The infrequently-updated site blog, featuring a range of content including show reviews, musical musings and off-color ramblings on other varied topics.
Water of Life - Hartshorn
If you have remotely followed this series, you would know that I harbour more than a mere weak spot for all things originating from Tasmania, given the consistent quality that specifically tipples, and libations of that origin prove to uphold.
Boutique-y Hartshorn Distillery with their sheep whey-based Gin and Vodka fits into the ranks of those premium micro distilleries – and when I say “micro” here it is more than appropriate given that Hartshorn is making only small, unfiltered batches using a two hundred litre glass column still.
Aesthetically, Hartshorn is taking the DIY aesthetic to the next level: Each bottle’s artwork and label is created individually by hand and signed off by artisan head distiller Ryan after the foundation being spray-painted black. Talking of paying attention to detail and making each bottle truly unique.
Given the premium quality one has grown accustomed to when it comes to Tasmanian emission it is not further wondrous that Hartshorn’s sheep whey emissions are award decorated.
Let’s substantiate my praises for Hartshorn with a bit of history:
Artisanal in nature, the core business Hartshorn is associated with is Grandvewe Cheeses, which is the reason why quite a few of Hartshorn’s spirits are infused with the cheese by-product whey, the fermentation and distillation of which adds a subtle and delicious bouquet of sweet nuances and encapsulates the essence of Hartshorn: Character, flavour and intrigue.
I cannot claim to be an avid vodka drinker, but Hartshorn's Sheep Whey Vodka is something else: It is pure and creamy yet there is texture due to it being unfiltered, it is flavourful yet not overwhelmingly so. Despite a high ABV of 50% it lends itself well to having it neat and sipping away, a feat that cannot really be claimed for a lot of other vodkas as the margin to hide behind is minimal as opposed to other liquors.
The smooth finish is complemented by notes of spice and a crispness that still packs a tad of heat.
Not less spectacular is Hartshorn’s vapour infused sheep whey Gin. The vapour infusion adds a subtle bouquet as opposed to the steeped method that gins are usually produced with.
Again, not being big on gin, I must admit that this one won me over as there is a delicate intensity that makes it not only aromatic but lends itself perfectly well for sipping it neat, a feat that is achieved with the utilization of six unique native Australian botanicals adding their part to it.
Read more Water of Life entries here.
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Photo by T
Thus let us drink beer – Wildflower
There is certainly no shortage of Australian craft breweries. Head in general direction of Sydney’s Inner West and you will stumble across a myriad of offerings.
Most are good, few have something truly special to offer.
Wildflower belongs to the latter category.
Incepted by American expat and head brewer Topher Boehm and Australian brother in law Chris Allen, Wildflower’s approach is certainly idiosyncratic as they perceive themselves to be a blender rather than a brewery, with barrels being the vessels they channel and more importantly age their alchemy in, using natural wildly foraged yeast variations as their main agent for fermentation and sourcing the beer from their partners in crime Batch Brewing, the operations of which we have featured in a previous instalment.
In that sense, i.e. by paying homage to Australia’s fauna and flora, “Wildflower” is a telling name indeed and beer provided only the stage for yeast to unfold its distinct nuances.
What I love about Wildflower’s emissions is the Belgian influence along with the complex calibration that informs the genesis of their excellence Wild Ale expressions.
Wildflower’s portfolio is comprised of three variants, i.e. a gold, an amber and a table beer along with the occasional seasonal expression.
Needless to say, that with the unconventional way Wildflower produces its beers, it is limited in nature and nearly always sold out.
Taste-wise Wildflower’s hazily straw coloured Gold is an exercise par excellence is crisp tartness, while its darker brother, the Amber expression with its thick creamy head, is subtly funky in the best way imaginable, hints of cherry and cranberries, and with its enhanced yet nuanced spiciness due to bacterial cultures used is the near ideal companion for an Islay whisky.
In some respects, and in the best ways possible, i.e. in that it is a great accompaniment to food, I find Wildflower reminiscent of Two Metre Tall, a Tasmanian brewery I came across at last year’s Dark Mofo festival and one that we shall feature in a separate instalment.
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Photo by T
Water of Life – Timboon Distillery
I am in love.
But first things first:
Timboon is a community in Victoria, Australia where in the nineteenth century a rogue by the name of Tom Delaney channelled his alchemy into the production of distilled goods.
Folklore has that the bootleg operation was soon to be eradicated by the powers that be under the guidance of one pernickety Detector named Christie, who eventually put an end to the distilling of whiskey in the region.
Timboon’s operations not only pay homage to Delaney’s legacy but with its multi-faceted operations that include a restaurant and bar and an astute sense of place, put the region back on the world map when it comes to the creation of fantastic whiskies.
Timboon Distillery had not been on my radar until a trusted water of life connoisseur recommended them to me and boy, had I missed out.
The alchemy Josh Walker and his worthy constituents channel in their copper pot still and the resulting single malt whiskey is something else. Resting on a sound foundation of what the Scottish isles have to offer, Timboon infuse their small batch emissions with their very own DNA that catapulted them instantly to the forefront of my favourite Australian distilleries.
Case in point, Timboon’s Chrissy’s Cut.
Yup, it is award decorated like many other whiskeys but this one does not make you wonder why. At cask strength this babyh has a finish that is so complex and elongated preceded by spicy notes and a hint of smoke that is so carefully calibrated that it sings.
I very much like their gold coloured Port Expression, which is a solid melange of vanilla, berries and caramel with a fruity palate and the imprint of char, but Chrissy’s Cut remains unrivalled.
Christie’s Cut has taken the Port Expression to the next level. An intense yet still subtle smorgasbord of flavours – sounds oxymoronic? Well, you clearly have not had the chance to sample it.
There are whiskies that make great after dinner deserts, nightcaps, et cetera – with Christie’ Cuts I’d find myself hard-pressed to find a time when it would not be a delight to sit with.
A visit to Timboon Distillery has become mandatory and been firmly placed on my to-do list.
Read more Water of Life entries here.
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Photo provided
Water of Life - Mount Gay
Lord Byron claimed that there is naught so much the spirit calms as rum and true religion. While I concur with Karl Marx who has attested to the calming effect of religion, i.e. declaring it as opium for the masses, I am new to the world of rum and have at times to be convinced of why I would find similar enjoyment in indulging in it as I do with whisky.
Tonight’s centre of attention were the emissions of one of the oldest existing rum houses, i.e. Mount Gay rum, a distillery based in Barbados and known for pioneering the use of double copper pot stills, whose Eclipse expression - named not only after the phenomenon of a solar eclipse but also a reference to the the passage of Halley's comet in 1910 – was introduced after an excellence daiquiri that was based on the silver expression.
Mount Gay’s Eclipse hits you with an array of flowery notes and the hints of vanilla create a seamless transition to the fruity nuances that unfold once it hits your palate before it exits through a spicy and oaky alley. Not overly complex yet with its creamy molasses, light-bodied viscosity and aged for up to two years in Kentucky oak ex-bourbon barrels quite nice as a sipper and as a utility rum and I’d imagine this to be the perfect adage to a good cup of tea or as an adult beverage after dinner.
Next up was Mount Gay’s Black Barrell, which as per the expression’s telling name, has been aged in heavily charred bourbon barrels. On the nose the bourbon barrels’ impact hits you first in the best way possible with a rich and warm melange of creamy vanilla, sultanas and hints of pepper. More vanilla finds itself on the palate, complemented by cinnamon and other spicy notes, before it culminates in a well-balanced, looping finish that can be best described in an extended hybrid of the notes.
A gorgeous, spicy and earthy rum with a thick creamy mouthfeel and definitely a step up from the Eclipse.
Completing the troika of tonight’s offerings was Mount Gay’s XO, i.e. “extra old” as it has been aged between eight and fifteen years in ex-bourbon barrels. Now, we are talking: Upon the first sip the borderline perfect balance of dryness and sweetness, wood and salivation won me over. Almost too smooth with its cinnamon-esque wood aroma, this is one distinguished rum that with its warmth goes down a treat. Paired with dessert, the fruity character of the XO was even more amplified.
If you harbour a weak spot for Glenmorangie’s Quinta Ruban Cask expression, this smooth yet robust one is the rum you want to try.
Now, having had the trio of the three rums was a nice introduction to what Mount Gay has to offer, however, it was to be topped by an epic expression that pretty much encapsulates the essence of the nexus between excellence in rum distilling and the craftmanship that Islay whiskies are known for:
Mount Gay’s XO limited edition single blended Peated expression – a drop that after having been matured for eight to fifteen years in bourbon barrels, then gets its refined edge through a finish based on maturation in Islay peated whisky casks from Port Charlotte distillery.
Sounds like some serious rum / whisky crossover porn? Well, it does not only sound like it. It starts with the presentation, as the flask shaped bottle is housed in a wooden box.
Amber-mahogany in colour, this is one fruity, nutty rum number resting on a well-made bed of vanilla and fruity notes, clocking in at 57% that is serenaded by the trademark salty and smoky notes from the peated whisky casks.
What a velvety balance.
Salt.
Caramel.
Peat.
Banana.
Vanilla.
Peppers.
Pineapple with a smoke finish that is subtle and simply amazing.
Have you started salivating yet? Well, you should . . .
A rich, superb and complex special edition indeed that proves to be an extension of Mount Gay’s excellent core range and one that grows with each sip.
The Mount Gay tasting was hosted at The Forgotten Cask, a Rum Bar & Kitchen on the rooftop of the Cauliflower hotel in Sydney’s Waterloo. If you ever find yourself in town, the bold and flavourful sustenance coming up from the kitchen along with the tiki inspired tropical décor that frames the over ninety rums and spirits on offer prove to be an enjoyable location to either be educated by the engaging staff’s rum expertise as well as a casual drink.
Read more Water of Life entries here.
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Photos by @k.a.vv
Good Music - What It Is and Who Gets to Decide
John J. Sheinbaum
Now that’s a good question, innit?
What constitutes “good music”?
Is it possible to designate, rank and classify music objectively?
What is the criteria?
Traditional ones? Can they be applied to artists and their emissions through time? Does it apply to Beethoven in the same manner as to Drake and Black Sabbath?
John Sheinbaum starts off by elaborating on how music has been traditionally classified as good or bad before he ventures out to outline his own idiosyncratic framework for assessing music – one that does not subject itself to the dictatorship of categorization and one that deliberately transcends Schubladendenken, styles, moods or genre specific confines.
As the centre of Sheinbaum’s value system is simply the joy both of making music as well as the result on the recipient’s end – the ultimate common denominator.
Sheinbaum masterfully questions values, definitions and perceptions and lets the reader come to his / her own conclusions as he meanders his theories revolving around musical themes like deepness, unification, authenticity, originality, heroicness, connectivity and seriousness.
The merit of Sheinbaum’s emissions and what makes the book a never not enjoyable read lies in his compassionate and humane approach that is not only enthusiastic and optimistic in nature but challenges mainstream conceptions and the way we blindly follow along outworn traditions.
A recommendation for any music enthusiast and anyone who falls prey to the notion that one composer or musical style is superior to others.
