Getting To Know... Modern Error

Modern Error (pictured here with Aloe Blacc), recently won the nationwide Guinness Live Thursdays competition, and jetted off to Dublin for to perform at the Arthur's Day celebrations. Here, they tell us a bit about themselves:

Modern Error are a high octane five-piece hailing from Western Sydney, full of flailing limbs, soaring harmonies, slightly messed-up characters and a jilted view on creating pop rock.

We take inspiration from an unspecified amount of avenues. From the darkest of ambient and mathematical extreme metal bands to Top 40's R'n'B and dancehall dubstep. Everyday antics are the defiant influence upon lyrical content with stories being stripped from any and every possibility.

Winning the Guinness Live Thursdays Competition was the kick in the arse we desperately needed! Being told that in 4 days time we would be flying out to Ireland was the most terrifying, mind-racing, heart-pumping shock that we had experienced in a long time. With so many other bands competing it was amazing that we had come out on top and definitely an opportunity we were going to take advantage of.

Going to Ireland for the Arthur's Day celebrations was kind of intimidating for a few of us, challenging for others, but exciting for all. It was Dave's (lead vocals) first trip overseas and he was by far the most excited. I mean, not only was it his first flight overseas, but he was getting to do it for his music. We couldn't really ask for more. Except for a few more days over there!

It might surprise people to learn that although we all seem like clean cut pretty boys playing pop rock, all of us in past bands have done something completely different. Dave was in an alternative rock outfit shredding on guitar and singing, Max (bass/back up vocals) was a throat destroying screamer in multiple metal bands, Phil (Rhythm guitar/back up vocals) was in skate punk bands and then did some solo acoustic pretty things, Elijah (lead guitar/back up vocals) just gave people eargasms being lead guitarist in multiple outfits, and Dane (Drums) held his own in a metal Starwars band, a progressive metal/rock outfit as well as a few other projects.

In the future Modern Error will make a name for themselves by either A) continuing to wow crowds with their energetic shows chock-a-block with catchy-as-a-cold tunes, ooooorrr B) wind up like so many childhood movie stars, addicted to substances, sleeping with hookers on their way to an early grave... your pick (please pick A).

Follow Modern Error on Facebook.

Interview by Bobby Townsend

Guinness launch Live Thursdays

With Arthur’s Day around the corner, Guinness last night launched an eight-week nationwide campaign, entitled Guinness Live Thursdays, to celebrate craftsmanship in music and with the aim of finding Australia’s next up-and-coming band.

It's a competition totally worth entering too, as the winning band will score an all-expenses-paid trip to Dublin to perform alongside some top live acts - and Stereophonics - at the Arthur’s Day celebrations on Thursday 22nd September. Arthur’s Day, incidentally, honours the date in 1759 that good old Arthur Guinness signed the lease on the St. James’ Gate Brewery and introduced the black stuff to the world

Anyway, after playing an intimate live acoustic performance at yesterday's launch, ambassador for Guinness Live Thursdays and APRA award winning blues and roots artist, Ash Grunwald, told us, "I am so excited to be part of something that helps untapped quality talent get noticed by the Australian music industry. We have a lot to offer here."

WANNA GET YOUR BAND INVOLVED?
From today, aspiring bands from Australia can upload their MP3 tracks on the Guinness Australia Facebook page to enter the competition. The entries will be shortlisted to 30 bands who will play in 15 regional judged heats across Australia. The four finalists will then progress to the Guinness Live Thursdays National Final, due to be held in Sydney on 15th September. The lucky winners will then whizz around the globe to take part in the third annual Arthur’s Day global celebration - alongside the Scissor Sisters, Stereophonics, Paloma Faith and Calvin Harris and more - on Thursday 22nd September, in Dublin.

So get uploading today - and you could find yourself on stage on the other side of the planet in a few weeks!

Getting To Know... Sweet Jane

  

In the latest of the Getting To Know... series, Sweet Jane vocalist Lydia Des Dolles talks to BobbySix.com about Dublin, eight-hour ferry rides, and her defining albums:

It's hard to describe Sweet Jane's sound. Since our debut album, Sugar For My Soul, was released, the media have been throwing around 'Dream Pop Rock 'n' Roll' which has been the best. I like the sense of imagery it gives. We wanted Sugar For My Soul to be a story for the listener. The record represents our story over the past two years and gives an insight into where we were as a band and in our personal lives. For me personally, I'm very private, but the songs contradict that because you're telling anyone that will listen how you feel. But all in all, we just want people to know we're a Rock 'n' Roll band.

It might surprise people to learn that when I recorded for the first time with [guitarist/vocalist] Danda, I was so embarrassed about singing I made him sit two rooms away, and then got in a wardrobe and brought the microphone in with me. To record for the first time was very nerve-wracking and I was so embarrassed that Danda would think I was a terrible singer. He hadn't ever heard me sing. We'd just met. I just remembering him telling me, 'I know we're meant to start a band together'.
We've all got such different music tastes. I know the boys are really into Guided By Voices, Bad Leuitentant, The Stooges and Dead Can Dance, and Danda is really into the new Black Mountain record. The records that sort of raised me are Definitely Maybe by Oasis, Hole's Live Through This, The Velvet Underground's Loaded and The Stranger by Billy Joel. These bands are part of my history. Thats when music is taken to a completely different level, imprinting on people.
Our album is definitely something we are very proud of. Its easy for us to be in this band, but it wasnt always. We were up against a lot at the start, just in our own lives, so it was hard to get focused. Doing this record was almost like an unspoken argument we all had with each other, y'know? We all kind of knew that this was it; there was no going back. We've achieved a lot in the short couple of years as a band, but it's nowhere near as far as we want to take this, so we've just got to keep on writing and touring, and get ready for the second record.
Dublin will always be a special place to me. I wasn't born Dublin but I've lived here for almost six years. There's two places in the world I feel very much at home, Dublin and New York. They're quite similar in alot of ways, in terms of community and atmosphere. Although Dublin has been very good to our band, I dont know how long we will see ourselves here. Now that the record is going to be released in the UK, its seems more logical to move back over there. It's certainly a lot cheaper then travelling each time, that's for sure

In five years time we'll hopefully have toured the ass off of Sugar For My Soul and will have released album number two. Its hard planning for next week when you're in a band, never mind five years time. I just get sent an itinerary or a schedule and I go with that. I never complain or ask questions, I just do it. It's not really the best job if your good at complaining. You're certainly tested at 5am when you have to leave a hotel to get a 6.30am eight-hour ferry whilst looking forward to the 12-hour drive when you get off. But, all-in-all we are a very lucky band. If I'd have known Rock 'n' Roll was going to be so much fun, I would have started a long time ago.

For more about Sweet Jane and to hear some songs from their debut album, visit their Myspace page.