Capital Eyes- 2011 Mixtape

Rather than doing a top 10 this year (mainly because I haven't been paying that much attention to what's been going on), I have made a "mixtape" - actually just a playlist, but it's getting there...

It basically reflects what I've been listening to and the bands I've gone to see. I am planning next year to make a mix each month.

You can download the file here.

Here is the tracklisting. You probably wouldn't call this groundbreaking, or featuring "rare tracks", but a lot of it I haven't listened to regularly this year.

Hoodlum Shouts- Guns Germs Steel

My friend Luke plays in this band, they are really good- definitely one of the best Australian rock bands to come out in quite some time. This will be on their full length album which comes out next year. When he first told me he'd joined a band that sounded "kinda like Midnight Oil" I was definitely interested. Their sound can definitely be described as "Australian".

Miles Away- Anywhere

I went and saw Miles Away this year, it was the first time I had seen them in a fair while, the first since they released Endless Roads, a good album to listen to when travelling a long way from home.

Fires of Waco- Change With The Tide

I got to see Fires of Waco twice this year. Once at the same show with Miles Away, and then I saw them on their home turf, at Fat Louie's in Brisbane in a free show. Their album, Old Ghosts Never Sleep is brilliant.

The Gaslight Anthem- Even Cowgirls Get The Blues

I had a ticket to go and see The Gaslight Anthem but I couldn't make it. This is probably the first time that this has happened to me, and aside from regretting the waste of money, I also regret not seeing them even more now, as I have listened to them a whole lot this year.

Grinderman- Bellringer Blues

It sounds like Grinderman may have bitten the dust this year, so that's a band I will never get to see. I love the story in this song.

The National- England

Our friend Sofia reckons that I look a lot like the singer from The National. I'm not so sure on that, but I like this song.

I Exist- Black Unicorn

It is really amazing to see how far these guys have come in just a couple of years. Relentless touring and releasing plenty of music will always help out. I also did an interview in BMA with them.

Kvelertak- Blodtørst

This is a band that got talked up a lot last year. I didn't really get interested in them until it got announced they were going to play the Soundwave Revolution- which didn't quite make it anyway. I like their sound, it's fun.

Break Even- Hells Gates

So far from home- that's where I've spent a lot of this year. Break Even played in Canberra just a couple of days after they put this song out, and almost the whole crowd knew the words. That was pretty impressive.

A Death In The Family- This Letters Proof

From the album Small Town Stories, I started listening to that album a lot more this year, particularly when visiting small towns.

Ringworm- Leviathon

From the split with Mindsnare. Long talked about, but I guess a lot of people didn't believe it would ever come out.

Frenzal Rhomb- Knuckleheads

Frenzal Rhomb, that staple of Australian punk, they've been around for nearly 20 years now. While it's not quite up there with their earlier works, it's a fun listen.

Parkway Drive- Carrion

It's hard to comprehend the popularity of Parkway Drive overseas, without seeing it first hand. Hearing a room full of people chant for CARRION- CARRION was impressive to see. I hope to see them in South America again next year.

Propagandhi- Dear Coach's Corner

I saw Propagandhi in Hobart and Canberra this year. They were both pretty cool shows.

Audrey Hepburn- Moon River

This one is a bit of a change of pace. This was the entrance song for Francisca at both of our wedding ceremonies.

Machine Head- Who We Are

I was a bit underwhelmed with Machine Head's latest effort. It was great to see them within the first few days of arriving in Santiago (with Sepultura). How about the encore of Davidian into Halo. Pretty good.

So far from home, with the sound of the waves crashing below me

Break Even, one of my definite favourite bands of the last few years, have put up a new song from their next album. It's a bit of a different sound, and from the self proclaimed experts on hardcore I talked to last night, they are disappointed in what they're hearing.

Personally I love the new sound I'm hearing, but after listening to the song over and over again on repeat, I don't think the sound is particularly removed from The Bright Side. Particularly the song "October 27th". If you were to replace the lines "so far from home", with that refrain of "shine bright, baby shine bright", in all honesty it's not that far off.

