CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 3
13-15, 2015
SARAH BLASKO • DAN SULTAN TEX PERKINS & THE DARK HORSES THE WHITLAMS • DIESEL
THE BAMBOOS • MICK HARVEY ADALITA • FRASER A GORMAN SAL KIMBER & THE ROLLIN’ WHEEL MATT WALKER & THE LOST RAGAS STELLA ANGELICO • RAISED BY EAGLES
Tickets and further info
www.riverboatsmusic.com.au
MEDIA PARTNER
PRODUCED BY
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 4
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 5
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 6
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
lorne marion bay byron victoria
tasman ia
new south wales
Until
Until
dec 28 2014
dec 29 2014
jan 01 2015
jan 01 2015
Until
dec 30 2014
jan 03 2015
JUST ADDED
empire of the sun • la roux c.w. stoneking • the rubens M A R I O N B AY O N LY
IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
ALT-J • ÁSGEIR • BIG FREEDIA • THE BLACK LIPS • BLUEJUICE COLD WAR KIDS • DAN SULTAN • DMAs • EMPIRE OF THE SUN GEORGE EZRA • GLASS ANIMALS • JAGWAR MA • JAMIE XX • JOEY BADA$$ JOHN BUTLER TRIO • JULIAN CASABLANCAS+ THE VOIDZ • KIM CHURCHILL THE KITE STRING TANGLE • LA ROUX • MILKY CHANCE • MOVEMENT THE PRESETS • REMI • RUN THE JEWELS • SAFIA • SBTRKT • SPIDERBAIT STICKY FINGERS • THE TEMPER TRAP • TENSNAKE • TKAY MAIDZA TODD TERJE LIVE • TYCHO • VANCE JOY • WOLF ALICE BOOGIE NIGHTS
ALISON WONDERLAND • BADBADNOTGOOD • CLIENT LIAISON DJ WOODY PRESENTS ‘HIP HOP IS 40’ AV SHOW SALT N PEPA • TWERKSHOP COM E DY
DAMIEN POWER • DANIEL TOWNES • HARLEY BREEN LUKE MCGREGOR • TOMMY DASSALO • URZILA CARLSON
tickets on sale now fallsfestival.com
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 7
THINGS THAT SUCK LIVE MUSIC:
Lining up for clubs.
Thursday December 11
Entry fee. Lining up at the bar.
Spoonful CHRISTMAS SHoW
reckon there’ll be a red-headed Santa? hoPe So. catch the ladS Playing their toP-notch,
Paying for drinks.
highly charged rhythM and blueS rock. Merry Merry
hoohaaaaaaa!
Screw that!
Saturday dec 13 9PM
THe
DeTonAToRS
Bring people to our new club and we will PAY YOU $12 per person NOT to do that!
rootS rock ’n’ roll, with a good doSe of blueS and rockabilly..
Sunday dec 14 3.30PM
TAyloR pRojeCT Sunday dec 14 5PM
Contact us.
8PM
Friday December 12
NICK ANDERSON ALLSTARS 9PM
Thursday December 18
ERECT PRESENTS: #MELBOURNEMUSIC 7PM
Friday December 19
thoSe country folkSterS are back
THe
SIDeSHoW BRIDeS
aaaand ... they’re back. congratS! get Set for a SuPerb arvo of rootSy tuneS.
SUNDAY
Bloody F U N D AY
11ppmm 66pp-m-m
ddjj vyy v a a e e h h TTOOpp 4 styles of bloody mary Italian Mexican JAPANESE traditional All also available in 'bloody shame' (alcohol free) f o r m o r e i nf o a s k i n s t o r e-f a c e b o o k.c o m/th e b e a s t b u rge rs-i n s t a gr a m th e b e a s t b u rge rs-www.th e b-e a s t.c o m PH 9036 1456 | 80 LYGON ST BRUNSWICK EAST | THEB-EAST.COM
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 8
KOKO
Saturday dec 13 5PM
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
GET SERIOUS 9PM
NEW FOOD @ CARTERS NEW COCKTAIL MENU
$10 JALAPENO POPPERS $12 TIJUANA STREET FRIES (VEG) $14/18 NACHOS 'SOUTHERN STYLE' (GF, VEG)
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 9
BLISS E R U P F O S Y A D E FIV FUN P O T S N O N F O S E SIX STAG ANGES H C E M U T S O C N E V SE ZERO EXCUSES!
W O N E L A S N O S T TICKE
VICTORI 23-26 • LEXTON, RY UA N JA • AL IV D LIFESTYLE FEST
A
DWELLERS T R E S E D • E U IQ T N A INCLUDING: BEATS TS C • AUDIOMATIC A L K A N IN O D TI A A K N R IN R • INTE D U STRANGER • LO T C E F R UNDOV E P D • R E C TA E N P E • R R W E K LA C R U E F H G CHRISTOP RRIDGE • THU U B E LE • LU F R E P G BUDDHA U S IN • H N G N U A LA M • T E T S E R D E L IV E MARC • ELECTRIC UN S A IY H IS A V • E IT K N SOLID SNAKE • A LP TA • R E 16 BIT LOLITAS • SO LD O F TOY • POLE GAUDIUM • BROKEN • MR BILL H C N U TA S • L IL B N O ING: OPIUO • SPO D WALLACE LU C O D IN A TS N C R A O C T TI • $ G O DOMES O • INTERPULSE • B Q E R F • X F W DOME O S D A IU H S S E S H • V H W T E LA M E A V E R T T TE ARD • UONE • S W E V E T ALLANDER S C • E S IK N E M V • E T IC G LO O JAMIE S T ON SLIEKER • O IM S • GRIFF L • IL T A Z W LI E E R S D IS N M A • & Y IC IT C M THANK YOU USK • DYSPHE LL O M E H T • LA IL T IN LYA SC DS • OKA U B Y K IC T S • DEAN BENSON • KA X O JB D •O : THE FLOOZIES G IN ELISTICS D LU JO C • IN S S TS C LA A C D Y N U M O O R G N PLAY KESTRA • ASTRO R O E R O C S R E OLOMBIA D C N S U IS E H M • T • N I U IR S G A A N G A N V GA T FELIX • CARA O O F 8 • N SOUND A W D O O D R T O N M A N H C M • A C D • R SIETTA • MONKEY MA M E T S Y S D N U O S LE B R FULL LINE-UP! TA FO E TE G E SI V EB W LE E B TH A K FORMID NKSTARZ CHEC A K S • K K E T R U • I F IHEARTICAL H 4 DAY INTERNATIO
NAL MUSIC, ARTS
AN
t e .n t n e p r e s w o b in www.ra
OO R C IN EM A VI LL AG E / OU TD T KE AR M / CE RF OR M AN / AN D M OR E ... AR T GA LL ER Y / PE AL IN G / CA M PI NG HE / PS HO KS OR W
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 10
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
BUDGET SUMMER CAMPING PACKAGE Bourke Dome Tent
+
Oversized Resort Chair
$8 SA V E
$
Velour Air Bed
Ranger Sleeping Bag
95
NOW
30%
95
NOW
More packages available in store and online
KIDS CAMP TEE PEE TENT
SA V E
32%OFF
Reg $24.95
16
+ = 79
Reg $119.80
25%OFF
LED LENSER P3 AFS TORCH
$
+
ff 33% O
$10
Reg $39.95
29
$
95
NOW
PICNIC COOLER SET
OFF
SA V E
$30
S
69
59
95
$
NOW
HAMMOCK STAND
SA V E
$70
89
95
OFF
NOW
LEATHERMAN WAVE
0 SAVE $5
44% $12995 28% Reg $179.95
Reg $159.95
$
33%
Reg $89.95
Reg $99.95
$
F
30 AVE $
955
OFF
NOW W
OFF
NOW
WIND UP INFLATABLE TORCH BOAT
53%OFF 39 stores Australia wide Head Office Ph: 03 9799 5777 283 Elizabeth St, Melbourne Ph: 03 9670 4057
SA V E
$9
% OFF 33 95 $7NOW Reg $16.95
SA V E
$10
Reg $29.95
19
$
95
NOW
28%OFF BINOCULARS
SA V E
$15
Reg $34.95
19
$
95
NOW
40% OFF
WIND UP RADIO
$20
SA V E
Reg $49.95
29
$
95
NOW
Free shipping on orders over $100* *Terms and conditions at www.aussiedisposals.com.au
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 11
Transit_NYE_Week_1.pdf
1
7/11/14
2:21 PM
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 12
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
THE ESPY DEC
12th
gs Kin s Kujo ne u The T
ee on Lo
THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOwN!
The Ska Vendors
! L A V I V E R Y O B E D RU
No N onse nse
TICKETS @ OZTIX.COM
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 13
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 14
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
Live Music
Saturday Dec 13 from 8pm
• SOund mountain • zuma • State of silence Sunday Dec 14 from 2pm
Only $5 Entry!
• brett frankie • charlie lane • chachi Unit 10, 59-61 Hudsons Rd. SPOTSWOOD Call 03 9391 3444 for info | www.soundcitymelbourne.com
THE GREAT BRITAIN HOTEL no apartments RICHMOND no reno's still the gb M MOONNDDAY AY
TTUUEESD SDAY AY
WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY
FREE POOL
trivia
open mic
$10 PIZZA & POT
with
million dollar mick @ 7:30pm
TTHHUR URSSDDAY AY
EVA MCGOWAN RESIDENCY
7:30pm registration 8pm kick off
FFRRIIDDAY AY
SATURDAY SATURDAY
JUMBO
THE PASS OUTS JAYA, PAUL ZULA (BANG OF SUN) then
from 7pm
from 8pm
D’FRO till late
UNDERGROUND DJS
! S N O I S S E S Y A D N SU DAYS SUND OPEN FRBODRMAUG2HT,PM $20 JUGS SANGRIA $15 JUGS GB D
SUNDAY SUNDAY SESSIONS SESSIONS
MIKE WATERS +guests from 4pm
LIVE MUSIC
447 447 CHURCH CHURCH ST, ST, RICHMOND RICHMOND PH. PH. 9810 9810 0082 0082 thegreatbritainhotel.com thegreatbritainhotel.com
facebook.com/thegreatbritainhotel facebook.com/thegreatbritainhotel CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 15
IN THIS ISSUE
18
HOT TALK
22
TOURING
24
ARIEL PINK
26
WHATS ON, CLOSE TO THE BONE
27
ART OF THE CITY, THE COMIC STRIP
28
HOWL
29
LEIF
30
AGENT 86
31
FOURWARD, PURPLE DISCO MACHINE
ORSOME WELLES page 43
33
XMAS GIFT GUIDE
37
EVEN
38
ASGEIR, SEEKAE
TWERPS page 39
39
TWERPS
40
THE SKATALITES, ANI DIFRANCO
41
THE GRATES, THE MAVIS’S
43
CORE/CRUNCH ORSOME WELLES
44
MUSIC NEWS
49
LIVE
50
ALBUM OF THE WEEK, SINGLES, CHARTS
51
ALBUMS
52
GIG GUIDE
56
BACKSTAGE, THE LOCAL, SUPERNATURAL CROSSWORD
58
THE GRATES page 41
ASGEIR page 38
3 NEWTON STREET RICHMOND, VICTORIA 3121 Phone: (03) 9428 3600 Fax: (03) 9428 3611 email: info@beat.com.au www.beat.com.au BEAT MAGAZINE EMAIL ADDRESSES: (no large attachments please): Gig Guide: online at beat.com.au email gigguide@beat.com.au - it’s free! Club Listings: online at beat.com.au email clubguide@beat.com.au - it’s free! Music News Items: music@beat.com.au Artwork: art@beat.com.au Beat Classifieds 33c a word: classifieds@beat.com.au PUBLISHER: Furst Media Pty Ltd. MUSIC EDITOR: Cara Williams ARTS EDITOR / ASSOCIATE MUSIC EDITOR: Tyson Wray
SEEKAE page 38
SUB EDITOR: Soph Goulopoulos EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS: Keats Mulligan, Laura Buyers, Gemma Palmer, Cassie Hedger, Lauren Gill, Gloria Brancatisano, Kelsey Berry, Meg Crawford. MANAGING DIRECTOR, FURST MEDIA: Patrick Carr BEAT PRODUCTION MANAGER: Michael Cusack GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Ruby Furst, Michael Cusack, Robert Smith COVER ART: Michael Cusack ADVERTISING: Cara Williams (Music: Bands/Tours/Record Labels) cara@beat.com.au Aleksei Plinte (Backstage/Musical Equipment) mixdown@beat.com.au Thom Parry (Hospitality/Bars) thom@beat.com.au Soph Goulopoulos (Indie Bands/Special Features) soph@furstmedia.com.au CLASSIFIEDS: classifieds@beat.com.au GIG GUIDE SUBMISSIONS: now online at www.beat.com.au or bands email gigguide@beat.com.au ELECTRONIC EDITOR - BEAT ONLINE: Tyson Wray: tyson@beat.com.au ACCOUNTANT: accountant@furstmedia.com.au
*TWERKSHOP MELBOURNE
WED
EVERY WEEK
THUR FREE
FRI
! TRY
EN
FREE ENTRY!
SAT TRY! $ 10 EN
SUN
FRI 11pm 12/12
JELLO LOVE STORY – FROM 11:30 PM
KITCHEN
HAPPY PEOPLE
OPEN
DOWN STAIRS
LEO (Canyons) // WINTERS // JIMMY LEGS
•—
BONEY SATURDAYS —•
BAKER STREET 11PM– LATE
RECOVERY & AFTERHOURS with POST PERCY AND GUESTS EVERY SUNDAY MORNING 5 AM
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 16
DEADLINES Editorial Copy accepted no later than 5pm Thursday before publication for Club listings, Arts, Gig Guide etc. Advertising Copy accepted no later than 12pm Monday before publication. Print ready art by 2pm Monday. Deadlines are strictly adhered to. © 2014 Furst Media Pty Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the consent of the copyright holder.
Launch with special guests YOUNGS ‘Joy’ Single MARTIN KING, HUNTLY and WABZ Who’ EP Launch with FRI 8:30pm HEY FRANKIE ‘Guess 12/12 special guests UP UP AWAY and 30/70
THE FINEST HIP HOP FROM ‘79 TIL’ NOW.
UP STAIRS
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Mary Boukouvalas, Ben Clement, Ben Gunzburg, Rebecca Houlden, Nick Irving, Anna Kanci, Cassandra Kiely, Charles Newbury, Richard Sharman, Tony Proudfoot, Ian Laidlaw, Laura May Grogan, Mark Stanjo, David Harris Emily Day SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR: Christie Eliezer SENIOR CONTRIBUTORS: Patrick Emery COLUMNISTS: Emily Kelly, Peter Hodgson, Lachlan Kanoniuk BEAT TV/WATT’S ON PRESENTER: Dan Watt
CONTRIBUTORS: Kelsey Berry, Graham Blackley, Gloria Brancatisano, Chris Bright, Joanne Brookfield, Avrille BylockCollard, Meg Crawford, Alexander Crowden, Jules Douglas, Alexandra Duguid, Alasdair Duncan, Cam Ewart, Callum Fitzpatrick, Jack Franklin, Emma Gawd, Lauren Gill, Chris Girdler, Joe Hansen, Chris Harms, Andrew Hickey, Nick Hilton, Peter Hodgson, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Cassandra Kiely, Billy Killing, Joshua Kloke, Jody Macgregor, Wayne Marshall, Nick Mason, Denver Maxx, Krystal Maynard, Paul McBride, Miki Mclay, Rhys McRae, James Nicoli, Adam Norris, Jack Parsons, Sasha Petrova, Liam Pieper, Zoe Radas, Leigh Salter, Sisqo Taras, Kelly Theobald, Tamara Vogl, Dan Watt, Krissi Weiss, Augustus Welby, Garry Westmore, Rod Whitfield, Jen Wilson, Tyson Wray, David James Young, Simone Ziada, Bronius Zumeris.
THUR 11/12
– MVP THADDEUS DOE, LOW-KEY & ARKS – KIRKIS, SILENT JAY + GUESTS
OFFICE MANAGER: Lizzie Dynon: reception@furstmedia.com.au ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: Luke Forester: accounts@furstmedia.com.au RECEPTION: reception@furstmedia.com.au DISTRIBUTION: distribution@beat.com.au Free Every Wednesday to over 2000 places including convenience stores, newsagents, ticket outlets, shopping centres, community youth & welfare outlets, clubs, hotels, venues, record, music and video shops, boutiques, retailers, bars, restaurants, cafes, bookstores, hairdressers, recording studios, cinemas, theatres, galleries, universities and colleges. Wanna get BEAT? Email distribution@beat.com.au
UPCOMING EVENTS / www.boney.net.au
CL-ASS FROM 7PM / $15
FREE ENTRY!
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH
NOW
EAT IN & TAKEAWAY (03) 9663 8268
68 LT. COLLINS WWW.BONEY.NET.AU
SAT 13/12
ONE PUF 1ST BIRTHDAY: ROYAL – T (UK)
CRAIG MCWHINNEY, KLOKE, TRAVANCORE , SUB SQUARED (LIVE)
(LIVE)
(LIVE)
(DJ)
FRI 19/12
MISTY NIGHTS: A VERY MISTY XMAS SAT (3 Chairs / Vibes New 20/12 RED BULL MUSIC ACADEMY & Rare / Detroit) with presents RICK WILHITE (Detroit) DJ J’NETT, GRANTHAM THUR HIP HOP KARAOKE NUMBER 4 8 / 01 THUR 22/01
OUTSIDE THE ACADEMY, SLEEP//LESS, ROMEO MOON, THE WEEKEND PEOPLE & ENOLA FALL
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 17
HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au TAYLOR SWIFT
Taylor Swift will bring her 1989 world tour to Australia next year. It’s been a huge year for Swift, whose latest album 1989 has sold over four million copies worldwide. She’ll also become the first female solo artist to play back-to-back arena tours on Australian soil, following her highly successful The Red Tour last year. She’ll be supported by Vance Joy. She’ll hit AAMI Park on Friday December 11, 2015. Tickets are available through Ticketek.
CLOWNS
Melbourne’s favourite scuzz-punk foursome Clowns have announced a national tour to celebrate their forthcoming album, Bad Blood, which will be released on Friday February 20. The band will play two Melbourne shows, including an all age’s show on Labour Day. Catch Clowns at The Bendigo Hotel on Friday March 6 and Monday March 9. Joining them for the tour will be special guests American Sharks.
DZ DEATHRAYS
ILLY
After the release of a new deluxe edition of his Gold certified record Cinematic, Illy has announced he will be headlining a special New Year’s Day show at The Espy. Illy will be supported by a handpicked selection of up and coming Melbourne based hip hop artists Ivan Ooze, Peezo, Baysiders and Johnny Polhe. Illy will take over The Espy this New Year’s Day. Tickets are on sale through the venue.
They’ve just taken home their second ARIA for Best Heavy/Hard Rock release, and now, DZ Deathrays have announced a national tour for February and March. The Brisbane duo will be bringing American’s Bass Drum Of Death and Hockey Dad along for the ride. Since releasing their second album, Black Rat, in May the band have toured across the UK, Europe, America and Europe, sharing stages with the likes of Die! Die! Die!, Band Of Skulls and The Orwells, showcased at SXSW and Reading & Leeds Festivals, and have slayed both Big Day Out and Splendour In The Grass on home soil. Catch DZ Deathrays at Northcote Social Club on Friday February 27 and Saturday February 28. Tickets are on sale through the venue.
LUCA BRASI
Loveable Tasmanian punk rock ruffians Luca Brasi have unveiled a slew of national tour dates for March 2015 with the UK’s Gnarwolves and Perth’s Tired Lion. Capping off a landmark year for the band, this tour will see them make new pals and win fresh hearts with their celebrated brand of warm, thoughtful melodic punk. Dynamic, hard-hitting and heart-swelling, Luca Brasi’s outstanding sophomore album By A Thread was released this March via Poison City Records, and caught the attention of live music lovers, music media and national radio alike. They perform in Melbourne Saturday March 14 at Northcote Social Club, and Sunday March 15 at Wrangler Studios.
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL
Building on the success of the main festival in June, Melbourne International Jazz Festival will host a series of intimate gigs at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club in January. The festival’s Summer Sessions will see performances from Belgian piano virtuoso Jef Neve, as well as a showcase of some of the country’s finest pianists, including Tal Cohen, Hue Blanes and Paul Grabowsky, for the Yamaha Piano Series. The series will also feature a celebration of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, 50 years after its release, with special guests Dale Barlow, Barney McAll, Phil Rex and Danny Fisher. The Melbourne International Jazz Festival Summer Sessions will take place from Thursday January 15 to Thursday January 29 at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club.
SWITCHFOOT
American alt-rockers Switchfoot have announced they will play two intimate shows in Sydney and Melbourne early next year. The Southern California natives have sold over five million copies worldwide of their eight studio albums; including their 2003 doubleplatinum breakthrough The Beautiful Letdown and 2009’s Grammy Awardwinning Hello Hurricane, racked up a string of alternative radio hit singles and performed sold-out world tours. Don’t miss your chance to see Switchfoot when they hit up 170 Russell on Tuesday, March 31. Tickets are on sale via Metropolis Touring.
Q&A
BaR WedneSdAy 10 deCember
Open Mic
Show the boogie man what you’ve got !
tHurSdAy 11 deCember
JOrdOn Bakker Sam barendse Joseph mills
fridAy 12 deCember
Happy Hour from 4 till 7
Gayle cavenaGh
& the Mixed cOMpany Band SAturdAy 13 deCember
crash traGic
CdlAunCH + release the Hounds, path of destruction, She Woolf, Spidey Spidey, Sisters doll SundAy 14 deCember
verticOli
(tas) cd launch with little house Godz, calamity lane, kid sidney After Work HAppy Hour from 4pm, $5 drinkS, WedneSdAy, tHurSdAy, fridAy
160 Hoddle St AbbotSford BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 18
Time Out with
Verticoli
You played the first show of your pretty extensive tour last week in Brisbane, how’d it go? Pretty well. We had fun, played well, wore shorts. We don’t have huge expectations, but if it continues on like this then we’ll be stoked. You’re from Tassie, have you travelled much to the mainland for gigs? Once. We played in the National Campus Bands Competition in Canberra last year, but aside from that, this is our first time out of Tassie. That trip introduced us to a great band called The Orchard, who we were lucky enough to play alongside again in Brisbane last week. But this is our first time out touring properly. What’s the music scene like down there? The geographical isolation keeps the local scene a bit more low-profile. It makes it hard to get national and international bands down to give local bands a boost, and a lot of effort and commitment is required to get your music out to the rest of the country. But
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
there are some great bands down there, and it’s a nice tight-knit community. What are you looking forward to most with this tour? Getting our music out there, playing hard, and keeping hydrated and well nourished. We’re expecting a bit of a baptism by fire, but we’re looking forward to meeting cool bands, and hopefully this tour will open some doors to some good mainland opportunities in the future. We still just love playing live, so we’ll be happy whatever the outcome. Congratulations on scoring your Falls Festival slot; how did that come about? A thing called the Foster A Band competition where local media nominate bands, and then it comes down to a popular vote. We were fortunate enough to be nominated by The Mercury, and also to have a dedicated fan base back home that helped us score the spot, so huge thanks to them. Catch VERTICOLI launch their new single DFA at The Bendigo Hotel on Thursday December 11, The Tote this Friday December 12, headlining Whole Lotta Love Saturday December 13 and Mr Boogie Man Bar on Sunday December 14.
HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au Buffy Sainte-Marie
FREE SHIT CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN
At a young age, frontman of Welsh rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen Van McCann met a busker by the name of Catfish the Bottleman. He hasn’t detailed the full story but we imagine it was something similar to the moment when Lisa Simpson met Bleeding Gums Murphy. McCann moved to Wales and formed the Llandudno quartet known as Catfish and the Bottlemen. They’re heading Down Under to play some shows off the back of their latest single Cocoon. You can catch them on Sunday, January 25 at The Hi-Fi in Melbourne. We’ve got some double passes to give away. Head to beat.com.au/freeshit to win.
MASTODON
Mastodon will bring album number six to Australian shores next year, announcing shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. This will be the band’s first headline tour of Australia, having previously toured with Slayer, as well as Soundwave and Big Day Out. Once More Round the Sun, the band’s latest album, was released in June this year. Catch Mastodon on Friday March 27 at Festival Hall. Tickets are on sale Thursday December 11 through Ticketmaster.
BRUNSWICK MUSIC FESTIVAL
TELSTRA ROAD TO DISCOVERY WINNERS
BOOGIE 9
They’ve called it. The shenanigans down at Bruzzy’s Farm will return next April for round nine. The 2015 lineup is a big one, too. It features the likes of Pokey La Farge, Justin Townes Earle, Rocket Science, Tony Joe White, The Bombay Royale, Los Chicos, Drunk Mums, Ponyface Plays Nebraska, Davey Lane, The Peep Tempel, Ali Barter, Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene, Cool Sounds, BROADS, Eaten By Dogs and Fair Maiden. Nine more acts will be added to the bill early next year, so stay tuned for that one. It goes down from Friday April 3 – Sunday April 5. Visit boogie. net.au for tickets and more information.
TIM MCMILLAN
The freakishly talented German-based axe-worker/songwriter Tim McMillan is returning to his hometown of Melbourne this summer for what will be his only Aussie show of 2015. Accompanied by Jarrad Will and evil twins Joshua & Rachel Snow, Tim will be playing a mix of pick-style stunt guitar and progressive love folk from his upcoming EP. Catch him on Friday January 9 at Ding Dong Lounge with special guests. Tickets are on sale now at dingdong.oztix.com.au
After a nationwide search to uncover the very best aspiring musicians in Australia, Teischa Jones, 17, from Jolimont (Perth), Western Australia, and Loren Kate, 30, from Aldinga, South Australia, have been crowned the deserved winners of the 2014 Telstra Road to Discovery talent development program. Teischa and Loren Kate have each won a $15,000 music development package, a return trip to the United States to perform at the Americana Music Festival, access to some of the country’s biggest names in music as well as swag of local gigs. The announcement was made by Telstra's Director of Digital Media and Content, Adam Good, on stage at the Grand Final event at the Forum Theatre in Melbourne last week, following performances from headline act The Preatures and the top 10 finalists. Hannah Rosa was also announced as the 2014 People’s Choice winner.
The festival that brings international and local greats right to the front steps of Brunswick is back with its first lineup announcement for 2015. Steeped in 27 years of historical local pub jams, the Brunswick Music Festival (BMF) is a one of a kind celebration of music in Moreland taking over the Brunswick Town Hall, and a huge list of local venues. The epic first lineup announcement features internationals Buffy SainteMarie (CAN), Maru Tarang (AUS/ IND), Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson (SCO), Sóley (ICE), DJ Spooky (USA), Depedro (Spain), Margaret Leng Tan (Singapore), Sharon Shannon (IRE), Bombino (Niger), Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas (SCO/USA) as well as Australian acts The Black Sorrows and The Bushwackers. Australia’s only inner city festival of folk, roots and world music, The Brunswick Music Festival begins March 1 2015 with the Sydney Road Street Party before a stellar musical program of ticketed events rolls out over the following 14 days. Limited discount tickets for subscribers on sale now with full release in mid January. Find out more at www.brunswickmusicfestival.com.au.
LIKE US THEESPYSTKILDA
11
DEC FRI
12
DEC SAT
13
DEC
TICKETS VIA THEESPY.OZTIX.COM.AU B AS E M E N T FREE!
GERSHWIN
F R O N T B A R FREE!
ECHO DRAMA
CHRONIXX &
DIREBLAZE, ABRAXXAS
MALCUDA. FROM 8.30PM
MAX GLAZER, NATTALI RIZE, KING RU APPRENTICE, CHANT DOWN SOUND.
ATOMIC DEATH SQUAD. FROM 9PM
ZINCFENCE REDEMPTION
HELOISE, MIHRA
F R O N T B A R FREE!
14 DEC
DARK EARTH
GERSHWIN
TEQUILA MOCKINGBYRD RUDE BOY REVIVAL! THE MERCY KILLS, VIRTUE
CITY SHARPS, STARS OF ADDICTION FROM 8.30PM
F R O N T B A R FREE!
NO NONSENSE, SKA VENDORS LOONEE TUNES, THE KUJO KINGS FROM 7.30PM
GERSHWIN
B AS E M E N T
AUTOMATIC, EVERYWHERE! SKYMOTH, MOJO PIN
SHUT UP AND CHOKE ME, SET TO STUN FROM 8PM.
B AS E M E N T
ANIMAL HANDS
ARCANE
THE BRAVES
+ GEOFF ACHISON, PHIL PARA
ENLIGHT, SARSPELL. FROM 8.30PM
PARMY DHILLON, THE TRAITORS CULLIVER, ENEMIES ALIKE THE CONTRARIANS, BUCK JR + MORE!
THE HUNTED CROWS, VELVET LIPS BRANCH ARTERIAL, ALITHIA BIG AL’S JUKE JOINT BLUES FROM 6PM!
SUN
DAMON ALBARN
Feeling like a robot at the end of the working week? Then sit back and relax because one of the most intuitively gifted and inventive artists of his generation, Damon Albarn is here Down Under to enlighten your senses. Celebrating the release of his new solo album Everyday Robots, Damon Albarn is playing an intimate show at the Palais Theatre in Melbourne this Friday, December 12. We’ve got a bunch of double passes to give away. Stress less and head to beat.com.au/freeshit to win.
THE ESPLANADE HOTEL 11 THE ESPLANADE ST KILDA PHONE: (03) 9534 0211
FOLLOW US @ESPYHOTEL
THU
1200 TECHNIQUES
Melbourne-based trio 1200 Techniques have made a name for themselves in the Aussie hip hop scene ever since their first single, Hard As Hell, made its debut back in ‘98. What are the 1200 techniques they used to do this? Find out when they take over Howler on Wednesday, December 17. Use your keyboard typing techniques to hit us up at beat.com.au/freeshit for your chance to win a free double pass.
F R O N T B A R FREE!
GEOFF ACHISON
STAND & DELIVER 80’S SUPER SOUNDS MIXTAPE. 6PM
RESIDENCIES ALL FREE!
M O N DAYS
‘MONDAYS COVERED’ FROM 7PM
T U E S DAYS
‘BRIGHTSIDE’ BAYSIDE MUSO NITE 7.30PM
W E D N E S DAYS
‘COLLAGE’ UNSIGNED MUSO NITE 7.30PM
SAT U R DAYS
PHIL PARA BAND + SPECIAL GUESTS FROM 6PM
S U N DAYS
ARTIST SHOWDOWN 10 LOCAL ACTS GERSHWIN ROOM FROM 12.30PM
S U N DAYS
GEOFF ACHISON STAND & DELIVER 80’S SUPER SOUNDS MIXTAPE FROM 6PM
COMING UP
F R I 1 9 D EC
T H U R S 2 5 D EC ( X M AS )
F R I 2 6 D EC ( B OX I N G DAY )
T H U R S 1 JA N ( N Y D)
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS ON SALE NOW FROM OZTIX!
IVAN OOZE,PEEZO,BAYSIDERS,NARLY
GHOSTFACE KILLAH JAMES BROWN XMAS SHOW PHAROAHE MONCH WITH SPECIAL GUESTS ON SALE NOW FROM OZTIX!
DJ FRENZIE, DJ RANSOM
MITCH POWER & THE SOUL ASSASINS
DJ IDEM & A HUGE NIGHT OF FUNK & SOUL!
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 19
HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
Q&A
facebook/thehifi twitter.com/hifi_melb instagram.com/thehifi
J U ST A N N O U N C E D
THE GROWLERS
SUN 11 JAN 2ND SHOW
GLASS ANIMALS
After selling out a run of shows across the country earlier this year, California’s The Growlers will return to our shores for an extensive national tour. They’re currently touring on the back of their fifth full length, Chinese Fountain, which was released earlier this year and was Beat’s album of the week. The Growlers will play The Corner Hotel on Wednesday January 14. Grab tickets at cornerhotel.com.
SAT 31 JAN
SMITH STREET BAND SAT 14 FEB
NEON PARTY UV PAINT PARTY FEAT. POSTRIPER THIS WEEK
LISA MITCHELL
WED 10 DEC
SOUNDGARDEN
JAMES HOLDEN THU 11 DEC
THE WAR ON DRUGS SOLD OUT
SAT 13 DEC
THY ART IS MURDER
CO M I N G S O O N FRI 19 DEC
KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD SAT 20 DEC
DEAD LETTER CIRCUS MON 5 JAN
COLD WAR KIDS TUE 6 JAN
THE BLACK LIPS THU 08 JAN
TYCHO
SAT 10 JAN
GLASS ANIMALS THU 15 JAN
BLUE KING BROWN
SUN 25 JAN
CATFISH & THE BOTTLEMAN EYEHATEGOD TUE 03 FEB
WED 04 FEB
MAC DEMARCO SOLD OUT
THU 05 FEB
BEN FROST FRI 6 FEB
SHAKE THE DUST FEAT. DESERT DWELLERS + MORE THU 12 FEB
TUE 20 JAN
FRI 20 FEB
THU 22 JAN 18+ & U18
FRI 27 FEB
B-BOY CHAMP TOUR
FRI 23 JAN
NOISECONTROLLERS SAT 24 JAN U18 & 18+ SHOWS
GUY PEARCE & DARREN MIDDLETON
MAC DEMARCO
MODE SELEKTOR
JAH PRAYZAH
SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER
FRI 30 JAN
FRI 16 JAN
MARDUK
American rock legends Soundgarden have announced they'll play two headline shows in Melbourne and Sydney alongside their appearance at Soundwave 2015. The band were last in Australia in 2012 as part of the Big Day Out lineup, marking the first shows they had played outside the US since 1997. Catch them at Festival Hall in Melbourne on Tuesday, 24 February. Tickets are on sale Friday, December 12 via Ticketmaster.
Lisa Mitchell is back on home soil and upon her return, has announced an acoustic tour to celebrate the success of Wah Ha. The tour will see Mitchell joined onstage by guitarist and serialcollaborator Tim Harvey in a rare opportunity to see the internationallyacclaimed singer and songwriter in some of Australia’s finest intimate rooms. Supporting Mitchell on all shows is the talented newcomer East. Mitchell comes to Howler on Friday March 27.
CLARE BOWDITCH
Wanna spend a lazy Sunday afternoon (or two) with Clare Bowditch at The Flying Saucer Club? Bowditch is famous for being one of the finest storytellers in music, and for making her audiences laugh and cry and get to know themselves better. She will be bringing songs from all seven of her albums, plus brand new songs from her (soon to be recorded) eighth album, 3pm every Sunday in February. She’ll tell stories from her burgeoning TV career, and she may even bring along a couple of special-guests. Add this mix to the relaxed atmosphere of the Flying Saucer Club and you have all the ingredients for a brilliant month of Sunday afternoons. Tickets are $35 at the door, $45+BF for reserved seats at flyingsaucerclub.com.au. Come to one, or better still, come to all four.
ARCHIE ROACH
Iconic Australian singer/songwriter Archie Roach will perform an intimate series of shows in Melbourne next week. You can catch Roach play at Sooki Lounge in Belgrave on Thursday December 11 and a matinee show at the Northcote Social Club on Sunday December 14, alongside Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse. Tickets are on sale now.
Guy Pearce and Darren Middleton have announced that they’re teaming up for a run of joint shows next February. Known for his roles in Neighbours, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Iron Man 3, Pearce just launched his music career with the release of his debut album, Broken Bones, last month, while Middleton is still enjoying the success of his 2013 solo LP, Translations. The pair will share the stage on their upcoming tour, performing songs from each other’s repertoire with a full backing band. Catch ‘em at The Thornbury Theatre on Saturday February 7. Tickets are on sale through the venue’s website.
TINASHE
Super Duper Alice Cooper is coming to ACMI this December and January. Born Vincent Furnier, the son of a preacher, Alice Cooper emerged from the Detroit scene of the ‘70s, in a flurry of long hair and sequins, to restore rock with a sense of showmanship. While simultaneously striking fear into the very core of Middle America with the chickenslaughtering, dead-baby-eating theatrics that would cement his identity. This first ever “doc opera”, directed by Scott McFadyen and Sam DunnSuper, is a highly stylised whirlwind collage of rare archival footage, animation, and candid interviews, chronicling Alice Cooper’s history from his humble beginnings to his triumphant comeback after kicking addiction. The documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year and combines commentary from the likes of Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Johnny Rotten, Iggy Pop, Cooper’s mom, members of the original Cooper lineup and Cooper himself. Super Duper Alice Cooper will open at ACMI on Saturday December 27 and run until Friday January 9.
JMS Harrison
You’ve got a massive list of players involved in the Glide/William Arthur tribute night. Tell us a little about who’s involved and what the night is all about. The night will be all about playing the songs of William Arthur of the ‘90s Australian band, Glide. We have a number of members who were in Glide from the early days playing their early material; they’ll be the backing band for the likes of Steve Kilbey (The Church), Ash Naylor (Even), Jamie Hutchings (Infinity Broke / Bluebottle Kiss), Peter Fenton (CROW) who will all sing William Arthur’s songs. Also Andy Kentler, who played in Glide for the last couple of years will perform. What sparked the idea for the tribute night? How did you pull everyone together for this show? Late last year it dawned on me that August 2014 will be 15 years since William passed away sadly in August 1999 at age 34. I contacted Paul McDonald who was in Glide, and together we put on two anniversary shows at The Vanguard back in August up in Sydney, featuring many bands and singers from that period that knew William or loved Glide. Aside from this gig, you’ve got a show of your own at The Post Office Hotel. Why should we journey down to catch your set? I’m putting out a new song and video clip this month off a debut album due out in 2015, so I’ll be celebrating that at The Post Office Hotel in Coburg supporting Steve Kilbey, The Tall Grass ( Jamie Hutchings/Peter Fenton) and Matt Purcell. My good friend Cabin Inn will get up with me on some songs too. JMS HARRISON will play at The Post Office Hotel on Friday December 19 and The Workers Club on Saturday December 20.
