The Music (Sydney) Issue #100 by TheMusic.com.au

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THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 5

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THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 7

CREDITS PUBLISHER

Street Press Australia Pty Ltd

GROUP MANAGING EDITOR Andrew Mast

NATIONAL EDITOR  MAGAZINES Mark Neilsen

ARTS EDITOR Hannah Story

EAT/DRINK EDITOR Stephanie Liew

MUSO EDITOR Michael Smith

GIG GUIDE EDITOR Justine Lynch gigs@themusic.com.au

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Bryget Chrisﬁeld, Steve Bell

CONTRIBUTORS Adam Wilding, Andrew McDonald, Anthony Carew, Baz McAlister, Brendan Crabb, Brendan Telford, Cam Findlay, Cameron Cooper, Cameron Warner, Carley Hall, Cate Summers, Chris Familton, Chris Maric, Christopher H James, Cyclone, Daniel Cribb, Danielle O’Donohue, Dave Drayton, Deborah Jackson, Dylan Stewart, Eliza Berlage, Evan Young, Guido Farnell, Guy Davis, Hattie O’Donnell, James d’Apice, Jonty Czuchwicki, Kane Sutton, Kassia Aksenov, Liz Giuﬀ re, Lukas Murphy, Mac McNaughton, Mark Beresford, Mark Hebblewhite, Matt MacMaster, Mitch Knox, Neil Griﬃths, Paul Ransom, Mick Radojkovic, Peter Laurie, Rip Nicholson, Roshan Clerke, Ross Clelland, Sam Murphy, Samuel J Fell, Sarah Braybrooke, Sarah Petchell, Sean Maroney, Sebastian Skeet, Sevana Ohandjanian, Simon Eales, Tim Finney, Tom Hersey, Tyler McLoughlan, Uppy Chatterjee, Xavier Rubetzki Noonan

INTERN Isabella Mifsud

THIS WEEK THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK • 5 AUG - 11 AUG 2015

attend

watch

Sydney’s premier Japanese pop culture festival SMASH! will land at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and Sunday for a celebration of all things related to Japanese culture, featuring competitions, live music and special guests.

Premiering this Saturday at 7.30pm on Showcase, 7 Days In Hell, starring Kit Harington and Andy Samberg, hilariously chronicles tennis’ greatest fictional rivalry. From the producer of HBO’s Girls.

PHOTOGRAPHERS Angela Padovan, Cole Bennetts, Clare Hawley, Jared Leibowitz, Josh Groom, Kane Hibberd, Peter Sharp, Rohan Anderson

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CONTACT US PO Box 2440 Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 Suite 42, 89-97 Jones St Ultimo Phone (02) 9331 7077 info@themusic.com.au www.themusic.com.au

eat SYDNEY

At the Sydney Good Food & Wine Show: an appetising celebration held at the Sydney Showground, this Friday to Sunday. It will feature international and local food tastings, kitchen celebrities, beer halls, master classes and more.

“THE BLINDFOLDS”

WED 5TH 7PM

ROCK SHOW WITH SUPPORT FROM “THE DYSFUNCTIONS”, “DAVID AURORA”

THU 6TH 8PM

BASEMENT

FRI 7TH 8PM

LEVEL ONE

FRI 7TH 9PM

VENOM CLUBNIGHT

ALTERNATIVE/ROCK/METAL CLUBNIGHT FEAT PERFORMANCES BY: “WE MAY FALL”, “DOUBLE CHAMBER”, “AZREAL”, “HOLLOW HEART”, “BALTIMORE”

SAT 8TH 8PM

“AYNE TYRRELL”

IRISH FOLK SHOW SUPPORTED BY “MICK DALEY” AND MANY SPECIAL GUESTS

“DOUBLE LINED MINORITY”

BASEMENT

“CHOKE”

HARDCORE SHOW SUPPORTED BY: “MICHAEL CRAFTER”, “HYGIENE”, “SICK MACHINE”, “DISPOLAR”

“SKATTERED ORDER”

SUN 9TH 12PM

POP ROCK SHOW SUPPORTED BY “HOME ON MONDAY”, “WE TAKE THE NIGHT”, “THE CRIMSON HORROR”, “ADRIAN-LEE SMITHMAN”

SYNTH SUNDAE

BASEMENT

INDIE SHOW SUPPORTED BY: “DOMINIC TALARICO”, “YES, I’M LEAVING”, “SKULL & DAGGER”, “SCATTERED ORDER”

INDIE SHOW WITH “ORION”, “ENDERIE NUATAL”, “YAWS” (MELB), “CALIFORNIA GIRLS” (ACT), “TWINROVA” AND SECRET GUEST

SUN 9TH 5PM

COMING UP

Wed 12 Aug: Reggae Show with “Kingston Flavaz”; Thu 13 Aug: 8pm Basement Punk/SKA Show with “Angry Little Gods”, “Half Eaten Apple”, “Distorted Hearts”, “Billy Puntton” and special guests; Fri 14 Aug: 8pm Basement: Metal Show with “Inslain”, “Snow Leopard”, “Savage Brutal Violent”, “Mad Charlie”; 9pm Level One: Hardcore Show with “Unknown To God”, “Golden Syrup”, “Death Church” and many more; Sat 15 Aug: 1pm Basement: SLAUGHTERFEST VIII feat: “Spacebong” (SA), “Lo!”, “Red Bee”, “Forstora” (WA), “Yanomamo” “Tanned Christ”, “Mish”, “At Dark”, “Hawkmoth”, “SQuawk!”, “Bloody Kids”, “100 Years Of Solitude”, “Home Burial”, “Lint”, “Owl Mountain”; 9pm Level One: -No Rest For The Wicked- Gothic/Industrial/Alternative Clubnight; Sun 16 Aug: Core Show with “Underminer” and many special guests

Fri 14th Aug

Wave FM High School Reunion The Absolutely 80s Show -

Sat 19th Sept

In Hearts Wake + Make Them Suffer + Ocean grove + Stories

featuring Brian Mannix, Sean Kelly, Dale Ryder, Scott Carne & Fred Loneragan

Wed 23rd Sept Sat 29th Aug

Jebediah

80s Mania PAUL YOUNG, GO WEST, NIK KERSHAW and CUTTING CREW

& Special Guests

Sat 5th Sept

Xavier Rudd & The United Nations

Sat 26th September

tumbleweed + The Unheard + The Pinheads + Kaleidoscope + The Dark Clouds

www.towradgibeachhotel.com.au 170 Pioneer Road, Towradgi 2518 | 02 42833 588

THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 9

national news news@themusic.com.au

FRONTLASH #ROCKIN1000

Doesn’t matter if you care for Foo Fighters or not, you have to admit that video of 1000 Italians performing one of their songs was pretty special. And Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl apparently said he’d see them soon, so mission accomplished.

PETITIONING NEWTOWN NOISE COMPLAINTS A petition has been posted at change.org to get Newtown to implement laws similar to Victoria, where if you move in near an existing venue, you can’t make noise complaints.

HELLO SAILORS The Sailors win the Sydney Community Cup again. Go team!

MELON OUT

When singer Shannon Hoon overdosed in 1995, while his band, Blind Melon, did its best to carry on, it was all over by 1999. The fans, however, weren’t done with them and after several posthumous releases proved successful, the surviving members happened upon diehard fan and singer Travis T Warren and found their new frontman. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of their formation, LA’s Blind Melon tour here for the first time, playing 23 Oct at Max Watt’s in Sydney and 25 Oct at Max Watt’s in Melbourne.

RUDIES ARE COMING

UK four-piece Rudimental are releasing their second album, We The Generation, 18 Sep. Better than that, they’ve announced that they’re following that release down to Australia for a run of headline shows. 8 Dec at Forum Theatre in Melbourne and 10 Dec at Enmore Theatre in Sydney.

NODE FOR YOU ROCKIN’1000

BACKLASH AZEALIA BANKS

Once again has a supposedly unhappy time with Aussie crowds after her Splendour appearance according to one of her patented Twitter outbursts. If it’s really this bad all the time, why does she keep coming back?

KITCHEN NIGHTMARES So Channels Nine and Seven’s new cooking shows are both tanking in the ratings, the latter so much so it’s already been pulled back to only two nights a week. Can we please end this reality TV trash nightmare please?

SYDNEY VENUES Once again, late night institutions in Sydney are under fire, with Hugo’s Lounge announcing it will close, coming off the back of the Imperial’s continuing woes. Where will it end? 10 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

Northlane have invited a couple of American acts in August Burns Red and Like Moths To Flames to join them as they hit Australia’s highways to showcase their new album, Node, and local buddies Buried In Verona and Ocean Grove are also coming along. 6 & 7 Nov at 170 Russell in Melbourne and 12 Nov at UNSW Roundhouse in Sydney.

EMMA DONOVAN & THE PUTBACKS

MULLUM FEST 2015

Over four big days, 19 – 22 Nov, the halls, pubs, churches and streets of Mullumbimby will once again be filled by the gumbo of musical delights that is the annual Mullum Music Festival, and this year’s line-up will be the most international and diverse yet. Headlining is Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith, while also on the bill are Gomez’s Ben Ottewell, German contemporary pianist Hauschka, Americans The California Honeydrops, NZ acts Trinity Roots, Cornerstone Roots, Thomas Oliver and Estere, The Cat Empire’s Harry James Angus, Emma Donovan & The Putbacks, Bullhorn, Captain Dreamboat, We Two Thieves, Tinpan Orange, All Our Exes Live In Texas, Anne McCue and stacks more. Presented by The Music.

BESTIES UPDATE

Super Best Friends have lifted another single, All My Friends Are Leaving Town, from their debut album, Status Updates, and that means it’s time for another spin round the place. Catch Besties 14 Aug at Reverence Hotel, Melbourne; 27 Aug at The Phoenix, Canberra; 29 Aug at Captain Cook Hotel, Sydney.

MY CORONA

Fronted by legendary Irish singer Mary Black’s son, Danny O’Reilly, The Coronas are one of Ireland’s most successful pop-rock band and popular visitors to our shores. The Coronas are returning to showcase their new album, The Long Way, playing 27 Nov at Factory Theatre, Sydney and 4 Dec at Corner Hotel, Melbourne.

ZAKK’S BACK

Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society are steamrolling their way back to Australia for their first visit since 2006, and are sure to be showcasing cuts from their latest platter, Catacombs Of The Black Vatican. They play 28 Nov, UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney, and 1 Dec at 170 Russell, Melbourne.

FOALS

M.O.B. T.M.

Tkay Maidza is heading out across the nation off the back of her video for current hit M.O.B., supported by special guests Willow Beats, Porches and LK McKay: 11 Sep at Academy, Canberra; 12 Sep at Oxford Art Factory, Sydney; 13 Sep (all ages) in The Lair, Sydney; an all ages show 3 Oct at Wrangler Studios and 3 Oct at Corner Hotel, both in Melbourne.

I KEEP ON FALLIN’

Falls Music & Arts Festival have announced the first acts for Lorne 28 Dec – 1 Jan, Marion Bay 29 Dec – 1 Jan, and Byron Bay 31 Dec – 3 Jan: Birds Of Tokyo, Bloc Party, Courtney Barnett, Disclosure, Foals, Hiatus Kaiyote, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Mac DeMarco, Paul Kelly & The Merri Soul Sessions ft Clairy Browne, Dan Sultan, Kira Piru and Vika & Linda Bull, and heaps more. Check theMusic.com.au for the full line-up.

THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 11

national news news@themusic.com.au THE RIPTIDE MOVEMENT

MARLON WILLIAMS

MARLON REPRISE

Set to sign major agent and label deals in North America, with tours there and across Europe in October, Marlon Williams isn’t forgetting his homeland. With special guest Ben Salter, he’ll be taking The Yarra Benders to audiences 20 Nov, The Small Ballroom, Newcastle; 21 Nov, Oxford Art Factory, Sydney; 24 Nov, Transit Bar, Canberra; 27 Nov, The Prince, Melbourne; 10 Dec, The Workers Club, Geelong; 11 Dec, The Substation, Newport.

IRISH WAVE

They only signed their major label deal last year, but Irish four-piece The Riptide Movement are already scoring goals. Their debut album, Getting Through, went to #1 and was shortlisted for Meteor Choice Music Awards Album of the Year. Now they’re coming down under to visit. The Riptide Movement plays 24 Oct at Max Watt’s in Melbourne and 29 Oct at Metro Theatre in Sydney.

ASK SOMEONE ON THE STREET WHAT ‘AUSSIE CULTURE’ IS? BEERS, BBQ’S & A FAIR GO. BECAUSE THOSE THINGS AREN’T UNIVERSAL - AT ALL. :/

BURN RETURN

Those “rebels of the ballroom”, the team they call Burn The Floor, are back with a new production, new music, new set and costumes, and in 2016, they’re taking Fire In The Ballroom across the nation. On 23 Feb it comes to Newcastle Civic Theatre; 26 – 28 Feb, Enmore Theatre in Sydney; 1 Mar at Canberra Theatre; and 3 – 19 Mar, Palms At Crown, Melbourne.

@BRIGGSGE ON WHITE AUSTRALIA’S ERASURE/ DENIAL OF ABORIGINAL CULTURE W/R/T GOODES.

WILLIAM SHATNER

SHATNER’S CALLING

Pop culture and funnyman William Shatner is bringing his award-winning Broadway show, Shatner’s World… We Just Live In It, to Australia, 16 Oct at Sydney’s State Theatre and 17 Oct at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall.

HORSE IN BLOOM

Brisbane’s Caligula’s Horse release their third album, Bloom, 16 Oct, and that’ll see them play 15 Oct at Factory Theatre in Sydney; 16 Oct at Max Watt’s in Melbourne.

THAT’S A RAP

Born Michael Wayne Atha in Alabama, the world knows him as rapper Yelawolf, and in that guise he’s just released his third album, Love Story. Yelawolf bring that Love Story to Australia in December, performing 9 Dec at Max Watt’s in Melbourne and 10 Dec at Metro Theatre in Sydney. 12 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

RELEASE THE BATS

Committed to playing louder and having more fun than any other band, Cancer Bats have decided the best place to do both is right here in Australia. To that end they’re showcasing new album, Searching For Zero, and more 24 Sep at The Bendigo Hotel in Melbourne; 25 Sep in Barwon Club, Geelong; 28 Sep at Bald Faced Stag in Sydney; 30 Sep, The Small Ballroom, Newcastle.

BUM GRUBS

Who else would name their national tour Check Your Bum For Grubs? It could only be those defiantly irreverent Cosmic Psychos, who take their tour name from a line in Bum For Grubs, from latest album, Cum The Raw Prawn. They play 4 Sep, Wollongong’s Uni Bar; 5 Sep, Newtown Social Club, Sydney; 11 Sep at Barwon Club, Geelong; 12 Sep, Karova Lounge, Ballarat; 13 Sep, The Golden Vine, Bendigo; 18 Sep, 170 Russell, Melbourne; 19 Sep, Westernport Hotel, San Remo.

THE LIVE PODCAST

Creator of the infamous Feral Audio podcast, The Duncan Trussell Family Hour, Duncan Trussell is heading down under to deliver his take on life, the universe and conspiracy theories. Joining him is LA-based rising star Johnny Pemberton, Trussell plays 6 Nov at the Athenaeum in Melbourne, 7 Nov at the Metro in Sydney and 11 Nov in the Triffid in Sydney.

2015 AIR AWARDS

Twenty years ago, the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) formed, determined to work tirelessly on behalf of Australia’s indie industry. Ten years ago, AIR launched its own awards night. This year, the tenth annual Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards will take place 22 October at Meat Market in North Melbourne. Performers on the night will be announced shortly, as will the nominees in the various award categories.

THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 13

local news news@themusic.com.au WOYZECK

RUBY BOOTS

SYDFEST TURNS 40

ROUND TWO

The nation’s newest American-themed festival, Dashville Skyline, has announced a second round of acts performing. Now also heading for the Hunter Valley festival site 3 & 4 Oct are Shane Nicholson, Holy Holy, Ruby Boots, Ben Salter, Lost Ragas, America’s Leo Rondeau, Fraser A Gorman, William Crighton, Mick Daley’s Corporate Raiders, Chris Pickering, James Thomson, Dan Waters, the Dashville Progressive Society, Goatpiss Gasoline, Betty & Oswald, Magpie Diaries and David Garnham & The Reasons To Live.

RISING ROSE

Elizabeth Rose has just released a new single, Division, from her forthcoming debut album, and is heading out on a DJ tour around the place. Catch her 22 Aug in Chinese Laundry.

THE FALL ARE COMING

THE ORIGINAL

OZ COMIC-CON TIME

NOW FOR THIS THAT

Seminal UK post-punk exponents The Fall have announced that they will be touring Australia once more, with 31 albums, including their latest, Sub-Lingual Tablet, to draw from. 21 Oct at Metro Theatre.