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An evening with Dale DeGroff Kittyhawk Sydney, Australia August 3, 2018 There is no shortage of accolades that cocktail innovator, veteran bartender and envelope pushing coryphée Dale DeGroff has been ... read more
Rev-Ale-ation – A Symphony of the Senses Mosman Art Gallery Sydney, Australia August 5, 2018 Changing perceptions. Expanding horizons. Reimagining stories. Inspiring enthusiasm. Diminish stereotypes. This and more what the ... read more
Speed Rack Australia competition Marble Bar Sydney, Australia July 29, 2018 Speed Rack, huh? What comes to mind? Sports? Rollerderby? A completion of sorts? Speed Rack provides a forum to ... read more
Water of Life Glenmorangie and Modus Operandi Boilermaker Dinner Webster’s Bar Sydney, Australia August 1, 2018 Zanzibar, the ole faithful Newtown institution and after hour haunt, was a reliable drinking ... read more
Picasso and Truth: From Cubism to Guernica (The A. W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts) T.J. Clark Princeton University Press Unsurprisingly enough, there is no shortage of books ... read more
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back - In concert with the SSO ICC Theatre Sydney, Australia July 27, 2018 Given the immense attention to detail and curation of the Star ... read more
Men's Society Guide to Social Protocol, Necessary Skills, Superior Style, and Everything Else That Will Set You Apart From The Pack Murdoch Books Men’s Society, founded by Hugo and ... read more
Sonos House 40 Queen St Sydney, Australia July 10-21, 2018 Music. Sounds. Sonic pleasures. High-fidelity. How do you listen to music? Why would you want to invest in gear to ... read more
ADWA tasting event The Oak Barrel Sydney, Australia July 13, 2018 Glass ceilings. Those unseen, yet unbreakable barrier that keep minorities and women from rising to the upper echelons of ... read more
Water of Life Sullivans Cove If you are remotely anything whisky related, the name Sullivans Cove alone will probably give you goose bumps make your hair raise in the best way ... read more
Water of Life Lark Distillery Over the last seven years, Tasmania, i.e. antipodean Hobart, has become a home away from home. What started with a flirt with the last stop ... read more
Smash Brothers Kogarah, Australia “Break room” in a nine-to-five existence might be limited to the confines where lunch and coffee is had and the latest office gossip is spread. Smash ... read more
Brew A Batch Christopher Sidwa Murdoch Books Unless you are a teetotaller, who does not like a good brew, be it a regional Lager, Pale Ale or a Craft ... read more
The Architecture Concept Book An Inspirational Guide to Creative Ideas, Strategies and Practices James Tait Thames & Hudson Ah Architecture – visual art at best and the ultimate yearning ... read more
The Essential Goethe Princeton University Press Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. German writer, statesman and one of the most virtuous pioneers of the Sturm und Drang literary movement, whose influence ... read more
Eames – Beautiful Details Ammo Books One might question that need for frivolous ornamentation and luxury furniture, that is until you have planted yourself in an original Eames lounge ... read more
Open Frame: Room 40 Carriageworks Sydney, Australia June 28-29, 2018 2018 saw the third place Carriageworks bringing back the biannual Room 40: Open Frame Festival, centred around curated offerings rooted ... read more
Swimming and How to Layer Up in Style If you swim more regularly, you will be aware that the materials your gear is constructed with can greatly improve not only ... read more
Hearing protection EarPeace Music. Enjoyment. Loud amps in your face. Regular exposure to loud noises might have catastrophic consequences if hearing is not protected proactively. With hearing being a ... read more
Sydney Film Festival 2018 Winter in Sydney is not devoid of event highlights: ViViD Festival is blossoming in all its glory illuminating the Sydney in all its glory literally and ... read more
Protein Yup. Need to get it in, especially when being on the road in places less traveled. Let’s look at the basics. Aight, protein is one of the pillars of ... read more
Kandinsky Random House For me, the art compositions of Kandinsky has always had a connection to music, not just due to the names of his paintings which are pervaded ... read more
Art and Design -- Part 2 Circada Books Hidden Museum Shaun Parr Museum can be spiritual places. They certainly are for me. A place where I can lose ... read more
What’s Sumatra With You? -- Part 3 Black, hot liquid gold makes the world go round. Most like it hot but does it always have to be? Ever tried cold ... read more
Visit to Starward Distillery What’s constitutes a “good whisky? There are a myriad of distilling methods and tweaked processes that go into bottling the water of life, the quality of ... read more
The Spirit of Bauhaus Thames & Hudson Walter Gropius declared in his Bauhaus manifesto, which he penned in 1919 in Weimar and which forms the genesis of one of the ... read more
Mazzy Star Opera House Sydney, Australia June 11, 2018 Despite exerting a massive influence and having created their own lane, with crooners like Lana del Ray only being one of ... read more
German Film Festival May 22 – June 10, 2018 Sydney, Australia. Not unlike the American Essentials Festival, the German Film Festival showcase new Teutonic cinematic talent from the ole world ... read more
Water of Life Part 3 Ardbeg Day 2018 Sydney, Australia Miss Peaches June 2, 2018 Ardbeg. Where shall we start? Ardbeg’s ten year old, non-chill-filtered; uncoloured variety is as good ... read more
Brian Jonestown Massacre Sydney, Metro Theatre June 9, 2018 With seventeen albums under their belt, the collective known as the Brian Jonestown Massacre has been going since 1990. Early on ... read more
Thus, let us drink beer! – Australian special, part 2 If you have ever been to Sydney, chances are that you passed through The Rocks, a neighborhood of quaint laneways ... read more
American Essentials Film Festival May 8-20, 2018 Sydney, Australia American Essentials is not your typical new world film festival with the saccharine blockbusters crowding the market. The focus is firmly ... read more
Aleksandr Zhitomirsky Photomontage as a Weapon of World War II and the Cold War Yale University Press As one might have noticed, I am an aficionado of German artist ... read more
Jeff Koons: A Retrospective Whitney Museum of Contemporary Art Jeff Koons is perceived to be a controversial artist – an iconic one that proves to be hard to by-pass. ... read more
Good Design Australia showcase Overseas Passengers Terminal Sydney, Australia May 25, 2018 Design. Good Design, huh? What constitutes “good design”? When there is nothing left to add or nothing left ... read more
At the time tickets went on sale for Stone Temple Pilots’ latest tour, it was unclear initially how many folks were going to be interested in seeing the band with ... read more
Raekwon Metro Theatre Sydney, Australia June 2, 2018 When Aristotle coined the phrase that a collective is bigger than the sum of its individual constituents to signify the concept of ... read more
DREAMS Opera House Sydney, Australia May 29, 2018 DREAMS is Luke Steele’s (Empire of the Sun) and Daniel Johns' (Silverchair) and while it has been tinkered on for nearly a ... read more
Going Down Malthouse Theatre Melbourne, Australia May 19, 2018 A migrant story. Feminism. Cultural identity. Sense of belonging. Racism. Rebellion. Sexism. Individualism. Stereotyping. Labeling. Lightheartedness. Egotism. Perseverance. True north. Self-righteousness. ... read more
Erwin Wurm. Prestel Publishing A humorous and playful artist heavily influenced by the all too familiar trivialities and banal objects of the daily humdrum, which he extends or manipulates to ... read more
Talisker - Made by the Sea Neighbourhood Bondi Sydney, Australia May 3, 2018 Talisker. One of the triumvirates of whiskies that Robert Louis Stevenson claimed to be the king of ... read more
Whisky and Cheese Tasting Stamford Plaza Circular Quay Sydney, Australia April 25, 2018 Wine and cheese. Sure. Natural companions whose strengths of flavors cross-pollinate and complement each other. Now, sommeliers ... read more
Portugal. The Man Enmore Theatre Sydney, Australia May 1, 2018 Portugal. The Man Psychedelic glam rock. Bombastic self-indulgent EDM brats? One hit wonder? Could a band care less about your ... read more
Hit The Road Vans, Nomads and Roadside Adventures Gestalten Verlag Wanderlust. Getaways. Roadtrips. Traveling. Everyday can be a journey. Your own. No nomadic traits needed. Trails, streets, roads and ... read more
Francis Bacon: Studies for a Portrait Michael Peppiatt YUP Francis Bacon was one hell of a complex artist. Contradictions. Enigmas. Affairs. Debauchery. The works. Then there was his art. ... read more
Real Bodies Exhibition Byron Hall Sydney, Australia April 22, 2018 I bumped into Gunter von Hagens with his dog Bella, the pioneer of the technique of plastination that forms the ... read more
Humanity Ai Weiwei Princeton University Press Ai Weiwei. Chances are that you either are familiar with him and what he does or you would have heard of the impact ... read more
Weathering the Elements In the previous instalment of this series I touched on my recent hiking excursions in the neither regions of Norway. At the region where according to Nick ... read more
Principles of Archaeology T. Douglas Price / Kelly Knudson An introduction to archaeology that helps students think like archaeologists Thames & Hudson T. Douglas Price. Professor and life-long learner. ... read more
The Art of Living Alone and Loving It Your inspirational toolkit for a whole and happy life Jane Mathews www.murdochbooks.com.au Slow living. Solo living. Conscious living. When did these ... read more
Sam Knee Music nerd. Vintage design and postwar fashion aficionado Youth culture connoisseur. Photographer. Author. Sam Knee. Grown up in the rural South of England, Knee grew up on ... read more
Gin – the Show Stamford Plaza Hotel Sydney, Australia April 7, 2018 Apparently the only time Phyllis Diller enjoyed ironing, was the day she accidentally put gin in her ... read more
Ten Principles for Good Design: Dieter Rams Cees W. de Jong (Editor) Prestel Publishing / Random House Familiar with the German brand Braun? Ever wondered what made it the successful ... read more
Anselm Kiefer Notebooks, Volume 1, 1998-99 Seagull Books Now truth be told – I am in awe of Anselm Kiefer. I have traveled far and wide to see his ... read more
Lodestars Anthology Issue 9 – France Traveling is never without an appeal. For the downtime between my excursions when time allows, I indulge in paper and ink. While literature ... read more
Juan Montoya The Monacelli Press Juan Montoya made a name for himself by pushing boundaries and exerting a dominant influence on design in the contemporary world– a feat that ... read more
High Adventure in the Great Outdoors - Nopeet Suomi. Finland. Nokia. Plywood. Free people. Free education. A region where you can drive for hours without encountering a signle soul. ... read more
Australian Beer Special Thus, Let Us Drink Beer! Part 2 The people behind Kaiju! Beer love their hops. As in, they like to wade in it knee deep and max ... read more
The Daily Grind What's Sumatra With You? -- Part 2 Hello from where the cold things are, i.e. the neither regions of arctic Norway. I quite like hiking as ... read more
The Moulin Rouge experience Féerie! Paris, France March 24, 2018 (Photo by Francis TheBlueRoom) Well, well – even if you are not familiar with the real thing, chances are that even ... read more
Casper David Friedrich Johannes Grave Prestel One would not be far off the mark by claiming that Casper David Friedrich’s oeuvre encapsulates the DNA of German romanticism. While his ... read more
Wim Wenders Instant Stories Thames & Hudson Publishing Neues deutsches Kino on the world stage has more or less become synonymous with the filmmaker Wim Wenders, who is also ... read more
Fabergé and the Russian Crafts Tradition An Empire's Legacy Margaret Kelly Trombly Thames & Hudson Publishing You dabble in arts but decorative art of the Russian kind is not ... read more
High Adventure in the Great Outdoors – Outdoor watches Living in the southern hemisphere, it is mildly difficulty to not get into and enjoy water sports to at least some ... read more
Wanderlust Hiking on Legendary Trails Gestalten Verlag Into traveling? Inhabited by that innate, unexplainably strong desire to roam and impetus to go wandering? I hear you. Does your traveling ... read more
The Aints play The Saints part 2. Manning Bar Sydney, Australia March 9, 2018 We have clarified before that The Saints have left an imprint on the music scene that ... read more
