Welcome to Wolfshaw Academy!

[Ms Alista Wyman]

Cards are the wizard’s version of CDs; almost completely flat and the size and shape of a regular playing card, Cards are made by various bands and companies, just like CDs. They are operated with a wand and sold in wizard music shops. Headphones are sold for them and can be plugged in to a tiny port in the bottom right-hand corner of the Card.

I can’t take credit for Cards; the original idea comes from a player over at Vicinoalmare. The character’s name is Leana Dorani.


Please post any bands below.

[Kate Harper]

My two from old!WS

The Talsham

Style: Indie-pop-rock-alternative

Members:
Adrian Anderson - Lead vocals
James Connolly - Keyboard, back-up vocals
Rick Harris - Lead guitar
Liam James - Bass guitar
Stephen James - Drums

Info: The Talsham formed between three teenagers in 1995, broke up in 1998 and reformed again in 2001 with the addition of twins Liam and Stephen James. This was probably a good thing, as the first single they released after reforming went straight to number one. They are very left-wing - their song Rat, on their fourth album, is said to be a criticism about the Muggle Prime Minister. Original 'three-piece' Talsham cards are a rarity now, although the second one, Strange Juxtaposition, has since been re-released. Also, they co-exist easily between the wizarding and Muggle worlds - a lot of their political commentary can apply to either the the Muggle government or the Ministry of Magic. At their concerts, wizarding fans can ask for Cards instead of CDs, recieving it with a temporary glamour on it to disguise it as a CD.

Cards:
The Talsham - 1996
Strange Juxtaposition - 1998
Everywhere But Here - 2001
If It Were Real - 2004
Utopia And The Black Orchids In The Sky - 2007

Notable songs:
Too Many - 1996
Why Did You - 1998
Strange Juxtaposition - 1998
Dragonblood - 2001
Everywhere But Here - 2001
Feel - 2001
Sandlewood - 2001
If It Were Real - 2004
Rat - 2004
The Mara - 2004
The Edge Of Destruction - 2007
See How They Run - 2007
Escape Velocity - 2007



Too

Style: Rock

Members:
Mark Mendleson - Guitar, lead vocals
Tristan Banner - Drums, back-up vocals

Info: 'Too', as its name implies, is a two part rock back (so Mark's dyslexic, okay?). It's been around for a couple of years, has a small but devoted fan base, and regularly perform at Taylor Square in Sydney. Like The Talsham, they are both Muggle and wizard - literally! (Mark's a Muggle-born wizard, Tristan's purely Muggle.)

Cards:
Duology - 2003
Music Of The Day - 2005

Notable songs:
This Life - 2003 - One of the more rock-y songs, This Life features a blistering guitar solo from Mark.
Do You Love Me - 2003 - More pop-like than other songs, Do You Love Me is a mystery to Too fans - not the highest regarded, and yet it's the highest-selling single.
Today - 2005 - Uncharacteristically dreamlike and almost subdued, Today takes the point of view of the sun looking down at the world.
Everything's Really Excellent - 2005 - One of the most optimistic songs in modern rock, this song features upbeat lyrics and music and is immensely dancable.
Tell Me Why - 2005 - Another shouty song, Tell Me Why demands an answer for the unjustices of modern life.

This post has been edited by Kate Harper on May 9 2008, 09:26 PM

[Mr Trent Manning]

My lot from Old!WS. For the purposes of this, I've said that Australia has something called the Australian Wizard Wireless Network, AWWN, that is pretty much a rip off of the British version.

Merlin’s Pond

Style: Heavy rock verging on metal

Members:

- Gary White: Drums
- Ty Falkland: Lead guitar
- Sean White: Bass guitar + lead vocals
- Travis Ford: Rhythm guitar + back up vocals
- Jimmy Mathews: Keyboard + back up vocals


Info:

An Australian band that has been very recently discovered, and that are still trying to get played on the AWWN. Formed in 2003 when two brothers and their best friends started writing songs together.

Songs to date:

*My Inamorata
*Fly Away On My Nimbus
*December Rose
*Fallen Star
*Rumour
*All Out To Get You
*Explosive
*Secrets Of Your Mind
*Pointless Wishes
*Weirdstone
*Hate

*

My Hygroscopic

Style: Punk rock

Members:

- George Anwar: Backing vocals + bass guitar
- Michaela Sturt: Lead vocals
- Ebony Ingram: Lead guitar
- Lewis Sampson: Drums
- Franz (Francis) Claw: Rhythm guitar

Info:

American Band, called ‘Hygro’ by fans. They started up three years ago, but they've been famous for only one.