The organisers of Oz Comic-Con are pleased to announce that it’ll be back again this year, taking over the Sydney Exhibition Centre, 26 & 27 Sep. Among the guests attending are Richard Dean Anderson (Stargate SG-1), Tim Rose (Star Wars), Daniel Portman (Game Of Thrones), Dante Basco (Hook) and Mike McFarland (Dragon Ball-Z), and there’ll be more announced in coming weeks, with Q&A sessions, Cosplay parades and much, much more.

DOVES, OLIVES & OPERA

Sydney’s boutique opera company, Opera Bites, returns to the Dove & Olive 16 Aug to present Celebrated Highlights From The World’s Favourite Operas. That’s right, it’s Opera In The Pub time in Surry Hills – fabulous costumes, beautiful music, witty banter and a superb meal – you couldn’t want for more. 14 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

One of Germany’s largest and leading theatre companies, Thalia Theater Hamburg, will be presenting their production of the 19th century classic, Georg Büchner’s Woyzeck, adapted by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan into a 21st century musical, as the centerpiece performance in the 2016 Sydney Festival, playing 7 – 12 Jan in Carriageworks Bay 17. The Festival will preface its anniversary with a special season, 23 – 25 Oct, of Desdemona, based of course on Shakespeare’s Othello, as reimagined by Toni Morrison, Malian singer-songwriter Rokia Traoré and director Peter Sellars, with Tina Benko portraying the doomed heroine.

GONZO DELI

Inspired by a gonzo Double J broadcast/ cult radio play from way back in 1978 by Russell Guy, Psychedelicatessen is the new album from Brisbane’s Tijuana Cartel. They’re taking their slice of contemporary Australian counter-culture retrospective on the road and 9 Oct at Metro Theatre and 10 Oct at Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle.

Adam Lambert has announced that he’s returning to Australia next year to personally introduce you to the songs on his new and third album, The Original High. He plays 30 Jan at Enmore Theatre.

The next big thing for Newcastle’s – and Sydney’s – music festival calendar hits the Newcastle Foreshore 31 Oct. This That, short for This Stage & That Stage, will host a cracking 15 acts, with RÜFÜS headlining, joined by Birds Of Tokyo, Sticky Fingers, Baauer, The Jungle Giants, The Kite String Tangle, Tkay Maidza, Carmada, Asta, Slumberjack, Kilter, Stephane 1993, Atlas Bound, Ivan Ooze and whoever wins a berth courtesy triple j Unearthed.

DRESS UP ATTACK! BACK

Fresh from this year’s Vivid LIVE festival, Dress Up Attack! returns to Marrickville 12 Sep when the Portugal Community Club hosts the unlikeliest Music & Arts Festival For Children & Grown Ups. Delivering the live soundtrack are Hoodoo Gurus, Bloods, Melbourne duo Ta-Da!!! and, founded by Ally of Spazzys fame, Kiddyrock.

JOHN WOOD & PAUL HARRISON, ASTRONAUTS ON THE MOON

ART WEEK SYDNEY

Australia’s international art fair, Sydney Contemporary, happening across the city 7 – 13 Sep, has added a new component – Sydney Art Week. The week includes art-inspired events, free public events, exhibitions, performances and even an Art & Dine program that includes several of Sydney’s leading restaurants. The Redfern Night Markets will present a special one-off Urban Nights Sydney Contemporary 11 Sep and among the series of free panel discussions under the Talk Contemporary banner, actor Rachel Griffith, Artspace Director Alexie GlassKantor, MONA curator Jarrod Rawlins and artists Emma Price and Liam Benson will discuss Does gender matter in art?.

www.thebasement.com.au

The Home of Live Music Since 1973 SATURDAY AUGUST SATURDAY158 JUNE COMING UP

THURSDAY 6TH AUGUST - 7PM

THAT RED HEAD SATURDAY 8TH AUGUST - 8PM

THE PROTESTERS SUNDAY 9TH AUGUST - 3PM

JENA & ZANA 17 parramatta Rd. Annandale www.annandalehotel.com

+ SPECIAL GUEST: NEILLYRICH

CHRISTINE ANU STYLIN’ UP 20TH ANNIVERSARY ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST CELEBRATED ENTERTAINERS CHRISTINE ANU WILL RETURN TO THE BASEMENT FOR A SECOND SHOW TO CELEBRATE THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF HER AWARD WINNING DEBUT ALBUM STYLIN UP, WHICH CATAPULTED HER CAREER AND ESTABLISHED HER AS ONE OF THE MOST LOVED AND SUCCESSFUL INDIGENOUS ARTISTS.

JUST ANNOUNCED… SAT 05 SEPT VINCE JONES QUARTET WED 14 OCT THIRSTY MERC – THE GOOD LIFE TOUR SAT 24 OCT PETER NORTHCOTE’S ANNUAL BIRTHDAY GIG! FOLLOW US: ON FACEBOOK @ THE BASEMENT & ON TWITTER @ #BASEMENTSYD RESTUARANT OPENS AT 11AM, SERVING FOOD ALL DAY

WED 05 AUG

THE BASEMENT JAZZ SERIES FEAT.: SHOWA 44 W/ MIKE NOCK & LAURENCE PIKE

THU 06 AUG

SUZANNE WYLLIE

FRI 07 AUG

SWING TUESDAYS

TUE 11 AUG

A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE MEN FOR MIRABEL FOUNDATION W/ WIL ANDERSON,

WED 12 AUG

GLOBAL SOUNDS

CUMBIAMUFFIN + KEYIM BA

THU 13 AUG

B’JEZUS

FRI 14 AUG

HOTHOUSE PRESENTS:

JOHN ENCARNACAO FRIDAY 7TH AUGUST - 8PM

ALY COOK & BEN RANSOM

WK 2 W/ SPECIAL GUESTS THE FINER CUTS

TIM ROGERS, PETER NORTHCOTE & MORE

TOUR DE CURE FUNDRAISER EVENT

THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 15

music

PERFECTLY IMPERFECT When Bryget Chrisﬁeld grabs a coﬀee with half of The Rubens, frontman Sam and keys player Elliott Margin, she discovers the band has learned how to embrace good imperfections and when to speak up during recording sessions. Cover and feature pics by Cole Bennetts.

wo of The Rubens’ three brothers, Sam and Elliott Margin, are settled at a table inside a South American café in Melbourne. Frontman Sam models a hotter-than-Hades brown paisley bomber jacket that we’d love to own while keys player Elliot dresses more casually in a dark-hued hoodie and

Unearthed and suddenly they started playing it on high rotation on triple j. So that was overnight, really, at that point - or as overnight as it could be for a band - because we didn’t even know how to play the song live yet. We weren’t a band even; I mean, we’d played a couple of gigs, but we weren’t prepared.” Elliott interjects, “You guys didn’t have pedals or anything!” “We didn’t have tuners at this stage,” Sam conﬁrms. “Like, we were so bad.” Eliott recalls, “They’d be like, ‘You got an E, Elliot?’ Yeah, just tuning in front of the crowd if you could call it a crowd - eight people.” So basically just

produced records for the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, The Strokes, Stevie Nicks and New Order, and that’s just for starters. Did The Rubens know that their friend was gonna present their demo to the producer in this way? “I think he said, ‘I’m going to, maybe’?” Sam ponders before correcting himself, “No, no, I was in London on holiday and Dean, our friend, came over from France to meet me in London to tell me about this David Kahne guy. And then I was like, ‘Wow!’ David Kahne happened before triple j started playing Lay It Down.” The pair are acutely aware of their fortuitous beginnings and Elliott marvels, “It was such an opportunity.” “All this happened over six months,” Sam adds. “So it was just like [snaps fingers] that, you know? Then we had to go and make the record [The Rubens], which took ages. We toured the record for a coupla years and then this time we’ve spent a year and a half writing and recording it [Hoops]. Um, it’s a heap more work and stress than people realise. It’s a really, really fun job, but it’s sooooo stressful. The uncertainty of fans, of income, longevity - it’s just crazy.” His brother agrees. On whether they felt more confident working with the same producer for record number two, the brothers concur (Elliott: “definitely”; Sam: “totally”). Referring to The Rubens recording sessions, Elliott opines, “We

“WE HAVE REGRETS ABOUT THE FIRST RECORD, THERE ARE THINGS THAT IF WE DID IT AGAIN WE WOULD CHANGE, OR IF WE HAD BALLS AT THE TIME WE WOULD’VE SAID SOMETHING.”

Goodyear cap. The band boasts the same triple-threat brother combo as INXS, with their other bro Zaac on guitar, the line-up rounded out by their longtime friend Scott Baldwin on drums. The night before our interview, the band had played the first of their showcase gigs in Sydney - before a mixed crowd of media and fans - and the boys are feeling pretty chuffed with how it all went down. Sam admits he felt “pretty good” performing the new songs and puts it down to the fact that The Rubens rehearsed “way more than [they’ve] ever rehearsed before”. Elliott adds, on performing “the old ones”, “the song starts and it’s already over ‘cause it’s like muscle memory; it’s just, like, done. And then [with] the new ones it feels like a fresh experience.” His brother goes so far as to suggest, “It’s more enjoyable.” “You get to enjoy it and watch each other and watch how the crowd responds to it,” Elliott continues. Both of them agree it’s impossible to prepare for those unexpected quirks that make a gig exciting and Sam offers, “Oh, there’s always something. You know, you’ll leave a pedal on or you’ll - it’s gonna take a while to sort of not screw up at all.” “Was it in Lay It Down last night Zaac had his distortion on or something?” Elliott asks and the frontman laughs then confirms, “Yeah, yeah, yeah!” Lay It Down was really the starting point of The Rubens success story. “We did become overnight successes in a way, if you wanna use those words,” Sam allows, “because we had a demo [Lay It Down] on triple j 16 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

their family, then? Sam responds, “Yeah, so that [radio play] happened then suddenly it wasn’t just family - there was a packed room, even if it was a 250-people room. We were like, ‘Wow!’ Then we found out David Kahne, our producer, was interested in working with us.” So a producer of international renown wanted to work with The Rubens before they’d even got their shit together? “Yeah!” they both enthuse in unison before Sam clariﬁes. “A friend of ours was going and doing a seminar thing over in France, which is like a mixing engineer seminar. A few people are selected to go and work with these producers and he just - in the studio - put on our demo for My Gun and David was excited by it.”

probably kept our mouths shut more than maybe we should have.” Sam takes it up there: “Well we have regrets about the ﬁrst record, there are things that if we did it again we would change, or if we had balls at the time we would’ve said something. And we realised listening back to the ﬁrst record that, although we like the songs and we think it’s a good record - I never wanted to make another record that I don’t wanna listen to because there’s something in there that I wanted to change. So, going in, that was the main thing, was, like, we have to live with it for the rest of our lives. And we did! We got there, so we’re really happy.

If you’re not familiar with Kahne’s CV, he’s

“On the ﬁrst record all the sounds are pretty samesame,” Sam admits, “whereas [on] this one there’s

“You’re selling something that you actually really like, so then it’s much easier to perform and the audience believes it much more if you’re really enjoying it. And I still really enjoy playing some of the old songs. I liked Lay It Down last night; I couldn’t keep the smile oﬀ my face. I was loving it!” Still, Sam reckons The Rubens’ new songs are “just better songs”. “They’ve got better parts, they’re more interesting and they’re, you know, just better to perform because there’s more happening.” “It feels like the set’s elevated as soon as - well we’ve only really played one show,” Elliott considers before Sam stresses, “Well, last night everyone said the best songs were the new songs. Everyone. Like, my parents, the label...” Elliott acknowledges, “It would be depressing if it was otherwise.”

BUDGET BITES The Rubens were forced to stick to a frugal budget while recording their eponymous first album and frontman Sam Margin confesses their daily food allowance “was ten US dollars a day”. So what were the band’s go-to meals? “Hot dogs. Street hot dogs,” he contributes, his brother/The Rubens guitarist Elliott adding “slices of pizza” to the menu. Sam clarifies, “Two dollars seventy-five you get a slice of pizza and a drink; two big, New York slices.” “When we got off the plane afterwards we were all skinny and white and frail,” Elliott remembers. “Our mum was really worried.”

a lot of really cool guitar tones, there’s more keys, there’s different sounds - a lot more electric piano, like, Wurlitzer and stuff. We didn’t have that on the first record and, yeah! We really wanted to make this sound more interesting.” Were there any happy accidents in the studio that ended up making it through to the final mix? “I think there was a lot of little things,” Sam suggests. “I just remember Dave, the producer, constantly saying, ‘That was good, what happened there?’ It’s kind of a producer’s job to and that’s a really big thing that producers do all the time: good mistake or bad mistake, you know? I think imperfections are what they’re looking for - good imperfections, like, especially with your vocal. I think on the first record, I thought a good vocal was a perfect vocal whereas on this record I wanted it to be really imperfect. I wanted it to be more gravelly. So the songs where I needed to do a nice falsetto I chose to do over these days and then when I knew we were going out with one of our mates and having a big party, I’d party, go nuts, smoke cigarettes and the next day I’d come in and do the lower parts that needed all that and, yeah! Tonally the vocals on this record are better I reckon, too, because of that; it’s not trying to sing perfectly all the time.” “I think touring helped as well,” Elliott posits. “Like, singing that many shows you really get to actually practice and get to know your voice and actually embrace your voice instead of trying to get away from the graveliness and trying to make it prim and proper.” The last song The Rubens wrote for this album wound up being the title track and it’s an interesting new

direction that sees them exploring R&B territory. “We love that,” Sam admits. “I think on the next record it wouldn’t surprise me if we went down the Hoops road a little bit more.” “Deﬁnitely,” Elliott seconds. “It came at the end of writing, when we weren’t even meant to be really writing; we were mixing the record and stuﬀ, and then it came. And we went sick.” Alleviated of the pressure to write, Hoops came together easily. “It’s, like, the record’s

there, we can see if we can make this song work,” Sam explains, “and then it did and it was just like a nice full stop... People try and get you to do that, like, management are secretly hoping that they can put you in that mood. Yeah, ‘It’s great, it’s great, it’s great! Just keep writing,’ you know? And they’re right! You just need to keep going. That’s the only way. You know, we wrote 35 for this one and ended up with 11. So we’re gonna have to get going again [for the next album].”

The next time The Rubens headed over to record with Kahne, “We got fat before we went to New York and then we were alright. [During] the writing period we just drank, like, cases of beer a day,” Sam admits. On how The Rubens make decisions about divvying up their per diems, Elliott teases, “How many skittles can I get today?” (A cheeky reference to The Music’s cover shot, perhaps?)

WHAT: Hoops (Ivy League Records) WHEN & WHERE: 2 Oct, ANU Bar, Canberra; 3 Oct, Yours & Owls Music & Arts Festival, Wollongong; 30 Oct, Entrance Leagues; 31 Oct, Enmore Theatre; 6 Nov, Bar On The Hill, Newcastle THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 17

music

ROCK LIFERS

doing it, but you don’t say, ‘I’m committing my life to my art!’ It’s not like that. It’s not ‘at age eight I made this breathtaking decision to become a musician’.”

