Brag#586

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ISSUE NO. 586 OCTOBER 29, 2014

FREE Now picked up at over 1,600 places across Sydney and surrounds. thebrag.com

MUSIC, FILM, THEATRE + MORE

INSIDE This Week

GEORGE CL IN T ON

If you can’t stand the funk, get out of the kitchen.

T HE L I V ING END

These Aussie legends are in it for a lifetime.

T O T EM

Cirque du Soleil’s latest show comes to Sydney.

PIERCE BRO T HERS

The high-energy siblings keep up the good work.

Plus

MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA ED KOWALCZYK SHOPKEEPERS OF NEWTOWN

THE LONG WAY HOME

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FIRST LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

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LINEUP JUST DROPPED! FIRST ROUND ANNOUNCEMENT

PRESENTS

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rock music news welcome to the frontline: the latest touring and music news...with Chris Martin, Tyson Wray and Kelsey Berry

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THE BRAG

speed date WITH

RACHEL COLLIS

mostly looks like Joni Mitchell, but very occasionally like Tim Minchin). My band is me, bass (Michael Galeazzi) and drums (Mike Quigley). Keeping Busy In May this year, after an 2. 18-month period of writing, I went into the studio with a producer (Sean Carey) and emerged six weeks later with my second album, Nightlight. Since then I’ve done a few performances in Sydney, Newcastle and Canberra and I’m looking forward to launching the album with my band at Foundry616 on Friday October 31. After that, the next big thing on the agenda is a more comprehensive tour with the band. Best Gig Ever I’ve been lucky enough 3. to have had a number of really Your Profile I’m like Ben Folds or Regina 1. Spektor. I play piano, I love good

old-fashioned songwriting and storytelling and have a tendency to be overly honest in my songs (which

enjoyable performance experiences so it’s quite hard to pick my absolute favourite! In March this

year I performed with my band at Riverside Theatres in Parramatta, which was possibly my most enjoyable gig in recent times. I grew up in Parramatta so performing at Riverside feels like coming home. Incidentally I’d been in Adelaide the month before doing four performances at the Fringe Festival. Three out of four performances had been wonderful, but one of them was perhaps the most difficult gig of my career. It started badly – I tripped in the dark coming onstage – and ended worse, with one reviewer saying my lyrics were too passionate, and another saying my lyrics were entirely lacking in passion! Coming back to Sydney and then performing at Riverside to my home crowd (and to good reviews!) felt pretty darn good after that experience. Current Playlist I’m discovering Sarah 4. McLachlan at the moment – people

keep making comparisons so I felt it was time I got to know her music better. Also on the playlist is Sheryl Crow’s latest, Darius Rucker, Kate Miller-Heidke, Sara Bareilles and Kasey Chambers. My most recent local discovery is singer-songwriter Renny Field. I’ve had his album on repeat. Your Ultimate Rider My ultimate rider would most 5. definitely include a designated parking spot just for me right outside the venue door, with a big muscly roadie ready and waiting to unload all my heavy gear and set it up while I sip a cocktail in the corner (I’ve injured myself and my gear one too many times trying to unload on my own!). What: Nightlight out now independently Where: Foundry616 When: Friday October 31 Xxx

Something For Kate

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: Kelsey Berry, Gloria Brancatisano, Roger Ma, June Murtagh, Tyson Wray ART DIRECTOR: Sarah Bryant PHOTOGRAPHERS: 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: Emily Meller, Debbie Shankhar - gigguide@ thebrag.com (rock); clubguide@thebrag.com (dance, hip hop & parties) AWESOME INTERNS: Roger Ma, Debbie Shankar, Jacob Mills, June Murtagh REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Nat Amat, Ian Barr, Prudence Clark, Keiron Costello, Meg Crawford, Marissa Demetriou, Christie Eliezer, Blake Gallagher, Fergus Halliday, Cameron James, Tegan Jones, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Mina Kitsos, Emily Meller, Adam Norris, Kate Robertson, Erin Rooney, Raf Seneviratne, Leonardo Silvestrini, Rod Whitfield, Harry Windsor, Tyson Wray, Stephanie Yip, David James Young

Ball Park Music

BEAT THE DRUM

Triple j will celebrate 40 years since its inception as Double J with an all-star birthday concert during Sydney Festival. The unprecedented outdoor Beat The Drum event will feature sets from radio favourites Hilltop Hoods, The Presets, The Cat Empire, You Am I, Vance Joy, Ball Park Music, The Preatures, Tkay Maidza, Nina Las Vegas and KLP, with guests Adalita, Courtney Barnett, Remi and more. Beat The Drum is one of Sydney Festival’s outdoor concerts in The Domain next year, and will be for ages 18 and up. Beat The Drum celebrates 40 years of triple j on Friday January 16 in The Domain.

Alt-J

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. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: Luke Forrester: accounts@furstmedia.com.au ph - (03) 9428 3600 fax - (03) 9428 3611 Furst Media, 3 Newton Street Richmond Victoria 3121 DEADLINES: Editorial: Thursday 12pm (no extensions) Ad bookings: Friday 5pm (no extensions) Fishished Art: No later than 2pm Monday Ad cancellations: Friday 4pm Deadlines are strictly adhered to. Published by Furst Media P/L ACN 1112480045 All content copyrighted to Cartrage P/L / Furst Media P/L 2003-2014 DISTRIBUTION: Wanna get the BRAG? Email distribution@ furstmedia.com.au or phone 03 9428 3600 PRINTED BY SPOTPRESS: www.spotpress.com.au 24 – 26 Lilian Fowler Place, Marrickville NSW 2204

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TWILIGHT AT TARONGA

The Twilight At Taronga concert series has announced its largest ever lineup for its 2015 summer program. Celebrating 20 years of harbourside gigs at its stunning amphitheatre, Taronga Zoo will host a slew of big names, kicking off on Friday January 30 with exPowderfinger singer Bernard Fanning. Later in the season on Saturday March 7, Rufus Wainwright will perform a ‘best of’ concert. Other highlights on the schedule include Belle And Sebastian (Saturday January 31), Paul Kelly Presents The Merri Soul Sessions (Friday February 6), You Am I (Saturday February 7), Sarah Blasko (Friday February 13), Conor Oberst (Friday March 6) and Something For Kate (Friday March 20). Tickets to all Twilight At Taronga shows go on sale 9am Friday October 31.

SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2015

Fast becoming the highlight of Sydney’s summer calendar, Sydney Festival has announced the full details of its 2015 program. Music highlights at Sydney Festival 2015 include Atomic Bomb! The Music Of William Onyeabor (a tribute to the Nigerian synth pioneer featuring Gotye, Sinkane, Money Mark and Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor); Tex Perkins taking on the spirit of Johnny Cash for one night at Parramatta Gaol in Far From Folsom; Ben Frost and Tim Hecker sharing the Joan Sutherland Theatre stage at the Sydney Opera House on Sunday January 11; Syria’s finest Omar Souleyman returning to Oz; and Ed Kuepper joined by members of the Sydney Chamber Orchestra at the City Recital Hall Angel Place on Saturday January 24. Sydney Festival 2015 runs from Thursday January 8 – Monday January 26. For the full program and ticketing info, visit sydneyfestival.org.au.

COURT IN THE ACT

Parquet Courts have announced a headline show in Sydney next year alongside their appearance at Golden Plains. The Brooklyn rockers have fast become a favourite among Australian audiences after appearances at Laneway and Splendour In The Grass. The band recently announced a new album, Content Nausea, to be released under alter ego Parkay Quarts on Tuesday November 11. Parquet Courts will play Manning Bar on Wednesday March 4 with support from Straight Arrows and Destiny 3000.

FIRST AID KIT

ALT-J AGAIN

Australia just can’t get enough of Alt-J. Having just played a series of intimate sold-out shows around the country, and after returning over the NYE period for Falls Festival, Alt-J will embark on their biggest ever tour of Australia next May. The announcement comes after the recent release of their latest record This Is All Yours (out now through Liberator) – the follow-up to 2012’s Mercury Prize winning album An Awesome Wave. Catch ’em at Qantas Credit Union Arena on Saturday May 9. Tickets go on sale Friday October 31.

Swedish sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg, AKA First Aid Kit, will make a return to Australia next year on their biggest tour so far. After being confirmed on the Golden Plains and WOMADelaide festival bills, the duo has been locked in for a run of headline dates including the Enmore Theatre on Wednesday March 11. Expect to hear tunes from latest release Stay Gold and material from the First Aid Kit back catalogue.

SHARON VAN ETTEN

Brooklyn singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten has announced a number of sideshows ahead of her appearance at Golden Plains next year. Van Etten’s fourth album Are We There was released in April this year. Joining her for her Sydney show will be Jack Ladder and Heather Woods Broderick. Catch Sharon Van Etten at the Factory Theatre on Sunday March 1.

Conor Oberst

CONOR OBERST

Bright Eyes singer-songwriter Conor Oberst has announced headlining dates in Australia next year alongside his Golden Plains festival appearance. Upside Down Mountain is Oberst’s latest solo release, adding to a discography that also includes work with The Mystic Valley Band, Monsters Of Folk and Desaparecidos. Oberst’s live show will encompass his full career, so fans will want to make a date for Wednesday March 4 at the Metro Theatre and Friday March 6 at Taronga Zoo.

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live & local

free stuff

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

head to: thebrag.com/freeshit

five things WITH

SO FRENCHY SO CHIC

TOBIAS ATKINS FROM GLASS OCEAN Passion And Warfare. Otherwise I listen to a lot of world, classical and filmic music. Your Band Glass Ocean is an 3. experimental and soulful take on the progressive music of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. We started as a collaboration between Northlane drummer Nic Pettersen and I in January 2013, and since then have grown into a five-piece band. We have accomplished some cool things such as being picked up by MGM Distribution for a worldwide physical/digital deal, released our debut EP, received triple j airplay, appeared on the Today show and released our second music video for ‘The Mystery’. Next up, January tour! And another EP in February.

Broadway nostalgia and big band jazz.

then, so I came straight out of the womb and into the hands of Peter Gabriel’s So and Michael Jackson’s Dangerous albums, to name a few. But also a big influence was the music I heard while being backstage as my parents performed – 1920s-’50s

Inspirations My favourite musicians 2. The Music You Make growing up were predominantly The music we make? The 4. Michael Jackson, Prince, The mysterious love child of some Beatles and Michael Hutchence of INXS. As far as the guitar goes, Steve Vai has my heart, and always will since I first heard

weird orgy between Prince, Michael Hutchence, Michael Jackson and Peter Gabriel. Then dip that love child in a big ol’

Music, Right Here, Right Now 5. The lockouts in Sydney will not hold back the tidal wave of fresh new music trying to find its way to people’s hearts and minds. Our scene here is growing, even though it has been repressed in a number of ways. There are talented people coming out of the woodwork left, right and centre. And nothing can stop that. Sydney artists/bands/ groups seem to be stepping it up lately. I think we could give Melbourne a run for their money, don’t you? What: GreenThief, Jova, Ice On Mercury Where: Frankie’s Pizza When: Sunday November 2

PIERCE BROTHERS

Brotherly love stretches a long way when it comes to the Pierce Brothers – as far as the Netherlands, in fact, where they found themselves playing to over 10,000 punters at Lowlands Festival. The overseas tour has only deepened their chops, already developed with plenty of hard graft busking the streets. After the success of this year’s The Night Tree EP, the high-energy brothers are coming our way to play Newtown Social Club this Thursday November 6. We’ve got three double passes to give away – to be in the running, head to thebrag.com/freeshit and tell us your favourite memory of growing up with your sibling.

xxx

Growing Up I was born in ’89, and my 1. parents were dancers back

bucket of reverb, and put that metre in 7/4. We have our debut EP out via MGM Distribution. You can pick one up online or at your nearest JB Hi-Fi. Stay tuned for our new single ‘Val’, coming out first week of November. Mucho excite for us.

Vive la France! So Frenchy So Chic In The Park is set to take over St John’s College at the University of Sydney on Saturday January 17. In keeping with the name, it’s a very French and very chic celebration of all things from urban Paris to the rural provinces, with a soundtrack by some of the fi nest French artists: surf/synthpop outfi t La Femme, summertime indie crew Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains, the always enchanting Emilie Simon and forward-thinking duo The Dø. And of course, there are heaps of food and drink offerings to enjoy. We’ve got two double passes to give away to the event. For your chance to win, head to thebrag.com/freeshit and tell us what you love most about France.

BERNARD’S BACK

The Vanns

THE VANNS

Maddcatz

GLOBAL BATTLE OF THE BANDS

Global Battle Of The Bands is ready to showcase some of New South Wales’ best talent in its regional final. Original bands from across NSW are getting together to battle it out in the NSW final for Global Battle Of The Bands, with the winners moving through to the Australian final, where a single representative will be selected to compete for glory in the GBOB World Final. Show your support on Sunday November 2 at Mounties.

Party-starting outfit The Vanns are hard at work on an EP, due out next year, but in the meantime they’ve given fans a taste of their youthful sound with the single ‘Operator’, which they’re launching in Sydney this month. The Vanns have roped in Mark Opitz (AC/ DC, INXS) to produce the EP, which in itself proves they’re a band on the rise – so check them out at Brighton Up Bar on Saturday November 22 with support from Thieves and Birds With Thumbs.

Former Powderfinger frontman and solo hitmaker Bernard Fanning is returning to the live stage early next year. After stepping out alone with Tea & Sympathy in 2005 and following up with last year’s Departures album, this is the first of Fanning that fans will have seen in a while, and hopefully a chance to catch new material. Fanning headlines Taronga Zoo’s Twilight At Taronga series on Friday January 30, but he’ll also be at Newtown Social Club on Thursday January 29 with support from Little May.

65 DAYS IN AUSTRALIA

65daysofstatic have announced their return to Australia with a string of headline shows in support of their most recent studio album Wild Light. The Sheffield four-piece has also been touring around the world to celebrate the tenth anniversary of debut album The Fall Of Math. After forming in 2001, the success of 65daysofstatic’s early records earned the band an invitation to support The Cure on their 2007-2009 international arena tour. The Australian dates will be supported by Perth quartet Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving. 65daysofstatic will hit Manning Bar on Tuesday March 10.

CAPTAIN COOK’S IN TOWN

Sydney owes much of its recent history to Captain Cook. And we don’t just mean the British cartographer who stumbled upon Botany Bay – nor even the live music-loving venue of the same name. Because now there’s a band called Captain Cook, and fittingly enough, they’re playing a residency at the Captain Cook Hotel every Wednesday night. Hot tip: start a band, call it Opera House, see what happens.

HANDS UP FOR DAN

The Owls

MY ZOMBIE RIOT

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A SPOT OF SHADE

This weekend at Shady Pines features a couple of diverse acts, starting with Warren Earl Band on Saturday November 1. The Byron Bay bluesmeisters play a heady version of American roots, promising plenty of grit and guts. Sunday November 2, meanwhile, features the return of Extension Chord, who are so fond of a good time it probably wouldn’t matter if they were playing to two people or two hundred. It’ll be closer to the latter, though, so get there early.

The Coathangers

THE COATHANGERS

It may have taken eight years, but finally The Coathangers have announced they are bringing their live show to Australia this January. The tour comes off the back of their fourth album Suck My Shirt and will see the trio play eight shows Down Under, including Frankie’s Pizza on Thursday January 22.

thebrag.com

The Coathangers photo by Jeff Forney

The My Sydney Riot crew is getting into the spirit of Halloween this weekend by putting on My Zombie Riot, a huge spookfest of local acts playing at Captain Cook Hotel on Saturday November 1. The Owls, The Bungalows, Wasters, Moana, The Rumours, Brain Zaps, The Denim Clad Satanists, Captain Cook, Television Children, Taking Berlin, Bowl Cut, Piss Factory and Samoan Punks will lead the slaughter, alongside plenty of costume tomfoolery and specials at the bar.

One of the most compelling voices in Australian songwriting, Dan Sultan, is back with new music and a tour to boot. His EP Dirty Ground is set to drop on Friday November 7 – it was recorded in just one day with Jan Skubizewski (Way Of The Eagle) – and Sultan will back it up with a national, intimate-style solo tour kicking off in February. It’ll wind its way to the east coast for a Taronga Zoo show on Friday March 13, plus Newcastle City Hall on Tuesday March 17. Pierce Brothers will appear in support.

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Industrial Strength Music Industry News with Christie Eliezer

THINGS WE HEAR * Which agency has a staffer working for it for no money to pay off a debt? * Which two music industry flatmates almost got into a punch-up when one accidentally marred the other’s prized Dave Grohl autograph? * Which music charity, when approaching a music conference about a free pass, was sent a discount plan provided it sent in a particular amount of delegates? * A US study found that only 16% of teens listen to radio. Pandora is higher at 18%, while MP3 listening (including iPod, iTunes and downloaded music) was at 42%. * Sheer Chart Attack: Slipknot get their second Aussie number one this week ‌ Neil Diamond, promoting his new album, saw his 1970 big seller Hot August Night re-enter the Top 40 and is now certified ten times platinum ‌ The Veronicas’ ‘You Ruin Me’ picked up its second

platinum ‌ Melbourne’s C.W. Stoneking has his second ARIA chart entry with fifth album Gon’ Boogaloo debuting at number 17. * Ozzy Osbourne has complained that today’s technology in music is losing young players an ability to jam and shape ideas together. * Sheppard played ‘Geronimo’ on Ellen DeGeneres’ TV show last week to 3.3 million Americans – and were presented, as with all her guests, with Ellen underwear. They’re in Europe and return home for the ARIAs. * Liam Gallagher revealed Beady Eye have split. * NZ rapper MC Scribe’s oldest son, 18-year-old Jackson Luafutu Taylor, is a sports star on the rise. He just completed a rugby tour of the US representing the New Zealand Institute of Sport, and they whipped the Yanks at all the games. * What was so special about when Melbourne-based musician Liam O’Connell returned to his hometown Canberra on the weekend to

APRA AMCOS SIGNS WORLD FIRST DEAL FOR DJ MUSIC APRA AMCOS has become the first performing rights organisation in the world to use Pioneer Corporation’s new web service, KUVO. It is hoped it will help enhance royalty distribution for music played by DJs in nightclubs, venues and festivals by accessing music metadata to identify songs. It will supplement data already obtained from club charts, selected broadcast logs and

launch his jazz, swing and calypso Mild Wood Swings album? Because it took five years to release it nationally. He began sessions in 2009 with his band and was halfway through mixing when he had a stroke at the age of 30. He’s been in rehabilitation, which slowed his performance. The CD was out in Melbourne in 2011. * EDM star Steve Aoki rented out the toilet of his Dim Mak label’s office in Los Angeles as a porn set for $300. * Beats By Dre co-founder Jimmy Iovine says it was originally going to be a trainer brand and was inspired by Steve Jobs to make headphones instead. * Content for the new video for ‘Shooting Star’ by Richard In Your Mind came from singer Richard Cartwight’s actor father. “My dad rode a motorbike across the US for ten weeks earlier this year and took a heap of GoPro footage,� Cartwright said. * Courtney Love says Billy Corgan stopped having hits when he stopped writing about her.

music recognition technology provided by Dutch company DJ Monitor. APRA AMCOS deputy director of writer services Frank Rodi said the organisation’s aim is to maximise payments for songwriters and publishers from nightclubs. “We were early adopters of music recognition technology used in nightclubs and venues throughout Australia and are now the first collecting society in the world to sign a deal with Pioneer DJ for KUVO.�

THEHIFI.C

The first round of 180 artists to showcase at South By Southwest in Austin next March included nine Aussie acts. They are The Church, Angus & Julia Stone, Ball Park Music, Courtney Barnett, Bloods, The Gooch Palms, Twerps, Luluc and Demi Louise.

ARE SHIP CRUISES THE NEW FESTIVALS? Are Aussie festival-goers turning to festivals on cruises to get their kicks? The Singapore Tourism Board thinks so. In November, the Asia Pacific’s largest music festival, It’s The Ship, sets sail on Royal Caribbean International’s Voyager Of The Seas. 3,800 music fans will join Basement Jaxx, Chvrches, Dash Berlin, Lil Jon, Alex Metric and Sasha Grey. Lil Jon will also host a beach party in Lankawi. Festival organiser Livescape Group is targeting Australians, citing how major Aussie festivals sell out in minutes.

‘UGLY’ PHIL TO TRIPLE M Phil O’Neil will return to Sydney to take over mornings on Triple M. The original host of 2Day FM’s Hot30, he stinted at Nova and is currently on Triple M Brisbane.

SPLENDOUR, FALLS GENERATE $41.4M FOR BYRON

GOODGOD LOSING BOOKER

This Week

Sat 29 Nov

Sat 28 Feb

Thu 12 Mar

Fri 31 Oct

Halil Sezai

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DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist

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" % Mat Zo

Coming Soon

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has finished its eightmonth investigation into ‘drip pricing’ by ticket agencies. Drip pricing is where a ticket is advertised for a price that ends up costing a much higher amount because of fees and charges (like processing and delivery) that are revealed progressively through a transaction. The ACCC said that the full price of the ticket must be stated – prominently – from the outset, including compulsory fees and charges. Any ‘later’ charges must not be compulsory. Both Ticketek and Ticketmaster said they have already improved their ticketing practices.

Just Announced

Fri 7 Nov

NINE AUSSIES IN FIRST ROUND FOR SXSW

This year’s Splendour In The Grass and Falls festivals in Byron Bay – both held at North Byron Parklands – generated $41.4 million in the Northern Rivers. Of this, $24.1 million benefitted Byron Shire. The Economic Impact And Benefi ts 2014 Report by RPS Australia said the two fests created 308 full-time jobs. They generated 22,900 room night stays in Byron and 6,125 in other parts of Northern NSW, and a total of $11 million in wages and salaries. Mat Morris, Parklands GM, said, “With youth unemployment at record levels in Byron Shire and the Northern Rivers Region it’s great to see so many people able to secure work at one or both events.� Local Byron businesses also benefitted directly with $11.5 million spent, while businesses and service providers in the Northern Rivers received $18.4 million. The two events also donated $43,000 in grants to local community organisations.