Quicksand / Thursday Metro Theatre Sydney Australia March 7, 2018 Stating that one Walter Schreifels with the myriad of his musical incarnations has had a significant impact on my musical ... read more
Bar Patrón by Neil Perry Sydney, Australia Now, in theory this should be an easy one. Guilty as charged – I do harbour a weak spot for the distilled ... read more
The Modern Cook’s Year By Anna Jones Harper Collins Cannot be bothered to cook? In need of some inspiration? Bored by the limitations of your cooking skills? The Modern ... read more
The Mind-Gut Connection By Emeran Mayer Harper Collins Ah, the body. Your corpse. A powerful intuitive communicator. Are you listening, possibly entering and influencing the dialogue? “Gut feeling”. Your ... read more
Time Out Sydney Bar Awards 2018 Marquee Club Sydney, Australia February 25, 2018 Sometimes bad weather can be a blessing in disguise. Sure, it would have been delightful to celebrate ... read more
Hunter S. Thompson loved it. Herb Kelleher thought along with Philip Morris cigarettes that it was essential to the maintenance of human life. Steven King fell prey to it. Bourbon. ... read more
Sydney City Limits Centennial Park Sydney, Australia February 24, 2018 Austin City Limits Festival has found its worthy equivalent in the Southern hemisphere: With the name being more than a ... read more
Tropfest 2018 Parramatta, Australia February 17, 2018 Tropfest first incarnated in 1993 in a bid to establish a foundation and a forum for filmmakers to blossom and bloom. Since its ... read more
Surrealism, Art, and Modern Science Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Epistemology Yale University Press The interim between the two World Wars. Worlds in upheaval. Technological advancements. Progress in the world of ... read more
Anthrax Skyway Theatre Minneapolis, MN February 24, 2018 I have a pinched nerve in my neck. Self-diagnosed, but diagnosed nonetheless. It’s from shoveling snow. We’ve had so much snow this ... read more
Futurism: An Anthology Yale University Press Now, this one is a no-brainer. As in, for anyone remotely into what happened in the twentieth century in the realms of design, ... read more
Fragrance. Punk rock and fragrance, huh? An oxymoron? What would a punk rock perfume smell like? Super glue, urinal stones, stale beer, dogs and a hint of patchouli? A ... read more
Interested in what terra australis has to offer in terms of libations and tipples? Look no further. The first instalment of this series shall shed light on Starward. Have you ... read more
Wine Selector’s 50 Best The Old Rum Store Sydney, Australia February 15, 2018 Wine Selector is the authority and when it comes to the finer things of all things pertaining to ... read more
Delirious: Art at the Limits of Reason, 1950-1980 Metropolitan Museum of Art www.footprint.com.au 1950 until 1980 was certainly an interesting era: The implications of post-second world war sentiments paired ... read more
Craft beer. To thrive in today’s day and age of fleeting sensations and flavours du jour, establishing oneself in the the crowded craft alcoholic beverage arena is no mean feat ... read more
Death: A Graveside Companion Thames and Hudson Not sure if you concur with Socrates in that death may the greatest of all human blessings but it is certainly a ... read more
Degas: A Passion for Perfection by Jane Munro Yale University Press Edgar Degas (1834-1917) is heralded as one of the founders and masters of the impressionist movement, with the ... read more
The Ivory Mirror The Art of Mortality in Renaissance Europe Yale University Press www.footprint.com.au Renaissance - what associations does the term invoke with you? An age of achievement, “eureka” ... read more
Cattle Decapitation Bald Faced Stag Hotel Sydney, Australia February 16, 2018 First and last time I came across Cattle Decapitation was with the release of their “Ten Torments of ... read more
Sunnyboys Factory Theatre Sydney, Australia February 10, 2018 Oh goody! The Sunnyboys. One of the most influential Australian bands with a back catalogue that is hard to f with no ... read more
Evanescence Opera House Sydney, Australia February 14, 2018 Evanescence incarnated on terra australis to celebrate their forth album, i.e. Synthesis, via a collaboration with local Symphony Orchestras, which makes sense as ... read more
Champagne Champagne: A Secret History Roger Walters Allen & Unwin Publishers I harbour more than one weak spots for all things sparkling – be it water or wine. Champagne ... read more
Hieronymus Bosch, Painter and Draughtsman: Catalogue Raisonné Yale University Press What a thing of beauty! Hieronymus Bosch – Painter and Draughtsman Catalogue Raisonné is a comprehensive, opulently illustrated tome ... read more
Riesling Riot Town Hall Sydney, Australia February 7, 2018 A riot in realm of vino – The roots of what has become known as the Riot of the Riesling kind ... read more
The Stranglers Enmore Theatre Sydney, Australia February 8, 2018 As a teenage delinquent in his early stages of punk socialization searching for the next kick in the local record store, ... read more
Footpath Guides Architectural Walking Guides Footpath Guides, the headquarters of which are situated in a Bauhaus inspired building of epic brutalist proportions, is a conglomerate of three creative heads with ... read more
How To Be Chap The Surprisingly Sophisticated Habits, Drinks and Clothes of the Modern Gentleman Gestalten Verlag Dandyism. Being a gentleman. A man of taste. Taking care of yourself. ... read more
Savile Row Thames and Hudson Not sure if you are into what is referred to as classic gentlemen style and its intricacies, but if you like a well-fitted great looking ... read more
Wim Delvoye Introspective Yale University Press If you have ever read any of our features on the Museum of Old and New Art and the artworks it harbours that ... read more
Chances are you have come across them. Ray-Ban. Classics. Style. Worn the world over by rebels as well as the establishment and jetset and hence leaving an imprint on all ... read more
Electric Gardens Centennial Park Sydney, Australia January 27, 2018 We have covered the festival known as Electric Gardens since it first debuted in 2016. What was a success in every aspect ... read more
Albert Speer Architecture 1932-1942 Written by Leon Krier, Preface by Robert A. M. Stern The Monacelli Press The Robert Johnson dilemma. Making a deal with the devil for your ... read more
Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty Footprint.com.au Alexander McQueen might be known to you as a fashion designer. Quintessentially he is exactly that, yet it you zero in closer into his ... read more
Monochrome: Painting in Black and White by Lelia Packer and Jennifer Sliwka National Gallery London As the title suggests, a book based on the absence of colour and a ... read more
Michelangelo: Divine Draftsman and Designer by Carmen Bambach METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni is widely appreciated as one of the most influential artists of the Italian ... read more
There Will Be A Climax Old Fitzroy Theatre Sydney, Australia January 12, 2018 I do not subscribe to the notion of guilty pleasures or liking something “ironically”. Either you like something ... read more
Parkway Drive Metro Theatre Sydney, Australia January 18, 2018 Let’s delve into physics and its underpinning laws, shall we? In a nutshell, the law of Boyle-Mariotte captures the concept of ... read more
American Idiot – The Musical Opera House Sydney, Australia January 11, 2018 The first time and only time I saw Green Day live was in 1991 during their first European ... read more
NYE in the Park Victoria Park Sydney, Australia December 31, 2017 There is no shortage of iconic locations that New Years Eve can be celebrated at in Sydney. The boutique-y ... read more
Run the Jewels Big Top, Luna Park Sydney, Australia January 5, 2018 Given their respective careers and pedigree, I could not help but be intrigued when I was first introduced ... read more
The Unbelievables Concert Hall, Opera House Sydney, Australia December 20, 2017 In medias res: With a name that suggests a band of superheroes out of the Marvel universe, The Unbelievables ... read more
The Beautiful Girls Metro Theatre Sydney, Australia December 16, 2017 Founded in 2002, Australian trio The Beautiful Girls started their career based on a sound foundation of reggae and surf ... read more
Paradise Lost Metro Theatre Sydney, Australia December 15, 2017 “It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.” -Aristotle A band with such longevity as ... read more
The Easybeats Sydney, Australia Enmore Theatre December 15, 2017 Let’s start with the basics for the uninitiated: To claim that the Easybeats, who first incarnated in Sydney in 1964, were ... read more
I used to jog but the ice cubes kept falling out of my glass. - David Lee Roth One day, out of the blue I started to run. Simply ... read more
Sydney Burlesque Gala 2017 Sydney, Australia Aight, let’s tick off the basics and history lesson first: As per definitionem, “burlesque”, derived from Italian “burlesco”, is a work of art meant ... read more
Mesdames et messieurs – welcome to the second installment of our feature on Germany’s Gestalten Verlag: Let’s ease in with a beauty: Best of German Interior Design Eds. Christian Boros, ... read more
Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age: Masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum Art Gallery of NSW Sydney, Australia Before the dawn of the 18th century, the territory that was to become known as ... read more
Super Food Family Classics Jamie Oliver Penguin Books Australia Jamie's Super Food Family Classics is the healthy-eating companion book to the new TV series of Jamie's Super Food. Illustrations ... read more
Locust HouseAdam GnadeThree One G / Pioneer Press This one is short, immersive, dense, turbulent and poignant. A novella-length rumination on a time, a place, and a culture. Less ... read more
Men without Women Haruki Murakami Penguin Books Australia Men Without Women is a 2014 collection of short stories by Japanese author Haruki Murakami, which was recently translated in English in ... read more
Die Gestalten Verlag is a publisher and creative agency mostly known for their 600 books on art, architecture, design, photography and typography. The company has 30 staff members through offices in ... read more
British Artists – Francis Bacon by Andrew Brighton Tate Publishing Comprehensive and holistic in nature, The British Artist Series books employ the insights of art luminaries to illuminate the ... read more
High Adventure in the Great Outdorrs – Topo Designs One does not have to be a hardcore outdoorsman to have an appreciation for reliable quality outdoor gear that despite ... read more
John Heartfield – Laughter Is A Devastating Weapon Tate Publishing John Heartfield (born Helmut Herzfeld; 19 June 1891 – 26 April 1968) was an artist and a pioneer in the use ... read more
No Is a Four-Letter Word: How I Failed Spelling but Succeeded in Life Chris Jericho Da Capo Press The basics: Chris Jericho portrays himself as a bit of a ... read more
Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between Andrew Bolton Yale University Press If you are into design, Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons will ring a couple of bells ... read more
Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg Manning Bar Sydney, Australia November 23, 2017 Tonight heralded the return of Marky Ramone to Australian shores, whose tenure handling skin duties for the Ramones lasted for ... read more
UB 40 Hordern Pavilion Sydney, Australia November 24, 2017 As infectious and happy the UK’s biggest reggae export’s emissions sound, disputes had riddled the band’s legacy and resulted in a ... read more
The Aints play The Saints Factory Theatre Sydney, Australia November 24, 2017 According to Sir Bob Geldorf, rock music in the seventies was changed by three bands—the Sex Pistols, the ... read more
Perturbator Factory Theatre Sydney, Australia November 21, 2017 Producing dark and retro futuristic music with a strong 80’s feeling, James Kent AKA Perturbator is the considered to be the spearhead of the ... read more
Italy on a Spoon Doltone House Sydney, Australia November 20, 2017 World Week of Italian Cuisine? is a global event in its second edition?, which last year was celebrated ?in ... read more
We’re All Going to Die Festival Commune Sydney, Australia November 17, 2017 The We're All Going To Die festival was born out of Founder, Artist and Filmmaker and Director Stefan ... read more
Dillinger Four, Negative Approach, Kitten Forever, Victory, The Slow Death Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN November 22, 2017 I usually try to keep show reviews to the point: Here’s ... read more
