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After forming as a 3 piece in December of 2003, The Chuffs have since
evolved into a fine tuned beast of mammoth rock n roll proportion. If you
like dirty live energetic rough rock with a down to earth attention to
enticing song craft - you will love The Chuffs.  Not every band can say they have been on the cover of both BMA and The Queanbeyan Age – but for Cool Weapon, 2007 was a hot one. The “sonic blitzkrieg that typifies their brand of electronic rock” (Matthew Heath, The Canberra Times) seemed to be everywhere. After debuting in the Top 20 of the Triple J Unearthed Electronica charts, Cool Weapon went on to become a Sony BMG A&R Hottest Pick and a Guest Artist Pick (courtesy of The Bumblebeez) in the Tooheys UncharTED competition. 2008 is already shaping up to be a big one for the indefatigable pop powerhouse, who have just secured financial backing and are currently hard at work on their debut release (due out later this year). Cool Weapon’s addictive live act is a unique mix of thrilling rock bravado and icy smooth electronic instrumentation. Incorporating live bass and guitar with samples and drum machines, their songs are brash, sexy and fun. Catch Cool Weapon late on the Indoor Stage as they provide the perfect segue between Hancock Basement & Paqman.  Corgi Crisis are a four piece Canberra band formed in 2005 when local band Penfold ended. The band is comprised of Leigh "Cheese" Barker on guitz, Dave "Batlow" Appleton on bass, Ricky Slick Sticks LLyoyd on the skins and John Toddy Howard on Vokills. Their sound progresses from powerful grinding riffs, to mellow, tripped out breakdowns with a very unique and individual style. Musically, it's hard to label their sound which arises from the member's individual tastes and the eclectic influences of Metal, Punk, Hardcore, Funk, Rock and more. The band disregards conventional music styles and structures landing somewhere between The Mars Volta and The Dillenger Escape Plan. However you experience their music its easy to get lost with their huge stage presence and unmistakable sound. Make sure you're lucky enough to check out their next performance! The boys are releasing their eagerly awaited debut CD in the coming months tentatively titled "Watching the Pictures Paint Themselves'.  Formed in the disco-humidity of the 2000/2001 Canberra summer, Dubba Rukki have evolved into a groove monster: a surging juggernaut seducing audiences with irrepressible rhythms and unrepeatable improvisations: a live show tailor-made for the moment, always unique and always energetic: fusions of reggae, Latino, Jazz, Hip-Hop, African and Dub coated in smooth milk-chocolate: MMMmmmmmm! THE BAND C Jim Sharrock: Dubba Rukki Management  Fistful of Nothing (not including Clint Eastwood or Marianne Koch) is a four-piece Canberra band who certainly is not invisible to the naked eye. But one thing they are (or appear to be) is an aspiring group of young musicians undoubtedly on the verge of inevitable stardom. Their distinctive sound of Funk, Psychedelia and rock cut through the ears like some sort of flesh severing device, leaving the listener no choice but to either re-attach their decapitated lobes or wildly imitate the Fist’s soulful melodies in the car on the way home, reminiscent of the Lyre Bird who may or may not do the same, as the case may be. Although their inability to fuse certain atomic elements in the reactor core renders them unconscious in most forms, the sea monkey populus is, and has been for millions of years, a subversive yet powerful enemy of the fabled sea unicorn. New album coming after the Sea War  Formed in 2005, based in Bungendore, Friend or Enemy's brand of punkmetal/bungencore is tight, catchy, melodic and brutal. Touring relentlessly throughout Canberra and surrounds in 06/07 has earned this local band respect, fans, and the privilege of having the most loyal street team in Canberra, the 'GLE'. Members: Influences: Look for Friend or Enemy shirts at the IndyFest08 merch stand, don't be strangers.  Formed in 2003, Gasma experienced brief success when they reached the 2003 NCBC national final. This period was followed by two years of inactivity, due to various personal and academic commitments. The latter half of 2006 saw the band come back together, with a new desire and drive to take their brand of metal to new heights. Drawing on diverse influences - Gasma’s music is as dark and brutal as it can be melodic and catchy. While 2007 saw Gasma incubate itself for the most part in Canberra, honing its music and its playing ability – 2008 should see the band set its sights on other capital cities around Australia as well as a recording stint in Sydney midway through the year.  