Click here for my MTV story on Digital Distribution + Radiohead!

http://www.mtv.com.au/news/895

:):):):)

Still here! Promise!

Hey lovely boys and girls,
So I have been lagging with the posts buuut there will be some coming up!

If you don't already know, I have been writing for MTV.com.au in the Digital Media department, so if you see an article by one Samantha Dickson or Samantha Miller (pen name)in the news section, that would be moi.

I also went to Parklife on Sunday, which was a big fat bag of fresh dog shit.
I have never actually been to a festival which was predominately sweaty men playing records and people popping drugs. Can't say I will repeat this, though I did purchase a Field Day ticket :S

Who I did catch, Papa VS Pretty, Art VS Science, Grafton Primary, Ajax or what I could hear, steaming dog shit ... and then Peaches who blew me away. I will write a more detailed entry about them all but basically I just learnt that "house" music isn't my bag, and either is the scene, really, people should take more drugs... they look amazing!

Crouching Coast, Hidden talent - FIREROOM.

During my time trapped inside the beached in confines of the Central Coast, I actually got to discover a few things.. A) Nothing news worthy goes on here, and B) We actually breed some gutsy rock ‘n’ roll!
The definition of “rock” is fitted and used loosely to a lot of acts these days and I don’t know if it even has its own genre these days or if it is simply sub crossed? Like oh, pop/rock, electro/rock or even ghetto/classical/house/rock/alt .. who even knows yeah?
To me, rock is the sound of beer.. yes, beer.. Sticky floor, dark flavored wood and red carpet pub accessory. Maybe it was the way I was brought up, or maybe it's just Australian rock as I like to see it.

Upon thought of this solid genre disappearing all together, I did pay attention to a little Coast gig that I've seen progress and take a few shapes over the past two years.
Now when they first caught me by the ears, they were a 3 piece titled Deep Water, Kurt Ellis Manning vocals and guitar, stealing the show.. There were two other guys playing drums and bass though they have since moved on. The bass player, I think his name was Pat, had trouble not being the focus of the band and it was like watching a three year old getting jealous of a newborn. Ellis always delivers. Writing all the songs and even playing the guitar behind his back! Outrageous.

When you hear the songs, you think of driving through the outback, summer, warm beer and probably early 90's mixed with the riffs of the 70's. With influences like Hendrix also evidently a solid Elvis undertone. It's classic ultimate music for men. The sound is an interesting mix, vocals are classical and similar sounding to those of Elvis, actually almost exact and the riff is catchy backed up wit a touch of funky bass lines.

Now what appears to be just Ellis and a few temp guys have just finished recording in Brisbane with Chartsong Productions (The guys that brought you The Veronica's) and recording their percussion's at the famous Albert Studios Sydney. Is something brewing here?

My only criticism is towards their track "Oh My Darling" which you can listen to on their Myspace Music Player, is that it is simply too "old school". At the end of the day, if you're an artist, you want people to hear or see you in some kind of commercial domain, and to be honest, this will never be on radio. It would appeal to those of you who crave some 50's do do's and whoa's but this isn't rock. Not a bad song, but it is just too retro for my style.

My favourite is Mullumbimby Madness. Good rock 'n' roll. Not utterly lyrically genius, but everything a good song needs.

I see a bright future for Ellis, pure talent.

Click here to check out the sounds of FIREROOM!