Skepticon Recital Hall Sydney, Australia November 18-19, 2017 Think Inc. is a telling name: Dedicated to nurturing rational discourse, the bright heads behind the organisation organise Q&A sessions, forums and ... read more
The Scientists Factory Theatre Sydney, AU November 18, 2017 The Scientists became a much more influential post-punk band than their minimal commercial success would indicate, lending their influence to what ... read more
Glen Matlock Landowne Hotel Sydney, Australia November 16, 2017 Chances are that if you are on this website, you know who Glen Matlock is, as he is not only known for ... read more
5 Ingredients – Quick Easy Food by Jamie Oliver Penguin Books As the title suggest, the premise is by stripping down your shopping list and using merely five ingredients, arranged ... read more
Gault & Millau Restaurant Guide Launch The Cannery, Rosebery Sydney, Australia For the uninitiated: Gault et Millau incarnated first in 1965 as a collaboration between restaurant critics, Henri Gault ... read more
Ecca Vandal Oxford Art Factory Sydney, AustraliaN November 11, 2017 To some the South African born Ecca Vandal might appear to be a riddle, which might be due to her giving ... read more
Goose Island Thanksgiving Dinner National Art School Sydney, Australia November 10, 2017 Let us start off with the basics for the uninitiated: Goose Island Brewery is a brewery based in Chicago, ... read more
The cold evening here in Pratteln is a world away from the kind of weather Portugal’s Sinistro are used to. However, the band bring plenty of heat to their opening ... read more
United Cellars Champagne Tasting Hudson House Sydney, Australia November 9, 2017 Alright, guilty as charged. Me likey bubbles. A lot. Sparkling – be it water or wine. Especially Champagne. I ... read more
Night Nation Run Sydney The Doman November 4, 2017 The Night Nation Run is the World’s first Running Music Festival. What’s that? Well, a running event embedded in the context ... read more
Miguel Migs Café del Mar Sydney, Australia November 4, 2017 Café del Mar is quite a versatile venue as it serves for Sydneysiders a place to eat, drink and listen. ... read more
Banksia Sustainability Awards 2017 Doltone House Sydney, Australia November 1, 2017 The yearly Banksia Sustainability Awards recognise and reward achievements made by Australian Individuals; Community Groups; Primary and Secondary Schools; ... read more
Design-Made. Sunstudios Alexandria, Sydney October 27-29, 017 Milton Glaser claimed that there are three responses to a piece of design – yes, no and WOW! Design-Made. definitely aims for the latter as. ... read more
The Bronx Oxford Art Factory Sydney, Australia October 30, 2017 Tonight was a side-show from The Bronx’ current Australia tour with Pennywise and how great it was to see ... read more
Jewish Film Festival Opening Night Cinema Bondi Jumction Sydney, AU October 26, 2017 A jam-packed Event Cinema Bondi Junction played host to Jewish International Film Festival Opening Night, as the 2017 Jewish Film Festival was kicked off in ... read more
Ministry Fillmore Auditorium Denver, Colorado Oct. 28, 2017 With the passing of Lemmy Kilminster, Al Jorgensen has become the last man standing in regards to what amount of excess ... read more
Time Out Sydney Hop Up – Young Henrys World Square Sydney, Australia 23 October 2017 Ah, Young Henrys. Young Henrys is the household name of Sydney craft breweries, an impressive ... read more
Burn City: Melbourne’s Painted Streets Lou Chamberlain Hardie Grant Travel I dig Melbourne– aka ‘Burn City’ – and paying a visit is always something to look forward to, not just ... read more
The Festival of Nonna 107 Project Redfern, Sydney, AU October 23, 2017 The fine people behind Sandhurst Fine Foods are behind the operation of The Festival of Nonna: The concept bases ... read more
Tonight’s show at Pratteln’s Z7 venue was almost in dire straits with Alcest’s tour bus breaking down two hours away and the band needing to head over in a taxi ... read more
Redfern, Sydney, AUS 20 October 2017 The Youth Food Movement Australia don’t believe in telling people what to do, but educating and arming young folks with the skills, knowledge and ... read more
Recovery: Freedom from our Addictions Russell Brand Published by Pan Mac Millan You would have crossed paths with the man known as Russell Edward Brand somewhere in the world of ... read more
The Kinfolk Entrepreneur – Ideas for meaningful work By Nathan Williams Workman Encouraging its readers to live a self-contained, slow lifestyle, reconnect with the earth, shun technology where possible ... read more
The Pixies @ the Fillmore Auditorium, Denver Colorado October 18, 2017 Black Francis is a man of few words. This would be detrimental as a stockbroker, but as the ... read more
Alice Cooper Hordern Pavilion Sydney, AU October 21, 2017 Alright. If we have to start off by dancing out that Alice Cooper is the architect of not merely shock-rock by ... read more
Toruk – the First Flight Cirque du Soleil Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney October 19, 2017 Toruk - the First Flight, a stage show by Cirque de Soleil, is based on ... read more
What Rhymes with Cars and Girls Riverside Theatre Parramatta October 14, 2017 What Rhymes with Cars and Girls was You Am I’s frontman Tim Rogers’ first solo effort released toward the ... read more
Napalm Death Factory Theatre Sydney, Australia October 11, 2017 Finally after more than 25 years, I got to witness the herb drenched Brujeria storm a stage. A band that has always had ... read more
Greek Film Festival Palace Cinemas Leichhardt October 10-22, 2017 The 2017 Sydney incarnation of the Greek Film Fest was launched with the premiere screening of Roza Of Smyrna, based on the ... read more
Queens of the Stone Age and Royal Blood Red Rocks Amphitheatre Morrison, Colorado 10.10.2017 It wasn't looking good. In typical Colorado fashion, following a summer-like 76° Sunday, mother nature ... read more
Pinot Palooza - A Touring Pinot Noir Festival Sydney Carriageworks October 8, 2017 Looking for a near perfectly orchestrated and curated, traveling and rocking Pinot Noir experience without pretentious bullshit ... read more
Underbelly Arts FestivalNational Art SchoolDarlinghurstOctober 7-8, 2017 Proceedings of the Underbelly Arts Festivals were opened with a shindig serenaded with sad Goth party jams, visceral electronic beats and roaming performances by Bhenji ... read more
OZ Comic Con ICC Sydney September 30 – October 1, 2017 The Sydney incarnation of the OZ Comic-Con is a lot to take in. It might be a cliché, but ... read more
Time Out Magazine Sydney Food Awards Porteño Restaurant and Bar Sydney, Australia September 25, 2017 If you do not live under a rock, you are familiar with Time Out Magazine. ... read more
Peter Hook and the Light Metro Theatre Sydney, Australia October 2, 2017 An Evening with Peter Hook & The Light performing the legendary Factory Record’s albums Unknown Pleasures and Closer. Both ... read more
Dan Sultan Metro Theatre Sydney, Australia September 30, 2017 Dan Sultan’s fourth, more personal, reflective and mature album, Killer, which he recorded with producer and long-time collaborator Jan Skubiszewski in Melbourne, exemplifies ... read more
Forever Crazy State Theatre Sydney, Australia September 28, 2017 Mesdames et messieurs - Le Crazy Horse de Paris!Probably world’s best known cabaret, renowned for its diverse range of varietè shows ... read more
Dune Rats Big Top, Luna Park Sydney, Australia October 1, 2017 Dune Rats are an Australian outfit from Brisbane, originally formed by Danny Beausa and BC Michaels as a duet with ... read more
At the Drive In Hordern Pavilion Sydney, Australia September 29, 2017 At the Drive In are back at it. Had previous incarnations of the El Paso quintet its up and ... read more
The Daily Grind What's Sumatra With You? T.S. Eliot had measured his life out with coffee spoons. Some claim coffee is the most valuable trading commodity after oil. A ... read more
Dead Cross September 23, 2017 Ogden Theatre, Denver "Hello, we are Dead Cross and we are not gluten-free." - Mike Patton Usually by the end of a tour, a ... read more
Australia and New Zealand have a history of winemaking that harks back to the late Nineteenth Century, but it was not until the 1970s that the region became known for making ... read more
New Philosopher Womankind Feel like there is a gaping hole for content that is intellectually stimulating among existing print media, underestimating their readers’ capacity to reason and their curiosity about ... read more
Motionless in White Metro Theatre Sydney, AU September 19, 2017 Motionless in White embarked on their first national headline Australia tour this September in support of their new album Graveyard Shift. ... read more
Exploded View Sam McPheeters Talos Publishing Born Against. Vermiform Records. Error Fanzine. Men’s Recovery Project. Wrangler Brutes. Punk Planet. On-air disputes with Sick of it All. Touring Europe with Articles ... read more
Italian Film Festival 2017 Palace Cinemas Sydney, AU September 12, 2017 The Opening Night of the Italian Film Festival, which was a lavish affair with live entertainment, Italian themed food and ... read more
MEW Manning Bar Sydney, AU September 12, 2017 MEW are a Danish alternative, experimental outfit pivoting between styles with a career spanning more than twenty years, across seven acclaimed studio albums, that ... read more
Placebo Qudos Bank Arena Sydney, AU September 9, 2017 Last in the country for Soundwave Festival and a pair of sideshows back in 2014, the Placebo returned to Australia for a ... read more
Sydney Contemporary Carriageworks Sydney, AU September 7-10, 2017 The term “third place” was coined by Ray Oldenburg, an American urban sociologist. The “first place” denotes "home where we place to role ... read more
Italian Wine and Food Festival 2017 The Cutaway, Barangaroo Reserve Sydney, AU August 28, 2017 The origin of the festival goes back to Lara Caraturo, a sommelier who in 2013 thought that an ... read more
Vera Blue Metro Theatre Sydney, AU September 2, 2017 Celia Pavey, known in muso circles under the moniker Vera Blue, is a Sydney-based singer-songwriter that managed to transition from reality show ... read more
You Am I & Hoodoo Gurus Enmore Theatre Sydney, AU August 31, 2017 If you paid an iota of attention over the last couple of years, it would not have ... read more
Stone Sour Hordern Pavillion Sydney, AU August 26, 2017 Touring in support of their latest album, the groove-heavy Hydrograd, Stone Sour descended upon Australia via a stint in New Zealand ... read more
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Lifeby Mark MansonPan Macmillan Australia It is only after you have lost everything that you ... read more
Psychosis 4:48 Old Fitz Theatre Sydney, AU August 19, 2017 Sarah Kane’s 4:48 Psychosis is essentially a 60 minute long stare into the abyss of darkness and struggle of mental illness, ... read more
Vin Diemen “Best of Tassie” National Art School, Cell Block Theatre Sydney, AU August 12, 2017 I sure hope that my recent features on Tasmania and MONA have tickled your ... read more
Montaigne Metro Theatre Sydney, AU August 12, 2017 Michel de Montaigne was one of the most significant philosophers on the French Renaissance known for popularizing the essay as a literary ... read more
“…thus, let us drink beer!” – Belgium special Waffles. Friterie. Chocolate. A royal palace bigger than Buckingham palace. The first country to legalise euthanasia and ban cluster bombs. Three ... read more
Always going upstream against the current – part 1 Pescatarians listen up. Salmon. How do I love thee? I cannot possibly count the ways. This series shall follow my travels ... read more
Man cannot live by bread along – he must have peanut butter, or, as the wise philosopher Sylvester Gardenzio “Rimbaud” Stallone once proclaimed: “If you try to change the taste ... read more
Oceania Burger Special Ah, the humble burger – a product loved by Popeye’s sidekick J. Wellington Wimpy that came about to meet the culinary needs of a society rapidly ... read more
Pete Murray Enmore Theatre Sydney, AU July 29, 2017 Byron Bay singer-songwriter Pete Murray is back with his trademark smooth and inviting vocal delivery to promote his sixth studio album, ... read more
Zoo Brew Taronga Zoo Sydney, AU July 22, 2017 Tastings that offer a chance to sample hop-and-grain-based beverages are legion. They tend to follow the same formula, leaving center stage to ... read more
Ásgeir Enmore Theatre Sydney, AU July 21, 2017 Iceland is largely an arctic desert punctuated by mountains, glaciers, geysers, hot springs, volcanoes and waterfalls. It is one of the ... read more
Living life well Fête/Life magazine is an Australian publication that connects with readers in a personal way. Its mission is to inspire them to love the life they have, engage in ... read more
