We are Bored Housewives… You are Japan

Well it’s been a busy fortnight for me - many of you know I’m a publicist for a cracking company here in Auckland and we’ve been working towards the NZ International Comedy Festival. It’s going to be a great one this year also - Josie Long, John Fothergill, Howard Read (who’s show is going to rock and was on Campbell Live here in NZ last week) and One Man Star Wars all shows I am looking forward to, and locally the likes of James Nokise, Grant Lobban, Simon McKinney, Steve Wrigley, The Ethnic Ultimatum and the works of Ben Kettell and Rhys Mathewson looking also to tease the funny-bones I have. The big ones, as I am big boned. Not fat, as previously reported.

Anyways, if you want more information on that, and even want to head to a few shows should you be living in Wellington or Auckland, check out www.comedyfestival.co.nz or www.myspace.com/comedyfestivalnz - the latter I am currently moderating!

On with the music, shall we?

Rival Schools - Travel By Telephone (from the album “United By Fate”)

How I rejoiced when I got word that hardcore/emo supergroup Rival School were to reform in June for Rock AM Ring in Germany. Perhaps one of the finest bands of it’s type since Sunny Day Real Estate, their debut album “United By Fate” was the soundtrack for many upon it’s release in 2001 and fans in the UK will remember the music video for “Used for Glue” being played almost hourly on MTV 2. This song, the opening tracks from their only album, really kicked what was ahead for the following 41:38 committed to CD; an epic journey with a group built around a series of EP’s showcasing what was capable amongst the elder statesmen of the scene.

Rival Schools fan page atMySpace

High Dependency Unit - Stupormodel (from the album “Metamathics“)

HDU have been going around for a while now (their first album, “Sum of the Few” was released in 1996) and I was handed a copy of this EP due to my affection for another Dunedin outfit of a similar nature, Die! Die! Die!. Interestingly enough, both bands recorded a split EP in 2007 so the comparisons are justified. Much like the Rival Schools entry above, “Stupormodel” was once more an opening track from a record which just sets the tone and really gets you motivated to await what the rest of the album has in store, and I can tell you in all honestly that it doesn’t let the listener down. Just about to embark on a tour across New Zealand, “Metamathics” is another strong album from Kiwi noise merchants - who just happened to play at ATP 2006, for bonus trivia knowledge!

High Dependency Unit official website

The Naked and Famous - Meeting People Sucks (from the EP “This Machine“)

Taking their name from “Tricky Boy” by trip-hop artist Tricky, The Naked and Famous crept up on everyone here in New Zealand without warning, and have instantly created a huge buzz amongst electro-indie aficionados. In almost Dave Grohl fashion, composer Thom Powers and singer Alisa Xayalith crafted their music and then drafted a band to play live. Unlike other bands, however, they’re more geared towards letting their music take the forefront rather than themselves and the “behind the scenes” aspect. That’s not to say Thom is brooding - he’s a fan of Eddie Izzard and after speaking to him earlier today, is quite a fan of having his music compared to the British comedian - quirky, eccentric yet sophisticated.

The Naked and Famous at MySpace

Rage Against The Machine - Bulls On Parade (from the album “Evil Empire“)

Every now and again I know many of my friends and even family go through a session of Rage Against The Machine. Though for some of the “hip, indie elite” they may not be as glamorous as other obscure bands you’ve either never heard of or might be too low brow to appreciate, the group’s music is as pertinent in the global climate today as it was back during the first Bush regime. “Bulls On Parade” echoes the stronghold, gung-ho approach military takes, but it can also echo the sentiments of many more people. It’s also one of the finest moments of a alternative metal track having a sheer grove involved which transcends rock fans and ventures into the subconscious of other fans of other genres; I’ve even heard a couple of ambient trip-hop fans humming the opening lick!

Rage Against The Machine official website

The Kalashnikovs - Tell You What I Wanna (from the forthcoming untitled EP)

Much like The Naked and The Famous and Seno vs. Frank, there’s been a buzz surrounding the Bioletti Familia’s debut recordings - some of us have been fortunate enough to catch them live. I haven’t. Upon learning that my Wednesday morning buddy Volita has put some tracks online, naturally my curiosity got the better of me. Met with quite a grunge element which I suspected, I was utterly surprised when I heard her sing. Very reminiscent to the depths of Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney, if this is the group at their rawest (they claim to have recorded some of the songs in a cave), nevermind Seno vs. Frank - it’ll be Seno and Frank vs. The Kalashnikovs; battle of raw aggression!

The Kalashnikovs at MySpace