.. it just became a thing I wanted to do. So, once I got to Hollywood I made sure to drop by on the first day to see if anyone interesting was playing. These guys intrigued me based on their name so I decided to check them out having not heard a single thing by them. To put it bluntly. I was very impressed and happy with my decision.

Their music is kind of a hillbilly garage-rock type thing I don't know. I remember walking away from this saying they reminded me of Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti but that's not close enough. They are something else.

I love when I band can just do whatever the fuck they want and not really care about anything. Case point was 'Dante' grabbing a subway bag with sandwich inside and swinging it above his head for half the set or so. I mean… it's kind of stupid but it was entertaining and that's what's important right?

This was recorded in the second 'aisle' pretty much in line with the right speaker stack. The sound is clear and true to the performance.
The photo used below was taken from the Amoeba website so if they don't want me to use it let me know.



Setlist:
1.  Natural Disaster
2.  Ta Da!
3.  Horror Stories For Whores
4.  The Dump
5.  My Poor Old Parrot
6.  I Donʼt Understand Anything
7.  Yes, I'm Stalking You
8.  Harry Rag (The Kinks Cover)
9.  Watermelon Iodine

Length: 29:50

Sound Quality: B+

Download Here

Download Key: fdn_JzTUOcTMZ2hvxqww1VtPtGtuWPz5oKqg-_8PSGc

Dead Meadow @ The Corner Hotel (2012-04-01)

Dead Meadow are a band I don't really listen too as often as I'd like. In fact: I only have one album by them which is 2005s 'Feathers'. I got a ticket to this show because I saw them at Melbourne Music Festival 2010 (download available here) and loved that set and to be honest.. this one was just as good. On the night I found a lot of songs familiar but listening back they played vastly different sets both shows.

This was recorded in my usual spot at The Corner. Towards the left emergency exit quite close to the speaker stack. As usual the sound is good and I'm very happy with it.



Setlist:
1.  I Love You Too
2.  'Till Kingdom Come
3.  1000 Dreams
4.  What Needs Must Be
5.  Indian Bones
6.  Heaven
7.  Good Moanin'
8.  All Torn Up
9.  At Her Open Door
10. Sleepy Silver Door
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11. Beyond The Fields We Know

Length: 1:19:43

Sound Quality: B+

Download Here

Download Key: VyI85xKre0ZT-mejQMo7WT3dqX8PL4wBI9yeSnt4ijg

Dick Diver @ Polyester Records (2013-03-15)

When your favourite band has a little preview show for their upcoming album it's always good to head along and hear a few new cuts. Even better when it is free (and BYO) like this one. For myself.. I had already seen all but one of the tracks but regardless, enjoyed this show as much as any other show I've seen by these guys. It is always a pleasure to see Flying Tea Towel Blues live and is the only song in the set that dates back to the first time I caught these guys.

This was recorded from the front row directly in front of the band on the left side/entrance to the shop. It's always a little hard recording in Polyester but usually I'm happy enough with the results.

Setlist:
1.  Bondi '98
2.  Flying Tea Towel Blues
3.  Water Damage
4.  Amber
5.  Lime Green Shirt
6.  Calendar Days
7.  New Start Again
8.  Languages of Love
9.  Alice

