Life without music

This is a quick one...but i was recently thinking that this world would be extremely weird if there wasn't the sweet creation that we call music. Just think about it, have you ever had one of those days where you've just thought what the fuck? everything is going wrong and then BAM!!! a simple song like, maybe 'You've Changed' by Sia or for the international peeps a bit of 'Home' by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. My point is, that if there was no music, isn't it funny to think what we would do if there wasn't some ridiculously upbeat song to get us through the day...

So just think about it next time you chuck on your favourite "morale building" song on to push you through the day, imagine the cavemen making the beginnings of that song, probabaly around the same time they created the wheel. In fact maybe thats where 'Rock 'N'' Roll comes from! Anyway thats all i have to say for now, but you probably get the idea.

Peace Loving Mungbeans!!!

Modular's Christmas Bash!

So recently I was lucky enough to grab a ticket to attend the Modular Christmas Party being held at Beach Rd Hotel, in the Pom nation suburb of Bondi. No unfortunately I wasn't invited or on the guest list (one day I will be able to read my name on the elusive guest-list!), but I did walk into a Christmas bash that could really only be described as the who's who of the Indie scene. Needless to say I was in utter awe to see some of my favourite artists gallivanting around the premises and it was not long before I realised, that the guy who I had been intensely chatting to about the current music scene, was also the bass player for none other than much-loved Perth newcomers Tame Impala.

Over the next few hours I proceeded to work my way through the party, all the while wishing I had something worthwhile to network but still trying to network anyway and it was right around the time I started talking to KIM (The Presets), who I had originally mistaken for my now absent friend, that I decided I would can a networking attempt and simply bask in the glory that was emerging Australian music, arts and culture. Which in turn ended up with me receiving a free beer for my decision!

As a gazed among the masses of scenesters, clubrats and perennial rockstars I began to realise, personally, that today was more than just the music. It was of course a showcase of Modular talent, but it was also about what music had done for each of the people attending the event. Sure some people were there on a professional basis, but that was just it, everyone had a purpose of their own for being there. Music, arts and entertainment has the ability to influence the masses, change lives, steal wives and of course provide jobs for those of us who don't like/ or were never good at crunching numbers. Yes, this is what I was thinking around this point in the night, fairly introspective, but nonetheless.

Carrying on, and it was as I was walking to the stage I noticed I had just walked in on Jonathon Boulet's set...Now this is a signing that Modular will be glad they grabbed when they did! If you haven’t already heard the amazing "Community Service Announcement" then it is about time you took at look at this 21 year old Sydney native. With his accompanying video for the first single already getting approval from Kanye, it is only a matter of time before we see the fruits of what has emerged from his brain.

On that note, it was a night that could definitely be booked in for next year and with cameras permanently attached to numerous people, I feel I may be discovering myself on blogs and websites for some time to come. But in the end it was a night to remember...if possible.

My World Tour : Profile : Iainmck

My World Tour : Profile : Iainmck

To All who may stumble upon this page.....it would be great to get some support behind me for this page. So stop by and check out my profile, there is always new updates on new music and my current activities.. and if your in my area why not join me on these activities?

Out Of The Blue - The Snowdroppers

Rosemary from The Snowdroppers on Vimeo.

Unfortunately the night started off poorly, with news that The Snowdroppers had cancelled due to emergency illness. This was a massive shame as this is a band I have wanted to see for sometime. They create the kind of music that sounds like it has been spawned in a time of prohibition, speakeasies, whorehouses and places where saloon doors were not for novelty. And this sounds just great to me...

First was The Still Bandits. Being band that was attending JMC Academy I was apprehensive to say the least. My apprehension didn't last long as tore into their opening number and over the next 30 minutes I was treated to a fascinating blend of ol' fashion rock and roll, with a touch of blues and a good pop hook, without the diabetic sugar levels of today’s pop. I do have to admit that close to the end of the set I was getting bored (which in 30 minutes is saying something!), so I would have to say with a little work on the live aspect of their show, this band could be onto something.

The second act witnessed was Porcelain. I didn't think much of their live show, but I guess I was biased after witnessing them abuse the guestlist by attempting to get as many people as they could in for free or "VIP" and then proceed to get upset about the fact they were not able to get free drinks. While this was happening I thought to myself "wow so this is what Prima-Donna means on a small scale, well I guess their music will back up the behaviour." And yes it did...to an extent...it was hard to shake the previous scenes when watching them perform at what was essentially a charity benefit. So for me, this would be a band I would like to see again to determine my final thoughts.


