Beat 1570

Issue N o 1570

April 5 2017 Free

Gemma Ray/Totally Unicorn/Polish Club/Pentridge Festival/Running Touch

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7

Issue N o 1570

Contents 10

News

16

Charts Industry

18

Arts Guide

20

Electronic Beat Eats Punk

22

Aunty Donna

26

Comedy Reviews

28

Pentridge Festival: Billy Davis Turin Brakes

30

Adam Glynn Gemma Ray

32

Totally Unicorn Polish Club

33

Running Touch Vancouver Sleeping Clinic

Turin Brakes Page. 28

34

Reviews

36

Profiles

38

Live

40

Gig Guide

46

David Liebe Hart Crossword

Editor’s Note

Publisher: Furst Media Pty Ltd. Editor: James Di Fabrizio Music Editor: Bel Ryan Sub Editor: Gloria Brancatisano Editorial Assistants: Cassie Hedger, Tom Parker, Jacob Colliver, Kate Streader Managing Director: Patrick Carr Beat Art Director: Michael Cusack

Graphic Designers: Michael Cusack, Lizzie Dynon, Ben Driscoll Advertising: Bel Ryan (Music: Bands/Tours/Record Labels) bel@beat.com.au Thom Parry (Hospitality/Bars) thom@beat.com.au Keats Mulligan (Backstage/Musical Equipment) mixdown@beat.com.au Georgia Spanos (Campaigns/Special Projects) georgia@furstmedia.com.au Classifieds: classifieds@beat.com.au

Gig Guide Submissions: now online at beat.com.au Accountant: Accountant@furstmedia.com.au Office Manager: Lizzie Dynon Accounts Receivable: Accounts@furstmedia.com.au Distribution: Free every Wednesday to over 2000 points around Melbourne. Wanna get BEAT? Email distribution@beat.com.au Contributing Photographers: Anna Kanci, Tony Proudfoot, David Harris, Zo Damage, Lee Easton, Lewis Nixon, Shaina Glenny, Michael Woods, Andrew Bibby

THIS WEEK: THIS WEEK WEDNESDAYMARCH APRIL 515 - 8.00PM DOOR WEDNESDAY - 8.30PM- $7+BF/$10 - DONATIONON ENTRY

CROSSFIREHEADS HURRICANE FOUND + CLEVER AUSTIN & SPECIAL GUESTS + COSMOS & BEN CUE 351 BRUNSWICK ST, FITZROY 351 BRUNSWICK ST, FITZROY 03 9419 5500 03 9419 5500 EVELYNHOTEL.COM.AU EVELYNHOTEL.COM.AU

HAPPY HOUR HAPPY HOUR 5PM - 7PM $3 POTS 5PM - 7PM $3 POTS $6 PINTS MON TO FRI $6 PINTS MON TO FRI $10 JUGS OF HOUSE BEER

$10 OF HOUSE BEER MONJUGS & TUES ALL DAY & NIGHT MON & TUES ALL DAY & NIGHT

$2.50 POTS OF HOUSE BEER $2.50 POTS HOUSE BEER & $5OF VODKAS & $5 VODKAS THURS FROM 8PM THURS FROM 8PM

facebook.com/evelynhotel facebook.com/evelynhotel @evelynhotel @evelynhotel @theevelynhotel @theevelynhotel

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THURSDAY MARCH 16 - 8PM - FREE THURSDAY APRIL 6 - 8.O0PM - FREE ENTRY

HITZ AT THE HITS AT THE EV EV LOCAL DJS SPINNING THE HITS,

@publichighband

Hoochie mumma, it’s been a solid week. First up, I want to thank Cable Ties, TV Haze, Harmony and Batpiss for putting on a killer show at the Gaso on Friday. That was one hell of a way to start the weekend.

Our Comedy Festival coverage continues this issue, with none other than pure Aussie larrikins Aunty Donna looking suitably regal – and why shouldn’t they? They’re currently ruling the comedy kingdom with a shtick like no other. Their new show, Big Boys, is set to be an absolute side-splitter. Get down if you know what’s good for you.

