Brag#578

ISSUE NO. 578 SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

FREE Now picked up at over 1,500 places across Sydney and surrounds. thebrag.com

MUSIC, FILM, THEATRE + MORE

INSIDE This Week

SH A RON JONE S

She’s fit and ready to give the people what they want.

HILLTOP HOODS

JOHN G A RCI A

The stoner rock trailblazer fi nds himself alone and satisfied.

K ING T IDE

Australia’s favourite rocksteady reggae band is back.

BOW A TT

HE ALT A

R

IN T ER P OL

Daniel Kessler says his band is only getting better.

Plus

TY SEGALL BANKS ELANA STONE

PRESENTS

WED 3 SEPT

KRISTIAN NAIRN AKA

HODOR

GAME OF THRONES DJ SET

+ THE VAUDEVILLE SMASH + PRETTY /// VISITORS

BEST DRESSED WINS A BAR TAB WWW.BEACHROADBONDI.COM.AU

CLASSICAL MEETS BREAKDANCE

AFTER PARTY 8PM, THURSDAY 11 SEPTEMBER

GET ON THE GUESTLIST! THEARGYLEROCKS.COM

SPECIAL EDITION

FEB/MAR

2015

DAY ONE • SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY INCUBUS LAMB OF GOD MINISTRY ANTEMASQUE

GERARD WAY MAYHEM NEW FOUND GLORY FEAR FACTORY HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD ATREYU THE AQUABATS AREA 7 GODFLESH CROWN THE EMPIRE THE INTERRUPTERS ICON FOR HIRE EMILY'S ARMY PATENT PENDING FIREWORKS THE BENNIES THE COLOR MORALE MONUMENTS NOTHING MORE DEATHSTARS NE OBLIVISCARIS THE TREATMENT

DAY TWO • SUNDAY 1 MARCH

SLASH MARILYN MANSON FALL OUT BOY

JUDAS PRIEST GODSMACK ALL TIME LOW PAPA ROACH OF MICE & MEN ESCAPE THE FATE APOCALYPTICA LAGWAGON TONIGHT ALIVE CROSSFAITH BUTCHER BABIES CONFESSION THE SWELLERS CONDITIONS COLDRAIN KING 810 DAYSHELL THIS WILD LIFE

WITH MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED ACROSS BOTH DAYS!

OLYMPIC PARK SINGLE DAY & WEEKEND PASSES ON SALE NOW FROM SOUNDWAVEFESTIVAL.COM

LICENSED ALL AGES PHOTO ID REQUIRED LINEUPS & VENUES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE ILLUSTRATION BY DAYMON GREULICH

BRAG :: 578 :: 30:09:14 :: 3

Pick Bradfield Senior College.

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dec 28 2014

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Until

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jan 01 2015

jan 01 2015

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IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

ALT-J BIG FREEDIA THE BLACK LIPS BLUEJUICE COLD WAR KIDS DMAs GEORGE EZRA GLASS ANIMALS JAGWAR MA JAMIE XX JOEY BADA$$ JOHN BUTLER TRIO KIM CHURCHILL THE KITE STRING TANGLE MILKY CHANCE MOVEMENT THE PRESETS REMI RÖYKSOPP & ROBYN RUN THE JEWELS SAFIA SBTRKT LIVE SPIDERBAIT STICKY FINGERS THE TEMPER TRAP TENSNAKE TKAY MAIDZA TODD TERJE LIVE TYCHO VANCE JOY WOLF ALICE BOOGIE NIGHTS

ALISON WONDERLAND BADBADNOTGOOD CLIENT LIAISON SALT N PEPA

PLUS PLENTY MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED

general ticket sales 9am wed 3 sep fallsfestival.com

BRAG :: 578 :: 30:09:14 :: 5

rock music news welcome to the frontline: the latest touring and music news...with Gloria Brancatisano, Chris Martin and Emily Meller

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like us:

@TheBrag

THE BRAG

on the record WITH

TIM JOHN FROM THE VINES The First Record I Bought Queen – Greatest Hits. I did chores for 1. two weeks to earn enough to buy this album; I was eight or nine years old. Each song is perfect and unique, and taught me a lot about music, but more so how to play some wicked air guitar. I don’t think there will be another voice like Freddie’s. This album should be mandatory for each Australian home to own.

The Last Record I Bought Andy Bull – Sea Of Approval. When we 2. were mixing Wicked Nature in Sydney, Andy was writing songs for this record in the studio next door. I’d always pop in and hear what he was up to and I was so excited and blown away to hear it finished. Such a great album with soul for years and smooth production. Plus he’s the world’s nicest dude to share a coffee with.

The First Thing I Recorded The first music I ever recorded was when 3.

I was 13, on a little four-track tape machine

The Last Thing I Recorded The last thing we recorded was disc two 4. of Wicked Nature. We had finished the first disc with Paul McKercher, Craig had written ten new songs he was really excited about, we got together and Lachlan and I learned them over two rehearsals. We recorded and mixed them in five days with Lachlan Mitchell at Jungle Studios. The songs were recorded live, and you can hear the excitement and urgency.

The Record That Changed My Life Midnight Oil – Oils On The Water. It’s a live 5. set recorded from ’85 out on Sydney Harbour and has to be one of the best captured examples of rock’n’roll ever. I must have watched the live video of this countless times and studied every moment of it. Because of Rob Hirst at this performance, I started playing drums.

What: Wicked Nature out now through The Groove Merchants xxx

in my garage, probably some song about a girl or something. It sounded like utter crap but got me into recording my own songs. I’d recently learned that Dave Grohl had recorded

the entire first Foo Fighters album with himself playing every instrument so I wanted to do that, shame I was a shitty guitarist at best.

Gossling

MANAGING EDITOR: Chris Martin chris@thebrag.com 02 9212 4322 ONLINE EDITOR: Tyson Wray ONLINE COORDINATOR: Emily Meller SUB-EDITOR: Emily Meller STAFF WRITERS: Adam Norris, Krissi Weiss, Augustus Welby NEWS: Gloria Brancatisano, Lauren Gill, Roger Ma, Debbie Shankar, Tyson Wray

The Smith Street Band ART DIRECTOR: Sarah Bryant PHOTOGRAPHERS: James Ambrose, Katrina Clarke, Amath Magnan, Ashley Mar ADVERTISING: Georgina Pengelly - 0416 972 081 / (02) 9212 4322 georgina@thebrag.com ADVERTISING: Les White - 0405 581 125 / (02) 9212 4322 les@thebrag.com PUBLISHER: Furst Media MANAGING DIRECTOR, FURST MEDIA: Patrick Carr - patrick@furstmedia.com.au, (03) 9428 3600 / 0402 821 122 DIGITAL DIRECTOR/ADVERTISING: Kris Furst - kris@furstmedia.com.au, (03) 9428 3600 GIG & CLUB GUIDE COORDINATORS: Fergus Halliday, Emily Meller, Debbie Shankar - gigguide@thebrag.com (rock); clubguide@ thebrag.com (dance, hip hop & parties) AWESOME INTERNS: Fergus Halliday, Roger Ma, Debbie Shankar REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Nat Amat, Ian Barr, Prudence Clark, Keiron Costello, Marissa Demetriou, Christie Eliezer, Blake Gallagher, Cameron James, Tegan Jones, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Mina Kitsos, Emily Meller, Adam Norris, Daniel Prior, Kate Robertson, Erin Rooney, Leonardo Silvestrini, Amy Theodore, Rod Whitfield, Harry Windsor, Tyson Wray, Stephanie Yip, David James Young Please send mail NOT ACCOUNTS direct to this NEW address 100 Albion Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 ph - (02) 9212 4322 fax - (02) 9319 2227 EDITORIAL POLICY: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher, editors or staff of the BRAG.

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GOSSLING ON TOUR

In celebration of her debut full-length, Harvest Of Gold, Melbourne singersongwriter Gossling has announced a string of national shows this November. To celebrate the tour she will release a special digital-only edition of Harvest Of Gold featuring a bonus EP of new and previously unreleased music, including covers of Everclear’s ‘Santa Monica’ and Vance Joy’s ‘Riptide’. Gossling will play Newtown Social Club on Tuesday November 11 and Wednesday November 12 with support from Montaigne.

KIMBRA DOWN UNDER

New Zealand pop powerhouse Kimbra has locked in a new tour of Australia. Kimbra’s latest dates will be her first in these parts since the cancellation of her co-headline tour with Janelle Monae earlier this year due to the latter’s illness.

The return gigs follow the release of Kimbra’s latest album, The Golden Echo, featuring the single ‘90s Music’. See Kimbra at the Metro Theatre on Thursday November 20. General public tickets go on sale 10am Thursday September 4.

THE BLURST OF TIMES

Beloved Brisbane music festival The Blurst Of Times is making its Sydney and Melbourne debuts next month, and the lineup shares a number of artists across each city. The Factory Theatre hosts the third leg on Saturday October 25, featuring DZ Deathrays, HardOns, Jeremy Neale, Blank Realm, StepPanther, TV Colours, Chicks Who Love Guns, Bearhug, Spod and more.

IHEARTRADIO HEARTS MILEY

Miley Cyrus will headline the 2014 edition of a brand new music festival to be held in Sydney.

The iHeartRadio Music Festival, made famous in the US, will make its Australian debut with Her Mileyness headlining this October alongside her Bangerz tour dates. Also on the bill are X Factor judge and party rocker Redfoo, At Sunset, Miracle, The Faders and more to be announced. The iHeartRadio Music Festival comes to Allphones Arena on Saturday October 18. Tickets go on sale Thursday September 4.

Melbourne’s The Smith Street Band will hit the road this November to support their upcoming third full-length, Throw Me In The River, due out Friday October 31. With songs written in Winnipeg, Salt Lake City, Calgary, London, New York and North Melbourne, the Aussie punks will take their music back around the world: in preparation for the Australian tour, they will spend October playing shows throughout Europe and the UK with The Menzingers, before jetting to the US. New Jersey’s indie-folk-punk sweethearts The Front Bottoms and English comrades Apologies, I Have None will join The Smith Street Band on the homecoming dates, including at Manning Bar on Saturday November 22.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL

Arguably the best Danish export since the pastry itself, Aqua are coming to Sydney on their greatest hits tour this November. It’s been a smash-hit-filled career for the foursome, but it hasn’t come without its fair share of controversy.

Aqua were sued by the Barbie manufacturers in 2002 for apparent sexual innuendo in ‘Barbie Girl’, which ended the innocence of many a childhood as young boys and girls around the world chanted, “You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere” to the horror and bemusement of their parents. Luckily, the judge dismissed the suit, adding: “The parties are advised to chill.”

Since that breakout hit, Aqua released ‘Doctor Jones’, ‘Lollypop (Candyman)’ and ‘Turn Back Time’, all of which landed high in the charts.

These songs and more will feature at the Enmore Theatre on Saturday November 1.

The Black Keys

PIERCE BROTHERS

Melbourne twins the Pierce Brothers have had a busy run overseas, taking their folk sensibilities to audiences in the UK, Europe and more, but now they’re headed home. Jack and Pat Pierce’s Northern Lights tour takes them across the country from September through December, including dates at Moonshine Cider & Rum Bar in Manly on Thursday October 23 and Newtown Social Club on Thursday November 6. It’s all in support of their EP, The Night Tree, that’s made them one of the most buzzworthy indie acts in Australia.

EVERY TIME I DIE

New York’s Every Time I Die will make another appearance on Australian shores early next year, bringing along Touche Amore on a national tour. Earlier this year, Every Time I Die put out their seventh album, From Parts Unknown, which had critics everywhere crawling over themselves to call it one of the best heavy releases this year. Get on board, if you’re not already, at Manning Bar on Saturday January 17.

BLUESFEST 2015

The Bluesfest first round lineup for 2015 has landed – and boy, is it a cracker.

The Black Keys will headline the latest edition of one of Australia’s favourite festivals, which will again cover the Easter long weekend (Thursday April 2 – Monday April 6) at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm outside Byron Bay. Joining them are Zac Brown Band, Alabama Shakes, Michael Franti & Spearhead, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Paul Kelly presenting The Merri Soul Sessions (featuring Dan Sultan, Kira Puru and Vika and Linda Bull), Xavier Rudd and The United Nations and many more. For the full lineup and ticketing info, head to bluesfest.com.au.

thebrag.com

The Smith Street Band photo by Andrew Johnson

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: Luke Forrester: accounts@furstmedia.com.au ph - (03) 9428 3600 fax - (03) 9428 3611 Furst Media, 3 Newton Street Richmond Victoria 3121

THE SMITH STREET BAND

BRAG :: 578 :: 30:09:14 :: 7

live & local

free stuff

welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town...with Chris Martin and Lauren Gill

five things WITH

WUNDER WUNDER

CALUM NEWTON FROM LUNATICS ON POGOSTICKS I hated it. I listened to Dirty a little while after that and was super-encapsulated by it. When I went back and listened to Sister it sounded completely different.

It made much more sense to me. They’re just real masterful at creating these noise-covered pop gems.

Your Band I’m in a band called 3.

Lunatics On Pogosticks with two of my best buddies in the whole world, Bryce Wilson and James Whitfield. We all went to school together and became solid pals real quickly.

1.

dad would have made a great punk frontman. They definitely introduced me to loads of good music, which I’m super-thankful for.

Inspirations My favourite band would 2. have to be Sonic Youth. I bought Sister when I was 13 or something and it blew my mind.

4.

The Music You Make We write noisy garage-pop tunes. Most of our recordings have been done in my little student apartment, which is probably why they’re pretty lo-fi.

We dig that sound though so we’re not bothered by the quality too much.

Music, Right Here, Right Now 5.

The Australian music scene is

top-notch. There are not really any obstacles that bands have to overcome besides the initial step of actually getting shows and being able to play live.

Luckily there’s tonnes of venues promoting free music like the Beach Road in Bondi and the Standard Bowl in Surry Hills, which is super-great cause you can just rock up any night and watch something. We played with Hockey Dad a couple weeks ago and they’re sick – defi nitely check them out now before they’re charging $100 for a sitting ticket at stadiums.

With: Slug Cat & Snail Dog out now through themusicconnection/MGM With: Tim Fitz, The Money Go Round, Birds With Thumbs Where: Collector Hotel, Parramatta / Gallery Bar, Oxford Art Factory / Great Northern, Newcastle When: Thursday September 4 / Friday September 5 / Saturday September 6

Miami Horror’s Aaron Shanahan and Benjamin Plant have decided it’s time to indulge their taste for psychedelic ’60s and ’70s pop – and thus Wunder Wunder has been born. ‘Coastline’ is the first single from the new project and debut album Everything Infinite, inspired by the two years the pair spent in sunny California. They’ll be back to share the new tunes at the Beach Road Hotel on Wednesday September 17. To celebrate, we’ve got a Wunder Wunder prize pack to give away, including a signed white vinyl of Everything Infinite, a seven-inch vinyl of ‘Coastline’ and a hypercolour t-shirt to get you in the spirit. For the chance to score the goods, head to thebrag. com/freeshit and tell us why you’re a psychedelic trooper at heart.

ONE DROP RANKIN RIDDIM

Spring is here, and with it comes the inaugural One Drop Rankin Riddim Spring Fest – a celebration of all things reggae and more. The lineup, curated

by Pat Powell, features King Tide, The Protesters, The Strides, Kinsky, DK and The Rising Sun, Midnight Tea Party and ForeignDub. The festival is sure to be full of good vibes and smooth rhythms, so you’ll want to get down to the Factory Theatre on Saturday September 13 – and we can hook you up. The BRAG has two double passes to win, and you can be in the running by visiting thebrag.com/freeshit and telling us who you’re most excited to see on the festival bill.

Xxx

Growing Up My parents listened to loads of cool music when I was growing up. Stuff like 7 Seconds, Minor Threat, Smashing Pumpkins. The stereo was always playing something gnarly. They weren’t really into making music when I was around but my mum told me she always thought my

head to: thebrag.com/freeshit

Pat Capocci

Clap Clap Riot

CLAP CLAP RIOT

Kiwi chart-toppers Clap Clap Riot are hoping for your applause this weekend when they preview material from Nobody/Everybody, their upcoming album, and launch the video for ‘All About The Weather’. The rock’n’roll foursome has found substantial chart success in New Zealand, and is sharing the love with Sydney this Saturday September 6 at FBi Social.

AUTOEROTIQUE

Fancy a little spice in your Wednesday evening?

Next Wednesday September 10, Surry Hills’ Play Bar hosts an art exhibit with a difference.

Artists and musicians will come together for Autoerotique, an exploration of primal urges

and buried fantasies that’s sure to put your jaw on the floor. Artists include Sam Shennan, YMT, Resan, Knoswet, Jamie Lee Garner and Henry Curchod, while spinning tunes all night are Subaske, Lab 5, Locus Cadre, Makoto and Benny Hinn. Entry is free, and all are welcome – if you can handle it.

Jack Carty

Maia Jelavic

MAIA JELAVIC

‘Back I Go’ is the first single from an upcoming record by folk performer Maia Jelavic, who headlines at Studio 205 in Hibernian House this Saturday September 6. Jelavic and band return on the heels of a national tour for her debut EP, The Less I See, and support this time comes from Tom Stephens and Vanessa James.

SHADY’S IN SPRING

Shady Pines Saloon is the place to be to kick off the spring season of live music, with the booming Darlinghurst venue promising good times aplenty – as usual – this weekend. Honky bunch Bryen and The Bayou Boogie Boys take over the stage on Saturday September 6, before Eddie Boyd and The Phatapillars do likewise on Sunday September 7. At Shady’s, it’s a triple dose of goodness each night – bands play three sets from 6pm. And that’s a charm.

TIMBERWOLF

JACK IS BACK

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THE GRISWOLDS

After a successful US run, The Griswolds are heading home for a huge tour in support of their

The famous Sydney Rock ‘N’ Roll & Alternative Market is back again, held this month in conjunction with the Sydney Fringe Festival. That means a music lineup as good as ever, headlined by rockabilly lad Pat Capocci. Also on board are Twin Beasts, The Drey Rollan Band, That Read Head, MCs Limpin’ Jimmy and The Swingin’ Kitten, Rockin Marc Rondeau, The Crimplenes and Solid Gold Hell DJs. In addition, check out the swing dancing classes and the wide range of market stalls. It’s all happening at Sydney Uni’s Manning House on Sunday September 14.

new album, Be Impressive. Recorded under the guidance of producer Tony Hoffer (The Kooks, Beck, M83, Ladyhawke), the debut LP has received praise for its lyrical depth and party vibe. Their ten-date celebration tour will take the four-piece across six states and territories, landing at the Metro Theatre on Saturday October 11.

DON’T CALL THIS A COMEBACK

Aussie funk rockers Defryme are back. The ’90s legends made their name with tracks like ‘Purekiller’, ‘God Inside A Man’ and ‘Sanity’, and toured with giants like Radiohead and The Angels. The new single ‘Audrey’ marks their return from an elongated surfing holiday, and they’ll kick off the Don’t Call This A Comeback launch tour at Frankie’s Pizza this Sunday September 7 with Graveyard Rockstars and Minge Dynasty. thebrag.com

xxxx

Charismatic songwriter and BRAG favourite Jack Carty returns with a new album, Esk, on Friday September 26. Early listens suggest it’s another harmony-heavy dose of considered folk, with lead single ‘The Joneses’ written in collaboration with Carty’s regular tour buddy Josh Pyke. Carty’s stepping out as the headliner this time to share the album with fans, finishing up with a Sydney show at Venue 505 on Saturday December 13.

Folk singer Timberwolf has announced a run of shows in support of his debut EP, Man & Moon. The 22-year-old Adelaide native kicked off 2014 supporting the likes of Dustin Tebbutt, Holy Holy and the Pierce Brothers. He’s expected to release his sophomore EP Flux in late 2014. Timberwolf will play Newtown Social Club supporting Bonjah on Friday September 19 before hitting The Standard Bowl for a free gig on Saturday September 20.

