Blood On My Hands

Ok its been weeks since I have posted. A combination of a cripplingly busy life and a lack of motivation has seen my priorities shift away from finding new music and posting on this blog. But I'm back.....

Have I listened to much music lately? No. But what new stuff I have been listening to has been exciting and revelatory. My urge to find music to dance to has been replaced with a need to be transported and moved and inspired and excited by music like I used to be.

Screw dancing for now. There is more fun to be had in dissonance and destruction. The sound of a buzzsaw-toned guitar. The rumble and thunder of a bass. The caustic wail of vocals. An incessant high-hat. Its nice to hear something organic and primal for once. I miss bands like Refused, Raised Fist and DFA 1979. More noise I say.



MP3: Big Business - Grounds For Divorce
MYSPACE: Big Business

I purchased a ticket to New Found Glory at the Big Top next week. Nostalgia is fun. So is hurting pop punk kids. See you there. Or maybe not...

Come with me, into the trees

I more often than not spend too much of my time filling the world with opaque analogies which don't completely make sense. But upon hearing Loney, Dear I feel compelled to throw another of my convoluted "it's like" 's into the blogosphere.

The music Emil Svanängen makes under his Loney, Dear title sounds to me like something fueled from the imagination. A dream that was designed for genius but never meant to go any further than the untapped pleasures of the unconscious. "I am John" seems as if it started out somewhere else and like a freak avalanche it snowballed into a worldly pleasure for us to endulge.

You could mistake Loney, Dear for just another indie do good-er in amongst a plethora of others but tilt your ear a touch closer to the speakers, there is that something else there which gets inside you. It may be that my psychology degree has sent my introspection off the radar but there is more than meets the ear to Loney, Dear.

To be blunt and less vague; from the get-go, Loney, Dear sounds like everything I wish Josh Pyke could be.

OR

To be more interesting; if I was lost in an enchanted forest, I'd want Emil Svanängen there with me to make the experience something else.

Mp3: Loney, Dear - I Am John

In other news.



The Grates have a live DVD titled 'Til death do us party: Live at the forum' coming out this Saturday. I say the timing couldn't have been any sweeter as success from the DVD could keep The Grates rollercoaster firmly moving forward and allowing them to by some more time whilst they write songs for their sophomore release. Patience is her gorgeous glory can never be a bad thing. There is not such thing as too much Patience (anyone get the pun? no? dang!).

The DVD will be launched on a special JTV screening on the ABC @ 10:55pm on 31st March.

Check the clip to The Grates latest single "rock boys" which features Patience's infamous ribbon dance.





Finally on the topic of philosophy I have a little something for you to ponder if you wish to.

David Hume essentially stated that science parades itself as fact but is really no better than religion. Science accepts it can make findings which will predict future events and indeed it often can. But, what is to come of such information in 20 years when subsequent studies often find alternative theories which then counter-act the previously held theories as false or not as true as once thought, no different to the kind of contempt we often treat the subjectivity of religion.

Science is based on universal principles which are accepted as true. But then once replaced this makes them something other than.

My point leads to a really fantastic analogy that David Hume (i think it was Hume) makes in comparing humans and a farm yard chicken.

Every day when the sun comes up, the chicken watches as the farmer leaves his house, heads over to the shed and comes out with grain and feeds the chicken. Every day in the chicken's life without fail the farmer leaves the house, goes to the shed and feeds the chicken. The law of the chicken's universe is that the farmer will every morning feed the chicken and this is a fact.

Then one day the farmer walks out of the house, walks over to the chicken and rings it's neck until it's dead.

Really, regardless whether the chicken adhered its belief of food to religious faith or scientifically grounded fact, neither served to completely and holistically prove something without contestation.

So next time that friend of yours doing micro-biology looks down his nose at you, throw a dead chicken at him.

Interesting i think. You probably don't but hey if your reading this far down the post, your arts degree came in handy!

Happy Happy, Joy Joy

Now, my travels to and from work seem to be serve as the most ideal time for new music to penetrate my ears. I can't get up and play playstation, I can't myspace that hot chick I met last night and I can't listen to the old people radio I listen to at bedtime.

My Saturday afternoon resulted in my discovery of Emma Davis. Little did I know, the words of her track "happy song" would by Saturday's end have a real sticking relevance to how I was feeling. Alongside nostalgia, I've found the way music pops up and in 3 or so minutes they seem to encapsulate your every feeling, mindset and thought.

Emma Davis is an angelic songstress who overcomes my defenses and nestle her words and music so comfortably in my soul as I'm sure she will yours. A learned musician who clearly uses her genius to craft delicate, beautiful music.

On her the Triple J Unearthed Page, Richard (the) Kingsmill draws the obvious comparison to The Waifs but don't fool yourself in the same false reality trap (my lecturer would be so proud). Despite originally hailing from London and living in Boston before she made it to Sydney, Emma Davis is far more versed in the universal language of life than The Waifs can. For Example: "London Still" or "Bridal Train" or "Fisherman's Daughter" are drop-dead amazing songs, but the amount of people who can actually relate to being in London still (ironically Emma more than most I'd rekon), boarding a bridal train or being a fisherman's daughter. Exactly.

