Criminal Indifference

Not Beauty School Dropouts.

2011-12-12T21:20:00.000-08:00

The Australian College of Hair Design and Beauty is "Melbourne’s premier provider of hairdressing and beauty/spa training" and is based just up from Degraves on Flinders Lane.

Here are some portraits Ive shot for the students assessments.

Melbourne New Folk - Where The Wild Things Are.

2011-12-07T19:40:00.001-08:00

I think that we should leave old growth forests the fuck alone. I believe in striving and acting for a sustainable future. I dont think that turning down your air conditioner, riding a bike or being conscious of the effect that your ass is wreaking on the planet is too much to ask. I thank the people who chain themselves to trucks. I champion the champions.

So does Mr Dan Ogilvie.

I have had the pleasure of working with this gentleman and seeing just how fucking heartfelt his drive and ambition is in doing his part for the cause in the best way he knows how. Dan is involved in many projects, and one in particular called Melbourne New Folk strikes a chord with me and I truly respect what the collective is achieving. It is a platform for events, parties, activism and a festival which are about community and sustainability. Check their website and facebook for more information.

The projects he has been involved in have now raised $20 000 to go towards old growth forest campaigns!!!!

*** TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ***

The images below were shot for the promo of a fundraiser called Where The Wild Things Are which raised over $5000 and featured the incredible The WooHoo Revue, Immigrant Union, The High Society and many, many others.

Bands, artists and activists met at Southern Cross Station dressed in the theme of Wild Things and boarded a train to play music and be generally fabulous for the video. It was a really fun evening and you should totally check the promo video.

I'll leave you with a quote from my amazing sister (who kinda raised me). It was something she said to me to give me perspective when I was a kid...

"One day when your kids ask you what happened to the forests, you can say "Im sorry child, but we were so greedy and wasteful that we wiped the shit off our arses with them."

Little Ugly Girls & The Nation Blue @ The Tote

2011-11-06T03:48:00.000-08:00

If you have ever had a drunken rant with me over the big topics of life, the universe and everything - I have no doubt espoused my verging on fanatical love for the incredible force that was Little Ugly Girls.

My love affair began one inebriated evening drinking in the front bar of The Punters Club. I was swaggering in the cigarette smoke when I heard this brutal, driven noise coming from the band room. Scrounging the coins from my pocket for the cover charge I got out the back in time to see Linda J tearing at her hair, stomping her feet and snarling out the most real and raw performance I'd seen. And the band. The band! Fuck me.

That was it, I saw every show I possibly could including the infamous final show at The Empress (back when you could rock out there) and in my memory I see Bean smashing his guitar and pushing his way off stage and through the crowd, feedback wailing, Sloth kicking over his kit and slicing his skins and Linda screaming "its all about the band! Its all about the band!" over and over till it was just her left. Maybe time has distorted the facts of this, but it I dont care. It was gutsy, brutal, driven and it fucking marked me.

I still honest to God have no fucking idea why Linda and Bean are not Australian icons. The Dacios, Bulls, Little Ugly Girls. Seriously. Am I on fucking crazy pills here? Are you with me?

If you have no idea of what Im talking about watch:

Carbie Warbie's Little Ugly Girls Video

Simon Georgopoulos's LUGS Video

Then read:

Dik Dik Dik's Blog

Then listen to:

Bulls

The Dacios

The look at:

Ben Butcher's Photo's

For The Totes 30th birthday celebrations, LUGS reformed and played with The Nation Blue, Legends of Motorsport and Ivy St.

Here is my evidence of the evening.


The Nation Blue

The Nation Blue

Little Ugly Girls

Baby Animals @ The Corner 31/10/11

2011-10-31T19:53:00.000-07:00

Baby Animals were always a band I enjoyed in the 90's. The super sizzling Suze DeMarchi and her tight as fuck band smashing out some genius hard rock with perfect pop sensibililty. Rush You, Early Warning, Painless. You know the songs. Australian rock classics.

