ROBOTOSAURUS
by Scott McLennan
It’s not the most metal of injuries, but the outcome certainly proved appropriate. Just weeks before a national tour with Californian grinders Graf Orlock, Robotosaurus drummer Adam Myers broke his wrist playing indoor soccer, requiring a metal plate be fitted and forcing him out of the shows around Australia designed to promote the band’s new album, Manhater.
“He broke his wrist a few weeks before our tour and we had to get a fill-in,” guitarist Alex Fimeri reveals. “We had about 21 days to train up a new drummer, so that was an interesting process. Adam is back on board now. He’s got a metal plate and nine screws in it, but he’s been doing overtime on his rehab work so that he can get back into rehearsals. It grosses me out - he’s got a nasty scar up his arm. Let’s hope he gives up soccer for our sake.”
Despite the setback, the Graf Orlock tour found Robotosaurus bonding with their Californian counterparts over low-brow Aussie publications, with the Adelaide boys teaching Graf Orlock local terminology such as norgs.
“Those $2.95 Picture magazines were pretty entertaining – especially some of the slang and how Aussie they can get at some points. Graf Orlock were definitely amused by that – we had a list of about 20 different words for norgs by the end of the trip. I’m not really a fan of those mags – I’m usually the driver so I just have a chuckle when people are reading out the stories on the trip and that’s the extent of it. That’s always fun.”
Although the lyrics of Manhater initially had a biblical theme, Alex suggests that the band moved towards lyrical realism as the sessions progressed.
“I couldn’t tell you everything since they’re quite personal to Izzy our singer, but coming from the sci-fi story thing for our EPs it’s a huge chance for something a little more personal to Isaac and us. Initially there was a biblical theme but as Izzy got further into it they took a turn to something real. I feel that the music we’ve written for the album is more mature and stripped back, which is what we wanted to achieve. It’s a much heavier album but there’s less going on, which gives it more space live. It’s a lot easier for the crowd to get into it if we can punish it live.”
With his former band The Rivalry being the basis for the body art around his waist, drummer Adam also sports Robotosaurus ink.
“Adam’s got a Robotosaurus tattoo and so does our bassist Webster,” Alex reveals. “It’s something that we’ll all probably do at some stage since we’re passionate about it. Our original flyer had toy dinosaurs and toy robots, so the guys have those tattoos now. The imagery has been played with for our merch, but we’re trying to steer away from that a bit now.
“We were together for about two years before we played a show, just writing and jamming without a proper name. Every practice we’d come along with a thousand new names but nothing was ever good enough. One name was Danger! Dangerous Dudes, which we thought was pretty funny.”
Robotosaurus play Worldsend on Fri Aug 29. Manhater is out now on Skull & Bones through Stomp.

OUTLAND BROTHERS
By Kerry Loyson
Esme MacDonald, lead vocalist for local outfit Outland Brothers, has certainly spun himself tales worth telling. Entrenched in the British music scene while still living in Europe, Esme’s business involving the tour managing and driving of many notorious international acts, was particularly entertaining…
“Samantha Fox would have been the most interesting one,” admits Esme with a sneaky chuckle. “She’s a woman with a number of issues! Very entertaining but [it was] an experience to see how someone who’s incredibly famous acts and treats other people. I had to actually sign a confidentiality clause – no kiss and tell! I’ve driven Groove Armada around. I only drove around their main two guys and they were incredibly quiet and polite men. They kept me waiting a long time during a DJ set at Glastonbury that went on for hours! Generally they were very nice. Yeah, lots of weird and wonderful things!”
With The Outland Brothers’ forthcoming gig serving as both a CD launch and a farewell, due to Esme’s approaching relocation to Melbourne, an emphasis is being placed on a successful evening. 
“I would say that every time Outland Brothers have played a gig, there’s been a different line-up. Without getting too Woman’s Weekly about it, we have had a number of staff issues! It has been a bit of a bumpy ride, put it that way. It hasn’t gone to script at all! I don’t take it too personally – it’s just people have their own agendas sometimes. Being somebody who’s writing most of the songs and trying to get everybody to do what you want isn’t always so easy.”
And the decision to move is expected to benefit Australian music. As a result of the relocation, one of Australia’s renowned outfits, The Paradise Motel, will reform and Esme will become a member.
“This band, The Paradise Motel, I worked with. I used to be their tour manager about 10 years ago in Britain when their record company sent them over there to live. I know them all pretty well and have been friends for years. I just happen to know the people I need to know. It’s been a bit of a different experience coming to Adelaide and being somebody who’d had some success in London, it’s got some great talent here but it’s not a musical Mecca! I am looking forward to it although I will be missing Adelaide, there’s no doubt about it.”
And what of the Outland Brothers and their alternative, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave and Tom Waits-inspired tunes?
“I’ll still be doing this. One of the guys who is also in the band is also in The Paradise Motel and hopefully we’re going to launch it over there and also maybe come up with a different line-up. Two of the people who are also in the band at the moment are fairly young people and they’re going overseas, but they both envisage themselves winding up in Melbourne at some point, so you never know - we may have another gig with the same line-up again!”
Outland Brothers play The Jade Monkey on Fri Aug 22 with The Joans and Bindi Blacher.