The featured track I have today is "Happy Song", so fragile and lovely yet in the league of quite uplifting as well.

As always, try it yourself.

Mp3: Emma Davies - Happy Song

Now it's obvious I'm feeling rather melancholy at present, not even the insane jubilation of the track Donnie Sloan track I just downloaded off Who the Bloody Hell can improve that. So I guess if your Monday mood is swaying more towards insane jubilation which borders on gettin' dancey, Who the Bloody Hell have got you covered in style.

Blog: Sandwich Club, As always with their finger on the pulse featured another Emma Davis track late-ish last year.

Geezer Latte

If we want to talk prats who are poking their heads up in public long after they should have been shifted into a retirement home or at least somewhere so that the world doesnt have to deal with your ridiculously priced tours and pathetic public relationship fiasco, lets talk 'Sir' Paul McCartney and his latest act of attrition:

Starbucks, if you even go there, is a coffee house. One of those pieces of American culture thrown our way so we can slurp down overpriced coffee in a convenient way that means we dont have to stop at a cafe and wait a little. What alot of you people may NOT know is that in 2004 Starbucks started an initiative to sell over the counter music to try and jump in on that market. A 'MciTunes' if you will - where customers can come in, purchase a blank CD and then go to a 'station' where they can pick from thousands of tracks and make their own mix CD, paying a flat rate for each track they want. THAT is already happening at selected outlets. But NOW Starbucks arent just distributing, they've started up their own record label Hear Music and they've signed the one and only McCartney. Now isn't it ironic that previous to this endeavour he was signed to EMI (remember - they're possibly going out of business) and its ALSO interesting to note that McCartney's last recorded effort (Chaos & Creation in the Backyard) has only sold just over half a million in the US since 2005. Now if I was on a record company on the verge of going under, and I was having f--k all success in the US market with my CD's, I might very well find it hugely beneficial to sign with a coffee shop that is absolutely everywhere over there. Then again, I prefer Queen.

South by Southwest has been and gone and if you stay tuned hopefully I'll be able to get in touch with some of our local hopefuls who headed over there in the coming weeks but upon reading the massive amount of reviews it appears that one of the greatest acts over the week was Glasgow trio The Fratellis. In some useless trivia the band all adopted the last name Fratelli from the bass player Barry because of its ironic Italian translation 'Brothers'. If you've watched your TV recently you'll find their hit 'Flathead' in the background of those damn iTunes commercials and I'm starting to find them catchy as hell. Their bandwagon is picking up steam and if you havent heard them yet, you soon will. Infectious and simple rock that has you shaking it whether you realise it or not. Looking forward to whenever it is these guys come out.

The Fratellis MySpace

And last but not least its time for a bit of blatant self-promotion when I tell you that the one, the only, the ultimate XQUABED are back on the stage around Sydney - with many chances to catch them live in the next few weeks. You can also take the opportunity to heckle me and verbally question my blogging integrity - AND there'll be chocolate slice. If you want a piece then head on over to....



March 24 - The Excelsior @ w/ Reflection Point and more
March 29 - Lewisham Hotel
March 30 - The Arncliffe
April 14 - Lewisham Hotel (afternoon show, kicks off at TWO)

So come on down. Or I'll hit you. If I know where you live..

Good Stock!

All too often I get caught in these never ending conversations with my parents about rugby league players. As each player handles the ball we incessantly comment on them one by one until the pizza arrives and we can enjoy a moments silence. And, all too often the slogan that gets thrown around about players like Grothe & Gasnier is that "they come from good stock", paying reference to their famous fathers who also excelled. Putting it musically, Jeff Buckley came from good stock. My point is, there are just some people who come from good stock.

Lover are the perfect example of a band that comes from good stock and their quality inspires me to take on the persona of your bushtown local, put my foot up on the farm post and tell you a yarn of the band I like called Lover. After drinking the beauty of Newcastle water for what I can only assume is all their life, Lover are the end product of the fertile land for enriched individuals that is Newcastle.

Now I know there is going to be some of you Sydney or Melbourne glitterati that will turn your nose down at Newcastle, but Silverchair, Andrew Johns & Jennifer Hawkins are all good stock! So you can politely shove it.

Channeling a similar sophistication to a sound like The Valentinos, a look a little less extravagant but still on par with the standards Van She would expect in fashion and musically, enough variety to set them apart, Lover tick all the boxes.

From what I can gather down here in the doldrums of Western Sydney, Lover are drinkers of the finest wine and producers of music comparable to their taste in beverages. So refreshing is my chance encounter with Lover that I felt compelled to put them up here, finally a band who doesn't have warm half drunk tooheys extra drys sitting next to their drum kit.

An act with a definite mark of quality and a potential for even greater success, try em for yourselves. We've got the track "out of the light" available for download but they have plenty more tracks for your listening enjoyment on their myspace as well as some exciting gigs comming up in April with acts like Dukes of Windsor & blogger favs Young & The Restless. Go and listen yourself some good stock. I can feel that wagga wagga bush talk coming out of me still.