What I didn't know was - how fucking great their albums are in full! I didn't own them in the day, but I listened the shit outta their debut and Shaved & Dangerous in the lead up to this show. Man - these songs are balls out, high energy hard rock. The song that really blew me away? "At The End Of The Day" A heavy double kick, rocking guitars, and the verses sung in french. Wowsers. Genius.

I got to talking to people in the crowd, asking why they were here - was it pure nostalgia? Of course, that was why some folk were there, but the majority were people who genuinely loved and still love the band - and are committed to them as fans. Younger fans who werent around for the first incarnation were there with CD's to be signed, making sure they were there super early to get front row! That is the shit!! Man, there is nothing I like better than a passionate crowd. It makes for a fucking amazing performance and experience.

OK. Some shit you probably didnt know but is cool:

In 1991 Baby Animals released their debut self titled album which became the highest selling Australian debut until Jet released Get Born 12 years later.

They were the first band to be on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine on the merits of a debut release.

Toured with Robert Plant, Eddie Van Halen, Black Crowes.

They are back. Completely on form. Rocking hard.

AT THE END OF THE DAY - 1993.

Its a Nice Day For a White Wedding.

2011-10-30T22:19:00.000-07:00

Its a far cry from Rock n Roll and Riots, but I also get around shooting peoples big days.

Here's one I shot recently.

View full album here

View full album here!

Dispelling the Melbourne Myth

2011-10-23T00:23:00.000-07:00

The Melbourne music scene is one that is lauded with praise the world over for its quality and quantity of live shows on offer any night of the week.

I recently heard of a term called the 'Melbourne Myth' which refutes the belief in the music scene. It is the idea that it is in fact oversaturated with mediocre and generally shitteous bands, filling venues with tedium and frustration.

Personally I believe the music scene here is vital and alive, but of course, to find the gold you have to wade through a bit of shit to get there. My own frustration in Melbourne town is that we have had it too good for too long and people are very complacent about seeing shows, but more annoyingly, not allowing themselves to enjoy the show by the age old tradition of moving your body and have a dance... or whatever it is your body does when music touches it.

Here is a collection of my live images which have been stockpiling on my hard drive.

Mindsnare

Mindsnare @ The Corner

Mindsnare

The Dacios

The Dacios @ The Tote

Plast Her Ov Paris

Plast Her Ov Paris @ The Workers Club

Spermaids

Spermaids @ The Workers Club

Spermaids

Blood Duster

Bloodduster @ The Corner

Satanic Rockers

Satanic Rockers @ IDGAFF

Abbe May

Abbe May @ East Brunswick Club (iphone)

Add caption

Occupy Melbourne - The Brutal Police Intervention

2011-10-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

These photographs are of Day 7 of Occupy Melbourne. The Queen will be in town in a few days and our Mayor Robert Doyle thinks he should clean our streets up and get rid of those pesky peaceful protesters from City Square before she gets here.

Mind you Queenie has just had the London riots in her backyard so Im sure she is well equipped to deal with a few tents in her line of sight.

The council gave an order to evict the sight at 7am and gave the protesters two hours to remove all belongings and themselves from the City Square. Many people remained in solidarity to the cause, linking arms and remaining calm in peaceful protest. The police fenced the City Square in to stop more people from piling into the square and halting what was their ultimate pissing contest, removing the protesters and throwing all of their belongings into trucks (most of which were instantly crushed at the tip). Laptops, cameras, stove tops, tents, food - all destroyed.

Hundreds of people had been gathering around the sight in outrage and disbelief. As everyone was forced out into the streets the people occupied the intersection, thus stopping trams. It was at this point the police stared running horses through the people trying to dispel the crowd.

The police assumed position forming a line, joined by riot police, barking police dogs, horses, and proceeded to barrage and force the protesters away. The number of cops was ridiculous. The amount of money wasted on this operation just to clear a group of people camping in City Square!

