This week's Upcoming Gigs [highlights]

I usually post the detailed gig guide whenever I can with all the band lists, venue times, ticket prices/purchase, genre (for the curious), etc. but I'm going to start detailing more on weekly gigs, which should be more of an idea for all those gig lovers out there.

This week there is an invasion of all things pop punk:

Monday (April 4th):
If you love your pop punk before it went "emo", check out Strung Out (US) and Useless ID (Israel) supported by local favourites, STR, at Adelaide Uni Bar. Catchy pop punk riffs sans the "dashboard style screamo/emo", it'll be a fun gig and tickets are $33.30 from BigStar Records.


Download these mp3s to give you an idea of what to expect on the night:
Strung Out - Analog (2.4MB) (from 2004's Exile in Oblivion) via Fat Wreck Records.
Useless ID - Bring Me Down (2.7MB) (from 2003's No Vacation From The World) via Download Punk.

Official Websites:
Strung Out
Useless ID
STR

Wednesday (April 6th):
Mid-week gig hightlight is the R.E.M. show with "scene" favourite Bright Eyes supported by Perth's Little Birdy. Tickets have either sold out by now or very limited as it is a major event at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Unfortunately, it's a seated event where tickets are available as Silver Class ($91.30) or Gold Class ($133.65); with Gold class more front, of course. Tickets are available from BASS Ticketing.



Official Websites:
R.E.M.
Bright Eyes
Little Birdy

Thursday (April 7th):
Two shows to check out on Thursday: Little Birdy at Governor Hindmarsh or Lior at Flinders University Tavern.

Perth's Little Birdy freshed from the R.E.M. and Bright Eyes support, will be at The Gov supported by my favourite Adelaide band, Mr Wednesday (previously plugged). Tickets are at $19.80 from Venuetix and will be a great show.


Official Websites:
Little Birdy
Mr Wednesday

Australia's new favourite "buzz" artist, Lior, will be bringing his lovely acoustic melodies at the Flinders University Tavern at only $10 for Flinders Uni students or $15 for others (get your Uni friends to buy you the tickets, or I'll buy you the tickets!)#. Lior is already been described as "one of the best finds of this year" and his debut acclaimed album, Autumn Flow, has been nominated for the J Award (Australian Album of the Year). Don't miss this!

Download his mp3s to give you an idea why all the "buzz":
This Old Love (4.3MB)
Daniel (5.3MB)

Official Website:
Lior

Decision:
Little Birdy vs Lior?
Damn straight, go to Lior!

Friday (April 8th):
This week's GIG of the Week is Ben Folds supported by amazing Sydney outfit, Gelbison at Thebarton Theatre with tickets at $55.80 (booking fee included) from Venuetix#. Ben Folds needs no introduction, he is one of the best songwriters/musicians around and this tour is to launch his anticipated new album, Songs for Silverman, which includes the hit single, Landed, and an Elliott Smith tribute, Late.

Gelbison are one of the best Australian bands around, UK's Gomez are huge fans of them and Ben Lee loves this local talent. They were recently on the Australian showcase at SXSW and also made an appearance at acclaimed US indie radio station, KCRW. I've been a fan since 2002 and still love them now, so if you are going to the Ben Folds gig, come early for their support set as it'll be one of the highlights of the night.

Download this mp3 to give you an idea why I love this band:
The Modern Station (5.4MB) (from the brilliant and one of my favourites of that year (2003), 1704) via SXSW.

Official Websites:
Ben Folds
Gelbison

Saturday (April 9th):
New Zealand's Evermore (now based in Sydney) will be at Adelaide Uni Bar on Saturday night with tickets at $18.30 available from BigStar Records. They were one of the most "radio-played" bands of last year and when their debut single, It's Too Late was picked up as one of the songs featured in popular teenage drama / soap opera, The O.C., ads, the band's popularity sky-rocketed. Their debut album, Dreams, was acclaimed, and their follow-up single, For One Day also did well, which crushed critics' label of them as a "one-hit wonder". Don't miss their gig this Saturday!

Official Website:
Evermore

Sunday (April 10th):
To close off an awesome week of shows, US pop punk (with a political twist) band, Strike Anywhere, will be at the Enigma Bar supported by New Zealand's Sommerset and locals, Realist Few and The Rip. The all-ages show starts at 7pm and tickets are at only $21.30 from BigStar Records, a bargain price for four brilliant bands.



Download these mp3s to give you an idea why pop punk is not dead:
Strike Anywhere - Infrared (3.2MB) (from 2003's Exit English) via PureVolume.
Sommerset - Inside (2.9MB) (from 2004's Say What You Want via Casa Del Disco Records.

Official Websites:
Strike Anywhere
Sommerset
Realist Few

Hope to see you at some of the shows!
#I will be at these gigs, come say hi!
Ticket prices are all in Australian Dollars.