Now, onto something happier...THE SALVAGES!!!!...OH MY GOD!! Now here was a band that understood what a live show could do to and for an audience. It was rock, as simple as that. The stage presence was there, the music was tight and the sound crystal clear. These guys made you want to dance with your shirt off, strike your best rock pose and sing in front of your mirror with your best rock bandana. You couldn't have asked for a better band to step in to make up for the lackluster performance previously. By the end of the set I looked around to realise I had not only consumed more than enough beer, I had also gravitated to the front of the stage. For me that is what you look for in a band. They have gone on to support both The Galvatrons and Bertie Blackman, easily showcasing their versatility. I only wish I could find them on the Internet to share to the masses!


Moving on to the final two, Ladies and Gentlemen & The Rumjacks. I have gotten to see L&G alot, and am always willing to catch one of their shows. Alot of people have been heard to say "I don't know man, it’s just like watching Fall Out Boy or Panic at The Disco." And yes, yes it is... but I love it! Who out there cannot admit to secretly loving a tune from one of the previously mentioned bands...I'll happily admit to it. Sure it may be associated with eyeliner and adolescent guys and girls taking Myspace pictures from "The Good Side". But that doesn't mean it can't be good. Ladies and Gentlemen's songs have more twists and turns in them than a case of the Delhi Belly. With a band as attractive as the songs, this band is set to see nothing but good things for the future. And maybe a revealing autobiography just for good measure.

The Rumjacks...
For all those fans of The Dropkick Murphy's and Flogging Molly, here is your Australian counterpart. As soon as the opening chord struck out into the Gaelic Club, I had an overwhelming urge to spray Guinness all over myself and begin punch dancing. I've always been a fan of this style of music for two reasons: It always puts on a great show (this was no exception), and for its amazing ability to combine relatively sad or emotional lyrics with music that is impossible to be sad to. For the next hour I we were treated to a right royal hoedown that eventually left the crowd arm in arm in a fantastic drunken sing-along...Here was a band that new what they had to do to replace the headlining act, but did it with an ease that could only come from playing show after show.

It was a night I enthusiastically enjoyed and was glad it went to something worthwhile. Though I was still disappointed that I did not get to see The Snowdroppers. It was a night that again proved to me that where one thing may fail, another will succeed and that you can always discover new music at the weirdest and unexpected of times!

From the seeds of the fallen come greatness

I wanted to talk briefly on the fickle, yet amazing nature that is music! It occurred to me when i was uploading the photos from the band Algernons Mouse. This was a band that i was involved with briefly when i heard their sound and decided they needed an outside influence to help steer them in the right direction. In saying this i had never done any proper artist management before, though i had a decent amount of experience in promotions, having worked a few nightclubs when travelling through Europe and Canada. 


Here was a band that had, in my opinion, one of the freshest sounds to recently appear. It was a combination of Hip-hop, pop and blues. And i get what you're probably saying right now..."Fuck not another rap rock group". I thought that until i realised the guitarist is probably the offspring of Tom Waits and Buddy Guy, and an MC who leaned more towards Wu-Tang, Buck 65 and K-OS than your typical Bitches and hoes dialogue, an MC who seems to have a section in his brain reserved entirely for pop melodies, a drummer who leaned on the heavy side of music and a bassist, well the bassist was an entity of his own.


My first ever show i put on was at Spectrum on Oxford Street in Sydney. It was a Sunday and the line up included Vanstorm, The Decades and Algernons Mouse. It was the scariest shit i'd done up to that point. A booking agent said we need 100 people to be considered...We did just that. Now this is where it went sour. Due to conflicting band interests it was drifting apart. They had been playing for 4 years but were tired of it. The MC finally moved back to Canada for reasons not so hilarious to the ones that know, and that was the end of that! I know that this is a bit of a ramble, but i thought it was pretty amazing how music can arrive and disappear in the blink of an eye. It is also something that can be played, anywhere, anytime and mean anything. It truly is a blessing!
 
If your interested check them out at http://www.myspace.com/algernonsmouse and see if you thought they had it. The singer is now in a band called Deadmuppets and the guitarist is in Mother and Son.  
www.myspace.com/deadmuppets 
www.myspace.com/motherandson  


Think of this as a promotional plug if you like, because thats exactly what it is. I am not working with any of these bands, but they deserve recognition and are a perfect example of the beautiful nature of music and how six degrees of separation can still apply to music  


Apologies if this is nonsensical writing, but it was a thought i felt like writing down.  


Peace loving Mungbeans!!!