I have seen police at rallies before and I am aware of the pshycological as well as physical tactics utilised, but I am always so very disapointed when I see these people (who will be protesting on Swanston St in a few weeks for a pay rise!) pushing, punching, insulting, macing, innocent people! old people! Throwing them to the ground. Kneeling on their necks. Name badges removed. Trying to incite the crowd to violence to justify them using even more brute force. Using fear, intimidation and violence as tools. Well, just because the police do are doing something, is doesn't meant their actions are right, and everyone felt the injustice that day.

I was so proud of the people remaining as calm as they could, moving with the cops as they pushed us - we weren't trying to hold any particular section of the street, we just wanted to be on the street letting people know that we are fed up with corporate greed!! To shake our fists and say "Come on! This is enough! Lets reevaluate all this before its too late!!"

These photos are my record of the day. I was pepper sprayed right in the eyes whilst doing this. I was completely passive through the whole ordeal (as a way to stay close to the action and self preservation). But I was sprayed at close range right in the eyes after snapping a policeman roughing up a young woman.

I was there ready to shoot and document so that the police may be held accountable for their actions.

Occupy Melbourne

2011-10-17T03:46:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK DOLLS at Cherry Bar!!!

2011-10-12T00:28:00.000-07:00

What comes to mind when you think of the New York Dolls? Debaucherous gender bending glam pre punk rock n roll at its most drug fucked? Johnny Thunders seminal black mop that paved the way for the likes of Nikki Six? Used syringes, toilet bowls and high heeled shoes?

Yeah, me too.

What didnt cross my mind was The Cherry Bar. Oh that delectable public house of drunken rock n roll legend. Well finally, in the true nature of infamous shows in intimate settings, the two have met in what was a fucking incredible night of electricity and energy. Everyone who was there knew exactly how amazing and important it was to be at The Cherry to witness a legacy of rock n roll importance. What a show.

A pleaseure and a priviledge to witness the NEW YORK DOLLS at CHERRY BAR!

If you wanna see more pictures and tag yourself on facecrack - click HERE

Check out Carbie Warbie's video of Personality Crisis from the show HERE

Kira Puru & The Bruise @ CRASS queer happening.

2011-10-10T02:00:00.000-07:00

Picture if Beth Ditto and Billie Holiday had a threesome with Etta James, cuming to the exquisite tension release of blooozing pounding drums, thumping bass and noisy guitar.... Mix that with one quart of gasoline, a bottle of red, a cleched fist and a velvet glove .... and you got Kira Puru & The Bruise.

Hailing from Newcastle, these guys are inhabiting Melbourne for the next month to give you the rare gift of one of the best live shows you'll ever fucking see.

These photos were taken at my favourite queer night CRASS at The Bendigo Hotel.

Do yourself a favour and watch the clip below. Pour yourself a glass of red and turn it up.

Stalk Kira Puru @
www.myspace.com/kirapurumusic
www.facebook.com/kirapuruandthebruise

Stalk CRASS @
http://www.facebook.com/crasshappening

Lashes to Lashes

2011-09-21T01:38:00.000-07:00

Lashes to Lashes have left the land of the Long White Cloud to relocate to sunny Melbournia and are spreading forth both their hotness and Popcore in equal measure. I shot these guys in a white cyclorama with a Nikon D700 with a Sigma 24-70mm 2.8 lens and a Nikkor 50mm 1.4

Listen to their tack Paranoid whilst gazing upon their pretty faces.

Silver Magstar

2011-06-17T22:32:00.000-07:00

HERoes, panel discussion and video installation about female heroes

2011-02-28T21:50:00.000-08:00

As part of the Dawn Conspiracy Festival, Lyndal Walker has curated a panel discussion about female heroes.
This panel is a cross section of people who wish to engage and inspire others about great women.

I am honoured to be on the panel and am looking forward to giving my presentation on one of my favourite topics.

Strong women.

