Sydney rockers Torch Le Monde have announced a mini-tour to support their new single “You.”

The band describes the track as “a heavy rock beast,” which tells the story of a forsaken relationship from the side of a wronged lover.

“It’s about when a lover is unhappy in a relationship and feels their love is not reciprocated,” explained drummer, Jordan McDonald. “It’s quite personal as the song was inspired by the effects of spending months touring, away from our loved ones. Musically, it is one of our most catchy tracks to date, and live – it’s absolutely killer”!

“You” comes from Torch Le Monde’s long-awaited debut album, which is scheduled for release in late 2010. The tour will take in just four cities next month.

“You’ll get all the stuff you would expect from an awesome rock show – the riffs, the rhythms the soaring vocals and the punishing guitar solos,” said Jordan. “We push ourselves to the limit everytime we play live, because that’s what our fans have come to expect from us”.

It sounds like these are shows well worth seeing!

12 March 2010 – Live At The Wall, Parramatta
13 March 2010 – Newcastle Leagues Club
19 March 2010 – The Globe, Brisbane
20 March 2010 – Miami Shark Bar, Gold Coast

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Them Crooked Vultures rock so hard that they blew two speakers during one of their recent Aussie shows. The band could have just tossed them, but in the wake of the Haiti earthquake the band decided to auction these speakers and a bunch of other awesome memorabilia to benefit the Australian Red Cross’ relief effort.

Fans can bid on one of two Them Crooked Vultures packs, each containing a blown speaker signed by the band, Dave Grohl’s used and autographed drumsticks, an Aussie tour poster and shirt, an official stubby holder, an embroidered tour patch, a working pass from the tour, a set list from the show, and a letter of authenticity signed by the band’s tour manager. Pretty cool huh?

You’ve got until February 13 to get your bids in, so step on it. I’ll warn you though, they’re not going cheap. As I write bids on both the first and second pack are up to $4050. At least it’s all for a good cause!

Image source: ZUMA Press

Local blues outfit Chasin The Train was formed when rock outfit Moving Pictures were on hiatus in the mid 1980s. They lasted more than a decade before parting ways in the late 1990s. The band played their first reunion show in 2005, and now five years later they’re set to do it all again.

The original line-up of Kevin Bennett, Kirk Lorange, Ian Lees, and Mark Meyer will play two special shows at the Bridge Hotel in Rozelle on March 12 and 13.

“Kirk and I have a thing that just works – he does the hard stuff and I do the easy stuff and when it comes together along with the best rhythm section around in Mark and Ian, there’s a complete ‘other’ thing created and we turn into ‘The Train’ – a very special sum of 4 distinct parts and I miss everything about these guys, so I’m really excited about seeing and hearing what happens on stage,” explained Kevin Bennett.

Chasin The Train will be supported by Abbie Cardwell & Her Leading Men. Tickets for these rare shows are on sale now from the venue.

Image used with permission from Thrillhill Entertainment

There are big things happening for Sydney’s Cassette Kids. They haven’t even released their debut album yet, and already they’ve got European and American dates booked!

Cassette Kids will play the Sydney Good Vibrations festival in front of a home town audience this Saturday before flying to the United Kingdom days later. After that they’re booked in to play the prestigious SXSW festival in Austin. We’ll finally see them home at the end of March for the Bacardi Express tour.

The band’s second single Spin has hit radio this week ahead of the release of Nothing On TV. This pop-styled track showcases a band whose sound is becoming even more mature as time passes. Clearly the band has flourished under the tutelage of producers Richard Wilkinson (Hot Chip, Adele, Magic Numbers, Carl Cox) and Michael Di Francesco from Van She. Nothing On TV will hit stores on April 16.

If you’re abroad or at home, here’s when you can catch the Cassette Kids!