E HIFI 1300 THO M.AU

ACCC INQUIRIES INTO DRIP TICKETING CHARGES

Sun 9 Nov

Fri 14 Nov

Anvil

Ten Walls Live

Fri 21 Nov

(NZ) with & Paua

GoodGod Small Club’s bookings and communications manager Adam Lewis is leaving in mid-November. They are replacing him with two part-time positions – a booking and production manager and a communications manager.

LANEWAY CO-FOUNDER CHASED BY ATO The Australian Tax Office is chasing St. Jerome’s Laneway co-founder Jerome Borazio for over $100,000, The Herald-Sun reported, citing documents filed in the County Court. The case is over two businesses: Rob Roy Local (which ran Fitzroy’s Workers Club) and a second one, now externally administered according to ASIC documents. Borazio told The Herald-Sun the allegations were wrong as the Rob Roy amount was paid out on October 2 and he finalised arrangements with the ATO for the other. He also runs successful clubs such as Thousand Pound Bend and Ponyfish Island.

EVENTBRITE LAUNCHES NEON

Tue 25 Nov

Fri 5 Dec

Sat 13 Dec

Tue 6 Jan

Nahko & The People

Self-service ticketing and global events platform Eventbrite has launched a free app called Eventbrite Neon. It lets Australian promoters and venues transform their mobile devices to check in attendees, monitor real-time sales data and process customer requests such as ticket reissues, cancellations and refunds.

FIVE MORE FOR AMP’S LONGLIST

Wed 7 Jan

Fri 9 Jan

Joey Bada$$ & Run The Jewels

Glass Animals

Sat 10 Jan

Sat 17 Jan

Tycho Live

Inquisition

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

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The 15 music industry judges of the 10th Coopers AMP $30,000 prize have come up with five more additions to the 37 on the longlist. The latest are Bored Nothing’s Some Songs, John Butler Trio’s Flesh & Blood, Lowlake’s Iceberg Nerves, Nun’s Nun and Sweet Amphetamines’ Duke. See thecoopersamp.com.au for the whole list. The winner will be unveiled in March.

SALTWATER FRESHWATER GETS FUNDING The Saltwater Freshwater Festival on the Coffs Coast has received a $100,000 grant from the NSW Government as part of its support for arts and cultural programs in the region. It returns on Monday January 26, headlined by Archie Roach.

Lifelines Injured: Sydney singer-songwriter Steve Smyth ended up with a broken jaw after being assaulted by two thugs in Newtown. He was walking home with his brother Jake (who runs bar and burger joint Mary’s) when he witnessed an altercation and tried to defuse the situation. He is recovering from surgery. Recovery could take two to six weeks, so the shows to be affected during the current 50-date Exits album tour will be announced this week. Ill: Kasey Chambers was diagnosed with small nodules and inflammation on her vocal cords, forcing her to postpone her tour until early 2015. Hospitalised: 16 fans at a Skrillex show in Chicago, from overdoses. Engaged: during her Manchester show, Lady Gaga encouraged friend Jay to propose to his boyfriend Shawn in the audience. When he accepted, she performed ‘Born This Way’. In Court: Lee James, 44, founder of South Australia’s Academy of Rock, pleaded guilty in Adelaide District Court to possessing 41 images of child pornography. He will be sentenced in November. In Court: a 27-year-old Townsville woman pleaded guilty to drunkenly assaulting a security guard at Bulwinkles nightclub with her stiletto, hitting him so hard part of the heel became embedded in his cheek, which required surgery to remove. Died: Influential bass player Jack Bruce, 71, of liver disease. Best known for his time in Cream (he sang and co-wrote ‘White Room’ and ‘Sunshine Of Your Love’), his solo albums were a precursor to the jazz-rock fusion movement. His eclectic but low-profile career then moved from power trios to jazz ensembles. Died: ’70s British glam rock singer Alvin Stardust (‘My Coo Ca Choo’, ‘I Feel Like Buddy Holly’), 72, after a brief battle with metastatic prostate cancer. Died: Nashville songwriter Paul Craft, 76. He wrote lyrics for country songs such as ‘Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life’ and ‘Dropkick Me, Jesus (Through The Goalposts Of Life)’. Died: Tim Hauser, founder and singer of the Grammy-winning vocal troupe The Manhattan Transfer, 72, from a heart attack. Died: reggae singer-songwriter John Holt, 69. He is best known for writing ‘The Tide Is High’ as well as ‘Police In Helicopter’. Died: Tyson Curtis Stevens, 29, singer with Arizona post-punk bands Scary Kids Scaring Kids and Coma Prevail. Died: Raphael ‘Raf’ Ravenscroft, the saxophonist who played that riff on Gerry Rafferty’s ‘Baker Street’, at 60 from a heart attack after a long illness.

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Melbourne Cup At Banter Surry Hills

BRAG :: 586 :: 29:10:14 :: 11

T

PORTUGAL. THE MAN

hese new-age rock stars are such a bore. Due to rising rates of polite humility, endorsements for healthy eating and quibbles about on-tour exhaustion, the rock’n’roll fantasy is seriously under threat. OK, perhaps life isn’t an unfettered stream of wonderful decadence, but those at the top could at least use some imagination when summing up their regular activities.

American psychedelic rockers Portugal. The Man aren’t quite global megastars, nor have they cultivated a party-boy image, but these guys know better than most how to seize the perks of their profession. “We love to see things, we love new experiences,” says Portugal. The Man bass player Zach Carothers. “Just in general, travel is so important to us.” Portugal. The Man head back our way this week for their most extensive Australian tour yet. Throughout November, the band will make its way to a number of beachside locations – many of which rarely get a visit from international acts – for 23 completely free gigs under the auspices of Corona Extra.

Carothers and vocalist/guitarist John Gourley started Portugal. The Man back in 2004, in their hometown of Wasilla, Alaska. Shortly afterwards the pair relocated to Portland, Oregon, which remains home today.

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BY AUGUSTUS WELBY

Working with a rotating cast of band members, Carothers and Gourley have spearheaded seven full-length Portugal. The Man albums. It was their latest two releases, 2011’s In The Mountain In The Cloud and last year’s Evil Friends, that brought them to the attention of Australian listeners. Evil Friends landed the group a main stage slot on this year’s Big Day Out tour – the mention of which triggers fond memories for Carothers. “We did a lot of activities while drinking and it was pretty amazing,” he says. “I got to go see a surf film [Spirit Of Akasha] at the Sydney Opera House, I got to go deep sea fishing out in the harbour. We got to go to a couple of wildlife parks to see some marsupials. It was really, really fucking cool.” Another faux pas committed by many current-day rock bands is their seeming reluctance to rub elbows with their peers. Festivals such as Big Day Out bring together a smorgasbord of larger-than-life figures, and Portugal. The Man pounced on this opportunity to make some illustrious new companions. “It’s pretty much summer camp for bands,” Carothers says. “Some of the craziest nights we’ve ever had, actually, were in Australia during Big Day Out. We had these parties

after Arcade Fire did a sideshow in Sydney. We went to Frankie’s Pizza … one of the bartenders for some reason had face paint, so we had our tour manager go around and paint everybody’s faces. We just pretty much rallied with Grouplove, Mac Miller, Arcade Fire, Diplo and his backup dancers. “That’s what was so cool about Big Day Out – you got to spend so much time with other bands. You look at the list and you’re like, ‘Oh, I’ll probably make friends with these guys and make friends with this guy,’ but who knew that we’d become best friends with Mac Miller? If you ask anybody on that tour who the general MVP/coolest guy was, everybody will tell you Mac Miller. We had a blast with that guy and he is hilarious.” It is otherwise hard to draw any tenable links between Portugal. The Man and the potty-mouthed rapper, Miller. The band’s music owes significant debt to ’60s pop and ’70s psych rock, so it’s basically a million miles away from the terrain of hip hop. However, Evil Friends features the production stamp of studio maestro Danger Mouse (AKA Brian Burton). These days Danger Mouse is commonly associated with rock acts The Black Keys and Broken Bells, but it’s not long since he was making records with rappers such as

MF Doom, Jemini and CeeLo Green. While Burton’s hip hop background doesn’t directly surface on Evil Friends, his presence explains the record’s rhythmic emphasis and boldly exposed melodies. “We learned a lot about songwriting, a lot about trimming the fat off things,” Carothers says of the experience with Burton. “We always stack up so many sounds on a lot of our records and it almost gets confusing. A lot of times we’d do that and then Danger Mouse would sit down with the four of us and be like, ‘Alright, there’s all these different melodies going on here, each one of you pick one that you’re going to play.’ You’ve got to keep it simple enough [so that] no matter how many things you stack up, you still always make sure that one person can sing it and play it on a guitar or a piano and it still comes through. “I was very happy with the collaboration with Danger Mouse. He’s become a lifelong friend. We learned so much about music in general, about style and about our own ears.” Whether or not they’ll team up with Danger Mouse again remains to be seen, but the lessons learned during the Evil Friends recording process are certain to influence Portugal. The Man’s next work. “Every time we go

“WE TRY TO BE A DIFFERENT BAND EVERY TIME WE DO A RECORD. I’M SURE THE LABEL WISH WE HAD MORE RADIO PLAY – A ‘HIT’ ON THE RECORD – BUT NONE OF THAT STUFF IS UP TO US.”

in it’s definitely a learning experience and it’s definitely practice for the next record,” Carothers says. “We have a thing where we try to be a different band every time we do a record. I’m sure the label wish we had more radio play – a ‘hit’ on the record – but none of that stuff is up to us. We go into the studio and we make the best album that we can every single time and we get it to where we’re happy with it. Then once it’s released, it’s completely out of our hands.” It seems clear that not only do Portugal. The Man take advantage of their job’s ridiculous nature, but they’re also committed to making continual creative advances. To do this, it’s essential for them to keep a cool head while being introduced to various wonderful individuals and scenarios. But Carothers can’t help sounding somewhat boastful when he recounts his number one bucket list achievement. “I got to sit in a car with Neil Young – in Neil Young’s Cadillac – and listen to music with him for about an hour at Bonnaroo a couple of years ago. That was probably the craziest thing I’ve ever done. My little brother was graduating college that very same day and I couldn’t make it because we had to play this festival. John and I were sitting in a car with Neil Young and I was texting my dad. Neil Young’s his favourite artist of all time and he was a very proud father that day.” What: Evil Friends out now through Atlantic/Warner Where & When: The Bucket List, Bondi (afternoon) and Manly Wharf Bar (evening) on Saturday November 22 / Watsons Bay Hotel (afternoon) and Old Joe’s, Cronulla (evening) on Sunday November 23

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Portugal. The Man photo by Maclay Heriot

“We kind of lucked out on this one,” Carothers says. “We have the most unbelievable time in Australia, so we’re very, very excited that they offered us this tour. Five weeks hanging out down there doing that many shows in small pubs and bars? Hell yeah, of course we’re up for it.”

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George Clinton And Parliament-Funkadelic Can’t Stop The Funk By David James Young

“We love doing what we do. We ain’t going nowhere.To us, it’s always a party. There’s always a reason to keep funky.” “I keep my eye on any music that parents or older musicians are saying ain’t real music,” he says. “When I hear ’em say that, that’s when I start watching. Usually, that’s gonna be the next music. The music that gets on people’s nerves … it’s usually gonna be the next thing that’s happening, so you best be down as quick as you can, otherwise you gonna be old and out of step.” It’s now been about six years since we heard from Clinton in a recorded sense – his last studio album was a selection of covers and collaborations, entitled George Clinton And His Gangsters Of Love, which dropped in 2008. It won’t be long, however, before we’re inundated with what Clinton calls “the doo-doo”. “That’s what we call the new shit!” he cackles.

“F

unk!” It’s more or less the first word out of George Clinton’s mouth, and it’s probably a word that hasn’t been left unsaid on any day for practically all of the 73 years he has been alive. It should be stressed, however, that Clinton’s not just shouting the word at random. Not yet, at least. It’s in response to the question of exactly what’s kept the ParliamentFunkadelic collective going strong after so many years – especially when they’ve shared bills so often with bands that have come and gone. Funk is the answer. “Funk is in all of the music that supposedly came after Parliament and Funkadelic,” says Clinton. “It’s in hip hop, it’s in electronic music

– it’s in everything. As long as there’s some funk in something, we’re gonna be a viable force to deal with. We love doing what we do. We ain’t going nowhere. To us, it’s always a party. There’s always a reason to keep funky.” Of course, what’s even more impressive about the lasting power of the ParliamentFunkadelic clan is how crowded the musical climate has become around it. Dozens upon dozens of artists will share the stage with Clinton and co. for the upcoming edition of Bluesfest, many of whom were not even alive at the peak of their success. It begs the question as to whether Clinton still keeps his ear to the ground in the realm of contemporary music.

Not much is known about the new material so far, except a) there’s a lot of it; and b) there’s a chance you’ve probably heard some of the tracks if you’ve seen Parliament-Funkadelic in action in recent times. What we’re set to discover, also, is that the collaborative spirit of Gangsters Of Love will continue into this material. Clinton elaborates on one particularly special guest that we’ll be seeing in the not-too-distant future. “I just did a song with Kendrick Lamar,” he says. “Talking to him, I found out his grandparents were both into P-Funk. It was passed on to his parents, and now down to him. To hear somebody that young know so

Talk turns to Clinton’s upcoming visit to Australia. He’s played here several times over the years, but he recalls one fascinating moment from his very first visit. “I remember coming, but I don’t remember what year it was. I went to a party with the Prince of Bali after the show. He gave me a ring that I still have. He was killed in a coup a few months later. I’m looking at the ring right now.” We move toward a more recent memory – comparatively, at least – of when Parliament-Funkadelic performed a nowlegendary set at Bluesfest for what some say went for up to fi ve hours, before the power was eventually shut off on the stage. “Oh yeah!” The memory is instant in Clinton’s mind, before he heads off on a different tangent entirely. “That’s something we used to do quite often, where we would play until they pulled the plug. In New Orleans, they let us play for seven hours. It was daybreak, and they were serving whisky on the street. The place was packed, so they opened the doors and let us play out into the street.” So, exactly how does one last through a seven-hour show, George? “Two can leave, three can leave, go get a drink, get back in there,” he says. “It’s always shifting in and out. Back then, there was 26 of us.” And just so we’re clear, how many are ParliamentFunkadelic touring with these days? “22!” What: Bluesfest 2015 With: Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, The Black Keys, Zac Brown Band, Alabama Shakes, Train, Paolo Nutini and many more Where: Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm When: Thursday April 2 – Monday April 6 And: Also appearing at the Enmore Theatre on Wednesday April 1

Pierce Brothers Sibling Rivalry By Adam Norris But it’s weird, we’ve got so much happening but we have so little money.” They both laugh. “There’s a running joke in our family. When we were younger we said to Mum and Dad, ‘When we’re famous, we’re going to buy you first-class tickets around the world.’ And they’ve been onto us ever since. ‘You guys said when you were famous. Nothing about when you were rich. You two were stopped in the street last night by a fan, that’s technically famous. Where the fuck are our tickets?”’ The most immediate hallmark of the Pierce Brothers – both in conversation and in performance – is the incredible energy they project. Jack’s speech is fast and enthused, like he is being drip-fed coffee, and the reputation of their live performances has quickly become the stuff of legend. The trick now is to keep those energy levels up over an incredible twenty-eight shows.

I

’m going to admit this at the start. While I am predominantly chatting with Jack Pierce, every so often his brother Pat will contribute something to the conversation, and try as I might, I can’t for the life of me tell their voices apart. They’re both exuberant guys, ready to laugh and break into song at the slightest provocation – from Pearl Jam’s 14 :: BRAG :: 586 :: 29:10:14

‘Black’ (which they both fervently believe is the greatest song ever written) to ‘Nobody Likes Me (Guess I’ll Go Eat Worms)’ – but unless you’re one of their parents, good luck separating the two over the phone. Having returned from playing to a surprise ten thousand people at The

Netherlands’ Lowlands Festival, the Pierce Brothers are now embarking on a sweeping national tour stretching coast to coast. It’s an exciting time for the duo, but their folks are still waiting for the pay-off. “We bought them dinner last night,” says Jack. “It’s a total role reversal from when we were starting out.

“It’s something we were actually talking about the other day. We were just playing up in the Sunshine Coast, and we were both so exhausted before the show. Because we’ve done so many gigs we’ve kind of found a pattern, where we’ll go into the green room, both really tired and watch a movie, just sit there very quiet, not really talk much. Feeling so, so tired. But then we walk out and see the audience, and it’s like, right, our job is to play our music, but the way we’ve always done our music is to

play it as excitable as possible.” Jack laughs. “It doesn’t matter how tired we are, the moment we’re out there that’s all forgotten. We just jump around, so much so that at some shows I’ve walked offstage and just collapsed. I haven’t realised how exhausted we were, because it’s just so easy to forget about it out there.” Should you fi nd yourself just missing out on one of their gigs, however, there’s a strong chance you might fi nd them the next day busking on a nearby street corner. It’s a passion that was instrumental in developing the band’s appeal, and is something that neither sibling feels will ever be far from their hearts. “I think busking is always going to be a very important part of performing for us. It’s like at a festival; some people might know us, and that’s really fantastic and humbling, but a lot of them won’t. So the best thing we can do is put on the most amazing show we can, and just jump around, make ’em dance, because that’s what we’re here for. And if they get into it, we’ve done our job well. If they don’t get into it, it doesn’t matter, they didn’t come here just to see us.” Jack laughs again. “We’re just trying to impress people before they walk away.” With: Timberwolf Where: Newtown Social Club When: Thursday November 6

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George Cinton photo by William Thoren Photography

Not only will you be hearing from Clinton very soon in this regard, you’ll also be reading about him, too. “I just did a book of my life,” he announces. “It’s got an album to go with it. The title of the book is Brothas Be, Yo, George, Ain’t That Funkin’ Kinda Hard On You? That’s one of the songs on the album. I been working on this project for 20 years. The album’s got 33 songs on it, and a lot of songs have come together in the last few years; songs that I been real fond of. I been working on fi ghting these court cases, and now with the book coming out, I feel I get a chance to explain my side of all of that stuff. I feel vindicated already.”

much about it – y’know, I feel blessed. Kids hate their parents’ music! For some reason, funk survived through the generations.”

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Ed Kowalczyk

Jordan T

I Alone By Rod Whitfield

The Debutant By Augustus Welby

W

hen you leave an iconic and highly successful band, and step out on your own to do the solo thing, it can be a little nerve-wracking. Especially when you come to do it in a live setting. And this is exactly what Ed Kowalczyk has been through since his greatly publicised departure from alternative rock maestros Live back in 2009. However, five years, three albums and a tonne of live shows into a solo career, he now feels like he takes it a lot more in his stride. “Yeah, it definitely was [nerve-wracking] in the beginning,” he admits, speaking from his home in Connecticut in the American Northeast. “The songs all pretty much come from the same place – me sitting down with an acoustic guitar – so the songs themselves, I don’t really change the arrangement. When it’s time to rock, I just bang the hell out of it,” he laughs. “When I started out doing it, it was definitely a case of, ‘OK, it’s an hour and a half of this, how do I pace this?’ There’s no band or anything. But that was a long time ago. I feel like I’ve found the art to it, and I’ve honed it, and I feel now that people get a full trip, if you would, on my whole career. And I’ve had a blast doing it.” Kowalczyk was only in Australia early this year, with a full band show. But now he returns Down Under in early November on his I Alone tour. As the name suggests, it is just Kowalczyk and his guitar, apart from the odd tune here and there. “Yeah, it’s just me alone. Sometimes it’s me alone plus one – my bass player sometimes, my guitar player sometimes – but this is just me.”

2014 is the 20th anniversary of Live’s all-time classic Throwing Copper album. Kowalczyk has been doing a lot of shows in tribute to that record, playing it in its entirety, and he will be playing a number of tracks from it on this tour. However, the show will be more of an acoustic retrospective of his entire career. “This is the I Alone tour, and I do play a good selection of songs from Throwing Copper – especially the one that people would be very angry about if I didn’t play! But I touch on basically every album, and of course some of my solo stuff as well. This will be a set covering all the albums, as opposed to a Throwing Copper celebration.” He is the first to admit that the time has flown – it simply does not seem like two full decades since that album came out. “No!” he exclaims. “I have gone back in time a lot this year, and remember sitting with an acoustic guitar, writing ‘I Alone’ and ‘Lightning Crashes’, thinking, ‘These are pretty good, maybe I’ll get to do another record.” Kowalczyk appears to be very much in his element now as a solo artist. “What I really love about my career right now, and really since I stepped out as a solo artist, is the variety and fluidity of the lineups, of myself playing acoustic shows, to duos, to trios, to full band – I really enjoy the variety and the difference. It’s challenging, fun and the fans have just supported me every step of the way, no matter what it is, so I can’t ask more than that.” Where: Seymour Centre When: Saturday November 8 and Sunday November 9

H

awaiian local Jordan T is little known to Australian audiences. To be frank, he’s not massively known anywhere, but the relaxed solo performer (whose full name is Jordan Tolentino) has made an impression on New Zealand reggae titans Katchafire. Following an extensive US tour together, Tolentino follows Katchafire down to Australia this week. It’s the grinning Hawaiian’s debut Australian appearance and he’s delighted to finally make it out here. “I’m really, really excited because it’s always been on one of those bucket lists for my life,” he says. “Travelling is always exciting for me, so if I can mix it with my job and have music and travel and see people, new cultures, experience new things – then I think we’re winning!” Tour headliners Katchafire are proudly indebted to the heyday of Jamaican reggae music. The band’s name comes from a Bob Marley song, which betrays their origins as a Tuff Gong tribute act. Even though the seven-piece has spent the last decade amassing enough originals for a ‘Best Of’, reggae remains Katchafire’s weapon of choice. Many of Tolentino’s compositions also possess a reggae flavour, but he hasn’t pledged allegiance to the genre. “In my musical journey, it’s been really good to experience all kinds of different styles,” he says. “I studied opera for four years and then I did some jazz and I played in a hardcore metal band before. I may not use all those techniques all the time, but at least I have those in my tool belt.” The applicability of genre labels is an ongoing point of debate. Granted, abstract terms can’t properly account for the nuances of musical expression, but it’s fair to say that disparate styles are rarely combined convincingly. Making boundary-less music is a respectable ambition, but it takes a little more than basic ambition to integrate diverse sounds.

