BATS magazine

2010-04-08T12:59:00.007+10:00

WE'VE MOVED TO TUMBLR!

Hello bloggers! We've moved our blog to tumblr, it made more sense seeing that our website is hosted on tumblr anyway and it's making things a whole lot easier for ourselves.

Thank you all for following us on this blog, and we hope you can still follow our blogging at

www.batsmagazine.tumblr.com or alternatively at www.blog.batsmagazine.com

You can still read through our blogger archive by clicking the 'older posts' link below.

For more information on BATS magazine, please visit www.batsmagazine.com or email contact@batsmagazine.com

$5 entry

2010-04-05T20:02:00.003+10:00

IF you say BATS on the door at Pistol Whipped this Thurday night.

Saying it in an irish accent won't get you in any cheaper,

but you will mostly likely get strange looks in return.

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T14:55:00.001+10:00

classic jesus

YDO launch party photos

2010-04-03T10:21:00.002+10:00

Young Designers Online launched last Friday night with a fabulous party. That unfortunately we weren't able to attend due to prior commitments to No Waves (see previous post). Their website is officially up and running www.youngdesignersonline.com.au

However, I wanted to post some photos, especially of snailTRAIL's wonderful tights, shirts and (fuck yes) capes! Please check out their website www.snailtrail.com.au

fashion and social photography by WJphotography www.warrenjopson.com.au

no way-ves

2010-04-02T11:05:00.002+10:00

Three of us went to the second installment of No Waves last Friday night to do some live art, get "crunk" and cause a general ruckus of sorts. I, personally, was unable to attend.. which makes this post a bit pointless. But fuck you, here are some photos of us taken by Alex Wall.

see more photos at www.takennever.com

Fuck Effy

2010-04-01T21:26:00.002+10:00

Another rant from the hilarious Jessie Power...

If the cultivation of British drama Skins has not infected your life at some stage like a bad case of genital herpes, then it is my duty to inform you that you are living under a rather dark and desolate rock, my friend. At the helm of this cult-like following, (that I’m sure makes even Tom Cruise feel a bit queasy), is the worshipping of Effy Stonem: an illusive creature of which I can only describe as a satanic goddess of parties, pills and psychotic episodes. Girls, you’ve probably uttered the words, “I hate you” upon scowling at her bangin’ bod and luscious locks, before considering embracing lesbianism solely for her. Boys – well, I think one is able to allude to the kinds of activities that you have pursued whilst thinking about Effy Stonem.

However, it is important to remember that Effy is a literal freak of nature. When God created Effy, he must have got laid the night before, for she is the quintessential product of genetic flawlessness – a one-of-a-kind monument of human perfection that reminds us all that in comparison, we’re basically hags.

It is embarrassing and somewhat uncomfortable though, to watch the army of anorexic, lace-gloved chain smokers that have arisen from the desire to become living, breathing clones of Effy Stonem.

I’m sorry, but the reality is, just because you pop pills, party like it’s 1999 and look as though you’re in dire need of a steak, does not mean you resemble this God-like creature – it just means people may mistake you for an extra fresh off of the set of Twilight: how awkward!

Now, please do not send Christina Aguilera knocking on my doorstep to punch me in the head for refusing to regurgitate her infamous words of wisdom: “You are beautiful in every single way, yes words can’t bring you down!” For I am not saying that you are ugly. I’m just saying that in comparison to Effy Stonem you’re ugly – but that’s okay!

I have came to the ultimate conclusion that she is simply too perfect to be an earthling and is therefore an undercover spy from Pluto, wanting to know why the fuck we have shunned their tiny planet and not sent them a Christmas card since 2005. Consequently, you may stop feeling bad about the fact that you will never look like her by seeking comfort in the fact that beyond the exterior of porcelain skin and smokey eyes, she probably has green scales and a third eye, so it’s fine! Personally, I have taken a profound likening to Effy’s wacky co-star Pandora, whom shares a wide array of interests with myself such as doughnuts, pyjama parties and dancing like a 1980’s throwback.

My Mum always told me: “It’s so important to know who you are”. At first, I thought that perhaps the woman I had come to love unconditionally was in fact a moron, who believed that after all these years of stitching labels on my clothing, I might still be unsure what my name is. But now, I see that the old girl has a point. In hindsight, the likelihood of becoming as immaculately messed-up as Effy is about as probable as Osama Bin Laden becoming president of the United States, so please – put down the pills and pop some Vitamin C instead and for the love of God, please go and eat a fucking happy meal while you’re at it!

SURKIN giveaway!

2010-03-31T10:48:00.006+10:00

+he Arcade Crea+ive
are kindly giving us 2 x DOUBLE PASSES to SURKIN this Easter Sunday at The Met!

TO WIN yourself a double pass: email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "JERKIN' MY SURKIN" along with your full name to enter our competition.
- winners will be notified by email and chosen at random - winners must be strictly 18+ -

Check the Facebook Event for details.

OUTRAGE FEAT. SURKIN + BURNS from +he Arcade Crea+ive on Vimeo.

Also, to everyone who went to the BOYS NOIZE show,
here is a Thank You video from +he Arcade Crea+ive :

THANK YOU 4 COMING BOYS NOIZE RECORDS from +he Arcade Crea+ive on Vimeo.

swiss cheese

2010-03-31T09:34:00.003+10:00

THE SWISS + MARK E
12 HOUR PARTY

Our friends are throwing are rad 12 hour party this Saturday April 3 at Barsoma - a massive way to celebrate the death (and eventually the resurrection) of jesus christ!

Sydney/Modular band The Swiss will be playing a live set, as well as DJ Mark E from the UK. Mitzi and The Parties Of Interzone will also be playing live sets. And enjoy a great list of djs to keep the night going: RIO LOBOTOMY, MIKE REDFERN, TIM FUCHS & RIKKI NEWTOWN

pre-sale tickets are $15, grab them now!

ATTN photographers: VIEWFINDER submissions now open

2010-03-30T17:56:00.004+10:00

VIEWFINDER

Film photography will always be my favourite over digital. Any person can take a decent photo with autofocus on a dSLR these days, true talent lies in being able to operate film cameras (as I slowly but surely learn this at Uni).

Ninelives will be having their second Viewfinder show - an exhibition of film photography on the 16th of April. Anyone is welcome to submit their photos, it's a great chance for young budding photographers to get their work seen and also make a few bucks while you're at it. Submissions close on the 12th of April. Please check the Ninelives blog for all terms & conditions

RANT: Prepubescent Popstars

2010-03-22T11:26:00.003+10:00

I cannot even begin to define the feeling that soars through my veins each time I am innocently skipping through TV channels and all of a sudden bombarded I’m with the image of Miley Cyrus “movin’ her hips like yeah” (What does that even mean?) I can only describe this sensation as a dense combination of disgust, intolerance, anger, fear and though it sickens me to the core, jealousy.

Why the fuck am I stuck at school wrestling with quadratics when Miley “I’m just asking to be punched in the face” Cyrus is making millions from dancing like a demented stripper?

Sitting perched on another branch of the Disney family’s ultimate brat pack are the Jonas Brothers who, if I were given the opportunity, would quite casually push in front a moving bus. I don’t care if they’re ‘hawt’, they are a disgrace to teenage, blood-related, musical trios who blitzed the scene way before them (ie. Hanson, marry me).

My simmering fit of rage becomes aggravated yet again when I find myself running like Napoleon Dynamite’s little sister (if ever a creature were to exist) to the train station every afternoon, because the sheer weight of my schoolbag leaves me in dire need of a chiropractor. I think to myself, whilst I am on the brink of paraplegia, the Jonas Brothers are probably sitting on Oprah’s warm, chiropractic sofa discussing their recent hit single entitled, ‘Today I grew my first pubic hair”.

Quite frankly, I am pissed. I feel like I’ve drawn the short straw of adolescent normality. In the grand scheme of things, I am just an angry girl with short legs and an affinity for scrabble.

Despite this, at least one is able to take solace in the fact that I am ultimately insignificant during these awkward years of hormonal retardation. My life will not be forever haunted by the lingering ghost of those raunchy photos I took of myself being a promiscuous gal on self-timer – Mi-Cy, on the other hand is not in such a fortunate position.

So, instead of punching walls and wishing it were you whose lack of musical talent was recognised by Disney, why not turn your anger into amusement? Gather a group of friends and place bets on which Jo Bro will be the first to enter rehab; buy the Hannah Montana soundtrack and use the disc as a Frisbee; or if you’re feeling particularly bitter, why not start a group on Facebook called, “Wow! I can’t believe Justin Bieber is actually gay” and simply witness the lives of twelve-year-old girls crumble before you. The possibilities are endless, so get creative and restore my sanity and to a greater extent, my faith in humanity.

DELPHIC GIVEAWAY

2010-03-18T14:14:00.002+10:00

DELPHIC AUSTRALIAN TOUR

Brisbane Show Giveaway!

UK band DELPHIC are heading down under for their very first Australian tour, presented by Modular, this month. Their Brisbane show is next Thursday March 25 at The Hi-Fi Bar with Bag Raiders (DJ set), Matt Van Schie (Van She) and Modular DJs.

Thanks to Modular, we have a double pass to giveaway to DELPHIC's Brisbane show!

TO ENTER: email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as 'ACOLYTE' along with your full name!

*COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED*

Tickets are $35 available online here

You can also download their album ACOLYTE for $15 with every ticket purchased to selected shows.

For more information please visit the Modular website here (where you can also download 4 tracks from Delphic's album Acolyte for free)

or the Delphic Australian Tour - Brisbane Facebook Event

No waves allowed here mate

2010-03-17T23:40:00.005+10:00

NEXT FRIDAY

Thanks to the boys at No Waves,, we have a double pass to giveaway!

To WIN, email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as 'No waves allowed here, mate' along with your full name to enter!

RANT: Cartoon Backpacks

2010-03-17T20:42:00.005+10:00

Burn 'em and bury 'em

by Jessie Power

Cartoon backpacks are one of the many reasons that I have grown to become an increasingly anti-social human being, harbouring hatred and a festering desire to bludgeon humanity within an inch of its life.

It was just last week when I sat on a public bench immersing myself in the ebb and flow of city life, pondering the universe (I was waiting for my Mum to pick me up from work), when the internal monologue of philosophical debate going on in my head was abruptly concluded by a baffling sight: A seventeen-year-old boy wearing a ‘Bob the Builder’ back pack at the same time he is blasting Snoop Dogg’s ‘Gangsta Luv’ through his mobile's speaker. One only has to pose the question: what the actual fuck?

My eyes have been soiled on countless occasions by emos and wanksters everywhere who feel it necessary to adopt the craze of cartoon backpacks that have taken kindergartens globally by storm.

However, enough is enough, the time has come to make it clear: sporting a ‘Dora the Explorer’ backpack does not make you cool, it just makes me want to impale you over the head with a large, jagged rock.

Everyone knows that respect is something that must be earned and for those of you who believe that wearing Elmo on your back will instantly reward you with infinite respect from the world, you are wrong.

Think of some of the most influential figures that humanity has ever produced and ask your self, “Can I imagine this person wearing a cartoon backpack?”

Napoleon Bonaparte: No.

William Shakespeare: Definitely not.

Jesus: No fucking way.

So the moral of the story is, whether you opt for Dora, Bob, Elmo or even Winnie the Pooh, you’re still wearing a cartoon backpack and thus you will remain an inferior human being to the rest of us and are eligible to be used as a mobile target used for spear-throwing competitions.

BHATS of a different kind...

2010-03-17T18:22:00.004+10:00

LAKES & BHATS

BHATS will be exhibiting his quirky illustrations at The Attic Gallery in Toowoomba on Friday March 26.

more details here

check out his blog - skeleton.tumblr.com

and feast your eyes on these:

Whiskers aint that expensive

2010-03-15T17:22:00.003+10:00

feed yo cat, foo'

Happy 1st Birthday FANS

2010-03-10T16:22:00.005+10:00

FANS FIRST BIRTHDAY

Most 1st birthday parties are filled with babies covered in their own shit and saliva who can bearly sit up without falling over, obnoxious over protective parents and ridiculously bored older siblings...

FANS however are turning 1 and their gift to you is a banging party with a preview of their new space - the new Club House (previously known as Valley Studios). This Saturday March 13, the doors of the Club House will open to reveal their new venue and what we can expect later on in the year when it swings into full gear. Helping FANS celebrating their birthday will be:

Jonathan Boulet, Young Heretics, Megastick Fanfare and locals The Strange Attractors.

✚ GIVEAWAY ✚

1st round tickets have already sold out and 2nd round tickets are still available at oztix.com.au

Fortunately FANS have given us 2 double passes to giveaway to what looks to be a sold out show!

To enter: email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as 'HAPPY BDAY FANS' along with your full name.

*THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDD*

For more information please visit:

Fans First Birthday Faceboook Event

Horse Meat Disco back in Brisbane! Ticket Giveaway!

2010-03-07T18:01:00.005+10:00

HORSE MEAT DISCO

back in Brisbane!

Horse Meat Disco are heading to Brisbane this Friday March 12 at The Empire Hotel for a sideshow after their Mardi Gras festivities. Helping HMD fly their rainbow flag will be Whiskey Tears who are back from the UK for a couple of parties, and a whole lineup of acts including:

Cassian (Bang Gang 12"s), Youth (21st Birthday), Matt "Ted Bear' Brady, Keen?, Tim Fuchs on first Dates, Jad And The Ladyboy's Breakfast, Mangang DJs aka Wolfgang and John St St Savior John

✟ GIVEAWAY ✟

Thanks to Lick It Media, we have 2 double passes to giveaway!

To WIN 1 of the 2 passes, email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as 'HMD' along with your full name to enter!

*THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED*

Pre-sale tickets are $10 and are available from moshtix and oztix with the special code 'HMD', for fans of Horse Meat Disco.

for more information please visit:

www.lickitmedia.com.au
Horse Meat Disco Facebook Event

KITTEN PARTY ticket giveaway

2010-03-04T17:33:00.006+10:00

KITTEN PARTY, sounds like a feline orgy (and maybe it is in some cultures), but it is actually the name of one Brisbane local who makes beautiful music and is described as a "one-man Animal Collective". Kitten Party will be haunting the Browning St Studios on Friday March 19 and he will be joined by special guests Aquanamis Freedumb (cassette launch), The Huge Nudes (Blank Realm relations), The Happy Choir (Kitchen's Floor relations) + Potato Masta spinning tunes all night long. Best of all, it is ALL AGES and BYO!!

✞ GIVEAWAY ✞

Tickets are only 5 bones, but thanks to our friends at Bedroom Suck Records, we have two double passes to giveaway - that will be hand drawn by Joe from Yardhand who does the best little illustrations and drawings, whoever wins these should treasure these tickets!

*COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED*

For more details please visit the following:

Kitten Party Facebook Event

www.bedroomsuckrecords.tk

Lost and Found - exclusive BATS ticket promotion

2010-03-04T14:16:00.004+10:00

FANS PRESENTS

LOST AND FOUND

Most of us were saddened due to the cancellation of The Lost Weekend Festival. Thankfully FANS have arranged a last minute show this Sunday at Rosies for a lot of the international, national and local bands that were meant to play at the festival.

Line up:

Lou Barlow (US), Monotonix (Israel), Hawnay Troof (US), DZ, Bus Driver (US), Mt Augustus, AXXONN, No Anchor, Little Scout, Comic Sans, New Pants (China), Mt Augustus, Villains of Wilhelm, Parties of Interzone, Little Scout, Tape / Off, Can Can (Tenniscoats & Deerhoof), One One (Tenniscoats & Deerhoof), Stature::Statue, Toy Balloon, Dan Parsons & more to be confirmed.

First round tickets are $35, but FANS have kindly made a special deal exclusive to BATS readers and fans... A TWO FOR ONE DEAL!!!

If you use the special code "BATS" when buying your tickets online, you can get two tickets for the price of one! But be quick because this offer is VERY limited, so don't miss out! Tell your friends!

Second round tickets are $45 or $50 on the door. Buy your tickets now and save money!

Buy your tickets online here

For more information please visit the following:

Lost and Found Facebook Event

www.fansclubnight.com

BOYS NOIZE Brisbane Show Giveaway

2010-03-03T15:54:00.005+10:00

BOYS NOIZE WORLD TOUR

BRISBANE SHOW GIVEAWAY

After releasing his album 'Power' last year in October, BOYS NOIZE is currently on a world tour bringing the sounds of Power to clubs, venues, bars, and even toilets around the globe. If you missed his set at Future Music Festival, now is your chance to see him in a more intimate setting - away from the crowds of fake tan and midrifts - next Thursday March at The Met. Supporting the German Dj will be HOUSEMEISTER and AJAX, as well as a bunch of great Queensland DJs.

With his last show being completely sound out, and tickets selling fast, you must make sure you don't miss this one! Pre sale tickets are available online now at www.moshtix.com.au for $25

✝ GIVEAWAY ✝

Thanks to +he Arcade Crea+ive we have 2 double passes to giveaway to this show!

To win 1 of the 2 passes, simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as 'POWER' along with your full name to enter.

*THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDD*

For more information please visit the following:
www.thearcadecreative.com

www.boysnoize.com

www.futureentertainment.com.au

Boys Noize Brisbane Show Facebook Event

This Saturday: The Enoggera Tce Bazaar

2010-03-01T11:57:00.003+10:00

THE ENOGGERA TCE BAZAAR

If you are looking for something to do this Saturday (March 6), and are battling with depression after hearing that The Lost Weekend Festival has been cancelled... then why not get rid of your blues with retail therapy and visit the 4th edition of The Enoggera Tce Bazaar!

The evening starts off at 6.30 pm at Ithaca Hall in Red Hill, and will include 3 hours of trying on clothes, drinking wine, listening to music and conversing with lovely people. What will you find at this bazaar? Well everything really; clothes (mostly vintage), accessories, handbags, jewellery, bags, hats, shoes, books, records, home furnishings and much much more.

The Entry Fee is a mere $5 but the first five people who mention BATS on the door will get in for free!

For more information please visit the following:

www.cheapfrillsbazaar.blogspot.com

The Enoggera Tce Bazaar Facebook Event

Why we're Pistol Whipped + ticket giveaway

2010-03-01T10:53:00.005+10:00

PISTOL WHIPPED

Next Thursday March 11 brings another installment of Pistol Whipped, now at Uber in West End. This night will showcase some of the best music, art, photography and fashion from Brisbane... everything you could expect in our magazine, but in a 3D and interactive experience. And not to mention the added bonus of something that rhymes with "shrink vessels" that we're not really meant to be advertising (but think hard and it will pay off).

The night will include sick beats from DJs:

Jane Doe

Aukistra

Frankie Trouble

DJ DayJaVu

As well as a TURPENTINE FASHION PARADE! Featuring hot babes in lingerie - fashion from four Brisbane Designers. And also a photography exhibition by TUSCANY GRAY from www.thelastbeatniks.com

For more information please visit the following:

www.janedoedj.tumblr.com

www.myspace.com/pistolwhippednight

Pistol Whipped Facebook Event

✚ GIVEAWAY ✚

WIN 1 of 2 double passes to Pistol Whipped. To enter: simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as 'PISTOL WHIPPED' along with your full name.

*THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDD*

RE: Last Dinosaurs EP launch

2010-02-28T19:49:00.004+10:00

LAST DINOSAURS
BACK FROM THE DEAD

On Friday night, Last Dinosaurs launched their debut EP 'Back From The Dead' at the picturesque Old Museum, the perfect setting for an unreal sold out show.

Comic Sans, the supporting act of the night, took to the stage early. I checked the time on my mobile, and as I looked up again, the majority of the band members were suddenly shirtless. But I'm not surprised really, seeing as this is the norm for all of Comic Sans' sets as of late. Good to see all four members were "somewhat sober" enough to play this time, with Michael Campbell (The Cairos) on percussion/cowbell as well, it was fucking cool. 'Thom Moore' and an old favourite 'The Horsemen' were clear standouts and Tom's menacing vocals echoed throughout the large hall of the museum, probably creeping the shit out of the local boys scouts annual "jamboree" who were convening next door.

Everyone then took a bit of time to recover, but anticipation for the Last Dinosaurs was growing immensely as they were setting up. As soon as the lights went out, people were running (and a few keen individuals sprinted) from all different directions to get to the stage and form a crowd. They kicked off playing 'You Are Being Lied To' and had the crowd truly mesmerised and hanging onto each beat and word. They kept on for a couple of songs, playing an old demo of theirs 'Hawaii', I then unfortunately made the mistake of going to the toilet (I have a weak bladder) to then come back and see that "snow" confetti had fallen from the balcony above, most likely during their song 'Alps'.

Highlights and crowd favourites were their stand out track 'Honolulu' (and not to mention Lachlan's amazing "funky squaredance" solo at the end), their Seinfeld intro to one of the songs and their cover of The Cure's classic 'Just Like Heaven'. Their set was flawless (albeit Caskey's banter between songs) and they finished their show with their song 'Saturn'. The added visual of a laser show (that put any disco ball to shame) being projected on the ceiling and the already fallen "snow" confetti was truly, well, beautiful and an excellent way to end the evening. Last Dinosaurs had played another amazing set, proving they are the next big thing to come out of Brisbane.

photos by Jordan Overbye:

Montpelier EP launch + ticket giveaway

2010-02-24T19:54:00.004+10:00

MONTPELIER EP LAUNCH

Brisbane band, Montpelier will be launching their debut EP at The Zoo next Saturday March 5 with support from Tin Can Radio and Timothy Carroll. The boys travelled to LA last year to record their debut with producer Kevin Augunas, and will be touring the country in March. You can check out the dates of their tour on their website: www.montpeliermusic.net

✞ GIVEAWAY ✞

We have 2 x double pass to giveaway to Montpelier's EP launch!
To enter: simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as 'MONTPELIER'
- winners must be 18+ - winners will be notified by email -

For more details: RSVP to the Facebook Event
or view the poster below:

Meet Rafal Czajka

2010-02-24T11:01:00.005+10:00

RAFAL CZAJKA

We recently received an email from Rafal (I'm afraid I would have an asthma attack if I attempted to pronounce his last name) and loved his illustrations to bits. We asked him a few questions to get to know him better. Please scroll down and have a look at his work, then visit his online portfolio, print out his pictures and stick them on your wall.

Where do you come from?
Warsaw, Poland.

Where do babies come from?
They come from the place somewhere between my liver and my lungs. They go up and come out through the crack in the back of my head, everyday.

Describe your style to us in your first language:
Pojebany, brudny, glosny. Twoja mama powie, ze brzydki i nie chce go oglądac, mam nadzieje…
our shitty google english translation: Fucked up, dirty, loud. Tell your mama, with nasty and do not want to go watch, I hope...

How do your hobbies of music and skateboarding influence your artwork?
Music is my gasoline, it makes me wanna live, scream, draw and paint. It has the biggest influence on the aesthetics of my art. Skateboarding taught me how to look at the world differently and it’s the best thing that has happened to me in my life.

Are you currently studying or working?
I am studying, I'm in my final semester. I’m currently trying to find a way to do some art and be able to afford to live, but I guess I would have to get a job at some shit place again.

Where would you like to be in 5 years time?
In a place where there is no winter.

What is your ideal blank canvas?
Anything that is white and clean that I can make look dirty.

Where can our readers see more of your work?
My portfolio at www.rafalczajka.com

They should visit it at least four times a day.

MAPLETONS EP launch & ticket giveaway

2010-02-23T10:48:00.007+10:00

MAPLETONS

ORIGAMI ARMY ep launch

Having only been around for a very short time (try August last year), Brisbane based Mapletons have created quite a buzz for themselves having supported the likes of Whitley an Howling Bells. And it's a surprise in such a short time that they are set to release a six-track EP this Saturday Febuary 27 at The Troubadour.

Their EP Origami Army will be available on the night (and for free for the first 20 people through the door!) and is up on their myspace for listening: www.myspace.com/mapletons

I'm currently listening to 'Seaside' as I write this and it is honestly so relaxing and sweet. Thank you Anita for making me forget my anxiety of Uni starting next week and the fact that I am too poor to buy sushi. Very enchanting. Fans of Sarah Blasko will adore.

Joining the Mapletons on Saturday night will be McKisko and Edward Guglielmino and The Show.

✞ GIVEAWAY ✞

Thanks to Mucho-Bravado we have 4 x double passes to give away to Mapletons' EP launch!
WIN 1 of 4 double passes: to enter, simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as 'ORIGAMI ARMY' along with your full name.
*THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED*

What would you like to see more of on our blog?

2010-02-22T11:48:00.005+10:00

Hey, please take 2 seconds (or maybe 3, depending on how fast you can click) to vote in our poll and let us know what type of things you would like to see more of on our blog:

GRAVES launch party + ticket giveaway

2010-02-22T10:44:00.007+10:00

The charming boys behind Thrashingteens and the No Waves Art Exhibition, are bringing another reason for kids on the Gold Coast to get out of bed or another reason for pale Brisbane kids to catch the airport train and brave surfers paradise.

GRAVES club night will be launching at Elsewhere on Friday the 5th of March.

"Graves will bring you a night of fun and debauchery, giving you all a chance to party until the Grim Reaper tells you your time is up."

Join GRAVES for their first party ever, with a lineup including:

COMIC SANS, TENTICLE, TROPICS (DJ) & more

✞GIVEAWAY ✞

We have 1 x double pass to giveaway to the very first GRAVES!

To enter: simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as 'LONG LIVE THE DEAD' along with your full name.

*THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED*

RSVP to the Facebook Event for details

the return of FANS

2010-02-19T13:28:00.003+10:00

FANS RETURNS

Amongst the confusion of The Club House and Cubby Hole and "clubby house" as I so embarrassingly said one friday night... comes the return of FANS. The original and the best. Returning next friday to Alhambra Lounge.

Joining FANS in their mighty comeback, will be Villains of Wilhelm (launching their EP) and Deep Sea Arcade (launching their single 'Lonely In Your Arms'). As well as Brisbane locals, Running Guns and The Sulphur Lights.

As well as your favourite FANS djs to make sure you party well into the night.

+ GIVEAWAY +

Thanks to FANS, we have a double pass to giveaway! To enter our competition, simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as 'FANS RETURNS' along with your full name.

*COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED*

Tickets will be available on the door for $15 (if it doesn't sell out)

Or tickets can be purchased online here

RSVP to the Facebook Event

Young Designers Online

2010-02-18T11:14:00.006+10:00

YOUNG DESIGNERS ONLINE

words and interview by Alyce Cowell

So we know that becoming a successful fashion designer is about as difficult as Mariah Carey trying to cover her midriff. We also know that doing anything for yourself is shit and boring. That’s why it’s awesome when someone goes and builds a website for you where you can sell your range to the public and get just a little more famous. It also helps us regular people to find up-and-coming designers, buy their stuff and act all Vogue on our friends before everyone else catches on.

Young Designers Online (www.youngdesignersonline.com.au) was created by the clever Kelly Butson and launched last week. It stocks ladies and men’s fashion, accessories and footwear from designers like Snail Trail, Shardie, Featherhead, Hungry Designs and Lois and George.

The future Westwood’s and Galliano’s will get their own personal mentor in fashion critic and stylist Madam Alexandra E to coach them along the way. Lucky!

MAE caught up with us to give us the low-down on YDO:

What is your background?
I am a certified and professional stylist, and am currently completing certification in fashion journalism.

What is your role on the website and with the designers?
My role with YDO is to provide mentoring to the designers (if required). I like to refer to it as constructive feedback. Often the designers create something great… but with feedback it can be made better. Like all business structures, customer feedback is the best approach to improve what you are offering.

What areas do the designers need mentoring and why?
I generally make comments or shed my opinion on the whole package offered by the designers. For example from the styling, website presentation, garment collections etc. I rarely make any comment about their craftsmanship/skill as a designer. Designing is their profession, I make comment after the fact.