The BellRays just keep on keepin’ on with their energetic rock’n’roll regardless of what’s happening around them, and singer Lisa Kekaula tells Steve Bell that it’s all just about playing the music they love.

or nigh on 25 years now garage-soul dynamos The BellRays have been taking their high-octane rock’n’roll to the people as if they were on some kind of evangelical mission, led by the firebrand fury of frontwoman Lisa Kekaula. Formed in Riverside, CA back in 1990, The Bellrays have long fused disparate strains of music such as rock, punk, soul, R&B and even jazz into their own inimitable brew, never really garnering mass mainstream attention but nonetheless winning hordes of devoted converts along the way. The BellRays’ sound has evolved slightly but their trademark passion and conviction remains undiminished and while they haven’t released a new album since 2010’s Black Lightning (which had belated local release corresponding with their 2013 Australian visit), their live show is renowned as being a dynamite experience. Hence the excitement in rock circles at their impending Rockpocalypse tour, which will find the four-piece return in all of their pomp and (super loud) glory. “Since we were there last time, as The BellRays we’ve mainly just been on the road - most of 2014 was spent on the road,” Kekaula explains. “Apart from all of the touring we’ve been doing we’ve been working on the next BellRays record. It’s great and we’ve got it all ready, we just need time to get back and work on it.” The BellRays’ music touches upon so many templates, inadvertently reflecting Kekaula’s own diverse musical upbringing. “At first I wasn’t into rock at all, I had to learn about most of that stuff at age 19 or 20,” she tells. “I grew up really entrenched in soul and R&B, but radio was different when I was growing up too - it was more AM radio, so you were exposed to all music and it was just looked at as music. They weren’t really calling it names like ‘rock’ - it was before they were trying to section everything off - it was just popular music. It was just what people were playing, and there was so much crossover that I never really caught onto that whole thing, where everybody says, ‘Well this is rock because

18 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

this is a white guy playing the same licks as black guys are playing, and we call that R&B.’ Because that’s what that bullshit is to me.” And while Kekaula was passionate about the music she loved it wasn’t always obvious that it

Despite the band putting out some great albums and standalone singles over the years, Kekaula feels that The BellRays are one of those bands better experienced onstage than on record. “By far, by far,” she admits. “I think we’ve gotten better at putting our records out, but I think we’ve always poured more into our live show. And I think that’s probably another reason why a lot of people who would want to know about us don’t know about us, because we never really concentrated that much on the recordings. But now I think we’re almost phobic about how we want to get them done, and that might be adding to why it’s getting done the way we wanted.” They have been striving to capture that live essence in the studio since the get-go, it just hasn’t been so easy. “Yeah man, since the very beginning it’s always been one of those things that we wanted to capture, but I

“I THINK WE’VE GOTTEN BETTER AT PUTTING OUR RECORDS OUT, BUT I THINK WE’VE ALWAYS POURED MORE INTO OUR LIVE SHOW.” would end up being her livelihood. “You just kind of realise that you like it and you might be good at it, but as far as being a kid and realising, ‘Oh, this is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life’ - not so much,” she reﬂects. “You don’t even really realise that some people don’t do it well, you just realise that it’s like play, it’s what you do. You don’t see yourself not

think we’ve always been so ﬁercely independent in trying to capture it that we’ve been in our own way,” Kekaula muses. “Just saying, ‘Oh no, we can do it like this,’ and ‘We can do it like that,’ but it never really captures it, so I think we’ve kind of said, ‘Ah, forget it, I’m not going to really try and do that anymore.’ So we just do the live shows and do the recordings and let the chips fall where they may, because they always do.” WHEN & WHERE: 8 Aug, The Small Ballroom, Newcastle; 9 Aug, Newtown Social Club To read the full interview head to theMusic.com.au

THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 19

music

CHANNELLING BEATLES In the lead-up to Rubber Soul Revolver, in which Marlon Williams, Husky Gawenda of Husky, Jordie Lane and Fergus Linacre of Kingswood perform The Beatles’ classic albums Rubber Soul and Revolver back to back, in track order, The Music asked the four protagonists to single out their favourite track and what it means to them.

HUSKY GAWENDA – GIRL When I was a kid, we had a Beatles songbook that we kept in the piano stool. My mum and I would sit at the piano after school every day, side by side on the piano stool, and open the book to a random page and sing whatever song we landed on. The first time I heard the song Girl was sitting at the piano, I was 13 or 14 maybe. I played the chords while my mum sang it. She has a beautiful voice and I thought it was the most beautiful song. I still feel the same feeling now when I sing it, the beauty and magic of the melody that I felt that day after school with me mum singing and the piano and that big old book of Beatles songs.

MARLON WILLIAMS – IN MY LIFE In My Life is a standalone track in the Beatles catalogue. Although subject to the usual Lennon/ McCartney authorship disputes, it at least comes off as an uncharacteristically unified symbiosis of the two writers’ trademark styles. The story goes that Lennon began the lyrics as a rather trite ‘this is what I did in my holidays’ kind of song after being prompted by journalist Kenneth Allsop to write more about his childhood, was horrified at the initial results and broadened it out to be a broader rumination on his life so far. One assumes this is when McCartney joined the party, fleshing out the harmonic shape and building in a B-part. With a song now complete except for an instrumental, Lennon called in George Martin to write “something Baroque-sounding”. Having composed something resembling a Bach toccata for piano, Martin found he was unable to play it at the necessary tempo, so slowed the tape and recorded it at half speed. Sped back up to the original tempo, it sounds almost exactly like a harpsichord, Martin once again showing his worthiness of the title of ‘fifth Beatle’. My own first attempts at songwriting can pretty obviously be traced to this song, in its earnest, sentimental lyric and its obvious major/ minor changes. It’s a song that walks the tightrope of tweeness, laughing all the while at its own strengths

20 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

FERGUS LINACRE – TOMORROW NEVER KNOWS This song is special to me because I’m a big fan of psychedelic music - well, the good stuff.

unknown, where they would create Sgt Pepper’s and the White Album and take things to the extreme. Years ago Kingswood played it at a rehearsal, but instead of two and a half minutes, it must have gone on for about half an hour. We never did it live but it was a great moment. When you put this song up against a song like For No One, you wouldn’t think they’d fit on the same record. I think a lot of artists these days limit themselves to a certain style and often they end up just sounding like they’re churning out the same stuff over and over again. The Beatles have inspired us to keep diversifying our sound; even within a record, there are no rules.

JORDIE LANE – I’M ONLY SLEEPING The Beatles were the first band I really listened to when I was ten years old. Revolver was one such album that really excited me. I was delighted to be chosen to sing I’m Only Sleeping for the show. It’s probably my favourite song off the album and I personally identify with the theme so much. I’ve

“THE BEATLES HAVE INSPIRED US TO KEEP DIVERSIFYING OUR SOUND.” Even today in Australia the genre is thriving with bands like Tame Impala and The Belligerents; I could go on, there are so many. I think this song is perhaps where is all started. It’s pretty much one chord and they started to experiment with recording techniques, recording the drums at a faster tempo then slowing the tape down, putting John’s voice through a Leslie revolving speaker. The song is a continuous drone that I think opened the door for the band into the

always had trouble getting up in the morning. When I’m in that pre-waking intensity of vivid dreams, I want nothing else more than to be left in peace to remain in that alternate world. It’s a strange place, sometimes scary, but I feel so disappointed when I’m woken and pulled out of it! So I completely sympathise with John Lennon’s lyrics in this song, pushing against being caught in the rat race. I love the recording. It’s spooky because they tracked the music faster and then slowed the tape down for the vocal takes, then sped it up again for what we hear on the record, creating a push and pull between time and space. This won’t be possible to literally perform live, so I’m just gonna have to channel those perceptions of time and reality changing between the two worlds. WHAT: Rubber Soul Revolver WHEN & WHERE: 6 Aug, Canberra Theatre; 7 & 8 Aug, Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House

THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 21

John Cena and basketball living legend LeBron James, who also feature in the film. Cena, who plays a sexually confused boyfriend of Amy, and James, the sensitive best friend to Hader’s character, Aaron, arguably steal every scene in which they respectively feature, surprising even Apatow. “I thought they would be good, but I didn’t know they were that good. John Cena really made me laugh. His audition was very, very funny and then we did a table read and he was even funnier... but then he just tore it down. “LeBron completely blindsided us with how hysterical he was. He showed up and was just as loose and hilarious as anybody we work with.” With news that the Cleveland Cavaliers star has signed a film deal with Warner studios, rumours are rife that James is planning to star in a sequel to the 1996 comedy hit, Space Jam. It’s fair to say Trainwreck is to thank for it. “I’m one of the few people that’s found a way to make LeBron James more money,” laughs Apatow.

film

STAR SPOTTER In his latest film, acclaimed US filmmaker Judd Apatow teams up with Amy Schumer. Apatow tells Neil Griffiths how listening to popular radio jock Howard Stern’s show in 2011, in which Schumer appeared as a guest, opened the door to his latest film.

udd Apatow has worked with some of Hollywood’s biggest and brightest talent - Adam Sandler, Steve Carell, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill; the list goes on. In his latest film, Trainwreck, he worked with arguably the biggest name in comedy right now, and that’s quite possibly changed the stand-up comic’s life. “I just had a gut instinct that she was a real storyteller,” the 47-year-old recalls of listening to Schumer on Howard Stern’s radio show back in 2011. “Her act had a lot of great jokes, but not long stories, and when I heard her on Howard Stern, I thought, ‘I don’t think she realises how good a storyteller she is.’” After meeting with the actress and encouraging her to write something for him to look at, Apatow was shocked at just how impressive her work was, given she’d never starred in a feature film before. “From the very beginning all of her writing was really strong and it was thrilling to get pages from her. She was very willing to write from a personal place; sometimes you ask people to do that and they refuse. She was really brutally frank and open and vulnerable right from the start and you have to do that to write well.” The new romantic comedy stars Schumer as the lead character - a commitment-phobic woman who falls for a sports doctor, played by popular comedian and Saturday Night Live alumnus, Bill Hader. While the actor is one of the best comedic talents going right now, this is the first film in which he plays a romantic lead rather than the outlandish, eccentric characters he was best known for on SNL. Initially, Apatow only called Hader in to read for the film, without any intention of casting him in the role. “I always wanted him to do it, but I wanted to make sure the

22 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

chemistry with Amy was great. Bill and I had developed a movie for years; we never got it to a place where it was ready to shoot and I always wanted to find a project that would show off what he’s like in real life; he’s an incredibly charming, likeable, hilarious person and just as funny being subtle as playing broader characters. “When Amy started writing this, in the back of my head, I thought, ‘I think this could be the one for Bill Hader,’ but I can’t force that on Amy, I had to make sure she feels like there’s chemistry and that this would be something special.” As well as the two strong leads and supporting roles from notable stars such as Colin Quinn and Vanessa Bayer, a special mention must be given to athletes WWE superstar

Apatow’s directorial work has very often featured stars who were on the rise. Carell’s The 40-YearOld Virgin came out in 2005 just as the Oscarnominated actor began to receive international fame for his TV show, The Office, and Rogen, while a lead star in Apatow’s 1999 series Freaks & Geeks, put his name on the map with 2007’s Knocked Up. Schumer seems to be in that same field and while it isn’t intentional, Apatow admits he does love working with fresh talent. “I just like helping people try to figure out how they can go to the next level; that’s just interesting to me. It’s especially interesting when they don’t know at all how they would come across as a lead in a movie and it’s fun to try and help people define their personae.

“IT WAS THRILLING TO GET PAGES FROM HER.” “It’s also fun to work with people when they care so much - when you’re trying to break through, you’ll never care as much as that moment.” Meanwhile his latest book, Sick In The Head: Conversation About Life & Comedy, is an homage to his love of comedy, interviews the director has conducted with massive names like Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Martin, Chris Rock and more over some 30 years. As an aspiring teenage stand-up, Apatow felt the only way he could learn the tricks of the trade was by meeting and interviewing some of his biggest comedy heroes. His ambition resulted in his lying to publicists to obtain interviews, which included a visit to Jerry Seinfeld’s New York apartment in 1983 - Apatow was still just 16 years old - and even a three-hour train ride to meet Weird Al Yankovic. “I just so wanted to meet comedians that I was fearless due to my need to understand how comedy worked. I loved talking to them, I couldn’t have been more excited. I just had to know what they knew.” WHAT: Trainwreck In cinemas 6 Aug

THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 23

lit

GODFATHER COMPLEX Michael Gudinski may be the most important ﬁgure in the Australian music scene, but author Stuart Coupe tells Steve Bell that he doesn’t always get what he wants. tuart Coupe’s new biography Gudinski: The Godfather Of Australian Rock’N’Roll tells the fascinating life story of Australian music mogul Michael Gudinski, a man who for decades has cast such a huge shadow over Australian music via his touring companies, record labels and booking agencies. The tome paints the picture of a passionate and driven man who loves his music, but also one not without his foibles, and along the way shines a light on the behind-thescenes machinations of the industry - the partying and hedonism is all there, but it’s the human condition and relationships which prove most fascinating.

“Michael has never wanted a book, for reasons I still don’t know he’s just totally opposed to one,” Coupe

explains. “I first started talking to him back in 2003 because he was a big figure in The Promoters book, and I said, ‘What about a whole book about you?’ He was, like, ‘There’s never going to be a book. Don’t want a book’. This went on for about ten years, and then about 18 months ago my publisher and I just decided that it’s too important a story - I don’t think there’s any question that he’s anything other than the most significant figure in the Australian music industry in the last 50 years.” Gudinski was granted the right of perusal of the manuscript to correct factual errors (he eventually made only minor corrections) - did

music

the fact that he and Coupe have a history together contribute towards an element of trust? “He knows that I’m fond of him, and he claims that he read it all, and when he called up he said, ‘There’s a few things that I’m pretty ﬁred up about’, and I said, ‘Michael, if you’d called me up and said, “I love every page of this book” then I wouldn’t have done my job,” Coupe chuckles. “You’re not meant to like all of it. People aren’t going to take a book seriously if it’s 350 pages of ‘Michael Gudinski is God, Michael Gudinski does everything right, Michael is a genius’.” I said we can deal with 185 pages of ‘Michael is God’! I had to remind him with all due respect that I kind of like him and asked whether he’d like me to send him a list of people who were less aﬀectionate about him who can string a sentence together. I said to him, ‘Not only can I spell defamation but I know what it means. It’s going to be okay’.” And this wart-and-all approach is partly why Gudinski... ends up such a fascinating rendering of this larger-than-life character. “I’m hoping that people get some insight into the machinations - ‘How does this all happen? How do you build an independent label up to the point where you can sell it for tens of millions of dollars to Rupert Murdoch? How do you negotiate with The Rolling Stones?’” Coupe tells. “Michael’s gone through numerous times where things have been really precarious, and I’m hoping it’s both entertaining and that I’ve captured a semblance of the erratic craziness that is Michael.” WHAT: Gudinski: The Godfather Of Australian Rock’N’Roll (Hachette)

BACK ON TRACK Determined to stay relevant, Health rethought their sound. Frontman Jake Duzsik tells Anthony Carew how.

ake Duzsik is “very hungover”. It’s 5.21pm in Los Angeles and the Health frontman is still reeling from a party the night before. “It’s actually my birthday today,” Duzsik admits. “I’ve just turned thirty-fucking-four years old. I’ve made it out of the Jesus year. I didn’t die at 27, the rockstar death year. And Jesus was crucified at 33, and I got outta that alive. Now I’m going to live forever.” First step on the road to immortality? The release of the third Health LP, Death Magic, their first since 2009’s Get Color. “It’s been a suicidally long time between records. I would not advise other bands to follow the same route of waiting half a decade to put out a record.” Health spent that half-decade hard at work, spending a year scoring the video game Max Payne, doing more soundtrack work for Grand Theft Auto V, and producing a score for a ‘holographic’ 2013 New York Fashion Week event. Yet even as their Max Payne soundtrack served as “mainstream exposure for us on an unprecedented scale” for fans, Health were out of sight, out of mind. “The biggest struggle for musical artists today, to remain relevant and stay visible, is that battle against that constant background noise,” reckons Duzsik. “When everyone’s Instagram feed or Twitter feed or Facebook timeline or whatever is this constant raging sea of content, being in a band is more than 24 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

just making music. You need to constantly be generating content for your fans, or else they just stop paying attention.” Health’s ‘return’ has been welcomed as a sort of “Health 2.0”. The quartet has always been ambitious - they wanted Get Color to “sound like Dark Side Of The Moon”; it just “turned out like this noisy punk-rock record” - and this time they wanted to compete with contemporary hip hop and electronic production. “It was extraordinarily important for us to feel like we were writing a relevant record, sonically. We wanted to make something that sounded like it belonged in the musical landscape of what’s going on today. Using really clear,

huge, heavy, defined electronic drums and sub-bass. There’s still guitars on every song, and when we play live, we’re very much a live band. The performances are cathartic and physical and people respond to that. “But, at the same time, it’s unfortunate to realise that now 70 per cent of people must listen to music on their friggin’ Macbook Pro speakers. It’s a headphone experience, a constant lifestyle accessory. People are listening to more music than they ever have and it’s more integrated in their life than it ever has been, but it’s also becoming bleached of its importance, its weightiness. And we don’t really make background music. We want to make music that could play ball in that realm. If you listen to pop music now, it’s incredibly heavy. Even ballads. Things hit really, really hard. You can communicate a lot of power in a lot of different kinds of songs. Having started out as a noiserock band, that was what we were always trying to do: be physically powerful in how the music comes across.” WHAT: Death Magic (Caroline)

FREEDOM FRIGHT When he’s not collaborating with other icons guitar legend Marc Ribot follows his own meandering path, but he tells Steve Bell he’s actually afraid of ﬂying freeform.

merican guitar virtuoso Marc Ribot has been honing his craft for decades, having released more than 20 records under his own sail as well as collaborating extensively with an incredible parade of musical talent including Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, Allen Ginsberg, Robert Plant, Elton John, The Black Keys, Norah Jones, Diana Krall and Marianne Faithfull (to literally name but a handful). The disparate nature of his musical escapades in the last few weeks alone works as a perfect microcosm of his fascinating career to date. “I got back a few weeks ago from a tour with my band Ceramic Dog, and I’ve been working on ﬁnishing

a solo vocal record, and also I’m working on a live recording with my band The Young Philadelphians which is myself, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Calvin Weston, Mary Halvorson and whatever three string players we can talk into doing our harmolodic versions of Philadelphia soul tunes. All of that’s been keeping me busy, but mainly I’ve just been lying around at the beach,” he chuckles. “I’m also playing this weekend premiering some new pieces with John Zorn. If I can learn them.” Ribot explains that this hotchpotch of diverse projects indeed reﬂects his varied music

tastes, but also that he needs to get into the relevant headspace depending on precisely what he’s playing.

music

“Well you know, papa’s gotta pay the rent. But yes, I’m into a lot of different things. For me the things that I’m into are united by a certain kind of common energy that I like, but from the outside it looks like I’m all over the place. It’s not as far a stretch as you would think, but that said when I’m doing a solo concert like I am when I come down [to Australia] I like to live with it for a few weeks - play every day, think about it and get into what I’m doing in advance.” Ribot’s solo shows can be unpredictable affairs, if only because he never knows himself what he’s going to play until the mood and environment dictate a path for him. “Usually when I play solo I never plan a set list and I do whatever feels right at the moment, which is a mixture of free improvisation plus whatever comes into my head. Usually some material that I’ve performed in the past shows up, oftentimes something from some of my earlier solo records or sometimes a Frantz Casseus piece or oftentimes something from one of the Spiritual Unity records or one of my works with Henry Grimes and Chad Taylor [as The Marc Ribot Trio]. Somehow it all seems to all fit together. “I love playing live and I love the feeling of connection - you can feel it right away when people are connected. When I play I’m not in some internal bubble, I’m in the room with other people and it’s a kind of a dialogue. I both enjoy [the freedom that improvising allows me] and am terrified by it. Freedom in general scares me, not only artistic.” WHEN & WHERE: 9 Aug, The Vanguard

MEETING OF MODES

theatre

She’s danced, sung, done soaps, breakfast radio and hosted shows on telly; now Tottie Goldsmith talks to Dave Drayton about oozing love, and the soul-searching that led her to theatre.