I hear a lot of people saying it has too much of a "Triple J rock" sound and that they expected Break Even to go heavier. I'm not sure if it's because I read an interview in the new issue of No Heroes that predicted a bit of change and the possibility of disappointment, however after Young At Heart, Break Even's work I guess had more of a punk sound, rather than a Miles Away-lite sound that they were renowned for on their earlier works.

I don't really think it sounds like bands like The Butterfly Effect or Karnivool, if this was the "triple j rock" sound people were describing. I have enjoyed the new song "Hells Gates" and can't wait to hear some more tracks. Maybe tomorrow, when Break Even play alongside 4 Dead and I Exist...seriously, what a lineup.

One of these will be one of the last shows I go to before going for some extensive travels.

We have booked a trip to Asia, the plan is to go to Malaysia>India>Nepal>Thailand>Cambodia>Vietnam then we will have a couple of weeks back in Australia before we move for a while to Chile.

Looking forward to packing up and to start again, go.

We're into a new year.

The first day of 2011 it sounds like I've turned into a super keen fitness fiend. One of my resolutions was to exercise every day. However, we kicked things off well today.

Francisca and I walked up Mt Majura, then swam some laps at Dickson Pool. Just to complete the day, we kicked a soccerball around once it got a bit cooler in the evening.

I honestly couldn't tell you a top 10 of albums that came out in 2010, the quality just wasn't there, or I wasn't looking for it.

I did like

The Amity Affliction- Youngbloods

The Gaslight Anthem- American Slang

I Exist- I: A Turn For The Worse

Alexisonfire- Dogs Blood (EP)

How about a top 10 shows that I attended for the year...that will be easier to complete.

1. Polar Bear Club, Break Even, The Gifthorse @ Rosies, Brisbane

2. Polar Bear Club, Break Even, The Gifthorse @ The Fort, Brisbane

3. The Ghost Inside, Break Even @ Underworld, London (UK)

4. Machine Head, Hatebreed @ Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide

5. 4 Dead, Hoodlum Shouts, Boonhorse @ Bar 32, Canberra

6. Ruiner, Hopeless, I Exist @ Bar 32, Canberra

6. Alexisonfire, Comeback Kid, Anti Flag @ The Forum, Sydney

7. Alexisonfire, Break Even @ UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney or The Palace, Melbourne

8. Dangers, Graf Orlock, 4 Dead, Vera @ Bar 32 Canberra

9. Slowburn last show @ The Jam Factory, Canberra

10. Elysian, Ignite The Ibex @ The Basement, Canberra

2010 was a great year personally, easily the best ever. 2011 will definitely be an adventure, a big year ahead. I should have a new issue of Capital Eyes in the next few days, with interview from Elysian and Yoko Oh No.

Capital Letters- NGA Zine Fair

Sorry, but the image is really small, I haven't really seen any other pictures about the zine fair.

As a part of the Space Invaders street art exhibition, they are having a zine fair at the NGA. That's right, zine at the NATIONAL gallery. Kewl.

I'm going to be having a stall with my zine Capital Eyes. I am midway through preparations for my 10th issue, so hopefully I will get that done in time. I was going to say it's going to be a bit more personal, but it isn't really. A couple of the things in it will be reprints, but basically it's going to be a look at the recent trip I did to Sydney and Melbourne to see Alexisonfire and Break Even, and a bit of a reflection of the times I lived in those places and what I think about those bands.

Funnily enough, Capital Letters was an idea of a name I had for a zine when I was tossing around ideas in my mind. I wanted it to be Capital something, as it was a Canberra based zine, and Canberra is the capital. Another one that struck me was Capital Waste, the name of a garbage disposal company, but I thought people would think it would just be a waste.

I went with Francisca to check out the new galleries at the NGA yesterday. Definitely worth a look. I'm not really an expert on art, so I won't give it a review.