Naturally, reviews from this year’s season are starting to pour in. You can catch up with a curated selection of indies and big names in this issue, and check back in to Beat online daily as more are posted.

Capping it off, we sit down with Totally Unicorn, Turin Brakes, Gemma Ray and get the lowdown on a music festival going down inside a prison. Lock me up and throw away the key, this issue is a banger. Go on then, these pages aren’t going to flip themselves.

@unisounds_

With James Di Fabrizio

Social

@beatmagazine

@BeatMagazine

@beatmagazine

facebook.com/beatmag

Senior Contributor: Patrick Emery Senior Photographer: Ian Laidlaw Columnists: Joe Hansen, Peter Hodgson, Michael Cusack, Christie Eliezer, Georgia Spanos, Jimmy Hall Contributors: Graham Blackley, Gloria Brancatisano, Chris Bright, Alexander Crowden, Joe Hansen, Peter Hodgson, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Cassandra Kiely, Krystal Maynard, Adam Norris, Dan Watt, Augustus Welby, Alex Watts, David James Young, Bronius Zumeris, Natalie Rogers, James Di Fabrizio,

NEXT WEEK: NEXT WEEK MONDAY APRIL - 8:30PM MONDAY MARCH 2010 - 9PM - $10 - $7

Lee Spencer Michaelsen, Bel Ryan, Isabelle Oderberg, Holly Pereira, Nathan Quattruci, Ryan Najelski, Julia Sansone, Christine Tsimbis, Claire Morley, Lee Parker, Benjamin Potter, Michael Cusack, Asha Collins, Georgia Spanos, Abbey Lew-Kee, Tom Parker, David Ohaion, Luke Fussell, Dan Wallwork, Jacob Colliver, Jemma King, Jack Stavrakis, Anna Rose, Samuel Gaffney, Kate Streader, Jimmy Hall.

Seeing a live show this weekend?

Tag us at @beatmagazine to be featured.

www.furstmedia.com.au © 2016 Furst Media Pty Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the consent of the copyright holder.

COMING SOON COMING SOON

TOMMY CASTLES SLIPPY MANE

26/3 SCOTT & CHARLENE’S 17/4 - TOMMY CASTLES WEDDING TUESDAY MARCH - $8 TUESDAY APRIL21 11- 8.30PM - 8.30PM - FREE ENTRY 19/4 - CROSSFIRE HURRICANE SONS OF RICO BARBITURATES PRESS CLUB, ALI E 26/3 MOTLEY (ALBUM LAUNCH) + GUNNAMATTA WEDNESDAY MARCH 22 - 8.00PM - DONATION ENTRY 20/4 - HITS AT THE EV WEDNESDAY APRIL 12 - 8.O0PM - $7+BF/$10 ON DOOR SADULTS, PASTICHE + SPECIAL GUESTS

FOUND HEADS + CLEVER AUSTIN & SPECIAL GUESTS 31/3 GALATA EXPRESS CROSSFIRE HURRICANE THE SEVEN UPS 21/4 - SENTIA THURSDAY MARCH 23 - 8PM - $5 + TWO HEADED DOG & SLIM JEFFRIES + THE LETSAND YOUR HAIR DOWN GIRLS & THE DOLLARS PUBLIC HIGH THURSDAY APRIL 13 - 8.00PM - FREE ENTRY +BIDDLEWOOD, DJ MISS GOLDIE VANDERLAY 1/4 EZEKIEL OX BY TECHNOLOGY MASTER BETA, CHILLER 22/4 - KILLED SATURDAY - SOLD OUT! HITS AT THE- EV SATURDAYMARCH APRIL 818 - 3.00PM - $8.80+BF/$10 ON DOOR FRIDAY MARCH 24 - 8.30PM $10 SATURDAY APRIL 15 - 8.30PM - $12+BF/$15 ON DOOR THE CROOKEDS CLUB COCO SHOUSE + LIHAONA, 28/4 SCREAMFEEDER 23/4 - CULCAIRN SINGLE LAUNCH FT. CC:DISCO!, SENPOLO, MAS, DYNO THE VANNS TONI YOTZI & DJ DEMEANOR MCINTOSH $2.50 FRIDAY POTS APRIL 7 - 8.30PM - $15+BF/$20 ON DOO FRIDAY MARCH 17 - 8.30PM - $7+BF

