And so it turned out our next Mystery Stop was the Plaza Ballroom for the exclusive Katy Perry Mastercard Show. The spectacular venue was packed with punters of all ages, shapes, & sizes – far more so than we expected!
After drinking some intensely coloured cocktails in electrified martini glasses and finding the best vantage spot, Katy burst out onto stage amid The Strangeloves’ I Want Candy – highly appropriate for the iconic Candy Girl.
Post-show, we had the great pleasure of meeting Katy and presenting her with a double platinum plaque for California Gurls. Pictures are below, but here is our newest EMI resident Bianca’s take on the evening’s events.
Bianca is also a talented music journalist and heads up the blog Writers Anonymous – How To Be An Unsuccessful Writer And Annoy People.
So you thought you didn’t like Katy Perry huh? You thought you had it all figured out – she’s super pop, she isn’t a “muso”, she’s just for 14 year old girls who want blue hair too etc, etc. Well do I have news for you: KP is cool.Before I go into my own opinion, I want you to read a review on The Vine. Yep, the uber-hipster, way too cool for school website The Vine. The ones who recently panned both Richard Ashcroft’s latest effort AND Broken Social Scene. Right, get it? Now read this...
Add to that the amount of requests I have been getting for a copy of Katy’s album with the words “Shhh don’t tell anyone” following it, and you have a down right and dirty closet case of pop hipster-hysteria. They even ask for posters, and are really excited about the fact the album is going to smell like cotton candy (no, it actually is). I’ll keep my promise and not divulge names.
So the scene is set for a ‘phenomenon’. Not even Gaga has reached out to editors of hipster blogs and electro obsessors alike… And what an unlikely hero: Katy Perry, complete with cupcake bra and sugary sweet refrains.
But here’s the catch: the beauty is in the cross over. Those who remember UR So Gay, one of Katy’s first singles, knew she had it in her – but flash forward a few years and who would’ve thought she would be screaming “Cock, Cock, Cock!” to 14 year olds in the front row. Sure, it’s in the context of her song Peacock in which she sings “I wanna see your Peacock, Cock, Cock, Cock”, but there’s no doubting that those little kids know exactly what they’re mimicking. Especially when you add to that the fact that KP is thrusting in time with each ‘Cock’. Wow.
But then again, the last word in UR So Gay IS “penis”. There seems to be some kind of pattern here…
It’s this kind of brazen live act which screams out ‘try-hard’ on the surface, but for some reason in person, there is absolutely no irony. It seems entirely in line with her character. This angel with a dirty mouth schtick isn’t so much a schtick as entirely genuine. It’s who she really is.
Add to that the fact that the second she picked up a guitar, every music journo and blogger in the room immediately focus on those fingers to tear her apart. They were writing the sentences in their head, laughing internally; what a try hard! She can’t play guitar! But… she can.
Her vocals are flawless, her manner is sweet and funny, and no matter how hard you try, you are swept into a sad ocean of personal lameness – finding yourself singing along to every word you never knew you knew, and dancing like a tool to Teenage Dream. Putting your hands in the air like you just don’t care with strangers you just met at the bar. Bonding over California Girls with your workmates.
Here’s my advice people: Give in. It’s great in here in the pop closet… plus, it smells like cotton candy.
Thursday morning:
Somehow I didn’t feel too rock’n'roll loading in amplifiers and setting up gear at 8am at The Toff In Town after only heading to bed a mere 2 hours beforehand. The after, after, after party from completing the bus trip seemed to be the greatest idea at the time.
The whole EMI team drifted indoors at the ungodly hour of 9:30am and there were some great keynote speakers, discussions and all round team bonding. We were extremely well looked after at The Curtin House complex being treated to some of the loveliest food from Cookie. Certainly hit the spot and wiped over any thought of a hangover whatsoever… leading it back into beer o’clock and time to watch some live music!