“I really try to mix my palate,” Tolentino says. “I grew up listening to Motown and Stevie Ray Vaughan. I don’t like just one style. I like to listen to metal sometimes, depending on the mood. I like to listen to some island reggae, I like to listen to some classical sometimes. I learn from them, I learn techniques and I learn phrasings and cool little things that I can apply to my music. I listen with an active ear.” While Tolentino is equipped with multiple stylistic tools, there are always going to be areas of expression that are out of reach. He has no delusions in this respect. “We’re dealing with music and emotion and trying to interpret what we are feeling and putting it out there,” he says. “Whenever I write music, I never try to force it. I always make sure that the key behind the writing is that it’s real. It’s not something that I’m making up. It’s something that I’ve felt in my life at some time. “I want to be as real as I possibly can. It’s a funny industry and there’s a lot of fake people out there. I just want to bring a realness to the music that’s authentic.” Tolentino’s pursuit to project intimate honesty doesn’t mean his creations are impenetrably insular. Onstage, he seeks to involve everyone in a continuous exchange. “When I sing it and I believe in what I’m singing, then the audience will believe it too, ” he says. “Sometimes there’s a barrier where people don’t interact, but I want to make everybody feel like we’re all in the same exact moment together, so we experience the music together.” Where: Supporting Katchafire at The Hi-Fi and the Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle When: Friday November 7 / Sunday November 23

“We wanted something that put out a stronger message. The ad shows this unrealistic, ridiculous video of this girl sexually eating a hamburger. So instead we got this girl, and she’s also a beautiful girl, to just eat a hamburger and make it as real and disgusting as possible. She spills it all over herself, she gets ketchup in her hair.”

Emily’s Army Floating On By Emily Meller

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hat’s in a name? With some bands, it seems like their name is intentionally bad, generated by formulas like combining the name of the nearest object with their childhood pet (Goo Goo Dolls, Spoon, Limp Bizkit). Emily’s Army are an exception to the rule – for now, anyway. Even though I quite liked the idea of having my own army, it turns out the name comes from somewhere more meaningful. According to drummer Joey Armstrong – who happens to be the son of Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong – Emily’s Army were named after a foundation that raises money and awareness for cystic fibrosis.

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In line with these fundamental shifts in the band’s outlook has been a shift in sound, from pop-punk to more California-infused surf rock. So what have they chosen for their new band name?

It’s understandable that after ten years, they feel it’s time for a makeover. Armstrong, the Becker brothers and former guitarist Travis Neumann started the band together when some of them were still nine years old, after watching the Jack Black film School Of Rock. Until now, all of their music was made during those angsty years we call ‘adolescence’. But Armstrong maintains they are not at all ashamed of the ghosts of musical phases past. “Our first two records were really pop-punk and we’re really proud of that – we still like them, but it’s not really the style we’re into any more. We are 19 and 20, so we are starting to really develop into our own sound.” It’s not only their sound that is developing – the band members’ opinions are shifting and growing as well, especially as they have started grappling with more complex

“Our new EP is called Swim, and it’s really like a first step on our new adventure,” says Armstrong. “So we are going to change our name to Swimmers.” Well, there’s definitely been worse. arguments and ideas at university. For one thing, they are outspoken feminists, even though a discerning eye will note there are no females in the band. “It was one of those things that was a no-brainer,” Armstrong says. “We believe in equality for everyone and if we can create awareness for feminism, that’s something we want to do. It helps everyone.”

For a 19-year-old, Armstong’s confidence in his carefully considered argument is striking. But he’s not all talk, either. He points to a video the band released for ‘You Bit Me’ as an example of putting their convictions into action. In response to an advertisement for the Carl’s Jr. burger chain, in which a heavily airbrushed woman is shown seductively chowing down, Emily’s Army shot their own version.

What: Soundwave Festival 2015 With: Slipknot, Faith No More, Soundgarden, Slash, Marilyn Manson, Incubus, Lamb Of God, Fall Out Boy, Judas Priest and many more Where: Sydney Olympic Park When: Saturday February 28 and Sunday March 1 And: Swim out now through Burger Cassette/Rise thebrag.com

xxx

“Max and Cole [Becker, the band’s bassist and frontman], their cousin has cystic fibrosis and we are really close with her. There is a foundation called Emily’s Army, so we decided on that name to help raise awareness and also support her foundation,” says Armstrong. “We are actually in the process of changing our name. We still do benefit shows once or twice a year and sell merchandise with her

name on it, but Soundwave will be our last show as Emily’s Army.”

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Manchester Orchestra Learning To Cope By Augustus Welby

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e tend to conceive our lives within a narrative framework. We picture ourselves as the leading character in a story, on a purposeful journey and with a reasonable amount of control over our actions. By analysing past events, we discern habitual behaviours and directly link these to who we are at present. Memories, however, are fallible things and reflections on the past are likely to be skewed by present concerns.

Manchester Orchestra singer-songwriter Andy Hull has been leading the band since he was 18 years old. Now 27, Hull’s known for writing big rock songs with a patent emotional core. As a result, his job involves being confronted by variations of his past self on a regular basis. And he’s often surprised by what it has it to say. “Every time I’ve ever made a record or written about something,” he says, “it’s like a year later I’ll think of the lyric or the song and realise there was something else going; something bigger being written that I didn’t really know about as I was writing it.” Earlier this year, Manchester Orchestra returned with their fourth LP, Cope. Prior

to making the record, Hull and his four bandmates built themselves a studio in their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. This allowed the five-piece – which also includes lead guitarist Robert McDowell, keyboard player Chris Freeman, drummer Tim Very and newest recruit, bassist Andy Prince – to piece the album together in one room, without any disruptions. Yet even though Cope is the product of group interaction, Hull retained creative authority. “It was certainly still my songs,” he says. “I just have this band that’s so good that I was able to sort of write in real time. So I would come up with a riff and we would write this riff together and then I would be like, ‘Alright, hold up, let me write the lyrics here for the next 30 minutes,’ and they’d go take a break.” It should be noted that, while Hull’s songs contain introspective tenderness, Manchester Orchestra specialise in a powerful brand of altrock. To gather such force, the input of all five digits is invaluable. “I do have the final say,” Hull explains, “but there is a lot of democracy that happens in coming up with that final say. I’m certainly not one to take any offence – none of us are – to [being told], ‘That’s not really working, we need to find something better than that.’ “We all made the decision three or four years ago, right after [2011’s] Simple Math, that our goal is what’s best for the song and what’s best for the band. Our goal isn’t what’s best for our egos and for looking cool or feeling cool.” So Cope was made in the band’s own studio, under their own supervision, and they’ve distanced themselves from notions of cool. This all sounds rather mature, doesn’t it? ‘Growing up’ is often synonymous with becoming somewhat conservative and losing potency. Converse to this, Cope is far and away Manchester Orchestra’s loudest and most direct release so far. “We felt before we started this record, ‘What do we want to add to the next thing that we’ve done?’” says Hull. “The thing that made the most sense to us was to make as fast and as catchy and as rocking of a record as we can. We wanted to take all of the bullshit out and take all of the fluff out of it and focus on the songs and the immediacy of it. We wanted to make an immediate record.” This brings us back to the notion of narrative self-understanding. It’s essentially our awareness that we’re unique individuals with ongoing projects to perpetuate that gets us out of bed every day. Through reflection – be it dialogic or private – we learn about ourselves and devise effective ways to advance our story. Songwriting is, of course, an act of reflection, which involves dipping into one’s finer feelings and extracting something of constructive import. So, for a writer like Hull, who doesn’t shy away from emotional content, songwriting has played a huge part in the cultivation of his identity. “I started this band and then left on tour when people would be going to college after high school,” he says. “It’s just been what I’ve known. I’ve always written honestly and openup-the-chest-and-look-inside lyrics. It’s been cool to watch the growth through it and it’s really exciting to think about where it’s going to go.” In addition to effecting personal growth through songwriting, the fact Hull’s been touring since his late teens has also influenced his perspective on the world. Manchester Orchestra head back down to Australia next month. Having previously visited in 2009 and again in 2012, the band has left a big impression on Australian audiences. And it’s certainly not a one-way exchange. “There’s something to be said about the atmosphere and vibe of your country,” Hull says. “It’s pretty unbelievable. Everyone’s been so kind to us from Australia, since we were babies. “The thing that we’re consistently blown away by with the fans [is that] people aren’t just fans of ours for what we’re doing at the present time, necessarily. They’re in it for the long run, which is really cool. That’s what brings us up to make records like Cope, because we know we can do something like that and it’s not going to freak everybody out.” What: Cope out now through Loma Vista/ Caroline With: Apes, Kevin Devine Where: Metro Theatre When: Saturday November 15

18 :: BRAG :: 580 :: 17:09:14

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

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The Living End The Boys Are Back In Town By David James Young

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here’s a pretty good reason that pub rock survivors The Living End have been so noticeably quiet of late. Not only do none of the band members remain in their hometown of Melbourne, none of them are even living in the same state as one another.

“I’m in Byron Bay, Chris [Cheney] is in Los Angeles and Andy [Strachan]’s down on the south coast of Victoria,” explains double bassist Scott Owen on the line from his aforementioned new home. “We’re very spread out. I particularly enjoy this area. It comes as a bit of a change for me – I grew up in Melbourne, I was always a bit of a suburban cat. I got the itch to go and explore by the ocean. I love to surf, and me and my family love this part of the world. It’s gotten its claws into us, and I don’t feel any inkling to move in a hurry.”

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It appears The Living End are working at a far more casual pace these days in comparison to even five years ago. There was a time when the trio was seen as the nation’s go-to festival act, to the point where it would have been quicker to list the events the band hadn’t played. These days, however, Owen is well aware that there’s a bigger picture to consider for both the band members and their collective nearest and dearest. “We’ve aged, let’s face it,” he says with a selfdeprecating laugh. “We’ve all got families now as well. Chris and I have been a part of this since we were friggin’ teenagers; since we were about 16 years old. We pretty much haven’t stopped. You can see the band as a bit of a brand now. We want to make a lifetime out of this, because we can’t imagine doing anything else. As fun as it is to play every night and then jump in the van, it’s tiring and restraining of your time commitments. There’s a life away from that now, especially because we all have families now. In a way, we have to tread the boards carefully these days. We have to be a bit more intelligent about our approach, and I think we’ve balanced it out pretty well.” Back in Australia for their first headlining shows in just over two years, The Living End have booked a small run of intimate club dates in order to get the wheels back in motion. The boys will take in Canberra, Towradgi and Sydney, as well as a handful of shows alongside the immortal Jimmy Barnes, whom the band collaborated with on his recent 30:30 Hindsight project. If that wasn’t enough to fill their collective days together, the first glimpses of TLE’s as-yetuntitled seventh studio album have just hit the horizon.

“During the week, rather than just laze about, we’re going to be heading into a studio in Melbourne and we’re going to be working on some new material,” says Owen. As for what we can expect from the follow-up to the 2011 LP The Ending Is Just The Beginning Repeating, the bassist isn’t quite certain. Perhaps, to rattle off a cliché, it will be best to expect the unexpected. “Because we live so far away from one another, we only see each other when we’re playing,” says Owen. “There hasn’t been that much communication regarding what we’re going to do. Normally, the creative process for us is to spend months and months inside of a rehearsal room. We’d fine-tune tonnes of songs and then whittle them down. This time, we’ve agreed to go in a bit more blindsided and just smash it out. We just want to keep it simple and make a rock’n’roll record – just get in there and sweat our arses off. We’ve all been in the creative mindset for the last 12 months or so, just working on our own stuff. We’re chock-full of ideas, so we’re just gonna get together and chuck them all in.” The last time The Living End toured Australia was as part of the extensive Retrospective Tour of 2012, in which they’d play through each of their studio albums in full; start to finish and one per night. The shows were incredibly successful – including a completely sold-out run in Melbourne – and gave the band a chance to reflect on each release individually, as well as fans’ reactions to them. “There’s obviously younger punters that would have gotten into us with White Noise or whatever, and then the older ones who’ve been with us since the first album,” says Owen. “It was really cool to see the differences in the audiences every night. That tour had such an impact on a personal level, as well. As we made those records and toured them, you felt the last record you made is the most important record you’ve made. You love some songs, you get sick of some songs. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster. But that tour really put everything into perspective for me. It made me love the shit out of the band. It made me realise why people like this band. I may have been overthinking them at the time, but I’ve fallen back in love with all of our songs again.” With: Palms Where: Metro Theatre When: Thursday November 6 And: Scott Owen’s charity is currently helping to build houses and shelters for families in need in the Philippines. For more information, visit itaintnothing.org

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

arts in focus

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

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five minutes WITH

CHRISSIE SHAW, WRITER AND DIRECTOR OF BIJOU

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he tagline for Bijou is ‘A Cabaret of Secrets and Seduction’. Tell us about the concept behind the show. Bijou was conceived as a narrative-style play, in cabaret form. The stories unfold, and are either illustrated or actually told in the songs. I’ve

Darren Sanders

used the format of the original Parisian cabaret shows at Le Chat Noir in the 1880s, where everything from song, verse, shadow play and straight storytelling was used. I wanted to tell the story of an irascible and fascinating woman, in a way that is entertaining, funny, and in parts very moving. The era has always fascinated me: the time from the 1930s back to the 1870s. In the show, no punches are pulled in terms of reflecting the attitudes of the time to male/female relationships, exploitation of children, attitudes to sex… now Bijou’s actions and reactions would be considered very un-PC, but in fact these attitudes still prevail. They are just under the surface. How directly does the Madame Bijou character reflect its writer? A great deal of the story is fictional, woven around the known facts about Madame Bijou. I was surprised to find that there are some autobiographical elements in the fiction! I am fascinated by difficult women who survive above the odds, and Madame Bijou definitely qualifies. There are parts of her character that have allowed me to express a sensuality and self-belief to the point of hubris, that I don’t consciously identify with… but they must be there somewhere.

You’ve worked in theatre a nd music for a long time – what inspired Bijou? I saw a print of one of Brassai’s photographs of Madame Bijou at the Victorian Art Gallery, and I fell in love with her. Such an image! I wanted to be her, to tell her story, to tease out what brings a woman from riches and success to poverty and the state of a beggar. And to explore the effect that ageing has on women, where they fit in society. What is it about Paris that lends itself so well to cabaret tales? Maybe it’s because Paris was the birthplace of the cabaret, and is a city with such mystery and charisma. There have been so many extreme events there, and my story includes some of these – the underground tunnels, the siege in the 1870s, the execution of the Communards, the resistance to invasion in the First World War, the stories of the brothels; all are grist to the mill. What: Bijou – A Cabaret of Secrets and Seduction Where: Riverside Theatre When: Saturday November 8

SYMPHONIC DOCTOR WHO

What’s the one thing that could make Doctor Who more dramatic and spectacular than it already is? A symphony orchestra, of course. These are the ingredients behind the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular, which will make a return to Sydney with a brand new show next year, following a successful 2012 visit. The fifth Doctor himself, Peter Davison, will be on hand to host the event, joined onstage by Daleks, Cybermen and of course The Metropolitan Orchestra, performing music by composer Murray Gold. These will be the first public performances of music from the Peter Capaldi era of Who, accompanied by footage from the new series as well as the classics. The Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular takes over Qantas Credit Union Arena on Saturday February 7, and we’ve got five A-Reserve double passes to give away to the show. To be in the running to win one, head to thebrag.com/ freeshit and tell us the most fanatic thing you’ve done in the name of Doctor Who.

THE LAUGH STAND

The ever-growing live comedy night at Harold Park Hotel, The Laugh Stand, has locked in a November lineup full of funny people. It all kicks off on Tuesday November 4 with a Melbourne Cup Comedy Gala, headlined by Darren Sanders (Any Questions For Ben?, The Darren Sanders Show). Joining him are Amanda Gray, YouTube sensation Neel Kolhatkar, Seamus McAlary, Dave Bloustein, Justin Anderson, Emma Zammit and emcee Jeremy Keast. Also look out for Tuesdays during the month with Tommy Dean, Greg Larsen, Alice Fraser and a long list of up-andcoming comic talent.

Sydney Festival Village

SYDNEY FESTIVAL 2015

Sydney Festival has announced a massive arts and performance program next year. Highlights include James Thierree’s Tabac Rouge, playing at Sydney Theatre from Thursday January 8 – Friday January 23; a bigger-than-ever Carriageworks schedule headlined by the romantic hand ballet that is Kiss & Cry; Indian production The Kitchen (in which audiences will not only marvel at the sights and smells of Indian cooking, but get to taste the recipes as well); and a screening and live performance of the score to The Artist at the Sydney Opera House. And while the Hyde Park Festival Village will be its usual self all day and through the night, one main attraction will be Higher Ground, a mind-bending maze of colour and geometry reaching over two storeys high – perfect for your mid-Festival Instagram selfies. Sydney Festival 2015 runs from Thursday January 8 – Monday January 26. For the full program and ticketing info, visit sydneyfestival.org.au.

MORE SWEET CHARITY

Dames Of Throne

GAME OF THRONES BURLESQUE

THE DEMON BARBER OF KING STREET

The New Theatre in Newtown is presenting a new production of the musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street. This independently produced run combines violent and erotic horror with social commentary and a poignant love story. Directed by Giles Gartrell-

Mills, the new production sees Justin Cotta in the title role and Lucy Miller as his partnerin-crime, Mrs. Lovett. Sweeney Todd is on at the New Theatre in Newtown from Tuesday November 18 – Saturday December 20.

FIVE WOMEN WEARING THE SAME DRESS

Act IV Theatre Company is set to present True Blood creator and American Beauty writer Alan Ball’s Five Women Wearing The Same Dress. The play is set in the early ’90s at a wedding reception, as five identically clad bridesmaids take refuge in an upstairs bedroom. It’s an intimate, moving production sparked with sarcasm and wit. Five Women Wearing The Same Dress will play at Tap Gallery in Darlinghurst from Tuesday October 28 – Sunday November 2.

DOOLEY AND FRIENDS

Aussie comedian and broadcasting personality Scott Dooley is set to take over The Chaser’s Giant Dwarf venue with a series of Scott Dooley And Friends variety nights starting next month. Each of the four evenings will feature an all-star lineup of Dooley’s mates, including fellow comedians Tom Ballard and Matt Okine, musicians Wil Wagner and One Day, and actor Brendan Cowell. Hang out with Dools and friends on Wednesday November 19 and each week until Wednesday December 10. 22 :: BRAG :: 586 :: 29:10:14

IT’S THE WAY THINGS WORK

The close relationship between politics and big business is a sad fact of society, but it’s a goldmine for drama. The Way Things Work is Rock Surfers Theatre Company’s latest production, and making its world premiere in Australia this November under the direction of Leland Kean. The play by Aidan Fennessy explores a cover-up by a government minister who’s set to be exposed in a Royal Commission for his grubbiness. Sound familiar? All too much so. Ashley Lyons and Nicholas Papademetriou star in this one at the Bondi Pavilion Theatre from Wednesday November 5 – Saturday November 29.

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Sydney Festival Village photo by Jamie Williams

Proving that we just can’t get enough of Game Of Thrones’ sauciness, the Dames Of Throne burlesque parody is returning to Sydney after a successful season earlier this year. Dames Of Throne is the latest show from Russall S. Beattie, creator of Star Wars burlesque The Empire Strips Back, and promises sexiness and gore in equal measures. If you want to see Cersei like you’ve never Cer-seen her before, head along to the Seymour Centre on Friday November 7 and Saturday November 8.

The smash-hit, Helpmann Award-winning production Sweet Charity will return to Sydney in 2015. The musical about a dancer-for-hire will play at the Sydney Opera House, having premiered in February at Hayes Theatre Co. to rave reviews ahead of a sell-out season. Sweet Charity is on at the Playhouse, Sydney Opera House from Thursday January 15 – Sunday February 8.

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Totem [CIRCUS] Cirque Du Soleil Down Under By Adam Norris

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unning off to join the circus has been the dream of ambitious children for centuries. The allure of travelling the world, of living within the exaggerated, grease-painted magic of the Big Top, standing astride galloping costumed horses, somersaulting high in the air… hell, I still want to run away and join the circus. But it takes more than ambition. As artistic director of Cirque du Soleil’s Totem, Neelanthi Vadivel knows first-hand the dedication, work, and inspiration necessary to keep these shows enthralling. “Cirque has always been very innovative, in that they present traditional circus acts in a very experimental format,” Vadivel says. She has a wonderfully expressive voice and her speech is swift, words tumbling over each other. “They create these beautiful themes and ideas so that you can inhabit this amazing space and present these incredible feats of acrobatics within that bubble, that world. Each show is generally created around two years in advance, when discussions first start. Composers, choreographers, directors, acrobatic designers – all these very innovative people brainstorm for a few months until they hatch out a kind of skeleton of what they’d like to do. And then they hire the actual people who will be creating the sets, the music, the costumes and the writing, and from there they bring it all together to premiere two years later. But again, during their lifetime each

show will evolve as they’re touring, and that’s my job; to make sure the artists continue to be inspired and keep the show relevant.” Remarkably, there are 18 different Cirque du Soleil shows running at once – eight resident shows in Las Vegas, and ten shows touring the globe either in stadiums or under the Big Top. The drive to present more and more amazing productions has been a staple of circus performance since the very beginning, and though the safety record of Cirque du Soleil is unsurpassed, in 2013 acrobat Sarah GuyardGuillot fell to her death in the midst of Ka. “When Cirque began 30 years ago, there wasn’t as much competition,” Vadivel explains. “Now, more and more, there are other productions that can offer a similar experience to what we do, so of course there is more competition and there is more of a technical push within the circus community, but this has traditionally always been the case – performers always try to outdo each other, it’s in their nature. At the same time, for every technical advance that we make in pushing an artist to a higher risk, we add more and more safety precautions. We’re quite conservative in how we approach any new elements, and it’s very unfortunate what happened on Ka. It was really one of those perfect storm situations. Despite the many precautions that were in place, something happened that came out of our control. But Cirque’s track record is excellent – far beyond any other circus in regards to safety. There is of course a drive to constantly evolve your technique, but we always push to make that the safest way possible.” While you won’t find any dancing bears or performing elephants at a Cirque show, the history of circus and vaudeville is ever-present in productions like Totem. It’s all part of a tradition that has been dazzling audiences since Philip Astley and P.T. Barnum, and Vadivel is very conscious of Cirque du Soleil’s role in history.