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9

News

News

Splendour In The Grass Unveil Massive 2017 Lineup After much speculation, the 2017 Splendour In The Grass lineup is here.

The huge lineup features the likes of The xx, Queens of the Stone Age, LCD Soundsystem, Royal Blood, Haim, Sigur Rós, Schoolboy Q, Vance Joy, Two Door Cinema Club, Peking Duk, RL Grime, Bonobo, Father John Misty, Tash Sultana, Paul Kelly, Stormzy, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Future Islands, Banks, Bernard Fanning, Dune Rats, Cut Copy, Asgeir, Allday, Meg Mac, The Smith Street Band, Thundamentals and stacks more.

Splendour In The Grass goes down in North Byron Parklands from July 21 – July 23. Tickets go on sale at 9am Thursday April 6 via Moshtix.

The Interrupters

Announce exclusive Melbourne show and Green Day support slot The Interrupters are bringing their energetic ska punk to Australia for the first time since 2015. Having just wrapped up a rollicking tour with Dropkick Murphys, the explosive four-piece continue their worldwide escapade off the back of 2016 sophomore album Say It Out Loud. They’ll be supported by Melbourne singer/ songwriter Luke Yeoward & The Half Way. The Interrupters come to the Gasometer on Thursday May 4 before supporting Green Day at Rod Laver Arena on Friday May 5 and Saturday May 5.

Frenzal Rhomb

Announce new album and Melbourne launch show Frenzal Rhomb are hitting the touring circuit in support of their brand new album. Their ninth full-length record sees them join forces with Bill Stevenson (Descendents, Black Flag) and Jason Livermore once more. Weighing in at 20 songs and a total album length of 30 minutes, Hi-Vis High Tea is a fast-paced belter of a record, spearheaded by the lead single, Cunt Act. They’ll hit the Pier Hotel, Frankston on Friday July 28 and The Corner Hotel on Saturday July 29 joined by Totally Unicorn and special guests.

Best Of Both Sides

Pits northside against the south with 2017 lineup Whether you’ve got a tatt or a tan, love your jacket denim or trench all differences are put aside when Best of Both Sides (or BOBS for short) takes over the in-between. With 77 artists and 24 events sprawling five stages, Melbourne Techno Collective and The Operatives will be leading the charge, alongside a lineup featuring Sunshine, Agent 86, JPA, Kiti, Kodiak Kid, Big Words and JPA. BOBS 2017 comes to Lucky Coq and Bimbo Deluxe from Thursday April 13 until Monday April 17.

Tamil Rogeon

Reveals Brazilian-inspired new album, locks in Melbourne show 24 Hours in Lapa is a mesmerising 12-part song cycle exploring the final hours of American expat Joseph E Martin, who was shot dead by an off-duty police officer while celebrating his 30th birthday in Rio de Janeiro in 2007. Depicting the rising energy and heightening mood of Lapa over the course of day and night, Rogeon’s debut LP embodies a sweeping, cinematic suite meditating on the themes of vice, impetuosity and extinguished youth. Rogeon will be joined by the Australian Youth Orchestra’s 35-piece Momentum Ensemble in 360 degree view. Rogeon launches 24 Hours in Lapa at The Night Cat on Friday April 28.

Neil deGrasse Tyson Bliss N Eso

Announce huge 2017 tour In the lead up to their hotly anticipated new album, Bliss N Eso have locked in a sprawling 27-date tour. The news of the tour comes as part of an exciting one-two punch with the band releasing their third single from new album Off The Grid, Moments. They’ll play the Forum Theatre on Friday June 23 and Pier Bandroom on Sunday June 25. Tickets via Ticketmaster.