Songs to date:

*Picking Off The Skin
*Brown Eyed Bastard
*Pink Robed Guy
*My Soul
*Hardcore
*Vitrified Heart
*Butterfly
*Purple Haze
*Burning Stars
*Hypothermia Of The Heart
*Summer Ashes
*The Cry Of The People (their newest - came out in January)

*

Dragon's Breath

Style: Heavy metal

Members:

- Jack-James Ashbury: Drums
- Leon Young: Lead guitar + back up vocals
- Neal Queen: Rhythm guitar + lead vocals
- Dean Kilpatrick: Bass Guitar + back up vocals

Info:

Formerly known as ‘Avada ma Dada.' They were told to change two years ago. They’ve been on the music scene for around five years, but are currently enduring a break as their lead singer (Neal Queen) was put in jail for attacking a police officer, drunk. Their newest song ‘Baton’ was written when Queen was on probation.

Songs to date:

*Gargantuan Fever (Very old, very rare)
*Golden Wand
*Young Hopes
*Life Incarnate
*Killer
*Baton

((They’ve done more, only most famous shown.))

*

The Bandana Brothers

Style: Country rock

Members:

- Mick: Drums + back up vocals
- John: Bass guitar + vocals
- Thomas: Lead guitar + vocals

Info:

The three Perkins brothers have been playing together since they were 14. They were signed in 1998, and are all in their forties. They're an Australian band, and are called 'Banana Brothers' by haters.

Songs to date:

*Hawaiian Masquerade
*Joke’s On You
*Lilies In The Shade
*Masterpiece
*Lovely Leah
*Sailboat

*

Wicca

Style: Harmony

Members:

- Holly Owen: Lead vocals
- Heather Shane: Vocals
- Amber Pine: Vocals

Info:

New age, hippy group, that sing a capella. They're American and have been on the scene for about six months, although they started singing together seven years ago.

Songs to date:

*A Woman Joined
*Spirit Of The Manticore
*Honeydew
*Firewhisky
*Hug A Kid (written for international children's day, 2004)
*Bangle Jingle

*

Red Light Syndrome

Style: Pop rock

Members:

- Sandry Clay: Lead vocals + guitar
- Troy Freemore: Bass guitar + backing vocals
- Lucie Vray: Drums

Info:

This American band formed a year ago and were an instant hit. They're super famous, a household name.

Songs to date:

*Innocence Can Never Last
*Following A Shadow
*Drenched In Red
*Exile
*Paradise Kisses
*Strandee

*

Whipped Sunday

Style: Pop

Members:

- Adam Bay: Lead vocals
- Leaf Shay (female): Back up vocals + lead guitar
- Blaze Dirks: Drums

Info:

Blaze Dirks is probably the most sighed after guy in music. Unfortunately for his fans, he has a wife and two kids. They're an All American Pop group with little musical sense, but people continue to buy their Cards just for Blaze.

Cards to date:

* Karma
* Nameless
* Life Goes on
* Friday
* Light
* Upside Down

*

Butterfears

Style: N/A – does parodies of other songs

Members:

- Mr. Salmon: Piano + lead vocals
- Adam Adamson: Drums
- Jimmy Dwight: Lead guitar + back up vocals

Info:

It is considered a privilege to get your song ‘re-done’ by the Butterfears, and many new bands dream of achieving this. It usually boosts the sales of the original song, so hardly anyone objects when the Butterfears approach them. They’ve been taking the mickey of songs for over five years. Sometimes their lyrics can be crude, so some parents have strongly objected to many of their songs, particularly 'Beholden Wand.'

Songs to date:

*Ma-car (Karma, by Whipped Sunday)
*Wedged in Bed (Drenched in Red, by Red Light Syndrome)
*Beholden Wand (Golden Wand, by Dragon's Breath)

*

Shay

Style: Pop emo

Members:

- Shay: Vocals, piano + guitar

Info: Irish man aged twenty five, who's been singing for around four years. Known for emotive lyrics and one word titles.