Shine bright baby shine bright- Break Even in London

This particular day was my favourite day of the whole trip. It combined numerous interests of mine, mainly sport, Break Even and beer.

I took a tour at Wimbledon. I got off at Wimbledon station and walked, which is not the way to go, it's quite a long walk. The museum at Wimbledon is very impressive. Being such a tennis aficionado, I was wearing my Rod Laver shoes, and found there to be a lack of mentions of the great man. I took a tour, which was also quite interesting. I wouldn't mind going to Wimbledon someday, I think that would be a good sports experience. Right up there, actually.

From there I decided to make my way to Hampstead Heath. My guidebook, which I probably looked at once, told me I could get good city views from there. To get there, I had to change trains four times, a couple of them being on the Overground line, which is notably inferior to the Underground. Funnily enough, they both run on a mixture of over and underground lines.

Hampstead Heath is an enormous park. It was still cold, so I found it surprising to see a guy swimming in one of the lakes there. There are walking and cycles paths everywhere, though no signage to tell you where your going. I think many London authors may have had there ideas of enchanted forests and that type of thing after a visit to Hampstead Heath. Once I got to what seemed like one of the highest points, I could look down to the city. I could barely make out anything as it was quite foggy. I took some more tourist pictures, then waited at the bus stop. The bus apparently came every six minutes, I think I waited twenty. It came eventually, I had to take a bus, then get a tube down to Camden.

Break Even were playing at a place in Camden called The Underground. It my normal style of organisation, I had no idea where it was, how I was going to find it, or if “Camden Town” was even the right stop. Coming out from the station, I looked down the road a little way, there it was. That was easier than I expected. I popped into a record store, they had a good collection there, if I was a collector of records, I may have parted with a significant amount of money. I'm not though, I don't have a record player, so the worry of how to transport these things was not an issue.

It had been a pretty long day, I wasn't really in the mood for talking to anybody, so I sat at the bar and drank some pints. I was meeting Dan is the pub upstairs from the venue, Worlds End. It was a pretty big place, so I wasn't sure where to sit. I had a pint in each bar, then ordered some chips. Just as I was finishing my plate, Dan walked in.

Break Even were on first, it seemed an early start, they were on at 7.30. We were sorted for pints and had a good position as they went into “Run For Your Life”. They played the usual set of songs from The Bright Side, but today they were in brilliant form. Definitely one of the best times I have seen them. During the time I started a circle pit around a pole and did a stagedive, all on the other side of the world. Their set was a lot of fun, and there were quite a few people getting right into it, singing along to all the words.

We went outside in search of some dinner. We ate some pizza slices from a nearby place, they were terrible. Probably some of the worst food in my life. We missed Awaken Demons, and came back in and saw a song of TRC. What a terrible band. They have two singers, one guy looks like a security guard patrolling the stage, that's how little he actually sings. I can't even remember really what sort of style they played in, but it wasn't good. Back to the bar for some more beer.

We had some good chats with Mawds, singer from Break Even. He may just win the prize for “nicest guy in the world”. I told him I was going to Perth later in the year, he told me he'd show me around. The Ghost Inside were next up, I didn't really know anything about them, so I was a little sceptical. They were really good, I will definitely check them out when they tour here later in the year. Kind of Hatebreed sounding, but with an added punk edge. I liked them a lot. I couldn't say the same about Deez Nuts. I've avoided them for so long, but I thought, while I was there, I might watch them. I think I lasted 45 seconds. What an absolutely terrible band.

Sometime in the bar, we met some more people from Australia. Most of them were wankers. However, Dan met this one girl that he had met once before at a punk show in Canberra and fallen madly in love with. They never met again until this night, unfortunately for Dan, the girl had met another bloke at that same show, they were now an item.

