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Reggae - A daily blog

Reggae - February 2007

Melbourne ska photos

February 28th 2007 05:16
We had a pretty good weekend in Melbourne, getting to see some really good bands playing ska and reggae the way it should be played!

On the Friday we played with The Ska Vendors in Williamstown. Fantastic early ska band. Gus played their last gig with them.



During the day on Saturday was the under 18s SkaBQ. The Beefeaters had all the kids dancing.




It was our (The Signals) first time in Melbourne and we enjoyed it immensely!



Everyone was talking up a band called The Moonhops and didn't they play the sweetest rocksteady! Glad to see what everyone was raving on about. They even did a rocksteady cover of It's Alright by Curtis Mayfield.

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Ska Vs Rockabilly this weekend

February 27th 2007 06:53
I am usually pretty good at keeping abreast of these things, but I suppose with the Signals tour, I have let a few things pass you by.

Anyway, this weekend it is time for another Ska Vs Rockabilly. The rockabilly side of things seems stronger than the ska side to me this time around, but it still should be a good night. I am assuming the Maddies are Complete Madness with a few different members. Los Capitanes are from Canberra and pretty ordinary and The Black Market are more punk than ska, but quite good. The Nervous Wreckers and Creepers are decent bands, but I am yet to see The Retro Rockets.


Will be interesting to see what they have done to the Empire now!

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Melbourne Ska and Reggae bands

February 26th 2007 09:10
I saw a host of ska, reggae and rocksteady bands in Melbourne this weekend, and some just blew me away.

A good starting point is The Ska Vendors, who I have seen a heap of times now and never fail to disappoint. Sarah, the trumpet player sang a couple of songs, adding a whole new dimension to the band.

Second mention must go to the Beefeaters. This band, with an average age of about 18, are the most enthusiastic ska band I have seen for ages. Despite not being especially tight, they are so infectious amd energetic you can't help but love them.

Third mention must go to the Moonhops. This could be the best band in Australia. I wish we had been able to play with them, but seeing them was awesome, nonetheless. The four piece play the sweetest rocksteady of any Australian band. I can't wait to see them again.

I must also mention the Knockabouts, who played their last gigs this weekend gone, This War who are another great young band and The Resignators, who despite not being my thing, are a great bunch of guys and really get the kids dancing.
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Signals Melbourne Tour Diary - Day one

February 22nd 2007 00:59
It is the day before we go on tour. I've been to Melbourne before, but never to play shows. It generally has the reputation of being the main ska city and for as long as I can remember there has been a host of bands playing ska down there. It isn't any different at the moment - we are playing with a heap of bands while we are down there. Seeing these other bands is more exciting for me than actually playing.

We are taking a CD down there and loving to leave things until the last minute, I am picking up the inserts and discs today and will spend the evening burning 100 discs. We hope to sell most of these in order to get home again. Well not quite, but paying for our fill-in bass players travel and our drinking requires some good sales. They're going for 5 bucks though, so it's cheap.

I still have to pack as well and go through my records, as I am DJing on the Sunday afternoon at the Royal Park Hotel, North Melbourne. We fly out at 6 am tomorrow morning and though I am looking forward to the trip, I am not necessarily looking forward to the logistics of it.

If you live in Melbourne, see you at the show.

Signals on Myspace
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Ska and reggae trading ring

February 21st 2007 01:42
I have decided to start a ska and reggae trading ring, based in Australia and hosted on Myspace (because everyone seems to have a page these days). What it will entail is the swapping of hard to find live footage, bootlegs and out of press albums etc in person or post. The swap will be negotiated using the forum.

The trading ring is known as: The Boss Sounds Swap Shop


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The Signals launch their debut EP this weekend in Melbourne

February 20th 2007 03:20
A bit of self promotion:

Finally, after a few years trying to get something out, The Signals will be releasing their EP, titled Rocking Steady this weekend while playing gigs in Melbourne. Their 5 track EP will be 5 bucks this weekend, so snap up a copy and get a lot to a show


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Reggae collectors and the ethics of downloading music

February 19th 2007 00:58
There is a plethora of ways to get free reggae music on the net at the moment and the argument rolls on between those who believe the owners of the music should be receiving royalties for this music, meaning consumers should be paying for it, and those who believe free music expands people's interest and therefore results in purchases as the intererest develops.

Podcasting, where songs are played back to back, seems to have been the latest thing used to get around the issue of downloading albums of music, but really, it is just the same thing. Splitting a podcast up is pretty straightforward, if you can be bothered


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Some decent ska and reggae links

February 16th 2007 09:35
http://www.get-up-edina.com

The music, but a bit of the clothing to match. From the USA


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I was in a Beastie Boys Video Clip today

February 15th 2007 09:54
My day today was a little different. It started quite interestingly, but as the day progressed it became more and more tedious.

