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It's that time of year again: All the Aussie indie bands pack their lunchboxes full of Tim Tams (translation: addictive chocolate-covered cookies) and head to Austin to give it a bash (translation: try something new). If you happen to cross paths with one of our musical representatives, you might try saying:
“Owzit goin maaate?”
(Translation: Wassup buddy?)
If you plan to get more intimate, you might want to take Aussie Slang 101 (warning: some phrases may offend — and not just in a crude way, but in misogynistic, culturally insensitive, and many other ways). A few of my personal faves:
"I'm dry as a dead dingo's donger." (Translation: I'm thirsty.)
"I could eat the crotch out of a dead leper's undies." (Translation: I'm hungry.)
"No wucking furries." (Translation: No problem.)
"He had a head on him like a sucked mango." (Translation: It's a visual thing.)
The ratio of insults to compliments in this tutorial may seem disproportionate, but many Australians are uncomfortable giving and receiving compliments. The cultural norm is to insult someone and then say you're only joking.
OK. Now that you've got the lingo down, here are a few Aussie and Kiwi bands to keep an ear out for in Austin (and other US cities; check the bands’ MySpace pages for dates):
Architecture in Helsinki
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Architecture in Helsinki
architectureinhelsinki.com | myspace.com/aihmusic
Infectiously lovely indie pop for fans of sweet music, from Melbourne, Australia
Everyone loves Architecture in Helsinki. That's just how it is. Super-sweet indie pop bliss. Even if I wasn't a sucker for anything with xylophone, I'd still have a major crush on these guys.
Cut Off Your Hands
cutoffyourhands.com | myspace.com/cutoffyourhands
For fans of Bloc Party, Buzzcocks, and anyone who likes to dance their ass off — ex-Shaky Hands from Auckland, New Zealand
It took me a while to get what all the fuss was about, but it finally happened a couple of months ago when "You and I" got to me. Raucous, catchy, and bursting at the seams with energy.
Die! Die! Die!, photo by Cybele Malinowski
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Die! Die! Die!
www.diediedie.net | myspace.com/diediedienz
For fans of music that makes your ears bleed, from Dunedin, New Zealand
Die! Die! Die! produces intense onslaughts of ear-shredding screams, supported by seriously tight drumming. This is not nice music for nice people who like to sip tea. It's full-on, and quite likely to make your ears bleed (in a good way). Enjoy!
Dimmer
dimmer.co.nz | myspace.com/dimmerband
For fans of Straitjacket Fits, Flying Nun Records, and "spaced-out bliss," from Dunedin, New Zealand
Remember legendary Dunedin band Straitjacket Fits? Swooooon! Well, Dimmer is what legendary New Zealand guitarist/vocalist Shayne Carter did next. Melodic, delicate, meandering…and sometimes menacing, howling — all the good stuff, really. I haven't seen them live yet, so let me know what they're like!
I Heart Hiroshima, photo by Paul Curtis
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I Heart Hiroshima
ihearthiroshima.com | myspace.com/ihearthiroshima
Indie-punk for fans of the Pixies, Raveonettes, and the Breeders, from Brisbane, Australia
I've been meaning to catch these crazy banana-benders (residents of Queensland) for ages, but haven't gotten around to it. This quote from one of their MySpace friends is priceless: "hey sorry to hear you got punched by some hoe at rics...i was there that night!..but i only remembered the next day, i didnt get punched..." Nice!
Macromantics
macromantics.com | myspace.com/macromantics
Feisty underground hiphop for fans of Sage Francis and Saul Williams, from Melbourne, Australia
It's sorta like if your local mild-mannered librarian got possessed and started spitting crazy rhymes. I first caught her opening for Sage Francis a few years back. She blew me away then, and she just keeps getting better.
The Presets
thepresets.com | myspace.com/thepresets
Electro for people who don't usually like it, for fans of LCD Soundsystem, from Sydney, Australia
I'll be surprised if these guys don't blow everyone away. They took me by surprise at Splendour in the Grass. I'm not a huge fan of electro, and their hit “Are You the One” didn't grab my attention on the radio, but live...woaaaah! It was huge! We've been overplaying their CD at home, and Girl and the Sea has gotten under my skin for good.
Josh Pyke
joshpyke.com | myspace.com/joshpyke
Warm, jangly folk-pop for fans of Elliot Smith, the Sleepy Jackson, and Nick Drake, from Sydney, Australia
Josh Pyke's indie folk tunes have a cozy old-favorite feel about them. Not sure how he does that, but it's bound to win him a bunch of new fans at SXSW this year.
Spod
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Spod
spod.com.au | myspace.com/spod
Electro-spaz for fans of Har Mar Superstar and Peaches, from Sydney, Australia
I'll never forget Christmas Eve 2005: I took my Irish flatmate out to the Hopetoun (legendary Sydney indie venue) to see bluejuice and Spod. Spod brought the magic — pure electro-spaz combined with DIY bubble ambiance. Perhaps he threw bubble blowers out to the audience 'cause bubble machines are too expensive, but to me, it was like a fabulous little Christmas gift. The last time I caught a Spod show, he was flanked by sassy backup singers doing fabulous choreographed dances. What more could you ask for? If Spod were writing this blog he would certainly invite you to "Taste the Radness" at one of his upcoming US shows.
Posted March 2007
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