Songs to date:

*Hole
*Shots
*Hounded
*Lake
*Ice
*Rested
*Away

*

Word Regurg.

Style: Pop verging on emo.

Members:

- Tobe: Lead vocalist + guitarist
- Franky: Keyboards + backup vocalist
- Jason: Drums

Info:

Known for their excellent lyrics, they are an Australian band who was signed only three months ago.

Songs to date:

*Kidding Me On
*Frozen Dream
*In The Wake Of You

This post has been edited by Mr Trent Manning on Mar 29 2007, 08:52 PM

[Kate Harper]

The Sisters

Style: Androgynous glam rock

Members:
Starlight Moon, lead singer, lead guitar (real name: Daniel Dahlman)
Elliluula Lalalana, other lead singer, bass guitar (real name: Sofia Hakkinen)
Hash Puppy, drums (real name: Adam Daley)
Tommy Tomorrow, keyboard, stylophone (real name: Tom Wright)

Info: Formed in 1998 in Melbourne, it took The Sisters five years, two EPs and a first album to get airplace on the AWWN. Harking back to androgynous glam and described as "Ziggy Stardust on Fizzing Whizzbees", they became known as an overnight success (critics chose to ignore that it took half a decade for the AWWN to play their music, and that it took a lot of hard work and a massive cult following to get there). They hit their peak in 2005, but a mediocre album (their fourth in four years) tarnished their reputation somewhat. However, critics are talking favourably about their newest album...

Cards: The Sisters Of Rock (EP - 1998)
Break It Down (EP - 1999)
Hedonist (2002)
Children of Tomorrow (2003)
Brown Green Blue Black (2004)
Sisterhood (2005)
Return Of The Keyboard Axe (2007)

Notable Songs: So Rock (1998)
Break It Down (1999)
Wandsucker (1999)
Hedonism (2002)
Avada You (2002)
Children of Tomorrow (2003)
The Only Ones (2003)
The Horror Of Glam Rock (2003)
Syzergy (2004)
Friday (2004)
Blue On Black (2004)
The Infinite (2005)
Fizzing Whizzbee (2005)
Can't Keep A Good Man Down (2007)
Wandsucker (2007 version)

[Rebecca Poe]

Because all teenagers need something seriously angsty and emo once in a while.


No Other End

Style: Alternative rock/metal/emo

Members:
Leo Davison: Vocals
Daniel Ferreti: Lead guitar
Adam Culkin: Drums
Terry Nelson: Bass guitar
Brad Tennant: Vocals, guitar, keyboards/piano

Info: The members of No Other End did not start out as friends, and actually argue more than they agree, making for some interesting and notable incidents in public and on the stage. They’re the type of band that parents don’t want in the house due to their loud screaming, but teenagers love to listen to when they hate everything else in the world and feel that nobody understands them but the guy screaming about inner pain and being at the edge of your rope. Their first album was named after the band, the reason for the title of the second album is still unknown, and they have just recently come out with a new one that was originally called “Pray to the Spider”, but they were told to change it, and so shortened it to simply “Spider”.

Cards:
No Other End (2003)
Fourteen Years (2005)
Spider (2007)

Notable Songs:
(To come later...)


- - -



Rue Gothica

Style:Alternative rock

Members:
Jude McMenamie: Lead vocals, piano, keyboard
Grayson Ellis: Lead guitar
Ian Chen-Mack: Drums, vocals, percussion
Morgan Stewart: Guitar
Kieran Sawden: Bass guitar

Info: The Evanescence group of the wizarding world, Rue Gothica was started eight years ago by Jude McMenamie and Grayson Ellis. The two were best friends in school, going through the tough teenage years, and together wrote numerous poems and songs which they then edited for each other, sharing the credit when they created their band, picking up more members along the way. Since they began, they have grown rapidly in popularity amongst wizarding teenagers, as their lyrics are extremely emo and express the dramatic, sometimes suicidal pain and depression that young people go through. Despite all being in their twenties now, they have continued with this theme in all their songs and music. They are known for their long and angsty album titles especially, and thus surprised everyone in 2005 when they came out with their simple album 'Cut'.

Cards:
Borderline (1999)
Silence Comes Full Circle (2000)
Guilty Innocent Pleasures (2002)
An Epitaph of Derailed Narcissism (2004)
Cut (2005)
How the Other Side Lives (2007)

Notable Songs:
(To come later...)

