A veritable feast for emo pop-punk fans as Avastera, Thirteen, Godzilla, Silhouette and Achilous rock Home Club on Friday, 5th October.
Tickets – $12 at the Door (with Free Drink and Entrance to Beat!).
EPIX ORIGINAL CONCERT EVENT LIVE 2012: COLDPLAY [NEWS]
Coldplay will release a brand new live film of their Mylo Xyloto 2012 tour.
Premium network EPIX will premiere the film as an EPIX Original Event in the US on Nov 17th, followed by the release of the tour film for purchase on Nov 20th.
More info.
I HATE THIS PLACE – LIVE @ HOOD BAR
Just needed to say a few words about I Hate This Place‘s gig at Hood Bar on Saturday, 22nd September. This was the first gig I had arranged for IHTP and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed their set. Probably due to the F1 weekend, the attendance was not as encouraging as it could have been but them’s the breaks.
PoPTV: ANNA ROSE – BEHOLD A PALE HORSE [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
Stunning classic blues-rock vibe on this great new song, “Behold a Pale Horse” from Anna Rose. The track is off the upcoming new album of the same name. The video was directed by Jennifer Tzar and was filmed in Snowdonia, Wales in April of 2012. Rose felt vey connected to the unique mix of ruins, epic natural landscapes, and strong sense of history in Snowdonia. Fits the song perfectly methinks.
Official Site
CYBERGEDDON
(Press release)
Cybergeddon is a digital blockbuster from the visionary storyteller and “CSI” creator Anthony E. Zuiker, set to debut September 25, 2012 on Yahoo!. Cybergeddon follows agent Chloe Jocelyn (Missy Peregrym) as she investigates a slew of seemingly unrelated cyber-attacks with fellow agent Frank Parker (Manny Montana) and incarcerated master hacker Chase ‘Rabbit’ Rosen (Kick Gurry). Chloe and her team must crack the worldwide cybercrime ring led by Gustov Dobreff (Olivier Martinez) before it is too late. In a world where everyone is connected, everyone is at risk. Cybergeddon will officially premiere worldwide on September 25, 1.00pm Singapore time, in a series of nine digital chapters – three per day over the course of three consecutive days.
Check out the trailer.
PRETENDERS – LIVE IN SINGAPORE [REVIEW]
It was an emotional moment for me when Pretenders played in Singapore (finally) during the F1 weekend. I can still vividly remember purchasing the first Pretenders LP way back when from a record store in Far East Plaza (one of the few buildings still remaining from my tweens) and the band has always been one of my favourites ever since.
INCH CHUA & THE METRIC SYSTEM – LIVE AT HOME CLUB
GETTING CLOSER
You could say that I’ve been following the career of Inch Chua for quite awhile, since 2007, in fact. And it has always been heartening to see the tremendous strides this young, talented, driven lady has made in those five years. Her latest achievement? Hitting the target of her crowd-funding album project with time to spare. I can safely say that I have not been too surprised by any of this – I have always believed that Inch could achieve virtually anything she put her mind to and her hard work and creative enterprise has borne fruit.
Continue reading “INCH CHUA & THE METRIC SYSTEM – LIVE AT HOME CLUB”
POWER OF POP-UP: FLIGHTSCH
No, I’m not anti-hip-hop but I believe in good music. So in that spirit, listen to FlightSch the nom de plume of Singapore producer Muzique. Muzique was signed to new record label After Platinum Records, home to new rap stars like Cory Gunz in April 2012 and we understand that he’s been working in Arizona, Phoenix for the past 6 months, producing for quite a few rappers and RnB singers there. Muzique has re-emerged as a solo artiste known as FlightSch and this is the first single, the rather catchy “Fool For You” – even if hip-hop is not your thang, you just gotta admire the manner in which the beats have been put together. Ace!
Soundcloud | Twitter | Facebook
Thanks to Willy Tan/Aging Youth for the heads up!
PoPTV: THE MOONS – DOUBLE VISION LOVE [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
Old skool Brit pop rulz! Nuff said. From upcoming debut album – Fables of History out on 24th September. Brilliant animation on the video. Review to come…
JOE BONAMASSA – LIVE IN SINGAPORE [REVIEW]
When I was young(er), “guitar hero” did not refer to a (dumb) video game where you push buttons on a fake guitar but to a guitarist who captured your imagination with his wizardry on his chosen instrument. My guitar heroes would have to include the likes of Pete Townshend, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Neil Young and #1 man, Dave Gilmour. Sadly, those heady days are long gone.
