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Shooting the breeze with Nonpoint axeman Zach Broderick!

February 23rd, 2011 by Emily | 1 Comment | Filed in Interviews


Guitarist for Nonpoint, Zach Broderick dishes the dirt on the upcoming Soundwave festival, including his top tip for avoiding chaffing and even what undies he plans on wearing onstage!


What is the most exciting thing about the prospect of playing Soundwave 2011?
Probably the fact that we get to be a part of the incredible lineup. It truly is an honor to be a part of this fest. Also, it being our first time in Australia is pretty exciting as well!


What’s the least exciting thing? Is there anything about playing Australia in the Summer that you are not excited about?
The plane ride! I’ve never sat on a plane for 19 hours. Hahaha. I’ve been googling “what to do on a plane for so long”. It tells me to bring an iPod, books, and movies….gee, thanks. So informative.


Which act are you most looking forward to playing with and why?
Tough question!!! Well, I’m a huge Melvins fan, and I love Slayer! Slash is one of my biggest influences ever. Rob Zombie is one of the best live shows anyone will ever see, and Maiden????? Also, Sevendust is one of my favourite live bands on the planet, so I’m really looking forward to their show. Hmmmm I can’t narrow it down to one. I’m a big fan of so many bands on this tour.


What has been your favourite festival experience as both an audience member and a performer?
Probably when we we’re playing Ozzfest last year. Finishing playing, then heading out in the crowd to watch Ozzy and the Crüe, and saying to myself, “I was just standing on that stage…right where Ozzy or
Nikki Sixx was! In front of all these people, using the same P.A.!” Yeah, I’m a total fan.


What items are a must-have on your rider and why?
Do you guys serve alligator over there in Australia? My bass player Ken and I always eat alligator in New Orleans. Yum!


What is the best on stage prank you have been involved in and why?
There was an epic prank we did to Drowning Pool. It may never be topped. Go to YouTube and type “Nonpoint pranks Drowning Pool”.


What is your stance on crowd nudity? Do you encourage it?
I think it’s a great way to show the band your appreciation! Haha, having a nice set of boobies flashed at me while I’m playing always seems to make playing the show a little more enjoyable, and a lot more fun! Yes! Encouraged!


What colour underwear will you wear onstage?
Hot pink. Always hot pink or magenta… or maybe my Australian flag drawers.


Do you have any clue about Australia’s national sport, cricket?
I’m a huge baseball fan, so as long as it’s a sport with a ball and a bat, it’s cool with me. I’d love to check it out. If anyone wants to take me to a game, I’d be much obliged.


What’s the first thing you’ll do when you come off stage?
Take a deep breath, crack a Fosters, and say “damn, that was awesome”. Second thing I’ll do is get out there to meet all the people. That’s the most fulfilling thing about playing in a band.


Slayer fans have been known to carve the band’s name in their forearms. What are your thoughts on this?
Well, I have the Misfits tattooed on my arm, so I guess that makes it a permanent thing as well… just a little more hygienic and sterile. Yeah, I remember getting the Slayer record, seeing the carved tattoo
in his arm and saying, “holy shit! That rules!” Slayer fans are intense, and some of the most dedicated fans I’ve ever seen. Ssslllllaaaayyyyeeeerrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!! Can’t wait!


Describe your relationship with port-a-pottys (portable toilets)
I used to find construction sites when I was a punk rock teenager and go knock them over. They remind me of the good ol’ days (sigh)… That sure was fun.


What is your favourite festival food and why?
Funnel cake and arepas! Why? Because it’s fried dough! Need I say more?


What is your number 1 tip for avoiding chaffing?
Gold bond! Best stuff in the World! Thanks for reminding me to pack that. Sure glad this question came up today. I was just getting ready to pack. Thanks!!!!!

Propagandhi Head Our Way in May!

February 21st, 2011 by Emily | No Comments | Filed in Tour News

Blue Murder Touring Presents:

Propagandhi Australian Tour in May 2011!