“I

think I kind of ooze love, that’s what I’m told anyway. I just kind of popped out trusting and loving.”

It’s an appropriate quality to possess for someone who was heralded as a sex symbol throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s following roles on The Young Doctors, Starting Out and Prisoner, and who hosted Network Tens infotainment program Sex/Life. Throughout the course of our conversation Goldsmith will confess to loving Samuel Johnson, “he’s very instinctive and impulsive as an actor, he’s alive and intelligent”; to “love love love”-ing Ivana Chubbuck (who led one of the many masterclasses Goldsmith has attended to indulge her thirst for theatre); and a girl crush on Lucy Freeman, who came across Goldsmith in yet another masterclass (this time led by Larry Moss) and offered her a role opposite perennially ocker heartthrob Samuel Johnson in a nationally touring production of Sex With Strangers written by Laura Eason (who also works on television’s House Of Cards).

It’s her biggest stage role excepting stints in musicals two years touring with Grease The Arena Spectacular and a jaunt playing Janet in Paul Dainty’s The New Rocky Horror Show - and arrived at the perfect time for Goldsmith, who had resolved to throw herself headlong into theatre.

“I had made a decision a number of years ago that I really had to work out what I wanted; obviously it was in the performing arts, that’s all I’ve ever done since I was a teenager, I did dancing, singing, acting, breakfast radio, TV hosting, everything, and as a woman that’s getting older - I’m 52 now, 53 in August - I had to decide what do I want to grow old with? And the answer was theatre. The best scripts written for older women are in theatre. I’m not saying I won’t do television and film, I hope I do, but once my daughter had left home... I could make decisions

SAMUEL JOHNSON AND TOTTIE GOLDSMITH. PIC: EDAN CHAPMAN

that were more about what I wanted and not what would put food on the table.” The character of Olivia in Sex With Strangers is one such role. An older, respected author, Olivia, falls for the younger, brasher, blogger-turned-best seller Ethan, who has made his mark in the world of writing documenting his sexual exploits. It’s an intimate two-hander that offers commentary on the shifting processes of consuming culture and art in among the chaotic love story. “I prayed to get a really good piece in my hands, and I got it. And I got Sam - because we’re both very open it’s been easy to get to that place of intimacy. Olivia becomes less of who she believes herself to be, she goes against everything she believed that she believed in. She embraces the digital era, a younger era, and loses this part of her that enjoys holding onto books and records and CDs and photo albums. She finds a hunger for success again.”

WHAT: Sex With Strangers WHEN & WHERE: 5 - 8 Aug, Bruce Gordon Theatre, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 25

comedy

CHEWING THE ONION One of Australia’s most loved stand-ups, Wil Anderson, talks to Neil Griﬃths about why Aussies love laughing at Tony Abbott.

“I

’ve seen like 20 of the best gigs I’ve ever seen in my life at the Enmore so I just love playing it,” Anderson says. “I always get the emails from people going, ‘It’s hard to fucking park!’ and I’m like, you know what, it’s fucking Enmore, ﬁnd a park or get an Uber or whatever.” Anderson’s new show will see him return to Australia after spending the last two years touring America, where he now also lives part-time. “I think I’ve slept in my house in Sydney for a week in the last 24 months,” Anderson chuckles. “You mostly grow when you put yourself in challenging situations. You want to surround yourself with people who are better than you so you can learn to be better yourself.”

There was no better way to do that when he shared the same stage at comedy clubs in the US with the likes of Sarah Silverman and Patton Oswalt. Anderson recalls a time he hung out backstage with Oswalt and Pete Johannson. “Technically I was also involved in this chat,” he says as he bursts into laughter. “Like the three of us were sitting in this triangle, but after 40 minutes they both looked at me and were like, ‘Are you ok?’ It was like I was watching a live podcast: two of these comedy geniuses talking shop and I just didn’t want to interrupt!” Fans of Anderson will know his comedy sets are often ﬁlled with Aussie topics, which

music

he admits was hard getting used to when he moved to the US. “When I first came over six years ago it was a matter of me adapting my set.” He has gone one step better than just adapting however, this year writing two live shows; the first being Free Wil and the second he calls Political Wil which is “just 70 to 80 minutes of just me banging on exclusively about Australian politics”. “I had an awesome time... The crowd know what it is, if I want to talk about Tony Abbott eating an onion for seven minutes, they’re gonna be right on board!” With news that his popular TV series The Gruen Transfer will return later this year, Anderson says there is still plenty left to complain about with Aussie politics. “My biggest gripe is the system right now,” he explains. “We are so starved for decent choices at the moment - the last mob were so bad, we voted for Tony Abbott! “I’m sure many of these people start as good and honourable people, but the system itself is broken and it compromises them so severely that they cant get anything done.” As for his future plans, does Anderson have any big goals? A set on The Tonight Show? Perhaps a guest spot on Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee. Anderson laughs. “I really honestly gave up making plans I would say five years ago. I just think you start with the work and you see what it becomes. If I write a good show and I tour a good show, it makes everything else possible. “ WHAT: Wil Anderson: Free Wil WHEN & WHERE: 7 & 8 Aug, Enmore Theatre

STAGE CRAFTED UK band The Maccabees’ new album is about “the night time, the inner-city stripped back, and about the band dynamic again”, frontman Orlando Weeks tells Samuel J Fell.

lbum number four for UK guitar band The Maccabees is a different beast - and it was always going to be. Marks To Prove It, with its more stripped-back, bare-bones sound, a fair step away from their Mercury Prize-nominated third cut, Given To The Wild - is, as frontman Orlando Weeks explains, an album of songs made for the stage. And listening to it, you can see he’s right. The songs build slowly yet end as behemoths, seemingly designed for a festival stage, after dark, big light show, anthemic. The reason? A direct reaction to the multi-layered, complex songs from this album’s predecessor, songs that, while on disc, were complete, on stage became too much to handle. Marks To Prove It is the obvious artistic reaction. “With the last record, one of the things it let itself down on was that some of the [songs] were just so layered and lush that when played live, they just seemed underwhelming, so we ended up having a backing track we played along to... playing to a click, it just didn’t feel like we were playing as a band. “So when we were a little way into the recording process with this record, we realised that this could be something that could help us put a bit of structure into what we’re making, it needed to work in the room - if something didn’t work with one guitar, on the last record we’d layer 26 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

it and layer it and layer it... but on this one we thought, if one guitar can’t do it, then one guitar and a piano, or one guitar and a saxophone or something. That became a bit of a rule of thumb.” The result is, as mentioned, a more sparse sound, songs that can be more faithfully replicated live, which is where the band truly shine. Another aspect in which this album differs from Given To The Wild, is in its ethos, so to speak, the way it “became about the night time, the innercity stripped back, and about the band dynamic again,” as guitarist Felix White says in the album’s accompanying release notes.

“Yeah, more often than not, the stuff we agreed was working, worked when we played it back at night,” Weeks concurs. “The stuff I was writing, and the music, they both informed each other, and how I pictured things... was more often than not, at night. It took care of itself, really.” As Weeks goes on to explain, this album was more about the everyday, the inner-city - real life. It comes across in his honest delivery, in the songwriting, as a whole. The reception garnered by Given To The Wild has given the band confidence. “Yeah, that record [had us as] not just an indie band from London, but as a band,” Weeks explains. “Not that we got taken more seriously, but we got to start again a bit, and it proved to ourselves that we could make something different to what we’d made in the past.” And it’s this confidence that in the end truly fuels Marks To Prove It. WHAT: Marks To Prove It (Fiction/Caroline) WHEN & WHERE: 31 Dec – 3 Jan, Falls Festival, North Byron Parklands

THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 27

music

HOMERPALOOZA

PUNK STAGE

SKA/ROCKABILLY STAGE

Steve Bell imagines what a perfectly cromulent day out would sound and look like if there were a festival filled with bands named after references in The Simpsons.

EVERGREEN TERRACE

Band: Wisconsin ska outfit (1999–2007) who met at a Reel Big Fish concert and used to start shows with instructions on how to skank. Reformed last year, starting a Kickstarter campaign to fund an EP.

iven that The Simpsons has been going for some 26 seasons – meaning that it’s pushing towards 600 episodes – it’s not surprising that there’s long been a nexus between the animated universe and the music realm.

Obviously there’s been dozens and dozens of bands and artists who have appeared as guests on the show, and even a huge array of fictional bands and musicians that have appeared over the years – including, but not limited to, Bleeding Gums Murphy, Sadgasm, The Party Posse, The Be Sharps, Covercraft, Sungazer, Les Rock Stars, Ear Poison, Grave Matthews Band, Alcatraaz, MC Champagne Millionaire, Pious Riot, Kovenant and The Larry Davis Experience – but there’s also been a lot of crossover in recent years into real life as budding musicians influenced by the long-running show start bands of their own. The main one that jumps to mind is Illinois rock band Fall Out Boy, but even though their name is definitely a reference to Radioactive Man’s sidekick they don’t strictly count because the name was just one on a list that was given to friends to choose (who does that, by the way?) so was chosen by others. Even a cursory glance at Aussie gig guides in recent times lets you spy a string of names such as Release The Hounds, Hockey Dad and Hooray For Everything (Simmos references one and all). So the obvious question becomes: can we assemble a festival made from bands who’ve taken their names from The Simpsons? Did Moses start forest fires? You bet your bottom dollar, we can even split ‘em into loose stages so you can peruse by genre…

Band: Melodic hardcore band from Florida who started in 1999 and are still going strong..

I VOTED FOR KODOS

Reference: In Treehouse Of Horror VII when evil alien Kang enslaves the human race and destroys the planet Homer absolves himself of blame by saying, “Don’t blame me, I voted for Kodos”.

Reference: Our favourite yellow family live at 742 Evergreen Terrace (also home to the Flanders family and previously at least two erstwhile Presidents).

Reference: One of Homer’s genuine catchcries, oft uttered when his neighbour-ino does something stupid like ask for his stuff back (not to be confused with “stupid sexy Flanders”).

123 FAKE ST

MAD MARGE & THE STONECUTTERS

Band: Seattle poppunk outfit who released a tribute to Steve Irwin in 2006 titled See Ya Later.

Band: Northern San Bernardino County psychobilly band (with a lass called Alicia Ridenour as the titular Mad Marge) who adapted the Stonecutters Theme into their track Troublemaker.

Reference: The address that Marge gives police after accidentally cutting off Homer’s thumb and Wiggum wants to charge her for attempted murder.

THE SPEEDHOLES Band: Punk quartet who played regularly around Denver at the start of the millennium. Reference: Holes in a car that Homer believes “makes the car go faster”, can be installed via either bullets or pick-axe (depending on your mood).

REX BANNER Band: Sydney melodic hardcore band from mid-last decade, played at least once with The Amity Affliction. Reference: Homer’s prohibition-enforcing nemesis in Homer vs The Eighteenth Amendment.

STUPID FLANDERS Band: Another eight-piece ska band from Orange County, these guys are still going strong.

Reference: A fusion of Marge Simpson in a bad mood and the secret society (with a very musical bent) who love beer and table tennis – not to be confused with The Ancient Mystic Society Of No Homers.

ROCK STAGE JEBEDIAH Band: Fine WA band who will represent Australia with aplomb as self-professed pop culture junkies. Reference: Springield’s one and only founding father Jebediah Springfield whose statue adorns the town square (later controversially outed as bloodthirsty pirate Hans Sprungfeld).

MALIBU STACY Band: Belgian power-pop band who eventually moved to New York in the late-2000s (not to be confused with current pop-punk band from Sunshine Coast). Reference: Plastic doll manufactured by the Maliby Stacy Division of PetroChem Petrochemical Corporation, much-loved by Lisa and collected voraciously by Waylon Smithers.

JEBUS Band: A three-piece rock band from northern Virginia who purportedly mixed hip hop, funk and country into a genre called “funktry”. Reference: In the episode Missionary: Impossible Homer admits, “I can’t be a missionary, I don’t even believe in Jebus!” (an assertion perhaps debunked later when he appeals to the deity during an emergency).

SPIDER PIG Band: Yet another cover band from Bouremouth, UK who play “only the very best rock tunes” in a manner “like they mean it”. Reference: The alias of Plopper the pig, as sung by Homer in The Simpsons Movie (formerly on the menu at Krusty Burger, aka Harry Plopper).

28 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

EVERGREEN TERRACE

METAL/DOOM STAGE THE CHRIST PUNCHERS Band: Detroit doom merchants, slaves to all things heavy and conceived at “the dawn of the collapse of Western Society” (not to be confused with Minneapolis-based pop-punk band of same name). Reference: When Homer and his buddies go to start a motorcycle gang Moe really, really wants to call it The Christ Punchers (sadly Homer’s already embroidered their jackets with Hell’s Satans).

YOU DON’T WIN FRIENDS WITH SALAD Band: Another Aussie entrant, this six-piece metal band from Queensland has to be in the winning for the ‘metal band with the least metal name’ award. Reference: Next time you’re having a BBQ and someone suggests a vegetarian option just form a conga line and start chanting this catchy ditty from Lisa The Vegetarian.

SPACE COYOTE Band: Spanish stoner rock/doom band (who also have a track titled Space Coyote just to ram the point home). Reference: From what some (okay, me) consider the greatest Simmos episode ever, El Viaje Misterioso de Nuestro Jomer (The Mysterious Voyage of Homer), Homer’s spirit guide is a chilled coyote (aka Wolfy) – who has a voice suspiciously like Johnny Cash – and at one stage Homer exclaims, “In your face, space coyote!”

ROOTS STAGE PIN MONKEY Band: Nashville-bred country music group who released a Dolly Parton cover Falling Out Of Love With Me on which Ms Parton herself contributed backing vocals.

DANCE/ELECTRO STAGE

Reference: The episode And Maggie Makes Three (season 6) is a flashback about the circumstances of Maggie’s birth, which complicated family life with Homer having quit the power plant to fulfill his lifelong dream of working at the bowling alley as “a pin monkey”.

Reference: A play on the fictional titular characters from The Itchy & Scratchy Show, the much-loved cartoon followed by hordes of Springfield youngsters.

HELL’S SATANS

LASZLO PANAFLEX

Band: Hard-rockin’ blues outfit from the northern Mexican city of Monterrey, songs include Toast In Hell and Satan Is Sad.

Band: In 2002 there was a hit in the progressive house world called Dance To The Music (If You Want To Prove It) which was credited to a mysterious artist Laszlo Panaflex.

Reference: Outlaw motorcycle from Bakersfield who took exception to Homer and his chums misappropriating their band name, kidnapped Marge and forced her to do their laundry.

THE VELOCITATORS Band: Three-piece band from New Brunswick, NJ who describe their style as “anti-folk acoustic absurdity” and claim to sing about “cows, math and someone you don’t know called Steve”. Reference: In Homer The Smithers we discover that a velocitator is the lever used to increase the speed of a car (synonym: decelratrix).

ITCH-E & SCRATCH-E Band: Veteran Aussie electro group featuring Paul Mac (who in 2010 earned themselves bonus points for releasing an album titled Hooray For Everything!!).

Reference: Fictional cinematographer who has the star next to Troy McClure on the Springfield Walk Of Fame, the spot where Troy hope Selma’s star will one day reside (“Watch out… Laszlo Panaflex!”).

