Psychout

Last year the worlds biggest CD and other entertainment crap supplier Wal-Mart put out the call for Jewish music. Unfortunately 'The Best Of Yiddish Musicals' and other amazing titles didnt shift and within a few months 80% of the newly ordered stock was back with the supplier. Maybe they should have looked at Israeli psy-trance duo Infected Mushroom.

It takes a fair bit of convincing to get me to write about an act like this given how much Pix and Chris already take care of the electronica department but these guys are onto something. Forming in 1998 and taking the name from a disbanded local punk group both members (Erez and Duvdev for short) were accomplished musicians before combining forces. Technical, thumping and truly psychadelic grooves are driving them on a train of notoriety around the world, and they recently stopped in Australia, playing the Metro about two weeks ago. Unfortunately due to the pleasures of the hospitality industry and the need to save for a trip overseas I had to neglect seeing them and its a missed chance I'm truly rueing.

Now based in the US and touring for their sixth album 'Vicious Delicious', Infected Mushroom should have the whiteboy in us all dancing for years to come.

Myspace: Infected Mushroom
Official Site

If you head out to gigs around your local area, and moreso in Sydney you'll see theres a range of diverse and very different music going around. Some are good and some are shit. One of the bands travelling on the good side of that line is the creatively named Captain Kickarse and and Awesomes


I was lucky enough to see these guys at a gig I played a couple of weeks ago and was enticed solely on the name. Whilst expecting some kind of offensive and self-indulgent punk rock, when they started playing they blew me away with a sound breaching so many genres yet still sounding so.. distinct. With the energy of a session band and the musical skill to boot they kept me captivated the entire time. I immediately saw fit to purchase their 4 track self-titled CD and I was not disappointed. If you're wondering what to expect think along the lines of a band with technical ability not unlike the Mars Volta, thrashy blues, psychadelic guitar rock, instrumental glory, Claypool-esque vocals and a general all round good vibe.

While the quality of recording might not do them enough justice (its still really good though), Captain Kickarse and the Awesomes are a talented and original band playing breaths of fresh air somewhere in Sydney, sometime soon. Check them out.

Myspace: Captain Kickarse and the Awesomes

Thats all from me for this week but I leave you with this: Support your local music store. The major chains are losing and combining into outlets that make most of their money off hardware, DVDs and other facets that people aren't still just downloading off the net. They require less to run their CD departments now whilst the Ma & Pa stores are struggling to survive. Download your tracks on the net, cool. But if you're going to buy a CD, help small business.

Expatriate - In the midst of this

After months of waiting and promotional teasing, Expatriate have finally put this blogger out of his jangled misery and dropped their debut LP "In the midst of this". Putting aside everyones' (including myself) insatiable desire to crown them Australia's answer too... the album holds its own.

The album opens with the good intentioned roar of "Get out, give in" & "Crazy" which could almost make you inclined to get too comfortable for what is set to follow. What does follow is a superb surprise in my opinion, welcoming you to the Expatriate sound in a lowest common denominator Cassanovas fashion. Now don't take that as a criticism either, this non committal introduction works far better as a grounding for the more sophisticated moments that are to come. And true to form, what gradually ensues is everything I wish all rock music in Australia could replicate, well rounded no b.s music that can get to the point while incorporating an underlying yet unmistakable intention to dazzle.

The album includes several tracks from the previous 2 EP's yet they seem to have been picked carefully and tracks like "The Spaces between" & "Play a part" don't interrupt the continuity of "In the midst of this". By the time the acoustic "You were there" rolls around it almost feels like the album takes an obligatory foot-off-the-pedal slow one. Even more so I feel it serves as a sneaky intermission for the more pungent electro laden tracks to creep in.

The division between the more straight rock and synth influenced, electronically infused rock is quite stark if you chop and change from song to song, but I think its the structure of the tracks that allows the transition to work in Expatriate's favour. It almost seems as if tracks 8 through 13 are like an unwritten invitation to Bang Gang, Valentinos, Vanshetech, Bag Raiders & the rest which reads;

Hey you! Remix me, I dare you.