This post has been edited by Rebecca Poe on Apr 10 2007, 03:01 PM

[Kate Harper]

Pachanoi

Style: Hippie stoner new age melodic electronic rock

Members: Sean Sorenson - acoustic guitar, wood flute, vocals
Selene Adams - keyboard, percussion, vocals

Info: Pachanoi is an American duo that's been around for a few years. They're very hippie-ish with heavy use of electronica and have their main fanbase in the 'hippie stoner new age' demographic. They're faintly reminiscant of a wizarding cross between Mike Oldfield and Enya. The AWWN rarely plays their music due to the many drug references in their songs, to say nothing of their name.

Cards:
Let's Spend A Lifetime Here (2004)
Tea (2006)

Notable songs:
Let's Spend A Lifetime Here (2004)
Tracer (2004)
Cheering Charm (2004)
The Healing Rug (2006)
Slip In To A Coma (2006)
Peyote (2006)


Shawna Lyall

Style: Pop

Members: Shawna Lyall, vocalist

Info: Shawna Lyall is a pop singer who is beloved of ten-year-old girls. She's blonde, pretty, and her early years were marked with innocence and a love of the colour pink. She started her career as a sixteen-year-old in the summer holidays and went on from there. As of her 2007 album, her style has matured somewhat. Aside from her first Card in 2004, which was released in mid-April, her Cards are traditionally released the weekend before Wolfshaw returns to term. Shawna has had some controversies in her career - her 2005 Card was accused by family groups for being inappropriate for her target market, and she had a well-publicised split with her record company in 2006.

Cards:
Sweet Seventeen (2004)
The Way You Make Me Feel (2005)
Rollercoaster (2006)
Lucia (2007)

Notable songs:
Sweet Seventeen - 2004 - Shawna's first single is bright and bubbly, celebrating turning seventeen and coming of age.
Baby Gurl - 2004 - The most saccharine of Shawna's songs, Baby Gurl is beloved of preteens but despised by nearly everyone else.
The Way You Make Me Feel - 2005 - Another cheerful single, this is an innocent love song.
Honey Honey - 2005 - Known to adults for being laden with innuendo, Honey Honey is considered the continuation of The Way You Make Me Feel.
Rollercoaster - 2006 - A song about the joy of being alive and breathing, Rollercoaster is considered the crossover track of Shawna's first three years, finding fans even outside the genre.
The Sweetest Thing - 2006 - The first consciously maturing track, The Sweetest Thing is sweet without being sappy.
The Hippogriff Of Harmony (for charity) - Christmas 2006 - The first single released off her own independant lable, this is a bland but still high-selling Christmas single.
Bubblegum - 2007 - The obligatory pop track, this is actually a sly dig at recording companies.
Lucia - 2007 - This song takes the voice of Lucia, a teenager whose life has turned badly, and how she saved herself. It's considered to be an allegory both of the Darkness and of religion.
Halcyon Interrupted - 2007 - A melancholy track about the halcyon days of Wolfshaw, and how they were interrupted by the Darkness.

This post has been edited by Kate Harper on Sep 4 2007, 08:50 PM

[Ali Thompson]

I know you've all been waiting for it, so here it finally is!

Season

Style: Alternative Rock

Members:
Pippa Breckan – lead vocals
Zack Sanders – back-up vocals and guitar
Sarah Reynolds – back-up vocals and drums
Joe – bass guitar
Hart Reynolds – piano/any instrument that needs playing

Info: Season is a fairly well-known band but has only been around for a short amount of time. Started in 2004 by twin sisters Hart and Sarah Reynolds, the other band members of Season were found in rather unconventional methods. [Please follow this link to read the exact circumstances in which Season was formed.] The band’s sound changes dramatically for each song and this is often described as both their downfall and their advantage. ‘Kitten Conspiracy’, for example, is an upbeat, punk-rock song which is highly ambiguous and nobody (save the band members) knows what it’s truly about. ‘Satin Dragon’, on the other hand, is a slow and sensual ballad with rhythmic bass that throbs deep inside the listener.

Season has released two Cards but has just completed making their third, titled ‘White Summer’, and featuring two haunting songs about the take-over of Australian wizarding school Wolfshaw. The Card is believed to be their best and thousands of witches and wizards eagerly await its February release.

