Schooling Knights For Free

We here at Planet Masala have championed School Knights since their Rush SK release came out almost two years ago, and what with the current weight of love being poured over surf garage punks such as Wavves and Bleeding Knees Club, I thought that I was on bridge of a ship that was sailing the highest sea of discovery. As it turns out, the Denver based cats are happy to keep bubbling under the surface, which is why when they couldn't find the right way to release the current crop of tracks they had at their disposal, they put them up for free on Bandcamp under the name Fre(E)P.

That's not to say their 2012 has been quiet - on the contrary, they have supported the likes of Black Lips and Japanther, with shows with Cloud Nothings, White Denim and King Tuff in the works. They just got sick of these songs sitting around and wanted everyone to hear them and love them. As they say themselves, "We want everyone to hear them, so that the next time we release some songs people can go 'Wow, I didn't think it was possible, but this is way better than that free EP they put out.'"


You can (and most definitely should, seeing as it's awesome AND free) grab Fre(E)P here.

School Knights - Powerslut
School Knights - Thanksgiving

Two Sydney Gigs That Will Rock The Casbah

So I have been in Sydney the past week, enjoying some sun, sand, tequila, food - and fucking gust winds! Jesus Bondi, ease up! Anyway, before I trek around Surrey Hills for another cheap hole in the wall, I thought Id throw up two gigs coming up in the next two nights that, if you are in the unofficial Australian capital, you should really get to.

First up is tonight, down at Bondi Beach Hotel, who have started hosting some pretty killer shows, like last week's Royal Headache Easter show - for free - which was something else... It must be said that tonight's bill is also free, and features not one but two of Brisbane's up and coming acts. Bleeding Knees Club are riding high on the release of their debut LP Nothing To Do. The slacker duo, who are still striving to be anything more than a couple of dudes throwing shit at the wall and seeing what sticks (it's some pretty fun shit though) will be accompanied by another band rich in laissez faire surf rock tunes, Dune Rats. The bill is rounded out by Sydney band March Of The Real Fly. This will be one hell of a fun show, and with no rubles being thrown down at the front door, more booze can fuel the night forward! Bring it on.


Then tomorrow night is another rad showcase, Neighbourhood Watch, this time highlighting some of the best Sydney acts that you are probably yet to hear about. I mentioned only last week the shoegaze wooziness that is Colours AKA Tom Crandles. His rich tapestries of noise are incredible especially coming from one man, and it will be a delight to see it in action. On top of this, we have the excellent Day Ravies offering their shoegaze pop and rapscallion punks Bachelor Pad. Add to that ping-pong, $5 beers, $5 vodkas, all for $5 on the door, and you get a bucketload of holy-shit-this-is-awesome! Ill be at both shows - come and say hey.

Some Aussie Day Flavour That Isn't Bloody Goyte

Happy Australia Day! I'm incredibly hungover after another successful Sonic Masala show, bur raring to do it all again! Before I do, though, here are some Aussie bands doing good that you wont find on the Australian yoof channel's top 100 shitfest.


Blank Realm are a band that are incessant in their breakneck rise into the centre of the sun. Unlike Icarus, this Brisbane quartet want to feel the molecule-rending heat, to feel themselves morph with a might much greater than their own. Such a brazen exploratory outlook is evident in their ever-evolving live shows, which can swing from skronky pop to languid psych to rampant rock to slacker malaise, at times within the one instrumental interlude. Negative Guestlist is hoping to extend such an exciting reputation by releasing the band's latest 7", which you can buy in physical form here. Listen to the track below and tell me how these guys aren't huge already. They are bringing out their next album, the follow-up to the great Deja What, later this year through Siltbreeze, so you never know, their time may come before the Mayans bring it all to an end...

Falling Down the Stairs by Blank Realm


Gold Coast duo Bleeding Knees Club are more likely to get a run on Triple J, seeing as their MO consists of thrashy-yet-addictive straight-cap surf rock. The boys (BOYS! Just look at 'em!) have stuck as close to the Wavves musical aesthetic as they possibly can, and it really clicks. Next month sees the arrival of their debut LP Nothing To Do, which should see them explode into some sepia-tinged hipster frenzy, but when the music is as addictive as this, fair dues.

Bleeding Knees Club - Teenage Girls


Chinese Burns may be flung across the state of Queensland, but when this trio get together the results are sweaty, salty and magic. They have just released their Calculator 7", and it is all kinds of awesome. Seeing them play live is a once in a blue moon event, and life-changing (maybe). Buy this record now, support these fuckers so that they give up their day jobs and treat us to more music - seriously good stuff.




Finally there is this album from Woollen Kits. The Melbourne act's debut is the first great Australian album of 2012. GET IT.

Woollen Kits - For You

Enjoy the festivities kids!

Brisbane Is Big With The Sound

Next week over three days (September 7-9) Brisbane becomes a convergence point for all important Australian musical media. When I say important, Im not referring to The X Factor either. The biggest music conference in the Southern Hemisphere, BIGSOUND draws top national and international industry talent, forming a vibrant collection of musicians, buyers and industry experts to create an environment of new music discovery.

The three-day BIGSOUND conference program is already gaining a substantial reputation around the world for its cutting edge topics and down to earth approach in tackling issues in what is one of the world’s most rapidly changing industries. This year's speakers include Creation Records creator Alan McGee, Pavement guitarist Spiral Stairs, Aussie music entrepreneurial wunderkind Michael Chugg, Lachlan Goold (AKA uberproducer Magoo), triplej stalwart Richard Kingsmill, plus a gamut of the industry's movers and shakers from home and abroad, all with varying degrees of valid things to say about everything. Yep, everything. You name it, they are mumbling about it. Timetable of events here...

2011 marks the third year since BIGSOUND launched its expanded showcase program concept, BIGSOUND Live, to the public. The new look BIGSOUND Live program allows the public access to live and original music in a huge variety of Fortitude Valley clubs and venues across two nights (September 7-8), with 80 of the "best" emerging acts appear for one of the most exciting industry festivals and showcases in the Southern Hemisphere. TO be fair, its got some amazing acts - alongside bands already mentioned here at SM (The Laurels, DZ Deathrays, Bleeding Knees Club, Guineafowl, The Mercy Beat) there are the likes of Ben Salter, Belles Will Ring, Eagle & the Worm, Velociraptor, Intercooler (making a much-anticipated comeback!), Jonathan Boulet (of excellent Sydney act Parades), Mike Noga, Little Scout, Mosman Alder, SEALS, Stonefield, The Vasco Era...pant...and that's just the tip of this sonic iceberg!

You can get tickets here for either the Wednesday or Thursday night, or a two night pass.

Wavves Flooding The Zoo

Nathan Williams and co. are the first in a veritable whose who (Hold Steady, The Clean, Besnard Lakes) to be taking over the Zoo in Brisbane this week, as Wavves brings their shambolic garage punk shenanigans to town, ably supported by the Bleeding Knees Club. Should still be tix left, so if you want to see a highly unpredictable show - or just need to stock up on rolling papers, or your grinder has hit the dust - then drop on in!

Wavves - Horse Shoes
Wavves - Cool Jumper
Wavves - Mickey Mouse