If you’re a music video junkie like me, you may want to check out Killed By The Video Star, b5media’s film clip blog. The videos here are something special, from the very clever to the downright bizarre.

Blogger and aspiring filmmaker Chris Cullari offers his entertaining expert commentary on the carefully chosen clips. Chris definitely knows his stuff, having made several music videos himself. However, Killed By The Video Star never gets bogged down in the technical elements, and refuses to take itself too seriously.

So stop by. It’ll expose you to some great new clips and songs that are a cut above what’s shown on Video Hits.

Image source: Killed by the Video Star website

Last night our Australian Idol hopefuls showed they can bust a move with outstanding disco grooves. There were plenty of top-notch performances, but last night’s standout was Matt Corby who scored the season’s first touchdown.

Tarisai Vushe started the night with the disco classic “Hot Stuff.” She definitely looked the part, but I wasn’t entirely convinced by her performance which verged on shouting in places. It was a solid effort, but not the showstopper I expected from her.

Ben McKenzie almost scored a touchdown for his take on “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.” I loved how Ben built this, taking it from emotive ballad to dance floor filler. He had all the moves down and interpreted the song perfectly. A really good job.

Mark Da Costa played it smart, choosing “Nutbush City Limits.” The song fit the disco genre without forcing Mark to stray too far from his rock roots. He matched Tina Turner’s rasp perfectly and got the crowd dancing.

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Rock chick Sarah McLeod has been a permanent fixture on the Aussie music scene since the nineties, thanks to her work with The Superjesus and massive solo album Beauty Was a Tiger. It’s been a little quiet on the Sarah front lately, but we won’t have to wait too long for a new album.

Sarah’s currently working with Grammy-award winning producer Jimmy Douglass on album number two. It seems like a really strange pairing. After all, Jimmy Douglass is the man behind Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliot, and Duran Duran!

But it does mean that industry movers and shakers are starting to take notice of this Aussie powerhouse. Perhaps this will the big break Sarah needs to get the worldwide attention she so richly deserves!

Image source: Sarah McLeod press image gallery

Image details: Darren Hayes Performs At Islington Academy served by picapp.com

Darren Hayes has been issued with a formal caution following his recent arrest on suspicion of racial abuse.

Darren admitted he argued with a member of staff at the Busaba Eathai restaurant, but denied the row had a racist element.

“I could never think, let alone utter a racist remark,” Darren said on his website.

“As a gay man, I find the notion of discriminating against a human being because of race, gender or sexuality to be abhorrent. It goes against everything I have stood for.”

He added that “any notion of racism had been ruled out” by police, but according to the BBC a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police would not confirm this.

Image details: MTV Australia Video Music Awards 2006 – Arrivals served by picapp.com

A whole lot of new acts have just been added to the already stellar Homebake lineup. But if you haven’t already grabbed your tickets, you’re too late. This year’s show sold out in record time. We did warn you!

If you got in early, you can now look forward to seeing Scribe, Architecture in Helsinki, Blue King Brown, Kisschasy, Old Man River and heaps more.

They’ll join original headliners including the Divinyls, Miss Higgins, Gotye, Sarah Blasko, and Paul Kelly. It all happens in The Domain in Sydney on December 8.

Image details: 70′s Disco International Hits Sydney served by picapp.com

She’s known as Australian Idol’s “nice judge,” but Marcia Hines wasn’t smiling when she was on the end of a Channel Nine prank.

Marcia and her daughter Deni were lunching at the Rangoon Racquet Club in Crows Nest when the stunt, part of the new hidden camera show Surprise Surprise Gotcha, unfolded.

“Basically she was in a foul mood and had no sense of humour about the situation,” a program source told The Daily Telegraph. “She just didn’t want to react to what was happening at all.”

Apparently Marcia stormed out of the restaurant when she realised she’d been a victim of the show’s prank.

“She didn’t like being set-up and I don’t think she liked the fact that she didn’t have her hair and make-up done either,” the source added.

Marcia’s camp has asked the network not to air the offending footage, so we may never see what caused this typically patient judge to lose her cool.