What is your opinion of Australian fashion at the moment?

Designers and trends you are digging?
Australian fashion at the moment has definitely evolved. In the past we use to depend and rely heavily on the ‘chain store’ offerings, but now Australia is finally finding new ways to allow the less advantaged designers (lack of financial support for the label etc) to show their talent to the consumer market, in return giving consumers greater options.

Concepts like YDO allow emerging and some established designers greater exposure of their products/designs. This of course was predicted to happen naturally, due to the development and rise of the online shopping format.

In the past, before the internet, a designer had to have a shop and shop front to gain access to the consumers or you had the markets. These days the options of reaching consumers are much more advanced with the old techniques such as market stalls still being fashionable. Because of this, more of the Australian design talent is being unearthed and discovered faster.

The only gripe I still have with the Australian fashion culture, is that it still tends to follow trends very slowly. It has yet to set its own trends.

I generally keep my eye out for designers which present their creations in a way where I instantly know the inspiration behind it – how it can/should be worn, and the wow factor in it. Basically trying to see it as how the designers first see it in their eyes, but in a much more critical eye of course.

There is fashion that is wearable, then there is fashion that is ‘unwearable’ but fantastic to admire… I appreciate both.

Which emerging designers should we keep a close eye on?
Emerging... emerging to me has two categories:

1. The designers who have little or no financial funds, no website, no marketing support etc, just doing it on their own in hope of word of mouth

2. The designers who have enough to have the logo, website and one or two stockists. Own store even…. but just not big yet!

I declare… keep a close eye on a label called Subfusco. They are strong in their men’s line but weak in their female collection. But I love them because I think they are the new ‘edge’ offering in men’s fashion.

I also think a label called Metallic Dreamer by Tanya Arlidge will become recognised on a bigger scale this year. It’s created small whispers amongst the fashion conscious but only now will it be heard nationally and quite possibly globally by 2011. Metallic Dreamer is an accessories label specialising in the whole ‘statement and bib’ creation craze.

This is the year – as it was last year – of an emergence of accessory designers. The actual designers creating garments will be slightly overshadowed by these bold accessory designers.

SLEEPWALKS this saturday - free entry

2010-02-15T18:17:00.004+10:00

SLEEPWALKS 'CLICKS' SINGLE LAUNCH

Head on down to The Boundary Hotel this Saturday afternoon for Sleepwalk's single launch. Also playing will be Strange Forces and Kitchens Floor (doing an acoustic set).

Entry is Free! Do it.

An all star cast

2010-02-10T11:42:00.000+10:00

hawwwt

The Lost Weekend Festival: WIN a double pass!!

2010-02-09T21:33:00.008+10:00

The Lost Weekend Festival

Double pass giveaway!

The Lost Weekend Festival is coming to Brisbane in March for it's very first year. Just looking at the lineup gets us incredibly excited and the knowing fact that the it is now an ALL AGES event is more than enough reason to support this newborn festival.

The lineup sees a refreshing array of local and international acts that sets this festival apart from the more common dance festivals this summer.

lineup: BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE, DINOSAUR JR, TUMBLEWEED, GYROSCOPE, THE DRONES, BRITISH INDIA, THE DIRTY PROJECTORS, NASHVILLE PUSSY, THE MESS HALL & MORE

plus Brisbane locals: DZ, Toy Balloon, Last Dinosaurs, The Gin Club, Little Scout, Blank Realm, No Anchor, Nikko, The John Steel Singers, Oh Ye Denver Birds, Buick Six, Tape/Off, Do The Robot & Bigstrongbrute and lots more!

To see the full lineup click here.

TICKET GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the promoters of the festival, we have a double pass to giveaway!

TO WIN: simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as 'THE LOST WEEKEND FESTIVAL' and tell us something you've lost and what you would do to get it back.

*THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED*

The Lost Weekend Festival will be held at the Brisbane Riverstage and The Botanical Gardens on the 6th and 7th of March. Tickets are $150 for both days. The prices of 1 day tickets vary. For more information and to buy your tickets please visit The Lost Weekend Festival website here.

find Bette's iphone

2010-02-08T18:28:00.002+10:00

Bette lost her iphone on sautrday night at rosies, its black and has a black case and may or may not have been found next to vomit, please give it back, this shit is annoying.

Send us a message if anyone has found it or know someone who has

SEA STRANGERS launch: photos & more

2010-02-08T13:31:00.004+10:00

SEA STRANGERS

On saturday night, Ball Park Music launched their new video clip for their song SEA STRANGERS with support from The Rocketsmiths and the Indigo Kids. It was a whimsical night reminiscent of a primary school fete with a bake stall, face painting and balloons left right and centre.

You can watch the video clip now on Youtube:

Here are a few photos we took on the night.

view the rest here

AXXONN: Cassette launch + giveaways

2010-02-05T10:35:00.006+10:00

AXXONN LP LAUNCH

Tom Hall and Ian Rogers, the two boys/men/BOYZ II MEN behind AXXONN are launching their new LP 'Below The Dead Ones' next Saturday at The Step Inn with a slight small twist: their LP will be on Cassette Tapes! So here's a head start reminder to dig deep in the crevaces of your bedroom to find your old walkman or boombox, and go and get AXXONN's new LP before the world fully converts to MP3s.

GIVEAWAY:

Thanks to AXXONN we have [2x] DOUBLE PASS + a copy of their brand new LP to giveaway!

To enter, simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "BELOW THE DEAD ONES" along with your full name. ***THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED***

Tom had some time to shed some light on their new LP and what we could expect next saturday at their launch...

What were the reasons behind putting your LP on cassette tapes? I know my walkman is long gone...
Cassettes are beautiful objects; I loved them a lot when I was younger and still do with the memories still being fond and vivid. Back in 1989 I got a Walkman and ‘Smash Hits ‘89’ on Cassette, on it was the Mötley Crüe single ‘Dr. Feelgood’ I listened to that endlessly, re-winding and listening again and again until soon after the tape was completely stuffed, since that Christmas I’ve always loved tapes and always loved Mötley Crüe so it’s only fitting that I have a few cassette released throughout my career (we’re also cheating a little as they all come with a download coupon for the mp3’s).

How will this LP compare to the one you released last year?
This Cassette is about embracing the underlying drone held within most of our tracks, teasing it out like an untamed beast whilst trying not to let it bite you and then letting it loose at the most inappropriate time through a few too many distortion pedals.

What was the recording process like for this LP? What's it like recording with
local Brisbane label Bedroom Suck Records, is it very DIY?
Basically this album came together why I (Tom) was in San Francisco over the last 4-months of last year. I had a bunch of stuff that needed to be brought together sonically, I moved in with a guy Scott Arford (a super prominent sound/video artist for like the last 20 years) who had the most amazing studio chocked full of insane analog gear, he threw me the keys to his studio and said take it for a drive, at first I thought I can’t touch this expensive analog hardware, but soon temptation got the better of me (and the cold weather) so I pretty much turned it all on at once (it heated the studio up considerably) and got to work making what I feel are some of my most accomplished drone orientated tracks to date.

Bedroom Suck Records, fucking awesome dudes and perfectly DIY, I am super stoked that these tracks are being put out by Joe and not some schmuck who wants to make a quick buck but someone who has a genuine passion for the sound AXXONN creates. Joe embraces everything that is awesome about DIY, the choice to make something unique and on a personal level, I’m super into this release and 110% behind Bedroom Suck Records!

What can we expect at the launch next Saturday?
A ridiculous amount of amplification, a smoke machine, a small spotlight and more distortion pedals than you could poke a stick at in Tyms Guitars. But all that aside, some big heavy euphoric sound to nod your head to…

Where can our readers get their hands on the cassette after your launch?
The best bet is to support Bedroom Suck Records direct by hitting Joe up on their myspace (http://www.myspace.com/bedroomsuckrecords) and he’ll get one to you ASAP and probably with a big smile, failing that you can go to Rocking Horse or www.axxonnband.com - but definitely hit Joe up first.

What are AXXONN's plans for the rest of the year?
AXXONN has some rad international supports coming up in Brisbane with ISIS and HEALTH, both fantastic bands from Los Angeles. Then we hit Japan for a couple of festival slots in Tokyo. Mid year sees our debut full-length LP coming out in the UK so from then onwards AXXONN will be on the road with tours in the USA, EU, UK and then back to the USA. We pretty much won’t have time to breathe from July onwards. But man I will miss Brisbane…it’s the best city in the World!!

And lastly, what's it like to share your band name with one of the leading manufacturers of Patio Furniture?
As it happens I dig the shit out of patio furniture, I mean there’s been numerous BBQ’s I’ve attended where it’s become the basis for the bonfire, keeping everyone warm, why wouldn’t you be proud? I mean I wonder if they’re David Lynch fans too?!

AXXONN play The Step Inn next Saturday February 13 w/ Blank Realm, Heart Flew Like An Arrow and Per Purpose. Tickets are $5 on the door.

Click here for the Facebook event/details.

AXXONN will also be supporting HEALTH at The Stepp Inn on Thursday Febuary 25.

WIN: a double pass to HEALTH at The Step Inn

2010-02-04T17:51:00.003+10:00

Thanks to LICK IT MEDIA

we have a double pass to giveaway to the Brisbane show of the HEALTH national tour!

To enter, simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "HEALTH" along with your full name. *COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED*

Health will play at The Step Inn on Thursday February 25. Don't miss this show!

RSVP to the Facebook Event

other dates of the tour include:

Wednesday February 24
MELBOURNE – Corner Hotel | Tickets available from http://www.cornerhotel.com

Friday February 26
SYDNEY – Oxford Art Factory | Tickets available from http://www.moshtix.com.au

Saturday February 27
PERTH – Perth Festival | Tickets on sale from http://www.perthfestival.com

HEALTH “GET COLOR” in stores now through Popfrenzy Records

THREADED ft Angus Black and City Dweller

2010-02-03T17:08:00.008+10:00

Come one come all to the next THREADED next friday night at Alhambra Lounge.

Featuring runway shows by

ANGUS BLACK

and

City Dweller

plus music by WONGO!

And best of all we have a double pass to giveaway!

To get it, simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "I LOVE THREADED" along with your full name. COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED!

For more details check the Facebook Event.

or the poster below

LANEWAY

2010-02-01T10:16:00.004+10:00

After stumbling across a ticket to the sold-out festival (thanks Alicia/Red Bull) only a few hours before it actually started, I went online to check out the playing times, had a glass of cold milk, painted my nails aqua and decided it was about time I got my ass there.

The festival was off to a terrible start. The security guard threw my bottle of water away "but really it isn't vodka.. have a sip.. please.. I would really like my water" "Sorry mate, no can do". But what I lacked in water, mother nature more than compensated, as it was clear she was on her period and intense rain poured down as my asian straight hair turned into jewish curls.

I couldn't actually hear The Middle East due to the fact I was in the "nosebleed section" and the rain was far too loud. I then went to see Bridezilla, a Sydney band I had been wanting to see for a while, who's set really turned to shit with unexplained humming noises and self-unplugging cords and leads. Not to mention the crappy timetable which left an dead 30 minutes of no band's playing every hour, so it felt like half the night was waiting for bands to come on.

But it was when I was watching Black Lips and two of the (male) band members started making out with each other whilst a guy in a penguin suit was standing next to me, that I knew the night had suddenly turned for the better and that everything was lookin hunky dory. Pleased that I chose to see Eddy Current Suppression Ring over Florence and The Machine, and unsure at who/what Radioclit where (and slightly a bit offended at their name) I left the festival on a happy note.

Other highlights include: The 4000 markets, The XX, the new drummer of Philadelphia Grand Jury, hardly any fake tan, access to drinking taps, never once waiting in a toilet line, crowd surfers and not having security guards telling you to get off your friend's shoulders.

At the end of the day the only lowlight for me was a man in his mid 40s wearing a "Echo and The Bunnymen" shirt with a sad look on his face and a beer in his hand.

photos by Tuscany Gray from The Last Beatniks

view the rest here

Issue Six is out now!

2010-01-28T22:17:00.003+10:00

Issue Six of BATS is out now!
Get your copy for free in select Brisbane stores! Click here to see where you can get your copy!

Or view it online at www.batsmagazine.com or right here:

Click to view full screen:

UPDATE on Issue Six

2010-01-25T10:51:00.004+10:00

The long awaited, or more so, long forgotten issue six of BATS has been put to print and will be available for free in Brisbane stores and online later this week.

Stay tuned to our blog for details. Or connect with us on Facebook by Becoming a Fan of BATS Magazine!

The Sunset Sounds Memoirs

2010-01-20T18:19:00.008+10:00

Three of us were lucky enough to attend the second installment of

Sunset Sounds

A festival boasting a wonderful array of international and Australian acts all in the period of two consecutive days.

Review by Rachael Melmeth

Photos by Kelsey Heinrichs.

DAY 1

Somehow, we had made it. There he was, the golden man, “thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you” he called out. Moby was a mere 5 meters away from us, and fifteen thousand crammed around us, raving and terribly perspiring people screaming back at him. I now stood front row to his left, beside a short angry woman glaring up at me with stink eye and a giant man who she had conned into standing in front of, whom I’m fairly certain had an erection. But how we got there, was a whole other tale…

We had entered the festival with the expectations of your typical “big huge festival” aka girls staring down girls, boys trying to over compensate against other boys. And so we walked in uncertainly, and were pleasantly surprised when no one battered an eyelash. It was like walking into a communal picnic, everyone was there to have a jolly good time and get deliciously smashed in the process. So we proceeded to watch our first act.

The Middle East was a blast from the past. It was like I’d entered a time machine and exited during a Woodstock act, due to their tight blue denim, kaftans, checkers and odd array of banjos and the like, they were an easy, breezy way to begin the festival. Easy on the ears (and eyes), pleasant to the ear (and touch – “what?” – look mate you’d go there too) they brought some chill in the heat.