Throughout the album, a commendable balance between rock and electro is achieved almost as if the audience have blindfolds on, only knowing which way the journey is heading when Expatriate give directions. For me, Expatriate dance the dance of debut album death with distinction, unscathed and even better looking than when they started.

Personal Favourite: In the night

Stream Expatriate - In the midst of this in full @ Myspace



Expatriate - Crazy (Youtube)

Kids in Glasgow

It's infinitely enjoyable getting totally immersed lost in a song. Sweeping you away with your eyes closed and the lights out, small nuances of sound create images that you have never seen, and create recollections of places you have never visited, or which probably don't actually exist. A Sunny Day in Glasgow do this to me. At times there is no sign of a hook, or a reliable rhythm. Instead it feels like a constant swirling motion, spinning you round and round with colour everywhere. Distant vocals, clicking percussion, soothing guitar. It's nice, nicer than catching a 5:15 train from Central I'm sure



MP3: A Sunny Day In Glasgow - 5:15 Train

www.asunnydayinglasgow.com

Or you can just listen to this




MP3: Kids on TV - We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off

www.kidsontv.biz

The Empire Strikes Again

Unless you happen to be (most of the time, I'm not being specific.. too specific) really 'hot' and have a 'voice' that can be easily edited by the same software that creates your 'music' OR you happen to go on a show that promises hopes and dreams but really is just out to take your talent, make a few quick million on it and then leave you at the stature of headlining bingo night at St Marys Leagues (not knockin it) because they didnt have a >1 album plan, getting anywhere, getting known - literally getting out there is all about hard fucking work. For many talented artists who should be getting the money thats going into crap... ahh I'll stop.

If any band out there at the moment knows the meaning of hard work its The Cat Empire. These guys have been touring for years. After the release of Two Shoes (recorded in Cuba) they toured the country. Twice. Then it was overseas for festivals. Back home. Released another album. Back overseas. America. UK. Back home. Back to the US. All the while touring. A non-stop party train if you will. They recently played on Letterman:

And the US is where they stay for now. Still touring and now gearing up for the release of another album. And they're coming home, to tour again and most importantly to play the one and only Splendour in the Grass.

If you haven't heard the repeated announcements, checked out the website or had someone bitch to you about the price you wouldnt know that this years lineup also contains Powderfinger, Lily Allen, Arctic Monkeys, Hilltop Hoods, Hot Chip, Sarah Blasko, The Shins, Grinspoon, Kaiser Cheifs and yeah you get the jist. Check out the rest of the lineup at the website. All I can say is I've seen The Cat Empire twice and i'll be seeing them again. They will be one of the champagne acts. Trust me.

And the rest of the festival? It'll be worth the price.

The Cat Empire Myspace

I miss being a kid

The joys of being a kid are seemingly endless. Little do we know the fondness the majority of us would look back on our childhood times with until we're all grown up and we miss being so fresh to everything rather than just another cynical member of Generation Y or X or whatever.

As of this year I said goodbye to the teens and have moved on into the 20's, my youth as it stands is technically gone and has been for a while. But no one can take away the joy i get from finding my favourite classic T.V show theme songs and reliving everything I loved about them all over again.

Without further bullshitting... Enjoy.






















Obviously I couldn't put them all but I mean, feel free to remind me just incase I might of missed some complete gold. Did you know the frontman of the B-52's features in the Rocko's Modern Life theme? I did.

I know this is a lazy-man's post and I promise there will be tonnes more music coming you way very soon but I think this is a good-fun change from the usual.

So come on, what did I miss?

Coz I'm a Bad...

Before I get into Jamie Lloyd, Let me tell you why I like Jamie Lloyd and why there is a photo of the Blues Brothers accompanying this post. If you look at the above picture of the original and the best Blues Brothers, you'll notice they are bad-ass looking m.f's. Late at night on the way home from work I enjoy nothing more than listening to a bit of Matt Levinson and hoping that he sends something good my way because the drive home down the M4 after dropping a co-worker off can be very boring, so if the eyes can't be stimulated, I hope the ears can be. It was here I first heard Jamie Lloyd and when I listen to Jamie Lloyd, I feel cooler than the Blues Brothers, I'm a bad motherfucker.

