SKY NEEDLE / THE SCRAPES AT THE TROUBADOUR 21-04-10

A painfully sober Wednesday night at the Troubadour for the Brisbane launch of The Scrapes' new album "Electric Mourning Blues". Not drinking at shows is weird but I somehow managed not to buy any beer while there to save a few $$$. Not recommended.


SKY NEEDLE



I tried to describe Sky Needle when they played at the Newstead Gasworks last year, basically they've invented and made their own instruments and then they get together and improvise and you get this uniquely strange sound that is as captivating as it is odd. They even had a scale model of the iconic Brisbane Sky Needle they were named after on stage with them as a prop. Spared no expense.


THE SCRAPES



The Scrapes are very technically adept. The Scrapes practice a lot and have spent years diligently studying their craft within the confines of University. They can probably even read sheet music. I still like them though. For fans of Dirty Three etc. but they have their own style and if you're in the right mood (Example: you've gone out to a show because the idea of spending the night alone in your room depresses you but you're hungover from the night before and don't want to party either so you're pathetically crying for that middle ground) it can be pretty nice.

ALPS / TIGER SAW / CASTANETS AT THE TROUBADOUR 2-01-10

It's been awhile since I've been to such an awkwardly laid back show where everybody sits cross legged on the ground politely clapping at the end of each mellowed out song and everything is nice but you're drunk, alone and surrounded by sickeningly cute couples which you react to by buying another $6 beer you can't really afford and heckle the local support band like a mean spirited jerk (Sorry Oh Ye Denver Birds). Despite being a drunk retard, it turned out to be an okay night.


ALPS OF NSW



I always enjoy an Alps show and it was good to see him play to a decent sized attentive crowd (in contrast to other shows I've seen in the past). Good set. Alps on Myspace.


TIGER SAW



I'd never heard of or seen this guy before but apparently he lives in a share house with the amazing EAT SKULL, I might have that wrong but if it's true that's pretty neat. Alps also provided vocals/keys on some songs. Tiger Saw on Myspace.


CASTANETS





Never heard of this guy either but it was pretty good, seemed genuine enough. Castanets on Myspace.

DEADNOTES / BLANK REALM / KITCHEN'S FLOOR AT THE TROUBADOUR 21-10-09

Brisbane shows how dead it can be on a Wednesday night with a poorly attended yet awesome lineup at The Troubadour. I have to apologise to Michael Beach who headlined this show, I ran out of film but he was really good and worth checking out.

BLANK REALM:





Blank Realm are universally regarded as one of the best bands in Australia. For this show their bass player, LUKE SPENCER, was in India for some psychadelic reason so they played as a 3-piece performing mostly new material and yet still came out with the goods.

DEADNOTES:



This was a really great under-appreciated set from The Deadnotes, one of Brisbane's most captivating bands.

KITCHEN'S FLOOR:



Everett True wrote about this show which can be found on his blog .