As announced by the band recently via their podcast, Propagandhi are returning to Australia in May! The band will be playing Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong, Gold Coast and Brisbane for an Australia-wide tour from May 18th – 29th.


Secret internal cables released early Monday morning by controversial whistle-blower website Wikileaks, have provoked an unprecedented 694-day debate in Australian Parliament. The cables suggest, contrary to public pronouncements from the Gillard government, that the unbelievably good looking Canadian hard rock band Propagandhi have no time-line for withdrawal from their extremely unpopular mission in Australia.


Propagandhi have warned against handing over responsibility for security in Australia to any of the completely self-serving total assholes that tend to get involved in federal politics in the first place, insisting the transition must be tailored to the conditions on the ground.


Quoted in the heavily-redacted documents is Propagandhi’s Minister of Agriculture, Jordan D. Samolesky, who states that “Propagandhi will not abandon Australia. Propagandhi will not allow Australia to become a haven for terrorists. Propagandhi will remain engaged in Australia until everyone is either dead, maimed or incarcerated. Only then can democracy and freedom prevail. Now let us blaze!“


Tickets on sale Monday February 28th, @ 9am.


Wednesday May 18 Melbourne, Corner Hotel – 18+
Tix from www.cornerhotel.com (03) 9427 9198


Friday May 20 Hobart, The Brisbane Hotel – 18+
Tix from Brisbane Hotel (03) 62344920, Red Hot Devonport (03) 6424 9816, Mojo Launceston (03) 6334 5677, Ruff Cut Hobart (03) 6234 8600, www.oztix.com.au 1300 762 545


Saturday May 21 Adelaide, Adelaide Uni Bar – 18+
Tix from www.moshtix.com.au 1300 GET TIX, www.oztix.com.au 1300 762 545


Sunday May 22 Perth, Capitol – 18+
Tix from www.moshtix.com.au 1300 GET TIX, 78′s www.78records.com.au (08) 9322 6384, Mills (08) 9335 1945


Tuesday May 24 Canberra, The Maram – 18+
Tix from www.moshtix.com.au 1300 GET TIX, www.oztix.com.au 1300 762 545


Wednesday May 25 Newcastle, Bar On The Hill – 18+
Tix from U-Shops on Campus (02) 4985 4144, Rock Shop (02) 4929 1856, Cat Fight (02) 4962 5000, www.bigtix.com.au (02) 4968 3093, www.oztix.com.au 1300 762 545


Thursday May 26 Sydney, Metro Theatre 18+
Tix from www.metrotheatre.com.au (02) 9550 3666, www.ticketek.com.au 132 849


Friday May 27 Wollongong, Wollongong Uni Bar – 18+
Tix from Unishop (02) 4221 8050, Redback Music (02) 4229 6169 & www.bigtix.com.au, www.oztix.com.au 1300 762 545


Saturday May 28 Gold Coast, Coolangatta Hotel – 18+
Tix from www.thecoolyhotel.com.au (07) 5589 6888, www.oztix.com.au 1300 762 545 and oztix outlets


Sunday May 29 Brisbane, Hi-Fi – 18+
Tix from www.thehifi.com.au 1300 843 434, www.oztix.com.au 1300 762 545 and oztix outlets

Kyuss Lives Tour Sold Out and Supports Announced!

February 21st, 2011 by Emily | No Comments | Filed in Tour News



Fort and Tumbleweed to Accompany Kyuss Lives on their Sold-out Australian Tour!


“Not since AC/DC and Rose Tattoo has Australia had a rock’n'roll outfit that kicks out the jams as loudly and proudly as Fort.” – Rolling Stone.


With five releases under their studded belt and a history of rocking venues throughout the country, Fort have been delivering their sonic heaviness, grinding rhythms and chugging guitar riffs to venues far and wide since 2000. Still firmly planted in the hills of the NSW North Coast, Fort have toured with the likes of Clutch, FuManchu, Nebula and Helmet. Now they will be joining their friends (on all shows except Sydney) and inspirados Kyuss Lives on their first Australian visit since ‘93.