ROCK’N’ROLL MARKET

DEBUT ALBUM OUT SEPT 5 FEATURING ‘MESS IS MINE’ + ‘RIPTIDE’

BRAG :: 578 :: 30:09:14 :: 9

Industrial Strength Music Industry News with Christie Eliezer

THINGS WE HEAR * Which venue landlord is threatening to throw the club operators out after he heard they allowed a porn film to be made there? * Which band is calling its current national tour “the bankrupter�? * Was rap mogul Suge Knight shot over his memoirs which he’s about to publish? * Which two bands got into a punch-up in the car park after their show when one accused the other of sounding “too American�? * The past caught up with 5 Seconds Of Summer’s Calum Hood. He sent a Snapchat video of his penis to a fan, who leaked it online.

The mainstream media got hold of it, and Hood admitted on Twitter, “I’m still just a teenage kid learning from mistakes :)� * Frontier Touring has picked The Preatures and British India to open for The Rolling Stones. * With the club lockouts in Kings Cross causing what

businesses in the area claim is the worst downturn in 50 years, Renew Australia and the Potts Point Partnership are forking out $14,000 to offer temporary free rent to five start-up businesses in empty buildings, The Daily Telegraph said. * The inaugural film and music-based Dungog Festival in the Hunter Valley drew 3,000 people. * The Video Music Awards had a drop in ratings in America – 8.3 million viewers compared to last year’s 10.1 million – and 13 million tweets. The Emmys the next night drew 15.6 million viewers but only 1.1 million tweets. * The ACT Music Awards will in their third year move to February and to a larger venue, with a change in format. * Parramatta’s Rose & Crown, which showcases live music regularly, has a new owner, an investor who is new to the hospitality game.

* Swedish entrepreneur Mürten Andersson is launching a new club night in Stockholm called SOBER at Kägelbanan.

No alcohol is sold, you are breathalysed when you arrive and kicked out if you sneak booze in. * In the same week that Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ was voted the greatest guitar riff of all time by listeners of BBC Radio 2, Robert Plant told an interviewer that he might retire from music after the release of upcoming solo album, Lullaby And‌ The Ceaseless Roar. * Vance Joy is among 30 eligible finalists for the Cleo Bachelor Of The Year. * Tumbleweed posted a ‘thank you’ to all who sent them love and support after the death of bassist Jay Curley. “Jay would be truly humbled by your kindness, it has been profoundly moving reading through everyone’s memories of Jay. You are beautiful people.â€?

FALCONA ACQUIRES ARTIST CARTEL

SPECIALIST COPYRIGHT COURTS?

Sydney management, booking, touring and events company Falcona has acquired Ben Robinson’s management firm Artist Cartel.

Its roster includes Sun City (Perth), Crooked Colours (Perth), Deja (Melbourne) and Conics (Sydney). Falcona’s management roster has Alison Wonderland, Hayden James, DMA’s, Pluto Jonze, Brave and Mickey Kojak. Falcona now manages 11 acts and books ten. It celebrates with a kickoff party at Bigsound on Tuesday September 9 with some of its acts.

Music and movie copyright owners are pushing for copyright infringement cases in Australia to be heard by a specialist court to fast-track claims, like a tribunal. The current justice system is considered too expensive and slow, and it tends to lump infringement alongside other thefts despite the complex nature of intellectual property. Former ARIA anti-piracy chief Michael Speck told this column that the UK has an Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) that hears smaller infringement

E HIFI 1300 THO M.AU

THEHIFI.C

Just Announced This Week

Coming Soon

Fri 7 Nov

Sat 6 Sep

Fri 12 Sep

DevilDriver & Whitechapel

El Gran Combo

cases, as well as a specialist police squad in London. “Both are delivering real results in prosecuting infringements,� he said. While Australian pirates get a few months’ jail, a UK pirate recently copped a 33-month term after uploading a cinema recording of Fast & Furious.

and it has given royalty data to the ATO “as per our legal obligations�. The ATO has the details of some $800 million in royalty collections and payments for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 financial years, which it obtained from APRA AMCOS. The payments will be matched to existing tax records to identify instances of evasion.

DIFFICULT WEEK FOR AUSSIE MUSIC STREAMING

MORE AUSSIES USING MOBILES FOR MUSIC, VIDEO CONTENT

Last week, the Songl service, run by Southern Cross Austereo, Universal Music and Sony Music, announced it was ceasing operations in mid-September. A few days later, Guvera announced that due to a global restructure, it has had to axe Scott Hamilton’s position as Australian GM. Operations will continue to be overseen by CEO Darren Herft.

Australians are consuming more music and videos through their smartphones. The 2014 Mobile Media Consumption Report by global mobile advertising platform InMobi found that such content takes up 15% of our time on phones, compared to 8% last year. Mobile commerce is rising: 86% plan to engage with it in the next 12 months, a jump of 11% since last year. 34% believe mobile is a key factor in their purchasing decisions, up from 27%. The study found some trends among Australians.

We spend more time on mobiles, almost as much time as we spend watching television.

Of 6.7 hours of media a day, mobile usage makes up 23.3% (compared to TV’s 23.8%).

Mobile is becoming an important companion particularly for in-between times: 86% use mobiles while waiting for something and 73% while lying in bed.

CAN YOU HELP THE GOLD COAST LIVE SECTOR? The Gold Coast live music sector is reeling from a crackdown on venues operating as restaurants that put on acts. The Loft has stopped bands, Miami Marketta has scaled back and Swingin Safari was told to leave its building. Local musos complain they have to find gigs in Brisbane or Sydney. Unlike other states, Queensland measures a club dB reading three metres from the speakers, rather than the curb, so soundproofing is not a viable option. A Save Our Live Music Gold Coast page on Facebook is asking for positive solutions.

FAN OF THE WEEK The story that initially broke was that former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland had been arrested for methamphetamine possession and burglary. Turned out it was not Weiland but one Jason Hurley who looks like him and claims to have been in a STP cover band, Stone Tempered Pilots.

ETCETC SIGNS LUKE MILLION After releasing through Future Classic, KitsunÊ and New York house label Nervous, Adelaide’s Luke Million has joined etcetc for new EP Light & Sound.

Million gained cult status with ‘Arnold’ getting triple j airplay. Apart from remixing Thump, Discobelle and Last Gas Station, he created a SoundCloud series of disco re-imaginations of hits by The Doors, Giorgio Moroder, Kraftwerk and Floyd.

Thu 25 Sep

Rise of Brotality feat. The Ghost Inside, I Killed The Prom Queen + more

Good Life U18 feat. J-Trick, Slice N Dice, Tigerlilly, Toneshifters + more

Mon 29 Sep

Rebel Souljahz (USA)

Industry Rebooted 9

Sat 18 Oct

Dead Kennedys

Drum & Bass Tour feat: The Upbeats,

Expecting: Aussie country music singer Sara Storer confirmed she’s delivering her fourth child in March and hoping this time it’s a girl.

Injured: due to “surfing injury related complications�, Mammals had to cancel his EP launch on the weekend at Goodgod Small Club.

Ill: Donna Greene, who fronts a Perth Divinyls tribute band called Sirens, has been diagnosed with MS, which afflicted Chrissy Amphlett.

All former staff members of Festival Records are invited to attend a dinner reunion at the Ryedale Room, Ryde Eastwood Leagues Club on Friday October 17. Bookings/ enquires are to be made via Meryl Gross at merylg@tpg.com.au or 0408 971 220 (deadline for booking is October 1).

In Court: the man who threw a glass at Redfoo at the Golden Sheaf Hotel in Double Bay, causing a cut to his head, faces court on September 24.

BOLDER MUSIC LAUNCHES Record exec Tim Holland has launched artist services company Bolder Music with three acts – country singers Jasmine Rae and Matt Cornell and jazz performer Frances Madden. Holland was A&R/label manager at ABC Music for seven-and-ahalf years until March. He also struck a partnership with Rob Cox’s Rusty Gate Films to make cheap videos.

Demand for ballot tickets for the three Falls Festivals was greater than expected, leading to a meltdown on the OzTix website. Punters took to social media to grizzle that user codes got error messages and transactions were difficult to complete.

OzTix did put out a bland “Whoops!� statement, which got it more hammering on social media for not being more prepared.

MusicNSW has opened round two of the 2014 Quick Response Grant Program for artists and managers developing export opportunities while attending conferences and trade fairs like EMC, Face The Music and AWME. You can apply for up to $850 for each of the touring party, to a maximum of $5,500.

APRA ADVICE ON TAX OFFICE CHASE Sun 5 Oct

Dating: Ariana Grande and Big Sean officially came out on their dalliance backstage at the MTV Video Music Awards but are still not confirming it.

Divorcing: Neil and Pegi Young after 36 years of marriage.

QUICK RESPONSE GRANTS ROUND TWO

Sat 27 Sep

Dating: are British singer FKA Twigs and actor Robert Pattinson an item?

FESTIVAL RECORDS STAFF REUNION

FALLS DEMAND MELTS DOWN TICKETING

Sun 14 Sep

Lifelines

The Australasian Performing Right Association has not released an official statement on media reports that the Australian Tax Office is chasing up tax evasion in the music industry. But it has reminded members on its site that royalties “are considered income for tax purposes�

Arrested: Young Jeezy has posted US$1 million bail, after being accused of possessing an AK-47 assault rifle backstage at a California gig. He got charged after cops arrived as part of an investigation over the fatal backstage shooting of a promoter a few days before at a show Jeezy headlined with Wiz Khalifa.

Died: Tamworth-based Paul Rowe of Tamworth FM, and who headed up the Tamworth country music festival’s on-site Festival FM, of a heart condition aged 64.

Died: Tony Cahill, drummer with ’60s Aussie bands The Purple Hearts and The Easybeats, 72, from a brain tumor. After The Easybeats quit, the Melbourneborn Cahill switched to bass and played with John Mayall, then moved to Los Angeles where he lived on a boat for 40 years and ran a reggae label. Cahill returned to Sydney last year.

Died: Suicidal Tendencies bassist Tim ‘Rawbiz’ Williams, cause unknown.

Died: Peret, born Pedro Pubill Calaf, singer, guitarist and co-inventor of Barcelona’s Catalan rumba, aged 79. Catalan rumba was a fusion of gypsy music, AfroCuban rhythms and ’50s rock.

Died: original Jethro Tull bassist Glenn Cornick (1967 to 1970), 67, of congestive heart failure at his home in Hilo, Hawaii.

ENTERTAINMENT QUARTER, BUILDING 220, 122 LANG RD, MOORE PARK, SYDNEY

10 :: BRAG :: 578 :: 03:09:14

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JUDAS PRIEST HEAVEN AND EARTH

I

t may have been all the way back in 1974, but some things will stay with a person for a lifetime. “I remember getting the very first copy from the label when the postman knocked on my door,” says Rob Halford, lead vocalist of veteran metal machine Judas Priest. He is referring to Rocka Rolla, the debut studio album from the band, which was released exactly 40 years ago on September 6. Halford, guitarist Glenn Tipton and bassist Ian Hill remain in the fold from this period, and although a lot of the band’s earliest days remain a blur, there are still a handful of specifi c memories that Halford himself can recall.

“Some of those things that happened at the very beginning, they tend to stay stronger in your memory for whatever reason,” he says. “We had a very, very limited budget. We actually had to use the studio at night – we did what was called ‘the night shift’. We slept all day in a van outside the studio in London, and then we’d get up around nine at night. We’d work until dawn on the album and then do it all again – we were like heavy metal vampires! It was tough, but you do things in the early stages of being in a band that you would say ‘no way’ to if you were approached about doing now. It’s like paying your dues, though – it’s like completing an apprenticeship, if you will. You look back at those moments with fondness – it was an ordeal at the time, but they count as treasured memories now.”

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back into gear with Redeemer Of Souls, their 17th studio album and their first in six years.

Following a mixed reaction to its predecessor, the grandiose double LP Nostradamus, the new album feels in a way as though Priest are coming back down to earth.

“We had a great time putting together Nostradamus,” says Halford. “It was a record that was almost waiting to be written.

The idea was given to us by our manager and we just ran to it. Any concept record has to have a good kind of anchor, a good solid story to tell. Of course, this guy was a real guy – there are still people that believe his prophecies will come true. He’s still an intriguing character, 300 years later. Having said that, quite a lot of time went on between the album’s tour before the guys and I sat down and began working on Redeemer Of Souls.

What we were writing really came from the heart. We didn’t really have an agenda, but I think that we internally knew that it was time to get back to the roots of Priest. If you’ve been a Priest fan and you’ve been following what we’ve been doing, there’s a lot of components in Redeemer Of Souls that carry you back to certain parts of our life. That just happened very naturally, really. This was just about reinforcing a lot of things that we still believe in when it comes to

the music that we play. We had a blast making this album, and I think you can really sense that in the performance.”

Redeemer Of Souls also marks a signifi cant turning point for the band – not only is it the first Priest album without founding member and lead guitarist K.K. Downing, but it also marks the studio debut of new guitarist Richie Faulkner.

At 34, he is nearly half the age of Halford, but has already made a notable impression on old and new fans alike since he was asked to join the fold in 2011.

“The great thing was that we were in Richie’s company for the entirety of the Epitaph Tour, which went for nearly two years,” says Halford.

“When you’re living with each other like you do in a rock band, you learn the in and outs of the people you’re with and their personalities away from the music. So we were quite comfortable with Richie by the time we got around to making the album. With the Epitaph Tour, we were playing two-and-a-half hours a night, and there was a bit of everything from our career at that point. I think that was kind of subconsciously digested by Richie, as well as the rest of us when it came to making the album.”

Aside from their musical legacy, Priest are also well-known for

having one of the first outed gay frontmen within the genre.

After years in the closet, Halford publicly came out in 1998. Only a few metal musicians have come out since then, which was brought up a few months ago when Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert of the progressive metal band Cynic both publicly came out in an interview with The Los Angeles Times.

Neither man felt comfortable doing this until their early forties and over two decades as musicians – a very similar path to that of Halford.

“It just shows that we’ve got a long way to go, doesn’t it?” he says. “It baffles me – the longer that I live, I can’t understand why this kind of bizarre human discrimination exists. Whether it’s your sexual orientation, the colour of your skin or the religion that you practise – that’s the world, unfortunately. Part of the challenge is still just chipping away at equality, trying to reach the same playing field. I would say that, probably underneath it all, is a broader acceptance now – particularly from the young metal fans. It’s a different climate that we’re in now, with social media and all of the resources people can reach out to. At the same time, I know that a lot of gay youth do have a lot of terrible situations arising for them, through bullying and teen suicide. It’s just an ongoing fight,

“You do things in the early stages of being in a band that you would say ‘no way’ to if you were approached about doing now. It’s like paying your dues, though – it’s like completing an apprenticeship.”

isn’t it? In my case, I had to come out for myself. I’m sure it’s the same for anyone when they come out – you hide and you hide and you hide, and it’s ridiculous. You’re living on other people’s terms – and you can’t do that.”

Halford, along with the rest of Judas Priest, will return to Australia next year as a part of the two-day Soundwave Festival juggernaut. He is looking forward to seeing several friends that are a part of the bill – particularly those that serve as great examples of progressive-thinking people in the world of metal.

“I’ve known Marilyn [Manson] for years. He’s a very liberal, completely open-minded and accepting kind of person, which you could definitely tell from the persona that he puts out there.

Then you’ve got Corey [Taylor] from Slipknot, who’s the exact same type of deal; as well as Sully [Erna] from Godsmack. It’s great, really, that people that have got the ear of their audience – particularly a younger audience – are able to send out positive messages and try and break down those barriers.”

What: Soundwave Festival 2015 With: Slipknot, Faith No More, Soundgarden, Slash, Marilyn Manson, Incubus, Lamb Of God, Fall Out Boy, Ministry and many more Where: Sydney Olympic Park When: Saturday February 28 and Sunday March 1 And: Redeemer Of Souls out now through Epic/Columbia xxx

40 years later, Judas Priest are still riding high. They’ve kicked

BY DAVID JAMES YOUNG

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BRAG :: 578 :: 30:09:14 :: 13

Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings People Power By Augustus Welby

I

nitially due in August last year, the release of Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings’ fifth record Give The People What They Want was halted when the group’s forceful frontwoman got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This news sent waves of panic through the music community, but from the outset Jones spoke confidently about defeating the illness and getting back to business.

Accordingly, after the singer persevered through surgery and six months of preventative chemotherapy, Give The People What They Want was unveiled in January 2014. Rather than slowly easing back in, a massive tour coincided with the album’s release.

And it basically hasn’t ceased.

“My job is being a singer and an entertainer so I’ve got to get back out and entertain,” says Jones. “I’m able to get out right now and really enjoy it. I don’t really feel anything as far as pain and sickness. I actually feel stronger.”

Starting with 2002’s debut LP Dap Dippin’, Jones and The Dap-Kings are basically responsible for bringing the sound of ’60s/’70s soul and funk music into 21st century relevance.

Give The People What They Want is yet another trailblazing triumph, but Jones casually downplays the band’s impeccable track record.

As well as extrapolating the ups and downs of love, lyrically all five records promote positive will and fortitude. Jones’ cancer was detected after the Give The People What They Want recording sessions,

“When I’m going to put my mind to something I do my best, especially when it comes to singing,” she says.

“I’ve always felt that God gives me gifts. My singing is a blessing.

Anything I get involved with – with my choir, with the wedding band, with just doing studio work with someone – I’ve always just been like that. This is what I can do; when I’m doing it I’m going to do it well.”

When Jones’ vocal powers combine with The Dap-Kings’ virtuosic instrumentation they exact an unbeatable synergy. While the group’s peerless strength is a prime instance of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts, in the early years bassist and producer Bosco Mann (AKA Gabriel Roth) handled all of the songwriting. These days, creative responsibility is shared among the group.

“Sometimes we all sit down and write things out together and sometimes you just come in and it’s like, ‘This is it,’ and they’ll have the lyrics and I’ll hear the music and look at the lyrics and I sing the song,” says Jones.

“Sometimes they have an idea like, ‘Well, I’m feeling this,’ and I hear what they’re saying but then I have to put the soul in it. I’ve got to make it mine. Then I come up with a lot of the hooks and put my own stuff in and change it. If they were to bring those songs to someone else singing, it would be a total different song.”

Indeed, even though she rarely instigates the songs, Jones’ artistry is expressed through her inimitable vocal performances. She explains what assists her in giving the songs a unique twist.

“Just thinking of music or thinking of an artist or someone that I admire or a song they’ve done, that’s how I put

it all in there. Like ‘Now I See’, when I first heard the music to it [hums an interpretation], that reminded me a little of Tina Turner. When I hear music it challenges me to think of a song from back in the day or an artist.”

On Give The People What They Want, Jones and The Dap-Kings continue to draw prominently from the heyday of funk and soul music.

Authentically reapplying this sound is impressive in itself. The fact that the band’s steadfast stylistic allegiance hasn’t grown tired over the course of five records is an even greater marvel.

“This is what we created,” Jones says. “I think that’s why we’re

succeeding at what we’re doing.

We’re not trying to jump around and do all this other kind of stuff.

You just do your thing, be who you are, and I’m a soul singer. I’m not a pop singer. I don’t want to try to get out here and sound like some of these kids out here singing nowadays.”

Later this month Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings return to Australia to give the people what they want in a range of dancehall settings.

The group was here as recently as January 2013 and a truly revitalised Jones can’t wait to reconnect with Australian audiences.

“When we come there everyone is so appreciative of our music. They

enjoy it and they want it. I look forward to coming there every time the opportunity comes up. It’s so good when you’re doing your stuff and you can see how much love and care that the people have for what you’re doing.

“That’s the high, that’s the energy, that’s what keeps you going.

That’s what makes you want to do more.”

