Friday Flash(back) - The Smashing Pumpkins - Aghori Mhori Mei

(Pre) Friday Flash(back)

Multiple line up changes and a new record earlier this month, The Smashing Pumpkins are legendary. I have seen them live once before at Sydney' Hordern Pavillion.

The group hail from Chicago, forming in 1988 by frontman and guitarist Billy Corgan, guitarist James Iha, bassist D'arcy Wretzky and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin.

The Pumpkins had a reunion in 2006, with Corgan being the primary songwriter and sole constant member since its inception. The current lineup consists of Corgan, Chamberlin, and Iha. 

The band's first album, Gish landed in 1991. The album became an underground success. Their second album Siamese Dream, came two years later in 1993, establishing the groups popularity. 

Their third album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, came another two years later in 1995. This record, furthered the band's popularity. Debuting atop the Billboard 200, receiving diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and received critical acclaim.

When I first started listening to Triple J in the late 90's, they released the record, Adore in 1998.

Then in 2000 Machina and Machina II. Following this the group disbanded due to internal conflicts, drug use, and diminishing sales by the end of the 1990s. 

With 30 million albums sold worldwide, the Smashing Pumpkins were among the most critically and commercially successful bands of the 1990s, often cited as a cultural touchstone of Generation X and an important act in the popularisation of alternative rock.

In 2006, Corgan and Chamberlin reconvened to record the band's seventh album, Zeitgeist. After touring throughout 2007 and 2008 with a lineup including new guitarist Jeff Schroeder, Chamberlin left the band in early 2009. 

Later that year, Corgan began a new recording series with a rotating lineup of musicians entitled Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, which encompassed stand-alone singles, EP releases, and two full albums that also fell under the project's scope Oceania in 2012 and Monuments to an Elegy in 2014. 

Chamberlin became a touring member in 2015, before officially rejoining with Iha in 2018. The reunited lineup then released the albums Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun. in 2018 & Cyr in 2020, in addition to Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts across three increments between 2022 and 2023. 

Schroeder departed from the band in October 2023. Following Schroeder's departure, the band's remaining members released their latest album Aghori Mhori Mei at the beginning of this month. This being the groups 13th studio record.

Bread - Guests

Album of the Week - Offical Music Videos

Album of the Week - SOFI TUKKER - {Bread}

 

Northeast Party House

Northeast Party House are one of Australia's best live bands. Next to Confidence Man of course.

Lead by Zach Hamilton-Reeves, the (now) electronic band formed in Melbourne in 2009. The band's first tunes were a little more on the indie side. However now the six piece lean a little more into the rave cave.

That was in full force at the Sydney show at one of my new favourite venues, Liberty Hall. Formerly Max Watts and a few other names, this venue across the road from Sydney's Hordern Pavillion has brilliant sound and friendly staff.

Joining charismatic hot frontman Hamilton-Reeves is, Jack Shoe (guitar), Malcolm Besley (drums), Sean Kenihan (synth), Mitch Ansell (guitar) and Oliver Packard (bass).

The group released their fourth record Enhancer back in May. Featuring hits like Dark Boy and Wish We Could.

I still love Domino's so I was grateful they played that near the end of their awesome set. They gave the crowd tunes from all four records, plus hits like Cranky Boy and their Like a Version, Redbone.

So on Sunday night before the working week begins and I head to Singapore, here are some Northeast Party House highlights.

New dope feature album lands tomorrow. Plus a new Friday Flash(back) commencing Thursday. Until then, LET'S GO!

Friday Flash(back) - Foster the People - Paradise State of Mind

(Pre) Friday Flash(back)

Foster the People released their fourth album, Paradise State of Mind, last Friday.

The indie pop band formed in LA, in 2009. Consisting of founder & frontman Mark Foster, with keyboardist Isom Innis.

Foster founded the band in 2009 after spending several years in Los Angeles as a struggling musician and working as a commercial jingle writer. 

After Pumped Up Kicks became a viral success in 2010, the group received a record deal from Startime International and gained a fanbase through small club shows and appearances at music festivals. 

After releasing their debut album Torches in May 2011, Pumped Up Kicks became a crossover hit on commercial radio in mid-2011 and eventually reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

The record also featured the singles Helena Beat & Houdini. The group received three Grammy Award nominations for Torches and Pumped Up Kicks

After touring for two years in support of Torches, Foster the People released their second album, Supermodel, in March 2014. Preceded by the lead single Coming of Age. 

In July 2017, the band released their third studio album, Sacred Hearts Club, with the addition of Isom Innis and Sean Cimino, both former touring members, to the official lineup. 

From this album, their song Sit Next to Me peaked at number 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA.

Throughout 2018-2021, the band released a number of singles, two EPs and one album reissue. A new single titled Lost in Space was released in May, which was the first single from the new record, Paradise State of Mind.

So ahead of the album streaming tomorrow, get some old (and new) sounds from Foster the People!

Album of the Week - Offical Music Videos

Album of the Week - TELENOVA - {Time Is A Flower}

Friday Flash(back) - Grinspoon - whatever, whatever

(Pre) Friday Flash(back)

Grinspoon will be tomorrow's Friday Flash(back) artist. Honestly after last week's 90's OZ fest, Regurgitator & Jebediah earlier, the Friday Flash(back) has brought back all the music I once listened to on Triple J when I first became music mad.

Originally from Lismore, Grinspoon formed in 1995 and fronted by Phil Jamieson on vocals and guitar with Pat Davern on guitar, Joe Hansen on bass guitar and Kristian Hopes on drums.