Musical legends in Australia, the stoner rock riffs of Wollongong’s Tumbleweed inspired a whole generation of music lovers when they emerged in 1990s from the seeds of the Proton Energy Pills and The Unheard. Tumbleweed burst onto the scene in a huge way by gaining infamy courtesy of a national support slot to the one and only Australian tour by the legendary Nirvana back in 1992.


Despite their chequered history with its many ups and downs including several band line-up changes, Tumbleweed have let bygones be bygones and the original line up is once again on speaking terms and playing and writing together for the first time in almost fifteen years and will be supporting Kyuss Lives in Sydney only.


John Garcia, Brant Bjork and Nick Oliveri are reuniting Kyuss and are set to unleash their desert rock fury across Australian in 2011. The legend that has become KYUSS was formed in 1989. In October 1995, just three months after releasing what was arguably their breakthrough album ‘… And The Circus Leaves Town’, Kyuss broke up. The band has been on an indefinite hiatus ever since, and has gone on to reach legendary status – influencing thousands of rock bands all over the world.


They are coming to Australia in May 2011 to fuck shit up and fuck you up. Consider the rest history. KYUSS LIVES!

Dandy Warhols Return in May for a Quick Stint in Aus!

February 21st, 2011 by Emily | No Comments | Filed in Tour News


The Dandy Warhols Return to Australia in May 2011!


The Dandy Warhols first garnered international attention in 1997 with the world’s catchiest anti-heroin song, “Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth”. However, it was their brilliant third album ‘Thirteen-tales-from-urban-bohemia’ that catapulted them into the stratosphere. Alternative Press called it “a scattershot bagful of wild rides and demented ditties and an album of maniacal depth and vision” whilst MTV described it as “a real piece of art, with an unmistakably original sound and incisive storytelling”.


With a regular stream of releases following, The Dandy Warhols have continued to assert their status as one of the world’s most forward-thinking and relevant bands.


Don’t miss your chance to see one of the world’s most enduring and influential bands put on an unforgettable psych-out throughout Australia this May.


Tickets on sale Tuesday March 3rd, @ 9am.


Tuesday May 24 Perth, Metropolis Fremantle – 18+
www.moshtix.com.au 1300 GET TIX & Moshtix outlets


Thursday May 26 Adelaide, HQ – 18+
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849


Friday May 27 Melbourne, The Palace – 18+
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849


Sunday May 29 Sydney, The Enmore – Lic A/A
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849


Tuesday May 31 Brisbane, The Tivoli – 18+
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

A Day To Remember Return to Australian Shores in May!

February 21st, 2011 by Emily | No Comments | Filed in Tour News



A Day To Remember and Underoath in May 2011!


With their latest album ‘What Separates Me From You’, A Day To Remember have maintained their locomotive-like momentum, pushing their love of extremes to new heights. The hooks are their most melodic yet, in contrast to their breakdowns that are more crushing and medieval than ever before. “Whether it’s crafting a pop-punk anthem or delivering a sonic beatdown, ADTR do it better than everyone, and for the rest of us, that’s where the separation lies.” – Alternative Press.

For the six men in Underoath, whose members have evolved and thrived during a decade-long progression that has elevated them into one of heavy music’s biggest successes, change has been ubiquitous. Overcoming what many consider their most significant line-up alteration yet, Underoath have experienced an artistic rebirth in the form of ‘Disambiguation’. “Dark, maddening, and one step away from throwing itself over the edge, and this is the very thing that makes it such powerful catharsis.” – Sputnik Music.

Be prepared for an unforgettable ride through gang vocals, sing-a-long choruses and crushing breakdowns as A Day To Remember and Underoath visit our shores this May.