Shopkeepers Of Newtown [PHOTOGRAPHY] People Power By Tegan Jones

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ewtown is arguably one of the most eclectic and well-known areas of Sydney. Long celebrated for its diversity, the suburb is a safe haven for the alternative and quirky. And then there’s the delicious food – Mary’s fried chicken, anyone? For the past five years, photographer and Newtown resident Nic Bezzina has been photographing the personalities who inhabit some of Newtown’s best-known shops, eateries and venues. His endeavour has culminated in a free exhibition at the State Library of NSW called Shopkeepers of Newtown. “I’ve been living in Newtown for about ten years and I’m of the belief that I should always photograph what is around me and accessible,” says Bezzina. “I’ve always loved Newtown and the shops are basically my backyard.” So often artists feel the need to go on pilgrimages or travel to find inspiration and beauty. This is perhaps what makes Bezzina’s work so special: he was inspired by what he saw around him. “It began at the end of 2009 and at that point it was just a collection of portraits to add to my portfolio and I didn’t really revisit the project until 2012,” he explains. “I just thought that they were pretty cool and I wanted to shoot more and put on a small exhibition of my own. A lot of people loved the work and I thought that it would be a shame for the project to just disappear. I decided that I needed to pursue it further and self-publish a book, which was released at the start of the year.” A particularly beautiful aspect of the book and the current exhibition is how it brought the tightly knit community even closer together. “It really did connect the community of shopkeepers in Newtown,” says Bezzina. “It was just such a great experience meeting them

all. When showing the images to them it was really cool to see their reactions – ‘Oh, I know her, and I know him; I’ve known them for ages.’ Everyone kind of knew each other, and those they didn’t know they became interested in. I had one lady email me about a month ago who said that she purchased the book and loved it. Her and her husband are quite new to Newtown so she took him around on a bit of a foodie tour with the book in hand, using it as a little guide.” Considering that Newtown is a place full of unique and amazing characters, I couldn’t help but ask about Bezzina’s experiences with some of the more quirky and well-known residents. “The portrait of Bob Gould of Gould’s Book Arcade really stood out as a powerful image,” he says. “When I first approached Bob to shoot this, he had a bit of a reputation of being quite dismissive. I was a little bit afraid to approach him up at his high desk,” he laughs. “But he was really interested in the project and was a great subject. Sadly, he passed away in 2011 and I think at that point, the idea of the project was a preservation of the identity of Newtown.” The infamous Julio from the Caramba hat shop also gets a mention. “He is an eccentric bohemian artist type,” the photographer explains. “He’s got a lot of stories to tell and is very funny. I would recommend having a chat with him if you get the opportunity. He’ll probably serenade you with a flamenco guitar cover while guessing the size of your head.” What: Shopkeepers of Newtown Where: State Library of NSW When: Saturday November 1 – Sunday March 15

Totem

What: Totem Where: The Showring, Entertainment Quarter When: Until Sunday January 4

Reactor Rubberwear

Switzerland

Onix Black photo by Nic Bezzina

“There’s a huge level of respect for what has come before, and what exists today. Cirque made a conscious decision at the very start not to involve animals, because their mandate would be to represent what the human body could accomplish, rather than what animals could do acrobatically. But there are traditional circus acts within Cirque du Soleil, there are many traditional artists within our cast, and those performers bring a huge amount of experience and circus lore; information to us that wouldn’t be available otherwise. It’s really quite an interesting and important part of our history.”

Switzerland

[THEATRE] Truth Or Dare By Tegan Jones

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atricia Highsmith is one of those authors who can’t help but fascinate you. Not only was she the brilliant and eccentric author of The Talented Mr. Ripley, she was also renowned for being the embodiment of many of her morally ambiguous antiheroes. The Sydney Theatre Company is continuing Highsmith’s legacy of suspense with its latest thriller, Switzerland. This fictional postulation will pit a young man (Eamon Farren) up against Highsmith (Sarah Peirse) with unexpected consequences. As Farren explains, a business trip quickly turns into a game of cat and mouse worthy of Tom Ripley himself.

“The unravelling of it, and how it turns into a cat and mouse game, is that Patricia Highsmith isn’t going to let the company pull one over on her. She tries to play a game, test his mettle, and see how far he’ll go to get the contract signed,” laughs Farren. The concept of fictionalising a real person can be morally ambiguous. However, considering 24 :: BRAG :: 586 :: 29:10:14

“I think that’s what the playwright, Joanna Murray-Smith, has managed to do really well,” says Farren. “Highsmith is one of the great masters of literature that nobody really knows about. That is a great opportunity to explore why we don’t know about her and what it is about her she didn’t want people to know. What was in her that made her so elusive and unattainable? “It also lends a lot to her kind of writing. She was an enigma. When you research her, you find out that she was a very complicated woman who had a lot of conflict within her life as well as the way she viewed literature and art,” Farren continues. “There’s something alluring about a great artist who shuns the limelight but simultaneously craves it. I think that her work reflects that. She was a great lover of not delineating between what it is to kill and depicting murderers as normal people. She was so interested in what it takes for someone to kill and how they got to that point.” In addition to the Ripliad, Farren also mentions how Highsmith’s Strangers On A Train depicts these ideas. “It’s such an amazing study of how two people can get to the point of murder out of necessity and what it does to them.”

Due to the fact that Highsmith was such a mystery, it begs the question of how she is portrayed in Switzerland. “It’s very easy to get obsessed with who she was, because she was so complicated,” says Farren. “The great theatrical device that’s used in this is that we have a young American optimist who comes to her with the ideas of her public persona and reputation. She was known as a bolshie, hard woman but was also famous for being one of the most amazing people in a room.

Her ability to story-tell in both her writing and in person was renowned. You’ll get to see what happens when you meet someone with such an amazing and hard social persona and what the reality is. It’s where the truth meets the lies.” What: Switzerland Where: Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House When: Monday November 3 – Saturday December 20 thebrag.com

Switzerland photo by James Green xxx

“It starts off with a young guy turning up to Patricia Highsmith’s home in Switzerland with the intention of getting her to sign a contract to commit to writing the final Ripley novel,” Farren says. “We find out during the first act that the company he works for sent another poor young chap to do the same thing, but it ended terribly.

the subject matter that Highsmith wrote about, and that most of her protagonists were antiheroes, one could argue it’s a perfect fit.

Film & Theatre Reviews

Gaming news with Adam Guetti

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Eddie Izzard

JUST FOR LAUGHS: EDDIE IZZARD GALA

2014

upon us. There are more games coming out this month than you have time to play or pay for, so buckle up and allow us to suggest a few of the top choices.

Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House Saturday October 18 The irrepressibly charming Eddie Izzard hosted the Just For Laughs Gala at the Sydney Opera House, and what a host he was. Resplendent in high-heeled boots and sparkly red nail polish, the self-professed action transvestite’s stream-of-consciousness-style comedy was as rambling and hilarious as it was educational. Want a lesson on the history of the English monarchy? He’s your guy – though you’ll have to get there via God bitching about the Wi-Fi, and Steve the human sacrifice. The first guest was Ronny Chieng, whose signature vitriol and criticism of his fellow human beings is as refreshing as it is stitch-inducing. New York-based Ted Alexandro had all the smugness of a man who has hit 45 years free of a wife and children. He was deeply, quietly funny – no gimmicks, just witty observations and anecdotes. Reggie Watts was an interesting addition to the lineup. He’s a talented musician and performer, but his comedy seemed to be based around saying words incomprehensibly, which drew more nervous giggles than real laughs from the crowd. Sarah Kendall, in contrast, was non-stop funny as she shared anecdotes

about Jaws III, hand jobs, playing tricks on strangers, and, um, calling a teacher the C-word. Alonzo Bodden perfectly fit the mould of an American stand-up. He based his set around his strong opinions on all the big topics; homosexuals, African-Americans, Obamacare… but he did it all with such a generous and engaging attitude that he managed to keep the whole audience onside. Rhys Darby is surprisingly physical onstage, and his not-so-true account of his time in the New Zealand Army had him shooting, flying and making some very impressive laser gun noises. As a final treat, Izzard revisited the eternally popular Death Star Canteen skit, and his ballad for the bravery of Mr. Stevens the canteen manager was the cherry on top of a stellar night of comedy. Hannah Warren

■ Film

This Is Where I Leave You

THIS IS WHERE I LEAVE YOU In cinemas now

Eddie Izzard photo by Amanda Searle

This Is Where I Leave You is the latest film from director Shawn Levy. Based on the novel by Jonathan Tropper, the film follows the dysfunctional Altman family as they come home to sit shiva after their father’s death. Following the structure of just about every big-budget indie film of recent years, This Is Where I Leave You attempts to provide a ‘realistic’ insight into just how crazy families can be. This shtick is getting pretty tired, and This Is Where I Leave You relies on many genre tropes; an overbearing and over-sharing mother, a range of sons who need to get in touch with their emotions, and a tragic circumstance to bring them together in order to solve all their problems and ultimately realise that family means everything. While the narrative is slightly hackneyed, the cast is fantastic, bringing a lot of depth to what would’ve otherwise been a completely underwhelming film. Jason Bateman is surprisingly good in the lead role of Judd Altman, demonstrating

Releases NOV New This is it, guys; gaming nirvana is

his serious acting chops. The large supporting cast all hold their own – honourable mention to Adam Driver, Corey Stoll and Kathryn Hahn, who stand out from the crowd in small but weighty roles. The only real weak link in this chain is Jane Fonda, who hams it up at every single opportunity, breaking the film’s attempts at realism.

First up, November 4 brings the latest entry in the firstperson shooter juggernaut, Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare (XBO, PS4, PS3, 360, PC). For anybody keeping up with the series, AW introduces exosuits, futuristic tech and Hollywood heavyweight Kevin Spacey. If shooting’s not your thing, hold out until November 13 and you can get your next football fix with Pro Evolution Soccer 2015 (XBO, PS4, PS3, 360, PC). It’s the first time the series is hitting the new consoles and is bound to bring the fight to the FIFA franchise. On November 18 you’ll be granted a double whammy with both Far Cry 4 (XBO, PS4, PS3, 360, PC) and GTA V hitting store shelves. The latter brings the biggest game of last year to PS4 and Xbox One, while the former lets you ride elephants and cause all sorts of open-world mayhem. A day later, PS Vita owners finally get some lovin’ with Minecraft, allowing users to delve into the insanely popular world-builder on the go. We’d be remiss not to mention anything for the kiddies, but you’ll have to wait until the end of the month for the good stuff. November 21 sees the release of Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (3DS) – a fresh take on Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire – while November 26 brings the third entry in the charming LEGO Batman franchise, Beyond Gotham (XBO, PS4, PS3, 360, PC, Wii U) – guaranteed to contain more block-building and cooperative fun.

Microsoft Buys Mojang

NEWS

■ Comedy

Game On In what is probably going to be the biggest news of 2014, Microsoft has pulled out its chequebook and acquired Mojang, the developer behind the insanely popular and profitable cash cow Minecraft, for a whopping US$2.5 billion. Still, the company expects to break even on its acquisition by the end of June 2015. According to the development team, there is no reason for the development, sales and support of the PC/Mac, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, Vita, iOS and Android versions of Minecraft to stop, so fans without a Microsoft-made console needn’t worry about losing their precious title… just yet, anyway.

Meanwhile, Markus ‘Notch’ Persson (the actual creator of the game) will be leaving the studio once the deal is done. “I’m not a CEO. I’m a nerdy computer programmer who likes to have opinions on Twitter,” he said. Persson plans to go back to working on small experimental projects, including Ludum Dares game jams, and avoiding the creation of another Minecraft. “If I ever accidentally make something that seems to gain traction, I’ll probably abandon it immediately,” he admitted.

Video Games On The Rise

Major video games retailer EB Games is, unsurprisingly, publicly predicting its sales will skyrocket, despite the slump currently prominent within the larger retail industry. Michael Mauler, executive vice president of EB’s US parent company GameStop, believes that despite the general decline, game sales should rise between ten and 15% worldwide this year – and Australia will very much play a role, especially considering that our country is not only EB’s fastest growing market (with 380 stores nationally and another 40 in New Zealand), but GameStop’s third-biggest market behind the US and Europe. “It’s bigger than music, bigger than box office. So ten to 15 per cent growth on a $100 billion business is pretty significant,” Mauler told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Review: Super Smash Bros. (Nintendo 3DS)

This Is Where I Leave You tries its hardest to be life-affirming in the face of tragedy, but it doesn’t quite get there in the end. Though all the acting is pretty fantastic, the narrative just doesn’t match up, and while the first half of the film swings for realism, the second half settles for cheese. Louisa Bulley

See thebrag.com for more arts reviews

Arts Exposed What's in our diary...

Russian Resurrection Event Cinemas George Street and Burwood, Thursday October 30 – Sunday November 9 Vasilisa

For all its presence on the TV news, many of us don’t know much about what Russian life and culture is really like. Russian Resurrection, the largest Russian film festival outside the nation itself, is back to change that, with its 2014 season kicking off around Australia and New Zealand. Screenings include Test, the Best Film winner at Kinotavr Film Festival this year, war film Stalingrad, Oscar-winning classic Dersu Uzala and Vasilisa.

When Super Smash Bros. launched for the Nintendo 64 way back in 1999, gamers everywhere imagined what the game would be like on a portable platform. For years they pined – picturing the wonder it would bring, while at the same time assuming that its intensity wouldn’t translate well to a small screen. Well fi nally, that dream is now a reality in the form of Super Smash Bros. for 3DS, and the good news is that it’s everything you want it to be and more. For those who have been housed under a rock all this time, the Smash Bros. series takes Nintendo’s most popular mascots (like Mario, Link and Donkey Kong), places them onto an arena, and lets them beat the hell out of each other to achieve victory. On 3DS, it’s a tried and tested formula that is able to make the transition surprisingly well. With an opening roster of 36 characters and another 12 to

unlock, there’s a hell of a lot of variety on offer and a great deal of effort has been made to keep everything relatively balanced no matter which style of fi ghter you choose. While a handful of the stages can become almost too chaotic, and a lot of the new items feel overpowering, the core gameplay stays faithful to the roots of the series. Is it going to be as pretty or as consistent as the Wii U version that’ll be out by the end of the year? Most likely no, but that’s OK. The 3DS version has had to make concessions, but none of them impact the fi nal product – which remains so gosh darn enjoyable. It’s fast, it’s with you wherever you go, and it feels like a Smash Bros. game. And really, that’s all we could ever ask for. Just go buy it already. Adam Guetti

For more information and to book, visit russianressurrection.com and the cinema websites. thebrag.com

BRAG :: 586 :: 29:10:14 :: 25

BARS SMALL

B R A G ’ S G U I D E T O S Y D N E Y ’ S B E S T W AT E R I N G H O L E S

A Work In Progress 50 King St, Sydney CBD (02) 9240 3000 Mon – Fri noon-late; Sat 5pm-2am The Attic L1, 347 Kent St, CBD (02) 9299 4811 Mon – Fri 11am- am

Assembly 488 Kent St, Sydney CBD (02) 9283 8808 Mon – Tue 5-11pm; Wed – Fri noon-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight

Heritage Hotel 100 Cumberland St, The Rocks (02) 9247 2229 Mon – Sun 10.30am-midnight Balcony Bar 46 Erskine St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 3526 Tue – Fri noon-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight

The Australian

5.30-11.30pm

The Baxter Inn Basement 152-156 Clarence St, Sydney CBD Mon – Sat 4pm-1am

Gilt Lounge 49 Market St, Sydney CBD (02) 8262 0000 Tue – Wed 6pm-midnight; Thu & Sat 6pm-2am; Fri 5pm-2am

BAR100 100 George St, The Rocks (02) 8070 9311 Mon – Thu noon-late; Fri – Sat noon-3am; Sun noon-midnight

Bulletin Place First Floor, 10-14 Bulletin Place, Circular Quay Mon – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight

Bar Eleven Lvl 11, 161 Sussex St, Sydney CBD (02) 9290 4712 Thu 4-10pm; Fri 4-11pm; Sat 3-11pm

deVine 32 Market St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 6906 Mon – Fri 11.30am-11.30pm; Sat

THE ATTIC

OF

LEVEL 1, 347 KENT STREET, SYDNEY PH: 02 9299 4811 OPENING HOURS: 11:30AM-3AM; WEBSITE: MRTIPPLYS.COM

bar TH

EK

Ash St Cellar 1 Ash St, Sydney CBD (02) 9240 3000 Mon – Fri 8.30am-11pm

The Barber Shop 89 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 9699 Mon – Fri 2pm-midnight; Sat 4pm-midnight

E E W

Frankie’s Pizza 50 Hunter St, Sydney CBD Mon – Sun 4pm-4am

The Glenmore 96 Cumberland St, The Rocks (02) 9247 4794 Mon – Thu, Sun 11am-midnight; Fri – Sat 11am-1am Goodgod Small Club 53-55 Liverpool St, Sydney CBD (02) 8084 0587 Wed 5pm-1am; Thu 5pm-2am; Fri 5pm-5am; Sat 6pm-5am Grain Bar 199 George St, Sydney CBD (02) 9250 3118 Mon – Fri 4pm-1am; Sat noon-1am; Sun noonmidnight Grandma’s Basement 275 Clarence St, Sydney CBD (02) 9264 3004 Mon – Fri 3pm-late; Sat 5pm-late The Fox Hole 68A Erskine St, Sydney CBD (02) 9279 4369 Tue – Fri 5pm-midnight The Grasshopper 1 Temperance Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 9947 9025 Mon – Wed & Sat 4pm-late; Thu – Fri noon-late

Tell us about your bar: Welcomed by a grand staircase, Mr Tipply’s brings to you the Attic Lounge, a stylish space filled with fun, boutique furniture that can cater the mood for any occasion. The Attic is where the talents of our bartenders come to life for all to enjoy. Be entertained as our cocktail specialists shake, stir and pour the most exquisite drinks right before your eyes. What’s on the menu? As you make your way down the

The Lobo Plantation Basement Lot 1, 209 Clarence St, Sydney CBD 0415 554 908 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri 2pm-midnight; Sat 4pm-midnight

share plate-style menu, you’ll find the choices ranging from lighter dishes through to more substantial Tipply ‘signature’ suggestions. From edamame to Mongolian lamb cutlets, The Attic bar has it all – but you cannot go past the tempura rock shrimp!

Mojo Record Bar Basement 73 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 4999 Mon – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight

Care for a drink? The Tipple – ever wondered what went on under that hat of his? Well now you can. With his secret hypothecary recipe tucked firmly in his hat, this little number is brought

The Morrison 225 George St, Sydney CBD (02) 9247 6744 Mon – Wed 7.30am-midnight; Thu 7.30-1am; Fri 7.302am; Sat 11.30-2am; Sun11.30am-10pm

to the table with all the mystery and wonder you’ve been craving. Definitely one to share with equals. Enjoy the magic. You simply can’t beat a cocktail served in a top hat! Sounds? We switch it up daily whatever the vibe, from Mr. Minksy playing the piano downstairs to cocktail lounge with new school funk. Highlights: Join us in The Attic at Tipply’s Travels – a gin master class, held in conjunction with master distillers and our bar specialists. Learn the tricks of the trade on how to make fantastic cocktails. Tickets are $35 and include four cocktails (made by you!) and canapés from our delicious menu.

