Australia's Rock-Music Wager

Australia's Rock-Music Wager

SYDNEY -- Australian entertainment promoters are gambling big this year with the largest lineup of major musical acts seen in decades.

But it is more than just the Southern Hemisphere's warmer weather that has lured a long line of top British and U.S. acts down under. The Australian dollar also is singing the right tune.

The Australian currency has risen by close to 10% to average around 76 U.S. cents in recent weeks from a low in March of just above 70 U.S. cents.

Concert promoters say the strong local currency allows big-name foreign acts to charge ticket prices low ...

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Red Jumpsuit tries not to fake it

Red Jumpsuit tries not to fake it

TORONTO - It's just after 6 p.m., and holed up in their RV outside Cleveland's Tower City Amphitheater, the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus are quickly trying to plot the quickest route into Ontario.

Fresh from the July release of their big-label debut - "Don't You Fake It" - the twentysomething quintet recently wrapped a stint on this summer's Warped Tour, while garnering some coveted airtime on MTV stateside (for the single "Face Down"). And, earlier in the month, the upstarts found themselves squaring off against rock's fastest rising stars - 30 Seconds To Mars, Angels & Airwaves, the Pink Spiders, IMA Robot - to perform atop New York's Radio City Music Hall for its Fashion Rocks concert.

"Here we are out of nowhere," singer-lyricist Ronnie Winter laughs over the phone. "(At Warped) There were bands that have been around forever and then there was us.

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Upcoming music events

Upcoming music events Concerts Dixie Hummingbirds, gospel; Keystone Theatre, 601 Main St., Towanda, Pa. 7:30 p.m. $12-$15 (group discounts available). 570-268-ARTS. DJS, ETC. Barbecue and Blues, with food from M&D Deli; Lucky's, 77 Main St., Cortland. 6 p.m. 756-4068. Freddie Mendoza, Snidely's, 120 Vestal Ave., Endicott. Karaoke, top 40; Parkview Hotel, 197 Main St., New Milford, Pa. 9 p.m. Karaoke & Dance with the Love Bug, top 40; Squiggy's, 34 Chenango St., Binghamton. Karaoke by Phoenix Productions, Mr. Double D's "New" Rock B Tavern, 157 Conklin Ave., Binghamton. 8 p.m. Karaoke with Kelly Rose, Big Daddy O's, 326 Jennings St., Endicott. Open Mic Hosted by Mel, Blue Frog Coffeehouse, Marketplace Mall, 64 Main St., Cortland.

Alternatively Minded: Goodbye to a legend

Alternatively Minded: Goodbye to a legend This weekend I made a pilgrimage of sorts to New York City. Although I saw the Dahli Lama, he had absolutely nothing to do with my spiritual experience. I was on my way to a building that holds a place in any rock fan's heart, especially the punk rocker's. My destination was 315 Bowery, on the lower east side. The home of underground rock, the birthplace of American punk rock, I was on my way to CBGB's! Chances are, even if you've never heard of the club, you've seen it on some sort of t-shirt. Hilly Kristal started CBGB's, which stands for country bluegrass blues, in 1974. Quickly realizing country bluegrass blues, were in short supply, he added the line OMFUG, standing for "other music for uplifting gormandizer." To clarify a gormandizer is "a vicarious eater of something", which is this case, seems to be music.

An Aus-some foursome

An Aus-some foursome When it comes to music, you'd probably associate a gyroscope more with a gyrating Shakira than a rock band. But when you're 16-year-old upstarts with aspirations of "making it big" in the music industry, any name probably sounds cool. Rob Nassif and friend Zoran Trivic got together one day and decided to make music. "I was not a musician. I was interested in music at school and played the trombone in the school band. But I could barely play a drum beat and it was Zoran who actually taught me a few things. "Then, in 1997, we started practising and playing at several parties. Daniel Sanders and Brad Campbell got on board soon after and Gyroscope was born." That was the simple genesis of a rock band that has had extensive tours as well as success in their home country and abroad. A highlights of their career was touring alongside US bands Dashboard Confessional and Blink 182.

Robbie Robertson: Interview with a rock 'n' roll legend

Robbie Robertson: Interview with a rock 'n' roll legend

CLEVELAND - Robbie Robertson, Mohawk, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland as a member of The Band in 1994. He is one of only a few Natives who have been so inducted. His musical arrangements, songwriting style and unique approach to recording albums became legendary in rock 'n' roll history.

In the mid-'60s, Robertson and his Canadian crew were the band that took Bob Dylan from a folk singer on the acoustic guitar to ''going electric,'' a term used by the music critics back then. Dylan's electrified music brought new depth to rock 'n' roll and united country and rock music by recording in Nashville. Dylan, a poet/lyrist, was inducted the Rock and Roll of Fame in 1998.

Robertson was able to speak with Indian Country Today the day he was scheduled to appear at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of its ''Inductee Lecture Series.''



ICT: Can you tell me about when you first got started in music? What were the Native influences?

Robertson: It started at Six Nations when I was a young kid.

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