Factsheet 5, the magazine of fanzine reviews, is to recommence publication after a three-year hiatus.

The new publisher is Dwayne-Michael Alborn, a 22-year-old marketing student who was “interested in going into the catalog sales area … With the numbers we ran and the numbers Seth had, I’d say it’s a definite career opportunity.”

Factsheet 5 was started by Mike Gunderloy and ran from 1982 until late 1991. It was taken over by R. Seth Friedman, who published it from 1993 until 1998, covering the time of the zine craze of the ’90s.

Friedman has been trying to sell the magazine for some time, having stated in late 2000 that “if a new publisher is not found by the end of January 2001, the magazine, its web site and P.O. Box will be shut down for good.”

(more…)

We have just set up a household MP3 server and it has changed our lives. Like a thousand-disc CD changer without the delays and clunking and whirring noises.

Ever played your ENTIRE CD COLLECTION on shuffle? You Will(tm). Shits on radio, fer sure.

(more…)

It’s your turn to write something. I’d like you all to list what gigs you’re thinking of attending in the coming week (the rock week going, of course, from Wednesday to Wednesday), a bit about each show and why you consider it a serious prospect.

(Melbourne readers may find the Beat gig guide useful as a crib sheet, assuming Beat remembers to update it this week.)

My own weekend is filled with social interaction of a nonmusical nature on Friday and Saturday. But on Thursday, I will be going to see Tankt, an electronic band (the bleep end of “industrial”), at 9th Ward (cnr Flinders Lane and Elizabeth Street). Principal in the band is Jarod Smullen, a fine fellow who is nearly as arrogant about music as me; I’ve decided I’ve got to check out what he produces himself. (MP3s available on the band website.)

And yours?

or I’ll come around and rip your ears off personally.

(Or you could watch a tape as I probably actually will ;-)

“Long Way to the Top screens on Wednesday nights at 8.30pm, from 8 August to 12 September 2001.” Website at http://abc.net.au/longway/ .

Damn. I can’t wait for this one to be released on video. Did I mention the box of Dancing In The Street I just got, by the way?