13 February 2010 – Sydney Good Vibrations, Centennial Park
17 February 2010 – 229 Club, Great Portland St, London
18 February 2010 – Buffalo Bar, Upper Street, Islington
19 February 2010 – Last FM @ Barfly, Camden
March 2010 – SXSW, Austin
25 March 2010 – Bacardi Express Tour @ Tivoli, Brisbane
26 March 2010 – Bacardi Express Tour @ Club Coffs, Coffs Harbour
27 March 2010 – Bacardi Express Tour @ Panthers, Newcastle
27 March 2010 – Bacardi Express Tour @ Luna Park Big Top, Sydney

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

MM9 have announced a national tour to coincide with the release of their debut album The Air Between.

The electro rock outfit will hit up venues in capital cities and regional centers along the East Coast and Western Australia this April.

“The live show is our strength, it’s where our strengths lie so we try and fit in as much as we can without killing ourselves,” the band said in a statement.

The Air Between will be available in stores and online for digital download in March 12. Tickets to the following shows are available from the venues and the usual online outlets for February 11.

3 April 2010 – The Annandale Hotel, Sydney (with Electric Horse and Breaking Orbit)
9 April 2010 – Revolver Upstairs, Melbourne (with My Secret Circus and special guests)
10 April 2010 – The Pelly Bar, Frankston (with special guests)
14 April 2010 – The Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour (with Electric Horse and Swimming with Sharks)
15 April 2010 – The Brewery, Byron Bay (with Electric Horse)
16 April 2010 – Neverland, Coolangatta (with Electric Horse and guest)
17 April 2010 – Rosies, Brisbane (with Electric Horse, Arctic and Feed)
22 April 2010 – Prince of Wales, Bunbury (with special guests)
23 April 2010 – Breakers Bar, Geraldton (with special guests)
24 April 2010 – Amplifier, Perth (with special guests)
25 April 2010 – Newport Hotel, Fremantle (with special guests)

Image used with permission from Repertoire Publicity

Due to circumstances beyond the control of promoters, The Lost Weekend festival has had to switch gears. The three-day camping festival has been moved from its original Peak Crossing site to the Brisbane Riverstage and Botanical Gardens.

It will no longer be a camping festival, and rather than the planned three days it will be held on March 6 and 7. Thankfully though the event will still showcase the same awesome bands, including Gyroscope, Dinosaur Jr, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Tumbleweed.

“We will continue to work with the venue and local authorities towards holding an event of the originally intended nature at Ivory’s Rock Conference Centre – all parties have been keen to make The Lost Weekend work and we still believe we will achieve this in time,” the promoter stated. “But in the end we needed to make sure we could provide the best experience at the inaugural event for both patrons and artists alike.”

The change of plans is bound to disappoint many punters looking for that laidback camping vibe, but there is a silver lining for young music fans. The Lost Weekend is now an all ages event.

Two day tickets will now cost $150, while single day passes are also available. Saturday tickets are $100, while Sunday tickets cost $75 (booking fees apply). All current tickets will be valid for the new venue, although refunds are available for anyone not happy with the change of plans. Event organisers will contact all ticket holders shortly to explain their options.

Image source: Stuart Sevastos @ Flickr

You don’t have to be in Austin to enjoy some of the great local talent heading to the SXSW festival. The Aussie BBQ will have a couple of dress rehearsals in Sydney and Melbourne before heading to the U S of A.

The Melbourne show will take place at The Corner Hotel on February 23. The jam-packed bill includes Oh Mercy, The Wagons, Crayon Fields, Boat People, Pets with Pets, Summer Cats, and more to be announced.

Sydney’s gig is scheduled to take place at The Annandale on March 2. The line-up there includes The Goldhearted, Goons of Doom, Sherlock’s Daughter, City Riots, and more.

It’s not all about the music though. Just like in Austin, punters can enjoy a free BBQ and some great giveaways.

You won’t just enjoy a day of great music and snags. The events will also help to raise funds for the Aussie BBQ at SXSW, so you’re sure to go away with a warm fuzzy feeling!

Tickets for both shows are available from the venues for just $15.

Image used with permission from Repertoire Publicity