Continue reading “JOE BONAMASSA – LIVE IN SINGAPORE [REVIEW]”
KNIVES AT NOON
BREEZY INTENSITY
Dunedin-based band Knives at Noon sure makes an impression with their EP Glitter Guts, power-packed with slick and dark tunes to get your feet moving. Fans of The Bravery, Bloc Party and The Killers are sure to love this well-produced EP and the indie/electronic rock band. The first track on the EP, Violins 2.0, is a massive indie dance track, reminiscent of fashionable parties downtown, yet slows down and increases in intensity toward the end with amplified vocals, a la Brandon Flowers. A personal favourite on the EP is the second track, “Human Heart From Modern Art”. Besides the epic song name, the track also has elements that make up a great indie rock anthem, having a catchy tune that stays in your head, crunchy guitar riffs and solos that create space and also giving a sense of euphoria (experienced across indie clubs across the world). Ending as abruptly as it began, it leaves you wanting more. Fortunately, the next track, “Licking Plastic”, doesn’t disappoint with its use of sudden stops, use of synths and ringing goodness of the guitars and keyboards. “ThunderVeins”, the last track, sounds much like the previous track, but with lesser intensity.
THE WANTED – LIVE IN SINGAPORE [REVIEW]
Singapore, it does feel like The Wanted are best pals with all of us out here on this tiny little red dot island that we call home, or as some expressive ones will say, once we called home. So much so that it feels like the lads are our nation’s residents already – boy, won’t that make the majority girl fans burst out in heaps of screams and tear-jerking moments, I don’t know what else will. (Or maybe the rumour that the lads of One Direction may be in town sometime next year will probably do the same amount of trick and damage.)
GEEK OUT! THE HOBBIT TRAILER
The second trailer for Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Tolkien’s Hobbit has landed. By all accounts, An Unexpected Journey certainly appears to be lighter in tone than the Lord of the Rings trilogy – the original book was written for children, after all – and the stars of the film would definitely be the fun-loving DWARVES, represented by Gimli in LOTR but this time in full force! It’s all looking very promising but whether or not the decision to make three movies is justified or not, remains to be seen. In the meantime, look forward to December!
LISTENING BOOTH: ALT-J (∆) – FITZPLEASURE
UK-based band alt-J (∆) released their debut album, An Awesome Wave, in North America today via Canvasback Music. Already the album is a firm favorite here at Power of Pop and now, you can listen to “Fitzpleasure” a superb track that highlights the eclectic nature of the band’s songwriting and production. Cool stuff!
PoPTV: AIMEE MANN – CHARMER [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
Aimee Mann has a new album out – Charmer – and the title track is a pleasing 80s-type new waver that will thrill diehard fans and newbies alike. The video is playfully humorous with Academy Award winning actress Laura Linney as Mann’s robot double! Check it out…
ANIMAL DAY@313
(Press release)
Come October 6th and 7th, Thunder Rock School is bringing back Animal Day@313, a clarion call from local musicians on current animal welfare issues plaguing our city. An education and charity event produced in commemoration of World Animal Day, the event will feature an eclectic mix of up and comers and veterans such as Charlie Lim, These Brittle Bones, The Sam Willows, Tay Kexin, Rachael Teo (Cove Red), Kings, Brandon Lee and Shirlyn & The UnXpected. Performing a stripped down set of 30 minutes each, the artistes will also be spreading messages and raising funds and awareness for their adopted welfare organisations.
The Animal Welfare Organisations involved are:
ACRES, Action for Singapore Dogs, Cat Welfare Society, Mutts and Mittens, Animal Lovers Leagues, Noah’s Ark Natural Animal Sanctuary, Humane Society.
Animal Day@313 will take place at the Discovery Walk at Level 1, 313@Somerset, from 11am to 8pm. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/357540407659936/ or https://www.facebook.com/thunderrockschool for updates.