MY BRILLIANT BEAST Band: Canadian electronic act who make blissful ethereal music with strong beats (not to be confused with Minneapolis shoegaze band of same name). Reference: In The Call Of The Simpsons German scientists study Homer and tell the ensuing press conference; “This much I believe we can agree upon: this specimen is either a below-average human being or… a brilliant beast”. Marge – who sees this on TV from in bed with her hubby – offers, “Goodnight… my brilliant beast”. So there you have it, a bona fide (kinda) festival for all the family, though it’s unlikely that we’ve even scratched the surface of band names taken from The Simmos.

THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 29

★★★★

album/ep reviews

THE RUBENS

BURIED IN VERONA

Hoops

Ivy League/Liberation

Vultures Above, Lions Below

After two years on the road, the Menangle five-piece have bottled their boozy late nights and one-night stand tales into a soul-sodden rock album.

ALBUM OF THE WEEK

Crammed with gritty guitars, foot-stomping rhythms and Sam Margin’s signature bluesy vocals that ooze country town swag, The Rubens have pulled off an epic round two of rock’n’roll tunes. Reuniting with producer David Kahne (The Strokes, Paul McCartney), they wanted to infuse their latest record with their boisterous live sound. Steering away from their washy love letter grooves, Hoops sounds more like five mates belting out ripper tunes at their local stomping grounds. Putting dirt under your fingernails, sweat on every inch of your body and grease down your ripped jeans, it stomps to a bigger and bolder rock sound. Doused in filth, lead single Hallelujah is a massive rock

UNFD

anthem heaving with bluesy licks and ragged-edged vocals that’ll have you hooked from the get-go. Rinsed with a shot of whiskey, the belter swishes around with ample drum thrashing. Throwbacks to their late-night benders, The Night Is On My Side and Hold Me Back are guitar-laden tunes overflowing with gutsy growls that’ll have you swaying until the whiskey runs dry. Stepping up the soul, Hoops, Switchblade and Bitter End reminiscence about love’s woes. Full of rock belters and woozy nuggets, The Rubens’ second album won’t disappoint. Cara Oliveri

Regularly issuing fresh product seems a necessity nowadays, so it’s unsurprising these Sydney heavy-hitters have already unleashed a successor to 2014’s Faceless. There’s also more pertinent motivation. Buried In Verona seemingly have an unwanted knack for attracting drama, while rage stemming from the metalcore crew’s financial and personnel woes fuel these songs. The album carries sizeable sonic weight, the band expanding on their previous electronic-inflected, string-infused scope throughout this melodic and atmospheric affair. There could be suggestions of seeking a Bring Me The Horizon-esque crossover within the more accessible

MAC DEMARCO

THE JUNGLE GIANTS

Spunk/Caroline

Amplifire

How can such laid-back vocals pack so much of an emotional punch?

This is the kind of fun, indiepoptastic music that tells us winter is coming... to an end. The Brisbane four-piece return with their second fulllength; a mature, considered and uncompromising collection of tunes.

Another One

How can vintage sounds add up to make something that sounds so fresh? How can so much feeling be packed into eight songs? That’s the beauty of Mac DeMarco and Another One. On the surface, it looks and feels so effortless, yet if you stop and think about it for a second, it’s obvious there’s so much more going on. Slow-jam, falsetto vocals merge with sexy bass grooves. Strawberry Fieldsstyle orchestrations seamlessly combine with noodling guitars. Seventies organs mix with a bare bones slackerness and an over-produced ‘80s guitar sound, some deliberately out of tune notes here and there to keep things just a little off balance. Everything that should add up to nothing more than a big mess comes together in an inexplicable balance that’s just right. This 30 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

★★★ fare, too. Post-hardcoremeets-rock-ballad Can’t Be Unsaid, Hurricane and Pathways are admittedly memorable. However, the latter is perhaps their most honest outpouring yet. They can revert to tired chugging and gang vocal conventions though, and also a penchant for banal nu-metal overtones. Whether this album elevates Buried In Verona above mid-tier status among the country’s heavy music players is uncertain. Irrespective, they’ve clearly exorcised some personal demons  likely cheaper than therapy. Brendan Crabb

Speakerzoid

★★★★ kind of musical chemistry experiment is not for beginners. With last year’s Salad Days, Mac DeMarco took a straightforward attitude and stripped-back approach to arrangements, then added a lush sheen to make something new, something different and something immensely listenable. With Another One, he delivers a little more of everything. More instruments, more studio sheen, more attention to detail. Another One is a great sequel to Salad Days. Enough of the same to keep fans of the original happy, with just enough new stuff to make sure it never feels like a rehash or remake. Pete Laurie

At times sparse, at others  such as during Lemon Myrtle  employing sonic colouring to blur the space between guitar-pop and synthesised electro, it’s an interesting mix; one that contributes to a solid release without providing a genre pigeonhole for the band. The 90-second Mexico channels fellow wunderkinds San Cisco with its effervescent flute trills, provides an indisputable highlight. Sam Hales’ vocals seem familiar (a less enthusiastic

★★★ ½ version of Ball Park Music’s Sam Cromack, perhaps?) and his and fellow guitarist Cesira Aitken’s competing guitar lines interweave well. The band’s rhythm section, however, driven by drummer Keelan Bijker and especially bass player Andrew Dooris, are where The Jungle Giants get their groove. There are occasional lapses, including the spoken-word lyrics of Every Kind Of Way that begins the record on an uneven path, but overall Speakerzoid presents The Jungle Giants as an intelligent collective. Dylan Stewart

album/ep reviews

★★★★

★★★ ½

SHANE NICHOLSON Hell Breaks Loose

★★★★

HEALTH

FEAR FACTORY

LINDI ORTEGA

Death Magic

Genexus

Faded Gloryville

Lost Highway/Universal

Caroline

Nuclear Blast/Caroline

Cooking Vinyl

This is the first album of new material since Nicholson’s marriage break-up with Kasey Chambers, with whom he’d recorded his two preceding albums. In that sense this is a new start and a quietly confident one that reflects on the personal attrition of such a traumatic experience as well as geographical locations and depression. Heavy subject matter abounds yet Nicholson applies a wonderfully light musical touch with plenty of acoustic guitar, piano and shuffling drums. Melodies dance and dive across the 13 songs whose folk and country hooks, with time, dig in deep.

Get Color was HEALTH applying a scorched earth policy to dance music. It was a messy, brutal record that built something beautiful out of jagged pieces of synth and hellish landscapes of industrial rhythm. Six years on, Death Magic is HEALTH violently interpreting pop music. It’s still a bit frightening (Stonefist and New Coke are incredible in their glistening, monstrous excess, like sequined kaiju trashing downtown LA or something), but Death Magic is an album with stars in its eyes. It’s blissed-out, postapocalyptic doom rave that chews gum and levels buildings.

Ortega won plenty of new fans when she visited Australia for last year’s Out On The Weekend festival and is now set to build on that with this impressive new and fourth album. She wraps country and soul music in warm and familiar fashion, relying equally on the sultry and surly qualities in her singing. Hers rings true like a classic country voice but in the modern Americana world of roots music cross-pollination she also draws on soul music, even covering the Bee Gees classic To Love Somebody. A timeless sound with songs to match.

Chris Familton

Matt MacMaster

Fear Factory are channelling late ‘80s Meshuggah with their latest record. The brutal industrial riff machine has perfected the groove and sounds fucking tough, from the hard-style intro more conducive to dark trance on Autonomous Combat System to the tough breakdown that Anodized pummels you through amid Devin Townsend-esque mega choruses. Single, Soul Hacker, is a guilty treat, the guitar tones they’re mustering the epitome of tough. Protomech is entirely driving, maintaining the punishing tempo of the record before the brutal blast beats of title track Genexus. Closer, Expiration Date, is epic, and entirely something else!

Chris Familton

Jonty Czuchwicki

MORE REVIEWS

themusic.com.au/music/album-reviews

★★★ ½

FRANK TURNER Positive Songs For Negative People Xtra Mile/Universal Even when Frank Turner is being tender, offering words of  albeit remembered  love, like in Mittens, the words still pour out with punkish urgency. He’s the passionate busker: making you feel, wanting you to think. Leaving his native London to record this in Nashville in just over a week, Turner’s sixth album is typically unrelenting in its energy. Mixing politics and humanity in the early Billy Bragg model of amphetamine folk, it slows only for the final reflection of Song For Josh. But there remains no doubting the sincerity of the delivery. Ross Clelland

★★★★

★★★ ½

THE BABE RAINBOW

THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION

The Babe Rainbow EP

Give Up Your Dreams

Flightless/Remote Control

Caroline

Harvesting magical ‘60s psychfolk under the Byron Bay sun, The Babe Rainbow’s self-titled debut EP is awash in organic good vibes. Transporting us to faraway pastures, the trio of flower children sends us on a kaleidoscopic trip. Love Forever is a cosmic swirl of intoxicating psychedelic aromas while Secret Enchanted Broccoli Forest frees the hypnotic vocals and twangy sitar. Totally chilled hippie tunes Planet Junior and Ash May & Dr. Love Wisdom will have you swaying and seeing visions of summer. Magical music from one of the coolest bands floating around.

One of those fabulous Kiwi entities that have been around forever but most of us internationalists would barely have heard of, The Phoenix Foundation’s sixth studio album is a joyous rummage through harmony-layered peppy pop.

Cara Oliveri

Mac McNaughton

Eves The Behavior – Eves The Behavior Nick Batterham – Self Inflicted, No Sympathy Terror – The 25th Hour On And On - And The Wave Has Two Sides Slim Twig – Thank You For Stickin’ With Twig Glasfrosch – Nocturnes

Animal Collective’s collective catalogue is an obvious touchstone, albeit with much less arty tomfoolery. Bob Lennon John Dylan and the title track are both fabulous expositions of classic radio-friendly pop that sounds like if Crowded House had taken the electronic route and clubbed more.

THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 31

live reviews

THE WOMBATS Hordern Pavilion 27 Jul It was evident last night that Splendour In The Grass had got the better of The Wombats and their fans who were still kicking-on from the threeday festival. The Wombats appeared exhausted but played hard amid a backdrop of ﬂickering strobe lights. At times their sound was awfully disjointed but the three-piece used this energy - or lack thereof - to bring something new to their back catalogue. Jump Into The Fog was unrecognisable as it started, with an intro of fat bass lines and an out-of-time synth keyboard slotted in messily. Frontman Matthew

conviction as he delivered his famously awkward lyrics of romantic vulnerability. Overall, the set was far from polished with uncomfortable stuﬀ-ups and some experimental sounds that hurt the ear drums, but The Wombats channelled their exhausted energy into an honest and fair set of 17 tracks that a packed Hordern Pavilion lapped up. Finishing on Let’s Dance To Joy Division they jumped into the crowd, fumbled their way back on stage and played an outro that sounded as heavy and anarchic as Killing In The Name Of, an unorthodox set proving you can’t pigeon-hole them and they ain’t conforming to anyone’s expectations - or even their own set list’s. Hayley May Casey

POND @HORDERN PAVILION. PIC: JOSH GROOM

POND, YOLANDA BE COOL, MARK RONSON, JONES JNR, TKAY MAIDZA

The first address to the needy crowd was followed by a massive stuff-up in the track Greek Tragedy, which was sheepishly admitted, laughed off and then repeated four tracks later. Apparently this was a consequence of ‘”live music” and we should be thankful that we “were not at home, listening to the record and scratching our sacks” - nice segue.

28 Jul

32 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

Nick Allbrook, frontman of Pond, looked out of it as he swayed around on stage. Luckily it didn’t hinder their sound or performance; they delivered that beautiful, trippy, elongated guitar, wah-wah sound that is so enjoyable. Then, ﬁnally, Mark Ronson and his enormous band graced the podiums. Each guest came on and played their tunes with Ronson, both original collaborators and stand-ins for those not on tour. Theophilus London took us away with the ﬁrst couple of songs, while Ella Thompson performed Bang Bang Bang. Daniel

MARK RONSON @ HORDERN PAVILION. PIC: JOSH GROOM

Murphy looked dishevelled and had an air of Robert Smith’s “I don’t give a fuck, I’m a rockstar” attitude. Guitarist Tord Øverland Knudsen swept energetically across the stage alongside the drone camera that recorded the set; a little ambitious to air a live set in the aftermath of Splendour.

The back-end of the set evolved into a much tighter arrangement, with Murphy belting out high notes of

onto and around on stage. She rapped well, with speed and precision; however she appeared to be lip-syncing over the minor singing parts of her songs.

Hordern Pavilion

Jones Jnr from Katoomba showed oﬀ their amazing musical talent and lead singer Evan Jones’ vast vocal range. The fake American accents were a ‘little’ inauthentic, but we had to forgive because they were good. Double DJs Yolanda Be Cool then got the funky vibes happening in their sets between support acts. The energy in the room was piquing as the young ‘energiser bunny’, Tkay Maidza bounced

Oxford Art Factory 28 Jul If art-pop is a genre, then Totally Mild have nailed it. A quirky guitar, wonky beats and a pristine vocal combine to give this Melbourne band a unique ﬂavour that captures your attention. Lead singer Elizabeth Mitchell’s voice is sugary sweet and there’s a rich production to the music that feels better suited to good headphones than a live stage, but it’s nice to see how it’s made live. If you get an opportunity to see this band in a small relaxed venue, take it.

THE WOMBATS @ HORDERN PAVILION. PIC: ROHAN ANDERSON

Merriweather’s Stop Me was a major climax, as was I Can’t Lose with Keyone Starr. The crowd went wild as Kevin Parker performed three tracks with Ronson, delivering his signature dreamy tones while joined on stage by Kirin J Callinan. Miike Snow’s Andrew Wyatt stood out on his three songs, which included Somebody To Love Me. Ronson honoured Amy Winehouse before playing the original recording of their Valerie. The performance ended with Uptown Funk, with Thompson and Theophilus London taking the vocals and the other guests coming back on stage to dance it out. Jaws dropped and the crowd left on a complete high from the stratospheric performance they’d just partied to. Ronson just delivers every time! Kassia Aksenov

BEST COAST, TOTALLY MILD

With the glut of Splendour sideshows happening in Sydney tonight, you’d be excused for struggling to sell out a Tuesday night gig, but the sold-out sign is up at Oxford Art with eager punters keen to hear Best Coast before they head back to warmer climes. We’re surrounded by West Coast warmth immediately as one of their best, The Only Place, launches us into over an hour of constant music. There are no less than 19 songs played with tracks coming from all of their three albums plus the Fade Away EP. Bethany Cosentino performs with little chat or banter but manages to charm the crowd with her sensual vocal and casual hair-ﬂicking. Bobb Bruno is a demon on the guitar. He attacks his machine with abandon,

live reviews giving Cosentino a wall of sound to work with as she switches between guitar and tambourine. Almost the entire track list of their new album, California Nights, is performed and it’s an album full of heartbreak, yearning and moodiness. We’re taken along on the ride, but with not a lot to look at, we rely on the vocals swimming in our heads as we stare blankly or close our eyes to sway. As the band complete their encore track, Boyfriend, Bruno remains to give us a ﬁveminute blast of distortion from his guitar before hanging his instrument above him on the light rig and walking oﬀ, as we did, a combination of joy and sadness in our demeanour. Mick Radojkovic

thrashed their way on stage at 9.30pm to cheers and raised ﬁsts. Bass player Chilli Jesson spent the set teetering on the edge of rock god and petulant teen as he ﬂung himself across stage knocking over his microphone on dozens of occasions and generally stealing the focus from the band’s primary singer Thomas Fryer. His antics diminished an otherwise solid set which at times was refreshing as clean piano sounds swam under a huge wave of distortion and heavy drums. It was loud and often unsocial but ultimately tight and the crowd showed its appreciation, particularly for the hit that vaulted the band to prominence in 2013, Best Of Friends. The Vaccines obviously have quite a following. Fans were

BEST COAST @ OXFORD ART FACTORY. PIC: MUNYA CHAWORA

THE VACCINES, PALMA VIOLETS,GREEN BUZZARD Metro Theatre 28 Jul Recently signed by local label I Oh You, Green Buzzard started the London-centric evening with a bit of local flavour. It was one of the band’s first shows and touring nationally with Adelaide pub-rock quartet Bad//Dreems later this year will help refine their live sound and challenge them to generate a stronger onstage persona. They played a nice collection of tracks nonetheless and the early signs are positive. It was going to be a late show for a Tuesday. Palma Violets

Making the evening bearable (and pretty fun) were the tracks that had sent The Vaccines on the hype train half a decade ago. Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra), If You Wanna, Norgaard and Wetsuit had the entire crowd barking lyrics back to the band with vigour. There weren’t enough of these genuinely delightful moments though and apart from blaming the band’s “growth”, the concert’s overall denunciation could be due to the lack of authentic charisma shown by anyone in the five-piece. They certainly tried but attempts seemed just that - trying... Rock shows should be more organic and surreptitiously engaging, leaving the audience sweaty and beaming without understanding why. It’s difficult to achieve and maybe it was because it was The Vaccines’ final show in

