ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL
Greetings from Adelaide, where I’ve been taking in the Adelaide International Guitar Festival with acts such as Guthrie Govan, Stochelo Rosenberg Trio (and if you’re a fan of shredding guitar work you have to check out Stochelo), Phil Manning and Chris Finnen, Debashish Bhattcharya, Pepe Romero, Maximo Pujol and many more. It’s been great to see so many diverse guitarists sharing their love of six (or, in Debashish’s case, 24) strings. Next time the festival rolls around, you should go! It’s definitely worth the trip. And if you’re ever in Adelaide, check out Rerun Records & Vintage Photographics, where I found shitloads of pristine rare Zappa vinyl.
GUTHRIE GOVAN THIS WEEK
Speaking of Guthrie Govan, you can catch the virtuoso solo artist/The Aristocrats/Steven Wilson guitarist at his Melbourne guitar masterclass on Saturday July 27, kicking off at 12pm at Gasworks Theatre. A few tickets are still available from thumpmusic.com.au
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THRASH KIND
In the latest in an long, long line of unrelentingly awesome shows at The Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood, check out Close Encounters of The Thrash Kind 2: Return to the 36th Chamber featuring Shitripper [NZ], Black Jesus, Counter Attack, Party Vibez, Atomic Death Squad, Terror Strike, Ironhawk, Wet Pensioner & Bombs Over Brunswick and Grudge, kicking off at 4.30pm on Saturday July 26!
INTRODUCING MESHIAAK
Meshiaak, featuring ex 4arm frontman Danny Tomb and lead guitarist of Teramaze Dean Wells, have decided it’s time to begin unleashing some music from their recently formed project. Though remaining members are still a mystery, Tomb ensures that the lineup is set and that it’s only a matter of time before it is announced. “We have everything we need, we just have to wait on the formalities before we can let everyone know who’s joining us,” he says. Set on releasing their debut album toward the end of 2014, the guys have been hard at work on material for the past few months creating what they feel is the “game changer” for their careers. Dean says, “I think people will really relate to what we’re doing, the music is fresh yet hits hard and still has a lot of great melodic sections.” Check out the track Alliance of Thieves on YouTube for a taste. And by the way, congratulations to Dean for winning the worldwide Marty Friedman “Inferno” guitar solo contest last week!
RIVER OF SNAKES RELEASE DEBUT
Recorded over two-and-a-half years and three locations, Black Noise is the debut album by River of Snakes, showcasing their feedback-and-fuzz sonic experimentation amid the balance between ferocious relentlessness and subtle aural layers. The album is out now on Bro Fidelity Records. Since the tracking sessions drummer Glenn Evans has left the band and been replaced by Ben from Hotel Wrecking City Traders, and his first recording with the band is a cover of Burning Skulls by Lydia Lunch and Rowland S Howard: it will be released as a free bonus download alongside Black Noise.
THE RADIO SUN ALBUM LAUNCH
Melbourne melodic heavy rockers The Radio Sun launch their debut album Wrong Things Right this Friday July 25 at The Portland Hotel (upstairs) in the CBD. The band will be on stage early, 9pm sharp! T-shirts and CDs will be available on the night. Support comes from WarBirds. Entry is $10 at the door. In other news, The Radio Sun will be part of the upcoming MelodicRockFest 4 event in Chicago USA in October which includes the likes of H.E.A.T., Mitch Malloy, Paul Laine, Work Of Art and Stan Bush amongst others.
WRESTLEROCK RETURNS!
In what has become a Melbourne institution and a spectacle unlike anything else, Australia’s favourite rock’n’roll wrestling mega-event, Wrestlerock – Full Metal Assault, returns for a night of hard-hitting, bone-crushing, pile-driving live pro-wrestling action! In three hours of non-stop entertainment and total rock‘n’roll damnation, expect five special bouts including an over the top rope “Dirty Dozen” Battle Royal, and in the main event, Wrestlerock champion “The Pitbull” Craig Cole will defend his championship against “The Mad Bastard” KrackerJak. And not only that – the mighty Desecrator will be performing live! With a sound that has been compared to early Testament, Death Angel and Sacred Reich, Desecrator’s twin guitar attack, punishing rhythm section and blood-soaked vocals have won over the old guard of staunch metal fans as well as recruiting the new wave of young thrashers. It all happens on Saturday August 19 at the Corner Hotel.