Mp3: Lover - Out of the light
Myspace: Lover

Hot Off the Press

Hot off the whiteboydancefloor press is the news that the Arctic Monkeys will be playing at Splendour in the Grass 2007. In a press conference just held in Paris the Monkeys dropped the news that they'll be heading our way for one of Australia's premier festivals.

Quite controversial and widely talked about in the blogosphere, they divided opinions and very much put bloggers into one of two categories; To blog or not to blog, that was the question, whether tis nobler to accept the fuss or to deny it. Poor, loosely based poetic license aside, Arctic Monkeys are on the move again after they announced that their sophomore effort Favourite Worst Nightmare would be on its way later this year. Bigs ups to Dayve for spotting this and sending it straight to my inbox.

I am sensing these guys might turn into a Queens of the Stone Age where the temptation to grace our shores every year is too difficult to pass up.

Think what you will about their inclusion I guess but I mean let's face it, there is certainly a lot worse out there and for better or worse they must be given some of the credit for putting blogs in higher stead than they were once held.

I enjoy the Arctic Monkeys on a sub humane level, Active cognitive processes are not a pre requisite when listening to these chavs.

If your looking for a review of these guys from someone who probably cares a tad bit more about the world than I, head over to 12 Major Chords and check out what rebel rebel Angus has to say about em, he has also got their new track "brainstorm" for your downloading pleasure. Using my lack of motivation at 2:30am to the fullest, I'll just youtube you all the video.

I smell the weekend!

With most of the whiteboydancefloor either over worked or completely broke, this weekend should prove to be rather quiet on all fronts. But not to worry, it won't stop me from serving up a few delicious tracks and ep reviews for you guys.

Hey, no worries.



The sniff of a new release is filling my nostrils think and fast and the smell is coming squarely from Tigercity's direction. A few short weeks ago they dished up an Aussie exclusive for you all in the form of "Let her go" and now whiteboydancefloor gives all you Aussie kids another Tigercity first with another newie called "Other girls". While the response to "Let her go" demonstrated the relaxed disco subtlety which was directed at the keen discotheque lover, it is safe to say "Other girls" will tap the shoulder of the "Are you sensation" crowd and keep em grooving. "Other girls" drops it back into low gear and allows us all to enjoy some mutually beneficial love making. It's got the hooks in the right places to keep you swaying and for me personally really wraps up a special part of Tigercity NYC and delivers it straight into my Sydney living room.

Mp3: Tigercity - Other girls



Fear not trusting indie kids. If your worth your weight in indie cred you'd by now be aware of fush and chup natives Cut off your hands. All to often our neighbours across the tasman get too concerned with producing better hip hop than adelaide, thankfully it's only chavs and solles that have consumed themselves with this time wasting endeavour. Cut off your hands if not already will pretty much base themselves in Australia (or if they hit it big time England) if they know what's good for em. Dishing up a collaborative slab of punk rock that isn't earth shatteringly different yet certainly worth a listen. Their ep Shaky Hands comprises 6 tracks of Cure / Futurehead / Anything hyped in England infused punk but it is quite easy to put these comparisons aside and enjoy Cut off your hands for what it is. So young yet such confident live performers, if this band can mature and evolve in the right way they are bound for super stardom. Most enjoyable experience I've had for a while with $9.

Mp3: Cut off your hands - Expectations



Fresh into my inbox not 2 hours ago is the new track from another personal favourite of mine Tiny Dancers. While I've only given the song 3 or 4 turns on the old playlist, I think it has the right amount of country weekend tinge to it for it to be worthy of a mention. As I said, be warned it is alittle "all i wanna do is have some fun" but I mean that isn't going to deter me, this track is the right side of quirky for my liking. Another effort from Tiny Dancers that indicates they are more than capable of showing their worth. This track is alittle more for the chicks I rekon, But hey, I'm soft. Tiny Dancers will get one of their songs in a car ad before I die, mark my words they will.

Mp3: Tiny Dancers - Sun goes down



Now if anyone bothers to read what I said, I made it quite clear I didn't want anyone else making reference to Japan or any of its cities without music of good quality. While my intent was to really diss anyone unlucky enough to get on my radar, god damn it, I'm back flipping again. Tokyo Police Club have gotten through my defenses (which are obviously weaker than ya mum). The sound again isn't anything ground breaking, but they do it better than most and I find myself helpless to do anything other than enjoy myself. I guess enjoyment is really the motif of this entire post you could say. After getting my hands on their mini album and by chance hearing an interesting interview with Tokyo Police Club, I admit, I'm sold. The final sign on the dotted line point for me was the humble nature, optimistic approach and hard work ethic that Tokyo Police Club negotiate into their sound.

Myspace: Tokyo Police Club - Nature of Experiment (highly recommended)

As an entire package, I rekon these guys have got legs and I can confirm it even more with their link to Dew Process who clearly are encountering the world of music bloggers with far greater success than their counterparts. Kudos to you. Rumours of Tokyo Police Club are rife as well, possibly they might come out with touring buddies Cold War Kids or another indie band of similar cred.