Image details: Australian Open 2007 – Day 13 served by picapp.com

200 guests attended Ricki-Lee Coulter’s recent wedding to long-term beau James Baddington. Her Australian Idol pals Casey Donovan, Amali Ward, and Marty Worrall were there. But where were her former band mates, the Young Divas?

The official word from the Young Divas’ management is that Paulini Curuenavuli, Kate DeAraugo, and Emily Williams all had performances scheduled on the night, and regretted missing the event. But according to Ricki-Lee, her former friends didn’t even bother to RSVP.

“I’d called the girls and texted them and emailed them, and hadn’t heard,” Ricki-Lee told the Woman’s Day.

“I thought everything was cool until they didn’t even turn up and didn’t bother to call me.”

Ouch! With bitchy behaviour like that, is it any wonder the Young Divas disbanded? But Ricki-Lee needn’t worry. Her solo single “Can’t Touch It” is still in the top 10, six weeks after its release. We can’t say the same for the other girls.

Aussie music royalty will turn out for a massive Max Merritt benefit show at Melbourne’s Palais Theatre on October 21.

The singer, best known for his hit “Slipping Away,” is suffering from Goodpastures Syndrome, a rare condition that has attacked his lungs and kidneys.

Concert for Max will feature an all-star line-up including Ross Wilson, James Reyne, Kevin Borich, Paul Norton, John Paul Young, Swanee, Normie Rowe, Peter Cupples, Dinah Lee, The Delltones, Doug Parkinson, Wilbur Wilde, Spectrum and Daryl Braithwaite. More performers will be announced before the show.

“I am finding it very difficult to adequately express my appreciation for the help and support during my time of extreme personal need,” Max said in a press statement. “Your help is absolutely overwhelming”.

Tickets for the show are available for $75 through Ticketmaster.

Sneaky Sound System has showed they’ll be a force to be reckoned with at this year’s Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards. The dance outfit has led the nominations, with nods in six categories including best group, best dance album, and album of the year.

The John Butler Trio isn’t far behind with five nominations. Their top 10 smash Grand National is up for album of the year and best independent release.

The groups will battle with Powderfinger, Silverchair, and Gotye for the best album title.
The best group nominees are some of the biggest names in the biz: Sneaky Sound System, Eskimo Joe, Powderfinger, Silverchair, and Wolfmother.

Singer-songwriters have dominated the solo categories. Dan Kelly, Gotye, John Butler, Josh Pyke, and Paul Kelly are all up for best male artist, while Kasey Chambers, Kate Miller-Heidke, Katie Noonan, Missy Higgins, and Sarah Blasko will battle for the best female crown.

The ARIA Awards will be held in Sydney on October 28. Channel Ten personality Rove McManus will host the awards for the fifth time. Powderfinger, Silverchair, Missy Higgins, and John Butler Trio will perform on the night, but expect more big names to join the bill closer to the date.

Image source: Toby Forage @ Flickr

Last night American songstress Tori Amos brought her breathtaking American Doll Posse Tour to Newcastle. Each show is divided into two distinct and unique parts. The first brings one of the American Dolls, made famous by her latest album, to life. Tori appears as one of the five unique characters which represent facets of the artist, and indeed all women.

In Newcastle, the sensual Santa made a dramatic entrance with a platinum blonde wig, stunning white minidress, and an explosive performance of “Body and Soul.” With Santa on show, the first portion of the concerts drew heavily from ‘her’ songs on American Doll Posse, including “Dragon,” “Secret Spell,” and “You Can Bring Your Dog.” Yet she still found time to ‘cover’ one of Tori Amos’ classics, “Sugar.”

I was awestruck watching Santa’s passionate set. While American Doll Posse was conceived as five separate voices, with Tori Amos as the mouthpiece for all the characters tend to blur. The theatrical element of the live show gave me a new appreciation of who Santa really is, and her part in the quintet. I only wish I could see more shows this tour to have the same understanding of the other dolls.

A spectacular lightshow and “Professional Widow” over the PA marked the end of the first act. Then Tori emerged, her long red hair clashing delightfully with a garish red sequined jumpsuit. She began with “Big Wheel,” then launched into “Black Dove” which seemed to assure us we’d get to hear more than the new album.

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