GroundHog Day and Today Mashup

Groundhog Day and Today by the Smashing Pumpkins Mashup! How awesome is that?

http://vimeo.com/20291066

Smashing Pumpkins named Beatweek Indie Artist of the Year

A welcome and suprising pick. Through the bulk of their stellar existence, the pumpkins have been on major labels. Until now. Billy corgan has given the entire recording industry a big "fuck you". Not only are they releasing every song from their new forty-four song album Teargarden By Kaleidyscope, on their website for free (as well as some beautiful boxed CDs/LPs you can buy) - they are doing it one song at a time as each song is finished.

The pumpkins are back, and in a big way. Anyone who has seen the latest lineup, or listened to any of their new tracks can contest to that fact.

http://www.beatweek.com/music/musicianinterviews/7854-smashing-pumpkins-beatweek-2010-indie-artist-of-the-year/<

Also checkout www.smashingpumpkins.com/ to download free tracks.

Live Music

Theres nothing quite like it. I have been absent from this scene in recent years - I guess life just got in the way. Now I'm lucky to have the opportunity to see some of my favourite bands I have idolised since I was a youngster - live, in the flesh and better than ever.



Earlier this Year it was the Smashing Pumpkins. My all time favourite band. By far. I have seen the Pumpkins many times - from the '96 Mellon Collie Tour when I was still in high school - rocking the "Zero" Tshirt. To the '98 Adore Tour - picture billing corgan in a full length black vampire cape cranking out ava adore. When they broke up in 2000 - it was heart breaking. So to the false start with Zwan. So when they came back around - I had to go see them. The new lineup has the same energy and sound as the original - only Billy remains from the original 4. His voice is a strong as ever, and their new songs hark back to a pumpkins before Mellon Collie. The gig was the best I have ever seen. Intimate (by modern big band standards) - and my ears were ringing for 3 days afterwards. Rock on! My final memory was a 30 minute rendition of "gossamer". Long live the pumpkins! They are now releasing an 11 Disc compendium of their new tracks - one at a time via their web store - no record label - no bullshit. Just raw unadulterated pumpkins. Check them out @ www.smashingpumpkins.com and download the tracks for free!



Next - Its bon Jovi in December. I saw them back in '96 at Eastern Creek as a bright eyed bushy tailed youngster. It was the classic rock gig in a field. Including a violent hailstorm before the band came on. It was dirty, muddy and we all hurt like hell. But 3 hours (yes 3 hours) of Bon Jovi tunes made it all worthwhile!

Songs to Change Your Life #1

I've never really thought about a soundtrack for your life - theres just too many influences, phases and sheer bulk of music to deal with. I do however believe in a soundtrack for a day or a week of your life. Songs that you have in your head, songs that you think about or have been listening to ad-nausea.



So here is my first set of 10 tracks for this week.

1. Like a Stone - Audioslave


2. All I wanted - Paramore


3. 23 - Jimmy Eat World


4. Reoffender - Travis


5. Time Time of Times - Badly Drawn Boy


6. Dizzy - Jimmy Eat world


7. Always Love - Nada Surf


8. Light Years Away - Mozella


9. Feeling the Moment - Feeder


10. We Might as well be Strangers - Keane