DELTRON 3030 TUE 03 MAR
SHARON VAN ETTEN FRI 06 MAR
PARQUET COURTS
KERSER
TIX + INFO THEHIFI.COM.AU 125 SWANSTON ST, MELBOURNE
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 20
TRUCKFIGHTERS
THE SMITH STREET BAND
Backing up a sold out album tour, The Smith Street Band have announced they’ll be kicking off 2015 with a run of dates throughout January, February and March. This time ‘round, the Melbourne four-piece will play 24 shows, taking in regional areas and smashing all ages and under 18 shows. Catch The Smith Street Band at The Hi-Fi on Saturday January 31 and Northcote Social Club on Sunday February 1.
If Josh Homme insists a band is the best in the world, then you should probably make the effort to check them out. Truckfighters smashed the fuck out of CherryRock013, and now they’re back and ready to slay stages at Cherry and Yah Yah’s in January. Truckfighters will hit Australian shores on Friday January 23 at Cherry Bar, before launching into Yah Yah’s on Saturday January 24. These are their only Melbourne shows, so be sure to catch snow-drenched Swedish Gods of Californian desert stoner rock while you can. Tickets are available through respective venues.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
HOT TALK
Q&A
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds
SUMMERSALT FESTIVAL
HTRK
HTRK will celebrate the first ever vinyl release of their debut album, Marry Me Tonight, with a pair of intimate shows next March. The indie rock duo will play shows in Sydney and Melbourne on the back of the vinyl reissue of their 2009 LP, which is set to be released with a 20-page booklet featuring photos, liner notes and credits on Friday March 13. Joining them will be Mika Vainio, one half of French minimal electronic duo, Pan Sonic. He remixed HTRK’s Poison back in October 2013. Catch ‘em on Sunday March 15 at Shadow Electric. Tickets are on sale now via the venue’s website.
Over five extraordinary summer weekends, the Melbourne Arts Precinct will be turned on its head by the Summersalt festival when it brings music, dance, circus, theatre and art onto the streets of Southbank. The 2015 lineup showcases the likes of Scotch + Soda, Snuff Puppets, Lake Street Dive, Melbourne Ballet Company, Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds and many, many more. Summersalt Festival runs from January 23 to February 21 in the Melbourne Arts Precinct. For the full lineup of events and ticketing info head to www.summersaltfestival.com.au.
DARREN HANLON
THE MAVIS’S
Ballarat pop band The Mavis’s are set to reunite for a special one-off show this month. Reforming for the show, the band will be playing through tracks from their albums Rapture, Pink Pills and Venus Returning. The show will mark 24 years since the band first formed and ten years since their last performance. Catch The Mavis’s at The John Curtin Hotel on Saturday December 27.
To celebrate the release of his latest single, When You Go, Melbourne’s favourite songsmith Darren Hanlon will kick off his annual Christmas tour next week. His Northcote Social Club gig on Friday December 19 has already sold out, but he’s now announced another Northcote Social Club gig the night before, (straight after an all ages arvo show at the Northcote Uniting Church Hall). Grab your tickets through the venue.
Eyreton Hall
How did you two start playing together? We met at The Sydney Conservatorium where we were both studying the folk sub genre that we all know and love – jazz. We just kinda fell into playing our music together and it seemed to work. You’re coming all the way from New Zealand to play a couple of shows in Melbourne, what are you most excited about? It doesn’t feel all that far to us, and Melbourne will always be our second home having lived there for so long. The thing we’re the most excited about is to be able to finally show people what we’ve been working on instead of just talking about it. What’s been the most rewarding thing about having recorded your debut album? I found a list last week of ‘hopes and dreams’ for the future (I love lists) that we’d written
back in 2010 and among the many things on it were, to write again, to feel inspired, to record again and to finish an album – so to be able to tick those things off and feel as though we had achieved them all was kinda nice. What else will you be doing while you’re here? We have loads of family and friends here so we will be running around like crazies trying to make sure we see everyone and no doubt getting into the spirit of the festive season with the usual excesses and indulgences. EYRETON HALL will be launching their debut album Featherstitch at The Wesley Anne in Northcote on Thursday December 11 and Sooki Lounge in Belgrave on Saturday December 13.
VIOLENT
FEMMES CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 21
TOURING
WHO'S ON TOUR, WHERE AND WHEN
For all the latest tour dates check out beat.com.au
INTERNATIONAL THE LEMONHEADS Corner Hotel December 10 JAMES HOLDEN The Hi-Fi December 10 UB40 Palais Theatre December 11 FACTORY FLOOR Howler December 11 CLOUD NOTHINGS Corner Hotel December 11 CYPRESS HILL The Forum December 11 THE WAR ON DRUGS The Hi-Fi December 11, 170 Russell December 16 JOHN LEGEND The Plenary December 12, Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley December 13 DAMON ALBARN Palais Theatre December 12 PHOSPHORESCENT Corner Hotel December 12 DE LA SOUL 170 Russell December 12 BLACKSTREET Trak December 12 MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre December 12 – 14 T.I. AND DMX Festival Hall December 12 TY SEGALL Corner Hotel December 14, 15 JOAN ARMATRADING Comedy Theatre December 15 THE SKATALITES Caravan Club December 17, Corner Hotel December 18 GHOSTFACE KILLAH The Espy December 19 SCOTT RUSSO AND PHIL JAMIESON Corner Hotel December 19 THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS The Evelyn December 19, Arrow on Swanston December 20 (AA) BEN FOLDS Hamer Hall December 20 PHAROAHE MONCH The Espy December 26 TONSTARTSSBANDHT The Tote December 26 SALT N PEPA The Forum December 27 FALLS MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL Various locations December 28 – January 2 BIG FREEDIA Howler December 30 BEYOND THE VALLEY Phillip Island Circuit December 30 – January 1 SADAR BAHAR The Toff In Town December 31 GREG WILSON Little & Olver December 31 DERRICK CARTER New Guernica January 1 VIOLENT FEMMES MONA January 1 PENINSULA SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL Various Venues, Mornington Peninsula January 1 – 11 GRANDMASTER FLASH The Espy January 3 DANNY BROWN Corner Hotel January 4 COLD WAR KIDS The Hi-Fi January 5 THE TEMPER TRAP 170 Russell January 5 JULIAN CASABLANCAS & THE VOIDZ The Forum January 6 THE BLACK LIPS The Hi-Fi January 6 MILKY CHANCE 170 Russell January 6 JOHN SMITH Bella Union January 7 SBTRKT The Forum January 7
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 22
GEORGE EZRA Corner Hotel January 7 ASGEIR The Forum January 9 MATT ANDERSON Flying Saucer Club January 10, Thornbury Theatre January 11 WYE OAK Gasometer Hotel January 10 GLASS ANIMALS The Hi-Fi January 10 SPOON The Forum January 11 THE GROWLERS Corner Hotel January 14 TIM HECKER Howler January 14 MARDUK AND INQUISITION Northcote Social Club January 14, The Hi-Fi January 16 MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL Bennets Lane January 15 – 29 SLOW CLUB Northcote Social Club January 15 JESUS JONES Corner Hotel January 15 2CELLOS Palais Theatre January 15 THE 1975 Festival Hall January 15 FRIKSTAILERS NGV January 16 NELLY Sidney Myer Music Bowl January 16 THE COATHANGERS January 16 EVERYTIME I DIE Corner Hotel January 16 XYLOURIS WHITE Howler January 17 OMAR SOULEYMAN Corner Hotel January 19 SWANS Corner Hotel January 20 CAMILLIE O’SULLIVAN Melbourne Arts Center January 20 – 24 THE CLEAN Corner Hotel January 22 ICEAGE Ding Dong Lounge January 23 FAT FREDDY’S DROP Palais Theatre January 23 TRUCKFIGHTERS Cherry Bar January 23, Yah Yah’s January 24 JAMIE T The Forum January 24 SUGAR MOUNTAIN January 24 THE KOOKS Sidney Myer Music Bowl January 24 ZA! Ding Dong Lounge January 25 CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN The Hi-Fi January 25 NAS The Forum January 25 MEWITHOUTYOU 170 Russell January 25 ODESZA Howler January 25 FKA TWIGS 170 Russell January 28 RUSTIE Howler January 29 LYKKE LI Forum Theatre January 29 PERFECT PUSSY Corner Hotel January 29 SOHN Corner Hotel January 30 EYEHATEGOD The Hi-Fi January 30 JOHNNY MARR The Forum January 31 CHIODOS Corner Hotel January 31 BELLE & SEBASTIAN Palais Theatre February 1 LITTLE DRAGON 170 Russell February 2 THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM The Forum February 3 RAURY Howler February 3 ANGEL OLSEN Howler February 4 MAC DEMARCO The Hi-Fi February 4 JUNGLE 170 Russell February 4
HIGHASAKITE Corner Hotel February 4 CONNAN MOCKASIN Howler February 5 VIC MENSA Corner Hotel February 5 BENJAMIN BOOKER Northcote Social Club February 5 CARIBOU The Forum February 5 SUZI QUATRO Melbourne Arts Centre February 5, 6, 7 RATKING Ding Dong Lounge February 6 LANEWAY FESTIVAL Footscray Community Arts Centre February 7 STING AND PAUL SIMON A Day on the Green February 7, Rod Laver Arena February 10 SARAH MCLAUGHLAN Melbourne Recital Centre February 9 J MASCIS Melbourne Recital Centre February 13 THE ANTLERS Melbourne Recital Centre February 14 LAMB The Forum February 14 DANIEL ROSSEN Northcote Social Club February 15 PERFUME GENIUS Corner Hotel February 15 G-EAZY Howler February 16 TINASHE The Hi-Fi February 20 ROXETTE Rod Laver Arena February 20, Rochford Wines Yarra Valley February 21 PETER HOOK AND THE LIGHT Corner Hotel February 21 SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL Flemington Racecourse February 21, 22 THE EAGLES Rod Laver Arena February 22, Hanging Rock Macedon February 28 SOUNDGARDEN Festival Hall February 24 REAL ESTATE Corner Hotel February 25 DRAKE Rod Laver Arena February 27 STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS Melbourne Zoo February 27 DELTRON 3030 The Hi-Fi February 27 FOO FIGHTERS Etihad Stadium February 28 BRUNSWICK MUSIC FESTIVAL Various Venues, Brunswick March 1 – 15 MOGWAI Hamer Hall March 1 SHARON VAN ETTEN The Hi-Fi March 3 SHOVELS & ROPE AND SHAKEY GRAVES Corner Hotel March 4 SINEAD O’CONNOR Hamer Hall March 4 RUFUS WAINWRIGHT Palais Theatre March 4 GRUFF RHYS Northcote Social Club March 5 TECH N9NE The Hi-Fi March 6 NENEH CHERRY Hamer Hall March 6 FIRST AID KIT Palais Theatre March 6 PARQUET COURTS The Hi-Fi March 6 MAITREYA FESTIVAL Sea Lake, Victoria March 6 – 9 WOMADELAIDE Botanic Park, Adelaide March 6 – 9 SINEAD O CONNOR Port Fairy Folk Festival March 6 – 9 GRAVEYARD Ding Dong Lounge March 7 WAYNE ‘THE TRAIN’ HANCOCK Ding Dong Lounge March 6, Caravan Club March 7 MACY GRAY Palais Theatre March 7 THE POP GROUP Corner Hotel March 7 FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL Flemington Racecourse March 8 65DAYSOFSTATIC Northcote Social Club March 8, 9 GOODLIFE Flemington Racecourse March 9 OBLIVIANS The Tote March 11, 12, 13 BALKAN BEAT BOX Prince Bandroom March 12 MAE Corner Hotel March 14 FOREST SWORDS Howler March 14 HTRK Shadow Electric March 15 BOBBY BROWN The Forum March 19 BILLY IDOL Margaret Court Arena March 24, A Day On The Green March 21 MASTODON Festival Hall March 27 SWITCHFOOT 170 Russell March 31 BEN HOWARD Margaret Court Arena March 31 KEB’ MO’ Melbourne Recital Centre March 31 CHARLES BRADLEY Corner Hotel April 1 JURASSIC 5 Festival Hall April 1 PAOLO NUTINI Palais Theatre April 1 SERENA RYDER Northcote Social Club April 2 MICHAEL FRANTI Festival Hall April 2 BETH HART Melbourne Recital Centre April 2 BOOGIE 9 Bruzzy’s Farm, Tallarook April 3 – 7 REBELUTION Corner Hotel April 3 GEORGE CLINTON & PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC 170 Russell April 3 BAND OF SKULLS Bluesfest, Byron Bay April 3, Rochford Wines April 5, Corner Hotel April 7 COUNTING CROWS Palais Theatre April 4 G. LOVE AND SPECIAL SAUCE Thornbury Theatre April 4 THE CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD Corner Hotel April 4 BIG SKY BLUES & ROOTS FESTIVAL Deniliquin, NSW April 4 – 5 THE BLACK KEYS Rolling Green April 5, Margaret Court Arena April 7 TROMBONE SHORTY AND ORLEANS AVENUE Corner Hotel April 6 RODRIGO Y GABRIELA Palais Theatre April 7 GARY CLARK JR. 170 Russell April 8 JIMMY CLIFF Corner Hotel April 8 DAVE & PHIL ALVIN Northcote Social Club April 9 THE GIPSY KINGS Palais Theatre April 10 FRANK TURNER Corner Hotel April 12 ARCHITECTS 170 Russell April 12 ATILLA Arrow On Swanston April 15 (AA), Corner Hotel April 16 (18+) THE DICKIES The Evelyn April 16 DEMI LOVATO Margaret Court Arena April 24 SAM SMITH Margaret Court Arena April 30 PALOMA FAITH Palais Theatre May 5 ANASTACIA Palais Theatre May 7 SUFFOCATION & DECAPITATED Corner Hotel May 9 ALT-J Rod Laver Arena May 10 NICKELBACK Rod Laver Arena May 15 YELLOWCARD Margaret Court Arena July 11 NEIL DIAMOND Rod Laver Arena October 27 AUDRA MCDONALD Hamer Hall October 31 TAYLOR SWIFT AAMI Park December 11
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
PROUDLY PRESENTS
DEC
19-20
XMAS EVEN The Gasometer Hotel
NATIONAL ORSOME WELLES Workers Club December 12 JIMMY JUNK HEART Prince Public Bar December 12 DALLAS FRASCA Yah Yah’s December 12 VIOLENT SWELLS Prince Public Bar December 12 GYROSCOPE Corner Hotel December 13 JIMMY BARNES December 13, 20 NUMBER STATION St Kilda Bowls Club December 14 DARREN HANLON Northcote Uniting Church Hall (AA), Northcote Social Club December 18, Northcote Social Club December 19 THE HARPOONS Hugs & Kisses December 18 NICK CAVE The Plenary December 16, 17,18 TWERPS John Curtin Hotel December 18 THE GOOCH PALMS Grace Darling December 18 CHILDREN COLLIDE Ding Dong Lounge December 19 XMAS EVEN Gasometer Hotel December 19, 20 DAN KELLY Shadow Electric December 20 TIM SWEENEY The Toff In Town December 20 DEAD LETTER CIRCUS The Hi-Fi Bar December 20 THE MAVIS’S John Curtin Hotel December 27 SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER ACMI December 27 – January 9 FIREBALLS Bendigo Hotel December 31 NEW YEARS EVE IN THE WEST FEST Yarraville Live, December 31 FRENCH FEST, FRENCH ISLAND MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL, Paradise Island December 30- January 1 NEW YEARS EVIE Tallarook, Victoria December 31 – January 2 ILLY The Espy January 1 TIM MCMILLAN Ding Dong Lounge January 9 JANE TYRRELL The Forum January 9 SEA LEGS Shebeen January 9 GROUNDSWELL MUSIC FESTIVAL Lake Tyers Beach, East Gippsland January 10 SUMMER OF SOUL Mossvale Park January 10 UNIFY FESTIVAL South Gippsland January 10 – 11 LUNATICS ON POGOSTICKS Shebeen January 17 STEP The Toff In Town January 21 SUMMERSALT FESTIVAL Melbourne Arts Precinct January 23 – Februrary 21 ALI BARTER Workers Club January 24 BEECHWORTH MUSIC FESTIVAL Madman’s Gully Amphitheatre, Beechworth January 24 BALLARAT BEER FESTIVAL City Oval, Ballarat January 24 CALIGULA’S HORSE The Evelyn Hotel, January 25 THE SMITH STREET BAND The Hi-Fi January 31, Northcote Social Club February 1 (U18) CLARE BOWDITCH Flying Saucer Club February 1, 8, 15, 22 BEN FROST The Hi-Fi February 5 GUY PEARCE & DARREN MIDDLETON Thornbury Theatre February 7 RIVERBOATS MUSIC FESTIVAL, Echuca-Moama February 13 – 15 KIM CHURCHILL Corner Hotel January 15 MEGAN WASHINGTON 170 Russell February 13 LITTLE BASTARD Northcote Social Club February 19 KYNETON MUSIC FESTIVAL Kyneton Mechanics Institute February 20 – 21 ANGUS AND JULIA STONE Margaret Court Arena February 27 DZ DEATHRAYS Northcote Social Club February 27, 28 BETWEEN THE BAYS FESTIVAL Penbank School, Moorooduc February 28 RUTH MOODY Bella Union March 4, Caravan Club March 5 PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL Port Fairy, Victoria March 6 – 9 CLOWNS Bendigo Hotel March 6, 9 (AA) VANCE JOY Palais Theatre March 12, 13 KINGSWOOD The Forum March 13 LUCA BRASI Northcote Social Club March 14, Wrangler Studios March 15 KYLIE MINOGUE Rod Laver Arena March 18 WHOLE LOTTA LOVE Palais Theatre March 21 LISA MITCHELL Howler March 27 ROLLING GREEN FESTIVAL Rochford Wines Yarra Valley April 5 AUGIE MARCH Melbourne Recital Centre April 15 DARREN COGGAN The Palms July 3
RUMOURS: LESS THAN JAKE, KILLER BE KILLED, MAROON 5 = NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 23
ARIEL PINK In The ShadowS By Tyson wray
Ariel Pink is a fucking mess. A beautiful one, but a mess all the same. That’s part of his appeal. Over the course of his 12-year career, Pink’s peculiarity and eccentric inclinations have always demanded centre stage. This, as you can imagine, means he’s an absolute headfuck to interview. He contradicts himself at every corner, he uses metaphors that make no sense, he goes off on pointless tangents and he laughs with a dry cackle when detailing his own mortality. “It’s not illegal to be an asshole,” he told Pitchfork in September. True. Even if it was, you doubt Pink would adhere to the rule. He doesn’t want to be interviewed, but he’s contractually obliged to promote his album. He’s trying to catch me off-guard. It’s working.
“I didn’t have to deal with the public, the press, stuff like that, it was nice,” he laughs when reflecting on the earlier stages of 2014. “I spent most of it recording and playing music. They’re all very pleasant memories. I was off in my own world. It felt normal.” The result of this time spent recording is pom pom, Pink’s latest opus, following 2012’s Mature Themes. While it may be Pink’s first full studio album released under his own solo moniker without his band The Haunted Graffiti, the record is his most collaborative to date, featuring joint ventures with the likes of the legendary Kim Fowley, Spiritualized’s Jason Pierce and LA punks The Germs. “I recorded the album over about nine months with various players and in various locations over various times,” he details. “It was always very casual and in non-committal circumstances. The cast became so large. I made sure that I worked with immunity so that I could play with as many people that I wanted. I wanted it to be like I was landing a ship somewhere and I was the leader. Call me the biggest slut on the planet. It was very natural for me to be in this frame of mind, to be so promiscuous with my talent.” Clocking in at a behemoth 17 tracks over 68 minutes, pom pom is a melting pot of obscurity. Ranging from beat-driven pop (Put Your Number In My Phone, Dayzed Inn Daydreams), dirty punk (Goth Bomb, Negativ Ed) and gobbledegook surf (Nude Beach A Go-Go – a collaboration with Azealia Banks), the record’s the perfect embodiment of Pink’s mantra of eclecticism. “I really wanted to go out with a bang and utilise the resources at my disposal,” he notes, referring to the fact that pom pom concludes his current three-album contract he holds with revered independent English label 4AD. “I felt like they were squandered on the last record. I like the whole idea of a record. A collection of songs that you experience in a certain sequence. “The record label would have liked the album to be as short as it could be so that they could maximise profits from as few tracks as possible,” he laughs. “That’s why albums generally only have about ten songs, five songs a side. iTunes won’t pay for any extra tracks beyond that. For the label, the last seven tracks on the record is akin to their money being spent on nothing. That’s fine with me. I’m glad they’re throwing their money into a rabbit hole like me. I’m happy for them to spend their money on something that’s as useless and arbitrary as my music.” If there’s one thing his label is happy about, though, is the fact that Pink has spent the majority of the year in the limelight – for better or worse. He made BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 24
a claim that Madonna requested to work with him as her career had been on “a downward slide” since 1983 (of which her management refuted as she “no interest in working with mermaids”), he’s voiced his adoration of the loathsome Westboro Baptist Church and he’s compared the online backlash towards his own misogynistic comments to the 1994 Rwandan genocide – himself in the role of Tutsi. He’s the biggest troll in the music industry. He’s trolling us. We hope he is. “I’ve also been generating a bit of press over myself, the record label is very happy about that,” he laughs. “They own the record. It’s not like I’m doing any of this for myself.
“CALL ME THE BIGGEST SLUT ON THE PLANET. IT WAS vERy NATURAL fOR ME TO BE IN THIS fRAME Of MIND, TO BE SO PROMISCUOUS WITH My TALENT.” “It’s a really strange thing that some people, some long-time fans, might be believing that I’m pandering to the industry. That I’ve sold out, or that I’m trying to do things differently to how I’ve done then before, or that I’m trying to seek a larger audience. All of that stuff might be true. I’m doing things how they come most naturally to me and that’s more the point.” While widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in the contemporary industry, Pink’s rise to notoriety has been a slow burn over his career. In 2009 he signed to 4AD, the following year he released Before Today – an album that gave him mainstream success. Lead single Round and Round highlighted a vast departure from his former lo-fi recordings, with Pitchfork dubbing it the best song of the year. With pom pom marking the end of this record deal, Pink’s unsure if he’ll be offered a renewal. “It’s not up to me, is it? It’s up to them. And also me,” he notes perplexingly. “I’m a working artist. I’m a professional. I go where the money is. If they offer me another deal then it’ll have to be worth more than any other record label out there. I’ll go wherever I can receive the most support for my music. There are a lot
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
of pros for me to stay with 4AD, but there are also a lot of cons. When you negotiate these sorts of things, it’s not like a real marriage, there’s no reason to take things personally. “My whole career has sort of been an attempt to commit suicide before I’ve even been acknowledged as a living, breathing things,” he adds. “It’s very difficult to support yourself in this industry. Musicians need so much less than other people; they tend to be very selfsufficient. They don’t need many of the amenities or cheap thrills or material things that other people seem to think they need to own to have a good life. I’m really happy doing what I do. That to me seems like having all of the money in the world. No one pays me for this. I might be having to do something else on the side, but I’ll always be keeping my work load to a minimum to allow for lots of time to do what I like. It gives me a lot of fulfilment. It makes other people happy, that’s the most satisfaction I derive from this. I have a work ethic. I need to support myself. I survive, just like everybody. I don’t have any juvenile claims to purity. It’s always been my goal to make it in this industry and to flourish within the world.” Next month will see Pink return to Australian shores for the first time since 2012 – with his only Melbourne performance to be held at the 2015 incarnation of Sugar Mountain. “It’s certainly not going to be a circus show or anything like a set with high-production budgets or an extravaganza like that,” he notes. “It’s gonna’ be some people playing some music, hopefully with some good lights. I don’t know. The people who are playing on the record are by and large going to be accompanying me on the tour. If you’re coming, expect psychedelic visuals, like snakes coming out of our guitars, you’ll probably be disappointed. But if you close your eyes I’m certain that you’ll be able to enjoy the record in a whole new way.” While Pink will begin his year with a sojourn Down Under, his plans for the rest of 2015 are typically amok. “I’m not going to die any time soon. Well, at least I’m not planning on it. I’m not planning on committing suicide. I’m going to forge on, gotta’ keep swimming, can’t stay still. I might make a new record. I might get married and have kids. I don’t know. I’ve always been a throwback artist. I want to keep the gears of rock’n’roll in motion.” Catch Ariel Pink at Sugar Mountain alongside the likes of Nas, SWANS, Body/Head (Kim Gordon + Bill Nace), ODESZA and more on Saturday January 24 at VCA (Victorian College of the Arts). pom pom is out now via Remote Control Records.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 25
THIS WEEK: ON SCREEN
With Tyson Wray. Got thoughts, news, gossip, complaints or cat photos? Email tyson@beat.com.au or send by carrier pigeon before Friday 12pm. that kind of volume,” adds the musician, explaining that throughout the years many non-musicallytrained members have helped with Oz’s music score. “When we’re going group percussion, it becomes an ensemble and the cool thing about working with acrobats as musicians is that they’re not necessarily musically trained, [and] they have, in my experience, [an] approach to music that is very performative. They might not know what notes they’re playing or how to play the instrument, but they’re really good at selling a performance. So there’s this sort of lovely freedom and joy to be explored with people who just approach the instrument as a thing to make noise with, rather than from a traditional, conventional-trained music background.” It’s this fluidity, collaboration and freedom that, Reynolds insists, keeps Oz operating as vigorous machine of creativity and improvisation: “One of the most awesome things about Circus Oz is that it’s a company that really encourages and celebrates people’s individuality in their artistic expression and their creativity.”
Award-winning holiday counter-classic White Reindeer is currently screening at ACMI. Premiering at 2013’s SXSW’s film festival, the film details a sudden tragedy that derails real estate agent Suzanne Barrington’s favourite holiday season. Drowning her grief in eggnog, she learns about her TV meteorologist husband’s secret life while on the search for personal redemption. White Reindeer stars veteran indie actress Anna Margaret Hollyman (The Color Wheel), with support from Joe Swanberg (Happy Christmas) and Lydia Hyslop (Vacation!). White Reindeer screens at ACMI until Wednesday December 24.
ON STAGE Cabaret provocateur Yana Alana will return to Melbourne for a brief season of her awardwinning show Between the Cracks. The rising cabaret star will treat audiences to a night of song, dance, poetry, blues and burlesque. Between the Cracks received the 2014 Helpmann Award for Best Cabaret Performer and two 2014 Green Room Awards for Best Production and Best Cabaret Artiste. Between the Cracks will run from Tuesday December 16 to Monday December 22 at fortyfivedownstairs.
ON DISPL AY Japanese sculptor and artist Takahiro Iwasaki’s latest work, Reflection Model, is currently on display at the National Gallery of Victoria. Renowned for his large-scale miniatures of ancient Japanese buildings and architecture, his newest work re-imagines the Shinto shrine of Itsukushima, most famous for its “floating” Torii gate on the tidal flats of Japan’s Inland Sea. It is the latest piece in his Reflection Model Series, which recreates ornate buildings and their inverse image, as seen reflected on the water that surrounds them. The work was produced over three months and constructed from Japanese cypress wood. Reflection Model will be open until Monday April 6 at the National Gallery of Victoria.
PICK Of THE WEEK
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra will join in the festive tradition for another year with a performance of Handel’s Messiah. Messiah is a dramatic story of faith, suffering and redemption, featuring the famous Hallelujah chorus. The concert will be conducted by Matthew Hall, one of the world’s most acclaimed interpreters of the work. Prior to the performance, there will be a talk on the artists and work featured in the concert. Messiah will take place on Saturday December 13 and Sunday December 14 at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 26
CLOSE TO THE BONE By Avrille Bylok-Collard Back in October, Circus Oz announced its dates for their newest show, Close to the Bone, an intimate season “exploring space and proximity” through movement and routine. Held outside of the company’s annual big top season, the show will see associate director Deb Batton collaborate with Oz’s body of performers, and acrobat founders Simon Yates and Jo-Ann Lancaster, to stretch the limits of well-loved circus routines, bringing a new vitality and perspective to Circus Oz. Close to the Bone will be the third time in ten years that Circus Oz performs a small show outside of other usual, larger big top seasons; where their first intimate show was commissioned as The Blue Show at Adelaide Festival back in ‘04. “[Close to the Bone is] an interesting one because the previous two shows – of this sort of nature – Circus Oz has done have been called The Blue Show,” which debuted at The Melba Spiegeltent with a sold-out season in 2011. “They had very distinct adult themes. Now, this show [may have] a different title and different intention – this show is more about exploring what Close to the Bone means and experimenting with new acts – nonetheless, there’s many other connotations that can be read into it, [and because of that] it’s a show that’s recommended for adults. We’re not describing it as a family friendly show,” details musical director Ania Reynolds; a major difference from their usual familyfriendly big top shows. The titian-haired woman has been part of the company for four years now and she has an extensive catalogue of musical performance and composition experience, including stints with Polyglot Theatre (Tangle, The Big Game, Checkout!), a Green Room Award for Best Musical Direction (2010) in Cabaret Yana Alana And Tha Paranas In Concert, and being part of afrobeat
group Papa Chango, The Whoopee Project, and garage-rock outfit Johnnie and the Johnnie Johnnies. Throughout her tenure, her creative ear – a fusion of nearly everything: from funk to polka to jazz and to ska – has been responsible for setting the mood for shows like From The Ground Up (2012), Cranked Up (2013) and But Wait… There’s More (2014). “Our director, Deb Batton, came up with a list of various acts she wanted to out in the show based on people’s individual skills and groups skills,” says Reynolds animatedly, explaining the rehearsal process so far. “So we have a list that we’re working to and everyone’s been given various takes to devise their acts to. Meanwhile, in the music room, we’ve [Reynolds and Circus Oz buddy Ben Hendry] got to working on a bunch of different tunes and with a variety of different feels, so when someone comes up and they’re like, ‘I need something kind of jazzy for my act’, then we’ve got a few ideas to present them with.” “We’re [also] working on some vocal pieces and having nine people doing it as opposed to three… you just need
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
Conceived from the amalgamation of two already successful Australian groups, Soapbox Circus and the New Circus, Circus Oz was founded in 1978 under the ethos of creating contemporary circus performance imbued with traditional circus skills (minus the animals), satire, popular theatre elements and the spirit of rock’n’roll. Their brand of entertainment is still as popular 36 years later. Circus Oz has performed to over three million people in 27 different countries and become a well-loved surrealist icon nationally, and overseas. In fact, the troupe is so loved that Arts Victoria donated $15 million to redeveloped the Old Collingwood TAFE into a state-of-the-art rehearsal and performance facility for them; the company relocated there last February from Port Melbourne Drill Hall. They even shifted The Melba Spiegeltent there, from its former periodic home on the Docklands. “That’s the joy of the Spiegeltent: you’re so close to the audience. [In the big top] there’s not much room for intimacy or subtly, whereas in the Spiegeltent, it’s all about that,” gushes Reynolds. With just under 200 capacity, the Belgium tent is tiny compared to the 1,500 seating-plan of the Big Top. “Mingling amongst the audience has always been a part of the Circus Oz shows,” regardless of the venue, and “the difference is that the performers aren’t separated from the audience [in the Spiegeltent], and it’s just a lot more fun.” Close to the Bone will be performed at The Melba Spiegeltent, Collingwood, from Thursday December 11 – Sunday December 21. Tickets through Ticketmaster.
THE COMIC STRIP MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL
For more arts news, reviews and interviews visit beat.com.au
SEXERCISE - THE MUSICAL
THE SHADOW ELECTRIC
The world’s only cinema set inside a convent is back at it again, revealing a huge program and new look for its 2015 season. Entering its fourth year, The Shadow Electric will screen over 60 films, brimming with everything from new releases to cult classics. Highlights include 20,000 Days On Earth on a 20,000-watt soundsystem, Jake Gyllenhall in Nightcrawler, and Whiplash, a film about a young jazz drummer that’s picking up Oscar buzz. Other top picks include Nas: Time Is Illmatic, Boogie Nights and Interstellar. Alongside screenings at the 300-seater outdoor cinema TSE will also host table tennis tournaments, food trucks, special events and dozens of gigs from local and international artists in the 300+ person band room. It all kicks off on Friday January 2 at the Abbotsford Convent. For more information and full program, visit shadowelectric.com.au.
MELBOURNE UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL
Melbourne Underground Film Festival (MUFF) will return in 2015 for its sweet 16th year. The festival – which supports independent and guerilla local and international cinema – is now calling for entries for the 2015 event. Filmmakers are welcome to submit both shorts and features from all film styles, including narrative, genre, animation, documentary and experimental. The Melbourne Underground Film Festival will run from Friday September 11 to Sunday September 20 at Backlot Studios. Interested filmmakers can enter through Festhome, Filmfestivallife or Withoutabox.
OTHELLO: THE REMIX Chicago hip hop outfit Q Brothers will bring a fresh take on Shakespeare’s Othello to the Arts Centre next year. Othello: The Remix sees the play transformed into a hip-hop musical. It tells the story of MC Othello, who gets out of the ghetto by winning the respect of the music industry and the beautiful singer Desdemona, but not without spite from rival Iago. Othello: The Remix will run from Wednesday February 18 to Sunday February 22 at The Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne.
Sexercise - The Musical will make its world premiere when it becomes the first show to feature at the new Alex Theatre this February. Alex Theatre is one of three theatres to be built in the former George Cinema complex in Fitzroy St, St Kilda. The musical comedy was inspired by the title of Aleksander Vass’ popular cartoon book, published several years ago. Writer and composer Derek Rowe has written the story, music and lyrics, showcasing a couple’s journey to repair their relationship. The story is placed in the fast-paced world of married professional mid-30s Joe and Sam. There’s no place for seduction amid the juggling of school runs, work schedules and their personal exercise regimes. At couples’ therapy Joe and Sam take a new approach to repairing their relationship when their counsellor, Rhonda offers them a self-help book about sexercise. Sexercise -The Musical opens in Alex Theatre on Tuesday February 24.
The first round of comedians who will appear at the 2015 Melbourne International Comedy Festival have been revealed. A host of big-name internationals will be hitting stages in Melbourne including Rich Hall, Jason Byrne, Arj Barker, Ruby Wax, Michael Che, Miranda Sings, Mike Wilmot, Urzila Carlson, Neil Hamburger, Deanne Smith, James Acaster, Sara Pascoe, Luisa Omielan, Stephen K Amos, Josie Long, Nina Conti, Milton Jones, Mark Watson and John Kearns. Meanwhile, the biggest names in Australian comedy have locked in returns, including Wil Anderson, Ronny Chieng, Dave Hughes, Adam Hills, Denise Scott, Judith Lucy, Matt Okine, Nazeem Hussain, Fiona O’Loughlin, Rhys Nicholson, Claire Hooper, Nick Cody, David Quirk, Sam Simmons and Steen Raskopoulos. The 2015 Melbourne International Comedy Festival runs from Wednesday March 25 until Sunday April 19. The full program will be revealed in February. Some shows are on sale now.
EFFIE Effie has announced she is coming to Yarraville just in time for Christmas. Effie will be joined by Paul Calleja and MC Matthew Hardy for the special A Date With Effie Christmas show. She is looking for love and cuddles by candlelight, but beware of her relatives bearing gifts. A Date With Effie is coming to The Yarraville Club on Saturday December 20.
THE VARIET Y COLLECTIVE
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL PRESENTS
THE ASTOR THEATRE
The Astor have announced the films that will see out the theatre’s final season, ahead of the last screening on Sunday April 5. Built in 1936, The Astor is Melbourne’s last single-screen cinema of its kind, famous for its delivery of classics, cult favourites, select new releases and double features. The final season will kick off on Sunday December 21 with Labyrinth and Boyhood, with other highlights including Gone Girl, Blade Runner, Ghostbusters, Grease Sing-a-long, Nightcrawler, Hamlet, Apocalypse Now and Scarface. The final screening will be Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. The Astor Theatre’s final season will run from Sunday December 21 to Sunday April 5.
The Variety Collective is closing down forever at the end of the year but before they do they’re going out with a bang. This is your second last chance ever to see some of Australia’s best variety performers, so do not miss this week’s show. Featuring Alex De La Rambelje, international touring magician who has astounded crowds around the world; Jonestown, Sarah Jones and Nicholas J Johnson will bring the twisted sketch comedy that made them a smash hit at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival; Marcus Ryan, direct from the UK, Marcus will be performing the jokes that have made him one of the most popular comedians on today’s international circuit; and more with your host Michael Connell, professional comedian, master juggler and enthusiastic harmonica player. All tickets $10. It’s on tonight, Wednesday December 10. Doors open at 7.30pm, show starts at 8pm at The Brunswick Green, 313 Sydney Road, Brunswick.
CRAB L AB The year may be winding down but Crab Lab sure as hell isn’t. Tonight there’s MICF award winner David Quirk and Fancy Boy, Brisbane legend Damien Power, local idiot Rose Callaghan and a heap more for just a measly $5. Kicks off at 8.30pm sharp at 16 Corrs Lane, CBD.