Then, famous duo Datarock ran onto the stage followed by their slightly less famous band members, all donned in their symbolic red jumpsuits. How they managed to do that in our Australian heat, not to mention the hottest time of the day, was truly beyond my knowledge, I don't even want to know how much sweat was produced. The norway rockers brought the funk in more ways than Old Gregg could ever achieve, by playing crowd favourites "Fa Fa Fa" and "Computer Camp Love".

Afterwards, A young english lad by the name of Jamie T started playing to an already growing hectic and unduly intoxicated crowd as the sun had well and truely set and everyone was pretty much just waiting for him to play "If You've Got The Money" so they could quickly leave to buy another Red Bull and Vodka.

Nothing could excite a mosh full of lesbians, southern cross tattoo bearers and people so drunk they didn’t realise exactly where they were, more then Hilltop Hoods. Although their distinct Australian accent on songs about “don’t blame me I’m just a street kid”, “rising up against the odds” and “don’t blame me I’m just a street kid rising up against the odds” blurred into one, they sure knew how to bring out that inner wigga and provide an excellent beat for feeling like someone finally understands you.

So after we politely nodded our heads, pushed our way through pretending to look for a “lost friend”, and looked “avidly interested” in the current Aussie hip hop phenomenon, we bee-lined for the front because we all knew the real gem was up next. Grasping onto the gates with a mad look in our eyes the smoke machine stirred, the lights hit “epileptic fit” mode and a medium sized, pale bald man with sensible pants and comfortable shoes came out. Moby. And the madness began.

From the first guitar sting he plucked it sent the audience out into a literal trance. As though we had taken a series of musical pingas, Moby took fifteen thousand people on a mystical rave orgy and we danced like the crazy bastards we all were. Ever gentleman-like, Moby played most of his hits and sent us out with a bang and gently layed us back in our beds.

So off we trundled home, looking like rape victims, feeling like maniacs, in anticipation of the second day.

Day 2

Just as pleasantly relaxed as the day prior, except plus the sunburn, times the beers, divide the pinga funds and minus the dignity. We trotted via unicorn-hire to the main stage for the first act, The John Steel Singers.

I fell in love with this band the moment they donned horse masks and proceeded to dance as though they had just had a good sniff of Amyl for forty minutes. A band that will certainly put a smile on your face (“and your fanny!” – see Happy High Herbs) with their summer pop melodies. Feeling damn happy, we were convinced to stay by the whispering of the great “King Khan”.

Nothing could prepare me for what was to come. At first, I thought a middle aged raving Indigenous man in a Native American headdress and yellow nappy came with a distinct “beer belly” came on. When I realised those crowd screams were of delight and not horror, it came to me that this must be the notorious King Khan. Screaming into the microphone, jumping into the crowd (several minors experienced his acid sweat and were rushed to hospital), his band and one cheerleader bashed out rock ‘n’ roll/psychedelic soul/r&b/punk tunes. An excellent band for putting you in a “crazy soul sister from the 70s” mood

British indie rockers Editors were next and every girl (and boy) was charmed by the sound of Tom Smith. Playing a mix of new electronic songs from their new album and old classics and crowd pleases from The Back Room, Editors were the start of an awesome night that was yet to come

The Editors ended, and we heard the distant sound check of a set we had been anticipating. Although mostly darkened and quiet onstage, Grizzly Bear filled your heart with fondness and captivated your ears. They lure your in with their strumming and tapping and melodies and did devious things to your mind whilst sending out a band of gypsy’s to rob you of your worldly possessions. We left feeling like we’d had the best mind-fuck in the world.

But time quickly passed, and once everyone had gotten over the fact their wallets had been stolen everyone ran, danced and flew to the main stage.

By the time we got there it was already packed, and there was a low chant already starting… “Yeah Yeah Yeahs! Yeah Yeah Yeahs!”. The spiritual peer pressure was so intense we simply had to join in, as we secured our mosh positions. By then, I had heard the stories of Karen O’s outrageous antics. How once she was so insane she knocked herself out onstage. How she once danced offstage and reluctantly went to hospital. But as she stepped onto stage wearing a glowing mask-turban with a matching bodysuit, we knew she wouldn’t fail to deliver.

With the crowd screaming their lyrics back to her with as much intensity as she screamed to them, Karen O made the set by running a riot, deep-throating the microphone and allowing some lucky members of the front row to lick her. They played all their hits, sent giant eyeball balloons into the audience and generally stripped everyone of their decency. Not that anyone minded.

And so, after two days of (the expected) fake tans, terrible tattoos, hilarious drunkards and generally “appro(SLUT)priate” festival fashion; combined with the (pleasantly surprising) politeness, enjoyable freaks, and relaxed atmosphere, Sunset Sounds had concluded.

Our minds, bodies and eardrums had well and truly taken a journey to musical revelry that left us wanting so much more.

Brisbane Emerging Art Festival 2010

2010-01-20T18:17:00.005+10:00

Come along to the very first B.E.A.F. this Saturday at White Canvas Gallery. The public is welcome to predrinks at 5pm for an information discussion prior to the opening of the event. The show will include a selection of Brisbane's finest emerging artists in all areas of media. Please attend and support Brisbane Arts!

What: Brisbane Emerging Art Festival 2010!

Where: 26 Church St - The Valley - Off Whickham Tce near the Swimming Pool

When: 6pm - 11pm and is a FREE event

Why: The Brisbane Emerging Art Festival was created as a platform to showcase the talent of Brisbane-based emerging artists. The exhibition is a means to recognize, expose and promote emerging artists in both the public and commercial arenas and to provide a forum within which emerging art can be viewed, studied and criticized.

I Heart Hiroshima's last show (for ages) - WIN TICKETS!

2010-01-19T16:30:00.004+10:00

I Heart Hiroshima will be playing an ALL AGES show at the Brisbane Powerhouse this sunday to farewell Susie on her overseas endeavors. Supporting will be Melbourne band Dick Diver and other locals Bigstrongbrute.

This will be their last show for ages. So come see them playing 2 x 1 hour sets of both their albums THE RIP and TUFF TEETH. Starting at 4pm.

GIVEAWAY

We have two double passes to giveaway to this all ages show!!

To enter, simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "BYE IHH" along with your full name.

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED. FOLLOW OUR BLOG FOR FUTURE GIVEAWAYS

Kclub turns 1!

2010-01-18T23:11:00.005+10:00

Our friends at KCLUB are turning one! And to celebrate they are giving us a KCLUB party pack to giveaway to one of lucky readers.

The prize pack includes a ticket to the party with VIP access, the Soulwax 'NITE VERSIONS' CD, a party bag and KCLUB's 1st birthday mix by Dan Cares!

To enter the competition to win this party pack, simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "HAPPY BDAY KCLUB" along with your full name.

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED. FOLLOW OUR BLOG FOR FUTURE GIVEAWAYS

KCLUB will be celebrating their birthday on Saturday the 30th of January with

ONE MAN PARTY and DAN CARES! + heaps of other djs!

details on the poster below

or on the facebook event here

Kclub 1st Birthday from kclub on Vimeo.

WIN a double pass to the next THREADED

2010-01-15T14:31:00.004+10:00

Disco Entertainment and the rad boys (and gals?) from ROMANCE IN MY PANTS have teamed up again to bring another THREADED to Alhambra Lounge on Friday the 19th of January. This chapter will see threads by Premonition and Drobe and with music by NORTHIE plus a bunch of rad DJs.

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to ROMANCE IN MY PANTS, we have one double pass to giveaway!

To enter, simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "THREADED" along with your full name

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED. FOLLOW OUR BLOG FOR FUTURE GIVEAWAYS

RSVP to the Facebook event here

details on the poster below:

DZ + HOWL // final show of the tour!

2010-01-13T11:27:00.006+10:00

Crowd pleasurers, dance starters, and general lovable lads DZ have just toured Australia combined with the brilliance of the six piece pack of raging Ballarat-ians HOWL.

There last leg of the tour ends this Friday (the 15th of Jan) at the Troubadour, where they'll also be playing with TPOI.

Seriously, get your tickets here.

18+ event

HEALTH are coming to BRISBANE!?!

2010-01-13T00:26:00.003+10:00

Those crazy bastards HEALTH are heading to Australia for the first time ever!

All the "deets" are here.

And to celebrate this momentous occasion, they've even kindly made us a preparation video.*

*not suitable for Lord of the Rings fans

Get your tickets via OzTix now. They'll guarantee a fucking good time and probably even some sick battle scars too.

WIN ONE OF 5 DOUBLE PASSES TO WING!

2010-01-12T19:21:00.005+10:00

Thanks to our lovers at Four Thousand, you could win one of 5 double passes to WING with Potato Masta!

You may have heard her on South Park, but Wing is like a nails against a blackboard during your principals graduation speech; it leaves you questioning life but wanting so much more.

Presale tickets are $8 available from The Zoo.

TO WIN

To win one of 5 double passes, email your full name with the subject of "WING" to: win@batsmagazine.com

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED. FOLLOW OUR BLOG FOR FUTURE GIVEAWAYS

To see Wing in all her glory, visit here.

WIN TICKETS TO GOOD VIBRATIONS

2010-01-09T14:52:00.008+10:00

Festival season is well and truly upon us. You can't escape it, you can't fight it, so you might as well give up, get a tan, buy some sunnies and tickets to the summer festivals with are bursting with musical goodness. Good Vibrations is back for its 7th year this January and is certainly bringing the ruckus with a lineup featuring some amazing international and national acts. What particularly caught our eye was the mix of dance, rock and 80s hip hop artists that were blended onto the bill, that and the girl on the poster, who the hell is she?

Good Vibrations festival will be coming to the Gold Coast Parklands on Saturday the 20th of February and will set to sell out again with a lineup including the best of the best: The Killers, Basement Jaxx, Armand Van Helden, Gossip, Busta Ryhmes, Friendly Fires and Salt-n-Pepa to name a few. Check out the full lineup here or on the poster below.

GOOD VIBRATIONS TICKET GIVEAWAY!

Thanks to Jam/Good Vibrations we have TWO DOUBLE PASSES to giveaway to the Gold Coast leg of the festival. To enter our competition simply become a fan of BATS magazine on Facebook and write on our wall telling us your worst or best festival experience. You can be as detailed or blunt as you want.

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED - WINNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED

GRAND SCHEME launch party

2010-01-03T19:14:00.005+10:00

In a weeks time, GRAND SCHEME will be launching their spring/summer collection at Birdees, a perfect location for the poolside runway show. A great way to spend your Sunday afternoon - escaping from the summer heat and fashionably doing so. Nina Las Vegas, Surecut kids, Seany B, Charlie Hustle will be providing music for the afternoon. Entry is free, so come along and remember to bring your swimmers, but please, for the safety of others, leave your speedos at home.

RSVP to the Facebook event here

and check the poster below for details

GIVEAWAY

Grand Scheme is giving us $60 store credit to giveaway to our readers. To get it, simply enter our competition by emailing win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "GRAND SCHEME" along with your full name.

Their online store should be up and running after their launch party.

visit www.grandscheme.com.au

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED - FOLLOW OUR BLOG FOR FUTURE GIVEAWAYS

photoshoot photos by Luke Shirlaw

NEON INDIAN + ticket giveaway

2009-12-29T16:32:00.005+10:00

Hi there. Haven't heard from us in a couple of weeks. We hope you all had a Creat christmas. Ours were shit. Pretty much all our parents abandoned us and we were forced to defend for ourselves. Plus working casually and having to deal with shit hours and actually crazy customers at the boxing day sales was just too much.

Anyway, New Years is coming up... and we've got one good resolution for you:

GO SEE NEON INDIAN.

Our furry friends MOTH are back to present NEON INDIAN on their Brisbane leg of their Australian tour. With support from Mitzi, The Belligerents, Youth, Alto and live video art from Niles.

Presale tickets are $12 available from The Outpost. And other retail outlets.

RSVP to the Facebook event here

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to MOTH, we have a double pass to giveaway. To enter, simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "NEON INDIAN" along with your full name.

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED - FOLLOW OUR BLOG FOR FUTURE GIVEAWAYS

I Heart Hiroshima play GOSSIP

2009-12-20T14:12:00.004+10:00

Last night we went to GOSSIP, to see I Heart Hiroshima play their last show of the year (they are playing a show on New Years, but that doesn't count seeing as it's technically 2010)

It was our first night at GOSSIP.. "the night everyone's talking about". And what's not to talk about - great music, good drinks, friendly people who actually dance, and all in air conditioned comfort.

GOSSIP is on every saturday night at CLUB 299. Say BATS on the door for a few dollars off your entry fee.

Here are some photos taken by Kelsey.

Benjamin Ringuet

2009-12-20T13:37:00.003+10:00

Benjamin Ringuet, is a local designer who has just finished studying and has created his own label - producing both male and female garments. He's already been involved in fashion parades such as Mercedes Fashion week, Port Office fashion and Westpac’s Queen street parade. We interviewed Benjamin about what he does, how he does it and what it's like being a young designer in Brisbane.

Become a fan on Facebook here

What do you do?

I do a bit of this, and a bit of that. Mainly designing and creating clothing, but I’m also the lead singer of a Brisbane band called Tikaal. On my days of I work in an antique store as security and general handyman, believe it or not.

Why do you do it?

I enjoy the challenge of designing clothing. It’s very unpredictable, I never really know until the last moment, if I’m actually going to be happy with my creation. The reason I started designing women’s garments is because it was a challenge, and I honestly didn’t think I could do it. Also the idea of making someone feel good about themselves, because of what they are wearing. Giving them individuality and a chance to stand out from amongst the fads, and trends. It’s also a lot of fun, and I get the chance to meet some real swell people along the way.

What are your thoughts on Brisbane being a breeding ground for young designers? Should we all just pack up our bags and moved to Melbourne?