Is coming to Australia to blow our tiny minds The most famous face in modern science is coming to Australia with his show A Cosmic Perspective. The event will include a personal presentation by Dr Tyson himself, a fire-side chat with a local personality, and an audience Q&A session to finish. Neil deGrasse Tyson is an expert on the mysteries of the cosmos, understanding the intricacies of dwarf galaxies, parallel universes, exploding stars and our place within all of it. While no specific details have been locked in yet, Think Inc. announced the tour via Facebook, stating that Tyson will be heading to Australia and New Zealand with his upcoming shows.

Grinspoon Return With 20th Anniversary Tour Grinspoon are returning to the fore, travelling around the country on a 27-date tour to commemorate 20 years of one of their most well-loved albums. Reaching doubleplatinum status off the back of a string of killer singles including Pedestrian, DCx3, Repeat, Just Ace and Don’t Go Away - Grinspoon’s seminal album Guide To Better Living spent 36 weeks in the ARIA Top 50. They’ll play it cover to cover at Margaret Court Arena on Friday June 30, Village Green Hotel on Saturday July 1 and Pier Bandroom on Friday August 4.

10

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News Neil Finn

Pink TIles

FROM 6PM

W E D N E S DAY

HOSTED BY BEN BRAY FROM 7PM

T H U R S DAY

The Leaps and Bounds Music Festival is set to return to Melbourne for the fifth time this year, and the lineup for the opening night has just been announced. The festival itself will run from Thursday July 13 to Sunday July 23, and the opening night itself will take place at The Corner Hotel in Richmond. Indie heavyweights Augie March will be headlining events, with supports from Jess Ribeiro and The Pink Tiles. The rest of the festival’s offerings will be released on Tuesday May 9, so you have plenty of time to get hyped. You can get tickets for $30 from the venue website.

FREE

FREE

GEE SEAS

CHILLERS TONY DORK + PUBLIC HIGH FROM 8PM

F R I DAY

$10

GRASSHOLE GO VAN GO

SWAMP MOTH + ROAD TRAIN FROM 2PM

S AT U R DAY

$15

CRYSTAL IGNITE AND SPECIAL GUESTS $5

FROM 8PM

CHASING CLAIRE

Leaps And Bounds Music Festival Announce Opening Night Lineup

Sad by Sad West

Wolfmother

Sad by Sad West premiered last year as a celebration of emotion, and a means to appreciate communities in which we are situated in and a refusal to view art as a commodity. Espousing a philosophy of music and art for all, Sad by Sad West will be back again for 2017, and they have set the festival dates in stone for Sydney, Wellington and Melbourne. The Melbourne stint will run from Thursday April 27 to Sunday April 30, and while Melbourne’s lineup has yet to be announced it is sure to be a big one. Stay tuned to the festival website for more information.

Sydney’s Wolfmother are making their way back to Australia after a hectic world tour. Wolfmother have been selling out theatre and stadium shows all across Europe and the Americas for their Gypsy Caravan Tour, and are heading back to Australia for the final leg. This will be their first full national album tour since the release of 2009’s Cosmic Egg. Catch them at Pier Bandroom on Saturday April 29 and The Croxton on Sunday April 30. Check the venue websites for more information.

Bad Pony

Tired Lion

Straight out of Sydney’s inner West, Bad Pony return with their latest single Deficiency out now. From their forthcoming EP of the same title, Deficiency is a taste of what you can expect from these guys in 2017. Bad Pony will be heading to the US and Canada to play a string of dates across the east and west coasts before coming back to Australia and touring all around the country. You can catch them at Yah Yah’s Friday May 12.