A few days ago I was asked by a mate if I was interested in being in a Beastie Boys video clip. They were going for a sixties look and wanted people in the background who fitted that look. Also, they were interested in including scooters in the filming


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What's on this weekend - Hit the Switch

February 14th 2007 03:00
It will be good to have a relatively quiet weekend, what with heading to Melbourne next weekend and the weekend just gone being a pretty big one.

There is a little bit on though. I haven't seen drum media yet, but I know on Sunday there is Freedom Sounds at Spectrum and on Saturday night, the second episode of Hit the Switch, at the bar above The Newtown Hotel on King St (different to the Townie). It's a cool little space and should be good for a drink and some decent tunes. Not reggae, more sixties sounds, but close to home for some (read: me). Seriously, how good is going out in stumbling distance from home


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The ethics of buying editorial in music street press

February 13th 2007 03:37
As we (The Signals) are going to Melbourne soon, I am trying to get some exposure in the Melbourne music street press, particularly The Beat and Inpress. Now I have dealt with Sydney street press a number of times, and know that they very much like to take your money, but you get very little from them. In the public listing sections, they often get gig details wrong because they take artistic licence or you don't get listed at all.

I have sometimes put in ads for events I have done, but at starting prices of $250, I can't do that very often


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The weekend that was - Take It or Leave It and Dynamite

February 12th 2007 03:56
Friday night I stayed in, apart from a late night visit to Sarays for Pide. (How good is pide, it is my take away of choice at the moment).

Saturday night was Take It or Leave It, of which I was involved in putting on, at the Sly Fox in Enmore. It was free to get in, which I think contributed to having a full pub for the majority of the night. By 3 am I was wishing people would go home so I could call it a night myself, but ended up playing rocksteady until close to 4 am


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The Signals head to Melbourne

February 9th 2007 08:08
Lead into the weekend with another plug. This time for my own band, with an upcoming trip to Melbourne. It will be our first trip to the southern city and I am well looking forward to it. Melbourne has traditionally had an exceptional scene when it comes to ska and reggae, at least by Australian standards and as as much as I am looking forward to playing, I am also keen to see some of the bands that call Melbourne home.

Here are the dates


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Get on down to the Sly Fox this Saturday for Take It or Leave It

February 8th 2007 10:58
I am plugging this pretty hard at the moment, but it is a night I am involved in putting on, so you get that.

It is called Take It or Leave It, a name inspired by the great Madness film of the same name. The film documents Madness' beginnings and encapsulates many of the different types of music we will be playing on Saturday night


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Beefeaters and Moonhops in Melbourne

February 7th 2007 06:28
Normally I wouldn't post Melbourne gig fliers as I don't live in Melbourne and can't go myself, but this one is an exception, as I'll be down there while this gig is on while on tour with The Signals. I'll put Signals gig details up soon, but thought this gig would be good for today.

The date is Sunday 25th and the venue is the Royal Park Hotel


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Dynamite at Freedom Sounds this Sunday

February 6th 2007 10:21
My favourite sound in Sydney at the moment, Dynamite, is giving Sydney the ska, reggae and rocksteady every week at the moment. On the Saturday just gone they saw a packed out Brighton Bar dancing to their selections and this Sunday they are back as guests on the Freedom Sounds Sunday night lineup.

Freedom Sounds is running every Sunday at Spectrum on Oxford St in Darlinghurst (Sydney). Get there at about 8 pm for a good evening with cheap beer - $3 Red Stripes I think and some good tunes in all. The Dynamite crew will not disappoint and Freedom Sounds will offer some good sounds on the decks as well, boosted by the addition of Jason to their DJ lineup


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Amanda Vanstone pens her own national song - the beginning of the end

February 5th 2007 04:44
Okay, it isn't reggae (thank goodness), but I couldn't just let this pass. Amanda Vanstone, former Immigration Minister has penned her own song.

There is a link to the song on this news story page.
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Calling for submissions for a new print zine

February 2nd 2007 00:18
I have been pondering doing a new print zine for some time and because I already have some material to go in it, decided it will go ahead. Though much of the content will have a reggae/ska undertone, there will be a mix of stuff, from life advice to fiction and ramblings about my every day goings on.

Originally this zine was going to be called Memoirs of a Geeza, but I am a bit tired of that name, so the name is still to come


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Lee Scratch Perry in Australia - is it actually the last time this time?

February 1st 2007 07:06
I have never gone to see Lee Perry. I think the man is (or at least was) an absolutely wonderful producer, but as a singer, there isn't anything I really love by him. Bathroom Skank was an okay track I suppose. Anyway I just have little interest in seeing him.

He has clearly smoked too much too. He is mental, as seen in this video


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August 2007
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July 2007
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June 2007
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