February 27, 2008

Soundwave is coming to town yo! This Friday will not only see a remarkable calibre of bands swarming our way in one cacophonic mass, but employers all over Melbourne collectively puzzled at the sudden ailment striking their personnel at Friday lunch time as we all strafe out of the office for the festival’s 12.30pm start. Make sure you get there early too, because we’ve just been informed that Donny Dureau of Blueline Medic will be kicking off proceedings. Coincidentally, one of the other acts I’m also excited about this Friday is City and Colour- side project of Alexisonfire’s Dallas Green. While others seem stoked about seeing Sparta’s Jim Ward. The side-projects are most definitely kicking ass this week, which is a stark contrast to weeks ago at the Big Day Out when I was left wondering whether side-projects were indubitably (fun word, try it some time), across the board- shithouse. I’m of course referring to the horror that followed a self-assured trot over to the Converse stage to see Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello perform as the Nightwatchman. Just minutes into the set I was left wondering if some psychedelic pharmaceuticals had suddenly become airbourne because whatever I was witnessing smacked of a bad trip. How could Tom Morello, guitarist extraordinaire, founding member of one of the greatest bands ever, suck so much as a solo artist? His amateurish songs were truly reminiscent of those horrid moments early Saturday morning when your mates dig up an untuned acoustic guitar and are maniacally possessed by the belief that they are proficient enough to knock up an original tune, accompanied by shouty ad lib lyrics. Not so much.