Length: 39:14

Sound Quality: B

Download Here

Fuck Buttons @ Foxtel Festival Hub, 25/10/2013

...Or, "Why I'm going to be a bit more proactive in buying tickets next time one of my favourite bands is touring". So Fuck Buttons get announced as part of the stellar lineup for ATP's Release the Bats festival, cool. Then Melbourne Festival scores them for a headlining performance, even cooler. Despite the fact that I've been flogging the shit out of their awesome third album Slow Focus, financial reasons meant that I had to keep putting off buying a ticket to this - until it was too late. Damn, it's sold out, I'm not going. Timetable for Release the Bats gets released, oh fuck, there's realistically not much chance of seeing both them and Sleep (and Sleep were the ONE band I HAD TO SEE). So in the week leading up to the gig, I knew that I was going to try literally everything I could think of to try and get there, but the Facebook statuses and the constant eBay/Gumtree searches were all proving useless. In the end, I thought, "What the hell" and decided to rock up to the venue early anyway in the hope that there'd be tickets held on the door/box office, because hey, that happens sometimes, right? No harm in trying. It didn't happen in this case, but what did happen was just as cool - as I was asking the lady at the box office if any tickets were available, a gentleman behind me overheard my situation, and informed me that it didn't look like a mate of his was going to make the gig, and I could have that ticket if that was the case! So after a quick phone call to said mate, the ticket became mine! RESULT! Alright, so yeah, that was a long-winded introduction to this gig, but fuck, I was pretty stoked with how it all unfolded. TO THE GIG ITSELF! Absolutely awesome performance from the dudes - the purpose-built temporary venue for Melbourne Festival was a little unorthodox, but it worked pretty well really, especially for a performance like this. Must say that the lighting/projections/silhouettes set-up was great too, after all Andrew and Ben aren't the most entertaining live performers in and of themselves. But yeah, really solid gig, except it felt like they could've squeezed just a few more songs in, what with their songs being a bit lengthier than average, and three albums under their belt. Also, I think they could've chosen a better song to finish with than Space Mountain, especially seeing as they fucked it up a bit. Hang on, it's starting to sound like I didn't enjoy the gig - BUT IT WAS AWESOME! Just thought I'd mention the very minor things that could've made it even BETTER. But yeah, I guess the moral of the story is, if you want to try getting into a sold-out gig, it never hurts to rock up early and see what happens!

Due to a technical difficulty (let's just leave it at that) I had while tracking this, you may notice that the first three tracks are noticeably louder than those that follow. But I couldn't be bothered re-editing the thing, so it is how it is. Take it or leave it. On that note, the quality of this one certainly isn't amazing, and if you've downloaded any recent recordings from me, you'll have noticed that a lot of them have dipped. I've been down a channel for most of this year, basically, which sucks :(

SETLIST:
Brainfreeze
Surf Solar
Colours Move
Olympians
Sentients
The Red Wing
Hidden XS
----Encore----
Space Mountain

DOWNLOAD MP3 HERE

The Butterfly Effect, 11/10/2013, the Esplanade Hotel

They're back! To be honest, even though The Butterfly Effect clearly stated that they did intend to carry on with a new singer, after their final tour with Clint Boge last year, deep down I thought that they would struggle to continue and wouldn't have been surprised if they did eventually give it up. Certainly I didn't expect them to return so soon. But at the start of September they announced this run of shows, with the revealing of their new vocalist Paul Galagher and brand new single Eyes Down coming a few weeks later - and before I knew it, I was at the good ol' Espy Gershwin Room getting ready for an exciting new chapter to begin. So yeah, when a band with three solid albums under their belt makes the very difficult decision to replace THAT VOICE who contributed so much to the band and those albums, you really have to try and go into a gig like this with lowered expectations. And Eyes Down, while undeniably catchy and powerful, certainly didn't quite hit the mark like their previous work. So, what would this gig turn out like then? Well, you only have to look at the tune they opened with to know that tonight, TBE certainly weren't here to fuck around - they wanted everyone to know that despite losing a (bloody great) vocalist, they hadn't lost the magic of their band! Paul's voice certainly isn't a perfect match for Clint's, but in some ways I think that's what you want when these kind of things happen - someone who can do the old songs justice in their own way, rather than just being a carbon copy of what came before. The only thing that was a little disappointing about this show was, well, I'm sure you can see it - just thirteen songs? It certainly seemed a bit short. But other than that, this show certainly felt like the band are ready to move on, and that they're going to succeed in doing so. I can only hope so, anyway.

SETLIST:
Interlude (over PA)
Filling Silence
One Second of Insanity
Phoenix
Window and the Watcher
Room Without a View
(New song)
Gone
Perception Twin
Reach
(New song)
A Slow Descent
Eyes Down
Crave 

DOWNLOAD MP3 HERE