Love Me Like A Man

Back to the grind

So it seems that the holidays have mysteriously disappeared and it's back to the grind of university. I'm really not ready for it, and I'm trying to get my head around it. At the moment, it doesn't help that my band has now become, well... a proper band. We've been practicing for a band comp at UNSW as a part of the National Campus Band Competition. We really don't expect to win, we are just looking forward to getting up on stage and playing and getting some experience. Having said that, we're all really excited about playing. We have our final practice tomorrow before our heat on Wednesday. Playing is like a drug at the moment. I makes me really happy. It's a nice feeling.

My band (My Beloved Monster) has made an event on Facebook, you can find it here.

So sad to see you fade from me

On my 19th birthday in 2007 I was utterly devastated. I discovered that my favourite band, Placebo had potentially broken up, with long time drummer, Steve Hewitt parting ways from the band. It was even more shocking when fans found out later, he was basically fired after a long and gruelling tour schedule which saw (as I perceive it), a straining of emotion and personal relationships. It was a very nasty separation, and heart breaking for a band whom described each other as a close knot family, with singer/guitarist Brian Molko admitting that he wouldn't he couldn't like without Stefan (Oldsal: bassist/guitarist/amazing Swede) and Steve. For myself, it was like watching a beacon of hope shatter in front of my eyes. I discovered Placebo in my early teens and they have a been a soundtrack to my life since. It is funny how music seems to tap into your emotions and say what we sometimes struggle to articulate. I amongst a legion of fans viewed (and still continue to see) Placebo, and particularly Brian Molko as a figure who provides hope to those who are somewhat lost, confused and at times out of place. Yet he is no preacher, and I'm sure he would agree to say that he is no perfect human being.

Placebo today are (in my books) an amazing and unique band, who are going from strength to strength. Although I look back on their earlier days with a certain nostalgia and enthusiasm, I can appreciate their every album and evolution and love the contribution of Steve Hewitt as much as the new contribution of Californian drummer Steve Forrest (freaky Steve coincidence there).

With the departure of Steve Hewitt I was really at a loss. I always liked Steve. He always came across as an affable and likeable fellow, and was a real mean machine behind the drum kit. So now it is really great to see him making some music, some damn good music, and to see him as frontman. From what I have heard from his new endeavour, it is really interesting to hear his voice and see the man shine through. When musicians swap instruments I find that it provides interesting results, just look at Jack White behind the kit for The Dead Weather. At the moment I am a bit disillusioned with a lot of contemporary music and the nature of the music industry, and the abundance of wussy 'indie' hipster music. His new outfit Love Amongst Ruin is refreshing, hard hitting and for myself, full of hope. It will be interesting to see how the band goes and how they will be received.

Here is their first official video from their upcoming debut. Visually it is quite beautiful, and artfully constructed.