LOCAL HYPE
ANGELIK & MISS GOLLY GOSH
Melbourne’s Sin City are heading back our way for another night of blistering rock at Crown & Anchor on Sat Aug 23 and local bands Angelik and Miss Golly Gosh are on the bill! So if you’ve been having your cravings for some local hard rock, pencil it in! The gig will also be Angelik’s last for a while, so it is one trashy rock’n’roll affair! It all starts at 9pm and it’s free so what more could you ask for?

AFRO PARTY, ANYONE?
Afro Vibes Promotions will present and host the first ever Big Afro Night at Higher Ground Inc on Sat Aug 23 from 9pm. Big Afro Night is a combination of funk rhythms, fused with African percussion and vocal styles This is a night of music from all over Africa and the African Diaspora. You will hear the richest sounds from Tanzania, Congo, Senegal, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and South Africa. With DJs bringing the hottest sounds alive of soukous, ragga, soul, afro beat, reggae, acoustic music and much more, it’ll be one memorable evening! Doors open at 9pm sharp and it’s free entry before 10.30pm, so get in early. Oh and there will be CD giveaways and drink specials too…

METAL NIGHT
Local death metal band Blood Covered Shovel will be playing their first show on Fri Aug 22 with thrash death metal band Ridiculed Belief, meaty death metal band Vernichten (who have just finished work on a new CD) and obscene thrash metal band The Fuck Machine, who’ll have copies of their latest album God Bless The Male Dominated Society forsale for only $10! There’ll also be some CD giveaways on the night so be there when doors open at 9pm. Plus, it’s only $10 entry for a kick-arse night of metal!

FEMME FUSION
Like your rock blisteringly hot? Adelaide’s finest have been enlisted to help out all-girl Melbourne rockers Tantalum, who are heading to Adelaide on the weekend of Fri Aug 22 and Sat Aug 23. Fri Aug 22 sees Blow Up Betty and Our Apollo take to the stage for a free show at the Crown & Anchor, while Dead Popes Of The Vatican, Imogen Brave and Diesel Witch are playing host to the girls on Sat Aug 23 at Producer’s Bar. If you like your rock hard, edgy and full of femme then this is a weekend not to be missed! For more information, check out <myspace.com/blowupbetty>!

HUCKLEBERRY SWEDES
After last month’s sell-out Coopers Alive Showcase at the Wheatsheaf, Huckleberry Swedes are hitting the road for the next few weeks. The upcoming tour will start in the Barossa Valley before taking in Tamworth, Byron Bay, Canberra, Gympie, Sydney, Canberra, Cobram and Melbourne. Along the way, Huckleberry Swedes will be doing shows with Paul Greene, Andrew Morris, Ruby Slippers and Redfish Bluegrass. Be at the Barossa Gourmet Festival at Peter Lehman Winery on Sat Aug 23 to catch the band before they head off to the eastern states.