2017 Scandinavian Film Festival Sydney July 11-August 2 We are currently in the fourth season of the year in Sydney, which is mild compared to the harsh haunting wintertide ... read more
Japandroids Factory Theatre Sydney, AU July, 14 2017 Japandroids are a two-piece band from Vancouver, BC, which began in 2006 and consists of Brian King and David Prowse. One guitar, one set of drums, and ... read more
The Undertones Metro Theatre Sydney, AU July 8, 2017 The Undertones are legendary. If you are remotely interested in punk rock yet not familiar with their oeuvre due to the ... read more
Grinspoon Enmore Theatre Sydney July 7, 2017 Grinspoon emerged in 1995 from sleepy Lismore in New South Wales and with the juvenile delinquents behind the operation harbouring a weak spot ... read more
Good Food and Drink Show Sydney, Australia June 24, 2017 The Good Food and Drink show is all about familiarise it’s audience with emerging trends in the hospitality industry before ... read more
Open Frame: Room 40 Festival Carriageworks Sydney June 30. 2017 Carriageworks, Sydney’s largest and one of its more eclective multi-arts centres, is stoically following its ambitious mission which is informed ... read more
Boy George Café del Mar Sydney, AU June 12, 2017 Despite the focus being on his recent stint as a judge on one of those castings shows down under, Boy ... read more
Fantastic Food and Drink and Naturally Good Shows ICC Exhibition Centre Sydney, AU June 4-5 Premium. Gourmet. Handcrafted. Delicious. Unique. Extraordinary. Fantastic – a few adjectives and superlatives that ... read more
Hot Brown Honey Opera House Sydney, AU June 9, 2017 Sass, empowerment and politics rooted in hip hop culture are the pillars that form the foundation of Hot Brown Honey – ... read more
Metallica Sports Authority Field at Mile High - Denver, Colorado June 7, 2017 The storm was supposed to roll through early - before opening acts Volbeat and Avenged Sevenfold took ... read more
Hidden Sydney "The Nevada" at The World Bar Sydney, AU 25 May - 18 June 2017 Kings Cross is an inner-city locality of Sydney. The Cross, as it is known by localites, was ... read more
Body Count Luna Park Sydney, AU June 3, 2017 Body Count is quintessentially a heavy metal band with a rap mentality with their material focusing on various social and political issues, ... read more
Nick Murphy (formerly known as Chet Faker) Opera House Sydney, AU June 1, 2017 Nicholas "Nick" James Murphy, better known by his former stage name Chet Faker – a pseudonym ... read more
GABS Festival The Dome Sydney, AU May 28, 2017 The inaugural GABS fest, which was listed as one of the top 20 beer festivals in the world by the American magazine The Beer ... read more
Village People State Theatre Sydney, AU May 25, 2017 Countless times, the Village People depicting stereotypes of the masculine kind and framed in catchy pop tunes with mass appeal have ... read more
Time Out Pub Awards 2017 Bank’s Hotel Sydney, AU May 24, 2017 Founded at the end of the swinging sixties in Londontown, Time Out eventually became the global player it ... read more
Devin Townsend Project Enmore Theater Sydney, AU May 22, 2017 If you are familiar with Devin Townsend’s incarnation as the frontman of the musically more aggressive Strapping Young Lad with ... read more
Living Colour Metro Theatre Sydney, AU May 13, 2017 Living Colour is the embodiment of creatively fusioning, funk, jazz, hip hop, country, exploratative, and alternative rock with lyrics ranging from the personal to the political, ... read more
Nashville Pussy Bald Faced Stag Hotel Sydney, AU May 12, 2017 Nashville Pussy. What a band. Having emerged out of the ashes of the great Nine Pound Hammer, who already ... read more
Meatstock Festival 2017 Olympic Park Sydney May 6-7, 2017 Vegans and vegetarians avert your eyes: Meatstock 2017’s two-day meat filled extravaganza at the Sydney Showgrounds featured bands, barbecues, beards, butchers, ... read more
American Essentials Sydney, AU 09 May – 24 May 2017 Founded in 2016 as a way to fill select Aussie cinemas with the kind of US titles that don't usually make it to ... read more
Entombed AD Manning Bar Sydney, AU May 10, 2017 One would need more than one flipchart to scratch the surface of how influential Entombed have been throughout the nearly three ... read more
Snakehips Metro Theatre Sydney, AU May 8, 2017 The London-based electronic chill duo Snakehips with their hypnotic, trap-inflected songs that are reminiscent of Odesza, Kelala and Cashmere Cat are the ... read more
Botanica Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, AU May 06 – 28, 2017 Botanica 2017, focused on the nexus between the disciplines of art and science, is Australia’s premier annual botanical art exhibition ... read more
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus Manning Bar Sydney, AU May 6, 2017 After their last tour in 2014, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus returned to the land down under for a ... read more
$uicideboy$ Manning Bar Sydney, AU May 4, 2017 Having joined forces in 2014, the prolific $uicideboy$, a.k.a. Ruby da Cherry, a gentleman with punk rock roots, and $lick $loth, former ... read more
Spanish Film Festival Palace Cinema Sara Baras: All Her Voices Sydney, AU April 29, 2017 With food, live performances, films and drinks the 20th edition of the Spanish Film Festival ... read more
Red Hot Chili Peppers Amalie Arena Tampa, FL April 27, 2017 It is hard to believe that three of the four members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers are all ... read more
Amongst Ruins (Snake Eggs Hatch) Old Fitzroy Sydney, AU Presented by Poor Tom's Gin & Mark Blumer, and supported by Playwriting Australia and ambassador Louis Nowra, Michael McStay’s short ... read more
Helmet Manning Bar Sydney, AU April 29, 2017 Helmet finally returned to Australia in 2017 to celebrate their third and was is considered to be their most experimental album Betty ... read more
The Hodgetwins Factory Theatre Marrickville, AU April 25, 2017 The Hodgetwins, Virginia-bred identical siblings Kevin and Keith Hodge, are “social media personalities” and operate a variety of YouTube channels, where ... read more
Sex Object Depot Theatre Marrickville April 23, 3017 As per its mission statement, Depot Theatre, nestled in the vibrant Addison Road Centre and the arts scene of Sydney suburb ... read more
Tash Sultana Ivy Courtyard Sydney, AU April 16, 2017 Courtyard’s annual Easter party at Sydney’s Ivy stepped it up this year with easily one of the biggest lineups in the ... read more
Peking Duk Enmore Theatre Sydney, AU April 22, 2017 Formed in Australia’s capital Canberra, Peking Duk are an electronic music duo made up of disc jockeys and music producers Adam ... read more
The Tea Party Star City Sydney, AU April 21, 2017 Since the Canadian three piece’s inception in the early-‘90s, the Tea Party has pursued a singular epic sound melding middle-eastern ... read more
Suggs: My Life Story in Words and Music Enmore Theatre Sydney, AU April 19, 2017 In Suggs: My Life Story in Words and Music, Graham McPherson, the frontman of the ... read more
Cool for Summer Festival Olympic Park Sports Centre Sydney, AU April 15, 2017 Ah, social media. Rooted in the broader Web 2.0 landscape, it helped engineers, entrepreneurs, and everyday ... read more
Bad Friday Festival Block Party Railway Parade Marrickville, AU April 14, 2017 The etymology of the term “good” in the context of Good Friday is contested: Some claim it is ... read more
Explosions in the Sky Jannus Live St. Petersburg, FL April 12th, 2017 Explosions in the Sky are a rarity in the day and age of the “right now”, with information ... read more
Drift Magazine Not sure how you roll but in my world and that of Drift Magazine, coffee inhabits not an unimportant role, which is why Drift is relevant to my interests. Its central ... read more
Ambrosia Magazine Ambrosia, the food or drink of the Greek gods which was often depicted as conferring longevitiy or immortality, is closely connected to nectar, both of which where were ... read more
Alter Bridge Enmore Theatre Sydney, AU April 4, 2017 After several runs as openers, the Orlando, Florida-based melodic metal outfit toured Alter Bridge returned to Australia on the back ... read more
Illy Enmore Theatre Sydney, AU April 7, 2017 The Melbourne MC Illy, born Alasdair Murray and former member of the Crooked Eye Crew along with heads like M-Phazes, has been ... read more
Tash Sultana Metro Theatre Sydney, AU April 1, 2017 Let me introduce you to Natasha, known professionally as Tash Sultana, a Australian one-woman band that takes multitasking to the next ... read more
Brian Greene: A Time Traveller's Tale International Convention Centre Sydney, AU March 30, 2017 Cosmologist, string theorist, professor of science and mathematics Brian Greene is an academic rock star whose mass ... read more
Adman: Warhol before Pop Art Galley of NSW Sydney, AU Feb 25-May 28, 2017 Soon after graduating having earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Pictorial Design, a young ... read more
Hang Massive Max Watts Melbourne, AU March 22, 2017 Shaped much like a spaceship, the Hang’s ( a musical instrument of the idiophone class) equally ethereal sounds created by Danny Cudd ... read more
Violent Femmes Factory Theatre Sydney, AU March 20, 2017 In its heyday, the Folk rock band, or shall we go with “Midwestern acoustic punk gateway drug to experimental music,” Violent ... read more
MDLSX by MOTUS Carriageworks Sydney AU March 16, 2017 Interdisciplinary entity MOTUS was founded by Enrico Casagrande and Daniela Nicolò and over the last twenty-five years has established itself firmly on ... read more
Spiderbait Enmore Theatre Sydney, AU March 18,2017 In case you are burdened with the mercy of late birth and hence unfamiliar, Spiderbait are an Australian alternative rock band formed in ... read more
Taking Back Sunday 170 Russell Street Melbourne, AU March 21, 2017 Taking Back Sunday have come a long way and I don’t necessarily mean the distance between terra australis and ... read more
Chain & the Gang Newtown Social Club Sydney, AU March 15, 2017 It is going to be difficult to keep this review objective as Ian Svenonius’ emissions and incarnations have ... read more
Taste of Sydney Centennial Park Sydney, AU March 9-12, 2017 Now, who does not love an opportunity to sample vittles and enjoy carefully selected libations? While the common denominators for ... read more
Australian Tattoo Expo 2017 International Convention Centre Sydney, AU March 10-12, 2017 With over 45,000 visitors annually, the celebration of creativity and art The Australian International Tattoo Expo proudly represents, ... read more
Meshuggah Enmore Theatre Sydney, AU March 12, 2017 It has been twelve years since I last saw Meshuggah and while their performance at Cleveland’s Peabody’s Downunder was tight and technically ... read more
Twelve Foot Ninja Manning Bar Sydney, AU March 10, 2017 The genre blending breed of metal of Melbourne’s Twelve Foot Ninja might best be described as “fusion”. A versatile, charismatic ... read more
Mardi GrasSydney, AUMarch 4, 2017 With a longstanding history of almost four decades, Sydney’s Mardi Gras builds on a strong foundation from which they champion LGBTQI individuals and communities. 2017 ... read more
The DamnedMetro TheatreSydney, AUMarch 10, 2017 Musically and artistically, The Damned has always been one of the most accomplished and versatile forefathers of punk and alumni of the class of ... read more
KasabianSydney Opera HouseSydney, AUMarch 8, 2017 Kasabian from Leicester, UK are disciples of the Angel of the North, the contemporary landmark of North East England and are quintessentially the embodiment of ... read more
Pixies Hordern Pavilion Sydney, AU March 7, 2017 The Pixies have always appeared to be an odd band to me, which admittedly was part of the appeal: The pop sensibility, ... read more
Last week when a friend, and occasional love interest, suggested we check out the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for one of our is this a date or is this not a ... read more
T2 TrainspottingNow at cinemas Making a great movie is difficult. Standing out against the myriad of mediocre big budget offerings is no mean feat. Stars need to align. ... read more
The MenzingersMr. Smalls FunhousePittsburgh, PAFebruary 28, 2017 The first time I saw the Menzingers play in Pittsburgh was at this club that doubled as a concert venue and a nightclub. ... read more
MarshmelloEnmore TheatreSydney, AUMarch 2, 2017 This was the first ever-Australian show for the man with the LED enhanced marshmellow mask and boy, did he get a reception: The Mellogang (yup, that’s ... read more
VaultAustralasian Art and Culture Vault encapsulates a quadruple thrEat: An elegant, extravagant, eloquent and engaging Art and Culture Magazine with particular emphasis on Australasian contemporary art. Vault embodies the common denominator ... read more