That same year, Grinspoon won the Triple J–sponsored Unearthed competition for Lismore, with their post-grunge song Sickfest.

The name Grinspoon was taken from Dr. Lester Grinspoon, an associate professor emeritus of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, who supported marijuana for medical use.

Grinspoon sound changed to more mainstream rock at the release of their 2002 album, New Detention, gaining fans and peaking at No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Charts; similarly, 2007's Alibis & Other Lies also reached No. 2.

The 2004 album, Thrills, Kills & Sunday Pills, which peaked at No. 4, won the 2005 Best Rock Album Award at the ARIA Music Awards.

Back in December 2013, the band members announced an indefinite hiatus to pursue individual projects, although they made a return in earnest in 2017.

This May however, the group released the single Unknown Pretenders, which was written in February 2020. At the same time, they announced the release of their eighth studio album Whatever, Whatever. Which was released last Friday.

Grinspoon are Australian icons. The late 90's, early 2000's Grinspoon were huge on the Aussie tour/festival circuit. So sit back, turn the stereo up, it's Grinners o'clock!

KILL THE DEAD - Guests

Album of the Week - Offical Music Videos

Album of the Week - 3% - {KILL THE DEAD}

Friday Flash(back) RE: Dempsey - Something for Kate

Something for Kate, lead by vocals from Aussie icon Paul Dempsey were a key part of the Aussie music fabric in the 90's.

Forming in 1994, alongside Dempsey, Clint Hyndman and Stephanie Ashworth made up the terrific trio.

Something for Kate have released seven studio albums. The Official Fiction (2003), Desert Lights (2006), Beautiful Sharks (1999), Echolalia (2001), Leave Your Soul to Science (2012) & The Modern Medieval (2020).

Two of their singles have reached the ARIA top 20. Monsters in 2001 & Déjà Vu two years later in, 2003.

The band have received a total of 11 nominations for ARIA Music Awards in 1999, 2001 and 2003. Paul Dempsey has also had a successful solo career, releasing three records from 2009-2016.

Now Paul, is one half of this week's Friday Flash(back), Fanning Dempsey National Park. What a careers, what a group. The Homebake performances, the multiple Hottest 100 entries! Come back tomorrow for part two of this week's deeper look into the Friday Flash(back).

Friday Flash(back) RE: Fanning - Powderfinger

Bernard Fanning has always been the face, voice of Brisbane's Aussie powerhouse group, Powderfinger.

They formed in Brisbane in 1989. From 1992 until their break-up in 2010, the line-up consisted of vocalist Bernard Fanning, guitarists Darren Middleton and Ian Haug, bass guitarist John Collins and drummer Jon Coghill. 

Powderfinger's third studio album Internationalist peaked at No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart in September 1998. 

They followed with four more number-one studio albums in a row: Odyssey Number Five (2000), Vulture Street (2003), Dream Days at the Hotel Existence (2007) & Golden Rule (2009). 

Their top-ten hit singles are My Happiness (2000), (Baby I've Got You) On My Mind (2003) & Lost and Running (2007). 

Powderfinger earned a total of eighteen ARIA Awards, making them the second-most-awarded band, behind Silverchair. 

Ten Powderfinger albums & DVDs certified multiple-platinum, with Odyssey Number Five (their most successful album) achieving eightfold platinum certification for shipment of over 560,000 units.

After the release of their first DVD, These Days: Live in Concert (2004), & the compilation album Fingerprints: The Best of Powderfinger, 1994–2000 (2004), the group announced a hiatus in 2005. 

The June 2007 announcement of a two-month-long nationwide tour with Silverchair, Across the Great Divide tour, followed the release of Dream Days at the Hotel Existence. 

One aim of their Across the Great Divide Tour was to promote the efforts of Reconciliation Australia, and awareness of the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. 

In April 2010, Powderfinger announced that they would be breaking up after their Sunsets Farewell Tour, declaring it would be their last, as they had musically said everything they wanted to say. 

On 13 November 2010, they played their last concert, signifying their disbandment. In November the following year, rock music journalist Dino Scatena and Powderfinger published a biography, Footprints: the inside story of Australia's best loved band.

During Covid lockdowns, on 23 May 2020, the band reformed for a one-off live-streamed charity performance, One Night Lonely.

Friday Flash(back) - Fanning Dempsey National Park - The Deluge

The Necklace - Guests

Album of the Week - Offical Music Videos

Album of the Week - ALLDAY - {The Necklace}

Friday Flash(back) - Empire of the Sun - Ask That God

(Pre) Friday Flash(back)

Empire of the Sun, the duo formed in 2007. Comprised of Luke Steele,(The Sleepy Jackson) & PNAU's Nick Littlemore.

Empire of the Sun's 2008 debut album, Walking on a Dream, brought the duo international success and has been certified double platinum in Australia and gold in the UK.

The album provided a number of internationally charting singles including the title track, which peaked at number ten on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, & We Are the People, which peaked at number fourteen on the UK Singles Chart.

The band's second album, Ice on the Dune, was released in June 2013, while their third album Two Vines was released in October 2016. 

Their fourth album, Ask That God, was released last Friday, following the singles Changes, Music on the Radio, & Cherry Blossom, and also includes their 2023 collaboration  PNAU, AEIOU.

The duo have won a number of Australian music awards, with Walking on a Dream receiving 11 nominations at the ARIA Music Awards of 2009 and winning seven – including Album of the Year. As a live act, they have performed internationally, being known for their flamboyant costumes & elaborate stage sets and wild shows!

Ahead of tomorrow's Friday Flash(back), remember and reconnect with Empire of the Sun!