Def Poetry – Australia represent

For a while now I’ve been asking the Very Good audience to help me out with a question… Where the poets at?

There is a growing hip hop community in Australia and New Zealand, and yet I don’t see a whole lot of poets on the scene. Well it turns out i’m just a busy kid who hasn’t opened his eyes to the right direction, and unfortunately the audience have been as unproductive as I have on this one.

So Thursday night I take one of the most art filled journeys I have ever experienced in one evening, kicking it off with a poetry break at Melbourne’s state library on Swanston St. Ok, so this evening was really amazing for me given that I was taken along to basically exactly what I want see the community getting behind. If I were to go through my head space on the evening, or describe exactly what I thought of each poet and performer on this evening, this article would be as long as my driveway, so lets have some of them speak for themselves, firstly with the man of the evening for me, Si

Si – Victoria’s Slam Poetry champion

So this next group just took me by surprise, because I haven’t ever actually seen and aboriginal rap crew, and so the first I have being one that had a positive message, and what seemed to be 3 extremely gentle, focused, strong Australian men, with a clear message of positivity, putting in work all around Australia… and I was just like… what the F&*^ – have I had my eyes closed or what?

Tjimba & The Yung Warriors feat Outlawz – For The People

So as if this wasn’t enough for one evening, there was another, and another, and another who took my eye on the evening, however the ‘Melbourne State Library’ website has been down for a few days now, so i’ll have to catch you up on an artist whom I think was called Miriahanga when it kicks back into action.

If your into Slam Poets, you can also check out Omar Musa who took out the Australian champs last year.

Or head along to one of these poetry nights in Melbourne at:

www.slv.vic.gov.au

…bs

Tags: Australian Artists, gigs, hip hop, New Zealand Artists, Poetry

Pataphysics unearths support for Indian Students

……………… Music, It’s just like politics for the cool young people yeh? well it can be, and the response to Pataphysics new track ‘Cloaked Guerilla’  is very cool people, very cool.

It’s early and there’s a movie on Cocaine trafficking i’m keen to finish watching so rather then re-write the events of the past week, below is the press release that we sent out to media which sums it all up quite nice and tidily, as well as the brand new video clip for ‘Cloaked Guerilla’… enjoy.

Young Australians vote against Indian student attacks

With Indian student attacks bringing Australian racism into question in both Australian and International media this week, Australia’s youth and young adults have used one of the few vehicles of expression in the mainstream media available to them, to vote against the negative perception of Australia that is being created on the world stage… and the vehicle is music.

Melbourne based musician Patrick Marks, a.k.a. Pataphysics, has spoken out in an attempt to give young Australian adults a voice in a political arena in which their voice is rarely heard, and with his new release ‘Cloaked Guerilla’ hitting #1 on Triple J’s ‘unearthed’ chart this week, Australian youth and young adults voices are supporting a message of understanding.

Pataphysics – ‘Cloaked Guerilla’

When quizzed as to the meaning of a ‘Cloaked Guerilla’, Pataphysics, who is presently writing his thesis on ‘Indigenous Resistance’ through RMIT University explains “I guess you could say people who are marginalized or a part of a minority, who aren’t treated fairly, and who stand up and resist being subjected to the will of oppressing forces”. “The concept of a ‘Cloaked Guerilla’ applies neatly to the current outcries from the Australian Indian community’s anger with attackers, what is also important in this scenario though, is that these attackers motivations whatever they may be, are distinguished from young Australian adults cultural norms, and the world media carrying images of a racist Australia is not helping to address and solve the real issue.”

With various prominent world media outlets painting a bleak picture of the safety for international visitors to Australia, Australian young adults; as both peers of the accused attackers, and leaders of tomorrow, are only too aware that they are the generation that will face the consequences of the damaged international relations that this nature of publicity will inevitably result in.

Liam Salem, a 20 year old Melbourne man drawn into discourse after seeing Pataphysics music video clip for ‘Cloaked Guerilla’ expressed deep concern with the media coverage he had seen exclaiming “We are not a racist generation, and don’t want the world media to let the actions of the racially ignorant, and criminally violent minority, speak for the majority of a generation of harmonious, young adults who welcome travelers of the world to our beautiful country”.