What: Give The People What They Want out now through Daptone/Shock With: The Bombay Royale, Saun & Starr Where: Sydney Town Hall When: Saturday September 13

King Tide Crossing The Border By Augustus Welby drop thing or a ska thing or a rocksteady thing. There’s a lot of soul and pop in our music.”

The first five years of King Tide’s existence were rather prolific, but it’s now five years since their last record, Roots Pop Reggae, came out. So what’s the hold up?

“We just want to make a really good one,” Hughes says. “We had a few false starts and we canned some music. We don’t want to make just an Aussie reggae album. We want to make something different.

“We’re being really honest with ourselves and saying, ‘Well that’s just not good enough.’ We’re trying to get the best out of ourselves. After Roots Pop we just wanted to make a really, really good one.”

T

here’s a widely held misconception that Jamaican music and reggae music are interchangeable terms, denoting the exact same thing. While reggae is the best-known and perhaps most lucrative form of Jamaican music, it’s just one of many stylistic advents to come out of the Caribbean nation since the 1960s. Next weekend the Factory Theatre will host the One Drop Rankin Riddim festival, depicting the diversity of Jamaican 14 :: BRAG :: 578 :: 03:09:14

music, as channelled by local musicians.

“There’s so many different variants of it, from dancehall, to rocksteady, to reggae, to ska,” explains King Tide frontman Tony Hughes. “As much as Bob Marley’s the patron saint of reggae music, you don’t necessarily have to do a lot of Bob Marley tunes or bow down to the altar of Bob.” Sydney’s King Tide will assume

headline duties at the festival’s inaugural event. The seven-piece hasn’t reached headliner status simply by being masters of mimicry.

Since forming around a decade ago, the band has issued three full-length albums that showcase a unique twist on a variety of Jamaican staples.

“If you listen to all of our previous albums, [the music]’s pretty diverse in its Jamaican music content,” Hughes says. “It’s not just a one

Thus far, the only indication of what King Tide’s quest for progress sounds like is the song ‘El Bad Man’, which surfaced this time last year.

Hughes allows the BRAG in for a preview of two more tracks from the forthcoming LP. Three artists in particular spring to mind upon hearing them: Sandinista!-era The Clash, early Massive Attack and the debut Gorillaz album.

“Yes!” he agrees. “If you look at all those acts, they all use a lot of Jamaican music in their make-up, but it’s their compass, it’s not their whole thing. And that’s what we’re aiming at. So we could be cutting our nose to spite the face and lose any fan base that we have, but we’ve got

to do it. We have to do it for our own sanity.”

Indeed, King Tide steer clear of getting stuck in stylistic potholes. It was thanks to Bob Marley and The Wailers’ groundbreaking output from the 1960s and 1970s that reggae became a globally celebrated movement. In turn, the music of these legendary artists is inextricably tied in with Rastafari religion. But Hughes says this is a component King Tide resolutely avoid.

“Me personally, I like all the earlier Jamaican music – the rocksteady stuff, which is more soul-influenced, like Delroy Wilson and all those sorts of people. I’m not a huge fan of the Rastafarian elements of reggae music, but that’s because I’m not religious and that would be a contradiction.”

Nevertheless, placing Rastafarianism aside, Hughes admits there’s something about Jamaican music that’s uniquely able to unite people.

“I think that good luggage does come with the product, definitely,” he says. “People come to a show and they feel that. There is some sort of spirit there.”

What: One Drop Rankin Riddim Spring Fest With: The Protesters, The Strides, Kinsky, DK and The Rising Sun, Midnight Tea Party, ForeignDub Where: Factory Theatre When: Saturday September 13 thebrag.com

Sharon Jones photo by Jacob Blickenstaff

“There’s just songs sounding good, coming out, each one,” she says.

“I mean, we don’t think. Each time we do an album it’s because people are writing songs and we just play it and make stories. We’re telling our story. We’re not thinking about how we’re going to make [this next album] better. Don’t try thinking about bettering yourself, just do what you do best.”

so her struggle isn’t specifically addressed on the album. However, it’s still an exposition of determined strength.

Banks Safety In Melody By Adam Norris

T

here was something of a curiosity in conducting this interview. As thoughtful and engaging as LA singer-songwriter Jillian Banks’ answers are, it is only after having written them down that I see how so much of their substance relies on emphasis – not simply what she says but the way in which she says it. For a singer whose accolades have singled out both the quality of her voice and the strength of her production, it seems fi tting that even in conversation her meaning can’t be readily separated from her sound.

“It’s funny, the whole songwriting process for me is a lot like breathing,” Banks says softly. “If I need to express something, I don’t have trouble sitting down and writing, the songs just come out. Sometimes I’ll be in a certain mood and won’t even know exactly why I’m feeling down, or frustrated, whatever. But from that some lyric or concept will come out that says exactly what that state was.

It’s my way of thinking straight. For me it’s like water, it just flows out of my brain.”

Although she only began developing a name as a musician last year after releasing ‘Before I Ever Met You’ on SoundCloud, Banks has been writing songs for over ten years now. It had always been a private endeavour, used as a way of sieving the experiences of her life into expressions that helped her make sense of the world. From there, fi nding record deals and popularity has been a great shift.

Allowing others in the studio to

have a hand in her songs, to fi nd herself collaborating after writing for so long in isolation, is something that Banks does not take lightly.

it’s just me. There’s no… I’m trying to be honest about my songs, about my life, and I think I’m lucky that way. I don’t have to try and be somebody else.”

“For ten years I wrote very privately, so I was able to develop a very strong style, a strong point of view.

Now when I go into the studio it doesn’t feel like I’m giving anything away because I try to allow whoever I’m working with to inspire me,” she says. It is worth noting that while her answers are consistently direct and assured, Banks’ voice is so delicate it is hard not to think of her as being quite shy. This duality characterises our entire conversation. “If something doesn’t feel ready then I’m not going to do it. I don’t need to have total control over my own music, but at the same time I’m not going to work with somebody unless they inspire me, unless I really admire their gift and their heart, in terms of how they make music and what they create. When you work with someone it’s a really intimate thing.

You have to trust them and to feel safe, you have to feel open.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. It’s just fi nding the best way to bring together what I wanted to say.”

Perhaps her talent, then, beyond the composition of the songs themselves, is her eye for collaboration. Enlisting people who strike a similar artistic note, and who don’t need to adapt in order to suit a style they are not naturally drawn towards.

The implication is that there’s little separation between Banks herself and the dark alt-R&B star her fans witness onstage. Having crafted so much of herself into the material, it would be difficult to imagine her performances otherwise. “It’s me.

It’s all me,” she says. “I am Banks,

“I could not – could not – live without music. I need it so badly in my life and I always will.”

“It depends. If I’m writing alone usually it starts with a chord progression, and play around with that until a word becomes a sentence, which becomes another sentence. It’s a very fl uid process.

If I’m collaborating with someone, it depends who I’m up against. I work with people who I think understand me as an artist, who understand the things that I like, the things that are me.”

With Banks’ time now fi lled with gigs, media, recording and writing, the 15-year-old girl who first sat down at a piano and started to fi nd her voice appears leagues away from her life today. Despite all this, Banks still believes the two are essentially the same.

“Music is really my everything.

Music is my food and my water and my breath, I live off it. I used to paint, and sometimes with interviews if they want to take a picture afterwards I’ll doodle something for them instead. But I could live without those other things, the drawing, the painting. I could not – could not – live without music. I need it so badly in my life and I always will. I needed it when I first discovered it, and I still need it now. So I’ll always be connected to that time because I feel like I’m still

the same songwriting, still just trying to make music. Now, it’s more public and there’s a new dynamic with other people hearing it now, after I kept it quiet for so long. Which is really fun and

exciting and interesting, sometimes scary and overwhelming, but it’s still the same. Always the same.”

What: Goddess out Friday September 5 through Harvest/EMI

playbar.com.au

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Elana Stone Ducking For Cover By Augustus Welby here are plenty of musicians that basically stick within the same stylistic coordinates throughout their career. For some, the output progressively becomes duller, whereas others thrive in this environment, finding freedom in limitation. Then there are those who have no interest in standing still, and explore new ground on each release.

T

Last month Stone unveiled the new single ‘Panic Attack’, which is a stomping electropop song dappled with vocal longing and classic rock melodrama. She can’t take complete responsibility for this latest personality update. Rather, it stems from a collaborative partnership with young Sydney producer Jack Britten (AKA Zebra Zap).

“Every album I’ve done has been really different,” says Sydney’s Elana Stone. “I guess there must be something a bit genre extremist about me, where I get really obsessed.”

“This project really is an amalgamation of my quiet thing, which I guess is a jazz/singer-songwriter thing, with Jack’s thing,” Stone says. “He’s really into Kanye and Frank Ocean and at the time we were recording this we were really into Solange and listening to that sort of music.”

Stone’s debut record, In The Garden Of Wild Things, came out in 2006, purveying jazzy instrumentation and understated pop sensibilities. On the 2009 follow-up, Your Anniversary, she switched into the guise of a powerful pop-rock bandleader.

Stone’s next move was to step away from solo work and team up with Canadian transplant Brian Campeau on spasmodic folk-rock duo The Rescue Ships. Stone and Campeau parted ways in 2011, which prompted her to revert to the solo project.

“Having gone through that Rescue Ships experience, which was musically so beautiful, I had this resurgence of, ‘The only person I can really rely on is me!’ I started thinking that the solo thing was a more sensible format than the band thing, which is always liable to fall apart.”

‘Panic Attack’ is taken from Stone’s forthcoming mini-album Duck For Cover, which was recorded entirely with Britten. The pair got together a couple of years ago after Stone asked Britten to produce some demos. It’s since evolved into a project both parties are equally invested in.

“I do listen to the album and go, ‘Wow, I could never have made that by myself,’” says Stone. “It’s definitely got Jack on it and I love that about it.

It sounds like two people making good decisions between them, rather than one person making the same decision that they make all the time. That’s what makes it fun for me. If there’s no communal back-and-forth I feel like I’m making music in a vacuum.”

‘Panic Attack’ was preceded by the contagious track ‘Sleep Doesn’t Come’ and both songs herald a prosperous future for Stone and Britten. However, combining forces wasn’t all smooth sailing.

“There were a few power struggles. I would have a very clear idea of what I wanted and he would have a very clear idea of what he wanted. Both of our automatic settings is to be like, ‘This is how it’s going to be.’ So we both had to

Wainwright – some really piano-ey singer dudes. I wondered if having something really minimalist come out after this EP would be really interesting.”

relinquish some power. I think we really did end up in the middle somewhere.”

Duck For Cover is due out in October and another mini-album will follow early next year. As for her next stylistic excursion, there are a few ideas fermenting.

Where: Old 505 Theatre When: Wednesday September 3 And: Also supporting MKO at Brighton Up Bar on Thursday September 4

“I’m thinking a lot at the moment about whether it would sonically match the first half. The last few days I’ve been listening to Harry Nilsson and Rufus

Interpol

Five Times Lucky By Augustus Welby “Paul and I got together for, like, five days in August 2012 with no agenda,” Kessler says. “He brought with him his guitar and bass and he was like, ‘Hey, maybe I should start with the bass because I tend to sing to basslines.’ I didn’t know how excellent of a bassist he really is.

In the first few days we made pretty great headway with a couple of the songs that are on the record, ‘My Desire’ and ‘Anywhere’. There were enough good things happening in the room that we weren’t sitting thinking about, ‘OK, what’s missing?’”

While Banks’ bass playing proved an asset in the songwriting process, a decision about who would perform bass duties on the album wasn’t made until just prior to entering the studio.

“We kept everything very open as far as whether Paul would play bass or whether we’d get someone to help us out,” Kessler says. “Then it was like, ‘We should just let Paul do it. He’s great, he wrote these parts.’

T

This triad of New York trendsetters retains festival headliner status today, but the excitement generated by that initial breakthrough hasn’t been repeated. Perhaps our perspectives are skewed by nostalgia, or we’re simply asking for too much. Regardless, when the BRAG catches up with Interpol 16 :: BRAG :: 578 :: 03:09:14

guitarist Daniel Kessler ahead of the band’s fifth LP El Pintor, he says that living up to expectations isn’t a practical concern.

“After we put out [2002 debut] Turn On The Bright Lights I realised the best thing you can do is write the things that make you feel like this is what you want to say, that this is a step forward,” Kessler says.

“If you’re trying to please other people in general, you’re not really comfortable in your own shoes. If you’re happy with what you create then you just have to have faith that people who like what you’ve done previously will give this a chance and will feel the same way.”

Interpol haven’t struggled to release a stack of quality music in the years since that iconic debut. Taking cues from post-punk and indie rock greats such as Joy Division and The Smiths, the band’s first three records explored fairly distinct

stylistic territory with consistent success. However, on album number four – a rather lacklustre self-titled LP – it appeared they’d at last succumbed to creative inertia.

It’s been four years since that record came out, during which time original bass player Carlos Dengler left the group and vocalist Paul Banks and drummer Sam Fogarino both got involved with other musical ventures. Kessler says the prospect of doing another Interpol album wasn’t always certain.

“I don’t think I’d take the band for granted enough to say that, ‘I have to make another one.’ You make a record because you want to make a record and because you feel like you have something better to say.

There’s no set knowledge that this is going to happen.”

During the downtime, Kessler also remained creatively active. At first,

he wasn’t writing with an Interpol record in mind, but he inevitably began framing the new compositions in the context of the band.

“I was just trying to play music every day, but then songs do come about on their own and I get excited about the prospect of working with my bandmates on it. Usually the songs begin with me. If I get really excited about something and really into it, I arrange it in a certain way.

If I see the potential for how it could become a piece of Interpol music then I start looking forward to that process where we get to all dip our fingers in it and transform it into an Interpol song.”

Eventually, Kessler’s enthusiasm encouraged him to reconnect with frontman Banks and start working together on what would become El Pintor. However, the fact they were down a bass player still hadn’t been addressed.

Indeed, this points back to Interpol’s primary commitment to artistic expansion, unfettered by any extraneous details. El Pintor is out this week and Kessler doesn’t hesitate to describe it as a step forward.

“I’ve never been someone who cares about chops or how good you can do this. It’s really about what you say when you’re saying it.

That’s about it, really.

“It’s never showing how good you are, just to show how good you are.

You see it by virtue of the ability to enhance the piece of music you’re working on. I see the progression there. I see us becoming a better band, truthfully.”

What: El Pintor out Friday September 5 through [PIAS]

thebrag.com

Interpol photo by Eliot Lee Hazel

he so-called ‘new rock revolution’ that occurred at the turn of the 21st century has since become the stuff of legend.

Essentially, the term was coined to describe an outbreak of bands reviving the sounds of ’60s garage rock and ’80s post-punk, which had largely been neglected in the previous decade. At the centre of this movement were three outfits from New York City – The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Interpol. The debut releases from these bands incited especial critical fervor, to the point of being deemed ‘instant classics’.

“We just crossed each chapter as we came to it,” he adds. “We were in the moment and nothing really required us to be out of that moment whenever we were together.”

John Garcia Alone At Last By Rod Whitfield

W

hen you’re the iconic founding member and main man of a legendary, genre-shaping band, as well as the perpetrator of several well-known side projects, at some stage your mind is inevitably going to turn to doing something under your own name. This is exactly where John Garcia is at. As the driving force behind stoner rock trailblazers Kyuss, as well as subsequent acts such as Vista Chino, Slo Burn and Unida, Garcia has been a singing, songwriting and performing force for a quarter of a century.

2014 has seen the release of his debut, self-titled solo record, and speaking from his home in Palm Springs, California, he simply could not be happier. “The amount of freedom that I have as a solo artist, since being in bands with other musicians, is truly liberating,” Garcia says. “I’m in a good spot and I don’t see myself deviating from my current position anytime in the near future. I love where I’m at, I love the music that I’m performing live and writing.”

The album is a little more of a straight-up-and-down bluesy rock’n’roll record than what many of Garcia’s fans may have come to expect from him, which is exactly what he set out to do with it.

“I wasn’t looking to change the face of rock’n’roll with this record at all,” he says. “I wasn’t trying to be a mad scientist. What I wanted was something very simple – I wanted something that was very heavy on the music and melodic on the vocal side. When you have something that’s heavy, and then something that’s melodic that goes on top of something that’s somewhat heavy and mean, sometimes it marries well and sometimes it doesn’t. But I specifi cally set out to do exactly that. And my producers Harper Hug and Trevor Whatever made it a reality.

And so did all the musicians on the record, so I’m very thankful and very appreciative … To have it finally see the light of day, it’s a dream come true and it’s a big relief.”

Australia, always a very good hunting ground for Garcia and his myriad bands, can think itself very lucky, being the first place on the planet to experience the new record in a live sense.

His first solo tour on the back of the new album comes Down Under in mid-September.

“I’m really excited about getting down there. It’s a great time for us, the band’s excited, and although it’s only four pretty exclusive shows, to have the world tour start in Australia was very fitting. I love your country, love the people, love the food, love the seafood, and it’s just a pleasure to be going back down there again.”

The main focus of the tour will be the new solo record – but in news that is sure to please his long-time fans, Garcia is not about to ignore his illustrious back catalogue on this Aussie jaunt. In fact, he is likely to pull out some hidden gems from his past for some of his more loyal followers.

“It’s mainly [focusing] on the solo stuff, but on the flip side of the coin, I’m proud to say that I’m going to be playing past and present – some Slo Burn songs, some Kyuss songs that even Kyuss and Vista Chino never played live. I’m really going to concentrate on some of these untouched, untapped pieces that never had the chance to see the light of day live. And man, I’m looking forward to it.

“It’s gonna be a long set, and again, it’s playing past and present, it’s going to be a ‘best of John Garcia’ type of set. And I’m proud to say another desert band, another Palm Springs band is coming with me, Waxy. They’re opening the shows, as well as [Melbourne stoner rock outfit] Mammoth Mammoth.

They’re opening, then Waxy and then my band, so the California desert is coming to Australia!”

Of course, we have plenty of desert here of our own. “Yeah, I know, and I love what I’ve seen of the Australian desert,” Garcia says, “but it’s the Californian desert that inspired this sound.”

Looking to the longer term, Garcia reiterates what an excellent time he had making the selftitled album, that his other projects are very much on hold at the moment and that he will be focusing closely on his solo career for now.

“Vista Chino’s parked in the garage, Unida’s parked in the garage, all my [other] projects are parked in the garage, I’m solely concentrating on my solo project. And I feel good,” he says.

“Making this record was a real eye-opener for me – it showed me what I could do outside of the context of my other bands. I’m not sure who’s going to be playing with me on this project moving into the future, it could be a whole bunch of different players. I’m not saying the other bands are all done – like I said, they’re parked in the garage at the moment and this solo thing is where my head is right now. I’m just enjoying it so much, I can’t wait to get to Australia and I can’t wait to do another record.”

What: John Garcia out now through Napalm With: Waxy, Mammoth Mammoth Where: Oxford Art Factory When: Thursday September 11 thebrag.com

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Ty Segall x ByWorkaholic The x

By David James Young

2

012 was a fairly insane year when it came to the productivity levels of San Fran psych rocker Ty Segall. It began in April with the release of Hair, a collaborative album with White Fence. Segall followed this a mere two months later with another fulllength, Slaughterhouse, this time recorded with his backing band. Finally, a solo album, Twins, was released in early October. Lately, however, things have been comparatively slow – 2013 and 2014 have each seen the release of a mere one LP from Segall; Sleeper and Manipulator respectively. What gives? Is he getting mellow on us at the ripe old age of 27?

“Are you disappointed?” teases Segall with a laugh. “I don’t know if I can do it anymore, man.

I’m running out of ideas! The crazy thing about it was that most of it was collaborations with other people. I didn’t write 30 songs – I wrote the 12 that are on Twins, and I wrote a couple that were on the Hair record. I wrote the rest of the material with the people I was collaborating with on that particular record. It felt like a sleightof-hand sort of thing, where there appeared to be way more than there actually was. It wasn’t nearly as a crazy as people thought it was.”