Thanks to Playground Weekender and a few friends who sacrificed drinking the Penrith bogan infused urine that is Tooheys Extra Dry, I got my hands on a pair of glasses just like the B.B's.

Put simply, those sunnies + Jamie Lloyd on the stereo = bad motherfucker.

After weeks of poor financial tidings, incompetence from the facists at JB Hifi and a lack of time to appreciate any c.d I did buy, I finally bought a copy of Jamie Lloyd album "Trouble Within". Throughout the 13 tracks, a viciously subtle groove is developed and you unconsciously nod your head all the while. I'm going to keep it short today, but Jamie Lloyd's Trouble within is my 2007 silent killer!

The track that makes my wearing of shades at night time so worthwhile is "Bad Motherfucker" and I think when you hear it, you'll hope a pair of shades and a ghetto to strut down isn't far away. Living directly between Mt Druitt & Penrith, It isn't very hard for me.

Honourable mentions must also go to "Trouble within" "What we have" & "Alone with you".

Mp3: Bad Motherfucker

Myspace: Jamie Lloyd

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In keeping with the Monday posts offering you something extra, I was quite chuffed to hear how everyone is really buzzing about the Belles Will Ring debut album. They're a band who is close to most Sydney blogger's hearts and while it is their music which would have ensured them success one way or another, we all can't help but feel a little proud. Head over to those sexy white beasts at S/club to find out more.

Myspace: Belles Will Ring

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Also, the happenings behind The Basics tri-state residency had me well and truly intrigued as to how they were pulling it all off. Out of interest and habit I commented A-Reminder, and to my amazement, Sean delivered in the finest fashion imaginable. Head over to A-reminder and find out how it's all going down.

Myspace: The Basics

Goodbye My Lover, Goodbye my friend

Long before my music blogger days, I was a player of 10 years and ran my own rugby league site for two of those years. Now while I did play in the toughest first division comp junior rugby league has to offer (Penrith), I was by no means a star... far from it. Just recently I have assumed the role of trainer for another rugby league side. Despite not playing for the past 2 years, you never want to give away that dream until one day reality hits you. Much like it did for Andrew Johns.

Before I go on, I ask you leave your opinions of Newcastle and Andrew Johns out of this and appreciate that regardless of being the greatest or one of the greatest, Andrew Johns was a true competitor in every aspect.

As many astute anaylsts of the game have said "Andrew Johns was the first complete footballer". Possessing a wicked side step, a mind for the game like no other, air tight kicking game and a monster in defence, Andrew Johns could literally do it all. I don't think until I saw Andrew at a live game, where my eyes could go not only where the camera was, only then did I truely believe he was, the greatest.



Here's my little story: Easter Sunday (4-5 years ago) and the Newcastle Knights were hosting the in form Cronulla Sharks lead by the freakish David Peachey. The Knights were down and in need of a miracle, defending 20m out from their line, I spot Joey purposefully shuffle his way across the line on the second tackle and loud enough to be heard from the sideline instruct Justin "The knight" Ryder to drop back as they were going to kick to his wing. Now the Sharks were working the ball to the other side of the field until five eight Adam Dykes employed a switch play and kicked the ball straight down the throat of an expectant Ryder on the third tackle. What the Channel 9 commentators would have applauded as great vision from the winger was in actual fact, astute leadership from the greatest reader of the game, Andrew Johns.

Now you'll have to take my word for it on that one, but even on camera, there is no shortage of obvious displays of brilliance where Johns has completely commanded a game in the palm of his hand and changed the entire outcome. Look no further than his State of Origin comeback which lifted NSW from an almost certain white wash. Brett Kimmorley was never going to save us.

