rumours...

French band Phoenix are said to be returning to our shores again in November or December! They were here just a few weeks ago and rocked my socks off at their Melbourne show, which included an amazing acoustic version of Air's 'Playground Love'.... oh I hope this rumour is true...

20 questions with...THE GOOD CHINA

I play 20 questions with Melbourne band, The Good China to find out who they are and what they love…

1. Start with something basic; Who are The Good China?
Jag: Take 8 strangers and introduce them so they become the best of friends. Add an ever growing number of instruments (currently around 15). Then add a healthy dose of handclaps and a t-shirt that says "Pants". Set your oven to "Indie fun" and bake for 45 mins. Allow to cool and there you have it. The Good China. (Or a delicious cake shaped liked a hamburger. Depends how closely you followed the instructions... )

2. Where did the name come from?
Jag: We all brainstormed and collectively came up with about 200 or so potential names. "The Good China" is the only one that didn't suck so we went with it.

3. If you weren’t called The Good China, what do you think you would be called?
Jag: We were close to being called "Tiger Bite" for a while there until we realised it sounds like the name of a Japanese girl punk band...

4.What is the best gig you have ever played?
Ryan: It's hard to pick a favourite! Playing to 500 people at St Kilda Festival's New Music stage earlier this year was a rush, but having most of the Evelyn Hotel filled with dancing fans on the last night of our July residency was fantastic too.

5. Why was it the best?
Ryan: We had fun, the audience saw us enjoying ourselves and started to have fun too, and then we saw that and enjoyed it even more. The energy was terrific. We try to get that into every Good China show.

6. Finish this sentence:
When I was a child...
Mit: I wasn't allowed colouring books. My parents were insistent that I make my own. This probably explains my penchant for turning instruments into sparkly colourful spectacles!

7. Which Summer music festivals are you getting excited about?
Ryan: Meredith! But also Falls, not so much for the festival itself but for the sideshows of some great acts in early January next year. And St Kilda Festival 2010 - it'll be a real highlight to play on the main stage... if only because we'll all finally have enough room to perform scissor kicks and commando rolls while playing. Yes, we have discussed this before.

8. What are your favourite bands?
Broken Social Scene, Los Campesinos!, Radiohead, Modest Mouse, Phoenix, The National.

9. Describe them in 3 words:
Fun, euphoric, layered.

10. Describe The Good China in 3 words:
Ryan: Woo hey clap!

12. Who is the most organised in the band?
Ryan: Mit. For our St Kilda Festival performance earlier in the year she made us all individual zip-lock packs with relevant passes, parking details, set-lists and instructions. It was equal parts cute and obsessive-compulsive, I suspect.

Mit: Hey! I was just excited... Next time we play a festival and you get lost or not let in because you don't have a pass- don't blame me!

16. God is....
Ryan: Seven. But only if the devil is six. Thanks, Frank Black.

17. Life is....
Mit: Fun. Glorious. Wonderful. Most of the time!

18. Music is....
Mit: Fun. Glorious. Wonderful. All of the time!

19. We love....
Mit: With eight of us in the band, we cover a lot of things when it comes to love. Although we all love a good crowd to play to!

20. The Good China's next gig is....
Our debut EP Launch on September 17th at the Toff with the extraordinary Georgia Fields and indie popsters Swiss. We're very excited about this show! We're also playing some regional and NSW gigs - keep your eyes peeled for tour dates!

Check out their website for more information, www.myspace.com/thegoodchinaband
This interview is also up on

http://polaroidsofandroids.com/articles/interview-the-good-china/3965.html

visit the famous John Tranter's online publication:

http://www.jacketmagazine.com/

for some Australian new poetry, including some of mine in issue 37!

"I dislike a great deal of contemporary poetry -- all of the past you read is usually quite great -- but it is a useful thorn to have in one's side." (Frank O'Hara)

The Yoshimi Collective

I have started an Arts Collective for creative souls...
The Yoshimi Collective
The mission is to create a strong network of artists ( including visual artists, bands, poets, djs, etc) to SUPPORT each other, share thoughts, bounce ideas around and hopefully organise some great events together.
There are now over 40 members and growing.
The ideas and upcoming events are flowing like the dirty Yarra in a storm.
I am exicted about the enormous amout of success and fun that some collectivity can bring!

The most disgusting and disturbing thing I've heard in a long time...

Brokencyde's album is now in stores...unfortunately.
This is actually selling, this offensive, sexist, screamo-meets-breakbeat shite is actually selling! and to a female audience!
The lyrics are equally as bad as the sound! Talking of sluts they are going to f£*k and f%*king hate...I don't get easily offended but I cannot believe these guys are actually signed up to a label. What is going on?!