Cards:
The Llama Won’t Get You (2005)
Fall Back Up (2006)
White Summer (February 2007 release)

Notable Songs:
Yellow Jeans (2005) – Most notable for having absolutely nothing to do with the title whatsoever.

Kitten Conspiracy (2005) – Arguably one of their best songs, it is unclear exactly what this song means; many ascertain that it is about lesbians but it has never been confirmed or denied by the band.

Satin Dragon (2006) – Most notable for its pulsing bass line and sensual lyrics.

Coathanger (2006) – Well known for the subject matter; Breckan takes on the voice of a teenage girl suffering from Anorexia Nervosa and depression.

Follow My Partonus (2006) – A tragically-romantic song about death and love, it is well-remembered for its somewhat haunting tones.

Long Dark Month (2007) – Not officially released yet, this is one of the two songs on White Summer about the Darkness. Varying between gentle but chilling crooning and blood-curdling yells, Season outdo themselves on this poignant and evocative track.

All Fall Down (2007) – Also not released, All Fall Down is an accompaniment to Long Dark Month and is a generally softer track; while Long Dark Month is a track that sends shivers up the spine, All Fall Down brings tears to the eyes; dedicated to the students that died during that time, it’s an unforgettable tribute to a terrible time.

[Damien Groper]

Gemma Stevens

Style: Pop

Members: Gemma Stevens – vocals, piano

Info: Gemma is not widely known, especially out of Australia and New Zealand, but is a Kiwi living in Sydney, trying to get her music career off the ground. She has released one Card, which is quite popular for being put in the ‘pop’ genre. Her voice is light and sweet and her songs are mostly very up-beat, designed to lift people up out of whatever situation has got them down. She has a very pure image but it’s rumoured she has deeper messages in her songs than first thought.

Cards: Straw Hat (2006)

Notable Songs:
- Speak (2006) – About speaking up for what you believe in
- Not Yours to Save (2006) – Very uplifting for women and girls, about standing on their own and helping themselves
- Higher Beauty (2006) – Interestingly, while the title implies the content may be about God, the lyrics actually seem to be about a cherry blossom tree

[Mrs Apollonia Atreides]

Pink Fwooper

Style: Quite obviously the drugged-out rock style of Pink Floyd

Members:
Regulus Walters: Vocals, rhythm guitar
Daniel Daultry: Backing vocals, lead guitar
Sebastian Sizemore: Backing vocals, bass guitar
Cynthia Sizemore: Backing vocals, synth/ keys
Jo McGinniss: Drummer
Frederick White: Percussion
Edmund Douglas: Woodwinds and Brass Instruments

Info:
The band from the U.K. initially began with just the Regulus Walters, Daniel Daultry, Sebastian Sizemore and Jo McGinniss. However, the music they felt drawn to, mostly due to fire whiskey binges and other less than savory practices, required more members. They scoured the towns throughout Britain to find additional members, and happened across a unique trio called Mobilicorpus. This group consisted of a percussionist, woodwind player, and keyboardist. Their manner of playing impressed the inebriated fellows, so they asked the trio to join and “make beautiful mooseek tog ever *hic* ”. The Pink Fwoopers came into existence. Their debut release was greatly lauded, though had to compete with the current hit band, The Weird Sisters. Undaunted, the Fwoopers produced a second release, thought by most to be the beginning of their true sound. None of their songs were under five minutes, and every song blended seamlessly into the next. Their consecutive cards have been recorded the same way, and slowly their fame has grown from the underground to a world-wide following. There most recent release is rumored to be the groups last, as internal strife seems to be gnawing on the group, particularly between Regulus and Daniel. Will they survive? Only time can tell.

Cards:
Darkness Fills the Room (1995)
Another Curse Hits the Wall (1997)
Two-Way Mirror (2000)
Stupefy (2003)
Purple Spotted Hippogriffs (2007)

Notable Songs:
Darkness Fills the Room (1995)
Confunded and Numb (1995)
Another Curse Hits the Wall (1997)
Shine on Silver Patronus (2000)
Muggle (2003)
Sickles (2003)
Time Turner (2007)

This post has been edited by Mrs Apollonia Atreides on May 1 2007, 09:55 PM

[Kate Harper]

Zombie Nuns From Outer Space

Style: Alternative rock

Members:
Cyra Sylvestra - Lead vocals and rubber bands
Hallie Searle - Lead guitar and pogo stick
Hannah Dafford - Drums and theremin
Catherine 'Kitty' Parish - Keyboard and paper bags

Info: Zombie Nuns From Outer Space was formed when four bored pureblood girls decided to get together one summer during the school holidays (they were between their sixth and seventh years). Six months later, their first Card - From The Valley Of The Zombie Nuns - was released.