GiLF is Canberra's premier ALL GIRL rock and roots band. The five-piece band plays an exciting mixture of original and cover tunes ranging from modern folk through to contemporary pop and hard rock. The band comprises Kelly Butcher (lead vocals), Louise Butcher (harmony vocals), Cass Morgan (guitar), Laura Frame (drums) and Lauren Di Salvia (bass guitar). The talent, creativity, and ability that GiLF combines is extraordinary. Together, this group of self-confessed music junkies have created something that has been credited by many as both unique and thoroughly entertaining. GiLF represent a new wave of confident and professional female musicians and truly has something very special to offer.  Named after the infamous basement of ANU’s Hancock library, Hancock Basement formed in Canberra during 2004. The trio of Nick Craven (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Tom Spira (drums, vocals) and Nick Beresford-Wylie (lead guitar, piano, sax, backing vocals) have come a long way since those gawky teenage days, bringing the madness to every nook and cranny of their home town, as well as Melbourne venues such as 161 and Brown Alley, and Sydney landmarks including Home Nightclub, The Annandale and The Hopetoun. The journey so far has seen them gain rave street press reviews, unwittingly soundtrack biker brawls and even cause one enthusiastic audience member to disrobe on the dancefloor and surrender to the groove. Throwing together a self-titled EP in 2006, the ‘Cock received triple j airplay as well as rotation on FBI, and were chosen as semi-finalists in the Garage to V Festival competition in early 2007. Recently, the boys decamped to Sydney’s Bigjesusburger Studios with producer/engineer mastermind Berkfinger (Architecture in Helsinki, Silverchair). They gave their friend, bass player extraordinaire Dave Symes (The Sleepy Jackson, Sarah Blasko, Missy Higgins), a nervous call and found that he was more than happy to lay some bottom end on what would become the We Started Something EP. William Bowden exercised his mastering prowess on the finished product at King Willy Sound. The EP is the sound of a pop band trapped in an indie band’s body, a balanced mix of the light and dark sides of the ‘Cock, and a self-mythologising orgy of thumping beats and sticky hooks. It was played on triple j the day it arrived on the Home and Hosed desk, and received praise from host Caz Tran. Now with the permanent addition of bassist Jacob Mimilidis to their live show, the lads are set to bring their tunes to venues across the country throughout 2008. Check them out!  Inflatable Ingrid are one of the most exciting bands in the current Canberran hard rock scene. Recognised for a sprawling punk rock live show, the band has honed their thrashing post-punk style over the last four years. From the suburbs of Canberra, Inflatable Ingrid formed when guitarist Reuben Ingall met vocalist Paulie Thalidomide met in college. Initially using a drum machine on recorded demos, the band eventually gained sticksmen brother Julian Ingall, and met Nickamc at a show after previously going through a revolving door line-up of bass players. They released their debut EP, Urgent! Put This On Right Now! on October 12th, 2007, after recording sessions with friend Sam King (Dahahoo) at Blind Monkey Studios in Canberra. Inflatable Ingrid's slogan: This Machine Kills Wankers. W www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=7327514086  Canberra based hip hop group Kash Boys will be releasing there much anticipated album- The Birth. The album is due to hit stores Tues March 11th. You can grab your copy from Lanspeed records with more outlets soon to be announced. Kash Boys consisting of two artists KAG and Shaka (KA-SH) have been working on this album since 2005 and are hoping the album will give them the recognition they truly deserve. With hot production from artist Israel and the Nu Firm, this album promises to be a hit. Sydney RNB artist Muthu quoted "The Kash Boys music is nothing like Australia has ever heard let alone owned". The boys explain the album will be enjoyed by any hip hop fan, the album is clean-cut with a fresh new sound that has yet to be exposed to the world. The first single Get hype being one of the leading singles is a hip hop/ dance based song that is guaranteed to get you dancing. Unlike many hip hop groups, Kash Boys mix hip hop dance with there unique style of hip hop music. 