Pataphysics draws from personal experience as well as academic and activist pursuits, as a first generation Australian who’s parents migrated to Australia from Sri Lanka, very shortly after the ‘White Australia policy’ was abolished in the 1970’s. “Given that these policies were only abolished one generation ago, of course many of the attitudes passed down will still exist today to some degree, however these are in no way the dominant view of young Australia, or Australia as a nation, and the world media needs to convey the current situation accurately: as serious in nature, but not as a fair representation of Australian society and it’s cultural norms”.

With wide ranging participation in Australian political networks, currently including a masters in social sciences, and active involvement in grass roots political group ‘Free West Papua’, Pataphysics uses music to communicate his message in a political arena where discussion from young adults is generally limited. “By using a language that is widely enjoyed by youth and young adults around Australia & the world (hip hop), I am able to get their attention for long enough to convey a simple thought, or ask a simple question, that will stay with them long after the performance is over, and ultimately involve them in discussions in which they’re opinions are typically neglected or unheard”. With ‘Cloaked Guerilla’ soaring to #1 on Australia’s prominent ‘young’ radio station ‘Triple J’ with such speed, it appears that the support for marginalized communities in Australia’s young adults is far more apparent than the world media is suggesting.

Pataphysics ended by saying “I cannot speak for my country (Australia), nor for the attackers in question. All that I can do is encourage those who have an opinion which goes unnoticed to contribute through the channels available to them, and with the support that we have been shown for ‘Cloaked Guerilla’ this week, it is even clearer to me now that I have a continued responsibility to strengthen communication channels for the disengaged youth in our community, who wish for the world to know that Australia is a beautiful, diverse, multi-cultural nation, where racism isn’t tolerated, and never will be”.

You can see (could have seen) Pataphysics perform ‘Cloaked Guerilla’ and more in an evening where Australian’s can have the opportunity to hear West Papuan refugee’s stories, and speak about the current situation in West Papua. but now it’s too late ya chump

“FREE WEST PAPUA”
An evening of film, music & info at:
Northcote Uniting Church
251 High St Northcote
Melbourne
Thursday June 4th

…bs

Tags: Australian Artists, Funk, gigs, hip hop, Jazz, Political

Rock The Bells

If you think back to the last time the infamous “Rock The Bells” festival released their line-up in America, you might remember my little day-dream about bringing the most prolific hip hop gathering to Australia?  or maybe not in which case you can see it here. Well a few tours, headaches, and victories later for The Very Good Agency this still remains on the to do list… so imagine my surprise when I came across some cool cats in Sydney, who seem to have made a few more decent steps towards getting a case together for exactly that. You can check out the facebook group that they have created here and join if your into it.

The 2009 Press conference was held last month releasing yet again another awesome group of artists. Check it out.

2009 Rock The Bells press conference

So let me break that line-up down for you again if I may

and add the one’s not mentioned who are on:

Tags: gigs, hip hop, Old School

Enter the Wu: Ghostface Killah hits Australia!!

“The law: in order to enter the Wu-Tang,
You must bring the Ol’ Dirty Bastard-type slang,
Represent the GZA, Abbott, RZA, Shaquan, Inspectah Deck,
Dirty Hoe getting low with his flow
Introducing, the Ghost…Face.. Killaaaaaaaahhh!!
No one could get iller!!”
(Ol’ Dirty Bastard, taken from ‘Da Mystery of Chessboxing’)

I spent about ten minutes trying to write an intro for this piece, when it struck me that Ol’ Dirty Bastard will forever have a better way with words than I will. Enough banter, Ghostface is coming to Australia! Original member of the legendary Wu Tang Clan, Ghostface (aka Ironman aka Tony Starks) will make his first ever trek out to this plentiful land to rock 5 shows across the country in June.