COMMEDIA DELL PARTE
TAKE THE LEAP! You may have climbed Everest, swam with sharks or even parachuted from a plane – but do you have the guts to take the ultimate leap and perform comedy in front of a live audience?
Registrations are NOW OPEN at RAWCOMEDY.COM.AU PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
SUPANOVA
Supanova have unleashed the first round of guests that will visit Melbourne for their 2015 expo. Some highlights of the first round include Jason David Frank (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), Eoin Macken and Alexander Vlahos (Merlin), Jessica DiCicco (The Emperor’s New School, Adventure Time, Over the Hedge, Gravity Falls, Pound Puppies), Todd Haberkorn (Soul Eater, Bleach, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood), Arthur Suydam (Heavy Metal, Deadpool: Merc with a Mouth, Marvel Zombies, Wolverine), Tony Moore (The Walking Dead) and many more. Supanova will go down on Saturday April 11 and Sunday April 12 at the Melbourne Showgrounds.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Commedia Dell Parte is back to for a single show this month at a new location. They’ve assembled a great lineup for this one off show featuring Jeff Green, Simon Keck, Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall, David Boyle, Anthony Jeannot, Sean Ryan and hosted by Xavier Michelides. The night is free so come along and have a great laugh. Commedia Dell Parte runs on Thursday December 11 at 8.30pm at DeJa Vu Bar, 525 Little Lonsdale St, CBD.
FIVE BOROUGHS COMEDY This week, Five Boroughs Comedy is on Friday instead of Thursday, and Dave O’Neil is headlining. Plus Xavier Michelides, Damian Power and more. It’s all happening this Friday December 12 at 8.30pm, at Five Boroughs Comedy, 68 Hardware Lane (upstairs), CBD, all for only $12. Get in early.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 27
TO OP MO EN RR S OW !
For more arts news, reviews and interviews visit beat.com.au Strawberry Siren
HOWL By Liza Dezfouli
Howl is a poem by beat poet Allen Ginsberg, written in 1954 and the subject of an obscenity case a few years later. It’s also the name of a show night of coming up in Northcote, inspired in part by a new venue – 24 Moons. In short, Howl is a show featuring burlesque and music with a particular dark and bluesy vibe, ‘50s and ‘60s grind and trash included. Beat spoke to Bella de Jac, burlesque performer and producer of Howl, about the event.
10 SHOWS ONLY
IN THE MELBA SPIEGELTENT 11�-�21�December Ticketmaster.com.au
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 28
What inspired her to create an evening of, as she says ‘heart-breakers ass-shakers, dirty dancers, whisky drinking sweethearts of the night’? “The space was inspiring,” she says. “It’s a huge space, just beautiful. There’s just nothing like it! For a start, the venue’s licensed til 5 am! So we’re going to dance all night.” Sounds good. “I wanted to put on the kind of night I’d want to go out to myself, and hang out with my friends.” In this case, de Jac’s friends are providing the entertainment. “It’s like a homecoming for a few Australian performers,’ she explains. “I’ve chosen these specific performers for their acts. There are some incredible performers in Australia, people who’ve won awards and have been touring. We love coming back to Melbourne. We’re like a pack – that’s why we say ‘join the pack! I’ve worked with all of them. The idea popped into my head on a flight to New Zealand, to perform in the New Zealand burlesque festival. That was only about six weeks ago.” De Jac reckons the Australian burlesque, circus and side-show artistes are as good as you get anywhere in the world. “I’ve been in the industry for quite some time and we have some incredibly talented performers in Australia. We’ve got an innovative edge, maybe because we’re so used to having to prove ourselves. We’ve followed our own path, we’re not relying on tradition and we don’t need to repeat old patterns. There seems to be a heavy basis in circus art. Everyone I know works very hard but we don’t always realise how good we are – there’s that tall poppy syndrome where we don’t want to talk ourselves up too much.” What kind of thing can punters expect to see at Howl? “It’s a night with a sideshow kind of vibe,” says De Jac. ”We’re keeping with the theme of very sexy, bluesy style of performance which branches out into sideshow. We don’t want to complicate it too much. And we have this awesome live music by Hunted Crows, a band makes this sound that fills every corner of the room. It’s a kind of heavy blues rock. You wouldn’t think there were only two of them, on drums and guitar. They’re amazing. I discovered them when I went out scouting for bands and they were a support act. “ De Jac’s hoping the night will take off. “We’re starting out quarterly (I’ve already got the lineup for March) but we’ll see how we go; it maybe it will become a monthly event. The quality of performance for our first show is very high. I’ve worked with all of them. We’ve
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
got Frankie Valentine who does a very sexy, very classic performance, there’s Raven, our boylesque performer, who does a blockhead act – he was Mr Boylesque 2012. We’ve got Strawberry Siren who does a jailbreak – she won Miss Burlesque 2013. Plus there’s a bit of striptease. We’ve got Captain Ruin, a sideshow performer, and our MC Mojo Juju will break a few hearts. That sort of covers it – I don’t want to give too much away.” Such is de Jac’s love for her performance art she’s in the process of establishing Australia’s first burlesque museum, in Richmond. She’s unearthed some characters from Australia’s burlesque and sideshow past, although it hasn’t been easy. “Burlesque was a very underground art form; once they got married and had children, grandmothers and great-grandmothers often kept the fact that they’d performed burlesque secret from their families. They pretended it never happened. Australia was quite conservative for a long time. But burlesque performance goes a lot further back than people realise,” she notes. “Lola Montez, although she came from overseas, was here performing in the goldfields. We get information from here and there, from other states. We’ve talked to one guy whose grandmother used to entertain the troops and he’s got some of her old costumes. It’s a bit of a cross-over art form, with circus and striptease. Australia had the ‘hoochy cooch’ dancers in the ‘50s and Les Girls in Tasmania. Who does de Jac like to see perform? “There are so many! I love Imogen Kelly, who does a strange conceptual kind of performance. And L’Amour – I’m a huge fan. There are so many talented performers I enjoy watching!” Will she perform on the night?“Yes!” How does de Jac keep her own act fresh? “By seeing other art forms, other types of performance. Live music, concerts, fashion shows. I do my best to stay inspired.” So obviously burlesque is still as popular as ever. “I think people are looking for something a little bit different,” de Jac continues. “Burlesque is always a crowd-pleaser. People come to a show and then become devotees. They bring their friends and you see the same faces again and again. We’ve been around for a while but we’re not going away!” Howl will take place at 24 Moons on Friday December 12.
For more arts news, reviews and interviews visit beat.com.au
LEIF PODHAJSKY By Liza Dezfouli
You know the album cover ± Innerspeaker by Tame Impala. Yes, that one. The artist, Leif Podhajsky, utilised more than 270 Photoshop layers in creating the work that made the world look twice. Now based in London, the Byron Bay native will be returning to Australia in January to take part in Sugar Mountain, the annual music/art/installation/ new media extravaganza coming up at the VCA. Five stages, indoors and out, will provide spaces for the intersection of music and visual art and new media, with the intention being to create interactive experiences for audiences.
How did Podhajsky get involved in Sugar Mountain? “I’m good friends with Pete Keen, one of the founding members,” he replies. We go way back. I showed some pieces in the first Sugar Mountain in 2011.” Podhajsky is keeping quiet about what he’s showing in January but he did let on that some of the work from a recent exhibition in Paris will feature. “Nothing’s been completely finalised so I don’t want to say too much but I’ll be working with the space and with another artist, creating something that works together.” Podhajsky is in his studio in Shoreditch when Beat speaks to him. What took him to London? “It’s a massive cultural and creative hub,” he said. “I wanted to test myself in a larger pool. I’ve been really lucky. I get to work with musicians and bands I really like, who I’ve admired for a long time. I try and work with artists who I respect, whose music I would want to listen to.” We ask Podhajsky about the impact of the Innerspeaker cover, which launched one of the most enviable graphic design careers ever: he’s worked with bands like Foals, Grimes, The Horrors, Lykke Li, Bonobo and many others as well as for companies such as Nike, Sony Music, Vice, Warner Records, Warp Records, Smart Car, Atlantic, XL, 4AD, Ninja Tune and Modular Records. He’s regularly sought after by advertising agencies. Was Podhajsky a fan before Tame Impala asked him to do the cover? “I was a fan, yeah,” he
answers. “Tame Impala are like an old school band; their fans really love them, they’re fanatic and they want to know everything about them. I’d emailed them about doing some artwork for them and I don’t think they ever got the email. Then months later they wanted to work with me, I told them I’d emailed them and they went back and found that email.” After training in graphic design in Byron Bay then working in other people’s studies and getting fed up with doing web design, Podhajsky opened his own graphic design studio in Melbourne and things took off from there. Podhajsky describes his work as exploring themes of connectedness, the relevance of nature, and the psychedelic experience; his art expresses a deep reverence for the rhythms and harmonies of the natural world, an aesthetic which he reckons speaks to something recognisable on a global level. “I think my work speaks to people on a deeper level without them knowing it. I just kind of found my feet and developed my style and kept following it, stayed true to it until something happened. Now people come to me to do things because of my style. I don’t have to compromise. It does have a certain feel to it. But what I do is quite broad also; I’ve worked with a lot of different people on different things.” Is there anyone in particular he’d like to work with? “I’d like to do something for Bjork,” he answers. “She’s got
Can you describe your first experience with magic? I saw a street performer in Barcelona make a bird disappear and reappear out of a balloon. It amazed me so much as a kid. I was transfixed. That’s my earliest magic memory (Now that I think back, as I know how it’s done, he was kind of horrible to that bird). Do you ever worry about the possibility of your secrets being uncovered on stage? Nah. I guess as a magician you’re inviting people to try to work things out. So, that’s what keeps it exciting. To stay ahead of the audience in keeping them amazed. How often do you practice and who serves as your audience? It depends on what I’m working on. I’m currently in Los Angeles rehearsing for the show. There are many pieces in Band Of Magicians that are brand new and we had a challenge in having four magicians perform them. The fun part was having eight hands instead of two to misdirect the audience, which is something we’ve all been pretty pumped about. How important is the concept of showmanship for a magician to differentiate him/herself apart from others?
that sort of mainstream appeal but just hasn’t sacrificed on any level; she’s an artistic presence in all facets. It’d be good to work with her.” What sort of things would he like to explore in the future? “3D printers, a new medium, I’m looking into that. I want to see what I can do on a larger scale. I’m broadening what I’m doing. It’s an interesting journey and I’m not sure where it’s going. I’m just going to keep pushing, do music stuff, more advertising work. Music videos. I’ll hold some more exhibitions. Also some clothing stuff, some t-shirts, sweat shirts with my work on them. That’s been happening for a while now and they should go on sale next year. I’ve been expanding into new areas,” he continues. “Working with different musicians, with different friends, working in different genres with major labels and small indie pop bands. I’ve been doing nice things, moving more into the fine art side of things
It’s the most important. Less so to differentiate yourself, but more to make the magic believable. It’s a fine line. What would you be doing if you weren’t doing magic as a career? I write scripts and music (my next show will be a comedy musical about a magician) so I’d most likely be doing more of that. Or, I’d be a chef. Or a baker. Yes. A baker. No, I’d own a donut shop. Yep, that’s it. A donut shop. James’ Delicious Donuts (I’m still working on it). What are you like when you’re not performing? Do you ever do impromptu performances for strangers? Never. Though, some of the other guys in the Band are never without a deck in hand. Do you go to see other illusionists much? What impresses you? I love watching other magic. I’m a good spectator, I reckon. That’s why I got into magic in the first place, because I love that feeling of experiencing magic. Do you ever feel like contemporary magicians are living in the shadows of Houdini and more recently,
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
and holding exhibitions, an artist series, pushing into those areas. I just love the creative process, getting in the moment, that feeling when I make something I really like, I get really excited when I work with a band or a label, I get to understand their ethos and I get to be a part of the whole thing.” So ± has he any advice for would-be graphic designers? “You have to learn a lot before you go out on your own,” is his answer. “I put in hard years doing all the different things with graphic design and print design, learning all about the technical side of things. Follow your own style ± e ventually things will come round.” Leif Podhajsky will be a part of Sugar Mountain 2015, which will take place on Saturday January 24 at VCA (Victorian College of the Arts).
David Copperfield, to a certain extent? Not really. There’s always going to be famous magicians of yesteryear and that’s what usually inspires you in the first place. It’s great to learn from them and then go on your own journey. What can audiences expect from Band of Magicians? I get the sense there might be some healthy competitiveness on stage. You sense correctly, are you a magician too? Yeah, we’re all insanely competitive, which is great for the show. It makes us push each other to keep making our magic better and more incredible than it was when we were on our own. When you finish reading this and go buy tickets from Ticketek or bandofmagicians. com, you can expect that you’ve made a wonderful choice and relax in the knowledge that you are in for an incredible ride with the Band Of Magicians. Too much.
BAND OF MAGICIANS will be appearing at The Palms at Crown from Wednesday January 7 until Saturday January 17. More details and tickets are available through Ticketek.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 29
UPCOMING
DECEMBER
on tour JAMES HOLDEN [UK] Wednesday December 10, The Hi-Fi CYPRESS HILL [USA] Thursday December 11, The Forum BLACKSTREET [USA] Friday December 12, Trak DE LA SOUL [USA] Friday December 12, 170 Russell MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL: VAKULA [UKR], GHOSTFACE KILLAH [USA] + MORE Friday December 12 - Sunday December 14, Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre GHOSTFACE KILLAH [USA] Friday December 19, The Espy LIDO [NOR], SOPHIE [UK] + MORE Friday December 19, 170 Russell TIM SWEENEY [USA] Saturday December 20, The Toff In Town FLORIAN KUPFER [GER] Sunday December 21, Lounge PHARAOHE MONCH [USA] Saturday December 26, The Espy BADBADNOTGOOD [USA] Saturday December 27, Laundry Bar SALT N PEPA [USA] Saturday December 27, The Forum ANDY C [UK] Sunday December 28, Brown Alley FALLS FESTIVAL: TODD TERJE [NOR], TENSNAKE [GER], TYCHO [USA] + MORE Monday December 29 - Thursday January 1, Byron Bay BEYOND THE VALLEY: CLAPTONE [GER], ALUNAGEORGE [UK] + MORE Tuesday December 30 - Thursday January 1, Phillip Island Circuit BIG FREEDIA [USA] Tuesday December 30, Howler SADAR BAHAR [USA] Wednesday December 31, The Toff In Town GREG WILSON [UK] Wednesday December 31, Little& Olver DJ ALFREDO [ARG], MAXMILLION DUNBAR [USA], PENDER STREET STEPPERS [CAN], SCOTT FRASER [SCO] Thursday January 1, TBA ABOVE & BEYOND [UK] Thursday January 1, Sidney Myer Music Bowl DERRICK CARTER [USA] Thursday January 1, New Guernica LET THEM EAT CAKE: CARL CRAIG [USA], TODD TERJE [NOR], CASHMERE CAT [NOR] + MORE Thursday January 1, Werribee Mansion OLIVER $ [GER], CRAZY P [UK] Thursday January 1, Shed 14 GRANDMASTER FLASH [USA] Saturday January 3, The Espy DANNY BROWN [USA] Sunday January 4, Corner Hotel SBTRKT [UK] Wednesday January 7, The Forum TYCHO [USA] Thursday January 8, The Hi-Fi JOEY BADA$$ [USA], RUN THE JEWELS [USA] Thursday January 8, The Forum OMAR S [USA], DANIEL AVERY [UK] Friday January 9, Brown Alley SPACE DIMENSION CONTROLLER [UK] Sunday January 11, Lounge TIM HECKER [CAN] Wednesday January 14, Howler NELLY [USA] Friday January 16, Sidney Myer Music Bowl MISTER SATURDAY NIGHT [USA] Saturday January 17, TBA OMAR SOULEYMAN [SYR] Monday January 19, Corner Hotel TENSNAKE [GER] Friday January 23, Royal Melbourne Hotel RAINBOW SERPENT: MARCEL DETTMANN [GER], LEE BURRIDGE [UK], PETAR DUNDOV [CRO] + MORE Friday January 23 - Monday January 26, Lexton
tour rumours
Juan Atkins, Hieroglyphic Being, Vatican Shadow, Shackleton, Container, The Bug, Evian Christ, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Addison Groove, Netsky, Moodymann
30
news tours club snaps + more
electronic + urban + club life
agent 86
wo rd s / a ug u st u s we lby
Thanks chiefly to the Internet, and perhaps even some aesthetic evolution, the divide between music genres is no longer as rigid as it once was. These days, anyone unwilling to embrace various styles is rightly named a conservative. But it’s not that long since meeting a rock dude with a hip hop obsession and a thing for ‘80s synth-pop would’ve been seriously strange. This Friday, New Guernica helps Melbourne’s DJ Agent 86 (aka Nigel Reynolds) celebrate 25 years behind the decks. For two and a half decades, Reynolds has been a widely reputed genre expeditionary, throwing hiphop, house, techno, rock, pop, funk and whatever else he feels like into his DJ sets. “My music taste has never been dictated by genre,” he says. “It’s only ever been dictated by a sound. What I mean is, if I like a track, I like a track and I’ll play it… and if I don’t like it, then I won’t play it. In recent years I’ve appreciated more feel good music, but growing up it was songs with a melancholy or rebellious edge that I liked. To that end, hip hop probably had the greatest influence on me of all.” Reynolds started DJing in Adelaide in the late ’80s, which was where he stayed until moving to Melbourne in late 2000. Prior to this, Reynolds and his parents lived in rural South Australia. His dad wasn’t the slightest bit interested in music, but his mum would
news
“constantly have the ghetto blaster going in the kitchen.” However, his mother’s taste didn’t appeal to him, so he sought out music through other means. “I would listen to the radio,” he says. “I never watched television and I really only listened to the radio. Obviously, the radio had many different genres. I don’t know if that was an anomaly. I just didn’t know.” Back in the late ‘80s, a DJing career wasn’t unheard of, but it wasn’t the glamourous vocation kids flock towards nowadays. At the time, the Adelaide club scene was “totally underground,” but there was enough going on for Reynolds to know it was his calling. “When I was 16 I went to a club and heard acid house for the first time and it blew my mind,” he recalls. “Within six months of going to my first club, I wanted to be a DJ. Once I started, it was a runaway train. I knew I’d found my job. Within a few months of having begun, I’d left school. I just dived into it straightaway and immersed myself in it. “My first gigs weren’t in a pub per se, but they were in that sort of environment,” he adds. “I’m thankful, to be honest, that the owner of the tavern not just acknowledged my interest in it, but encouraged it.”
Staying relevant in any discipline for 25 years is a feat that shouldn’t go unnoticed. To emerge from a barren environment and climb to the top of the ladder, like Reynolds has done, is a testament to his unwavering commitment to his craft. With regards to a DJ’s essential role, there are stacks of differing perspectives. Some believe it’s about educating the audience, while others maintain the DJ is subordinate to the audience’s wishes. Reynolds tows the line between these two extremes. “My feeling towards DJing has always been to express myself, and at the same time try to please the crowd,” he says. “It’s give and take. The crowd needs to hear some of my selection, whether they like it or not. Depending on how they respond, then I will give them what they want a little. That doesn’t necessarily mean a song that they know, rather a song that you know that they’re likely to enjoy.” Reynolds’ determination to make it work since day one has led to support gigs with the likes of Kraftwerk, Jeff Mills, Kavinsky, DJ Shadow, Fatboy Slim and Booka Shade, among others. Attaining celebrity status, however, has never been a primary concern. “When I started, the DJ scene was vastly different to what it is now,” he says. “There was no way I could ever tell that I was going to be supporting artists like James Brown and Moloko and stuff like that. “I never got into this for fame. If anything, I shy away from fame. I don’t like being photographed, I don’t really like being the focus. I much prefer the music to be front and centre, not me. [Being] fame hungry comes at a cost and most of the time that cost is musical integrity.” Joined by old comrades DJ HMC and Kiti, this Friday’s 25 year anniversary party will be a night to remember, but it’s by no means a send off. DJing remains Reynolds’ fulltime job and he’s not likely to switch professions any time soon. “I feel like I’ve reached the point of no return now,” he says. “I’ve been doing this same job for so long that it would be very difficult for me to change careers now. And I’m not sure that I need to. I love this job and I’m not bored with it, because the music keeps changing. Everything single day there’s a whole world of new music available. My job’s never boring.”
Catch Agent 86 as he celebrates 25 years of DJing at New Guernica this Friday December 12. You can also catch him every week at venues such as Lucky Coq, The Penny Black, OneSixOne and more. Hit facebook.com/djagent86 for more information.
- head to beat .com.au for more
off the record w i t h
t yson
w ray
Theo Parrish has taken out the Tyson Wray Album of the Year™ with his last-minute entry, American Intelligence.
madga
goodlife The world’s largest under 18s festival, Good Life, is back for 2015. The lineup includes Avicii, Bliss N Eso, Martin Garrix, Afrojack, Will Sparks v Timmy Trumpet v Joel Fletcher, Havana Brown, BlasterJaxx, Allday, Carnage, Frontliner and Tigerlily as well as Some Blonde DJ, Slice n Dice, Uberjak’d and more. There’ll be a meet and greet photo booth, providing punters access to Mark Salling (Glee), Charlotte Crosby (Geordie Shore), Tyler Blackburn (Pretty Little Liars), and Ray Meagher (Home & Away). There’s also a theme park, sports zone, an outdoor cinema and more. It all goes down Monday March 9 at Flemington Racecourse.
Magda has announced she will be heading to Australia with a show in Melbourne this February. Widely considered as the queen of techno, it has been two years since she last graced our shores. Last in Australia as part of a festival run, this will be her first club tour in over three years. Magda will take over The Liberty Social on Saturday February 14.
tech n9ne tensnake German house producer Tensake is coming to town next month. Best known for his 2010 dancefloor smash Coma Cat, Tensnake has become celebrated for his disco-influenced house stylings. He released his debut album, Glow in March, featuring collaborations with the likes of Fiora, Stuart Price, Jamie Liddell, MNEK, Jeremy Glenn and Nile Rodgers. He’ll play at the Royal Melbourne Hotel on Friday January 23.
Tech N9ne has announced he will be heading off on an Australian tour this March. While he is here he will be playing shows in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. He has sold over two million albums and had his music featured in films, TV shows and video games. He became an innovative rapper in the 1990s because of his trendsetting ability to rap at breakneck speed, as well as backwards. His career defining song, Strange 2013 saw him collaborate with the surviving members of The Doors, in a reworking of their track Strange Days. With his 2012 Hostile Takeover Tour, he holds the record for headlining the longest continuous tour in rap history. Tech N9ne will take over The Hi-Fi on Friday March 6.
electronic - urban - club life
illy After the release of a new deluxe edition of his Gold certified record Cinematic, Illy has announced he will be headlining a special New Year’s Day show at The Espy. Illy will be supported by a handpicked selection of up and coming Melbourne based hip hop artists Ivan Ooze, Peezo, Baysiders and Johnny Polhe. Illy will take over The Espy’s this New Year’s Day.
let them eat cake Returning for round three this NYD, Let Them Eat Cake have just unleashed a massive local lineup. This year the local lineup includes Andras Fox, World’s End Press, Rat & Co, Ginger and the Ghost, Harvey Sutherland, Dave Maslen, Sleep D, Fiord, AZ ZD (A13 and Dexter), Thankyou City, Silent Jay feat. Jace XL, APSD feat. Cazeaux O.S.L.O, JPS X HOOVES feat. Syreney, Nam, Damn Moroda, Broadway Sounds, Kuya, Kodiak Kid, Lady Banton, Gaff E, Salvador Darling Experience, Chestwig, Simon Winkler, Stryka D and electronic lust. They’ll join the likes of Todd Terje, Carl Craig, DJ Sneak and more. It goes down on New Year’s Day, Thursday January 1, at Werribee Mansion.
Five Things With Fourward Growing Up My key childhood memory was a car ride where my mum, my dad and me sang together a song and I can hardly remember which song it was, but I guess it was a Michael Jackson. We always listened to a lot of different stuff, which reflects my kind of musical taste. I like it almost no matter what genre it is. My dad plays the flugelhorn in a music ensemble for over 30 years, so I think I got most of the music-genes from him.
that’s the kind of thing, in my opinion, we do best. I have a proper crate with dubs with me. Music, Right Here, Right Now I get the feeling the drum and bass scene is constantly evolving and it feels good. We have a pretty healthy scene in Austria and almost everybody knows each other, I like that too. Besides the drum and bass scene I visited a show with Ghostface Killah in Vienna recently and that was just rad.
Inspirations When I was 11/12 I really was into Nirvana a lot. It was the Nevermind album and it just blew me away for a long time, especially in the morning on my way to school. You remember Walkmans? Nowadays it’s a mix of everything I hear, somewhere on the road or on the radio. I look it up on the Internet and sometimes a find some treasures. Your Crew We all started skateboard/DJing/producing at almost the same age and same area in Austria and it was just a matter of time to meet up and join forces. The Music You Make And Play People can expect an underground, steppy, neuro-funk set, because
Fourward will hit Brown Alley on Friday December 12.
Five Things With Purple Disco Machine Growing Up I guess I have to thank my father. He’s a big music lover and I had the luck of growing up with a lot of good music from Peter Gabriel and Pink Floyd. He took me to a lot of concerts: Phil Collins, Moby etc. It wasn’t a surprise that I became a music lover too. We had a turntable at home and a lot of old vinyl which I could play around with, I treasured my first experiences with these black pieces of gold. Inspirations In the mid ‘90s we had a radio broadcast called NJR Friday Scene and every Friday I was sitting in front of the radio and recorded hundreds of tapes. That was the beginning of my love for funk and soul mixed with modern electronic music. I recorded also a lot of music I liked and mixed some tapes for friends. Your Crew I had the luck that one of my singles being signed by OFF recordings last year and this was for me and also for OFF recordings a gainful collaboration. I live in Dresden and we have a small scene with a few artists and DJs like me but in the last years I’ve worked more and more with other artist from Germany and around the world like Teenage Mutants, Nhan Solo or with house legend Boris Dlugosch. For me it’s always a pleasure to share my inspirations with other music lovers. Now I have a big team of good friends and keen freaks like my booking agent Sebastian or my manager Matt around me.
electronic - urban - club life
The Music You Make I like to mix a lot of styles into my own PDM style. Styles like funk, soul, house and sometimes a bit ‘80s glam rock. I always try to experiment with these styles either in my productions or in my DJ sets. Particularly in my sets I play often a lot of old funk classics like The Whispers Let the Beat Goes On or Chemise She Can’t Love You. These classics fit perfectly to my live sound and to the new disco/deep funk sound I play. Actually, we also have a lot of good musicians and a lot of good music to play. Artists like Robosonic, Monte, Space Echo or Doorly. Music, Right Here, Right Now You can see that the music scene and the sound has changed this year from the boring EDM sound with all their overhyped acts. Every artist sounds like all the others. I miss a bit the unique sound from a lot of these artists but as I see, a lot of things happening at the moment. More and more people are following the new deep house sound and the scene will get bigger and bigger, even in America. It’s good to see that acts like Disclosure and Jungle have a lot of shows around the globe. Not all is lost.
Purple Disco Machine plays at Brown Alley on Friday December 19.
31
club guide wednesday dec 10
snaps anyway
BOOTY WORK Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. CURIOUS TALES - FEAT: DJ WHO + TIGERFUNK + TOM SHOWTIME + FLAGRANT Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. JAMES HOLDEN The Hi-fi, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $45.50. MELLOW-DIAS THUMP - FEAT: CAZEAUX O.S.L.O + GEEZY Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. PURE POP @ EXCHANGE Exchange Bar, South Yarra. 6:00pm.
thursday dec 11
circus sundays
3181 THURSDAYS - FEAT: HANS DC + MAFIA + FOR YOUR EARS DJS + FAKE FORWARD + RIFFE + DOM DOLLA VS BOOT ACTION + JACK LOVE + BENSON VS MIKE METRO Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 6:00pm. CQ SESSIONS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. DINNER BEATS - FEAT: JORDAN Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 8:00pm. DJ MASEO + CAM RUN + EDDIE MAC + MZ RIZK Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. FLANAGANS THURSDAYS FEAT: DJ ONTIME + COLONEL Pier Live, Frankston. 8:00pm. GOOD EVENING Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. LOVE STORY - FEAT: TRANTER + SLEEVES + MEGAWUOTI + SUPREMES + MICKEY P Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 11:30pm. MIDNIGHT EXPRESS - FEAT: PREQUEL + EDD FISHER Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm. THE RITZ - FEAT: KEN WALKER + ANDO + JOSHUA GILLILAND Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 10:00pm. $20.00. VARSITY - FEAT: KITI + FOOFARAW Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. XS DISCO - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm.
friday dec 12
deathproof xmas party
#EATDRINKPLAY - FEAT: ANDY MURPHY + MGMC + DJ JORJ + CAM WOODARD The Emerson, South Yarra. 10:00pm. $20.00. #MASHTAG - FEAT: MALPRACTICE + AGENT 86 + BENZO + ANDRE LE VOGUE + SILVERFOX + AHAB + OLLIE Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. A PROGRESSIVE COLLABORATION - FEAT: MARCUS HOLDER + SOPHIA SIN + NAOMI KHARMA + ELEKTROMA + BEN SAID + ALECKAT Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. AGENT 86 - FEAT: DJ HMC & KITI New Guernica, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $20.00. BREAD & BUTTER FRIDAYS
Cushion, St Kilda. 8:00pm. CAN’T SAY Platform One, Melbourne. 9:00pm. CQ FRIDAYS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. DJ’S IN THE FRONT BAR Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. FABULOUS FRIDAYS Co., Southbank. 8:00pm. FAKE TITS - FEAT: BOOGS + SPACEY SPACE + SUNSHINE + SAMMY LA MARCA + BUTTERS + ADAM BARTAS + JUNGLE JIM Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $15.00. FLAGRANT + SAM MCEWIN + D’FRO Penny Black, Brunswick. 7:00pm. FREQUENCY Level 3 @ Crown, Southbank. 9:00pm. $20.00. FRIDAY NIGHT @ THE CARLTON Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. FRIDAYS @ ONESIXONE - FEAT: JEN TUTTY + LUKE MCD + LEWIE DAY + PREQUEL + KATIE DROVER + MITCH KURZ + MIC NEWMAN + TOM EVANS + JOEL ALPHA + LIAM WALLER + AARON TROTTMAN + NICK JONES + JESSE YOUNG + ANDRAS FOX + JAC OSCAR WILKINS Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm. JUMBO Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 7:00pm. LA DANSE MACABRE Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. LUCK TRUCK FRIDAYS DOWNSTAIRS Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. OMG FRIDAYS Seven Nightclub, South Melbourne. 10:00pm. $20.00. ONE PUF 1ST BIRTHDAY FEAT: ROYAL T + STRICT FACE + ARCTIC + AFFIKS + ALASKA + 2FUSSHA + GINGUS + B.O.O.M.B.A + CARMEX + WHO IS BANKSY + TOM MAC Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm. $15.00. PANORAMA FRIDAYS UPSTAIRS - FEAT: PHATO A MANO + MR.GEORGE + MATT RADD + ASH-LEE Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. POPROCKS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. REVOLVER FRIDAYS - FEAT: REX CLUB + ALEXKID + PEPPERPOT Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. SUITE SELECTIONS + MYLES MAC + YOUNG EDITS Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. SUNBOW MUSIC (LONG JOHN PSYLVER) - FEAT: STAUNCH & HIGH JACKED + SUNBOW’S GID LUBER & KYNDA Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $10.00. TUNES BY DAVE GRAY Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8:00pm. TWISTED AUDIO - FEAT: FOURWARD & DOSE Brown Alley, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $20.00.
saturday dec 13 ELECTRIC DREAMS Co., Southbank. 8:00pm. $20.00.
ANYWAY - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Bottom End, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. AUDIOPORN SATURDAYS - FEAT: DR. ZOK + JAMES WARE + GREG SARA + JACOB MALMO + TOM EVANS + ROWIE Onesixone, Prahran. 9:00pm. $15.00. BIG MOUTH SATURDAYS FEAT: DJ ROWIE + ANDYCAN + NACKERS Big Mouth, St Kilda. 9:00pm. COOINDIAN CHRISTMAS Rubix Warehouse, Brunswick. 3:00pm. $15.00. CRAIG MCWHINNEY + KLOKE + TRAVANCORE + SUB SQUARED Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $8.00. CUSHION SATURDAYS Cushion, St Kilda. 9:00pm. FAMILIAR STRANGERS The Emerson, South Yarra. 10:00pm. $20.00. FAUX POOL PARTY FEAT: NUTRITION + BEE AMPERSAND + ARROWS + BOSPHORUS TECH + ANCENTRIC The Rooks Return, Fitzroy. 2:00pm. GARDEN BEATS - FEAT: DJ MARCUS HOLDER + AARON ARTHUR + DUNCAN FUNK The Fitzroy Beer Garden, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. HOT STEP - FEAT: ADAM ASKEW + GRAYSKULL + KELTEC + MYLES MAC + PETER BAKER + REV. THORN + SAM MCEWIN + SHANE COPAL + TOM EVANS Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. LOOK LISTEN - FEAT: 8IGHT SLOW OWLS Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. MIDNIGHT RUN Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 11:30pm. $7.00. MILKSHAKE DANCE PARTY - FEAT: FORCES + RITES WILD + AOI + ASPS + HTMLFLOWERS + BROOKLYN QUEENS + MILKSHAKE DJS Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $10.00. OBLIVEUS + HIJACK + B-TWO Penny Black, Brunswick. 7:00pm. ROSE SATURDAYS Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 9:00pm. SATURDAY MORNING - FEAT: SUNSHINE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00am. SEVEN SATURDAY DISCOTHEQUE Seven Nightclub, South Melbourne. 10:00pm. $20.00. SEVEN SATURDAY DISCOTHEQUE Seven Nightclub, South Melbourne. 10:00pm. $20.00. TEXTILE SATURDAYS - FEAT: KODIAK KID + D’FRO + JENS BEAMIN Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. THE HOUSE DEFROST - FEAT: ANDY FROST Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm. $35.00. THE JINGLE BALL - FEAT: PHIL K + MUSKA + MISH’CHIEF + LANI G + NEO + THE CHIEF + BRAD EVERY La Di Da, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $15.00.
THE LATE SHOW - FEAT: RANSOM + MAT CANT + GET BU$Y + SAMMY THE BULLET. Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. THERAPY Level 3 @ Crown, Southbank. 9:00pm. $20.00. TRAMP SATURDAYS Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. VAULT SATURDAYS Platform One, Melbourne. 9:00pm.
MVP - FEAT: DJS ARKS + LOW-KEY + THADDEUS DOE Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
thursday dec 11
NORTHSIDE SPACE FUNKERS - FEAT: HYPERFOKUS + KODIAK KID Penny Black, Brunswick. 7:00pm. PHILLY + MISS HOOD + RICHMOND AL + KILLAH B + R3AL Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
friday dec 12
Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00. DE LA SOUL 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $65.00. FAKTORY FRIDAYS - FEAT: DAMION DE SILVA + K DEE + DURMY Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. FRIDAY NIGHT RHYTHM - FEAT: DJ ANDRE LE VOGUE + TOM SHOWTIME The Fitzroy Beer Garden, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. HOWL 24 Moons, Northcote. 8:00pm. PARTY & BULLSHIT - FEAT: JUZZY B + KAYZ Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. T.I & DMX Festival Hall, West Melbourne. 8:00pm. $90.00.
BUMP FRIDAYS - FEAT: DJ KAHLUA
32
electronic - urban - club life
khokolat koated
sunday dec 14 BOP ART - FEAT: HAWAII + WHO + TIGERFUNK + MATT RADOVICH + LEWIS CANCUT Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. EARLY MORNING CREW - FEAT: HOOPS + BRAD SASSMAN + JOSH PAOLA + JESSE YOUNG + OLLIE HOLMES + DEAN SPANOS Onesixone, Prahran. 1:00am. EASY NOW - FEAT: AGENT 86 + TOM SHOWTIME + DJ MAARS Penny Black, Brunswick. 5:00pm. ENCORE - FEAT: DAN SLATER + ADAM LOVE The Emerson, South Yarra. 9:00pm. JUNGLE - FEAT: HANDS DOWN + ZAC DEPETRO + PETE LASKIS + TRAVLOS + JOHN DOE Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00am. $15.00. MISTLETOE WHITE PARTY FEAT: JOHN COURSE + KITTY KAT + JON BLING Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 8:00pm. NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. OPEN DECKS Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 7:00pm. REVOLVER SUNDAYS - FEAT: BOOGS + SPACEY SPACE + T-REK + RADIATOR & DAMON WALSH + SILVERSIX Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. SPITROAST SUNDAYS Cushion, St Kilda. 10:00pm. THE SUNDAY SET - FEAT: DJ ANDYBLACK & HAGGIS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm. WAX ON WAX OFF Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm.
be. at co.
monday dec 15 CALL IT IN - FEAT: JAMES TOM & DYLAN MICHEL Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. MONDAY STRUGGLE - FEAT: TIGER FUNK Lucky Coq, Windsor. 6:00pm.
tuesday dec 16 CUSHION TUESDAYS Cushion, St Kilda. 8:00pm. GIGGLE TUESDAY - FEAT: WHO + JAKE JUDD Lucky Coq, Windsor. 8:30pm. SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. TRAMP TUESDAYS Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
urban club guide wednesday dec 10
snaps
saturday dec 13
BIG DANCING Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. KHOKOLAT KOATED SATURDAYS FEAT: DAMION DE SILVA + K DEE + DURMY + TIMOS Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. RHYTHM NATION SATURDAYS - FEAT: DJ BIG SAAD + DJ KAHLUA & ANDY PALA Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00.
sunday dec 14
BE. SUNDAYS Co., Southbank. 10:00pm. $15.00.
faktory
Beat's
Coburg Night Market: Food For Your Skin
Tell us a little bit about your products; where did the idea come from? The products are olive oil-based and chemical free. They’re made from scratch in South Gippsland and sold at markets across Victoria. Jenny, being a nurse and also a natural therapist (shiatsu); we decided to make a bar of olive oil soap to help her daughters ongoing allergies to products containing chemicals. After one year of trial and error, the first bar of soap was complete. There are now many different essential oil blends to choose from, as well goats milk and manuka honey bars. After another year, Jenny made the olive oil-based skin care to match the line of soaps. What sets Food For Your Skin apart from other brands? We differ from other brands in that our products are
guide handmade fresh weekly and sold direct to the public at markets. Every single item is made fresh and is unique so no two bars of soap are the same. They also differ in colour and smell every single week. Our cupcake soap is also hand poured and many hours of love go into making them. We also don’t use any palm oil. Where do you source your ingredients? If we haven’t grown the ingredients on our two acre property to use in the soaps such as calendula and lavender herbs; we source our ingredients in bulk within Australia. What were you doing before establishing this brand of natural skincare? Jenny Pickering was a nurse and a natural therapist while her husband Brad was a furniture designer and maker. Why olive oil? Olive oil is used as our base. Olive oil is the only vegetable to retain its own molecules during saponification [soapproducing] process. When you apply olive oil-based skin care and soap to the skin you are receiving the molecules of the oil and therefore moisurising the skin 100 per cent. Where are you based? We make the Food For Your Skin soap and skin care in a really big shed in South Gippsland. The area is called the Hurdie Gurdies; it’s a nice, peaceful area of Victoria. Why do your gift packs make the perfect Christmas gift? Because we’re something unique and natural. Our product range is non-allergenic and suits all ages. Our price point is affordable as we believe everyone should be able to afford fantastic, eco friendly and natural products. FOOD FOR YOUR SKIN will be appearing at the Coburg Night Market every Friday night until December 19 at Bridges Reserve, Coburg. Entry is free.