26 :: BRAG :: 586 :: 29:10:14

Mr Tipply’s 347 Kent St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 4877 Mon – Sun 10am-late Palmer & Co. Abercrombie Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 9240 3172 Mon – Wed 5pm-late; Thu – Fri noon-late; Sat – Sun 5pm-late Papa Gede’s Bar Laneway at the end of 348 Kent St, Sydney CBD Mon – Sat 5pm-12am Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern 199 Elizabeth St, Sydney CBD Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4pm-10pm

Rockpool Bar & Grill 66 Hunter St, Sydney CBD (02) 8078 1900 Mon – Sat lunch & dinner The Rook Level 7, 56-58 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 2505 Mon – Fri 4pm-late; Sat 4pm-late The SG 32 York St, Sydney CBD 0402 813 035 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight Shirt Bar 7 Sussex Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 8068 8222 Mon –Wed 8am-6pm; Thu – Fri 8am-10pm Since I Left You 338 Kent St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 4986 Mon – Wed 5pm-10pm; Thu – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat 6pm-midnight Small Bar 48 Erskine St, Sydney CBD (02) 9279 0782 Mon – Fri noonmidnight; Sat 5pm-midnight The Spice Cellar Basement 58 Elizabeth St, Sydney CBD (02) 9223 5585 Mon – Sun 4pm-late

1-10pm Cottage Bar & Kitchen 342 Darling St, Balmain (02) 8084 8185 Mon – Wed 5pm-midnight; Thu – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Different Drummer 185 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9552 3406 Mon – Sat 4.30pm-late Earl’s Juke Joint 407 King St, Newtown Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4-10pm Freda’s 107-109 Regent St, Chippendale (02) 8971 7336 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri noon-midnight; Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4-10pm The Green Room Lounge 156 Enmore Rd, Enmore (02) 8021 8451 Wed 5pm-late; Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 5pm-1am; Sun 5-10pm Hive Bar 93 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville (02) 9519 9911 Mon – Fri noonmidnight; Sat 10am-midnight; Sun 10am-10pm

Stitch Bar 61 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9279 0380 Mon –Wed 4pm-midnight; Thu – Fri noon-2am; Sat 4pm-2am

Kelly’s On King 285 King St, Newtown (02) 9565 2288 Mon – Fri 10am-3am; Sat 10am-4am; Sun 10am-midnight

Tapavino 6 Bulletin Place, Circular Quay (02) 9247 3221 Mon – Fri 11am-11.30pm

Knox Street Bar 21 Shepherd St, Chippendale Tue – Thu 4pm-l0pm; Fri – Sat 4pm-11pm; Sun 2pm-9pm

Uncle Ming’s 55 York St, Sydney CBD Mon – Fri 11am-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight

Kuleto’s 157 King St, Newtown (02) 9519 6369 Mon – Wed 4pm-late; Thu – Sat 4pm-3am; Sun 4pm-midnight

York Lane York Lane, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 1676 Mon – Wed 6.30am-10pm; Thu – Fri 6.30pm-midnight; Sat 6pm-midnight

Bar-racuda 105 Enmore Rd, Newtown (02) 9519 1121 Mon – Sat 6-midnight

The Little Guy 87 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9200 0000 Mon – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 1pm-midnight; Sun 3-10pm Mary’s 6 Mary St, Newtown (02) 4995 9550 Mon – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm

Blacksheep 256 King St, Newtown (02) 8033 3455 Mon – Fri 3pm-midnight; Sat midday-midnight; Sun midday-10pm

The Midnight Special 44 Enmore Road, Newtown (02) 9516 2345 Mon – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 4-10pm

Bloodwood 416 King St, Newtown (02) 9557 7699 Mon, Wed –Thu 5pm-late; Fri – Sat noon-late; Sun noon10pm

Miss Peaches 201 Missenden Rd, Newtown (02) 9557 7280 Wed – Sun 5pm-midnight

Cornerstone Bar & Food 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh (02) 8571 9004 Sun – Wed 10am-5pm; Thu – Sat 10am-late

The Moose Newtown 530 King St, Newtown (02) 9557 0072 Wed – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 5-10pm

Corridor 153A King St, Newtown 0422 873 879 Tue – Fri 3pm-midnight; Sat 1pm-midnight; Sun

Mr Falcon’s 92 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9029 6626

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Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat noon-midnight; Sun 2-10pm

(02) 9319 5061 Tue – Sat noonmidnight; Sun noon11pm

Newtown Social Club 387 King St, Newtown (02) 9550 3974 Mon – Sat noonmidnight; Sun noon10pm

Brooklyn Social 14 Randle St, Surry Hills 0451 972 057 Mon – Sun 12pm-2am

The Oxford Tavern 1 New Canterbury Rd, Petersham (02) 8019 9351 Mon – Thu middaymidnight; Fri – Sat midday-3am; Sun midday-10pm The Record Crate 34 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9660 1075 Tue – Wed 11am-10pm; Thu – Fri 11am-midnight; Sat 10am-midnight; Sun 11am-10pm The Royal 156 Norton St, Leichhardt (02) 9569 2638 Mon – Thu 10am-1am; Fri – Sat 10am-3am; Sun 10am-midnight Secret Garden Bar 134a Enmore Rd, Enmore 0409 284 928 Wed – Sun 5pm-11pm Timbah 375 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9571 7005 Tue – Thu 4-9pm; Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 2pm-midnight; Sun 2-8pm The Workers Lvl 1, 292 Darling St, Balmain (02) 9555 8410 Wed – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 5pm-3am; Sun 2-10pm ZanziBar 323 King St, Newtown (02) 9519 1511 Mon – Thu 10am-4am; Fri 10am-6am; Sat 10am-5am; Sun 10am-12am Zigi’s Wine And Cheese Bar 86 Abercrombie St, Chippendale (02) 9699 42221 Wed 4pm-midnight; Thu – Sat 2pm-midnight; Sun 2pm-9pm

121BC 4/50 Holt St, Surry Hills (02) 9699 1582 Tue – Thu 5-11pm; Fri – Sat 5pm-midnight Absinthe Salon 87 Albion St, Surry Hills (02) 9211 6632 Wed – Sat 4-10pm Bar H 80 Campbell St, Surry Hills (02) 9280 1980 Tue – Sat 6pm-late The Bearded Tit 183 Regent St, Redfern (02) 8283 4082 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat midday - midnight; Sun midday - 10pm

Button Bar 65 Foveaux St, Surry Hills (02) 9211 1544 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight Café Lounge 277 Goulburn St, Surry Hills (02) 9016 3951 Mon – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sunday 4-10pm Casoni Italian Bar & Eatery 371-373 Bourke St, Darlinghurst Wed – Thu 5pm-11pm; Fri – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 5pm-10pm The Carlisle 2 Kellett St, Kings Cross (02) 9331 0065 Thu – Sun 6pm-late The Carrington 565 Bourke St, Surry Hills (02) 9360 4714 Mon – Sun noonmidnight; Sun noon10pm Ching-a-Lings 1/133 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (02) 9360 3333 Tue – Wed 6pm-11pm; Thu 6pm-midnight; Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat 6pm-midnight; Sun 4pm-10pm The Cliff Dive 16-18 Oxford Square, Darlinghurst Wed – Sun 6pm-4am The Commons 32 Burton St, Darlinghurst (02) 9358 1487 Tue – Sun noon-late Darlo Bar 306 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst (02) 9331 3672 Mon – Sun 10am-midnight Darlie Laundromatic 304 Palmer St, Darlinghurst (02) 8095 0129 Wed – Sun 5-11pm Eau De Vie 229 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst 0422 263 226 Mon – Sat 6pm-1am; Sun 6pm-midnight The Flinders 63-65 Flinders St, Surry Hills (02) 9356 3622 Tue – Thu 5pm-3am; Fri – Sat 5pm-5am The Forresters 336 Riley St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 3035 Mon – Wed noonmidnight; Thu – Sat noon-1am; Sun noon10pm Gardel’s Bar 358 Cleveland St, Surry Hills (02) 8399 1440 Tue – Sat 6:pm - 12am

The Beresford 354 Bourke St, Surry Hills (02) 8313 5000 Mon – Sun noon-1am

Gazebo 2 Elizabeth Bay Rd, Elizabeth Bay (02) 9357 5333 Mon – Thu 3pm-midnight; Fri – Sun noon-midnight

Black Penny 648 Bourke St, Redfern

The Hazy Rose 1/83 Stanley St,

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Darlinghurst (02) 9357 5036 Tue 3-11pm; Wed – Sat 3pm-midnight; Sun 3-10pm Hello Sailor 96 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (02) 9332 2442 Tue – Sun 5pm-1am The Hills 42 Chalmers St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 3814 Mon – Sun midday-2am Hinky Dinks 185 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst (02) 8084 6379 Mon – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 3pm-midnight; Sun 1-10pm

(02) 9358 6116 Mon – Thu 5pm-late; Fri – Sun noon-late Play Bar 72 Campbell St, Surry Hills (02) 9280 0885 Wed – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 3-10pm Pocket Bar 13 Burton St, Darlinghurst (02) 9380 7002 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 4pm-1am; Sun 4pm-midnight The Print Room 1 Glenmore Rd, Paddington 0424 034 020 Wed – Fri: 3pm-late; Sat 12pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-10pm

Hollywood Hotel 2 Foster St, Surry Hills (02) 9281 2765 Mon – Wed 10am-midnight; Thu – Sat 10am-3am

Queenie’s Upstairs Forresters Cnr Foveaux and Riley St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 3035 Tue – Sat 6pm-late

Hustle & Flow Bar 105 Regent St, Redfern (02) 9310 5593 Tue – Sat 5pm-midnight

Roosevelt 32 Orwell St, Potts Point 0423 203 119 Tue – Sat 5pm-midnight

Jekyll & Hyde 332 Victoria St, Darlinghurst (02) 9360 5568 Wed – Fri 4pm-late; Sat 8.30am-late; Sun 8.30am-evening Li’l Darlin Darlinghurst 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst (02) 8084 6100 Mon – Sat 5pmmidnight Li’l Darlin Surry Hills 420 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills (02) 9698 5488 Mon – Thu noon-3pm & 5-11pm; Fri – Sun noon11pm LL Wine and Dine 42 Llankelly Place Potts Point (02) 9356 8393 Tue – Thu 5pm-11pm; Fri 5pm-late; Sat 11am-late; Sun 11am-10pm The Local Tap House 122 Flinders St, Surry Hills (02) 9360 0088 Mon – Wed noon-2am; Thu – Sat noon-1am; Sun noon-11pm Love, Tilly Devine 91 Crown Ln, Darlinghurst (02) 9326 9297 Mon – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 4-10pm Low 302 302 Crown St, Surry Hills (02) 9368 1548 Tue – Sat 5pm-2am; Sun 6pm-2am Mr Fox 557 Crown St, Surry Hills 0414 691 811 Mon –Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun noon-10pm The Norfolk 305 Cleveland St, Surry Hills (02) 9699 3177 Mon – Wed noonmidnight; Thu – Sat noon-1am; Sun noon10pm The Passage 231A Victoria St, Darlinghurst

Santa Barbara 1 Bayswater Rd, Kings Cross (02) 9357 7882 Wed 6pm-1am; Thu & Sat 6pm-2am; Fri noon2am Shady Pines Saloon Shop 4, 256 Crown St, Darlinghurst Mon – Sun 4pm-midnight The Soda Factory 16 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills (02) 8096 9120 Mon – Wed 5pm-late; Thu 5pm-2am; Fri – Sat 5pm-5am Sweethearts Rooftop 33/37Darlinghurst Rd, Potts Point (02) 9368 7333 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sun noon-midnight Tio’s Cerveceria 4/14 Foster St, Surry Hills Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4-10pm Unicorn Cellar Basement, 106 Oxford St, Paddington (02) 9360 7994 Tue – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Vasco 421 Cleveland St, Redfern 0406 775 436 Tue – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 5-10pm The Victoria Room Lvl 1, 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst (02) 9357 4488 Tue – Fri 6pm-midnight; Sat noon-2am; Sun noon-midnight The Wild Rover 75 Campbell St, Surry Hills (02) 9280 2235 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun noon-10pm The Winery 285A Crown St, Surry Hills (02) 9331 0833 Mon – Sun noonmidnight

Anchor Bar 8 Campbell Pde, Bondi (02) 8084 3145 Tue – Fri 4.30pm-late; Sat – Sun 12.30pm-late

COCKTAIL OF THE WEEK Pour it in your mouth-hole... (responsibly).

Bondi Hardware 39 Hall St, Bondi (02) 9365 7176 Mon – Wed 5-11pm; Thu 5pm-midnight; Sat 10am-midnight; Sun 10am-10pm The Bucket List Shop 1, Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive (02) 9365 4122 Mon – Sun 11am-late The Corner House 281 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 8020 6698 Tue – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 3-10pm Fat Ruperts 249 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 9130 1033 Mon – Fri 6pm-late; Sat 4pm-late; Sun 4-10pm The Rum Diaries 288 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 9300 0440 Tue – Sat 6pm-midnight; Sun 6-10pm Speakeasy 83 Curlewis St, Bondi (02) 9130 2020 Mon – Fri 3pm-late; Sat – Sun noon-late Stuffed Beaver 271 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 9130 3002 Mon – Sat noonmidnight; Sun noon10pm

The Bay Jam Bar 2A Waters Rd, Neutral Bay 0407 454 0815 Tue – Fri 11am-midnight; Sat – Sun 7am-midnight Firefly 24 Young St, Neutral Bay (02) 9909 0193 Mon – Wed 5-10pm; Thu 4-11pm; Fri – Sat noon-11pm; Sun noon9.30pm The Foxtrot 28 Falcon St, Crows Nest Tue – Sat 5pm-3am; Sun 5-10pm Harlem On Central Shop 4,9-15 Central Ave, Manly (02) 9976 6737 Tue – Sun 5pm-midnight Hemingway’s 48 North Steyne, Manly (02) 9976 3030 Mon – Sat 8am-midnight; Sun 8am-10pm Honey Rider 230 Military Rd, Neutral Bay (02) 9953 8880 Tue – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4-10pm In Situ 1/18 Sydney Rd, Manly (02) 9977 0669 Mon 9am-6pm; Wed – Sun 9am-midnight The Hunter 5 Myahgah Rd, Mosman 0409 100 339 Mon – Tue 5pm-midnight; Wed – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm

BLEEDIN’ MARIA @ THE ANNANDALE 17 PARRAMATTA ROAD, ANNANDALE Origins: Bloody Mary’s tequila-spiked sister, the origins of the drink are as varied as the garnishes on top. Some say it was named after Queen Mary of England, or the Hollywood star Mary Pickford, or the waitress from Chicago who worked in a pub called Bucket of Blood. What we know for sure is that its modern form is damn delicious, and even better with tequila. Ingredients: Tequila, Annandale’s house klamato juice (clam brine mixed with tomato juice and herbs ‘n’ spices). Method: Rim the glass, shake the juice and add it to a tall glass with tequila – top with garnish. Glass: As tall as they come. Garnish: Celery salt rim, giant pickle and olive. Best drunk with: Anything with bacon. Try the pancakes with maple syrup, bacon and ice-cream, or the big breakfast – biggest you’ve ever seen – bacon, eggs, tomato, sausage, hash browns and toast. Or, if you really need it, get a big ol’ bucket of cheesy hash browns with chilli bacon. During: The morning after the night before. While wearing: Whatever you were wearing when you left the house on Saturday night. And listening to: Grimey blues or soothing soul. More: annandalehotel.com

The Stoned Crow 39 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest (02) 9439 5477 Mon – Sun noon-late

Jah Ba Shop 7, 9-15 Central Ave, Manly (02) 9977 4449 Tue – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm

Miss Marley’s Tequila Bar 32 Belgrave St, Manly (02) 8065 4805 Mon – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 5-10pm

The Local Bar 8 Young Ln, Neutral Bay (02) 9953 0027 Mon 5-10pm; Tue – Wed 8am-10pm; Thu – Sat 8am-midnight; Sun 8am-10pm

Moonshine Lvl 2, Hotel Steyne, 75 The Corso, Manly (02) 9977 4977 Thu – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 3-11pm

Manly Wine 8-13 South Steyne, Manly (02) 8966 9000 Mon – Sun 7am-late

The Pickled Possum 254 Military Rd, Neutral Bay (02) 9909 2091 Thu – Sat 9pm-1am

Wilcox Cammeray 463 Miller St, Cammeray (02) 9460 0807 Tue – Thu 4pm-11pm; Fri - Sat 11am-11pm; Sun 11am-10pm

The Mayor 400 Military Rd, Cremorne (02) 8969 6060 Tue – Fri 10am-late; Sat 8am-late; Sun 8am-10pm

SoCal 1 Young St, Neutral Bay (02) 9904 5691 Mon – Tue 4pm-midnight: Wed – Thu midday-1am; Fri – Sat midday- 2am; Sun midday-midnight

Your bar’s not here? Email: chris@thebrag. com

White Hart 19-21 Grosvenor St, Neutral Bay (02) 8021 2115 Tue – Thu 5pm-late; Fri 4pm-late; Sat 2pm-late; Sun noon-8pm

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

ALBUM OF THE WEEK SLIPKNOT

often serving as a defi nitive trait. ‘The Devil In I’ is one of the best singles the band has put out, while ‘Skeptic’ is an unabashed, fi tting tribute to late bassist Paul Gray.

Corey Taylor was on record at one point claiming that the future of Slipknot itself was up in the air. It’s a relief, then, considering exactly how much is riding on its release, that The Gray Chapter is an exercise in triumph over tragedy.

Elsewhere, they maintain the rage with cathartic, blistering infernos such as ‘The Negative One’ and ‘Custer’, the latter of which amazingly manages to sport as definitive and brain-invasive a refrain as anything you’ve heard on Top 40 radio this year. An hour-plus runtime means that not everything on the tracklist justifies its existence – the inconsequential ‘Be Prepared For Hell’ and by-

xxx

.5: The Gray Chapter Roadrunner/Warner

Slipknot’s solid fifth effort is a Xxxx matter of life after death.

The at-times-uneasy marriage of hammering white-knuckle intensity with sweeping, raisedfi st melodicism is refi ned here,

numbers ‘Nomadic’ spring to mind. Across the lion’s share, however, it feels as though the band’s decision to continue has been validated.

.5: The Gray Chapter is life after death for Slipknot – and it’s bound to leave devotees grateful they survived. David James Young

BERTIE BLACKMAN

BUSDRIVER

YES I’M LEAVING

OUTRIGHT

KARL S. WILLIAMS

The Dash Warner

Perfect Hair Big Dada/Inertia

Slow Release Homeless

Avalanche Reason and Rage

Heartwood Footstomp/Warner

Depending on your cultural reference of choice, Bertie Blackman jumped down the rabbit hole, took the blue pill or walked through the wardrobe on her game-changing 2009 LP, Secrets And Lies. Five years on, it doesn’t appear that she plans to return anytime soon. Nor should she feel any obligation to – especially if it means the end result is as bright and imaginative as The Dash.

Busdriver hasn’t come to break your neck, but Perfect Hair is an unsettling sight. The LA rapper is a cunning wordsmith and, by pairing a verbose attack with icy glitch-scapes and mutated boom-bap beats, Driver succeeds at inducing nausea.

The name Yes I’m Leaving suggests finality, tempered with a veneer of politeness – the author is walking out the door of a job, a relationship, a community; the statement signalling that what was once the source of enjoyment and satisfaction has gone stale. Or maybe it’s a mixture of resignation and resentment.

Following a self-released demo and seven-inch, Melbourne hardcore punk five-piece Outright have released their debut LP Avalanche on their own label Reason and Rage. This record sees the band’s songwriting, technical skill and musical chemistry catch up with its forward thinking and determined ambitions.

Where does that place Yes I’m Leaving’s new album, Slow Release? Whereas the band’s 2012 album, Mission Bulb (which, like Slow Release, has been given the affectionate Homeless Records vinyl treatment) was confrontational to the point of sonic brutality, there’s something even tougher lurking in Slow Release. You can hear Joy Division fighting it out with feedtime on the opening track, ‘One’; on ‘Puncher’ it’s Hot Tomatoes and Hoot McKloot getting shitfaced on West End Draught on a shitty Adelaide night. The thudding bass riff on ‘Salt’ tries to see its way out of desolate suburbia, ‘Care Less’ is Dinosaur Jr. stumbling through the backstreets of Sydney searching for meaning and purpose, and if you’re not belted out of your comfort zone by the collage of white noise that opens ‘Manic’, then the dirty riff that succeeds it will slice straight through your puny whitebread existence.

Frontwoman Jelena Goluza’s vocals have fully developed into a soaring rage, flying above the masterfully tight and heavy rhythm section. While Outright’s style of metallic hardcore is far from original, they play to the strengths of such an established style and scene. Lyrically, the band’s songs and live performances have always been outspokenly socially conscious. While many may wish to keep their music and politics separate, Outright see music as an avenue for communication and influence.

A time-travelling bluesman from the dirty ’30s American South sounds like the premise for a film thrown up during the Hollywood writers’ strike, but a portal nonetheless seems to have been ripped open. Lo and behold, artists like C.W. Stoneking and Archer keep popping up in the Australian wilderness, with Karl S. Williams falling out of the same wormhole.

First impressions are lasting right out of the gate, with lead single and opening number ‘Run For Your Life’ serving as not only one of Blackman’s best, but a frontrunner for the year’s strongest single. With a gated snare that would make Phil Collins proud, matched to a spiralling keyboard refrain that would make John Oates proud, it’s indicative of what’s to come with the rest. Although its influences, as demonstrated, are deeply rooted in ’80s pop, The Dash manages to give this inspiration a bold contemporary context, driving Blackman’s songwriting strengths in a bolder, hook-oriented direction. Forget everything you know about Bertie Blackman – again. The Dash is yet another daring reinvention from an artist who will continually change the questions just when you think you have all the answers. David James Young

Essentially, Perfect Hair reflects on an age in which the entrepreneurial imperative, coupled with sickly celebrity worship, has birthed a population of monstrous individualists. Opener ‘Retirement Ode’ points the knife inwards, employing the hook, “You never would admit how sick I’ve become,” amid ironic jabs at music industry excess. ‘Ego Death’ sees Busdriver battling Aesop Rock and Danny Brown for dizziest verse of the year. Driver continues to make acerbic comments on the prevalent 21st century disease, stating “Downtime is never met with an overjoyed grin / Sleep and death have always been conjoined twins”. Meanwhile, Brown brings the macho vulgarity, as well as referencing a selection of presentcontext pop culture trifles. As the ego-pumping progresses, each body bloats towards certain explosion. Perfect Hair piles up evidence to reveal we’re already living in dystopia. It reaches the point where colonising the moon begins to sound like a feasible alternative.

There’s a fine line to be straddled between engaging and inventive hardcore and tough-guy machismo floor-punching. Too often modern hardcore bands are stuck in a rut of chasing the hardest breakdown, the cleanest production, and having more press shots than songs.

His debut album Heartwood was originally released independently last year but found its way into the hands of the good people at the Warner Music indie imprint, Footstomp Records. They decided a re-release was in order, with three additional tracks. Opener ‘Time Bomb’ has Williams’ quintessential blues lyrics cut over an electric piano-driven fusion of rock and soul. Sounding like a declaration of impending doom, Williams’ opening chorus introduces it as “A daisycutting motherfucking Judgement Day”. Williams is at his best when his straight-shooting lyrics and uplifting melancholic melodies are left to float by themselves. Occasionally, though, the songs are a victim of overproduction, like the string section on ‘The Darkest Cloud’.

Yes I’m Leaving aren’t going anywhere, and that’s a very good thing.

It’s reassuring when a band can coexist musically with its contemporaries, recognising the genre’s roots and history, without falling victim to clichés.

His voice doesn’t require the extra textures, because like the bluesmen of old, he can channel the pain of life and warp it into beauty.

