Grass Roots Radio Show

The Time Has Come!

2007-08-17T08:54:35Z

Okay, so you guys won... the normally Aussie-based Grass Roots Radio Show will be hijacked by the Germans next week. Yes, you heard right... no need to clean the wax out of the ears - there will be a Tokio Hotel radio show on air next Wednesday night (August 22nd 2007). UK Tokio Hotel Street Team member Rhiannon Howe will join Katie Spain in the presenting suite for two hours of TH fun. There will be stacks of prizes and a run-down of what went on during the interview. Rhiannon even spotted Tom without his hat on. Full details on air! The boys requested some songs and we'll play the interview audio so that you can hear their voices. We'll also chat to some of their fans. If you're interested in chatting to the presenter, you can email us at katie_grassroots@hotmail.co.uk Song requests, shout outs and messages can be left here. PLUS: For details on how to win a baseball cap signed by all of the band members, check out the official Seatwave Tokio Hotel Blog.

The challenge is met

2007-06-04T17:36:59Z

Okay, so you've DONE it! Well done guys... I'm FLOORED. Looks like I have my work cut out. :) I have chosen a willing (and TH mad) co-presenter... watch this space for the announcement. In the meantime, post your ideas etc for the show. I'll try to include as much of your input as I can. Katie x

The Tokio Hotel Challenge

2007-05-31T20:44:17Z

OKAY.... WE HEAR YOU!! You want more songs!! But, this is a radio show for artists - not just the one band. So... You want more songs? Well, we want your comments... If we get 500 comments on this posting, from individual fans, introducing themselves. We want to know who our listeners are and where you're from. If we get the number through we promise to produce a Tokio Hotel specific radio show.. 1 hour of songs, fan chats and the interview with the boys - all in one nice little package that you can play to your heart's desire. We can't play ALL the songs on tonight's show - understanding from the masses PLEASE. Right, we need 500 comments - from INDIVIDUALS.. no cheating please - we know who you are. Spread the word, there's a lot of you out there... don't be shy!