Finally it's the weekend and let's face it, regardless of how much my weekend is filled with the doldrums of work, yours probably isn't. So to finish this cavalcade of music let's get a bit dancey. Miami horror are in competition with Muscles it seems to see who can be blogged about the most. I can't decide who I like more as it changes with each new track. We'll call this the even up mention was Muscles got a throw last week. I serve you up a simple little mix of Tegan & Sara's well known "Walking with the ghost". Miami horror doesn't tinker with the track more than needed, gives it a bit of a club polish so it can be played at places other than Club Blink. I must credit Who the Bloody Hell Are They with this discovering, but I mean a lot of the Aussie bloggers caught on much faster than those overseas pricks so all you Aussie bloggers (check our links) big up yaself!

Mp3: Tegan & Sara - Walking with the ghost (Miami Horror mix)

For a bit of visual stimulation, I thought I'd remind you of another act I championed sometime last year by chance and it seems now they are really taking off. What I have for you is Dr. Dog performing their track Worst Trip live on Conan O'Brien. I enjoy the music but more so I enjoy watching Dr. Dog and seeing the way they really enjoy playing. As a musician, there is no greater pleasure in the world than either loving your music or seeing someone else love it on some level.



And on a very very very FINAL point, if you're looking for a great night out in laaaate April, look no further than catching the Midnight Juggernauts out on their "Road to Recovery" tour with some very illustrious friends.

Myspace & The Brag Presents:
Friday 27 April

Metro Theatre, Sydney

Supported by Muscles, The Ghosts + K.I.M

Tickets: www.moshtix.com.au + Moshtix ticketing outlets

$18 + BF or $22 at the door

Doors open 8:00PM

There you have it kids, copied straight from the source (my inbox). Good value and a good chance for you to check them out with new drummer Daniel Stricker who they have clearly poached from The Valentinos. Time will tell whether that was a wise career move won't it. As much as I am in love with my Juggers, I can see their sound becoming dated where as The Valentinos might just evolve into some kind of megatron.

Enjoy the weekend guys.

Playground Weekender - Sat + Sun

Bring on the best bits!!!

Saturday was the pinnacle of the Playground Weekender experience and anyone could have told you this even before they had arrived. The Line up for Saturday was overflowing with exceptional acts and the only dilemma facing the White Boy entourage was who would win the clash of the playing times and receive the pleasure of our sexy eyes upon them.

The first half of the day revolved around Porto and myself heading back over on the ferry to the carpark and enjoy some sultanas and cougar bourbon (in that order) whilst we awaited the arrival of English & Dean. What we thought we be a real drag turned into the best fun you could have with two deck chairs and an esky full of goodies.

Once the boys arrived and we got back over to the festival, esky in hand and the posse completed it was around the 3:30pm mark in the afternoon. The newbies got settled and we kind of built our night around starting with some very much anticipated Cut Off Your Hands. They entered the stage with the swagger of a really famous local band your brother knew friends who knew the band but once they unleashed their musical forces on the seemingly unsurprised crowd, they commanded a far greater level of respect. I must send out a special mention to Cut off your hands for being true gentlemen, their bass player (who's name I didn't grab) gave me their ep Shaky Hands for 9 bux instead of 10 because I didn't have other change, yunno how it is, big shot blogger I only carry fifties, blunts and bitches on me ya dig? I particularly expected the quite visually interesting singer to carry a bit more of a withdrawn kind of aura about him, however quite the opposite, he was as gracious as he was fucking impressive. Cut Off Your Hands won everybody.

P.s Fuck those pricks from Portland.

Myspace: Cut Off Your Hands

Next up were Whiteboydancefloor's Australian darlings of 2006 and beyond, The Valentinos. I openly proclaim they are without doubt my favourite band in this universe but regardless of my many meetings with the Knife Machine, I was a Valentinos virgin.

After catching the ferry across with them and proceeding to sing the words to 'Rain' thinking I was so classic cool funny (a.k.a pissed) seeing The Valentinos was one of my absolute musts in a jammed packed quality line up.

They certainly didn't disappoint. While I must admit some songs did go down better than others, it was a case of when they were hot, they were sizzling hot magma, when they were good they were just that. I'm curious to see what they thought of the turn out and playing on the big stage with a moderately sized crowd in attendance but none the less, there was enough uber cool kids like me wiggen' out to their energetic music. It translated well live, by and large you couldn't question that 'CCTV' was the track which banged the hardest. A set which showed a real pedigree and while not the standout of the festival, The Valentinos will feed off better crowds as people get more and more educated about their brand of genius.
Myspace: The Valentinos

By chance I caught the end of Kid Kinobi & Mc Shureshock's set which certainly wasn't on my to do list but definitely produced a surprise. It was what I can a little too "hard stylez" for my liking but I mean those comments are really not helpful to anyone who doesn't know my strange and mostly inaccurate vernacular. Good none the less and I can definitely confirm from the girls slutting it up that MC Shureshock got laid Saturday night... what a great Australian!