THE VACCINES @ METRO THEATRE. PIC: ROHAN ANDERSON

bursting out of their skins as their favourite band played a distinctly unraucous version of Handsome. It’s the best song from this year’s long player, English Graﬃti, and didn’t quite strike the chord it should have. The two-and-a-halfminute belter, which could be performed really nastily, was instead subdued as singer Justin Young was focusing more on strumming his acoustic guitar than energising the eager crowd. Unfortunately, this seemed to be the ﬂavour for the evening. The Vaccines did their best with the material they have but there were just too many down moments. Melody Calling needs to be hidden in a bottom drawer somewhere and never spoken of again. Give Me A Sign and other insipidly obvious attempts at making stadium rock should be ripped up.

reproduce consistent tracks of old in the future for their army of fans, many of whom didn’t wait for the triple encore at this disappointing show. Jack Lynch

MØ, ELLIPHANT Oxford Art Factory 29 Jul Tonight’s show was a Scandinavian aﬀair, with Oxford Art Factory hosting Swedish rapper Elliphant and Danish singer Karen Marie Ørsted, better known by her stage name MØ, for their Splendour In The Grass sideshow. Elliphant took charge of warming up the crowd, ploughing through her aggressive set with ease. The crowd lapped up every bit of

MØ @ OXFORD ART FACTORY. PIC: NAT GARDNER

their Australian tour but their performance was deﬁnitively lacklustre. It’s lucky the good songs are great because the show was not. It skimmed along the surface and was propped up by some generous overexcited fans. The Vaccines are a good band - this is doubtless. But they need to delineate their sound. Are they pop maestros, garage or swelling rock musicians? Once this has been established, the show will have greater cohesion and will enable consistency whether it’s lively, pretty or utterly debauched. When introducing the sixth song for the evening, Young said, “This one’s a new one but it’s a very good one.” The song was called Minimal Aﬀection. Maybe sometimes a band needs to look backwards to go forward. Let’s hope The Vaccines can

energy she gave, as she spat her edgy, husky rhymes. It was apt that the show was in a small venue, as often Elliphant’s set felt like a DJ set in an underground nightclub, even incorporating some deep bass in her later tracks. Set highlights included newbie Love Me Badder, Only Getting Younger and festival song, Live Till I Die. MØ entered stage right to kick oﬀ her set, bringing with her a small, but mighty stage presence. From the moment she began singing there was no doubt in anyone’s mind about the authenticity of her powerhouse vocals. Having such a great voice might excuse one from having to interact with the crowd, but not MØ, who insisted that the crowd enjoy themselves as much as she evidently was, as she energetically bounced around the stage. THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 33

live reviews She powered through most tracks from her debut, No Mythologies To Follow, with crowd favourites Walk This Way and Maiden making an appearance early on in the set. MØ is not one to be afraid of the people, often getting oﬀ stage to sing into the faces of the front row. She aptly ended the set with XXX 88 and Don’t Wanna Dance, encouraging everybody in the room to hip shake and groove to the tracks. An encore was called for, and the encore received was MØand pop BFF Elliphant’s collab hit, One More, before both artists literally stagedived into smash hit, Lean OnOne hopes to see this Scandinavian pair on our shores again very soon. Melissa Borg

whether behind it there’s a tale to tell. Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, the brother and sister trio from London amazed us with Kitty and Daisy’s striking patterned cat suits and Lewis’ dapper style. They were joined on stage by their parents on acoustic and bass/double bass, and Daisy announced they were going to play us some “shock ‘n’ roll”. Halfway through the first song, Daisy took to the keyboard to entertain us with some finger-thumping delight. During their set the Durham siblings switched instruments continuously, showing off their multi-instrumental talents. The first single from their latest record Baby Bye Bye elicited a grand reaction from the crowd, as did Kitty’s

KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS @ METRO THEATRE. PIC: JOSH GROOM

KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS, BIG SMOKE Metro Theatre 1 Aug Melbourne outﬁt Big Smoke brought us their country twang laced with an electric-rock ‘n’ roll twist as the entr&eacute;e last night. Looking ever the Melbourne hipster part, frontman Adrian Slattery’s moustache was remarkable. They played songs from their old album that were loyal to their country style as well as songs from their latest EP, in which Big Smoke have drifted away from the country sounds towards an indie ﬂavour. Title track Lately was delivered with standout passion, leaving the audience wondering 34 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

Sydney Opera House 1 Aug There’s something special about going to see a show at the Opera House. Its huge angular sails and cavernous performance spaces lend a distinct kind of magic to a night. As we sat in the Concert Hall, the air was ﬁlled with the anticipation of a few hundred former emo kids and indie rockers awaiting the arrival of Death Cab For Cutie.

Listening to Death Cab is like coming home for a lot of people. Death Cab’s music is so deeply connected to a certain time or feeling in people’s lives, and that really came through in those more emotional moments like You’ve Haunted Me All My Life and I Will Follow You Into The Dark. This journey to Feelsville couldn’t have ended on a better note, as they signed oﬀ with Transatlanticism. Hattie O'Donnell

Protesting that he didn’t know what they were doing in such a huge setting, Ben Gibbard likened it to playing a piano recital when he was a kid. Despite this, the band ﬁlled the Concert Hall with a huge

KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS @ METRO THEATRE. PIC: JOSH GROOM

phenomenal harmonica skills. The family band invited Jamaican trumpeter Eddie “Tan Tan” Thornton to the stage for three blissful tracks, including Whenever You See Me, which touches on media hot topic, catcalling. Slyly, Kitty told us there would only be time for one more before they belted out their incredible cover Going Up The Country, sending the crowd into hysterical bopping and foot-stomping. The band then came back for a 15minute encore that included a cheekily extended tune (that was maybe a tad overdone). They closed with their version of Mean Son Of A Gun, showcasing for one ﬁnal time their aptitude, musical ability and astonishing showpersonship. Kassia Aksenov

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE @ SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE. PIC: CLARE HAWLEY

sound, mixing new tunes and old faithfuls like Passenger Seat and Your Heart Is An Empty Room. Though this year’s tour promotes their newest oﬀering, Kintsugi, songs from earlier albums stood apart, enhanced by the phenomenal acoustics of the space - especially the complicated arrangement of I Will Possess Your Heart. With a mammoth twohour set, happily, despite their 18-year existence, Gibbard’s voice is unchanged and just as emotive. Similarly unchanged is his side fringe, which was staunchly settled in 2005. Being the ﬁrst tour since the departure of keys player Chris Walla, it was an interesting dynamic on stage, going from moments of intimate call-andanswer with the audience in Soul Meets Body to jamming that looked like something from a stadium show.

MORE REVIEWS

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THE DISTRICTS @ NEWTOWN SOCIAL CLUB. PIC: NAT GARDNER

Caitlin Harnett @ The Basement Shlohmo @ Metro Theatre

arts reviews

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION Film

In cinemas

★★★★ Audiences after car/motorcycle/ foot chases, gunfights, fistfights, daring break-ins and break-outs won’t feel short-changed by the latest globe-trotting mission by super-spy Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his colleagues at the top-secret Impossible Mission

Force, because Rogue Nation has all that; but its daredevil star and producer isn’t content to let the stunts and set pieces do the heavy lifting here. As the film begins, the CIA is finally fed up with the destructive (if worldsaving) antics of Hunt and IMF, shutting down their shop and putting out an arrest warrant for Hunt. Bad timing, because Hunt finally has a lead on The Syndicate, a worldwide network of wrongdoers. Tracking down The Syndicate’s mastermind, Solomon Lane (Sean Harris, seething nicely), would be tough enough for Hunt without the CIA on his trail, so it’s fortunate (or is it?) that he has the help of Syndicate operative Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson), whose loyalties are... undetermined. Screenwriter-director Christopher McQuarrie is a great addition to the Mission: Impossible crew, bringing an Hitchcockian elegance to proceedings, but the most valuable player is Cruise, who slyly acknowledges the absurdity of everything while charging through it like a locomotive. Guy Davis

TRAINWRECK Film

In cinemas 6 Aug

★★★★ Lead star and writer Amy Schumer plays Amy Townsend who, when not working at a her job as a magazine writer on such charming topics as “whether garlic makes semen taste any different”, engages herself in one-night stands with men and disposes of them before they can offer her breakfast. After she’s assigned to write a piece on sports physician Aaron Conners (Bill Hader), Amy finds herself falling for him and her insecurities and fear of commitment soon unravel. Schumer is known for her often vulgar sense of humour, and there’s no shortage of it here. But as Apatow always can do with his cast, we see a new side to Schumer that isn’t all sex jokes and innuendo; we see a vulnerable, flawed woman who has been raised to fear intimacy. While her character can often display incredibly

unlikeable features (like avoiding a break-up talk with her boyfriend because she is too high), Hader’s sweet, funny personality brings out the best in her and in his own character. Honourable mentions must be made to living basketball legend LeBron James who plays himself as Hader’s oversensitive friend and WWE superstar John Cena as one of Schumer’s love interests/a sexually confused man. The two athletes flex more than their muscle here as they respectively steal nearly all of the scenes in which they feature. Neil Griffiths

TRAINWRECK

THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 35

36 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

the guide

WINTERFEST

Winterfest returns to The Loft and UTS Underground on 7 Aug. Talk Too Much crooner and triple j darling Andy Bull will be headlining. Also gracing the event is Just A Gent, alongside electronic duo Slumberjack. The toasty lineup doesn’t stop there with KLP (DJ set), Indian Summer, ODD MOB, GRMM, Hatch, Tear Council, Owen Rabbit, Housing Corp, Sooreyah and DJ Arthur rounding it out. If you’re a student, you get a nice discount on tix, too. All the fun kicks off from 6pm. This’ll keep you warm, hey?

Andy Bull, Just A Gent and KLP. Pic: Josh Groom.

THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 37

eat/drink steph@themusic.com.au

GETTING ROASTY Vegos and vegans, sorry, nothing to see here. Omnis, it’s all about roast meats here. And some seasoning ideas. Illustrations Brendon Wellwood.

Chicken Sweet ‘n’ sour: Soak your chicken in a brine of salt, brown sugar, water and white vinegar, then dry rub with brown sugar, paprika, chilli powder, pepper, garlic, cumin, nutmeg and salt. After roasting, sauce with honey and cider vinegar. Masala: For a Masala roast, add lemon juice, minced ginger, minced garlic, green chilli, salt, coriander, garam masala and butter to your rub, pop the bird in foil and cook for 45 minutes on medium heat. Fragrant: Rub with garlic, crumbed bay leaves, paprika, salt, chilli and olive oil. Turn regularly during the roast and baste each side with a mixture of coconut milk, olive oil and minced garlic. Beef Rich: For a dry rub, combine paprika, garlic powder, salt, cinnamon, cumin and dried parsley together. Spicy: For a spicy wet rub, add pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary leaves, thyme, oregano 38 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

and cayenne pepper to olive oil and leave on the beef overnight. Asian-inspired: Add to soy sauce some fresh lemon juice, minced fresh ginger, lemon peel, honey and minced garlic. Leave overnight for a more tender result. Lamb Refreshing: Olive oil to start, then rub on brown sugar, mint, lemon rind and oregano. Sweet ‘n’ savoury: Combine salt, pepper, Dijon mustard, orange rind, honey and crushed basil together for a wet rub. Pork Decadent: Rub the pork with oil, rosemary, salt and pepper, sear for about four minutes. Cook in foil in the oven for 15 minutes whilst melting butter, garlic, red onion and red wine to a pan to make a jus. Fruity: Mix sliced apple, fennel, onion, olive oil, salt pepper and cider vinegar to the pork, cover with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Add extra oil after about 30 minutes.

HOT SPOT City2Surf Rehydration Party 9 Aug, Queen Elizabeth Drive at the southern end of Bondi Pavilion

AND NOW, IT’S TIME FOR A ROAST Roasts are amazing any time of year, but particularly in winter. Their very name screams, “YOU WILL EAT ME AND I WILL WARM YOU AND STRENGTHEN YOU, SO THAT YOU MAY MAKE IT THROUGH THE HARSH COLD AND BURST FORTH INTO SPRING, NOURISHED.” Or something like that. Pubs and restaurants often still do a Sunday roast, because that’s what the people want. Isn’t it weird that your simple olive oil, S&P, garlic and herb seasoning can produce a result just as delicious as some super fancy, 20-ingredient marinade? It’s truly a versatile dish that holds a lot of ritualistic, cultural, historical and familial meaning. Trends will come and trends will go, but roasts are forever.

If you’re partaking in City2Surf on 9 Aug, not only will conquering Heartbreak Hill gratify you, but The Bucket List Bondi also has a reward just beyond the finish line. Hosting this year’s Rehydration Party, they will replace your electrolytes with their $12 Coconut Mojito, consisting of H2Coco and rum, or maybe you’ll be in dire need of their thirst quencher jugs for $20 each. Head Chef Tom Walton’s giant paella pan will also be available for $15, full of fresh local prawns, young Kinkawooka mussels and calamari. The Rehydration Party is not only open to participants, but also spectators and those who just want to party: doors open at 2pm and there''ll be coastal deep house tunes from The Barney Cools.

ON THE SIDE

If you wanna try something different from classic roast veg – here are some suggestions. Hasselback potatoes: slice a potato to your desired thickness; stop right before you get to the bottom. Brush with oil/fat/ butter and bake for 30min, then brush again, and continue baking for 30/40min. Roasted brussels sprouts: Roast brussels sprouts seasoned with salt, pepper and olive oil. When they’re done toss in a little more olive oil, honey and balsamic vinegar. Hot, buttered cauliflower puree: Cook cauli florets in salted boiling water until tender. Put on baking paper and bake in oven for 5min to dry out. Combine cream and butter in a saucepan over medium heat until butter’s melted. Puree the cauli into the cream mix with a stick blender.

THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 39

the guide nsw.live@themusic.com.au

CHART WRAP

EMILY WILLIAMS

Stalwart Australian singersongwriter Tex Perkins and his band The Dark Horses have claimed the highest debut spot on this week’s Carlton Dry Independent Music Charts, with their new album Tunnel At The End Of The Light making a strong entry atop this week’s pile of fresh faces to take the #5 spot. In the full-lengths stakes, the achievement is extra notable as Perkins & The Dark Horses make up half the new entrants for the week, coming in solidly ahead of their nearest competitors, Full Tote Odds, whose The Chosen Few makes its way into the top 20 at #17. Although Flight Facilities made a decent jump (three spots) to once again crack the top five and settle at #4, it was unlikely Tex & Co were going to break the glass ceiling laid down by incumbents Seth Sentry (#3), Hermitude (#2) and Sia (#1), who all remain unmoved for another week. However, had The Dark Horses been releasing a single this week, they’d have had a harder run for their money — Emily Williams leads the cabal of new entrants with The Way It Is, inside the top 10 at #7. Flight Facilities also welcome another track onto the charts with Heart Attack, featuring Owl Eyes — that picks up #15 — while Airling rounds out the newcomers for the week with Stallin’, which just makes it in at the #20 cutoff. Impressively, the Singles top five is made up of only two acts this week: Hermitude take #2 and #3 with The Buzz (ft Mataya & Young Tapz) and Searchlight (feat. Yeo), while Sia sits pretty at #1 (Elastic Heart), #4 (Big Girls Cry) and #5 (Chandelier). 40 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

LIVE THIS WEEK

LIGHT UP

VENTURING OUT

SLY OL’ FOX

Before joining King Parrot 28 Aug at Studio 6, Sutherland, 29 Aug Woy Woy Leagues and 30 Aug Bald Faced Stag, Daemon Pyre play Friday at Newtown Social Club and Saturday at The Basement, Canberra.

Perth doom/stoner-rock trio Puck have announced they’re heading out on an east coast tour. Armed with new single Take The Day, they’ll be performing Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Thursday.

The Sly Fox has had a slick makeover, reinventing itself. With its name now slightly changed to Slyfox, the venue hosts Mojo Juju, pictured, The Double Shadows and Lyre Birdland on Thursday.

UBERFEST 2015

FIRST THINGS FIRST

FEELING SCATTERED

UBERfest takes over Lewisham Hotel on Saturday, the lineup including Miss Mikaila, Bounty Hunters, Stormbird, Into The Wild, Daddy Frisco, Be Faced, Fifth Dawn, The Radics and stacks more.

Sydney-based duo Vallis Alps are heading out on their debut headline shows, following their first festival performance at Splendour. Supported by Melbourne hip hop/electro duo Fortunes, Vallis Alps head to Goodgod Small Club, Thursday.

Post -punk band from ‘79the ‘80s, Scattered Order, will be performing at Valve Bar on Friday, with Dominic Talarico, Yes, I’m Leaving and Skull & Dagger also on the bill for the evening.

MAKING A MOVE

AT ONCE

TASTE OF HEAVEN

Sydney psych-rockers Upskirts are building a fair bit of hype at the moment, and as a result they’re playing their EP Barely Moving all around the east coast in August: Hotel Steyne, Friday; Newtown Social Club, 14 Aug; Rad Bar, Wollongong, 21 Aug.