Epitomizing the distinctive melodic hardcore that saw '90s punk rock ignite into a music cult genre, Lamexcuse are forging a pathway through the alternative rock scene. This high-energy quartet hailing from Australia's Capital has fashioned an original voice in an ever-evolving industry of new alternative talent. Since forming in mid '1998, when they were still in high-school, Lamexcuse has had the opportunity to take their music to Melbourne, Sydney, The South Coast and various regional areas and have had the opportunity to play alongside such established acts as Strung Out (USA), Strike Anywhere (USA), Evermore (NZ), Tweak (South Africa), Sunk Loto, After The Fall, The Hot Lies, Unpaid Debt, Irrelevant as well as hundreds of local bands. With a unique approach to song writing and ever increasing musicianship, Lamexcuse are quickly being recognised by various areas within the music community as a band that is determined to have their music heard, as well as striving to succeed in a difficult but rewarding industry. Similar artists are: Good Riddance, Hot Water Music, Foo Fighters, Strung Out. W www.myspace.com/lamexcuse 
"Fans of Wolfmother looking for something harder get ready - this is power trio gold. One of the best things I've heard all year by a long shot." - BMA Album of the Month Dec 2006 Looking Glass have been playing shows since 2000. Guitars make up a great deal of the Looking Glass sound, with both guitar and bass solos being a primary ingredient in the live show. To think of similarities with other groups brings one down the vein of early 70's sounding English rock bands.The influence from bands like Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin can be heard at times, with Looking Glass's own 'uber loud' sound having been compared with 'stoner rock' bands such as Kyuss or Cathedral. Music to drink beer to. Live performances alongside The Fumes, Cog, Unpaid Debt, Airborne, Nunchukka Superfly, Fort have seen the band stand up to, if not get a warmer response than, the headlining act. They have received recent airplay on TripleJ with the track 'Levitate', which is off the E.P., the same track also peaking at number 26 on the Unearthed Overall Charts. W www.myspace.com/lookingglassoz   Moh Van Wah are an ambitious modern rock act seeking to distill their combination of lean rock 'n' roll and pop ideology into the purest form. Having just recorded a bunch of brand new tracks at Megaphon Studios in Sydney, are now preparing to spend the rest of the year doing what they do best - playing live!  Moots is a magnifying glass held just out of focus, a phrase snatched from the rumble of a crowd… the wildcard. Fast, f*cked-up and always unexpected.  Razzi (Rar-zee) was born in the spring of '07. They formed from four different bands with four different backgrounds including funk, metal, R&B and indy. Together they have created some-what of an indy/funk/blues/folk music feast! In less complicated terms, Razzi generates a chilled sound with a funky twist. Razzi are known for their tranquil harmonies and their fun and comfortable stage presence. Basically, they are four creative and close pals who love making music and have found a special way of doing just that. 
Inspired by groups such as; Kings of Leon, The Strokes, The Beatles, Kaiser Chiefs, The Living End, The Rolling Stones, Arctic Monkeys, Django Reinhardt, Bob Dylan, Daft Punk and many more, Rubycon create a new and exciting sound. They have recently placed second in the national finals of the NCBC 2007 in melbourne (national campus band competition). The three brothers Sam 18 Max 17 and Riley 12 have been playing together, acoustically, busking in the streets for years. It was not until they plugged in and bought Riley a drum kit, that they realized they needed a bass player. The recent addition of their friend Reuben (on bass) has added a new dimension to the band.  They're back again for '08. It's an institution baby! (Eddie Vedder accent) Three likely lads with nothing better do than play music. Well, they could sit at home and watch Digital Versatile Discs, but no-one is that lucky. By putting some drums, guitar and bass frequencies into a blender, some semi-audible music comes out and one or two people like them... in Bungendore. Their claim to fame: "We once played with a band from America!" W www.superbestfriends.com.au  Combining melodic and haunting guitar interplay derived from the fore-fathers of melodic death metal, At the Gates with the brutality of thrash metal and at times the powerful groove often associated with bands like Pantera, Templestowe have a carved out a sound that is both distinctive, outlining their influences, yet refreshing at the same time. Templestowe's debut E.P features 3 tracks totaling 20 minutes of infectious melodic death metal. It seamlessly merges elements from classical, folk and celtic genres and illuminates them with a contemporary metal edge. The band shows off its unique song writing ability coupled with razor sharp musicianship to create a soundscape that delivers crushing riff after crushing riff whilst still retaining an acute and profound sense of melody and dynamics. Being hailed as one of the most promising melodic death metal bands to surface in recent times and receiving regular rotation on Triple J, Templestowe have only just begun their onslaught of the Australian metal community and plan to take their beer drinking, headbanging stage show fraught with intensity to all corners of the world. Horns up.  Thomy & the Tank Engines are a high-energy four-piece rock n roll band with a f - -k you attitude. With musicianship that belies their years and an attitude to die for, Thomy & the Tank Engines deliver an in-your-face no holds barred show. Formed to contest a battle of the bands competition in Goulburn NSW, the band quickly gained a cult following in the southern city where they are based. A move to Melbourne is planned for March/April this year. Thomy & the Tank Engines are: W www.myspace.com/thomythetankengines
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