We had a few more beers after the show, then made our way into the city. We had to change from the tube to a bus as by this time it was quite late. We were walking somewhere around SoHo and came across a few guys kicking a soccerball in a laneway. We asked if we could join and got involved. As time went on, more and more people started doing the same, there must have been 20 people involved at one stage. Football fever is well and truly alive. The game was great, the ball would just come off windows, into cars, play on. It wasn't a game as such, but people would get on a run and then just as many people would come in as defence. It was a lot of fun. The game eventually dissipated, and we waited at the bus stop. We waited for a long, long time and eventually along came a red double decker bus. We both fell asleep and I woke up to “Next stop, East Acton”. “Get up, get get up, let's go”. “Lucky you were paying attention” “I just woke up, quick quick, let's go”.

When we got home, some of the other guys were drinking some more out the back. I think I might have had one more beer, but I was so tired, I was ready for bed. Goodnight.

And the boat sails on

This book was available on tour with Ruiner. It is in memory of Rowan Willoughby, former guitarist from Break Even. Unfortunately after their tour with Ruiner at the end of 2008, Rowan took his own life.

So I don't know if you would call this a book, or a zine, or a magazine, whatever. Who cares really. It's the second release from Callum Preston, better known as "The Tooth". He's started up something like a label for zines, Pyramid Scheme Press. The first release was a Miles Away Euro tour retrospective. I didn't get that one, but it sounded like a great idea.

So this book is full of photos from the road from Hartley, he's the guy you always see at shows taking pictures with a ginormous beard. The book is full of various pictures from the tour, some from shows, some of everyone just hanging out.

The quality is superb. Even though it's black and white, it's been printed in digital offset, not just banged up on a photocopier, like most other zines. The only writing is on page one, a bit of a blurb about the production, and a reminder to keep a Positive Mental Attitude. Also some links to support for depression.

They say a picture says a thousand words. Some of these may say even more, however, some little blurbs from time to time would be nice. It's good to see Canberra get a mention, with a massive Break Even photo from the Tuggeranong show spread across the back two pages.

Good stuff and hope to see more coming from the Pyramid Scheme Press.

POLAR BEAR CLUB

I did an interview with Jimmy, the singer from Polar Bear Club after their Brisbane show at The Fort, a new artist run community art space. I also did an interview with Kel who is one of the main people behind The Fort. After a full day delay on their flight, they were not so impressed with United Airlines. The show was in a sweet venue (although incredibly hot) and they are paired up with two of the best bands in Australia (Break Even and The Gifthorse).

I am fairly new to listening to Polar Bear Club. I had heard people talk about them every now and then and always meant to check them out, but it wasn't until I saw “touring with Break Even and The Gifthorse” that I thought, hey, I better check this band out. After working up in Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays for the past month and a half, where no bands ever play, it was exciting that this was my first show of the year. Here is what Jimmy had to say:

So that was your first show in Australia, how'd you like it?

First show in Australia, first tour in Australia. We had no idea what to expect from tonight. With the internet these days, you get some snippets- “hey when are you guys going to come to Australia?”, twitterings etc. You get a vague idea, but you never know until you arrive. Tonight's show was incredible. It's a Wednesday night in Brisbane, I'd never even heard of Brisbane before the tour got announced.

So you guys are from somewhere in New York State, tell us about your hometown

Well I'm from Rochester and two of the other guys are from Syracuse. For most people they're just places six hours north from New York City.

So do any of you guys play footbag- (I asked this because Rochester has quite a strong Footbag scene)

No, we're not really sporty dudes. Well our drummer and guitarist, they play a bit of basketball. I love hockey, but I don't play it at all.

Before you came to Australia did you know of any Australian bands?

I knew about Break Even and The Gifthorse, once the tour was set up I did a little bit of research, but honestly before that, not really?

No AC/DC?

Do they count? They're like masters of the world. Ok, I knew AC/DC. Nate should do this interview, he loves ACDC. I was blown away when I heard both Break Even and The Gifthorse. When you find out you're touring with two random bands on the other side of the world, you never know what to expect. Sometimes you just hope for the best, and I think we got some of the best bands you could hope for.

The show was really sweet tonight.