Patrick Emery

Joe Hansen

Rhys McRae

Augustus Welby

INDIE ALBUM OF THE WEEK

THE CHURCH Further/Deeper Unorthodox/MGM

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Steve Kilbey and his Churchmen continue their prolonged cosmic journey with almost evangelical zeal. Of Skins And Heart emerged in 1981 and since that time there have been records bearing The Church moniker on an almost annual basis. That makes for a lot of records and songs. Kilbey has over 700 songs registered with APRA, and undoubtedly even he would be pressed to name each one. Further/Deeper provides no surprises, just more of the quintessential Church psychedelic renditions stretching over 12 songs with almost biblical numerology. No longer part of the crew is Marty Willson-Piper, one of the pillars of the band along with Kilbey, Peter Koppes and Tim Powles. His position has been taken by former Powderfinger

man Ian Haug, and it is almost a hand-to-glove fit. Kilbey sounds as sincere as ever, and despite the familiarity of the palate, The Church are still ferocious when the need arises. Importantly, they do not grate. Lyrically, from ‘Vanishing Man’ onwards the listener feels like they are being led toward a divine spark at the behest of the knowing few. The organic nature of ‘Laurel Canyon’ almost renders the tune a quaint period piece, but ambience and continuing stimulation between the band members evidences that after all these years and some wrong turns and stumbles, The Church are still heading somewhere.

OFFICE MIXTAPE And here are the albums that have helped BRAG HQ get through the week... ELBOW - The Take Off And Landing Of Everything ST. VINCENT - Strange Mercy VARIOUS - Late Night Tales: Groove Armada

THE DRONES - I See Seaweed VARIOUS - The Chronicles

Bronius Zumeris thebrag.com

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live reviews

up all night out all week . . .

What we've been out to see...

ALL OUR EXES LIVE IN TEXAS Newtown Social Club Friday October 24 “They do it with mirrors.” “I hear one of them is actually an elaborate clockwork doll.” “That’s not the real Hannah Crofts. The real Hannah is eight feet tall and has wheels instead of feet.” These are some of the whispered conversations that were – probably – rustling among the audience last Friday night. Catching the full AOELIT contingent – Katie Wighton, Georgia Mooney, Elana Stone and Hannah Crofts – in Sydney this year has been that rare occurrence akin to sharing a taxi with Bob Dylan and Bigfoot; not impossible, but pleasantly surprising. Seeing all four share the stage for the ‘Tell Me’ single launch was, at last, worth the wait.

emma pask

The most enduring (and endearing) attribute of the group, beyond its musicianship, is the banter. The teasing familiarity on display; the amused asides mid-song; Georgia’s ability to beat a microphone into submission using only her face (classic Mooney); these things all combine to deliver one of the most genuinely entertaining sets you’re likely to see. They’re just so damned charming (even if one or more of their number are actually automatons). Adam Norris

PICS :: KC

An Exes set is a thing of many colours. There is no lead singer as such, and songs are shared rather evenly. Wighton opened the night with a song I’m going to call ‘When You’re Holding Me Close’, and her voice is truly spectacular. In fact, spectacular voices are really the cornerstone of the band, and while each is unique, when they come together it is difficult not to believe these ladies are

moving towards memorable things. Their harmonies are so outlandishly good it is like some deus ex machina within the folk world has conspired to bring them together. ‘Our Love Won’t Die’ was a point in case, and I swear I still have goosebumps (or perhaps it’s just some kind of tropical rash, what am I, a doctor?). ‘Hawaiian Nose Guitar’ showcased that most esteemed eponymous instrument from Stone and Mooney, and the expressions of amused seriousness while they played was alone worth the admission. ‘I’m Not That Lonely Yet’ was also a contender for song of the night, and Mooney’s voice is entirely enchanting (she can also rock out a mandolin solo, so, 50 points). ‘Hotel Yorba’, was a clear crowd favourite, while Stone lead the quartet in a rousing rendition of ‘Tell Me’ that had the audience asway.

general disarray

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KE PHOTOGRAPHER :: KATRINA CLAR

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MR TIPPLY’S PRESENTS

MRheMINSKY Pian o Man The

BLUEJUICE Metro Theatre Sunday October 26 Chances are that anyone who has been to an Australian music festival in the last seven years – no matter the size, both on and off the beaten track – has seen Bluejuice perform. The Sydneysiders aren’t just festival whores, however. There is a bit of that, but led by two irrepressible, semi-naked vocalists, they’re also perfectly fashioned for entertaining large groups of rowdy, willing punters. If somehow you haven’t come across the band live, it’s unlikely you’ve avoided hearing (and subsequently internalising) one of its pop-rock/arena-funk/hip hop tunes. In terms of actual hits, Bluejuice have had a handful of those. But even if they didn’t always garner high rotation radio play, they spent their three-album run amassing a stash of tunes that allowed frontmen Jake Stone and Stav Yiannoukas to command tonight’s all-ages Metro crowd through sing-along after sing-along. Given their status as festival regulars, it’s no surprise Bluejuice have attracted a decent underage following. The kids who filled a large portion of the floor area tonight were across the band’s latest material. Recent single ‘I’ll Go Crazy’ – released just prior to this farewell tour – was lapped up without a hint of

indifference. Material from 2007’s Problems also garnered voluble expressions of favour. It was the tracks from 2009’s Head Of The Hawk, however, that shone as the compositional highlights. ‘Work’, ‘(Ain’t) Telling The Truth’, ‘Facelift’ and the TISMchannelling ‘Medication’ all incited a certain lung-trembling uproar. Beyond their easy-to-read tunes, a large component of Bluejuice’s party-starting reliability is Jake and Stav’s unruly onstage behaviour. Tonight, Jake was considerably more jacked up than his partner in crime. In addition to climbing speaker stacks and walking/floating across the heads of the crowd, at one point he firmly yelled for both the audience and rest of the band to “go fucking crazy”.

THURSDAY’S FROM 6PM INFO@MRTIPPLYS.COM.AU

W W W. M R T I P P LY S . C O M . A U | # M R T I P P LY S | ¬ ã ­ ŧ

When it came to the set’s final number, breakthrough single ‘Vitriol’, the stage filled with several longtime Bluejuice comrades from Art vs. Science, The Jezabels and The Aston Shuffle. Just about everybody in the vicinity followed Stone’s advice, letting their silliest and most excitable side run loose. Generally speaking, Bluejuice material encourages shelving one’s regular taste criterion to gobble up hearty chunks of cheese. But an occasion of fun and ridiculousness has always been the Bluejuice guarantee – whatever it takes to get there. Augustus Welby

PHOTOGRAPHER :: ASHLEY MAR

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live reviews

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What we've been out to see...

THE BLURST OF TIMES Factory Theatre Saturday October 25 The sun was out, the guitars were sparkling and the planes were flying very low as Hockey Dads kicked off the first Sydney edition of The Blurst Of Times – the general consensus was that someone would surely work the deafening roar of jet engines into their set at some point. Upstairs, Sydneysiders The Upskirts fuzzed it up, while the Factory Floor played host to the gaffer-taped nipples of These New South Whales.

the bon scotts

PICS :: AM

Back outside, deliciously named Brisbanites Babaganouj inspired an impassioned response from an already fairly lubricated fan wearing their eponymous T-shirt – but not undeservedly so. The three regular members and the guesting drummer played a stellar set of shoegazey poprock.

26:10:14 :: Shady Pines Saloon :: 4/256 Crown St Darlinghurst shadypinessaloon.com

Clad in all black, Melbourne’s Apes tore up the Floor, sounding like a grungier Royal Blood cut with The Dead Weather, while Born Lion thrashed around upstairs. Local legends Bloods were catchy as hell from ‘Into My Arms’ to ‘Penelope’, and on other new tracks they were cheeky fun. Spod brought some enthusiastic audience lads onstage to shout along, and where his charm lies in his RSL comedy act delivery, labelmate Donny Benet is the consummate crooner – ‘Treat Yourself’ proof that he is the local king of pinkie rings, synth solos and Miami Vice-inspired leisure wear. Blank Realm took over the stage next with their blissful electronic psych, made even better by the presence of an LEDilluminated keytar. The subtitle of the festival probably should have been “Jeremy Neale and all his musical friends”, which was a great thing – it made for a relaxed atmosphere as most of the bands wandered between stages to watch their mates and occasionally feature during other sets. Velociraptor were a ninestrong iteration this time around with the return of wayward DZ Deathrays members, and played a hit-filled set that, as ever, flirted with but never fell into disorganisation. Neale’s solo set ended with the audience and fellow musicians flooding the stage playing anything they could, from tambourines to rolls of tape. Die! Die! Die! played a screamer of a set upstairs, blurring the line between stage and audience by wading into the crowd for a couple of songs, mic stand and all. DZ Deathrays drew a big crowd and thrashed out a solid set before the Hard-Ons got sweaty and shirtless downstairs. Bizarre-racing-suitand-helmet-clad Bob Log III finished off the show with a drawn-out and yet crazily entertaining set that incorporated a telephone receiver, a drum machine, several effects pedals, a couple of guitars, a bag of balloons and an inflatable raft in a manner that can only be described as fascinating. Hopefully The Blurst Of Times lives on for many years to come. Natalie Amat

RODRIGUEZ Sydney Opera House Thursday October 23

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In contrast to the likes of Neil Young and Leonard Cohen, the period of Rodriguez’s creative peak isn’t up for debate. The Detroit musician has released just two albums, which means his ticket-selling ability pertains to a clearly defined set of songs. However, it’s not as though his entire following was secured upon the release of 1970’s Cold Fact and 1971’s Coming From Reality. Midway through tonight’s Concert Hall appearance, one woman proudly yelled, “I’ve loved you since the ’80s!” When someone promptly responded that he’s

been around for longer than that, she explained, “I’m only 42.” This forthright patron certainly wasn’t the youngest person in the room. The age range dipped as low as five and stretched to older than the fragile star’s 72 years. The bottom line is that, even though Rodriguez’s repertoire is limited in quantity, his songs continue to infatuate listeners of all ages. It’s fair to say expectations were high and setlist predictions seemed a safe bet. However, it wasn’t quite a front-to-back run-through of his greatest hits. While there was a good portion of cherished original material (largely taken from Cold Fact), it was interwoven with an almost equivalent number of covers, including Little Richard’s ‘Lucille’, ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ and Peggy Lee’s ‘Fever’.

MAR :: S :: KATRINA CLARKE :: ASHLEY

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I MAG I N E BE I NG MAD E TO

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A trio of exceptionally learned musicians joined the great man. The rhythm section kept things steady, while the lead guitarist was occasionally granted too much importance. After overcoming certain technical issues, Rodriguez himself proved a rather adept classical guitarist. Anyhow, these are essentially peripheral details; tonight’s gig was defi ned by moments. Sixto’s entrance – dressed in fancy black and wearing a wonderful head of hair – incited an awestruck standing ovation. He struggled to consistently muster sufficient vocal conviction, but when he did hit the notes, his voice exerted striking sweetness. An especially precise rendition of ‘Crucify Your Mind’ absolutely justifi ed an earnest crowd

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member’s request to hear it “again please”. While an awareness of the event’s phenomenal nature permeated the Concert Hall, it wasn’t necessarily a nostalgia trip. Rather, it was an up-close experience of beautiful songs, performed by a beautiful man, who many, varied individuals have fallen deeply in love with. Perhaps the largest cheer of the evening followed another audience cry of “Thanks for coming to Sydney!” Even though Rodriguez has been here a halfdozen times previously (as far back as 1979 and as recently as last year), it still felt like this could easily not have occurred. Seeing the man was like grabbing onto a piece of history. Augustus Welby

BEING

LEFT

H A N D E D.

Okay, that’s hard to imagine? But being gay, lesbian, bi, trans or intersex is no different to being born left handed, it’s just who you are. So stop and think because the things we say are likely to cause depression and anxiety. And that really is pretty crap. GO TO LEFTHAND.ORG.AU TO WATCH THE VIDEO

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pick of the week Lanie Lane

THURSDAY OCTOBER 30

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

Bonnie Kay & Matt Russell + Liddle Wade The Gasoline Pony, Sydney. 7pm. free. Mick Hambly Ruby L’otel, Rozelle. 7:30pm. free. Musos Club Jam Night Carousel Inn Hotel, Rooty Hill. 8pm. free. Nick Saxon Woolwich Pier Hotel, Woolwich. 8pm. free. The Button Collective The Wild Rover, Surry Hills. 7pm. free. Winterbourne + Bad Feeling Woman Moonshine Cider & Rum Bar, Manly. 9pm. free.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

Newtown Social Club

Lanie Lane + Olympia

$35. 7:30pm. WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 29 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts Quartet Foundry616, Ultimo. 8:30pm. $40. Lionel Cole Imperial Hotel, Paddington. 8pm. free.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

Andrew Denniston The Loft (UTS), Ultimo. 6pm. free. Mitch Anderson & His Organic Orchestra

Coopers Hotel, Newtown. 8:45pm. free. Musos Club Jam Night Bald Faced Stag Hotel, Leichhardt. 8pm. free. Phil Gray Courthouse Hotel, Darlinghurst. 7:30pm. free. The Morrisons & Friends Goodgod Small Club, Sydney. 8pm. $10.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

Adam Eckersley Band + Red Wine Roses Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 8pm. free. Ben Ottewell + Buddy Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $30.50. Captain Cook Captain Cook Hotel, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts

Paddington. 8pm. free. Coast And Ocean - feat: Tinsmith + Spiritbear + KiDJoy Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 8pm. $10. Evie Dean Hillside Hotel, Castle Hill. 7pm. free. Fat Bubba’s Chicken Wednesdays Soda Factory, Surry Hills. 5pm. free. Jefferson The Vanguard, Newtown. 7pm. $15. Merauder Hermann’s Bar, Darlington. 8pm. $35. Rhiannon Optus Centre, Macquarie Park. 12pm. free. Sarah Paton Observer Hotel, The Rocks. 8:30pm. free. The Morrisons & Friends Goodgod Small Club, Sydney. 8pm. $10. Victoria Avenue Ettamogah Hotel, Kelly Ridge. 6:30pm. free.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 30 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts Quartet Foundry616, Ultimo. 8:30pm. $40. Mr Minsky Mr Tipply’s, Sydney. 6pm. free.

Pauline Murray + Pel Mel Camelot Lounge, Marrickville. 7pm. $35. PowerxChuck - feat: Skinpin + Frame 313 + Piece Of Shit + Guests Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 9pm. $10. Sarah Paton Northies Cronulla Hotel, Cronulla. 7:30pm. free. Skinpin + PowerxChuck + Frame 313 + Massive Bicep Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 6pm. $10. The Late Night Soda Social Soda Factory, Surry Hills. 5pm. free.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 31 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Jazz Hip Hop Freestyle Sessions Foundry616, Ultimo. 11:30pm. $5. Mr Minsky Mr Tipply’s, Sydney. 6pm. free. Rachel Collis Foundry616, Ultimo. 8:30pm. $30.50.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

19twenty Huskisson Hotel, Huskisson. 8pm. free. Abbalanche - The Australian Abba Tribute Show Manly Leagues Club, Brookvale. 7:30pm. free. After Party Band Penrith RSL, Penrith. 9pm. free. Alex Hopkins Wenty Leagues Club, Wentworthville. 9pm. free. Andy Mammers Duo Panthers, Penrith. 8:30pm. free. Angelena Locke Chatswood RSL, Chatswood. 5pm. free. Armchair Travellers Duo Courthouse Hotel, Darlinghurst. 10pm. free. Baddies + Eager + Chaos + Gun Lake Captain Cook Hotel, Paddington. 8pm. $5. Ben Finn PJ Gallagher’s, Enfield. 9pm. free. Black Diamond Hearts Crows Nest Hotel, Crows Nest. 10:30pm. free. Brad Johns Northies Cronulla Hotel, Cronulla. 9pm. free. Brett + Neddi Duo Time & Tide Hotel, Dee Why. 7:30pm. free. Daniel Romeo The Grand Hotel, Rockdale. 5:30pm. free. Dave Phillips Observer Hotel, The Rocks. 6pm. free. Dave White Band Scruffy Murphy’s Hotel, Sydney. 9pm. free. David Agius Cronulla Leagues Club Sharkies, Woolooware. 7pm.

free. Diesel N Dub Factory Theatre, Marrickville. 8pm. $20. Dollshay Quakers Inn, Quakers Hill. 8:30pm. free. Drew Duo Heritage Hotel, Bulli. 7pm. free. Evie Dean Town Hall Hotel, Balmain. 4:30pm. free. Felicity Robisnon Optus Centre, Macquarie Park. 4pm. free. Gabriel Levin + Smack Pandas + Volky Ruby L’otel, Rozelle. 8pm. free. Geoff Rana Greystanes Inn, Greystanes Inn. 8pm. free. Glenn Esmond Golden Sheaf Hotel, Double Bay. 6pm. free. Greg Agar Campbelltown Catholic Club, Campbelltown. 6pm. free. Greg Byrne The Ranch, Eastwood. 5:30pm. free. Halloween At The World Bar - feat: Mickey Kojack + Mountain Sounds DJs + Horror My Friend + Royal Chant World Bar, Kings Cross. 8pm. free. Hamish Jason AKA DJ Heymish Town Hall Hotel, Balmain. 8pm. free. Hand Picked South Hurstville RSL Club, South Hurstville. 8pm. free. Hello Cleveland Horse & Jockey Hotel, Homebush. 7:30pm. free. High Rollers Big Band Revesby Workers Club, Revesby. 8:30pm. free. I Am Apollo + Dylan Wright + Coconut Ruffs Brass Monkey, Cronulla. 7pm. $16. Iron Lion Bull & Bush Hotel, Baulkham Hills. 10pm. free. Jackson Holt Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill. 9pm. free. Jess Dunbar Crows Nest Hotel, Crows Nest. 7pm. free. Joe Echo PJ Gallagher’s Whisky Bar, Jacksons On George, Sydney. 5:30pm. free. Joe Echo Duo PJ Gallagher’s, Leichhardt. 10pm. free. John Vella Kareela Golf Club, Kareela. 6:30pm. free. Krishna Jones Manly Leagues Club, Brookvale. 9:30pm. free. Leon Fallon Ingleburn RSL, Ingleburn. 9pm. free. Live Music At The Royal The Royal, Leichhardt. 9:30pm. free. Luke Zancanaro Harbord Beach Hotel, Harbord. 8pm. free. Matt Jones Parramatta RSL, Parramatta. 5pm. free. Matt Jones Trio Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee. 12am. free.

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10 O’Clock Rock Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 10pm. free. A Team Duo Crows Nest Hotel, Crows Nest. 9pm. free. Alex Hopkins Open Mic Night Northies Cronulla Hotel, Cronulla. 8pm. free. Andrew Denniston + Michael Crane + Red Whiskey + Adam Lean & The Fmbs Hampshire Hotel, Camperdown. 7:30pm. free. Ben Ottewell + Buddy Brass Monkey, Cronulla. 7pm. $35. Black Diamond Hearts Soda Factory, Surry Hills. 10pm. free. Bowie Unzipped - feat: Jeff Duff The Vanguard, Newtown. 6:30pm. $28. Cambo Observer Hotel, The Rocks. 7:30pm. free. Chris Raicevich + Emma Wolthers + Tommy Pickett + Gabriel Levinm + Massimo Presti Gladstone Hotel, Chippendale. 7:30pm. free. Cibo Matto Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $44. Community Radio + Devotional Goodgod Small Club, Sydney. 8pm. $10. Dave White Duo Maloney’s Hotel, Sydney. 9:30pm. free. David Agius Hillside Hotel, Castle Hill. 7pm. free. Glenn Esmond Fortune Of War, The Rocks. 7pm. free. Greg Agar Scruffy Murphy’s Hotel, Sydney. 7:30pm. free. Halloween At Frankenstein’s Pizza By The Slice feat: Frankie’s World Famous House Band + Dave Eastgate’s Boner Contention + Sumeru + DJ Goggles Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 6pm. free. Halloween/Birthday Party - feat: Kingswood + Andy Golledge Newtown Hotel, Newtown. 6pm. free. Hits & Pieces Pendle Inn, Pendle Hill. 7:30pm. free. Jess Dunbar Chippendale Green, Chippendale. 12pm. free. Lanie Lane + Olympia Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 7:30pm. $35. Mandi Jarry Dee Why Hotel, Dee Why. 7pm. free. Pat Drummond Pioneer Tavern, Penrith. 12pm. free.

Abbalanche

g g guide gig g

Xxx

send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com Matt Price Duo Hillside Hotel, Castle Hill. 8pm. free. Michael Crafter + PowerxChuck + Hygiene + Disparo Blackwire Records, Annandale. 6pm. $10. Natasha Kavanagh Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale. 5:30pm. free. Patrick Fahey AKA DJ Podgee Town Hall Hotel, Balmain. 7:30pm. free. Rob Eastwood Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill. 6:30pm. free. Rob Henry The Oriental Hotel, Springwood. 8pm. free. Russell Nelson Orient Hotel, The Rocks. 4:30pm. free. Ryan Thomas Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale. 9pm. free. Soul Tattoo Quakers Inn, Quakers Hill. 8pm. free. Soulgantic Duo Kirribilli Hotel, Milsons Point. 8pm. free. Ted Nash Fortune Of War, The Rocks. 8pm. free. The Rebecca Johnson Band Colonial Hotel, Werrington. 8:30pm. free. Thelma Plum Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $23.60. Time Machine Ramsgate RSL, Sans Souci. 7:30pm. free. Under Wraps Macarthur Tavern, Campbelltown. 9pm. free. Victoria Avenue Adria Restaurant, Darling Harbour. 5pm. free. Winston Surfshirt Moonshine Cider & Rum Bar, Manly. 8pm. free. Zoltan Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill. 9pm. free.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

Ralph Towner + Wolfgang Muthspiel And Slava Grigoryan City Recital Hall, Sydney. 7:30pm. $52. Paul Hayward And Friends Town & Country Hotel, St Peters. 4pm. free. Warren Earl Band Shady Pines, Darlinghurst. 6pm. free.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Gl Goodgod Small Club, Sydney. 11pm. $12.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS 2thorns Oxford Hotel, Darlinghurst. 9pm. free. AJ Harbourview Hotel, The Rocks. 8pm. free. AM 2 PM Parramatta RSL, Parramatta. 7:30pm. free. Andy Mammers Le Pub, Sydney. 9pm. free. Aqua Enmore Theatre, Newtown. 7:30pm. $66.60. Barnestorming Colyton Hotel, Colyton. 9pm. free. Ben Finn Trio The Mean Fiddler, Rouse Hill.

