2009

So being the first month of 2009, people are starting to comment on who they think is going to blow up this year. NME's top 10 tips include Florence and The Machine, The Virgins, Little Boots and even locals - Empire of The Sun - just to name a few....

What's your hot tips of 2009? Are there any local bands out there that you think are the next big things? Let us know at Levity because we LOVE new music....! We are yet to formulate our own opinions on what might be, but here's 2 for you.

Murmurs on the local scene say to watch out for Melbourne lads, the Temper Trap. Having watched these boys from the beginning and seeing their live show now - you can definitely say they have stepped it up a notch. Comprising of more members on stage a hell of a lighting show, and the new stool for front-man Dougy to shine on - it seems they have all the makings to indeed make something big happen in 2009. Go see them live in this new Temper Trap era and see what your thoughts are. www.myspace.com/thetempertrap

They've been mentioned before on the Levity blog, last year I believe - but Brooklyn lads, Amazing Baby, are a true favourite of mine. Who knows if they will take off this year but their T-Rex-ish-ness coupled with the new breee of physcedlic guitars, definitely takes you somewhere that music hasn't taken us in a while. www.myspace.com/theamazingababy

What else is out there? Let us know and come back soon so we can tell you more as soon as we discover them. xxx

Summer Lovin'

Hey there! Well the summer didn't really start off like summer at all. It poured non stop - well where the music was anyway, at Meredith Music Festival! Heading down to MMF a couple of hours out of Melbourne, is definitely a trek worth doing for those of you out there who have not yet done so. Even if it did pour for 3 full days, it's one of the most invigorating music festivals in Australia you'll go too. I dont know if its the fresh air, the new faces, or the true music fans who make the trek that make it what it is, but there is definietly something magical about it.

Kicking of the festivities was Violent Soho and (some) vodka, and what a way to start.... I would have to say it was definitely my main musical highlight of the weekend. These Brisbane boys just rip up the stage and make you want to let your hair down and move your head until it falls off, because it would complete the music if it did. I'm not sure if they were stuck in a huge tupperware container in 1991 and only just opened fresh from the packet recently, but it sure feels like that - IN A BLOODY GOOD WAY. The sound, look and smell of them just oozed everything you love about that era. Rumor has it that the Soho camp returned fresh from a US stint performing showcases for some industry big whigs, you can tell they are already seasoned professionals even though more than half the crowd hadn't seen them play before. Definitely check them out as soon as you can. www.myspace.com/violentsoho

Fast Forward all through Friday Night and Saturday (you don't want to hear how I slept in a tarago) and you get to MGMT. After waiting for about 20 delayed minutes the boys finally stepped on stage. Having already seen them twice that week I was anticipation a grand finale for the long 18 month tour. Unfortunately technical problems throughout the set, rain and annoying booners in the vecinity of well, me - didnt really help the cause. I'm gonna blame my deflation of anticipation on where I chose to stand. I should have gone up front to the barrier with the fans to sing a long....

Coming back to Sydney where the rain was a little less full on, it was straight into the annual Christmas parties. Oyster Mag threw theirs @ Oxford Art Factory and was headlined by a band I so sorely miss, Red Riders. They played a bunch of new tracks and I cant wait for the new record, I heard its coming out this year! WOOHOOO!!!! New guitarist too... Brad from the Vines. Hot looking bunch, they always have been.

After the Christmas period subsided it was time to venture back into gig land, and I just had to do it, you're all going to hate me right now because i'm not sure how much music credibility they have - The Honey Brothers. Vinnie from Entourage eg. Adrian Grenier's band! You know what, they were fun and they played really well and Adrian looked sparkling. It was an entertaining night and if you feel free to break down you harshful judgemental barriers you might sometimes enjoy bands for just the FUN of it.

One more band to mention before I go to bed. After the release of their record Twenty-One last year (one of my favourites of 08) I just had to see them live. Mystery Jets ARE AMAZING! With a set of killer songs everyone was singing along and dancing their hearts out. If you haven't heard the record I urge you to go get it now. Every song is absolutely killer and when you see them live it's like your heart melting onto your favourite flavoured ice cream. I-spyed fellow UK mates Actic Monkeys also catching the show with girlfriend's in tow. I have to admit, I was more excited to see one Miss Alexa Chung than the boys.

Well that's it for me till next week.... when I see Temper Trap, Franz Ferdinand, Santogold, Oh Mercy, Philadelphia Grand Jury and more Red Riders.

xx

Scott's final blog for 2008

Soon it will be 2009 and then most probably 2010 if bass drum doesn’t kill me between now and then.