Electronic performer Ngaiire has a new single out, named Once, which she co-wrote with Megan Washington and Paul Mac. You know it’s gonna be good, and she’ll be playing it this Thursday, Newtown Social Club.

James Teague launches new single, Heaven, Sunday at Smith’s Alternative Bookshop, Canberra, 27 Aug at The Music Hunter Experience, Katoomba, and 28 Aug at Petersham Bowling Club.

HEAD INTO LANE 8

PUNCH HAPPY

SIGHT & SOUND

Lane 8, aka Daniel Goldstein, has been releasing a swathe of game-changing records and remixes. Off the back of debut, Rise, he’s coming Down Under to play Wednesday, El Topo Basement and Friday, Mr Wolf in Canberra.

Hobart riff rockers Verticoli have a spooky/fun clip out for new single, Happiness, from forthcoming album, Punching Bag, and play it and more live Saturday at Lansdowne Hotel, Sunday at Frankie’s Pizza.

Sydney artists have donated works to be auctioned Sunday at Create or Die Gallery, Marrickville, as ONE:Sydney, to raise funds for Asylum Seekers’ Centre, with music, poetry and performance art.

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the guide nde.live@themusic.com.au

LIVE THIS WEEK

TONNON ON TOP

SIBLING LOVE

SPEEDBALL NERDS

Hear New Zealand’s Anthonie Tonnon’s adventurous guitar sounds and art-pop vibe when he comes to Camelot Lounge, Thursday, with Melodie Nelson & The Singing Skies.

Sibling alt-folk duo The Acfields have a new single titled The Years, a story which they’re aching to tell in a live setting. Catch them when they stop by Lizotte’s Newcastle, Wednesday; Humph Hall, Friday.

Sydney four-piece Nerdlinger release their Trend Setter EP on Friday and launch it Saturday at Manning Bar, 28 Aug at Magpies in Canberra, 29 Aug at Dicey Riley’s, Wollongong and 12 Sep at Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle.

MAJOR MINOR

COUNTRIES UNITED

PORTLAND PITTS

Gold Coast suit-and-tie rockers Double Lined Minority launch their new single, Get Around, this Sunday at Valve Bar.

Country songsmiths Aly Cook (NZ) and Ben Ransom will bring their mid-week showcase to The Basement on Wednesday. Each promoting a new album, the pair will be supported by Sydney country duo NEILLYRICH.

Backed by a band for the first time, singer-songwriter Grace Pitts swings her Portlandinfluenced tunes and For You EP over to Brass Monkey with supports Nathan Hawkes and Jack Howden this Thursday.

CROOKED GYPSY

FLYYING NORTH

HOMECOMING

As a part of their Through Gypsy Eyes tour, Lepers & Crooks are set to fill Oxford Art Factory with their thoughtprovoking songs in a must-see dynamic delivery on Saturday.

Backing latest single Running Late, Melbourne shoegaze heroes Flyying Colours land at Bondi’s Beach Road Hotel for some heavy tunes and vintage ‘90s vibes with support from Battleships on Wednesday.

Recently signed to the label of Flume and Chet Faker, George Maple brings her acclaimed electro-pop and debut EP to Manning Bar on Thursday with support from Woodes X Elkkle and Gordi.

CHASING THE BLUES

ALLSTAR ACADEMY

CROWN OF METAL

Chase The Sun, the rock trio with a blues influence a la Stevie Ray Vaughan, will exhibit their contemporary take on classic sound at a free performance held at the Sports Bar on Sunday.

The Circle Music Academy showcases students of all ages on Sunday at Coogee Diggers, with performances from Uke Junction, The Thursday Collective, Circle Music Allstars and Megasaurus.

Returning from LA with their fresh album Forked Road, Crowned Kings will be pumping out their heavy tunes alongside Taken By The Force, Deadly Visions, Two Faced and Homesick this Saturday at Hermanns Bar.

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THIS WEEK’S RELEASES… THE JUNGLE GIANTS Speakerzoid Amplifire LINDI ORTEGA Faded Gloryville Cooking Vinyl THE RUBENS Hoops Ivy League/Liberation DEAF WISH Pain Sub Pop/Inertia THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 41

the guide nsw.live@themusic.com.au

SINGLE FOCUS

EP FOCUS

and demoing new tracks before going into the studio again towards the end of the year to lay down the rest of the next EP, which Whole Body will appear on.

NOVA & THE EXPERIENCE Answered by: Anna Buckingham Single title? Whole Body What’s the song about? It’s about James getting his heart ripped apart from when he least expected it. How long did it take to write/ record? Writing the initial demo came naturally as James bled out the lyrical content very quickly; the arrangement came a little slower and wasn’t until in the studio with JP that it came together. Is this track from a forthcoming release/existing release? Currently we are writing

What was inspiring you during the song’s writing and recording? It was an amazing experience working with JeanPaul Fung ( JP) and he inspired us immensely. The legend himself, plus a lot of wine, fairly lights and crazy costumes that we brought into the mix. We’ll like this song if we like... Sex. Hating on ex-partners. Lyric-based songs. When and where is your launch/ next gig? The Small Ballroom, Newcastle, 1 Aug; Newtown Social Club 8, Aug, The Illawarra Brewery, Wollongong; 5 Church Street, Bellingen. We have a 16-date Australian tour before heading over the USA in September for five weeks. Website link for more info? novaandtheexperience.com

What’s your favourite song on it? I’d have to say Hope; it really grooves and has some fun progression. It’s probably the most uplifting track.

THE LOCKHEARTS Answered by: Tim Meaco EP title? Tales From The Sea, Vol I & II How many releases do you have now? Aside from a couple of singles, this double EP is our only record out. Two EPs with four tracks apiece.

We’ll like this EP if we like... The Black Crowes, Jack White, The Bronx, Black Sabbath... Bluesyhard rock with incendiary guitar sounds and bell-bottom swagger. When and where is your launch/next gig? Brighton Up Bar, 8 Aug. After touring nationally for the past few months we’re pretty excited to let loose on home turf. It’s always a party at Brighton. Website link for more info? facebook.com/thelockhearts

Was anything in particular inspiring you during the making? We recorded in a house in the northern beaches, channeling a Zeppelin-esque fashion; drums in the stairwell, everything turned up to 11. Accompanied by the studio dog Billy, who would sing whenever we recorded harmonica.

SINGLE FOCUS

FOR THE BENEFIT OF loss for ourselves and future generations if we don’t stand up and be heard. Who else is helping on the night? We have some great young talent who are graciously donating their time. Both musical and visual artists alike.

GOOD GREEF Answered by: Alex Prudames Who is the benefit for? Good Greef is in proud support of WWF Australia’s Fight for the Reef campaign. Why do they need help? We are aiming to raise awareness to the destruction of arguably one of our nations most beautiful landmarks, and raise money for a charity that is directly ﬁghting to preserve the wondrous Great Barrier Reef. What’s the current situation like? The threat from widespread, damaging and rapid industrial developments is very real. It would be a huge 42 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

Musically: Smaal Cats, pictured, The Dinlows, Salvador Dali Llama, and Suns Of The Universe.

THE LAURELS Single title? Zodiac K

We’ll like this song if we like... Listening to music by yourself, fat drums, exploring the cosmos.

Visual artistry by Nuttail, Sam Dreams and iamboobs.

What’s the song about? Josef K (The Trial/Kafka), astrology, serial killers, psychics.

Do you play it differently live? Yep. Normally out of time, despite our best efforts.

How long did it take to write/ record? Recording was about a week all up... but that was spread out over two years.. It was written over one or two nights.

When and where is your launch/next gig? 8 Aug, Uni Bar, Wollongong; 29 Aug, Volumes , Oxford Square.

When and where can we help out? Factory Floor, 9 Aug! Tickets online at Factory’s website and limited at the door. Website link for more info? facebook.com/pages/GOODGREEF/1594793987460758

Is this track from a forthcoming release/existing release? You can download it for free from the Rice Is Nice SoundCloud page. It will be on a mix coming out later this year. What was inspiring you during the song’s writing and recording? Ayrton Senna.

Website link for more info? facebook.com/theelaurels

opinion MODERATELY HIGHBROW VISUAL ART WANK AND THEATRE FOYERS WITH DAVE DRAYTON In which we examine unique ways to break theatre’s fourth wall. At a performance of Robert Askins’ Hand To God (which has been described as the offspring of The Book Of Mormon, which itself will finally be in Australia next year, and Avenue Q, which is currently playing at the Metro, at Booth Theatre in New York City), just as the play was about to start an audience member jumped on stage to plug his phone into the set’s (fake) electrical outlet to get a little charge. The perpetrator, Nick Silvestri, has recently apologised for his actions in a public statement, grounding his apology in a comprehension of performance he says he gained by playing on the college lacrosse team. Inspired by the absolute idiocy of this audience member I’ve attempted to imagine a theatrical faux pas that, while hypothetical at this stage, would induce a similar level of head-shaking disbelief. Death Of A Salesman Directed Simon Stone Belvoir, 10 August 2012 Tyler, aged 34, climbed onto the stage and into the passenger seat of the mid-’90s white Ford Falcon that was acting as the centerpiece of Ralph Myers’ set and began frantically punching buttons on the dash, trying in vain to gain an update on the Rabbitohs score from the car radio. The Bunnies lost 23-6 to the Eagles, ending a sixgame winning streak.

HAND TO GOD

THE HEAVY SHIT

OG FLAVAS

METAL AND HARD ROCK WITH CHRIS MARIC

URBAN AND R&B NEWS WITH CYCLONE

NORTHLANE

For all the talk about rock and metal being dead from various quarters (even our own) evidence to the contrary is all around. So, as per the above, the ARIA Charts for this week will well and truly be days old when you read this however ,at the time of writing, the chart for the forthcoming week sees a battle between Northlane and Lamb Of God for poll position. Two bands with limited (Northlane on the Js) or no (LoG) mainstream airplay whatsoever have managed to beat out everything else that week in terms of albums sold. It’s nothing new of course &#151; Far Beyond Driven debuted at #1 waaay back in 1994. I remember it well as I was a year 12 kid working in K-Mart and took much pleasure in rearranging the chart wall that week to put Pantera in the top spot, and metal albums have continued to score highly in the charts ever since. Heavy music will be dominating the charts with new albums for the next few months too. LoG’s Randy Blythe said recently that the fact that the band were staring down the barrel of a US #1 on the Billboard charts was incredible too, especially when they’re up against R&B superstar Jill Scott who, while certainly having a much bigger fanbase, will likely lose out ‘cause “metal fans actually buy records”. Don’t make him out to be a liar now!

If you want a glimpse into what the old adage of sex, drugs and rock’n’roll can do to you (namely drugs) then check out a movie/ doco called Last Days Here, which came out in 2011 but would likely be new to everyone with a recent Netflix account. It centres around Bobby Liebling, the frontman for America’s answer to Black Sabbath, Pentagram; a band, like Anvil and several other bands, who almost made it but ultimately failed, yet influenced dozens of bands who went on to eclipse their inspiration. Essentially giving birth to the US doom scene in the ‘70s, Pentagram fell victim to Liebling’s addictions right when they were due to sign to a major and potentially crack it big time. From then on it was a life of Spinal Tap proportions: a million band members, half-arsed reunions and tumbles off the stage. Last Days Here chronicles one man, former Relapse label guy Sean ‘Pellet’ Pelletier and his quest to get Liebling off drugs, out of his elderly parents’ basement (where the then 55 year old lived in total squalor) and release one more kickass album via Phil Anselmo’s Housecore Records label. What transpires will leave you feeling sorry, frustrated, excited and apathetic all at once. Highly recommended.

Rising MC Elliphant (aka Ellinor Olovsdotter) can’t help but be novel: she’s Swedish but raps in a Jamaican patois over dancehall, moombahton and trap. It’s understandable that Olovsdotter should connect with an ‘outsider’ music. Her background is one of dislocation and disadvantage – she was raised by a “junkie” single mum, and struggled with ADD and dyslexia. Olovsdotter had already released an album in Sweden when, with co-signs from Diplo and Skrillex, she generated heat here with 2014’s bangin’ post-MIA EP Look Like You Love It - including Revolusion and Only Getting Younger. She guests on Major Lazer’s blockbuster Peace Is The Mission. Olovsdotter just appeared at Splendour In The Grass and then opened for fellow Scandinavian MØ – her soulful partner on the contra-EDM One More – at side-shows. Accompanied by a DJ/hypeman, she performed her “tropical pop” with Valkyrie street-punk swagger. Olovsdotter will drop her international debut, Living Life Golden, in September. Aussie Iggy Azalea, wannabe Southern ratchet rapper, has recharged old debates about white co-option and privilege. Sure, Barack Obama was hailed as a “post-racial President”. And today ‘urban’ is the dominant pop genre. Inevitably, artists globally have been influenced by it – remember that cred UK council estate kid Lady Sovereign, once signed to Def Jam? Yet racism hasn’t vapourised... Ironically, industry figures now hold that Iggy is history – no longer ‘cool’. Olovsdotter, transcultural Booty Killah, needs to stay conscious.

ELLIPHANT

THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 43

the guide nsw.gigguide@themusic.com.au

THE MUSIC PRESENTS

WED 05

Vallis Alps + Fortunes: Goodgod Small Club, Sydney

Glenn Esmond: Chatswood RSL, Chatswood

Musos Club Jam Night: Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt

30/70 + Erah + Thesias Flung: La De Da, Belconnen

Open Mic Night: Balgownie Hotel, Balgownie

Pardon My French: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville

Hucci + Spenda C + Aywy + Ventures: Chinese Laundry, Sydney

Flyying Colours: Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach

George Maple + Woodes + Elkkle + Gordi: Manning Bar, Camperdown

Chris Radburn + Katie Burch: Brass Monkey, Cronulla Mitch Anderson & His Organic Orchestra: Coopers Hotel, Newtown The Ivory Elephant + Narla: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney Hammerhead: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville Live & Local feat. Jamie Forsberg + The Acfields + James Bennett + Hayley Mast: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton

AN EVENING WITH KEVIN SMITH: 18 SEP STATE THEATRE

Simon & Garfunkel Tribute: Mounties, Mt Pritchard Ngaiire + The Venusians + Left: Newtown Social Club, Newtown Matt Jones Duo: Orient Hotel, The Rocks Insert Coin(s) - Back In The Game: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst

Garry Who: Oatley Hotel, Oatley

Dumb Punts + Pow Pow Kids + The Ganaschz: Rad Bar, Wollongong

Adz & Cookie: Orient Hotel, The Rocks

Clash Of The Bands Heat 1: Rock Lily, Pyrmont

Indie, Roots & Soul with Ethan Conway Duo + Kirsty Bolton + Madison Jade: Play Bar, Surry Hills

Hot Damn! feat. Tony Lovato (Mest) + Jake Grigg + Home On A Monday + Double Lined Minority + Hey Reckless: Spectrum, Darlinghurst

Lepers & Crooks + Capital Coast + Ego Monkey + Coast & Ocean: Rad Bar, Wollongong

The Biggest Comedy Show on Earth: Comedy Store, Moore Park Em Rusciano: Comedy Store (7pm), Moore Park Soulganic: Coogee Diggers, Coogee The Headliners: Dundas Sports Club, Dundas Soundproofed: Engadine Tavern (Mcalister Bar), Engadine Wil Anderson: Enmore Theatre, Newtown Blake Wiggins: Figtree Hotel, West Wollongong Blake Tailor: Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor Grime Time feat. Champain Lyf + Aiden Bennison + more: Goodgod Small Club, Sydney Upskirts: Hotel Steyne (Moonshine Rum & Cider Bar), Manly

Joseph Calderazzo + Simon Meli + Jak Housden: Rock Lily, Pyrmont

Basement Jazz Series feat. Showa 44 + Mike Nock + Laurence Pike: The Basement, Sydney

The Acfields: Humph Hall, Allambie Heights

An Evening With Kevin Smith: 18 Sep State Theatre

Aly Cook + Ben Ransom: The Basement, Sydney

Yours & Owls Music & Arts Festival Weekender: 2 & 3 Oct Stuart Park North Wollongong

Ben Camden + Nick Murray: The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville

OXJam feat. Orion + Point Being + Tim & The Boys: The Chippendale Hotel, Chippendale