Tickets on sale Wednesday March 2nd, @ 9am.

Sunday May 8 Perth, Astor Theatre - Lic A/A
www.bocsticketing.com.au (08) 9484 1133, www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

Tuesday May 10 Adelaide, HQ – Lic A/A
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

Thursday May 12 Melbourne, Festival Hall – Lic/Unlic
www.ticketmaster.com.au 136 100

Friday May 13 Sydney, Luna Park Big Top – Lic A/A
www.bigtopsydney.com 1300 BIG TOP, www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

Sunday May 15 Brisbane, The Tivoli – All Ages
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

Tuesday May 17 Gold Coast, Coolangatta – 18+
www.oztix.com.au & Oztix outlets

Parkway Drive Announce Australian Tour!

February 21st, 2011 by Emily | No Comments | Filed in Tour News

Resist Presents:

Parkway Drive “The Mix N’ Mash Tour” May 2011!


Having toured together on the 2010 Warped Tour, Parkway Drive and UK’s You Me At Six clicked from the word go. It may have been a case of World Cup fever from watching many a game together or the friendly games of soccer the bands played themselves that bonded them, but one thing is for sure it was a shared outlook and attitude that brought the two groups together from the opposite sides of the globe and genre spectrum.


“I think the name of the tour says it all” says Parkway Drive vocalist Winston McCall. “It has a bit of everything for anyone who likes their music a little faster, a little more energetic, something local, something punk, something heavy, something rock, and then us hahaha. It’s everything we love, and we couldn’t be more psyched.”


You Me At Six frontman Josh Franceschi commented: “We’re really happy to announce that we’ll be hitting Australia with our boys in Parkway Drive. The shows are going to be HUUUGGGEEE, so if you like either of our bands, head down. Ripper!”


Joining Parkway Drive and You Me At Six on The Mix N’ Mash Tour  will be Orange County’s Bleeding Through, Philadelphia’s The Wonder Years and Melbourne’s Confession.


Tickets on sale Friday February 25th.


Wednesday May 18 Riverstage, Brisbane Lic / AA
Tickets from Ticketmaster 136100, www.ticketmaster.com.au


Thursday May 19 High School, Byron Bay AA
Tickets from All Music and Vision (Byron, Lismore and Ballina), Kill The Music, Rocking Horse, Mosh Pit, Sunflower Music and www.resistrecords.com


Friday May 20 Hordern Pavilion, Sydney Lic / AA
Tickets from Ticketek outlets 132 849 www.ticketek.com.au


Saturday May 21 Panthers, Newcastle Lic / AA
Tickets from Panthers Box Office, The Rock Shop, Moshtix outlets www.moshtix.com.au


Sunday May 22 WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong Lic / AA
Tickets from Ticketek outlets 132 849 www.ticketek.com.au


Wednesday May 25 Festival Hall, Melbourne Lic / AA
Tickets from Ticketmaster 136100 www.ticketmaster.com.au and Festival Hall Box Office.


Friday May 27 Challenge Stadium, Perth Lic / AA
Tickets from Ticketmaster 136100 and www.ticketmaster.com.au


Saturday May 28 Uni Grounds, Adelaide Lic / AA
Tickets from Venue Tix outlets www.venuetix.com.au

Blunt Posters – Soundwave Collector’s Edition!

February 17th, 2011 by Emily | 3 Comments | Filed in Issues

What better way to prepare for the 2011 Soundwave Festival than by gazing at your fave bands from the line-up as you count down the sleeps ’til the big day?!

Grab a copy of the latest issue of the mag and don your walls with some of these festival (and Blunt HQ) favourites:

- Bring Me The Horizon
- The Amity Affliction
- New Found Glory
- Bullet For My Valentine
- Gaslight Anthem

+ many more!

Pick up your copy of the Blunt Posters Soundwave Collector’s Edition, out February 18th and don’t forget to bring it along to the festival signing tents to have your fave artists scrawl their name on your fave posters!