HEATHER’S ROOTS GROW OVERSEAS
One of Adelaide’s loved musical divas Heather Frahn is taking her rootsy folky funk, conscious lyrics and mighty voice overseas for a solo tour during October of 2008! From a successful tour in 2006 Heather has been invited back to Belgium to perform eight solo concerts in 300-seat venues supporting famous Flemish artist Neeka! To help raise monies for her tour, Heather is playing two solo acoustic shows on Sun Aug 31 at the very funky La Boheme. The first show starts at 4.30pm, with doors swinging open at 3.30pm and the second starts at 7pm, with doors opening at 6.30pm. Entry is just $10/$15 and those under 16 can get in for just $5. Bookings are essential as there are limited tickets available, so ring 0450 406 698 to register your interest. For more information about Heather Frahn, head to <heatherfrahn.com>.

PRISON BREAK LIVE
The Sudden Impact! Entertainment Company is sending a shout out to local bands to cover AC/DC’s Jailbreak for the Royal Adelaide Show's hugely popular Prison Break Live! attraction for 2008. The chosen band will win $1000 in cash and the chance to perform at the Royal Adelaide Show on opening day playing two covers of their version of Jailbreak and also their own set. Entries will need to be sent in either through mp3, uploaded to Youtube and the link sent or old school with a CD recording. Send them through to Gray Management Group at 3B/62 Glen Osmond Rd, Parkside 5063 or emailed to <juliebell@graymanagementgroup.com.au> Head to <http://www.prisonbreaklive.com> for more details. Entries close on Sun Aug 31, with the bands being required to play at the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds on opening day, Fri Sep 5. Band will also need to provide their own equipment including PA system and will play for a half hour time slot. Good luck!

AGAINST THE GRAIN 4
Adelaide’s Double Dragon, Truth Corroded, Diatribe, Skintilla, A Red Dawn, Se Bon Ki Ra and Asphxia have all been selected to play Against The Grain 4 at Fowler’s Live on Sat Sep 13 from high noon until around 11pm as an all-ages gig. ATG4 boasts arguably the biggest line-up Australia has seen since Metal For The Brain with the headliners, Psycroptic and Blood Duster (fresh from their overseas tours), playing alongside Australian heavyweights such as Daysend, Picture The End, Dyscord, The Ocularis Infernum and State Of Integrity. With limited tickets available, contact VenuTix now! Oh and if you’re craving some more metal loving, head to Enigma Bar for the official Against The Grain after party which features more Aussie metal talent with Gallows For Grace, Closed Casket and Thy Art Is Murder. For more information visit <myspace.com/atgfest>.

KICKSTART
With 700 entries nationwide, the local heat of MTV’s Kickstart is set to feature the five lucky local finalist in this national battle of the bands. The overall winner is set to receive the Kickstart Grand Prize including $15,000 cash, introductions to Australian music label A&R departments, publicity support from MTV Australia and involvement in The MTV Red Carpet Show at the 2008 ARIA Awards broadcast on MTV on Sun Oct 19 at 7pm. The top five from Adelaide, The Touch, Zeta, The Keepsakes, Skye Harbour and The Battery Kids, were chosen by Rip It Up and MTV executives, with the local final hosted by MTV and MCed by MTV VJ Darren McMullen. Get down to Rocket Bar on Fri Aug 22 for this massive night of music.

MINISTRY OF BLUES
Fresh from their trip to the Moomba ast week, Ministry Of Blues are back in town to play Jade Monkey on Thu Aug 21. Having recently been nominated in three categories in the local blues awards, Ministry Of Blues have topped off a great year of playing locally with a highlight being the Port Augusta Jazz & Blues Festival in May. If you like your blues stripped-down with a bit of an edge, then get down to the Jade Monkey!

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.

GUILLAUME AND SOURSOB SIDE UP
For the next few weeks, Adelaide’s legendary open mic night Sundy Side Up at the Exeter will be run by local Frenchman Guillaume AcousticSolo and MC-ed by Rohan. And to celebrate his recent return from a six-week overseas trip, Sun Aug 24 will see Guillaume joined by Soursob Bob. So bring your act (stand up, music, circus, etc) - or just your ears - and join the party! Entry is free too.