Ghostface first made his mark on the Wu Tang’s hip hop classic, “Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers)”, spitting venomous rhymes with smooth flows over The RZA’s gritty Shaolin inspired soundtrack. Groundbreaking it was, the hip hop world didn’t know what had hit it, and RZA’s Don-like management of the crew saw them go from little known to world dominators in no time; remember the Wu Tang clothing craze in the late 90’s, or Wu Financial on Dave Chappelle, ha!! Like most of the Wu family, Ghost has gone on to release numerous solo projects, the difference being his have probably been the most successful. He debuted with “Ironman” way back in 1996, having appeared on nearly every track of the acclaimed Raekwon release, “Only Built for Cuban Linx”, the year before. More recently he has signed with Def Jam and 2006’s “Fishscale” was well received and commonly noted as one of the best albums of the year.

A colourful character indeed, Ghostface regularly performed in a ski mask in the early days, this rumoured to be because he was wanted by police and didn’t want to reveal himself in public until he was cleared. Rumours also followed him in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, with speculation that he and 50 Cent had beef. Though rumours they have stayed, one such tale describes ‘Fitty’ getting thrown down a set of stairs by Ghost! Big tick in my books there, regardless of its accuracy.
Australian fans now get their chance to witness this powerhouse of modern day hip-hop live across the country backed up onstage by his fellow Theodore Unit artists Wigs, Trife, Du Lilz and DJ J-Love. Sure to be one of the gigs of the year, get in now and pick up a ticket before it sells out – fingers crossed that he brings some of the rest of the Wu Tang with him!

Ghostface Killah dates across Australia:
Adelaide, Tuesday June 23rd – HQ
Sydney, Wednesday June 24th – The Forum
Melbourne, Thursday June 25th – The Espy
Perth, Friday June 26th – Metro City
Brisbane, Sunday June 28th – Step Inn
Byron Bay, Wednesday July 1st – Beach Hotel

Check out Ghostface at:
www.myspace.com/ghostface

…Crack

Tags: gigs, hip hop, Old School

Fly My Pretties – Unleash the Beast

Let’s get ready to roll, sing in your soul and possibly catch the light!

Because after few years off, Fly My Pretties are back once again for the third instalment of multi-visual merriment. That’s right Barnaby Weir (front man of The Black Seeds) is taking his crew of travelling musicians and story-tellers around New Zealand with a new show and collection of songs. As the official press release states:

“Fly My Pretties is New Zealand’s favourite live multimedia event starring a selection of our finest contemporary musicians, set to a stunning visual backdrop and filmed and recorded live! Since its inception in 2004, Fly My Pretties has grown to become a local legend of music that continues to reach people all over the world. Through their last series of live performances and two award winning albums the music from this event has captivated listeners of all ages. An absolute must see, the new show is sure to set your imagination alight and indulge your senses with future and past Pretties classics.”

Originally starting with mostly Wellington-based cast members in 2004, the crew has expanded to include musicians from the wider reaches of Aotearoa, but still includes a reputable crew from the capital.

Presenting the 16-strong 2009 Fly My Pretties Cast:

Anna Coddington, Barnaby Weir, Eva Prowse, Jarney Murphy, L.A. Mitchell, Lisa Tomlins, Mara T.K, Mike Fabulous, Nathan ‘Nato’ Hickey, Nigel Patterson, Paul McLaney, Riki Gooch, Rio Hunuki-Hemopo, Ryan Prebble, Tessa Rain and Tom Watson.

The new Fly My Pretties membership committee will deliver a unique live show with plenty of fresh ingredients to keep it surprising and progressive. Another interesting aspect of this years show is that Barnaby has brought his dear old dad, Dick Weir, along for the ride. He is actually a legendary NZ broadcaster with a 44-year history in storytelling and performing, who won a Queens medal award for services to broadcasting. He will be narrating an original story woven into the music of the new live show. As the myspace site states: “This adventure, written by Barnaby and Dick Weir, will also be available as a book illustrated by brilliant new-comer Kieran Rynhart. Illustrator Kieran Rynhart and Kraft:Haus Films have been working closely with the Fly My Pretties crew to create a dynamic visual symphony to accompany the live shows and to feature on the live CD/DVD release and documentary planned for release later in 2009.

“I can’t wait to unleash this beast.” Barnaby Weir.

Here are the Tour dates -but as you can see by the sell outs- you better get in fast.

Selling Out isn’t alway bad…
…Yossarian

Tags: Collaborations, gigs, New Zealand Artists