Two Bears in a Record Store

The last time they graced our shores with their fearless presence there was animal suits, fake blood and a man-sized plastic bubble. It has taken us five years to recover, but at long last The Flaming Lips are returning to Australia.

There is no easy way to describe a live show from Oklahoma’s psych-rock Gods, whose lead-singer Wayne Coyne mesmerises his audiences with a performance akin to an acid-fuelled, dancing Jesus. Their visceral live performances even led Q Music to declare The Flaming Lips one of their ‘50 Bands To See Before You Die’.

Since their last trip to our shores the band have released 2006’s resplendent At War With The Mystics and THE stoner movie of 2008, Christmas On Mars – a film which not only stared the band and their friends but which was written and directed entirely by Coyne.

With a new album scheduled for release in June these Flaming Lips shows are simply not to be missed:

Tue 28th Jul – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney

Wed 29th Jul – Festival Hall, Melbourne

Tickets on sale Thursday April 2nd at 9am.

Source: Inthemix.com.au

Sound Relief at the historical SCG will be remembered for the rain, the good times and the return but most of all it will be tattooed as a proud day in Australian history as a day where the Australian spirit again shone so brightly. This review will focus on the music but Sound Relief was a day, which honoured and remembered the victims & heroes of the Victorian Bushfires and Queensland Floods. If you still haven’t donated please donate just a little, Fires & Floods. 

In the past few weeks, a lot has been made of Chris Martin. U2's Bono called him a 'cretin' on BBC Radio, which has raised the long lasting question of where Coldplay stands in the list of "world's biggest band". As Coldplay's fearless leader, Martin has been charged with proving why this group of friends, originally from London, deserve the titles of greatness that have been placed upon them since their early days. I am here to tell you that he manages this feat with charm, confidence and the full support of each member of the band.

At the Acer Arena (formerly the Superdome) at Sydney's Olympic Park, Coldplay reinvigorated my love for not just one or two songs, but their entire catalogue. This was partially done by changing the formula of classics (a more up tempo version of Yellow, and a minimalist, electro version of God Put A Smile On Your Face are two great examples), but mostly from the energy that the band continues to bring to every track. This also shows how Coldplay continue to remain relevant and that’s through adaptation. Of course this could have turned sour - changing a good thing could shock the loyal fans into demons - but thankfully the boys know their audience well enough to push and pull just enough.

Decked out in very cool, Napoleonic military inspired outfits, Coldplay played a set that jumped through all 4 of their albums, as well as dipping into their latest EP, Prospekt's March. The focus was definitely upon Viva la Vida, but there was never a question that the songs that made the band huge - Yellow, The Scientist, Clocks, Fix You - were going to get a play.

The show was choreographed perfectly to bring the crowd to higher and higher still levels of euphoria. Apart from the main stage, there were two runways into the crowd which were used on numerous occasions during the performance (including a beautiful spot lit piano solo by Chris Martin.) During Yellow, confetti filled balloons poured into the crowd, and later still during the show fluorescent coloured, butterfly shaped paper fluttered through the air. However the show stopper was definitely when the crowd walked off the stage, and into the crowd to a mini-stage, previously unnoticed amongst the seats. Between songs played here (including a cover of The Monkees' 'I'm a Believer'), Chris Martin regaled the crowd with a witty, charming, and modest story, which he ended by expressing his gratitude for being considered in the same league as other world conquering bands, all of which must have been designed to remind fans and critics alike of just how big this band has become.

If you can't gather this by now, I loved Coldplay's concert. This was my third such experience, and every one has provided a different experience, but also has given me a new lease on my love for this band and the wonderful music they have consistently made. If you get a chance next time they are in a town near you, do not hesitate in buying a ticket.