Pulled Apart By Horses

February 11th, 2011 by Emily | No Comments | Filed in Interviews

Having just nipped back from his local pub, Pulled Apart By Horses frontman, Tom Hudson,
discusses the very real possibility that his band could collapse under the weight of its own outrageousness.

What has the band been up to?
“We played a secret show in Leeds, at The Packhorse Pub, where we played our first ever show. Lee and James even lived there for a year. We did it under a fake name, just to try out some new material. It’s all half-finished, so it was more like just being first on and then hanging out with friends, really.”

Is there a different approach to a secret show? And what about the fact that this material isn’t finished yet?
“It’s a lot more nerve-wracking, to be honest. You get a lot more fuck-ups because half the time you have no clue what you’re meant to be doing. I just make up lyrics on the spot. But it’s also really fun at the same time. It’s only really as unpredictable as any live show. You never know how shit is going to go.”

So is that how you guys were working when you wrote the self-titled record? Is this a whole new method?
“Yeah, it is actually. It’s really cool at the moment. When we started out, we had to just collect songs bit by bit, whenever we had space. We’re a live band and we tour constantly, so we just had to grab whatever time we could to put stuff together and try to bang out a song. Now that we’ve come to the end of all that, we set ourselves time aside to sit down and write stuff together like a proper band, it feels really new and different. And awesome.”

Looking back on the self-titled record, are you still happy with how that ended up, especially now that you’re in the headspace to work on new songs?
“I’m still really happy with it. I’m not sick of it and we still love playing those songs live. In a weird way, we managed to cram as much energy and enthusiasm into each of those songs as we could. With the new album, the only concern is to keep that same vibe but at the same time, do something different… Without fucking everything up!”

As you get older and write more music, do you find that you need to get something more out of it?
“I don’t really know. The thing that we need to do is have the confidence that whatever we do is going to sound like us. For now, we’ll just write a whole bunch of new stuff and pick the best, like eleven out of twenty songs, rather than just having to say, ‘this is the album.’”

Is there a definite push for you guys to distinguish yourselves from other bands?
“We don’t really think about that, to be honest. It’s just a case of doing stuff that is exciting to us. The first part of a band’s downfall is thinking about what critics say and thinking about ‘the dreaded second album,’ as people call it. You end up diluting what you do with stuff. For us, the best way to write is to get our ball of energy together and as long as we don’t lose that, then we’ll be okay.”

So, care to name any bands that you really loved for their debut record that then let you down with their second release?
“You get so many that do it! I think that for so many bands, the second record is going to be like where a band will have been quite underground to start with and their second thing is quite poppy. For us, we just want to pick up where we left off.”

No need to name names, man.
“But you could!”

Let’s just talk about picking up where you left off. On the debut LP, you had a lot of really disturbing imagery. Even just the song titles are visceral, nerve-wracking and off-putting. Will that kind of thing be surfacing in the new material?
“Oh yeah, man, definitely. It’s all back!”

Where does it all come from, this gross, dark stuff?
“It’s a bit to do with our level of sanity on tour, when we’re just chatting tonnes of bullshit because we all tend to be a bit random-minded. It’s also got a bit to do with the artwork I do, so it goes hand-in-hand with that surrealism. We’re trying to say stuff, but we don’t want to be some kind of massive political band, we just want to be weird and open-ended. Either way, we’re going to have a bunch of stupid song titles at least. The main reason that the last album was self-titled was because we realised that there were already so many stupid song names. If we called it anything else, it would combust.”

Okay, “Back To The Fuck Yeah” is probably the best song title that I have ever heard. How did that come about?
“That came about when we were on tour with a band called Grammatics. We hadn’t seen them for a long time and we hooked up with them in Brighton. Then we went to Paris with them for a one-off gig and they had a new song with no name for it. Rob, our bassist, just came out with ‘back to the fuck yeah,’ when they asked us what to call it. They almost stole the song title, but then decided not to because it was too stupid. We just took it for ourselves.”