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9pm. free. Blake Tailor Duo Henry Lawson Club, Werrington. 7:30pm. free. Blow This Joint! FBi Social Farewell Party feat: World’S End Press + Mansionair + And (Dave Rennick Of Dappled Cities) + FBi DJs FBi Social, Kings Cross. 8pm. $15. Cara Kavanagh & Mark Oats Duo PJ Gallagher’s, Leichhardt. 10pm. free. Clay Vetter Cock & Bull, Bondi. 2:45pm. free. Dan Lawrence Sir Joseph Banks Hotel, Botany. 8pm. free. Darren Coggan Presents: Pirates, Parrots & A Pencil Thin Moustache - The Songs Of Jimmy Buffett Brass Monkey, Cronulla. 7pm. $22. Daryl Braithwaite Belmont 16s, Belmont. 8pm. free. Dave White Experience Crows Nest Hotel, Crows Nest. 10:30pm. free. David Agius Panthers, Penrith. 5:30pm. free. Deborah Conway + Pauline Murray The Basement, Circular Quay. 7:30pm. $40. Di Bird Red Hot & Blue Penrith RSL, Penrith. 2pm. free. DJ Marty Wentworthville Leagues Club, Wentworthville. 9pm. free. Everyday People Band Ramsgate RSL, Sans Souci. 7:30pm. free. Glenn Esmond Duo Rock Lily, Pyrmont. 6pm. free. Glenn Esmond Duo Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee. 12am. free. Greg Agar Duo St George Rowing Club, Wolli Creek. 7:30pm. free. Holy Holy Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $18. Hooray For Everything Kelly’s On King, Newtown. 9:30pm. free. Jasia Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $10. Jess Dunbar Duo Horse & Jockey Hotel, Homebush. 7:30pm. free. Joe Echo PJ Gallagher’s, Moore Park. 6:30pm. free. John Milligan Kirribilli Hotel, Milsons Point. 8pm. free. Mandi Jarry Duo The Mean Fiddler, Rouse Hill. 6pm. free. Marty Stewart Cock & Bull, Bondi. 6:15pm. free. Masterpiece Campbelltown RSL Club, Campbelltown. 9:30pm. free. Matchbox 20 Show Ocean Beach Hotel, Umina Beach. 9pm. free. Matt Jones Cronulla Leagues Club Sharkies, Woolooware. 7pm. free. My Zombie Riot - feat: The Owls + The Bungalows + Wasters + Moana + The Rumours + Brain Zaps + The Denim Clad Satanists + Captain Cook + Television Children + Taking Berlin + Bowl Cut + Piss Factory + Samoan Punks Captain Cook Hotel, Paddington. 5pm. $10. Mystery Guest The Belvedere Hotel, Sydney. 8:15pm. free. Nicky Kurta Crows Nest Hotel, Crows Nest. 7pm. free. One Hit Wonders Bayview Tavern, Gladesville. 10:30pm. free.

Panorama Duo Crossroads Hotel, Casula. 9pm. free. Paradise City Hermann’s Bar, Darlington. 9pm. $10. Pop Crimes (The Songs Of Rowland S. Howard) - feat: These Immortal Souls + Mick Harvey + Brian Henry Hooper + Adalita + Hugo Race + Jeffrey Wegener + More Metro Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $43.90. Reckless Ettamogah Hotel, Kelly Ridge. 7pm. free. Rob Henry Plough & Harrow, Camden. 8pm. free. Rock Of Ages Bull & Bush Hotel, Baulkham Hills. 9:30pm. free. Salsa Kingz Revesby Workers Club, Revesby. 8:30pm. free. Sarah Paton Observer Hotel, The Rocks. 5:30pm. free. Seims Goodgod Small Club, Sydney. 8pm. $10. Shane Flew Observer Hotel, The Rocks. 4pm. free. Shannon Noll Revesby Workers Club, Revesby. 8pm. $40. Sharron Bowman Brewhouse Marayong, Kings Park. 8pm. free. Skyscraper Manly Leagues Club, Brookvale. 9pm. free. Spank Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill. 10:30pm. free. Stephen Kiely Campbelltown Catholic Club, Campbelltown. 6:30pm. free. Stephen Kiely Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill. 6:30pm. free. Stormcellar Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville. 9pm. free. The Chosen Few Northies Cronulla Hotel, Cronulla. 9pm. free. The Madden Brothers Qantas Credit Union Arena, Darling Harbour. 7:30pm. $71.26. Tim Conlon Wentworth Hotel, Homebush West. 9pm. free. Tim Shaw Greystanes Inn, Greystanes Inn. 8pm. free. Tony Williams New Brighton Hotel, Manly. 10pm. free. Wildcatz Orient Hotel, The Rocks. 9:30pm. free. Young Fellas Hampshire Hotel, Camperdown. 7:30pm. free. Zoltan PJ Gallagher’s, Enfield. 9pm. free.

wed

thu

29

30

Oct

Oct

(9:00PM - 12:00AM)

(9:00PM - 12:00AM)

fri

31 Oct

(4:30PM - 7:30PM)

(9:30PM - 1:30AM)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2 sat

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK Bernie Hayes The Gasoline Pony, Sydney. 5pm. $5. Mitchell Ryan The Wild Rover, Surry Hills. 5pm. free. Murrumbidgee Jones Shakespeare Hotel, Surry Hills. 5pm. free. Peach’s Sunday Jam Garry Owen Hotel, Rozelle. 3pm. free. Satellite V Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville. 4:30pm. free.

01

(4:30PM - 7:30PM)

Nov

sun

02 Nov

(9:30PM - 1:15AM)

mon

(8:30PM - 12:00AM)

tue

03 Nov

(4:30PM - 7:30PM)

MELBOURNE CUP

04 (9:00PM - 12:00AM)

Nov

(6:00PM - 9:30PM)

BRAG :: 586 :: 29:10:14 :: 35

g g guide gig g

gig picks

send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com

Xxx

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

Alex Hopkins Buena Vista Hotel, Mosman. 2pm. free. AM 2 PM Campbelltown Catholic Club, Campbelltown. 6pm. free. Ange Waverley Bowling Club, Waverley. 3pm. free. Antoine Observer Hotel, The Rocks. 8pm. free. Blaming Vegas Overlander Hotel, Cambridge Park. 3pm. free. Dan Spillane Harbord Beach Hotel, Harbord. 4pm. free. Drew Collingwood Hotel, Liverpool. 1pm. free. Dwayne Elix Penrith RSL, Penrith. 2pm. free. Evie Dean Summer Hills Hotel, Summer Hill. 2pm. free. Extension Chord Shady Pines, Darlinghurst. 6pm. free. Georgia White Plough & Harrow, Camden. 3pm. free. Glass Ocean - feat: Jova + Ice On Mercury + Stare At The Clouds Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 4pm. free. Global Battle Of The Bands NSW Regional Final Mounties, Mount Pritchard. 2pm. free. Greg Agar Duo Bull & Bush Hotel, Baulkham Hills. 2pm. free. Jess Dunbar Duo Commodore Hotel, Mcmahon Point. 2pm. free. Joe Echo Duo The Mean Fiddler, Rouse Hill. 1pm. free. Mark Travers Ettamogah Hotel, Kelly Ridge. 1pm. free. Mark Wilkinson + Bec Sandridge Brass Monkey, Cronulla. 7pm. $30. Matt Jones Woolwich Pier Hotel, Woolwich. 2pm. free. Melody Rhymes Moorebank Sports Club, Sydney. 1:30pm. free. Mick Aquilina Ramsgate RSL, Sans Souci. 2pm. free. Mid Night Sun Cronulla Leagues Club - Sharkies, Woolooware. 2:30pm. free. Moana Cafe Lounge Bar, Surry Hills. 7pm. free. Nathan Cole Fortune Of War, The Rocks. 2pm. free. PJ O’Brien Band Botany View Hotel, Newtown. 7pm. free. Rebecca Moore Oxford Hotel, Darlinghurst. 2pm. free. Redlight Ruby Northies Cronulla Hotel, Cronulla. 6pm. free. Satellite V Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville. 4:30pm. free. Shannon Guihot

Glass Ocean

Fortune Of War, The Rocks. 6pm. free. The Bitter Sweethearts feat: Flaccid Mohawk + Stacy Gacy + Lorias James + The Otherwise Men + Worm Food Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 3pm. $10. The Blaggards Time & Tide Hotel, Dee Why. 2pm. free. Three Wise Men Observer Hotel, The Rocks. 4pm. free. Tori Darke Pritchards Hotel, Mount Pritchard. 1pm. free. Yuki Kumagai + John Mackie + Paul Furniss + Tony Burkys + Bob Gillespie Cronulla RSL, Cronulla. 12:30pm. free.

MONDAY NOVEMBER 3 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK Stuart Jammin + Chris Brookes + Massimo Presti Kelly’s On King, Newtown. 7:30pm. free.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC

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

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS AJ Orient Hotel, The Rocks. 9pm. free. Cambo Observer Hotel, The Rocks. 7:30pm. free.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC

Swingtime Tuesdays The Basement, Circular Quay. 7pm. $9.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK Blues Tuesdays Spring Street Social, Bondi. 7:30pm. free. Flamin’ Beauties Royal Hotel, Bondi. 3:15pm. free.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS A Team Duo Manly Skiff Sailing Club, Manly. 3:30pm. free. Alex Hopkins Stacks Taverna, Sydney.

up all night out all week...

11:15am. free. Angelena Locke Chatswood RSL, Chatswood. 11:30am. free. Ben Finn Family Inn Hotel, Rydalmere. 4pm. free. Bernie Observer Hotel, The Rocks. 7:30pm. free. Blake Tailor Duo Bull & Bush Hotel, Baulkham Hills. 7:40pm. free. Christie Lamb Duo St George Rowing Club, Wolli Creek. 12:30pm. free. Crossroad Colonial Hotel, Werrington. 8:30pm. free. Dan Spillane Harbord Beach Hotel, Harbord. 6pm. free. David Agius Horse & Jockey Hotel, Homebush. 2pm. free. Declan Kelly + Ben Webb + Daniel March + Adrian Heath & Kyrie Miskin Bar 34 Bondi, Bondi Beach. 8pm. free. Evie Dean Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale. 12pm. free. Glenn Esmond Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee. 7pm. free. Greg Agar Cock & Bull, Bondi. 7:30pm. free. Greg Agar Ettamogah Hotel, Kelly Ridge. 11:30am. free. James Fox Higgins Duo Hillside Hotel, Castle Hill. 3:25pm. free. Jamie Lindsay Coogee Bay Hotel, Coogee. 4pm. free. Jay Parrino Duo The Ranch, Eastwood. 3:15pm. free. Jellybean Jam Revesby Workers Club, Revesby. 8:30pm. free. Jess Dunbar Dee Why Hotel, Dee Why. 12pm. free. Joe Echo Dee Why Hotel, Dee Why. 3:15pm. free. Joseph Gatehau Quakers Inn, Quakers Hill. 4pm. free. Luke Dixon Duo Ettamogah Hotel, Kelly Ridge. 3:10pm. free. Mandi Jarry Summer Hills Hotel, Summer Hill. 3:30pm. free. Marc Malouf + Andre Kaman Kings Cross Hotel, Kings Cross. 4pm. free. Matt Jones Duo Albion Hotel, Parramatta. 1:30pm. free. Matt Lyon Sir Joseph Banks Hotel, Botany. 7pm. free. Matt Price Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale. 3:30pm. free. Melody Rhymes Henry Lawson Club, Werrington. 12pm. free. Michael & Lucas Kirribilli Hotel, Milsons Point. 2:15pm. free. Muddy Feet Colyton Hotel, Colyton. 12pm. free. Paul Hayward Town & Country Hotel, St Peters. 6pm. free. Pop Fiction Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill. 3:30pm. free. Soul Tattoo Mounties, Mount Pritchard. 12pm. free. Tori Darke Duo Ettamogah Hotel, Kelly Ridge. 6:30pm. free. Triumphant Tuesdays - feat: Dave Eastgate Karaoke Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 8:30pm. free. Victoria Avenue Trio Cronulla Leagues Club Sharkies, Woolooware. 3pm. free.

Aqua

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 29

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1

Ben Ottewell + Buddy Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $30.50.

Aqua Enmore Theatre, Newtown. 7:30pm. $66.60.

Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts Quartet Foundry616, Ultimo. 8:30pm. $40.

Blow This Joint! FBi Social Farewell Party - Feat: World’s End Press + Mansionair + And (Dave Rennick Of Dappled Cities) + FBi DJs FBi Social, Kings Cross. 8pm. $15.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 30 Cibo Matto Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $44. Community Radio + Devotional Goodgod Small Club, Sydney. 8pm. $10. Halloween At Frankenstein’s Pizza By The Slice - Feat: Frankie’s World Famous House Band + Dave Eastgate’s Boner Contention + Sumeru + DJ Goggles Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 6pm. free. Halloween/Birthday Party - Feat: Kingswood + Andy Golledge Newtown Hotel, Newtown. 6pm. free.

Deborah Conway + Pauline Murray The Basement, Circular Quay. 7:30pm. $40. My Zombie Riot - Feat: The Owls + The Bungalows + Wasters + Moana + The Rumours + Brain Zaps + The Denim Clad Satanists + Captain Cook + Television Children + Taking Berlin + Bowl Cut + Piss Factory + Samoan Punks Captain Cook Hotel, Paddington. 5pm. $10. Pop Crimes (The Songs Of Rowland S. Howard) - Feat: These Immortal Souls + Mick Harvey + Brian Henry Hooper + Adalita + Hugo Race + Jeffrey Wegener + More Metro Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $43.90.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 31

Seims Goodgod Small Club, Sydney. 8pm. $10.

Diesel N Dub Factory Theatre, Marrickville. 8pm. $20.

The Madden Brothers Qantas Credit Union Arena, Darling Harbour. 7:30pm. $71.26.

Michael Crafter + PowerxChuck + Hygiene + Disparo Blackwire Records, Annandale. 6pm. $10.

Warren Earl Band Shady Pines, Darlinghurst. 6pm. free.

Rachel Collis Foundry616, Ultimo. 8:30pm. $30.50.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2

Thelma Plum Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $23.60.

Glass Ocean - Feat: Jova + Ice On Mercury + Stare At The Clouds Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 4pm. free.

Thelma Plum xxx

36 :: BRAG :: 586 :: 29:10:14

thebrag.com

brag beats

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

dance music news club, dance and hip hop in brief... with Tyson Wray, Chris Martin and June Murtagh

five things WITH

GRANT SMILLIE The Music You Make And Play 4. As with Neon, my focus is more on the house tip whenever possible. I’m halfway through a couple of new things that will drop early 2015 and I’m loving the UK garage vibe that’s coming from Gorgon, The Magician, Duke Dumont, Alex Adair, Disclosure and the like. It’s solid music with melody and considered vocals – expect to hear some of that, and if the vibe is right towards the end of the night we’ll take it up a fraction!

1.

Growing Up I played sax at school from about grade five through year 12 and also studied music; writing sheet music and the like. My parents were certainly not musically inclined but encouraged me to continue with music – it seemed a natural progression to go into DJing and producing as making your own music was much more fun than playing other people’s music. As far as a key memory, not sure there’s a defining one other than my dad hammering us with country tapes on road trips! Inspirations So many and so 2. diverse – Prince, Stevie Wonder, INXS, Bell Biv DeVoe, Run-D.M.C., Herbie Hancock, Bocelli… I just like great music. Putting together an album is no mean feat and to be able to do it consistently is even harder. Don’t get me wrong, I love a lot of the modern guys too but growing up I used to

thrash the Kick album and Use Your Illusion by Guns N’ Roses practically wore out the needle on the turntable.

3.

Your Crew My crew is very diverse. I have a number of businesses – Neon Records, at which we look after everyone from Milky Chance, Klingande, Gorgon City and over the years Rudimental, Skrillex and many more. We have made a shift to more of an album-based label with firm roots in house music. Loving it. I also own 360 Agency – a music booking agency – and a PR company called iDCollective. In addition I’ve got hospitality projects in LA and Australia so it’s busy! Axwell is my business partner in my new venue in LA (opening in January 2015), and he and I have been long-time friends and he’s had a significant influence on my musical career. Working with Ivan Gough over the years has also been a great pleasure – he’s a genius.

Music, Right Here, Right Now 5. The music scene right now is no different than it’s ever been – fiercely competitive, cyclical and the only thing that really matters is good product. Make good tunes, play records that you love and hopefully you find a niche. Two things are different to ten years ago: one is the social media aspect; it’s like a full-time job! However, nobody gives a crap if Flume only posts one time a year – as long as the album he drops next is bangin’, that’s all that counts. The second thing for up-and-coming guys is cutting through the noise. Everyone’s a producer and a DJ these days – it’s starting to sound cliché. What’s your difference and why should I listen to your promo when I already have 50 links in my inbox? What: Yelloween Where: Marquee When: Friday October 31

The Prodigy

FUTURE MUSIC 2015

Future Music Festival will return to Sydney next February with one of its biggest lineups ever. Led by hip hop megastar Drake, Swedish star Avicii and Future veterans and firestarters The Prodigy, the lineup features a heavy-hitting slew of talent including Afrojack, Martin Garrix, Example, Sigma, 2Chainz, Kiesza, Klingande, Robin Schulz, Nero, Die Antwoord, Gorgon City, Blasterjaxx, Bassjackers, Tchami, Carnage, Throttle, Cocoon: Sven Vath, Art Department, Appollonia and Yellow Claw. Future Music Festival 2015 goes down on Saturday February 28 at Royal Randwick Racecourse. Tickets go on sale midday Thursday October 30.

SUMMER DANCE

The hard-working and hard-partying crew at Astral People have announced details for Summer Dance, a series of outdoor parties coming to Sydney with a host of international headliners. In collaboration with the National Art School, Astral People are taking their club, warehouse and house party chops outdoors for the sunnier months. International DJs and producers Omar-S, Moodymann, DJ Ez and Vakula will join the best local selectors on a schedule of weekend parties kicking off Sunday December 14. For the full Summer Dance program and tickets, head to summer-dance. com.au.

Control party this Friday October 31 alongside resident DJs Ben Fester and Preacha, bringing the groove to the end of the working week. Meanwhile, Saturday November 1 sees the Istanbul-raised Hakan Henry lead the line at the regular Spice night with help from Ant J Steep, Ben Ashton and Dean Relf.

VIDEO DIDN’T KILL THE DJ STAR

Channel Zero is bringing AV DJing back with monthly sets in Surry Hills. The somewhat underrated art form of audiovisual DJing is making its way back into Sydney’s music scene with the introduction of Channel Zero’s regular sets, performed by VJ Spook and guests. AV DJing combines regular DJ sets with an innovative visual experience, running video content through the same feeds as the turntables to create an intense audiovisual mashup. Catch this free, monthly, audiovisual extravaganza at Play Bar, starting from Saturday November 8.

FUNKDAFIED POP-UP PARTY

ColourSound

COLOURSOUND

thebrag.com

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE

Having celebrated its tenth birthday over the weekend – a round of applause, ladies and gents – The Spice Cellar continues to impress this weekend with a double dose of dance goodness. Andy Webb headlines the new Soul

Andy Moor

HALLOWEEN AT MARQUEE

Marquee’s Halloween party is becoming something of a spooky tradition on the partygoers’ calendar, and this year is no different. A $2,000 prize for the best dressed guest is up for grabs, while the beats will be provided by Andy Moor. The Grammynominated British DJ and producer is known for his taste in trance and progressive music, while he’s regularly found near the summit of DJ Mag’s Top 100, and has been enlisted for remixes by the who’s who, from Brian Eno to Armin van Buuren. Norid & Rad join Moor at Marquee’s Halloween bash this Saturday November 1.

BRAG :: 586 :: 29:10:14 :: 37

xxx

Junkbeats man Jimi Polar will take over the decks at Newcastle’s Great Northern for a colourful Halloween party this month. The ColourSound night’s Halloween special calls for dancers to “dress up to get weird”, with Polar the man responsible for getting the dancefloor moving. He’ll spin with support from Tomek, Phil Smart and Tom Massey. ColourSound’s October Halloween special is on Friday October 31 at The Great Northern.

The always solid and soulful crew behind the Funkdafied parties has announced details of a November pop-up party. The lineup is as big as it’s ever been, and the event is family-friendly: kids aged between four and 15 are invited to come along and get a DJing tutorial from the pros, and there’ll be dance instructors teaching the youngsters some moves. Meanwhile, beats lovers can enjoy the hip hop sounds by Zac Hendrix, Louis Headnod, Frenzie, Raine Supreme, DJ Saywhut, Rus and more, plus Graham Mandroules, Suzi Q, Sani Deejay, Trevor Parkee – among others – in the dedicated soul/funk/disco room. The party is on Saturday November 15 at an Inner West location to be announced.

Factory Floor Production Line By Shaun Cowe

L

ondon-based post-industrial electronic act Factory Floor are known for navigating the divide between dance music and electronic art. Now, ahead of their Sydney show later this year, keyboardist Gabe Gurnsey opens up about their music and next recording plans. “Our last record, we were doing two-hour takes and lots of recording, then we’d chop out what we thought was the best parts of it. It was a very long process. I think, as a record, we all treated it as a different discipline. It was a different discipline and a different learning process because we were learning how to record. What we’re intending to do now is push the more live, atmospheric side of it more into the records.”

One of the aspects that set Factory Floor apart from other electronic

“We’re stuck in between a few things, I think. It’s quite hard to defi ne sometimes, you know? I think that’s a good thing and it’s a good platform for us to kind of progress and try new things, to progress as a band in the future.” Talking about the remix projects he has ahead, Gurnsey styles himself as more sympathetic to the band’s dance fans, naming singer Nik Void as the progenitor of the group’s more experimental direction. It’s a working relationship he’s glad for. “It’s good to not just be one or the other. I think they go hand in hand. With the noisy side of it and the experimental side there’s a lot of organic-ness to that, and I think when that’s introduced to the dance music then it kind of makes dance music make a lot of sense. People want to get down to that old tribal tradition of repetitive, very organic human sounds.” Factory Floor’s dichotomous nature also means they land a wide variety of gigs. Talking about a recent series of shows they did at the London Institute Of Contemporary Arts, Gurnsey explains the band’s avant-garde performances and the effect they’ll have on future songwriting.