MYSTERY JETS – LIVE IN SINGAPORE [REVIEW]
To be honest, prior to the announcement of the Mystery Jets performance in Singapore at the Hard Rock Cafe, I must confess that I’d never heard of them before! Which goes to show how incredibly massive the modern rock scene is nowadays. Then I was given to understand that this was actually the band’s SECOND show in Singapore, the band having played at Zouk previously.
Continue reading “MYSTERY JETS – LIVE IN SINGAPORE [REVIEW]”
BLAST FROM THE PAST: THE POP UNDERGROUND
Back in the good ol’ days, Power of Pop focused mainly on the Pop Underground – melodic pop-rock inspired by the 60s/70s. Much of the content is no longer available and so this special feature will correct that oversight. Get ready to be educated, hipster kids!
THE FORMAT – Dog Problems (Vanity, 2006)
There is a thin line between emo punk and powerpop.
What am I talking about?
PoPTV: JAN – WORK FOR THE CITY [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
JAN is the new solo project from Kim Talon, known for being the latter half of art-rock band Eagle and Talon. Produced by John Goodmanson (Blonde Redhead, The Gossip, Sleater-Kinney) at Seattle’s London Bridge Studios, JAN will release her self-titled debut album on November 13th.
This video of “Work For the City” operates as an introduction to JAN and the new album and musically bears some of the hallmarks of 90s alternative rock – loose, deliberately sloppy and knowingly clever. The video highlights Talon’s obvious sex appeal whilst presenting the disturbing conceptual issues. A good mix.
Download “Work For the City” from Soundcloud. Like JAN at Facebook.
THE WHIGS – ENJOY THE COMPANY [REVIEW]
It’s Only Rock n’ Roll (But I Like It)
Y’know, I highly recommend Enjoy the Company, the new album (#4) from Athens, GA-based trio The Whigs to every music lover who is sick about the relentless barrage of no-talent hacks dressed up only with a disco/hip hop beat and nothing much else. It’s so refreshing to listen to music that is so obviously inspired by decades of honest rock n’ roll and everything that that entails.
BLAST FROM THE PAST: THE POP UNDERGROUND
Back in the good ol’ days, Power of Pop focused mainly on the Pop Underground – melodic pop-rock inspired by the 60s/70s. Much of the content is no longer available and so this special feature will correct that oversight. Get ready to be educated, hipster kids!
BMX BANDITS Down At the Hop (Shoeshine, 2003)
With seven years between Down At the Hop and preceding release – 1996’s Kim Fowley-produced “Theme Park” – it’s comforting to know that the Bandits are still able to deliver sun-kissed Beach Boys-obsessed pop like they’ve never been away.
JUSTIN KLINE – CABIN FEVER SONGS [REVIEW]
Pale and Precious
I am listening to Cabin Fever Songs, the new album from singer-songwriter Justin Kline and am having severely mixed feelings about the work. In his email request, Kline described the music as “lo-fi folk-pop recorded in my bedroom” and influenced by “Leonard Cohen, Jellyfish, Elliott Smith, Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys”.
Continue reading “JUSTIN KLINE – CABIN FEVER SONGS [REVIEW]”
CHRIS LAWHORN: FUGAZI EDITS [NEWS]
(Press release)
Chris Lawhorn will release his fifth album Fugazi Edits on October 30th on Case/Martingale Records. Fugazi Edits features 22 tracks, which were pieced together using excerpts from every song in the band Fugazi’s discography.
ALT-J (∆) – AN AWESOME WAVE [REVIEW]
Mercury Prize-nominated album An Awesome Wave is as fresh, sophisticated & imaginative as any eternal UK music believer could ever hope for. The name of the band is ∆ but referred to as alt-J (which produces ∆ on the computer keyboard – go ahead try it!). What is intriguing with ∆ is its sound – a hybrid of folk, pop, electronica, dub and hip-hop and trip hop which works beyond a music scholars wildest wet dreams.
PoPTV: CLARE AND THE REASONS – THE LAKE [OFFICIAL VIDEO]
Clare and the Reasons‘ engaging brand of soft chamber pop is reason (pun intended) enough to stop whatever you’re doing and pay attention to the video of the gorgeous European sounding “The Lake”, the new single from upcoming new album KR-51. Review to come.