Dick Diver - 24-02-2012 @ The East Brunswick Club

with Geoffrey O'Connor, Jonny Telafone and Velcro

I regret not recording Jonny Telafone and Velcro, they were both great. I left before Geoffrey so Dick Diver is all I got.
I don't usually complain about crowds but this was one of the worst ever, get the feeling there were a lot of blow-ins there to say goodbye to the East Brunswick Club which is fair enough I guess, sad to see it go, but so many obnoxious people even right up the front. Some loud talking during the first min of my recording, then I moved away from the worst offenders so the rest is better.
Anyway, Dick Diver were excellent as usual. Played two new songs "98'" and "Alice", and mentioned a new record! Both the new songs were great, Hammock Days and Flying Tea Towel Blues were also highlights of the gig for me.
This is probably the only time I'll put up a Dick Diver recording as that's Chris' turf, haha. I think he was in Sydney for this gig. This one's for you Chris!

Setlist:
1. Head Back
2. Through The D
3. Seagulls
4. '98
5. Hammock Days
6. Alice
7. Newstart Again
8. Keno
9. Flying Tea Towel Blues

Length: 40:02

Download:
FLAC
MP3 (V0)

I Am Duckeye @ Revolver Upstairs, 18/01/2012

So. Revolver. I Am Duckeye. What else need be said really? This was certainly one of the more hilarious out of the many trainwrecks I've witnessed from this band; it's good when they're not jammed onto one of Saltar's mini-fests or opening for someone and they've got time to just be their comedic selves and let the nonsense flow. Really, there's nothing else to be said. Download, laugh, etc.
SETLIST:
Timeworms
Stupiddy Dee
Stink Lines
Rabbit Kick (with Dana Roskvist)
Mowees
Umf
Punching Dicks
Teabaggin'
Nudey Rudey
Die (with Duncan "Fancyshorts")
1960s Chickenhawk
I Gotta Cotton

DOWNLOAD MP3 HERE

Aphex Twin @ The Palace (06-03-2012)

Supported by Mark Pritchard, jps and Mike Hunt



Excellent show. Sample MP3
Length: 1:26:50

FLAC (538MB)
MP3 (140MB)

Devin Townsend Project / Meshuggah / dredg @ Forum Theatre, 29/02/2011

dredg
So after the crushing disappointment of having them pull out of the Karnivool tour, dredg are finally in Australia - to play a 30 minute set as curtain-jerkers for fucking Meshuggah and Devin Townsend. While the weirdness of this pairing cannot be understated (was Maddah high? Oh wait... don't answer that) and I wasn't expecting this to be the ideal way to enjoy one of my favourite bands, dredg did everything they could and then some, even sneaking onto the stage about 10 minutes before they were due to start. There were some loyal fans up the front (where I was, of course), but most of the metalheads completely disregarded them (although thankfully there was no booing or things thrown). I really enjoyed the set though; no band with five studio albums can do much with a 30 minute set, but dredg tried their fucking best and really satisfied the few people that actually cared about them on this occasion. I pretty much just needed to hear Bug Eyes and The Canyon Behind Her. Here's hoping they return soon on their own tour. OH. Almost forgot to mention. Due to them coming on early, I MISSED RECORDING ODE TO THE SUN! I just wasn't ready, and I thought it kind of pointless to only record half the song. Pretty upset about it but what can you do I guess.
SETLIST:
Ode to the Sun (not recorded :( )
Bug Eyes
Pariah
The Tanbark is Hot Lava
Lightswitch
The Canyon Behind Her
Down to the Cellar

...or alternatively, this:




















Never had such an easy time getting a setlist.
Me: Hey Gavin! (dredg frontman) Any setlists up there?
Gavin: Sure! (looking happy that someone actually knows who he is; finds one and gives it to me.) There you go!
Me: THANKS!