When did you start making ceramics? My design journey blossomed in 2013 from my love of travel and the people I met along the way. After completing my Honours in a Bachelor of Industrial Design at Monash University in 2012, my fascination followed me to the gorgeous island of Bali where I had the opportunity to work alongside some beautiful Balinese artisans designing and carving into raw clay, from here Koa was born in 2013. Where do you get inspiration for your patterns and colour pallets? Inspiration for Koa comes from the little moments that make you smile. I find inspiration in everyday walks of life, through people and their dynamic environments. I love the mixture of textural elements, raw natural finishes with a twist of industrial chic and natural beauty. I try to capture that unique moment where functionality and beauty combine, revealing a product that is just as beautiful to hold as it is to behold. When you say “made in paradise,” where are you talking about? Designed on the Mornington Peninsula: Made in Paradise. All Koa stoneware cups are ethically hand carved revealing the natural clay by local artisans from urban and rural communities in Bali and are brought to life through kilns run on renewable energy. How long does each piece take to create? Our ceramics come from the earth and are hand-crafted through traditional techniques. The creation of your Koa cup begins with an adventure of old school pin boards, notebook sketching and watercolour rendering mixed with a technical and delicate ceramic process. Koa capture’s a unique story from our hands to yours, the creation of your Koa cup is an adventure of moulding, carving, glazing,
Coburg Night Market: Koa By Kaitlin
kilns over a period of a week. Do you prefer simple or extravagant things? I like to capture a simple story of happiness within all of my designs. Through carving the patterns into the raw clay to reveal the beauty of the natural material, Koa creates a beautiful ‘mmm’ moment within every morning coffee or afternoon tea. What are you looking forward to most about the Coburg Night Markets? I’m looking forward to meeting many new and interesting people. I love the cool vibes that the Coburg Night Market brings to Melbourne and can’t wait to try some of the amazing street food from all around the world. KOA BY KAITLIN will be appearing at the Coburg Night Market on Friday December 19 at Bridges Reserve, Coburg, just in time for Christmas. Entry is free.
Red Letter Landscapes X Coburg Night Market This Friday December 12, the Coburg Market is collaborating with local landscaper Glenn Redmond of Red Letter Landscapes. Available for purchase, there’ll be vegetable, herb and plant seedlings from pop up partner KABUU – a group of aspiring ecological urban farmers committed to growing food sustainably and locally – a wonderful Christmas gift for those sustainably conscious individuals with an interest in gardening. There’ll also be free and fun activities, with
a class on making newspaper pot soil block seedlings. Redmond will also be on hand to give any gardening advice or answer your landscape related questions.
RED LETTER LANDSCAPES will be appearing at the Coburg Night Market this Friday December 12. Entry is free.
NORTHCOTE TOWN HALL
KRIS KRINGLE NIGHT MARKET
Individually handcrafted and locally designed products Free live music Food and licensed bar on site
December 4, 11, 18 Thursdays 5:30pm-10pm 189 HIGH STREET NORTHCOTE
FREE EVENT www.northcotetownhall.com.au CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 33
Beat's guide
Riverboats Music Festival By Christina Kringle
If you’re struggling to find the perfect Christmas gift for the music lover in your family, look no further than a ticket to The Riverboats Music Festival. Does a combination of pristine, natural landscapes coupled with some quality, contemporary live music sound good to you? Damn right it does. Back for its fourth stint, this one-of-a-kind music festival is set to return to the supreme surrounds of the Murray River at Echuca-Moama from Friday February 13 to Sunday February 15. Featuring a phenomenal allAustralian lineup, including Dan Sultan, Sarah Blasko, Tex Perkins and The Dark Horses, The Whitlams, The Bamboos, Adalita, Mick Harvey, Diesel, Fraser A. Gorman and many more, this impressive weekend event is a chilled, laid-back festival a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Melbourne, ideal for the whole family. According to Riverboats Music Festival’s producer David Frazer, when the Full Dress events team initially conceptualised the idea of the festival in 2012, the aim was to stage an event that set itself apart from the hustle and bustle of your standard music festival. Forget about long queues, mosh-pits and expensive drink prices – they don’t exist at Riverboats Music Festival. “When we started putting the festival together, we made a list of all the things we love and loathe about festivals,” Frazer says. “We’ve been very strict in adhering to that list. We’ve got one of the prettiest venues in the country,” he enthuses, “and the festival takes place in the beautiful natural amphitheatre in the Murray River, under a superb canopy of red gums. You’ve got the river flowing past all weekend with paddle steamers meandering up and down.” Indeed, the location of Riverboats Music Festival is one of the most charming festival sites on offer – its divine location creates a completely relaxing atmosphere. Frazer says it’s within the festival’s sublime location where the Riverboats Music Festival thrives. “It’s incredibly laid back,” he smiles. “It’s one of those events where you can roll out a picnic rug, open a bottle of wine, and not have to move for the entire weekend. This is just a really chilled out excuse to sit by the river for the weekend and listen to some great Australian music. There’s plenty more on offer than just music at the Riverboats Music Festival. In fact, the entire town gets into the festival spirit. The revered Beechworth Bakery will host the Official Festival Breakfast from another year, where punters can indulge in a tantalising smorgasbord of baked goods while listening to the sweet sounds of Raised by Eagles. Meanwhile, deluxe ticket holders can take part in a divine two-hour river cruise aboard a century old paddle steamer, which features live music from Sal Kimber and The Rollin’ Wheel. It all sounds a little too good to be true, right? “The other reason the festival is great for families is because it’s in the middle of town, so you’re not marooned out in a paddock ten kilometres out of town and relying on shuttle buses to get to the site,” Frazer adds. “You can come and go from wherever you’re staying and you can walk to the festival. People tend to come and go all day. “We get a big cohort of families coming up from Melbourne with their families in tow,” he says. “It’s a very safe event, and I think that’s because it’s run by family. I’ve got my Dad working the box-office, my brothers managing the bars, and my Mum’s always running around helping the artists. THE RIVERBOATS MUSIC FESTIVAL takes place from Friday February 13 to Sunday February 15 in EchucaMoama. Tickets to past events have sold out, so best to get in early. For tickets and more information, including accommodation options, visit riverboats.com.au.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 34
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
Beat's
Mossvale Park: ‘Summer Of Soul’
How does a one-day festival set in the gorgeous surrounds of Mossvale Park sound for a Christmas present? Throw a bundle of exceptional live music in the mix, and you’ve got yourself an ultimate Christmas gift for the music lover. On Saturday January 10, Summer of Soul will take over Mossvale Park for yet another year, and will feature a supreme collection of musical talent. The Cat Empire will co-headline proceedings with Paul Kelly, who’ll be presenting the Merri Soul Sessions with an all-star cast of performers, including Dan Sultan, Clairy Browne, Kira Puru and Vika and Linda Bull. Perch Creek (Formerly Perch Creek Family Jug Band), Marlon Williams, Mojo Juju and the Melbourne Ska Orchestra will be heating up the stage during the day, too. If you’re wondering how you get to Mossvale Park, rest easy. Mossvale Park is located a short, two-hour drive from Melbourne, 14kms north of Leongatha in South Gippsland. For next to nothing, you can also jump a bus
East Brunswick Tattoo
The artists at East Brunswick Tattoo have an excellent reputation. They currently have six artists on staff that
guide
The Bearded Chap
to the festival, too – you can catch them from Cowes, San Remo, Kilkunda, Wonthaggi, Inverloch and Leongatha – but make sure you book in advance. Meanwhile, Mossvale Park is a seriously supreme location for an outdoor event. The park itself is hidden from the road and surrounded by a river. Nice, hey? You can pack yourself a picnic and naturally, the event is BYO alcohol (but best leave the puppies and glass bottles at home for this road trip, ‘cause they ain’t allowed). If packing a picnic isn’t your thing, you can take your pick from Summer of Soul’s glorious selection of food and wine vendors on offer. Sounds like a plan, right? Oh, but we haven’t told you the best part. Tickets to Summer of Soul are super affordable. At a tidy $84 for an adult ticket, $74 for concession/students, and kids 14 and under free, this is the kind of Christmas present the whole family are guaranteed to dig. Visit http://lyrebirdartscouncil.com.au/ for event and ticketing info.
cover a range of different styles, from detailed black and grey washes to bold and colourful oriental. These well-traveled artists are passionate and committed to excellence and bring a fresh attitude to age-old traditions. Tattoos are forever and first impressions are lasting. Gift vouchers are available in-store to the value of $50, $100 or name your price, perfect for Christmas. Walk-ins are welcome but consultations are encouraged to be booked ahead of time. EAST BRUNSWICK TATTOO is located at 526 Lygon St, East Brunswick and is open from 11am to 7pm Monday to Saturday. To make an appointment, call 9383 5694.
A very dashing Neil Patrick Harris once sang, “You may not have the looks. You may not have the dash. But to win yourself a girl, if you’ve only got a moustache.” Amen, you handsome devil. Born out of a hatred for beard itch and beardruff (that’s dandruff of the face), The Bearded Chap is Australia’s first and only premium oil for beard maintenance. What exactly is beard oil? You may ask. It’s a combination of essential oils blended together to keep the hair and the skin underneath moisturised to avoid that dreaded itch. What sets The Bearded Chap apart is that it’s made in Australia, still bottled by hand and is super quick to absorb, meaning there’s no icky, greasy residue. The Bearded Chap is creator Luke Swenson, who says the beard business is booming, with P&G (Braun, Gillett and Venus) reporting 12 per cent losses over the last quarters, simply because men aren’t shaving as much as they used to. “It seems like everywhere you look these days, the era of the clean shaven man is well and truly over,” he affirms. It’s paid off well and truly for the Brisbane
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
entrepreneur; he said earlier this year they can barely keep up with demand: The Bearded Chap has gone from 101 bats to 3001 bats. Their mission is simple: to create refined looking gentlemen. They want their customers to be ambassadors for the renaissance of the beard and passionate about gentlemen’s grooming. “Bearded Chap’s are well-kept men, who grow their beards as a sign of individuality, an extension of their personality and style,” says Swenson. “They make sure their facial hair is looking incredible 24/7.” Not only does The Bearded Chap produce their original beard oil, they have also branched into other areas of beard maintenance: brushes, combs, scissors and also stock various subtly branded apparel. The grooming kits and trilogy sets are packaged up for armatures and pros alike, perfect for the travelling gentleman, and certainly for Christmas. THE BEARDED CHAP’s premium beard oils, balms, accessories and complete packs make the perfect gift for face-fur aficionados. Go to thebeardedchap.com. Enter the promo code BEAT for free shipping and a $20 gift.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 35
Beat's
Highway To Hell
If you’re anything like we are, you’d rather spend a day using your palm as a dartboard than enduring the torturous process of shopping for Christmas gifts. If for you, Christmas shopping is akin to spiralling into the fiery depths of the Underworld, we’d recommend you take the Highway To Hell route for all your Christmas needs this year. Who knows? Your ambivalence towards this day of festivities may dissipate when you rock into the place. You’ll probably end up buying a shitton of presents for yourself, too.
Located at 185 Elizabeth Street, Highway To Hell is the brand-spankin’ new store from Melbourne institution, Smoke Dreams. While Smoke Dreams still contains the smoking paraphernalia for which it’s renowned, the owners have moved all the merch that previously resided in the Smoke Dreams basement over to the new Highway To Hell store. When Beat met with Lorraine Sirianni, one of Highway To Hell’s super clued-up staff members, we were completely blown away by the tremendous scope of products Highway To Hell stocked. “We had lots of people coming into Smoke Dreams who didn’t realise there was stock in the basement,” Sirianni explains. “So we moved all of the stuff out of the basement to here.” However, while Sirianni notes all the products from Smoke Dreams has moved over to the new Elizabeth Street shopfront, she’s quick to point out there’s much more on offer at Highway To Hell than straight up band merch. Sure, they stock mountains of products that encompass a huge cross-section of genres – grunge, alternative, hip hop, screamo, emo, doom metal and black metal, to name a few – they also sell jewellery, posters, steampunk and cybergoth gear, beanies, hoodies, bandanas, belt buckles, the list goes on and on. No need to stress about whether you’re buying some fake rip-off band merch, either, because all their stock is 100% legit. “We buy everything from licensed dealers – all the printers have got permission to sell their merch,” Sirianni says. “We
Brewsmith
guide
also have lots of local and imported stuff, and lots of different genres, which we’re trying to expand.” According to Sirianni, the shop receives feedback from their customers about what stock to order, and they also stock goods from local bands, from merchandise to CDs and vinyl. “We’re always open to suggestions from our customers,” Sirianni says. “We can order stock in too, so if it’s not in store, we’ll make sure we get it.” But it’s not just about the music; Highway To Hell also stock an enormous range of popular culture tees (dibs on the Mars Attacks tee), a huge amount of high quality piercing jewellery, a mountain of alternative jewellery, even a huge range of hair dye. Always ones to involve their customers in their business, from now until New Years Eve, Highway To Hell are running a competition where winners can take home a swag of prizes. “It’s a battle jacket competition,” Sirianni says. “We’re asking for people to take photos of their patched out jacket and upload a photo onto our Facebook page. We’ve run a competition like this in the past and it was really successful. There will be prizes – gift vouchers, patch prizes and more.” To find out more, search for Highway To Hell Merch on Facebook, call 9670 0754 or pop into 185 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne.
Adrian MacGeraghty and Carolyn Rowe’s passion for brewing beer at home started around three years ago when they bought a book and kit for home-brewing. Their journey along this path was fraught with inconsistencies: sometimes their brews worked great and sometimes, they really didn’t. They decided their friends had had enough of these hit-and-miss beers, so they decided to develop their own kits – with super easy to follow instructions, reusable equipment and attractive branding. They imported kits from around the world and set about trying to find the best elements, eventually sourcing many of their ingredients from the same place well-known boutique brewers source theirs. They made lots of beer, they drank lots of it (sounds rough, right?) and they think they’ve developed the best home brewing kit there’s ever been.
BrewSmith, which recently made an appearance at the Abbotsford Market and the QV Mystery, specialise in full kits for six different brews: Aussie Wattle Pale Ale, Honey Bomb Wheat, Hoppy Heart IPA, Red Eye Ale, Summer Citrus Blonde and a very intriguing chocolate dark ale, as well as a traditional apple cider and stocking bottle labels and caps, and their coveted Brew Club – a six or 12 month subscription – to two new brews every three months. BrewSmith was conceptualised after MacGeraghty finished working at a “mediocre web development agency.” He’d reached the end of his trial period and wasn’t really enjoying it, so he decided to call it quits. “Being accustomed to good cheap beer in the States, I wasn’t prepared to pay $25-30 for a six pack, so I resorted to drinking clean skin wine,” says MacGeraghty. “My partner suggested trying to brew our own beer, which sounded brilliant. After some good and not-so-good brews, we figured out how to make something better. We played around with ingredients and achieved some nice results after sourcing microbrewery grade ingredients.” Their original aim, however, was to start an online homebrewing shop, but wholesalers seemed to not have a bar of it. “[There were] a lot of flat out ‘no’s’, so we thought we’d make our own damn kit and source everything ourselves,” MacGeraghty says. “[We also] thought it would have more meaning and be a little easier to manage. From there, the focus became helping people take more control over what they put in their bodies. No more crap beer or irritatingly inconsistent
Kris Kringle Market
High Street Northcote is practically buzzing this time of year, and it’s no wonder. Northcote Town Hall’s much loved annual Kris Kringle Night Market has returned this December over three Thursday evenings. The market features over 70 stalls exclusively selling locally-designed and handcrafted items, and coincides with late-night trading along the High Street strip, making Northcote a one-stop destination for Christmas shopping. Now in its eighth year, the Kris Kringle Night Market has become Darebin’s first stop for unique and meaningful Christmas gifts. Established to showcase and support the vibrant artistic community, the market features the very best local artisans and craftspeople selling designer clothing, kids’ items, homewares, jewellery, skin products,
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 36
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
homebrews. I think it’s worked. If we wanted to make beer the cheapest and easiest way, we wouldn’t have done it like this.” “Our aim was also to make the best beer possible for the amount of time, effort and expense needed,” MacGeraghty continues. “It was a way to make the ‘ideal business case’ for making and drinking craft beer at home.” The recipes are originals created by MacGeraghty and Rowe’s, which are subsequently tried, tested and voted on by their lucky friends. They’ve expanded to include their traditional apple cider and Beerspresso: a blend of coffee and malted barley which they describe as an “biscotti and coffee in one.” MacGeraghty’s favourite, however, is their Honey Bomb Wheat. “It was the first flavour that was really nailed down, and there’s still nothing like it in craft beer,” he enthuses. “It’s 6.5% and has a huge hit of honey, which tastes different depending on the type of honey you use. Delicious.” One of the challenges the pair have faced is finding good companies to do business with, to find organisations and people who support maintaining BrewSmith’s high standards. But with challenges come rewards. “The best thing has been seeing hard work pay off,” he says, “and the happiness/enthusiasm that BrewSmithians share whenever we meet them.” Most people will know beer and salted meat tend to go hand-in-hand, so the duo decided to add BaconSmith to the BrewSmith family – a kit created for home-curing delicious bacon with new, sexier packaging to be launched soon (like bacon needs any more sexiness)– that’s also hugely popular. “We tried making bacon because it sounded like an insane idea,” says MacGeraghty. “After screwing it up and not following directions, it was still super awesome. It was then that we realised that we needed to make this happen and share it with people. A whole heap of kits later, it looks like people like it.” When asked what they had planned in the coming months, MacGeraghty prefers to stay tight-lipped. “It’s fairly top secret,” he teases, “but it’s time for a new summer beer to be released soon, and perhaps some more meat products.” Sounds good to us. If the way to your heart is through your stomach like us, BREWSMITH and BACONSMITH make the perfect Christmas present. Find everything you need plus more (including a recipe for beer ice-cream) at brewsmith.com.au.
woodcrafts, ceramics and much more. This year, the Northcote Town Hall’s licensed bar will also be operating through the season and quick meal options will be available, allowing you to unwind and make a real outing of your Christmas shopping. There are also live music performances to keep you entertained while you try to make gift decisions for that one difficult relative. This Thursday will see a performance by Reflejos, with their music that’s inspired by ancient legends and spirits that are found in pre-Colombian societies and traditions in Latin America. The following Thursday will see a special performance by surf rockers and all-girl band Biddlewood and indie pop-rockers The Darjeelings. Northcote Town Hall’s KRIS KRINGLE MARKET will be held on Thursday December 11 and Thursday December 18 from 5.30pm to 10pm, 189 High St, Northcote. Entry is free.
Even By Patrick Emery Ash Naylor’s remembering the time ten years earlier when his band, Even – Naylor, bassist Wally Kempton and drummer Matt Cotter – found themselves in the same recording studio as Ian McLagan (The Faces, and The Small Faces keyboardist and oft guest with The Rolling Stones), whose death from a stroke at age 69 had been announced the morning of our interview with Naylor and Kempton. “It was just amazing, being in the same room talking with him for an hour and a half, having a beer with him... He’d say [Naylor adopts his best London accent]: ‘This reminds me of when we were recording with Steve [Marriot].’ I think he liked our powerpop stuff compared to some of the wet lettuce stuff he was usually playing on,” Naylor laughs.
While McLagan may have now joined the ever increasing rock’n’roll all-star band in the sky, both Naylor and Kempton are adamant that Even – despite the scarcity of its stage appearances in 2014 (“I think we played once on the rooftop at The Evelyn, and also an Even Jukebox show at Cherry on a Sunday afternoon,” Naylor says) – is very much a band of ongoing concern. Naylor’s perpetually busy, his guitar talents in hot demand, including by Dan Sultan and the RocKwiz touring band; for his part, Kempton keeps himself busy in managing Sun God Replica, Tumbleweed, Money For Rope, the Minibikes and his other band, The Meanies. 2014 started promisingly for the band, when Naylor, Kempton and Cotter entered the studio to put down “about eight tracks” for the band’s next album. “Only eight?” Kempton says with a look of surprise, “I thought there were ten?” “Ok, maybe ten,” Naylor clarifies. “But a couple of them were just ideas. Maybe we’ll just keep building it, and then eventually we’ll trim the fat off it.” Apologising for speaking on behalf of his band mates, Naylor says 2015 will be dedicated to finalising the songs for Even’s next album, the first album of new Even material since 2011’s In Another Time. “We went in with the mentality of recording the songs in the rehearsal room, and get them down as a live unit, which is what we’ve done,” Naylor says. “The last record was done very piecemeal, but [with] this one the basic tracks have been done live, and it’s sounding all the better for it.” Naylor suggests the live approach taken so far for the new record has created a sound closer to Even’s classic 1996 debut album, Less is More and the preceding EPs In Stereo and Ten to Forty Six. “I haven’t consulted Matt and Wally on this, but I think later on we did start embellishing things a bit gratuitously, but you only realise that in hindsight. Irrespective of the career path we may or may not be on, it sounds like us and it sounds fresh,” Naylor says. Naylor’s keen to get the record out in the short term, but won’t push things too quickly if there’s a risk that will undermine the quality of the album. “I don’t want to rush it too much – haste brings waste,” Naylor says. “A tour manager once said to me, ‘Hurry up and wait’,” Kempton adds. “That’s the music business for you.” At this point in the interview the discussion veers offtrack, with Kempton segueing initially into plans in Paris to ban smoking inside venues: “Then I wouldn’t have to stand outside so much,” and Kempton’s frustrations with Melbourne’s public transport system – the latter which Naylor counters by referring to his own embrace of public transport (“but only when I set my own parameters”). Both Naylor and Kempt concede Even’s never been in the business of strategic career planning – Kempton notes even when the band reached a measure of popular success in the ‘90s; Naylor was never entirely comfortable with the limelight. “We’ve never been that interested in commercial success,” Kempton says, “and that’s partly why we enjoy playing together so much – because we haven’t put ourselves under that type of pressure.” That said, Naylor hopes Even can get back overseas, including to Japan where the band hasn’t toured for almost 20 years. While Even has a dedicated local following, the band relishes the challenge of reaching new audiences: “As time has passed, I realise how important Even is to me,” Naylor says. “Collectively, I want to nurture it with Matt and Wal – when we can all fit it in – it’s never a chore to play with these guys.” Kempton concurs. “I agree with what Ash said – but I’ll say it in a deeper voice,” Kempton says, to Naylor’s amusement. There’s also the potential for another Evencommissioned beer next year, following the success of the specially-crafted Superman Punch chocolate porter released by Mountain Goat to coincide with Even’s acoustic shows at the Yarra Hotel in 2013. “Mountain Goat is interested in another Even beer,” Kempton says. “It’s going to be launched at the Collingwood Children’s Farm, but it’s going to be in May, so I don’t know what we’re going to call it.” Naylor invokes the memory of the late Faces and Small Faces keyboard player as a possible inspiration: “We could call it after Ian McLagan because he likes a dark ale,” Naylor suggests. “Maybe we’ll just call it The Mac,” Kempton adds.
EVEN will be playing two shows at The Gasometer on Friday December 19 and Saturday December 20. Tickets are available through Oztix. In Another Time is out through El Reno. WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES..... WWW.BEAT.COM.AU/TV
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 37
ÁSGEIR
By Adam Norris
It’s difficult to imagine a more pronounced geographic divide than that between Iceland and Australia; the former a land of glacier and volcano, the latter a semi-arid land with more desert than it knows what to do with. Yet Ásgeir has struck a chord here on the other side of the world, and his unique brand of enigmatic folk is leading the young musician back to Australia for the second time in a year. It’s quite a change for someone who grew up in a town of just 40 people, and who now finds himself corralled into interview after endless interview. “It still blows my mind, actually. Whenever I’m interviewed I’m just so crap at making something up on the spot, I always just,” he rather appropriately trails off, laughing. “It gets tiring sometimes; you’re answering the same questions, giving the same answers. Sometimes – and this is a really bad habit to get into in interviews; you know, you never want to seem uninterested – but sometimes I just feel like I’m telling the same uninteresting story over and over again, and I get into the habit of telling the exact same answer. It gets tiring, you know, but that’s also the way it is. There’s no way to really get around it. I need to make it more fun by telling different stories somehow.” This seems then like an ideal time to rewrite his history; would he like to have been born in a hot air balloon? Or what if he were raised by foxes? “Raised by foxes would certainly get more exposure. That’s actually not a bad idea.” Ásgeir’s actual (soon to be rewritten) background certainly doesn’t lack for interest. The lyrics to his debut album, In The Silence, were written by his 74-year-old poet father, Einar Georg Einarsson, and while the songs most audiences are now familiar with are sung in English, the album was originally performed entirely in Icelandic. Even without the music, there’s already an odd poetry to the album. The pre-translation titles are strange, bewitching things, like Sumargestur, Þennan dag and Leyndarmál, and adapting them into English is not always a simple task. “Most of the songs are translated directly, so they cannot mean exactly the same thing,” Ásgeir explains, “but most of the lyrics were translated with that in mind. To get them directly out, to say the same thing that the Icelandic lyrics mean. But there were times we didn’t really get that close to the meaning of the titles, just because it’s difficult to get that directly across. The Icelandic title of the album flows really well
SEEKAE
in Icelandic,” he laughs. “It sounds good, and is really poetic and interesting. But if we were to translate it directly into English it would be something like Glory In The Dead Of Silence, and that doesn’t flow quite as well.” The Icelandic title is Dýrð Í Dauðaþögn, which we don’t even attempt to pronounce lest we make Ásgeir burst into tears. But the process of translation is a curious beast, with inevitable compromise on what the original intended and what the adopted tongue conveys. Ásgeir’s father, however, was fully supportive of the process, and despite how personal many of the lyrics were to his son’s life, the poet was committed to keeping the meaning as unchanged as possible. “My dad was a translator back in the ‘80s, and was kind of familiar with that process of translating lyrics. When I told him we had the idea of translating, [we knew] some of these words might be really personal. For some people it would maybe seem quite unusual and unnatural for a father [to translate], but my dad is a really simple guy, he’s always been there for me, and when I have some kind of idea he’s always been behind me. I came up to him and told him that we were thinking of translating, and for him that was one of the biggest things that has happened – there was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to be involved. He went through the lyrics many times before we recorded, and was on board from the very beginning.” Had Ásgeir’s father not been involved in the writing process, however, the English-speaking world may still have seen some rather unusual and intoxicating lyrics emerge. For that matter, Icelanders wouldn’t have fared any different the other way around. “When I was younger I used to write Icelandic lyrics to some of my songs, and for this album I’d written endless lyrics for multiple songs before we did the recording. On That Day I had written in English and
then explained to Dad what it was about, what I was feeling when I wrote it, so he got ideas from me before he wrote his lyrics. But most of the other songs I’d written with a nonsense language, because when I’m writing songs I always use made-up words that just come to mind when I’m writing a melody. I got in the habit of writing down nonsense words to songs and recording them, so for all my friends and family that I would show the songs to, they all thought they were actually hearing really good English lyrics because
nobody spoke it,” he laughs. “But none of the lyrics actually made any sense at all.” ÁSGEIR will be playing the Falls Music And Arts Festivals over the New Year from Sunday December 28 to Saturday January 3. He’ll also be playing a special one-off show at The Forum on Friday January 9. In The Silence out now through POD/Inertia.
By Lachlan Kanoniuk
Since the release of 2008’s chiptune-inclined The Sound Of Trees Falling On People, Sydney trio Seekae have established themselves as on of Australia’s most reliable electronic outfits, releasing long-gestating, yet steadily impactful, albums, most recently the stunning, vocal-led The Worry. Though the introduction of multi-instrumentalist Alex Cameron’s singing voice might ostensibly seem like a drastic leap, the move acts as an instinctual progression of the Seekae sound. Speaking after just returning home from a European and US run of dates, George Nicholas let’s us in on the Seekae modus operandi. “One of the main differences is that while we were making it, we were all scattered around different parts of the world. The three of us were rarely together,” Nicholas states. “We did get together, maybe two or three times, in the studio to exchange ideas. For the most part it was writing individually and putting the files in the Dropbox, and having someone else work on them; this process of refinement. I guess that comes out in the way the album sounds, this cross-pollination of style and influences and production techniques. “It’s not like there’s a template we start from with songs,” he continues. “We don’t decide on a palette of tones from the start and build everything from there.” Nicholas believes it’s a good idea, and perhaps they’ll do something like that eventually, but for now, he doesn’t think they’re organised enough. “That’s probably why it could be perceived as being diverse in sound. We’re always experimenting with ideas we try and mould into a track. It usually starts with a loop that’s developed into a track,” he states. “It’s not done until it’s stripped from our hands. That’s the difficult thing with making music this day and age. When you’re making records; you’re the composer, the performer, the sound engineer for the most part. There are always things you could go back to – change that bassline, or change that sound. I personally have a lot of trouble with knowing when it’s done. I think that’s why these freakin’ records take so freakin’ long.” Since the release of +Dome, Seekae have maintained a steady touring rate, consistently selling out decentsized venues across the country while introducing new material into the set while writing The Worry, however Nicholas points out the performance aspect doesn’t BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 38
really have a direct impact on the music they make. “It’s rare that we get together and ‘jam’, and when we do get together and tour, it’s more about hanging out, getting drunk and talking about movies and stuff, rather than doing what we probably should be doing – working,” he says. “That being said, whenever we do get to tour, we will take a couple of days to lock ourselves in a room and force ourselves to make some music, finalise some songs. That can be a really difficult process. You get halfway through a song and there’s a disagreement with the direction that you want it to go in. That can be difficult to resolve over email sometimes, so that’s a good time to get together and nut the ideas out in the studio.” One of the biggest ostensible differences between the past two Seekae albums is the addition of vocals, a leap that seems more drastic on paper than on record. “When we first decided to make the album, the suggestion of vocals was there, but we never said, ‘Oh, let’s make a vocal-based album,’ just maybe a couple of vocal-based tracks. It just happened that there were vocals on the album; we didn’t change our writing style to allow us to put vocals on there. It just happened that we listened to music that was a lot more minimal and sparse, and that meant that there was room for vocals in there. There were so many different factors that led us to using vocals.” Performing material from The Worry both nationally and abroad, Seekae eschew the notion of Cameron being the frontman, with obscuring lights, effects, and general mise-en-scène symmetry. “We’re sort of breaking that rule. How it came about, we were planning this record, then Alex showed us this vocal track bashfully, and we
said, ‘Well, that’s actually pretty good, since when could you actually sing? Where did that come from?’ Then we started writing these tracks with more space in them, and it happened organically.”
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
SEEKAE will perform as part of Laneway Festival on Saturday February 7. The Worry is out now through Future Classic.
TWERPS By Augustus Welby There’s a lot to be learned from the title of Twerps’ forthcoming second album. Range Anxiety is due on January 23, which is more than three years since the band’s self-titled debut came out. That record wasn’t quite an international best seller, but it secured the Melbourne foursome legions of loving fans around the world. Many who are drawn towards Twerps’ hazy garage pop tunes quickly develop a deep-rooted affection. When Beat speaks to the band’s frontman Marty Frawley, he says this was a source of anxiety during the construction of album number two. “Once you realise people enjoy the music you make, like any art form, you want to make it work. So you try to take steps forward in that. [You] make sure you pick the right times to play or the right people to put out your record or to talk to the right people. And write songs that you feel happy with.” Generally speaking, when you’re anticipating something’s arrival, time starts to drag. By just about anyone’s standards, three and a half years is a sizable gap between album releases, but Twerps didn’t simply vanish in the interim. Over the last few years, the band’s been a constant live presence around Australia, while also building a significant following in America. On top of this, in late 2012 Twerps dropped the single Work It Out, which was followed by the Underlay EP this August. However, when it came to doing another album proper, they wanted to get it just right. “I just want to make sure that I put out something I’m happy with that hopefully my friends like and hopefully my mum will be proud of,” Frawley says. “We’re not going to put out something because we feel the pressure. We’re just going to do our thing. “Also, sometimes you don’t have anything to write about; sometimes life’s pretty good. Your first record’s usually just a batch of songs and then your second one you’re like, ‘Oh, so we have to make some more songs.’ So that was a bit more tricky.” When it comes to evaluating artistic merit, there’s a naïve inclination to dismiss things that require too much effort. All creators have their golden moments, where ideas flow out without a hint of struggle. But for the most part – as Twerps will tell you – it takes time and patience to create sustaining pieces of art. “Sometimes in this society, it’s like, ‘See I told you, you’re not that good’.” Frawley says. “It’s maybe an Australian thing too, where people think you’re a bit of a wanker if you try hard. Compared to our American friends, who are just so earnest; they’re like, ‘I’m going to play in a rock’n’roll band,’ and, ‘I’m going to get on Letterman,’ and, ‘I’m going to fuckin’ make a career.’ Whereas saying that here it’s probably like, ‘Yeah, pull ya head in mate.’ “I don’t want to downplay the fact that I tried hard to make this record,” he adds. “That’s kind of important to me… being honest about that it wasn’t that easy to make.” As well as the creative labour, Frawley points out the significant compromises that go along with devoting your life to the arts: “I grew up around two artists – my parents – who weren’t incredibly successful and worked part time jobs to continue their thing. My mum said when I was 18, ‘If you’re going to play music, get ready to do lots of shit jobs.’ I think when you kind of go, ‘Oh, some people like this stuff, I can’t do it,’ you want to make it good.” At this stage, Frawley is still making ends meet through menial labour, but Twerps are in a good position to take things to the next level. Legendary indie label Merge Records will release Range Anxiety in the US, while the eminent folks at Chapter Music will handle local release duties. Artists and record labels often have rather fractious relationships, but for Frawley, the label support goes a long way. “People can crush people pretty easily and I don’t believe in that,” he says. “It’s pretty easy to shit-can someone’s record on a website. But it’s like, ‘Maybe if you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say it’. But I’m not really worried about [Range Anxiety]. The people that put out our record like it, so that’s probably the most important thing.” The record’s release will coincide with Twerps’ appearance at the Sugar Mountain Festival, which goes down at the Victorian College of the Arts. Now the album’s finally on the cusp of release, Frawley looks ahead with manifest optimism. “I’m pretty psyched with it,” he says. “It’s definitely a step up from our earlier stuff. The musicianship is really good on it. I’m really happy to have learned how to sing a bit more and learned how to play guitar better and use different instruments and we’ve got a new drummer who drums a lot differently. “The record comes out maybe four days before we play Sugar Mountain, so that’s really exciting. That’s going to be a fun hometown show. [Then] we’re going to America and then to Europe and then we’ll do an Australian tour. Fingers crossed we just get to go places and eat cool food.”