First off, very recent signee to the Peace & Riot label Papa Vs Pretty humbled us all and it was amazing to see how much the band have further developed their sound. After national tours with Paul Dempsey & Surfer Blood their live chops are now through the roof (if not higher) and they delighted us with tracks off their recently released Heavy Harm EP and a bunch of new songs for their debut album looking to be released early 2011. Once singer Thomas Rawle yelped “I don’t know if it’s right or it’s wrong, I just know that it’s heavy” – you could see and feel that the music was really taking the people somewhere else. Frightfully good.
After some heavily needed R&R time (ie a nanna nap back at the hotel), we assembled in the hotel foyer for what was to be a spectacular (and very long) night. First stop, nourishment on Lygon Street, followed by a mystery stop…
EMI Australia’s Magical Mystery Tour kicked off at 8.00am on Wednesday, August 11.
The entire staff met on the front steps of our office where the first part of The Mystery was revealed. We were to relive school days and travel from Sydney to Melbourne on bus coaches for 14 hours. Not ideal for some, but all snobby concerns were quickly forgotten once we hit the road and we realised these were true rockstar tour buses.
Each coach was equipped with entertainment facilities including DVD players (screening musical blockbusters like Spinal Tap, High Fidelity, Almost Famous, and The Wedding Singer), food, drinks aplenty, games, and hilarious personal messages from Chiddy Bang, 30 Seconds To Mars, Angus & Julia Stone, Birds of Tokyo, Miami Horror, John Williamson, Faker, Operator Please, Papa vs Pretty, Old Man River, all personally welcoming us aboard. Highlights were unquestionably Bob Evans‘ future #1 hit Hume Highway Servo Station Mags and Ben Harper’s challenging of our roadtrip stamina, personally inviting us on his REAL tour bus.
The trip was punctuated with stops at The Big Merino, The Dog on the Tuckerbox, and one particular roadside diner (to which we may never be permitted to return). Us EMI-ers cut loose, let our hair down, and bonded over karaoke and individually introduced fave tracks ranging from Neneh Cherry’s Buffalo Stance and Blondie’s Atomic, to Pantera’s F*cking Hostile (thanks Barnesy!)
The journey was one of the best in memory for each and every one of us! What’s more, when we pulled into the city of Melbourne at 10pm, hotel rooms and an open bar awaited us… what else could you ask for? Suffice to say the night did not end there.
Miami Horror, Melbourne’s favourite psychedelic indie-electronic adventurers, have just received a 4 star review for their debut album Illumination in Brag this week – and that’s only setting the scene for what’s to come. How can it not be 4 stars when it has Sometimes, Moon Theory and I Look To You already as club, triple j and festival hits!?
All the album artwork is truly spectacular also…
You can now hear a preview of the album with track-by-track artwork here:
…or go to miamihorror.com for a live countdown, full album live interactive u-stream with appearances from the Miami boys, and pre-orders. Also make sure you find out how to be part of the album launch in their home town!
30 Seconds to Mars returned to Sydney for their second Australian tour and they did it in style. Perth and Melbourne had experienced the Into the Wild tour previously in the week and for the final show of the tour, Sydney did not disappoint.
From the opening track Escape, the show was quite literally a live interpretation of their chart busting album This is War – with some older tracks making appearances. Night of the Hunter was easily a stand out performance as was the crowd participation in Search and Destroy. Closer to the Edge brought every fist in the arena into the air with everyone chanting:
A mention about the Echelon from Jared got the old school fans pumped as did the self titled tracks Buddha for Mary and Capricorn (even though they didn’t play it all). But the night belonged to This is War, with the crowd happily turning into another version of The Summit, chanting, clapping and stomping.
Shannon proved again to be a monster on the drums, and allowed a young fan to play his kit during the closer, Kings and Queens. Tomo rocked out in his usual style and Jared as ever, was a ball of energy wildly running from one side of the stage to the other, then suddenly appearing at the sound desk at the back for an acoustic set.
If you didn’t catch 30 Seconds to Mars this time around, then definitely head to Soundwave for their return – I think it’s safe to say that anyone who saw them this time has been left wanting more.
ed note: Kelly Smith is a long serving and high ranking member of The Echelon, the super organised and dedicated global 30 Seconds To Mars fan club. Hats off to the passion and hard work these men and women contribute to the promotion of their beloved band. Onward and upward!
