Youth Group Land American Record Deal

Sydney band Youth Group is headed for the big time after inking a record deal in the USA.

The local lads have signed up with World’s Fair Label Group, which is home to Jarvis Cocker, Devandra Barnhart, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, and many more.

The band’s critically acclaimed album The Night Is Ours will be released in the United States early next year. After completing the Big Day Out tour, the indie outfit will play Austin’s South by Southwest festival and some showcase gigs in New York to support its release.

Image source: Mr Matt @ Flickr

Cold Chisel’s Les Kaczmerek Dies of Liver Failure

Cold Chisel founding member, bass guitarist Les Kaczmerek, has passed away in Adelaide due to liver failure. Tragically the 53-year-old had been on the transplant waiting list for some time.

Les was with Cold Chisel for two years before being replaced by Phil Small in 1975, three years before they released their debut album.

“Les never stopped songwriting and playing bass and guitar,” his friend, guitarist Brendan Ozolins told Undercover. “He wrote many a well-known jingle for TV and radio ads and more recently co-wrote the Port Power club song with Quentin Eyres.

“He was also in the band Aussie Bloke with Rob Riley [ex-Jimmy Barnes and Rose Tattoo] but due to his illness performing music live was extremely hard for him to this end Les continued to do his studio work and songwriting.”

Les always dreamed of releasing a solo album, and was just weeks away from heading into the studio when his health took a turn for the worse in 2007.

“He hoped to have Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss and Don Walker on as guests among many other singers and musicians he loved and respected dearly performing on his tracks, and perhaps some of their own too I believe,” Brendan explained.

“It is very, very sad he didn’t have the opportunity to realise this,” he says. “I can’t help but feel we [music fans/listeners] really missed out on something there.”

Image source: Ausrock blog

Fantomas To Play Director’s Cut at BDO

Fantomas fans are in for a real treat, with the band set to perform their entire album The Director’s Cut at their Big Day Out shows next year.

The Director’s Cut, a collection of reinvented film soundtrack songs, may have been released way back in 2001, but who cares? It’s a nice change from bands who just want to shove new songs down our throat without the golden oldies!

The Big Day Out festival kicks off on January 16 in Auckland, New Zealand, before travelling all around Australia and finishing up in Perth on February 1.

Image source: Stephan Cremer @ Flickr

Kanye West Cracks Up in Sydney

Kanye West reportedly stunned Sydney fans last night with a major meltdown!

The Celebrity Truth says Kanye restarted his song “Love Lockdown” a whopping four times. He also launched into a rant against the media, commenting that the press had “stripped him of a ‘real’ life” and comparing himself to Britney Spears.

“After a ten-minute performance of ‘Heartless,’ West disappeared from the stage for several moments, and then reappeared, and began singing ‘Love Lockdown.’

“Thirty seconds in, he abruptly ended the song, walked off stage, and instructed his band to start again. The music recommenced and when West reached the chorus, he again stopped the song and left the stage.

His confused band started the song a third time, and West began singing, before again killing the song and storming off stage. At this point West walked back on and announced, ‘I’m supposed to have another fucking outfit for this song, but they’ve taken it back to the dressing room. Let’s just do it.’

“West, who has had a difficult year during which his mother died and he broke up with his fiance, then performed the full song, before walking off stage and shouting, ‘Goodbye Sydney.’ House lights went up, and bemused fans were left wondering whether his stylist still had a job?!”

Oh Kanye. If you don’t want the press to jump all over you, it’s perhaps best not to give them things like this to talk about! Was anyone there? I’d love to hear what you thought if you witnessed this display!

Image source: Phil Romans @ Flickr

Mia Dyson Heads to America

Mia Dyson is the latest Aussie set to try her luck in the United States.

The award winning blues and roots songstress will play her last local show at Melbourne’s AthenaeumTheatre on March 14. Then it’s off to the US where she’s already got some shows booked. Hopefully there’ll be more to come!

“I’m really excited about this new adventure,” she told The Sunday Telegraph.

If you want to wish Mia well, make sure you head to one of the shows on her farewell tour! Here are the dates!