TWERPS are playing at The John Curtin on Thursday December 18, Sugar Mountain on Saturday January 24 and The Zoo Twilights on Friday February 27. Range Anxiety is set for release on Friday January 23 through Chapter Music.
goatbeer.com.au
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES..... WWW.BEAT.COM.AU/TV
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 39
THE SKATALITES
By Alex Watts
In a Spanish hotel room, Ken Stewart’s becoming increasingly nervous. It’s Sunday morning and, while chatting down the line to Beat, he awaits approval of the necessary visas for his band, The Skatalites, to enter New Zealand in two days time. To say this could be problematic for the NZ/Australian leg of their 50th anniversary tour is an understatement, but considering this is a group whose history has been marked by murder, incarceration, dissolve and eventual acclaim, it seems only inconvenient. There are few bands that can claim to have created a new genre, especially not one that has gone on to influence millions of other acts and spawn multiple sub-genres. Formed in 1963 in Kingston, Jamaica, The Skatalites’ innovative combination of jazz, calypso, mento and rhythm and blues became what’s known as ska music. Besides their own music, the group also served as the backing band at the legendary Studio One, playing on early cuts by Toots & The Maytals, The Wailers, Desmond Dekker, Lee Perry, and Prince Buster. Though initially active for only 14 months, ending with trombonist Don Drummond’s arrest for his girlfriend’s death in 1964, The Skatalites reformed in the ‘80s due to newfound interest from a generation of fans enamoured with ska’s ‘second wave’ acts, such as The Specials and The Selecter. “I was pretty nervous, I wasn’t really a proficient jazz player and I didn’t know what real Jamaican ska was,” recalls Stewart of joining as keyboardist in 1987. “The first rehearsal I went to was just incredible. It was just the core members: Roland [Alphonso], Tommy [McCook], Lester [Sterling], Lloyd Brevett and Lloyd Knibb. It was certainly an education for me to be able to play with this calibre of musician. From the first few notes, it was just an incredible feeling.” Becoming frustrated that, despite international interest, the group were barely performing, Stewart soon took over management duties and organised a support slot on Bunny Wailer’s massive Liberation tour of 1989,
with the band continuing as a touring unit ever since. “Tommy was a great band leader as far as being a musician, but was never, even in Jamaica in the beginning, a particularly great businessman,” states Stewart. “When I saw down to ten year old kids coming with their pork pie hats and their black and white suits, I said, ‘This is going to last and it has to be grabbed right now’.” In the subsequent 25 years, The Skatalites have endured multiple lineup changes, with almost all of the original members having now passed away, excepting altosaxophonist Sterling and vocalist Doreen Shaffer. Despite this, Stewart maintains that the sound and feel he first encountered remains. “There’s such a respect for the original tradition that it doesn’t really change, the integrity of the music has held its own,” he confirms. However, like any other form, ska music itself has continued to grow and branch into other styles. During the ‘90s the band often found themselves supported by ‘third wave’ acts – a pop punk take on the genre – and this faster tempo began to rub off. “Tommy especially wanted to start to play the stuff a little bit faster because he sees all these young kind dancing around like crazy,” explains Stewart wryly. “I used to complain about it, because to me when they play it too fast it takes the swing and the soul out of it, and I was trying to say, ‘Tommy don’t do that, you’re taking away what separates the men from the boys.’
“In every country in the world that we’ve been to, we’ve come up to musicians who are interpreting it in their own flavour and style, according to their experiences in their countries and their learning of music,” says Stewart of the genre. “It’s continued to be fused with different kinds of music and also there’s plenty of people out there trying to emulate it just like The Skatalites. Especially drummers – you go to various ska bands around the world and you can just here it. They listened to Lloyd Knibb, they play the little nuances that Lloyd is famous for, and Lloyd - you’d be listening to some other ska band and he’d be like, ‘Wait a minute, is that them or is that me?’ ” Despite being ambassadors for Jamaican ska, The Skatalites are yet to be invited to perform in the country in which they formed. “Jamaica has little interest in ska these days, it’s sad because there’s some older folks and fans there that love it,” laments Stewart. “It’s very disappointing we didn’t go and celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Skatalites in Jamaica this year.
ANI DIFRANCO
By Krissi Weiss
When you’re a grassroots artist like Buffalo-born, New Orleans-based Ani DiFranco, you’d better be prepared for the unforgiving nature of an obsessive fan base. While it is the absolute devotion of her audience that has maintained her (almost) perpetual touring since 1990, when you exist in the left, a side so fractured a wise man once said we’ll argue over whether water is wet or not dry, you’d better make sure your politics are bulletproof. Many years ago, DiFranco copped her first round of flack when the self-identifying bisexual married a man. But nothing could prepare her for last year’s Nottoway Plantation debacle. A songwriting workshop that was not arranged in any way by DiFranco directly, and one that had been held at the site in question with a number of other artists before DiFranco had been commissioned, led many to argue the former slave plantation was a bad choice. Perhaps. But then the online bullying began, followed by the smear campaign of DiFranco, followed by the general psychosis that Facebook comments can produce. “People will take you to heart and very seriously and then you have to be held accountable to all of their expectations – which you’ll never fulfil,” DiFranco says. “An interviewer was just reminding me of how much criticism I came under from dyke communities when I got married to a man the first time. They were like, ‘No, that’s not who you’re supposed to be, fuck you.’ The plantation was the most probably the most intense pressure I’ve come under and it’s made me a lot more wary and made me realise what the public are capable of. Once I started breathing again and started sleeping again, I came back around to the perspective that it wasn’t wrong to go there. To someone else it was wrong so I tried to accommodate their feelings and still got so much hate. I paid the piper pretty heavily for my sins – I paid $30k to cancel – and I got on my knees and begged for forgiveness and yet I really wish we had of gone there and done the work and tried to see what we could’ve learned there. It’s so amazing to get to live your life making music but then being a public person can suck hard. The most fervent fan is the most dangerous in the end.” DiFranco was shaken from the incident, going so far as to say: “I understand why teenagers kill themselves from online bullying,” but of course, writing and recording music couldn’t be stopped. She might be more wary about what she says and to whom she says it, but she’s still saying it in song. Her latest album, Allergic To Water, is the first to be self-produced since Educated Guess but this time she’s not going solo. After all she’s in New Orleans, how could she not take advantage of the wealth of talent she has around her? So is it harder producing others than when she’s
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 40
sculpting a solo album? “I’m able to be more objective [with other people],” she says. “When it’s oneself it’s hard to not be mired in all sorts of things. Your job in music is to give of yourself fully and to be of no mind. Then to finish a song when you have to step back and analyse it - producing yourself is kind of schizophrenic.” Is producing then creatively stifling after the freedom of the songwriting process? “No, it’s all very creative; even after you’ve done tracking and it’s like, ‘What do you do with it?’ ” she says. “There’s always creative, challenging question marks. My first love is always writing and playing but to mix and produce a record is still a challenge. “I think I used to be even more into it but now I think my creative spirit centres around delivering those songs and the more I get from that the more it challenges me.” A quote on her press release for Allergic To Water jumps off the page, “Got a new wreckord [sic] and I don’t hate it.” Flippant remark or genuine comment? “Well there’s a lot of truth behind it; I hate most of my records that’s part of my deal,” she says with a laugh. “Usually by the time it’s released. Generally by the time it’s made it to the public I’ve already began to discern everything about it that I should have done better and then it just goes from there…I don’t know if I’m hypercritical but I am critical of myself and I am realistic and I don’t like to hear the sound of my voice any more than anyone else in general. You get used to it after a certain amount of decades, but it’s hard to enjoy one’s own music.” The reality is though, that by the time the album has been released, and DiFranco has thoroughly began to hate it, her audience is smitten and the love is just beginning to grow. By the time she tours it’s full blown adoration and that changes everything. “People’s reactions in person – on the street, in the mail – this is what gives my life meaning,” she says. “I can’t tell you how many people have come up to me with tears in their eyes and told me I’ve saved their life. That’s the music doing its job so I don’t need to like it.”
Allergic To Water is out now through Shock/Righteous Babe Records.
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
We are hopeful to go, but it’s like a lot of places or things, people take for granted what they have. Kids who listen to Beanie Man and Bounty Killer, they don’t particularly understand the correlation, unless you’re a musician you might not even care.” Having now reached 50 years, Stewart sees no reason for The Skatalites to ever cease operating: “As far as I’m concerned, this is a tradition,” he smiles down the line. “As a matter of fact, our trombone player plays with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and y’know Duke’s not hanging around much anymore, but they’re still doing that so why shouldn’t we do this?” Immigration issues notwithstanding, no reason at all. THE SKATALITES are playing Meredith Music Festival from Friday December 12 to Sunday 14. They’ll also play The Caravan Club on Wednesday December 17 and The Corner Hotel on Thursday December 18.
THE GRATES
By Lachlan Kanoniuk
After nary a musical peep from much loved garage-pop crusaders The Grates since the wind-up of Secret Rituals’ touring cycle, the Brisbanites have returned with a rock salt blast of an LP, the raw and ready Dream Team. It’s an album created on the band’s own terms, an extension of their newly hardened DIY ethic– a flipside from their US base for previous LPs.
The wholly independent approach was forged in Southside Tea Rooms, a relatively new Brisbane café/ bar operated by original Patience Hodgson and John Patterson (now married, with a lil’ bub on the way), finding a balance between hospitality proprietorship and musical output. “When we came back from the States, we released Secret Rituals and had just been touring, and were excited to be back in Australia and back with friends,” Hodgson states. “That first year just got away from us pretty quickly. It often does if you don’t pay attention.” Upon their return home and inspired by the small bar scene in the US, they decided to open their own café/ bar, because, especially three years ago, such a thing hardly existed in Brisbane. It was mostly unfamiliar territory for the pair, and they spent two years working hard to keep their heads above water. “That first two years of any business is really hard,” she says. “There were a lot of reasons we wanted to do that, it was so insular in America. It was just me and John after Alana [Skyring] left.” They hired Ritchie Daniell as a barista and now he’s their drummer. “We didn’t even know he was a drummer. The only reason we hired him was because we’d hired his girlfriend, then the day before she was supposed to start she told us she’d taken another job, but she said her boyfriend was desperate for a job so we should hire him. It was just one of the things we couldn’t believe had happened, but it was turned out to be the best things.” When the opportunity for musical creation beckoning, Hodgson and Patterson managed to turn any sense of free time into fertile time. “There was a little period where we didn’t have the bar licence to open at night, it took five months to get,” says Hodgson. “That’s when John said we should start writing songs, because it would be the least busy we’d be for ages. At the time we were working 30 hours a week, and when the licence came through, it would be 80 hours a week, it’s gonna be insane... In [those] three weeks, we smashed out a whole bunch of songs.
“As soon as we got the opportunity to take a little bit of time off from the shop, we started playing, getting Ritchie on drums. Then it all came together really quickly,” she reasons. “We started playing with Ritchie around a year ago, that was when we starting forming the live relationship. It was probably less than six months ago when we said, ‘Let’s release an album, let’s get together every Tuesday, getting the concept of the album.’ It felt good to do it all really fast; it didn’t feel like we needed to write. “Our old record label had the mindset of us chasing a commercial path. I just wanted to do whatever we wanted. Maybe it was because we’d been our own bosses for the last few years, and we can do whatever we want with our shop. Then when it came back to the band, having other opinions just didn’t work for us... It was a natural thing for us moving on to being indie, not answering to anyone we didn’t want to answer to.” Shifting gears in terms of label status has imbued The Grates with a resounding sense of freedom, which is a palpable presence throughout the immediate and raw Dream Team. “It’s been the greatest recording experience, just so much fun. Part of that was because you have less opinions,” Hodgson says. “You can get a lot of opinions from backstage about your music and it can get really confusing figuring out who you want to listen to. Some people have more experience, some people have a taste in music you like, so you have all these conflicting reasons when it comes to listening to what people are saying. I like the idea that you don’t have to follow a rule structure anymore. Some record labels do, some don’t, the record industry is pretty reliant on the tried and tested methods of how you release a record. “A little while ago we had an argument with someone about a photo we wanted to release, that we didn’t think was controversial at all, but we were told, ‘If you do this, you’re gonna’ anger the media, and people aren’t gonna respond to the album.’ Then seeing Sia do everything she’s doing now, it makes you realise there are no rules.
THE MAVIS’S
She can give her ARIAs away, that’s not gonna’ stop her having success in the future. There are things people say all the time that aren’t necessarily true, that comes from this fear mentality. People don’t want to do anything that’s exciting. I just wanna’ do things that feel good
to me,” Hodgson says. “Doing things the same all the time gets boring.”
“Maybe even record something next year and do a tour. Maybe. We’d like to, the three of us, and Andrea might be into doing it too.” In the meantime you can keep up with the band via their official Facebook page, which started as just a fun little thing but has quickly evolved into a nice little community of fans. “It started as just a ‘memory’ sort of thing but it’s really kicked it up,” Thomas says. Hopefully the same can be said of the reunion show;
a chance to relive some memories and hear some great songs coming to life again, and perhaps the start of a new era, too.
THE GRATES’ Dream Team is out now through Death Valley.
By Peter Hodgson
The Mavis’s were always a hard band to pin down. They had an incredible knack for killer pop hooks, but they weren’t afraid to bring out the chunky guitars from time to time. Mavis’s gigs always felt fun and energetic but there was a bit of a punk edge too. There was a tendency to experiment with electronics running parallel with an appreciation for ‘70s glam-rock grit. The band broke up in 2001 but 1998 hit, Cry, remains an Australian classic, and their three albums show an ever-evolving band that wasn’t afraid to take chances. Fans will have a chance to hear these classics performed live once again this December when three fifths of the band reunite for a special show at the John Curtin Hotel. Vocalist/guitarist Matt Doll (Matt Thomas) explains: “It started just because [Matt’s sister and Mavis’s covocalist] Beki and Nik both live in America nowadays and they’re both coming back to see their families for Christmas – being my family and Nik’s family in Ballarat – and we thought we’d just do an acoustic trio thing. So we booked that in and then thought, ‘Maybe we should get a bass player,’ and then, ‘Maybe we should get a drummer too,’ and it turned into a proper reunion thing.” Original drummer Andrea Vendy isn’t available for the reunion because she’s busy with family stuff, and bass player Josh Alexander isn’t musically active at the moment, so it’ll be three original members with some friends helping out. One of the challenges in relearning the material for the reunion is figuring out the different guitar tunings. “There are a lot of different tunings,” Thomas says. “They have bizarre guitar tunings so I have to go in and sort those out again, but they’re quite beautiful.” It all seemed to come together pretty quickly, right? “It came together very quickly. And then sifting through the songs, we have a private chat thing on Facebook so we can go through the setlist. We’ve all agreed on the songs from the three albums, and it’s very exciting.” Thomas says he doesn’t spend much time revisiting his Mavis’s material; he’s kept himself plenty busy over the years with his own projects like his new waveinfluenced solo work, songwriting, and bands like The B-Dolls and The Blow Waves. “I haven’t really listened for a long time. For a while you have memories that you don’t want to revisit, and then after a certain amount of time I’m really enjoying the songs and they haven’t
dated at all. They don’t sound like they’re from any particular genre or decade. Some of the songs sound like they could have been released now.” Especially material like Naughty Boy and Supa Star; they have a loud punky-guitar-over-electronic-elements vibe that’s very much in tune with what’s happening now. “We always had that punk thing. We always loved early ‘80s punk, being ‘80s kids, but we also loved things like The Carpenters and Bee Gees: really smooth songs. So it was that mixture of the two in our music.” Early influences for Thomas in particular include The Go-Go’s, The Slits, The Raincoats: “I was really influenced by girl bands and the way they played guitar,” he says. “The energy, I kinda’ related to it more than male bands. I just felt like I connected to it. I was teased at school for that. I loved The Bangles. That first Bangles album was a big influence on us as well: Beki and I would pick a harmony each, and that’s how we learned harmonies.” Thomas is a year and a half older than Beki, and he says he sort of pushed her into developing musically: “When we were young, like seven years old, we’d record ourselves, get another tape recorder and layer it and stuff like that. We had the same kind of telepathic connection musically, especially harmonies,” he reflects. The reunion show will also feature a set by Caroline No!, the new band featuring Caroline KennedyMcCracken from Deadstar, another classic Aussie band of the era. “Hopefully she might jump up on stage and sing with us,” Thomas says. So the obvious question remains: is this the first of things to come, or will we be hearing more from The Mavis’s after this show? “We’re kind’ of thinking we’d like to do more,” Thomas reveals.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES..... WWW.BEAT.COM.AU/TV
THE MAVIS’S reunite for a show at The John Curtin Hotel on Saturday December 27. Presale tickets are available through the venue. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 41
CORE
PUNK, SKA, HARDCORE NEWS, REVIEWS & GOSSIP
By Emily Kelly: ek1984@gmail.com Fantastic local band Grenadiers have announced a new album and accompanying tour for 2015. They’re releasing Summer right at the END of summer, on Monday February 23 and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to catch them around Melbourne before then. See them at The Rev on New Year’s or at The Gasometer on Friday January 30. Emery have had a tumultuous couple of years. They left their long time label Tooth and Nail and have formed their own label BadChristian Music. They also crowd funded their last release to the tune of $100,000. They’re touring Australia this March and hitting The Northcote Social Club on Sunday March 29. Tickets are available from Friday, December 12. Clowns are one of the best live bands in Melbourne and the mammoth tour they’ve announced for next year is set to hone their skills even more. They’ll be celebrating the release of their new album Bad Blood on Friday, February 20 by going on an epic tour with awesome US stoner rockers American Sharks. They’ll play The Bendigo Hotel on Friday March 6 and then return for an all-ages show on Monday March 9. Soundwave announced last week they’ve moved venues for next year’s event. The Melbourne venue has changed to RAS Showgrounds instead of Flemington Racecourse. All purchased tickets will be honoured and there’s no exchange necessary. The event now has a reduced capacity so weekend passes will soon sell out. Buy your shit before Christmas. Mastodon, most recently in the spotlight for their awesome album Once More Round The Sun, and then subsequently their bootylicious video for The Motherload, are returning to Australia and boy are they playing some venues. They’ll be at Festival Hall (in “reduced mode,” the presser specifies) on Friday March 27. Tickets are on sale this Thursday, December 11. The Smith Street Band, not content to give themselves a little break, were mere moments from finishing their current tour when they announced their next national tour. The Get High See Everyone tour dates will hit regional centres, but most importantly, they’ll be with EXCELLENT Canadian band PUP. Great Cynics (UK) and Melbourne’s Apart From This will also be in attendance. Bendigo gets a run at Musicman Megastore on Wednesday January 28, Barwon Club happens on Thursday January 29, Karova Lounge on Friday January 30, The Hi-Fi Bar in Melbourne on Saturday January 31 and then an underage gig at Northcote Social Club is happening on Sunday February 1. Phew.
CRUNCH
METAL, HEAVY ROCK. CLASSIC ROCK LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL GOOD SHIT
With Peter Hodgson: crunchcolumn@gmail.com
ORSOME WELLES EP LAUNCH
CORE GIG GUIDE WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10: The Lemonheads, Jen Cloher at The Corner Hotel Falconio, Tom Lyngcoln, Bonnie Mercer at The Old Bar THURSDAY DECEMBER 11: The War On Drugs at The Hi Fi The Ugly Kings, Verticoli, The Hunted Crows, Australian Kingswood Factory at The Bendigo Confession, Our Wasteland, The City at Night at Next FRIDAY DECEMBER 12: Phosphorescent at The Corner Hotel Lunar Seasons, The Heroines, DICK at The Reverence Hotel Orsome Welles, Troldhaugen, Alithia, Full Code at The Workers Club Meredith Music Festival Whitehorse, Halt Ever, Human Ruins at The Bendigo SATURDAY DECEMBER 13: They Art Is Murder, Fit For An Autopsy, Psychroptic, Revocation, Disentomb at The Hi Fi bar Earthender, Raise Atlantis at Bang Desecrator, Dreadnaught, Darker Half and more at The Rev Iron Mind, The Others, Mood Swing, Downside at The Bendigo Hotel Gyroscope, The Love Junkies, Graphic Characters at The Corner Hotel Meredith Music Festival SUNDAY DECEMBER 14: Thy Art Is Murder, Fit For An Autopsy, Psycroptic, Revocation, Disemtomb at Community Center, Ringwood Iron Mind, The Others, Mood Swing, Downside, Hornetz Nest at Phoenix Youth Center Wil Wagner, Lincoln Le Fevre, Jerome Knappet at The Reverence Hotel Meredith Music Festival Swedish rockers Truckfighters, last here for Cherry Rock in 2013, will tour in January, hitting Cherry once more on Friday January 23 with Don Fernando and Warped. They’ll also headline Yah Yah’s on Saturday January 24 with Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene, Warped and My Left Boot.
FULL OF HELL AT THE BENDIGO
Full of Hell, for the first time, will bring their terrifying mix of noise, sludge and hardcore to The Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood this Friday December 12, tearing down the joint with compadres in Whitehorse, Machina Genova, Halt Ever and Human Ruins. FOH have just finished recording their third full-length record, a collaborative effort between themselves and the almighty Japanese master of noise, Merzbow Official, which will be out later this year around the tour through Profound Lore Records and A389 Recordings. This is heavy.
IRON MIND AT THE BENDIGO
Iron Mind are a hardcore band from Melbourne that began in 2006, originally under the name of Hold Up. The band takes influence from the NYHC sound and are notable for being one of the most popular bands of the hardcore genre in Australia. The band’s currently signed to Resist Records. This Saturday December 13, they’re playing The Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood with good mates and great bands The Others, Mood Swing and Downside.
VADGEDAGGAR AT THE TOTE
Killer doom/psyche gig coming up on Thursday December 11: Holy Serpent (their debut gig), Watchtower and Elbrus, with Melbourne/NZ punk’n’rollers VadgeDaggar headlining. Only ten bucks at The Tote.
Capping off a hugely successful year, following touring Australia with international heavy metal giants Orphaned Land (Israel) and Australian prog royalty Voyager, Orsome Welles will launch their highly anticipated debut EP Erth News Bulletin at The Workers Club in Fitzroy on Friday December 12. Having also supported the likes of Ne Obliviscaris, Caligula’s Horse, Toehider and Barbarion, the intangible force that is Orsome Welles have built a reputation nationally from fans and critics alike for their intensely unique, energetic and captivating live performances. Erth News Bulletin’ encompasses six of the band’s finest works, showcasing their signature heavy grooves, outstanding musicianship and soulful, distinctive vocals. Catch the EP launch supported by Troldhaugen (NSW), AlithiA and Full Code.
KILLRAZER RELEASE DEBUT SINGLE
Sydney’s Killrazer have released the first single from their forthcoming debut album, The Burial Begins, which is due in early 2015. Salt In The Wound displays all the bands strengths at once. Monstrous downpicked riffage, pummelling double kicks coupled with a huge cracking snare, their distinct twin-vocal attack, virtuosic guitar soloing and a tempo that is guaranteed to snap your neck. You hear that? Guaranteed. Killrazer consists of some of the most experienced and accomplished veterans from the Australian metal scene. Singer/guitarist Doug Dalton (Grungeon, Dark Order), Zoran Mrakic (Dark Order, Divine Electric) on bass/vocals, guitar virtuoso Jimmy Lardner-Brown (Vaticide) and Luke Cook on drums (Mortal Sin, Carbon Black), the band are veterans of the Australian metal scene.
JESUS JONES TIX ON SALE NOW
Select Touring and Metropolis Touring are proud to present the return of UK indie heroes Jesus Jones to Australia. Part of the now legendary Grebo and alt/dance movement of the ‘90s alongside Pop Will Eat Itself, EMF, The Shamen, Carter USM and Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, Jesus Jones have long been considered one of the breakout alternative bands of that time thanks to massive hits, Right Here, Right Now, Real Real Real and International Bright Young Thing. Tickets are only $59 plus booking fee, and you can catch them at The Corner Hotel on Friday, March 13.
ORSOME WELLES By Rod Whitfield
Like most bands, this Melbourne based progressive/heavy rock act came from rather humble beginnings: just a bunch of mates from the same uni getting together for a casual jam back in 2011. They very quickly found their tempo and their chemistry as musicians and have come forward in leaps and bounds since then, having written a bunch of excellent tunes, been signed to a booking manager and shared the stage with such luminaries as Voyager, Caligula’s Horse, Ne Obliviscaris and Israel’s Orphaned Land. The band’s drummer, Justin Price joined us recently for a chat about their history, and the exciting stuff that they have coming up before 2014 rides off into the sunset. “We all met at uni, down at JMC in South Melbourne,” he recalls. “We were all part of the audio and the music group, and it stemmed from a requirement to get some music happening for the guys. I was in the audio field, and they were doing the music course, and we had this idea to do a prog-metal band. Starting based around Tool or whatever, but we didn’t end up learning any covers, we just started writing straight away. “It was crazy how quick it happened,” he continues. “I’ve never had that with a band before, where a guy will bring in some music, and we’ve written a song in the first session. And when we finished uni, we decided to take it further.” At the tail end of 2014, the band are set to release their debut EP, under the quirky title of Erth News Bulletin (which originates from an episode of the animated comedy series Futurama), and Price hopes this to be somewhat of a turning point for the band; a time when they step things up a bit.
“This is just the culmination of the last three years of work,” he explains. “We did have a bit more recorded, but we thought that this was the best six that we’ve got, this is what we want to release. “And it kind of feels like a cut-off point to us, because we’ve been writing songs and bits of songs here and there over the last 12 months, we’ve been busy with a lot of big gigs, but we’ve still been getting ideas out there, and now that we’re finally releasing something, we feel like we can finally move on and start writing more…it feels like the next step.” Before they take that next step, they’re launching the EP this coming Friday night at The Worker’s Club in Fitzroy. With the lineup of excellent local and interstate heavy rock acts they have put together, and a few surprises they have planned for the night, it promises to be a gig well worth catching. “We’re super excited,” he enthuses. “It’s been pretty stressful, trying to get everything organised. Everyone
works full time, and trying to work around that. We’re actually trying to get a new song written for it as well, have something new for people, we’ve been playing the same stuff for three years. We’re going to have a few fans there, so we want to make sure we can give them something new. “But everything’s just going to plan really,” he goes on. “We’re going to have a big stage show set up, we’ve got some video happening, we’ve got some props for the night, so I think it’s going to be pretty massive.” Not only will there be a strong visual element to their stage production, Price says the band themselves, especially frontman Michael Stowers, will bring some serious vibe and a powerful presence to their live presentation, which should entertain old and new fans alike. “We’ve got a massive energy, during our shows,” he describes. “Our vocalist, he will stare into your eyes and sing to you. I love the way he performs. He hates mic stands; he wraps the cord around his arm and sings ballads into people’s faces. “So we just bring a massive energy to our performances. I know I’m always buggered after our shows, I can’t move, pretty much. And we try to bring some funk into our heavy style of music; we chuck a couple of songs in
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
there that people can really dance to, instead of just the head-banging or whatever.” The launch will cap off what’s been a huge year for this hard-working and ambitious band, in the sense of heavy touring and expanding their networks across the country. “It’s been our biggest year yet,” he states. “I’d describe it as a year full of aeroplanes. I’ve never been on so many flights in a year. All the tour stuff that happens, and all the sickness that comes with it, there’s always a bit of ‘fluey’ stuff hanging around on planes. “It’s been an insane year for us. We’ve toured with some really good friends in Voyager, and Toehider. Being on the road with Orphaned Land, we shared a bus, just a 12-seater, with Voyager from Sydney to Canberra, then Canberra to Melbourne. We all share driving, and it’s funny how quickly in-jokes will happen. It’s been a year of friendships and branching out to other bands, bigger names in the industry, and our first interstate tours.” ORSOME WELLES launch their debut EP Erth News Bulletin this Friday December 12 at The Workers Club on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, with Sydney’s Troldhaugen, Full Code and Alithia supporting. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 43
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
Q&A
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 10
THIRD EARTH
Lunar Seasons
Who are we speaking to and what do you do in the band? Gregory: I attempt to play bass and rock the fuck out. Adam: I sing and sometimes play rhythm guitar. You released your second EP, The Devils Road, this year. How has this EP been received by listeners compared to your debut EP? Gregory: Overall it has been received quite well. We haven’t heard any bad feedback anyhow. Adam: We’ve come a long way from our first EP, which was a much cleaner sounding affair. This one’s rawer sounding and is a fairly accurate portrayal of how we sound live these days. If you had to describe the sound of this EP to readers using just a few words, what would they be? Gregory: Joy Division meets Black Sabbath. To promote your new EP, you guys will be playing a show at The Reverence Hotel with DICK (Dream In Colour Kid) and The Heroines. Give readers three reasons to come along to this show. Gregory: It will be a kick arse night and the more people who come along the more fun we get to have. Adam: Melbourne is my favourite city in Australia, so I’m really looking forward to coming down and having a good night. LUNAR SEASONS launch their EP The Devils Road at The Reverence this Friday December 12.
Third Earth have busted out the dusty jingle bells and made another xmas album, packed with guest vocals. To launch the album, the band will be putting on a special show at The Grace Darling Hotel joined by good pals The Mary and King Puppy & The Carnivore. If you made it to the last xmas launch, you will know not to miss this one. It all goes down Wednesday, December 10 at The Grace Darling from 8pm.
Club this Wednesday, December 10 from 8pm. Tickets are $20+BF available through the venue.
CHRIS WATTS Every Wednesday at Revolver, the front bar and band room is turned into one of the south side’s most relaxing dining experiences. For the first three weeks of December, Chris Watts will take to the stage with a few special guests tagging along. After kicking off his career with the debut album Back Down, Chris has seen nothing but growth in his still young indie-pop career. One part melodic folk, one part power-pop, his songs are full of infections chords and robust rhythms topped off with soaring vocals. Doors open at 6.30pm and entry is free.
HALLELUJAH FT. JAZZ PARTY BAND
THE BLACK SHEEP
Hallelujah is a hand clappin’ foot stompin’ shout out loud Christmas party featuring some of Melbourne’s hottest young jazz cats, which has been a north of the river phenomenon for the past three years. The lineup includes the Jazz Party Band, South of the River Choir, The Trailer Trash Choir and exciting special guest vocalists. The exuberant New Oleans style jazz sound is heading down south to The Caravan Club where they will set up on the floor in the middle of the room and be joined by two choirs and the audience. Audience participation is not encouraged, it’s demanded. Get down to The Caravan
After the fun they had last time, The Black Sheep return to the front bar of The Retreat Hotel. Chris Wilson and Alison Ferrier will play every Wednesday in December except NYE. The inimitable Chris Wilson has been described as a “gospel cyber punk, singing and playing harp with such venom and power it’s impossible to ignore him.” Alison Ferrier offers an original mix of country, folk and blues. Her debut album Sugar Baby has been described as containing “mighty and tender, harrowing and beautiful songs, superbly performed”. It kicks off 7.30pm at The Retreat Hotel, Wednesday December 10.
BZARK After splitting mid-tour in 1998, Melbourne legends bZARK play a strictly once-only reformation show as a part of Rubber Records 25th anniversary celebrations. The band will be playing tracks from their albums Eternity in an Hour and The Welcome Storm. Support will come from each of the band members’ individual projects, in brief sets that showcase their current musical direction – Fergus Hunt’s classical guitar virtuosity, Tarek Smallman’s rock group
WEDNESDAy
tan t a h n a M el
31st DEC
Hot
SIERRAJANE OWENWILDA drinks Al l inclusiv e ilpackagealof and co ckta food l night P H . 9 8 74 7 7 7 7
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 44
•
•
THURSDAY DECEMBER 11
GLEN TILBROOK
The
M A N H AT TA N H O T E L
Low Fly Incline, and Gareth Skinner’s own idiosyncratic pop. Catch them on Wednesday December 10 at Northcote Social Club. Tickets are $20+BF available from the venue.
C N R C A N T E R B U R Y & H E AT H E R D A L E R O A D S , R I N G W O O D 3 1 3 4
w w w . m a n h at ta n h o t e l . c o m . a u
f / T h e M a n h at ta n H o t e l
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
Squeeze’s iconic frontman Glen Tilbrook is touring Down Under for the first time since 2007. His latest offering, Happy Ending, is inventive, witty and stuffed with a twinkling treasure trove of brand new melodies proving that the man’s musicality and sense of craft are as fresh and energised as ever. Glen Tilbrook plays The Spotted Mallard, December 11 and Caravan Music Club, December 12. Tickets available through the venues.
NATTALI RIZE
Blue King Brown’s latest album Born Free is clocking up some positive reviews, and as the band hits the road this week, it’s been announced that front woman Nattali Rize, formerly Pa’apa’a, will give her new solo/trio show an outing as support for Chronixx in Sydney and Melbourne. They perform at The Espy on December 11.
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au THE UGLY KINGS The Ugly Kings are moving the Smith Street Paranoia Party to Johnston Street, celebrating an amazing year and the first anniversary of the current lineup, they are going back to where it all started, The Bendigo Hotel. Join them for their last big party of 2014 with Verticoli, Hunted Crows and Australian Kingswood Factory. Doors open at 8pm, tickets are $7 available from the venue.
The Carnivore, Hollow Hounds and Pockets. Come one and all for some Sydney Road session musical madness. FRIDAY DECEMBER 12
OLMEG
MURDENA Murdena may take influences from Justin Townes Earle, Shovels and Rope, Mason Jennings and Dawes, but their individuality shines through. Murdena’s rollicking yet poignant country ballads can be found at pubs from Portarlington to Brunswick, and they bring their unique sounds to The Retreat Hotel this Thursday, December 11 from 8.30pm. Treat your ears and discover them yourself.
THE HERE HERE’S
THE CLAREMONT STREET SINGERS The Claremont Street Singers are fresh to the Melbourne music scene and bring to the stage a fun and kooky style of new wave acoustic folk that has mesmerized audiences across the city. The trio includes multi talented Julia Watt, hot off the heels of a jam packed European tour with Melbourne band La Bastard. Sharing their vocal talents are Di Watson who has been performing praised solo gigs for longer than she cares to admit with her raw, spellbinding tones, and Darryn Gatt whose soulful voice and amazing range will leave your spine tingling. They perform at The Drunken Poet this Thursday December 11 at 9pm, entry is free.
Inspired by the cinematic surf sounds of Joe Meek, John Barry and Jack Nitzsche, the hot rod twang of Link Wray and the eccentric genius of Lee Perry’s Upsetters, The Here Here’s play an all original repertoire of melodic, toe tapping and memorable killer instrumentals. Catch them this Thursday, December 11 at The Post Office Hotel from 8pm.
SLIM JEFFRIES
This Thursday, December 11 Slim Jeffries take over The Brunswick Hotel ready to create rips in the space rhyme continuum with supersayan levels of fusion. The night shall commence at 8pm in the warm summer sun and culminate at 12am in the warm summer moon. Joining them are King Puppy &
Defining the world of sludge groove, Melbourne trio Olmeg have announced the release of their second album Primordial Soup for December 12. To celebrate, they will be launching the album at The Brunswick Hotel with Borrachero, Zombie Motors Wrecking Yard and Riff Fist. Free entry from 9pm, Friday December 12.
JOHN LEGEND
Neo-soul superstar John Legend is kicking around Australia this December on a national tour. The tour follows the release of his fourth highly-acclaimed album Love In The Future, featuring five-time platinum ARIA #1 single All Of Me. While in Australia, Legend will perform a series of arena shows alongside A Day on the Green winery shows. Victorian fans can catch him at The Plenary on Friday December 12 and at Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley on Saturday December 13.
LUNAR SEASONS
Lunar Seasons, hailing from Brisbane, return to Melbourne after nearly five years and two releases. Aware of this long hiatus, our northern counterparts have headed down this December to enjoy the southern heat, and to promote their new EP The Devil’s Road. They’ll be tearing shit up at their home away from home, The Reverence Hotel Friday, December 12 at 8.30pm. It’s only $10 at door.
MUNRO MELANO & AYLEEN O’HANLON Playing over two nights at The Aviary Recording Studio and Creative Hub in Abbotsford, Ayleen and Munro will join together to celebrate their new releases. Ayleen will be launching her debut single Loverless from her forthcoming album Blend and Spill, while Munro will be releasing his new EP Blue Veins. Both will be playing full band shows on the nights of December 12 and 13, with a host of special guests. Tickets are $15, available through trybooking.com.
FULL OF HELL
Full Of Hell will be bringing their terrifying mix of noise, sludge and hardcore to The Bendigo Hotel this Friday, December 12 for the first time, tearing down the joint with compadres in Whitehorse, Machina Genova, Halt Ever and Human Ruins. Full Of Hell have just finished recording their third full length record, a collaborative effort between themselves and the Japanese master of noise Merzbow. It all starts at 8pm, and tickets are $15 at the door.
COSA NOSTRA
Cosa Nostra are taking over The Retreat Hotel this Friday December 12. Playing alongside them are Dive Into Ruin. Together they will leave you peeling your ears off the wallpaper that adorns the Retreat’s main band room. So come along at 9.30pm for some Christmas cheer, bang your head and raise your booze filled hand as Cosa Nostra and Dive Into Ruin rattle Santa’s sleigh.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Q&A
Big Village Xmas Party
For readers, what is Big Village, Big Village is a Record Label we started in Sydney 2010, pushing eclectic and innovative hip hop and bass music. Why has Big Village decided to bring the party down to Melbourne for the first time this year? Too much party for Sydney to handle on its own? We just wanna’ share the Big Village end of season shenanigans with a slightly better dressed but equally insane bunch of legends. Can you give us any hints as to who this very special guest might be? The special guest is a new group who just signed to the Big Village roster, named Soul Benefits, a three-piece hip hop crew from Western Sydney. This is the first time Melbournians will have the chance to attend the Big Village Xmas Party, why should punters come to your party? Our music spans a diverse range of styles, beats, stories and characters, with a dedication to quality, innovation and authenticity. The first ever BIG VILLAGE XMAS PARTY will go down this Saturday December 13 at the Northcote Social Club. Presale tickets are available for $15+BF and will be $20 on the door if still available.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 45
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
Q&A
Sampson and Niall Kennedy these fellas cook up old school blues and rock’n’roll, dishing it out the way it was meant to be served: rough, nasty and with plenty of burnt bits. They are bringing their raucous brand of high voltage, plank spankin’, slide guitar stompin’ bluesrockin’ music to The Drunken Poet on Saturday 13 December at 9pm. Free entry.
MERCURY WHITE
Olmeg.