Moving on. The Presets. Well what can I tell you that you don't already know? Despite some minor problems with sound during 'Girl & the sea' (i think it was) the set was faultless, polished and enjoyable to the point of euphoria. They are really fast becoming any festivals sure bet winners. They got the best turn out of any band at this festival so far and deserved every bit of praise I could heap on em. K.I.M wins best shirt "Kids Need Techno".
Over the hill and far away I was not for a second going to miss the love of my life Larissa who fronts Sydney sweethearts, The Hate Game. A set that wasn't met with applause but rather frenetic dancing didn't seem to quite cut the mustard for Miss Larissa who at the end of the set seemed visibly not impressed with the crowd response but from where I was standing, everyone loved it, Larissa looked and sounded amazing and my love for her is still probably wrong and creepy hehe BUT THATS ME!

A brief dance to The Avalanches Dj set and then a chance meeting with Bridezilla would open my ears to something truely amazing. Obviously they must have to go to the Con but none the less this is a group with a future so bright it cleans ur foot shorts better than Napisan oxi-action plus every could. Shame some of em weren't 18 because they were downright foxes, from where I was sitting I never got a look at the singers face due to one of the speakers but I certainly got a long look at her pins and jesus christ, good to see you don't have to be hideous like The Waifs to make heavenly sounded feminine music. They were up there as a highlight for me, the violinist... holy shit... Kirk Hammett you aint shit.

Myspace: The Avalanches
Myspace: Bridezilla

Now !!!

The main course for the feel good Playground Weekenderers was !!! (chk chk chk). They were running behind schedule on their start time and I was convinced I would leave early if need be to catch a half hour of Ajax' set. Luckily it didn't come to that because Ajax mate, you would have lost out. !!! (chk chk chk) were stunning, amazing, funky, jaw dropping, dancey, stupid, crazy - best fun I've ever had in my life.

I dove into their set only knowing really 3 songs (the 3 every blogging circa 2007 knows) which usually holds me back from being able to get into the set holistically. I'm normally one of those "needs to know the words" type people. For me !!! (chk chk chk) was a first, no prior history required. His awkward white boy dancing was like seeing the Whiteboydancefloor textbook acted out in vivid colour and accuracy.

Every member of this 9 piece pulled their weight and gave the overall sound something extra. The interchanging frontmen, the under rated basslines and almost missable harmony the guitarists shared was surreal. !!! (chk chk chk) rubbed the crowd the right way and in return the crowd seemed to rub !!! (chk chk chk).

Quite chuffed by the response the crowd was giving them, !!! (chk chk chk) made sure we all knew just how lucky we were to have them. It's often easy to say the songs translate well in a live environment, but in this case, the songs were 50 times better than recording. Tracks like 'heart of hearts' had a real punch and fight to them, a howling growl rather than a too-kool-4-skool whisper.

Myspace: !!! (chk chk chk)

Just when I thought no one would steal the show from The Presets, !!! (chk chk chk) did just that. Finishing our night of fun was Ajax. Demonstrating his tastes are far more superior to our own he seems to without fail be able to balance showing just why he is the best dj in the world with tracks that keep even the meat heads dancing. Mind you, Playground Weekender was filled with kids who knew what they liked, Ajax delivered, no real surprises there. Bang Gang Dj's rule Sydney, Australia, Anywhere DFA isn't.

Myspace: Ajax

Sunday... short and sweet. We left early due to work & university commitments as well as the sheer fact we were all starting to feel the pinch of that much partying (soft I know, fuck you). But what can probably be most attributed to our early departure was the train wreck that was The Punisherz. Featuring Channel [V] presenters Yumi & Steve, [V] street wasn't enough to get these guys across the line. Their frontwomen (who'd you'd bang in a heartbeat) thought she could make up for dogs balls vocals with token Asian stereotyping and saying C*nt a lot. Didn't wash with me however I love Stevo, that guy is just too cool. How racist do I sound writing on WHITEboydancefloor saying I didn't like the swearing Asians but I like the little white guy? Maybe because he didn't have a mic and he shut the fuck up.

However, Chris liked em. Then again we all know Chris gets off on train wrecks and is a brutal capitalist who one day will justify doing your Mum through the theories of John Locke. I hate most Asian food FYI.

In keeping it shorter (as I've bullshitted too much) when environment, back drop, music and facilities are all taken into account, the best festival I have ever been to. Take a bow Playground Weekender.

Pics possibly comming soon :D

Playground Weekender - Friday

It seems as if this week is going to be one of the most hectic for the Whiteboydancefloor crew so I thought rather than letting it slip away from us, I'd get the Playground Weekender review cracking for Chris to throw in some happy snaps at a later date.

Upon arriving at the very easy to get to Wisemans Ferry, I had little idea of what was to come. Whilst we waited in the ever growing queue to get a carpark I sat, watched and said nothing as the bong smoking parking attendent proceeded to chat up the ladies in front of us. When they got out of the car, I couldn't blame the brother.

Upon arriving at the warf with all my belongings and honourary white boy Porto, my attempts to sneak in a thumping big bottle of cougar were thwarted by the keno security guard, I'd hidden it well but he snuffed it out quite easily.

