Posted by AndyRyan on September 28, 2009
It was left to I Heart Hiroshima to warm the crowd immediately before the band of the rising sun. The bounding Brisbane trio, showcasing songs from their new album The Rip, were an exceptionally endearing entre, with their banter and songs splendidly chipper. This atypical bass-less three piece craft such great buzzing blasts of songs, and with the variety provided by the twin boy-girl vocal fronts are engaging to the end and even urged the crowd to push forward and fill every last space for Shonen Knife.
The Osaka-hailing trio took to the stage proudly displaying their own banners, before taking their positions and launching into a song / welcome mostly comprising “Konnichiwa, we like to rock”. It was probably one of their more complex lyrics. Shonen Knife are more about the infectiously frothy, purely effusive blasts of music – that borrows equally from The Ramones and The Ronnettes - than any great insightful verse.
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shonen knife, annandale, i heart hiroshima
Posted by AndyRyan on September 23, 2009
Chelsea Roffey is paving her way in two quite distinct careers. Working both as a writer and presenter for online content producer Media Giants - including being one of the faces of the new Citysearch video channel - Chelsea also works behind the big sticks as a goal umpire in the AFL. Kluster’s Andy Ryan tossed up the grass, pulled up the socks and drop punted a few questions for Chelsea to give us the score.
Andy Ryan: What first got you interested and involved in Aussie Rules?
Chelsea Roffey: I was born in South Australia, so even though I grew up mostly in Queensland, my family was always into Aussie Rules. My dad played in his youth and I was always around matches as my two younger brothers also played. I loved joining dad and the boys for a bit of kick-to-kick at the park or in the backyard. I went to matches at the Gabba to watch the Lions and developed a love for the game.
AR: Tell us a bit about the pathway you've travelled; from first taking up umpiring to where you are today. Has there been a particular highlight?
CR: In my final year of high school in 1998 I had the chance to do some goal umpiring for the guys at school. I saw it as a great opportunity to be involved with footy. I only did a few matches at school, but joined the local umpires’ association the following year and continued umpiring as a part time job while studying at uni. I worked my way up from under-18s and the lower league divisions, to senior state league level. During my sixth year of umpiring, one of the AFL goal umpires retired, opening up a spot on the list (four contracts were available in QLD). The umpiring boss in Melbourne came up to observe me in a match and decided I was at an appropriate standard to be offered a contract.
A highlight was definitely getting the phone call from Jeff Gieschen offering me an AFL contract. I was ecstatic. I remember receiving my AFL tracksuit and wearing it around the house for a week.
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afl, chelsea roffey
Posted by AndyRyan on July 10, 2009
Alice in Chains have released a confronting early taste of their upcoming new album Black Gives Way to Blue with an epically explicit seven minute clip appearing on their website. The over 18s-only clip, which you are highly unlikely to see on Video Hits, takes the viewer through a torrid nightmare of flagellation, suicide and a dose of nudity which although it provides a bit of tit, is certainly not titillating.
In September the reformed Seattle band will release their first new studio album in fourteen years after spending six months recording with new vocalist William DuVall in Los Angeles. The band, who in their initial incarnation sold more than 17 million albums worldwide, reformed in 2005, three years after the death of former singer Layne Staley. Black Gives Way to Blue is released September 29th through Universal/EMI.
alice in chains