Segall adds that it’s a route he would like to take more often when it comes to releasing albums. “When it’s a solo album, it really is just me and my thoughts – pretty much everything that you hear is done by me. I really like the idea of collaborating more – I’m actually hoping that my next projects can be a follow-up to the Slaughterhouse record and a follow-up to the Hair record. So we’ll see how that goes, I guess.”

Regardless of how many records one gets from Segall in a year, one can always anticipate top quality from each of them. Naturally, Manipulator – Segall’s eighth solo effort overall – is no exception. It’s another collection of hazy, wild-eyed rock’n’roll that’s sprung out of the garage and into the fire. Unlike many other acts who have an army of musicians and producers behind them, a Ty Segall solo record is literally a solo record: what you hear is all from the mind, the mouth, the fingers, the hands and the feet of the man whose name is on the cover.

With such liberal freedom in songwriting and creation, it’s an approach of ‘anything goes’ that gets things done in the world of the oneman band.

“I don’t like repeating stuff,” says Segall on the creative process. “I do like improving on ideas I’ve already worked on previously, but I’m thinking a lot about seeing what I can do differently this time around. Sometimes I’ll just record a drumbeat and base a song around that; sometimes I’ll be playing the guitar and a melody will come to me. I might just mumble over a guitar part until I can find words to fit what I’ve written. Sometimes I’ll even write a song that just starts with bass. It’s really all over the place, y’know?”

“I don’t like repeating stuff. I do like improving on ideas I’ve already worked on previously, but I’m thinking about what I can do differently.”

Even prior to its release, Manipulator has been toured extensively throughout 2014. Segall and his band have racked up appearances at major festivals such as Primavera and Coachella, the latter of which featured an onstage cameo from Workaholics star Blake Anderson. It was one of the funniest and most unexpectedly joyful moments of the entire weekend – and it stemmed from an unlikely friendship.

“The guys from Workaholics are big fans of what we do, which is totally crazy,” says Segall.

“I’ve hung out with Blake a couple of times, and the idea just came up when we were at the festival. I was like, ‘Dude, do you want to come onstage and pretend to be Charles [Mootheart, lead guitarist]? Our guitarist and Blake have, like, the exact same hair. So we thought it would be funny to pull a fast one and have Charles come out and be, like, ‘What the fuck, man?’ It was pretty rad.”

As for other touring highlights from the year, Segall points to his European jaunt. “We played this afterparty at a club in Barcelona,” he says. “That was completely wild, it almost didn’t feel real. I also really enjoyed going to Greece. We had some time off there and it was just beautiful. Man, I like going anywhere. I like doing anything. It all feels like a highlight to me!”

The band will end the year with a long-overdue return to Australia for the first time in threeand-a-half years. Along with an appearance at Meredith Music Festival, Segall and co. will also be doing a run of headlining shows around the traps. It’s a hotly anticipated return, both from Segall’s fan base Down Under and from the man himself.

“I’m so excited, man!” he says. “Can’t even wait. I don’t know why it’s been so long. It should be really good fun. Last time was amazing, so we’re really looking forward to coming back. Charles was playing bass last time we were here, and we were touring as a three-piece. That was about two months before Mikal [Cronin] joined the band. So this will be his first time, and we’re all superstoked.”

What: Manipulator out now through Drag City/ Who: Spunkx Where: Where: xOxford Art Factory When: When: xWednesday December 17 18 :: BRAG :: 578 :: 03:09:14

thebrag.com

BRAG’s guide to film, theatre, comedy and art about town

arts in focus

Open For Business photo by Grant Sparkes-Carroll

open for business the wharf revue returns also inside:

KRYPTONITE / WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS / ARTS NEWS / ARTS GIVEAWAY / REVIEWS thebrag.com

BRAG :: 578 :: 03:09:14 :: 19

arts frontline

free stuff

arts news...what's goin' on around town...with Chris Martin, Roger Ma and Debbie Shankar

head to: thebrag.com/freeshit

five minutes WITH

ROBERT HOFMANN FROM DESPERATELY YOUNG AT HEART Talk us through the concept of Desperately Young At Heart.

Well the name of the cabaret, Desperately Young At Heart, was inspired by the great song ‘Young At Heart’ by Leigh and Richards – you know the one, “Fairytales can come true / It can happen to you”.

The ‘desperately’ refers to those of us who are not really old enough to need the advice to be young at heart but not young enough to completely ignore it either. There is a feeling that we are desperate to make the most out of our relative youth before it’s too late. This links the four characters I play in the show.

Is there a particular character you enjoy portraying the most?

Probably Susan Higgins, who is dressed like a folk singer from the ’70s and sings hymns accompanying herself on the guitar.

Many people in Perth, where the show won the Cabaret Award at Fringe World, said they knew someone exactly like her from church or their childhood. She also has this great long red hair… I just love wigs.

Will we ever stop being young at heart?

Of course not! As the song implies, we can be young at heart by choosing to think about life in a certain way: “And life gets more exciting with each passing day / And love is either in your heart or on its way”.

You haven’t always worked in a nun’s habit – tell us about your history as a performer.

I have been singing professionally as a classical concert and operatic baritone for over 20 years. Being Perth-based I have sung many roles with the West Australian Opera and the major roles were comic ones like Koko in The Mikado and Dulcamara in The Elixir Of Love. Prior to that I sung with the Opera Australia chorus in Sydney in over ten productions after completing my Diploma of Opera at Sydney Conservatorium.

I’ve always loved cabaret. A few years ago I attended the Adelaide Cabaret Festival as an audience member where I saw Queenie van de Zandt’s amazing I Get The Music In You, which inspired me to do my own cabaret.

What: Desperately Young At Heart, as part of Sydney Fringe Festival 2014 Where: New Theatre When: Tuesday September 23 – Saturday September 27

WICKED THE MUSICAL

The number one show on Broadway, Wicked, has returned to Australia, and opens at the Capitol Theatre on Thursday September 25. Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, with music and lyrics

by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, the tale of Glinda, Elphaba and the occupants of Oz has achieved unparalleled success for a modern musical. Homegrown musical theatre star Lucy Durack returns as Glinda this year, alongside Jemma Rix as Elphaba, Reg Livermore, Steve Danielsen, Maggie Kirkpatrick, Emily Cascarino and Edward Grey.

We’ve got a double pass up for grabs to the preview performance of Wicked on Wednesday September 24. For your chance to win it, head to thebrag.com/ freeshit and tell us why you think Wicked is the biggest hit of the century.

Musica Viva photo by Keith Saunders

collaborations and private collections of the man who shaped the face of Sydney. It’s the first major exhibition on the distinguished architect in 30 years. Included in the collection will be a range of never-seen-before original artworks and personal correspondence from Harry and his wife Penelope Seidler’s private collection. In conjunction with the exhibition, there will also be a series of exclusive tours in some of Seidler’s most renowned buildings.

Harry Seidler: Painting Toward Architecture opens at the Museum of Sydney on Saturday November 1.

SCULPTURE IN THE VINEYARDS

Jan van de Stool

LIGHT THE NIGHT

This year’s Light The Night concert marks its tenth and final edition, with all proceeds going to leukaemia research. To date, the popular Sydney event has raised over $400,000 for The Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation. Next month’s evening of musical theatre will be hosted by YouTube star Jan van de Stool and feature performances by the likes of Lucy Durack (Wicked, Legally Blonde) and Trevor Ashley (Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Les Misérables) as well as jazz singer Emma Pask. The Light The Night benefit concert takes place at City Recital Hall Angel Place on Monday October 27.

GALLERY RED’S NEW HOME

HARRY SEIDLER ON SHOW

The life and work of renowned architect Harry Seidler will be presented in a major exhibition by Sydney Living Museums. The new, intimate exhibit explores the inspirations, 20 :: BRAG :: 578 :: 03:09:14

The Hunter Valley’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition, Sculpture in the Vineyards Festival, is being held for the first time at night this year to showcase the works in – literally – a different light. The new addition, Sculpture

By Night, is a free, one-off event that will take place on Saturday November 29 at Undercliff Winery. The event features over 100 outdoor sculptures and exclusive boutique wines. Over 100 artists have already contributed to the exhibition and the number of participants is still growing. The festival itself runs from Saturday October 25 – Sunday November 30.

JULIA ZEMIRO JOINS STC CAST

The Sydney Theatre Company has updated the cast for its forthcoming play, Cyrano De Bergerac. RocKwiz host Julia Zemiro makes a welcome return to the stage as Duenna, with her many theatre credits including roles with Bell Shakespeare and the Melbourne Theatre Company. Chris Ryan joins the production replacing Ryan Corr, who has pulled out of the play to accept a leading role in a major Australian feature film. Josh McConville, Bruce Spence and Yalin Ozucelik also join the 15-strong cast. Cyrano De Bergerac, directed by Andrew Upton, is playing at the Sydney Theatre from Tuesday November 11 – Saturday December 20.

I Fagiolini by Musica Viva

MUSICA VIVA

Musica Viva Australia will bring chamber music to the masses in 2015, with the revelation of a mammoth 70th anniversary program. Russian superstar violinist Maxim Vengerov will tour the country, alongside an international concert series featuring seven exceptional artists. Additionally, April and May will see the Goldner String Quartet tour Australia for their 20th anniversary, and the popular biennial Musica Viva Festival will return to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music from April 9-12.

The Fall

MANHATTAN SHORT FILM FEST

Sydney will take part in the annual Manhattan Short Film Festival again this year, joining over 300 cities and 100,000 people around the world in celebrating the best in international short film. The event takes place over one week at locations globally, with the ten finalists chosen out of entries from 47 different countries. Representing Australia in the finals is James Croke’s Shift, a heist film featuring a genius who invents a device to help him pull off his crime. See the shortlisted films on Sunday September 28 at Glen Street Theatre, where votes will be tallied before the winner is announced in New York on Monday October 6.

thebrag.com

The Fall photo by Jens Ramborg

Good things come in threes, and that’s why Gallery Red’s new location (3/333 Parramatta Road, Leichhardt) only bodes well. The gallery has said farewell to Glebe and expanded at its bigger new home, launching with the annual feature exhibition, 31 Days, this Friday September 5. The 2014 event features even more artists than ever before, working across a range of different media. Meanwhile, the gallery says the new venue will only help it achieve its aim to “showcase the wealth of emerging talent, as well as established and practising artists, in Sydney’s creative community”.

Wicked photo by Jeff Busby

A

six-foot-six baritone called Robert, dressed in a nun’s habit and high heels?

Sounds like a Fringe show if ever we’ve seen one. Robert Hofmann brings Desperately Young At Heart to Sydney Fringe Festival this month, and we asked him for the lowdown.

What possessed you to dress up in such outrageous costumes and high heels?

The costumes are not that outrageous, unless you call cross dressing for cabaret outrageous.

Well, given that I’m six foot six, they probably look pretty outrageous.

One of my women characters is in power-dressing business attire and my costume designer/maker, Cherie Hewson, insisted on black

four-inch heels so I had to buy size 17 online from the US. I was possessed by a desire to channel these four comic alter egos, three of which just had to be women as that is simply the way they occurred to me.

Tafelmusik: House of Dreams Goldner String Quartet Steven Isserlis with Connie Shih I Fagiolini Paul Lewis Modigliani Quartet Eggner Trio

New to chamber music? This is your ticket to the welcoming party. Discover music that stands the test of time from Tafelmusik’s new multi-media program House of Dreams to star cellist Steven Isserlis. Subscribe today from $138* Under 30? Subscribe to our International Concert Season from just $75**!

Visit MUSICAVIVA.COM.AU/2015 for SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGES *Price advertised is for 3-pack subscription, C-Reserve in Sydney. **Price advertised is for a 3-pack subscription for Under30 and will be allocated in the best available B or C-Reserve seats

BRAG :: 578 :: 30:09:14 :: 21

Open For Business photo by Grant Sparkes-Carroll Kryptonite photo by Michele Aboud

Open For Business

Kryptonite [THEATRE] Nowhere To Hide By Adam Norris

T

[THEATRE] Back On The Wharf By Tegan Jones

im Walter is a man of many faces. Most recently seen in Belvoir’s Hedda Gabler, he has previously appeared in the absurdist hilarity of Sydney Theatre Company’s Perplex, Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, and enough Shakespeare to sink a large horse. Now, however, Walter is stepping into the shadowy Bildungsroman of Sue Smith’s Kryptonite, a political thriller with a cast of just two. About as far from the Bard as you can get, really.

Walter’s Kryptonite character is based, however loosely, on the environmentalist Tim Flannery. For an actor, fi nding themselves in a role whose genesis is drawn from a contemporary fi gure must be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, you don’t need to look far to fi nd your counterpart and develop accordingly. On the other, your own interpretation of the character, the chance to let them emerge organically, might be stymied.

“There was a time there I was just really into it!”

Walter laughs about his Shakespearean roots.

“Certainly one aspect was that the guys at Bell Shakespeare seemed to like what I was doing, and kept offering me work, which is never a bad thing. So I was just enjoying the opportunity of being in plays at all. If someone offered me a part I’d generally just say ‘yes’ to it. But also in the early part of my career, just out of drama school and all idealistic, Shakespeare is seen as some sort of pinnacle, so I thought, ‘Well, it’s challenging, working with poetic language, doing sword fights,’ all of that. I’m finding now that I feel like my interest is in doing a wider range of things, to pull away from Shakespeare and test myself in other ways. Try to be subtler in my performance.”

“Well...” he considers. “It gives you a bit of an insight into what the writer was thinking about when they wrote it, and the kind of things that they’re going for. I guess at the end of the day I approach the character as though it’s kind of a version of myself. The Tim Flannery reference is in there, but I’m not actually playing him onstage, I’m not worried about impersonating him in any way, though his values and such might give me an insight into the things that this character cares about, too. What I’m really trying to do is approach the character as a brand new person who may, perhaps, remind people of Tim Flannery.”

Kryptonite is set in the quarter-century shadow of the Tiananmen Square massacre, focusing on the complex relationship between China and Australia over ten years in the life of two friends (played by Walter and Ursula Mills). It sounds like a fascinating, intricate production – all the easier for the audience to escape into.

But such escapism is a twoway street, and the actors themselves are just as likely to sink into the story as the unseen audience.

“It doesn’t always happen, which I guess is one of the struggles that actors face, but when you are ‘in the moment’, as they say, really losing yourself in the story, in the characters, that’s kind of what we strive for. That’s best for the audience, too, watching characters that are fully immersed in their predicaments … It’s also really great doing new writing, being in a play that you know no-one has ever seen before and so nobody knows how it goes, nobody is familiar with the story. There’s nowhere to hide.”

What: Kryptonite Where: Sydney Theatre Company When: Thursday September 11 – Saturday October 18

Ursula Mills in Kryptonite

Phillip Scott in Open For Business

I get to create a new Christopher Pyne, which is going to be a lot of fun, as well as play Blinky Bill Shorten.”

As for the choice of show title, it’s as apt as ever. “It’s a reference to what [Abbott] said on the night that he won the election, that Australia’s ‘back in business’, as if we’d been out of business for the last six years or something. The tagline to that is ‘back in five minutes’, and I think that’s a reference to how much the government has gone balls up. For all the slagging they did of the last government, they’re proving to be just as, if not more, inept.”

One of the most beautiful things about comedy is that comedians can explore dark subjects through the context of humour. They can offer a much-needed cathartic release when it comes to uncomfortable topics, which is exactly what The Wharf Revue does.

“They [the writers] understand this format so well now; it’s part of their DNA,” Hansell says.

“You know that despite how blue some of the jokes they write are, they’re going to get away with it because of who they are, what they do and how they do it. I’ve had moments of reading the script and thinking, ‘Oh shit, that’s really quite a full-on joke,’ but then of course we’re going to get away with it.”

S

ydney Theatre Company’s The Wharf Revue has become a satirical staple on the Australian comedy scene.

Considering the last 12 months, one could argue that the Revue’s exploration of our political landscape is more necessary than ever.

The players agree, and The Wharf Revue is returning to the stage with a new show for 2014, Open For Business. Tony Abbott-weary audiences will be able to indulge in some muchneeded laugher after quite a tempestuous year.

The Revue’s Doug Hansell chats to the BRAG about the show and what it’s like to be the new kid on the wharf. “[The show] is taking a fair whack at Abbott and the meanness of the government. The writers said it was actually quite hard to write this year because everything is so desperate and dire that it didn’t really lend itself to comedy. It may be a little darker than years gone by, but [the humour] is still there,” Hansell says. “There’s a lot of the same issues too, such as refugees. They’ve been doing that for ten years because it’s still the bugbear of our political landscape.”

Hansell says the production will bring back some familiar faces. “The rest of the guys have their own identifiable characters. Jonathan [Biggins] has Keating, Amanda [Bishop] has Julia [Gillard] and Phil [Scott] has Kevin [Rudd].

Hansell agrees that due to the current political climate, audiences perhaps need the Revue more than ever. “I think this will be a really successful Revue this year because, with the unrelenting cruelty and meanness of it, this is kind of like a pressure release. We look at things like the Royal Commission into child abuse, which is obviously one of the more sombre and reverent items in the show. I’m quite impressed with [the writers’] ability to integrate something like that into it. It’s still done in their style, but it’s done beautifully and it’s one of the more reflective moments.”

The actor also respects the way in which The Wharf Revue gives people a voice, including himself. “I hate the idea of being involved in politics, but I love examining the personalities and they way it all happens. It’s great for me, because I get to pile shit on the people I don’t like.”

What: Open For Business: The Wharf Revue 2014 Where: Sydney Theatre Company When: Tuesday October 21 – Saturday December 20 And: Also playing at Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Riverside Theatre, Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre and Glen Street Theatre – see sydneytheatre.com.au

What We Do In The Shadows [FILM] House Of Vampires By Adam Norris

Taika Waititi in What We Do In The Shadows

W

hen I speak with Taika Waititi he is worried that I won’t be able to hear him. It’s a common concern for international calls, but this time it has nothing to do with phone reception – he has just popped down to the pub. As if to emphasise this, in the background comes the sound of smashing glass and a woman cackling. Rather a 22 :: BRAG :: 578 :: 03:09:14

fitting soundtrack to a horror-comedy mockumentary, really. Co-directed by Waititi and Flight Of The Conchords’ Jemaine Clement, What We Do In The Shadows is a kind of undead He Died With A Felafel In His Hand, complete with vampires, werewolves, zombies and New Zealand.

“We scripted the entire film, but when

it came time to shoot it we improvised the whole thing,” Waititi admits. “The script was really dense, about 150 pages long, and there was no way we were ever going to have a chance of shooting the entire thing. We realised because we wanted it to feel as real as possible for a fake documentary, the performances had to seem natural. People pausing, thinking about what they were about to say, talking over the top of each other, things like that. Now and then we’d have to include scripted moments when it was important to the story, but for the most part, it’s 95 per cent made up. One day, I’ll find the guts to go back and look at the footage again. We ended up shooting around 130 hours, and trying to get 86 minutes out of that, it’s hard, man.

Eventually we’ll release the 18-disc DVD.” Now, I don’t want to say that What We Do In The Shadows is a mockumentary with bite, because puns are a hard habit to break and should not be encouraged. But this unlikely study of four vampires sharing a house in modern-day Wellington is outright hilarious. Even

the house itself is a cluttered, archaic delight (“It’s actually Peter Jackson’s old office,” Waititi reveals. “It made perfect sense that he just happened to have this big old spooky house as an office”). After seeing the film so many times, Waititi himself still finds it entertaining.

“There are still jokes that make me laugh. Anything with the werewolves, I loved that. There’s lots in the film that I still enjoy, and I’ll always stay and watch the first ten or 15 minutes whenever we’re doing a screening. I really enjoy the opening, and that seems to be a common response as well. We’d written in some ghosts into the masquerade [scene] but didn’t end up using them, which is funny given that they would have been the easiest thing to do. Just tie some fishing line around something and make it move.”