Define your genre in five words or less: Stoner sludge. So, someone is walking past as you guys are playing, they then go get a beer and tell their friend about you... what do they say? It was cold, tasty and I’d like 12 more. How long have you been gigging and writing? About three years. What has been your favourite gig you’ve played to date? Simo’s birthday last weekend. It was a lush grassy field surrounded by trees and hills and the police came. What inspires or has influenced your music the most? Seeing bands deliver inspired, electrifying live performances. What do you think a band has to do these days to succeed? They’d have to define success first. If they successfully define success they’ll find they’re quite successful at succeeding. Do you have any record releases to date? What? Where can I get it? We have an album called Slab which we released in 2012 and you can digitally download from Bandcamp. We’re launching our second album Primordial Soup this Friday night. Why should everyone come and see your band? We don’t think everyone should because section of the population probably won’t like us. The ones who like loud heavy rock music should come and see us because that’s what we play and getting out and seeing new live music is a very worthwhile thing to do with your time. OLMEG launch their new album Primordial Soup at the Brunswick Hotel this Friday December 12.
TRACY MCNEIL & THE GOOD LIFE
As an artist caught between two continents – her Canadian homeland and her now permanent Australian residency – Tracy McNeil's brand new album Nobody Ever Leaves is a fresh new sound that infuses North American roots with the heart and grit of Melbourne's thriving alt-country scene. Catch her with her band The Good Life at The Post Office Hotel this Friday, December 12 from 9.30pm.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 46
Indie/electro rockers Mercury White are bring their signature sound to Ding Dong Lounge as they launch their latest EP Sophisticate, and sparing none with their hypnotizing melancholia and the unforgettable sound of the Melbourne five-piece. Joining them on Friday 12 December for a night of awesome music are The Controllers. Get your presale tickets for just $12 through the venue. Doors from 9pm. SATURDAY DECEMBER 13
IRON MIND
Melbournian hardcore boys Iron Mind draw influences from the New York hardcore sound and have made a name for themselves in the Aussie hardcore scene. Catch them this Saturday December 13 from 8.30pm at The Bendigo Hotel with The Others and Mood Swing. Tickets available through the venue.
A SPECTACULAR CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
Do you want to lift your spirits with the best, biggest and brightest Christmas concert in town, and support the School of Hard Knocks? Then get down to the inspirational, uplifting and dazzling Spectacular Christmas Spectacular concert, on Saturday December 13 at Melbourne Town Hall. The concert will be conducted by the Founding Artistic Director of the School of Hard Knocks, Dr Jonathon Welch AM. Jonathon will be joined by a stellar cast including Rosamund Illing, Roxane Hislop, Danielle Matthews, the FootscrayYarraville City Band and David Johnstone at the magnificent Town Hall Organ. It kicks off from 7.30pm. Tickets are $35 for adults and $12 for under 16’s.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 14
SUI ET SUI
Having graduated from the Redbull Music Academy in London alongside the likes of Daisuke Tanabe and Andras Fox, Body Reset sees Sui Zhen develop the music found in the Female Basic EP and move on to a new, retro-futuristic sound. This time influenced as much by late nights in Koenji, Tokyo as at an onsen/sauna in the mountains of Nagano, here Sui Zhen explores the resetting of both body and mind with 25 minutes of swelling synths, 808 beats and dreamy vocals. Catch her with her band at Hugs&Kisses this Saturday December 13.
BOOTLEG RASCAL
Oh I Know is the new single from Sydney/ Gold Coast band, Bootleg Rascal. The band has recently wrapped up a string of national shows, supporting label-mates Sticky Fingers. Amidst all on-the-road shenanigans, Bootleg Rascal found time on and off the road to piece together a bag of tunes. Writing and recording songs in the back of vans, dodgy hotel and sticky green rooms, at home and in the garage. They are heading out on tour this December in support of their new single. Catch them at The Workers Club in Melbourne Saturday, December 13. Tickets through the venue.
THE BAY OF PIGS
The Bay of Pigs play their debut show at The Yarra Hotel in Abbotsford this Saturday December 13. The legendary Melbourne ensemble fronted by Triple R’s Pete ‘Doctor Pump’ Lawler and Big Kev Garrant play a rare Christmas show with special guests. Grab your tickets now via Trybooking.
NUMBER STATION
To celebrate the release of their forthcoming EP, Number Station have announced a Melbourne launch show this December. The sophomore EP, Back Seat, was written overlooking the sea on the Great Ocean Road and sees founding members Chris Andrews and Marcus Smith take a back seat to songwriting, with all five band members now at the helm. Number Station will launch their new EP at St Kilda Bowls Club on Sunday December 14.
THE SCREAMIN’ HONKIES The Screamin’ Honkies are a blues/ garage rock’n’roll four piece hailing from Melbourne and Geelong. Comprised of Tom Reeve, Grant Emery, Matt
BAKERSFIELD GLEE CLUB
TOM DOCKRAY Tom Dockray, the greatest old-time picker to have called Brunswick home, took his blues and traditional stylings across the globe in 2014, successfully touring his spiritual home in the American Deep South. Closer to home, he mesmerised crowds across Australia with his swagger and syrup-laden vocals. Now he returns to The Drunken Poet, this Sunday December 14. With critically acclaimed Iron Suit EP under his belt, strong radio airplay, and a growing base of dedicated fans, Tom is surely one to keep an eye on. He hits the stage at 6.30pm, entry is free.
Riding high on the recent gold vinyl release of their new album Bad habits, Worse luck, the Bakersfield Glee Club, a masterful combination of fiddle, pedal steel guitar, telecaster, rich harmonies, bass and drums, play The Yarra Hotel Abbotsford this Sunday December 14. With an early 4pm kick off and free entry, this is their last show for the year, so put it in the book.
THE SONGWRITER SESSIONS
The first of The Songwriter Sessions will take place on Sunday, December 14 from 5pm at the Brunswick Hotel. The Songwriter Sessions are presented in a Nashville Style format with three songwriters on stage together discussing, playing and singing their songs in turn directly to the audience. This Session features Michael Yule lead guitarist, singer and songwriter from MY Band, along with Bob Crain guitarist, singer and songwriter from Ashbury Medicine Show and Rod Fritz who has recently relocated to Melbourne from Tasmania after a successful tour of the US. The Songwriter Sessions are presented by The Taste of Indie Collective, a collective of Melbourne’s independent music artists and bands. Free entry.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
THE RETREAT SUNDAY'S SUMMER OF SOUL The Retreat Hotel and Collingwood Draft have joined forces to bring to you the biggest Sunday sessions in Brunswick: The Retreat Sunday’s Summer of Soul. It all kicks off with DJs Manchild and Vince Peach in the beer garden. As the sun slips from the sky, Melbourne’s own soul siren Kylie Auldist and The Glenroy Allstars will kick off on the main stage. With a smoking BBQ and Collingwood Draft giveaways plus free entry, there’s no excuse. It all goes down from 2pm onwards at The Retreat Hotel, Sunday December 14.
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
Q&A
The Retreat’s Summer of Soul
So, what’s kicking at the Retreat on Sundays in December? Every Sunday afternoon in the beer garden, Vince Peach and DJ Manchild are spinning tasteful soul til’ sunset, then kylie Auldist, Melbourne’s reigning queen of soul is kicking off in the main room, playing two sets with the Glenroy All Stars. It’s probably gonna’ be hot, so we’ve teed up some icy margaritas, mango daiquiris and a ton of Collingwood draft, a lot of which we’re gonna’ be straight up giving away. We all know the Retreat guarantees feel good party vibes all year round. Why’s this Summer of Soul series gonna be so damn special? Have you seen our beer garden? We just wanted to put together Sundays we’d want to go to: ace music, good booze and food, and good vibes. Have you ever been in the presence of Vince Peach and Manchild? And don’t even get us started on Kylie. I’m hungry. And boy, am I thirsty. What's on the menu? The burgers are awesome and of course the chicken parmas are rockin’, we have new stuff on the specials board every week. Local brewers Thunder Road are delivering many kegs of Collingwood draft (and probably a few sweet looking t-shirts). Convince me why I should come down to the Retreat every Sunday for these soulful sessions in the sun. Everyone says our beer garden is the best, and who are we to argue? Soul and summer go together, so we hooked up the best music and a ton of other good things because, SUMMER. It’s going to be out of control. THE RETREAT’S SUMMER OF SOUL is going down every Sunday at The Retreat in Brunswick from 2pm starting this Sunday December 14.
WIL WAGNER Wil Wagner is back for another residency this December to wrap up a huge year for The Smith Street Band who have toured Australia, Europe and the US a few times over in the past 12 months. Their latest release, Throw Me In The River has received massive radio airplay and found its way into the Top 20 in the Aria charts. Come along to The Reverence every Sunday in December to see Wil play his heartfelt, poetic and frantic punk songs along with some of his mates. It’s free entry, doors from 3pm.
THE DAMES
The Dames are Clare Moore on drums, songs and vocals, Kaye Louise Patterson on keys, songs and vocals and Rosie Westbrook on bass and backing vocals. Their debut self-titled album has been mixed by acclaimed, award winning icon of UK post punk and '90s film funk music Barry Adamson. Barry being an old friend of Clare Moore's since her days in the Moodists and his in Magazine and the Bad Seeds. Don't miss The Dames when they play The Post Office Hotel this Sunday, December 14 from 4.30pm.
DECEMBER
MONDAY DECEMBER 15
THE DOODADS
The Doodads are back to rock The Yarra Hotel Abbotsford for their final residency show on Monday, December 15. With a stellar lineup including Davey Lane, Joel Silbersher, Jackie Winter, Gus Agars and occasionally Dan Luscombe, you’ll hear songs as unexpected as they are brilliant. It all starts 8pm, with free entry. Monday is the new Friday at The Yarra Hotel. See you there. TUESDAY DECEMBER 16
DAN KELLY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR THE GOOCH PALMS The Gooch Palms have announced their return to Melbourne with a show this December. The Newcastle duo are heading off for headline shows in Melbourne and Sydney. Support will come from Wet Blankets and Whipper (formerly Young Liberals). The Gooch Palms are taking over The Grace Darling on Thursday December 18. Tickets are available through the venue.
TWERPS
TULLY ON TULLY Tully on Tully continue their residency at The Gasometer on Tuesday, December 16 from 8pm. Having just played a sold out show at Shebeen to launch their latest single Two Birds, the band are ringing in the silly season at The Gaso with Neighbourhood Youth and Mercians, before one final December show on Christmas Eve. Tickets are $8 through Oztix or $10 at the door.
Pop foursome Twerps have locked in a headline show this month. The show comes ahead of their second album, Range Anxiety, which is set for release in January 2015. It’ll also cap off a busy year for the band, which saw them release their Underlay EP in August and new single Back To You in October. Catch ‘em on Thursday December 18 at The Curtin. Tickets to this one are bound to go fast, so go do your thing.
All we want for Christmas is Dan Kelly performing at The Shadow Electric Band Room with his Dream Band AND an Alpha Males reunion AND a slew of killer supports. That’s not too much to ask for, right? Well, Dan Kelly is acting all Santa on us and delivering the goods this Christmas, hosting another Dan Kelly’s Christmas Spectacular this year. Dan Kelly’s Dream Band will be headlining festivities, and they’ll be joined by UK-based Civil Civic, Bayou and Cool Sounds. Tying it all together is DJ Woody McDonald and Sunny Leunig, who is launching one of the greatest Christmas presents of all time, the Uninspiring Quotes Calendar 2015. Dan Kelly and The Alpha Males will also play a small reunion set, performing songs off Drowning in the Fountain of Youth and Sing the Tabloid Blues as well as collaborating with the Dream Band and other performers. Dan Kelly’s Christmas Spectacular will take over The Shadow Electric Band Room, Abbotsford Convent on Saturday December 20. Tickets are on sale now through the venue. Don’t be a loser and rock up on the night expecting tickets on the door. Be a winner and get your tickets early.
KIT CONVICT & THEE TERRIBLE TWO
BJ MORRISZONKLE The one man mad-man band BJ Morriszonkle is happy to tell ya that you can go see him for free every bloody Tuesday night in December at the Retreat Hotel front bar. That’s community service folks. After spending the second half of the year locked in a car port studio recording a stack of new shit, he will drive you bonkers and tickle you pink each week with very special music and very special guests. December is full of demented cartoon, fake metal, dumb clown, flea circus, exploding bipolar nonsense music in Brunswick. Music will be from 8.30pm, free entry.
In the true spirit of Christmas, Kit Convict & Thee Terrible Two are gathering up a collection of friends to perform the greatest ever Christmas album; Phil Spector’s A Christmas Gift For You on Friday, December 19. Joining them will be artists from ScotDrakula, Pink Tiles, Motel Love, Loobs, Levitating Churches, Sexy/Heavy, Wet Meal, Go-Go Sapien, Jukai Forest, and many more. Special guest Rock’n’roll White Leopard will provide warmup sing-songs. It all goes down Friday, December 19 at The Retreat Hotel. Free entry.
STEVE KILBEY
Lead singer-songwriter and bassist from legendary Australian band The Church Steve Kilbey is playing a free show for y’all at The Post Office Hotel Friday, December 19. Joining him will be The Tall Grass ( Jamie Hutchings/Peter Fenton), J M S Harrison & Cabin Inn, Jason Walker & MP. Kicks off from 8pm.
KING OF THE NORTH Australia’s favourite rock duo King Of The North are celebrating four massive years of music, touring, and some seriously crazy times at Ding Dong Lounge on Saturday December 20. To get the party started and the booze flowing, joining them are Child and Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene. Tickets are $10+BF, doors from 9pm.
PORK CHOP PARTY
Pork Chop Party are doing some kind of half-blindfolded round trip of Victoria up until the end of the year with a bucket load of shows to bring you down. The depressive two-man-band who try to play country music but spend most of their shows talking to each other about current sociopathetic issues will be placing their two bass drums, two guitars, and two fat arses on the following floors. Catch them Sunday, December 21 at The Retreat Hotel from 5pm. Free entry.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 47
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
Q&A
The Archaic Revival
So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? The Archaic Revival. I play drums and sing. What do you reckon people will say you sound like? A drunken car crash between Black Sabbath and Slayer that no one survived. What do you love about making music? Making music and playing it loud as fuck. What do you hate about the music industry? The encouragement and worship of mediocrity. And four piece backline kits. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Ronnie James Dio, but only because I’ve been listening to Rainbow’s Stargazer for about a week straight now. What can a punter expect from your live show? Psychedelic hard rockin’, panty droppin’ sonic suicide. Non-stop, quality rock’n’roll and a shitload of energy. Anything else to add? Look us up. Take drugs and worship Satan. THE ARCHAIC REVIVAL are playing this Saturday December 13 at The Brunswick Hotel.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 48
XMAS EVEN
After taking a well earned break last year, Xmas Even is back with a vengeance in 2014 with two big nights at The Gasometer Hotel in Collingwood on Friday 19 & Saturday 20 December. Special guest for both nights is Jasmin Kaset and band, all the way from Nashville, Tennessee. Jasmin released her second album earlier this year, Quiet Machine and the Even boys loved it so much they invited her along for the ride. Even will be debuting brand new songs from their forthcoming seventh album too, just a cheeky little Xmas present for y’all. With more acts to be announced be quick to snap up your tix through Oztix.
NYE IN THE WEST FEST
Wagons and Graveyard Train have been announced as the headliners for the inaugural NYE In The West Fest.
The show comes at the end of a big year for the bands, who recently finished up multiple tours across the globe and released new albums Acid Rain and Sugar Cane and Takes One To Know One respectively. They’ll be joined by swamp rockers Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk and more. It goes down on Saturday December 31 at The Yarraville Club. Tickets are available through the venue’s website.
WILLIAM ARTHUR TRIBUTE
SOUL-A-GO-GO
Bid a fond farewell to 2014 and welcome the New Year at The Corner Hotel for a massive Soul-A-Go-Go ± Melbourne’s biggest and best soul and funk party. With PBS soul and funk aficionados Vince Peach (Soul Time), Miss Goldie (Boss Action), DJ Manchild (The Breakdown), Matt McFetridge ( Jungle Fever) Andrew Young, Zack Rampage , Jack Sparrow and a very special live performance from Chelsea Wilson, Christina Arnold and Florelie Escano, it’s going to be massive. 9pm-3am December 31 at The Corner Hotel. Tickets are limited and will no doubt sell out so get them quick at www.170russell.com. $30+BF for PBS members and $35+BF for future members.
The Workers Club are throwing a gig to celebrate the music of Glide, and the incredible songs that were written by the late William Arthur - who sadly passed away 15 years ago, in August of 1999. The tribute will bring together a bunch of musicians playing their favourite songs from the Glide catalogue. These will include Steve Kilbey (The Church), Croons (early Glide members ), Andy Kentler (Last Glide member), Ashley Naylor (Even, The Grapes), Peter Fenton (CROW), Jamie Hutchings (Infinity Broke/ Bluebottle Kiss), Davey Lane (You Am I), Charlie Horse, J M S Harrison, The Void (Morning After Girls members), D.A. Calf, Sean Whelan (Spoken Word). It all goes down Saturday, December 20 at The Workers Club.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
URIAH HEEP
British Rock Legends Uriah Heep are making their long awaited return to Australia. The bands unique, progressive, hard sound has made them a mainstay of the rock circuit for four decades. With a catalogue of 23 studio albums that includes Demons and Wizards, Abominog, and their most recent release, 2011’s Into The Wild, the band has sold over 40 million records worldwide. Don’t miss your chance to catch them performing at Shoppingtown Hotel Doncaster Saturday March 21.
LIVE
REPORTS FROM THE FRONT ROW
For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews SEMPLESIZE BLOCK PART Y Howler, Sunday December 7
THE DATSUNS Ding Dong, Friday December 5
Milwaukee Banks - Photograph by Ian Laidlaw
There’s no denying The Datsuns are purists in the world of rock’n’roll music. Their style harks back to an era in the ‘70s, but their original interpretation of this sound lends itself slightly, to elements of punk and funk. There’s long hair, solid solos and stage patter reminiscent of James Brown. The countless live shows performed by these guys has meant their skill level is through the roof, with the pitch perfect, diverse and agile vocals of Dolf De Borst matched by the flawless drumming of Ben Cole with two supremely talented guitarists, Christian Livingstone and Philip Somervell. To promote their sixth album release, Deep Sleep, The Datsuns are touring the entire country over the next ten days, with Melbourne being the second of nine shows. There was a small mosh pit complete with crowd surfers as punters packed Ding Dong to get a glimpse of rock royalty. With over ten years of material to draw on, The Datsuns delivered one killer set that kept lifting from start to finish. The audience was relatively calm and it was obvious for the majority of them, being die-hard fans, they were there to simply watch these musicians play. The stage lighting and venue size meant that from almost any vantage point you could see every guitar lick or drum fill. Bullseye from their 2012 album Death Rattle Boogie was well-received leading someone to call out for a bass solo which was judiciously executed in the following song Gold Halo. Other tracks included MF From Hell off their self-titled debut album from 2002 which proved just as relevant as their new releases and played with equal enthusiasm. If you are unfamiliar with The Datsuns, think Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Wolfmother and Queens Of The Stone Age. What all these bands have in common is distinct vocals and signature instrumental sounds that fuse with fervour, encapsulated by ingenious song writing. The four-song encore ended with an epic sing-a-long that kept going long after the band had left the stage as the crowd sang the riff to What Would I Know. I can’t believe I haven’t seen The Datsuns perform live until now. Photograph by Emily Day For anyone who has only “heard of them” and hasn’t bought an album or seen them live, get out and invest in this monumental rock experience. LOVED: The sheer rock brilliance. HATED: Missing out on crowd surfing. DRANK: Too much. LOCO LOCAL
Semplesize is a blog that specialises in music, art and fashion ± you know, all the good stuff that makes being alive such fantastic fun. This Sunday afternoon bash was billed as a “New York style block party.” OK, it started in the early afternoon, featured a bunch of acts from around the ‘hood and the live entertainment included a brief fashion show. But seemingly no effort went into making it feel like a block party (let alone a distinctly New York one). The lack of street decoration and drinks served in cans and plastic cups was slightly disappointing, but thankfully that didn’t stop it being a good and proper Sunday sesh. The lineup was something of a mixed bag, both in terms of the performers’ stylistic persuasion and the impact made. Early on came The Trotskies, whose formidable walls of post-punk guitar noise impressed, but their songs were let down by rather fluffy lead vocals. Habits followed, leaning towards heart-on-the-sleeve, future R&B. It was a three-way personality display, with each member having a crack at being the centre of attention. Backed by electronic sounds that swayed from comfortably smooth to jagged and glitch-y, Habits towed the line between exciting unpredictability and schizophrenia with dynamic finesse. Next came The Stiffys, who’ve recently transitioned from sailors to spacemen, but haven’t lost any of their uncontrollable exuberance. The band might seem like a bit of gag at first, but they manage to dish out banging rock tunes that encourage gleeful laughter without skimping on quality. It was a completely amusing onstage display, which reminded us all The Stiffys are really good at sex, because they’re always doing it. Like The Stiffys, House of Laurence clearly put a lot of effort into what they do. But going by this performance, it’s hard to detect anything that sets them apart from the pack. The foursome gave us a set of well-rehearsed psych and classic rock sounds, but the onstage movements all seemed rather mechanical. Milwaukee Banks don’t fit easily into either the electronic or hip hop category, but what’s more significant is the twosome are integrating rhymes and beats with exceeding personality. Here, they proved adept at taking charge of a big stage too, which shows triple j Unearthed were right in choosing them to open up next year’s Laneway festival. While any tangible sign of New York-style remained glaringly absent, Banoffee’s closing set was pleasantly melodic enough to keep this Sunday-sesh rolling forward. Martha Brown (as she’s otherwise known) gave us a set of textured electronics coated with one tasty melody after another. The slick sonics were accompanied by some slightly clumsy banter, which only enhanced her appeal. It was a stimulating performance that offered plenty of incentive to keep an eye on where Banoffee goes from here. LOVED: The Stiffys. HATED: No blocks. DRANK: Bloody Mary, please. AUGUSTUS WELBY The Stiffys - Photograph by Ian Laidlaw
THE CASANOVA’S Northcote Social Club, Wednesday December 3 Towards the end of the night, The Casanovas’ Tommy Boyce thanked the crowd for coming along for what was a rare Casanovas live appearance. Boyce calculated it was at least a year since the band’s previous gig, which itself had been the first time the Casanovas had graced the stage for 18 months. Some quick mental arithmetic came up with the time frame of 12 years since we’d first see The Casanovas ± supporting The Dictators and the Celibate Rifles at the Corner Hotel ± a temporal assessment that tends to make you feel a lot older than you’d like to admit. Back at that Dictators gig the Casanovas had their original lineup, and slightly cheesy stage monikers ± Tommy Love, Jimmy Heat and Paddy Downstairs. We remembered the, ‘Fuck, listen to this,’ moment when Tommy tore into Nasty, quickly followed by the realisation ± probably when the equally emphatic Shake It appeared shortly after ± that this was a band that could spit out kick-arse licks and rock’n’roll spirit with an almost laconic quality, and we should do them the duty of maintaining attention. A lot’s happened since those days ± Damien Campbell took over bass duties from Jimmy Heat, Jaws Stanley replaced Paddy Boyce on drums, and Tommy Boyce learnt the hard way that Jimmy Barnes is a tough band leader, in both a musical and familial sense. Reunited on stage for the 25th anniversary of David Vodicka’s Rubber Records ± which was still putting out physical product in those crazy days of 2002 ± and The Casanovas were as fresh and awe-inspiring as ever. Tommy is still sporting his porno star moustache, his boots and stove-pipe jeans infecting the classic ‘70s rock’n’roll aesthetic with a slick Melbourne rock sensibility. Damo Campbell has shed his curly locks, but has lost none of the power of bass playing; his voice could’ve been stronger in the mix, but that’s a minor quibble. Jaws Stanley’s talents are too-often understated ± somewhat tragically, he’s the only surviving Meanies guitarist ± and he couldn’t put a foot wrong, even if you held a gun to his head and demanded it. The music had an AC/DC, Led Zeppelin quality about it, devoid of the stadium bravado and pretension that comes with global success. The set was a constant assault of riffs and licks; a special mention must go to Shake It, which was so tight it’s almost suffocating. When Boyce deliberately laboured the intro to Ten Outta Ten and we were all pretty fucking happy about it. The clichéd crowd sing-a-long brought with it enthusiasm, and the boozing monotone harmonies that just make a rock’n’roll gig. We were hoping for a cover of a song written by a gun-toting Tea Party lunatic, but sadly Ted Nugent was not in the house tonight. The finale was unexpected, and arguably the best thing we could’ve hoped for. Paddy Boyce and Jim Lewis (aka Jimmy Heat) made their way to the stage for Keep It Hot; Boyce took over the drums, while Heat assumed vocals duties. It was a trip back in time, and everyone was wearing a shit-eating grin. It’s good to have The LOVED: Shake It. Casanovas back. Here’s hoping it won’t be another year HATED: Riding through the pouring rain to get to before we see them again. and from the gig. PATRICK EMERY
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
DRANK: Cooper’s Pale.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 49
ALBUM OF THE WEEK THURSDAY 11 DECEMBER
WEEKLY TRIVIA
PRIZES & GIVEAWAYS! STARTS AT 8PM. CONTACT THE VENUE FOR TABLE BOOKINGS!
&
NORTHSIDE SPACE FUNKERS FEAT. HYPERFOKUS & KODIAK KID, HIP-HOP, FUNK, TRIP-HOP,
ELECTRO SOUL & SWINGING JAZZ. PLAYING INSIDE & OUT FROM 7PM FRIDAY 12 DECEMBER MAIN BAR
JUKEBOX RACKET 9.30PM
& DJ’S
7PM D’FRO / 9PM SAM MCEWIN / 11PM FLAGRANT SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER
KIERA THANOS
SINGLES TRICK DOG SYNDICATE +GUESTS MAIN BAR
9.30PM
& DJ’S
7PM B-TWO / 9PM HIJACK / 11PM OBLIVEUS ROYAL BEER GARDEN
AFTERNOONS ON THE GREEN
LIVE MUSIC IN THE BEER GARDEN
3PM: MANDY CONNELL
SUNDAY 14 DECEMBER MAIN BAR
ESTEE BIG BAND XMAS SHOW 5PM
ROYAL BEER GARDEN
AFTERNOONS ON THE GREEN
LIVE MUSIC IN THE BEER GARDEN
3PM: AARON THOMAS
EASY NOW - SUNDAY REGGAE BEATS
FEAT. AGENT 86, TOM SHOWTIME, DJ MAARS & CIDER SPECIALS. 5PM
PBS TOP TEN
BEST TRACK: In Your Arms. IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LIKE THESE: DUCKTAILS, DIIV, BEACH HOUSE. IN A WORD: Sedated.
BY LACHLAN
Can’t believe Kochie and Tony Abbott full-on 69ed each other on morning television to prove a point about sexism. Respect.
ARCA
Hips Don’t Lie (Mute) Closing out the year with an uninhibited victory stunt, producer Arca drops a Shakira rework that blossoms like radiant fractals from the original, divergent and self-enveloping, shifting along with a multitude of visions in one. There’s an enticing sensuality on offer, a sex unlike the original, but sex all the same. The concept is a little ridiculous, but Arca sticks the landing.
FREE POOL FREECALL WORKSHOPS VENUE FOR DETAILS. $10 LONGNECKS & $4 PIZZA.
TUESDAY 16 DECEMBER
PURITY RING
Push Pull (4AD/Remote Control) Mainstream pop in 2014 is imbued with the outsider pop trends of 2011/2012, which puts the outsider pop artists of 2011/2012 in a bit of a stalemate, or checkmate, when releasing new shit in 2014. They can either double down and try to match the scope of pop’s mega stars, or keep persevering with their original vision that has since been co-opted and diluted by the chart-topping ilk. The reality is these artists might have the production talent to reach an approximation of FM radio hits, but few lack the ear for a strong hook. So what we’re left with are decent-sounding tracks that lack the innate satisfaction of the mainstream – the hook on Push Pull is terrible, its polyrhythmic melodies don’t translate into interest. This isn’t a counterpoint to Tay Tay’s excellent Blank Space, more a distant echo. So what’s the point? Flip the script like PC Music, or go all in on your conventional pop aspirations. This is nothing music in the context of 2014.
FREE MOVIE NIGHT THE BOAT THAT ROCKED – 8:30PM
WEEKLY FOOD SPECIALS $4 PIZZAS MONDAY - THURSDAY ALL DAY & NIGHT, FRIDAY 12PM TO 5PM WEDNESDAY: $12 STEAKS FROM 5PM THURSDAY: $12 BURGERS FROM 5PM
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 50
MONTGOMERY
Not Around (I Oh You) Even after the release of her debut EP, singer/producer Montgomery’s still shrouded by mystery and intrigue as to her identity. The time has come for revelation, so here it is folks: I am Montgomery. Still, you can have good faith in my ability to critique my own work objectively. By the way there isn’t any pitch shifting vocal trickery, that’s my natural singing voice. Anyway. Not Around continues Montgomery’s (that is to say, my) adoration for the Drive soundtrack, which was nostalgic in itself when it dropped in 2011, so I guess that makes Montgomery (me) nostalgic for 2011. Pretty proud of this one folks to tell the truth. I mean, I would be, if it wasn’t so forgettable. Also can someone give Music Feeds the news tip: “Latest I Oh You Signing Montgomery Revealed To Be Champion Music Journalist And All-Round Top Bloke Lacho Kanoniuk.” Cheers.
HEARTLAND RECORDS TOP TEN
RECORD PARADISE TOP TEN
WORLD’S END PRESS
MONDAY 15 DECEMBER
1. So Frenchy So Chic 2015 VARIOUS 2. The Afro Sound of Columbia VARIOUS 3. 16 Year Anniversary Edition MEEM 4. Flip! THE PEARLY SHELLS 5. Quintessence KELLIE SANTIN 6. Aftertouch DX HEAVEN 7. Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out KRISTIN BERARDI AND JAMES SHERLOCK 8. Singles 2 TY SEGALL 9. Variant BEN FROST 10. II BRAT BARRAR
1. Hi Scores 12” BOARDS OF CANADA 2. From The Vault 3LP/DVD ROLLING STONES 3. There’s a dream BOX SET LEE HAZLEWOOD 4. Official Release 2 BOX SET NEIL YOUNG 5. Souls RSD 10” JUDAS PRIEST 6. Z 4LP BOX SET DEVIN TOWNSEND 7. Big Lebowski RSD LP SOUNDTRACK 8. Live 2 RSD 10” PIC DISC BON JOVI 9. Rock Or Bust 7” SINGLE AC/DC 10. Filth LP & Poster SWANS
For all the latest singles check out beat.com.au
Spirals (Slide Away) (Liberation) Sounding like a house-y edit of the breakdown in MJ’s Thriller, World’s End Press get a tasty groove goin’ on Spirals, sifting in a touch of Juggers’ style vocal buoyancy throughout. It doesn’t really indulge in its disco tendencies quite enough to elevate into spectacular territory, and it’s too inoffensive to be labelled an outright banger, but it’s a breezy dancefloor sojourn nonetheless.
SYN SWEET TEN
1. Burn Your Bits 7BIT HERO AND SUN MUM 2. Nasty Drought CULL 3. The Line INNAMECH 4. Dust MACHINES ALWAYS WIN 5. Paper Folding Man RVLR 6. Honey SURF DAD 7. Blood Tapes TWIN HAUS 8. Here Comes Yesterday VIOLENT SWELLS 9. Under Stars AURORA 10. Swimming Pool EMMY THE GREAT
SUNBEAM SOUND MACHINE
Wonderer (Dot Dash/Remote Control) Melbourne musician Nick Sowersby sculpts a dizzying sound under the moniker Sunbeam Sound Machine. His debut album, Wonderer, paints an introspective sonic palette that succeeds by its own modest standards. Sowersby bleaches his work in a way that leaves a gauzy glow wrapped around everything, while at the same time injects a deliberate sense of unease, with off-kilter instrumentals that ooze into the listener’s ear sockets like sad confetti. Shaped in his Collingwood garage, Wonderer is a hazy 13-track odyssey of light-textured pop hooks that lurk beneath breathy vocals and dollops of distortion. From start to finish, Sowersby serves up a pool of tracks which all manage the same trick – each song is drenched in reverb, with saturated guitar lines drowning the vocals away. Mid-paced tracks like Daibutsu, Zeds and Infinity + 1 contain viciously atmospheric hooks of mumbled bass, layered experimentation and crystalline drum beats that pack a fuller punch. Autumnal floats things to the outskirts with a smooth shimmer of synth, before an excellent record fades out completely to a blissful end in Sailing Away.
TOP TENS:
1. Legalize Everything THE FROWNING CLOUDS 2. Pom Pom ARIEL PINK 3. I’m In Your Mind Fuzz KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD 4. Biker EXHAUSTION 5. Too Bright PERFUME GENIUS 6. Lp1 FKA TWIGS 7. The Best Day THURSTON MOORE 8. Coming Apart BODY/HEAD 9. Throw Me In The River THE SMITH STREET BAND 10. Soft Focus THE OCEAN PARTY
COLLECTOR’S CORNER MISSING LINK RECORDS TOP TEN
1. Motherfucker 7” FAITH NO MORE 2. Above LP MAD SEASON 3. Morrissey Curates The Ramones LP RAMONES 4. Sines 2LP/CD JAKOB 5. A World Lit Only By Fire LP GODFLESH 6. Hear My Music 2LP JIMI HENDRIX 7. Nevermind LP NIRVANA 8. Multi Death Corporations 7” M.D.C. 9. Time To Die 2LP/CD ELECTRIC WIZARD 10. Because The Internet 2LP CHILDISH GAMBINO
BEAT’S TOP TEN SONGS ABOUT THE COLOUR PINK SINGLE OF THE WEEK
LONTALIUS
Light Shines Through Dust (Independent) I shot my wad a lil’ early by reviewing this back in July, but now Light Shines Through Dust is finally out there in the world for public consumption. It’s breathtaking, and, well, I kind of don’t wanna say much more than that because I got the feelin’ I’ll be talking about this a lot more in my year-end wrap, wink-wink, stay tuned. But yeah, definitely breathe this one in.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
1. Pink AEROSMITH 2. Pink Red Orange COCTEAU TWINS 3. My Love Is Pink SUGARBABES 4. Pink Cookies In A Plastic Bag LL COOL J 5. Raspberry Beret PRINCE 6. A Pink Dream THE CURE 7. Pretty In Pink PSYCHEDELIC FURS 8. Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White PEREZ PRADO 9. Pink Parade GREEN REVISION 10. Pink Cadillac BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
ALBUMS
NEW MUSIC IN REVIEW THIS WEEK
For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews
DAN SULTAN
Dirty Ground EP (Mushroom Promotions) It’s only been a matter of months since Dan Sultan released his critically acclaimed album, Blackbird. Now he’s back with a new EP, Dirty Ground. Drawing you in from the very first note, Dirty Ground is a breathtaking collection of acoustic tunes. Recorded in just one day, this solo EP features stripped back versions of songs from Blackbird, as well as tracks co-written with Paul Kelly and Paul Dempsey. Opener and title track Dirty Ground is an immediate standout, with a beautiful melody that lends itself to being played on repeat. All the tracks on this EP are similar, however this matters little as they are incredibly captivating. Sultan’s gentle guitar work perfectly complements his soulful voice. Piano ballad Gullible Few is another favourite. This powerful song, with heartfelt lyrics, is a great way to end Dirty Ground. The acoustic nature of this EP ensures Dan Sultan’s BEST TRACK: Dirty Ground. vocals shine. Dirty Ground features some of his finest IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: PAUL work to date. DEMPSEY, GLENN RICHARDS. IN A WORD: Smooth. ALI BIRNIE
GHOST TOWNS OF THE MIDWEST
Field Recordings Of... (Independent) Cam Ewart is one hell of a storyteller. Frontman of local alt-country group Ghost Towns of the Midwest, Ewart spends the bulk of the band’s debut EP spinning tales of death, debauchery and destruction. And yet, like, say, Wagons, the darkness of the lyrics doesn’t for a second detract from the rollicking good time Ewart and his bandmates are having as they cruise the whiskey-drenched, saloon bar backdrops of their songs. Clocking in at just 27 minutes, Field Recordings Of... is the perfect introduction to the band. There’s a taste of everything: from the sing-a-long alt-country stomp of Gallow Birds, to the down-and-out rock’n’roll blast of Round The Bend, to the toe-tapping narrative sweep of Judas (in which, with a melody that recalls Townes Van Zandt’s Rake, Ewart takes the biblical figures of Jesus and Judas and sits them in a mini-bus on tour as a band). Picking a highlight is difficult given the quality of all six songs. If pressed, however, it’s the closer Car Crash that seems to linger the most. It’s certainly carries the most weight in the collection. Putting aside his drunkenstoryteller shtick for a moment, Ewart lays his heart on the line in a poignant ballad that uses the image of a wayward car as a metaphor for a life gone out of BEST TRACK: Car Crash. control. IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: WAGONS, It’s a very promising debut indeed. JOHNNY CASH, TOWNES VAN ZANDT. IN A WORD: Whiskey-swilling-toe-tapping-good. WAYNE MARSHALL
TV ON THE RADIO
Seeds (EMI) Days after the release of TV On The Radio’s fourth album Nine Types of Light the band’s bassist Gerard Smith tragically lost his battle with cancer. Three years on, the band have returned with their fifth album, Seeds. Seeds takes more than a few listens to process – it doesn’t have the instant appeal of some of the band’s earlier releases and it’s sure to leave fans divided. None of the tracks on Seeds – except perhaps the Ramones-inspired Lazerray – are instantly catchy. It takes time for the subtly that is Seeds to sink in – the trembling bass that juxtaposes the delicate opening lyrics of Careful You; Tunde Adebimpe’s soaring vocals in Test Pilot; the grungy guitars and hollow lyrics of Happy Idiot; the tender cries of “everything’s gonna be ok” in Trouble; and the cathartic revelations on final track Seeds. The album has two very distinct halves, neatly divided by the lengthy introduction to Ride. The first half ’s the more experimental of the two – although nowhere near as experimental as the band’s early work. Tracks such as Test Pilot are a testament to Adebimpe’s unique voice, which plays a huge part in distinguishing TVOTR from many of their alternative rock peers. Happy Idiot recalls the moody edginess of tracks such as Blues From Down Here and DLZ, albeit with a more electronic influence. The second half of the album is where the guitars kick in and the pace picks up with tracks such as Winter and Lazerray. Half two is far more raw than the first however, facing the grieving process head-on with the likes of Trouble and Seeds. While it’s more sombre than any of the band’s previous releases, there’s an underlying sense of optimism with Seeds that often ventures into the whimsically romantic. It’s defiant – not willing to simply sit as a record about loss and grief. Seeds is not a reflection or reiteration of the past – it’s BEST TRACK: Happy Idiot. a step forward for the band, both musically and as a IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: JOY part of the healing process. DIVISION, SPOON, LCD SOUNDSYSTEM, THE FLAMING LIPS. KELSEY BERRY IN A WORD: Cathartic.