Brisbane is a very unique city in itself. It differs from Melbourne and Sydney in a cultural sense. Brisbane has its own unique scene thriving through the music, fashion and art being produced at the present moment. Everywhere you go from West End to the Valley, boutiques are opening, new bands are forming, designers are flocking and culture is developing. Every second person I talk to when I’m out in town is a fashion designer or a bass player in some up and coming band, I’ve never heard of. Times are changing, artists are breeding. They say Brisbane is the fastest growing city in Australia, it’s a melting pot of the gifted, a blend of all the talents from our older sibling cities. It seems to be that everyone in Melbourne is packing their bags, and moving up to Brisbane.

On a scale of 1 to 69 (69 being the highest and also a mildly amusing number) how hard was it to create your own label in less than one year after leaving your studies? And why?

You Bats have no shame. But either do I, so I’d have to say 69. Seriously though, this year has been one hell of a roller coaster. I would be lying if I told you it hasn’t been hard, but at the same time this journey is only beginning. I have made lots of mistakes but you learn something different, or meet someone new every day.

Where can our readers get their filthy hands on your clothes?

They’d have to wash them first, but at the moment Benjamin Ringuet is being stocked at Red Cordial in the city, and Alterior Motif up the coast, stay tuned; I have high hopes to expand. You can also check out my Benjamin Ringuet facebook or email me on bringuet@hotmail.com if anyone would like purchase an item of clothing. If they're nice to me I can give them a good price. Also i'm currently selling some t- shirts at the moment with prints of some photos ive taken and some rare family photos from the summer of love, 1969.

How often do you wear our own creations?

Never, I only wear rare exotic furs and fabrics

What does the future hold for Benjamin Ringuet?

Fast cars,bright lights and expensive women. I’m not sure. I hope there’s a future for someone like myself, in this industry. I really want to expand out of Brisbane one day and create clothing for individuals willing to make a statement. I want to one day design suits, shoes and dresses. Most of all in the future I want to continue to do what I do best, designing clothes, writing music and making girls look pretty, for the sake of my amusement.

Benjamin recently had a fashion parade at Threaded, which we attended, here are a few photos of his clothes in action - courtesy of romanceinmypants.com

BATS interview with DATAROCK

2009-12-18T14:26:00.004+10:00

Recently, Kelsey and Emily caught up with Frederick from DATAROCK when they were on their European tour. Frederick gave us some minutes of his time so we could chat to him about their soon to be Australian tour, how Australian crowds compare to European crowds and whether or not he would let Barack Obama use one of their songs in an ad campaign.

THE INTERVIEW:

Hey it's Fredrik

Hey, how are you?

Good thanks, how are you? It's early morning in Australia?

It's so early. I worked last night, so please bear with me.

It's late night here, it's a 9 hour time difference, so yeah, it's late here in Norway.

How are you feeling? Are you feeling alright?

Yeah I am, we've been touring for around three months. In North America, and Norway. 50 shows over three months.

Yeah, we see you're currently touring Europe, is there a country you haven't played in yet that you would like to?

You know what, we've never played in New Zealand. But we've come to Australia five times so far (laughs). Yeah I guess New Zealand, out of all the countries we haven't played in before. We've only played in 31 countries.

What about Antarctica, would you play there?

If given the opportunity, yes.

The last time you were in Australia was not too long ago actually, have you had the chance to "cuddle a koala" or do any other typical tourist-y things on your Australian tours?

We've never tried surfing in Australia for some reason, I don't think we've spent enough time on the beach.... we all got sun burnt at the Gold Coast though. In Sydney Harbour, we went to the aquarium and we got a picture taken there, it's on our Myspace.

You're coming back to our shores early next year for the Falls Festival and Sunset Sounds, are you excited to be playing the festivals along with some of the other acclaimed artists such as Moby and Yeah Yeah Yeahs?

Yeah, I mean, you know it sounds like a perfect set up for us. Yeah I think, hopefully we should see the same audience.

We see your also playing some sideshows in Sydney and Melbourne, but unfortunately not in Brisbane, which is a shame since we heard your last show with Art vs Science was killer, what's it like playing with Australian bands?

Yeah, we played like three or four shows with them. Yeah, those guys are great. When we DJ we play their songs, we think they are great. That's one of the great things about being on tour actually, you get to know the other act. In Brisbane, we don’t have a sideshow. I have NO clue why.

There's pretty much never any sideshows in Brisbane. We're a sleepy little town.

We have played in Brisbane before on our tours, at a place, I think it's called The Zoo?

Yeah that's the place.

Yeah that's where we played last time. But anyway, my daughter has a best friend, they're almost like twins, they've been playing together since they were born, but in fact she just moved to Brisbane, so my little kid is coming with me on tour and we are going to stay there for three days.

Oh, how old is your daughter?

She's three and a half.

Does she listen to your music, does she like it?

Yes she does, but like a lot of other people, she only listens to Fa Fa Fa. She listens to it over and over. She doesn't listen our other songs as much as Fa Fa Fa. Yeah, I dunno, the kid seems to like it, everyone likes Fa Fa Fa, I don't know what’s going on.

Yeah I think I listened to it when I was fourteen, I remember it being one of my favourite songs at the time.

Yeah, it's really funny. But it's also a favourite of older people. I dunno, it's something about the funky song that just works for three minutes.

How do Australian crowds compare to European crowds?

Oh, Australian crowds are the best crowds. That's the bottom line. Australia was the first country where we played for a massive audience, we played for 25,000 people in Sydney. We've done 650 shows, and our favourite shows would be the American music festival and the shows we did at The Hi Fi bar in Melbourne. There's something about the Australian audience that just, well, I think Australian people like to party the way we like to party.

Your music has been used for a lot of ad campaigns, are there any companies you would like your music to be used for? Say If Barack Obama wanted to use your song "Sex Me Up" in one of his campaigns, would you let him?

(laughs) Sure, if he wanted to. One of the things we find funny about Fa Fa Fa, is that the chorus of that song is, it's kinda depressing, you know: "Cause I'm gonna ride fast, going nowhere, cause I left my pride in the past, I'm gonna ride fast, to where I don't care"
It's kind of negative. If you want to brand your fucking product with that so be it, be my guest. Another funny story is, the number one beer brand in Argentina, which is the country with 200 million people, this beer brand, they wanted to brand their fucking beer with the song "Princess" with the chorus being: "Princess! You got prince ASS, you got a prince of an ass" It's so fucking stupid! If someone wanted to use our songs, you know, that's fine. But you know, our songs are used in an unprecedented number of video games, like Sims 2 and Sims 3, and like four different Fifa games. I mean more than 260 million people have been exposed to Datarock through a videogame.

Your songs have been featured heavily in the game Sims, have you ever actually played the game?

The Sims? Have I ever played The Sims?... Well yes. But have we ever played The Sims on stage? That's a little bit too much. I don't really care about synthesisers or anything, I really care about making songs, the synthesisers are just part of the production. We don't play games much, we travel with toys such as keyboards. The ones you can buy online for like 100 dollars. That's the kind of toys we like.

Have you ever caught your mothers out dancing to your tracks? What do they think of your success?

(laughs) I guess I have seen my mother dancing with my daughter at one of my shows. You know, she's very happy. Yeah they're all very proud, everybody thinks it's very absurd. We started Datarock as a fun, little stupid project, but that took us around the world.

Well thanks for talking to us Fredrik, we hope you have fun on your Australian tour.

I hope you're coming to the show.

We are actually, to Sunset Sounds, so we'll see you there.

Datarock are heading back to Australian shores at the end of this month for The Falls festival and early next year for Sunset Sounds. Get your tickets to Sunset Sounds ASAP as they are selling out fast - easily the best festival this summer in our opinion.
www.sunsetsounds.com.au

Congratulations to Alice Rezende and David Raywood who both won tickets to the Sunset Sounds festival for having the best costumes at our last party.

THE MUCHO BRA-MITZVAH! + ticket giveaway

2009-12-16T17:58:00.004+10:00

Mucho Bravado will be closing 2009 with a bang by celebrating in style this Sunday afternoon with a hoard of Brisbane's best at The Troubadour.

Hungry Kids of Hungary, Tara Simmons, Edward Guglielmino & The Show, Drawn from Bees, Ball Park Music and Timothy Carroll are all set to play on the night that has been dubbed The Mucho Bra-Mitzvah. But don't let the name fool you, please leave your kippahs at home.

RSVP to the Facebook event here

Presale tickets here

Thanks to the aforementioned Mucho Bravado we have two double passes to giveaway to Sunday's show.

To enter, simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "BRA-MITZBAH" along with your full name.

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED

Four Walls Festival

2009-12-15T13:22:00.001+10:00

dudez

check this shiyyat out!!!!!

FUCK peace, FUCK tha police

2009-12-14T22:02:00.003+10:00

Pete Versus Toby, a movement slash label started by a group of young australian artists back in 2006, have just released a new mini-range of some rad LIMITED EDITION singlets and tees. Great shirts for summer, check them out:

FUCK PEACE

and

FUCK THA POLICE

check out their blog
and visit their shop

DZ + HOWL east coast tour

2009-12-14T21:38:00.002+10:00

DZ, who have recently released their EP 'Ruined My Life', will be joining forces with HOWL, a young band from the rural town of Ballarat who won the Triple J Unearthed High competition at the start of the year.

Both bands will be playing the five date east cost tour at the start of next year.

Pencil in these dates boys and girls.

RIDAY 8TH JANUARY
KAROVA LOUNGE - BALLARAT (18+)

SATURDAY 9TH JANUARY
SANDCASTLES FESTIVAL - MELBOURNE (18+)

SATURDAY 9TH JANUARY
PLUS ONE @ ED CASTLE – ADELAIDE (18+) DZ only

THURSDAY 14TH JANUARY
KIT & KABOODLE – SYDNEY (18+)

FRIDAY 15TH JANUARY
TROUBADOUR – BRISBANE (18+)

HELL YEAH magazine launch + giveaways

2009-12-09T13:19:00.004+10:00

This sunday sees the launch of an A4 glossy magazine by the name of HELL YEAH!

Hell Yeah promises to deliver a unique magazine devoted to street culture, in particular; music, art, fashion and interviews with cats from all over the world, whilst being 100% stilleto and anorexic model free. We hope they can stick to that promise.

HELL YEAH! will be launching this sunday at The Fort with an awesome 80s NYE SUMMER theme. The launch will consist of DJs, live graffiti, hot dogs, watermelon, a swimming pool, plus heaps of prizes to be won from Gear, Fuct, Rockers, Rockwell, Ontour, Laced, Yours Truly, Grand Scheme, Sleepless Knights and Hydrofunk.

And best of all, FREE BEER from VB Raw from 3 - 5 pm!!! So get there early.

All for just $10 entry.

Come along and grab the first issue of HELL YEAH! and keep the magazine going, show your support for Brisbane culture.

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the cool kids at HELL YEAH! We have a double pass + prize pack to giveaway!

This includes tickets for you and your friend to the HELL YEAH! magazine launch + hell yeah magazine, sleepless knights magazine, a sticker pack and a packet of authentic old school ' YO! MTV Raps' cards.

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED

- this is an 18 plus event - winners are chosen at random and will be notified by email -

RSVP to the Facebook event here

In the meantime, check out the HELL YEAH! blog

bats party: social pics

2009-12-07T14:10:00.003+10:00

Hey guys, lots of social pictures from our party are up thanks to some amazing photographers.

www.penylane.com

www.takennever.com

jake miller

the day after our party

2009-12-06T21:34:00.002+10:00

Yesterday was our party. To be honest I don't really remember it too well. Not because I was "totezz drunNKkKK cRAZIiI gIRLL", but rather because I was physically and emotionally drained, and it really was just a blur of faces, sounds and textures for 5 hours straight.

We want to thank everyone who came. For the bands that played - we are forever grateful, for the artists that exhibitied - you're amazing. For the people that dressed in costume - you had us at hello.

A lot of you were probably confused as to why there was no magazine available... it was not a launch, due to the fact the place we get print BATS has been having some difficulties. We hope to have the next issue out as soon as possible.

Anyway, here are few photos we took

you can view the rest here on facebook

an album which will grow over the next few days

2009-12-06T10:30:00.002+10:00

Hey guys, I didn't realise our blog was so retarded for PC users until I saw it on a PC the other day. It looks fine on my mac, and other macs. I'll try to fix it as soon as possible, or maybe everyone could just get a mac? Seriously, I recommend it.

Interview with KAKI KING

2009-12-03T13:35:00.007+10:00

Recently we had an amazing opporunity to have a chat with she who has been dubbed by Rolling Stone magazine as the first female "Guitar God". That's right, we're talking about KAKI KING. Not only is she fan-freakin-tastic string plucking, fret tapping, slap bassing guitarist, but she's recorded with the likes of Timbaland, launched her own extremely successful Guitar Art exhibition in Brooklyn AND was nominated for a Golden Globe for the music she played in the film Into The Wild.

Soon to be coming back to Australia to tour at a number of festivals and events, Kaki will be heading to Queensland to perform at Sunset Sounds, Woodford Folk Festival and at Byron Bay's The Northern.

Rachael (a little too) estatically took the opportunity to talk with Kaki.

Hello Kaki! How are you?
Good thanks!

Where in the world are you right now?
In Atlanta, Georgia.

You’re coming to Australia soon, you’ve been here a few time over the past few years, what draws you here?
What’s not to like? I get to escape the freezing winter here…

Were you surprised our forms of transport didn’t include kangaroos?
No, I had read in my little Australian handbook about the wildlife and kangaroos, and no crocodiles running around on the street or anything.

Favourite thing about Australian crowds?
They’re really wonderful, really attentive, and really excited. Like some are attentive and others get really excited but they’re always so good to play to.

Your line-up includes the likes of Woodford Folk Festival and Sunset Sounds. What would be your dream line-up?
A bunch of dead people.

What if you could resurrect them?
I’d get all of the Russian composers, like Tchaiovsky, Stravinksy, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Corscov, Rubenstein, Rebikov, Borodin… and just watch them play the piano. Yeah, I’m really into the classical stuff.