Over the last week I have decided that we need a new dog at BJB studios, we had BEAR for 10 years but he lives in Tasmania now and everyone misses having a ball of flush running around. So if anyone knows where some cool dog is, preferably an endangered boarder collie with blue eyes

On the music front I have finished up The Protectors finally, I am really excited about this one and I think you will all be when you hear it. It has also been great to hear that Mr Pete Stalls has smashed all the guitars the band owns.

For old times sake and because I really want to know this as well, here is the list of bands I have done this year:

The Reptiles, The Presets, Bertie Blackman, The Seabellies, Cut off your hands, Cut Sic, Thirsty Merc, Model School, Steve Clisby, Katie Steele, Daniel Johns and Luke Steele, Faker, Channel Ten Theme with Paul Mac, The Scare, T Bolt, Tex Perkins, Former Child Stars, John Steele Singers, Wow, Matt Walters, Yen, The Wahas, Big Game Hunter, The Protectors, Rai Thistlewaite, Sarah Blasko, Teenagers in Tokyo, Turbo Weekend, The Protectors, The Polites, Sideways Hitchhiker, Tuesday Spoils, Cameras and I still have the Galvatrons to go which begins in Melbourne on Monday.

Thanks to all the bands and artists that have braved BJB studios in 2008.

Thanks to my business partner Chris and all the BJB crew Simon, Brudzy, John, JP, Henry, Jane and Sambo.

We look forward The Scares record being work on all through early January,
We look forward to BRUDZY getting back from his little self journey.
We look forward to more and more bands coming through these doors in 2009.
Have a happy Christmas
Love,

Scott

P.S
The rooms are filling up downstairs, be quick

Studio. Seafood. Studio.

Another busy week for the studio and myself,
I am just finishing up my final projects before I commence a three-month venture with Melbourne band The Galvatrons. I start in Melbourne on December 1st and I have managed to squeeze a album in with Danish electro group Turbo Weekend in, which leaves me a day or two over the festive season to eat as much seafood and drink as much good wine as possible before getting back on the horse to finish the trons.

Over the last month I have done EP’s for The Protectors, The Polites, Singles for Sideways Hitchhiker and Turbo Weekend and did a day with the amazing Sarah Blasko. The studio is busy and the two new assistants John and JP are killing it.

We are turning lot 2 and 3 of our building into an amazing warehouse office space for everybody interested in the arts, so if you are excited to have a look and be quick because we have already filled rooms with visual artists, photographers, writers, musicians and a management group. The building looks a like it hasn’t been touched since the 70’s (in the best possible way) and has two cycloramas already built. Sorry to harp on but it is a fantastic space that will be great for the hood. Call Sam 9211 5434 for more details.

That is it for me for this week, everything is good!

Scott

Who am I in the studio with next?

The beautiful things in life,
Sitting on the harbour eating seafood and then lying in the park for 3 hours while the sun disappears over you. It is a sharp contrast from sitting in a studio for 14 hours a day.

Summer is hear and I guess that means busier times for myself and the studio, bands get that summer buzz and want to get their newest offerings out just in time for the new year. I have had a handful of days off this year and it gets harder when you are listening to the same kick drum for hours when the sun is shining down on the trees outside and it is that time of year.

I have been watching several different televisions series on DVD, Boston Legal and Entourage being the two favourites. There is something inspiring about watching successful people like adventurous lives, even if it is all scripted.

The SOYA awards was a great night to be involved with, the winner MY DISCO where fantastic on the night and we really look forward to working with them over the year. From years of doing minimalist music myself and look fondly upon a band singing only 4 lyrics in one song.

Next week I start young Melbourne upstarts The Polites and then onto a 3-month stint with The Galvatrons.

We also are taking over the bottom level of 259 Riley Street, so if you are an artist looking for a really great space. Email info@bjbstudios.com and we will get back to you.

From the hand of Scott Horscroft

So, it has been a big month, in a big year, in a big life of 31 years.

For those who don't know me, I'm Scott Horscroft. I've been a mixer, producer and engineer at BJB studios in Surry Hills in Sydney since 2003. Before that I experienced being an sound & noise artist, a music composer, lecturer, and world explorer.

I did plan to take a holiday with my mother for three weeks this October to clear my head and put up my feet, but am now in the last week of that extended holiday and i haven't left the grasps of the studio (which I am not complaining about, but my taste buds do miss the French wine and Spanish Stews)!

