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2 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
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THIS WEEK
stream HEAR AN EXCLUSIVE STREAM OF SULLY’S NEW ALBUM
30/04
02/05
22/05
KARNIVOOL ‘THE THEMATA DECADE’ STEVE SMYTH JOSH WADE
SLEEPMAKESWAVES // THE CROOKED FIDDLE BAND // TROLDHAUGEN + MORE 23/05 SAN CISCO // CROOKED COLOURS // METHYL ETHYL 29/05
HEAR WHAT’S BEING ADDED TO TRIPLE J THIS WEEK.
THE LATEST FROM ROSS CLELLAND IN THIS WEEK’S THE SINGLE LIFE.
tour diary
AGAINST ME! (US) // JOYCE MANOR (US) 01/06
THE NEXT INSTALLMENT IN TIMMY TRUMPET’S TOUR DIARY THROUGH EUROPE! 6 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 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 nsw.gigs@themusic.com.au
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Bryget Chrisfield, Steve Bell
CONTRIBUTORS Adam Wilding, Andrew McDonald, Anthony Carew, Ben Meyer, Ben Preece, 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, Guido Farnell, Guy Davis, Helen Lear, James d’Apice, Kristy Wandmaker, Liz Giuff re, Lukas Murphy, Mac McNaughton, Mark Hebblewhite, Matt MacMaster, Paul Ransom, Rip Nicholson, Ross Clelland, Sam Hilton, Sam Murphy, Sarah Braybrooke, Sarah Petchell, Scott Fitzsimons, Sebastian Skeet, Sevana Ohandjanian, Simon Eales, Tim Finney, Tom Hersey, Tyler McLoughlan, Xavier Rubetzki Noonan
PHOTOGRAPHERS Angela Padovan, Cole Bennetts, Clare Hawley, Cybele Malinowski, Jared Leibowitz, Jodie Downie, Josh Groom, Kane Hibberd, Peter Sharp, Rohan Anderson
ADVERTISING DEPT James Seeney, James Redshaw, sales@themusic.com.au
ART DIRECTOR
THIS WEEK THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK • 29 APR - 5 MAY 2015
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There’s a book out Friday! A Decent Ride, the latest, filthiest romp by Irvine Welsh hits shelves. His popular character ‘Juice’ Terry Lawson is busy with hurricanes, reality TV star Ronald Checker, golf and losing his sexual virility. Welsh isn’t stopping there, he introduces new character: Wee Jonty MacKay, with the balls and brain of a donkey. If all this is floating your boat, you better go out and get a copy.
From Friday, the Head On Photo Festival sees international and local photographers featured in over 50 exhibitions: we’re excited for Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich, Sandro Miller’s exhibition featuring of John Malkovich, recreating famous photographs of the past (their version of Annie Leibowitz’s John Lennon And Yoko Ono, pictured), and Emmanuel Angelica’s Silent Agreements - Marrickville 45.
Brendon Wellwood
ART DEPT Ben Nicol
ADMIN & ACCOUNTS Niall McCabe, Jarrod Kendall, Leanne Simpson accounts@themusic.com.au
DISTRO Anita D’Angelo distro@themusic.com.au
SUBSCRIPTIONS store@themusic.com.au
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
The second annual Cinco De Mayo Margarita Showdown is happening this Tuesday from 6 – 10pm at Hard Rock Cafe Sydney. Thirty buckos gets you five margaritas, Mexican eats and a vote for your fave margarita; each one’s made by a different local bar. Prep your palate, put your judging hat on, and grab your tickets from bit.ly/cincodemayoshowdown. SYDNEY
drink
“BELLA KERR”
WED 29TH 7PM
BASEMENT
THU 30TH 8PM
LEVEL ONE
“SEWERCIDE”
CROSSOVER THRASH SHOW WITH SUPPORT FROM: “FRANK RIZZO”, “UNDER NIGHT’S COVER”, “DOG”
LEVEL ONE
THU 30TH 9PM
FRI 1ST 9PM
“FILTH WIZARD”
ALTERNATIVE HIP HOP/GARAGE SHOW WITH SUPPORT FROM: “BERKSHIRE HUNTING CLUB”, “REMY PHILLIPS”, “DJ RED EDDY” AND MANY MORE
VENOM CLUBNIGHT
DR RON... FINALLY FOUND HIS TRUE SANCTUARY...
METAL/ALTERNATIVE/ROCK/PUNK CLUBNIGHT FEAT LIVE PERFORMANCES BY: “BY THE HORNS”, “SOUND OF IMMORTALS”, “RZRGANG”, “BILLABONG OF BLOOD”
SAT 2ND 9PM
MEMORIAL EVENING FEATURING PERFORMANCES BY MANY DJ’S
BASEMENT
FRI 1ST 8PM
WITH SUPPORT FROM: “THAT FOOT”, “THE BROTHER’S DUDE” AND MANY MORE
ACOUSTIC SHOW WITH SUPPORT FROM “JOEL LEGGETT”, “GRACE PITTS”, “NATHAN HAWES”
CEEDS PRESENTS:
“ULTIMATE ALL STAFF PARTY BAND”
SKA SHOW/VERY SPECIAL CELEBRATION
BASEMENT
SUN 3RD 12PM
SCORCHERFEST
AUTUMN CIRCA, 20 BANDS, 12 HOURS, NOT TO BE MISSED
COMING UP
Wed 6 May: Rock Show with: “The Dawsons” and many special guests; Thu 7 May: Crust Hardcore Punk Show with “Mob 47” (Sweden), “Unknown To God”, “Ether Rag”, “Obat Batuk” ; Fri 8 May: 8pm Basement: Indie Show with “The Bloody Mummers”, “Balko”, “Mesmeriser” and special guests; 9pm Level One: Punk Show with: “Killamedic”, “The What Sorry’s”, “The Unhinged”, “Batfoot”, “Eager 13”, “Speedball”, “Skinpin”, “Catches & Halves” ; Sat 9 May: 4pm Level One: Ryse Fest: Indie Rock Festival feat: “Ryse”, “Canyonero”, “The Gunn Show”, “New Alias”, “Flaccid Mohawk”, “Lonely Empire”, “Kite”, “Glab”, “The London Keys”, “Armistice”; 5pm Basement: Asylum fest feat performances by: “Tensions Arise”, “Acid Nymph”, “Not Another Sequel Just Another Prequel”, “Internal Nightmare”, “Exist Within” “Diminish The Gods”, “Shatter The Crown”, “DCO”; Sun 10 May: Seedy Sunday with: Mike Crane, “Tucker Tuff N Tasty”, “Jengiz Huseyin”, Alexis Martin, We Take The Night”, “Hand Held Human”, “Tinsmith”, “Trash Jacket”
Sat 2nd May
Thirsty Merc + the tambourine girls
sat 23rd may
UWA Rock & Roll Wrestling
Sat 13th June
Reece Mastin + Special Guests All Ages Licensed Show
Sat 27th June
Feast Of Rock 5 Big Hours of Red Hot OZ Rock Feat. The Radiators
All Ages Licensed Show
Fri 14th Aug Fri 5th June
Baby Animals + The Superjesus
Wave FM High School Reunion The Absolutely 80s Show featuring Brian Mannix, Sean Kelly, Dale Ryder, Scott Carne & Fred Loneragan
www.towradgibeachhotel.com.au 170 Pioneer Road, Towradgi 2518 | 02 42833 588 THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 9
national news news@themusic.com.au CARAVANA SUN
EMILY BITTO
STELLA DEBUT
THIS SUN ALWAYS RISES
They may have formed in Sydney, but the now much-travelled Caravãna Sun can consider themselves citizens of the world, last year’s European touring taking them to several countries for the first time. They’ve since been working on the next album, due later in the year, but have a new single, Ashes, that sends them out for a short warm-up national tour. Caravãna Sun play 23 May at Mojo’s Bar in Fremantle, 24 May at Rosemount Hotel, Perth, 30 May at The Triffid in Brisbane, 31 May at Northcote Social Club in Melbourne, and 5 Jun at Oxford Art Factory in Sydney.
NEXT ADVENTURE
He did a Like A Version on Childish Gambino’s Sober on triple j the other day, and now Adelaide boy wonder Jesse Davidson is heading off on a whole new adventure, touring the nation with Brisbane’s Art Of Sleeping. Davidson is also part of this year’s Groovin The Moo and he’ll be heading off to the UK to join the Great Escape music conference, but then it’s the Australian national tour, playing 5 Jun at Transit Bar in Canberra, 6 Jun at Oxford Art Factory in Sydney, 12 Jun at Corner Hotel in Melbourne, 18 Jun at Mojo’s Bar in Fremantle, 19 Jun at Prince Of Wales in Bunbury, 20 Jun at Amplifier in Perth, 29 Jun at Solbar in Maroochydore and 27 Jun at The Triffid in Brisbane.
COME BACK ED
As soon as his most recent tour finished, Australian fans were making a lot of noise along the lines of demanding Ed Sheeran return as soon as possible. Well, he was obviously paying attention because he’s returning for another national solo stadium tour Nov/Dec. These will be his biggest shows yet in a country he loves as much as it loves him, so get ready to welcome him 28 Nov at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, 2 Dec at NIB Stadium in Perth, 5 Dec at AAMI Park in Melbourne and 9 Dec at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
RETURN TO 1983
Returning to Australia after standout performances at Stereosonic last year, Kölsch will showcase his new album 1983 at six shows across the country. Aussie fans will be among the first to hear the new bangers he’s got in store. See him 5 Jun, Brown Alley, Melbourne; 6 Jun, The TBC Club; 7 Jun, Fisherman’s Wharf Tavern & Elsewhere, Gold Coast; 12 Jun, Geisha Bar, Perth; 13 Jun, Chinese Laundry, Sydney.
AND I SAY
Here Comes The Sun sees singer-songwriter Wes Carr interpreting George Harrison’s songbook in a live setting, also sharing intimate tales and anecdotes from George Harrison himself. Watch Carr take on one his musical heroes at Chapel Off Chapel, Melbourne, 8 & 9 May; 15 May, The Arts Centre Gold Coast; 17 May, New Globe Theatre, Brisbane; 22 May, 5 Church Street, Sydney; 5 Jun, Camelot Lounge; 12 Jun, Flying Saucer Club, Melbourne; 27 Jun, The Basement, Sydney; 10 & 11 Jul, Ellington Jazz Club, Perth. More dates at theMusic.com.au.
INSTEAD OF “THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE”, AIRLINES SHOULD JUST SAY “WE DO WHAT THE FUCK WE WANT, AND UNLESS YOU GROW WINGS, YOU’RE FUCKED”. @SETHROGEN, KEEPING IT REAL. 10 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
Melbourne author Emily Bitto has picked up a cheque for $50,000 at a ceremony in her hometown as the winner of this year’s Stella Prize for women’s writing for her debut novel, The Strays, out through indie publisher Affirm. The prize was established three years ago to recognise Australian women writers of fiction and non-fiction. Also on the shortlist this year were fellow writers Joan London, Christine Kenneally, Sofie Laguna, Maxine Beneba Clarke and Ellen Van Neerven, who each received cheques for $2,000.
OLLY MURS
OLLY OLLY OLLY
Pop star Olly Murs is coming back to Australia in August for a national tour, titled Never Been Better after his fourth studio album. He’ll prove just how true that statement is when he comes to Perth Arena, 4 Aug; Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, 6 Aug; Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne, 8 Aug; Enmore Theatre, Sydney, 11 Aug. Tickets go on sale 2pm, 30 Apr.
ONLY CONNECT
Returning home from his now base in London for a national club tour, expat Sydney pianist, singer, producer/DJ and songwriter Lancelot will be showcasing his new single, Connection, and ripping up dancefloors and you can help him celebrate 22 May at Mr Wolf, Canberra; 23 May, Deep End at Anyway, Melbourne; 29 May, Elsewhere, Gold Coast; 30 May, The TBC Club, Brisbane; 31 May, Geisha Bar, Perth; 5 Jun, Institute of Dance, Wollongong; and 7 Jun, Civic Underground, Sydney.
THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 11
local news nsw.news@themusic.com.au
FRONTLASH FOR ASH
Rumnastone had some gems back in the late ‘90s/early ‘00s, and we’re glad that the last songs of late frontman Ash Hansen will see the light of day via a Pledge campaign.
LAUREN MAYBERRY Chvrches member stands up to online abuse. Her line, “bring it on, motherfuckers. Let’s see who blinks first” says it all.
SPLENDOUROUS SIDESHOWS Splendour In The Grass was only just announced, but on it selling out, here come the sideshows. Anyone got an advanced mathematics degree that can help us make sure we see who we want to on the various nights leading up to and after the festival?
ASH HANSEN
BACKLASH DAWN DOOF SERVICE
So a subcontractor at Ivy in the city was blasting music in a soundcheck right when the dawn service for ANZAC Day was happening. Especially on this day, couldn’t it have waited another couple of hours?
TEENAGE TIME KILLERS While a supergroup containing Dave Grohl, Corey Taylor, Keith Morris, Nick Oliveri, Matt Skiba and more sounds good on paper, we weren’t that impressed by the first taste Hung Out To Dry with Randy Blythe on vocals. Hopefully the rest of the album holds up more than that.
MOTHER NATURE What was with the crazy hail over the weekend? Lucky there wasn’t a major music festival on to be disrupted. 12 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
CLASSIC LEE
MARLON WILLIAMS
There’s a new album, Love Is The Great Rebellion, due 29 May, but Ben Lee will be including plenty of classics alongside new songs on his next east coast tour which will bring him in intimate mode, 6 Jun to Newtown Social Club.
THROUGH THE WIRE
Sadly, Sydney musician Ash Hansen passed away suddenly in October last year as a result of a virulent melanoma. His final recorded songs will be released as Transmission, as Like Wires. His friends have set up a PledgeMusic campaign which will pay for the release, with remaining funds going to charity SupportAct. Head to pledgemusic.com/artists/ likewires to help out.
ILLUMINATING DOUBLE
Danny Harley, who travels as The Kite String Tangle, and Dustin Tebbutt have teamed up to cut a new track, Illuminate, and they’re taking to the road in a double-headliner tour to perform it together. Accompanied by special guest Joy, they play 25 Jun at Metro Theatre.
SUPPORT THE SERVICES
The Take Care Festival, happening 9 May at Jane’s Café in North Wollongong, is a fundraiser for Supported Accommodation & Homelessness Services Shoalhaven & Illawarra, the last women-only accommodation service in the South Coast and Illawarra region, which, like so many other important community services, is facing drastic funding cuts, thanks to the current government. The seven-band line-up includes Glory Hole.
KIWI RISING
With the release of his debut album, Marlon Williams is soon going to be international property, so now’s the time to get in and catch him before he’s off to the UK and US. Laura Jean will be the special guest when Marlon Williams & The Yarra Benders play 4 Jul at The Basement. They then head to Bellingen 5 Jul for Bello Winter Festival.
MARY RETURNS
It’s been more than a decade since multi-Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter last visited Australia, during which time she’s been inducted into the Nashville Hall of Fame and released a few more albums, her most recent (and 13th), last year’s Songs From The Movie. Performing acoustically in a trio and supported by special guest Tift Merritt, Carpenter plays 27 Aug at Enmore Theatre, 29 Aug at Whitlam Theatre, Revesby, and 30 Aug at Wests, New Lambton.
OWNING OWEN
What started out as a between-bands project for Mike Kinsella is now the full-blown eight albums’ worth of solo project he long ago dubbed Owen. Four of those eight albums have recently been released locally by Hobbledehoy Records, including his latest, Other People’s Songs, to prime us for the first ever Owen shows in Australia. 7 Jul, Newtown Social Club.
SPREADING THE WINGS
Having moved over to America in 2014, Birds Of Tokyo have been spending their time playing a heap of gigs and developing new tunes. With four new songs unveiled to their huge fanbase last Friday, the group is celebrating with a massive national tour and a fully formed EP, titled Anchor. Metro Theatre, 7 Jun.
NOW, THE RIVER
Ash Grunwald has a new album, NOW, due in September, with the first single, River, out. The River Tour brings Grunwald to Metro Theatre, 12 Jun and Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle, 13 Jun.