Barbu by Cirque AlfonseSydney Opera House StudioSydney, AUFebruary 26, 2017 Needless to say that the mélange the troupe of Cirque Alfonse, with all its Québécois folklore, brings to the table ... read more
La BohèmeJoan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera HouseSydney, AUSFebruary 24, 2017 Giacomo Puccini.One of the greatest exponents of operatic realism, id est “verismo”, who is fabled to have uttered that art ... read more
WarpaintSydney Opera HouseSydney, AUSFebruary 25, 2017 In Greek mythology, sirens were dangerous creatures who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of ... read more
Smith Journal Magazines. An easily forgotten medium in a world with an attention span of a goldfish obsessed with blogs and spoon-fed easy to digest hors d’oeuvre of information. A ... read more
The Judas Kiss by playwright David HareOld Fitzroy TheatreSydney, AUSFebruary 15 – March 11, 2017 Sydney’s Old Fitzroy and its theatre operation is a cultural touchstone that uniquely links generations ... read more
Julian Assange: No More Secrets, No More LiesThink Inc.Seymour CentreSydney, AUSFebruary 18, 2017 Julian Assange. A controversial figure and divisive subject. For some, an intense, driven and valiant campaigner ... read more
Wil WagnerOxford Art FactorySydney, AUSFebruary 19, 2017 As the frontman, singer, lyricist, guitarist and keyboardist of The Smith Street Band -- an allusion to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street ... read more
Acid Haus by United CellarsAustralian Design CentreSydney, AUSFebruary 16, 2017 The wines the sturdy, late-ripening white grape Riesling, at times referred to as the “king of grapes” and one of ... read more
TEDxSydneySalon International Towers, BarangarooFebruary 15, 2017 TEDxSydneySalons are the smaller, smart relatives of the TedX events offering intimate, evening events combining talks, films and music. Designed to spark discussion and ... read more
Xiuhtezcatl Martinez: Why I Sued the U.S. Government Factory Theatre Sydney, AUSFebruary 12, 2017 In October 2000, Zack de la Rocha walked out of Rage Against The Machine. I am ... read more
A Strategic PlanGriffin Theatre CompanySydney, AUSUntil March 11, 2017 Griffin Theatre Company’s main tenet if the fostering and support of new writing in Sydney ever since it was founded in ... read more
Killing HeidiTaronga ZooSydney, AUSFebruary 4, 2017 Twilight at Taronga is an annual concert series set amongst the environment of Taronga Zoo, in a natural amphitheatre with fully licensed bars and ... read more
DJ Z Trip Factory Theatre Sydney, AUS January 28, 2017 Turntablism is an art form. Period. An art form that more often than not has been diluted by applying a ... read more
PeripheryMetro TheatreSydney, AUSFebruary 3, 2017 “Periphery” denotes the external boundary of a body. If the body in question is modern and progressive metal, the name of the band would be quite ... read more
Electric Gardens Festival Centennial Park Sydney, AUS January, 28 2017 The second installment of Sydney’s electro bash festival descended again in the lush surrounds of Sydney’s Centennial Parklands, an idyllic ... read more
Peter Garrett and the Alter EgosTaronga ZooSydney, AUSJanuary 27, 2017 Some people say Peter Garrett got his inimitable, signature whirling dervish dance steps and refreshingly nonsensical, jerky thrusting of hand ... read more
On January 21 I saw Bash & Pop with the So So Glos at the Great Scott in Boston, MA, a small-bar venue with a sound system that’s just shitty ... read more
AuroraMetro TheatreSydney, AUSJanuary 25, 2017 There is something magical and otherworldly about the young Norwegian lady that goes by the name of Aurora Aksnes, known mononymously as Aurora. Angelic, unpretentious ... read more
Jimmy Eat WorldEnmore TheatreSydney, AUSJanuary 18, 2017 Non-fanatics might mistake Jimmy Eat World for one of those emo-alternative bands that had one major hit song in the 1990s and then ... read more
Siro-AThe ConcourseChatswood, AUSJanuary 14, 2017 Siro-A are from Sendai, Japan, and their name apparently translates to something along the lines of “difficult to pin down” – a telling name as ... read more
Richard III Schauspielbühne Berlin Guest performance at the Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre December 30, 2016 Richard III is one of Shakespeare’s earliest works, first believed to be performed ... read more
Dancer Film review premiereLeichhardt Norton TheatreNovember 25, 2016 Palace Norton Cinema proved to be an adequate forum for Dancer - a 2016 French biographical musical drama film offering an intimate look into ... read more
Soundscape Festival SydneyFactory TheatreSydney, AUSDecember 17, 2016 After a successful debut in 2015, Soundscape Festival was back for the second time in 2016, serving up a massive day of tunes ... read more
DZ DeathraysFactory TheatreSydney, AUSDecember 15, 2016 DZ Deathrays are essentially a duo. An Australian “dance-punk” duo that is, that emerged from the ashes of the band Velociraptor. The fact that ... read more
Craig Robinson and the Nasty DeliciousMetro TheatreSydney, AUSDecember 14, 2016 If you don’t mind the American version of The Office, or goofball comedies like Hot Tub Time Machine franchise, Pineapple Express and most importantly This ... read more
Nude: Art from the Tate CollectionArt Gallery of New South WalesSydney, AUSNovember 5, 2016 – February 5, 2017 It was the invention of clothes and certainly not nature’s imperative, that ... read more
PeachesMetro Theatre Sydney, AUSDecember 9, 2016 Peaches shows are somewhat of an orchestrated parallel universe – an equal opportunity, body positive, shame-free and deliberately absurd cosmos with gender-bending pan-sexuality in ... read more
Electronic Music ConferenceNov 28 – Dec 02, 2016Sydney, Australia Founded in 2012, Sydney’s annual Electronic Music Conference has established itself as Asia Pacific’s premier industry event. The two day 2016 incarnation ... read more
German Film Fest Goethe Institut Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra) November 15-30, 2016 The 15th year incarnation of the the German Film Fest in Australia is going to be the ... read more
Bill Bailey State Theatre Sydney, AUS November 30, 2016 Rare it is that you turn up to a show expecting so little and end up loving it so much. Bill ... read more
The Cult Enmore Theatre Sydney, AUS November 25, 2016 It has been more than three decades years since The Cult settled on their current moniker. What started off inspired and ... read more
ThinkInc: An evening with Dr. Lisa Randall Seymour Center Sydney, Australia November 19, 2016 What is science about?What is it meant for?Advancing information?Advancing understanding?A way of thinking?A body of knowledge?How ... read more
20th Japanese Film Festival Sydney, AUS November 17-27 The Japanese Film Festival (JFF) is presented by The Japan Foundation, Sydney. The JFF started in 1997, 100 years after the first ... read more
Deftones Hordern Pavilion Sydney, AUS November 12, 2016 The ever evolving entity known as “Deftones” has been largely intact for close to three decades and is heralded as one of the ... read more
Made Fashion show Carriageworks Sydney, AUS November 11-13, 2016 In essence MADE is a community and creative hub that originated in New York City. It was incarnated with guidance and oversight ... read more
Destroyer 666 Max Watts Sydney, AUS November 5, 2016 Max Watts, the name of the venue of tonight’s black and thrash metal proceedings, is a play of the term ... read more
Dandy Warhols Luna Park Sydney, AUS November 4, 2016 “Detached garage rock cool with effervescent pop melodies” sounds like a pretty astute description of the Dandy Warhols’ sound. Touring Australia ... read more
Katatonia @ Shepherd's Bush Empire w/ VOLA, Agent Fresco Emotion is the name of the game tonight, with Sweden’s Katatonia bringing their resonant doom to the London masses not once, but ... read more
Rites of Passage Tattoo Festival Olympic Park Sydney, AUS October 14-16, 2016 While it is questionable if getting a tattoo these days is based on such a spiritual superstructure as ... read more
Kooza, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Quarter Sydney, AUS October 6, 2016 Kooza first premiered in 2007 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where circus conglomerate Cirque du Soleil, the largest theatrical producer on ... read more
Totally Unicorn Newtown Social Club Sydney, AUS September 29, 2016 Do not let the name deter you: You want to see Totally Unicorn in all of their unbridled beauty before ... read more
Sounds of the Suburbs Festival Wilbar Lane Cronulla, Sydney September 25, 2016 Cronulla, the “place of the pink seashells," is a beachside suburb, about 30 kilometers south of the Sydney ... read more
Apocalyptica, We Lost the Sea Metro Theatre Australia, AUS September 24,2016 Rumor has it that Ritchie Blackmore tried to get into mastering the cello, the attention-getter among instruments – try ... read more
Descendents, Modern Life Is War, Color TV First Avenue Minneapolis, MN September 15, 2016 The only people luckier than those who get to see the Descendents are those who get ... read more
An evening with Steve Wozniak Australian Technology Park Sydney, Australia August 28, 2016 Think Inc. is a boundary pushing, Australia-based initiative dedicated to the promotion of intellectual discourse by bringing ... read more
The Beards Metro Theatre Sydney, Australia July 2, 2016 The concept of The Beards is simple – an Australian self-proclaimed “novelty band” from Adelaide that exclusively performs songs around ... read more
Parkway Drive Entertainment Centre Sutherland, Australia June 26, 2016 Parkway Drive is glam metalcore. “Metal” as in classic metal and anthemic choruses. “Core” as in simple, direct, angry, to the ... read more
We Lost The Sea Oxford Art Factory Sydney, Australia June 25, 2016 Vita contemplativa. The beauty of reveling in sadness. Saudade. A fond remembrance and the hope to retrieve ... read more
Dark Mofo 2016 Hobart, Tasmania Australia June 2016 Dark Mofo is the winter equivalent to MONA FOMA Festival – an outdoor extension of David Walsh’s subversive Disneyland, the home of sex ... read more
Steel Panther Luna Park Sydney, Australia June 17, 2016 They are the biggest glam rock band that never was from 1985, in 2016. Steel Panther has become bigger than any ... read more
Björk Digital Carriageworks Sydney, Australia June 4, 2016 The term “third place” was coined by Ray Oldenburg, an American urban sociologist, most prominently known for his elaborations on the importance ... read more
Les Butcherettes Summit Music Hall Denver, CO July 17, 2015 When Melvins rolled into town in July of 2015, they of course put on a great show. It seemed after ... read more
An evening with Edward Snowden Big Top, Luna Park Sydney, Australia May 28, 2016 Moral ambiguity. Conflicting values. The need to keep people safe versus concerns about privacy. The boundaries ... read more
This is Hip Hop Festival Hordern Pavilion Sydney, Australia May 27, 2016 Hot tub hip-hop time machine: Featuring a nostalgic ‘90s focused line-up with all protagonists having had a ... read more
Royal Headache at Reverse Charges festival Bald Face Stag Hotel Sydney, Australia May 13, 2016 The monolithic water tower among the mainly Portuguese commercial offerings and vis-à-vis from the Masonic ... read more
Kadavar Manning Bar Sydney, Australia April 29, 2016 Kadavar are a Teutonic Teestubenrock band from the Grandfatherland, Berlin. Accomplished retro in sound, appearance, and vintage equipment – Kadavar looks like they ... read more
Brian Posehn Factory Theatre Sydney, Australia April 19, 2016 Humour and comedy is subjective. What one person finds funny another might cringe at. Cue E.B. White. Analysing comedy is ... read more
Iggy Pop Post Pop Depression Tour Ellie Caulkins Opera House Denver, Colorado April 2, 2016 It was a night of anticipation. Iggy Pop was returning to Denver. In an ... read more
Murder by Death The Echoplex Hollywood, CA March 25th, 2016 Murder by Death are currently in the middle of one final tour before settling down and working on their next ... read more
Madonna Allphones Arena Sydney, AUS March 19, 2016 Clickbait is a disease. A virus spreading from self-professed arbiters of taste under the veneer of information. According to the narrative of ... read more
Peter Case Atwood's Tavern Cambridge, MA March 05, 2016 Atwood's has a rich history of showcasing a mix of diverse artists that have stood the test of time and ... read more
Sunn O))) Manning Bar Sydney, AUS March 15, 2016 Byron J. Scullin's bass bath performance installation, which was staged in steel structured, cold storage rooms at the Tasmanian port at ... read more