Your guitar has taken you all over the world, what has been the craziest experience you’ve faced?
I just was in Las Vegas and onstage after me was Condoleezza Rice…

Ohh wow.
Yeah, I wanted to kill myself! But I’ve been to wonderful parts of the world, so I couldn’t really pick one moment, I don’t know…

What’s been your best and worst onstage experiences?
Well, I mean the best is where you play a really great show, and the crowd loves it, which you know, is often. But the worst is when it’s tiring, you’re freezing, there’s a snowstorm, you’re sick, you kind of want to die… Actually there was this one time; we had to drive to West Virginia to do a gig. But it had snow stormed so badly, it was so misty we couldn’t see a thing! We were idiots, but we were determined, so determined to get to that gig. And you know how on mountains they’ve got the gutters on the sides of the roads? Well we had to drift on the road so we knew where we were headed. So we’d drift to the side of the road and the left tires would shudder so we knew we’d have to drift more to the right, and then the right tires would shudder… By the time we had got there the trip had taken us 9 hours instead of like 3 hours and small amount of people that did turn up were all freezing and cold!

Wow! That’s extreme determination. Early last year you released your ‘Dreaming of Revenge’ Album. What were you trying to achieve with this album?
…music? I wasn’t really trying to achieve anything, it’s just what I do, I write music, it sounds good, so yeah.

What’s the best revenge you’ve ever taken?
Well the title of the album is based on the quote by Gaugin that is “life being what it is, one dreams of revenge”. So it’s not about literally taking revenge, it’s like throwing your hands up in the air and continuing on with life. Like, you can wake up in the morning and kick your cat and feel shit, but in the end life goes on.

I’ve read you’ve wanted to branch from being labelled “really good girl guitarist” to being recognised as your own sound. How would you describe your sound to someone?
I’ve given up. It’s impossible. When I used to meet people and they’d ask, “Oh what does your music sound like?” I used to say like instrumental and acoustic but lately it’s changed, so usually I just say I play Christian Rock.

A good conversation starter?
A good conversation killer!

Where would you like to be in 5 years?
In the South of France, at a beach where I can be topless.

Do you believe Lady Gaga is a man, or a crazy forty-year-old woman that took too many drugs in the 70s?
Lady Gaga, its funny because she used to play in New York at clubs with her guitar and sing or whatever, and she was just a person you know? And now she’s completely transformed… it’s amazing! I think it’s great; I totally dig her complete and utter weird bullshit! It’s fucking insane! It’s amazing how totally out there she is and be that committed and live it, I totally, totally, TOTALLY dig it.

Yes, I have a secret obsession with her.
Yeah she’s awesome.

So you recently held a “Guitar Art” exhibition in Brooklyn. Is that something you’d like to further explore, creating your music into a visual and aural experience?
Well I’d love to an exhibition part 2, but I’m not a very visual person. I mean, as I grow older, my brain sees things differently. I mean I recently had eye surgery, so I see light and colour in a whole new and different way then what I have for the past 30 years.

Kaki it has been absolutely wonderful talking to you, thank you so much. I’ll be seeing you at Woodford.
Alright, thank you!

GOSSIP grand opening + giveaways

2009-12-03T11:25:00.011+10:00

A new saturday night party is coming to Brisbane this weekend, it goes by the name of GOSSIP and is not, in any way, a mass meeting of die hard gossip girl fans. It's a party at Club 299, and the grand opening will see local lads JOHN STEEL SINGERS playing live, and just confirmed JARVIS COCKER will be a special guest DJ, as well as a list of resident djs to get the night kicking.

We are giving away two double passes to the premier night.

To enter, simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "GOSSIP" along with your full name.

- THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED -

ALSO, for those of you who miss out on our giveaway, say "BATS" on the door and get cheaper entry. Nice.

RSVP to the facebook event here

WIN tickets to THE BOAT PEOPLE

2009-12-03T09:32:00.004+10:00

THE BOAT PEOPLE SINGLE LAUNCH

The Boat People recently toured with Red Riders on their Drown In Colour tour, and are coming back to Brisbane again this Saturday to launch their new single "Echo Stick Guitars" at CLUBHOUSE along with Paper Scissors, Dan Parsons and Band and a whole heap of DJs that so frequently start dancing riots at the old corner bar.

Thanks to Mucho Bravado, we have one double pass to giveaway.

To enter: simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "ECHO STICK GUITARS" along with your full name

- THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED -

$10 Presale tickets are available online at www.oztix.com.au

or $15 on the door

RSVP to the facebook event here

Echo Stick Guitars is available now via Itunes

BATS on 4ZzZ 102.1fm

2009-12-02T09:16:00.002+10:00

Hey...

A few of us will be on the radio tonight to talk about our party on Saturday and all other things BATS related. Tune into 102.1fm and listen to The Youth Show at 6pm tonight (wednesday). Or listen online at www.4zzzfm.org.au

WIN double passes to our party

2009-12-01T22:44:00.002+10:00

We are feeling a bit generous (christmas came early?) so we are giving away 2 double passes to our party this Saturday.

TO ENTER: simply email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "BATS" along with your full name

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED

RSVP to the facebook event here

new Thrashingteens has launched

2009-11-29T18:01:00.005+10:00

Friday night saw three of us back down to the coast again (Miami to be exact) for the launch of a website, not a teenage mass orgy, THRASHINGTEENS.TV

With the fresh smell of the ocean nearby, and the consumption of some alcohol at "makeout peak" we entered the shark bar, thrashingteens had launched, with musical support of Tenticle, a Dead Beat Band and DZ who all played killer sets.

Check out their new website - which not only looks awesome. But features interviews, reviews and articles - your ultimate online guide to (actually) good music. CLICK HERE

Thanks for having us boys.

Here are a few photos by Kelsey:

Interview with Ed Lay from EDITORS + exclusive Sunset Sounds Double Pass giveaway

2009-11-24T15:29:00.002+10:00

We recently caught up for a chat with Ed Lay from British indie rock sensation EDITORS.

Releasing their album In This Light and On This Evening last month, Editors have branched from their traditional records that heavily featured dark guitar work, and have moved to a new electronic sound that is bound to match their previously successful chart toppers.

Currently touring around Europe, Editors are already enjoying the success of their new album. However they are set to return to our shores early next year for The Falls festival and Sunset Sounds, plus some sideshows in Melbourne and Sydney.

Rachael talked to Ed about their new album, touring Australia, buying cheap pants and Twilight.

INTERVIEW WITH ED LAY FROM EDITORS:

Hey there, did you get up to any crazy shenanigans last night?
(Laughs) Yeah, really nuts. I was cleaning my kitchen and, um, the problem is with being at home a really short period of time is that it means theres lots of things to do around the house. So no, it was very much downtime last night.

Well, kitchen cleaning can get pretty intense. Yeah, it’s insane.

Firstly, congrats on the new album! I listened and I really liked it. Are you pleased with the results of it?

Of course, yeah! Well thank you very much, that’s very kind. We’re really proud actually. It seems like the easiest album for us to put together. I don’t mean to sound lame but it felt so natural in the way it was all going. The sounds we were discovering, the way we’d play different songs together, picking up with [Producer] Flood, who is kind of spirit of it all I guess. We really, really enjoyed working on it.

Excellent. So, after the huge successes of your previous two albums, was there much pressure to create another chart topper?
I dunno, it’s funny because you don’t want to do worse then what you’ve done before, so there’s a little bit of internal pressure on you. But from the record label, absolutely not. They were very supportive in the way that we wanted to produce our records. They realise that we’re not necessarily a pop band, and we write songs that interest us. We like pop music, but we go about it in a slightly different, non-mainstream way. So we weren’t worried about trying to emulate success from what we’ve done previously, you know?

Yeah. Why did you decide to branch from what you’re typically known to play as “dark indie guitar rock” to something more electronic?
We didn’t want to repeat ourselves. Early on, when we started to write some tunes for this record we felt like we were going down very much a similar path as the last record and I honestly don’t believe we would’ve had a record out this year if we had kept going that way. It would have felt like we were letting ourselves down and ripping up. So we decided we’d try and change the way we wrote, and use different instruments as starting points. And we were surprised and really excited about the direction it took.

I’ve read that for this new album you were determined to “give machines a human feel”. If you could, what machine or device would you give emotions to and why?
(Laughs) Um, fridges? I think? I think refrigerators because they kind of annoy me, you always misplace things that you really want to find. It’d be nice if the fridge went “Hey, hey, your forgetting that the chutney is at the back of the fridge”.

But then again, it could turn out disastrous.
Yeah, but then fridges could take care of their own cleanliness and that sort of thing.

Very true. But we wouldn’t want anymore depressed robots like in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
Exactly, exactly! What’s his name? Marvin, isn’t it?

Yeah!
Very depressed, that was it.

So last time you were in Australia, it was 2007.
It was winter! I thought that Australia was always hot. We have a very bland view on the world, coming from such a small very English part of the world. We always kind of think it boiling all the time, people wearing swimming costumes and all that sort of shit. But, it’s not like that. (Laughs) Bit miserable.

Well, it’s November and it’s 38 degrees now, so Australian weather is crazy. It doesn’t make up it’s mind. So how did you find the Australian crowds last time?
Really good, yeah! We didn’t spend a lot of time there, as it was a fairly quick visit, but Australia is really nice and I think the last time we were in Sydney we met some cool little people there. I think you can appreciate it when you make such a long journey to go out and see people, you know. And the response we had led us to believe that we ‘d have a really great time again.

Who would be your dream lineup?
I dunno, Yeah Yeah Yeahs? Thought they’d be good, they’re a cool band. And to finish it off let’s go for Sneaky Sound System.

What have been your best and worst onstage experiences?
Well, the worst one’s are always pretty boring, you know, when you’ve got angry band members because things get lost and stuff breaks or we’re just not having a very good one. But that doesn’t happen too often, we’re kind of lucky in that way, we’re pretty on it (and I feel awful for saying this in such a way) but we’re pretty well liked. We played our biggest ever headline show last year in Birmingham, which is our kind of hometown, and that was amazing. I was just kind of so into it, even though it was such a big venue, it was a big arena. And usually I like more intimate settings where you can see faces and clouds, but I loved it. I loved having so many people come out to see us. It was a real moment for me.

Do you guys have any band rituals (no matter how weird or cult-like they may be) before going onstage or recording?
All we do is do a really lame little fist bump…that’s all. It’s so pathetic! But it kind of feels like if we didn’t do it…it’d be pretty awful. Superstitions are funny aren’t they? You often seem to find a reason why something’s bad like that.

Exactly. Now, what are the perks you’ve taken advantage of with, I guess your fame?
Oh, well I wouldn’t say we’re famous.

Or, with knowing the right people?
With my job, I get to see a lot of stuff, and I get to travel the world, which is really awesome. And have a wonderful time pretty much doing whatever. I can’t describe what a privileged position we’re in, and nobody knows me! So I can go into like, Marcs & Spencer and buy my pants, and nobodies looking at me going “Ohh, he’s buying cheap pants”. You know it’s cool, I’m totally faceless. So I get all the good perks of being in a band, without the crappy bullshit.

Yeah, totally. Now, this is a bit of a controversial one, but do you believe Michael Jackson faked his own death?
(Laughs) Um… I don’t think that he could ever transform himself so fast. No wait, he’s done that once before.

Well, he went from being a black man to a white woman?
(Laughs) Well yeah, that’s true. I think, the people he hangs around with….well I was going to say they’re too stupid to keep there mouth shut but they’re probably very well paid.

If you throw enough money at someone they’ll definitely be able to keep their mouth shut.
Well yeah, exactly. I’m going to sit on the fence with this one. I’m going to say it’s definitely possible.

Alright, it’s time for some “would you rathers”. Would you rather: Whoopi Goldberg, or a whoopi cushion? Whoopi Goldberg.
Dumbledore or Aslan? Aslan, no question.
Team Jacob or Team Edward?

(Silence)

Team what?

You know, the Twilight series?
I’ve never watched it, no. I tell you what, one of our tracks is on the New Moon soundtrack but (laughs) other then that I don’t know anything about it.

That’s probably a good thing. Freddie Mercury or Freddie Krugar?
I’ve got a jumper that’s very similar to Freddy Krugar’s, so I’ll pick him.

Alchemy or alcohol? Alchemy.

What do you guys want to achieve in the future? For example, world domination or knighthood?
I reckon we just wanna record again. That’s all we wanna do. We just want to record another album as soon as possible. Especially because it’s always tricky to get your touring scheduled, we tour a lot, I mean it’s obviously the best way to promote yourself, but we do tour an awful lot.

Finally, what would you say to all the schoolyard bullies/non believers/doubters about your success?
(Laughs) Fuck you! (laughs some more) Everybody remembers hanging around with idiots in school or whatever, with people being so ignorant about everything when you’re at a certain age. But you know I probably was too, I was an ass. So I’d totally take it on the chin if some one came back to me and said “go eff off” or whatever.

Editors will be playing at The Falls festival and at Sunset Sounds.
We have one double pass to giveaway to the Sunset Sounds festival for both days.

But we are going to make you work for it.
Come to our next BATS party dressed in costume - best dressed wins the pass
details here

photos from GAY BASH

2009-11-24T14:30:00.005+10:00

Last Friday, the eldest three BATS girls made a trip down to the Gold Coast for their very first visit to The Ruby Tramp - it's not like we've been avoiding it, just none of us have a car let alone their Ps so it makes things very hard.

We caught a train/bus down - which was plagued by noisy stereotypes, the distinct smell and sound of someone sniffing paint and three annoying 9 year old "fly boys" who played rave music off their mobile phones and wore their caps backwards.

We arrived at Surfers Paradise, and were happy that we had avoided the chaos that is Schoolies. We then headed over to The Ruby Tramp to decorate our toilet party, getting to work by cutting out an assembly of penises from different pieces of coloured cardboard.

Come 9pm, the party had started, as everyone rushed to the downstairs bar for free vodka til 10 pm - the hour of power. The night saw an array of great DJs that got the incredibly small dancefloor pumping. Disappointed however at the lack of "gay" attire. One man illustrated this by bluntly saying to me "You look different, different to everyone else here" - well look mate, this is a queer night what did you expect?