Perth rockers Tired Lion have gone and dropped a new track ahead of a hotly anticipated tour. Their new single, Cinderella Dracula, will feature on their forthcoming debut album. As no one knows when their new album is dropping, catching the band in concert is the best way to get a glimpse of their new tunes. Head to Northcote Social Club on Thursday May 11 for their Melbourne show. Tickets from Eventbrite.

Embrace emotion with 2017 lineup

Return to Australia following world tour

MOLASSES

POISON FISH + KOOYONG

S U N DAY FREE BLUES SESSIONS

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Release new single and announce tour

Unleash new single, announce Melbourne show

Opiuo

DJ Shadow

New Zealand’s Opiuo has made a name for himself as a topnotch glitch hop artist, as well as an electronic music producer more broadly. To add some diversity to the solo life Opiuo has recruited a few more musicians, some of whom are among his closest friends. Off the back of a North American tour, The Opiuo Band is armed with a stack of brand new music and ready to hit Australia’s east coast. They’ll be making their way to 170 Russell on Friday April 21. Check the venue website for more information.

DJ Shadow is often regarded as the father of turntablism for his stellar musical output and for releasing the first ever album fully comprised of samples, Endtroducing...... 20 years later, DJ Shadow has released his fifth studio album, The Mountain Will Fall, and is going on a whirlwind world tour. He will be making his way to Melbourne on Wednesday May 31, where you can catch him at 170 Russell. This is a great opportunity to check out one of the most influential instrumental hip hop artists about. Tickets via Live Nation

Hit the road with full band

Returns to the Melbourne stage

Cat Stevens Announces Melbourne show Legendary British singer/songwriter Cat Stevens is heading to Australian shores for a 50th anniversary tour. The venture celebrates the single and major hit that was his debut album, Matthew & Son, first released in 1967. Cat Stevens AKA Yusuf Islam will be bringing a swag full of hits including The First Cut Is The Deepest, Wild World, Father & Son and more. Catch him Monday November 27 at Rod Laver Arena. Tickets via Ticketek.

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News Neil Finn

Body Count Return with Australian Show Originally formed by rapper Ice-T and his high school friend Ernie C based on their shared love of heavy metal, Body Count shot to infamy with the 1992 single, Cop Killer. A lot of time has passed since, but the band’s energy hasn’t dissipated. Their upcoming full-length album, Bloodlust, was just released and features guest collaborations from members of metal heavyhitters Megadeth, Lamb of God and Sepultura. You can catch Body Count for their first Aussie gig in 22 years at the Margaret Court Arena on Friday June 2. Head to the venue website for more information.

Gareth Liddiard

Covers classic ‘80’s track Vincent Van Gogh In celebration of NGV’s landmark Vincent Van Gogh exhibition, Gareth Liddiard has covered a seminal track from Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. The all new cover of Vincent Van Gogh sees Liddiard team up with his new project, Gareth Liddiard’s Cocktail Favourites. It comes in the wake of NGV’s latest Friday Nights lineup including Gemma Ray and The Panics. The exhibition will be the largest display of Van Gogh works to ever travel to Australia, exploring the master artist’s 50 paintings and drawings.

The Tarantino Ball

The Tarantino party of your dreams hits Melbourne The Tarantino Ball is back for its third year, paying tribute to the legendary director with a party raging from dusk till dawn.

Naturally, The Tarantinos will be soundtracking the night, playing songs from iconic Tarantino scenes live. This will be followed by DJ Kieran playing classic rock and pop bangers from the ‘60s and ‘70s till the early hours of the morning. It’s all going down Saturday May 20 at 24 Moons. Tickets via Moshtix.

Holy Holy

Miss Destiny, DJ JNETT, Lucy Cliché Join Vivid Live lineup

As the hype for Vivid LIVE 2017 intensifies, the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas has just enhanced two of its harbourside events. Repressed Records’ 15th Anniversary welcomes Lucy Cliché, Kitchen’s Floor, Fake and more to enter the fold.

Miss Destiny and DJ JNETT are also set to join the revolutionary event. Vivid Live Goes down from FridayMay 26 – Saturday June 17 at the Sydney Opera House and various Sydney-based venues.