With all of this randomness, what helps you keep it together on the road?
“It gets really tough. You live in each other’s pockets, but what keeps us going is having a sense of humour and having other people with us. It’s not just us, the guys in the band; you have a tour manager, who is our good mate and our guitar tech, a good friend too. You surround yourself with a weird little circus. Also, I take a laptop and watch a lot of horror films. It helps when you’ve got your headphones on as you can just be in your own world for a little while.”

So if the laptop is an essential, what should be banned from tour luggage?
“James [Brown, Guitarist] has really stinky feet. Maybe if he got new shoes for every tour. But of course it gets stinky when you have a bunch of dudes all cooped up in a tiny space playing sweaty gigs. He’s getting better though, I think he has some kind of powder now. The last UK tour that we did, I gave up smoking the actual day that we started the tour and I didn’t think I was that bad, but looking back on it now, I was the biggest cunt I’ve ever been in my life. I gave those boys shit and I know that someday I’m going to get the back end of it at some point.”

And, speaking of back ends, the charming Mr. Hudson toddles back down to his local to see if he can grab one last pint before closing.
Catch the band when they’re in Australia this coming March!

Blunt #97 is on sale now!

February 9th, 2011 by Emily | No Comments | Filed in Issues


In this Soundwave edition of Blunt:

- Blunt wrangles in the stars of Soundwave to find out what’s in store for the festival
- Architects main man Sam Carter rages about mosh nazis, stale metalcore and smelly metalheads
- The Decemberists declare the king is dead on their new album
- Blunt’s favourite party black metalers Kvelertak swear they aren’t singing about ice cream
- Blunt meets the new frontman for Chiodos
- Yellowcard bust out the violin for another shot at the mainstream
- Plus a free Hopeless Records Summer sampler!

Escape The Fate / Pierce The Veil Australian Tour!

February 4th, 2011 by Emily | 1 Comment | Filed in Tour News

On their self titled album, ESCAPE THE FATE delivers an addictive package full of furious energy, blending arena rock reminiscent of the 90’s whilst making a stamp on what the future for rock is. The album seamlessly blends metal and melody with anthemic choruses into an epic sound only hinted at on the group’s previous album, 2008’s This War Is Ours… ”Escape The Fate ‘s album is stunning, absolutely insane.” – Evigshed.com

PIERCE THE VEIL have converted countless fans to their unique brand of progressive post-hardcore since 2007. With the winding, intricacy of the guitars along with the steady, punchy backup provided by the drums and the rumbling low notes of the bass all combine to create one stellar canvas upon where Vic Fuente’s high-pitched croon soars high above the conglomerate of instruments. Whether they’re screaming their hearts out or gently bearing their souls, their latest effort ‘Selfish Machines’ “once again has the band doing what they do best: fast-paced rock with high-octane vocals.” – AbsolutePunk.net

The kickass bill of ESCAPE THE FATE and PIERCE THE VEIL is slated to leave diehard fans breathless and wanting more all across Australia this April.

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 11 FEBRUARY 9AM

SUNDAY 24 APRIL PERTH, ASTOR THEATRE – Lic A/A
www.bocsticketing.com.au 08 9484 1133, www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

TUESDAY 26 APRIL ADELAIDE, HQ – Lic A/A
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

WEDNESDAY 27 APRIL MELBOURNE, BILLBOARD – 18+
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849, www.billboardthevenue.com.au

THURSDAY 28 APRIL MELBOURNE, BILLBOARD – Under 18
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849, www.billboardthevenue.com.au

SATURDAY 30 APRIL SYDNEY, UNSW ROUNDHOUSE – Lic A/A
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

SUNDAY 1 MAY BRISBANE, THE TIVOLI – All Ages
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849

Presented by Channel [V], Faster Louder, Blunt Magazine and Soundwave Touring