Hip-hop collective (in the broadest sense of the word) N.A.S.A - aka Sam Spiegel and Ze Gonzales - are on their way to Australia in June. The duo roped in such a wide array of  artists for their recent debut Spirit of Apollo that it almost doesn't qualify as hip-hop - as their detractors waxed when it was released. We're talking a cast including - *deep breath* - Kanye West, David Byrne, Lykke Li, Santogold, Karen O, MIA, Chuck D, Tom Waits, Ghostface Killah, Gift of Gab, Z-Trip, Method Man, RZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Kool Keith, Amanda Blank, George Clinton, Spank Rock, Nick Zinner, John Frusciante, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Qbert, The Cool Kids, and DJ AM. None of whom will be coming with them I assume.

What does the live show hold then? Apparently the duo will be taking to the stage in "orange space suits with dueling pairs of decks and a massive visuals supplied by the likes of Obey’s Shepard Fairey and Marcel Dzama. Their blazing live show fuses genres and influences as wildly as their album and has them being heralded as the next Girl Talk meets A-trak crossed with Pnau." 

Uh, that's not saying whole lot guys. It's like being heralded as "the next MGMT meets Passion Pit crossed with Empire of the Sun". Much of a muchness, really.

N.A.S.A

SYDNEY.  - Thursday 4th - Oxford Arts Factory
with Killa Queenz, Bad Ezzy & Bad Wives
 
MELBOURNE - Friday 5th - The Esplanade Hotel
with Dave Nada, Scatterblog Crew & Yacht Club DJ's  
 
PERTH - Saturday 6th - Shape
with Chris Fortier & special guests
 
CANBERRA - Sunday 7th - AIS Arena
Winter Warehouse Festival

www.myspace.com/nasa
 
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MONSTER MAGNET

Sludge-rock kings Monster Magnet are on their way to Australia for the first time in ten years. The New Jersey band are arguably one of the more influential heroes of psychedelic stoner rock and they come to town behind their 2007 album 4-Way Diablo.

SATURDAY 5 SEPTEMBER - BRISBANE, THE HI-FI – 18+
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849, www.thehifi.com.au, Rockinghorse Records & Kill The Music

SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER - SYDNEY, METRO – Lic All Ages
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849 Metro Theatre Box Office 02 9550 3666 & Utopia

TUESDAY 8 SEPTEMBER - MELBOURNE, BILLBOARD – 18+
www.ticketek.com.au 132 849 www.billboardthevenue.com.au & Missing Link

THURSDAY 10 SEPTEMBER - PERTH, METROPOLIS FREMANTLE – 18+
 www.bocs.com.au, 78 Records, Mills Records & Planet

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 29 MAY

www.myspace.com/monstermagnet

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PHOENIX

I was late to the V Festival in 2007. All anyone could talk about was how good Frenchies Phoenix were. (If Thomas Mars' vocals are even a touch as soulful as they are on record, I can understand why.) I intend to rectify this glitch in scheduling come August.

Extra good support in Sydney's Catcall

Melbourne - Palace Theatre
Monday August 3

Sydney - Enmore Theatre
Wednesday August 5

Tickets go on sale next Friday, May 29.

Go to Ticketmaster.com.au (Melbourne) or Ticketek.com.au (Sydney) for further details, including your chance to access tickets before May 29 during the online pre-sales!

www.myspace.com/wearephoenix

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AUGIE MARCH

Augie March take off on a massive national tour under the proviso of unearthing some of the hidden gems in their vast catalogue. A notion sure to set the fanboys a tremoring, particularly considering the band have that rarest of back catalogues - excellent songs.

Tickets on sale: Friday May 15 2009

Thursday 2 July   National Hotel   Geelong   VIC
www.nationalhotel.com.au   191 Moorabool Street, GEELONG
Tickets: $30+bf pre-sales / $35 door from www.oztix.com.au & the venue (03) 5229 1211
Doors: 8pm
NOTE: Special guests for this show only: Ned Collette & Firewalker (Gareth & Dan from The Drones will not be playing this show)

Saturday 4 July   Governor Hindmarsh Hotel   Adelaide   SA
www.thegov.com.au   59 Port Road, HINDMARSH
Tickets: $35+bf pre-sales / $40 door from the venue (08) 8340 0744  www.thegov.com.au / Moshtix outlets  www.moshtix.com.au / Venue*Tix outlets  www.venuetix.com.au
Doors: 7.30pm