26 February 2009 – Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts, Fortitude Valley
27 February 2009 – Joes Waterhole, Eumundi
28 February 2009 – Civic Hall, Mullumbimby
1 March 2009 – Sound Lounge @ Currumbin RSL, Gold Coast
4 March 2009 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
5 March 2009 – The Factory, Marrickville
6 March 2009 – Heritage Hotel, Bulli
7 March 2009 – Top of the Cross @ Southern Cross Club, Phillip
8 March 2009 – Milton Theatre
12 March 2009 – Rubys Lounge, Belgrave
13 March 2009 – The Palais, Hepburn Springs
15 March 2009 – The Studio, Geelong
14 March 2009 – Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne

Image source: Mia Dyson press page

Economic Crisis Kills Aussie Concert Calendar

2009 could be a quiet year for concertgoers as the economic crisis bites local Dollarbooking agencies.

With the Aussie dollar sitting at a measly 65 cents, it’s becoming harder to attract those big international acts. Tours by Paul McCartney, Madonna, Neil Diamond, Green Day, and Metallica have all been shelved indefinitely.

“We’ve seen a couple of tours blow out,” said Acer Arena’s Don Elford. “It probably has a lot to do with the dollar.”

Luckily for festival fans, the economic crisis isn’t expected to affect the big summer shows like Big Day Out and V Festival.

“We’re lucky because we’ve got the weight of the festival to insulate us from that,” Big Day Out co-promoter Vivian Lees said. “Only a fraction of our bands are paid in U.S. dollars.”

Here’s hoping the dollar picks up soon so we can see more of our favourite acts in Oz! Until then, thankfully we’ve got plenty of fab local artists to keep us entertained!

Image source: David Mallett @ Flickr.com

David Campbell Gets Festive

Christmas is just 19 sleeps away! But before the fat man comes down your chimney, some of Australia’s biggest names will perform at Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight!

David Campbell, the event’s ambassador for the second year, will head this year’s lineup.

“Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight is the perfect way to round off the year and enjoy the celebrations and performances by some of the best talent we have in the country,” he said. “I am humbled to work alongside of these performers and it is inspiring to see all of the volunteers, performers and the Nine Network pull together and raise money for children who are blind or have low vision.”

David will perform alongside Marina Prior, Anthony Callea, Hi-5, The McClymonts, Tim Campbell, and many more stellar acts.

Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight will be held at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Christmas Eve. If you can’t get there, you can watch it on the Nine Network around Australia.

Image source: Newscom

Bon Scott Movie in the Works

The colourful life of original AC/DC frontman Bon Scott may soon be immortalised on film.

Local filmmaker Eddie Martin is behind the projects, which he hopes to start filming in a year. He is preparing meet the band’s surviving members in January to get the final tick of approval, but he says the lads seem to support the biopic.

Eddie has also received funding from Film Victoria. Now all he needs is a cast!

He has his eye on local actor Tom Budge to play Angus Young, but is looking abroad for his Bon Scott.

“I hate to say who an ideal candidate might be, but I think James McAvoy could be interesting,” he told The Herald Sun.

It’s early days yet, but I think this flick has the potential to be something really special!

Image source: Newscom

Australians Up for Grammy Award

Aussies are in line to take home three gongs at next year’s Grammy Awards.

Kylie Minogue’s chart-topping dance album X is up against new releases from Cyndi Lauper, Daft Punk, and Moby in the best electronic/dance album category.

Industry newcomer Sam Sparro is also showing the world that Aussies can do more than rock. His debut smash “Black and Gold” has a shot of being named best dance song. But it’ll be tough for the local lad, with stiff competition from Madonna, Rihanna, and Lady GaGa.

With so many years under their belt, it’s amazing to think AC/DC have never won a Grammy. They’re in with a shot this year, with “Rock N Roll Train” nominated as best rock performance by a duo or group. They’ll fight Coldplay, Radiohead, The Eagles, and Kings of Leon for the title.

Good luck to all our Aussie Grammy hopefuls! The 51st Annual Grammy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on 8 February 2009.

Image source: Newscom

Mink’s Ghostly Soundtrack Song

Sydney’s Mink are scoring some major international attention.

Their song “New York Summer” will soon be heard in an episode of Jennifer Love Hewitt’s supernatural series Ghost Whisperer. The Aussie rockers have also scored a slot on the soundtrack of the new Dreamworks flick She’s Out of My League.

The local lads are currently touring the United States, fresh from their recent appearance at Japan’s Fuji Rock festival. Could global domination be just around the corner?

Image source: Mink MySpace