Danny's top 5's 2009.

So, 2010 is looming and I suppose like everyone else from every other website I'll do a quick round-up of my favourite shows and records this year.~

Click on the titles to read our coverage!



Gigs
1 - Tony Allen, Perth (No Review online).
2 - Fantomas, Big Day Out
3 - Primal Scream, Perth
4 - MC Lars, Melbourne
5 - Hong Kong Mississippi, Melbourne

Albums

1 - Baddies, Do the Job
2 -Dead Man's Bones - Dead Man's Bones (no review online).
3 -Dead to Me, African Elephants
4 - Chuck Ragan, Gold Country
5 - Melvins, Chicken Swtich

Rage Beat X Factor to Christmas No. 1

History has just been made.

The UK's Xmas Number 1 is Rage Against The Machine selling 502,672 copies of "Killing In The Name Of". X Factor winner Joe McElderry is Number 2 having sold 450,838 with "The Climb" (a cover of a Miley Cyrus song).

This is the first time that a single has reached number one in the Christmas charts by downloads only.



The number one single was revealed at 6.50pm GMT by Scott Mills on the BBC Radio 1 Chart Show. 


High-fives to everyone who bought the Rage single, bringing an end to The X Factor's domination of the Christmas charts in recent years. 

Power to the people. 


Brian, Editor
Music Vice Magazine - In one word: Independent

Rage For Christmas Number 1

Unless you've been unconscious all week - perhaps from excessive holiday partying or an eggnog overdose - you're probably well aware of the battle raging in the UK for the Christmas number 1 single. The latest X Factor winner Joe McElderry is up against Rage Against The Machine in the fight for top spot and today, Saturday 19 December, is the final day for sales to be counted in this closely fought battle.

In recent years the once coveted Christmas No. 1 has lost a lot of it's magic and charm after being one year after year by X Factor winners. There really hasn't been an interesting battle for the Christmas No. 1 since 2003 when The Darkness (remember how fun they were?) lost out to Gary Jules version of "Mad World".  Thankfully in 2009 there is plenty of interest and excitement again with McElderry versus Rage.

McElderry is the latest Simon Cowell endorsed television pop idol - another cash-cow from the Cowell farm, ready to be milked for every penny until the next pop idol comes along. Boring, boring, boring.

Thankfully for us, a couple of bright sparks named Tracy and Jon Morter started up a Facebook group to campaign to get RATM's "Killing In The Name Of" to No.1 for Christmas. Awesome. The song is the second track from Rage's eponymous debut album, released in 1992, and is eligible due to changes to the rules that decide the Christmas winner with the inclusion of downloads.

If Rage clinch then number one spot then it will be a victory against X Factor and against Simon Cowell, and ergo, a victory for music.

Moreover,  Rage Against The Machine have announced today that they will play a free show in the UK if they do clinch the Christmas No. 1.

Let's start the next decade with a great band at the top of the charts - go and download a copy of "Killing In The Name Of" from your favourite MP3 store before midnight tonight!

Brian, Editor
Music Vice Magazine - In one word: Independent

New Portishead Single For Amnesty

Tonight back home in the UK, Radio 1 gave very first play of the brand new Portishead track, "Chase the Tear".

Portishead have written this track especially for Amnesty International in support of Amnesty's work and their current "Protect The Human" campaign. All proceeds from this single go to Amnesty.

The track was debuted tonight on the eve of Human Rights Day.

Watch the video for "Chase The Tear" and download the track 
The video and track are also available right now on Portishead's website.

It's a really cool tune and well worth £0.99/$.099 of anybody's money in support of a great organization.

