HIM gig Review

HIM

Festival Hall, Melbourne

March 27^th 2008

Maybe it was a coincidence. Or maybe it was a sign of things to come. 

After months of no rain, the heavens opened to give Finnish band HIM a warm (or not so) Melbourne welcome.

The soaking was not enough to deter thousands of black clad fans from filling Festival Hall to catch a glimpse of their favourite band.

But many were about to be disappointed.

Opening act McQueen (an all girl punk/metal band from the UK) were confident and looked the part but didn’t have what the crowd needed to get excited.

Playing a set that was too long created an awkward atmosphere and all the girls seemed to care about was getting off the stage and finding as many drinking buddies as possible.

After McQueen left the stage, HIM-mania began to take over with a Heartagram (the bands logo) visible on every fan.

At last the lights dimmed and the room was filled with smoke and ear piercing screams from the young crowd.

The no smoking indoors law apparently didn’t apply to front man Ville Valo who loomed onstage with a cigarette in hand using every spare moment onstage to light another.

Valo, complete with his signature beanie, initiated very little audience participation, spending most of the set making conversation with his band mates.

When he did acknowledge the fact that there were thousands of eyes glued to him, he mumbled into the mic, at one point complaining about the air conditioning being on and having a book to finish.

The rest of the band remained fairly static with guitarist Linde throwing in a few impressive solos to keep the crowd happy.

There is no doubt about it HIM (completed by Mikko Paananen on bass, Burton on keyboard and Gas on drums) were tight, melodic and sounded amazing but passion and enthusiasm was scarce.

Playing the majority of songs off their latest album Venus Doom, the quintet rolled out old favourites including covers of ‘Wicked Game’ and Black Sabbath’s ‘Black Sabbath’. 

‘Passion’s Killing Floor’ and ‘(Rip Out) The Wings of a Butterfly’ were melodically flawless with the bands musical talent being shown at its best.

Although it seemed the band couldn’t wait to leave, it is clear that they have their fans in the palms of their hands.

Next time, lets hope Valo has finished his book and can concentrate on the task at hand.

 

Birds of Tokyo Interview

Just four years ago, four Perth musicians sat discussing whether or not there were any birds in Tokyo.

They all came to the conclusion that there were no birds in the city, only later to find out they were wrong.

Fast-forward to July 2008 and alternative rock band Birds of Tokyo are days away from releasing their sophomore album Universes.

“We’re all a bit curious and intrigued as to how people will take it because it’s different to what we’ve done before,” says guitarist Adam Sparks.

“Any time we put out new music there’s always a bit of scary water to tread but it’s as exciting as much as it is nerve-racking,” he continues.

Rounded out by Ian Kenny on vocals, Adam Weston on bass and Anthonny Jackson on drums, Birds of Tokyo have enjoyed enormous success, winning two WAMi (Western Australia Music Industry) Awards in 2007 for Favourite Newcomer and Best Male Vocalist and also being included on the Perth leg of the 2007 Big Day Out.

Universes was independently recorded in the Margaret River region of Western Australia and produced by Sparks.

“Being a producer is my job outside of the band so it was a natural thing to do,” says Sparks.

“There were a few people we had talked about using but there was really no one who grabbed our attention who we wanted to work with on this album,” he says.

“We just felt that doing it ourselves we could communicate with each other better than with someone who we weren’t really comfortable with.”

According to Sparks, recording the album was a lot smoother than anyone had predicted and they spread it out over a month which gave them time to create the best album possible.

“We’ve been together for a little while now so everyone is getting a little more comfortable,” he says.

“We usually just sit around for a week or two rehearsing our parts for the record so by the time we go in to record there’s not really much guess work and everyone works pretty fast.”

Universes has been described as being a lot heavier than any of Birds of Tokyo’s previous work but still full of razor sharp pop hooks.

Mixed in Los Angeles by Tim Palmer (Pearl Jam, The Cure), Universes is set to be one of Australia’s best rock albums seen in recent years.

“Each song seems to belong in its own little universe and they’re not really related to each other in any way,” says Sparks.

“So the work Universes is a summation of all the little parts of the record.”

As for many bands, one of the highlights for all members of Birds of Tokyo is touring.

“It’s always great reaching out to all the people and heading to bigger and better places and smaller and more regional places as well,” he says.

When Birds of Tokyo began, it was more of a side project rather than a serious band and no one saw their recent success coming.

“It’s really hard to see from the ground up where it’s going,” says Sparks.

“I’d be lying if I said no one goes into a band thinking this kind of success would be cool but as you’re rolling along you can’t really see it until people remind you of how fortunate you are.”

According to Sparks, the thing that he loves the most about music is the undying idea that connects one person to another.

“Someone can write a song in their bedroom or with their friends in a jam and in some way, whether it’s a small band or a big band and regardless of style, it resonates with at least one other person in the world,” he says.

“People can get something out of that whether it be a feeling of good times or a sorrowful thing, it’s just that connection that music gives us.”

Universes is out now and Birds of Tokyo are on tour in August and September. Check out www.myspace.com/birdsoftokyo for dates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Getaway Plan CD Review

The Getaway Plan

Other Voices, Other Rooms

 For those who haven’t heard of The Getaway Plan, you have no idea what you are missing out on.

 

Forming in Melbourne in late 2004, the alternative rock quartet have been taking their home town and Australia by storm.

 

Touring nationally with bands including The Used, Taking Back Sunday and Unwritten Law, it is clear where The Getaway Plan’s influences come from.

 

Their distinct Australian sound mixed with a hint of screamo and alternative rock anthems will no doubt see The Getaway Plan rise to the top.

 

2007 saw them fly to Florida to record their debut album, Other Voices, Other Rooms with producer James Paul Wisner.

 

Debuting at #14 on the National ARIA Charts, Other Voices, Other Rooms gives fans a taste of what is to come from The Getaway Plan.

 

‘Streetlight’ is the first single off the album and can only be described as one of the best rock songs Australia has seen in a long time.

 

Known for their energetic live shows, The Getaway Plan have captured this energy on the album with each song standing out with its own unique sound.

 

The second single ‘Where The City Meets The Sea’ (released on March 15) is a radio-friendly taste of The Getaway Plan but is quickly followed by heavier track ‘Sleep Spindless’ which shows where the bands roots really lie.

 

Brace yourselves to be blown away by one of the best alternative rock bands Australia has ever seen.