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LOVE ME TWO TIMES
Skybombers' debut album was called Take Me To Town. It took
them to 38 US states, as well as London, Japan and New Zealand.
"You'd be amazed how different tap water can taste," smiles
singer Hugh Gurney. The Melbourne guys also got to party
with the Foo Fighters in NZ, and they met Slash after playing
at the Viper Room. What's it like playing at the infamous
LA venue? "It's not really that different from a normal
gig. It's quite small, so the main thing is just to forget
what it's called and remember not to make any River Phoenix
jokes." Two years after their debut, Skybombers are back
with Love Me Like You Used To Do, the first single from
their upcoming second album, which they again made in LA
with producer Rick Parker (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club).
The song, a glorious slice of infectious rock, is getting
some MMM radio action, as Skybombers gear up for four Sundays
at Pure Pop, starting on August 8. What's been Hugh's favourite
description of the band? "I had a lot of fun translating
Japanese reviews into English with an online translator.
Stuff like, 'Band of Rock Skybombers bring guitar power
at ear levels that break drums.'" So how is the new album
different to the debut? "It's a lot more diverse. The first
album was 90 per cent 19-year-olds playing punk rock. This
album has Irish ditties, murder ballads, sea shanties and
delta blues. There are plenty of lovely organs, real strings,
Spanish percussion and honky-tonk piano sounds." The album,
Black Carousel, will be out in October through FUR Records.
IRONING OUT THE KINKS
How good is the new Dan Kelly album?! A great album can
take you anywhere and everywhere, and Dan Kelly's Dream
is a fantastic flight of fancy. A record of reverie and
twisted tales.
RICKY, THE INTERVIEW
Plenty of leg warmers will be walking the red carpet on
Friday at Elsternwick's Classic Cinema, with the sneak preview
of Ricky! - The Movie, a mockumentary that tells the tale
of '80s one hit wonder Ricky T (with cameos by Ross Wilson,
Gavin Wood and Dave O'Neil). We put Ricky in the Howzat!
hotseat to ask him two probing questions:
Aside from himself, who's his favourite
Aussie one hit wonder?
"Karen Knowles' Why Won't You Explain - brilliant song about
society's confusion with the ABC meteorology department
in the '80s."
And which Aussie band would Ricky most
like to see re-form?
"The Birthday Party, because it's such a happy-sounding
band, and I reckon there are too many negative, dark bands
around these days."
HALL OF SHAME
Howzat! is very disappointed that after five great years
in Melbourne, the ARIA Hall of Fame is relocating to Sydney
(at the Hordern Pavilion on October 27). Howzat! is happy
for Sydney to host the ARIA Awards (November 7 this year)
because that is the home of the music business, but the
heart of the industry is in Melbourne. The incoming Music
Victoria CEO Patrick Donovan has got plenty on his plate,
but we would love to see him get the Hall of Fame back to
Melbourne, where the music industry and the state government
should also establish an actual Hall of Fame, a place that
music fans can visit and celebrate Australia's music heritage.
ROSS'S PEACE OFFERING
When Mondo Rock are inducted, Ross Wilson will be our first
triple Hall of Famer - he's already in the Hall solo and
with Daddy Cool. Ross still knows how to pull a crowd. His
album launch at the Toff last week was filled with pretty
girls and rock stars (including Daryl Braithwaite, Mike
Rudd and Bongo Starkie). Ross remains relevant, proudly
stating that he's the only local artist in his 60s (he turns
63 in November) getting commercial radio play with new material.
He's constantly updating his repertoire (working ice into
Mighty Kong's Hard Drugs, and giving Kevin Rudd a mention
in his cover of Ego Is Not A Dirty Word), and his new album,
I Come In Peace, is a cracker.
CHART WATCH
Michael Paynter finally scores his first Top 40 hit, with
Love The Fall rising to number 33. Michael, who's been compared
to John Farnham and Rick Price, has some famous friends
- The Veronicas pop up on the single and appear in the video,
while Cats star Gary Ablett was in the crowd at his recent
Corner show (though he's thanked on the EP as "Gary Abeltt").
We No Speak Americano YOLANDA BE COOL (number 17)
Lying AMY MEREDITH (19)
iYiYi CODY SIMPSON (24)
All The Lovers KYLIE MINOGUE (29)
Plans BIRDS OF TOKYO (32)
Love The Fall MICHAEL PAYNTER (33, debut)
Mousetrap Heart THIRSTY MERC (38)
Baby, I'm Getting' Better GYROSCOPE (39)
Kylie spends a third week at number two, still unable to
knock off Eminem.
Aphrodite KYLIE MINOGUE (number two)
Down The Way ANGUS & JULIA STONE (seven)
A Beautiful Exchange HILLSONG LIVE (11)
Basement Birds BASEMENT BIRDS (12, debut)
Cinema THE CAT EMPIRE (16)
Immersion PENDULUM (19)
Restless AMY MEREDITH (22)
Deep Blue PARKWAY DRIVE (24)
We Are Born SIA (28)
April Uprising THE JOHN BUTLER TRIO (32)
Iron Man 2 AC/DC (38)
Mousetrap Heart THIRSTY MERC (39)
HOWZAT! PLAYLIST
Love Me Like You Used To Do SKYBOMBERS
Dan Kelly's Dream DAN KELLY
Always Coming Down CORDRAZINE
… Aagh THE BOOK OF SHIPS
I Come In Peace ROSS WILSON
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