The last time The Killers graced Australia it was to promote their debut album Hot Fuss, with which they were beginning to climb the ladder of rock and roll success. Two and a half years on, their sophomore album Sam's Town has propelled them to superstar status and it was with energy and gusto that they ripped Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion to shreds last night.

The crowd (see average age: 14) was highly enthused and cheered at any signal of activity onstage, and so it was with warm reception and open arms that they welcomed the opening act, Sydney’s own…

While waiting for the bands to come on at Muse the other night, I couldn't help but eavesdrop on a conversation going on next to me within a group of indie kids. It went a little like this…

Would you rather see Jeff Buckley support The Beatles, Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd support The Beatles or The Arcade Fire support Radiohead?

Now, I love Pink Floyd, but post-Barrett is my favourite (I never got into their stuff with him in the band) so that cancels that option out. Radiohead is my favourite band and The Arcade Fire are…

Muse's much-anticipated return to Australian shores after two and a half years exploded with a bang at the Hordern Pavilion last night, with a fun-filled, pure rock and roll evening. Fans could be seen lining up outside the venue from as early as midday, battling the intense heat by tying garbage bags up over the railings to shield themselves from the unforgiving sun.

When the doors finally flew open at 7pm, it was a rush for a) overpriced and oversized merch and b) a spot at the front of the mosh pit, and bodies were flung everywhere as half…

Fall Out Boy, kings of MTV pop-punk. Legions of pre-pubescents falling at their feet. Bass playing penises flung all over the internet. Multi-millionaires thanks to their often witty, always self-pitying lyrics and upbeat, polished sound. After the commercial success of 2005's From Under the Cork Tree, it was anyone's guess what they would next come up with.

And here it is - Infinity on High. The title, a Vincent Van Gogh quote, blows its expectations up to something pretentiously avant-garde and profound - however, in reality IOH is just a good, clean pop-punk album, breaking no rules…

Last night the Boys of Summer tour hit Sydney's Manning Bar in the biggest way possible. With a stellar lineup boasting Australian metalcore giants I Killed The Prom Queen as well as Misery Signals, The Getaway Plan and In Fiction, it was what Drum Media magazine called the "gig of the week". However, my own personal reason for going had nothing to do with metalcore, hardcore or anything-core really - Chicago's finest pop-punk outfit, Spitalfield, were also included in the lineup, and it was with high spirits that I headed to the Manning.

Spitalfield are a grossly…

From the ashes of Blink 182 comes +44 and When Your Heart Stops Beating, an album bursting with newfound maturity, musical integrity and a slight hint of the past.

Tears were shed and hearts were broken in early 2005 when legendary pop-punk band Blink 182 called it quits after more than a decade of masturbation, fucking dogs in the arse and debating the existence of aliens. Much like the aftermath of the split of At The Drive-In, two bands were formed from the ashes – Tom Delonge's new project Angels & Airwaves and +44, featuring Mark Hoppus…

Brand New have come a long way from the band who yelled “don’t apologise/I hope you choke and die” back in 2001. Their 2003 sophomore effort Deja Entendu saw them blitz into the music scene, reaching #63 on the Billboard charts that year. The maturity evident within Jesse Lacey’s heartfelt lyrics and the rest of the band’s layered and exquisite harmonies had fans and critics alike eating out of the palm of the young band’s hand, and, hand in hand with the release of nine album demos in January 2006, this meant that the release of the band’s third…

Today I picked up my copy of Brand New's new album The Devil and God Are Raging Inside me after a long, long, long wait. As soon as I got home I put it on, whipped out a notebook and pen and wrote dot points on each song.

So these are my initial thoughts (some of which don't make sense because they were written down with other related things in mind - such as random lyrics which reminded me of other things). Also, the last few songs are extremely undetailed because I was falling asleep by that stage (not…

List your top ten and answer.

1 Ben Folds
2 Radiohead
3 Brand New
4 Snow Patrol
5 Taking Back Sunday
6 Death Cab for Cutie
7 Ben Folds Five
8 The Academy Is...
9 Mae
10 Oasis

How many times have you seen 4 live?
None, unfortunately, and I just missed out on tickets to see them perform in February! Not impressed.

What is your favourite song by 7?
As cliche as it is, Evaporated. Gets me every time.

What is a good memory you have considering the music of 10?
Wonderwall has been one of my favourite…

For ages now I've been anticipating the new Brand New release. After falling crazily in love with Deja Entendu in 2003 and having Brand New propelled to favourite band status, any mention of The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me brought on shivers, shakes and extreme excitement.

Of course I'd heard the demos which were released earlier in the year, and, like everyone else, noticed a change in direction - perhaps a more The Smiths take on things. Regardless of my excitement over the demos, I decided to try not to download anything, not even any leaks that were…