5 Questions in 5 Minutes: Blastasfuk Grindcore, WeEmptyRooms and Animal House

Alright; a new regular feature. We sling 5 questions at a range of underground labels, distros, venues and bands to get their take on the best and worst of 2011, and their outlook on the health of underground music in Australia.

This edition features:

• Roby of all-blasting, all-grinding Melbourne underground label Blastasfuk Grindcore (and also the fucking incredible The Kill).
• Jem of Melbourne underground label and promoter WeEmptyRooms (also of DEAD, Inappropriate Tough Guy Behaviour and many others).
• Joey of the Adelaide-based underground venue Animal House (who also happens to play in Hydromedusa and Prisonbitch).

5 Questions with Roby, Blastasfuk Grindcore (Melbourne)

1. Favourite releases in 2011 so far?

   Wadge - Grindcore Lu'au on Grindcore Karaoke. Lucifer D Larynx and the Satanic Grind Dogs of Death 7" 666 EP on Must Play Fast Records.

2. Most anticipated upcoming release?

   Wadge - Discography CD. Roskopp - Mutation Voodoo, Deformity or Disease CD.

3. Best live show of 2011?

   Noisear and The Communion at Shea Stadium, New York.

4. Is the outlook for underground Australian music dandy or doomed? Why?

   Doomed. Way too many trendy she males floating about. All image and fuck all good bands.

5. Complete this sentence: _______ will save the Australian underground music scene.

   Robert Doyle will save the Australian underground music scene.

   Check out Blastasfuk!

5 Questions with Jem, WeEmptyRooms (Melbourne)

1. Favourite releases in 2011 so far?

   Unstoppable Death Machines cassette (self released).

2. Most anticipated upcoming release?

   Vaz - Chartreuse Bull.

3. Best live show of 2011?

   Total Fest in Missoula, Montana, USA. In Australia - every time Wicked City play.

4. Is the outlook for underground Australian music dandy or doomed? Why?

   The outlook is great. We have great bands and most of them know we can only do it for the love here and will never make it big. But people need to stop moving to Melbourne so the other scenes can grow too! Melbourne is not the be all and end all.

5. Complete this sentence: _______ will save the Australian underground music scene.

   People who go to live shows will save the Australian underground music scene.

   Check out WeEmptyRooms!

5 Questions with Joey, Animal House (Adelaide)

1. Favourite releases in 2011 so far?

   Graveyard - Hisingen Blues and Royal Headache - LP. There are clearly heaps more but this is all I can think of off the top of my head.

2. Most anticipated upcoming release?

   Pusha T - Fear of God II and Space Bong's new album (when it's Chinese-Democracy-like extended editing stage wraps up).

3. Best live show of 2011?

   I played show with Hydromedusa a few days after new years in the East Gippsland forests. That was one of the strangest gigs I've ever played but it was incredibly well received. Plus we were in one of the most beautiful places in Australia, drinking heavily and with good people. Seeing Earthless a few days before that in Geelong was also mind-blowing.In terms of Animal House shows: Stolen Youth's 'last show before Europe' gig was incredible. We maxed the place out with just under 250 people. Other notable gigs were Iron Lung, Fleshworld + The Zingers, Extortion.. Can't narrow it down, I've had too much fun this year.

4. Is the outlook for underground Australian music dandy or doomed? Why?

   That question is HUGE. Music will always exist. People will always write it. Individuals that are into live music will always encourage artists to perform. It'll go up and down definitely in terms of how enjoyable it is for bands to play live and how easily it is to pull numbers. Venues in Adelaide can be hard to come by, and barely anyone really gives a fuck about organising anything for themselves.I am confident however that no amount of tumblr, destroy all lines clubs, dub step parties or inner-city noise restrictions will be able to kill off Adelaide any time soon. A lot of people are getting their shit together and making interesting things happen. This isn't just people writing cool music, it's people who are booking shows, who are endorsing the idea of watching a band on a Saturday night. I respect people who get over themselves, realise Adelaide is very small and therefore don't bother trying to acknowledge any clicky scene. Instead they support the idea a musical community, where people engage with all sorts of individuals, helping each other in sharing venues/spaces/equipment.

5. Complete this sentence: _______ will save the Australian underground music scene.

   Giving all your money to ANIMAL HOUSE will save the Australian underground music scene.

   Check out Hydromedusa!

That's it for this edition. Plenty more to come. Running count: 1 doomed, 2 dandy.