What is perhaps the film’s great appeal is that despite the bloodletting immortality of its subjects, these vampires suffer through the same well-intentioned awkwardness as the rest of us mortals. Waititi’s character, Viago, is amiable to the

point of frustration, like a fresh-faced intern you just want to drop out of a high window by the end of the day.

“I just wanted to play a sort of vampire mum, really. A character who looks after everyone, just the nicest vampire you could possibly meet. Very polite, who sadly has to feast on human blood to survive. But he’s wellintentioned, well-dressed. He’s based on a guy I once knew in Germany, the way he talks and sees the world. Very innocent with this high-pitched, camp voice. So I tried to project that guy, mixed it in with a bit of my mum.

Jemaine was keen on doing a character more like the Gary Oldmantype of Dracula vampire, and then by default Jonny [Brugh] became the weird Venice Beach vampire. We wanted them all to contrast, and I liked that it was the complete opposite to anything else we’ve really seen of onscreen vampires.”

What: What We Do In The Shadows (dir. Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement) Where: In cinemas Thursday September 4

thebrag.com

opens

SEPTEMBER 11

Cremorne Orpheum, Palace Norton St

BRAG :: 578 :: 30:09:14 :: 23

Film & Theatre Reviews Hits and misses on the silver screen and bareboards around town

Breadcrumb Trail

■ Theatre

OEDIPUS REX Playing at Belvoir St Theatre until Sunday September 14

■ Film

BREADCRUMB TRAIL Showing at Sydney Underground Film Festival on Saturday September 6 Since its release in 1991, Slint’s Spiderland remains one of indie rock’s most sacred texts, as well as one of the most enigmatic. For that reason, it lends itself well to an investigative documentary: who were these four young men, their heads above water and smiling in a lake as captured in the black-and-white photograph on the LP’s cover? How was a recording so musically intricate and emotionally charged borne from Louisville, Kentucky’s punk/ hardcore scene? How and why is it so distinctive compared to the band’s debut, Tweez?

Blind, guilt-ridden and exiled, Oedipus (Peter Carroll) carries out his days being cared for by his daughter, Antigone (Andrea Demetriades). Exuding shame and abjection, the play takes us on a disturbing journey of the senses that resonates humiliation, powerlessness and vulnerability.

The dialogue is sparse and poetic in its delivery, but it is all we need. The meat of the story is delivered through pure, raw emotion. Carroll’s performance is absolutely mesmerising as the once-powerful king, reduced to a pathetic, self-annihilating old man. Demetriades is also outstanding as Oedipus’ carer, showing utmost resignation, disdain and a sense of anger towards her desolate and broken father.

Scenes are as bittersweet as they are depressing, with Carroll brilliantly exposing the weaknesses of an elderly man like you’ve never seen before. Although it is a confronting and at times disturbing performance, it is one that continuously draws you in.

Belvoir’s Oedipus Rex is an intense, bold and stark production that will leave you reeling for breath and shaking your head in awe and wonder. Don’t miss it.

Prudence Clark

BRITNEY SPEARS: THE CABARET Playing at Hayes Theatre Co until Sunday September 7 Unsurprisingly Britney Spears: The Cabaret does exactly what it says on the tin, telling the tale of the world’s favourite pigtailed schoolgirl turned celebrity car crash via acoustic cabaret arrangements of her biggest hits, and the excellent satirical skills of writer and director Dean Bryant.

Surprisingly, however, it also touches your heart.

Seamlessly brought to life by Christie Whelan Browne (The Rocky Horror Show, Xanadu) – hats off to her here for capturing that accent – the character of Britney Jean Spears stands, sits, sings, tap dances and baton twirls alone onstage, bar grand piano accompaniment in the form of musical arranger Mathew Frank. We meet child Britney, forced to the stage by a dominating mother; teenage virginal Britney broken hearted by the once love of her life, Justin Timberlake; all the way to recovering Britney, hair regrown and kids back in her custody. All, of course, interjected with piano score versions of her most renowned pop classics.

And what versions! Giving ears more time and less distraction to hear lyrics, arranged perfectly and sang with appropriate gusto to tell

Christie Whelan Browne in Britney Spears: The Cabaret this particular story, you’ll have to have a heart of stone not to feel for poor Brit. But with just the right amount of slapstick and the superb acting skills of Browne, you’ll be pulled back to laughing your tits off the moment anything gets a little too real. Because let’s face it, reflected in the Evian bottle shaped oddly like a half-litre voddie, the Spears story, while fabulously glittery, is undoubtedly sad.

It’s this combination of funny and misfortune that makes Britney Spears: The Cabaret a 70-minute performance I personally didn’t want to end. Britney fans: do not miss this (diehard fans pray for an aisle seat close to the front). Not a fan? You might just be after this fantastic performance.

Jack Smith

Peter Carroll in Oedipus Rex

Xxxx

Lance Bangs’ Breadcrumb Trail, befitting its title (named after the album’s opening track) is more concerned with the process than the end result; the recording sessions of Spiderland, documented in a few short photo-montages, register as a footnote.

The album itself is distinguished primarily by prodigious musical skill (not for nothing is the band credited as forebearers of ‘math rock’) and an acute sense of alienation, though nothing in the band’s family lives suggests an influence on the record’s darkness; rehearsals took place in the basement of drummer Britt Walford’s suburban home with the approval of his parents, both of whom appear as phenomenally chill interviewees.

Oedipus Rex is an utterly gut-wrenching and desolate production. Loosely based around the myth of Oedipus Rex, who killed his father and married his mother, the play, directed by Adena Jacobs, brings the notion of suffering and tragedy to life.

■ Theatre

The most salient element in the confluence of the band, from all evidence, is the town of Louisville itself. “People from Louisville are fucking crazy, they’re just insane,” says Ian MacKaye (Fugazi, Minor Threat) at one point, almost in defeat. Breadcrumb Trail never really articulates precisely what made the city so peculiar, but the schism between the townspeople’s benign wholesomeness and its often volatile music scene is vividly etched. And if the film ultimately fails to demystify Spiderland, it’s fortunately not for a lack of critical distance that the mysteriousness of the record remains intact.

Ian Barr

See www.thebrag.com for more arts reviews

Arts Exposed What's in our diary...

Ultimo Science Festival Ultimo (various venues), Wednesday September 3 – Friday September 12 Science isn’t all about white lab coats and infinitesimal calculations.

The 2014 Ultimo Science Festival aims to make science accessible for all, with a program of exhibitions, events, talks and shows scheduled at venues around Ultimo including the Powerhouse Museum, the University of Technology, Ultimo TAFE and the ABC Centre. Our highlight? Try The Big Night of Science Presents: The Science of Sex, featuring a panel of minds including Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki telling you everything you needed to know – and some things you didn’t – about the science behind getting down.

The Science of Sex is on Friday September 5 at the Powerhouse Museum. For the full festival schedule and to book, head to ultimosciencefestival.com.

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thebrag.com

Game On Gaming news with Adam Guetti

2014

creeps towards us, things are finally starting to heat up in the land of video games, with a couple of titles on the horizon that are dying to suck your free time away.

First up on September 9 is one of the biggest titles of 2014: Destiny (PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360). Developed by the same team that turned the Halo series into the multimillion dollar franchise it is today, Destiny is the next big entertainment evolution – an online-centric FPS that sends you on an intergalactic journey, joined by a robotic guide voiced by Game Of Thrones’ Peter Dinklage. Take our word for it, this one’s going to be big.

Next up, a little something for the kids.

September 18 brings Disney Infi nity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes (PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U), the sequel to last year’s mega-hit. This time, the Marvel gang joins the action, adding a new range of figurines to collect and original, character-driven stories to play. Mix in an all-new and improved Toy Box mode and you have hours of entertainment.

For the Nintendo Wii U fans, September 20 brings you your next must-play title – Hyrule Warriors. This unexpected mash-up will see you cutting down legions of enemies as Link, Zelda, Midna and other characters from The Legend Of Zelda franchise, while using over-the-top powerful Dynasty Warriors-style moves. It won’t be as deep as traditional Zelda games, but you can expect it to be a whole lot of fun regardless.

Finally, we arrive at FIFA 15 (PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360), the latest iteration in the yearly series. Football fans will surely lap this up in droves and enjoy the all-new emotional intelligence, as players are made more lifelike than ever before. It drops on September 25.

Playstation 4 Continues To Dominate

It’s good news for Sony Computer Entertainment, which has claimed that in Australia, according to NPD Group Australia data, the PlayStation 4 has remained a raging success and is the number-one-selling new-generation console. Even more impressive is that the console is outselling is nearest competitor month-on-month at a rate of two-to-one since its launch last year.

“The responses we have received for the PS4 system’s unique gameplay experiences powered by the network, along with its vast game portfolio, have been phenomenal, and I am absolutely delighted that PS4 was able to reach this commemorative milestone in less than nine months,” said Andrew House, president and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Speaking to the Financial Review, Sony Computer Entertainment Australia managing director Michael Ephraim had his own thoughts. “People are realising it is the probably the most powerful console out there, they’re seeing that in the gaming experience … but we’ve also realised how people game.”

Amazon Buys Twitch

Moving out of Australia, the biggest news of the month is that online retail behemoth Amazon has acquired Twitch for US$970 million in cash. It’s a surprising move, especially in light of many rumours speculating that Google would be the one to nab the company. The acquisition is no doubt a major win for Amazon, considering that in the month of July, Twitch claims it had over 55 million unique viewers, who watched a total of 15 billion minutes from around one million uploaders.

Twitch CEO Emmett Shear is naturally over the moon. “Being part of Amazon will let us do even more for our community. We will be able to create tools and services faster than we could have independently. This change will mean great things for our community, and will let us bring Twitch to even more people around the world,” he said.

Review: Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare

If you own a smartphone, chances are you’ve played a couple of games of Plants Vs. Zombies before. After all, it’s an adorable yet creepy tower defence title that has captured the hearts of many.

Perhaps that’s why its transformation into a 3D, third-person online shooter seems so odd. Still, that doesn’t entirely mean it’s a bad game.

In a nutshell, Garden Warfare takes all your favourite PVZ characters, transforms them into full 3D beings, and pits them up against each other in an assortment of game modes (like traditional deathmatch or the wavebased Garden Ops) – similar to many other online shooters on the market.

Each character embraces a traditional class system, however it’s handled in a much more jovial way that smartly sticks to the franchise’s lore. Chompers, for example, are more melee and attack focused – capable of burrowing and spitting goo onto foes in an effort to slow them down and deactivate abilities – while Cacti are great for setting up

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TIMEZONE

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t’s the rite of passage for gamers of all ages: a visit to Timezone, where arcade games, sports challenges and those bizarre learn-to-dance machines come together in an oasis of fun. The LAI Group, which established Timezone in Australia, traces its roots back to a suburban garage in 1958, from where the business grew providing pinball machines to fast food joints before expanding into jukeboxes, arcade games and pool tables.

The first Timezone opened in central Perth in 1978, and by 1993 there were around 50 Timezone locations around the country. Come 2012, international expansion saw Timezone grow to 230 venues across the Asian region.

After neglecting Australia in favour of the Asian market, Timezone has turned an eye back to its roots, while also looking to connect with the new era of online gaming. We spoke to Timezone Australia general manager Kane Fong about the Timezone experience in 2014.

Tell us about the history of Timezone in Sydney.

Timezone has a long and rich history with Sydney dating back to the 1980s.

Locations have come and gone over the years but Timezone has always had a presence here and will continue to entertain Sydney for many more years to come. In the Sydney and Newcastle area we currently have five Timezone locations and growing.

What kind of customers do you cater for? What experiences do you offer them?

At Timezone we cater to a large range of different ages and tastes. Whether you are a serious gamer playing Maximum Tune 4 and want to mod your car to the max to compete in our national tournaments, a family who wants to play head-to-head against each other and see who can collect the most tickets or be the master at air hockey, all of our locations ensure we cater to your needs. We are in the business of family-friendly entertainment and therefore take pride in providing

facilities that are safe, clean and fun.

How is Timezone adjusting for the new era of online gaming? Is it difficult to compete with the technology in home gaming these days?

Although the online and home game market has given customers more options, we do not see ourselves as being in direct competition with the home console market. Our mission is to deliver an experience that is unique and not easily replicated in the home environment, that encourages people to congregate together physically in the real world and share an experience.

Why do people continue to visit the cinemas when many have a large screen TV at home and access to the latest movies? The reason is that we all as humans have a need to come together to socialise and share experiences that bond us closer. For this reason we will continue to provide facilities that allow our customers to do just that for years to

come, regardless of the advances in home gaming technology.

What are the latest highlights in Timezone attractions this year?

Our stores have had a lot of great games and attractions added this year.

Some highlights are the addition of our Typhoon motion simulators and many new-release ticket games and Skilltesters; we are also looking forward to delivering the latest release of Maximum Tune 5 later in the year. If you haven’t been into a Timezone location recently you will be amazed by some of the great new products we are introducing. We have some exciting developments in the pipeline, which will redefine the definition of a traditional Timezone location – I cannot give away too much at this stage but it is a matter of ‘watch this space’.

Where: Locations in Sydney CBD, Charlestown, Hornsby, Liverpool and Tuggerah More: timezone.com.au

When everything works, the action can be quite a lot of fun, as teams come together to secure victory. The only issue is, with the odd online niggle very much present, things don’t always work as well as they should – meaning it won’t be entirely uncommon for you to experience some serious lag or start fl oating through the fl oor. It’s also a bit of a shame that there’s zero single player content available, especially when you consider the origins of the original game.

That said, Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare is an enjoyable romp – just don’t expect it to blow your mind. It’s not the total genre twist we hoped that the odd mash-up would provide, but there’s certainly plenty of room for improvement with a sequel.

Adam Guetti

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Father’s Day is upon us again this Sunday September 7, and we want to see your dad (and ours) spoiled properly.

Whether your old man’s an outdoorsy dad, a fashionable dad or a pub-loving dad, we’ve got you covered for ideas.

And, of course, some dad-friendly musical picks to keep your Father’s Day soundtracked.

They’re called: Thrd Eye Timeless Chino Pants They suit: All dads who like to stay on trend and ahead of the fashion game.

Why they’re perfect for Dad: Cut to form, classic, slim fit, leather detailing and with a unique smart phone pocket, the Thrd Eye Timeless Chino Pants will be a mainstay in your wardrobe. Every dad has a smart phone, and can now stand out from his mates with the Thrd Eye Timeless Chino Pants featuring a unique smart phone pocket.

Venue Name: The Annandale Hotel It’s called: Double up for Dad at the ’Dale What to see and do: We’re for dads who love a low-key day. Come hang out in the courtyard with a burger and pint, catch some tunes late in the day and just have an all-round relaxed Sunday afternoon with the family.

Wallet damage: RRP $65 Website: thrdeye.com

What’s the vibe: Adam Pringle & Friends are kicking off the entertainment with some tunes at 3pm in the main bar. Adam’s funky country blend is the perfect soundtrack to a Sunday afternoon.

What’s the fuel: Buy your Dad a double beef burger and a pint of our promo Father’s Day craft beer for the price of just the burger. Full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu also available.

The bit Dad will thank us for: Six of Sydney’s best craft beers on tap, a fridge full of others… and did we mention the double beef burger?

Wallet damage: $17… if you can stop at just one pint.

Where and when: 17-19 Parramatta Rd Annandale. Doors open 8am, lunch starts at 12pm.

Venue Name: Newtown Hotel It’s called: Father’s Day at The Animal in Newtown Hotel What to see and do: Loads and loads of delicious coal-roasted meat from the spit and a great range of beers.

What’s the vibe: Usually ’50s, ’60s rock’n’roll/ rockabilly.

What’s the fuel: Try the succulent coal-roasted lamb or the sticky beef ribs – to die for.

The bit Dad will thank us for: That you actually made it to Father’s Day and you didn’t have to leave your local to treat Dad to an awesome menu.

Wallet damage: $30 a head (depending on how much you like to drink).

Where and when: The Animal @ Newtown Hotel, 174 King St Newtown, from 12pm.

THE BRAG’S SOUNDTRACK TO FATHER’S DAY Our favourite dad-approved tunes to keep the drinks flowing.

The Beards

‘Eagle Rock’

Not only does this one keep a tempo that’s easy enough for Dad to shuffle along to on the dancefloor, it’s probably one of the biggest Australian hits from his 1970s heyday.

‘If You’re Dad Doesn’t Have A Beard, You’ve Got Two Mums’

search results, you know you’ve come up with a pretty original band name. Good tune, too.

‘Plastic’

Because there’s no better sign that it’s Dad’s big day than Mum getting on the drink while all the kids’ attention is elsewhere.

‘Cats In The Cradle’

Remember when Homer Simpson went to all that trouble to be a better father to Bart? When he visited the National Fatherhood Institute, then built his son a soapbox racer only for Bart to abandon it in favour of Martin’s faster model? Tears of sadness.

‘Camberwell’

Big Scary’s Tom Iansek might not be a familiar name to most dads, but this cut from his fantastic new album is a bloody good’un. See, Dad, not all the kids’ music is rubbish!

Below: #1 Dads album About Face

Sorry, we know it’s Father’s Day and all, and some dads just can’t stomach the stubble. Too bad.

‘To Earth With Love’

Did you know Robert De Niro has a gay dad? Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but when Robert De Niro, Sr. is the only other result on the first page of Google 26 :: BRAG :: 578 :: 03:09:14

Drunk Mums thebrag.com

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Album Reviews What's been crossing our ears this week...

ALBUM OF THE WEEK THE LOVE JUNKIES

Blowing On The Devil’s Strumpet Butsikatsic/MGM

Western Australia’s best-kept Xxxx secret is finally out.

Arguably not since The Vasco Era disappeared has there been a band in contemporary Australian rock that has sounded so genuinely dangerous and on the verge of completely losing it the way The Love Junkies do. It’s their howling, punk-tinged brand of garage rock that has allowed them to move from support slots as diverse as You Am I, Calling All Cars and La Dispute this year alone with the utmost of ease.

If you’re not on board with The Love Junkies by now, Blowing On The Devil’s Strumpet is your chance to rectify this situation.

David James Young

xxx

While it’s difficult for bands in this vein to capture the lightning in a bottle that comes

with their live performances, they have come quite close on their second studio album.

There’s a progression and a maturity within the songwriting, but it’s quickly ensured that this is not a trade-off for intensity and energy – look no further than rip-snorters like opener ‘Mausoleum’ and the sub-minute scorcher ‘When I’m Lookin’ In The Mirror’. Even the slower moments on offer add a darker layer to the proceedings, providing a striking contrast as opposed to a screeching halt to the momentum.

THE KOOKS

KIMBRA

VARIOUS ARTISTS

THE GRISWOLDS

STEVE SMYTH

Listen Virgin/EMI

The Golden Echo Warner

Beck Song Reader Warby Parker/EMI

Be Impressive Chugg/MGM

Exits Ivy League

Listen is a radical departure from the indie-pop The Kooks have built their career on. So different, in fact, they could have renamed the band.

According to The Kooks, that is.

In the same way that the grungy, electronic tendencies of Kimbra’s recent single ‘90s Music’ may have come as quite a shock to fans, The Golden Echo will challenge much of what you have previously assumed about the New Zealand performer – and it may take some getting used to.

Beck’s Song Reader is a gimmick project that grows less and less interesting with every new purchasable product it stems, the latest of which is this misguided collection of pseudo-covers.

The Griswolds’ signature pop with a shot of indie takes a very particular mood to enjoy. Ideally, one induced by actual shots. The Sydney fivepiece has been busy building an international following with its selfdescribed “tequila-inspired party pop”.

It’s been working – it seems The Griswolds have really hit on a niche in the crowded indie market: drunk people.

Steve Smyth has achieved a great deal in a short amount of time, garnering the attention of everyone from The Killers to John C. Reilly. He’s also the kind of performer who works best when he’s absolutely hitting for the fences – when he lets loose his bloodcurdling blues howls, he’s up there as one of the finest voices in contemporary Australian folk. Live, it’s sensational, to the point where it’s sent him across the globe for others to hear it.

