What Goes On

Hello! I promise, there is an *actual* post which does not consist of us linking photos of Vampires and sexy musicians in the works. It's quite fun actually.

Will it be worth the wait? In all honesty not likely, however I truly doubt there is a populace of anonymous readers desperately hovering over computer screens awaiting a new installment. Fairly sure everyone was enjoying the most perfect weekend weather conceivable for a Sydney winter.

So I am being a truly atrocious blogger and doing a sneaky list-cum-diary post. I know- the worst form of update imaginable as no one actually cares what I do with my time. So if you don't want to know, feel free to click away. I won't be offended. But I will know. I know everything. Why, I can see you right now. That's right- wave hello! I'm watching you, I'm the Edward Cullen of bloggers.

1. FLRL-

So that 'venerable' little hipster joint Oxford Art Factory turned two this week and had a big fat bash for all the scene kids to come down and fight it out to see who in Sydney could rock the thickest nerd-googles, tightest jeans and most offensive vintage gear.

I was more interested in checking out a band I have been intending to catch for some time now without success.

Fashion Launches Rocket Launches (FLRL) is a bit of a Sydney music collaborative with members drawn from Lost Valentinos, Midnight Juggernauts and the now-defunct Mercy Arms amongst others. They have quite the verbose and assumptive musical manifesto posted on their myspace, so I recommend that as they capture their vision far better than I could.

Their shows are performed with all members forming a tight circle, with dominant vocalists even facing away from the audience for the majority of tracks. There is very little in the way of theatrics or fanfare beyond that which exudes from the evidently flamboyant members own spirits. Instead, the audience feels as if they have been welcomed into an extended jam as songs blend seamlessly, with musicians rotating between instruments, interwoven by the symphonic, effects-heavy drone of Kirin Callinan's guitar work.

Late in the set, audience members/band friends are picked from the crowd and asked to interact, with percussion being passed over heads and drumsticks thrown hopefully.

Overall, its an experience unlike any other available in Sydney at present. The energy is both tanigble and infectious. It's impossible not to be swept away on some form of imaginary journey as the band guides you on some form of trip without the assistance of illicit substances.

Well worth a listen, and until they list their next Sydney gigs, check out track Poppies on their myspace.

2. Saturday Hopetoun fun-

Following the bliss of FLRL and Leader Cheetah, we here at SIDAR swung by the Hopetoun to check out long time favourites Kid Sam.

Launching single Down to the Cemetery, Kid Sam were supported by Kirin J. Callinan. If you haven't already seen a Callinan solo show, then what are you waiting for?

Words cannot do justice to the spectacle that is a Callinan performance. SIDAR have seen him perform several times now, supporting Jack Ladder as well as at Spectrum, and every show delivers a new angle.

Callinan is captivating as he shapes an orchestral cacophany of sweeping guitar loops exacted through a heavy reliance upon effects pedals perfectly executed. His vocal stylings and on stage mannerisms are certainly confronting for the uninitiated and unexpecting, however the entire combination soon emerges as more than endearing.

Highly recommended, however you shall not see SIDAR at a Callinan-related performance for some time now lest he believe we are actually bizzare for having attended performances on consecutive nights.

Callinan was followed by Otouto, a Melbourne-based three-piece fronted by Hazel Brown and including Kid Sam's Kishore Ryan. I won't devote too much time to them, as to be perfectly honest, cutesy female vocals are not my style, save for the redemptive qualities of stellar performers such as Sarah Blasko and Lykke Li. However for their niche, they were enjoyable, but perhaps their brand of quiet, inquisitive melodic ditties were a poor fit for the rambunctious Hopetoun crowd.Similarly, please see our previous review of Kid Sam from their Jack Ladder support slot. It really is a shame that the Hopetoun crowd was not more appreciative of the understated, utterly sublime musical style of this duo. Having seen them in intimate form at the Annandale, and then at the Brass Monkey in Cronulla, I know just how captivating the Ryan boys are when not challenged by inebriated punters more concerned by their own little game of 'spot the hipster' than the delightful tunes.

3. Sunday Sublime-

There really is no better way to spend a perfect Sunday morning than at Paradise Beach, Avalon. Taking my notebook, banana and sandwiches, I sat at the end of a pier watching yachts sail past and tinnies chug by, leaving me with that instantly recognisable smell of petrol through an outboard motor.

The sounds and smells of summer have come early, and I couldn't be happier.

4. Self reflexive, or just plain rude?

You may have noticed I am a little against self-important scene kids perceiving their brand of music/art/design as earth-shatteringly unique and culturally significant. In a form of total hypocrisy, many of the lyrics I have written address this type of person, therefore implicitly living up to L's allegations of hipsterdom on my part.

So it makes me happy to hear artists write about what I choose to detail, but far more effectively and enjoyably than I ever could.

Try:

-Fergus Brown: Nerds in Love (too cute)

-Okkervil River: Singer Songwriter (oh Will Sheff you little genius).

Hope your weekend was just amazing... only 5 days until the next one. Until then, go totally fucking Mexico.