dum dum girls say...

With a name that’s a nod to both The Vaselines and Iggy Pop, Dum Dum Girls are a solo-project turned all-conquering girl-group and we can guarantee you ‘Will Be’ hearing a lot more of them. We got the dirt on the Dum Dum Girls from their evasive front woman Dee Dee.

Covered: Songwriting, singles, Slumberland and SxSW

Andy Ryan: When you started writing and recording at home did you ever think you’d end up being signed to a label as esteemed as Sub Pop?

Dee Dee: Never in my wildest dreams; it was just something to do to keep me busy.

AR: What does it feel like to finally have your debut album out?

DD: Very strange and very fulfilling.

AR: Is the finished album close to how you imagined it would be?

DD: I had recorded the majority of the songs before Richard Gottehrer was on board to produce and mix, so in that sense, it came out much better than I thought possible.

AR: Did you have to adapt your song writing from making singles to writing towards an album?

DD: I always want my songs to be singles, but I tried to keep the sounds of them connected, that way they fit together cohesively.

AR: Where do you draw most of your lyrical inspirations from?

DD: Life.  Vague question, vague answer.More...

dum dum girls, dee dee, sub pop, sxsw

shonen knife, annandale hotel, sydney, september 25

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

chelsea roffey says...

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

alice in pains

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