So i'm online on an airplane at 33 000ft somewhere above middle America. Philadelphia was great, This is Hardcore was great. All The bands i wanted to see killed it, Esp. Horrorshow, Bane and the Cro Mags. Bummed i missed the first night but when your flight is cancelled what are you gonna do?
Philly is a rad city and for someone who usually hates inland cities this says alot. We went to the Philadelphia Art Museum where they shot the scenes in the Rocky films. Which was amazingly cool.
On my way to California right now for some surfing and sun. Hopefully my boards have no more damage from the flights.

Youth and Lust

Plenty of exciting things happening soon, I promise!
Not only will I get some new interviews up but I have a new project that i'm working on that will hopefully appeal to anyone into punk and hardcore.
But first, before any of that happens, i'm heading to the States. Not just to escape our rather cold climate but I somehow managed to swindle some tickets to 'This is Hardcore' in Philadelphia which should be an amazing few days, The Cro Mags, Bane, Ceremony, Horrorshow, Kid Dynamite and plenty more. Then back to california for some much needed RnR, surfing and some hangs.
Hopefully by the time i'm back my little project should be all go, so stay tuned.

I walk home the same way every night

Im moving into a new apartment today, overlooking the beach. Its fucking rad.

Dangers, Miles Away and Break Even are here next week. The shows should be mental.

Miles Away previewed a track 'Ghostwriter' from their upcoming album/7'' and its everything I hoped it would be and more. Check out the record when it drops.

New Ceremony is fucking raging too...

Playlist:

Ceremony - Rohnert Park
AFI - Crash love(this is still kicking my ass)
The Nightbirds - S/t
The Loved Ones - Build and Burn
Deep Sleep - Three things at once
GW - No Way Out EP

All We Do Is Svrf

Now I know this was and still is a music blog, sometimes its hard to keep out the other facets of my life so...

With water temps still pushing 23 degrees, an ample supply of waves and a few really good sandbanks, I have'nt had much time for anything else. The last month i've been putting in some serious time in the water.  I cant remember the last day off i've had where I did'nt surf, plenty of missions down the coast, 8 hour marathon sessions and lots and lots of just plain good waves. Its funny how Spring/Summer can be so amazingly shit then once that magical season of Autumn hits, everything changes. This week looks like were in for some more juice thanks to a nice Tasman sea low, combined with good winds and a serious drop in air temps. Lets hope that keeps the crowds down. I also have a nice new winter board on order, when that drops, I might do run down of my quiver.

Last Friday the 7th of May was looking like just another day of small clean waves but Tamarama seriously turned on for once, 3-4 feet peaks, NW winds for most of the day. Photog Lee kelly scored probably one of the best waves in the last 5 years out there, then ran and got his housing to shoot a few fisheye shots from the water.

He was only out for a little while and I managed to score this shot, but there were plenty more after he bailed and I surfed until I could paddle no more/the tide was too high.

I do apologise to any of my friends who have not seen or spoken with me over the last month or so, but hey you gotta do what you gotta do. Ha!

ENJOY!

Shut Your Mouth And Open Your Eyes

This is THE record that made me want to be involved with Punk and Hardcore. From the speed of the songs, the sound of the guitars and the ferocity of the lyrics, It was what I had been searching for. A defining moment, if you will. I can honestly say that I would be doing something completely different had I not heard it. Sure I had been listening to all the Fatwreck bands for quite some time but they never really grabbed a hold of me like this, it opened up a whole new world of music to me that I am so thankful for. The first 3 tracks are for me, quite possibly some of the best opening tracks on any record I own. I still get a chill up my spine when I hear that first pick scrape on 'Keeping out of direct sunlight'. Aggressive and unrelenting, there is a very noticeable change in lyrical content from that of 'Very proud of ya'. This was the beginning of their evolution from snotty Californian punk band that covered Minor threat, Dag Nasty and NA to the Dark and brooding hardcore anthems on Black Sails/All Hallows, Which are also 2 of my favourite records. After the 2006 DU tour here I almost gave up on them, But After seeing Dave cover SxE revenge with Ceremony(2009) and hearing Crash Love, they are as relevant as ever.
Check this Video of them playing 'Coin Return' from SYMAOYE at a club show in San Fran a few weeks back. I would have killed to be at this.

You are my target audience

It's been a slow month. I have'nt had the enthusiasm to write anything at all. I've been thinking about who to interview next and while I have plenty of people i'd like to hear from, I just cant think what i'd like to extract from them. I apologise sincerely to anyone who bothers to read my ramblings.

Ps. I kinda have a thing for girls in Indie bands.

xo

Playlist:

Cold Cave - Love Comes Close
The Sounds - Dying To Say This To You
Southside Stranglers - Too Much TV
Give Up The Ghost - We're Down Till We're Underground
Slayer - Reign In Blood
Minor Threat - Complete Discog.

...

Summer 09/10 will soon be just a distant memory for the nostalgic in all of us. You can definately feel a difference in the air, the sun is lower in the sky and soon autumn reds will litter the trees as winter makes it's approach. As usual the best time of year for waves begins. After summer was a blur of onshore's, flat days and for some, a few nasty bluebottle stings. It's a welcome relief. I don't think I had many standout sessions this summer at all, and aside from that rather large south swell mid Jan and a few days of big junky mush from the East in Feb, there wasn't much to get excited about.
I Began full time work for the first time in almost 4 years on Monday, scary, I know. But for whatever reason, it is nice to have a steady pay check and do something I thoroughly enjoy day in/day out.
I'm working at getting some real good interviews up soon, I promise!
Mawds of Break Even fame agreed to do one for me just before they jet off for their second tour of Europe this May and I'm also hoping I can squeeze some answers out of some of my favourite lesser known bands from the States too.
Stay tuned.

Playlist:

Fucked Up - Hidden World
Brand New - Daisy
Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City
The Sounds - Living In America
Government Warning - Arrested 7''
Interpol - Turn On The Bright Lights
Tragedy - Nerve Damage LP
Vivian Girls - Vivian Girls
The Suicide File - Some Mistakes You Never Stop Paying For