But soon, any moments of fun were soon forgotten as we realised to had to stay at Surfers for at least another 6 more hours to catch the train back home. With no place to stay and little to no money on our hands, we travelled to and from the beach, hungry jacks and desperately wanted to sleep but just couldn't. At 5 am, we were still hanging tight at The Ruby Tramp, watching half a dozen or so freaks who were still dancing, how they did it? We'll never know.

Thank you K CLUB / GAY BASH for having us.

p.s. what is with Surfers and televisions? In every venue we entered there were so many.

Here are a few photos taken by Rachael

view the rest here

CLUBHOUSE giveaways (yacht club djs, casette kids, songs + more)

2009-11-24T12:11:00.008+10:00

This weekend sees some awesome bands from interstate at CLUBHOUSE.

Thanks to the boys we have some double passes to giveaway to their shows:

Starting on Friday night w/

YACHT CLUB DJS, CASSETTE KIDS AND CANVAS KITES.

tickets are $20 on the door, but $10 with the Time Off promotional code

We have one double pass to giveaway!

email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "CLUB KIDS KITES" along with your full name

- competition has now ended -

RSVP to the Facebook event here

And on Saturday night, Sydney band SONGS will be launching their album

with support from The Jezabels.

We also have one double pass to giveaway to this show

email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "SONGS" along with your full name

- competition has now ended -

RSVP to the Facebook event here

BATS! party - Saturday the 5th of December

2009-11-23T17:56:00.010+10:00

We are back again to throw another party before the year is out.

Whether it's to celebrate the end of exams, the start of summer, or the fact that we've had printing difficulties and will be releasing our sixth issue later than expected... is really up to you.

Join us for an ALL AGES afternoon show featuring some great local bands:

TOY BALLOON

THE HONEY MONTH

THE BELLIGERENTS

VASY MOLLO

THE PARTIES OF INTERZONE

K CLUB DJS

MARY JANE

& MORE

As well as a group exhibition that will heal any eye sore.

--------------------------------------------------

DRESS UP & WIN BIG!
The best dressed will win a double pass to the SUNSET SOUNDS festival!
The theme is: "Woodland/Forest"

however DRESS UP IS OPTIONAL!!!

More information to be announced soon - stay tuned

- winners will be announced on the day - winners must be 18 or over -

CLICK HERE to RSVP to the Facebook Event

FASTER PUSSYCAT! The Secret Vintage Sale Night - THIS SATURDAY!

2009-11-23T07:13:00.011+10:00

We are back again to recruit you all to:

FASTER PUSSYCAT! The Secret Vintage Sale Night

which is on this Saturday at The Fort! With over 700 and counting RSVPs on Facebook alone, this night is set to be insanely MASSIVE. We asked the girls behind the sale night some questions about what's in store for Saturday and why acid wash is better than an acid trip.

What can we expect from the sale night?

Vintage, music and art lovers can expect a truckload of vintage hand picked right in our backyard in Brisbane as well as Byron Bay, Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, London, LA and New York. The Secret Vintage Sale plays host to all girl DJ's Cat Kid and Frankie Trouble mixing 60s beats and hip hop vixen tricks, a limited edition Faster Pussycat zine filled with interviews with girls who inspire us, an in depth look in to the porn industry and history, fashion shoots as well as art from the famed Versus Show III - and much, much more. Oh and there is no cover charge.

Are boys welcome too?

Shit yes. Although this is an all girl run event, we have a plethora of vintage for boys.

What kinda price range are we lookin' at?

That's the best thing about The Secret Vintage Sale - we're not going to rape your wallets like some vintage events and stores do. We have vintage from $5 right up to $150 for the more special pieces. We want everyone to be able to buy something and walk out with a fuzzy feeling in their dresses and pants knowing they have just purchased something that has been hand picked and hasn’t arrived from the US in a big, lucky dip cardboard box.

Is vintage really just another word for second hand?

No, we don’t think so. Vintage is very different from second hand. Vintage is an item of clothing or furniture from a decade that is at least 20 to 30 years old, at least. Second hand clothing or furniture is not as old and for example is a garbage bag full of clothes you don’t want anymore (think esprit shorts, country road shirts, Sportsgirl dresses and supre singlets) which you donate to St Vinnies. Vintage and second hand can also mean different things to the individual person and it some areas it can go hand in hand also. Are we speaking Chinese?

Vinnies or Lifeline? Neither. Endo’s is the best.
Sequins or Beads? How dare you make us choose!
Shoulder Pads or Ruffles? Fuck you make it hard don’t you. Sorry to disappoint but both. Together.
Acid Wash or an actual Acid Trip? Haha acid wash, you can actually keep the memories.

What are some clothes/fashion trends of the past that should never make a reappearance? Hawaiin shirts, anything corduroy, suede pants, peddle pushers, maroon turtlenecks and a shitload more…

On a scale of 1 to 5, How "secret" is this "Secret Vintage Sale Night" really?

1 and 5, it depends if you know about it or not.

You have over 600 RSVPs on your Facebook event, Do you expect some girls (or boys) to go insane? Will there be blood, sweat and tears?

We now have well over 700 RSVPs which is insane! Yes we expect a lot of girls and boys getting there early and lining up. Seriously. You ask anyone who shops for vintage – it’s aggressive.

And lastly, give us three reasons why this sale night will be better than a 20% off sale at City Beach?
1. You make all of your friends blood thirsty jealous with your vintage purchases from the Secret Vintage Sale Night
2. You don’t have to deal with fake tanned, bimbo sales assistants
3. You get to meet the girls behind The Secret Vintage Sale Night and pick their brains about vintage, porn and feminism without burning brascollections

For more info please visit the Faster Pussycat! blog

or the Facebook event

or check the poster below:

So Frenchy So Chic giveaway

2009-11-20T10:37:00.010+10:00

So Frenchy So Chic, is the unofficial soundtrack To the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival that is made up each year to invite listeners to enter the French music scene.

Two of the outstanding affiliated artists, Cocoon and Moriarty, will be touring our shores next week for the So Frenchy So Chic LIVE show.

CLICK HERE, to go to Cartell Music and find out the touring dates and information.

Both artists will be playing at The Brisbane Powerhouse next thursday the 26th of November and thanks to The Brisbane Powerhouse and Cartell Music we have a double pass to giveaway to our readers!

To win, please email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "SO FRENCHY" along with your full name.

- this competition has now ended - winner has been notified by email

For more information on the Brisbane show: click here

HANGAR: Dexter Rose Party + prize pack giveaway

2009-11-18T12:34:00.004+10:00

This Saturday Night is the Dexter Rose party at HANGAR.

Dexter Rose have been hand printing rad tees, singlets and hoodies out of the best quality garments for a few years now, and this Saturday night they will be having a party at HANGAR. The night will also see the launch of the official Lofly Hangar T shirt (picture above).

Come and celebrate this launch with your own drinks (BYO) and some awesome live music featuring: Sleepwalks, Card Houses, Tape/Off, and The Belligerents.

Plus there will be heaps of prizes to be won on the night!
Lofly will be giving away some prize packs to anyone who signs up to their mailing list at www.lofly.com
Or wear your DEXTER ROSE tee or garment to the party for a surprise gift upon entry.

where: The Hangar, Lower 151 Musgrave Rd, Red Hill
when: 8:00pm - Saturday 21st of November
how much: $10 but BYO
why: why the fuck not?

For more information please visit the following links:

Lofly Hangar - www.myspace.com/loflyhangar
Dexter Rose - www.dexter-rose.com
Facebook event - RSVP here

GIVEAWAY
Thanks to Lofly Hangar we have a prize pack to giveaway!
This includes two tickets (for you and your friend) + the official hangar t-shirt (available in black or white with reverse print) that will be released on the night + the Lofly CD back catalogue.
TO WIN email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "HANGAR" along with your full name.

- this competition has now ended - winner has been notified by email -

Gay Club + ticket giveaway

2009-11-13T10:23:00.008+10:00

GAY BASH: Sydney's alternative queer night
will be coming to The Gold Coast this Friday night at The Ruby Tramp.
proudly presented by K CLUB.

Don't let the name fool you, GAY BASH isn't a homophobic riot, but rather a celebration of the queer, the wonderful, the weird and all things beautiful.

Featuring performances by:
Architecture In Helsinki (DJ Set)
Nolan Nolan (Bang Gang Deejays)
Sirens, National Treasure, Perfect Snatch, Tropics, Spooks, Robinson Crusoe, Rutfuck, Mary Jane, Roger Rabbit and Heaps More!

The theme is GLITTER. So have sex with a disco ball and a packet of star dust before arrival.

We will also be hosting a party on the night.
So please join us.
The promotional video below should more than convince you.

For more information please visit the follow links:

GAY BASH - www.gay-bash.com

K CLUB - www.k-clubparty.com

Facebook event - RSVP HERE

GIVEAWAY:

Thanks to K CLUB we have one double pass to giveaway.
email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "GAY CLUB" along with your full name.
- this competition has now ended - winner has been notified by email -

Gay Bash from kclub on Vimeo.

HEAD VS HEART

2009-11-12T12:41:00.003+10:00

Last night three of us BATS girls (Emily, Kelsey and Rachael) did a live art performance at Head vs Heart, the newest DJ night to hit Barsoma. Armed with a bag full of nikko pens and some cheap plywood, we set about creating a monstrosity in just two hours time.

Thanks for having us Sophia.

here are a few photos:

view the rest here

Hungary Kids of Hungary tour + giveaways

2009-11-12T12:36:00.005+10:00

The Let You Down Easy Tour National Tour

The Hungary Kids of Hungary National tour starts this Thursday the 12th of November in support of their recently released single 'Let You Down'.

They will be playing two shows in Brisbane this weekend with support from Deep Sea Arcade and Ball Park Music.

Saturday Nov 14 – THE ZOO, BRISBANE
with Deep Sea Arcade and Ball Park Music
Tickets: $12 pre / $15 door
Tickets: Oztix www.oztix.com.au or 1300 762 545

Sunday Nov 15 – THE HIVE, BRISBANE
[ALL AGES / DOORS 1PM]
with Deep Sea Arcade and Ball Park Music
Tickets: $12 pre / $15 door
Tickets: www.starvingkids.org.au or phone 3852 3074

Thanks to Mucho Bravado,
we have a double pass to giveaway to each show!!!

TO WIN:
email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as 'LET YOU DOWN'
along with your full name, and which show you want the passes for - either The Zoo (18+) or The Hive (all ages)

- this competition has now ended -

Digital Natives has launched

2009-11-09T22:06:00.009+10:00

Friday night saw the release of Comic Sans' EP, Digital Natives, at Clubhouse, a venue boasting cheap drinks, free entry and clean bathrooms - let's face it: all three is a rarity.

Shit was hectic, I don't remember half of it and I woke up at 5am on Saturday morning on someones garage floor with a glass cut to the hand, 12 bruises on my legs and neck and a cigarette burn - the makings of a flippin' sick night.

Comic Sans played an excellent set that was truly nothing short of hectic, the overall descriptive word for the evening.

Those of you wanting to purchase the EP, Digital Natives, it will be available to the masses at Rocking Horse next week, or you can get it at the all ages EP launch scheduled for December.

images by jake miller:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jakemillerimages/

thom moore

2009-11-04T22:26:00.003+10:00

an excellent film clip from local witchetty grubs COMIC SANS for their song 'Thom Moore'

directed by Oliver Doom

Happy Birthday To You (Lick It)

2009-11-01T20:21:00.003+10:00

Our LICK IT experience in a few photos.

A fucking fun/loose/magical/hilarious/wicked/enjoyable night, thank you for having us boys.

check out some great photos at takennever.com

and at penylane.com

Georgia Fair National Tour + EP giveaways

2009-10-29T17:36:00.009+10:00

myspace.com/georgiafair
georgiafair.com.au

words and interview by Alice Rezende

If your ears are still whistling out the deafness from the weekend past, and your brain in due need of a musical breather (who knew brains could breathe in the first place), then look no further. Here at BATS, we have scoped out just what you need: a pair of sweet-looking faces armed with some seriously sweet-sounding melodies. Meet Jordan Wilson and Ben Riley, the tight duo behind Georgia Fair.

Sydney's freshest story of young and uninterrupted musical success (minus the Australian Idol motherly push), Georgia Fair has just released their self-titled debut EP and will be touring around Australia in November with both Kate Miller-Heidke and Whitley with their breezy folk rock goodness and impressive vocals.

Inspired by an interesting mix of cult artists (how does Fleetwood Mac and Simon & Garfunkel sound?), these two down-to-earth cute-as-hell guys gave us a minute (or two) of their time to talk about their upcoming tour, green tea and what costumes they will be wearing for Halloween.

Hey guys. What have you been up to lately?
We’ve been pretty busy playing shows, getting out there to promote our new album, all steam ahead!

Yeah, I mean your self-titled debut EP has just come out last week. How do you feel about the outcome?
It feels really refreshing I think. I mean it’s a relief to finally get it out there, you know, we have been playing together for a few years now, and to finally get our material released feels really great.

How long did it take you to settle on the material for the album?
Oh, not too long actually – we kind of just sat down in a room for a few weeks and whipped out a bunch of tracks we had for a while and then decided on a good set of seveb songs and just went from there.

You're about to tour Australia with some big names. What do you think it will be like?
I think we’re going to learn a lot, and it will definitely be a great experience, I mean some of the venues we’re going to get to play at are pretty amazing...

I heard it's a dream for you to play at Sydney's Enmore Theatre...
Yeah it is, it’s going to be pretty intense! I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet.

But hang on. What if Kate Miller-Heidke turns out to be a real demanding diva and asks you to get her hot green tea (no sugar), PRONTO, at 12.30 a.m.? Would you do it?
(laughs) We probably would.

Hang on, hang on. But WHAT IF... what if Whitley asked you to comb his hair and give him a neck massage before each and every show...
(laughs) He’d have to ask us in a really charming way.

Fair enough. Your single 'Picture Frames' has featured in a Big M [flavoured iced milk] ad. If you could choose anything in the world to sponsor on TV next, what would it be?
Oh, man... probably green tea.