INTERVIEW: Australian Pink Floyd

2007-04-20T15:58:48Z

Getting Pinky With It AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD � Interview with Colin Wilson By Katie Spain When you chat to the members of the Australian Pink Floyd, it�s easy to slip into the deadly �deja vu� trap of repeated questions and tribute band stereotypes. This however, is a tribute band with a difference � they�re spine chillingly good. Just what do you say to guys who�ve cracked the UK market, played Glastonbury met and played with the original Pink Floyd guys? Fellow (former) Adelaide dweller Katie Spain chats to band member Colin Wilson about life on the latest tour: ]]> Did you ever think this was what you'd end up doing for a living abroad? No� like most young bands that start there, we just started to try getting ourselves out the in the Adelaide circuit first of all� I don�t know how old you are but in the late eighties there was a really good live music scene in Adelaide and our first goal was to get into the Adelaide venues and then have a go at heading interstate. To end up coming over here and doing what we�re doing now� well, we dreamt of it but never thought it was going to happen. What did you want to be when you were a kid� did you have rock star dreams? I guess like anyone that picks up a guitar or drums or whatever, the dream is to play on big stages in front of thousands of people. We all started off with different kind of day jobs and did music part time� we�re really fortunate that it�s turned into our full-time careers. What do you miss most about Australia? Well, obviously the weather (laughs). Personally, I think I�d have to say the space � when I go back to Adelaide now, it seems so much quieter; there aren�t the problems with traffic or the masses of people you get in the UK. I miss being able to go down to McLaren Vale or the Barossa and just being outside with the fresh air and that big blue sky � you don�t get that here. How is the current tour going? It�s great� it�s been really well received. We�ve upgraded the show and it�s a higher standard. The light show is even bigger and it�s really going down well. We�re really lucky in the UK � we�ve toured here for about fourteen years now and really have got a following. We get the die-hard Aussie Floyd fans coming every time to really support us but we also get new people every tour. I think a lot of people think that because we�re a tribute band, it�s going to be small and not so professional but it honestly is huge. For some of the venues we perform at, it�s the biggest show they�ve had. It is a top notch show and it�s going over brilliantly. I've heard a lot about your show... especially the light show element - do you get a lot of say in what goes on visual-wise? To be honest, we�ve got such a good team around us and we totally trust what they�re telling us. For the most part, we�re quite happy to concentrate on the music and the performance and let them worry about that. Because it�s a Pink Floyd tribute, we take a look at what they�ve done in the past and then do whatever we can to best create that. This tour they really have captured the overall feel of a Pink Floyd gig. Earlier on in the tour I was standing out the front where the merchandising was and walked back through while they were running through some of the lights so I stopped to look. I don�t get to see that often so for the first time in years it struck me just how close it looks to the real thing. You've been treated to the odd standing ovation... how does it feel to stand up on stage with a sea of faces looking up at you? The standing ovations have actually happened every night on the tour and no matter how many people it is or where you are� well, at the end of the day that�s what it�s all about. It�s at that point of the night that we think �That�s why we do it�. Do audiences vary much? In some parts of England they�re very loud and in other parts they�re very reserved. In some places in America they�re out of there seats and cheering before we even start the first song! I look at Australian bands who come over and try to make it and think that any of them that actually do come over and get anywhere� well, you have to take your hat off to them because it�s not an easy market to crack. Saying that, I remember some pretty hard Adelaide audiences too! I think more Australian bands should come over here because I think they tend to be very good live � they have to be otherwise they�re not going to get anywhere. How do you get around while you're touring? Is there an Aussie Floyd bus�or a ute? There�s a crew bus and a band bus and two articulated trucks. We started off with a bit of a transit bus and a mini-van. Does anyone in the band have any bad habits? How long have you got? The thing with touring is that you�re going to be living in the pockets of a group of over twenty people (band and crew). You see them every day and spend a lot of your days off with them, so you�ve got to adopt the attitude that people are different and some people quirky. Some people will have bad days and you�ve just to survive you�ve got to put up with people and the way that they are. We did a six and a half week tour of Europe a couple of years ago and we lived on a bus the whole time. There�s nothing that�s going to show up your habits more� I liken it to being in a submarine crew. It�s more time than you�ll ever spend with your family. Are you looking forward to your return to the Royal Albert Hall? It�s an amazing place � everyone should go and see a show there (well, they should come and see us!). The venue has an amazing atmosphere to it before you�ve even started playing. For us it�s always a highlight of the UK tour� it�s probably the most varied audience we have as far as nationalities go. It�s probably the one with the highest profile too. There�s probably a bit of extra pressure to be good there too� but generally the shows there have gone really well. Do you have a lot of fun with the people behind the scenes? Definitely � just recently we had two shows in Glasgow and it was one of the rare times we had back-to-back shows in a venue so the crew were able to walk out on the first night when we did. We were all staying in the same hotel and were in the bar for quite a few hours. Some of the closest friendships are between the band members and the people in the crew. It is like a big extended family. Do you get the chance to see a lot of other cover bands... just to keep a tab on competition? We don�t honestly see a lot of other tribute bands are up to. We keep informed though. When we started there weren�t really any others but now there are hundreds all over the world. Some of them do well for awhile and disappear and others come and go. There are some doing well in America and good on them. We try not to look at music as being competitive � there are a lot of people out there who want to be entertained so there�s room for all of us. People tend to think that forming a tribute band is a way to make an easy buck and don�t put a lot of work into it so they don�t last long. We�ve got to where we are because of the work and money we�ve put into it and because of the people around us who make it as good as it is. Do you guys have any solo/side projects? One of the guitarists Damian has a side project called �Acoustic Unlimited� which is a completely different style of acoustic guitar music. Paul Bonney, our drummer and I are forming a basic three piece Blues/Rock band with American guitarist Arlo West. It's called 'EL VATO' . It's like you�re typical Aussie pub Rock band really� as far away from your big Pink Floyd show as you can get. It�ll mostly be for fun and we�ll see how it goes. To be honest, the last few years we�ve been too busy for other things. Judging by the reaction and comments they get from the fans, the guys are certainly doing something right. They perform on May 4th at Royal Albert Hall. Catch them on the final leg of their latest tour� Official site: http://www.aussiefloyd.com/ Have you seen the Australian Pink Floyd? What did you think? Post your comments and messages below.