The ferry seemed to take a while but it was probably just my imagination as we were at Del Rio and well on our way to erecting our tent in no time at all. Job done, food consumed and the place scoped out, it was time to check some music. Now to set a bit of a scene for you, Porto is as open minded and chilled as they come but I could sense that convincing him Riot in Belgium and Bang Gang Dj's were a winner was going to be something else. Riot in Belgium were our first musical experience of the weekend and they didn't fair too badly, but to be honest with what was to come they didn't really fair too well either. The set was at times too safe and maybe alittle too elitist. While someone as obsessed with music as me could see what they were trying to do, really the set wasn't right for a festival of people sampling music and it was only 'La musique' and the 'omg theres a riot in belgium' lead up sample that got the crowd out of first gear.

Bang Gang Djs I must say can take responsibility for making Riot in Belgium look so bad. They absolutely tore the house down. I'd seen Ajax rip it up briefly before but never Jamie Doom & Gus Da Hoodrat, these guys are absolute geniuses. Playing off each other so well from where I was standing it seemed as if Gus was doing all the moving and shaking and Doom knew just how to compliment. I'd go as far as saying the song selection was one of the finest and most appropriate I have ever witnessed in my entire musical life, not even I could have dropped as many surprises as they. When you get electro trendys to go off to 'Smells like teen spirit', 'Stuck in the middle with you' and 'Hearts on fire' all in the same set without missing a beat, you truely are something else. My only criticism is that it wasn't a two hour or ten hour set... they are just too perfect. The right balance between remaining a firm tastemaker dropped tracks like the mega fresh D.A.N.C.E by Justice to dropping unmixed straight out servings of nostalgia like 'Smells like teen spirit' was just sublime, I cannot really sing their praises enough. Ending with a Sound of Music "so long farwell..bla bla bla... goodnight...so on and so on" was clever if not alittle somber for it meant for this whiteboy, there was nothing but sight seeing & exploring until tommorrow.

A brief two song swaray of Fat Freddy's Drop did little to excite me. Their sound was seemless but a little too chilled as I had just pumped up my party meter thanks to the Bang Gang Djs. So before I could squeeze out another yawn at the New Zealanders, I went off to let the other who had been able to sneak in the reefer enjoy their show. Maybe I missed all the exciting bits?

Retiring to our campsites we heard some very hilarious chatter from our Pommy neighbours in the tents near us, having some downright side slapping conversations with their new found friend Angus, I'm yet to find out of Angus from 12MC if that was him or not as I fell asleep and after being woken by the loud conversations again, jumped out to see if I could spy Angus but sadly was no where to be seen. Sadly the lack of reception meant I was unable to catch up with the other bloggers who had made the trek.



In summing up Friday I think the best recollection I heard was from a fella we met the next day by the name of Marco who said that because so many people were arriving on Saturday it was as if the bands on Friday treated us all to a really intimate show especially for us, and I like that description of Friday. Marco is involved with selling some of the downright coolest shirts this side of Melbourne through a clothing company named PeteVersusToby which I believe he started with other like minded fashionables.

I strongly suggest you head over to their myspace and check out the designs, the innovation, humour and creativity all wrapped into an inspiring minimalist delivery is nothing short of impressive and fuckin' trendy. Putting it bluntly, wearing their shirts will get you all the bitches from here to Dubai... no fattys either.

Whilst on a tight budget I could resist myself from buying a few of their items. Who needs food or petrol or money to pay the bank when you've got killer shirts? Not me... I go to uni, I need all the help I can get regardless.

They've also set an interesting challenge. Anyone to find the picture below somewhere in this fine city gets a free t shirt once they take a picture of it and prove they've discovered the hidden artwork. I'm fascinated but wouldn't have a clue about where to start looking.


Myspace: PeteVersusToby
Myspace: Bang Gang Djs
Myspace: Riot in Belgium
Myspace: Fat Freddy's Drop

Its Only Nostalgia

Being particularly uninspired of late I thought to myself I had better get something in before the rest of these mo' fo's come back from a gleeful playground weekender experience and start hogging all the posts next week. Lets see if I can make it remotely interesting. Todays topic? New releases - but first..

The dates for Splendour In The Grass were officially announced yesterday and as opposed to the last weekend of July it is now taking place on the FIRST weekend of August (4th and 5th). Nothing else has been annonced ie. when tickets go on sale, how the system will work this year or most importantly whos playing but that should be all you need to know to start getting moist with anticipation and ill bet at least 30% of the rooms in Byron are already booked. Will you be there? WBDF will.

One of the acts who's name is being bandied around the most (apart from Silverchair) for the possibility of playing at Splendour is the one and only Smashing Pumpkins. If you dont know who they are you're a freaking idiot less to say they were one of the most influential rock/grunge/alternative bands of the 90's. After breaking up at the end of 2000 the band are back together and putting the finishing touches on the new album Zeitgeist, due for release on the 7th of July (07.07.07) - their first release since 2000. Working with master engineer Roy Thomas Baker (most known for his work with Queen, and more recently The Darkness) we can be guaranteed that the album is going to be epic to say the least. And with a host of festival dates announced for May until the middle of June with more to come, it looks very possible that our wetdreams could come true.