Volumes 2015: 29 Aug Oxford Art Factory, The Cliff Dive, Brighton Up Bar

The BellRays: 8 Aug Small Ballroom Newcastle, 9 Newtown Social Club

Grenadiers: 29 Aug Newtown Social Club

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead: 14 Aug Manning Bar

BAD//DREEMS: 9 Oct Oxford Art Factory

Vintage & Custom Drum Expo: 16 Aug Factory Theatre

Laura Marling: 20 Oct Enmore Theatre

Timberwolf: 21 Aug Newtown Social Club

Gentlemen Of The Road: 14 Nov The Domain

Whole Lotta Love: 28 & 29 Aug Laycock Street Theatre, 5 Sep State Theatre

Bluesfest: 24  28 Mar, Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm

Sarah Belkner + Katie Wighton: The Newsagency, Marrickville Dumb Punts + Pow Pow Kids: The Pier, Port Macquarie The Wild Wild Inner West Revue with Michael Carpenter & The Cuban Heels + Bree De Rome + Jason Walker + Mark Moldre: The Vanguard, Newtown Gang Of Youths + I Know Leopard: Transit Bar, Canberra The Blindfolds + The Dysfunctions + David Aurora: Valve Bar, Ultimo

Oh Mercy: 28 Aug Oxford Art Factory, 29 Cambridge Hotel Newcastle

THU 06

The Bandits: Blacktown Workers Club ( Jack McNamara Lounge), Blacktown Grace Pitts + Nathan Hawes + Jake Howden: Brass Monkey, Cronulla Anthonie Tonnon + Melodie Nelson + The Singing Skies: Camelot Lounge (Django Bar), Marrickville Rubber Soul Revolver feat. Husky Gawenda + Jordie Lane + Marlon Williams + Fergus Linacre: Canberra Theatre, Canberra Musos Club Jam Night: Carousel Inn, Rooty Hill The Biggest Comedy Show on Earth: Comedy Store, Moore Park

YOURS & OWLS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL WEEKENDER FT GANG OF YOUTHS: 2 & 3 OCT STUART PARK NORTH WOLLONGONG

Stayin’ Alive - The Australian Bee Gees Show: Dapto Leagues Club (Auditorium), Dapto Hobo Magic + Puck: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney

Jack Carty + Jordan Millar: The Commons, Hamilton Scott & Sean’s Happy Bacon Thursday with Mic Conway with Robbie Long: The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville Flyying Colours: The Phoenix, Canberra Mojo Juju + The Double Shadows + Lyre Byrdland: The Sly Fox, Enmore The Gunn Show + Fox Company + Pyromance + The Swamp Crocs + Reidemeister: The Vanguard, Newtown Aine Tyrrell + Mick Daley: Valve Bar, Ultimo

FRI 07

Steve Crocker: 99 On York, Sydney

The Roar feat. Sub & Creep: Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt Visions with Flyying Colours: Bank Hotel (Waywards), Newtown The Filth feat. Castlecomer: Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach I Am Apollo + Vince Purcell + Greg Attwells: Brass Monkey, Cronulla

Jess Dunbar + DJ Pulse: Jacksons on George (PJ’s Irish Whiskey Bar), Sydney DJ Nrichd: Jacksons on George (Temple Bar), Sydney Loaded Six Strings: Kings Park Tavern, Kings Park 30/70 + Blue Eyes Cry: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville Angry Little Gods + Pirra & Mere Cats: Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham DJ Sam Wall: Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly Jon Spencer Blues Explosion: Manning Bar, Camperdown Dirty Cash: Marble Bar, Sydney Glenn Esmond: Marlborough Hotel, Newtown Ember: Marquee, Pyrmont Drapht + The Funkoars + Ellesquire: Metro Theatre, Sydney Swingshift - Cold Chisel Show: Moorebank Sports Club, Hammondville Lane 8: Mr Wolf, Canberra Orpheus Omega + Hadal Maw + The Seer + Daemon Pyre + Immorium: Newtown Social Club, Newtown Nik Nak: Oatley Hotel, Oatley Reckless + Dave Mason Cox: Orient Hotel, The Rocks

Seims + Mushroom Giant: Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst

Big Smack: Oriental Hotel, Springwood

Mescalero feat. Steve Edmonds: Camden RSL, Camden

Lepers & Crooks: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst

Bump City: Camelot Lounge, Marrickville

Mic Conway with Robbie Long: Paragon Cafe, Katoomba

The Blues Preachers + Dom Turner: Camelot Lounge (Django Bar), Marrickville

The Angels: Penrith Panthers (Evan Theatre), Penrith

Tantrum Desire: Candys Apartment, Potts Point

1000S OF GIGS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. FOR MORE HEAD TO THEMUSIC.COM.AU 44 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015

Blake Dantier: Colonial Hotel, Werrington

John Encarnacao: The Annandale Hotel, Annandale

Rubber Soul Revolver: 7 & 8 Aug Sydney Opera House Concert Hall

The Cactus Channel: 13 Aug The Phoneix Canberra, 14 Station Bar Katoomba, 15 Newtown Social Club

The Dominos: Marble Bar, Sydney

Heath Lincoln: Collector Hotel, Parramatta

The Rockhoppers: Penrith RSL, Penrith

the guide nsw.gigguide@themusic.com.au Brasilian Journey II feat. Bateria 61: Play Bar, Surry Hills

Live Tonight: St George Leagues, Kogarah

They Call Me Bruce: Quakers Inn, Quakers Hill

James Morrison + Megan Washington + Marian Petrescu: State Theatre, Sydney

Gareth Psaltis + jeromv: Rad Bar, Wollongong

Rubber Soul Revolver feat. Husky Gawenda + Jordie Lane + Marlon Williams + Fergus Linacre: Sydney Opera House (Concert Hall), Sydney

Salsa Kingz: Revesby Workers (Infinity Lounge), Revesby Sharon Muscat Duo + The Rocking Byrds + DJ Kitsch 78 + DJ Cool Jerk: Rock Lily, Pyrmont

The Protesters: The Annandale Hotel, Annandale

SIMA feat. The Jo Fabro Quintet: Seymour Centre (Sound Lounge), Darlington The Beatles Forever: Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra

THE BELLRAYS: 8 AUG SMALL BALLROOM NEWCASTLE, 9 NEWTOWN SOCIAL CLUB

Jack Carty + Jordan Millar: Street Theatre, Canberra Rubber Soul Revolver feat. Husky Gawenda + Jordie Lane + Marlon Williams + Fergus Linacre: Sydney Opera House (Concert Hall), Sydney

Cash - The Concert with Stuart French + Daniel Thompson + Tamara Stewart: Brass Monkey, Cronulla

Sultans Of Swing - Dire Straits Tribute with Eric Aranda: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton The Plan: Macarthur Tavern, Campbelltown

Orpheus Omega + Hadal Maw + Immorium + Daemon Pyre + Imperilment: The Basement, Belconnen Vanessa Heinitz: The Belvedere Hotel, Sydney The Beatles Forever: The Concourse, Chatswood Brad Johns: The Crest Hotel, Sylvania Blake Tailor: The Fiddler, Rouse Hill

The Sphinxes: Tahmoor Inn, Tahmoor

Tony Lovato (Mest) + Jake Grigg + Hey Reckless: Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle West

The Red Head + Jarryn Phegan: The Annandale Hotel, Annandale

El Orqueston: Camelot Lounge, Marrickville

DJ Brenny B Side: Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly

Suzanne Wyllie: The Basement, Sydney

One Hit Wonders: Caringbah Hotel, Caringbah

King Curly + Soursob Bob : The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville

Endangered Species: Carousel Inn, Rooty Hill

Good Riddance + Versus The World + Nerdlinger + Hurt Unit: Manning Bar, Camperdown

50 Million Beers: The Merton Hotel, Rozelle

KLP + Set Mo + Terace: Chinese Laundry, Sydney

The Slowdowns: The Old Growler, Darlinghurst

Masquerade Party with Didier Cohen: Marquee, Pyrmont

Funhouse feat. DJ Jimmy Dee + DJ Justin Scott: The Oxford Hotel (Oxford Bar), Darlinghurst

Bloody Kids + The Overtones + Eugene + Keystone: Club North Manly, North Manly

Gang Of Youths + I Know Leopard + Zefereli: Metro Theatre, Sydney

The BellRays + Dallas Frasca + Bandintexas: The Small Ballroom, Islington

The Biggest Comedy Show on Earth: Comedy Store, Moore Park

Nova & The Experience + Elliot The Bull + Past Paradise: Newtown Social Club, Newtown

Ivy + Eddie Boyd & The Phatapillars + Little Coyote: The Standard Bowl, Darlinghurst

Em Rusciano: Comedy Store (7pm), Moore Park

Retread: Oatley Hotel, Oatley

Paul Hayward + Friends: Town & Country Hotel, St Peters

Devotional + Roadhouses + Smoke Below: The Vanguard, Newtown Blaming Vegas: The Vineyard Hotel, Vineyard Andy Mammers: Town Hall Hotel, Balmain Stormcellar: Town Hall Hotel, Newtown Rock of Ages with Def Repllica + Poison’us: Towradgi Beach Hotel (Sports Bar), Towradgi

Rosco James: Coogee Diggers (The Bunker), Coogee Wil Anderson: Enmore Theatre, Newtown MMRS feat. Aversions Crown: Exchange Hotel, Darlinghurst

Michael Fryar: Manly Leagues Club, Brookvale

Alphamama: Marble Bar, Sydney

Panorama + Jimmy Bear: Orient Hotel, The Rocks It’s A Bitch 10th Birthday with Kate Monroe + Sista P + Amanda Louise + more: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst Chico Seeds: Parkway Hotel, Frenchs Forest

Penninstitution: The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville Dom Turner & Supro: The Merton Hotel, Rozelle Darkroom feat. Dean Benson: The Oxford Hotel (Underground Bar), Darlinghurst

Stephanie Lea: Town Hall Hotel, Balmain The Laurels + Nicholas Allbrook + The Pinheads + D’Luna: Uni Bar, Wollongong

Gang Of Youths + I Know Leopard + Polish Club: Uni Bar, Wollongong

Painters & Dockers + Ups & Downs: Factory Theatre, Marrickville

Evie Dean: Penrith Panthers (Squires Bar), Penrith

Venom Club Night feat. We May Fall + Double Chamber + Azreal + Hollow Heart: Valve Bar (Basement/Level One), Ultimo

Winterfest feat. Andy Bull + Slumberjack + Just A Gent + KLP + Indian Summer + Odd Mob + GRMM + Hatch + Tear Council + Owen Rabbit + Housing Corp + Sooreyah + DJ Arthur: University of Technology (UTS), Ultimo

Steve Edmonds Band: Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor

The Coldplay Show: Penrith RSL (Castle Lounge), Penrith

Jed Zarb: Wallacia Hotel, Wallacia

Glenn Esmond: Fortune of War Hotel, The Rocks

The Spit Roasting Bibbers: Picton Hotel, Picton

The Starliners: Georges River Sailing Club, Sandringham

Original Sin - INXS Show: Pitt Town & District Sports Club, Pitt Town

The Angels: Wentworthville Leagues Club (Starlight Auditorium), Wentworthville

Scattered Order + Dominic Talarico + Yes, I’m Leaving + Skull & Dagger: Valve Bar (Level One), Ultimo Michael Crafter + Hygiene + Choke + Sick Machine + Dispolar: Valve Bar (Basement), Ultimo Stephanie Lea: Winmalee Tavern, Winmalee

SAT 08

Collector + Ju Ca vs Corin + Peter Blamey: 107 Projects, Redfern

Jack Carty + Jordan Millar: 505, Surry Hills Various Artists: Balgownie Hotel, Balgownie Diamond Rhythm: Blacktown Workers Club ( Jack McNamara Lounge), Blacktown

Knxwledge + Katalyst + Prize + DJ Klasik 1 + B Wise: Goodgod Small Club, Sydney Chase City + Little Coyote: Hotel Steyne (Moonshine Cider & Rum Bar), Manly DJ LT: Jacksons on George (PJ’s Irish Whiskey Bar), Sydney DJ Rigez: Jacksons on George (Temple Bar), Sydney AJ Dyce: Kings Park Tavern, Kings Park Verticoli: Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale Sydney Blues Society - Blues Challenge: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville UBERfest 2015 feat. Miss Mikaila + Bounty Hunters + Stormbird + Into The Wild + Daddy Frisco + Be Faced + more: Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham

The Boombap Sessions #4 feat. P.Smurf + Big Village + Dj Cost + DJ Platterpush: Play Bar, Surry Hills Werombi Rain: Plough & Harrow, Camden Yes, I’m Leaving + Hoon + The Nuclear Family: Rad Bar, Wollongong Jalapeno Deluxe: Revesby Workers (Infinity Lounge), Revesby Rohan Cannon Duo + DJ D-Flat + Black Diamond Hearts + Troy T: Rock Lily, Pyrmont I Heart Anisong x Smash feat. GARNiDELiA + DJ Hello Kitty + kz(livetune) + yanaginagi: Rosehill Gardens (Exhibition Hall), Rosehill Sydney Comedy Festival Showcase: Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, Nowra

Hits & Pieces: Wentworthville Leagues Club (Wenty Lounge), Wentworthville Clive Hay: Wests Tradies, Dharruk

SUN 09

Creature Trio: Alfie & Herry Restaurant, Glebe

Tony Lovato (Mest) + Jake Grigg + Hey Reckless: Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt Michael Crafter + Midwife + Scrotal Vice + Dead Architect: Blackwire Records, Annandale Karaoke: Blue Cattle Dog Hotel, St Clair The Tundra Ensemble + On The Stoop + Napoleonic: Camelot Lounge (Django Bar), Marrickville Circle Music Showcase: Coogee Diggers (The Bunker), Coogee One: Sydney: Create or Die, Marrickville

1000S OF GIGS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. FOR MORE HEAD TO THEMUSIC.COM.AU THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 45

the guide nsw.gigguide@themusic.com.au Yuki Kumagai + John Mackie + Trevor Rippingale + Tony Burkys + Martin Highland: Cronulla RSL, Cronulla Good Greef Music & Arts Festival feat. Smaal Cats + Suns of the Universe + Salvador Dali Llama + The Dinlows: Factory Theatre (Factory Floor), Marrickville Doggin It: Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor

Rick Robertson + DJ Rob Kay + DJ Brenny B Side: Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly

Frankie’s World Famous House Band: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney

The Road Runners: Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville

Sonic Mayhem Orchestra: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville

Leah Flanagan + Adam Young: Midnight Special, Newtown

Swerve Society feat. Aloha Units: Newtown Social Club, Newtown

The BellRays + Dallas Frasca + Bandintexas: Newtown Social Club, Newtown

They Call Me Bruce: Orient Hotel, The Rocks Tommy Emmanuel: Sydney Opera House (Concert Hall), Sydney

Evie Dean: Northies, Cronulla

Blake Wiggins: Fortune of War Hotel, The Rocks

The Sphinxes: Oatley Hotel, Oatley

Dumb Punts + Pow Pow Kids + The Black Zeros + Verticoli: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney

Gary Johns Trio + The White Bros: Orient Hotel, The Rocks

Heartbreaker Sessions with Caitlin Harnett + Brielle Davis + more: Freda’s Bar & Canteen, Chippendale Beatnix - Beatles Show: Golden Sheaf Hotel (Balcony), Double Bay

Bryen & The Bayou Boogie Boys: Penrith RSL (Castle Lounge), Penrith Dave Ireland: Picton Hotel, Picton Bruce! + Babymachine + Love Buzz + The Night Fans: Rad Bar (4pm), Wollongong

Gem Bossa + Idol Glen: Jam Vybz Restaurant, Glebe

Blueberry Circuit + Capital Coast + White Blanks: Rad Bar, Wollongong

John Williams: Kings Park Tavern, Kings Park

Troy T + Suite Az: Rock Lily, Pyrmont

Chasin The Train: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton

James Teague: Smiths Alternative Bookshop, Canberra

GK: Macarthur Tavern, Campbelltown

Jenna & Zana: The Annandale Hotel, Annandale Mescalero feat. Steve Edmonds: The Beach Club, Collaroy

RUBBER SOUL REVOLVER: 7 & 8 AUG SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE CONCERT HALL

Danielle Deckard + The Iron Horses: The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville Aubrey & Purton: The Merton Hotel, Rozelle Michael Fryar: The Mill Hotel, Milperra Marc Ribot + The Mango Balloon: The Vanguard, Newtown La Folie Douce: Thredbo Alpine Hotel (Poolside Terrace), Thredbo Chase The Sun: Towradgi Beach Hotel (Sports Bar), Towradgi

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TUE 11

Double Lined Minority + Home On A Monday + We Take The Night + The Crimson Horror: Valve Bar (Basement/12pm), Ultimo

classies MUSIC SERVICES

The Monday Jam: The Oxford Hotel (Gingers), Darlinghurst

Open Mic Night with Champagne Jam: Dundas Sports Club, Dundas

Acronym Orchestra: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville Scott Gibson + Susie Hurley + Krystie Steve + Stuart Dwyer: Mr Falcon’s, Glebe Co-Pilot: Orient Hotel, The Rocks Karaoke: Rock Lily, Pyrmont Swing Tuesdays with The Finer Cuts: The Basement, Sydney

THE MUSIC 5TH AUGUST 2015 • 47

48 • THE MUSIC • 5TH AUGUST 2015