LYRA LA BELLE. PIC: GARY JOSEPH ROBERTSON
THE BEST OF BURLESQUE
The hugely popular Australian Burlesque Festival will once again be touring Australia for the sixth year, 11 Jun – 4 Jul. It arrives in Sydney with Empress Nouvelle on 19 Jun and The Big Tease on 20 Jun at Factory Theatre and Metro Theatre respectively. Expect circus burlesque, satire, glitz and glamour.
THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 13
local news nsw.news@themusic.com.au
THE WOMBATS
KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS
SERGIO HERMAN: FUCKING PERFECT
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE
As the buzz that always surrounds the Sydney Film Festival, happening 9 – 11 Jun, builds, the organisers have released a few more titles that will be screening over the three days, including the menu for Gourmet Cinema. There’s the Australian premiere 9 Jun of Sergio Herman: FUCKING PERFECT, a behind-the-scenes portrait of the Dutch superstar chef, which will be followed by a four-course meal prepared by Sydney’s 2014 Chef of the Year, Ross Lusted, at The Bridge Room. Two more premieres follow with doco, Foodies, screening 10 Jun and an insight into biodynamic farming in Denmark, Good Things Await, both screenings accompanied by some truly fine dining.
TOGETHER ALONE
For his latest single, Hold On Together, Brisbane’s Jeremy Neale reunited with Phoebe Imhoff, with he previously duetted on the title track of his In Stranger Times EP. Neale will be performing 29 May at Waywards.
BLUR
THE VACCINES
ON THE SIDE
With the unsurprising news that Splendour In The Grass 2015 has sold out, the festival has announced a string of sideshows. Porter Robinson, Wave Racer and Cosmo’s Midnight perform at Enmore Theatre, 22 Jul; Everything Everything, Metro Theatre, 23 Jul; Azealia Banks, Metro Theatre, 24 Jul; Kitty Daisy & Lewis, Metro Theatre, 1 Aug; Mo and Elliphant, Oxford Art Factory, 29 Jul; Marmozets, Newtown Social Club, 23 Jul; The Wombats, Enmore Theatre, 27 Jul; MS MR, Metro Theatre, 25 Jul; The Vaccines, Metro Theatre, 28 Jul; Years & Years; Oxford Art Factory, 26 Jul; Wolf Alice, Oxford Art Factory, 24 Jul; The Districts, Newtown Social Club, 28 Jul; Of Monsters & Men, 22 Jul, State Theatre; Best Coast, Oxford Art Factory, 28 Jul; Purity Ring, Metro Theatre, 27 Jul; Mark Ronson, Hordern Pavilion, 28 Jul; Ryan Adams & The Shining, with guest Jenny Lewis, Enmore Theatre, 23 Jul; and Blur, 25 Jul, Qantas Credit Union Arena, with guest Jamie T.
RYDE WANTS ART
The City of Ryde once again presents the Hungry For Art Festival 7 May – 13 Jun, through events both in and outside of galleries, online and into all manner of spaces and sites. The festival’s premier event remains the Women’s Art Prize, but there’s a mobile phone photo competition, pop-up markets and a Drawfest among other things in which you can participate, the festival itself launching 6pm 7 May at See Street Gallery, Meadowbank.
TAKING IT SLOW
Showcasing his debut album, Slow Gum, Fraser A Gorman is finally ready to take his idiosyncratic passion for all things American rock’n’roll for a run around the nation on a headline tour. That’ll see the singer/songwriter play 10 Jul at Newtown Social Club.
MUM JUST ASKED ME WHAT A FATASS NUG WAS JEBEDIAH
EXTRA EXTRA
Overwhelming demand for tickets to his Sydney Comedy Festival season has prompted organisers to add two more shows to comedian Nazeem Hussain’s debut solo run with his show, Legally Brown, 7pm and 9pm 20 Jun at Factory Theatre. Jebediah have added a second and final Sydney show at Metro Theatre, 4 Jun. 14 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
WE WISH WE COULD WITNESS @LORDEMUSIC EXPLAINING THIS TO HER MUM.
METALHEADS UNITE
Relentless metal traditionalists Death Dealer are making their way to Australia in September, armed with their debut album Warmaster, which was released in 2013. If you dig your classic power metal, head to Manning Bar, 10 Sep.
GOT MILK?
The Milk Carton Kids have announced a string of dates in Australia, following the release of their third studio album Monterey. Aside from their show at Bello Winter Festival, they’ll be playing City Recital Hall, 28 Jun.
www.thebasement.com.au
The Home of Live Music Since 1973 THU 078MAY SATURDAY JUNE
HOTHOUSE PRESENTS:
THE BASEMENT JAZZ SERIES FEATURING BARNEY MCALL & THE AUSTRALIAN
SYMBIOTIC IMPROVISORS ORBIT HOTHOUSE PRESENTS: A MONTHLY JAZZ SERIES AT THE BASEMENT SYDNEY WITH THE LATEST AND GREATEST IN THE SCENE! TO KICK OFF THE FIRST EVENT, JAZZ PIANIST AND COMPOSER, BARNEY MCALL WILL TAKE TO THE STAGE WITH THE AUSTRALIAN SYMBIOTIC IMPROVISORS ORBIT TO GIVE YOU A TASTE OF HIS UPCOMING ALBU RELEASE, MOOROOLBARK. DON’T MISS THIS!
JUST ANNOUNCED...
THU 11 JUNE
SIRENS BIG BAND FEAT. MOHAMED YOUSEF
FRI 19 JUNE
THE COLOURS OF COLOMBIA FEATURING: HUGH SALCEDO + SOUL MACUMBIA
SAT 4 JULY
MARLON WILLIAMS & THE YARRA BENDERS FOLLOW US: ON FACEBOOK @ THE BASEMENT & ON TWITTER @ #BASEMENTSYD RESTUARANT OPENS AT 11AM, SERVING FOOD ALL DAY
GLENN CARDIER & THE SIDESHOW + THE CONTINENTAL BLUES PARTY + JEREMY EDWARDS
THU 30 APR
STEVE CLISBY
SAT 02 MAY
SWING TUESDAYS WEEK THREE
TUE 05 MAY
JOHNNY G & THE E TYPES
PERFORMING THE MEMPHIS SOUL REVUE
FRI 08 MAY
CHRISTINE ANU: STYLIN’ UP
SAT 09 MAY
SWING TUESDAYS WEEK FOUR
TUE 12 MAY
THE BASEMENT BLUES SOCIETY PRESENTS:
COMIN G UP
– 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
THE GREAT GIG IN THE SKY A PINK FLOYD CELEBRATION
THU14/ FRI15 MAY
THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 15
music
TIME LORD Tom Loud is the driver of Hot Dub Time Machine, an unashamed devotee of the greatest mainstream music of all time. He creates DJ sets in chronological order, shamelessly paying props to the best tunes of all time, as Liz Giuffre discovers. Cover and feature pic by Cole Bennetts. DJ Tom Loud, aka Hot Dub Time Machine, explains his careful formula for making a bloody awesome party. Drawing on the best mainstream music across genres and eras, he puts together sets of between 40 minutes and several hours combining audio with visuals from each period. The result is played year by year from 1954 to the present day, with his only rule being that tracks must be played in chronological order. “The whole concept of Hot Dub is making people just feel like they can get up and dance. Like the whole start of the show is Bill Haley’s Rock Around
turntable – old-school layering of tracks and stuff. And that seems like lots of DJs these days everything’s a remix – if I want to hear Smells Like Teen Spirit, I don’t want to hear a house version, I want to hear the actual track with Kurt Cobain.” Loud’s ascension has been fuelled by what he calls “a midthirties life crisis”. Laughing as he explains giving up a career in television in order to become “a superstar DJ”, his background working on some of the most beloved (and perhaps daggiest) local productions having given him a great nose for pleasing crowds
shamelessly pandering to local sensibilities,’” he laughs. “And that’s definitely what I’ll do, and I think it’s important – when I see a gig I want to go and have the performer say ‘it’s lovely to be here in Sydney,’ or wherever we are. You have to acknowledge who’s there in the moment with you.” The Hot Dub mix across time takes not just styles, but genre and gender breakdowns seriously. While Loud speaks with great pleasure about being able to take crowds “from Respect by Aretha Franklin to Milkshake by Kelis,” as well as moving across types of aesthetics and sensibilities. “It’s really fun; the context is kind of what Hot Dub does. And it’s one of those things that you can’t believe that people didn’t do before me. It starts with what people did in the ‘50s and ‘60s and early recordings were generally mono. There’s no sub-bass, and, like, You’ve Really Got Me, by The Kinks is really basic, it sounds awesome but just sonically [the recording] is just awful. And then as you go through time you get this rush of sound as it [recording] gets better and better. It builds until you get to massive tunes.” Loud’s work is an all-in, but the buck does stop with him. While the classic DJ curse still happens (i.e. kids coming to the decks asking for their favourite track or berating the absence of something they
“WHEN I STARTED I FELT LIKE A LOT OF DJS WERE A BIT BORING AND A LOT OF DANCE PARTIES ARE ELITIST. HOT DUB IS A REACTION TO ALL THE DJS WHO DON’T ACKNOWLEDGE THE CROWD OR WHO LOOK DOWN ON CHEESY OR POPULAR MUSIC.”
The Clock, and there’s always people who react with ‘Why are we seeing and hearing this?’! But then, as it gradually goes and it hits them with song after song, when the song that they love comes on, then you’ve got them. And if you don’t love what I’m playing now, in thirty seconds, it’s gone and we’re onto the next year.” To talk to, Loud is puppy-dog positive, which would be off-putting except that he’s so committed his energy is infectious. Much like the pop music he peddles, it’s hard to deny the appeal, despite any cynical aversion to the apparent gimmick of the show. Besides, if Loud was just a gimmick, the whole thing wouldn’t work as well as it has. He’s taken Hot Dub across Australia playing Falls and Splendour, to UK, including regular Edinburgh festival spots, and most recently to Coachella, so there’s no doubt there’s more here than first meets the eye (and ear). “When I started I felt like a lot of DJs were a bit boring and a lot of dance parties are elitist. Hot Dub is a reaction to all the DJs who don’t acknowledge the crowd or who look down on cheesy or popular music. So yeah, Hot Dub is always about the best party ever, telling the crowd that they’re fantastic and beautiful and that this is the best night of their lives and playing music that everyone likes. And for some reason it’s really original. I think there’s a place for everyone. I only play original songs, I don’t play mashups or remixes – if I do any mash-ups I’ll do it on the 16 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
while walking the line of popular and quality. “I used to sit in studios working on TV – I did 199 episodes of McLeod’s Daughters, I did High Five, I did an informercial or two, and lots of work on Underbelly.” The result is a show that has a great visual element (not only the best sounds, but the best images music over time has had to offer), as well as an appreciation of how to tap into the pleasure of what’s popular. Cutting his teeth on the comedy festival circuit, he learnt quickly how to play lots of shows to a great variety of people. “I used to work with comedian and good friend Heath Franklin who told me ‘there’s nothing wrong with
think was criminally missing from the countdown), he makes sure at the end of the day the choice comes down to what he feels genuinely moves. “I was, a long time, doing parties and stuff for people, but it was when someone took a real change that I took off. I’ve played small gigs and stuff, but with festivals and bigger crowds, it’s mental. At those, people are there to have a great time; what you really want to do is just get in and have that proper festival chance to go a bit nuts. I’ve played with Wookies body surfing over the crowd, three guys dressed as Luigi bouncing around, and it’s just nuts.” Smiling, he adds, “So that’s what I provide for them, that stupid festival fun.” Hot Dub’s ‘work through time’ formula has seen a few copycats and comparisons, including some pretty serious fans and offshoots. “I’ve spent lots of time in the UK over the last few years – I’ve spent half the year there the last few – and there’s all these strange little Hot Dub impersonators popping up now too, like Flash Back Timemachine in Glasgow too, which is hilarious.” While some artists might appear threatened by such barely veiled attempts at rivalry, it doesn’t seem to bother Loud. Of course, it could be because of his own artform’s basis in attribution, but there’s also his commitment to building a crowd using the appealing, and never quite repeatable, attention to the magic of the mainstream.
“I always try to choose being mindful of the difference between Cheese and Kitsch,” Loud says in a way that makes perfect sense, but also gives no clue as to how the difference is decided. Going on, examples help (kind of ). “So the difference between, say, something like Love Shack by The B52’s – that’s kitschy. But then the Eurthymics’ Sweet Dreams, that’s a great song.” The logic works, but explaining why is trickier. Continuing, he digs deeper. “Something like Staying Alive by The Bee Gees is borderline, but We Are Family by The Pointer Sisters is great.” Still digging (and drawing this writer, and hopefully you, reader, into your own crisis about the apparent (or not) genius
of The Gibb brothers,), Loud continues, this time in (perhaps only kind of mock) earnest. “Then there’s things like Five, those type of boy bands and also girl bands, I struggle with finding their place. But then Britney, Hit Me Baby One More Time, that just works”. This little internal argument is Hot Dub at its best – getting mainstream musical skeletons out of their cupboards and out into the air where they belong. Fight about taste, argue over glory and best of all, it’s about just dancing, perhaps despite yourself. Channelling a bit of a Yoda moment, Loud sums up Hot Dub like this: “I just try and be true about what I like, what gets me. And as a DJ it’s a rare thing. Mostly [other times] you’re playing what the venue wants or what you think the people down the front want, rather than what you believe in. So it’s great to be able to do the latter.”
TIME SIGNATURES In honour of Hot Dub’s commitment to songs in their time, here are some of the best tunes, named in honour of great years. 1916 – Motorhead Also a year honoured with a song and album name, the sonic restraint against the story of the First World War soldier’s experience is haunting. Well worth a re-listen (or new discovery). 1979 – Smashing Pumpkins A jewel from mid-90s masterpiece Melon Collie And The Infinite Sadness, the video also got an MTV music award for its driving chic. 1985 – Manic Street Preachers
WHEN & WHERE: 3 May, Groovin The Moo, Canberra; 9 May, Groovin The Moo, Maitland; 14 – 16 May, Metro Theatre
A nostalgic look back on the ‘80s from the comfort of 2004, the Welsh band say it all with the mellow opener, “In 1985/I placed a bet and I lied/losing all I had.” 1999 – Prince He may have been dreaming when he wrote it, but damn it was still fine. Despite what we actually did on the night, everyone on the planet likes to remember that NYE like it was in Prince’s head. (Disco) 2000 – Pulp An awesome true story from Jarvis Cocker’s childhood, the song’s infamous ‘Deb-o-rah’ passed away earlier this year. Not only his muse, but an amazing mental health worker and human gone too soon – dance and raise a glass to her. 2112 – Rush Title track from 1976 Canadian prog epicness, it’s part concept, part overdone noodle (but in the best possible way) – music of the future, indeed.
THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 17
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NEW GIRL IN TOWN Eclectic electronic artist Peaches (real name: Merill Beth Nisker) has returned to the continent of her birth, albeit a bit further south, as she explains to Simone Ubaldi.