Here doth be the info peoples:

Inspired by the 22 year old Grace Darling who saved a group of sailors ship-wrecked off the north coast of England in 1838, a series of panelists will talk about their female heroes. Be inspired and engage with the questions Grace Darling’s story raises in an informal discussion upstairs at ‘The Grace’. An exhibition of video art will further tease out the themes.

Panelists include Kate Brady, Laura Castagnini, Rachael Cotra,... Virginia Fraser, Daniel O'Brien, Melanie Schleiger, Sean M Whelan

The video installation curated as part of ‘HERoes ‘ brings together the work of six contemporary Australian artists. Catherine Connolly, Rachel Fuller, Dani Hakim, Hannah Raisin, Darren Sylvester, and Kellie Wells challenge our pre-conceptions of the female hero whilst exploring her impact on popular culture, history and contemporary art. The Video program of HERoes is curated by Victoria Bennett.

Lyndal Walker will chair the panels. She is an artist, curator and writer. She has also worked in education and fashion and is one of the Hotham Street Ladies.

Kate Brady works in bush fire recovery for the Red Cross. She was Victorian director of the Create Foundation and has worked in advocacy and for trade unions.

Laura Castagnini is a curator currently writing a thesis about contemporary feminist art. She recently had an internship at the Elizabeth A. Sackler Feminist Art Centre, at the Brooklyn Museum, New York.

Rachael Cotra is founding owner of Fat fashion stores and director of the Hello Darkness Film Festival

Virginia Fraser is an artist, writer, editor and curator. She has been involved in Feminist activities since the 1970s when she co-authored A Book About Australian Women with the photographer Carol Jerrems.

Daniel O'Brien: After living in NY, Berlin and on the UK music festival circuit for the last five years, currently works in rock n roll industry as a roadie on the biggest shows in town, and is kicking his way into the photography scene.

Melanie Schleiger is a Senior Lawyer in the Civil Justice Program at Victoria Legal Aid. She has appeared as an expert witness in Parliamentary inquiries into anti-discrimination legislation.

Sean M Whelan writes for performance, paper and pixels. Recent achievements include winning the Moving Galleries People’s Choice award and performing three shows with The Interim Lovers at the Brisbane Arts Festival.

Murderesses.

2011-02-20T22:36:00.000-08:00

All photographs copyrighted Daniel O'Brien 2011

Primitive Calculators

2011-02-14T05:23:00.000-08:00

I ashamedly had only heard of Primitive Calculators through the "We're Living on Dog Food" documentary which came as part of a Dogs in Space reissue on DVD. Thanks God for that doco which filled my great holes of knowledge of the punk scene of Melbourne.

As purveyors and participants of the Little Band scene, these guys created an electro punk rock noise sound which sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday.

These pics are shot at Bar Open's Shape of Sound launch 2.

Check Mess and Noise's article by Rene Schaeffer.

Infinite Decimals

2011-02-08T01:11:00.000-08:00

Infintite Decimals are a three piece audio visual experience based in Melbourne, Victoria. Part bass, part guitar, part revolving TV - this is the sound that I pre-visualise noise art at its best to be.

These photos are taken at Bar Open's The Shape of Sound night in extremely low light, iso 6400.

All photographs copyrighted - Daniel Oh

Amanda Palmer and The Jane Austen Argument @ Fed Square

2011-01-09T03:51:00.000-08:00

As part of a showcase for Adelaide Fringe Festival, The Jane Austin Argument performed with special guest Amanda Palmer in a cute little travelling caravan on the steps of Federation Square's amphitheater on Flinders St, Melbourne.

All photographs copyright Daniel Oh 2011.

Those Darlin's @ The Espy

2011-01-02T06:50:00.000-08:00

Hailing from Nashville Tennessee, Those Darlins graced our shores to perform at Melbourne's beloved Meredith Music Festival, The Espy and a Happy Monday slot at the Rooftop Bar in the city.