I've been up to a lot lately, from recording the amazing young band The Protectors to the swooping Matt Walters or Levity's own brilliant John Steel Singers. The records keep getting made and my world keeps getting crazier, busier and more exciting. We have also had Dappled Cities in at BJB Studios for 28 days doing a record with Chris Coady from New York. From all accounts it is sounding great.

I have had the privilege of being able to work with The Presets, who took home three big boys at the ARIA awards for their album Apocalypto. Whilst I didn't attend the evening, I definitely made the most of the champagne provided by the beautiful people at Modular. I also celebrated the ARIA success of The Panics, who were nominated for four awards, as well as two artisan awards for Best Engineer and Best Producer. I'm so proud of all the effort made by these talented performers, and it's great to see their audiences recognise them and reward them for all the long hours spent slaving away over their music.

Although it seems the international music industry is riding the rollercoaster of change its great to hear that so much music is still being produced and sydneys live music scene is in better shape than i can remember in the past 10 years

Your thoughts ?

See you next time.

Scott

YKB back in BRIS!

Well, well dear Blog the last week has been great, for the most part because I have reacquainted myself with my own bed (as opposed to floorboard, couches, other flat surfaces that don't have nails sticking out of them). The first gig night was in Byron Bay, the beach right? WRONG! Well, the beach was still there but not as you and I might know it... I arrived with a joyous smile on my face, wearing board-shorts, and my best singlet, towel draped over one shoulder only to be robbed of my joy and my body warmth by the bleak skies, bone chilling wind, and sleeting rain.


After I was consoled by my family, and close friends I pulled myself together just in time for sound check (not load-in..... i missed that because i got there too late, my apologies to my band members), anyway long story short, we played a rousing set to a small but excitable crowd who seemed to be somewhat 'medicated' but if gigging has taught me anything that can only be a good sign. Though I'm not sure what it means when your merch girl is so adequately medicated that she is rolling out of her chair, but who could judge her it was a thursday night, a night which we have dubbed the start of the weekend.

Back to Brisbane the next morning, after the inevitable quest for organic doughnuts in Byron. A gig in our home town, in our spiritual home of the Zoo, what more could you ask for? Well if it include making it out of the Valley Corner Chinese joint alive (even after the imperial king prawn), and that we recorded the show both audio and visual, AND people actually came (always a surprise to me i assure you), and they danced, and the merch girl was coherent at the nights end...... I think that makes for a pretty awesome night really. Oh yeah, and we made sure that Chris' drum riser was 2 feet in the air, he needed a step to get onto it!

Saturday night, playing a beach town at a really great venue the Coolangatta Ho, apparently a few weeks before us the matches played there and found a severed pigs head left behind after a heavy metal gig! Which boggles my mind considering that heavy metalers have always seemed to be the nicest most misrepresented people groups. I have been wrong before. Anyway, our house guys name was Mud. Some said (including himself) that this was because of his mixing ability, I chose to make a vague correlation between the pigs head and the name Mud. Pigs? Mud? I rest my case. We went to big chief burgers, WOW! Seriously good burgers, Charles led us along the street of Coolangatta, like some kind of mystic, crouched over and beckoning us with his gross shriveled hand and making gurgling noises which we guess were coming from sound kind of mouth. Anyway, unbeknownst to me Adam and Clark (our amazing sound and lights duo) timed me eating my burger, as they believe that i don't chew my food. I would like to say that I do chew my food, but that I feel excessive chew degrades the flavors and robs you of the joys of it. My time was 2:30, and I had been trying to eat slowly.

Last but not least, the Sol Bar at Coolum, possibly the most fun you can have on a Sunday night up the coast. From a bands perspective, free dinner, half price drinks (including really fruity cocktails you would never have ordered before because of cost, and because the other kids would laugh at you) and a tiny stage were you can quite easily be mistake for a crowd member. Well I have sad news for all of you who think that sounds fricken awesome fun. Its being pulled down to put apartments in. I want to go on record and say that apartments suck and that they kill every live music venue they can sink their hands into. So I choose to remember the Sol Bar for the good times we had, for the el tropico's, the white russians, the crazy looking blue drink that Meg ordered, and the red cordials that we all consumed. Goodbye Sol Bar, goodbye Blog, Goodbye my faithful readership consisting of my mum, Meg our manager (she edits out my jokes), and any poor soul who stumbles across this just like in Jumanji.