Nice! Kate would dig that.
She’d probably think we’re cool and join us.

Are you mentally and physically prepared for the teenage cult-like mass admiration you will inflict in dozens of young girl's hearts?
Unfortunately yes, I think we may just be.

Are you mentally and physically prepared for a dustorm?
Yes, I [Ben] have recently survived one and it was quite the distinct experience. So yeah, definitely ready for my next one.

‘Another one fights the dust?’
Bring it on.

Which modern music artists inspire you?
The first obvious choice would probably be Josh Pyke, he’s always influenced us with his similar minded-sound. Ted Mulry is one from a while back; he gave us the inspiration to really get out there. Also Angus & Julia Stone are quite big on me, I like them a lot.

If your individual personality was a dish (who said they aren't?), which dish would they be?
Jordan would be the menu, because he eats a lot. No, okay... Jordan’s personality is definitely some kind of spicy dish, maybe a chicken Thai green curry. I would say I am an apple crumble.

How does green curry and apple crumble go together?
It’s nice, I mean, you can start your dish with a bit of spice, have a sip of water, and finish off with the sweet apple crumble. Works really well.

You will grace us Brisbanians on a Friday 13th of November at QPAC with Kate Miller-Heidke. Do you think that is a sign of good luck?
Ah, no. I mean! We’re trying to stay positive, because I’m [Ben] really superstitious actually.

But it may be your best performance yet?
We work pretty well when we are going against the odds, so maybe?!

In a scale of 1 to 10 (where 1=shit and 10='da raddez kidz'), what would you rate the Brisbane crowd?
The kids were great the last time we played there. Although there was one guy that yelled stuff out at us, so we’re giving it a 9.

Any more awesome video clips on the horizon?
We hope so! The last one was sponsored by Sony, so hopefully we can do that again soon.

And, lastly, what are you boys dressing up as in Halloween?
I’m [Ben] dressing up as a pumpkin. Jordo doesn’t really dress up, but I’m making him put on a ghost costume/bedsheet over his head to scare off little children. If not he can go as a curry. Yeah I’ll make him wear a curry. I’ll throw one at him.

Georgia Fair's debut EP is available now at JB Hi-Fi, iTunes and Bandit.FM.

But thanks to Sony Music we have five copies of the EP to giveaway to our readers!
To win, email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as 'PICTURE FRAMES' with your full name and address.

--- competition has now ended ---

LICK IT turns three! interview + giveaways

2009-10-26T17:37:00.002+10:00

This Friday, LICK IT is turning three! and they are celebrating their birthday with a freaking massive lineup that certainly puts my last year's halloween party to shame.

With double international headliners: FEADZ (france) & FOALS DJS (uk)

plus a list of the best across the nation to support: MERCY ARMS (dj set), KNIFE MACHINE, Fashion Launches Rocket Launches (live), Jimmy 2 Sox, Last Dinosaurs (live), Tim Fuchs, Ladyboy and Charlie Why.

And if you haven't wet your pants from excitement yet (does not include if you have a weak bladder) then the promise of attendees being covered in denim surely will.

Seriously though, the theme is DOUBLE DENIM.

Early bird and 1st release tickets have sold out, but you can snatch up the 2nd release now here(oztix) or here(moshtix)

or scroll down to win some double passes....

INTERVIEW

Looking back over the past 3 years - LICK IT have done everything.

I mean theoretically speaking, if LICK IT was an actual human person at the age of three - it would constantly be shitting itself and would be barely able to talk.

We interviewed the boys behind LICK IT, to reflect on the past three years of madness, mayhem and even magic?

How was Lick It conceived? What were your humble beginnings?
On the deck with a few friends and a beer in hand. Nothing to do in little old Brisbane drove us to make our own fun...

Who is behind Lick It Media?
Originally two guys - now a gaggle of five, all playing part in some way or another.

What is it that you actually want us to lick?
How old are you?

Fast forward three years, is there anything you regret doing?
The Galvatrons.......

Who/what have been your favourite acts that you have had played?
This is hard. Best friends and great DJs - Jimmy2sox, Ladyboy and Tim Fuchs are hard to go past. As for the big names: Crystal Castles was a fun one...

Who/what has been your least favourite act that you have had played?
The Galvatrons...a slip in judgment

Are your mothers proud of you?
Not entirely sure... I suppose so... She emailed me the other day.
I think we make a lot of other peoples mothers proud.

Are your fathers proud of you?
Shit yeah.

What can we expect at your 3rd birthday party bash?
Just wait and see.
To state the obvious: 2 internationals - Uffie's x boyfriend (Feadz) - Edwin from one of the most hyped bands in the world (Foals) - Knife Machine (Jono & Pat from Lost Valentinos), bright lights, denim eye sores, acid punch drinks....

Will there be any special consideration to anyone who wears triple (if not quadruple) denim to mark the occasion?
Hexadenim is the best I’ve heard so far.....(that’s 10 I think). We have a few bottles of bubble to share for the special efforts.

If Barack Obama wanted to buy you out, would you let him?
No doubt, and move into the whitehouse, try find an intern to hook up with, and stay out of the public eye. That veggie patch Michelle started a while back needs some loving.

What would be your dream line up? And how far would you go to book it?
Madonna Vs Prince! Madonna with strap on. Prince with a whip. Far enough?

If you could turn back time, what would you do (besides kill Cher's stylist)?
Put money on an African-American to win president in the US. Surely there were some good odds there...

And finally, give us three reasons why your birthday party is going to be better than Michael Jacksons funeral?
1. No Justin Timberlake.
2. Hopefully no death.
3. More crying girls

GIVEAWAY

thanks to the boys, we have THREE double passes to giveaway

to win the tickets, email win@batsmagazine.com with your full name, and the subject as "DOUBLE DENIM"

and tell us which denim-clad-ex-celebrity couple are pictured below:

table tennis

2009-10-24T07:08:00.002+10:00

photos of Bette, our nominated player, in the table tennis tournament at The Zoo on Thursday night.

thank you Jonathan Baginski

Become a fan of BATS on facebook

2009-10-21T19:22:00.001+10:00

Hello bloggers from around the world. Please become a fan of our facebook page by clicking on the link below:

BATS magazine on Facebook

BATMAN single launch + ticket giveaways

2009-10-20T14:00:00.005+10:00

This Friday, The Cairos are releasing their first single BATMAN from their Lost At Sea EP at The Troubadour.

The band have recently been gaining attention nation wide with recent supports with The Temper Trap, Wolf & Cub, You Am I and Powderfinger.

The launch of this hands down crowd favourite is set to be a killer show with support from three of Brisbane's favourite indie gems: Last Dinosaurs, The Parties Of Interzone and Vasy Mollo.

Presale tickets are $10 here

However, thanks to THE CLUB HOUSE/ FANS CLUB NIGHT

we have one double pass to giveaway

email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as BATMAN along with your full name

---- winner will be notified by email ----

visit www.club-house.com.au

view the poster below for details

RSVP to the facebook event here

THE WEEK AHEAD

2009-10-20T13:20:00.004+10:00

what: Blonde Venus presents FRED PERRY 100 YEARS
who: I Heart Hiroshima, Last Dinosaurs, Comic Sans, Yout Dem x Potato Masta,

Polar Bear & Schleke
where: The Zoo
when: 8pm onwards
cost: FREE
details: facebook event

what: THREADED
who: runway shoes by MINK PINK and PETE VERSUS TOBY
music by LIKE WOAH!
where: Alhambra Lounge
when: Friday - 23 OCT
cost: $10 before 11pm
details: facebook event

what: UNTITLED (formerly known as Life is Beautiful)
who: an exhibition of new works by Andrew Gordon
where: Ninelives - upstairs 330 Brunswick St Mall
when: FRIDAY - 23 OCT
cost: FREE

what: Valley Fiesta
who: view the lineup here
where: all over Fortitude Valley
when: 23rd - 25th of October
cost: FREE and ALL AGES

what: Brisbane Zombie Walk
who: freaks of Brisbane unite
where: walk starts at Wickham Park at 3pm
when: Sunday - 25 OCT
cost: the price of fake blood capsules from the reject shop
details: www.brisbanezombiewalk.com

re: open air

2009-10-19T20:56:00.003+10:00

a few photos from open air last friday evening
on enjoyable night on the lawn, getting itchy and watching some amazing bands

OH YE

2009-10-19T20:38:00.002+10:00

found a video of Oh Ye Denver Birds playing at our last launch party

beautiful music... a shame about the noisy (and assumed a.d.h.d.) background talkers

FASTER PUSSYCAT!

2009-10-16T08:24:00.004+10:00

Sick of planning a day trip to your favourite strech of vintage stores, only to find they have been raped by high school students the weekend before? Leaving you with the actual shit no one should ever have to wear again. No, not even you Zooey Deschanel.

Well thank fuck for all of us, the who's who of vintage in Brisbane have teamed up together to bring you:

Faster Pussycat! The Secret Vintage Sale Night.

Something every fashion conscious girl, woman and man should get very, very excited about...so, when is it? Well somethings as big as this needs to be kept a secret. You don't want every Jane, Sarah and Holly getting their dirty hands on your faux fur jacket.

But what we can tell you is that it's going to be sometime in November at a secret location. And it's going to be freaking awesome with the aforementioned vintage purveyors selling their best vintage wares sourced in London, New York, L.A and Australia - a certain step up from Mt Gravatt's Best and Less.

And on top of all of that there will be DJs, artists, zines and so much more!

Join the Faster Pussycat Facebook Group to find out more information and be one of the first to know when details regarding dates are released soon.

thesecretvintagesalenight.blogspot.com

wait

2009-10-15T21:45:00.004+10:00

the pheasants inconvieniantly but quite pleasantly changed their name to the diving bell
they are heaps good, and so are the nones (they put on a killer show)
so you should go to their show

Coming up

2009-10-14T20:42:00.003+10:00

The Pheasants & The Nones
Rics Bar
Friday 30th October
11pm

be there

this guy will

SEEKAE album launch + ticket giveaways

2009-10-14T19:40:00.005+10:00

Sydney band SEEKAE will be launching their album 'The Sound of Trees Falling on People' this Saturday at THE CLUB HOUSE

with support from Hey Fever and Idle Cranes

check the poster below for event details

tickets are $15

but thanks to the general "mad cunts" at The Club House

we have a double pass to giveaway:

the first person to email win@batsmagazine.com with the subject as "SEEKAE" along with their FULL NAME gets it

--- follow this blog for future giveaways ---

OPEN AIR - this friday - all ages

2009-10-13T09:39:00.007+10:00

Beer, babes and a Barbeque. I honestly can not think of a better way to start my weekend.... or how about a "kicking" ALL AGES event with some of Brisbane's best acts in an open air concert on the river.

OPEN AIR is a concert put on by Queelsand College of Art students, with the entry fee going towards supporting nearly 200 final year designers for their exhibition and graduate catalogue.

With two girls of the BATS team personally attending QCA themselves, this cause hits close to home - everyone knows how poor uni students are.

The lineup consists of: Mt. Augustus, Carry Nation, BigStrongBrute, The Videomatics The Liars Chair, Your Hand In Mine and WolfGang DJs

tickets are dirt cheap, starting with a $5 presale online here

or at Rocking Horse, Butter Beats, and Kill THE Music

otherwise it's $10 on the gate

RSVP to the facebook event here

Glassghost

2009-10-12T15:22:00.002+10:00

Lately, Brisbane has been hit by a wild tornado of new club nights and events, and you may have been finding yourself with a lot more to choose from (unless you have a monobrow and have coincidentally been left out of the loop). I know I've been certainly resenting each new event invitation I receive on facebook, but certainly not one from Turpentine, who have teamed up with Pistol Whipped to create a new night under the name: Glassghost. (I'll never know the meaning behind it, and I'd like it to stay that way)

This event will cover all aspects of media - music, art, fashion and print. And best of all - it's FREE.

Turpentine will be running a fashion parade - so there is already a head's up on eye candy. As well as live art from Coco, Sarah Field and Rhiannon Mallet.

Plus we will be having our issue five available on site - so here's another chance for you to grab our new issue (for free and as a hard copy)

Check the poster below for details

and click here to RSVP to the facebook event

we love hangar

2009-10-11T20:48:00.004+10:00

NO WAVES

2009-10-07T21:30:00.008+10:00

NO WAVES, not to be confused with a popular culture scene or a low tidal volume ventilation, is an art exhibition which will showcase several emerging artists from the gold coast this Friday night

exhibiting artists including:

Siobhan Frost
Matty Kidd
Jake Springthorpe
Boozy Bones
Alex Wall
Megan Chambers
Ali Mitton

held in a warehouse, the exhibition will be accompanied by music from

Comic Sans, A Deadbeat Band and Mary Jane

so skate on over to 99 Lower West Burleigh Road at 6.30pm (fuck being fashionably late)

and get ready for the coolest thing to hit the coast besides the odd tornado and/or shit storm

it will cost you 10 bones

but it is BYO

and girls and boys only! according to the facebook event

- however we asked if hermaphrodites would be turned down on entry and rest assured they won't be

"they are people too"

here is a really cool promo vid that I was only able to watch 14 seconds of as I am actually capped on my internet, but please watch it and inform me of its ending

BATS on penylane.com

2009-10-05T17:28:00.004+10:00

Thanks to Mark from Penylane.com for coming and taking some fabulous photos

view them here

Issue Five: The Icon Issue

2009-10-05T10:36:00.005+10:00

Issue Five: The Icon Issue is out now!

Look out for it in our usual stocked stores this week

or click here to download the online version.

tell us how much you love/hate this issue - email us at contact@batsmagazine.com

including: a BATS directed fashion shoot (photographed by Jack Loel, with clothes from Boxvintage), photography by Jeff Levingston, features of Nicholas Chalmers, Blue Carousel and Ma'at, an interview with Brisbane's Marilyn Monroe, review of Comic Sans' EP 'Digital Natives', BATS' very own advice column and Five political icons Alex Grigg (from Red Riders) would turn gay for. As well as all of your favourite knick knack articles and controversy.