Metallica is a name that you know whether you like the band or not and while there may not be many people who care about them at the moment - I do. Regardless of the fact that St Anger isnt even worthy of wiping ones ass with you can't deny the fact that these guys are, and always will be, one of the biggest bands on the face of the planet. Just like the Pumpkins, Metallica are also working on a new album due for release sometime a bit later this year and, now that they've given Bob Rock the flick and happen to be working with Rick Rubin, this is their last chance to deliver the goods. If this album fails, the band will retire, no doubt about it. But if anyone can save their career its the bearded hippy. During breaks from the studio the band have been playing concerts all over Europe and Asia and have also been chucking in a few works in progress, and thanks to the wonders of YouTube I can bring you one right now. If Lars Ulrich comes to my door threatening to beat me for doing this, so be it. Its a very misfits-esque, thrashy tune and while it might not work as well without Hetfields 'Kill em All' voice, its certainly growing on me. Enjoy.





While they might not make it down here for Splendour, with a release due late in the year 'Tallica may very well be back on our shores for next years BDO.

Anyway I leave you with that. To all of you going to Playground Weekender, I salute you but spare a thought for the poor suckers that have to work all weekend. And if you're like me and NOT going, you can find out exactly what happened here, next week on the whiteboydancefloor.

Javid out.

Battle Cry!

Battles can lay claim to being my first Math-rock love. It's a genre of music that until recently rarely got out of 1st gear, doing little to interest me beyond a quirky name. Hailing from New York City, Battles have been buzzing around for a lot longer than they have been known to me. The members of Battles come from very illustrious stock and it certainly comes through in the music. Able to appeal to the most savvy musicians as it does to your next big thing blogger as it does to anyone who enjoys a ripping instrumental groove.



I don't pretend to know a great deal about Battles but what I do know is that it's good and they have a new album entitled Mirrored coming out in May.

Thanks to a tip off from sexy man Clint, I thought I'd throw in a fantastic track from Battles to keep your musical appetites wet until Chris posts something more exciting later in the week with a review of Soundwave from white girl on the block Jess.

MXPX @ The Gaelic Theatre 1/3/07

'Who wants to see a punk rock show?' Mike Hererra's question to the crowd at the beginning of the show made me think. It had been way too long since I had seen a punk rock band and that this particular punk rock band, Washington's MXPX, were going make me say yes.

Not only was I to be treated to pop-punk legends, I was also in the company of some interesting up and comers. After falling out of love with this scene long a go it was interesting to see the modern day pop-punk torch bearers. Forgive Burden opened the night with a set of spazzed up punk laced with tribal percussion and enough syncopation to give you a seizure which impressed me. Drive By delivered some solid yet fairly predictable tunes, whilst Hit The Lights made sure the evening stayed entertaining with a set full of energy and irresistible hooks. Houston Calls were the last of the supports, sounding a little like Something Corporate, keyboard and all but failed to grab me. On to the real show.


MXPX were a band I grew up with, and I was always entranced by their energy and melodies. Live, nothing changed. Their set was lengthy, I believe close to an hour and a half, but it was filled to the brim with MXPX classics. Songs like 'My Life Story' and 'Move to Bremerton' whipped the surprisingly small crowd into a frenzy and 'Chick Magnet' was punctuated by members of the crowd jumping on stage for some impromptu karaoke, with Mike obliging. The way this band interacts with the crowd must be commended, possessing what seemed to be a genuine affection for their fans and devoted a large part of their set to crowd requests. One such request, the very old 'PxPx' was probably the most popular, with the band dishing up this track, off their first album, with the zeal of a band who wrote it just yesterday. The set was closed with 'Punk Rock Show', an anthem for any punk rock kid growing up and it made me realise how fun punk music really can be. I was so excited I jumped into my first mosh pit in years as this song began, and it felt so good. This band will be eternally youthful and I guess that is reflected in their music. Youthful, energetic, and at times slightly cheesy. But I didn't care one bit.

MYSPACE: MXPX
MYSPACE: Houston Calls
MYSPACE:Hit The Lights

Final Countdown!

It seems as if this week is going to be a run off your feet busy affair for the other whiteboydancefloor crew with work and university, so being the least committed at both I thought I'd take it upon myself to make this week one big countdown to Playground Weekender. I am absolutely foaming at the mouth to get down there for some serious whiteboy crunking.

I am supposed to be at university in an hour, so I am just freestylin' it.

When i was umming and ahhhing over who to feature first, like a sign from the gods, Rays of Zdarlight by The Avalanches came on and I needed no more proof of who would be my first cab off the rank.

I have certain acts where I envisage a scenario where there music just flips to crowd right out into the depths of outer space. What I see for the Avalanches Dj Set is one that involves everyone extremely intoxicated and possibly a touch of rain sending everyone alittle bonkers. The Avalanches are becoming real sure-bets for a good time and I am expecting no less than some of the finest Dj sets I will ever witness. Sublime song selection and seamless mixing.

Mp3: The Avalanches - Rays of Zdarlight


For anyone who knows me well or at the very least reads this flippin' blog, will know full well of the undying passion I hold for Larissa from The Hate Game (band formerly known as Vendettas) and not even a horrid name change could stop be loving her and her music.

