Dan Condon: Sick Tunes, BIGSOUND 2013

Oh, BIGSOUND. I'm quite simply not ready for you after last year. But you're going to be upon us shortly and there's nothing either of us can do about it.

Time to harden up; there are a lot of hands to shake, beers to drink, laughs to have and, most importantly, bands to see over a short space of time. Between the official BIGSOUND Live program and the parties that happen around it, there is no excuse to not see a billion killer bands.

Of course I could sit here and tell you how you have to see Bloods or Dune Rats or some band who are so totally mining the depths of their brother's Nuggets compilation, but there'll be enough people and blogs to tell you exactly that.

Rather, here are five acts that you might not have heard of or at least haven't seen before that you really should give some attention if you're in Brisbane next week.

THE PAINTED LADIES

Plus One Showcase: Tuesday night @ The Zoo, Home Party: Wednesday evening @ Electric Playground

You might be wondering who the hell The Painted Ladies are, given they're headlining the Plus One Records pre-BIGSOUND bash. It's a project led by Halfway's Luke Peacock, with a whole raft of amazing artists playing the songs of legendary indigenous songwriter Vic Simms.

There's a record in the works that features everyone from Ed Kuepper to Rusty Hopkinson to The Bamboos horn players to Bunna Lawrie and more that I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to write about. I've heard a few songs here and there and it sounds amazing; I'm very pleased to be able to show you the beautiful Living My Life By The Days here, but it's not necessarily indiciative of what the record sounds like.

They are playing the Home party on Wednesday, which features the amazing Shellie Morris (her last album was great) and Cairns youngsters Coldwater Band, who are pretty great and will be better once they drop the vocoder on every song.

ROKU MUSIC

Tym Records Showcase: Wednesday evening @ Tym Guitars

Oh loud, heavy, waves of glorious distortion, wash over us. Maybe Brisbane's best shoegaze band right now (someone will probably punch me for saying that), the members of Roku Music have been playing in local bands for years, but they're killing it with this project. They're a part of a great line up that features Iowa, Sounds Like Sunset and Fascinator at the best guitar shop in the world.

CLOWNS

Ric's Bar: Thursday 12 September, 11.20pm

Nope, Clowns aren't a Juggalo band, much as I wish they were. (Hey, BIGSOUND, how about a Juggalo stage next year???) but they belt out some thrashy punk rock that really piqued my interest when searching for new stuff to get excited about during the event.

So, yeah, at the risk of losing all that punk rock cred I thought I might have had, I haven't seen them yet. But that's what BIGSOUND is all about.  From what I've heard they are all about that kind of half-rock'n'roll, half hardcore punk kinda deal that marries some semblance of melody with fast, loud guitars.

See you in da pit. Oh, for those of you who don't know, Ric's is tiny so you'll have to get there early if you're keen.

THE PEEP TEMPEL

Alhambra Lounge: Wednesday 11 September, 10pm; The Hideaway: Friday 13 September

These Melbourne guys play loud, gritty and, most vitally, interesting indie rock with songwriting that has a unique kind of character to it.

Don't expect a live show with gimmicks or rockstar affectations, but expect a good show from them all the same.

BED WETTIN' BAD BOYS

Ric's Bar: Thursday 12 September, 9.40pm; Tym Guitars: Friday evening

I'm not sure why I didn't cover these Sydney dudes when they released this track from their Ready For Boredom LP because it's a cracking tune, but I'm glad I have the opportunity to do so now.

Bed Wettin' Bad Boys are definitely a band who'll tell you they don't fit in at BIGSOUND and honestly they probably don't, but hopefully there will be enough people who get a kick out of seeing a band with a kind of Australian slant on 80s underground American indie/punk rock.

Hell, maybe they'll sign a big six-figure record deal and the next time we see them they'll be opening for U2 and wearing "street wear".