GIG OF THE WEEK: Kid Harpoon

2007-04-13T11:59:10Z

Review by Katie Spain There are everyday gigs and then there are the ones you feel honoured to attend. It's not because invites were handed out on gold-lined invitations or because they cost an arm and an eyeball to buy (have you tried to get a ticket to see Tina Turner's charity gig? I rest my case.). Luckily, I'm not in central London to see Tina... I'm here because fate has dealt me a private gig invite I was just lucky enough to 'stumble' into. UK artist Kid Harpoon is no stranger to 'out of the ordinary' gigs... tonight he tells us about a musical rendezvous he had with a fish restaurant in Texas. Luckily, we�re spared the fins and batter tonight - we are however, treated to some of the most invigorating live music I've heard in a long time. ]]> official site or MySpace. 19 Apr 2007 Camden Crawl - FROG Afterparty - Electric Ballroom MIDNIGHT London 20 Apr 2007 Camden Crawl - D.I.S. Party 4 May 2007 KOKO - Club NME 18 May 2007 Red Roaster - XL / Uncut Party - Great Escape (SOLO) 19 May 2007 Pavilion Theatre - Mojo Club Stage - Great Escape (FULL BAND)

The Australian Music Collective: Camden Barfly

2007-03-30T16:53:30Z

You know you've had a good night when your ears are still ringing 24 hours later. You also know you've seen a cracking band when you miss your bus stop because you're too busy scribbling down notes of praise on the way home. I may have dragged my sorry little butt through my London doorway a tad late last night but the Australian Music Collective Showcase at the Camden Barfly was worth it. Then again, Aussie headliners Dallas Crane were never going to do anything but impress. ]]> Camden Barfly... sure, it may be rough around the edges but it has an aura about it. You can't help but get the feeling that. Maybe it's the scrawled writing on the wall... the memories and rock thoughts scratched into the walls. "Team Shambles", "Hadouken"... and random names amongst the big �uns. It's raw, the bands are in your face and it's just the way fans like it. I met a couple of the devoted Australian music and arts ambassadors from Austrade there and in a bid to see the bands up close and personal (with an uninterrupted video camera vantage point), wiggled my way up close. Not that I needed to worry during Deja Voodoo's set. The New Zealand foul mouths didn't draw the crown in close... but then again, I think we were all a bit too scared. You can tell a crowd to "F--- Off" once, do it before, after and during every song and you're asking for some front row space. Have to say though, I loved these guys... I guess when you're good and you know it, you can afford to be loud and proud. The four-piece hails from Auckland and is apparently made up of the same guys that make the Television show 'Back of the Y Masterpiece Television' and more recently the prison comedy 'Bogan's Heroes'. Maybe I've been away from home too long but I don't have a clue what they are. Enlighten me if I'm missing out. Anyway, some hard hitting tunes, fun lyrics and a real entertainment factor meant thumbs up for me. Decide for yourself with the video footage I snapped up. NEWS FLASH: I'll be interviewing the guys next week in the lead up to their gig at Islington Academy on April 5th. Post any questions you have for them in the comments section. Aussie Spod graced the stage next... though grace probably isn't the best choice of adjective. The guy jerked about the stage like a puppet without the string - when he was on the stage that is. In white shorts and a red shirt, he cut a unique figure - shaggy haired and completely zoned straight into the music (and the moment). Songs like "Come on you party people - let's fuck" set the scene... and I'm sure, if he'd wanted to, he could do just that after the set. The crowd loved him. Most people found themselves in a big, sweaty musician embrace, others had their photo taken with him. There was certainly no shortage of love in the venue. His live shows are notoriously unique and apparently vary from a solo act with his laptop and musical Gameboy, to a dancing, singing and synthesizing lady duo. We were treated to a guitarist... somewhat fitting for the Barfly. Keep your eye on Spod, there's nothing like rocking up to a gig not knowing what surprises are in store. The next band hailed from New Zealand... hello Cut Off Your Hands. I'd seen them out the front before the gig, swinging off lamp posts while a photographer snapped away. Later, the lead singer proved he's just as much of a monkey on stage as off. He's obviously got a good dose of hyperactivity pumping through his veins. The set was fast paced and energy-packed. The hooks were addictively catchy and I couldn't help but liken them to The Futureheads. I expected them to break into 'Hounds of Love' at any second. There was a bit of At The Drive In influence in there too methinks. These guys made me smile, they made me bop and they wreaked havoc on my video camera skills. They also meddled with the lighting; put it down to pure coincidence or frontman's climbing efforts, whatever... we found ourselves pitched into darkness. Nothing like making the tech crew work for their dosh hey? These guys are playing throughout London in April. Check out their MySpace for dates and venues. Well worth a break from the sofa. Headliners Dallas Crane coped well with the lack of light. To be honest, the adoring fans around me probably didn't care - who needs amazing visuals when the sound builds a wall of its own. The Crane, as they call them back at home are huge back in Australia (or so the locals tell me) and their music instantly reminded me of the type of stuff my dad likes. This, m'dears is the biggest compliment I could give, Mr Gary Spain has a first class music radar. He'd love the electric rock'n'roll the guys pump out. The guys are confident on stage, comfortable in the whirlwind of guitars, bass and lyrics. Did I mention the drummer? He�s a looker with a lot of talent ladies. These guys certainly look like rock stars, they play like rock stars and although the music rings of bands of old, don't they all? I'm not going to delve into technical nit picking for any of these groups... I�m no pro - I listen, I watch and if I come out of a set with a quickened heart and a head heavy from beat riding, I know I've seen a good show. Next year, I'll be there at SxSW - I don't care if I have to mortgage the house I don't have. In the meantime, make an effort to see the gems coming out of Australia and New Zealand. The Barfly is as good-a place as any to start. For now, wrap your eyeballs around the footage I got on the day... you may not feel the sweaty vibes to their full potential but you will see first hand, what I'm harping on about. VIDEO FOOTAGE: Spod Cut Off Your Hands Dallas Crane