Thursday 9 July   Coolangatta Hotel   Coolangatta   QLD
www.thecoolyhotel.com.au   Marine Parade, COOLANGATTA
Tickets: $30+bf pre-sales / $35 door from www.oztix.com.au & Oztix outlets
Doors: 8pm

Friday 10 July   Joe’s Waterhole   Eumundi   QLD
www.musicliveatjoes.com   Memorial Drive, EUMUNDI
Tickets: $30 from the venue (07) 5442 8144 / Backbeat Records, Maroochydore / Shake It Up Music, Nambour
Doors: 7.30pm

Saturday 11 July   The Hi-Fi   Brisbane   QLD
www.thehifi.com.au/brisbane   125 Boundary Street, WEST END
Tickets: $35+bf pre-sales / $40 door from www.thehifi.com.au  1300-THEHIFI (8434434) / Rockinghorse Records / Butter Beats / Sunflower Pacific Fair / Disasterpiece / Mosh Pit Music / Kill The Music / Gooble Warming / Rockaway Records
Doors: 8pm

Thursday 16 July   Cambridge Hotel   Newcastle   NSW
www.yourcambridge.com   789-791 Hunter St, NEWCASTLE WEST
Tickets: $30+bf pre-sales / $35 door from www.bigtix.com.au / Moshtix: 1300 GET TIX (438 849)  www.moshtix.com.au
Doors: 8.30pm

Friday 17 July   Metro Theatre   Sydney   NSW
www.metrotheatre.com.au   624 George Street, SYDNEY
Tickets: $35+bf pre-sales / $40 door from the venue (02) 9550 3666  www.metrotheatre.com.au / Ticketek: 132 849  www.ticketek.com.au
Doors: 8pm

Saturday 18 July   ANU Bar   Canberra   NSW

www.myspace.com/anubar   University Avenue, CANBERRA
Tickets: $30+bf pre-sales / $35 door from Ticketek: 132 849  www.ticketek.com.au
Doors: 8pm

Friday 7 August   Moorilla Estate   Berriedale   TAS
Saturday 8 August   Moorilla Estate   Berriedale   TAS

www.moorilla.com.au   655 Main Road, BERRIEDALE
Tickets: $35+bf pre-sales / $40 door from the venue (03) 6277 9900  www.moorilla.com.au / TSO Box Office, Federation Concert Hall, 1 Davey St, Hobart  1800 001 190
Doors: 6.30pm

Friday 14 August   Theatre Royal   Castlemaine   VIC
www.theatreroyal.info   30 Hargraves Street, CASTLEMAINE
Tickets: $30+bf pre-sales / $35 door from the venue (03) 5472 1196  www.theatreroyal.info
Doors: 7pm (dinner), 8pm (show only)

Saturday 15 August   Meeniyan Town Hall   Meeniyan   VIC
www.lyrebirdartscouncil.com.au   South Gippsland Hwy, MEENIYAN
Tickets: $35 (members) & $40 (non-members) from lyrebirdarts@hotmail.com  (03) 5664 9239 / Gecko Studio Gallery, Fish Creek / Main Street Revelation, Foster / Bair Music, Leongatha
Doors: 7pm

Thursday 20 August   Settlers Tavern   Margaret River   WA
www.myspace.com/settlerstavernmusic   114 Bussell Highway, MARGARET RIVER
Tickets: $30+bf pre-sales / $35 door from www.heatseeker.com.au / Beach Life, Margaret River / Blue 62, Busselton
Doors: 9pm

Friday 21 August   Fly By Night   Fremantle   WA
Saturday 22 August   Fly By Night   Fremantle   WA

www.flybynight.org   1 Holdsworth Street, FREMANTLE
Tickets: $35+bf pre-sales / $40 door from www.heatseeker.com.au / the venue (08) 9430 5976  www.flybynight.org / Star Surf, Perth / Planet, Mt Lawley / Mills Records, Fremantle
Doors: 8pm

Thursday 27 August   Karova Lounge   Ballarat   VIC
www.karovalounge.com   Cnr Field & Camp Streets, BALLARAT
Tickets: $30+bf pre-sales / $35 door from www.oztix.com.au & the venue (03) 5332 9122
Doors: 8.30pm

Saturday 29 August   Forum Theatre   Melbourne   VIC
www.marrinertheatres.com.au   Cnr Russell & Flinders Streets, MELBOURNE
Tickets: $35+bf pre-sales / $40 door from Ticketek: 132 849  www.ticketek.com.au
Doors: 8pm

www.myspace.com/augiemarch