GIGS
GIGS WED DEC
10TH
The Shakes + Balter Vada + Deijah
THu DEC
TEK TEK ENSEMBLE + SUGAR FED LEOPARDS
11TH FRI DEC
12TH WED DEC
17TH
THu DEC
18TH FRI DEC
+ Yana Alana (Lock The Gate Benefit Gig) 19TH
HADAL MAW
OLMEG
Primordial Soup (Independent) Olmeg are one of Melbourne’s most-prized heavy, psychedelic, stoner rock bands. It’s a very particular genre with a very particular following. To have a fan-base as large as Olmeg, you need to do it well – which is a testament to the band’s career, since they only formed in 2011 and this is only their second album. Transdimensional fades in with a fuzzy amp effect before kicking off an epic blues riff that’s much more melodic than expected. This is a good start for anyone who’s only dipping their toes into the genre. Matt Dawkins’ raw vocals come to life with Megalomaniac, which at over eight minutes long has time to switch between at least five or six tempo changes. The Wolves features a bassy, percussion-heavy intro. It’s this type of track that would sit perfectly among Josh Homme’s beloved series, The Desert Sessions. The instrumentals of Nest are gentle, before launching into a heavy interlude, and then switches back and forth between melody and chaos. At almost ten minutes in length, Told You So is a sweeping desert backdrop, using various instrumental and amp effects to good use. Scolder is an intense ride, showcasing Dawkins’ impressive vocal range, while Grinding the Gears is more like progressive rock but it’s a nice change in tempo. The album ends with Mettle and Behind Disguise, the latter is a 13-minute opus that leaves you both exhausted BEST TRACK: The Wolves. and satisfied. Primordial Soup is an impressive IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: exploration of the genre, but you still know the best MAMMATUS, DOZER, JOSH HOMME’S from Olmeg is yet to come. DESERT SESSIONS. IN A WORD: Sludge. CHRIS BRIGHT
EYRETON HALL
Featherstich (Independent) The first thing you’ll notice about Eyreton Hall is frontwoman Toni Randle’s angelic vocals. The duo from New Zealand commence their debut album with a track entitled Bellbird, which opens with a simple acoustic riff and Randle’s sweet vocals, and then intensifies with a Fleet Foxes-esque full band crescendo. The title track Featherstich opens in a similar vein; this time with Randle’s vocals against a simple piano and undulates beautifully when the band kicks in, with harmonies and a violin making a welcome appearance. Lyrics throughout this record are deep and heartfelt, showcasing the band’s maturity when it comes to songwriting; The Marriage is rather heartbreaking, bittersweet and reflective, featuring lyrics like, “And sometimes you hold my hand when my doubt is crushing explicit,” and bursts of a clarinet in the background. The standout track, however, Salt and Sixpence, delivered in ¾ time, is soulful, honest and soothing. There are many genre influences that can be cited in this release, which makes for pleasantly diverse experience. The album closes with a simple number, And So It Goes (there’s that clarinet again); it’s a gorgeous and dramatically simple love ballad, without the sap, that I can see making a number of weddings in the future. While Eyreton Hall don’t really offer anything new in the genre of pop/folk, you can forgive them easily as this debut is a glowing example of the promise this band BEST TRACK: Salt and Sixpence. shows. It’s beautifully recorded, richly layered and IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: MUMFORD overall a very enjoyable listen. AND SONS, FLEET FOXES, SARAH BLASKO. IN A WORD: Uplifting. ANGELICA HOUSTON
EVERYDAY
CURTIN
SAT DEC
20TH
$13 JUGS
6PM
TWERPS
+ Sarah Mary Chadwick + Bad Family
ARTHUR PENN & THE FUNKY TEN The Vibraphonic Orkestra The Scrimshaw Four
+ Whoretopsy + Orchestrating The Damned
Dream Fatigue + The Heebee Jeebies + The Midnight Sol
ORSOME WELLES
Erth News Bulletin (Independent) This Melbourne-based progressive/alternative rock act have certainly got their own thing going on. When you think of that genre, the powerful but dulcet tones of bands such as Karnivool and Dead Letter Circus come to mind. While Orsome Welles would be far from out of place playing alongside those bands on the same bill, they’d stand out at the same time. Their sound is just a touch rawer. The guitar sounds especially are more real and less heavily produced; some of the riffs are actually quite bluesy at times as well, which adds to this vibe. Some may say this is simply the production, which admittedly isn’t as polished as it could possibly be. However, the intention here is obviously to get something out there for the band while they work on their debut album. Ultimately, it’s the quality of songs that’s what matters most, and these guys’ tunes show great promise: groovy, catchy, and progressive without being too obscure/experimental and with a great feel for dynamics and variation; some of the tracks on offer here stray almost into thrash metal territory (Want You to Know), while others are quieter and considered (Not Me). Another unique element of the band, within Aussie alternative heavy rock anyway, are the vocals of frontman Michael Stowers. His voice hits a very different register than most singers in this genre, who often sit in the higher ranges, although he can still BEST TRACK: Home Sweet Home. soar when he needs to. These guys show enormous IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: COHEED potential, bring on a full lengther. AND CAMBRIA, CALIGULA’S HORSE, THE MARS VOLTA. ROD WHITFIELD IN A WORD: Distinctive.
SMALL WORLD ExPERIENcE + MILK TEDDY + THE ANcIENTS
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
24/12 -
JAZZ PARTY PRESENTS ‘A TWIN PEAKS XMAS’ Featuring:
MOJO JUJU + DANIEL MERRIWEATHER + KIRA PURU + SIMONE PAGE JONES + LORETTA MILLER PRESALE TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM JOHNcURTINHOTEL.cOM
29 Lygon ST, CarLTon / T: 9663 6350
‘LIKE’ FACEBOOK.COM/THECuRTIN TO KEEP uP WITH THE LATEST! BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 51
GIG GUIDE
WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK
For all the latest gigs check out beat.com.au
WEDNESDAY DEC 10 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••THIRD EARTH + THE MARY GOLDSMITHS + KING
PUPPY & THE CARNIVORE Grace Darling Hotel,
Collingwood. 8:00pm. $5.00.
••BRENDAN WELCH + BEC RIGBY Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $15.00.
••CAJUN CHRISTMAS - FEAT: JOE CAMILLERI & THE
BLACK SORROWS Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 6:30pm. $40.00.
••CLAWS & ORGANS + SHIT SEX + DEL BOCA VISTA Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00.
••COLLAGE Espy, St Kilda. 7:30pm.
••COQ ROQ WEDNESDAYS - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm.
••FAD + ADAM & MARIA + PARE OHM Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.
••FALCONIO + TOM LYNGCOLN + BONNIE MERCER Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8.00.
••GURNER + NOTHINGE Catfish, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
••JAMES YOUNG’S BEST OF THE RESIDENCIES
MONTH - FEAT: DON FERNANDO + MY LEFT BOOT + THE VENDETTAS Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. ••KATY PERRY (PRISMATIC TOUR) Rod Laver Arena,
GIG OF THE WEEK!
Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm.
••THE HAMMOND ORGAN NIGHTS Musicland, Fawkner. 7:00pm.
••WINE WHISKEY WOMEN - FEAT: TERESA DIXON +
GRACE KING Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.
THURSDAY DEC 11
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••CHARLOTTE NICDAO Catfish, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
••CHRONIXX + ZINCFENCE REDEMPTION + MAX
GLAZER + NATTALI RIZE + KING RU + APPRENTICE + CHANT DOWN SOUND Espy, St Kilda. 8:30pm. ••CLOUD NOTHINGS + PALMS AND POWER Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $47.00.
••CYPRESS HILL Forum Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $85.99.
••DIREBLAZE - FEAT: CHRONIXX + ABRAXXAZ +
DARK EARTH + ATOMIC DEATH SQUAD Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm.
••ECHO DRAMA + HELOISE + MIHRA + MALCUDA Espy, St Kilda. 8:30pm.
••FACTORY FLOOR + ROLAND TINGS + KANGAROO
MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL
After a weekend-long event of DJs and dickheads the festival season is in full swing. Unlike other festivals, Meredith Music Festival employs a strictly ‘no dickheads’ policy. So take a week off the gym, or quit all together and crack open a tinnie in preparation for one of the best chill out festivals kickin’ around this part of the country. Aunty Meredith’s handpicked lineup features performances from The War On Drugs, Ty Segall, The Skatalites, Mark Lanegan, De La Soul, Sleep, Ghostface Killah as well as some bloody ripper homegrown talent in Augie March, The Bombay Royale, Painters and Dockers, Marlon Williams and many, many more. Meredith Music Festival goes down at the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, Victoria December 12 – 14.
SKULL + DJ JONNINE STANDISH Howler, Brunswick.
8:00pm. $42.00.
••GLEN TILBROOK + MICHAEL WAUGH Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $25.00.
••RUBY’S LIVE JAZZ AFTER DARK - FEAT: THE
THURSDAY DUO Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd.
Melbourne. 7:30pm. $109.00.
••HAILEY CALVERT + GRIM FAWKNER + BEN
Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $5.00.
WHITING Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $7.00. ••HAYDEN CALNIN + TANYA BATT + LANKS Toff In
••THE KOMEDA PROJECT + ANDREA KELLER +
••HEY GERONIMO + CABANA + SWIM SEASON
••THE MELBOURNE IMPROVISERS COLLECTIVE
••MOSES GUNN COLLECTIVE + HOLLOW EVERDAZE ••POCKETS + HAPPY GO BLUES + BOOM GASPAR Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $5.00.
••RUBBER RECORDS 25TH ANNIVERSARY - FEAT:
BZARK + GARETH SKINNER + LOW FLY INCLINE Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $20.00.
Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $10.00.
Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $10.00.
••KEGGIN’ + THE REVENGERS + TOM DITTMAN Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:00pm. $5.00.
••THE BAUDELAIRES + THE DEAD HEIR +
••KOKO Carters Bar, Northcote. 8:00pm.
SUPERHOLICS Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $10.00. ••THE BLACK SHEEP Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. ••THE SHABBAB + WILDEBEEST + STELLA COLLAPSE
••LUNAIRE + DOKTOR + THE NEST ITSELF + YUM
••LEFT AT MORAL JUNCTION + DOC HALIBUT + THE
BIG ORDER Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.
••THE SHAKES + BALTER VADA + DEIJAH John Curtin
YUM CULT Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $7.00. ••MARK LANEGAN Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd.
••TULLY ON TULLY + CHIPS CALYPSO + TULALAH
••NEXT - FEAT: CONFESSION + OUR WASTELAND
Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $5.00. Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm.
Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $8.00.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••ULTRA FOX The Everleigh, Fitzroy. 9:30pm.
••BIG EASY SOUL SESSIONS Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
••BOPSTRETCH Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ••CHRIS YOUNG QUARTET + LO-RES + TIM
PLEDGER’S SANDWICH JESUS 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. ••INVISIBLE DEARS & PORCELAIN PILL Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $5.00.
••JAZZ PARTY BAND + SOUTH OF THE RIVER CHOIR
9:00pm. $52.05.
+ THE CITY AT NIGHT Colonial Hotel, Melbourne Cbd.
7:00pm.
BARONI Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00. ••SLIM JEFFRIES + POCKETS + HALLOW HOUNDS + KING PUPPY & THE CARNIVORE + DJ BABY TONES Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.
••LA NUIT BLANCHE Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd.
••THE ANIMATORS + JANTINA & THE JAGUARS +
7:00pm. $15.00.
9:00pm. $20.00.
••PAGANINI/TOGNETTI - FEAT: AUSTRALIAN
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA Melbourne Recital Centre,
Southbank. 8:00pm. $110.00.
••PETER HEARNE & DIZZY’S BIG BAND WITH
CELESTE COULSON Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14.00.
••RUBY’S LIVE JAZZ AFTER DARK - FEAT: GYPSY
JAZZ DUO Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm.
$15.00.
••SHOL Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm.
••SHOSTAKOVICH WITH DALE BARLTROP, MICHELLE
WOOD Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 6:00pm.
$38.00.
••THE EMIE R ROUSSE TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $20.00.
ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK ••NORMIE ROWE Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 8:00pm. $17.00.
••OPEN MIC Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:30pm. ••OPEN MIC Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 8:00pm.
••OPEN MIC Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. ••OPEN MIC/JAM Musicland, Fawkner. 7:00pm.
••TALL BUILDINGS + EMMA HEENEY & SOPHIE KOH Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm.
••THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS - FEAT: CHRIS WATTS Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 6:30pm.
••THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL’S OPEN MIC Brunswick
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 52
Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
••HEY FRANKIE (GUESS WHO LAUNCH) + UP UP
Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $20.00.
••INGLORIOUS CHRISTMAS - FEAT: THE
••TRY A LITTLE JEN DE NESS Paris Cat Jazz Club, ••WASP + THE SHIFTERS + MY PROBLEM Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK
YANA ALANA John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm.
TODD COOK Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00. ••THE DUKES OF DELICIOUSNESS + GRINDHOUSE + THE SURE FIRE MIDNIGHTS Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ••THE UGLY KINGS + VERTICOLI + THE HUNTED CROWS + AUSTRALIAN KINGSWOOD FACTORY Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $7.00.
••THE WAR ON DRUGS The Hi-Fi, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. ••UB40 Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $122.29.
••VADGEDAGGAR + WATCHTOWER + ELBRUS + HOLY
••DARREN HANLON + ROWENA WISE Bridge Hotel,
••JULES BOULT Catfish, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.
Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm.
Castlemaine. 8:30pm. $18.00.
••EYRETON HALL + JETHRO PICKETT Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00.
BARENDSE Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:30pm.
$5.00.
••LEBLANC BROS CAJUN ACES Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8:30pm.
••LONESOME + THE SCOUTS + RIO GRANDE 303, Northcote. 8:00pm.
••MURDENA + TOM DOCKRAT BAND + GEORGIA
SPAIN Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. ••SLOW GALO Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm. ••THE CLAREMONT STREET SINGERS + PINA TUTERI Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.
••THE HERE HERE’S Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 8:00pm.
FRIDAY DEC 12
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••AUTOMATIC EVERYWHERE + SKYMOTH + MOJO
PIN + SHUT UP & CHOKE ME + SET TO STUN Espy, St
Kilda. 8:00pm.
••AYLEN O’HANLON & MUNRO MELANO Aviary ,
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••JOHN FRANCIS CARROLL Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $10.00.
••BELLA WOLF Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $15.00.
••CRAIG SMITH QUINTET WITH MEL SEARLE Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14.00.
••FEM BELLING & THE JOHN MONTESANTE
QUINTET The Commune, East Melbourne. 6:00pm. ••FREE RANGE FUNK - FEAT: JAKE JUDD + TIGERFUNK + LEWIS CANCUT Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm.
••FREIDA LE BJORN Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. $5.00. ••REFRACTION Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.
Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $44.00.
••JUKEBOX RACKET Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm. ••KILL SHOTT + FUCK THE FITZROY DOOM SCENE +
TRANS PARANOIA + RODEO DIRTBAG + DJ LUCY ARUNDEL Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $13.00. ••LUNAR SEASONS + THE HEROINES + DREAM IN COLOUR KIDZ Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:30pm. $10.00. ••MASSIVE + DEAD CITY RUINS + IDLE FRET + THE BRONSONS Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $12.00. ••MERCURY WHITE + THE CONTROLLERS Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $12.00.
••MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL - FEAT: THE WAR
ON DRUGS + TY SEGALL + THE SKATALITES + MARK LANEGAN + DE LA SOUL + SLEEP + JAMES HOLDEN + CLOUD NOTHINGS + THE LEMONHEADS + GHOSTFACE KILLAH + PHOSPHORESCENT + VAKULA + FACTORY FLOOR + AUGIE MARCH + THE BOMBAY ROYALE + PAINTERS AND DOCKERS + MIA DYSON + TINY RUINS + BLANK REALM + TEETH & TONGUE + MARLON WILLIAMS + DR PHIL SMITH Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, Meredith. 8:00pm.
••NICK ANDERSON ALLSTARS Carters Bar, Northcote. 9:00pm.
••NO THOUGHT CONTROL - FEAT: KRISPY & THE
Cbd. 11:30pm.
COASTAL GROOVES + AVENUES + CHARLIE OFFICER 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. ••NORMIE ROWE & THE PLAYBOYS Flying Saucer Club,
9:30pm.
••OLMEG + RIFF FIST + BORRACHERO + ZOMBIE
Abbotsford. 7:00pm. $15.00.
OF STORY TELLING + LEIGH BACCHETTI Evelyn WABZ Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $8.00.
8:00pm. $10.00.
••BENJAMIN BONES + BRENDAN FORWARD Whole
••CHERRY BOMB European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd.
Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00.
TARANTINOS + ANTOINNE POLNAREFF ET SES SAUVAGES + GOGO GODDESSES The Luwow, Fitzroy.
••JOHN LEGEND Plenary Hall, South Wharf. 8:00pm.
••BEN SALTER Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm.
••BLACK NIGHT CRASH Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne
••YOUNGS (JOY LAUNCH) + FORTUNES + HUNTLY +
AWAY + 30/70 Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $7.00.
••ARCHIE ROACH Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8:00pm.
SERPENT Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
••WINTER YORK + HALCYON DRIVE + DARK MATTER
THE DAMNED John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm.
••JAY BRANNEN + MIKE WATERS + LOUIS SPOILS
••JOSEPH MILLS + JORDON BAKKER + SAM
••SEX ON TOAST + DJ VINCE PEACH + PIERRE
Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $30.00.
••HADAL MAW + WHORETOPSY + ORCHESTRATING
FROM OSLO Lord Newry Hotel, Fitzroy North. 7:00pm. ••PLUGGED IN THURSDAYS - FEAT: BLOOMFIELD + HALF IN THE SKY + KID SIDNEY Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:30pm. $7.00.
Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:30pm. $10.00.
••GLENN TILBROOK + PHILEMON Caravan Music Club,
Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $25.00.
••EVA MCGOWAN Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm.
••TEK TEK ENSEMBLE + SUGAR FED LEOPARDS +
••LUKE HOWARD TRIO Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd.
MIROSLAV BUKOVSKY Bennetts Lane Jazz Club,
••PLEBS CHRISTMAS PARTY + DEAR THIEVES +
+ THE TRAILER TRASH CHOIR Caravan Music Club,
Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $20.00.
7:00pm. $15.00.
$7.00.
••GAYLE CAVENAGH & THE MIXED COMPANY BAND
••CHRIS WILSON Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 5:30pm.
••COCKS ARQUETTE + MASSES + STATIONS + TOL +
DJ KEZBOT Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8.00. ••COSA NOSTRA + DIVE INTO RUIN + DJ SHAKY MEMORIAL Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm. ••DALLAS FRASCA + PALACE OF THE KING + MY DYNAMITE + THE UNDERHANDED Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $13.00.
••DAMON ALBARN Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $106.64. ••EASTWOOD RAVINE Pier Live, Frankston. 8:00pm. ••EINSTEIN TOYBOYS + SIMEON & THE SOLID
SNAKES Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10.00. ••FLANAGAN FRIDAYS - FEAT: VARIOUS COVER ARTISTS Pier Live, Frankston. 8:00pm. ••FULL OF HELL + WHITEHORSE + HALT EVER + HUMAN RUINS Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
Elsternwick. 8:00pm. $28.00.
MOTORS WRECKING YARD + DJ HOOPS HOOPER Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.
••ORSOME WELLES + TROLDHAUGEN + ALITHIA +
FULL CODE Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00.
••PHOSPHORESCENT + ALI BARTER + MAGIC HANDS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $48.00.
••RUDE BOY REVIVAL + NO NONESENSE + SKA
VENDORS + LOONEE TUNES + THE KUJO KINGS Espy, St Kilda. 7:30pm.
••SPENCER P JONES Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:30pm. ••TEQUILA MOCKINGBYRD + THE MERCY KILLS +
VIRTUE + CITY SHARPS + STARS OF ADDICTION Espy, St Kilda. 8:30pm.
••THE OUT OF TOWNERS + THE TRANSITIONS +
STREET FANGS + THE STAVROS BROTHERS Public
Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10.00.
••THE PEOPLE + ALEX FORMOSA-BAUDO + RICK
PETROPOULOS + LEE SPENCE Big Huey’s Diner, South Melbourne. 8:00pm.
••THE RED LIGHTS + LOST WOODS + SWIM SEASON Rubix Warehouse, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $10.00.
••THINGS OF STONE & WOOD + SALLY DASEY +
PHILEMON Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm.
$33.00.
••WATT’S ON - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:30pm.
DALLAS FRASCA
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••BEETHOVEN’S CHRISTMAS - FEAT: MICHAEL
WOODS & CURT THOMPSON Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:00pm. $52.00.
••CHARLES JENKINS Basement Discs, Melbourne Cbd. 12:45pm.
••CHEAP FRILLS Farouk’s Olive, Thornbury. 8:00pm. $5.00.
••ESSTEE BIG BAND Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 9:30pm.
••ESTHER HENDERSON Open Studio, Northcote. 6:00pm. ••JACQ GAWLER & DOUG DE VRIES & PANORAMA
BRASIL Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 6:30pm. $25.00.
••JAMES SHERLOCK QUARTET Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
Every wondered what goes through the mind of the man behind acts like Blur and Gorillaz? Get up close and personal with Damon Albarn when he plays an intimate show in Melbourne to celebrate his first solo release, Everyday Robots. Don’t miss one of the most inventive musicians of his generation who is sure to make you feel good when he plays the Palais Theatre, Friday December 12.
Need to let your hair down after a slow week? How about dying it a fiery shade of red and thrashing it about to the sounds of Melbourne three-piece riff rockers, Dallas Frasca? Returning from their fourth triumphant tour overseas in the past 18-months, Dallas Frasca are set to celebrate their international successes and unleash their explosive new single and video, You Are Beautiful. Dress messy to get messy when Dallas Frasca tear up the stage at Yah Yah’s this Friday December 12 with Palace of the King, My Dynamite & The Underhanded.
FEVER + STONING + GRUDGE + SMACK BABY Public
••JAMHURI - FEAT: GITHINJI + DJ BUMAYE + SAM +
DAMON ALBARN
Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10.00.
••JOE CHINDAMO TRIO Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond.
••GYROSCOPE + THE LOVE JUNKIES + GRAPHIC
••JULIAN BANKS TRIO Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm.
••HIGHTIME + FOXTROT + TIGERS + TAKE YOUR OWN
9:00pm. $20.00.
$20.00.
••MICHELLE NICOLLE FRETET Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $28.00.
••OLIVIA CHINDAMO & THE DAVID REX QUARTET Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $20.00.
••SHOL Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $20.00. ••SOULMATE + STEVIE & THE SLEEPERS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.
••TEK TEK ENSEMBLE + DJ FLOYD THURSBY Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm.
••THE RANDY ANDERSON Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $25.00.
ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK ••A NIGHT OF SONGS IN THE GRANDSTAND - FEAT:
DAVID BRIDIE & CHARLES JENKINS Thornbury
Theatre, Thornbury. 8:30pm. $30.00.
••ANDY GRANT DUO European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm.
••AUSTRALIAN KINGWOOD FACTORY + THE BALLS
+ MUSCLE MARY Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. $10.00.
••BAD TENANT + MORNING MIST Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. $10.00.
••BOOTLEG RASCAL Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 9:00pm.
CHARACTERS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm.
+ DJ JUKE JOINT Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. ••IRON MIND + THE OTHERS + MOOD SWING + DOWNSIDE Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. ••JOHN LEGEND Rochford Wines, Coldstream. 8:00pm. ••KING’S CUP + CITYWIDE WILDCAT + HALF EATEN APPLE + BOTTLECAPS + THE FLYING SO HIGH O’S + FOLEY! + A COMMONER’S REVOLT + THE BERKELEY HUNTS 303, Northcote. 4:00pm. $5.00. ••MADDIE DUKE + JORDAN THOMPSON Old Bar, Fitzroy. 3:00pm.
••MYSTERY TRAIN Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
+ SHEWOLF + PATH OF DESTRUCTION + RELEASE THE HOUNDS Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 8:00pm. ••STU LARSEN + TIM MOORE Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $15.00.
••TEN THOUSAND + ARCANE SAINTS + FADING
HOUR Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00. ••THE ARCHAIC REVIVAL + MUSCLE CAR + THE BLACK ALLEYS + THE HIGH DRIFTERS Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. 10:00pm.
••MELISSA MAIN Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:30pm.
PARMY DHILLON + THE TRAITORS + CULLIVER + ENEMIES ALIKE + THE CONTRARIANS + BUCK JR
••RECHORDS + DJ KIT CONVICT Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford.
Espy, St Kilda. 8:30pm.
••THE IVY STONE ASSEMBLY Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.
••THE DETONATORS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.
••THE DIVINE FLUXUS + ABLAZE + MERCIES END +
SHADOWS OF HYENAS + MOMENTS APART Revolver
8:00pm. $13.00.
••THY ART IS MURDER + PSYCROPTIC +
Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
••TRICK DOG SYNDICATE Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm.
ENLIGHT + SARSPELL Espy, St Kilda. 8:30pm. ••AYLEN O’HANLON & MUNRO MELANO Aviary , Abbotsford. 7:00pm. $15.00.
••BANG - FEAT: RAISE ATLANTIS + EARTHENDER Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $20.00.
••BAREBACK TITTY SQUAD + THE CHERRY DOLLS ••BEYOND VEGAS + AS CROWS FLY + BRITTLE SUN ••BIG VILLAGE XMAS PARTY - FEAT: DAILY MEDS +
TRUE VIBENATION + SUBURBAN DARK Northcote
Social Club, Northcote. 8:00pm. $15.00.
••BLACK GARAGE RECORDS - FEAT: SHE’S THE
DRIVER + MALLARDS + THE ROMEY & JOE SHOW + DJ POZ MAN Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $13.00. ••BOOTLEG RASCAL (OH I KNOW TOUR) Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $12.50.
••BUSTAMENTO + ZELIA ROSE BURLESQUE +
BARBARA BLAZE & STEVIE SKA VENDOR DJS The
$20.00.
••WATSKY + DYLAN JOEL + PEEZO + R.E.A.L MUSIC Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $25.00.
••ALINTA AND THE JAZZ EMPERORS Paris Cat Jazz
••CHELSEA DRUGSTORE Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. ••CISCO CEASAR Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:30pm.
••DISCO COMPUTER + SIKANDER Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 9:00pm.
••DYSON, STRINGER, CLOHER Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $30.00.
••FANTASTIC FLIGHTS OF FANCY - FEAT: THE
WINTERFRIENDS + AWOMADAH FIG + MATT ALFORD + GREG STEPS Club Voltaire, North Melbourne. 7:00pm. $15.00.
••FLYING ENGINE STRINGBAND Railway Hotel (nth Fitzroy), Fitzroy North. 9:30pm.
••FLYING ENGINE TRIO Testing Grounds, Melbourne. 6:00pm.
••HARRY HOWARD & THE NDE Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm.
Rsl, Kew. 7:30pm.
BOULEVARD Musicland, Fawkner. 8:00pm. $15.00. MORRISON) - FEAT: VAN MORRISON Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 6:00pm. $23.00.
••LILY & KING + EYRETON HALL Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 9:00pm. $10.00.
••MANDY CONNELL Penny Black, Brunswick. 3:00pm.
••NORMIE ROWE & THE PLAYBOYS Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $28.00.
••RATTLINCANE Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:30pm. ••SPOONFUL CHRISTMAS SHOW Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
••THE BAY OF PIGS Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm.
••THE MOONEE VALLEY DRIFTERS Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.
••THE SCREAMIN HONKIES Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 9:00pm.
••VERTICOLI + RED LIGHT ROIT + STONE REVIVAL +
THE BLACK ALLEYS Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. $10.00.
SUNDAY DEC 14
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $30.00.
••MARK LANEGAN Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd.
BENAUD TRIO Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank.
••THE LOVE JUNKIES + DUMB PUNTS Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy.
••FIESTA HISPANA! (BENAUD TRIO) - FEAT: THE 3:00pm. $38.00.
••AFROVIVAL & THE KWELA SWINGSTERS Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00.
••GOOD MUSIC - FEAT: ETHAN MCLAREN Prince Public
Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
••GREAT ROMANTICS COMPETITION Melbourne Recital
••DRAIN LIFE + CROSSED + RUST IN PISS + CABIN
MILD + DANIKA SMITH Exit Strategy Studios, Brunswick.
5:00pm. $5.00.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC
Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $15.00.
••CRAZY OLD MAURICE + IMOGEN PEMBERTON
Brunswick East. 9:30pm.
••BLANK CANVAS - FEAT: SOOKY LALA + FIERCE
••INTO THE MYSTIC (THE MUSIC OF VAN
Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00.
GEOFF ACHISON + PHIL PARA Espy, St Kilda. 6:00pm.
••ARCANE + BRANCH ARTERIAL + ALITHIA +
10:00pm.
HEARTS + DJ MERMAID Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd.
REVOCATION + DISENTOMB + FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY The Hi-Fi, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $36.00. ••TOO METAL FOR MEREDITH - FEAT: ORDER OF CHAOS + ORDER OF TORMENT + ABREACT + CRYPTIC ABYSS Karova Lounge, Ballarat. 8:30pm. $10.00. ••TRENDKILL MAGAZINE 1ST BIRTHDAY - FEAT: DESECRATOR + DREADNAUGHT + IN MALICE’S WAKE + DARKER HALF + ORPHEUS OMEGA + HARLOTT + ENVENOMED + DEMONHEAD + MALICHOR + ESPIONAGE + CAGE OF SERENITY + DECAPITATED MUM Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 2:00pm.
••ANIMAL HANDS + SHED ZEPPELIN + SPOONFUL +
ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK
••IAIN ARCHIBALD + DIRTY BOGARTS + LAMB
••THE SOLICITORS + HONEYBONE + THE STONEAGE
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
Northcote. 3:00pm.
Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm.
••TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION - FEAT: DAN
SATURDAY DEC 13
Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $30.00.
••YURODIVYE STUDENT RECITALS Open Studio,
••HERDING CATS + THE OLD MOTHERFATHERS Kew
••THE PASS OUTS + JAYA + PAUL ZULA Great Britain
BOURKE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6:00pm.
MINIJUPES Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 9:00pm.
••THE KRISTIN BERARDI BAND Bennetts Lane Jazz Club,
Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. $13.00.
••TRACY MCNEIL & THE GOOD LIFE Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm.
7:30pm. $25.00.
••THE BLUEBOTTLES + THE PINK TILES + LES
••SISTER’S DOLL + CRASH TRAGIC + SPIDEYSPIDEY
••KRISTIN VIRAG Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 10:00pm.
8:30pm.
Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $15.00.
••SHELLEY SEGAL Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd.
••ALANNA & ALICIA EGAN BAND Lomond Hotel,
••THE BRAVES + BIG AL’S JUKE JOINT BLUES +
••RIP RAWERS Pascoe Vale Rsl, Pascoe Vale. 8:00pm. $8.00.
Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
••RUBY’S SPECIAL BLUE NOTE SERIES Ruby’s Music
••ACTION SAM European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd.
Frankston. 8:00pm.
••THE BAND WHO KNEW TOO MUCH Bar Open, Fitzroy.
••NICE TYPES Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:30pm.
••PAUL WILLIAMSON QUARTET Uptown Jazz Cafe,
••SHENANIGANS - FEAT: RADIO CHOAS Pier Live,
••DARYL ROBERTS Jillians Cafe Bar, Rosanna. 7:30pm.
••FATS WAHWAH Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm.
DEK + JEFF LEPPARD Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 2:00pm.
••MANNY FOX Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. $7.00.
Bar, St Kilda . 8:00pm.
Centre, Southbank. 3:00pm.
9:00pm. $52.05.
8:00pm.
••ARCHIE ROACH + GINA WILLAMS + GUY GHOUSE Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 1:30pm. $35.00.
••AVIAR Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
••BOOTLEG RASCAL (OH I KNOW TOUR) Baha Tacos & Tapas Bar, Rye. 8:30pm.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 53
GIG GUIDE
WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK
THE PUSH PRESENT
ACCESS ALL AGES
For all the latest gigs check out beat.com.au ••CLONE OF BOOTLEG RASCAL (OH I KNOW TOUR)
+ SEAN MCMAHON & THE MOONMEN + SIMMO BROTHERS Workers Club, Fitzroy. 2:00pm. $12.00. ••EMPAT LIMA + THE BURNT SAUSAGES + TOTALLY MILD + WONDERBOY Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 2:00pm.
••ESPY ARTIST SHOWDOWN Espy, St Kilda. 12:30pm.
••GEOFF ACHISON + STAND & DELIVER 80S + SUPER
SOUNDS MIXTAPE Espy, St Kilda. 6:00pm. ••KALACOMA + DEAR PLASTIC + MAYFAIR KYTES Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $15.00.
••KEVIN MURPHY + THE RAMBLING ROOTS + GREG
STEPS + YELLINGBO Bar Open, Fitzroy. 6:30pm. ••KING PIN CHRISTMAS PARTY - FEAT: THE INFERNO + THE MIGHTY KINGS + ITCHY FINGERS + EZRA LEE Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 11:30am. ••KING WOLF Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. ••KIRA PURU + LALIC + MILES & SIMONE Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $7.00.
••MIGHTY DUKE & THE LORDS Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
••MIKE WATERS Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm.
WITH RUTH MIHELCIC
••MELBOURNE JAZZ VOCAL SESSIONS 303, Northcote. 2:30pm. $5.00.
••MIKE RUDD Wine Larder, Brighton. 5:00pm.
••RUBY’S SUNDAY SPECIAL (VIOLIN & PIANO DUO) Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 2:00pm. $15.00.
••STANDING TALL Open Studio, Northcote. 4:00pm. $7.00.
••THE SUGARCANES + THE PERFECTIONS + OSKAR
HERBIG Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $8.00.
••THE TEA SET Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm.
••THE WIKIMEN Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK ••AARON THOMAS Penny Black, Brunswick. 3:00pm. ••ACCIDENTAL BED FELLOWS Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 5:00pm.
••ALEX LEGG FIGHTING FUND CONCERT - FEAT:
LLOYD SPIEGEL + PHIL MANNING + TABASCO TOM ROGERSON + BRIAN BAKER + TERRY SPRINGFORD + DAVE MCFARLANE + PETE PETER HOWELL + WINSTON GALEA + TONY MARTIN + PHIL N CLAIRE LESTER + STEWART KOHINGA BARBARA JEFFREY Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 3:00pm.
CYPRESS HILL
Last time Cypress Hill headed Down Under to play Soundwave 2013, metalheads, emos and stoners alike forgot their differences and lit up together in honour of Dr. GreenThumb. The Latin-American hip hop legends are back to ask the only question you wanna hear. Do you want to get high? Get yo ass down to The Forum and sing along as Cypress Hill hit dem bongs, Thursday December 11. Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $6.00.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••303 FUNK JAM 303, Northcote. 8:00pm.
••DARYL MCKENZIE JAZZ ORCHESTRA The Apartment, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $15.00.
••NUMBER STATION St Kilda Bowling Club, St Kilda.
••BAKERSFIELD GLEE CLUB Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford.
••JAZZ FUSHION Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd.
••PALM SPRINGS + TIM RICHMOND + GREEN TIN
••BARB WATERS & MOTHERS OF PEARL Lomond
••RUBY’S LIVE JAZZ AFTER DARK - FEAT: PIANO TÉ
8:00pm.
Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 4:00pm.
••SUNDAY SCHOOL - FEAT: SMALL WORLD
EXPERIENCE Public Bar, North Melbourne. 4:00pm. ••THE MOCKINGBIRD + BROOKE PENROSE Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm.
••THE ROLLING PERPETUAL GROOVE SHOW + THE
TRIED + THE IVORY ELEPHANT Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.
4:00pm.
Hotel, Brunswick East. 5:30pm.
••BLOODY SUNDAYS - FEAT: MAT DANIEL + SIRENJO
+ BULK OF MAN Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 5:00pm.
••CHEERS & BEERS FOR CHRISTMAS - FEAT: JACK
HOWARD & THE LONG LOST BROTHERS + FIONA & HER HOLY MEN Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 3:30pm. $20.00.
6:00pm. $10.00.
Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $10.00.
••THE ALLAN BROWNE TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $18.00.
••THE MUTUAL APPRECIATION SOCIETY - FEAT:
BROOKE RUSSELL + JAMES KENYON Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.
ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK
••TY SEGALL + LIVING EYES + AUSMUTEANTS Corner
••CHRIS WILSON Big Huey’s Diner, South Melbourne.
