Lazaro’s Dog
by Rob Lyon

Lazaro’s Dog are back! Just when you thought that Adelaide band now famous for their 2001 single Home Entertainment System single used in that international TV commercial for JVC would be counting their millions in royalties earned – think again. Well, these lads are back with a new single Makin’ Love and a rare show at Jive with Soft White Machine and Tyger Tyger. Vic Picano is (possibly) sitting back counting the dosh when Rip It Up called.
It seems like it has been a while for Lazaro’s Dog?
“To say the least,” Vic says. “Lots of things have been happening. We’ve been writing the score for the Beijing Olympics. There’s lots of colour and movement and Jackie Chan is going to sing our new single at the closing ceremony. Nah, nah! We’ve been having lots of children so we’ve been pumping them out left, right and centre. That takes a little bit of time unfortunately - or fortunately.”
Has it been tough juggling the family with band commitments?
“Well, the theory is we could make millions out of this if we follow The Cockroaches’ plan of world domination. Our fan base is rapidly dwindling so at least if we had our kids come to the gig in future we’d have at least 10 payers.”
Not a bad strategy, hey?
“Yep, straight out of their pocket in to ours! Here’s 10 bucks matey and you have to spend five of that at a random gig of our choosing.”
How are you handling sleepless nights and pooey nappies? “We’ve focused a lot of our songwriting on fart jokes and shit so it’s not much of a change for us.”
Do some people think you’re still sitting back counting the millions from Home Entertainment System?
“We’ve employed people just to count the money and we’re in the tens of dollars now. It’s been all good! We’ve had exposure in the States and the song was used for a Nissan car and we were on Fox Sports also. We’re mates with Rupert [Murdoch] and if he wants to pay for some shitty Adelaide soft-cock-pop-rock we’ll take it.”
Soft-cock-pop-rock?
“We’re the Godfathers of it,” Vic states. “That’s what we’re telling everyone anyway. The working title for the album is Shiny Turd.”
Is there any pressure for the next single to top Home Entertainment System?
“We’ve never given a shit about anything we’ve done before so why start now? The good thing is that if you set the bar really low and you regard everything you put out as shit if anyone listens to it, it is a bonus. We pride ourselves on writing shit for the masses.”
Setting the bar low – is that something we should incorporate into our lives?
“Absolutely. That’s the problem with society because everyone is looking at these magazines thinking that they can be beautiful, they can be rich and they can be successful. People should be modelling themselves on Lazaro’s Dog more with the reality that they are ugly, untalented and unlikely to make money or be successful in their lives.”
Lazaro’s Dog launch new single Makin’ Love at Jive on Sat Aug 16 with Soft White Machine and Tyger Tyger.

JUST FOR NOW
by Scott McLennan

Bad Religion, NoFX, No Use For A Name… Hannah Montana? Adelaide’s Just For Now might be influenced by the So-Cal punk scene, but prior to the launch of their debut Broken EP, guitarist Rod Krause is also admitting to feeling the love for Hollywood poppet Miley Cyrus.
“Lately I’ve been listening to a little bit of pop, as I’ve been listening to punk for 12 years,” Rod admits. “It’s good to hear something different every now and then and find inspiration here and there. I’ve actually taught myself how to play Miley’s See You Again but I don’t think the other boys in the band would go for playing that [at the EP launch]. I sat down the other week to work it out and realised it’s pretty easy to play. It’s a really catchy song – maybe we’ll see how it goes. If you hit the right level of intoxication, playing it might be a goer!”
Intoxication has caused the band numerous medical troubles in the past. Just For Now’s new EP takes its name from the cracked bones each of the band’s three members experienced during its creation. Drummer Michael Siviour broke a finger, bass player Shaun McDonough smashed his elbow after jumping on a mate’s shoulders in a mosh and Rod took a tumble at the Big Day Out.
“I broke my arm at the Big Day Out after I jumped the fence to take a piss in a more secluded spot. I went belly-up over the fence and snapped my left wrist. I didn’t quite think I’d broken it – I just thought it was like when you stack a skateboard and you can shake it off. I spent about an hour in the St John’s tent but stuck it out at the Big Day Out for the rest of the day and I think I partied until about 4am. When I woke up at 9am I realised it was broken and had to call up my mum to take me to the hospital.”
Although already signing up for appearances on Punk Kills and Punkocalypse compilations this year, Broken is the first time the band has released an official recording. The intro to the song Who Killed Our Punk? features the sound of a can of drink being opened. So Rod, is it a statement about the commercialisation of music and the use of songs in ad campaigns?
“It would be nice to say it was, but it’s actually just a sound we thought would be pretty cool and I’ve listened to many records but never heard the sound of someone skolling a can of Wild Turkey. We got our mate to come in and skol a can, since we had to stay pretty sober for the recording process. Red Dog came in to do vocals on the secret song on the EP and then we thought while he was in the studio he could crack open a can. There was a bit of pressure, since that was the last can he had. It turned out pretty good!”
Just For Now play Enigma on Sat Aug 16 with Third Time Lucky, Son Of Dad and Cause For Concern. Broken is available now through Big Star.

LOCAL HYPE

THE RUSTLERS
Locally based alternative country rock band The Rustlers will be launching their brand new album, Leavin’ Me, at the Wheatsheaf Hotel on Sun Aug 24 from 4.30pm. This is the third album of completely original country rock for The Rustlers whose launch at The Wheatsheaf will be their last Adelaide show before heading back to the National Toyota Muster in Gympie, Queensland. They promise a great day and with entry being free, it’s sure to be even sweeter! Head to <therustlers.com.au> for more information.