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long-time resident of Berlin, the Torontoborn avant-garde gender terrorist known as Peaches went looking for a milder place in which to record her new album and ended up in a leafy neighbourhood of Los Angeles. “Why not be somewhere sunny and warm where everything is easy, right? And then you have a little garage that’s your own, 24 hours a day, and when shit’s going wrong, you can walk outside into the sunshine,” the artist born Merrill Beth Nisker shrugs. If Berlin is the perfect home for experimental art, LA seems a weird fit for someone of Nisker’s anarchic disposition. But LA is a big city, she explains. “There are so many different scenes going on. It’s a constant process of discovery, finding real, underground, fun things to do. I’ve gone to some incredible parties here. I went to this party in South LA and the whole street was just like street food and vegan food, people just setting up booths and hanging out. It was such a nice vibe. And it was a Tuesday night or something. I was just like, ‘Wow, this is so great!’” The LA hip hop scene has thrown up its share of inspiration. While working on her sixth studio album, the follow-up to 2009’s I Feel Cream, Nisker has been on the hunt for what she calls “dumb beats”. Two Californian rappers fitted the bill; she cites Gas Pedal by Sage The Gemini and CoCo by O.T. Genasis as earworms that have fed her personal musical palate. “That CoCo song is amazingly dumb, it’s just like someone so baked out, but it works! It’s just like, ‘How is this working?! Why? I want all music to go this way.’ I don’t mean dumb like dumbed down, I just mean minimal, basic, but it works.” She laughs. The record Nisker made in LA is due for release later this year, and she promises a return to form. “I love it. I don’t know what to say. It’s so classic me, this album.” Post-gender politics are front and centre, again, along with the hard-edged beats of the Fatherfucker era, but Peaches is taking us into new emotional territory. “I know people probably think I have, but I’ve never written a really angry, emotional song. [One of the new tunes] is the most intense song I’ve ever done. 18 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
It’s about break-up shit; it’s pretty obvious.” While fans await the new record, titled Rub, a new Peaches photo book has just been released. What Else Is In The Teaches Of Peaches (Akashic Books) is a documentary record of the last six years in her life, with contributions
meet my parents? Why don’t you come over here?’” The book depicts Nisker on stage and off, setting her fierce public persona against her reflective private self, capturing the making of the quasi-autobiographical musical film, Peaches Does Herself, which did the tour of international film festivals in 2013; her performance in the opera, L’Orfeo, for which the singer studied Italian for roughly six months, as well as her 2014 one-man Andrew Lloyd Webber adaptation, Peaches Christ Superstar. It also shows Peaches at home, warts and all. “I love the cover,” Peaches admits. “I know you’re gonna be like, ‘obviously’, but I’m sitting
“I KNOW PEOPLE PROBABLY THINK I HAVE, BUT I’VE NEVER WRITTEN A REALLY ANGRY, EMOTIONAL SONG.” from Yoko Ono, Michael Stipe and actress Ellen Page, the book is a collaboration between Peaches and photographer Holgar Talinski. “He’s a skater kid,” she explains. “He asked if he could take pictures of me and I just told him to come along [to a show] one night. And he was just so pleasant and unassuming and helpful I said, ‘Why don’t you come on the tour? Why don’t you come
on the toilet, Bette Davis-style. You can’t see the toilet. I’m smelling my hair, which is a very private moment. I used to do it as a kid, when I had really long hair. It’s like my thinking habit, like some people twirl their hair. There’s a bunch of Barbie dolls all over the wall and my tits are out, but it’s still a very private moment.” More than one friend has expressed horror that Peaches would let so many ‘ugly’ pictures loose in the world – there’s no airbrushing in What Else Is In The Teaches Of Peaches. “I like it,” she laughs. “I like the reality. I’m not ashamed. The book shows that I’m a down-to-earth, real person.” WHEN & WHERE: 3 May, Groovin The Moo, Canberra; 8 May, The Hi-Fi; 9 May, Groovin The Moo, Maitland
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SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE
English indie rock quartet Peace have returned with a brilliant second album. Harry Koisser talks to Scott Aitken about life on the road, growing up and staying positive.
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ince releasing their first album, In Love, in 2013, British rock four-piece Peace have been steadily building an international following with their exhilarating and uplifting mix of guitar-driven indie pop, bolstered by the success of songs like the dreamy pop of California Daze and the upbeat, euphoric funk of Lost On Me. Happy People is their ambitious followup less than two years on from and largely written
during the tour for that first album. Vocalist and songwriter Harry Koisser says leaving the country for the first time to tour was a lifechanging experience. “I’d always lived in this bubble of what I knew and all I knew before was taking girls around the town centre and getting drunk and going to nightclubs. Then suddenly I’m playing shows and going to the other side of the world and it was quite eye-opening, just to the fact that I realised there was more to life than just having a good time in Birmingham city centre, so I think that was a major change.” When it came time to write lyrics for the
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new album, Koisser says he felt a need for a more focused approach to the writing process, something he admits he’d been somewhat lackadaisical about on their previous efforts. “I thought about the lyrics a little bit more on this one and I really wanted to improve. I wasn’t unhappy with the lyrics before but my writing style had been sort of irresponsible. I’d kind of just write lyrics on walls or on my hand or just lie and say I’d written them and then write them in the vocal booth when we were recording. With this album, I wanted to try and write all the lyrics and get them done and it’s a bit more enjoyable and quite fulfilling when you’ve got a song written before you record it. You can kind of listen to it and decide if you’re into it or not so I guess I’m just a bit more conscious about everything.” While songs like O You and Under The Moon reflect the more optimistic impression of the album title, the twist is that many of the songs deal with darker subject matter such as songs like Perfect Skin that deal with themes of image, anxiety and self-loathing. While Koisser admits there were darker turns on this album, he says writing the material helped exorcise a few demons of his own. “I like the idea that music is kind of a cure and a therapy and you know for me it always has been. I like the idea that you can write these songs that are about dark things, or you know things that seem dark to us, and then have the music sounding quite uplifting and quite sort of like colourful and the sort of juxtaposition of that I’m really into.” WHAT: Happy People (Columbia/Sony) WHEN & WHERE: 3 May, Groovin The Moo, Canberra; 8 May, Oxford Art Factory; 9 May, Groovin The Moo, Maitland
METAL EVOLUTION
Having bonded over Meshuggah, Opeth’s Mikael Akerfeldt talks with Jonty Czuchwicki about consumer backlash and the importance of broadening your mind’s musical tastes.
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peth is a band many list as an influence to their music today. But who similarly influenced Akerfeldt in the formative years of Opeth? Born in 1974 and growing up during the ‘80s heavy metal boom in Sweden, the British heavy metal (Black Sabbath, Deep Purple) and German heavy metal (Scorpions) scenes “were massive here!” says Akerfeldt enthusiastically over the phone. “Everyone was into heavy metal, and of course I was too! Ever since then I had dreams of becoming a ‘rock star’”, he says the words almost sarcastically. “I didn’t really know what it meant… the word rock star, but I had heard that is what it was called.” Fast forward 25 years and Opeth are touring on the back of their 11th studio album, Pale Communion. The record channels old-school progressive rock, and although there isn’t a lot of planning for Akerfeldt when writing a record he states that “throughout the years I have been listening to lots of progressive rock, of course, which is a not so well-known secret.” Akerfeldt collects progressive rock on vinyl and has thousands of LPs in his collection. It’s been making its way slowly into his writing since he was 19. Akerfeldt is 40 years old now. “It’s been a part of our sound since the beginning; the last two records might have more emphasis on [progrock] than they do on extreme forms of metal.”
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The Opeth singer is genuinely bamboozled when I ask for his favourite prog-rock record. “Shit. Oh My God! I can’t say that!” He thinks for a second… “For now, just for now, one of the very most important records for me is the first King Crimson album.” He must have been grinning from ear to ear when he says “they are almost like Black Sabbath… but with saxophone!” Akerfeldt spoke liberally about drugs, but he is drug free and has always been drug free. Admittedly he has “smoked a little bit of weed… not because I wanted to but because I
have been drunk.” Akerfeldt also muses of a time he once smoked magic mushrooms. “It wasn’t a good experience. It’s not something I want to do again.” Akerfeldt sticks to beer and wine. In Australia he’s fond of drinking Coopers. Consumer backlash has been a hot topic since the late progression of Opeth’s sound on Heritage and Pale Communion. Why are fans of heavy music so close-minded? “I was the same, you know,” Akerfeldt admits. “It sounds like a fucking cliché to be honest but I’m older now. I like to think a bit wiser too! I had an extreme form of tunnel vision when I was into extreme metal. It had to be a certain way or I was just not interested.” Akerfeldt believes some fans need to get a grip. Some feel as if they own Opeth. They get upset about it when there’s a departure. “Sooner or later [these people] have got to open their mind. I would rather have this uproar than for people just to shrug at our music.” WHEN & WHERE: 3 May, Enmore Theatre
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GROWING MYTHS
David Zellner’s movie about a Japanese woman in search of the buried suitcase from Fargo is no homage to the Coen Brothers. Zellner sits down with Anthony Carew.
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here’s less mystery in the world now,” laments David Zellner. “There’s no uncharted lands, everything is mapped out with satellite imagery. If you’re seeking information, you have the immediate gratification of finding it online. The facts are so close at hand, it’s harder for myths to grow.” The Austin, Texas-based filmmaker is speaking, broadly, about his most recent feature, Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter (the follow-up to the weird, great Kid-Thing). The film, which Zellner co-wrote with
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his brother, Nathan, was inspired by a 2001 stranger-than-fiction tale where a Japanese woman travelled from Tokyo to Minnesota to look for the buried suitcase of money from the Coen Brothers’ legendary comedy Fargo. “We heard about it on message-boards, this was well before Twitter or Facebook,” says Zellner. “It was an urban legend, this mythical quest; something so strange and mysterious to us, that something like this could happen in the modern age... The fact that the story was incomplete and kind of mysterious, that there was this absolute lack of information, only fuelled our obsession with it.”
The Zellner brothers immediately wrote a screenplay, but that marked the start of their own epic journey: from first draft to final cut taking 12 years. “We’d go off and work on other projects,” says Zellner, “but we’d always come circling back, because we were obsessed with this project in the same way that Kumiko was obsessed with her quest.” Even once the Zellners entered production, the filming of Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter was a “huge logistical ordeal”. The shooting had to be seasonally specific, and on location in Japan and in the snowy US Midwest. Aside from the brothers and their cinematographer, Sean Porter, there were entirely different crews on each continent. “It was essentially like making two completely separate movies, back-to-back,” says Zellner. The drama is hitched to a central performance by the ever-great Rinko Kikuchi, which, Zellner enthuses, “artfully balances the humour and the pathos of the role, whilst still having such empathy for the character”. The character’s motivations or sanity are never defined, which sits at the centre of a drama out to play with “different versions of the truth”. And for those who love Fargo, this film’s deadpan comedy and snowy scenery will feel familiar. “We didn’t set out to make a homage to the Coen Brothers; if the urban legend had been about some other film, we would have made it about that. But that said, the fact that it was about Fargo always just seemed like a perfect part of the story, like it was intrinsic to why people were so obsessed with this quest.” WHAT: Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter In cinemas 30 Apr
BREAKING POINT Celebrating the tenth anniversary of their second album, Silverstein drummer Paul Koehler tells Daniel Cribb its release not only changed their lives, but an entire scene.
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anadian post-punk/emo outfit Silverstein may be eight albums into their career and showing no signs of slowing down, but had it not been for the almost perfect storm surrounding the release of their second album, Discovering The Waterfront, back in 2005, the band mightn’t have made it this far. “We’d never done anything like that,” drummer Paul Koehler admits of the album. With some of the band still teenagers at that point, Silverstein wrote the classic album in a basement, but, unlike their debut album, When Broken Is Easily Fixed, they then flew to California to record in the world class studios they lived out of at the time. “I remember wrapping the recording, immediately flying back home, jumping back in the van and on tour with Fall Out Boy. And it was just when they were starting to really take off. “It was just a totally different experience and we were kind of in this bubble; we didn’t realise how important this was going to become. I think not realising that made it a lot less stressful. So we were just kind of young, naive kids just having fun, you know?” You’ll often hear of bands looking back at music and lyrics from their teens and cringing at some of it, but when Silverstein went back to revisit the songs from Discovering The Waterfront for a worldwide anniversary tour, that wasn’t the case. “We love everything that we’ve 22 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
done and most of the songs we wrote – we’ve recorded over a hundred of them now and most of them we love. There’s nothing we despise and that’s why we still like playing them and it’s fun to rotate the set and play different stuff every time.” Not wanting the tour to transform them into a nostalgia act, they ensured it also tied in with the release of a new album. “I’d say it’s a continuation of [2013’s This Is How the Wind Shifts], but it’s a lot darker; the songwriting has yet again expanded,” Koehler explains of their eighth studio album, I Am Alive In Everything I Touch. “The riffs are more intricate, and the heavy parts are
heavier and the melodic parts are more melodic, so it’s really pulled in every direction. We’re just really excited about it. I think it’s absolutely some of our best songs that we’ve ever written.” The expansion of sound can be attributed in part to guitarist Paul Marc Rousseau, who signed up in 2012. “We knew we that wanted to have a new album recorded before [the tour] because it was all about looking forward while celebrating the past… I think we became very selfaware of what we have done. And I think it’s just good. “As an artist you can get lost – especially if you get a couple records in – and you’re just looking ahead. It’s nice to kind of look around you and see why you’ve gotten to where you are today and what an important part of what your success is.”
WHAT: I Am Alive In Everything I Touch (Rise Records/ADA) WHEN & WHERE: 5 May, Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle; 6 May, Manning Bar; 7 May, Magpies, Canberra
IN THE FAST LANE
Charli XCX aka Charlotte Aitchison does not give a fuck what you think; she just wants to write “big pop songs with guitars”, she tells Simone Ubaldi.
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ad” and “bratty” are words that follow 22-year-old Charli XCX aka Charlotte Aitchison around. She has a take-noprisoners approach to life and her persona, at times, seems to outshine her music. Whether the world agrees to take her on is somewhat beside the point. It is worth noting, however, that the world is still undecided. Aitchison has been the writer or wingwoman on a couple of smash hits – Icona Pop’s I Love It and Iggy Azalea’s Fancy – and made her way into the Top 10 with Boom Clap and her recent Rita Ora collab, Doing It. But
her second album Sucker, released last December, stalled in the UK Top 20 and the Billboard Top 30. All credit to Aitchison; she doesn’t seem to give a shit. “I don’t do this for charts. I never have and never will. I am very selfish when it comes to making records. I make the records I want to make and if I’m happy with them, that’s the main priority for me,” she says. So which tune on Sucker best sums up Charli XCX? “Right this second, the title track, because I just woke up and feel grumpy and want to swear a lot,” she laughs. The F-bomb is liberally splattered through the tune in question and Aitchison likes to make her fans
raise a middle finger when she sings it live. It’s all very emblematic of how Aitchison is feeling since the record dropped. “The girl who made [her debut album] True Romance was still finding her feet, and very concerned about what people thought of her. Sucker is the opposite. It’s brash and bold and I don’t worry about what people think of me right now. It’s very liberating.”
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Aitchison dodged criticism that claimed she sold out with Sucker, which has more a more direct, partystarting palette than her previous work, but she’s more than happy with the result. “It would have been very easy for me to make another ‘cool’ record with a bunch of extremely talented cool people, but I don’t think I would have been able to write big songs like that. And that’s what I wanted to do, write big pop songs with guitars.” But anyway, she says, Sucker is so five minutes ago. “I have a short attention span and I’ve already moved on. I can’t wait to make the next record now.” Charli XCX is back in the country for Groovin The Moo and she promises a “pussy power party” on stage. She wants to make the kids in the regions sweat, although she’s not so keen on exploring the countryside. “Don’t you guys have crazy wildlife out there?! I’m not going to go exploring the nature much because I’m worried I will get stung and/or eaten.” She will happily accept gifts, however. “I really like pizza and pop tarts and I’m running low on Justin Bieber perfume, so if [my fans] wanna restock me on any of that stuff after my shows then they’re more than welcome to do so.” WHEN & WHERE: 29 Apr, Metro Theatre; 3 May, Groovin The Moo, Canberra; 9 May, Groovin The Moo, Maitland
BALLS TO THE WALL
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“His dick was on fire for literally 30 very long seconds.” What the? Bam Margera tells Daniel Cribb what to expect from a FuckFace Unstoppable show.
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t’s not surprising that Jackass star/pro skater Bam Margera is feeling a little sore after years of abusing his body for the entertainment of others. “I wound up getting these bumps on the bottom of my feet – six of them – called bone spurs, and I had major bunions. I had to get surgery on both of those,” Margera begins. “Then I ruptured a hernia going off a hundred-foot waterfall in a kayak. I was all fucked up and not looking forward to having ten surgeries, so I was in a bit of a slump for a bit.” Unable to throw his body into harm’s way, he found another creative outlet, forming punk band FuckFace Unstoppable, featuring members of CKY and Guttermouth. The transition into a chaotic and carefree genre makes perfect sense. “Alex Flamsteed from Guttermouth was playing a show in my club in Philly, and afterwards they came and stayed in my house and I have a jam room. So we started jamming and he was like, ‘Dude, this sounds really good; we should start a band,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, how about FuckFace Unstoppable?’ We just started laughing about it, and then a few weeks later, sure enough, FuckFace Unstoppable is out and about.” What started as a fun way to kill time, hang with friends and vent creative energies becomes a more serious project from here, with Bad Brains bassist
Chuck Treece and iconic Finnish guitarist Andy McCoy of Hanoi Rocks signing on to play on the next record, the latter even touring Australia with the band. They might be tighter, but you can still expect things to get pretty loose. “There was a show in Kentucky, and this dude wanted to come up during the encore and light his balls on fire and do a backflip to put it out. He did not put it out and his dick was on fire for literally 30 very long seconds. It was burnt to a crisp, the ambulance came, and he went to emergency room. It was gnarly, man,” he says with a slight chuckle. “It happened at a FuckFace show, so I’m proud of it.”