Now don't let my age fool you, I've seen the wonders of Sterling, Lewis, Fittler, Mortimer, Kenny, Stuart, Raper and so on, but no one apart from possibly Wally Lewis could impact on a game like Andrew Johns. Even more so you could not say Wally Lewis possessed a refined skill for every aspect of the game like Andrew Johns. Hell I reckon give Joey some pom poms and he'd show Jennifer Hawkins how to cheer lead (I wouldn't tap Joey though).

Now it's no surprise I am a Newcastle Knights fan, I'll openly admit that, but I'll be the first to tell you I think the Gidley's are overpaid, Maddog is too old, Kennedy should never have left, our ground is crap and we never sign the right players. I prefer Steve Simpson over Johns any day personally. But you just like me, cannot deny he was something that had to be seen to be believed. Sadly his career was ravaged by injury which didn't allow him the time on the field he deserved and it's just a shame he could not do it under his own terms.

But if we are going to be honest, Newcastle wasn't a one man team. The NRL was a one man competition. Andrew Johns, one of the finest whiteboy's with the worst dance moves, whiteboydancefloor salutes you. I don't rule out the coming of a second messiah, but I don't think Inglis, Sonny Bill Williams or Gasnier are it.

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On a more exciting note, The whiteboydancefloor myspace page has some exclusive content which this blog doesn't! Foxy new whiteboydancefloor member Jess who is soon to be apart of the fold once Dean has settled in has done a fantastic review of Soundwave which will be posted as a blog for you all to read on myspace. Feel free to comment away, we love to hear from whiteboydancefloor readers, myspace I must admit is good like that.

New Found Glory @ Big Top Luna Park 6/4/07

It felt a little like 2001. Pop punk kids dressed in black were all around me, those same kids were calling pop punk 'emo' 'and The Shape Of Punk To Come was being played through the PA between acts (Sure it was released in 1998, but I was listening to them then OK). However these kids weren't 15 anymore, emo now bears little resemblance to such a style and nobody listens to Refused anymore. They were 20 somethings, all seemingly attempting to reconnect with their recently departed teenage hood and with a band that was, like me, a soundtrack to their early to mid teens. It was New Found Glory.

Frontman Jordan Pundik announced early in their set that they would be playing 24 songs that evening. I scoffed....surely they wont play that many songs? I didn't end up counting, but I think he was telling the truth.

The band were in fine form, opening their marathon set with 'Understatement' and filling out their double-dozen song quota with NFG fan favourites such as 'Sincerely Me', 'Dressed To Kill', 'Head on Collision' and 'It's Been A Summer'. NFG's portly bass player Ian Grushka revealed his impressive man boobs and keg with Jordan foolishly claiming that Ian was hotter than the bass player from Fall Out Boy who my sources tell me is quite a stud, much to the disdain of many.

It was all in good fun however, as the band really seemed to connect with the crowd and gave them 2 perfect closers; their break out 'Hit Or Miss' which brought about certain memories that only Pix can understand; and 'My Friends Over You' which closed out their encore and was a very popular choice judging by my kid sisters near hyperventilation.

New Found Glory were slick, charismatic and plenty of fun. Judging by the head butt and the elbow to the jaw I received it seemed the crowd were throughly enjoying the show also. Come back 2001...all is forgiven.

MYSPACE: New Found Glory

Back To The Future

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Chk this out !!!

As this is my first post I thought i'd open with a joke, but I couldn't think of any so instead i'll just introduce myself and carry on with the post.

I'm Dean one third of the rock outfit XQuabed, and one of the whitest of whiteboys thanks to my moon-tanned complexion.

For those who don't know, and most wont, I did have a radio show during uni on St Marys Radio Station WOWFM 100.8. Oh yeah i hit the big time! But it was great to flog bands and to complain about whatever I felt necessary, so long as there was no swearing.

Well now i'm free to flog bands or complain in writing whenever I feel. And I can swear... fuckin. So to start off with I thought i'd give a bit of a run down of a new album that has been on constant rotation in my car for the last 2 weeks.