It was great. It was diverse enough from band to band to band. Three bands, a perfect sized show. Great venue.

What are your expectations from the rest of the tour?

If every show was half as good as tonight, I would consider it a great success. It's such a mystery coming to Austalia. It's a place where bands come, but not so much. Although I think more bands are starting to come here now. Our friends have been out here a few times. The guys in Strike Anywhere. Every Time I Die were here last week. You don't know what to expect, and it's exciting to just explore, find out more for when we come next time.

You released the album “Chasing Hamburg” last year, what's the title all about?

Well it refers to the last song on the album, which has the same title. If you read the lyrics to that song, you might get your own ideas about what it means, why we might name the whole album after that. To me, that song drives home every other song on the album. For me, that song makes every other song better, it wraps things up.

It seemed really appropriate to name it that. It references a show we played in Hamburg, Germany, which was a really great night for us, and all the other bands we were touring with at the time. It's about that and a lot of other things.

So you guys have toured Europe a few times?

We've done England three times, Germany twice and some other mainland European dates once, but we're actually going back right after this tour. We have a week back home, then straight to Europe.

Would you say that you're “living the dream”?

Hahahaha. Yeah, I definitely am. Sometimes I have to remind myself. Anything you do day in, day out, sometimes it can feel like it's just a job. You know, some shows you just, they don't care, blah blah. You know that's what a lot of “Chasing Hamburg”is about. The album and the song itself. It's about reminding yourself that you're a very lucky person. You may lose sight of it at times, but you always come back to the love.

Do you think there'll be another Australian tour soon enough?

Well, today is the first day of this one, but we'd love to. Maybe we could come and play on Soundwave next year. We haven't talked about it at all, but that would be awesome. If the shows keep going like this one tonight, definitely, there's no way we couldn't.

You should play in Canberra on your next tour too.

Where's that?

It's the capital, a few hours from Sydney.

Oh! Well the routing on this tour is pretty weird. We play again in Brisbane, then we go to Newcastle and Sydney, that pretty normal. Then we fly to Perth and it seems like we switch between the middle and the east coast. It's kinda weird, but it should be fun.

Will you do any sightseeing while you're here?

Hopefully tomorrow we're going to the koala zoo here in Brisbane, that's what I've heard we're doing. Should be really cool. What's so great about this tour that we've never had before is that we're playing a bunch of cities twice. Brisbane twice, Sydney twice, so we get a chance to spend a whole day checking out places. We've never had that before- I went to Berlin last year, on my birthday, and we couldn't even see anything. So we're going to take advantage of this opportunity for sure.

Any plans for any new album, other recordings?

We're just getting to the point where we're thinking about doing a new one. We've given our brains a bit of break. After writing Chasing Hamburg, that's a lot of mental work. After that was done I had a week off from any of that sort of activity, but after that week, I was back writing songs. I really need to be writing songs. If I'm sitting around, and there's a guitar around, I could go on the internet, waste time, or I could pick up the guitar, start writing songs, or work on other songs. Nine times out of ten I'll take the guitar. Each of us has a slew of parts, ideas, that sort of thing. We've just had a fairly long break, two months off, so we started getting some ideas together.

So what sort of places are you staying in for the tour?

Mainly hostels, that's alright by me. This guy Graham lined everything up and our van driver is showing us the ropes. Judging by the one we're staying in tonight, things are pretty nice over here. In America and some parts of Europe you hear the word hostel and you cringe. Hostels are nice, they have, you know, a shower.

Anything else you want to add? Anyone you want to thank?

I just want to thank everyone who's here tonight. It totally surprised me. Thank you for letting me know what Australian punk is all about.

Thanks for the interview

Thank you, it was nice to meet you.





If you get the chance, go and see this tour. All three are great bands, lots of fun, lots of energy. I'm really weighing up if I want to see Jungle Fever tonight, or go for another round of Polar Bear Club, Break Even and The Gifthorse. Also, The Gifthorse are playing one more show after this tour, then it's all over. That's sad news.