It’s an insane act, but you’d be hard-pressed to find someone as crazy as Margera when it comes to stunts, and it’s looking like we’ll see another Jackass film. “It’s not set in stone, but we’ve been talking about it, and always writing ideas.” Margera’s latest pitch to Knoxville and co was a little too out there and got knocked back. “I was like, ‘Mike Tyson bit off Evander Holyfield’s ear in a boxing match, so why don’t we have a Evander Holyfield redemption and he can bite off my fucking ear?’ And they were like, ‘Are you really willing to get your earlobe bit off for good?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah! Do you know how much street cred I’ll have?’ Like, ‘Dude, what happened to your ear?’ ‘Oh, Evander Holyfield bit it off.’” WHEN & WHERE: 7 May, Manning Bar; 9 May, The Small Ballroom, Newcastle; 10 May, Mona Vale Hotel; 13 May, Entrance Leagues, Bateau Bay THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 23
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TALL TALES & TRUE
The Peep Tempel have been kicking a lot of goals of late, and frontman Blake Scott tells Steve Bell his paranoia about their second long-player has thankfully proven unfounded.
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hings have been going swimmingly of late for Melbourne rockers The Peep Tempel. Since releasing their second album, Tales, late last year, the band’s stocks have risen exponentially, the trio pulling big crowds for their ferocious shows and receiving press accolades and industry recognition galore (Tales was shortlisted for the 2014 Australian Music Prize, and its kick-arse lead single, Carol, was shortlisted for Song Of The Year at the APRA Awards). But frontman Blake Scott is taking it all in his stride, looking at proceedings like an impartial observer rather than someone whose life has been thrown into any sort of flux.
“[The reception’s] been great; it’s been a lot of fun,” he admits. “The most interesting part has been how people have perceived the record and what we’re doing on it, and there’s been a bit of a vibe. People have been coming to the shows and everyone’s been having a lot of fun with it. At release I had a pretty strong sense of… I wouldn’t say trepidation, I’d say paranoia – I didn’t know how the album was going to come across. There’s some pretty out there stuff that was pretty far removed from the first record, so it was nerve-wracking, but it’s gone really well.” The band’s eponymous 2012 debut was an equally
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strong collection but didn’t gain the traction already afforded Tales, a fact Scott credits to the resonance of the latter’s ubiquitous radio single. “I think it just comes down to reaching a wider audience, and I think Carol certainly helped – it got in there and I think a few more people have heard us. But personally, I don’t really know – the first record for me was much more enjoyable to record, and of course it was our first record. The second record certainly has its charms, but it wasn’t as easy. I’ve probably been drawn back to that record because, as I said, the way that people have perceived it has made me go back and listen to it a bit more than I probably did the first one. But yeah, I think a lot of it comes down to Carol being broadcast to a wider audience. Which doesn’t mean it’s a better song than any of the other songs we’ve done, but it’s certainly been able to get in there and get our name out.” This profile boost has resulted in more people turning out to witness The Peep Tempel’s emphatic performances. “It’s been a challenge – I think the first album comes across live better than the second,” Scott admits. “The second is probably more of an album, whereas the first – and I think this is the same with most first albums that any band makes – is usually the first set that you come up with that you’re happy with and that you play for a while, and you get in there and record and put it out. From then on you’re making actual albums – Tales feels more like an album.” WHEN & WHERE: 2 May, Newtown Social Club
NEW DIRECTIONS
Determined not to repeat herself, Catherine Britt decided she’d change pretty much everything about the way she makes records. She talks to Michael Smith about the result.
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t this point in my career, I knew I wanted to try something a little different, especially after talking to [regular producer] Bill [Chambers] and he was saying I should try a new producer,” singer-songwriter – she’s much more roots/ folk and alt than straight country – Catherine Britt explains the genesis of her new album, Boneshaker. “So having all those different things on my mind would have taken me to a different place, for sure, but this album was very much inspired by a really great Steve Earle album I love called Washington Square Serenade, a very brave album by Steve done with a DJ that, I dunno, just changed me. I just really love the record and totally wanted to make something like that.” To that end, last year, Britt took herself off to the Catskills Mountains near Woodstock, setting up home in a yurt. “I’d recorded most of the album in my home studio and felt I wanted to get out of my comfort zone with my songwriting as well, so I just booked there, of all places, because I just thought it would be really cool to hire a yurt and hide in upstate New York for a while and write a record, so I did, and I’m glad I did because I ended up writing half the record there. The writing in the yurt was the easiest songwriting I’ve ever done, simply because that was all I was there to do, and I actually replaced songs I’d written already for the album. I probably won’t do it any other way in future, for sure.” 24 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
As well as co-writing the title track with Tony Buchan, Happier Day with Felicity Urquhart and When You’re Ready with Melanie Horsnell before she headed off to the yurt, Britt can now boast recording a duet with Steve Earle. “I haven’t written a lot of love songs and that’s because I haven’t really felt like it was appropriate or that I’d had that great love I guess that I felt I could imprint on the world forever in an album. It wasn’t until I met James and married that it was obviously different. So I wrote You & Me Against The World accidentally one day and I played it for him when he got home
and he couldn’t look at me for two days,” she laughs. “I think he likes that Steve Earle sang on that song more than I did, but that’s ok with me.” It was Ryan Hadlock’s body of work – he’s produced records for The Lumineers, Brandi Carlile and Foo Fighters – that convinced Britt he was the man to produce Boneshaker. “I was going in blind – I had no idea about anybody in Seattle – so Ryan was literally pulling people out for what he thought would fit the songs and me as an artist, and he did a great job obviously and I basically had The Lumineers and Vance Joy’s backing band as my house band in the studio – it was amazing.” WHAT: Boneshaker (Lost Highway/Universal) WHEN & WHERE: 1 May, Rooty Hill RSL; 2 May, Kidgeeridge Music Festival, Milton
THU 30 APR - 8.30PM
SUGAR BOWL HOKUM FRI 1 MAY - 8.30PM
THE RED RATTLERS SAT 2 MAY - 8.30PM
CHRIS GUDU 17 parramatta Rd. Annandale www.annandalehotel.com THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 25
FULLER ADVICE
general copyright. As a lawyer you’re helping drive the deal or you’re steering a bad deal into something that is workable. You are exposed to a lot of deals; you are able to offer creative people a solution.”
A commercial arts and entertainment lawyer and a bit of music industry all-rounder, Andrew Fuller talks to Sarah Barratt about how formal education and practical experience can shape success.
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ndrew Fuller is a commercial arts and entertainment lawyer, artist manager, arts grant advisor, lecturer and general expert when it comes to the music industry. He has more than 20 years of experience behind him and three university degrees. Fuller started off playing in a band in between finishing a law and commerce degree: “My background originally was a musician. I had that practical experience of touring, releasing records, playing in bands, doing the promotion, we wrote grants, toured Europe a few times. I ended up taking care of the business side of the band as well, so the bank accounts, the business
name, doing all the accounting, the tax.” After starting, postponing and finally finishing arts, law and commerce degrees, as well as travelling in Europe and working as a musician, Fuller found that there were definitely important aspects to both formal education and practical experience for an artist. “That really set me up for my future. I’m glad I made those decisions where I did.” Fuller also explains that creative industry requires some basic legal know-how. “It’s really an amalgam of contracts law and intellectual property law, with a smattering of competition law and
For those of us who are creative and can’t afford to see a lawyer, or don’t need to just yet, Fuller suggests some free resources. “Australian Copyright Council, Music Victoria, similarly the Arts Law Centre of Australia. There are lots of institutions and resources around to help young artists without needing to go and see someone.” The most important piece of advice that young artists with little formal education about the music industry could receive would be to not sign a thing, he says. “I would say the fundamental thing – do not sign anything with anybody without talking to preferably a lawyer or someone who is experienced and independent, with no material interest in the subject matter. Talk to them before you sign anything. It is very easy, with the stroke of a pen, to assign your copyright or transfer the ownership of something forever – a song or a recording or a film that you’ve made, or a play that you’ve written, or a design for a bit of software. These are all things that can be bought and sold. That could be the one magical bit of property that you create that could be the key to your entire future.” For Fuller, giving back is certainly part of keeping music education alive too. “I teach a unit in International Music, International Licensing and Publishing at Box Hill Institute, I’m a casual lecturer at Collarts and I also do some teaching at JMC. I really like working with students. I’ve met a lot of young people with fantastic ideas. I think I learn more from them than they do from me. Funnily enough, I get a few clients from teaching as well!”
ON POINT
Dave Aron has worked with Snoog Dogg, U2, Dr Dre, Prince and Tupac. Ahead of a string of JMC workshops in Australia, he tells us a thing or two about his work. Sarah Barratt takes notes.
F
or someone who has been so successful in the audio engineering field, with more than 30 years’ experience, it’s no surprise Dave Aron wanted to change the world as a kid. “For me, it was going to be law; I wanted to make a difference. With the help of my mum’s advice, I found that I could work as an engineer, make a difference and do something I love, which is music.” Creating tracks with artists and producers is a tense, fulfilling and collaborative process. As an audio engineer and producer, Aron has worked with the best. On Prince, Aron says, “Prince is on another level. It is hard to even describe what he can do; he’s a bad-ass player, his musical vision is amazing, we spent time in the studio and I was just there thinking, wow, this is pretty dope.” When working at Death Row Records, he met ‘Dazz Of The Dogg Pound’, which led him to work with Snoop Dogg. “At the time, a lot of studios and engineers were scared to work with the Row. There were a lot of stories going around, some true, some not so much, but as an engineer you had to be on point. If you weren’t, there was a chance you were getting hurt.” Luckily, Aron was on point, and so were the artists. “Tupac was a very fast worker. The tape had to be set
up; you had to be ready to record. You had to know what ‘Pac wanted. I was there when Suge Knight came in and organised Tupac and Snoop to work on 2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted. I was there when another engineer ran out of the studio crying, ‘‘Pac’s an asshole’. I was there for a lot of it, I enjoyed it, they treated me great.” Once the record is down and it’s time to go live, it is always a challenge translating recorded perfection for the stage. For Snoop Dogg’s live show, Aron uses a live band, PA and a specialised Snoop Mic. “I really need to get Snoop’s vocal above the mix, especially using that
custom Snoop Mic, which is just amazing, so I use the Waves Vocal Rider and C4 to have it sit above the mix.” Aron uses digital plug-ins and Waves Preset a lot, showing that he moves with the times. “You could tell they spent so much time designing these products to get them sounding good, so it’s just a natural relationship.” He is still a fan of the analogue audiotape though, but doesn’t miss how rushed and stressful it used to be in the ‘90s with the rap elite, especially recalling the time when Tupac had just gotten out of jail and was driven straight to the studio. “I had two 24-track 2” tapes to bounce around and get ready for the sessions – that was the first session. We did I Ain’t Mad At Cha and Ambitions Az A Ridah. That’s the night Tupac got his iconic Death Row chain. That was music history right there.” WHO: Dave Aron WHEN & WHERE: 1 May, JMC Academy THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 27
HUNTER TAFE/RMI & THE GROVE STUDIOS
What kind of courses do you offer? Hunter TAFE’s regional Music Institute offers courses full-time, part-time and flexibility across all areas of the music industry. Course range from Cert III to Advanced Diplomas. There are over 15 course to choose from.
Courses are taught with world class facilities, individual use of our recording studios, supportive industry-connected teachers, internship and employment opportunities with our industry partners. What kind of people would these courses suit? RMI (Regional Music Institute) would suit students that want a holistic approach to their music industry
training, be that a career as a professional musician, recording artist, sound engineer, songwriter/composer, event/festival/concert promoter, music producer, artist manager, entertainer, performer, publicist, marketer, music publisher, record label, booking agent, venue consultant, or one of many other vibrant and exciting areas within the creative industries. What makes you different to other universities? RMI, powered by Hunter TAFE, is Australia’s largest specialist regional music education provider, catering to the Hunter, Central Coast and Northern Sydney regions with world class facilities and an exclusive Sound Production
Diploma run out of a working recording studio at The Grove Studios in Somersby where Daniel Johns recorded his latest work. Do you offer job opportunities, internships, or other ways to help students get ahead? The partnerships with industry connections allow us to help our students get ahead with exclusive access to work experience and internships. For example, the recent partnership with The Grove Studios will not only allow students to obtain a Sound Production Diploma but also potentially gain access to an internship in the studio. All music courses provide opportunities to gain work in the industry. When and where is your next Info Day/Open Day? RMI will be holding an exclusive Open Day on the 16 May at The Grove Studios, 286 Mangrove Road, Somersby to give students hands-on experiences of the Sound Production Diploma that will be offered on this boutique campus. There will be limited places so we advise all interested students to register for the day which will run from 10am – 2pm and will allow students to watch live recordings, use equipment, get their own work critiqued and talk to teachers and producers not only on the Sound Production Diploma but about all aspects of what RMI has to offer. Free BBQ too. Students can register at rmi.edu.au. Website link for more info? rmi.edu.au
AUSTRALIAN FILM TELEVISION AND RADIO SCHOOL (AFTRS)
What kind of courses do you offer? Bachelor of Arts (Screen); Advanced Diplomas and Diplomas in the specialist areas of directing, screenwriting, producing, editing, screen design, sound, VFX, documentary and radio; Sixweek 100% Online Introductory courses. Do you offer practical on-site learning or more of a theoretical base? AFTRS is internationally famous for its hands-on, industry-standard practical approach to learning as well as providing rigorous teaching and learning experiences equivalent to University courses. What makes you different to other universities? AFTRS is the only institution of its kind in Australia and is funded by the Australian government. AFTRS has been consistently rated by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the top film schools in the world for the calibre of its courses, the state-of-theart gear and facilities and the School’s outstanding alumni. Not one other university or institution in Australia has made the list. 28 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
What kind of social activities do you offer? AFTRS provides opportunities for networking, and access to industry that is unrivalled in Australia and in an industry that is all about connections and networks this is highly valued and rated as a real drawcard by current students and graduates alike. Do you offer job opportunities, internships, or other ways to help students get ahead? Yes, industry placements, internships, prizes and other opportunities are offered to AFTRS students.
When and where is your next Info Day/ Open Day? Course Info Day: Saturday 30 May. Open Day: Saturday 5 Sep. Website link for more info? aftrs.edu.au/opendays
THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 29
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DRAMATIC ART
What kind of courses do you offer? From six-month courses to graduate studies, NIDA offers a diverse range of immersive education opportunities. These include full-time courses: Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees, Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees, VET (vocational education and training) diplomas; and part-time courses: one-month, six-month or 12-month weekend or evening Studio or Residency courses. What kind of people would these courses suit? NIDA’s diverse range of courses is suitable for passionate and dedicated artists looking to take the next step in their career.
are supported by expert teachers with extensive industry knowledge who are passionate about guiding the next generation of creative leaders.
We offer education training options across a variety of disciplines: acting, screen acting, musical theatre, costume, design for performance, directing, filmmaking, physical theatre, properties and objects, staging, specialist make-up, singing, technical theatre, TV presenting and writing for performance.