I recently had the unexpected privilege of seeing a live performance at the Playground Weekender, from a band i'd never heard of called Chk Chk Chk or !!!, and i was blown away. These guys had an intense on-stage energy that lasted long after the end of the set. But I was curious as to whether they could bring this same energy to the stereo.

Well after purchasing their new album Myth Takes i'd have to say that I am extremely satisfied with my investment. Title track Myth Takes sets the pace of the album with its smooth, pacing bass melody and hushed vocals, while the guitar creates a feeling of the start of a spaghetti western style movie.
Funk fuelled pop track All My Heroes Are Weirdos ramps it up going straight for the feet. The psychadelic sounds and high speed pulsing rhythms make it so easy to dance and would be very suited to dancefloors the world over.
Front Man Nic Offer gives us a cool impression of his life with his explicit narratives, that are often void of melody, but nonetheless add a dimension to the Chk experience that's vital to the disco-clad sound.

!!! have embraced much of the 70's disco and psychadelica era, and put some very modern twists on the music, injecting large doses of percussion. Tracks like Bend over Beethoven and the popular Heart of Hearts show off their obvious love of the 70's music scene, with long ambient breakdowns that some people may find boring, but i think just adds to the Chk atmosphere. All in all the 8 piece band plays about 20 instruments collectively, which is clearly evident in their extremely rich sound.

Myth Takes is an album that i can (and do) listen to over and over again. Some of the songs have very abrupt endings that detract a bit from the album, such as Sweet Life, which is a great song but fizzles out towards the end.

The quality of the album though overshadows these minor issues and I would highly recommend anyone wondering what CD to purchase next, to go out and get yourself a copy of this album. Make sure you have your dancing shoes on.

This is definitely not music for a comdown, because it only creates a high.

And finally to take me out tonight I give you The Incredible Mouth Band. These guys play instruments but only use their mouths! If only we were all this talented.

Stay tuned for new JBT album review. I would of had the cd already but the public holiday ruined it for me.

Mp3: !!! - Heart of hearts

New Music Enter

I thought rather than shoving a band a day down your throats, I'd give you a smattering of new tunes that have been on rotation around my office. We apologise for the lack of posting but time has not been complimentary to whiteboydancefloor over the Easter period. We were the bastards dealing with your Easter shit when you came out to eat at our restaurants. So fuck you all (if it applies).



Swipe Inc were one of those acts that basically fell into my lap. The wonders (and perils) of myspace provided a chance encounter with Swipe Inc and much the same as the Belles Will Ring experience, I was pleasantly surprised. Swipe Inc may have a name which is slightly dubious but there is nothing dubious about them musically, they evoke the same kind of warm enjoyment I get from Loney Dear. The track "Seven Story Serpent" displays some accomplished song writing and a clearly defined sound. What impresses me the most is that "Seven Story Serpent" comprises many parts but it succeeds in not being too in your face. I think with this genre of music, the skill is in the subtlety to take you somewhere else. Swipe Inc will have little trouble slipping snuggly into your indie music collection.

Mp3: Swipe Inc - Seven Story Serpent




Motocade have a very well developed sound which I have decided will fill the void left by The Vespers. Not because they sound the same but rather listening to Motocade delivers the same kind of organic enjoyment I got from The Vespers. You can throw around all the New Zealand's answer to... tags but really it is superfluous to the fact that they construct some very exciting sounds. I cannot see them staying a secret confined to the small worlds of New Zealand for long, they couldn't keep Shaky Hands and they won't keep Motocade. Fuck it, we'll even give em Russell Crowe back, we never wanted him anyway.

I spent almost a month in New Zealand as a younger teen, part of it with my Uncle in the heart of Auckland and I must say I am surprised. The kind of texture that is present in Motocade's sound is a phenomena I never really thought Auckland was capable of evoking. For me, there is a new found sense of intrigue that i must go back.

They have just released their new ep Into the fall and from the tracks I have heard, it contains rich melodies and accomplished musicianship. Really all you need to know is that with Motocade, you can't go wrong and they certainly won't disappoint.