In reality, the differences between this album and their back catalogue are superficial. The Kooks are an indie-pop band, and this is still a pop album. That’s not an insult either – as a band they helped revive Britpop in all its catchy glory.

Listen tries way too hard to escape the label, unsuccessfully.

The biggest success of this album is perhaps the maturity in her sound that has come from this startling rebrand. Whether it be through the jarring rhythms in ‘90s Music’ or her shivering croon in ‘Nobody But You’, Kimbra’s voice demonstrates effortless control in each context. But The Golden Echo delves into an overwhelmingly experimental space with ‘Everlovin’ Ya’ (feat. Bilal) and ‘Waltz Me To The Grave’ that is painfully grating and dark at times.

It’s hard to say who the album is aimed at. It’s certainly not for Beck fans, who would presumably want a little more eclecticism and are yet to hear the original versions of these songs (although Beck does supply the Sea Change-esque ‘Heaven’s Ladder’). It’s that missing eclecticism that makes the collection a disappointment. The first ten tracks here are cut from the same cloth, boiling down Beck and his songs to their purest form – laidback country.

It’s the result of having either too much reverence for the source material or not enough original thought to make the songs shine. For the second half the source material is used more like a jumping off point, with artists performing closer to their usual style. The results are as eclectic as Beck’s halcyon days.

Jarvis Cocker provides melodrama, Jason Isbell provides ragged Southern rock, and somehow Jack Black pulls off the album highlight in sea shanty ‘We All Wear Cloaks’.

Fans will always love The Kooks for the pop band they can be at their best. It’s a shame they’re too naïve to see it.

Nevertheless, the tracks on this record bravely transcend the genres and audiences of Kimbra’s past, demanding relevance and boldly achieving it.

So if you’re a fan of any of the artists in the second half, this might be worthwhile. Otherwise, wait for the inevitable Song Reader album proper.

Expect heavy rotation come summertime when danceability trumps originality. But at the risk of ruining the party, Be Impressive is less than.

Emily Meller

Erin Rooney

Leonardo Silvestrini

Emily Meller

At first, tracks like ‘Down’ do sound different to classic Kooks.

Luke Pritchard teamed up with hip hop producer Inflo, and the result is decidedly R&B. Pritchard even uses the word “diggy”. But beneath these ‘new’ influences lies the same familiar subject matter (chasing girls, hurtful rumours) and catchy hooks (plenty of “la-la-las”).

Tracks that embrace indie-pop with an R&B twist actually work well, like uptempo ‘Are We Electric’ or the slow piano ballad ‘See Me Now’. But then there are others that crumple into annoying clichés, like gospel-inspired ‘Forgive And Forget’. If only we could.

The album mashes a combination of disco, R&B, pop and soul together in a confusion of sounds that somehow comes out simply fun and cheeky. The result is a slew of strong hits like ‘Teen Heat’, ‘Goldmine’ and ‘Miracle’, showing off Kimbra’s signature big vocals with a hint of newfound sass.

INDIE ALBUM OF THE WEEK Are you proud to be Australian? Well, Melbourne-based eight-piece Mighty Boys sure are. Their scrappy brand of garage rock reflects a bunch of mates letting their life experience and surroundings seep into their sound. This is not the faux-ockerPeter-Russell-Clarke-singing-for-anAmerican-band-Australiana of The Smith Street Band and Luca Brasi, but a band that reflects the influence of crappy instruments, hot weather, fatty sausages, shitty jobs and parking fines.

MIGHTY BOYS Dole Cheque & Cabana Independent/Bandcamp

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Opening song ‘Hey Hey’ is a loose garage rock track that sonically references Radio Birdman and Eddy Current Suppression Ring. Lyrically, it covers Plucka Duck, racing tracks, Centrelink and, the origins of the title, TV show Hey Hey It’s Saturday.

‘Bad Pornography’ is a rerecording of an older Mighty Boys song, ‘Shitty Blowjobs’. This one tackles the very modern societal problem of porn addiction-caused flaccidity.

Musically, Dole Cheque & Cabana is a punk rock record. Thematically, in its own deeply sardonic, observational way, it is a punk record that comments on a period of Australian culture we will remember fondly in years to come.

In an era of a hyper-information via the internet, even punk rockers like Mighty Boys are informed enough to know, that yes, modern life has its flaws, but it’s the best life we have.

They haven’t been starved for critical acclaim either, with comparisons to Vampire Weekend, Jinja Safari and MGMT unavoidable. But it’s a fine line between influence and imitation – and they have a tendency to land on the wrong side. Upbeat single ‘Right On Track’ echoes the tropical drumbeats of many of The Griswolds’ indie predecessors, but is still an enjoyable summer-ready track. It shows a glimpse of the band’s potential, slightly downtempo and introspective. Sadly, most other songs are more formulaic – guitar, driving drums and chanted hooks.

‘America’ features some brass for interest, but the impact is cosmetic at best. Helpfully, most of the song titles double as the chorus, so no-one is taken by surprise mid-inebriated sing-along.

This lightning in a bottle, however, is sadly yet to be properly captured on his studio material. There are a few ripper tunes among the batch that make up his second album, particularly the Tom Waits homage ‘Get On’ and the swaying balladry of ‘South Land’. Too much of the album, however, is spent on quiet, gentle crooners, which, while performed capably, seem untoward from the man who should be blowing up the PA purely with the power of his own voice.

Don’t hesitate for a second about seeing Steve Smyth live – that remains an untouchable and often unforgettable experience.

Perhaps, however, you shouldn’t rush back to the merch desk to pick up the album.

David James Young

OFFICE MIXTAPE And here are the albums that have helped BRAG HQ get through the week...

THE FRATELLIS - We Need Medicine MINK MUSSEL CREEK - Mink Mussel Manticore LED ZEPPELIN - Led Zeppelin III

FKA TWIGS - LP1 MAXIMO PARK - Quicken The Heart

Denver Maxx thebrag.com

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INA CLARKE :: ASHLEY MAR ::

seek stumble listen live

PICS :: AM

frank sultana & the sinister kids

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up all night out all week . . .

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live reviews

up all night out all week . . .

What we've been out to see...

QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT Allphones Arena Tuesday August 26

It’s Queen’s first Australian tour in nigh on 30 years, and the absence of their late frontman Freddie Mercury isn’t so much the elephant in the room: as the fans take their seats, there are more than a couple of Mercury lookalikes dressed up around the arena, some more convincingly than others.

Adam Lambert takes Mercury’s place onstage, and for a while, there’s something deeply cynical about the whole occasion.

That’s not Lambert’s fault, either; not even the harshest of critics would expect him to fairly compare. No, it’s the stench of corporate enterprise around Queen’s very presence on this stage, joined by the five or six fans who’d forked out more than $1,200 apiece to stand behind the keyboardist and dance awkwardly for a couple of hours (a place in the centre of the front rows cost a mere $764.50). It’s not like Brian May and Roger Taylor need the money – somehow, We Will Rock You lasted on London’s West End for 12 years, and the royalties can’t have dried up just yet.

31:08:14 :: Frankie’s Pizza :: 50 Hunter St Sydney

But then, in a display that would make Freddie proud, it’s Lambert who turns the performance around with a simple gesture. Draping himself over a red-

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Chris Martin

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megan washington

Now Queen are present, and all their finest songs hit the mark. ‘Somebody To Love’, ‘I Want It All’, ‘Under Pressure’, ‘Radio Ga Ga’ and ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ please a capacity crowd. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ gets a clever treatment, with Mercury appearing via video from his prime to share verses with Lambert, though the first half of the track is canned altogether (it’s hard enough replacing one Freddie, let alone 20 of him).

‘We Are The Champions’ is the last of the encores, and the show winds up as an unbeatable tribute to Queen in their prime.

An expensive one, perhaps – but at least it’s not We Will Rock You.

The show gets off to an ambling start, despite the enormous set, light show and Lambert’s gold-studded leather outfit. The curtain lifts for ‘Now I’m Here’, then it’s ‘Stone Cold Crazy’ and a disappointing ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ (on which Lambert messes up a lyric and gets the crowd to clap along on the one and three… oh dear). Initially, Queen and friends seem a fragile stencil of the band that once was, and all the spectacle in the world can’t help them – and this for the band that invented spectacle.

PICS :: AM

frankie’s

and-gold-coloured chaise longue, with champagne bottle in hand and enormous, glittering heels on foot, the singer kicks back and laughs as ‘Killer Queen’ plays in the background. Just like that, it’s as if the quirky humour that ‘classic’ Queen always dealt in heavy doses has returned, personified in their fresh-faced American mouthpiece. Next, Lambert stands and thanks the audience, with all sincerity, for “suspending your disbelief”.

PHOTOGRAPHER :: ASHLEY MAR

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PHOTOGRAPHER :: ASHLEY MAR

“Let’s all get drunk on a Tuesday night and have a rad time.” Nick Manuell, lead singer of The Sinking Teeth, was stoked to be out on a school night and his vibe was contagious. Beers in hand, the Melbourne trio thrashed the stage with unapologetic energy and solid punk rock for a fun 40-minute set. The boys interspersed the rough and dirty tempo of a set including ‘Bottom Of The Lake’, ‘White Water’ and ‘You Can’t Build A Bike Out Of Muffins’ with equally filthy banter, fart jokes and tales of life on the road. “We drove here today, so I’ve been sucking on these guys’ farts all day,” was one gem Manuell happily told the room.

After a short interlude, Oz rockers Kingswood took the stage for their soldout gig in stampede of howling, hip-shaking and hairy goodness; even the guitar tech ‘Jimmy’ was sporting a beard.

Guitarist Alex Laska’s solo during ‘So Long’ was a highlight, as was the kiss Laska and lead singer Fergus Linacre shared before sliding into a sexy rendition of their latest hit, ‘I Can Feel That You Don’t Love Me’.

An energetic cover of Queens of the Stone Age’s ‘Feel Good Hit Of The Summer’ had the crowd jumping and a freestyle bluesy improv had everyone laughing before Kingswood took it home, ending the set on a high with a rowdy rendition of ‘Ohio’.

Julienne Gilet

nova and the experience

30:08:14 :: Enmore Theatre :: 118-132 Enmore Rd Newtown 9550 3666 thebrag.com

the dandy warhols

PICS :: AM

Newtown Social Club Tuesday August 26

29:08:14 :: Newtown Social Club :: 387 King St Newtown 1300 724 876

Touring the country to coincide with the release of their debut album Microscopic Wars, the Melbourne band kicked things off with ‘All Too Much’, followed by ‘Sucker Punch’, First Aid Kit’s ‘Wolf’ and a growling version of ‘She’s My Baby’. The classic thrash and ’70s rock’n’roll on songs like ‘Side To Side’ and ‘Piece By Piece’ were balanced by the sultry and soulful sounds during ‘So Long’ and ‘Eye Of The Storm’, while raw vocals were matched equally with expressive solos and onstage shenanigans.

PICS :: KC

KINGSWOOD, THE SINKING TEETH

jack r reilly

PICS :: AM

up all night out all week . . .

29:08:14 :: Enmore Theatre :: 118-132 Enmore Rd Newtown 9550 3666 OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER

S :: KATRINA CLARKE :: ASHLEY

MAR ::

BRAG :: 578 :: 03:09:14 :: 31

g g guide gig g send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com

pick of the week Biffy Clyro

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC

Enmore Theatre

Biffy Clyro + Calling All Cars 8pm. $68.70.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 3 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

Cameron Avery + Shiny Joe Ryan The Vanguard, Newtown.

7pm. $15.80.

Mitch Anderson & His Organic Orchestra Coopers Hotel, Newtown.

8:45pm. free.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

32 :: BRAG :: 578 :: 03:09:14

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC 20th Century Dog + Slowpoke Rodriguez Venue 505, Surry Hills.

8:30pm. $17.20.

Gang Of Brothers Jam Night Spring Street Social, Bondi.

9pm. free.

Lionel Cole Imperial Hotel, Paddington.

8pm. free.

Steve Clisby Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 7:30pm. $43.90.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

Oxblvd + Sweet Jelly Rolls Moonshine Cider & Rum Bar, Manly. 9pm. free.

The Morrisons The Annandale Hotel, Annandale. 8pm. free.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Cole Soul And Emotion feat: Lionel Cole The White Horse, Surry Hills.

8pm. free.

Kasey Chambers Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 7:30pm. $43.

King B-Fine And Zion Band Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham.

9pm. $15.

Phil Slater + Simon Barker Old 505 Theatre, Surry Hills.

9pm. $17.20.

Ursula Yovich + Benny Walker + Leah Flanagan Venue 505, Surry Hills.

8:30pm. $22.20.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS Alex Hopkins Wenty Leagues Club, Wentworthville. 9pm. free.

Alkemie Night - feat: Live Music + DJ Sudek Spring Street Social, Bondi.

9:30pm. free.

Black Diamond Hearts Soda Factory, Surry Hills.

10pm. free.

Bob Dylan State Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $100.80.

Cambo Observer Hotel, The Rocks.

8:30pm. free.

Dave White Duo Maloney’s Hotel, Sydney.

9:30pm. free.

David Agius Dee Why Hotel, Dee Why.

Feel Good Friday Fringe Festival Jazz Session Venue 505, Surry Hills.

8:30pm. free.

Jann Rutherford Discovery, An Optimistic Pianist Seymour Centre, Chippendale. 8:30pm. $22.20.

Jazz Hip-Hop Freestyle Sessions Foundry616, Ultimo. 11:30pm. free.

Jess Dunbar PJ Gallagher’s, Sydney.

5:30pm. free.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

Cass Eager Duo Coogee Diggers, Coogee.

8pm. free.

Doc White And Si Compadres Camelot Lounge, Marrickville.

8pm. free.

Jordan C Thomas The Annandale Hotel, Annandale. 8:30pm. free.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS 2goodreasons The Belmore Hotel, Maitland.

8pm. free.

Alex Hopkins Wenty Leagues Club, Wentworthville. 9pm. free.

Andy Mammers Trio Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee.

10:30pm. free.

Antoine Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill.

9:30pm. free.

Armchair Travellers Duo North Sydney Leagues Club, Cammeray. 8:30pm. free.

Australian Guns N Roses Show Bull & Bush Hotel, Baulkham Hills. 10pm. free.

Biffy Clyro + Calling All Cars Enmore Theatre, Newtown.

8pm. $68.70.

Bno Rock Show Crows Nest Hotel, Crows Nest. 10:30pm. free.

Bob Dylan State Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $100.80.

Brad Johns

The Amity Affliction

Northies Cronulla Hotel, Cronulla. 9pm. free.

Carl Fidler Observer Hotel, The Rocks.

6pm. free.

Christie Lamb Colonial Hotel, Werrington.

9pm. free.

Craw Daddy Club - feat: Oxblvd Bank Hotel, Newtown. 11pm. free.

Dark Shadows Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 9pm. $10.

Darren Jack + Ali Penney And The Moneymakers + Dan Hopkins Brass Monkey, Cronulla. 7pm. $17.

David Agius Crows Nest Hotel, Crows Nest. 7pm. free.

Declan Kelly + Jenna Murphy Old 505 Theatre, Surry Hills.

9pm. $17.20.

DJ Town Hall Hotel, Balmain.

7:30pm. free.

DJ Marty Wentworthville Leagues Club, Wentworthville. 9pm. free.

DJ S Huskisson Hotel, Huskisson.

8pm. free.

Dragon The Juniors, Kingsford. 7pm. $30.

Drew The Oriental Hotel, Springwood. 8pm. free.

Endless Summer Beach Party The Juniors, Kingsford.

8:30pm. free.

Evie Dean Rooty Hill RSL Club, Rooty Hill. 6pm. free.

Fishing Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $15.

Gary Johns Duo Hillside Hotel, Castle Hill.

8pm. free.

Geoff Rana Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale.

9pm. free.

Georgia White Town Hall Hotel, Balmain.

4:30pm. free.

Glenn Esmond Duo Kings Cross Hotel, Kings Cross. 11pm. free.

Greg Byrne Scruffy Murphy’s Hotel, Sydney. 9pm. free.

Groovology Revesby Workers Club, Revesby. 8:30pm. free.

Hugo Race + Edward Clayton-Jones Camelot Lounge, Marrickville.

8pm. free.

James Englund Parramatta RSL, Parramatta.

5pm. free.

Jamie Lindsay Stacks Taverna, Sydney. 5pm. free.

Joe Echo Trio Campbelltown Catholic Club, Campbelltown. 9:15pm. free.

John Milligan Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale.

5:30pm. free.

Just Jammin Ramsgate RSL, Sans Souci.

8pm. free.

Knucklehead Orchestra Town & Country Hotel, St Peters. 7:30pm. free.

Lawrence Baker Quakers Inn, Quakers Hill.

8pm. free.

Live Music At The Royal The Royal, Leichhardt.

9:30pm. free.

Magic America + Dead Radio + Psychlops Eyepatch FBi Social, Kings Cross. 8pm. $10.

Marc Malouf Duo Rock Lily, Pyrmont. 6pm. free.

Matt Jones PJ Gallagher’s, Moore Park.

9pm. free.

Matt Price Harbord Beach Hotel, Harbord. 7pm. free.

Noel Mcdonald Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill.

6:30pm. free.

O’Shea The Vanguard, Newtown.

8pm. $23.80.

Panorama Duo Albion Hotel, Parramatta. 9pm. free.

Pat O’Grady Chatswood RSL, Chatswood.

5pm. free.

Protest The Hero Manning Bar, Camperdown.

7:30pm. $51.

Reels On Fire PJ Gallagher’s, Leichhardt.

10pm. free.

Retiree + Harvey Sutherland Goodgod Small Club, Sydney.

9pm. $12.

Rob Henry Duo Kirribilli Hotel, Milsons Point.

8pm. free.

Royal Chant + Wasters + Wash + Mixed Business Spectrum, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $10.

Safari Suits Panthers, Penrith. 8pm. free.

Sumeru Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 8pm. $10.

The Button Collective + Murdena + The Morrisons Shady Pines, Darlinghurst.

4pm. free.

The Frocks Windsor Leagues Club, Windsor South. 9:15pm. free.

The Sphinxes Vineyard Hotel, Vineyard.

9:30pm. free.

Tim Conlon The Grand Hotel, Rockdale.

5:30pm. free.

Two Minds Duo Time & Tide Hotel, Dee Why. 7:30pm. free.

Vip Vinyl Room, Gymea. 9:30pm. free.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Spyglass Gypsies Seymour Centre, Chippendale. 8:30pm. $22.20. $20.

Wildrice Trio Dee Why RSL, Dee Why. 6:30pm. free.

xxx

Alex Goot Metro Theatre, Sydney. 7pm. $45.

Andy Mammers Duo Maloney’s Hotel, Sydney. 9pm. free.

Bob Dylan State Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $100.80.

Elana Stone Old 505 Theatre, Surry Hills.

9pm. $17.20.

Fat Bubba’s Chicken Wednesdays Soda Factory, Surry Hills.

5pm. free.

Frances Madden Mounties, Mount Pritchard.

6pm. free.

Greg Byrne Duo Ettamogah Hotel, Kelly Ridge.

6:30pm. free.

Hue Williams Club Ashfield, Ashfield. 8pm. free.

Seniors Show - feat: Susan Penno + Lisa Budin Belmont 16s, Belmont.

6:30pm. free.

Shredders Lair Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale. 6pm. free.

The Royal Artillery Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 9pm. free.

7pm. free.

Forenzics Colbourne Avenue, Sydney.

8pm. $20.

G.O.D. Town & Country Hotel, St Peters. 7:30pm. free.

Lunatics On Pogosticks Collector Hotel, Parramatta.

8pm. free.

Mandi Jarry Northies Cronulla Hotel, Cronulla. 7:30pm. free.