Do you offer job opportunities, internships, or other ways to help students get ahead? NIDA offers students the opportunity to meet and work with industry leaders and guest artists across a range of projects every year. These are different for each degree and course, and can be as diverse as being part of stage productions, film projects or professional industry placements. When and where is your next Info Day/ Open Day? NIDA Information Night will be held in late July. For the latest information, please visit nida.edu.au/info-night. Website link for more info? nida.edu. au and open.nida.edu.au
What makes you different to other universities? NIDA has the enviable reputation as Australia’s national centre for dramatic arts education and training. For over 50 years, we have fostered creative professionals who achieve at the highest level. Our students have access to the latest equipment and
ACTORS CENTRE AUSTRALIA What kind of courses do you offer? Courses range from full-time career training, to part time performance/acting courses as well and short creative courses introducing everyone to the performing arts. What kind of people would these courses suit? Anyone who is keen to enter the performing arts industry as a fully trained and qualified actor, or anyone wishing to unlock and unleash their creative instincts and natural gifts. What makes you different to other universities? For almost 30 years we have been an iconic driving force in the Sydney creative landscape. Our belief and commitment is to maintain a high support matched by high challenge environment which produces a high performance outcome for everyone. Do you offer job opportunities, internships, or other ways to help students get ahead? ACA fulltime course students complete their training with Industry Showcase performances for agents, casting directors, 30 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
directors from theatre, film and television; Showreel sent to casting directors and agents; Showcast online listing as an ACA Graduate, CV, Showreel and 12x8 Headshot; Articulation into a Bachelor of Theatre Studies at University of New England; and An 52461WA Advanced Diploma of Performing Arts (Acting). When and where is your next Info Day/Open Day? Our FREE Intro Acting & Welcome to ACA Sydney Events are Saturday 29 Jun and Wednesday 1 Jul. Website link for more info? acasydney.com.au
AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF MUSIC (AIM) What kind of courses do you offer? The Australian Institute of Music Melbourne offers Bachelor, Diploma and Post Graduate courses in Contemporary Performance, Composition and Music Production and Entertainment Management. AIM Sydney offers these courses as well as Music Theatre, Dramatic Arts, Audio Engineering and Classical Performance.
help students get ahead? Our Bachelor of Entertainment Management and Bachelor of Performance course has compulsory internship units included in the course. AIM’s reputation for producing hardworking, reliable and talented students means that we are regularly contacted from organisations looking for volunteers, interns, employees and musicians.
What kind of people would these courses suit? Anyone who is wanting a career in the music and entertainment industry, or anyone working within the industry that wants to further their knowledge and skills.
When and where is your next Info Day/Open Day? Melbourne Open Day, 15 Aug. Sydney Open Day, 8 Aug.
What makes you different to other universities? AIM is currently the biggest contemporary music school in Australia. All our teachers are still actively involved in the industry and have careers outside of their roles at AIM. There is a large emphasis on practical industry experience and opportunities. Do you offer job opportunities, internships, or other ways to
Website link for more info? aim.edu.au
THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 31
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
★★★★
album/ep reviews
HIATUS KAIYOTE
MUMFORD & SONS
Flying Buddha/Sony
Gentlemen Of The Road/ Dew Process/Universal
Choose Your Weapon Choose Your Weapon is a dreamboat of an album fuelled by sonic satisfaction. The record is comprised of 12 songs and six little interludes that bridge them together, creative and cohesive, satisfying your need for niche consistency combined with the intrepid unpredictability of Hiatus Kaiyote. There’s a plethora of funk, jazz, swing, lounge and soul at play here, all wrapped around Nai Palm’s delightful honey-soaked croon. The record has a continuous flow, as the music within is drool-inducing and will leave you glassy eyed, three or four tracks often seeming to have inexplicably melted into each other. Hiatus Kaiyote continue to innovate on two fronts. On one hand there’s feel and timing, such as in the choppy breakdown of Shaolin Monk Motherfunk or the stop-start
★★★★
Wilder Mind
verse of By Fire. The album also features more electronic experimentation than in their previous material, for instance on the aptly named Atari, where trickling 8-bit sounds envelop the mix. The musicianship across the record is also top notch with the drumming of Perrin Moss really shining through, along with Simon Mavin’s efforts from behind the keys. Swamp Thing proves to be the standout of the record, as a fuzzed-out bass line is littered with erratic polyrhythms from the piano. It’s rather psychedelic and, it seems, Hiatus Kaiyote can do no wrong. Jonty Czuchwicki
Mumford & Sons are arguably the spearhead of the Americana/ folk resurgence that we have been privileged to bear witness to in recent years, by they left the scene almost two years ago. The new age folk aficionados are back, and with a whole new approach to their sound. Markedly more “electric” than the albums they produced before their hiatus, Wilder Mind sees far more in the way of reverbed, crunchy guitars than banjo, which appears to make no appearance in the album at all. This might come as a rude surprise to some listeners, however it is good to remember that it takes a bold musician to make such a contestable decision. The first single off the album, Believe, begins in an ethereal manner, with sparse sonic room for Marcus Mumford’s voice, building into a cataclysmic
★★★½
★★★ pounding of drums and ringing chords. As a single it will do (and has already done) very well, but as a contribution to the album it leaves a certain something to be desired, not quite stacking up to the album’s second single, The Wolf. Overall, Mumford & Sons have put out an incredibly strong comeback album. It gets decidedly better put-together as it progresses, and flows well. The group has made a logical step in their sound, toeing the very easily trampled line between well written modern music and ‘just another boring indie album’. Wilder Mind is certainly the former. Lukas Murphy
★★★★
★★★½
OSCAR KEY SUNG
REECE MASTIN
BABY ET LULU
BEST COAST
Warner
Social Family Records
Independent
EMI
Oscar Key Sung’s music can be uncomfortable. It’s locked in tension and sometimes feels unpredictable, as if the Melbourne singer and producer’s whole body is suspended on a breath of air and could slip off at any moment. “I want to break free but I don’t know how,” he sings on Premonition. When the disorientating rhythmic patterns give way to something more recognisable, as on Skip and Brush, the results are all the more relieving. By continually providing a fresh interpretation of whatever R&B means these days, he remains one of our most important artists.
Aussie rocker Reece Mastin is back and better than ever. Parting ways with his major label and joining Social Family has been the best decision he’s made, replacing his chatty pop songs with a more mature indie-rock sound. Rebel & The Reason gives fans a taste of the new Mastin doing what he does best – rock. Lyrically, Sleep When You’re Dead is a little provocative while Give It To Me Straight is honest. It may have a different sound to what listeners had previously heard from him, but it won’t leave fans disappointed.
A truly “magnifique” partnership was born when Abby Dobson (Leonardo’s Bride) and Lara Goodridge (FourPlay) joined musical forces with a French twist. It can be hard to resist a bit of Parisian accordion as it is; pair it with Dobson and Goodridge’s vibrating harmonies, especially in the seesawing C’est Le Top, and it’s just plain irresistible. Je Suis Venu Te Dire does away with the French pomp and lets the girls’ breathy pouts shine dramatically over piano and strings. Paris and Paris Se Regarde add the theatrical lines and sassy clarinet expected for such song titles.
On their third full-length, Best Coast manage to maintain their lo-fi surf pop foundation while sounding scuzzier and more confident. Lead single, Heaven Sent, is a contender for one of the catchiest songs of the year – an aggressive rock-out where the riffs are loud and Bethany Cosetino’s vocals, layered with harmonies and reverb, are strong and purposeful. Even in the more doleful tracks like Fading Fast and Sleep Won’t Ever Come, Cosentino seems to be searching for answers rather than simply lamenting. You can tell there’s been a lot of growing up since 2010’s Crazy For You.
Carley Hall
Kane Sutton
Altruism
Roshan Clerke
32 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
Rebel & The Reason
Aneta Grulichova
Album Deux
California Nights
album/ep reviews
★★
★★★½
★★★★½
PALMA VIOLETS
CATHERINE BRITT
DJANGO DJANGO
Rough Trade/Remote Control
Lost Highway/Universal
Because/Warner
Drawing on a range of styles from Americana to traditional, pop to rock, Britt has produced a strong collection on her sixth album. The opening and title track gets things off to a rollicking, raw start before the beautiful ache of the stringladen Good To Be Bad slows things down. From there on there are a few twee misfires but when she hits the darker, moodier moments like Nice Girl, Britt shows real depth to her craft. Vocally she can sound sweet and twangy like a younger Dolly Parton or rougher-edged like her contemporary Kasey Chambers.
The London four-piece expand on their percussive, idiosyncratic sound with second album, Born Under Saturn, because really, why fix what ain’t broke? Single, First Light is the album’s most easily digestible electric groove flagbearer – though those near deadpan harmonies remain at the forefront – but things get more captivating further in. Shake & Tremble, Pause Repeat, High Moon and more standouts ensure this album is sometimes pretty, sometimes jarring, but relentlessly interesting. There’s always more to be discovered in the layers beneath the surface and that’s what makes Django Django such a brilliant indie-rock sidestep.
Danger In The Club Palma Violets had a hit with 2012’s Best Of Friends, a heartfelt, heavy track catchy as hell and emotionally cathartic. Danger In The Club has few similar virtues. The lyrics are repetitive and forgettable, which is good because when they try to go clever we get stinkers like “soft as quilts and lined with guilt”. Still, there are a couple of enjoyable tracks, like the garage-poppy Gout! Gang! Go!. They can write a hook with their hands tied. It’s just unfortunate most of them are drowned in dreary vocals and stodgy production.
Boneshaker
Chris Familton
Madeleine Laing
Born Under Saturn
Carley Hall
★★★½
KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD Quarters
Flightless/Remote Control Having built the hype, now might be the time for KG&TLW to release a chart-bothering collection of fist-pumping rockers, right? Or they could take an unexpected psych-folk direction by unleashing a weird rabbit hole of a record where each of the four songs is exactly ten minutes and 11 seconds. Their mellowest statement to date, the unexpectedly slinky groove-bait of The River finds the band floating pleasantly into Amorphous Androgynous’ Monstrous Psychedelic Bubble territory and into the realms of technicolour fantasy. Christopher H James
MORE REVIEWS
themusic.com.au/music/album-reviews
★★★★
★★★★
★★★½
MY MORNING JACKET
SWEET LIL RIDER
HOWLING
Spunk/Capitol/EMI
Independent
MonkeyTown/Inertia
Kentucky country-rockers MMJ’s seventh album – their last was 2011’s Circuital – is a collection of lush, predominantly mid-tempo ramblers housing the delicate, elegant worldview of frontman Jim James. Ethereal opener, Believe (Nobody Knows) takes up where James’ recent solo foray left off – airy and intricate – but from here it gradually returns to more rocking terrain, refined tunes like Spring (Among The Living), Big Decisions and Thin Line conjuring disparate moods and reminiscent of the early MMJ aesthetic rather than more recent forays. A strong band continuing forwards without abandoning the past.
Two guys, two Resonator guitars and a deep, informed passion for swamp/blues/boogie as it swam outta the Mississippi Delta and was transmogrified by white boys with electric guitars. One guy is American – former Angels bass player Jim Hilbun. The other, Johnny Cass, avid champion of Robert Johnson, from the deep NSW mid-south coast. The result? Five stompin’ down-home cuts as you’d hear banged out on a porch somewhere in the Bayou, Mick Skelton adding a pinch of gutbucket thumping.
Having released a few twelves, Âme’s Frank Wiedemann and The Acid’s Aussie vocalist RY X have produced a long-player. The duo craft a slick electronic pop record that brings together RY X’s introspective folktronica with the thump and shudder associated with the clubs of Berlin, Wiedemann’s hometown. RY X’s soul-searching melancholia effortlessly drifts across a mix of shimmering and strangely organic electronics. The deep, bass bottom end seemingly prevents his vocals from completely floating into outer space. This collision of elegant folksy songwriting and dreamy electronica produces fresh interesting results.
The Waterfall
Steve Bell
Sweet Lil Rider EP
Michael Smith
Sacred Ground
Deez Nuts – Word Is Bond Tyler, The Creator – Cherry Bomb Turbowolf – Two Hands Delia Gonzalez – In Remembrance Mavis Staples – Your Good Fortune Apocalyptica – Shadowmaker Brian Wilson – No Pier Pressure
Guido Farnell THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 33
live reviews
CITIZEN, POSTBLUE, PERSPECTIVES, DEAR SEATTLE Bald Faced Stag 22 Apr With a wild east coast low still lingering around Sydney, Dear Seattle’s melodic hardcore seemed an appropriate start. Playing to a relatively small all-ages crowd in very early to see them, the Northern Beaches boys ran through a tight if slightly derivative set. New tunes like Momentarily are nonetheless nice future pointers.
I Hope They’re Praying For Me is a record to pick up. Citizen are one of the standouts on a strong Run For Cover roster. Opener, The Summer had the crowd going mental and was soon followed by Figure You Out. Early on the vocals were mixed too low, a pummelling rhythm section and uncontained feedback swallowing some better moments. But punters didn’t care, belting out even deep cuts from Youth and riding the wave of the band’s first Australian tour. It was singer Mat Kerekes’ birthday, and Postblue took to the stage again to sing Happy Birthday. Thereafter, Kerekes played in a Birthday Boy shirt. It was nice, and
CITIZEN @ BALD FACED STAG PIC: JARED_LEIBOWITZ
Perspectives were on next. Singer Rob Scamarcia was arresting, with a delivery akin to Touche Amore’s Jeremy Bolm. Scamarcia and band particularly shone on their biggest cuts, like an impassioned Oceans or the dramatic, ascending Blind. Drummer Jonno Dolan turned in some great work, as did a bunch of hardcore fans screaming lyrics back at the band. Some Poison City fans were in for Postblue, and they didn’t disappoint. Opening with the brilliant Ugly, their more oblique voicings seemed to catch a majority underage crowd offside. That loud indifference was an asset though, channelling all post-Dinosaur Jr acts and drowning some choice melodies in choleric noise. 34 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
to see this side of Bluesfest, X-Factor alumnus and selftaught strummer, Tash Sultana got the night off to an awesome start with her earthy reggae/roots and folk-inspired tunes. This incredible multiinstrumentalist (reminiscent of Kim Churchill) warmed the audience up with beatboxing and percussive fingertapping on her guitar, with songs like Yin Yang… and that was just the beginning. Next up was another Melburnian act, Woodlock, who brought a classic Australian rootsy/country vibe to the stage. Repping a big sound that’s famous on the streets all the way up the
PIERCE BROTHERS @ NEWTOWN SOCIAL CLUB PIC: CLARE HAWLEY
a real treat. He turned in a great performance too. After standout, The Night I Drove Alone, crowd and band were equally appreciative – the net result of escalating positive vibes between each other. Strict venue measures put a little dampener on the evening, but they all crowdsurfed anyway. Daniel Comensoli
PIERCE BROTHERS, WOODLOCK, TASH SULTANA
Newtown Social Club 25 Apr Opening one of the most high-energy shows you’re likely
the pair played a new tune called Self Portrait, Patrick rocking out on a solo. The whole show was brimming with audience participation and the banter these dead-set legends has come to be known by. They came down and danced in the audience mid-song, drumming on the walls of the Newtown Social and gathering everyone up into an insanely highenergy folk dance party. These guys are not to be missed next time they’re in town! Hattie O’Donnell
PIERCE BROTHERS @ NEWTOWN SOCIAL CLUB PIC: CLARE HAWLEY
East Coast, these busking brothers (and friend) were another perfect addition to the bill playing before the Pierce Brothers this night. Winning over the crowd with tracks like Blood Brothers, their downto-earth and narrative-driven tales melted audience hearts. The Pierce Brothers took off like a rocket from the start of their sold-out show. Midway through their Winter Is Coming Tour (a reference that all you Game Of Thrones fans will appreciate), the brother duo were piping hot with tunes like Golden Times filled with didgeridoo. Famous for their fast-paced romps and improvisation, the brothers showed off some new material inspired by John Butler Trio’s Ocean, and
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themusic.com.au/music/live-reviews
OH MERCY @ NEWTOWN SOCIAL CLUB PIC: ANGELA PADOVAN
Oh Mercy @ Newtown Social Club. 360 @ Metro Theatre Andy Bull @ Uni Bar, Wollongong
SCF reviews
PIC: JOSH GROOM
CYRUS BEZYAN: RELUCTANT CONFIDENCE MAN SCF
Enmore Theatre (finished)
AN EVENING WITH NOEL FIELDING
★★★★
State Theatre to 1 May
CRACKER NIGHT SCF
SCF
★★★★★
Bezyan is neither reluctant nor supremely confident, but damn me if he’s not as funny as he is quirky. For a unique brand of comedy straight from the mouth of an Iranian-born, animal trivia-loving, classic funny man, attend Bezyan’s show. An honest, internet-age larrikin, Bezyan is a classic storyteller, weaving his stories slowly and with just enough delicious sprinklings of comedy to tickle your insides.