This is what happened one night in St Kilda that involved one garage country band and a male stripper.

All photographs copyrighted Daniel O'Brien 2011.

Innerplace/Interface - RMIT School of Art 2011

2010-12-27T23:11:00.000-08:00

I have been curated by the amazing media artist Jade Burstall into a show at the RMIT School of Art Gallery called Innerplace/Interface. 3rd May - 13th May 2011!

Daniel O’Brien is a photographer based in Melbourne, has a Bachelor of Visual Arts majoring in photography from Charles Sturt University and is currently studying a Diploma of Photoimaging at NMIT. He also has been involved in performance art and organising performance art events in Melbourne using themes of a subversive and satirical nature playing on notions of normality and current affairs.

In "Innerplace/Innerface" Daniel is incorporating projected still photography, moving image and sound to create an immersive environment. Using the platform of ‘Trough’ a gay cruise club, Daniel places a face into the faceless moments and explores the ideal of intimacy in public yet private moments. Trough juxtaposes the dark anonymous nature that preconceived ideas of 'the scene' can imbibe, with images of real connection.

All photos copyrighted Daniel OBrien 2010

All Tomorrows Parties - Camber Sands UK.

2010-12-25T23:35:00.000-08:00

All Tomorrows Parties is the festival made for music lovers. Lovers of music. Music obsessionists, nerds, rockers, rollers. Its a wet dream for those who are sick of corporate sponsorship and the same fucking line up on every single festival bill. I have had the privilege to frequent a few of these curated art events and here are some of my photographs.


PJ Harvey Daniel Oh

Yoko Ono Daniel Oh

Vashti Bunyan Daniel Oh

The Liars. Daniel Oh.

Blood Brothers Daniel Oh

Devendra Barnhart Daniel Oh

The Scientists Daniel Oh

Bat For Lashes Daniel Oh

PJ Harvey Daniel Oh

Die! Die! Die!

2010-12-25T19:56:00.000-08:00

Die! Die! Die! are perhaps one of THE hardest working bands on the face of the planet - touring relentlessly over the globe for the last four years. After recording with Steve Albini and Shayne Carter (Straitjacket Fits) and touring with the Pixies, Wolfmother, Slint, and every other major festival in the world, DDD! are a noise pop/punk force to be reckoned with. Here are a few pics from 'The Metro' in London town circa 2006.

Die! Die! Die! Daniel Oh

The Safety Fire

2010-12-25T19:41:00.000-08:00

The Saftey Fire Daniel Oh

Formed in 2006, The Safety Fire have steadily been making a name for themselves with their distinctive blend of fleet-fingered instrumental virtuosity, head-spinning compositional complexity and expansive songcraft that manages to find a delicate balance between outright technical brutality and soaring melodicism. This digital-only EP serves as a taster for the band’s upcoming debut full-length, and is as accomplished an introduction to this extraordinarily skilled band’s sound as one could hope for.
Right from the opening moments of the title track, the musical talent possessed by the band members is evident – a flurry of precisely-picked notes come flying at the listener, pummelled into their consciousness forcefully by the inhumanly tight rhythm section. Sean McWeeney’s vocals then enter the fray, at first crooning in a manner reminiscent of Cynic (minus the robot-distortion effect), then switching tack to a hardcore-esque scream. The musical backdrop is no less varied, going from Fear Factory-precise lockstep riffage to a swirling, ambient interlude combining restrained hi-hat work, finger-tapped bass and gentle swells of atmospheric synths. The reprieve doesn’t last too long, however, before we’re back to being bludgeoned with dizzyingly technical riffage, topped off with guest solos by Sikth‘s Pin and Linear Sphere‘s Martin Goulding.
The rest of the EP continues in similar fashion – polyrhythmic, Meshuggah-esque beats meeting technical, Sikth-level fretboard wizardry, all wrapped up with a songwriting sensibility that shows the band knows not to throw everything at the listener all at once, but instead to let a solo shine by settling on a more groove-centric rhythm guitar riff, or to make the more intense passages stand out by contrasting them with a more relaxed, melodic part. See mid-EP instrumental ‘Sululary’ – a minute and a half of gentle, soothing clean guitar and bass work that cleanses the palate quite effectively before the sudden wake-up call that is the initial battery of ‘Spoilage’ – which itself quickly segués into acoustic guitar strumming, Gilmour-esque leads and melodic singing before returning to a more aggressive mode.
On the strength of this EP, it’s hard to imagine that The Safety Fire won’t emerge as one of the brightest stars on the UK contemporary metal scene, and it’s a near-certainty that their debut full-length will be an essential purchase for any fan of ambitious, progressive and technical metal played with obvious passion and abundant ability. Until the album’s release, though, Sections will serve admirably both to introduce the metal fandom to a talented new band and to whet the appetite for that debut album.