Melody Rhymes Manly Leagues Club, Brookvale. 4pm. free.

Mi-Sex + Max & The Refined Rouges Brass Monkey, Cronulla. 7pm. $25.

No Dice Paradise - feat: Atolla + Wisconsin + Wawawow Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $10.

Skyscraper Stan + Jimmy & The Saints Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 9pm. free.

The Amity Affliction Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park.

8pm. $63.11.

The Late Night Soda Social Soda Factory, Surry Hills.

5pm. free.

thebrag.com

g g guide gig g

send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

Maia Jelavic + Tom Stephens + Vanessa James Hibernian House, Surry Hills.

6:30pm. $10.

Paul Hayward & Friends Town & Country Hotel, St Peters. 4pm. free.

The Honey Stompers + Blue Love Revue Katoomba RSL, Katoomba.

8:30pm. free.

Xxx

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

80s Flashback Bull & Bush Hotel, Baulkham Hills. 9:30pm. free.

AJ Springwood Sports Club, Springwood. 8:30pm. free.

Alex Hopkins Campbelltown Catholic Club, Campbelltown. 6:30pm. free.

Am 2 Pm Pittwater RSL, Mona Vale.

8pm. free.

Andy Mammers Club Cronulla, Cronulla. 7pm. free.

Antoine PJ Gallagher’s, Sydney. 9pm. free.

Ben Finn Trio The Mean Fiddler, Rouse Hill.

9pm. free.

Black Bird Blue Cessnock Leagues Club, Cessnock. 6:30pm. free.

Black Diamond Hearts Crows Nest Hotel, Crows Nest. 10:30pm. free.

Bounce Scruffy Murphy’s Hotel, Sydney. 10pm. free.

Boyce Avenue Enmore Theatre, Newtown.

7:30pm. $54.90.

Cara Kavanagh + Mark Oats Duo PJ Gallagher’s, Leichhardt.

10pm. free.

Carl Fidler Observer Hotel, The Rocks.

4pm. free.

Clap Clap Riot + The Upskirts FBi Social, Kings Cross.

8:30pm. $10.

Daniel Romeo Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill.

9pm. free.

Darren Johnstone Kirribilli Hotel, Milsons Point.

7pm. free.

Dave Morris Time & Tide Hotel, Dee Why. 7:30pm. free.

David Agius Duo The Mean Fiddler, Rouse Hill.

6pm. free.

DevilDriver + Whitechapel The Hi-Fi, Moore Park. 8pm. $68.20.

DJ Mounties, Mount Pritchard.

10pm. free.

Dora D Trio Campbelltown Catholic Club, Campbelltown. 9:30pm. free.

Dragon Mounties, Mount Pritchard.

7pm. free.

Drew Panthers, Penrith. 5:30pm. free.

Endless Summer Beach Party Orient Hotel, The Rocks.

9:30pm. free.

Extension Chord Shady Pines, Darlinghurst.

4pm. free.

Floyd Vincent And The Temple Dogs + The Green Hand Band Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville. 9pm. $10.

Gary Johns Greystanes Inn, Greystanes Inn. 8pm. free.

Geoff Rana Brewhouse Marayong, Kings Park. 8pm. free.

Glenn Esmond Fortune Of War, The Rocks.

8pm. free.

thebrag.com

Harbour Masters Duo Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee.

12am. free.

Heartbeat Goodgod Small Club, Sydney.

11pm. $5.

Heath Burdell Duo Northies Cronulla Hotel, Cronulla. 9pm. free.

Highly Iregular Town & Country Hotel, St Peters. 8pm. free.

Iron Lion PJ’s Irish Pub, Parramatta.

9pm. free.

Jess Dunbar Crows Nest Hotel, Crows Nest. 7pm. free.

John Milligan New Brighton Hotel, Manly.

10pm. free.

Laurie Bennett Penrith RSL, Penrith. 2pm. free.

Martha Marlow Old 505 Theatre, Surry Hills.

9pm. $17.20.

Masterpiece Penrith Rsl, Penrith. 9pm. free.

Matt Jones Duo Wentworthville Leagues Club, Wentworthville. 10pm. free.

Matt Price PJ Gallagher’s, Moore Park.

7:30pm. free.

Movement Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $18.

Muddy Feet Mittagong RSL, Mittagong.

8pm. free.

Nobunny + The Hussy Goodgod Small Club, Sydney.

8pm. $20.

Oh Boy (The Buddy Holly Show) Panthers, Penrith. 8pm. $10.

One Hit Wonders Bayview Tavern, Gladesville.

10:30pm. free.

Paradise City Hermann’s Bar, Sydney. 9pm. $10.

Paul Hayward Town & Country Hotel, St Peters. 2pm. free.

Peppermint Jam Ramsgate RSL, San Souci.

8pm. free.

Peter Northcote’s Drive With Ciaran Gribbin Brass Monkey, Cronulla. 7pm. $27.

Pop Fiction Panthers, Penrith. 10pm. free.

Pop Will Eat Itself Manning Bar, Camperdown.

8pm. $65.30.

Rachel Fahim Le Pub, Sydney. 9pm. free.

Revolver The Belmore Hotel, Maitland.

9:30pm. free.

Ryan Thomas Harbord Beach Hotel, Harbord. 7pm. free.

Sarah Paton Observer Hotel, The Rocks.

5:30pm. free.

Shellgame Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 8pm. $10.

Spank Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill.

10:30pm. free.

Stephen Kiely Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill.

6:30pm. free.

Ted Nash Duo Carousel Inn Hotel, Rooty Hill.

8pm. free.

The Beatels Blacktown Workers Club, Blacktown. 8pm. free.

The Gangsters’ Ball 2014 Metro Theatre, Sydney.

7:30pm. $70.

The Loaded Six Strings Overlander Hotel, Cambridge Park. 7pm. free.

The Strides Venue 505, Surry Hills.

8:30pm. $22.20.

The Vanns + White Blanks + Kit Bray The Annandale Hotel, Annandale. 8:30pm. free.

The White Brothers Ettamogah Hotel, Kelly Ridge.

7pm. free.

Three Rams Penrith Gaels, Kingswood.

Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach. 2pm. free.

Pop Will Eat Itself

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 8 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC

7pm. free.

Tori Darke Stacks Taverna, Sydney. 9pm. free.

Triple Shot Fm Revesby Workers Club, Revesby. 8:30pm. free.

You Me At Six + Tonight Alive UNSW Roundhouse, Kensington. 7:30pm. $62.70.

Zombie Prom 1986 The Vanguard, Newtown.

8pm. $38.80.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK Cass Eager + Eddie Boyd Shady Pines, Darlinghurst.

4pm. free.

Satellite V Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville. 4:30pm. free.

Slippery Gypseas + The Conversations + Dan Ray Hotel Hollywood, Sydney.

4pm. free.

Krishna Jones Waverley Bowling Club, Waverley. 2pm. free.

LJ Panania Diggers, Panania.

12pm. free.

Marty Stewart The Lucky Australian Hotel, St Marys. 6pm. free.

Melody Rhymes Pritchards Hotel, Mount Pritchard. 1pm. free.

Murrumbidgee Jones Shakespeare Hotel, Surry Hills . 6pm. free.

Paul Hayward Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville. 4:30pm. free.

Rhiannon Oxford Hotel, Darlinghurst.

2pm. free.

Riley Beech Oatley Hotel, Oatley. 1pm. free.

The Audreys The Vanguard, Newtown.

8pm. $28.80.

The Multiplier Effect Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 4pm. $10.

Tin Sparrow

Latin & Jazz Jam Open Mic Night World Bar, Kings Cross. 7pm. free.

Motown Mondays - feat: Soulgroove The White Horse, Surry Hills.

8pm. free.

Roger Manins Venue 505, Surry Hills. 8pm. $12.20.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

AJ Orient Hotel, The Rocks. 9pm. free.

Bob Dylan Sydney Opera House, Sydney.

8pm. $159.

Will Martina Trio + Simon Ferenci Quintet Foundry616, Ultimo. 8pm. $17.20.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS Declan Kelly + Original Sin + Zana Rose + Nic Yessac Bar 34 Bondi, Bondi Beach.

8pm. free.

Yours Truly With Dave Robinson + Ken Stewart Town & Country Hotel, St Peters. 7pm. free.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

Blues Tuesdays - feat: That Red Head Spring Street Social, Bondi.

7:30pm. free.

Innersoul Live Play Bar, Surry Hills. 6pm. free.

Bob Dylan

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Old School Funk & Groove Venue 505, Surry Hills. 8pm. free.

Swingtime Tuesdays The Basement, Circular Quay.

7pm. $9.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC AQ Town & Country Hotel, St Peters. 3pm. free.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

Adam Pringle & Friends The Annandale Hotel, Annandale. 3pm. free.

Amphibious Duo Venue 505, Surry Hills. 9pm. $17.20.

Ange Ambarvale Tavern, Ambarvale.

2pm. free.

Blaming Vegas Overlander Hotel, Cambridge Park. 3pm. free.

Bob Dylan Sydney Opera House, Sydney.

8pm. $159.

Celia Pavey + Lester The Fierce Brass Monkey, Cronulla. 7pm. $17.

Chris Connelly Ramsgate RSL, Sans Souci.

2pm. free.

Craig Thommo Panthers, Penrith. 2pm. free.

Drew Cronulla RSL, Cronulla.

2:30pm. free.

Eddie Boyd And The Phatapillars Shady Pines, Darlinghurst.

6pm. free.

Evie Dean Hillside Hotel, Castle Hill.

3pm. free.

Graveyard Rockstars + Minge Dynasty Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 7pm. free.

Jed Zarb Wallacia Hotel, Wallacia. 2pm. free.

Johnny Cass Band Botany View Hotel, Newtown.

7pm. free.

wed

thu

03

04

Sep

Sep

(9:30PM - 12:30AM)

(9:30PM - 12:30AM)

fri

05 Sep

(4:30PM - 7:30PM)

(9:30PM - 1:30AM)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

sat

06 Sep

(4:30PM - 7:30PM)

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

sun

07 Sep

(8:30PM - 12:00AM)

(9:30PM - 1:15AM)

mon

(4:30PM - 7:30PM)

tue

08 Sep

09 Sep (9:00PM - 12:00AM)

(9:30PM - 12:30AM)

BRAG :: 578 :: 03:09:14 :: 33

THE LOVE JUNKIES

gig picks

up all night out all week...

You Me At Six

“BLOWING ON THE DEVIL’S STRUMPET” THE NEW ALBUM OUT SEPTEMBER 5TH THROUGH BÜTSIKATSIC AND MGM DISTRIBUTION ON VINYL, CD AND DIGITAL DOWNLOAD.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 3 Cameron Avery + Shiny Joe Ryan The Vanguard, Newtown. 7pm. $15.80.

DevilDriver + Whitechapel The Hi-Fi, Moore Park. 8pm. $68.20.

Martha Marlow Old 505 Theatre, Surry Hills. 9pm. $17.20

Alex Goot Metro Theatre, Sydney. 7pm. $45.

Movement Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $18.

Elana Stone Old 505 Theatre, Surry Hills. 9pm. $17.20.

Nobunny + The Hussy Goodgod Small Club, Sydney. 8pm. $20.

SATURDAY 20 SEPTEMBER

Shredders Lair Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale. 6pm. free.

Pop Will Eat Itself Manning Bar, Camperdown. 8pm. $65.30.

THURSDAY 18 SEPTEMBER

SUNDAY 21 SEPTEMBER

Steve Clisby Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 7:30pm. $43.

FRIDAY 19 SEPTEMBER

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM

PRE-ORDER FROM

CATCH THE LOVE JUNKIES LIVE WEDNESDAY 17 SEPTEMBER TRANSIT BAR, CANBERRA

RAD BAR, WOLLONGONG

SPECTRUM, SYDNEY

HAMILTON STATION, NEWCASTLE

WWW.OZTIX.COM.AU

TATTERSALL’S, PENRITH

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4 The Morrisons The Annandale Hotel, Annandale. 8pm. free.

Kasey Chambers Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 7:30pm. $43.90.

SEPTEMBER 2014 MONDAYS FROM 9PM

TRIUMPHANT TUESDAYS FROM 8PM

FRANKIE’S WORLD FAMOUS HOUSE BAND

Protest The Hero Manning Bar, Camperdown. 7:30pm. $51.

4 TH 11 TH 18 TH 25 TH

SKYSCRAPER STAN DAI PRITCHARD MESA COSA THE PEEP TEMPEL

SUNDAY

7 TH 14 TH 21 ST 28 TH

DEFRYME BAND IN TEXAS WENDY ICON TECHNICOLOUR PSYCH NIGHT

SABBATH SESSIONS FROM 6PM

Fishing Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $15.

DAVE EASTGATE’S ROCK&ROLL KARAOKE

THURSDAY

10’O’CLOCK ROCK FROM 10PM

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5

Eyepatch FBi Social, Kings Cross. 8pm. $10.

ROYAL ARTILLERY THE LAZY’S HEART OF MIND • VOODOO SONS JETSON MANIC

FROM 9PM

The Amity Affliction Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park. 8pm. $63.11.

KEITH MOON CUP PINNIE COMP

3 RD 10 TH 17 TH 24 TH

WENESDAY

Skyscraper Stan + Jimmy & The Saints Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 10pm. free.

frankiespizzabytheslice.com • facebook.com/stcfrankiespizza

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6 Clap Clap Riot + The Upskirts FBi Social, Kings Cross. 8:30pm. $10.

The Strides Venue 505, Surry Hills. 8:30pm. $22.20.

The Vanns + White Blanks + Kit Bray The Annandale Hotel, Annandale.

8:30pm. free.

You Me At Six + Tonight Alive UNSW Roundhouse, Kensington. 7:30pm. $62.70.

Zombie Prom 1986 The Vanguard, Newtown. 8pm. $38.80.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7 Adam Pringle & Friends The Annandale Hotel, Annandale. 3pm. free.

Graveyard Rockstars + Minge Dynasty Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 9pm. free.

The Audreys The Vanguard, Newtown. 8pm. $28.80.

The Multiplier Effect Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 4pm. $10.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 8 Bob Dylan Sydney Opera House, Sydney. 8pm. $159.

Roger Manins Venue 505, Surry Hills. 8pm. $12.20.

Will Martina Trio + Simon Ferenci Quintet Foundry616, Ultimo. 8pm. $17.20.

The Upskirts

50 HUNTER STREET, SYDNEY 34 :: BRAG :: 578 :: 03:09:14

thebrag.com

brag beats

BRAG’s guide to dance, hip hop and club culture

dance music news

free stuff

club, dance and hip hop in brief... with Chris Martin and Lauren Gill

five things NICK CURLY

xxx

WITH

head to: thebrag.com/freeshit

EMC 2014

The Electronic Music Conference, set to descend on Sydney once again in 2014, last week revealed its enormous first round of speakers for this year’s event. Over 40 names are on the list for the new-look EMC, to be held in the Kings Cross precinct during ARIA Week. Leading the lineup are Steve Aoki, Peking Duk, Will Sparks, Nina Las Vegas, MaRLo, Joel Fletcher, Destructo, The Aston Shuffle, Nick Thayer, Sampology and Kilter. For the full list of speakers and to book, visit electronicmusicconference. com.au. EMC 2014 is on in Kings Cross from Tuesday December 2 – Thursday December 4.

JOEL RAFIDI GOES BUSKING

Growing Up I remember that my 1. parents listened to a lot of

Your Crew My crew started with 3. guys like Johnny D and Ray

music, especially rock music.

My dad used to play the guitar in a rock band. My first concert was a big rock festival where I went with my parents to see Metallica and AC/DC.

Okpara when we started doing a project called RAJO. Later on I met Gorge and we started doing music together and opened up the label 8Bit Records. Now with my new project, Trust, I work with different artists. I invited guys like Anja Schneider, Tobi Neumann, Guti and D’Julz to some of the events. We always had good fun and became a great team.

Inspirations I still think the whole 2. classical thing is really genius. Classics like Mozart and Bach are really great.

Especially on Mondays when I’m at home I like to listen to this kind of music.

In our electronic scene I’m still a big fan of Carl Craig’s work, Kerry Chandler and DJ Sneak, especially with his old productions. They inspired me a lot with their music.

BASENJI’S BEATS

The Music You Make And Play 4.

For me the groove of the tracks I play is the most important thing. I really like these loopy, groovy tracks. I just signed a few good EPs from guys like Tania Vulcano, Christian Nilsen and Junior

Local product Basenji, who signed to Future Classic earlier this year, has now released his first single on the label – ‘Heirloom’, available as a free download via SoundCloud. Basenji, AKA

Gee, which I’m going to release on my 8Bit label.

These tracks are definitely on heavy rotation in my sets.

S.A.S.H SLEEPOUT

Remember the last time you stayed up all night with S.A.S.H on a Sunday and had to chuck a sickie from work the next day? Well, it’s time to set aside a few days off either side of the weekend Friday September 19 – Sunday September 21, when S.A.S.H throws its inaugural S.A.S.H Sleepout festival in the Hunter Valley. Nick Curly, Nico Stojan, Rodriguez Jr, Sammy Dee and more will keep the beats pumping all weekend in the perfect springtime getaway for dance fans. We’ve got a double pass to offer one lucky BRAG reader – for your chance to win it, head to thebrag. com/freeshit and tell us why you need the weekend off.

Sydney rapper Joel Rafidi is heading out on a promo tour with a difference, busking his way down the east coast this month. He’ll be spitting rhymes from his debut album Phases (out Friday September 12) in shopping malls, schools and wherever else you might find a busker, all the while documenting his travels on social media. Rafidi’s hit the heights with his singles ‘Do It Again’ and ‘I’ll Be Good’, and Phases was self-produced with help from Daniel Antix. If you’d rather see him onstage proper, Rafidi and his full band play The Old Manly Boatshed on Sunday September 21, Tatler on Thursday September 25 and The Brass Monkey on Wednesday October 1.

Nico Stojan

Music, Right Here, Right Now 5.

I’m happy about the electronic scene at the moment as it has never been bigger than now. Of course I do not like all genres of electronic music and I also do not feel all this EDM hype, but in the end if it helps to make our underground scene bigger I’m happy.

What: S.A.S.H Sleepout With: Nico Stojan, Rodriguez Jr, Sammy Dee, Francis Harris, Marc Poppcke and more Where: Hunter Valley When: Friday September 19 – Sunday September 21

Sebastian Muecke, will embark on a month-long national tour to spin the track live, kicking off at The Civic Underground on Friday October 3.

Basenji is very much a talent on the rise, so get amongst it stat.

Yacht Club DJs

Hilltop Hoods

HILLTOP HOODS ON TOUR

Hilltop Hoods have announced an extensive national tour for this summer on the back of the release of their massively successful new album Walking Under Stars. The upcoming leg will mark stage four of their 2014 world tour, which has already seen them sell out shows in New Zealand and Europe. When they appeared recently on the cover of the BRAG, MC Pressure admitted, “A lot of people inside the hip hop history in particular are watching closely to see when we’re coming back. Or if we’re coming back at all.” The wait was worth it: having only been released a few weeks ago, Walking Under Stars has reached gold status in Australia. The Hoods hit Hordern Pavillion on Friday October 24. Tickets go on sale at 11am on Monday September 1.

HARBOURLIFE 2014

The Harbourlife lineup for 2014 has landed.

The Australian festival with the most picturesque location of them all has locked in a dancetastic program for this year’s edition – Kygo, Dusky, Lee Foss, Classixx, Miguel Campbell, Thomas Jack, Mark Farina and more will descend on Sydney Harbour for a party to remember. Harbourlife 2014 is on at the Fleet Steps at Mrs Macquarie’s Point on Saturday November 8.

HAND THAT MC A MIC

Sydney’s own hip hop collective, Electric Elements, is bringing its Hand That MC A Mic event back to Brighton Up Bar on Friday October 3. The night began back in 2011, and ever since has exposed some quality raw talent to the scene, five performers at a time. The latest instalment will feature Electric Elements, Sleepwalkers, Beastside, Decypher Us and Casa and Jae Moon. Previous events have sold out, so get your hands on those tix while you can.