DOWNLOAD MP3 HERE

Meshuggah
What can I say? This would be Meshuggah's third tour of Australia on the back of their 2008 release obZen, and not surprisingly, the third time I've attended a Meshuggah performance. What a band. I can't believe I thought the first time I saw this band I thought they were a bit dull live (and yes, I did know their material at the time); I honestly believe the reason is because they had the misfortune to play three days after Carcass. But anyway, this is about HOW GREAT THEY WERE THIS TIME! Good setlist; for a band who have now been around for over twenty(!) years they still know how to keep things exciting and mix it up a little bit. We even got a brand new song this time, although I suppose with the release of Koloss only weeks away now that shouldn't have been too surprising. Good song too! And yeah, the rest of the set was fucking stellar. Good collection of old favourites and new... well, fuck, they aren't new anymore, 2008 was a fair while ago! But yeah, great songs, fantastic lighting and atmosphere, and a stellar mix! I'm expecting this one to turn out pretty good, although I was headbanging furiously through their set, so that often affects the sound.
SETLIST:
Rational Gaze
Pravus
Combustion
Stengah
New Millennium Cyanide Christ
Break Those Bones Whose Sinews Gave It Motion
Bleed
Lethargica
Straws Pulled at Random

Jason Lytle @ The Toff In Town (22-02-2012)

Supported by Ben Mason

The last time Jason Lytle was in Australia was in 2004 with Grandaddy, a tour I missed due to being a poor student and also having moved back to the city only a few months beforehand I was not real confident attending shows by myself. One of my few gig regrets. So with a setlist full of old Grandaddy songs, last nights show at the Toff couldn't have made me happier. I just hope it's not another 8 years before he returns!

Setlist:
El Caminos In The West
The Go In The Go-For-It
Levitz
Chartsengrafs
Sarah 5646766
Birds Encouraged Him
I Am Lost (And the Moment Cannot Last)
The Crystal Lake
What Can't Be Erased
Stray Dog and the Chocolate Shake
Willow Wand
Hewlett's Daughter
Jed's Other Poem (Beautiful Ground)
Now It's On

Length: 1:05:29


FLAC (348 MB)
320 MP3 (132 MB)

Cass McCombs @ The Corner Hotel (17-02-2012)

Supported by The Orbweavers and Wintercoats.

Having been introduced to Cass McCombs music with his 2003 album "A", this tour was a long time coming. I didn't have high expectations for this gig, I had heard years ago that Cass had been known to perform entire shows with his back to the audience, and live clips on youtube were just average to good. The gig wasn't amazing but it was better than I expected, his band were really great and they played a nice selection of songs from across his discography. Despite his vocals not coming across quite as strong live as on record, I went home more than satisfied for a gig I had been waiting the best part of a decade for. Recording turned out well.

Setlist:
1. Love Thine Enemy
2. Equinox
3. Angel Blood
4. Buried Alive
5. Robin Egg Blue
6. Dreams-Come-True-Girl
7. Harmonia
8. Joe Murder
9. That's That
10. My Sister My Spouse
11. County Line

Length: 1:24:18

Download MP3 (115MB)

sleepmakeswaves @ The Espy (2012-02-10)

This show is the perfect example of why I started this blog. To promote and expose bands I enjoy so that people will go see them and support them. A few weeks ago I hadn't heard sleepmakeswaves but I downloaded Neeso's recording because he raved about it so much. Wow, this band is fantastic. After listening to his recording a few times I then got their album and listened to that non-stop for about a week. Long story short: I found a new favourite band because of this blog. But, enough of that...

sleepmakeswaves are a band I should have gotten into a long time ago but for some reason I always thought they'd be 'just another prog-rock' band. Turns out I was wrong. These guys play some of the best post-rock this country has to offer. This set is made up mostly of material from their debut LP '.​.​.​and so we destroyed everything' as well as a couple of well appreciated older tracks. And, from what I gather they switch things up each tour so I expect this will not be the last time I catch these guys. Already looking forward to next time!

I recorded this one in the same manner as the Solkyri set but closer to the left speaker stack. The weird glitchyness is more noticeable (and more frequent) in this one but again I edited it all out for enjoyment sake.