Releasing many acclaimed and popular cards over their so-far-thirteen-year history and winning the AWRIA Award for Best Rock Release for their 2000 Card, Bright Sodding Purple, the band has remained mysterious, with its four members remaining tight-lipped about their personal lives (if not outright lying to the press).

They claim their influences are, "Milo, the colour orange (take that, bright sodding purple!), octagons and Hallie's fantastic pair of buttocks."

Cards:
From The Valley Of The Zombie Nuns - 1994
Fruit Salad - 1996
Milo Huffing - 1997
Bright Sodding Purple - 2000
Bad Habit - 2002
No More Milk - 2005
Bananas, Bananas, Bananas! - 2007

Notable songs:
Zombie Nuns From Outer Space - 1994
Kick Bottom - 1994
Where The Hell Is Burkina Faso - 1994
I Am The Pineapple - 1996
Banana Banana Pear Apple - 1996
Milky Milk - 1997
Huff - 1997
Octagonal - 2000
Bright Sodding Purple - 2000
Bright F*cking Purple - 2000 (bonus track)
Christmas In April - 2000
What The Hell - 2002
You're Weird - 2002
Shouty Little Man - 2002
The Milk Has Gone All Lumpy - 2005
Sold Out - 2005
BANANA! DUCK! - 2007
Your Photos Came Out Crap - 2007
Wacky Chase Music - 2007
Hallie's Buttocks - 2007 (bonus track)

[Lucy Brennan]

Strawberry

Style: Rock/Alternative Rock/Post-grunge

Members:
Nyx Blaine – lead vocals, guitar
Kew Landry – vocals, guitar
Lauren Dillon – vocals, drums

Info: Nyx, Kew and Lauren all went to Wolfshaw together but only became close friends in their third year; by their fourth they were inseparable and as they went into their fifth year they were eager to find occupations that would let them spend their adult lives together too. It was Nyx who came up with the idea of forming a band; they’d done small concerts (using their favourite bands’ Cards as the actual music) for themselves and friends, so it was really just a step up.

Kew and Lauren got into several disagreements about their instruments, as both played drums; eventually Nyx made Kew learn the guitar to see how she took to it. She fell in love with it immediately and left Lauren to her drum kit.

In their seventh year all three girls were in The Resistance; they stuck together and kept to themselves as much as possible, though they did whatever was asked of them. They were mostly trying to look out for each other and keep safe. Their world was shattered, however, when Kew went missing in the third week. Nyx and Lauren searched for her endlessly but were only reunited with her when the fae were defeated.

The trio had been signed a few months previous to the Darkness, and their debut Card was released in January.

Cards: Do You Want Cream With That? (2007)

Notable Songs:
- Hypnotise (2007) – While known for its unique surreal-yet-rock sound, Hypnotise is best known for the band’s performance, during which strange, warped spells are used to mimic hypnosis.
- Blame it on the Boys (2007) – A cheeky song with an ambiguous meaning, it seems to be about sisterhood and has an addictive beat.
- Nothing Done But You (2007) – A cheeky, sexy song about using a lover like dirt after finding out they’ve been cheating. It’s popular amongst older teenage girls.
- Brick Window (2007) – The most emotional song on the Card, Brick Window was written about their time in the Darkness and the feeling of being trapped. It can also relate to general life, however, as no specifics are mentioned.
- Joy Ride (2007) – Fast with good lyrics and amazing drum solo, Joy Ride is about teenagers rebelling for fun and is a common favourite.

[Lucy Brennan]

Darcy

Style: Rock

Members: Darcy – vocals, guitar

Info: Darcy is a blonde rocker from Sydney’s North Shore; she attended the prestigious Sydney wizarding school Brighton College but moved out of home the day she graduated. She worked as a DJ for a few years while writing her own music, but it wasn’t until 2003 that she got signed. In 2004 her first Card Equilibrium was released, which was well-received by the public. A shortness of female rockers – in the wizarding and Muggle industries – was a large factor in her success, and in 2005 she won the AWRIA Award for Best New Rock Artist and the Award for Single of the Year for her song Reflecting Red. Her second Card came out in December 2006 and in the first two months nearly outstripped Equilibrium in sales.