Set list below:
Life In Technicolor
Violet Hill
Clocks
In My Place
Yellow / You're The Voice (John Farnham cover)
Glass Of Water
Cemeteries Of London
42
Fix You
Strawberry Swing
God Put A Smile Upon Your Face (techno version)
Talk (techno version)
The Hardest Part (Chris piano, Will)
Postcards From Far Away (piano instrumental)
Viva La VidaLost!Green Eyes (acoustic)
I'm A Believer (The Monkees' Cover - acoustic)
Death Will Never Conquer (acoustic - Will vocals)
Viva La Vida (remix interlude)
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Politik
Lovers In Japan
Death And All His Friends
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The Scientist
Life in Technicolor ii
The Escapist (outro)



CB

The set times and map are all available now, a little late sure, but hey here none the less check them out and be sure to bring the noise, have fun and smile

Coming up this weekend in Sydney  & Melbourne are the joint Sound Relief concert series in aid and memory of the horrendous and devastating fires and floods in Victoria and Queensland.

To donate to these please contact

The Red Cross Victorian Bush Fire Appeal (https://www.redcross.org.au/Donations/onlineDonations.asp )

The Premiers Disastier Relief Appeal (http://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/initiatives/disaster_recovery/relief_appeal.aspx )

Artists playing on the day include:

Sydney

·      Coldplay

·      Taylor Swift

·      The Presets

·      Wolfmother

·      Icehouse

·      Jet

·      Eskimo Joe

·      Architecture in Helsinki

·      Hoodoo Gurus

·      You Am I

·      Josh Pyke

·      Little Birdy

·      + more acts to be announced

Melbourne

·      Augie March

·      Bliss N Eso with Paris

·      Wells

·      Gabriella Cilmi

·      Hunters & Collectors

·      Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson with

·      Troy Cassar-Daley

·      Jack Johnson

·      Jet

·      Kings Of Leon

·      Liam Finn

·      Midnight Oil

·      Paul Kelly

·      Split Enz

·      Wolfmother

There are limited tickets available for each show, but please if you cant make the show its being broadcast live on Foxtel, and donate generously.

Music is about emotion and feeling, it goes beyond borders, race, religion and can unite us all, get along to this event and support Australians in need.

 VB & CB

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to quickly let you know about Record Day Australia 2009.

“On April 18 2009 the only place to be is your local record store.

In these high-tech days of ipods and downloads, there’s still nothing to beat the thrill of immersing yourself in the atmosphere of a real CD and record shop, browsing the racks, talking to the staff and taking home an album that will become part of your personal history.

So why bother to have Record Store Day Australia?

Hear what the giants of the Australian music industry say about the importance of supporting your specialist music stores.

Daryl Braithwaite loves the excitement of big record store promotions and remembers the huge impact they had on him.

“I had the thrill of being around in The Beatles period, and I remember specifically Sgt Pepper and being able to walk into a store, seeing the big promotion with people queued up – it was great! You connected with the music. Then it was a thrill seeing my own stuff in the stores both in my Sherbert days and also with The Edge. People would look at the cover, then look at me and recognise me – you don’t get this shopping experience online,” Daryl reminisced.

Kram from Spiderbait is another passionate believer in record stores.

“I still like having things on vinyl and I love record stores. The whole experience of searching is probably more important than getting the stuff. I really dig record stores – I always will.”

And it’s not just the artists who are convinced of the value of Record Store Day Australia. Record store owners from Perth to Traralgon to Wollongong, and everywhere in between, love the fact that this is a chance to really celebrate the value of music in Australian stores and support the artists that create it.

Events like Record Store Day Australia don’t just happen by magic, and Australia is fortunate to have a strong Australian Music Retailers Association (AMRA) to represent the specialist recorded music stores of Australia.

Thanks to AMRA members, there is still a huge amount of music sold through specialist record stores:

·      More than $9 of every $10 paid for music in Australia is spent on physical product

·      Physical product remains the format of choice for music lovers and collectors.  Albums are 65 times more popular on CD or DVD than as a download.

So many Australian independent record stores are involved in Record Store Day Australia that we can’t list them here, but you can check them out at www.recordstoreday.com.au

And for the latest news about Record Store Day Australia and interviews with artists, log on to www.undercover.com.au

A quick shout out to our mate and follower Barto for giving us a head’s up on this too!

Please get behind your local record store, even if it is a global mega chain, the artists and bands need our support to keep making music, get to gigs and keep buying their product cause that’s the only way the artist will ever get paid.

VB