It seems a career in breakfast radio hasn’t slowed Matt Okine down on the standup front, guiding us through a line-up of diverse comics at Sydney Comedy Festival’s Cracker Night. Gen Fricker’s, pictured, acerbic tweeness and Luisa Omielan’s rhythmic, almost 4/4 time delivery had the crowd immediately on their side. Although seasoned American Jen Kirkman’s rapid-fire delivery was almost too much for some of the crowd, her fans were certainly in attendance. The bar has definitely been set high for the remainder of the Comedy Festival.
Sean Maroney
Paul McWhirter
Hannah Story
Enmore Loft, Enmore Theatre (finished)
★★★½
JEN KIRKMAN: I’M LUISA OMIELAN: GONNA DIE ALONE WHAT WOULD (AND I FEEL FINE) BEYONCÉ DO?
Noel Fielding strutted onto the stage in a silver glitter cape. He discarded it quickly so that he could properly inhabit his roles: as a herbal tea bag, a chicken, or a singing milk glass. An Evening With Noel Fielding becomes self-reflexive performance work, Fielding breaking the fantasy at times to say “I’m 41.” The improvised aspect really adds to the whole thing, sometimes leaving cast member Meeten lost for words, chuckling on stage. You’ve never seen a show like this before – and it’s unlikely you ever will again.
SAM SIMMONS: SPAGHETTI FOR BREAKFAST
SCF
SCF
Comedy Store, 22 Apr
Factory Floor (finished)
Giant Dwarf (finished)
★★★★½
★★★★
★★★★½
Kirkman’s show is about turning 40, divorce, dating, sex, death, marriage, being a daughter, a friend, not having kids and not being a cougar. It’s reassuring to hear the mad stuff that rattles around your brain coming back to you from the stage, only funnier. Maybe we’re not alone in our shortcomings. The takeaway from the hour spent with a savvy woman wearing great boots: don’t you want to have some fun before you die?!
There are many life lessons to be gained from the best pop music. In a show peppered with badarse dancing and some serious singalongs, her energy, even at the end of a very long run, was infectious. The only sag was where the lyrics and their advice were less direct, but no question that Omielan’s going to be huge. There needs to be more bloody-minded, recklessly ambitious stand-up like it. Well done, lady.
The most common way to describe Sam Simmons is to call him absurd, but that simply does not do him justice. The craft that goes into this year’s MICF Barry Award-winning show is second to none. Some jokes that seem like throwaways are subtly recalled later in the show, while those that don’t land are dismissed with aplomb, and Simmons’ confidence to run head-on into his own jokes using props is remarkable.
Fiona Cameron
Liz Giuffre
SCF
Paul McWhirter
FOR MORE SCF REVIEWS HEAD TO THEMUSIC.COM.AU/COMEDY/REVIEWS THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 35
36 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
the guide
KIRSTY MAC
Can you give us a tweet-length summary of your show? Douche Bomb is about how we kicked Julien Blanc out of Australia – then worldwide. Also how feminists are kicking goals on social media. What do you f ind funny? Depends how many beers I’ve had. But I like writing jokes that flip stereotypes on their heads. What do you f ind unfunny? When women are the victims. Like: what do you call a woman with two black eyes? What do you call a man who still tells this joke? A scary misogynist. What’s a ridiculous situation you’ve been in that you got a joke out of? When I accidentally became the ringleader of the Julien Blanc campaign in Melbourne. Heaps of good jokes come from that. Come to the show! Do you have a pre-show ritual? Yep. Smash heaps of water and smoke a durry. Helps 80% of the time, every time. Website link for more info? sydneycomedyfest. com.au/single-event?show_id=1024
WHAT: Kirsty Mac: Douche Bomb WHEN & WHERE: 29 Apr & 1 May, Sydney Comedy Festival, Bunker, Factory Theatre THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 37
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DUMPLINGS
AROUND THE WORLD When we think of dumplings we immediately think of the Chinese or Japanese varieties. But every country’s got their version.
Dumpling weather is upon us. Sarah Barratt scopes out the best. Pics David Ma
Tibet/Nepal: The momo is hearty, thick and filling. There is usually a curry or masala spice running through the filling (Nepalese influence) that makes these different to the typical Chinese dumpling.
QUICK RUNDOWN OF THE BASICS. Shumai: the ones with the yellow skin and an orange garnish (often crab roe or carrot) on top. Standard ingredients include pork, prawn, black mushroom, scallion and ginger.
India: The modak is a glob of rice flour with coconut, covered in sugary syrup. Slavic countries: Pelmeni and pierogi are types of Slavic dumplings native to Poland, Russia and Ukraine. They look a bit like ravioli, flat, semicircular; cooked in melted butter and onions go on top. Korea: Mandu can be grilled/fried, boiled or steamed. They’re pretty flat and thick as opposed to the round Chinese dumpling.
Har gow: prawn dumplings with a stretchy, translucent skin.
Din Tai Fung – various locations
Mr Wong – 3 Bridge Ln, CBD
This business is everywhere, appearing in ten countries around the world and counting. The dumpling with the cult following is the xiao long bao, steamed pork dumplings with soup inside. For dessert there’s the delectably quirky fried taro bread with gelato. Choose from seven locations all over NSW.
Welcome to the upper echelon of dumpling appreciation society. Expect the best of Cantonese cuisine and experimental flavor, like the poached port, prawn and black truffle dumplings, or their prawn toast with foie gras and almonds. There’s traditional fan winners like wild mushroom, spinach, or chicken and chive as well.
Chinese Noodle Restaurant – Shop 7, 8 Quay St, Haymarket
Chairman Mao – 189 Anzac Pde, Kensington
Open seven days, with cheap prices and lots of foot traffic, this place is thoroughly discovered and revered for their braised eggplant and pork chive dumplings. Also try the fried eggplant (kind of like eggplant chips) or the pan-fried mini pork buns, crispy on the bottom smooth on top.
Famous for their oily, crunchy slow cooked pork belly, enjoy it while pop-art versions of Chairman Mao look over you. Try some steamed pork dumpling soup accompanied by pickled vegetables or the spring onion pancakes. The dumplings are on the oilier, spicier side of life.
38 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
Char siu bao: BBQ pork bun. You know the one: sweet and savoury, red, saucy filling inside a soft, white cloud of a bun. Chee cheong fun: large steamed rice noodles rolled around pork, prawns or beef and then drizzled with a slightly sweet soy sauce. Lo mai gai: Sticky rice with chicken. Comes wrapped up in a lotus leaf. It’s essentially glutinous rice dumpling filled with chicken, Chinese mushrooms, Chinese sausage, scallions and sometimes salted egg. The rice has a great smoky flavour.
MAKE ME, EAT ME
Dumplings are a bit of an effort to make, but only because you have to assemble lots of them by hand. Invite your mates around and get a production line going! Many hands etc etc. Here are some dumpling filling ideas. Pork mince, chives, wombok Scallop, ginger, corn, cabbage, chives Beef, garlic, ginger, chilli Prawn, sesame oil, spring onion Tofu, shiitake mushrooms, ginger, carrot, chives Pan-fry, steam, boil and serve with soy sauce, vinegar, chilli oil or sauce, fresh chilli.
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LIVE THIS WEEK
CHART WRAP
TAKEN ITS TULL
DEATH FIESTA
BEN THERE, DONE THAT
Tully On Tully have been touring the east coast in support of latest single All These Words. To round out the tour the band play another Brighton Up Bar show on Thursday with Sarah Belkner, pictured, and Why We Run.
Sydney’s high-intensity alt-flamenco act Kallidad are touring the east coast, promoting their latest single and album of the same name, Death Fiesta. See them Friday, Oxford Art Factory, supporting Tijuana Cartel, pictured.
Accomplished Victorian singersongwriter Benny Walker has shared brand new LP Through The Forest, announcing a national tour to celebrate. Walker plays Sunday, Rhythm Hut, Gosford in solo mode.
NO YOKE
WINNING PITCH
HERE IT COMES
Sydney three-piece Yoke have a new single, So Far, produced by Nik Kaloper of The Jezabels. They’ll launch it and show off their other tunes this Thursday at Goodgod Small Club, with support from Left and Polish Club.
Local band The Fever Pitch are bringing the blues and punding out the rhythm at Camelot Lounge on Thursday. They’re an eight-piece band with three singers so prepare your ears for a delight.
Brother/sister outfit Voltaire Twins have released a brand new single Long Weekend, the first taste of their forthcoming debut album. They’re playing a few shows on the east side to celebrate, including Saturday, Brighton Up Bar.
THE SAFIA WORD
PEEP THIS
OOZING COOL
Safia have dropped their new single Counting Sheep. Now they’ve teamed up with Cool Accidents to play a single launch show at Newtown Social Club on Thursday. Tickets come with a free 7” of the single.
Melbourne trio The Peep Tempel are bringing their gritty rock’n’roll to Newtown Social Club, armed with new single Gettin’ On By. Supports are Super Best Friends, pictured, and White Dog.
On Wednesday at Beach Road Hotel, Melbourne indie rapper Ivan Ooze takes to the stage. See the viral hip hop sensation live, doing his thing.
GANG HANGS
POWERFUL CREATURES
BLACK HEARTS
From 10pm at Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice on Thursday, funksters Gang Of Brothers will play such damn fine grooves you won’t know what to do with yourself. They’re technicians of their trade.
The Midway Creatures perform at Ric’s Bar on Monday and The Zoo on 7 May. Their drummer, Mel Wu, is currently competing in an international contest for female drummers called Hit Like A Girl. Go check out their live vibes!
On Friday at Rock Lily, Black Diamond Hearts will be showcasing their tunes. They’ll be joined by supports Dave White Duo, Fingers, DJ Albie Smiles and Troy T.
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HARTS
Ubiquitous Melburnian multiinstrumentalist Harts can enjoy a late signal boost for 2014 LP, Daydreamer, ahead of his national tour this June after the record stepped out comfortably inside the top 20 at #14 on this week’s Carlton Dry Independent Music Charts. Harts earned the second-highest entry spot for a full-length release this week, with top honours going to C3 (Christian City Church Oxford Falls) for their release Only Love, which slides inside the top five at #4. Across the board, however, it’s a relatively tepid week for new faces, White Shadows picking up the sole remaining full-length debut, coming in at #18, while King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s I’m In Your Mind Fuzz fills the re-entry quota on its lonesome, back in the charts at #20. The top two, however — Sia’s 1000 Forms Of Fear and Courtney Barnett’s Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit — remain unmoved from their spots atop the pile, while West Australian indie darlings San Cisco step up a rung with second LP, Gracetown reaching #3 this week. In terms of singles, the pack also remains largely unchanged, especially in the top half of the ladder, though The Jungle Giants (Every Kind Of Way), Nicky Night Time (Gonna Get Better) and San Cisco (Run) manage to crack the cut-off, with their respective singles entering the charts at #17, #19 and #20. Here, too, though, the pointy end is steady as ever — Jarryd James is still at #1 with Do You Remember, while Sia’s back-to-back hold on #2 and #3 (with Elastic Heart and Big Girls Cry) endures for another week. THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 39
the guide nsw.live@themusic.com.au
LIVE THIS WEEK
THIS WEEK’S RELEASES… BEST COAST California Nights EMI JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD Wasted On The Dream Dine Alone/Cooking Vinyl MUMFORD & SONS Wilder Mind Gentlemen Of The Road/ Dew Process/Universal MY MORNING JACKET The Waterfall Spunk/Capitol 40 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
LIL BIG LITTLE BIG
FEELING CROOK
SOMEDAY SOMEDAY
On Wednesday at Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, swamp blues band Sweet Lil Rider will be bringing the good times with Big Blind Ray and Little Big Wolf. Sweet Lil Rider also play Towradgi Beach Hotel, Sunday.
Sydney five-piece Lepers & Crooks are making the rounds on a 60-date national tour in support of their recent Her Kiss EP. Head to Oxford Art Factory on Saturday and tell them what a great job they’ve been doing.
Thirsty Merc are performing all the old favourites at Towradgi Beach Hotel on Saturday – here’s your excuse to belt out 20 Good Reasons and In The Summertime. The Tambourine Girls will also be supporting.
WORLD DOMINATION
BASEMENT BLUES
LOVE STORY
Having played all over the world in 2014, Russian-born singer-songwriter Mary Ocher is making her way to Australia in May for a bunch of shows. Be a part of her quest for world domination when she performs Monday, The Bearded Tit.
The Basement Blues Society is back at The Basement this Thursday. It’s a coming together of Sydney’s finest live musicians and this month it hosts Glenn Cardier & The Sideshow, The Continental Blues Party and Jeremy Edwards.
On Friday at Camlot Lounge, Bek-Jean Stewart launches her third album, Amos Vs Ann. It’s a love story from beginning to end, that recalls the human condition. Live, she’ll be joined by a bassist and backup vocalist, and a pianist.
FOR EVERYONE
BOWLED OVER
RIGGED
Following the release of his new single, No One, Melbourne’s own Ben Wright Smith will be playing Thursday, Oxford Art Factory and Friday, Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle with more dates on theMusic.com.au.
Nova & The Experience come to Bondi Bowling Club on Thursday. Check out the newly renovated venue and have a boogie to get those weekend vibes started.
The Delta Riggs are gonna tear the roof off Metro Theatre on Friday, with the help of support acts Harts and Food Court. Can you think of a more perfect way to ring in the weekend?
BASS IN YO FACE
YUM SOUNDS
LET THERE BE LITE
Project Bass hits Manning Bar on Saturday. The line-up features Digital Mindz (FI), Embrionyc (DE), Decipher & Shindra, Splinter Cell, Dep Affect and Cyberstruct so it should be a doozy.
Bangers & Mash night is happening at Hermanns Bar on Friday, with a full Grounded Sound System and Anamorphic Photonics Lighting. On the decks will be Luke Snarl, SK, Anomie, Pr3dat0r and Horizon Eyes.
Joining the Friday Lite crew for the opening night this Friday at Goodgod Small Club is Kid Kairo and Radge. Brand new rap and club music; different hosts each week. This week it’s Victoria Kim, Cache One and Baby Face Thrilla.
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ALBUM FOCUS
EP FOCUS
a few!), but we tracked it live over three days. Was anything in particular inspiring you during the making? Yes, my incredible band, The Soul Mates, Kevin the producer. Also we were joined by Joe Bonamassa on guitar, he was awesome! The whole process, the songs and the people were really inspiring for me.
ELANA STONE
Album title? Ooh Yea – The Betty Davis Songbook
What’s your favourite song on it? I think it would have to be either Nasty Gal or He Was A Big Freak.
How many releases do you have now? This will be the first half of my third studio album.
Where did the title of your new album come from? It’s a record of Betty Davis songs, and one of our favourites was called Ooh Yea... Seemed like the right fit!
Will you do anything differently next time? It’s a little different doing covers, but for me it’s all about honesty and heart, so live is the best!
How many releases do you have now? Five releases with The Soul Mates: three EPs (one was a live one) and two full albums.
When and where is your launch/next gig? We’re playing at Lizottes Dee Why and Newcastle on 1 & 2 May. We’ll be at Peak Festival, Perisher Valley, 5 Jun too.
MAHALIA BARNES & THE SOUL MATES Answered by: Mahalia Barnes
How long did it take to write/ record? This one’s a tribute to Betty, so we didn’t write the songs (wish I’d written
Website link for more info? mahaliabarnes.com.au
EP title? Kintsugi
Was anything in particular inspiring you during the making? The end of my previous band/ relationship (The Rescue Ships) was the catalyst but it would have happened either way. I started working with a fantastic producer called Jack Britten and this is what we created.
We’ll like this EP if we like... St Vincent, Solange, Tune-Yards, Dirty Projectors, Ngaiire, Ainslie Wills, Megan Washington. When and where is your launch/next gig? 3 May, Newtown Social Club. Website link for more info? elanastone.com.au
What’s your favourite song on it? Maybe Gravity or Sleep Doesn’t Come but truly I don’t have a favourite. I’m really happy with the release overall.
HAVE YOU BEEN TO
HAVE YOU BEEN TO Any advice for f irst timers who want to visit the event? Bring your friends and be ready to hear some amazing music in a great, relaxed environment! With a limited crowd, great music, awesome local food and a relaxed approach you are sure to have fun!
KIDGEERIDGE MUSIC FESTIVAL Answered by: Will Repanellis Why should punters visit you? With awesome headline acts, some great unknown bands, scrumptious local food, a limited capacity crowd and unique new setting, this is sure to be a great gig! Line-up features Mark Seymour & The Undertow, Lior, pictured, Tim Rogers, Steve Smyth, Sal Kimber & The Rollin’ Wheel and more.