Although a Half-blood and living almost solely in the magical community, Darcy’s music isn’t restricted to wizards, and she has quite a big following in the Muggle community. She was short-listed for the ARIA awards but after she made a fuss (feeling it unfair that she could be elected for both the Muggle and wizard Australian music awards) she was not a nomination.

Her music manages to stay away from the emo genre while conveying emotion and tough situations people find themselves in. Her sound has been compared to that of Australian Muggle band Killing Heidi’s early music; she takes this as a compliment, as she was a huge fan of theirs.

Cards:
Equilibrium (2004)
Admitted (2006)

Notable Songs:
- Equilibrium (2006) – A fast-paced song about the transition from being a teenager to adulthood, and the balance between the magical and Muggle communities in her life. It has been referred to as a teen anthem by several reviewers.
- Reflecting Red (2004) – Fast, upbeat and with an amazing guitar riff, Reflecting Red has darker, more brutal lyrics than most people tend to realise, as they get distracted by the music. It’s about inner pain and losing everything in your life that means something to you, though only those that truly love Darcy’s music will know this.
- Noxious (2004) – Notable for its dark, vicious music and lyrics, Noxious is a sort of companion piece to Reflecting Red, in that they’re the only truly harsh songs Darcy’s released. Noxious is about outside influence – most often interpreted as a guy - ruining sense of self.
- In My head (2006) – Possibly the only song of Darcy’s that could be called a love song, In My Head retains the fast-paced, rock nature of both her Cards but the lyrics are more on par with a song about love. Or, as Darcy puts it, obsession. It’s her first single off her second Card and has been getting a lot of AWWN play.
- Novelty Boy (2006) – A popular favourite from Darcy’s new Card – and her second single from it – Novelty Boy is fun, loud, fast and epitomises the power women can have over their men.
- Trophy Wife (2006) – This song is a dig at the stereotypical wife old, wealthy men procure; young, pretty and pumped full of collagen, it’s thought that this is a particularly interesting subject for Darcy. For those who aren’t devoted to the singer, however, Trophy Wife is a snarky, witty song with a note-worthy riff.

[Ms Star Streeton]

Sparrow

Style: Classic Rock

Members:
Cyrus Hayden (lead vocals, guitar)
William Troy (guitar)
Bruno Forsterer (vocals, bass)
Otto Boehler (drums)

Info: Considered one of the main-stays of the early days of rock, Sparrow helped to make the genre popular to the wizarding world. They got together in the early 1970s and enjoyed a break-away career. ‘Difference of creative opinion’ lead them to split up in the mid 80s, though they had a brief reunion from 1991-1993. They put out two cards during that time, both of which flopped horribly, and went on one last hurrah tour before disbanding for good, though this time on decent terms.

Cards:
Breakaway Breakthrough (1971)
Into the Land (1973)
The Hanged Man (1974)
Nothing Personal (1975)
Small Oblivion (1976)
Proof of Love (1979)
Disregard the Warnings (1981)
Wear You Out(1983)
The One I Miss (1992)
Superstitions (1993)


Notable Songs:
Skinwalker
Throw Your Life Away
Magic Minds
Got Your Number
The Beauty in the Beast
Sooner or Later
Hex from the Innocent
Empty Paintings
What Lies Beyond the Morning
What If
Woman In White


M.O.A.

Style: Pop Rock

Members:
Frederick Funston
Cecilia Fritz
Alexander Foley
Theresa Fryer

Info: Fans have been trying to guess the meaning behind the band’s name since MOA first put out a Card; the members themselves aren’t talking. First appearing in Austria in 1982, MOA struggled in the pop scene for several years before breaking out with Paper Rocks in 1985. Since, they have gained popularity and are known for an up-beat sound, fast-paced lyrics, a variety of topics, and an unusual ability to remain fresh without ‘selling out’ to their production companies.