“We just approach it in an entirely different way to just a band playing onstage. Each night [at the Institute] was more of an idea in its own right and it all kind of just came together. There’s a lot of improvisation in those shows, and playing in galleries and stuff like that gives you a licence to be more free with it. These are areas we want to pursue a bit more because they’re important for the creative process. They feed back into more normal tracks in a lot of ways – if that’s what you want to call them.

It’s about sound discovery.” Gurnsey sees the upcoming Australian shows as somewhat of a social experiment, wondering how our audiences will take the band’s droning post-industrial music. “We’ve never been over there, and it’s always been somewhere we’ve wanted to go and play and experience people listening to our music. It’ll be interesting to see what the reactions are like – that fascinates us as well, because from

country to country, you get a hugely diverse crowd. It’s quite inspiring sometimes and it pushes you to create differently. Plus, it’s Australia, we’re not going to say ‘no’ to coming over,” he laughs. “The weather’s really shit in the UK.” What: Factory Floor out now through DFA/PIAS Where: Oxford Art Factory When: Tuesday December 9

Underground Resistance Set The Timeline By Miki McLay ‘Alright, go downstairs and talk to the manager, we start rehearsals tomorrow.’ Two weeks later I’m in Switzerland doing the Montreal Jazz Festival with Galaxy 2 Galaxy. “What’s crazy is back in middle school, they used to play a lot of techno on the radio on Friday nights. I’d go down to the corner store and buy tapes and record them, make my own mixtapes. Some of the songs that would come on the radio, I didn’t know a lot of them were made by Underground Resistance – I wasn’t sure who made them. I just liked the music. I guess you could say that was my early introduction to it.”

H

ow to even begin to describe the legacy of Detroit techno collective Underground Resistance in a way that does justice to the influence the group has had over the course of 25 years? Read through the names associated with the ever-changing collective – Jeff Mills, Mike Banks, Robert Hood, Drexciya – and you could be forgiven for assuming this was some kind of techno hall-offame list, rather than a collection of subversive, politically incisive artists. Most notorious and wellloved for their anti-mainstream business ethos, radical politics and dedication to bringing Detroit’s vibrant musical spirit to the rest of the world, anything Underground 38 :: BRAG :: 586 :: 29:10:14

Resistance is going to be defiantly uncategorisable – exploratory adventures through the worlds of jazz, experimental, techno and beyond, both on record and across the world’s stages. Australia will be lucky enough to bear witness to Underground Resistance’s Timeline show in November, and keyboardist Jon Dixon takes us through what to expect. An accomplished keyboardist and music teacher, Dixon’s background is rooted in the more traditional. His introduction into the UR collective was almost a coincidence. “Back in 2007, a bandmate [De’Sean Jones] had a jazz gig and had a saxophone

hooked up to different vocal effects and our current manager, Cornelius Harris, happened to be at the club that night,” he explains. “He approached De’Sean, and asked him if he was into experimental music, he said ‘yes’. He asked him if he knew any keyboard players that learn real quick – ‘Yes, I know just the guy!’ This wasn’t the first time I heard De’Sean mention something about travelling overseas, so I didn’t trust him! I was like, ‘Have them call me,’ and so I got this call from Mike Banks a couple of days later telling me to come by. He sent me down with a keyboard, told me to play something, and about ten seconds later, he was like,

The often disparate worlds of jazz and electronica don’t intuitively seem ripe for crossover, but Dixon argues differently – that ultimately, the two are same in their ethos and practice. “Back in the early 1920s, big band music was dance music,” he says. “Compared to later in the bebop era, where you have Charlie Parker and John Coltrane playing all these notes and fast licks and whatnot, there wasn’t too much of that going on in the early 1900s. It was simple enough, but there was enough music in it, and people dancing to it … First and foremost, with Timeline, we want to make you dance. But at the same time, we are also musicians, so we get the chance to showcase what it is we do as musicians and break down those barriers.” The melting pot of influences and a vibrant, adventurous spirit are the crucial characteristics that keep the global music scene’s eyes on Detroit – a tradition that continues to enamour Dixon. “Musically, it’s great,” he says. “Especially for young and upcoming musicians – one of the things I really admire about the young ones is that they have so much access to what is new in technology and access to all these great mentors, it’s crazy. I used to be one of those kids, looking for someone older

to kind of show me the ropes ten, 12 years ago, and now I’m one of the ones showing those 18-yearolds different things. These kids are really smart musically, they understand their theory, and more importantly, they have open minds.” Dixon’s role as a curator of young talent is one he looks forward to sinking more of his time into, even in the midst of an impressively packed-out touring schedule with Underground Resistance and others. And what to expect in November? Nothing but the unexpected. Dixon may have taken on the role as musical director of the outfi t, but he’s realistic – with a group whose philosophy tends towards musical anarchy, who knows what could go down? “I do have a certain number of responsibilities, but at the same time I know my band and the members and their strengths,” he explains. “I try to format the show so that it’s different and every member gets a chance to use their strong points, but not overuse them for the entire show. We play some of the Underground Resistance classics that everybody knows; I try to do something a little different that people don’t know. I try to have a section where we get the chance to really experiment, and find something really special in that moment while onstage. And not many people can do that – with this style of music, it requires very huge amounts of improvisation and musical knowledge and the ability to trust your other bandmates and say, ‘Hey, let’s try something, and if it works it works.’ It’s a cool thing to be able to trust the other guys and do something new – it’s one of the fun things about this group.” What: Underground Resistance: Timeline Where: Imperial Hotel, Erskineville When: Saturday November 15

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Last year, Factory Floor released their eponymous debut album. At the time, the trio was living and recording in a repurposed warehouse. It’s an experience that Gurnsey remembers as being a difficult time for the band. “We set up a studio and we were living there for a bit. It was a tense way of working. I don’t think we’ll be doing that again because it just got a bit too much. We were living and breathing the record and it was very frustrating at times, but also, it kind of introduces some tension in the music as well.”

acts is their intellectual approach to music. Toeing the line between visceral dance grooves and experimental art has earned the band a broad fan base.

Off The Record Dance And Electronica With Tyson Wray

Bloody Astral People, hey? The best thing to happen to Sydney since the Opera House opened in 1973. In case you missed it, they’ve just announced Summer Dance – a series of Sunday daytime parties taking place at the National Art School, and the lineup is next level. Featuring two of my all-time favourite dons from Detroit (Moodymann and Omar-S), the parties kick off with the Ukrainian deep house demigod Vakula and throughout the summer will also feature disco debonairs Mister Saturday Night, garage legend DJ Ez, hip hop honcho House Shoes and a bunch of esteemed local selectors. Real talk: these will be the best parties of the summer. Head to summer-dance.com.au for more details.

Ben Frost

Tour rumours: I’m told that ghetto house luminary Kolombo will be dropping by our shores in late summer, as will be Phantasy Sound maverick Daniel Avery and founder/A&R of the Life and Death record label DJ Tennis. Dates to be announced soon.

S

o, how about that Sydney Festival lineup? Goddamn killer. There is some major electronic talent gracing the bill, including a double headline show featuring Tim Hecker and Ben Frost, alongside Leon Vynehall, Nightmares On Wax, Oneman and Omar Souleyman. Don’t sleep on getting tickets. Our mates over at Future Classic and BBE have joined forces to throw the Christmas party to end all Christmas parties, featuring performances from international acts Lido, Sophie, Nadus and QT (alongside local legends HWLS and Uv Boi). It goes down on Saturday December 20 at the Metro Theatre.

The next selector for the lauded Fabric mix series has been revealed as the legendary Prosumer. I won’t list his accolades, as I did that in last week’s column, but Fabric 79 will feature cuts from the ilk of Chez Damier, Linkwood and Tuff City Kids, and Australia’s very own Francis Inferno Orchestra. It drops on Monday December 8. Catch a taste at his free Sydney show next month, too. Best releases this week: my Lord, can Recondite do no wrong? He’s just dropped he’s latest full-length album Iffy (Innervisions) and it’s a glorious record of moody acidic techno. Other highlights include Shinichi Atobe’s Butterfly Effect (Demdike Stare), Manni Dee’s Dreams, Fears & Idols (Osiris Music), 2562’s The New Today (When In Doubt) and Talker’s Hari (Downwards). Recondite

Here’s something I never thought I’d say: I really want to go to Adelaide next year. As part of the 2015 Adelaide Festival, Unsound (which began in Krakow then expanded to New York and now Australia) is returning for a second year and it legitimately has the best electronic lineup I’ve ever seen on our shores. Led by Detroit supergroup Model 500, it also features performances from Hieroglyphic Being, Vatican Shadow, Fushitsusha (featuring legendary frontman Keiji Haino), Shackleton, Mika Vainio, Forest Swords, Container, The Bug, Evian Christ, Lawrence English, Atom TM and Robin Fox. Model 500 are exclusive to the festival, but I’m told the rest of them will be making their way to Sydney in March. Keep an eye out.

RECOMMENDED SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1 Sidney Charles Mantra Collective Sasha Chinese Laundry

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9 Prosumer Vic on the Park Hotel

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 14 Ten Walls The Hi-Fi

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 14 – SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16

Return To Rio: Ten Walls, Lake People, Laura Jones, Gavin Herlihy Del Rio Resort

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22

Lost Disco: Seth Troxler, Âme, Pachanga Boys, Optimo Greenwood Hotel

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23 Stimming The Spice Cellar

Laura Jones, Gavin Herlihy S.A.S.H

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28 Powell The Imperial Hotel

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29

OutsideIn: Pantha Du Prince, Seekae, Client Liaison Manning House, Sydney

University

THURSDAY DECEMBER 5 Claude VonStroke The Spice Cellar

SUNDAY DECEMBER 14 Vakula Sydney’s National Art School

SATURDAY DECEMBER 20 Lido, Sophie, Nadus, QT Metro Theatre

SUNDAY DECEMBER 21 House Shoes Sydney’s National Art School

Got any tip-offs, hate mail, praise or cat photos? Email hey@tysonwray.com or contact me via carrier pigeon. thebrag.com

BRAG :: 586 :: 29:10:14 :: 39

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

club pick of the week Cosmo’s Midnight

FRIDAY OCTOBER 31

Phoenix Bar, Darlinghurst. 10pm. $10. Souls Of Mischief Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 9pm. $51.20. Swagger Halloween Civic Underground, Sydney. 10pm. $15.

CLUB NIGHTS

Big Top, Luna Park

Ouija Beats Cosmo’s Midnight + Basenji + Panama + Northeast Party House + Willow Beats + more

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. El’ Circo - feat: Resident Circus Act Performers Slide Lounge, Darlinghurst. 7pm. $109. Frat Saturdays - feat: DJ Jonski Side Bar, Sydney. 6pm. free. Hallow Kandi Hed Kandi Halloween Ball - feat: Levi 5star + Adrian Benedek + Tim Whitney + Chris Luder + Bongoliro + Konichiwa Soundsystem Goldfish, Kings Cross. 9pm. $15. Halloween Party - feat: Andy Moor + Norin & Rad Marquee, Pyrmont. 10pm. $38.90. Homemade Halloween feat: Royaal + Venuto + Rees Hellmers + DJ Iko + DJ Seiz + M.V.P + Ryan Bee + J Reyes + Nick Arbor + Simon Lovell Home Nightclub, Darling Harbour. 9pm. free. Infamous Saturdays - feat: Live DJs Scubar, Sydney. 7pm. free. Lndry - feat: Subb-An + Kid Kenobi + Alex Preston + Friendless + Fingers + U-Khan Vs Nine Lives +

Chris Fraser + DJ Just 1 + DJ C-Bu + Brenden Clay Chinese Laundry, Sydney. 9pm. $22.60. Masif Saturdays Space, Sydney. 10pm. $25. Pacha Sydney Halloween feat: Tigerlily + Slice N Dice + Baby Gee + Matt Nugent + Spenda C + Fingers + Chris Arnott + Jace Disgrace + U-Khan + Coda + Danny Lang + King Lee + Here’s Trouble Ivy Bar/lounge, Sydney. 6:30pm. $37.90. Sasha Garden Party - feat: Subb-An + Luke Chable + Ben Morris + Kerry Wallace & Matt Weir + Rodskeez + Mars Monero + Reno Chinese Laundry, Sydney. 12pm. $68.60. Sienna Saturdays - feat: Resident DJs The Establishment, Sydney. 9pm. free. Slapdash Records Presents Coffin - feat: Speedball + Burdens + Lower Coast Skies + Distorted Hearts Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 7pm. $10. Soda Saturdays - feat: Resident DJs Playing Disco And Funk Soda Factory, Surry Hills. 5pm. free. Something Else At The Burdekin - feat: Red Rack’Em & Simon Caldwell + Ian Pooley + Mr. C + Set Mo + Max Graef Burdekin Hotel, Darlinghurst. 4pm. free. Spice 01.11 - feat: Hakan Henry + Ant J Steep + Ben Ashton + Dean Relf + Guests The Spice Cellar, Sydney. 7pm. $25.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2 CLUB NIGHTS

La Fiesta - feat: Samantha Fox + Agee Ortiz + Av El Cubano + Resident DJ Willie Sabor. The Establishment, Sydney. 8pm. free. S.A.S.H Sundays Home Nightclub, Darling Harbour. 2pm. $10. Sunday Sessions - feat: Cadell + Tom Kelly + Ocky Goldfish, Kings Cross. 4pm. free. Sunday Spice 02.11 - feat: Jonathan Powell + Tim Fuch The Spice Cellar, Sydney. 9pm. $10. Sundays In The City The Slip Inn, Sydney. 12pm. free.

MONDAY NOVEMBER 3 CLUB NIGHTS

Crab Racing Scubar, Sydney. 7pm. free. Mashup Monday Side Bar, Sydney. 8pm. free.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 4 CLUB NIGHTS

Chu World Bar, Kings Cross. 9pm. free. Melbourne Cup After Party feat: Minx + Jesabel + Chris Arnott + Johnny Gleeson Marquee, Pyrmont. 4pm. free.

6pm. $55. WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 29 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 OCTOBER 30 HIP HOP & R&B

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

CLUB NIGHTS

Fear Of Dawn Goldfish, Kings Cross. 8pm. free. Goldfish And Friends feat: Regular Rotating Residents Goldfish, Kings Cross. 10pm. free. Hot Damn Spectrum, Darlinghurst. 9pm. $10. Pool Club Thursdays - feat: Resident DJs Ivy Bar/Lounge, Sydney. 5pm. free. Spice Residents The Spice Cellar, Sydney. 7pm. free. The World Bar Thursdays World Bar, Kings Cross. 9pm. free.

40 :: BRAG :: 586 :: 29:10:14

FRIDAY OCTOBER 31 CLUB NIGHTS

El Loco Later - feat: DJs On Rotation Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills. 10pm. free. Elements Of Tech And Bass Presents Halloween Special - feat: Thierry D + Commit + Mark Bionic + Reload + Aggravator + Fabs + More Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 8pm. free. Ever After - Halloween Edition - feat: Matt Zo The Hi-Fi, Moore Park. 8pm. $45.50. 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. Halloween KLParty - feat: KLP + Slumberjack + Gofreek + Spenda C + Acaddamy + Dreamer + Islnd Chinese Laundry, Sydney. 9pm. free. Loco Friday - feat: Various Live Bands And DJs The Slip Inn, Sydney. 5pm. free. Ms. Carter Halloween CarnEvil Party - feat: Lavida + Fingers + Here’s Trouble + Liz Bird + Sammy G Goldfish, Kings Cross. 8pm. free. Ouija Beats - feat: Cosmo’s Midnight + Basenji + Panama + Northeast Party House + Willow Beats + Olympic Ayres + Twin Caverns + Astral DJs + Moonbase Commander Big Top Sydney (Luna Park),

Milsons Point. 6pm. $55. Soul Control 31.10 - feat: Andy Webb + Ben Fester + Preacha + Guests The Spice Cellar, Sydney. 7pm. $15. Thank Funk It’s Friday The Ranch, Eastwood. 9:30pm. free. This Thing X The Finer Things Halloween Goodgod Small Club, Sydney. 11pm. $5. Tribe Halloween Havana Club De Luxe, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $10. Voodoo Halloween - feat: Sied Van Riel + Rafael Frost + 7 Skies Home Nightclub, Darling Harbour. 10pm. $20. Yelloween - feat: Grant Smillie Marquee, Pyrmont. 10pm. $18.40.

HIP HOP & R&B

Briggs Goodgod Small Club, Sydney. 8pm. $15. Hustler Fridays - feat: MC Shaba Hustle & Flow, Redfern. 7pm. free. Vent@Valve - feat: Izzy And DJ Maniak + MC Thorn And Ivy + MC Trey + Sarah Connor + Dawn Laird + Ines + Madam Wu + Lomas & Madman + DJ Florific + Coda Conduct + Miz Lush + Skhitlz & Twoslie Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 9pm. $10.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1 HIP HOP & R&B Halfway Crooks

send your listings to : clubguide@thebrag.com

Briggs

FRIDAY OCTOBER 31 Briggs Goodgod Small Club, Sydney. 8pm. $15. Ever After - Halloween Edition - Feat: Mat Zo The Hi-Fi, Moore Park. 8pm. $$45.50. Halloween KLParty – Feat: KLP + Slumberjack + Gofreek + Spenda C + Acaddamy + Dreamer + Islnd Chinese Laundry, Sydney. 9pm. free. Yelloween - Feat: Grant Smillie Marquee, Pyrmont. 10pm. $18.40.

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1 Halfway Crooks Phoenix Bar, Darlinghurst. 10pm. $10. Halloween Party - Feat: Andy Moor + Norin & Rad Marquee, Pyrmont. 10pm. $38.90. Lndry - Feat: Subb-An + Kid Kenobi +

Alex Preston + Friendless + Fingers + U-Khan Vs Nine Lives + Chris Fraser + DJ Just 1 + DJ C-Bu + Brenden Clay Chinese Laundry, Sydney. 9pm. $22.60. Sasha Garden Party - Feat: Subb-An + Luke Chable + Ben Morris + Kerry Wallace & Matt Weir + Rodskeez + Mars Monero + Reno Chinese Laundry, Sydney. 12pm. $68.60. Souls Of Mischief Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 9pm. $51.20. Spice 01.11 - Feat: Hakan Henry + Ant J Steep + Ben Ashton + Dean Relf + Guests The Spice Cellar, Sydney. 7pm. $25.

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2 S.A.S.H Sundays Home Nightclub, Darling Harbour. 2pm. $10. Sunday Spice 02.11 - Feat: Jonathan Powell + Tim Fuch The Spice Cellar, Sydney. 9pm. $10. thebrag.com

live review What we've been out to see... HILLTOP HOODS, THUNDAMENTALS Hordern Pavilion Friday October 26 If audiences could speak. Friday night, it seemed like the lockout was in full effect and had funnelled all those would-be king-hitters into a packed, sweaty Hordern Pavilion to take part in some sort of cult ceremony for godsof-the-moment Hilltop Hoods. The out-and-out veneration started early. Even as local boys Thundamentals proved that alongside writing some of the best songs in Aussie hip hop, they have the live chops to back them up, a boozed-up, shirts-off, ragtag bunch were already calling out to their Adelaide heroes and throwing up gang signs I didn’t know existed. A lazy DJ set did nothing to quell the Passion of the Hoods, and when the rhyming duo, Plutonic Lab, DJ Debris and a threepiece horn section finally arrived on stage as Hilltop Hoods, the raucous response was appropriately religious. More importantly, unlike those pesky religions with deities not worth their weight in salt, the Hoods, from the outset, lived up to their hype. Regardless of the great strides the hip hop genre has made in Australia in recent years, there is no denying the fact that MC Suffa and MC Pressure retain the

snap up all night out all week . . .

heavyweight title; no mean feat across a career now spanning seven studio albums and almost 20 years. It was the latest of these, the solid Walking Under Stars, which lent its single ‘Cosby Sweater’ to the name of this tour, but the Hoods took an impressive trip down memory lane, taking in classics like ‘The Hard Road’ and ‘The Nosebleed Section’, to make staggeringly obvious the indelible mark they’ve left on Australian hip hop to date. For a rowdy crew of mostly young’uns, the attentive bobbing on slower, more introspective cuts from Walking Under Stars was remarkable (as was the number of lighters in the room), and they took their cues from the impeccable Suffa (bounce, clap, jump, wave) with ease. Astounding, too, was the way the two MCs dominated affairs from go to woah. Their stellar reputation was well evidenced across an expert ‘I Love It’, oodles of stagecraft and chemistry and an amazing, a capella ‘500 Feet Tall’. By the time the namesake jumper made an appearance and Thundamentals and labelmate K21 resurfaced for cameos on the single, the whole room was bumping, swinging their shirts and yelling “Hill-Top!” T. Cruise would approve: these hip hop idols are worth jumping for. David Seidler

PHOTOGRAPHER :: ASHLEY MAR

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BRAG :: 586 :: 29:10:14 :: 41

snap

sneakers would ft. remi + collarbones

PICS :: TD

up all night out all week . . .

yasiin bey aka mos def

PICS :: AM

23:10:14 :: Cliff Dive :: 16-18 Oxford Sq Darlinghurst

PICS :: AA

lil jon (dj set)

s.a.s.h sundays

25:10:14 :: Marquee :: The Star Sydney Pyrmont 9657 7737 42 :: BRAG :: 586 :: 29:10:14

PICS :: AM

20:10:14 :: Metro Theatre :: 624 George St Sydney 9550 3666

26:10:14 :: Home :: 101/1-5 Wheat Rd Darling Harbour 9266 0600 DA-R IN :: ASH LEY MAR S :: ASH WIN ARU MUG AM :: TIM OUR LOV ELY PHO TOG RAP HER

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