KAMIKAZE
Recently signed to Brisbane’s Turkeyneck records, local misfits Kamikaze are set to unleash their debut album, Crash, Burn And Bleeed!! at Crown & Anchor on Elvis’ death day, Sat Aug 16. Also along for this rock’n’roll suicide mission are Molting Vultures and drunken cowboys Whiskee Sundaes featuring members of Los Diablos, Back Seat Romeos and Standard Union. Be there!

L!VE HARD’N’HEAVY
A massive six band extravaganza hits Live On Light Square, on Sat Aug 23 from 7pm. L!ve Hard’N’Heavy is exactly what the event suggests and headlining the show will be the mighty Octanic with magnificent support provided by Isaw, Satoria, The Foundry, Forget All This and Straightjacket Fashion. So get on down to the old Night Train and Viva Complex (upstairs at 9a Light Sq) for a spectacular night of hard rock and heavy metal. It’s an 18 years plus show and only $12 for half a dozen awesome bands. This is a show you simply cannot miss and is proudly supported by Lizard Lounge Entertainment.

WINTER FREAK FEST
SA Sharks, a wheelchair rugby team, are holding Winter Freakfest with Adelaide’s very own kings of gangster bop, Lucky Seven, who will join forces with those sinister looking Jump Daddies to play Highway Inn from 8pm on Fri Aug 15. There will also be the smooth and sexy sounds of The Sisters Of Swing and DJ Barry from Coast FM’s Boogie Shack will be spinning some tunes to keep your toes a tappin’. Proudly sponsored by Midwest Trader, Kustom Kulture Weekend and Moondog, the event will raise money for the SA Sharks.

LEGLESS LADIES LAND BACK IN ADELAIDE
Luscious lasses Legless will land back in Adelaide for one night only at Higher Ground after recently headlining in the gorgeous Whitsunday Islands for the annual Divalicious Rock’N’Roll Fashion Parade. It’s exciting times for Legless at the moment but the girls are not forgetting their roots. Now is your opportunity to catch the girls in action as it will be their last gig in Adelaide for 2008! So head to Higher Ground on Sat Sep 13 from 8pm when they’re supported by Luna Magnet and Raven. There’s also some giveaways of the new Legless DVD Girls In Action (chronicling their tour of East Timor with the Australian Defence Force), so get in early for some freebies. Look out for the new Legless video, Advance Australia Fair, on YouTube, which was recently heard on Channel Nine’s A Current Affair! Oh and Legless’ new album, Finding Mr Perfect, will be available at the gig as well as Big Star and online at <leglesstheband.com>.

ROCK WARS
Rock Wars is back! A new series will commence on Sat Oct 4 at the Rex Hotel with heat two following on Fri Oct 10 at the Salisbury Hotel, so if you’re keen to be involved, listen up. Heat winners stand the chance to walk away with a $100 voucher while the ultimate honour will be played out on Sat Dec 13, when two bands from the north and two bands from the south will challenge each other for the final prize. With a prize package worth approximately $7500, comprising of cash from Jim Beam, a recording package from Sody Pop Studios and a Pro Advanced Media and a Derringers Music prize, it’s a definite entry! Entries are now open, so if you’re interested telephone Alex
Tomlin on 0405519295. Further information is also available from our <rockwars.com.au>.

NORTHERN SOUND SYSTEM
Following the success of the Northern Elements show held during Youth Week in April, Northern Sound System is proud to announce that a second Northern Elements show  will be held on Sat Aug 23. Hosted by local producer and MC Legacy, Northern Elements provides an opportunity for local hip hop artists to take to the stage and showcase their skills. It will feature Muzza, Camira, Van Demonz, MC Pellen, Odd One and Arise along with MC DV8T, MC Terry and MC Haide. DJ Akay will also be providing tunes throughout the night and a team of breakdancers will be performing. Northern Elements begins at 6.30pm and entry is just $10.

WISH
The ’80s may have been done to death, but the Wish team felt like having a ’80s prom night anyway! Hitting the stage for the night will be the much talked about indie funksters Tyger Tyger while indie pop rockers Radio Star will be venturing across from Melbourne to launch their EP. The crazy local kids from It’s Warsaw will also be there, starting the night off in a frenzy from 9pm. Wish regulars disko disko DJs and DJ Dan! Dan! Dan! will be cranking out some ’80s dance floor tunes plus Producer’s Bar will have very special guest DJ Tr!p to mix the night up. Drink specials will also be cranking. Can’t wait… And bring a date!

QUEENS THEATRE
Calling all blues cats! This October, Rossi Boots will present the inaugural Juke Joint At Queens, featuring some of Australia’s finest blues talent – and they're giving local acts the chance to win their way onto the bill! For one night only, the city’s Queen’s Theatre will be transformed to recreate the juke joints of 1930s Mississippi where weary workers sought release in the simplicity of a cold beer and the grinding rhythms of travelling blues men. Heats for the Killing Floor Blues Challenge begin at the Edinburgh Castle Hotel on Wed Aug 13 and the winning act will open the show at Queen’s Theatre on Sat Oct 4. To register, contact Chris at <chris@adelaidbluesfestival.com>.

NEW TRANSLATION
Fresh from rocking the night at Live On Light Square and Gaslight Tavern, New Translation are heading to Jade Monkey with The Rides on Thu Aug 14. Head along and you’ll be assured a fusion-tastic night of musical adventure with rule-breaking keyboards, six-string abuse on guitars and somewhat offensive drumming with mostly illegal lyrical poetry. Encompassing every style from ambient Floyd through to Latino jazz rock, hard rock and funk, New Translation promise you a memorable night!