Brian, Editor
Music Vice Magazine - In one word: Independent

Muse Announce North America Tour Dates 2010

Muse have just announced six gigs in the USA for 2010. The gigs listed today via their Myspace page are as follows:

27 February 2010 - Gwinnett Center, Atlanta, GA
1 March 2010 - Patriot Center, Fairfax, VA
5 March 2010 - Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
6 March 2010 - TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
8 March 2010 - Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
10 March 2010 - Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
13 March 2010 - Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
17 March 2010 - Fort Worth Convention Center, Dallas, US
18 March 2010 - Toyota Center, Houston, US
29 March 2010 - Rexall Place, Calgary, AB
1 April 2010 - Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, BC
2 April 2010 - Key Arena, Seattle, WA
3 April 2010 - Rose Garden Arena, Portland, OR
1 March 2010 - Palace Of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
5 April 2010 - The E Center, Salt Lake City, UT

Silversun Pickups will be supporting Muse on these dates.

Tickets go on general sale on December 12, 2009 with a pre-sale starting at Muse.mu from December 9 at 10.00 am EST.

I have a hunch, or maybe its just a hope, that a few more dates might be announced to fill in the gap between some of those dates - the gap between March 6 and 13 seems particularly ominous - perhaps we'll see some more East Coast dates slotted in that period. I have my fingers crossed that a Toronto date will be added in there somewhere - would be great to see Muse here and shoot them for Music Vice. ** Edit, lo and behold, extra dates were announced and Toronto is go!

The Big Bop Set To Close

There are reports and rumours today in Toronto that The Big Bop is set to close it's doors.  And let me tell you folks, I'm a particularly sad panda upon hearing this news...

I heard the first rumour this morning and the gossip seems concrete with the Globe and Mail reporting in a story last night that:

Owner Dominic Tassielli said The Big Bop, at the corner of Queen Street West and Bathurst Street, will "shut down completely" shortly, but that an announcement on the site's future will come next week.

The triple-decker complex encompasses three key Toronto music venues in one - The Kathedral, The Reverb and Holy Joe's upstairs. It's a busy place, and nearly every night of the week you can see band vans and u-haul trailers parked outside on Queen Street West.

The Big Bop was one of the first venues that I stumbled across when I first came to Toronto in 2006. In truth, it's pretty hard not to stumble across the place, as it stands painted bright purple at the corner of Queen Street West and Bathurst.

I liked The Big Bop from first visit, with it's chilled-out vibe inspired by the grungy and slightly run-down aesthetics. Some music venues can be off-putting by being too clean and sterile - The Big Bop is by no means a dive, but it's suitably grimy to be an authentic rock and roll venue. The staff are always friendly too.

The three Big Bop venues get heavily-used for Toronto's biggest music festivals, including NXNE, Canadian Music Week and Indie Week. The calendar on The Big Bop's website currently shows listings up to March 2010, with the venue set to be part of Candian Music Week once again - time will tell if the venue will still be open by the that time.

Queen Street West is the main artery of Toronto's music scene, with its venues providing the lifeblood and energy of everything that happens - it just won't be the same without The Big Bop. I'm crossing all my extremities in the hope that a new owner will come along to keep the place open as a music venue.

If the doors on The Big Bop do close for good then it will be sorely missed.

Brian, Editor
Music Vice Magazine - In one word: Yummy!

Henry Rollins 'Frequent Flyer Tour'

Good news folks, Henry Rollins is taking his spoken-word gig back on the road in 2010!

Henry's Frequent Flyer Tour tour kicks off January 12 in Dublin, with the 45-date first North American leg departing from San Diego on February 17. Following stops in Australia and South Africa, Henry returns for a second North American leg in mid-May.

"Since I was last on tour, I have been working in television and radio, traveling all over the world And like everyone else, dealing with the changes America – and the world – is going through. I thought America would become a more peaceful place in 2009. I had no idea the country had so many lunatics. There's a lot to remark upon, of course. There always is." - Henry Rollins

Tickets for the FREQUENT FLYER TOUR go on sale December 4, with pre-sales available December 1 through Music Today. For pre-sale information, go to: http://henryrollins.musictoday.com/HenryRollins/calendar.aspx.

Act fast and get on to that pre-sale, these dates will sell-out quick!

Brian, editor
Music Vice Magazine - In one word: Yummy!