BUTCHY BOY

YACHT CLUB DJS SAY GOODBYE

Xxx

Before Yacht Club DJs call it a day, they’ll make the rounds one more time on their Hooroo! national tour this summer. Since forming in 2008 the duo has gotten the party started at everywhere from Meredith to Falls to a North American tour with Mumford & Sons. Yacht Club DJs’ final tour will kick off in Hobart before finishing up at the place that started it all, Ballarat. Catch ’em one last time at Oxford Art Factory on Saturday November 15.

thebrag.com

German DJ and producer Butch has locked in a run of shows for this September. Heralded as the ‘second most charted DJ of all time’ on Resident Advisor, Butch has released music via the likes of Desolat, Cocoon and Rekids over the course of his 22-year career. He’s currently making waves with a string of experimental new releases and a residency at Berlin’s Watergate. Butch hits Chinese Laundry on Saturday September 20.

Butch

BRAG :: 578 :: 03:09:14 :: 35

Earthcore Underground And Beyond By Denver Maxx

E

arthcore is one of Australia’s oldest outdoor dance music festivals – according to its founder Spiro Boursine, Earthcore even predates the term ‘bush doof’.

After last year’s critically lauded 20th anniversary event, Earthcore is preparing for a massive 2014 instalment from Thursday November 27 until Monday December 1. The event will again be held at the Pyalong location outside Melbourne.

With a vast array of artists covering psytrance, techno and other dance genres, Earthcore’s lineup is a who’s who of what’s jamming in underground electronic music at the moment. On the evidence of dance blogs and Earthcore’s own Facebook page, German minimal tech artist Boris Brejcha is the act that a lot of punters are getting excited about, but as Boursine explains, his festival’s ‘headline’ artist is still a relatively unknown quantity in Australia.

However, with the sheer amount of sharing of Brejcha’s sets and tracks on music forums, it appears the passion and want for the German’s

“I brought Aphex Twin out in 1996 and sent him out into the desert at an event called Technofest,” says Boursine. “His set was something else, he played with a blender and would chuck the mic in the blender and sample that into his tunes, and we were all standing there watching like, ‘Who the fuck is this guy?’ He was totally out there. He had already released ‘Come To Daddy’ and was massive overseas but it was still another 12 months until Australian audiences got it.”

As with previous editions, this year’s Earthcore promises more than just dance music – it’s a cultural and soulful experience as well, enabling attendees to indulge all their senses, but in particular, sight and sound.

Boursine sets out what he believes are the core principles of Earthcore: music and art. “Musically it’s mainly psytrance and techno, because I don’t spend a fortune on top-tier artists of the international festival circuit … I have more money spent on the event itself. I can focus my energy on the other elements of the festival outside of the music because I usually have the acts booked up to a year in advance. I have a lot of time to be able to focus on the other elements of the event. That’s my secret. It’s out!”

Beyond dancing to and absorbing the DJs and producers, the festival’s activities are wideranging, from the special guest speakers to the District 13 Theme Camp Zone, a workshop where attendees can design their own themed festival space. “District 13 is basically a theme camp where people can design and implement their own social space at Earthcore – it’s an idea we have borrowed from Burning Man and given our Earthcore touch to,” says Boursine.

“Also this year, for the first time, we have a speakers’ forum called The World Beyond, and we have the head of Australian Paranormal Society and he has a whole team of

speakers that are into leftfield topics ranging from cryptozoology, UFOs, ancient archeology, other theories upon how civilisation evolved, predating the Egyptians – just really great speakers who are into their topics. It’s a great way to spend the daylight hours and really make this an eye-opening experience.”

It seems fitting to end the interview by discussing the act that closed last year’s Earthcore, the 72-yearold Ronald Rothfield, who will be appearing again at this year’s event.

The jazz-flute-trained psychedelic trance pioneer performs under both the moniker Raja Ram and as one half of lauded psytrance act Shpongle.

“He smashed it,” recalls Boursine.

“He demolished the Hydra floor by playing for hours and keeping everyone dancing like crazy the whole time.

He had more vitality than most of the people there my age and most of the people 20 years younger than me. It was a combination of awe for someone to command such a huge dancefloor and also a bit of jealousy that someone his age has so much energy.”

What: Earthcore 2014 With: Hallucinogen, Shpongle, Boris Brejcha, Da Vinci Code and many more Where: Pyalong, Victoria When: Thursday November 27 – Monday December 1

Earthcore photo by Michael Jeffrey

“I reckon the most underrated artist on the Earthcore lineup is Boris Brejcha by a mile,” says Boursine.

“He is an absolute machine and Australia is just not onto it yet. You know what I have noticed – that the major Australian dance festivals, all the headliners have been to Australia between two and ten times because the Australian market knows who they are. I reckon an act needs to be brought out two or three times before people will really flock to see them.”

deep and compelling techno will see the fans queuing up to experience his sound at Earthcore. While this is a comforting thought for Boursine in 2014, he remembers a time that predated the internet, when arguably one of the biggest underground dance acts in the world still couldn’t sell out a festival.

Rodriguez Jr French Connection By Augustus Welby to be as fast and as spontaneous as possible, because that’s the only way to avoid getting lost through possibilities.”

Indeed, when experimenting with electronic production, the possibilities really can appear to be endless. The malleable nature of modern technology makes it very easy to fall into a regressive cycle of editing and re-editing. A tendency to second-guess oneself doesn’t help in evading this hurdle.

“I don’t have any self-confidence, so it can take ages to finish a track,” Mateu says. “With the modern digital audio workstation, it became so easy to recall a track a thousand times and polish every little detail for hours. Though I always try to impose a deadline to myself, otherwise you suck all the life out of a track and make it sterile.”

Rodriguez Jr is one of the leading acts set to appear at the three-day S.A.S.H Sleepout festival, which goes down in the Hunter Valley later this month. While Mateu is a meticulous studio technician, live performance is a chance for him to stretch his legs.

I

The thing is, these genre labels aren’t usually coined by artists looking for a succinct style descriptor. Rather, it’s people like us – those with pens in hand and

36 :: BRAG :: 578 :: 03:09:14

fingers on keyboards – who are largely responsible for the glut of ambiguous categorisation. See, while you could call French original electronic producer Rodriguez Jr a stylistic polymath, his musical exploration isn’t motivated by thoughts of genre.

“Having fun in the studio is the only key,” he says. “Experimenting with my synths, trying new tricks, noodling with my modular synth, improvising or trying to get inspiration in old records, sampling my cat.”

Rodriguez Jr is also known as Olivier Mateu, and got his first major

exposure as one half of French electro-tech duo The Youngsters.

Throughout the first decade of the 21st century, The Youngsters released two full-length records and a stack of singles, gaining support from French techno legend Laurent Garnier’s F Communications label along the way. The Youngsters were largely deemed a techno act, but Mateu again emphasises that they weren’t trying to pin down their style.

“Our sound was definitely more techno onstage while our albums were a blend of house, techno, electronica, ambient – so it was already a mess and a fusion of

things. We actually didn’t think too much in the studio. And I am doing the same today.”

Having transferred into solo mode five years ago, Mateu perceptibly relishes the uninterrupted freedom to experiment he’s now permitted.

However, with no partner in crime to bounce ideas off, perhaps it’s become difficult to determine how well something is working.

“Sometimes I might feel lost for a moment,” he admits, “but then I take a break, work on something else, and eventually come back to my initial plan. My creating process has always been the same. It has

“Producing in the studio is like projecting something from inside,” he says. “You have time to draw a background, hosting events and telling a story. Performing live is very different. It’s pretty much like an emotional catharsis – getting naked in front of an audience and letting your most inner personality go out. That’s almost tribal.”

What: S.A.S.H Sleepout With: Nick Curly, Nico Stojan, Sammy Dee, Francis Harris, Marc Poppcke and more Where: Hunter Valley When: Friday September 19 – Sunday September 21

thebrag.com

Rodriguez Jr photo by Eric Canto

n this wonderful age that allows us unlimited access to every kind of music ever made, it seems like there are new subgenres emerging with each passing day. Nowhere is this phenomenon more rampant than in the realm of electronic music. Along with old favourites such as techno, house and synthpop, we’re now bombarded

by EDM, IDM, ambient pot roast, tin roof folktronica, MDMA acid rub and… OK, you get the point.

BRAG :: 578 :: 30:09:14 :: 37

club guide g send your listings to : clubguide@thebrag.com

club pick of the week 360

10pm. $15.

Thank Funk It’s Friday The Ranch, Eastwood.

9:30pm. free.

Voodoo Sydney Home Nightclub, Darling Harbour. 8pm. $25.

Yum Yum - feat: Juzzlikedat + Adverse + Setwun + Benny Hinn Play Bar, Surry Hills. 8pm. free.

HIP HOP & R&B

360 + Hopsin + Pez + Miracle + Lunar C + Gossling Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park.

7pm. $55.

Hustler Fridays - feat: MC Shaba Hustle & Flow, Redfern. 7pm. free.

Jay Sean Metro Theatre, Sydney. 9pm. $54.75.

More Poets Than Politicians - feat: Luke Lesson Red Rattler, Marrickville.

7:45pm. $20.

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5

HIP HOP & R&B

Halfway Crooks Phoenix Bar, Darlinghurst.

10pm. $10.

CLUB NIGHTS

Cakes - feat: 4 Rooms Of Live Music + DJs And International Guests World Bar, Kings Cross. 8pm. $10.

El Loco Later - feat: DJs On Rotation Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills.

10pm. free.

Hordern Pavilion

360 + Hopsin + Pez + Miracle + Lunar C + Gossling 7pm. $55.

El’ Circo - feat: Resident Circus Act Performers Slide Lounge, Darlinghurst.

7pm. $109.

Frat Saturdays - feat: DJ Jonski Side Bar, Sydney. 6pm. free.

Infamous Saturdays - feat: Live DJs Scubar, Sydney. 7pm. free.

Jägermeister Spice Presents Frames - feat: Sam Francisco + Cassette The Spice Cellar, Sydney.

10pm. $25.

Masif Saturdays Space, Sydney. 10pm. $25.

Pacha Sydney - feat: Dubvision + Julian Jordan + Glover + Baby Gee + Chris Arnott + Fingers + Spenda C + Nanna Does + Jace Gisgrace + Mike Hyper + Stu Turner + Just 1 + Nad + Deckhead + Heke + Pro/ Gram + Trent Rackus Ivy Bar/Lounge, Sydney.

6:30pm. $27.70.

Samual James + Zac Waters Marquee, Pyrmont. 10pm. $28.60.

Sienna Saturdays - feat: Resident DJs The Establishment, Sydney.

9pm. free.

Soda Saturdays - feat: Resident DJs Playing Disco And Funk Soda Factory, Surry Hills.

5pm. free.

Spring Break - feat: Bombs Away + DJ Oddular Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee.

9pm. $12.

Tommy Four Seven + The Only & Komes + A-Tonez + Samrai + Defined By Rhythm + Fingers + Chris Fraser + DJ Just 1 + Nine Lives Chinese Laundry, Sydney.

9pm. $22.60.

CLUB NIGHTS

DJ Tom Kelly Goldfish, Kings Cross. 9pm. free.

The Wall - feat: Various Local And International Acts World Bar, Kings Cross. 9pm. $5.

Whip It Wednesdays - feat: Various DJs Whaat Club, Kings Cross.

9pm. free.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4 HIP HOP & R&B

Joe Echo Scruffy Murphy’s Hotel, Sydney. 7:30pm. free.

Joyride Lo-Fi, Darlinghurst. 6pm. free.

CLUB NIGHTS

Fear Of Dawn Goldfish, Kings Cross. 8pm.

38 :: BRAG :: 578 : 03:09:14

free.

Full Up! - feat: Mikey Glamour + Nick Toth + Jimmy Sing + Prince Andrew Goodgod Small Club, Sydney.

8pm. free.

Goldfish And Friends - feat: Regular Rotating Residents Goldfish, Kings Cross. 10pm. free.

Hot Damn Spectrum, Darlinghurst. 9pm. $10.

Loopy - feat: Drty Csh + Daschwood + Generous Greed + Guest DJs The Backroom, Kings Cross.

10pm. $12.

Pool Club Thursdays - feat: Resident DJs Ivy Bar/Lounge, Sydney. 5pm. free.

The World Bar Thursdays World Bar, Kings Cross. 9pm. free.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5 CLUB NIGHTS

360 Afterparty The Backroom, Kings Cross.

8pm. $20.

Andy Murphy Marquee, Pyrmont. 10pm. $18.40.

Argyle Fridays - feat: Resident DJs The Argyle, The Rocks. 6pm. free.

Bassic - feat: Party Favor + Spenda C + The Bassix + Struz + Ramske + Blackjack + Whyse Chinese Laundry, Sydney.

9pm. free.

El Loco Later - feat: DJs On Rotation Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills.

10pm. free.

Factory Fridays - feat: Resident DJs Soda Factory, Surry Hills.

5pm. free.

Feel Good Fridays Bar100, The Rocks. 5pm. free.

Frisky Fridays Scubar, Sydney. 5pm. free.

Kilter Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $21.50.

Loco Friday - feat: Various Live Bands And DJs The Slip Inn, Sydney. 5pm. free.

Soft&Slow 05.09 - feat: Jamie Lloyd + Steven Sullivan + James Fazzorali The Spice Cellar, Sydney.

CLUB NIGHTS

Samantha Fox + Agee Ortiz + Av El Cubano + Resident DJ Willie Sabor The Establishment, Sydney.

8pm. free.

Sunday Sessions - feat: Cadell + Tom Kelly + Ocky Goldfi sh, Kings Cross. 4pm. free.

Sunday Spice 07.09 - feat: Tornado Wallace + Murat Kilic + Kato The Spice Cellar, Sydney.

9pm. free.

Sundays In The City - feat: Various DJs The Slip Inn, Sydney. 12pm. free.

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 8 CLUB NIGHTS

Crab Racing Scubar, Sydney. 7pm. free.

Mashup Monday - feat: Resident DJs Side Bar, Sydney. 8pm. free.

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 9 CLUB NIGHTS

Chu World Bar, Kings Cross.

9pm. free.

send your listings to : clubguide@thebrag.com

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5 Andy Murphy Marquee, Pyrmont. 10pm. $18.40.

Bassic - Feat: Party Favor + Spenda C + The Bassix + Struz + Ramske + Blackjack + Whyse Chinese Laundry, Sydney. 9pm. Free.

Jay Sean Metro Theatre, Sydney. 9pm. $54.75.

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 3

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7

Kilter Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $21.50.

Soft&Slow 05.09 - Feat: Jamie Lloyd + Steven Sullivan + James Fazzorali The Spice Cellar, Sydney. 10pm. $15.

Yum Yum - Feat: Juzzlikedat + Adverse + Setwun + Benny Hinn Play Bar, Surry Hills. 8pm. Free.

Samual James + Zac Waters Marquee, Pyrmont. 10pm. $28.60.

Spring Break - Feat: Bombs Away + DJ Oddular Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee. 9pm. $12.

Tommy Four Seven + The Only & Komes + A-Tonez + Samrai + Defined

By Rhythm + Fingers + Chris Fraser + Dj Just 1 + Nine Lives Chinese Laundry, Sydney. 9pm. $22.60.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7 Sunday Spice 07.09 - Feat: Tornado Wallace + Murat Kilic + Kato The Spice Cellar, Sydney. 9pm. Free.

Tornado Wallace

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6 Halfway Crooks Phoenix Bar, Darlinghurst. 10pm. $10.

Jägermeister Spice Presents Frames - Feat: Sam Francisco + Cassette The Spice Cellar, Sydney. 10pm. $25.

Pacha Sydney - Feat: Dubvision + Julian Jordan + Glover + Baby Gee + Chris Arnott + Fingers + Spenda C + Nanna Does + Jace Gisgrace + Mike Hyper + Stu Turner + Just 1 + Nad + Deckhead + Heke + Pro/Gram + Trent Rackus Ivy Bar/Lounge, Sydney. 6:30pm. $27.70.

thebrag.com

BRAG :: 578 :: 30:09:14 :: 39

snap Off The Record

up all night out all week . . .

Dance and Electronica with Tyson Wray

pretty damn questionable cover art – but I’m keen nonetheless.

Best releases this week: Terekke’s selftitled EP on L.I.E.S. is one of the best things I’ve heard all year, Traumprinz keeps killing it with his latest release All The Things on Giegling, and Ian Pooley’s Floris on Innervisions is a delightful return to form.

Looking local: Basenji, AKA Sebastian Muecke, has finally delivered his highly anticipated single, ‘Heirloom’, and it’s a stormer. The track was first debuted by his high school friend and fellow producer Wave Racer on BBC Radio 1’s Diplo And Friends mix series, and can now be downloaded for free on Future Classic’s SoundCloud page. You can catch him on Friday October 3 at Civic Underground.

Hernan Cattaneo

F

client liaison

PICS :: KC

ans of prog house will be delighted to know that Hernan Cattaneo and his luscious mane have been confirmed as the latest contributors to the illustrious Balance mix series. Set to drop on Friday September 26, Balance 026 features a slew of Cattaneo’s own productions, alongside cuts from the likes of Boards of Canada, Mano Le Tough, Guy J, Gui Boratto and more. He’ll also be hitting Sydney later this year, playing at the Greenwood Hotel on Sunday October 5.

30:08:14 :: Oxford Art Factory :: 38-46 Oxford St Darlinghurst 9332 3711

One of the most exciting producers in the contemporary electronic landscape, Torn Hawk, has released the details of his forthcoming full-length release, which has arguably the worst name ever. Let’s Cry And Do Pushups At The Same Time, the fourth studio record to come from the audio project of producer and video artist Luke Wyatt, is slated for release on Monday November 10. It also has some

Tour rumours: word on the grapevine is that Willie Burns will return later this month after smashing it Down Under over the 2013/2014 NYE period. Detroit luminary Stacey Pullen will return to Sydney this October, as will Zurich duo Adriatique. Bob Moses and Ten Walls are reportedly coming to our shores later in the year, and if you’re already preparing for 2015, I’m hearing that disco debonair Daniel Wang will be returning in early March.

In sadder news, Burning Man was plagued by trouble this year. Not only was the start of the week-long event delayed due to thunderstorms and heavy rain hitting the playa, 29-year-old attendee Alicia Louise Cipicchio, an artist and gallery manager from Jackson, Wyoming, was involved in a fatal accident after she fell under a bus carrying festivalgoers.

“This is a terrible accident,” wrote Burning Man co-founder Marian Goodell on its official blog. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and campmates. Black Rock Rangers and Emergency Services Department staff are providing support to those affected.”

Basenji

RECOMMENDED SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6

FRIDAY OCTOBER 3

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23

Samuel Kerridge The Red Rattler

SUNDAY OCTOBER 5

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28

FRIDAY OCTOBER 17

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29

Robert Babicz The ArtHouse

Tommy Four Seven Chinese Laundry

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19 DJ Dodger Stadium Goodgod Small Club

Basenji Civic Underground

Hernan Cattaneo Greenwood

Peter van Hoesen The Imperial Hotel

SATURDAY SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 20 NOVEMBER Âme Butch Chinese Laundry

Stimming The Spice Cellar

Powell The Imperial Hotel

OutsideIn Manning House, Sydney University

TBA

Xxx

Got any tip-offs, hate mail, praise or cat photos?

Email hey@tysonwray.com or contact me via carrier pigeon.

40 :: BRAG :: 578 :: 03:09:14

thebrag.com

BRAG :: 578 :: 30:09:14 :: 41

snap

uberjak’d

PICS :: AMT

up all night out all week . . .

sosueme ft. dj butcher

PICS :: JA

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PICS :: KC

jägermeister spice ft. mike witcombe

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s.a.s.h sundays

PICS :: AM

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