The Jesus and the Mary Chain Spectrum Now festival Sydney, AUS March 5, 2016 Blasphemous name - check! Leather-clad insolence - check! Tumultuous, short live performances - check! ... read more
High on Fire Manning Bar Sydney, AUS February 21, 2016 The Swiss label Off the Disk Records was founded by Thomas Mölch and Erich Keller (Fear of God fame, breaker ... read more
Electric Gardens Festival (feat. Fatboy Slim) Centennial Park Sydney, AUS January 23, 2016 The 2016 large scale, multi-stage Down Under incarnation of Electric Gardens took place in the lush lap ... read more
The Security Project The Center for the Arts Natick December 2015 When I was first informed that this show was being put together I immediately started to recruit some of ... read more
As fans many draw a close relationship with their favorite artists. For whatever reason a personal statement shared within this realm seems to strike many in a very serious way. ... read more
Agent Orange Factory Theatre Sydney, AUS January 3, 2016 Mike Palm and his two partners in crime held court in the confines of the intimate performance space downstairs, which ... read more
El Vez Newtown Social Club Sydney, AUS December 26, 2015 1977. The Germs play their first show ever opening for The Zeros, followed by The Weirdos. ... read more
In the month leading up to the holiday, it's often difficult to escape the near-continual assault of schmaltzy Christmas music. It seems virtually every artist of note in the last ... read more
The Misfits Manning Bar Sydney, AUS December 12, 2015 The Misfits. One of the most iconic punk bands. These days they are fronted by bassist Jerry Only, framed by ... read more
With the full line-ups unveiled for Soundwave 2016 in Australia, Scene Point Blank has put together a quick primer to help prepare. Without further adeiu, SPB's Bands to See at Soundwave ... read more
MONO Newtown Social Club Sydney, AUS December 7, 2015 "Mesmerizing" and "cinematic" are the adjectives that come to mind when one is asked to describe the epic, vast instrumental ... read more
The Ghost Inside “Locals Only” Altar Bar Pittsburgh, PA November 6, 2015 Los Angeles-based melodic hardcore band The Ghost Inside dropped their latest album, ‘Dear Youth,’ last year on ... read more
Though usually panned by the majority of film critics – the mainstream ones anyway- horror films seem to be a Hollywood mainstay that just won't go away. This is hardly ... read more
Made in 1957, director Roger Corman's typically efficient low-budget sci-fi flick Not of This Earth came to be regarded as a minor genre classic in the years to come – and ... read more
In the midst of the opening credits sequence for Italian director Dario Argento's 1975 Profondo Rosso (a.k.a. Deep Red), the viewer is treated to a truncated scene appearing to show ... read more
Titus Andronicus Brighton Music Hall, Boston, MA October 15, 2015 Like any show I’m excited about, I was really scared of disappointment while driving to this Boston Titus Andronicus ... read more
Run The Jewels First Avenue Minneapolis, MN October 23, 2015 “I’ll apologize now. If you are wearing glasses, you might want to put those away. If you hate being slammed ... read more
Sick Of It All Manning Bar Sydney October 10, 2015 In this very real world, good does not drive out evil. Evil does not drive out good. But the ... read more
Lucero Lee's Palace Torononto, Ontario October 15, 2015 In support of their new album All a Man Should Do, Lucero have been pulling double duty on their latest tour and ... read more
Paradise Lost w/Tribulation and Lucifer October 4th @ KOKO, London Hype surrounding a band is either indicative of said band being incredibly talented and worth your time, or, on the ... read more
Algiers Brighton Music Hall Boston, MA September 17, 2015 Photos by Lindsay Corry; more photos here Algiers self-titled debut this year blew me away with its raw, layered sound and politically ... read more
THE TOP FIVE ACTS ON THE RIOT FEST UNDERCARD Last year I started my Riot Fest coverage by getting kicked in the head and ended it with a man drinking whisky ... read more
Earlier this week I was browsing my twitter feed when I noticed the a number of posts using the hashtag #ImagineOctober20th . The tweets were Canadians speculating on what the ... read more
NOFX, Lagwagon, Dillinger Four, Strung Out, Swingin' Utters, The Flatliners, Masked Intruder, toyGuitar, Bad Cop/Bad Cop The Myth Maplewood, MN August 28, 2015 No review, see photo gallery ... read more
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Manning Bar Sydney August 7, 2015 As Karl Marx said, the relationship between a band and the context it is playing in is metabolic. Both ... read more
“We were standing in the middle of the square. There were snipers on the roof. Riot cops all around. People had already been killed. And she turned to me and ... read more
The So So Glos, Desaparecidos Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA August 4, 2015 I went for Desaparecidos - Conor Oberst’s (of Bright Eyes fame) hardcore band - who put out ... read more
Radioactivity, Birthday Suits, Butcher’s Union Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN July 22, 2015 It’s nice to live in a city where some great out of town bands have ... read more
Ex Hex, Tweens, Pink Mink Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN July 20, 2015 I go to a lot of shows. Sometimes it’s nice to be surprised, and that’s what ... read more
Tex Perkins and the Dark Horses Oxford Art Factory Sydney, AUS July 19, 2015 Pizzazz. Omph. Charisma. If your music depends entirely on that, the dependency is too great. ... read more
Picture this: You’re looking at the front of a stage. Above you a man in a suit made entirely of muscles walks on in a shroud of fog. From far ... read more
Babes in Toyland Rock the Garden Minneapolis, MN June 21, 2015 It’s difficult for me to write about Babes in Toyland without sounding at least a little bit gushy. Like ... read more
Belle and Sebastian Rock the Garden Minneapolis, MN June 20th, 2015 As a hot and humid day began its turn towards much needed cooler temperatures, Scotland’s baroque pop sweethearts ... read more
Shonen Knife, CJ Ramone, L’Assassins Amsterdam Bar & Hall St. Paul, MN June 10, 2015 Amsterdam is a venue that’s not new by any means, but still feels to ... read more
White Lung 7th St. Entry Minneapolis, MN June 11, 2015 Abandoning my beloved NBA Finals, I bounced somewhere during the third quarter and rushed downtown to catch White Lung. Upon ... read more
Boris Newtown Social Club Sydney, AUS May 29, 2015 And then there was Boris. The Japanese unikum named after a Melvins song. Cue labels that span the spectrum ... read more
Art is Masturbation. It’s a sensational, attention-grabbing statement for sure and one that presents an idea that many artists and people who create have probably toyed with at one point ... read more
Fuckface Unstoppable Manning Bar Sydney, AUS May 7, 2015 Not far from Cambodia’s Tonlé Sap, an enormous river / lake system, whose flow changes direction twice a year, I ... read more
Mastodon Big Top Luna Park Sydney, AUS March 28, 2015 The red volcanic soil in the surrounding region of the city of Tequila is particularly well suited to the ... read more
Steel Panther, Slash (feat. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators) Hordern Pavilion Sydney, AUS February 24, 2015 Satire is a lesson, parody is a game: Steel Panther are seasoned performers ... read more
Now that was a band that I did not really think I would hear from again. Named after the description of the Elder God, Azathoth, in H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmos, this ... read more
Bombay Sweets, Pink Mink, Swami John & The Blind Shake Turf Club St. Paul, MN February 19, 2015 No review, see photo gallery below. read more
Shonen Knife @ The Factory Theatre Sydney, AUS January 24, 2015 Grin-inducing Japanese energetic, upbeat and catchy all-girl pop punk entertainment with the ingredients of a classic rock show: Shonen Knife ... read more
How does one go to a show of a band that has been around consistently for longer that you have been alive and not have expectations? This along with possible ... read more
Tex Perkins and the Dark Horses @ The Enmore Theatre Sydney, AUS November 23, 2014 The Newtown area was part of the land of the Cadigal band of the Eora people, who ranged across ... read more
The Dwarves @ The Bald Faced Stag Hotel Sydney, AUS October 8, 2015 Parramatta Road is the east-west artery of metropolitan Sydney. On its 23 kilometers long strip, the road is ... read more
While it may be a bit grandiose to title a tour "Black Metal Warfare" or really any kind of warfare after witnessing a show on the tour in question it ... read more
It seems as though we are in a period of time where we read of a famous musician dying almost daily, this tour was supposed to have Ian McLagan in ... read more
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds State Theatre Sydney, AUS December 11, 2014 "All that has dark sounds has duende, that mysterious power that everyone feels but no philosopher ... read more
Run The Jewels, Ratking The Fine Line Music Café Minneapolis, MN November 20, 2014 Earlier this week I attended an artist’s talk/writer’s workshop-type thing here in Minneapolis. Kevin Bowe, who’s ... read more
The Gaslight Anthem, Against Me!, Cory Brannan First Avenue Minneapolis, MN October 15, 2014 It had been many a year since I’d seen Against Me! and I hadn’t seen Gaslight ... read more
The Pixies, Royal Blood State Theatre Minneapolis, MN October 11, 2014 There’s a lot that can be said about The Pixies and their 2014 tour—well, about any tour of ... read more
Lethbridge is a suburb of sorts to Calgary to give you, the reader an idea of the towns size. Usually the Enmax (where this show took place) is host to ... read more
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know Arcade Fire are currently shaking up North America with an enchanting spectacle of a tour. I caught the tour in Los ... read more
Too Many Rappers: July 2014 7/18/14 - Minneapolis, MN Commuting earlier than usual this morning means it’s nice and cool. I ride by a kid who’s wearing an old 3rd ... read more
Guided By Voices, Crystal Stilts Irving Plaza New York, NY July 11, 2014 Photo courtesy of Gerald McBoing-Boing See Guided By Voices before you die. ... read more
Agalloch, Jex Thoth Irving Plaza New York, NY June 30, 2014 Agalloch were one of the first metal bands to combine black/doom’s monsoon of carnage with ambient, ... read more
Eyehategod, Ringworm, Enabler, Shitkill Club Europa Brooklyn, New York June 7, 2014 This past weekend, the mega-festival Governors Ball hit hard in NYC. People from all ... read more
Boston Calling Music Festival 2014 City Hall Plaza in Boston, MA May 23-25 2014 (All concert photos courtesy of Mike Diskin) Over Memorial Day weekend, I experienced the ... read more
As my friend David and I were being hurled around the mosh pit at the Terminal 5 show of legendary post-rock ensemble Mogwai, I thought back to how earlier ... read more
Chuck Ragan, White Buffalo, Jonny Two BagsTriple Rock Social ClubMinneapolis, MNApril 15, 2014 It had been many a year since I’d seen Chuck Ragan perform, and that was with his ... read more
Written by Eli ZegerPhotos by Hadar Sagi From Indian Lakes From Indian Lakes is a group of five pretty boys who make poppy emo music, but with post-rock riffs ... read more
Russian Circles, KEN Mode, Inter Arma at Underground Arts, Philadelphia, 2/19/14 Last week, Chicago's Russian Circles touched down in Philadelphia as a part of their current tour with Ontario's KEN ... read more
Too Many Rappers: Fall Roundup The Minnehaha Creek is just one of the many places I do my thinking. I mean, as a human being with a fully functional brain, ... read more
HIM, Caspian Southampton GuildhallSouthampton, Hampshire, UKOctober 28, 2013 It has been three years since HIM last played on the shores of the UK, with a lot of uncertainty whether they ... read more
Beacons Festival 2013 North Yorkshire August 16-18, 2013 Beacons Festival is a pretty novel addition to the British concert scene. Taking place in Skipton (Lancs > Yorks) away from the ... read more
Elliott Smith at his last-ever NYC show, January 29th 2003. He killed himself that October.Photo: Alexis I have this friend, let's call her L. We "met" on a music messageboard ... read more
October 12, 2013 Calgary, Alberta @ THE GOLDEN AGE CLUB After a few hiccups in the booking process (venue issues, etc.) the day finally came for Terror to come back ... read more
A couple weeks ago, I went on a trip to the middle of the country to see my favorite band, AFI, play shows up and down the midwest. Some of ... read more
A couple weeks ago, I went on a trip to the middle of the country to see my favorite band, AFI, play shows up and down the midwest. Some ... read more