So commanding onstage, I think Chuck from S/Club put it best in a comment on one of my other love The Hate Game posts when he said "God damn Larissa, So unattainable". But i think that is part of the allure, I have stood not 3 metres away from her and been silenced, I could not bring myself to find the right words.

Love aside, the music is bloody fantastic aswell, energetic and quite fresh. You won't see any prissy I stand there and sing shit from Larissa and her posse, they get down down down and dirty. If your like me and have been too lazy to see them as often as you know you should as they gig around Sydney, show some love when you check em down at Playground Weekender.

Mp3: The Hate Game - Too many days

You got friday on your mind, I don't.

Sorry about the poor image quality but I had to do it, I had to.

Here are some good tunes to head into the weekend with. Couldn’t really be bothered searching and uncovering something new as it’s Friday and that’s the last thing anyone wants. Rather, here is a predominantly random selection of songs I’ve picked up recently and enjoy.

It seems as if I am taking a leaf out of Silence is a Rhythm too and posting a bit of a Funky Friday Four pack, however not for a second would I think my four pack could ever rival his.

Moving on.

* Mp3: Basement Jaxx – Take Me Back To Your House

One renegade passenger in my car had reminded me tonight was Triple J Live @ The Wireless and I discovered the largely here nor there Basement Jaxx were playing.

Once again I eat my words quite firmly. Even through radio the sound that made its way through was as surprising as it should have been expected. These guys have been around so long because they really know how to put on a show, throwing in tid bits of Timberlake and Fedde Le Grande to send the crowd into fits of joy.

Take me back to your house is a real triumph of a track. The hooks are a tad subtle but if you give em a chance, they’ll give you one to eat your words as I did.

* Mp3: Muscles – Ice Cream

Well Muscles may think Whiteboydancefloor is “Mega Cringe” but I tell ya, if you wanted to hate this guy, you’d have to find faults in his vocabulary because the music is out of this universe.

My intent to hate Muscles was a fruitless endeavour, instead I can only grin in the same cheeseball fashion as Muscles and think “F*ck yeh, this guy is an aussie”, a Melbournian at that but we take the good and the bad from those down south-ers.

When you intentionally set out to hate a song and it completely arrests your soul it’s a crazy but satisfying feeling. Muscles, it just so happens you’re a DJ scholar and I am an English & Psychology scholar (contrary to my sloppy blogging) so maybe we could be mutually beneficial to each other.

* Mp3: !!! – Yadnus

!!! are definitely an ideal festival band in my opinion and I can’t tell you why I think that but I most certainly do. With the Playground Weekender is looming and I thought what better way to get into the mood than with a tune from the headliners !!!.

The track Yadnus takes me back to a pre-womb experience of real rock n roll music. While I am quite aware everyone is very keen to toss around punk-funk flashy genre names, if you look at the core of this track, it’s really a rock n roll experience. The effortless injection of vocals, the pitter-patter of the hi hat, the almost miss able yet crucial twang of the guitar, the don’t ask bass and all important walking down the street stomp of the percussion, this track is class from every angle.

You’d swear they’d been doing this since the 70’s.

* Mp3: Venga Boys – We Like to Party (Shaun Slaughter Remix)

It isn’t trendy to like the Venga Boys, which if you use Chris’ logic, makes it trendy. If you’re a real mccoy goofy whiteboy who loves his bad 90’s music then you know trying to deny this track is futile.

Shaun Slaughter has been doing some of the most simplistic yet downright perfect remixes and re-edits I’ve heard in a long time. Without complicating the situation, Shaun uses a minimalist, Virtual Dj utilising type approach that has earned him some serious props in blog land.

Be warned though while Van She Tech, Bang Gang & DFA have you thinking oww dang it, Djing is only for tastemakers, Shaun will lull you into thinking, hey I can do that, but no, no you can’t.

Enjoy your weekend everyone! I know i wont!

I'm On Call.

Despite being probably my most favoured band on the planet, the first time Kings of Leon received a mention on whiteboydancefloor was under nothing short of scathing terms. A disgracefully uninspired Dj set at Candy's Apartment left me jaded and bleeding from the soul.

In hindsight, while I expected sublime tastemakers, I probably expected too much from a group of guys who come from a part of the world that still haven't got to the whole World.Wide.Web thing figured out just yet. So me expecting them to flip the decks with ease was alittle foolhardy.

In true Freudian style, let us repress and move on.

Kings of Leon have a new album quite aptly titled "Because of the times" on the way to our shores in no time! No surprises I am absolutely smitten over the new music and while you can definitely hear a partly deserved sense of grandeur in their new music, I feel as if they have reached for something epic and got there, if not come very close.

As always my bias love for this band will cloud my judgment but isn't that life ay? Hear for yourself and give me some frank opinions (Dayve I realise you need no invitation). But I say this, if you didn't get KOL before, dont even fucking think of trying now as I don't see this new take on KOL's sound grabbing anyone new unless ofcourse the tracks I'm yet to hear take this fine wine elsewhere. If your a fan or something to that affect of KOL, then give this track a decent amount of playlist time and given the maturity in the sound a chance to soak in before you cast your final votes.

Mp3: Kings of Leon - On Call