Rocknerd

Cut Copy, Botanical Gardens, Melbourne

6 June, 20266 June, 2026 Dance, Live 0

It’s nice to see local kids who have received some international acclaim return to their home ground, even if they do so with some regularity.

Leftfield, Botanical Gardens, Melbourne

6 June, 20266 June, 2026 Dance, Live 0

Spanning techno, trip-hop, progressive house, and dub, I readily admit to being a very long-term fan of Leftfield.

Basement Jaxx, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne

6 June, 20266 June, 2026 Dance, Live 0

Plenty of performers and truly wonderful costumes, certainly among some of the best that have been presented at any live show, all along with the expected levels of light and colour, as the musical duo were safely ensconced in their own pit.

Rüfüs Du Sol, Inhale / Exhale (2025)

6 June, 20266 June, 2026 Dance, Record 0

For fans of Rüfüs Du Sol, Inhale/Exhale is not a dramatic departure from their earlier work.

Backrooms (2026).

3 June, 20264 June, 2026 Film 0

Backrooms promises you the movie of a creepypasta, and it delivers on that.

The March Violets: Crocodile Promises (2024).

17 February, 202617 February, 2026 Goth, Record 0

More of an alt-rock than post-punk sound, with more than a touch of the gothic rock as a continuing thread throughout.

Iron Lung (2026). No, the ocean of blood is never explained, why would it be.

6 February, 20266 February, 2026 Film 2

You get your fake blood’s worth, I assure you.

No, fake AI music bought onto a minor chart is not actually popular

13 November, 2025 Industry, Writing 0

I’ve been reluctant to even mention the really obviously fake chart performances of fake AI music lately. I have no wish to accidentally give these fucks even that much publicity.

Scissorgun: Scream If You Wanna Go Faster (2025).

9 November, 20259 November, 2025 Industrial, Record 0

Industrial rock in the ’90s style, where it’s not sure if it’s going rock’n’roll or nascent techno.

Guy Blackman “Out Of Sight” Album Launch

13 October, 202513 October, 2025 Indie, Live 0

In the ancient days of 1992, when dinosaurs still ruled the Earth, young (17) Guy Blackman formed Chapter Music, which would go on to become one of Australia’s longest-running independent music labels.

John Schumann & The Vagabond Crew: “The Redgum Years”

13 October, 202513 October, 2025 Live 0

For the past fifteen years former Redgum lead singer John Schumann has been performing with John Schumann & The Vagabond Crew.

Bleak Squad, Queenscliff Town Hall

13 October, 202513 October, 2025 Live 0

A 1980-2000s Australian alternative supergroup, consisting of Adalita (Magic Dirt), Mick Turner (Dirty Three), Mick Harvey (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey, The Birthday Party), and Marty Brown (Art of Fighting) who was the original driving force at bringing the group together.

His Spine Was the Bassline: Remembering Dave Allen

10 May, 202510 May, 2025 Post-Punk 1

Dave Allen, former bassist of the Gang of Four, Shriekback, King Swamp, Low Pop Suicide, The Elastic Purejoy, and finally Faux Hoax passed away aged 69 after living with early-onset dementia for several years.

Buddhadatta and Friends: Two Melbourne Shows

25 March, 202525 March, 2025 Live, Punk 0

Buddhadatta describe themselves as Japanese buddhist-punk, which is an thoroughly enticing combination of adjectives.

Ryuichi Sakamoto: Opus and KAGAMI in Melbourne

24 March, 202524 March, 2025 Classical, Film, Live 0

As part of the Asia TOPA (Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts), Melbourne experienced “KAGAMI” (Japanese for “mirror”), a “mixed-reality” performance by Sakamoto and Tin Drum.

New Order, Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne 2025

11 March, 202511 March, 2025 Live, Post-Punk 0

It must be said that I am a bit of a fan of New Order and Peter Hook and, of course, their immediate precursor

Slipknot, Babymetal et al. Knotfest 2025 Melbourne.

11 March, 202511 March, 2025 Live, Metal 0

I must start this review with identifying the source of my ticket; the Isla Bell Charitable Fund. Isla Bell was a young artist and

Records: ANS Electronic Music (1969), Attrition (2024, 2025).

8 March, 20258 March, 2025 Esoterica, Goth, Industrial, Record 0

Reissued Soviet synthesizers and a triumphant return for old-school industrials.

Jennifer’s Favorite Songs of 2024

31 December, 202431 December, 2024 Opinion 0

These are some of my favorite songs of 2024, presented in no particular order: APT., Rosé and Bruno Mars: The title is a play

The Garbage and The Flowers: In Valhalla (2023), live at the Tramway Hotel (2024).

17 December, 202417 December, 2024 Live, Record 0

The first thing one must know about “The Garbage and The Flowers” is that we’re talking about a single group here.

Synthetic nostalgia: Punk band Dead Boys plans album with AI Stiv Bators, current vocalist quits in disgust.

28 November, 2024 Punk 0

Cleopatra Records seems to have proposed the AI-vocal album, which is an extremely Cleopatra sort of move.

Image from Duolingo, showing screen options

Duolingo Music.

12 November, 202412 November, 2024 Musician 0

In October last year, Duolingo announced it was adding a music course to its suite of languages to learn.

Carbon Based Lifeforms: Seeker (2023).

12 November, 202412 November, 2024 Prog, Record 0

For the better part of thirty years, the Swedish duo operating under the name of Carbon Based Lifeforms have produced some of the most rhythmic ambient music of our time.