Text from OneMetal.com

http://www.onemetal.com/2010/02/14/surfaces-the-safety-fire-soni-quella-and-start-the-hourglass-live-review/

Zelko Nedic - The Girl in the Mask - Kodak Salon 2010

2010-10-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

Zelko Nedic

"The Girl in the Mask" 2009 - Zelko Nedic.

Review - Daniel Oh.

The Kodak Salon is Australias “largest open- entry photo based exhibition and competition”(1) in which any artist with a photography based practice can enter. The exhibition consisted of two rooms in the Melbourne CCP jam packed with entries exhibited of varied formats and framing devices. Such a busy exhibition can be so visually overwhelming that certain works enter your consciousness strongly whilst many simply dissolve in the background and can go unseen or simply not noticed. This may be in part to personal taste or due to the varying level of quality which ranged from some very interesting images, to downright tedious levels of self indulgent mediocrity of which the art scene is want. Zelko Nedic had two pieces on display in this years Kodak Salon, one of which in particular struck a personal chord with this viewer.

Nedics piece “The Girl In The Mask” (2009) (fig 1.) is a monotonal photograph with sepia colouring and features a naked full figured female in a vintage “pin up” style pose on an elegant armchair. Her arms are raised with her hands crossed behind her head, this action lifts her breasts to the viewers gaze whilst accentuating the curve of her waist and rounded hip to buttock. This defines the line of her form in a sexual manner. Her legs are angled away from the viewer, thighs together, feet bowed inward with the front leg lower than the second. This gives a feeling of open vulnerability; a coy submissive and sexual pose which is reminiscent of 50’s glamour style nude pin ups. The photo becomes interesting with the juxtaposition of a skull like mask the model is wearing over her head. The mask is more of a hession bag with a life sized skull printed in black on it, and is gathered at the neck with what appears to be rope. The room in which the photo is taken is like an oxymoron in itself with its gorgeous polished floor boards, beautiful chair…. and a CD tower rack. The image could quite possibly be staged or taken at any point from the 50’s onwards - except for the CD rack which plants it firmly into a modern context and presents the viewer with another yet incongruity. It presents us with several dichotomies of sex & violence, past & present, the beautiful &the disturbing, comfortable & uncomfortable, strength & vulnerability, consenting & non consenting, domination & submission. Zelko says that through his work he “ponders through the unchartered territory of what might be, the slightly dirty side of the moment.” (2) an ethos which this image certainly reflects.

One may perceive this image as a reflection of perhaps a detachment from sex, a fear of female sexuality, but upon delving into Zelko’s portfolio, business and interests, this is not the case at all. His work blends high art fashion photography with his original passion, hair and make up. His styling and photography skills are highly regarded in the Sydney goth punk body modification scene and can be found in many BSDM and fetish magazines and websites. His images play between the nature of glossy, sexy or “tasty”(3) nude photography and that of play piercing, tattooing and flesh suspensions.