VIDEO: Spod live in London

2007-03-30T16:50:43Z

VIDEO: Dallas Crane live in London

2007-03-30T16:11:05Z

VIDEO: Cut Off Your Hands live in London

2007-03-30T08:29:37Z

INTERVIEW: Indigo Brown

2007-03-23T15:41:49Z

We had the sexy, sassy duo Indigo Brown in the studio this month and to celebrate their gig this Sunday at Halo Bar here's a trip down memory lane. Plug those earphone in and turn it up loud: the ladies chat to us about their musical journey so far, pick a few tunes that have influenced them and sing for us - live and acoustic. Some people have all the talent... Click here to hear 'Indigo-Brown-on-Grass-Roots' Catch them live: 25 Mar 2007 6:00pm Kindred Spirit presents Acoustic Sundays - HALO BAR, London 19 Apr 2007 8:00pm Kindred Spirit - Ladies Night, London

GIG OF THE WEEK: Sangeeta

2007-03-22T17:41:41Z

The Australian London Film Fest - beat the clock

2007-03-22T10:36:47Z

There's still time to see a stack of films. Our bet for a top evening is Tropfest. Take a look through the film descriptions on the Barbican website. Read on for the full list of shows with available tickets. Like Minds (15) A heart-racing, jaw-dropping teenage Fight Club 16 - 25 Mar 07 / 20:40, 16:00 / Cinema 1 / Cinema 3 The Caterpillar Wish (12A*) A meditation on losing and finding one�s right position in life 17 - 25 Mar 07 / 14:00 / Cinema 1 Five Moments of Infidelity (15) + ScreenTalk with actress Amanda Douge 18:15 / A thought-provoking drama 18 - 24 Mar 07 / 18:15 / Cinema 1 / Cinema 3 Candy (15) A dark, tragic tale with sublime performances from Abbie Cornish and Heath Ledger 19 - 25 Mar 07 / 20:40, 16:00 / Cinema 1 48 Shades (15) 18:15 / Coming-of-age tale of romantic struggles and emotional growth 21 - 22 Mar 07 / 18:15 / Cinema 1 / Cinema 3 The Book of Revelation (18*) 20:40 / An erotic horror and surprising love story 22 Mar 07 / 20:40 / Cinema 1 Sony Tropfest 2007 - London Edition 20:40 / The world's largest Short Film Festival 23 Mar 07 / 20:40 / Cinema 1 Elephant Tales (cert tbc) 10:30 Movie Trolley / 11:00 Film 24 Mar 07 / 11:00 / Cinema 1 The Back of Beyond (PG*) 13:30 / One of Australia's true classics, winner of the 1954 Grand Prix at the Venice Film Festival 24 Mar 07 / 13:30 / Cinema 1 The Story of the Kelly Gang (PG*) + The Life Story of John Lee: The man they could not hang (PG*) 16:00 / With live piano accompaniment by John Sweeney 24 Mar 07 / 16:00 / Cinema 1 Rampage (15*) 16:00 / War on the streets of Miami 24 Mar 07 / 16:00 / Cinema 3

