Fri 26th Feb - Horrorshow @ The Factory

Well... Horrorshow's album launch supported by Spit Syndicate and Daily Meds along with guests Jane Tyrrell, Fame and El Gusto, rocking an anthem DJ set was unlike any hip hop gig I've ever been to.

The last time I went to an all ages gig I was probably underage. I didn't realise that Oz hip hop is popular with teenage girls these days. And what a reminder of youth it was, when everything needs to be exciting and fun. It's all about trying out things for the 'first' time. I have memories of being 16, running around high, in love, with the need for adventure, anything with alcohol in it and chewing gum. Now its very different, being tired, outta love, with the need for food, a cup of tea and a cigarette. I'm only 22 and I feel as if Iv been doing this for a very long time. Gigs I've been going to doing for ten years now but life is apparently just 'beginning'. So for me the mixed aged group felt like an odd clash of the worlds but it sure made the evening's vibe intensely exciting.

Spit Syndicate and Horrorshow killed it (to kill, being a good thing) and the crowd loved every second. They make performing look easy, with their on stage confidence bouncing off each other and their lyrical content easy to identify with. In Horrorshow's case, distinctive and poetic with dark undertones and an articulation you don't always find in Australia, especially live. Iv been a fan of Solo's style since I first saw him perform back when Horrorshow was minus producer Adit and plus DJ Joyride. Supporting People Under The Stairs at the beginning of 2008, Solo was an angry, impatient fella reminding me of Atmosphere or MC Immune. 2010, Adit made his presence known and Solo has still got that same passion, selling out The Factory two weeks before the gig. Horrorshow are excelling and if you're not on the band wagon perhaps you should sit yourself down and ask yourself, why?

It was refreshing that artists from Sydney's Inner West did a gig in their area. The Factory is a venue I hope to visit more. Once security get their heads around how to manage bigger crowd numbers, it will continue to be a awesome live venue. I'm looking forward to seeing hip hop acts playing over on my side of the city for a change.

Horrorshow will be back to play Sydney again in April. But for now they are heading off on a national tour, promoting their new album Inside Story. For tour dates and more info, head on to...

horrorshowcrew

Spit Syndicate have a blog if you would like to follow what they are upto.

http://spitsyndicate.blogspot.com/2009/02/bring-it-home-horrorshow1dayers-remix.html

Images by James Alcock.

Tom Tom Crew

Unfortunately if you didn't get to one of the 21 shows during Tom Tom Crew's season at Sydney Festival, you may be waiting a while before you experience it for yourself.
The hip hop circus is headed over seas this month to tour Holland, France, Belgium and Germany. This won't be the first time the Australian based crew have taken their dynamic beat, acrobatic, drum and beatbox fusion off the shores of Oz. Previous tours in New York and Edinburgh Fringe Festival having an awesome response, meant they are set to hit Europe again this year.

The talented collective is formed of acrobats from the Flying Fruit Fly Circus including Shane Witt, Jamie McDowell, Daniel Catlow, Dave Carberry and Ben Lewis.
Ben Walsh drummer extraordinaire, most commonly known from The Bird and Circle of Rhythm. Luke Dubs on keys and turntables from the Sydney electronic act Hermitude. And Tom Thum, internationally acclaimed beatboxer, winner of OzHipHop awards, team battle Beatboxing World Championship 2005 and second place in 2006 at Americas most prestigious beatboxing battles Scribble Jam.

I had the opportunity to see them perform at the Sydney Opera House the beginning of this year. I was kept constantly entertained for the brief hour, the stage having me in awe with all, I know, I would never be able to do myself. Including playing an omnicord (bet you've never heard of that instrument before). Its the kind of show that thrives on audience response but doesn't target or limit itself to one particular age group. However you may definitely appreciate it more if you are fond of the hip hop genre.

I sat down for a quick chat with performer Luke Dubs to talk about the Tom Tom Crew's international tour...

LS: So.. You're a new addition to the Tom Tom Crew?

LD: I am.

LS: Elaborate..? ( After a shy laugh he begins to talk...)

LD: I started with Tom Tom, in Nov 2009 for a one off show in Brisbane. I also did the last week of the Sydney season at the Opera House. So I'm the newest member of the Tom Tom Crew.

LS: How did you get involved?

LD: I was brought into share the gig load with Sampology, because Sam has other commitments in Brisbane and had to take a couple of months off. So I was approached by Ben Walsh to join and I said yes.

LS: Ben Walsh is an awesome musician. You have worked with him before?

LD: Yeah, I've toured with The Bird and also Hermitude has played with The Bird over the years. He's also a good old friend from Sydney.

LS: Have you performed for a circus before?

LD: No this is definitely my first time working for a circus and it's very different from playing in a normal band. Because acrobats work on their own time, they don't follow traditional counting methods, like bars or anything. So it keeps you on your toes, you have to be watching what is going on, on stages all the time, to insure that when they land a trick you right there with them so the show is kept fluid.

LS: Europe, are you looking forward to it? Do you know what to expect on the tour?

LD: Yes I'm looking forward to it and no I don't know what to expect. It will be a hectic schedule with 30 plus shows over two months.

LS: Do you know when Tom Tom Crew will be playing Sydney again?

LD: Umm no not really but I imagine next summer.


Want to know more about the Tom Tom Crew?
Hit up their website...

http://www.tomtomcrew.com/

Or check out Tom Tom Crew on YouTube and see why the show has many talking world wide...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpTpDIud3IA

Image from Tom Tom Crew website

Friday 19th of Feb - Thundamentals @ The Annandale Hotel

It's friday night and I started with an affogato at Buzz Bar in Newtown, I then passed The Sun Chasers Collective at The Hub on King St. Jamming into the evening thanks to solar panels which generate enery that amplifys the musicians instruments, pumping out improvised afo beat grooves oppersite Newtown Station. From there I walked to the Annandale Hotel on Parramatta Rd where the patrons seemed relaxed, up for not only drinking but listening a change from the venues usual intimidating vibe.

The Annandale hosted Host Manifest along with Daily Meds and Dialetrix in support of the Blue Mountains hip hop outfit Thundamentals. The occasion was the My Lady Tour, for the release of the single 'My lady' featuring Ray Mann. The third single off the Thundamentals album Sleeping On Your Style, released towards the end of 2009. Sleeping On Your Style is the second release for Thundamentals while being signed with Melbourne based hip hop label Obese Records. After a good gig with solid sound, Thunda's showed off the 'My Lady' film clip. If you missed it and keen to check it out, keep your eyes on the Obese Records website for its official release.

The My Lady Tour is heading to Melbourne on the 26th of Feb and Brisbane on the 27th. Thundas will be back playing Sydney later in the year, as always it is highly recommended if you are interested in Oz hip hop, check out Thundamentals live!

Want to know more about Thundamentals? Head onto...

www.thundamentals.com

http://www.obeserecords.com/

The Triple J wesite has a blog on Thundamentals where you can listen to the single 'Move It Up'

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/homeandhosed/blog/s2682184.htm

Want to go to a Sun Chasers jam before Summer raps up? You can join the mailing list and get all the info on upcoming Sun Chaser gigs.

eden.ottignon@gmail.com

Images by SBS Radio Alchemy www.facebook.com/alchemyradio

Image by Stephanie Simcox