It’s not even mid year yet, but The Vasco Era are saying goodbye to 2012 with a final show at Melbourne’s Corner Hotel. The band’s vocalist Sid O’Neil is planning to recharge his mind, body, and soul with an extended European vacation, so The Vasco Era are giving him a proper send off. They promise [...]

– After “significant demand” from fans and people who like things “warm”, Lost Animal’s Ex-Tropical is finally available on vinyl. The pressing is strictly limited to 500 copies, all of which include a digital download code. Lost Animal – the solo project of ex-St Helen’s frontman Jarrod Quarrell – will launch the vinyl pressing with Sensory Projects labelmates New War, as well as Pearls and DJ LA Pocock at the soon-to-be-closed Phoenix Public House on May 18. Ex Tropical came in at #9 in our Critics Poll . – Six months after declaring “rock’n’roll is the only thing that makes me ...

NICK ARGYRIOU drops by Melbourne's Sing Sing Studios to check on the status of King Cannon’s debut record, which will be out through EMI in mid-2012. Photos by KANE HIBBERD . Sitting there on her lonesome in the courtyard of Melbourne’s Sing Sing is a rather knackered Lanae Eruera, percussionist for New Zealand hard rock transplants King Cannons. It’s been another taxing studio session and finally there’s talk about ordering some food. Scott Horscroft is here on occasional production duties, but mostly in his guise as label A&R; (they’re signed to EMI), along with producer ...

We caught up with The Fearless Vampire Killers to chat about Batmania , touring, new material and much more! Hey, guys! How has 2012 been treating you so far? Well so far there's been no mass extinctions so we're feeling pretty good about it. Oh and the rash is all cleared up so I'm generally pretty chuffed. You guys were essentially the support act's support act last year, scoring some killer opening slots. What was your favourite out of the lot? It has to be The Vasco Era . If you've never seen them live you will ...

Got to give it to the boys in The Bronx . While they are across town opening for Soundgarden , I'm at The Metro waiting for The Vasco Era , who in the past have not impressed me much. The plus side is, my only clash at Thursday's Big Day Out has now been solved and I'm looking forward to some Mariachi music soon enough. read more

Venue closures, Nirvana tribute gigs and rising flood waters dominate an eventful first half of 2011. Part two here . January Brisbane floods: As rising flood waters devastate Queensland, several venues within Brisbane’s CBD and Fortitude Valley entertainment precinct are forced to close and cancel gigs . Benefit shows are held across the country, however newly retired Powderfinger decline calls from local MPs to “dust off” their guitars for a once-off benefit show, choosing to release a single for victims instead. M+N contributor Andrew Stafford writes a moving column about what records he’d save, while Custard and Regurgitator sign ...

No, we’re not talking about Neko Case and Nick Cave’s craptastic take on ‘She's Not There’ or Papa Vs Pretty doing Julia Stone">Angus & Julia Stone , but the worst cover art for the year as selected by MAX EASTON (you know, the Trial By Gif guy). Papa Vs Pretty United in Isolation The producer's of The Human Centipede go for something more tasteful by surgically grafting cocktail frankfurts to the head of a chromed Oompa Loompa. Oh Mercy Great Barrier Grief Answer this, guy-with-fine-arts-major - how can Ken Done be such a good artist if he didn’t even notice all the brush marks he left behind? Rat Vs Possum Let Music And Bodies Unite The Meredith Gift 2020, wherein it has (d)evolved into a nude wrestling match. (Popping a semi still inappropriate.) Total Control Henge Beat Jackson Pollock’s work if he had access to Microsoft Paint in 1996. Boy & Bear Moonfire Photoshop Tutorial #32: How to fuck with RGB settings to romanticise the shitty park you used to smoke cones in at high school. The Aerial Maps The Sunset Park “Let’s use Linkin Park's font for the band name, then paste the words ‘FUEL’ and ‘CAFÉ’ into a disarray of equilaterals to make a statement about long distance Australian travel.” The Death Set Michael Poiccard Caught staring @ side-boob An Horse Walls Unnervingly creepy; like the twins from The Shining all grown up. Divorced Separation Anxiety It's a collage featuring a lava pit and a woman with a gravity-defying breast shooting a beam out of her eyes ... which sounds amazing... Lost Animal Ex Tropical The look of tortured pleasure on his face makes me kind of relieved that album sleeves fold out horizontally. The Vasco Era The Vasco Era Maybe a fifth crucifix would clear up ...

After two previous LPs in 2007 and 2009, The Vasco Era have a released their first self titled album. The band are known for their full rock and roll sound, with screaming vocals and heavy guitars. It’s not music for everyone, but will please fans of Rage Against The Machine, Children Collide, The Mars Volta and similar. read more

For the second time in its short history, the M+N Lunchbox series will head to Sydney for a free lunchtime performance by Expatriate at Goodgod Small Club on January 20. The band, who recently returned to Australia following an extended stint in Europe, will play a set of songs from their forthcoming second album Hyper/Hearts , including new single ‘Miracle Mile’ . The follow-up to 2007 debut In The Midst Of This , the album was recorded at Monnow Valley Studios in Wales with producer Andy Savours (PNAU, The Killers) and completed at Expatriate’s home studio in Berlin. It’ll ...

You’ve had the chance to tell us your favourite local albums of the year in our sixth annual Readers Poll . Now, it’s our critics’ turn to weigh in. Here’s the first installment (50-21) of our selections for Album of the Year 2011. Tomorrow, it’s the Top 20. 50. Nick Huggins Five Lights (Two Bright Lakes/Remote Control) Key notes: First solo album in four years for the Melbourne-based producer (Otouto, Kid Sam) and Two Bright Lakes Records co-founder. Follows 2007’s Shipwreck What we said: “In its weaker moments Five Lights can be just as ephemeral ...

Yesterday , we revealed your picks for Biggest Controversy, Best Comeback, Best New-Ish Act, Best Live Act, Best Reissue/Retrospective and Best “Indie” Label. Today, it’s your Top 50 albums of the year. 1. Royal Headache Royal Headache (R.I.P Society) Some may call this voting with your feet. For others it’s redemption. Either way, few moderately negative reviews have received as much conjecture as our take on Royal Headache ’s self-titled debut, which our reviewer described as a “movement with a message, and a rather mundane one at that”. On the basis of this poll, the backlash ...

My first memory of The Vasco Era was at an underage gig back in ’04 (I was sixteen at the time). It was quite memorable show for two reasons: one, it was my first real introduction to the live music scene (the quintessential, “revolutionary”...

The Vasco Era – Rock And Roll Is The Only Thing That Makes Me Feel Good Well this video simply encompasses the music industry lifestyle to a tea. A new little video for The Vasco era, basically telling it like … Continue reading →

Before they head out on their first national tour since September 2009, UK-based four-piece Howling Bells will perform a very special mid-week Lunchbox show at the Workers Club in Melbourne on November 29, 1pm. The free Tuesday afternoon performance (yes, Tuesday) will precede a headline show at The Corner Hotel on November 30, as well as dates in regional Victoria, NSW, Queensland, WA, SA and the ACT. Dates below. The band’s recently released third album The Loudest Engine – the sequel to 2009’s Radio Wars – was produced by The Killers' Mark Stoermer in his Nevada studio. More details here ...