Do you have any plans for the event in the future? We would love to continue on with our successes and make Kidgeeridge the mainstay music festival on the South Coast. Each year we look for new music to feature and unearth alongside the biggest bands in Australia. When and where for your next event? 1 & 2 May, Ulladulla Milton Showground. Website link for more info? kidgeeridge.com.au
What’s the history of the event? Kidgeeridge is celebrating ten years of benefiting the local community with our biggest festival yet!
SOULFEED SUNDAZE Answered by: Sammy Henry Why should punters visit you? For a laidback Sunday with live soul and Motown singers, a line-up of top shelf DJs and a street art expo from some of Sydney’s greatest. Not to mention great food, cheap drinks. What’s the history of the event? First Sunday of each month. A line-up of Sydney’s best underground and upcoming artists. Any advice for f irst timers who want to visit the event? Please come with a chilled vibe and bring your close family and friends. This is a event like
S U P P O R T I N G
I N D E P E N D E N T
no other. The best up-andcoming soul singers to a lineup of Sydney’s street art. Do you have any plans for the event in the future? To showcase the best in food, soul music, and street art. To make this a platform for up-and-coming artists of all elements. And to make a Sunday session that will give the people of Sydney what they need. When and where for your next event? 3 May, Forest Lodge, Glebe. Free entry from 1pm. Line-up: Wallace, Grouce, Lana Rita, pictured, DJ Migz, DJ Naiki, DJ Mizzy, Gazele and more. Pic: Jes Lindsay
A U S S I E
M U THE S IMUSIC C • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 41
the guide nsw.live@themusic.com.au
SINGLE FOCUS
SINGLE FOCUS working on new material and hoping to jump back into the studio later this year.
VOLTAIRE TWINS Answered by: Jaymes Voltaire Single title? Long Weekend What’s the song about? It’s about those weird, addictive relationships where you can’t resist someone, even when they’re terrible for you. How long did it take to write/ record? We wrote it in Perth at my parents’ house, then recorded it in Melbourne last year soon after moving over. Is this track from a forthcoming release/existing release? It’s the first single from our upcoming album, Milky Waves. What was inspiring you during the song’s writing and recording?
It was a hot Perth summer. We’d both quit our jobs and walked away from our lives to move to Melbourne and make music and we were feeling wistful and nostalgic and deep. We’ll like this song if we like... Summery dance music with sad, wintery lyrics. Do you play it differently live? It’s a lot more stripped live – guitar, synth, drum machine and vocals. Punchy, simple and rough. When and where is your launch/next gig? 2 May at Brighton Up Bar. Website link for more info? facebook.com/voltairetwins
PICTURE PERFECT Answered by: Gavin Bowles Single title? Stranger Than Fiction What’s the song about? A slightly sarcastic view of a failed relationship. How long did it take to write/ record? The writing process was short initially, but there’s always a few little tweaks and changes. The recording process took three days and was a lot of fun, as usual.
Answered by: Gabriel Brandolini EP title? Eyelids Bouncing How many releases do you have now? Two EPs: Dirt On Our Shoes and Eyelids Bouncing. Also have a fulllength album in the works.
comparing apples to oranges to watermelons to bananas. We’ll like this EP if we like... Music outside the sphere, diversity, or something that will surprise you. Website link for more info? gabrielandcecilia.com
42 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015
MISS QUINCY Answered by: Jody Peck Why are you coming to visit our fair country? I’m playing a string of shows from South Australia all the way up to the Northern Territory with my badarse Aussie backing band.
How long are you here for? I’m here for just over a month. The tour started 10 Apr and ends 10 May. What do you know about Australia, in ten words or less? I used to think kangaroos, but now I think coffee.
What’s your favourite song on it? They are all such different flavours it’s like S U P P O R T I N G
Do you play it differently live? We’ve been playing it live for a while, so we tried to capture the live energy in the studio. When and where is your launch/next gig? We’re having a single launch this Friday night (1 May) at Spectrum. Website link for more info? pictureperfectband.com.au
JUST VISITING
Is this your f irst visit? This is my first tour in Australia.
Was anything in particular inspiring you during the making? To push the boundaries of artistry itself, to truly explore and experiment as much as we could.
We’ll like this song if we like... It’s got a groove to it, like some of the more recent Queens Of The Stone Age stuff.
Is this track from a forthcoming release/existing release? At the moment it is a standalone single. But we are
EP FOCUS
GABRIEL & CECILIA
What was inspiring you during the song’s writing and recording? It’s about a relationship, but the song was written after it had ended. So it’s looking back on it and realising things that maybe weren’t so apparent at the time.
I N D E P E N D E N T
Any extra-curricular activities you hope to participate in? I’m excited to take in the music scene here, meet new musicians and learn about a bunch of new bands. What will you be taking home as a souvenir? An Aussie... no, that was a joke. Probably some wine from South Australia. Where can we come say hi, and buy you an Aussie beer? 30 Apr, Miss Peaches; 2 May, Kidgeeridge Festival, Milton; 3 May, The Junkyard, Maitland. Website link for more info? missquincy.ca
A U S S I E
M U S I C
opinion MODERATELY HIGHBROW VISUAL ART WANK AND THEATRE FOYERS WITH DAVE DRAYTON In which we assess one man’s attempt to take credit for the generations’ worth of fucking up as art, kind of... Ecuadorian artist Oscar Santillan claims to have stolen the tip of England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike, a 3,209ft summit in the Lake District. The inch-high bit of rock is now on display at a London gallery, Copperfield, atop a plinth and titled The Intruder. Santillan has suggested the work is a commentary on the human need to categorise – tallest this, widest that – and the impact of forcing these categorisations onto elements beyond their control, such as nature (all this despite his clear intervention, as a human, with a nature). As an aside that seems worthy of note and providing context for Santillan’s artistic practice, his previous works include a horse he photographed staring at a floating bubble made of its own semen. His intervention, his pinching of the rock, is important – as, en masse, humanity has been performing equivalent artistic acts for centuries on peaks around the planet. It also means that perpetual unsung hero, the Buzz Aldrin or Malcolm Young of mountaineering, Tenzing Norgay, has not only been under-appreciated as a Sherpa, but also as an artist, alongside the billions of others of us who have contributed to the degradation of a climate that results in the apparently artistic reduction of peaks through human action – however indirect.
THE HEAVY SHIT
OG FLAVAS
METAL AND HARD ROCK WITH CHRIS MARIC
URBAN AND R&B NEWS WITH CYCLONE
It was Record Store Day the other week and just like Earth Hour it shits me that things have gotten to a point that we have to point out something that used to be matter of course. I know that most people don’t go into retailers to buy a physical music product these days, what with online shopping, digital downloads or flat out just torrenting stuff for free, but there’s a magic to taking the time and browsing the racks to find rare gems and maybe find stuff that you haven’t seen an ad for 50 times in the last day on Farcebook. I was in Utopia recently, having a chat with my mate Paul who works there who is a walking Wikipedia of hard rock and metal and he’s still like a kid at Christmas with the stock on their shelves. He showed me a Japanese version of Kill Em All (could be wrong about its origin) and said that back in the day, everyone assumed Metallica were thrashers all the way and were about as un-glam as you could get. He turned the back cover of the record upside down and showed me that Metallica’s monitors on that stage photo spell out Kiss. The band had in fact contributed to the Gene and Paul fund by buying their gear ‘cause they were apparently huge Kiss fans. See, you could probably find that info out online but doesn’t come with the added enthusiasm of a diehard fan and record store manager telling you the story in person. Visit your local vinyl emporium more than once a year. Visit whenever you can…
SCAFELL PIKE
Speaking of discovering new stuff, the biggest noise of the
moment is a new supergroup project called Teenage Time Killers. Its members you know and hopefully like. Featuring Reed Mullin of Corrosion Of Conformity on drums and vocals and Mick Murphy of My Ruin and Birds Of Satan on guitars and bass respectively, they’ve recruited a who’s who of guests including Dave Grohl, Corey Taylor, Nick Oliveri, Aaron Beam, Tommy Victor, Tony Foresta, Randy Blythe and a lot more, so it’s pretty bad arse. They themselves describe it as ‘punk/metal/ hardcore/alternative’, which is rather broad and lazy but the first single, Hung Out To Dry, sounds pretty okay to me. King Parrot have returned home from once again destroying sections of the US and will soon be turning their attention to local crowds the nation over. Their new album, Dead Set, is out 15 May with the touring kicking off at the same time. The guys have been nominated in the Best New Band category for the upcoming Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards in London. You can help them win the thing by going to MH’s site to vote – it’s open till 20 May. The one and only Abbath has signed to Season Of Mist after leaving/disbanding the great Immortal. He’ll release a new album early next year and has roped in Tom ‘King Ov Hell’ Visnes to play bass and Baard Kolstad from Borknagar on drums. I can’t imagine Abbath’s effort straying too far from familiar territory, which is a very good thing. Immortal rules!
Splendour In The Grass has two notable hip hop acts performing in 2015. The infamous Azealia Banks, who finally dropped Broke With Expensive Taste last year, is the biggie. Then we have Earl Sweatshirt (aka Thebe Kgositsile), who Kendrick Lamar has declared his favourite contemporary MC. Kgositsile’s I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside aired digitally last month, yet has slipped under the radar – strong reviews aside. Kgositsile, 21, is Odd Future’s most inscrutable member. Dude’s legend began when his law professor mom packed him off to a Samoan boarding school after that buzz mixtape Earl. Kgositsile debuted officially with 2013’s acclaimed Doris, eschewing cartoon horrorcore for a more personal, introspective and poetic hip hop. I Don’t Like Shit…, succinct at 30 minutes, is a worthy followup – even if it’s so cerebral, subliminal and confined as to make Drake’s emo If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late a party LP. Grief, a definitive single, is almost drone ambient. Kgositsile handles much of the murk‘n’bass production, with only Left Brain providing Off Top – which has RZA’s discordant piano. Huey has jazzy organ vibes, but I Don’t Like Shit… ain’t To Pimp A Butterfly. Rather, it’s indebted to Tricky’s claustrophobic trip hop. Kgositsile is similarly less preoccupied with socio-political matters here than internal struggles as he contemplates the trials of fame, a breakup and loss. Kgositsile does bring in lowkey guests, one Ratking’s Wiki. But, ultimately, I Don’t Like Shit… chronicles his isolation – or retreat.
AZEALIA BANKS
heavyshit@themusic.com.au THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 43
the guide nsw.gigguide@themusic.com.au Open Stage feat. Various Artists: The Soda Factory, Surry Hills
THE MUSIC PRESENTS
Anastacia: The Star Event Centre, Pyrmont Strange Bedfellows: Under The Covers: The Vanguard, Newtown Brendon Moon + Gabby Bloom + Curtis Finch: The White Horse Hotel, Surry Hills Clint Boge: Transit Bar, Canberra
Groovin The Moo: 3 May University Of Canberra; 9 May Maitland Showground Peace: 8 May Oxford Art Factory sleepmakeswaves: 9 May ANU Bar; 16 Cambridge Hotel Newcastle; 23 Wollongong UniBar; 13 Jun Metro Theatre
Come Together: 6 & 7 Jun Luna Park Youth Group: 26 Jun Newtown Social Club Everything Everything: 23 Jul Metro Theatre Blur: 25 Jul Qantas Credit Union Arena
Nova & The Experience: Bondi Bowling Club, North Bondi
Lennon Through A Glass Onion with John Waters: Sydney Opera House (Playhouse Theatre), Sydney
Sarah Belkner: Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst
Sugar Bowl Hokum: The Annandale Hotel, Annandale
Tara Tiba: Camelot Lounge, Marrickville
Glenn Cardier & The Sideshow + The Continental Blues Party + Jeremy Edwards: The Basement, Sydney
The Fever Pitch: Camelot Lounge (Django Bar), Marrickville Musos Club Jam Night: Carousel Inn, Rooty Hill Mark Seymour: Centro CBD, Wollongong Lost feat. Akmal: Factory Theatre (9pm), Marrickville
The Wombats: 27 Jul Enmore Theatre
San Cisco: 29 May Wollongong UniBar; 30 Enmore Theatre
The Vaccines: 28 Jul Metro Theatre
Ben Howard: 30 May Hordern Pavilion
The Districts: 28 Jul Newtown Social Club
Gang Of Brothers: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney
Jebediah: 4 & 5 Jun Metro Theatre
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis: 1 Aug Metro Theatre
Yoke + Left. + Polish Club: Goodgod Small Club, Sydney
Musos Club Jam Night: Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt SOSUEME feat. Ivan Ooze + S.Kape + Coda Conduct + DJ Samrai: Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach Clint Boge: Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle West Wyld Wednesday with Various DJs: Collector Hotel, Parramatta Mitch Anderson & His Organic Orchestra: Coopers Hotel, Newtown
Songs On Stage feat. CJ Fairleight: Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham Live & Local feat. Laura Grieve + Melody Feder + Jess Holland + Katrina Burgoyne: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton Nothin But Jam: Marble Bar, Sydney Charli XCX + Tkay Maidza: Metro Theatre, Sydney Fan Request Show with A Wilhelm Scream + Anchors + Nerdlinger: Newtown Social Club, Newtown
Ross Noble: Enmore Theatre, Newtown
Comedy with David Smiedt + Alice Fraser: Oatley Hotel, Oatley
Lost feat. Akmal: Factory Theatre (9pm), Marrickville
Victoria Avenue: Opera Bar, Sydney
A Date With Effie: Factory Theatre (7pm), Marrickville
Mark Travers: Orient Hotel, The Rocks
Scoredatura: Foundry 616, Sydney
The Roots & Riddim Club with Errol Renaud Trio + DJ Dizar: Play Bar, Surry Hills
Sweet Lil Rider: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney Confession Booth with Lewis Hobba + Nakkiah Lui + more: Goodgod Small Club, Sydney Ben Wright Smith: Howlin’ Wolf Bar, Wollongong
Wasters + Mild Manic: Rad Bar (formerly Yours & Owls), Wollongong Jo Karas Duo: Rock Lily, Pyrmont
Songs On Stage feat. Stuart Jammin: Kellys on King, Newtown
Lennon Through A Glass Onion with John Waters: Sydney Opera House (Playhouse Theatre), Sydney
The Groovemeisters: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville
Julia Henning + Beautiful Beasts: The Pier, Port Macquarie
Steve Smyth: Smiths Alternative Bookshop, Canberra
THU 30
Ruby Boots: 21 May Newtown Social Club
WED 29
Rock With Laughter feat. Mikey Robins + Darren Sanders + Sally Kimpton + Brett Nichols: Rock Lily, Pyrmont
Hot Damn! feat. Semper Fi + To the Grave + Maybe I’ll Live Forever + We May Fall: Spectrum, Surry Hills
Ricky Martin: Allphones Arena, Sydney Olympic Park
COME TOGETHER FT SETH SENTRY AND MORE: 6 & 7 JUN LUNA PARK
Tommy M & The Mastersounds + Liam Gale & The Ponytails + Direwolf + We Came For Dinosaurs: Rad Bar (formerly Yours & Owls), Wollongong
A Date With Effie: Factory Theatre (7pm), Marrickville Sandy Evans Quartet: Foundry 616, Sydney
Papa Pilko & The Bin Rats + The Sweet Jelly Rolls: Hotel Steyne (Moonshine Rum & Cider Bar), Manly Yum Yum + Gazele: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville Microwave Jenny + Tegan Wiseman + Hannah Robinson: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton The Dominos: Marble Bar, Sydney Songs On Stage feat. Mick Hambly + Chris Brookes + Andrew Denniston: Mars Hill Cafe, Parramatta Ace Frehley + Graveyard Rockstars + Witchgrinder: Metro Theatre, Sydney Miss Quincy: Miss Peaches, Newtown Zigmo: Newport Arms Hotel, Newport Safia + Cool Accidents: Newtown Social Club, Newtown The White Bros: Orient Hotel, The Rocks Ben Wright Smith: Oxford Art Factory (Gallery Bar), Darlinghurst George Maple + Joy. + Jimmy 2 Sox + Luen: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst Cath & Him: Pendle Inn, Pendle Hill Be The Label feat. Various Artists: Play Bar, Surry Hills
S U P P O R T I N G
The Pragmatics + Hurray for KEJ: The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville B-Boys World Champions Tour: The Hi-Fi, Moore Park DVA: The Phoenix, Canberra Sleepmakeswaves: The Pier, Port Macquarie Quadrisonic Reflection: The Record Crate, Glebe Karnivool + Cairo Knife Fight: Uni Bar, Wollongong Rock The World: Heat 5 feat. Lion Calamity + Insanity Proof + The Still Shadows + Ginkinta + Aces & Eights: World Bar, Potts Point
FRI 01
The Script + Tinie Tempah + Colton Avery: Allphones Arena, Sydney Olympic Park Petulant Frenzy Play Frank Zappa: Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt The Starliners: Bankstown Sports Club, Bankstown Benny Walker: Beaches Hotel, Thirroul Dragon: Brass Monkey, Cronulla Original Sin - INXS Show: Burwood RSL, Burwood Ben Wright Smith: Cambridge Hotel (Warehouse Bar), Newcastle West Pape Mbaye + Chosani Afrique: Camelot Lounge, Marrickville Bek Jean Stewart + James Thompson: Camelot Lounge (Django Bar), Marrickville Paper Diamond: Chinese Laundry, Sydney DJ Shortkut + DJ Naiki + Mike Who + Kavi-R + more: Civic Hotel (Underground), Sydney Soundproofed: Colonial Hotel, Werrington Matt Black & The Phat Cats: Coogee Diggers (The Bunker), Coogee Sewercide + Metreya + Terrorential + Skeletonized: Corrimal Hotel, Corrimal Flamin’ Beauties: Crown Hotel, Sydney
I N D E P E N D E N T
Jimeoin: Enmore Theatre, Newtown Red Alert: Ettalong Beach Club, Ettalong Beach Lost feat. Akmal: Factory Theatre (9pm), Marrickville A Date With Effie: Factory Theatre (7pm), Marrickville From Motown to Your Town feat. Men of Soul: Foundry 616, Sydney Friday Lite feat. MC Kid Kalro + Radge: Goodgod Small Club, Sydney Cassius Select: Goodgod Small Club, Sydney Anthony Charlton: Hornsby Inn, Hornsby The Crooked Fiddle Band + DVA + Vanessa Caspersz + Gaia Scarf: Hotel Gearin, Katoomba Nova & The Experience: Howlin’ Wolf Bar, Wollongong Aaron Manhattan + Amanda Louise: Imperial Hotel (Imperial Bar), Erskineville Workshop with Dave Aron: JMC Academy, Ultimo Gervais Koffi + The African Diaspora + United Colors: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville Wendy Matthews + Ashleigh Grace: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton Mahalia Barnes: Lizottes Sydney, Dee Why DJ Treble n Bass: Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly Dirty Cash: Marble Bar, Sydney Paper Hearts: Marlborough Hotel, Newtown The Delta Riggs + Harts + Food Court: Metro Theatre, Sydney KLP + Young Franco: Mr Wolf, Canberra Troy Cassar-Daley: Mulwala Water Ski Club, Mulwala Karnivool + Cairo Knife Fight: Newcastle Panthers, Newcastle West Clint Boge + Glenn Esmond: Newtown Social Club, Newtown Steve Edmonds: Orana Hotel, Blacksmiths Reckless + Rob Henry: Orient Hotel, The Rocks Jed Zarb: Oriental Hotel, Springwood Tijuana Cartel + Kallidad: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst The Rockin Eddie Band: Penrith RSL (Castle Lounge), Penrith Benny Badge + JR Dynamite + D’Funk + Hober Mallow + more: Play Bar, Surry Hills Melody Rhymes: Quakers Inn, Quakers Hill No Troubles: Revesby Workers (Infinity Lounge), Revesby Jamie Lindsay Duo: Rock Lily, Pyrmont Catherine Britt: Rooty Hill RSL, Rooty Hill The Beach Boys Show: South Sydney Juniors, Kingsford Picture Perfect + Tripping Cognito + Lion Calamity: Spectrum, Surry Hills
A U S S I E
M U S I C
the guide nsw.gigguide@themusic.com.au Rudigar + Fox & The Hound + Mac Tango + Cakewalk: Studio Six, Sutherland Back to Bacharach feat. Casey Donovan + Doug Williams + Darren Mapes + Hayley Jensen: Sutherland Entertainment Centre, Sutherland Lennon Through A Glass Onion with John Waters: Sydney Opera House (Playhouse Theatre), Sydney
Back to Bacharach feat. Casey Donovan + Doug Williams + Darren Mapes + Hayley Jensen: Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill
Georgia White: Collingwood Hotel, Liverpool
XXXY: Chinese Laundry, Sydney
Elwood Myre: Flow Bar, Old Bar
Hits & Pieces: Club Cronulla, Cronulla
Dragon: Dee Why RSL, Dee Why Jimeoin: Enmore Theatre, Newtown
Cath & Him: The Crest Hotel, Sylvania
MMRS feat. Hand Of Mercy + Elegist + Staunch + Clockworks: Exchange Hotel, Darlinghurst
Papa Pilko & The Bin Rats + Big Erle: The Illawarra Brewery, Wollongong
Bowie Unzipped feat. Jeff Duff: The Vanguard, Newtown
Nick Saxon: Goldfish Bar & Kitchen, Pokolbin
Thredbo Jazz Festival feat. Katie Noonan + Ms Murphy + Billy Burton + Greg Poppleton & The Bakelite Broadcasters + George Washing Machine + Arthur Washington + Hammerhead + The Harmaniax + Illya Szwec + Keyim Ba + Matt McMahon + Nic Jeffries + Rick Melick + Liza Ohlback + Ali Penney + Righteous Voodoo + Zac Hurren Trio + more: Thredbo Village, Thredbo
Halfway Crooks + Spice-1: Goodgod Small Club, Sydney
Kidgeeridge Music Festival 2015 feat. Mark Seymour & the Undertow + Lior + Tim Rogers + Steve Smyth + Sal Kimber & The Rollin’ Wheel + more: Ulladulla Milton Showground, Milton Hayley-Sue: Uni Bar, Wollongong Anastacia: WIN Entertainment Centre (Theatre), Wollongong Soul Tattoo: Winmalee Tavern, Winmalee
SAT 02
The Sirens Big Band: 505, Surry Hills
Australian Celtic Festival feat. Siobhan Owen + Celia Pavey + Anna & Jorden + Barleyshakes + more: Australian Standing Stones, Glen Innes Brad Johns: Bathurst Panthers, Bathurst The Memphis Soul Revue feat. Johnny G & The E-Types: Brass Monkey, Cronulla Voltaire Twins: Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst The Punk Rock Hillbilly: Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle West Buddy Glass + Lisa Caruso: Camelot Lounge (Django Bar), Marrickville Marsala: Camelot Lounge, Marrickville
Miss Quincy: Grand Junction Hotel (The Junkyard), Maitland Songs On Stage feat. CJ Fairleight: Harlequin Inn, Pyrmont Yuki Kumagai & John Mackie + Lee Hutchings + John Smith: Illawarra Master Builders Club, Wollongong
A Date With Effie: Factory Theatre (7pm), Marrickville Tina Harrod Electric: Foundry 616, Sydney
Achtung Baby: Towradgi Beach Hotel (Sports Bar), Towradgi
Songs On Stage feat. Peach Montgomery: Garry Owen Hotel, Rozelle
Lost feat. Akmal: Factory Theatre (9pm), Marrickville
The Squeezers: The Merton Hotel, Rozelle
Sarah Paton: Town Hall Hotel, Balmain
The Shrine + Lo! + Horsehunter: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney
Mick Hart: Coogee Diggers (The Bunker), Coogee
The Red Rattlers: The Annandale Hotel, Annandale
A$AP Ferg + Paper Diamond: The Hi-Fi, Moore Park
Opeth: Enmore Theatre, Newtown
Jonny Seymour + Paul Mac + more: Imperial Hotel (Imperial Bar), Erskineville Melody Rhymes: Jamberoo Pub, Jamberoo Joseph Tawadros: Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, Penrith
Clint Boge: Heritage Hotel, Bulli DVA + The Crooked Fiddle Band + Svelt + Hinterlandt: Hermanns Bar, Darlington Steve Edmonds: Hornsby Inn, Hornsby Wendy Matthews: Hydro Majestic Hotel, Leura Rampa: Imperial Hotel (Spice Cellar), Erskineville Kate Munroe + Paris Groovescooter: Imperial Hotel (Imperial Bar), Erskineville Taking Berlin + New Lovers + Cosmic Flanders: Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale Liam Gale & The Ponytails: Lass O’Gowrie, Wickham The Pollydevlins + The Dandelion + The OzSkas + The Sons of Mod + The Smart Folk: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville Mahalia Barnes: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton Rumours - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac: Lizottes Sydney, Dee Why Aden Mullens + Ray Antonelli: Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly Project: Bass - Doomsday Edition feat. Digital Mindz + Embrionyc + Decipher & Shindra + Splinter Cell + more: Manning Bar, Camperdown Alphamama: Marble Bar, Sydney The Shrine: Marlborough Hotel (Tokyo Sing Song), Newtown Karnivool + Cairo Knife Fight: Metro Theatre, Sydney Spenda C: Miranda Hotel (Carmens), Miranda The Peep Tempel + Super Best Friends: Newtown Social Club, Newtown The Beach Boys Show: Oatley Hotel, Oatley Panorama + GJ Donovan: Orient Hotel, The Rocks Lepers & Crooks: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst Original Sin - INXS Show: Panania Hotel, Panania
GIG OF THE WEEK GROOVIN THE MOO FT HILLTOP HOODS AND MORE: 3 MAY UNIVERSITY OF CANBERRA Soundproofed + Laurie Bennett: Penrith RSL, Penrith
Reckless: Town Hall Hotel, Balmain
Boom Bop Sessions feat. Dj Cost + DJ Codecks + DJ Platterpush + more: Play Bar, Surry Hills
Counterfeit Tribute Night: Cave vs Young feat. Josh Shipton & The Blue Eyed Ravens + more: Town Hall Hotel, Newtown
Sarah Paton: Plough & Harrow, Camden
Thirsty Merc + The Tambourine Girls: Towradgi Beach Hotel (Waves), Towradgi
Mark Seymour: Revesby Workers (Whitlam Theatre), Revesby
The Pigs: Rooty Hill RSL (Waratah Room), Rooty Hill
Kidgeeridge Music Festival 2015 feat. You Am I + Adalita + The Audreys + Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges + Miss Quincy + Catherine Britt + Benjalu + more: Ulladulla Milton Showground, Milton
Dean Vegas: South Sydney Juniors, Kingsford
Steve Smyth: Uni Bar (Stratton Room), Wollongong
The Beatles Forever: State Theatre, Sydney
Blake Tailor: Wentworthville Leagues Club (Wenty Lounge), Wentworthville
The Nox: Revesby Workers (Infinity Lounge), Revesby
Lennon Through A Glass Onion with John Waters: Sydney Opera House (Playhouse Theatre), Sydney Front End Loader + Egg Malt + Big Smack: Tattersalls Hotel, Penrith Chris Gudu: The Annandale Hotel, Annandale Steve Clisby + Alex Gibson: The Basement, Sydney Microwave Jenny + Tegan Wiseman: The Front Cafe & Gallery, Lyneham Mark n The Blues: The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville Christina Crofts Band: The Merton Hotel, Rozelle Ami Williamson: The Shack, Narrabeen Papa Pilko & The Bin Rats + The Rake & The Roustabout: The Stag & Hunter Hotel, Mayfield Thredbo Jazz Festival: Thredbo Village, Thredbo
S U P P O R T I N G
Bowie Unzipped feat. Jeff Duff: Wentworthville Leagues Club, Wentworthville
SUN 03
It Gets Better Australia feat. G.R.L. + Matthew Garwood + Paulini + Trevor Ashley + Prinnie Stevens + more: Big Top Sydney, Milsons Point Microwave Jenny + Tegan Wiseman: Birdhouse Bar, Wagga Wagga Clint Boge: Brass Monkey, Cronulla Arabicana with Ismael Fadel: Camelot Lounge, Marrickville Nancy Sinatra/Lee Hazlewood Experience: Camelot Lounge (Django Bar), Marrickville Pukara + Nothin But Jam: Coalcliff Surf Club (The Bombie Bar), Coalcliff
I N D E P E N D E N T
A U S S I E
Dorian Mode’s Original Hammond Trio: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville Sunday Lunch with Bella Voce: Lizottes Newcastle, Lambton Steve Tonge + DJ Somatik + DJ Rob Kay: Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly The Road Runners: Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville Karnivool + Cairo Knife Fight: Metro Theatre, Sydney Elana Stone: Newtown Social Club, Newtown Eliette: Oatley Hotel, Oatley Sounds On Sunday with Alter Ego: Oatley Hotel, Oatley Funk Star Trio + Lonesome Train: Orient Hotel, The Rocks Jed Zarb: Pendle Inn, Pendle Hill Blake Tailor: Penrith Panthers (Squires Bar), Penrith Tall Timbre: Penrith RSL (Castle Lounge), Penrith Evie Dean: Plough & Harrow, Camden To the Grave + Blind Oracle + Signs Of Escape + She Cries Wolf + Vinewood + Isla De Muerta: Rad Bar (formerly Yours & Owls), Wollongong Murrumbidgee Jones: Shakespeare Hotel, Surry Hills Steve Edmonds: SJ’s Hotel, Hamilton Sydney Comedy Festival Gala: Sydney Opera House, Sydney Lennon Through A Glass Onion with John Waters: Sydney Opera House (Playhouse Theatre), Sydney The Glammarays: The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville Benny Walker + Nick Saxon: The Rhythm Hut, Gosford Spice 1 feat. DJ Victor Lopez: The Small Ballroom, Islington Strange Bedfellows: Under The Covers: The Vanguard, Newtown Thredbo Jazz Festival: Thredbo Village, Thredbo
M U S I C
the guide nsw.gigguide@themusic.com.au
TUE 05
Sweet Lil Rider: Towradgi Beach Hotel (Sports Bar), Towradgi Urban Guerrillas + The Amazing Woolloomooloosers + Broken Hands: Union Hotel, Newtown Groovin The Moo feat. A$AP Ferg + Ball Park Music + Broods + Carmada + Charli XCX + The Delta Riggs + DMA’s + Flight Facilities + Hermitude + Hilltop Hoods + Hot Dub Time Machine + Meg Mac + Northlane + One Day + Peace + Peaches + The Preatures + RL Grime + San Cisco + Saskwatch + Sticky Fingers + Tkay Maidza + Wolfmother + You Me At Six + more: University of Canberra, Bruce
MON 04
Silverstein + Dream On Dreamer + Young Lions + Taken By Force + Fingers Crossed: Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle West Noel Fielding: Enmore Theatre, Newtown Jazzgroove feat. Various Artists: Foundry 616, Sydney Rock n Roll Karaoke: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney Steve McKenna Trio: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville
Monday Jam: Gingers, Darlinghurst
Karaoke: O’Malleys Hotel, Darlinghurst
Peter Baylor’s Ultrafox: Foundry 616, Sydney
Songs On Stage feat. Stuart Jammin + Chris Brookes: Kellys on King, Newtown
Marty: Orient Hotel, The Rocks
Frankie’s World Famous House Band: Frankie’s Pizza By The Slice, Sydney
Sonic Mayhem Orchestra: LazyBones Lounge, Marrickville
Tranny Bingo: Coopers Hotel, Newtown
Merilyn Steele + Mark Bishop + Jasmine Beth + The Flumes + Katherine Vavahea: Mr Falcon’s, Glebe
KARNIVOOL: 30 APR UNIBAR WOLLONGONG; 1 MAY NEWCASTLE PANTHERS; 2 & 3 MAY METRO THEATRE Killamedic + The What Sorry’s + Cockbelch + Raised As Wolves + The Unhinged + The Bastard Sons of Liberty + Casters: The Basement, Belconnen
Co-Pilot: Orient Hotel, The Rocks Mark Lucas: The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville
Mary Ocher: The Bearded Tit, Redfern
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THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015 • 47
48 • THE MUSIC • 29TH APRIL 2015