MOVIE REVIEW: Gone

2007-03-20T15:39:28Z

�Gone��.I wish I was. Review by Michael Metcalfe Well I had high hopes for this one. �Gone� was the title, a mix of Jack Kerouac�s �On the Road� with a dash of that most violent of Australian film �Wolf Creek�. A least that�s what the banner said. How can it go wrong? Well, wrong is possibly the wrong sort of word but this picture still requires a short and vicious stab of originality to get it viewable and off the ground. ]]> Anyway, am I here to tell you what I think or what you should think? Let�s get to the facts. �Gone� is the debut feature from Ringan Ledwidge. The basic premise is as follows�. UK backpacker Alex (Shaun Evans) arrives in Sydney. On his fist night he meets a young American fellow who goes by the name of Taylor (Scott Mechlowicz). These two, after picking up Alex�s girlfriend Sophie (Amelia Warner), decide that the three of them should go for an adventure through the outback, see the sights as it were. Of course, Alex is slightly mysterious and possibly even dangerous. Alex can sense this, his girlfriend is disbelieving. Need I say more? �Gone� has very little originality, in fact I hesitate to say none at all but that is truth of the matter. The feeling was, throughout the film, that I had seen this before. The characters are predictable, the plot, see through and the finale is obvious from the outset. I wish there was more to say.

GIG OF THE WEEK: Josh Pyke

2007-03-20T10:32:29Z

Head down to the Luminaire tonight for Josh Pyke's The Aussie folk-popper is descending on the 2007 Music Week Award winning venue (woohoo!!) in the first of three visits. We're told to expect "Bright, inviting, Elliot Smith-tinged songs with just the slightest nod to Simon & Garfunkel". We'll have an interview with the main man himself in the next few weeks. if you've got a question for him, post it in the comments section. For dates, times, directions and all that jazz, check out Josh's site.

MOVIE REVIEW: Ravenswood

2007-03-19T18:50:21Z

Review by Mike Metcalfe When I was on my way to review this movie, I knew nothing about it. After a rather disturbed sleep the night before I was hoping against hope it was going to be an exciting move to watch. I knew if I were to a see a long winded drama at this stage of the evening, I would fall asleep and my snoring would bother the other movie goers. The usher would deal to me quickly and sharply. Upon learning I was to see a gothic thriller, I knew I was saved from potential embarrassment and possible bruising]]> Ravenswood is the new movie on offer from Australian director David Deneen and is currently on show at the Australian Film Festival. Starring English actor Stephen Moyer and Australian actors, Travis Fimmel and Teresa Palmer, this dark thriller combines Hitchcock like suspense with the twist turns of modern psychological thrillers. The story begins with Ron (Travis Fimmel) and Dale (Teresa Palmer) on the run from the police. After shooting two people we get the idea that Ron is fairly unbalanced and throughout the movie we see Dale slipping between love and hate for Ron. Choosing a remote mansion to hole up in while the heat is on, we are introduced to Andrew (Stephen Moyer) who is the only resident of the mansion. Andrew, a wealthy art dealer who lives alone, is afflicted by Agoraphobia as is immediately bound and gagged by our two criminals. As the film progresses you slowly get the feeling that all is not right with Andrew and one starts to wonder who is holding who hostage. I found this movie enjoyable from the start and a vague unease is felt as soon as Dale and Ron are introduced to Andrew. What is interesting about this picture was Andrew�s Agoraphobia in regards to him already being held hostage inside his own home before Dale and Ron arrived. This adds an intriguing spin on his being held against his will. A strong performance from Stephen Moyer and the young Teresa Palmer (who, to my eyes, looked a lot like Nicole Kidman) really carried this movie and the suspense kept me awake and watching. If there is one criticism it�s the performance of Travis Fimmel. While not a bad performance per say, I found him a little contrived and not convincing as the crazed maniac. That said however, a bloody good watch all round! Want to catch an Aussie film at the Barbican? There's still time... check out Australian Film Festival website for all listings.