Mp3: Motocade - My Friends



Finally, I will finish on longtime white boy favourites, Gang Awry have released yet another track from their soon to be released debut LP "Politics". We all fell in love with "Needing a new high" and I think my favourite aspect to Gang Awry is there intent to continue evolving and expanding their repertoire. "Pretty Mess" gave us something less funk dynamo but maybe you could say more digestable and it received some radio play on FBI. I tell you the first time I heard Gang Awry randomly come on my radio, I couldn't help but smile from ear to ear. There latest track"Take me over yonder" expands on the light and shade which "Pretty Mess" prepared us all for and envelopes me in another clear demonstration of Nick Norton's endless array of vocal talent. Gang Awry seem to never forget to rock whilst not strangely the beauty of music. A delicate but sublime balance for any band to get right. I think my most proud realisation is that Gang Awry have a sound you know belongs to them, there is not two ways about it.

Mp3: Gang Awry - Take me over yonder

Politics is out APRIL 16TH!!!

Now. I don't want to get into one of those I'm an anti consumerism ranter, But honestly Easter is probably the biggest joke on the holiday calendar right up there with the Queen's Birthday. I consider myself quite religious, believe in god, believe in the whole religious message behind Easter and whatever. But deadset nobody really gives two shits, there is not "easter spirit" even for myself, my beliefs were over ridden by my belief in working for Public holiday and Sunday rates. So why should ungrateful pricks like myself get anything? Anyways I'll leave that one with you guys.

I Know Kung-Fu

I gave them love here almost a year ago, and finally these crazy Scots have dropped an LP. Shit Disco will release Kingdom of Fear on the 16th April, and with a mix of new tracks and some older EP cuts such as 'I Know Kung Fu' and 'Disco Blood' I think it will be quite good. I guess it could be easy to lump them into the Nu-Rave set, which to a degree may be accurate but I think that is selling them short. Its mental disco-punk, think a looser, more adventurous version of The Rapture, and it will be the perfect soundtrack to hot up any party coming into the winter. Or just your bedroom. All alone. Dancing with yourself. In front of your mirror. Loser


STREAM: Shit Disco - OK
MYSPACE: Shit Disco

Your New Favourite Tyrant

Hungry dance floors and sweat soaked white boys wait no more. San Serac is here to salvage what’s left of your white boy best. Every so often in Whiteboydancefloor land, music comes to us that encapsulates the very origins of this blog; “The awkward white boy dancer in all of us”. My low brow Western Sydney mind leads me to believe that it is pronounced San-Serack but when you look at how stylish this guy is, I could be foolish in my assumption and in actual fact it may be something more exotic like Descartes.

Channeling the legacy of the whiteboydancefloor uber-gods Bowie & Prince as well as essentially a whole decade of sexy music, San Serac is every bit the entire disco-laced package. Where San Serac really sets himself apart from every other mother and her catchy songs is that San Serac employs some of the most innovative and intelligent lyrics I've heard from an artist of this genre. I love that San Serac doesn't just dumb it down so your masses can sing along, he caters to the sophisticated disco kid. I dont pretend to understand it all but I certainly do like it!

Chris mentioned in a previous post, San Serac is as under-appreciated in the blogosphere as they come, not everyone is sitting so blindly to his splendours. San Serac is attacking the US supporting none other than the mercurial Junior Boys. Yet another example of your run of the mill US line ups that would have Aussies counting down the days and foaming at the mouth for.

Professional is a triumph as it sea changes from pure 80’s indulgence toward some stomping electro elation, in my opinion rarely missing a beat or at the least a chance to make the beat. San Serac typifies what I’d class as the “swish” factor leading to the the obvious conclusion that the title of San Serac’s album Professional is as accurate as they come.

I've posted two tracks for you today but I encourage you to get your hands on San Serac's Professional as there are many more wonderful parts to his music.

Myspace: San Serac

Mp3: Fairlight

Mp3: Professional