FLAG, T.S.O.L., Cerbral Ballzy, Off WithTheir Heads First Avenue Minneapolis, MN September 13, 2013 After spending a few hours in a sports bar down the street, where my compadres and ... read more
Caïna, Hordes, Barshasketh The Unicorn London, UK September 6 2013 We've been talking a lot about the rebirth of Caïna of late and we'll soon have a review of the new ... read more
It's that time once again! The fabled Progressive Music Awards are tomorrow night, and I've spent the last few weeks getting myself familiar with the best of the best in ... read more
Holy crap, has this summer been hot or what? Like, hot as in temperature hot. Like, literally hot. Which might be confusing now that Merriam-Webster and Oxford dictionaries as well ... read more
The NINES Festival Devens, MA I must admit I was anxious to attend this festival when I heard the lineup featured none other than Shuggie Otis. I have had ... read more
It's a tray in a hotel room, fairly unremarkable when put back to basics. The tray is littered with cigarettes, beer bottles, a can of coke, a crumpled McDonald's ... read more
Die Kruezen, Hepa/Titus, Mudhoney, Gay Witch Abortion, Negative Approach, Honky, Melvins Grumpys Downtown Minneapolis, MN July 20, 2013 It’s a shame that Amphetamine Reptile Records quit putting out new ... read more
The Postal Service are making their rounds again in support in the Deluxe Edition re-release of their 2003 album, Give Up. Scene Point Blank had a chance to check'em out ... read more
Dave Hause @ Cabooze Plaza Social Distortion, Cheap Time, Dave HauseCabooze PlazaMinneapolis, MNJuly 2, 2013 Dave Hause is a busy guy. I swear I get an email a week here ... read more
Well here we are into the first part of May, and I'm wondering where the fuck March and April went. I apologize for dropping the F bomb on you in ... read more
Minneapolis, MN, 4/20/13 Despite being fairly worn out from the previous evening—one which had me visiting three different venues, seeing six different bands, and imbibing at least twice as many ... read more
The Men 7th St Entry Minneapolis, MN June 12, 2013 On just the third night of their North American tour, Brooklyn-based band The Men landed in Minneapolis for a packed-in ... read more
(This review contains copious spoilers: if you intend to read the novel yourself, proceed with caution. We're posting it as a blog since it's not strictly music-related, despite being written by ... read more
Tegan and Sara were appreciated by Albany, NY last month when they came to the Upstate Concert Hall, the first time they've visited since the duo released So Jealous, which ... read more
Anthrax, Exodus, High On Fire, Municipal Waste, Holy Grail First Avenue Minneapolis, MN April 4th, 2013 Continuing their recent-ish trend of performing classic albums in their entirety, Anthrax rolled into ... read more
In the days following Adam Yauch’s passing in May of last year, many of us nostalgia-stricken fans were searching for words to express how deeply saddened we were by not ... read more
February 28th, 2013 As I write this, I am overlooking the Sea of Cortez on the Baja Peninsula from the balcony of my room at a vacation resort outside of ... read more
This hip-hop train just keeps on rolling. And although I would like to think I’m fully on board, it feels more like I’m running beside it, trying to keep up, ... read more
Well, here we are, a whole month into the New Year, and as usual January was spent catching up on all the music I slept on last year. Normally the ... read more
The tiny Black Heart in Camden holds court to an evening of droned out sludge, traditional heavy doom, and more English black metal than you can shake a stick at ... read more
The Unicorn is suffering from a severe lack of air con tonight, the tension in the air made all the palpable by the insane levels of heat and the anticipation ... read more
The view that Scene Point Blank has been afforded for tonight’s performance is beautiful, and the sea of heads below on the floor is all the more astonishing seen from ... read more
Minus the Bear and Cursive have been on tour for the past few months in support of their 2012 releases. Minus the Bear put out Infinity Overhead in August, while ... read more
Murder by Death have just begun to tour for their new album, Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon, by supporting pop-punk troop, Say Anything. It's an interesting combo and Murder by Death ... read more
It's rare that you attend a show that feels like it has the weight of history riding on it, but seeing At The Drive-In play what is likely to be ... read more
Fun. are back on the road selling out shows again. This time however, they didn't just sell out one show, but 3 nights at the illustrious Wiltern Theater in Los ... read more
Murder by Death are preparing the release of their 6th studio album, Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon, while celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their first LP, Like The Exorcist, but More ... read more
Well, it's high time that progressive music got a good, high-ish-profile awards show, and now, thanks to Prog Magazine, we have one. The bad news is that it stlil shows ... read more
Japandroids 7th St. Entry Minneapolis, MN July 7, 2012 When a touring band starts their set by saying, “It feels like we’re back home, Minneapolis”, the natural instinct is to go ... read more
LeBron James is Four Titles and a Rape Allegation Away From Becoming Kobe Bryant: How the Miami Heat Winning is Bad for Basketball Now I know that we here at ... read more
Royal Headache, The Arrivals, Condominium Triple Rock Social Club Minneapolis, MN June 9, 2012 It was with some intrigue and, admittedly, mostly trepidation that I made my way to ... read more
Hot Water Music just released their new album, Exister, and recently spent a couple nights in So-Cal to warm up the new songs before they head out to Europe this ... read more
There are a few cultural constants we all come to understand depending on where we come from, and growing up in Vermont is no exception. Amongst other things, many develop ... read more
Once again, fun. are on the road and Scene Point Blank was there to catch another great show. The band's playing the clubs in support of their sophomore record, Some ... read more
I had the pleasure of attending the 5th annual Musink Fest in Costa Mesa, CA--a festival blending live music and an appreciation for tattoo art--hosted by LA Ink star, Kat ... read more
Cursive recently began touring in support of their 7th studio album, I Am Gemini. I had the privilege of catching their show in Pomona, CA where they played a great ... read more
I know we don't usually review websites here at Scene Point Blank, but we just couldn't help ourselves after our editor in chief Loren received the following request: Hi,I'm Pheiné, ... read more
The piece ended rather suddenly, almost completely without warning. The conductor held his position for a moment, then slowly brought his arms down. The theater erupted with applause as the ... read more
Saves the Day and Bayside decided to team up this Fall to deliver a thrilling show fans of either could appreciate. Joining them on the tour are I Am ... read more
The World/Inferno Friendship Society recently started their US tour supporting their new album, The Anarchy and The Ecstasy, with sci-fi-psychobilly (psy-fi?) band, The Phenomenauts. You could not ask for a ... read more
Last Thursday, The Purple Turtle in London's infamous Camden held what is likely to be the most fun headlining show I've seen this year. Cannabis Corpse, fresh off the back ... read more
Motley Crue and Poison live, Target Center, Mpls, MN, 6/24/11 The New York Dolls opened the show but I couldn’t tell you damn thing about them. The girlfriend and I literally ... read more
Read Midwest Hell Fest Wrapup-Day 1 here. Despite intermittent sleep, I wake up feeling fairly well rested. If memory serves correctly, I’m somewhere deep within the confines of enemy territory—Wisconsin. ... read more
After losing a year of my life behind the wheel, I finally arrive at my destination: Kimberly, Wisconsin. Upon walking into the hotel—and I use this term loosely—lobby, I am ... read more
After a long wait and two opening acts—the clock struck 9:30 and Fun took the stage, while the boys and girls cheered. Suddenly, the beautiful overture to “Be Calm” opens ... read more
200 bands, seemingly as many beers, and only three nights. Where do I begin my recap? My stomach is still shrunken from not eating right, and I continue to drink ... read more
Let me start off by saying that I love all three of these bands, and I have been looking forward to this show since I got confirmed to photograph it. ... read more
Portugal. the Man is a Portland, Oregon based experimental indie-rock band, fronted by native Alaskan John Gourley. If you haven’t heard the story about this up and coming group, Gourley’s ... read more
I don't know how many of you have heard of Moving Mountains. A band from Westchester, NY, they are fresh off a tour with Thursday, about to embark on a ... read more
I hit the 500 review mark last week with my Narrows review. That's a lot of reviews. Sometimes I get burnt out with all the stuff coming through, especially when ... read more
So I just got done watching the season finale of Scrubs. It was Zach Braff's final episode. His character is saying goodbye, but I think they gave it a nice ... read more
Two months ago I had high hopes for the Cleveland Browns. Now I am left with a fairly mediocre season. We shall see how the remainder plays out. I'm looking ... read more
Might as well has this here too, it's been three years since I wrote it. I think it still holds true. Space for rent. Your ad here. My name is ... read more
I forgot to post this prior to week one, but given the outcome of that game, maybe it was for the best. Anyway, the Browns season is underway and that ... read more
Over the weekend a band that was very dear to my heart announced their sudden breakup and played their final show. I first became acquainted with Life Long Tragedy over ... read more
I was yelled at again for writing this, and since I am applying for a job at a local newspaper, I don't really want this hanging over my head. Sorry ... read more
Last night my band played with Souvenir's Young America, City of Ships, and Monolith at Siren Records in Doylestown, PA; it was a fun time all the bands played real ... read more
If you didn't hear the news, Roy Scheider died this week at the age of 75. Jaws is one of my all-time favorite films. I am extremely sad. I fully ... read more
They could make me look not so good to certain people. Nobody read them anyways. read more
So, back when Cave In's Until Your Heart Stops dropped on the hardcore masses several years back, I had the chance of catching the band at Middlesex County Community College. ... read more
I broke out my CD for the Gehenna- The War of the Sons of Light and the Sons of Darkness and saw something that always made me smile. Allow me ... read more
Hello. Some of you might remember (or have participated in) my experiment over the summer collecting people's wishes on this page. I got over 160 entries and published them all ... read more
Imagine being in this kid's place... Interview w/ Henry Rollins read more
Even though it is just a joke, I'd still vote for Stephen Colbert for president before I'd vote for anyone else for running, outside of the longshots that have no ... read more
Dear Atreyu, Please stop. No seriously, please stop...now. - File has been removed. It was up for a month. It was the band's cover of Faith No More's "Epic." - ... read more
I woke up today at 5:30am to get my ass to the store to open it for what I figured would be another boring Sunday at work. Work has been ... read more
So the man that founded Factory Records and helped Joy Division become as huge as they did through hype died today. Not alot of people repect what Wilson did for ... read more
Yesterday during rush hour traffic on 35W the bridge than spans the mighty Mississippi fell. There was no earthquake. There was no terrorist attack. The bridge just buckled and toppled ... read more
Part 1: Mission Statement, Introduction, and first terribly nostalgic musing A number of years ago, a few friends of mine, myself, and people who would quickly become my friends used ... read more
Shook Ones, for the uninitiated, are a melodic hardcore band from Seattle, Washington. Their debut LP, Sixteen, had some serious Kid Dynamite aping going on, without a doubt, but it ... read more
Remember when the idea of Friday the 13th used to be scary? Maybe its because I am a grown adult, but there just does not seem to be any horror ... read more
You have no idea how wonderful it is to be finally typing these words. Not that my work is done: a SPB staffer's work is never done! But seriously: typing ... read more
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