••BANJO-B-QUE - FEAT: CRAIG WOODWARD The
••VERTICOLI + LITTLE HOUSE GODZ + CALAMITY
••COLLARD GREENS & GRAVY Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy.
••THE DOODADS Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm.
Hotel, Richmond. 9:30am.
LANE + KID SIDNEY Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:30pm. $5.00.
••WATSKY (U18) + DYLAN JOEL + R.E.A.L MUSIC Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $25.00.
4:00pm.
4:00pm.
303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00.
••JAM SUNDAYS Musicland, Fawkner. 6:00pm.
••JULIA MESSENGER The Milk Bar, Brunswick. 4:00pm.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC
••KEN MAHER, AL WRIGHT & TONY HARGREAVES
DE VRIES + AL KERR The Everleigh, Fitzroy. 9:30pm. ••CORPUS MEDICORUM Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 5:00pm. $57.00.
••ESTEE BIG BAND Penny Black, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
••FOX FORCE FIVE FESTIVAL QUINTET Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $20.00.
••GEORGE BUTRUMLIS & THE CONTEMPORARY
CREATURES + THE JUNES Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 3:00pm. $18.00.
••JAZZ & SWING PARTY - FEAT: RUBY PAGE
SWINGTET + PEARLY SHELLS + JUMPING JITTABUGS + MOONEY VALLEY HOT 5 + MELLOWTONES ROCK N ROLL Yarraville Club,
Yarraville. 10:30am. $25.00.
••JAZZ HAPPY HOUR - FEAT: CONNIE LANSBERG
QUARTET Mardo’s, Port Melbourne. 2:00pm.
••JAZZHEAD SUNDAYS Lady Grange, St Kilda. 3:00pm.
••KYLIE AULDIST & THE GLENROY ALL STARS + FAT
COUSIN SKINNY + DJ VINCE PEACH Retreat Hotel,
Brunswick. 5:00pm.
$30.00.
Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:00pm.
••LINDSAY FIELD, SAM SEE & GLYN MASON Royal Oak Hotel, Fitzroy North. 4:00pm.
••MICHAEL MEEKING & THE LOST SOULS Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.
••NEW SAVAGES Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
••SOUTHERN LIGHTNING + JIMI BEAVIS + DJ MAX
CRAWDADDY Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 2:00pm. $5.00.
••SPENCER P. JONES Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 4:00pm. ••SUNDAY SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Lucky Coq, Windsor. 4:00pm.
••SUNDAY SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 2:00pm.
FEAT: DOLL + NICKWG + WUMPY Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $10.00.
••MOTHERFUCKERS EVERYWHERE - FEAT: BODIES +
HARD RUBBISH + WEEDY GONZALEZ Old Bar, Fitzroy.
7:00pm. $6.00.
••SUPER UNSIGNED X-MAS FESTIVAL SHOW - FEAT:
MIDNIGHT ALIBI + LUNAR + STONEFOX + MENAGE ADKS + SWYTCH + JEFFRY’S CABBAGE + VERINA + DAKOTA WILLIAMS + FACADES + HAYDEN JOHN + LAURA HUTCHINS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:00pm. $17.00.
••THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL DISCOVERY NIGHT
- FEAT: SQUID INK + MAN CITY SIRENS + THE NATIVE PLANTS + TIMES ROUND Brunswick Hotel,
Brunswick. 8:00pm.
••THE SHABBAB + OX Public Bar, North Melbourne.
••THE SONGWRITER SESSIONS - FEAT: MICHAEL
••THE WAR ON DRUGS + TWERPS 170 Russell,
5:00pm.
YULE + BOB CRAIN + ROD FRITZ Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
••TOM DOCKRAY + LUKE WATT TRIO Drunken Poet,
Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm.
7:00pm. $5.00.
Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
••TULLY ON TULLY + NEIGHBOURHOOD YOUTH +
MERCIANS Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $8.00.
West Melbourne. 6:30pm.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC
WOODWARD + WARREN ROUGH Victoria Hotel,
••LUCAS MICHALIDIS Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm.
••WAYFARE Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.
MONDAY DEC 15
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 54
••IVORY TOWER RECORDS TRIPLE ALBUM LAUNCH -
••THE SIDESHOW BRIDES Union Hotel, Brunswick.
••THE DAMES Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 4:30pm.
••WANGO BANGO Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 4:00pm.
EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT WANTED: REINDEER IN NEED OF WORK. Company downsizing due to technological advances. Strong leadership qualities and willing to take a hard stance against workplace bullying. Please contact Rudolf. Post only. Address to North Pole and mark as confidential.
••BRIGHTSIDE Espy, St Kilda. 7:30pm.
••THE RESIGNATORS + MCALPINE FUSILLIERS Cherry
Brunswick. 5:00pm.
SERVICES SOUNDPARK REHEARSALS NORTHCOTE. From $50. Great rooms/p.a’s. Parking/Storage/Hire. Phone Andrew 0425 706 382. Soundparkstudios.com.au
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
••TAYLOR PROJECT Union Hotel, Brunswick. 3:30pm.
••VIC OLD TIME JAM SESSION - FEAT: CRAIG
MUSICIANS WANTED Bands/Acts wanted for Espy Shows. Shoot an email through to mark@gunnmusic.com.au for more details
TUESDAY DEC 16
••CRAZY OLD MAURICE + STEVIE & THE SLEEPERS
••WIL WAGNER Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 3:00pm. ••BRAZILIAN JAZZ - FEAT: TAMIL ROGEON + DOUG
Mercat, Melbourne. 1:00pm.
••RUBY’S LIVE JAZZ AFTER DARK - FEAT: DEXTER’S
ASIAN CONNECTION Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $15.00.
••TABLE 9 Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $10.00.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
••THE ALLAN BROWNE TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club,
••MARK LANEGAN Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd.
••THE JAZZ CATS Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm.
9:00pm. $52.05.
••CHERRY JAM Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm.
••IAN ANDERSON (THE BEST OF JETHRO TULL) Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $101.75.
••MONDAY NIGHT MASS - FEAT: SPLIT TEETH +
METER MEN + ASBESTOSISIS + SICK MACHINE Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 6:00pm.
••MUNDANE MONDAYS - FEAT: FOLEY! + THE
BERKELEY HUNTS + FLYING SAUCER TERROR + A GAZILLION ANGRY MEXICANS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
$5.00.
••TY SEGALL + THE MURLOCS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $44.00.
Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $18.00. $14.00.
ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK ••ALMA KALORAMA + MCROBIN 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. ••BJ MORRISZONKLE + BRITE FIGHT Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.
••CAJUN DANCE PARTY - FEAT: THE ‘JOHNNY CAN’T
DANCE’ CAJUN BAND Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm.
••IRISH SESSIONS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8:00pm.
••MELBOURNE GUITAR WORKSHOP XMAS PAGEANT Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm.
••OPEN MIC Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:00pm.
••VILLAINETEES + HONEY BADGERS Evelyn Hotel,
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
Two more weeks until Christmas, which means end of year holidays are almost here, or already here for the luckier among us. Two more weeks! What happened to the year!? What happened to all the time there was to prepare for the festive season and not leave present buying until the last minute so you could avoid crowded shopping centres? Hopefully you made the most of this year’s gig guide (see below) and were able to save a bit of dosh by checking out the many, many free or cheap gigs throughout the year, so at least you’ll have a few extra bucks to spend on presents. Maybe. Anyway, there’s a few good opportunities in the column this week, don’t forget you can get these emailed to you once a month by subscribing to our newsletter (www.thepush.com.au) The innovative songwriting mentoring program Push Songs kicks off again in February/March 2015 and applications have just opened. You’ll get one on one song writing workshops with the likes of Charles Jenkins, Mark Seymour, Adalita, Greg Walker (Machine Translations) and Liz Stringer. The program’s based at our Brunswick office and open to AA in Victoria. Apply by Friday January 30 at www.surveymonkey.com/s/PS2015R1. If you’re a young Victorian aged 18-25 and are interested in establishing yourself in any area of the music industry (performing artists, composer, producer, sound engineer, event manager, booking agent, publicist, journalists, rock photographers, etc) then check out the FReeZA Mentoring Program. Applications are open for the 2015 program, which will see participants matched up, one-on-one, with a supportive mentor who is already established within the industry. Positions are limited, so apply ASAP at www.surveymonkey. com/s/FREEZAMentoring15. The folks from St Kilda Festival are looking for volunteers to help out during the Live N Local week (Sunday February 1-7) and Yalukit Wilum Ngargee festival (Saturday January 31). Priority will be given to applicants studying or recently graduated in event management, music business or similar courses. Apply by Monday January 5 at www.stkildafestival.com.au. Today’s also the last day to apply for the position to WRITE THIS VERY COLUMN THAT YOU’RE READING NOW. Our little team in Brunswick is looking for a new Gig Guide Coordinator / intern to come in one day per week. If you’ve got a passion for writing, all ages events, getting published online and in this magazine every week, this could be the position for you. There’s more info on our website, but basically send me your resume and a sample of your work to push@ thepush.com.au.
ALL AGES TIMETABLE THURSDAY DECEMBER 11 • Napier St Block Party w/ Yung Phily, Candice Monique, Tom Hansen, Alternative Alibi, Seventh Son, Ace Music, The Phonics, The Artful Dodgers, Rising High, TLB, FOFO, Girls dance troupe, Yarra Youth Services, 156 Napier St, Fitzroy, 4-8pm, Free, contact Gabrielle Nolan / 9426 1455, AA • Sunshine North Concert, Sunshine North Primary School, Sunshine North, 5-9pm, Free, www.derrimut.ymca.org.au, AA • Koori Christmas Party w/ Tayla Unstead, Morwell Town Common, White st, Morwell, 11am – 3pm, Free, contact Hayley Franklin / 0427 208 871, AA • Dream on Dreamer w/ Daywaster, Path of Destruction, Musicman, Cnr Hargreaves and Williamson St, Bendigo, 5:30-8:30pm, $10, www. yobendigo.com.au / www.bendigo.vic.gov.au, AA FRIDAY DECEMBER 12 • All Wrapped Up w/ Sideliners, Set The Score, Admit One, The Just-Us League, EV’s Youth Centre, 212 Mt Dandenong Rd, 6:30-11pm, $10, www.maroondahyouthservices.com, AA • Da Sickest Beats w/ DJ MGMC, DJ Bradley Delamare, Kerang Memorial Hall, 4 Nolan St, Kerang, 7:30-11pm, $10, www.facebook.com/ gannawarra, U18 SATURDAY DECEMBER 13 • For Human Culture The Show w/ Cats of Japan, Dawn Patrol, Crimson Drones, Beau Stegmann, Stephen Loftus, Secret Walls, Janie Gordon, Ben Norris, Dean Eddy, DJ, Serafino’s Blue Lounge Pizzeria, 7/9 Bair St, Leongatha, 7-10pm, Gold coin entry, www.facebook.com/sgfreeza/timeline, AA
Thurs 11th @ 8.30 pm
LEBLANC BROS CAJUN ACES (Cajun cookin’)
Friday 12th @ 9.30pm
CHELSEA DRUGSTORE SATURDAY 13TH DECEMBER
(XMAS SHOW) FROM 5PM
SUNDAY 14TH DECEMBER
KING WOLF (XMAS SHOW) FROM 5PM
FOOD AT THE LABOUR
DOUGY & WESTON BBQ ON THE ROOF TOP EVERY FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY ALL SUMMER LONG...
FATS WAHWAH (Funky chunky grooves)
Saturday 13th @ 9.30 pm
ALANNA & ALICIA EGAN BAND +GUESTS
(Twin harmony)
Sunday 14th @ 5.30pm
BARB WATERS & MOTHERS OF PEARL (Alt-country twang)
@ 9.00 pm
KEN MAHER, AL WRIGHT & TONY HARGREAVES (Acoustic roots)
Tuesday 16th @ 8.00pm
IRISH SESSION (Fancy fiddlin’)
ALL GIGS ARE FREE
EXCELLENT RESTAURANT AND BAR MEALS
LOMOND HOTEL 225 NICHOLSON STREET BRUNSWICK EAST, VIC 3057 9380 1752
Wed 10th December
‘Wine, Whiskey, Women’ 8pm: Grace King 9pm: Teresa Dixon Thurs 11th December
8pm: Pina TuTeri 9pm: The ClareMonT STreeT SinGerS Fri 12th December 6pm: Traditional irish Music Session with Dan Bourke & Friends
8.30pm: Melissa
9pm: The
Main
Sat 13th December
Screamin honkies
Sun 14th December
4pm: luke Watt Trio 6.30pm: Tom Dockray Tues 16th december
8pm: Weekly Trivia The Drunken Poet, 65 Peel Street (directly opposite Queen Vic Market), Phone: 03 9348 9797. www.thedrunkenpoet.com.au
TUESDAYS
TRIVIA
TRIVIA NIGHT
@ 7pm - $6 CHILLI DOGS ALL NIGHT
R O CK A N D P O P C U LT U R E
Wednesday 10TH DECEMBER
E V E RY T U E S D A Y
Jukebox RequesTs
T r i v i a s t a rt s a t 8 p m Table bookings essential
@ 7pm wITH 2-1 meALS
Thursday 11TH DECEMBER
It’s a
The beAT RAffle
wITH pOSTIe p & DJ BuICk @ 7pm - fuNk/SOuL/pArTy JAmS $15 JuGS & $1 wINGS ALL NIGHT. DrINk DrINkS, HeAr BeATS, wIN STuff.
Friday 12TH DECEMBER
booM booM LIve HIp HOp wITH frAkSHA AND GuTz pLuS OpeN mIC BATTLeS @8pm
Saturday 13th DECEMBER
VIRus quInTeT ClusTeRfunk LIve 4 pIeCe fuNk
LIve JAzz frOm 3pm fOLLOweD By
Sunday 14th DECEMBER
JAZZ PARTY
frOm 2pm wITH $15 JuGS & $1 wINGS
A L L f r e e e N T ry
Grumpy HOur $6 pINTS AND $5 BASICS Tues-Fri from 4-7pm.125 Smith Street, Fitzroy.
www.GrumpySGreeN.COm.Au
7PM
WI NngG Th i
$10
a basket of 6
every wednesday Th
e
LIVE N’ COOKIN SESSIONs
E V E RY T H U RS D AY B U R G E R S P E C I A LS AND BANDS FROM 7PM for more info ask instore f a c e b o o k . c o m / t h e b e a s t b u rge r s i n s t a gr a m T H E B E A S T B U RGE R S - w w w . t h e b - e a s t . c o m P H 9 0 3 6 1 4 5 6 | 8 0 LYG O N ST B R U N S W I C K E A ST | T H E B - E A ST. CO M
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 55
BACKSTAGE For more information or ad bookings call Aleksei on 9428 3600
E FIFTY FIVE
15 years ago, James Blake had just turned 11 and Lorde was still in nappies. The iconic E Fifty Five is celebrating 15 years of operation this year; where does the time go? To kick off a month of festivities, we had a chat with the owner, Brendan Brogan to reminisce and to see what they have planned for this very special celebration. My fondest memory (or perhaps lack thereof ) of E Fifty Five is topping off the night with one of your famous Long Island Iced Teas. What’s your fondest memory? It’s really hard to pick one specific memory, partly because the nights have kind of melded into one warm haze, but mostly because there’ve been so many awesome parties and people down here over the years. But one that sums up E Fifty Five attitude would definitely be when the CBD flooded a few years back and E Fifty Five became a water feature. The owner was surprised to burst in to a full pumping venue, ankle deep, but the people got their drinks and the party didn’t stop. Has the place changed much over the years? How? E Fifty Five has evolved; it’s had to. From the early days where you could smoke inside lounge vibe, to billiard tables and open deck nights, to more recently live painting, tattoo exhibitions and rotating crew nights always bringing a different party people down. What purpose do you think the venue serves? Why do people go there? Over the years, you could argue many, from an after work pit stop to late night watering hole. But it’s always been a chilled and unpretentious environment for anyone. Quality drinks, quality tunes, and memorable (if fuzzy) times. What was it like when it first started? I hear it was Melbourne’s first Internet bar? Yes, it was. The owners Luke Delaney and Brendan Brogan used to take turns after the night shift sleeping at the venue to be able to be up early enough to open doors as an Internet bar. As those days drift on, computers have been replaced with Galaga machines or cosy nooks to hold up in for the night.
culture, and nightlife. As the staff grow, so does the venue. Staying true while staying fresh is key. How will you be celebrating this milestone? To celebrate our 15th birthday we are throwing 15 parties throughout the month of December, featuring the best local talent and crews, as well as interstate and secret international guest DJs. From original spinners DJs Danny Cool and Manchild running the Boxing Day series, to purveyors of new school cool The Operatives taking on the last weekend of the working year. We’re super excited to be bringing in heavyweights DEXTER and Jellyfish (C.S.S) to host our official birthday bash on Friday December 12 in the new look venue. Plus $15 jugs, $15 cocktails, and $5 pizza all day and night, every day through December. When did you begin incorporating art in the venue? It’s always been a key element; even the walls have provided space for live pieces. But in the very early 2000s we started running exhibitions and have even kept some cool pieces from back then. We’re still running commission free art shows now, and are showing Swerfk this month, opening on Wednesday December 10. What do you hope the next 15 years will hold for E Fifty Five? We’re not planning on going anywhere. Beers, tunes, cocktails, fun and debauchery. Always. You’ve given the old girl a spruce up, how different is it going to look? We’ve pulled down the walls, exposed the brick and remodeled floor to ceiling. We basically ripped out the guts but kept the heart the same. You’ll have to come and see for yourself.
How would you describe its history since then? It’s seen many permutations over the years, but its core values have always stayed the same: a place you can enjoy a solid drink, in good company, listening to great tunes. There’s a rather high turnover in Melbourne’s nightlife landscape; places are always closing, opening or reinventing themselves. What’s the secret to E Fifty Five’s staying power? It’s no secret, really. E Fifty Five has always employed passionate people with an interest in drink, music, art,
Check out the new-look E FIFTY FIVE as they celebrate 15 years the whole month of December. E Fifty Five is located at 55 Elizabeth St and is open from 12pm ± 1am on Monday and Tuesday; 12pm ± 2am Wednesdays and Thursdays; 12pm ± 3pm Friday and 3pm ± 3am on Sundays.
A Supernatural Crossword
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR AUNTY? ACROSS
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 56
DOWN
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
BACKSTAGE v s
a
Rehearsal & Recording Studios
s
Large Rooms $70 Medium Rooms $60 ANY NIGHT! Large Rooms $60 Medium Rooms $50 EVERY DAY!
Call for bookings
9391 3444
Vintage, New & Second Hand Amps, Effects Pedals & Rigs
Open 7 Days till Late
Huge Selection – All major Brands
Unit 10, 59-61 Hudsons Road, Spotswood 3015 www.soundcitymelbourne.com
Guitars and Amps wanted Top CA$H Paid
Expert Guitar & Amp Repairs Mods & Restoration Fast Turnaround Affordable Rates Technicians on site 1131 Burke Rd KEW 3101 Phone: 03 9817 7000 www.eastgatemusic.com.au
PA HIRE
bssound@bigpond.com
KIndRED STuDIOS 13 $65 FLAT RATE* *$65 ex. deluxe rooms
IN YARRAVILLE
LICENsed Live Venue BACKLINE for Hire STORAGE AVAILABLE Booked bands drink at HAPPY HR PRICES
kindredstudios.com.au
03 9687 0233
E FRE MIXDOWNMAG.CO M.AU
M U S I C I A N S
F O R
M U S I C I A N S
INTERPOL
JOHNNY MARR
NEW MODELS ISS UE
DECEMBE
GIVEAWAY! NICK CAV EP R
STREET AND ONLINE DATE: WEDNESDAY JANUARY 7 2015 AD BOOKING DEADLINE: MONDAY DECEMBER 15 EDITORIAL DEADLINE: TUESDAY DECEMBER 16 ARTWORK DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17 *SHORT PRODUCTION MONTH SO GET IN CONTACT ASAP* FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MIXDOWN MAGAZINE CONTACT: ALEKSEI ON (03) 9428 3600 OR EMAIL MIXDOWN@BEAT.COM.AU
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
SEPTEMBER
CHECK INSIDE TO
248
P
E
C
I
A
salE
R 2014
SEEG.COM.AU
MIXDO WNMA
THE CLEAN MAYHEM UNEARTH BENJAMIN RATKING BOOK ANGEL OLSEER KING GIZZ N AND THE LIZAR ARD D WIZARD
Christmas W ishlist
S
S CROWN I A N THE EMU S I C M PIRE B Y TV ON THE
D E M A
L
R F O
TC ELECT QSC TOUCHMIX PEARL MAST RONIC T2 REVER16 DIGITAL MIXER B EFFEC ERS DV MARK BCX BIRCH SERIE TS PEDAL S DRUM KIT ALESIS DM10 LITTLE 40 II GUITA EPIPHONE X MESH ELECTRONICR AMPLIFIER MATON 84 EXPLORER EX ELECT DRUM KIT RIC GUITASR FGN J-STA 808 MAHOGANY ACOU I A N NDARD ODYS SEY ELECTSTIC GUITAR S I C RIC GUITAR M U
RADIO SEEKAE
on now!
HITS THE STREETS AND ONLINE IN THE FIRST WEEK OF EVERY MONTH JANUARY ISSUE DEADLINE AND STREET DATES:
A M U S I C I
ISSUE 245 2014
247 ISS UE 2014 MBER NOVE
EE FR G.COM .AU MIXDO WNMA
visit LIVIN
GMuSICYA
MAHA.COM
.Au for particIpat ing stor es & FuLL
CATALOGU E
ES IN FLAMEM IGHT ANTH THE GASLPERF ECT PUSSYY HUSK BAND H STRE ET URE THE SMITSPEC IAL FEAT N EDUC ATIO
PEDAL V2 EFFEC TS ALTER EGO DING INTER FACE RECOR IFIER TC ELECT RONIC AVID DUET 12 GUITA R AMPL PS JAZZ DV MARK FISHM AN FLUEN CE PICKU 0 HEADP HONES NOCS NS90Y EFFEC TS PEDAL -DELA R AMPL IFIER CUSAC K TAP-A GUITA 0 SSB-3 ESS MIC SYSTE M R SUPER BLUES STRAU SS E QLXD/ BETA 58 WIRELACOUS TIC GUITA SHUR MATO N 808TA BIRCH DRUM KIT GENIS MONI TORS PREM IER E5 STUDI O AMPL UGS PRESO NUS VOX
PG. 38
DIO ! M-AU OXYGEN 2 5M WAY VEA
TROLLER I CON MID K4
FULLY EQUIPPED
F O R
VED! E E E YOU CAN TRY THEM THEY’VE ARRIFR WHER
M U S IC
REHearsal ROOMS
B Y
A N S M U S I C I
DREAMTHEATER
PG.6 FOR D ETA ILS
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR AD BOOKINGS CALL ALEKSEI ON 9428 3600
• INTERVIEWS WITH THE WORLD’S BIGGEST ARTISTS AND HOME GROWN HEROES • FEATURES ON THE MUSIC INDUSTRY • PRODUCT NEWS AND GEAR REVIEWS • EDUCATION COLUMNS • STUDIO Q&A’S • AWESOME MONTHLY GIVEAWAYS + HEAPS MORE
M A D E
K - SEE PAC IZE
THIS SPACE COULD BE YOURS.
AUSTRALIA’S ONLY NATIONAL MUSIC STREET PRESS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE AND FREE DISTRIBUTION. DESIGNED, WRITTEN AND CREATED FOR MUSICIANS AND LOVERS OF MUSIC.
GI
www.bssound.com.au
B Y
M A D E
!
Comprehensive PA systems delivered, set up and operated with crew. Compact, easy, sound systems you can pickup and assemble yourself.Components such as microphones, speakers and effects are also available separately. Lights also available. For details phone Mark Barry on 03 9889 1999 or 0419 993 966
IS IVISCAR NE OBL FALL OUT
M U S IC
salnoEw! on
IN COLDRA
BOY
es & ing stor particIpat .Au for
MAHA.COM
GMuSICYA
visit LIVIN
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 57
OGUE FuLL CATAL
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH
MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP
With Christie Eliezer * Stuff for this column to be emailed to <celiezer@netspace.net.au> by Friday 5pm
APRA AMCOS PAID $46M FOR LIVE PERFORMANCES
APRA AMCOS members shared over $46 million from live performances in the last quarter of the year. Of this, $6 million was in overseas royalties. These payments were calculated through Live Performance Returns (LPRs), which have shown a 51 per cent increase in the last ten years due to the healthy live sector in Australia. The number of works paid were 641,626. The number of local works paid were 219,227, with 26,382 Aussie writers getting royalties. In 2015, APRA AMCOS will launch an app to allow members to save setlists and submit LPRs whenever suits. LPR payments move quarterly from November. The need for acts to be registered was also pointed out at the Electronic Music Conference in Sydney. There are 700 dance-floors in Australia spinning 15 tracks per hour at $1.33 a spin, and creating a total of $7 million to share. But if you’re not registered, panelists said, it’s hard to claw it back.
YARRA COUNCIL HELPS TWO VENUES
As part of its new Live Music Venues Grants scheme, City of Yarra provided $1400 to Some Velvet Morning to install double-glazed windows and add insulation to a door frame to help contain its name, and $2,000 to The Old Bar to replace its bi-folds doors with a heavier system. Funds are available in the grants pool, go to yarracityarts.com.au.
MARTIN FOLEY GETS MUSIC/ ARTS PORTFOLIO
The former Shadow Arts Minister Martin Foley has taken over the portfolio in the new State Government – except his new title is Minster for Creative Industries. It’s consistent with Foley’s view that the way to grow the music industry is for it to collaborate with other sectors as manufacturing, tourism, education, health and technology. The new Creative Victoria organisation will combine Arts Victoria, Film Victoria, multimedia and gaming agencies.
SHEERAN MOST STREAMED AT SPOTIFY, NAPSTER
Ed Sheeran is the year’s most streamed artist on Spotify, racking up 860 million listens and his X album the most streamed album worldwide with 430 million hits. Pharrell Williams’ Happy was most streamed song of the year globally and Katy Perry and Coldplay were the most streamed female and group around the world in 2014. Spotify said more than seven billion hours of music was streamed this year by more than 50 million users. Sheeran was also most streamed artist in 2014 for Napster in the UK with more than ten million hours of streaming. The Napster Top Five list included Coldplay, Sam Smith, Paolo Nutini and One Direction. Globally, Eminem was the biggest act of 2014, followed by Drake, Katy Perry, Beyoncé and Rihanna. The most streamed album was Drake’s Nothing Was the Same.
JMC LOOKING FOR TUTORS
The JMC Academy in South Melbourne is looking for music/entertainment industry professionals to teach in its Bachelor of Entertainment (Business Management). The units are for Event Management, Introductory Marketing, Professional Communication and Integrated Publicity and Promotions. Formal qualifications will be taken seriously but extensive music/entertainment industry experience is essential. Successful candidates start the week beginning Monday February 16. More info, contact Head of Department Simon Smith on 03 9624 2929 and forward resumes to ssmith@jmc.edu.au.
THINGS WE HEAR
• Which singer is stroppy with her manager who advised her to remain “aloof ” at the ARIAs, which got her bad press as a result? • Which interstate councillor, when assessing a venue’s application for later hours, said there was no need for an extension as “women would want to go home early to cook dinner for their husbands”? • Which band, stuck in a taxi rank after a gig, were overheard exasperatedly (but tongue-in-cheek) planning whether to mug a driver and steal one? • A petition with 500 signatures was presented to Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle to name a laneway after Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum. The Moll’s friends in the music biz reckon that, given his profile and contribution, he should get something larger like Meldrum Road or Meldrum Parade.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 58
• Don’t piss off yer roadies! Drum tech Norm Costa, sacked by Slipknot, got his revenge by unmasking online their new drummer as Jay Weinberg (son of E-Street’s Max) and new bassist as Allessandro ‘Vman’ Venturella. • Manchester’s Parklife festival was fined £70,000 for “distressing” promo techniques. It sent texts to ticket buyers urging them to attend the after-party purporting to be from their mums. Not only did it break laws about concealing identity but some recipients had just lost their mums. • Katy Perry surprised boyfriend Diplo when she jetted back to Adelaide in a private plane to surprise him during his 8pm set at Stereosonic. • Creating a viral sensation is Perth photographer Jarrad Seng, who donned a beard and wandered around the Stereosonic site pretending to be headliner Steve Aoki. He suckered punters into taking selfies. Within days it got 500,000 views on his FB page. • On their recent return to play Newcastle, Busby Marou recounted to the Newcastle Herald that on the visit before, Jeremy Marou was served with legal papers at the Cambridge Hotel venue by a server. It had something to do with his being overpaid holiday pay by a few hundred dollars five years before, and which he’d forgotten about. No hard feelings, they asked the server to hang around and watch the show as their guest from side of stage. • A court has banned the translations of lyrics (and artwork) by Cannibal Corpse in Russia due to violent content. • Axl Rose contacted his 862,000 Twitter followers pacifying them after a hoax TV report did its rounds claiming his body had been found in his West Hollywood apartment. “If I’m dead do I still have to pay taxes?” he quipped. • Former Faith No More frontman Chuck Mosley is begging fans for financial help after his family has been threatened with eviction from their home.
TONE CONTROL BACK FOR SECOND SEASON
CHANGES AT TRIPLE J
triple j’s weekend afternoon hosts Veronica Milsom and Lewis Hobba move to the Drive shift. Joshua Merriel, who presented mid-dawn for the past two years is new host of punk and hardcore program Short. Fast.Loud. The show’s founder Stu Harvey leaves after 11 years to focus on his label.
24HUNDRED RELAUNCHES
Merchandise retailer 24Hundred.Net has re-launched with a new shop front for its online store. These include better search and social interaction functions, and better mobile and tablet functionality. The store opened last October handling merchandising for the likes of The Amity Affliction, Violent Soho, Northlane, Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus, In Hearts Wake and record bundling from hardcore labels. It ships 10,000 orders a month. Its Richmond HQ will be open seven days a week during the holidays.
MANDY KANE CROWDFUNDER HITS 100 per cent
A 60 day solid campaign, including a boutique event at Backlot Studios, Mandy Kane hit his 100 per cent target for a Musicraiser crowd funder to reissue a 10th anniversary edition of his debut album Tragic Daydreams and a new EP.
FALLS GIVES BACK TO LORNE COMMUNITY
To give back to its community, Falls Festival Lorne donates $1 from each ticket sold. Over the years, it’s donated $95,500. This year it had $16,500 to distribute. These were for Lorne RSL ($4000 for a memorial garden to commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli landing and honor the 32 members of the Lorne community that served their country), LorneAireys Inlet P-12 College ($5000 towards a nature based playground), Lorne Kindergarten ($1100 to buy five planks to use for climbing and bouncing) and Lorne Bowls Club ($6400 for shade cloth).
Tone Control, which has acts playing live in a studio environment, returns for a second season on Saturday December 27 at 9.30pm on Channel 31. It’s put together by music, film and TV pros who got an Antenna award for The Pinoy Lounge. Show creator Al Noveloso describes it as “a great opportunity to experience a live gig in your own lounge room.” Among those featured this season are The Bon Scotts, The Ivory Elephant, Joe Matera, The Reprobettes, The Lounge Detectives, Steel Birds and Spectral Fires.
SPUNK SIGNS YUMI ZOUMA
GOLDEN GUITARS SCORE TOYOTA, TEN, SPONSORSHIPS
Apple lost its appeal to trademark “app store” in Australia. The Federal Court ruled: “Apple has not established that, because of the extent to which it has used the mark before the filing date, it does distinguish the designated services as being Apple’s services.” It can use the term in this country but cannot stop other services from using it.
Country music’s Golden Guitar awards in January have got Toyota coming on board as naming rights sponsor and Southern Cross Ten as broadcasting sponsor to screen it through its regional Channel 11 networks.
GANGNAM STYLE HITS 2.15 BILLION
Psy’s Gangnam Style has hit 2.15 billion views. So much so that YouTube had to upgrade its counter, because it could only count up to 2.14 billion. Now it’s gone from a 32-bit integer to 64-bit, it can count up to 9.22 billion.
WORLD ELECTRONIC MUSIC CONTEST COMES TO AUSTRALIA
Fame Music and Ministry of Sound Australia are on the hunt to uncover the next producer/DJ talent via the World Electronic Music Contest. Winner gets to produce and engineer records at Studio 301, an overseas release by MOS, two club gigs including Pacha Sydney, latest gear from Native Instruments and mentoring from two EDM acts. Judges include SCNDL, MOS AandR Dylan Sanders and Studio 301 Manager Ben Feggans. (www.famemusic.com/au).
EDM GLOBAL MARKET WORTH $6.2 BILLION
The EDM global market is now worth $6.2 billion, according to The EDM Guide: Technology, Culture, Curation (http://edmtcc.com) discussion paper unveiled at last week’s Electronic Music Conference (EMC). It was $4.5 billion last year, a 38 per cent growth. EDM leads digitally in the US with 62 per cent of EDM sales digital, compared to 44 per cent for rock and 51 per cent for rap. EDM fans tweet 1.85 per cent more than the average Twitter user at 11 times a day. A third of the tweets are about EDM. They’re four times more likely to discuss what they listen to.
Spunk Records has signed with Yumi Zouma, the New Zealand trio who opened for Chet Faker on his Australian tour. Their second EP, due in February, includes the track Alena which hit #1 on the Hype Machine after three days. Signed to US label Cascine, they toured there with Lorde.
APPLE LOSES ‘APP STORE’ APPEAL IN AUSTRALIA
HALFCUT CUTS DEAL WITH CANADA’S DISTORT
Shock Records’ heavy imprint Halfcut signed a reciprocal deal with Canadian punk and metal label Distort (Alexisonfire, Cancer Bats, Architects, The Bronx and UNFD signing Northlane) to release each others’ records in their home countries. First to benefit from the deal is Melbourne’s post-hardcore Belle Haven who release their debut album Everything Ablaze (cut in America with producer Matt Goldman of Underoath fame) in March.
5 SECONDS CROWNED [V] OZ ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Sydney’s 5 Seconds of Summer were crowned [V] OZ Artist Of The Year for a second year in a row. Almost a million votes were cast during the quest, said Rebecca Batties, Foxtel General Manager for Music and Head of Digital. 5SOS beat the likes of The Amity Affliction and Troye Sivan.
DOT DASH/REMOTE CONTROL SIGN JEREMY NEALE
Dot Dash/Remote Control Records’ latest signing is Brisbane artist Jeremy Neale, whose new single is The News. Since the release of his debut EP last November, he’s played Liverpool Sound City and The Great Escape in the UK and Music Matters in Singapore. He’s also recorded an album with Brisbane garage collective Velociraptor and a 7” with surf band Teen Sensations.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
LIFELINES Injured: bassist Otto Schimmelpenninck of Dutch symphonic metal band Delain ruptured a testicle after a stage mishap when he stood too close to a cannon which shot streamers into the crowd. But he kept playing anyway. Hospitalised: rapper Beanie Sigel after being shot in the stomach outside his home in New Jersey by unknown assailant. Hospitalised: Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox in a neck brace after being hit by a car in his home state of Georgia. Suing: The Eagles pursued a man who spent years screening rare bootleg films of acts like them, The Stones, Fleetwood Mac and Pink Floyd. Arrested: Xzibit was pulled over for allegedly speeding and being drunk minutes after he got married and was heading to the wedding reception. Arrested: a 19-year old was charged with trafficking after being discovered with 50 E tablets at Stereosonic Adelaide. Jailed: Tibetan singer Kalsang Yarphel for four years, by a Chinese court for encouraging his audiences to speak and learn Tibetan. Jailed: John Forbes who killed Katie Louise Broadbent after reversing over her tent at January’s Got Milk festival in Rochester, Victoria, got four years. Prosecutors said he was drunk and drugaffected. Ms Broadbent worked at venues like the Standard Hotel in Fitzroy, The Public Bar in North Melbourne and The Old Bar in Fitzroy. She was his best friend’s girlfriend. Jailed: ex-soldier Matthew Cox got life sentence at Brisbane Supreme Court for murdering Gold Coast nightclub singer Tony Williams with a hammer at his Mermaid Waters apartment in December 2011. Cox was jealous of his girlfriend Sarah Davis’ affection for the Sex ‘N’ Chocolate singer. She and Williams had a child together but she’d told Cox he’d raped her. Jailed: one time US band Cake drummer Ivan McNeal for 15 years to life for molesting a three year old girl at a Thanksgiving party five years ago. Died: two Rolling Stones sidemen passed within a week. Ian McLagan, 69, better known as keyboard player with the Small Faces/Faces, after a massive stroke in Austin. Sessions man Bobby Keys, 70, best known for his sax on Brown Sugar and Can’t You Heat Me Knocking, after a lengthy illness which prevented him from performing with them in Australia this year. Died: US songwriter Bob Montgomery, 77, from Parkinson’s disease. He started out writing hits such as Heartbeat with his best friend at school, Buddy Holly as well as for the likes of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. Died: UK artist and producer Gravenhurst who was signed to Warped Records, aged 37, and founded Silent Age Records. Died: Melbourne dancer and promoter of Bollywood music nightclub nights, Rehmat Sandhu, 21, accidentally slipped from the balcony of a City Road apartment building and fell 20 floors.
MTV LOOKING FOR BEST EMERGING NEW ACTS
In the UK, MTV Brand New helped Sam Smith, Florence and The Machine, Adele and Jessie J gain global success. It comes to Australia and NZ in April to find the best emerging signed acts over a ten week run.