Originally of Hungarian heritage, Zelko emigrated to Australia in 2000. Previous to this he was based in Europe working as a hair and make up artist for a range of haute couture designers including Versace and Vivienne Westwood. He has also worked on Elite Models fashion shows and for various television networks. (4) He enjoys the concept of “creating entire identities amalgamating hair styling and make up” (5) with fetishist outfits of rubber, latex, corsetry and victorian gothic. His hair work is more ‘sculpture’ than practical and is of the ilk of a Lady Gaga or an Alexander McQueen show. He now co owns Ambo Ars which is an alternative hair and make up styling business based in Newtown, Sydney.(6) Through this medium Zelko moved into photography and has developed a commercial business venture alongside being a professional exhibiting artist, recently being commissioned to document the 2010 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Zelko’s second image “The Bride” (Fig 2) in the Kodak Salon featured from this commission. (7) His documentation of Sydney life led him to be invited to present work for the Australian Centre of Photography for the Subculture event in March 2010. (8,9)

The image “The Girl In The Mask” struck a personal reference to my own fascination with ‘the dark side’ and of the macabre. In fact it mirrors an excerpt of my “Cruel Women” series; in particular an image which will be displayed at Synergy Gallery for the CERT IV Photoimaging course end of year exhibition. This piece was based on mimicking the 1950’s - esque ‘Deadbeat’ magazine which is a pin up magazine of rockabilly women with quiffs and tattoos with vintage cars. This pin up format is to be appropriated and placed into the context of the late 80’s, early 90’s black and death metal scene, mainly referencing images from “True Norwegian Black Metal“(10) therefore challenging the power construct of the traditional “male gaze” as viewer, and subverting the use of “pin up” from titillating to intimidating.

Overall The Kodak Salon could be described as “inspiring” now knowing what some artists deem fit for entry in a reputable competition. Of this exhibition, the visceral nature of Zelko's piece with a twist of black humour held my interest long enough to inspire this piece.

Daniel O'Brien

"The Bride" 2010 Zelko Nedic.

1. www.opps.artbase.net/?p=123
2. www.theloop.com.au/app/people/portfloio/zelkonedic
3. www.myspace.com/zelkonedic
4 www.modelmayhem.com
5 www.zelkonedic.com/PROFILE.html
6. www.amboars.com.au
7 www.acmp.com.au/mardi-gras-photo-team
8 www.zelkonedic.com/profile
9. www.acp.org.au/events/2010
10 Beste, Peter - “True Norwegian Black Metal” VICE BOOKS, 2008

Petrol Powered Goon Bag Holocaust

2010-09-24T19:28:00.000-07:00

Im not sure if this is so racist its wrong, or if its so wrong its right.

Allegedly it is a spoof band in the genre of Abbo Core, but I would like to think its the real thing.

In fact, I'm just going to believe that this is a bunch of angry as fuck black-fullas in Halls Creek.

Brutal.

Here is their last.fm write up:

"Petrol Powered Goon Bag Holocaust formed on a warm sunny night in Halls Creek. 2 of the most dope locals decided it was time to show all these white boys how it was done back in the dream time. Peter Ugle and Troy Narkle wanted to make some prime black metal that would make all the white cunts piss, so after a couple of slabs of export had been downed, they recorded “Hey White Cunt”. After many requests to record some more music, The two decided it was time to record another song, and with “Hey White Cunt” going platinum it seemed like the right thing to do. A full length album is in the works, and will be released when all you white pricks say sorry…"

iamamiwhoami

2010-04-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

iammiwhoami is a genius art project of whom the creator is a mystery. Since late February, 6 short clips have been posted on youtube following a dark narrative starting what seems to be an elaborate and expensive viral campaign. Each clip has no real name, the first is called Prelude 699130082.451322-5.4.21.3.1.20.9.15.14.1.12 , the rest have similar names in ascending order. One month ago a disturbingly amazing full clip was added to the site depicting the artist in body plastic, watched by deformed leering men.... Two days ago the second full clip has been posted, each clip so far loaded with symbolism and all connected. My personal obsession with this project is starting to spiral out of control. Who the hell is doing this and how are they funding it?