With Daft Punk soundtracked Tron Legacy Fever kicking in (squeal!), it makes only perfect sense that we all need an appropriate costume for the release date.
Fortunately, 27 year old prop-making genius Harrison Krix undertook the epic 17 month project of creating a prefect replica of Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo’s Daft Punk helmet.
No, it’s not for sale, and even if it were I guarantee none of us could afford it. But watch closely below and you may be able to replicate his Homework recipe.
Before the Tron Legacy film premiere in December though? Good luck.
In an inconspicuous back alley of Sydney’s Darlinghurst over the last week, has lain a gleaming gem of music iconography…
A giant 5ft flickering, DFA lightning bolt beckoned music and design aficionados to the hidden away Tom Dunne Gallery where we proudly held the THAT’S COOL BUT CAN YOU MAKE IT MORE SH*T? exhibition.
Three stories were packed out with a full retrospective of “shit aesthetic” DFA and LCD Soundsystem stage props, vinyl sleeves, early polaroids, artwork concepts, underground party invites (imagine seeing LCD for $5!), napkin scrawls, and the nigh illegible (but hilarious) DFA Records extensive mission statement. Michael Vadino (DFA Art Director – responsible for most of the works in the building) flew from NYC to Sydney specifically to help set it up!
It was a true honour to stand before the original Yeah prints and pencilled Sound of Silver logo mockup… without spilling red wine on them.
On July 27, we shut shop early for the exhibition launch. Names on the guestlist included James Murphy and LCD Soundsystem (naturally), Hot Chip, Alison Goldfrapp, Nick Valensi (The Strokes), Yeasayer, Stereogamous, Dappled Cities, Papa vs Pretty… and lots of enthused EMI staff.
Check out our launch night interviews with Michael and James, some footage from the night, and photos below. All shots courtesy of Dan Boud.
As for take-home memories of the event and tour… we sold uber-limited edition exhibition posters printed with 24 carat gold ink! (Mine is hanging in my living room this minute). And if you weren’t game to brave the merch desk queues at the LCD Soundystem shows or Splendour in the Grass of late, you can still pick up your own official licensed LCD Soundsystem tees on our sister store at http://lcdsoundsystem.securestore.com.au
Thirty Seconds To Mars have unfortunately left the country after a very successful run of shows in Perth, Melbourne & Sydney last week.
For some lucky fans and EMI staff members the absolute highlight was getting pulled up onstage by Jared, Shannon and Tomo during their last song of the show Kings & Queens. The following footage sums up the unique energy, dedication and pure artistry that the band create at one of their shows for everyone who are privileged to witness. I personally had not had the chance before to see the band perform live but after the opportunity at The Hordern in Sydney on Friday night I am a loyal fan for life.
Thankfully the guys will be back in Australia in February next year to play at the Soundwave Festivals. Make sure you don’t miss them…
The ethereally-voiced, Tin Tin-haired Jonsi Birgisson arrives in Sydney today after helping close out an unforgettable four days of Splendour in the Grass last night.
For those holding out for his Sydney and Melbourne headline shows, you are in for a hypercolour entrancing cross-artform collaboration with 59 Productions, who have been called “the most exciting purveyors of video for theatre in the world”. They are responsible for projection design for multi-award winning Iraq war drama Black Watch, brand new projections for Les Miserables, as well as countless operas and theatre productions around the world.
The design for the show is partly physical and partly ephemeral, using a combination of set elements, animated projections, light, and shadows – which are synchronised with Jonsi’s euphoric tunes and ecstatic dancing.
The nature-themed projections continually morph… HD thunderstorms rage and flames flicker across a forest stage. Blue lakes pour out from the venue walls. Feathered sketches of wolves hunting deer, hummingbirds, and tumbling flowers float amongst his five piece band.
But truly, words can do this experience no justice. Watch the trailer of Jonsi’s live production (above) and head to jonsi.com for more live photos. While you’re there, download your free copy of Tornado from Jionsi’s debut solo album Go from jonsi.com/tornado.
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