Cards:
M.O.A. (EP) (1983)
Under the Broomstick (1984)
Olden Glory (1986)
Peachers (1987)
Spells in the Attic (1989)
Attack of the Elderwood (1990)
Pitch and Sky (1992)
Best of M.O.A. (1992)
Dances with Grindylows (1993)
Dragon-tails (1995)
Inner Children Coming Out (1996)
Repeater Repeated (2000)
Alchemists on Parade (2002)
Cauldrons of Silver (2005)

Notable Songs:
Brothers Flying (1984)
Paper Rocks (1985)
Older by Sweeter (1986)
Critical Hearts (1989)
Sky is the Limit (1989)
Attack! (1990)
Life Twice Fast (1993)
Blood and Brood (1995)
Get On (1996)
Picnic Witches (2000)
Running Wild (2005)


Yellow Bird

Style: J-Rock

Members:
Gaia (Vocals)
Yari (Vocals, Bass)
Gatta (Guitar)
Hanna (Synth)
Hikari (Percussion)

Info: An all female rock-band, Yellow Bird was formed first by Gaia (Yoko Hashimata) and Yari (Michiru Otowa) while they were in college together, adding the other members over the course of the next year. Yari was the only one to successfully finish schooling, as they were ‘discovered’ shortly after adding Hanna to the line up. They have become known lately for putting a lot of English lyrics in their songs, which is a popular trend in J-Rock but gets criticism from the hard-core older fans.

Cards: (All names in italics translated from original Japanese)
Shape of Magic (2003)
High City (2005)
Clouds Go By (2006)

Notable Songs:
Together (2003)
Other Side of Everything (2003)
Doors With No Exit (2005)
Touch (2005)
Glass Half (2005)
Song of Parting (2006)
Great Speed (2006)
Lies of Death (2006)

Patrick Grace

Style: Easy Listening / Blues

Members:
Patrick Grace (Vocals)

Info: Patrick Grace started his career as a club singer in the 60s and slowly gained popularity slowly. He made appearances in several stage productions early in his career and tried to break out in out entertainment avenues, but with limited success. However, once he finally settled in New York, based out of Seventh Heaven, he developed a devoted local fan-base that quickly expanded. Since then he's become a household-name in most places, known for his smooth voice and love songs. He died of an unreleased illness in 2004.

Cards:
The Young of Heart (1979)
Change of Chance (1981)
The Very Best of Patrick Grace (1987)
All of This Past (1990)
(Featured on various compilation albums)

Notable Songs:
Danny
Starlight
Spell Over Me
Someplace To Go
When You Come
Enigma

Little Blue Crunchy Things

Style: Jazz (CafJazz)

Members:
James Dougherty (Piano, Vocals)
West Funk (Electric guitar, back-up Vocals)
Pitt Herington (Flute, Acoustic guitar; by turns)
Theodore Mitchell (Double Bass)
Robert Niven (Sax)
Irvin Payne (Trumpet)
Cassius Peck (Synth)

Info: A popular story among fans, Little Blue Crunchy Things was formed when Pitt Herington was determined to prove that the flute was a 'manly' instrument. He got together Robert Niven and Irvin Payne from his school band and they re-wrote several popular songs of the day for their own instruments. The result was interesting enough that they decided to add West Funk and write their own songs under the name Caffeinated Jumping Beans. They flopped horribly but kept at it, adding James, Theo, and Cassius over the next several years and refining their musical style with each addition. After being 'discovered' they enjoyed a steady, though not stellar, rise to fame.

Little Blue Crunchy Things is self-described as a jazz band, though several people attribute them to the emerging Caffeine Jazz (CafJazz) genre from their native Seattle. Their music fuses elements of free jazz with electronica, pop-rock, and punk and up-beat, off-the-wall lyrics. They are known for producing complex sounds and for going completely improve in the middle of a song at live performances, with varying degrees of success. Cards of their live shows are their most popular.

Cards:
Gravity (1997)
Whomped by a Willow (1999)
Not What You Think (2000) (compilation, with songs from the first two albums and covers of popular songs)
Your Mother Should Have Warned You (2002)
Places I Never Knew I Had (2003)
Born to Loose, Live to Win (2005)
Spatter (2006)

Notable Songs:
Junk Food
Make Me a Virgin
Jumper Hot
Country Boy
Didn't You Want A Monkey
Sunday Morning
Broomsplit
When We're In the Room
Bat-Boogey Boredom