Each clip has an association with an animal, a llama, goat, owl, bee, whale and monkey.... in the text field of the clips is a hyperlink which go to various youtube clips - one of a llama spitting, to a goat giving birth etc....

Fucking genius.

So far the speculation that the creator is Lady Gaga, Trent Reznor, Goldfrapp, Fever Ray, Bjork or even Christina Ag... whether any of these people are involved as the artist or just creatively/financially is unknown though Christinas camp has denied any involvment, how could she wander this far into the darkness! All fingers are now starting to point in the dircetion of Jonna Lee ....

Either way - if you give a shit... (and you fucking should) there is a Twitter account for Huldra Mandragora, which Im sure will reveal all in due course.

For a comprehensive give Leila Brillson's analysis a read.

Fucking genius.

Watch them all. In order.

Video 1: Prelude 699130082.451322-5.4.21.3.1.20.9.15.14.1.12
Video 2: 9.1.13.669321018
Video 3: 9.20.19.13.5.723378
Video 4: 13.1.14.4.18.1.7.15.18.1.1110
Video 5: 15.6.6.9.3.9.14.1.18.21.13.56155
Video 6: 23.5.12.3.15.13.5-8.15.13.5.3383
Video 7: b
Video 8: o
Video 9: u-1
Video 10: u-2
Video 11: n
Video 12: t
Video 13: y
Video 14: 20101104

Did I mention that this is fucking genius?

Death Metal Rooster.

2010-01-19T15:20:00.000-08:00

Yet another cock who will never get to play at The Tote.

The Tote has fallen. What next?!

2010-01-19T00:47:00.000-08:00


Daniel Oh @ The Tote

So it seems another stalwart of Melbournes live music scene has fallen into oblivion. The terrifying nature of this isnt only the devastating loss of what is undoubtedly a piece of Australian music history and legend - but also the realisation that this could be the first of many small live music venues to fall. It doesnt seem very far fetched that if The Tote can fall so quickly - what is the fate of other venue staples like The Arthouse, Town Hall or the newbies like Yah Yahs? What is to stop these venues from closing under the same guise of 'public safety'?

Melbourne is renown worldwide for the unwavering quality of its live music. After spending much time in London, Berlin and New York and comparing the structure of the music scenes of these great cities, one cannot help but realise how amazingly organised, unified and unique the rock n roll scene is in Melbourne. For example we have the incredible Beat/Inpress/Buzz. RRR/PBS/3CR. These institutions are an almanac of all that is happening in live music. They become the framework to navigate venues, national and international acts, rock, jazz, metal, blues.... everything. These full and comprehensive media outlets are an extremely important infrastructure which other cities havent seemed to develop. It links all of the venues and artists intrinsicly which is something that exists here but does not on this scale anywhere else. It has been solidly built over decades of love and labour, but it feels like we are hitting a tipping point where strengths we once took for granted could be jeopardised by something as crippilling as a generalised legislative change.

My fear is that all of this can become unstuck. We have seen it before in Sydney. Once a thriving live music scene which spawned The Divinyls, AC/DC, Cold Chisel and INXS, is now only just starting to fight its way back from the amputation of live music venues in the 90's with the advent of lucrative pokie machines. Sydney fell into a cultural void and Melbourne's self assertion now seems much more transparent in this light.

Legislation for the safety of the public from drunk and violent behaviour is important. It is also important to nurture the arts and culture of the city - the heart and soul of the city. Research needs to be done into the nature of drunkeness and violence on a venue by venue basis (which could rely on police reports of trouble spots). I dont have the answers but I do see the problem. The halcyon days of Melbournes live scene may be over if we dont get this sorted out now. What can you do? You can start by signing this petition.

http://www.tonedeaf.com.au/petition

Daniel Oh.