Setlist:
1. to you they are birds, to me they are voices in the forest
2. in limbs and joints
3. one day you will teach me to let go of my fears
4. we sing the body electric
5. (hello) cloud mountain
6. keep your splendid silent sun
7. now we rise and we are everywhere
8. our time is short but your watch is slow
9. a gaze blank and pitiless as the sun

Length: 58:01

Sound Quality: A

Download Here

Download Key: 6V-Op9_ZmmuosL5T74rkrci8xvjr1A8USgXRev9mvdA

Battles @ Forum Theatre, 28/01/2012

I've been pretty keen to see these guys for quite some time, especially as I was unable to make it to any performances on their 2008 tour. Well, they got announced for the 2012 BDO and as soon as this sideshow was announced I bought myself a ticket. And they totally lived up to my very high expectations. I wish I'd gotten to see them with Tyondai, but this was still a fucking incredible show. Naturally, it was almost all Gloss Drop songs but that was my second-favourite album of 2011 so who's complaining? The way the vocalists were present on the screen was a cool touch, and I particularly dug the way they extended several songs. Sundome was jaw-dropping. The only real negative about the gig itself was the technical difficulties Ian had during My Machines, but what can you do? And the sound on this recording isn't so great. But ahh well. Fantastic gig!

SETLIST
Intro
Africastle
Sweetie & Shag
Dominican Fade
Atlas
Wall Street
Tonto
Ice Cream
Inchworm
My Machines
Futura
----Encore----
Sundome

DOWNLOAD MP3 HERE

Woollen Kits @ The John Curtin Hotel (20-01-2012)

Supported by The UV Race, Dead Farmers and Loose Grip.

I know a few people were eagerly awaiting these recordings, sorry for the delay. What a great line up and great sets all round! Enjoy!

Loose Grip
I arrived just minutes before Brisbane's Loose Grip took the stage, or rather, the floor in front of the stage, so I was lucky to be able to record this but glad I could. Here's all 11 minutes and 48 seconds of their blistering set, into which they packed 7 songs, most of which are available on their excellent debut 7" available on Bedroom Suck Records.

Setlist:
1. Cereal
2. Baked
3. Light Me Up
4. Maccy D's
5.
6.
7. Wipe The Slate

Loose Grip MP3


Dead Farmers
Up next were Sydney band Dead Farmers who I was looking forward to seeing for the first time having heard plenty of praise for their live shows, all of which was justified. Tore through a set of straight forward rock with tons of energy, and the dual vocals work really well. Look forward to next time they're down here.

Setlist:
1.
2.
3. Never Enough
4. Spit Shine
5.
6. Down Low
7.
8. Out The Door

Dead Farmers MP3


The UV Race
Their first show in awhile and the first time I'd seen them in just over a year, when they supported Thee Oh Sees last January. Always fun live and this set was no exception.

Setlist:
1.
2. Set Sail To Fail
3.
4.
5. Burn That Cat
6. Lost My Way
7.
8. The UV Know
9.

The UV Race MP3


Woollen Kits
I've lost count of the times I've seen Woollen Kits now, and they only get better every time. Tonight was all about launching their self-titled debut LP which is available now on R.I.P Society and at all good record stores. Do yourself a favour and get it! Yet another great set to end an excellent night.

Setlist:
1. -
2. Out Of Whack
3. Down Your Street
4. Shelley
5. Always
6. Sloan
7. I Love You
8. Susannah

Woollen Kits MP3

Feist @ Palais Theatre (01-02-2012)

Epic performance by Feist at the Palais Theatre, playing songs mostly from her 2011 album "Metals", but also a few select tracks from previous releases, albeit with very different arrangements to the originals. Her most well known song "1234" was notably absent from the set, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who went home disappointed. As good as the show was, it still didn't quite match seeing her play alone on her first tour in 2005 with about 100 other people in a small jazz club, one of my favourite gigs I've ever been to.
Still, it was very impressive, and the recording came out well. Although one thing I noticed listening back to the recording is a distinct lack of bass, not from a bad recording, but because there was no bass on stage. It didn't even occur to me on the night, probably because of the sheer volume (it was quite a loud gig for the style of music) but listening back, a lot of the songs could have really used some bass.



Setlist:
1. The Undiscovered First
2. How Come You Never Go There
3. A Commotion
4. Graveyard
5. Mushaboom
6. The Circle Married The Line
7. So Sorry
8. Anti-Pioneer
9. My Moon My Man
10. I Feel It All
11. The Bad In Each Other
12. Honey Honey
13. Comfort Me
14. Caught A Long Wind
15. Get It Wrong, Get It Right
-
17. When I Was a Young Girl
18. Cicadas and Gulls
19. Sealion
20. Let It Die
-
21. Intuition

Length: 01:51:05

FLAC (491MB)
MP3 V0 (161MB)