Tickets and full lineup available through the Vivid LIVE website.

West Thebarton Brothel Party Release new video on the brink of their national tour Adelaide Aus-rock band West Thebarton Brothel Party have released a new video for their single Moving Out. The band themselves are moving around the country’s capital cities over the next few weeks ahead of appearance at Queensland’s Big Pineapple Music Festival later this year. Their debut album is on the way for an August release. West Thebarton Brothel Party are playing at Yah Yah’s on Saturday April 8.

Get colourful with Paint album tour

San Cisco

More than a piece of art, Holy Holy’s latest album sees the crossstate duo wriggle free of the sophomore blues to bring you something truly refreshing. When The Storms Would Come was fantastic and it can be difficult for bands to surpass their debut effort, but Holy Holy rise up and up behind their impressive new release Paint. Holy Holy unlock Paint to the world at 170 Russell on Friday June 30.

Aussie indie powerhouse San Cisco are bringing their new album The Water to the masses – taking on 20 shows in the process. They’ll be bringing new tracks such as SloMo and Hey, Did I Do You Wrong alongside a slew of their classic hits. They’ll hit 170 Russell on Saturday May 20. Tickets via Moshtix.

To bring brand new album across the nation

Groovin’ The Moo Diversify Lineup with 60 More Acts

Capping off their mammoth lineup, Groovin’ The Moo have gone and added 60 acts across the country to their Fresh Produce stage. Artists added to the Bendigo incarnation include Alice Ivy, Gambit, Harris Robotis, Jamo, Jvmanji, Pon Cho, Set Mo, Slick Slazenger and Throttle. They’ll be joining a an impressive lists of acts including Violent Soho, The Smith Street Band, Tash Sultana, Amy Shark and Montaigne. Groovin’ The Moo goes down at Bendigo Showground on Saturday May 6.

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Industry

Charts

Got some industry news we should know about?

Email Christie Eliezer celiezer@netspace.net.au

Pharrell Williams

Record Paradise Top Ten 1. Silver Eye, Goldfrapp 2. In The Same Room, Julia Holter 3. Hot Thoughts, Spoon 4. The Happy Lonesome, The Happy Lonesome 5. English Tapas, Sleaford Mods 6. Drunk, Thundercat 7. Black Peak, Xylouris White 8. When We Fall, All Our Exes Live In Texas 9. Orion, Orion 10. In Mind, Real Estate

PBS FM Top Ten 1. Take You Out Tonight, Sugar Fed Leopards 2. Kelly Lee Owens, Kelly Lee Owens 3. It’s a Myth, Sneaks 4. When Are You Going To Give Up On Me So I Can Give Up On Myself, Jackson Reid Briggs and the Heaters 5. Piel, Arca 6. Extinction, Harlott 7. Scrap Museum, TV Haze 8 Not Even Happiness, Julie Byrne 9. Sailing Ships and Tarot Cards, Chistopher de Groot 10. Peril Triage, Aeriae

Heartland Records Top Ten 1. Spiritchaser LP, Dead Can Dance 2. Spirit LP, Depeche Mode 3. Live Nth America LP, Gary Clark Jr 4. Brood X LP, Boss Hog 5. Breakin’ Outta Hell PIC DISC, Airbourne 6. Volcano LP, Temples 7. High Strangeness LP/CD, Mothership 8. The Black Code LP, Wo Fat 9. Heartwork LP, Carcass 10. Self Titled LP, Jade Warrior

SYN FM Top Ten 1. Low Blows, Meg Mac 2. One Foot In, Ali Barter 3. Lust For A Kick, Shrimpwitch 4. Honey Hunter, Bitumen 5. Girl Ain’t Got, Aunty Leo And The Backstabbers 6. Ascension ft. Vince Staples, Gorillaz 7. City Coming Up, LiBOSSi 8. Different Now, Chastity Belt 9. Link In Bio, Diet Cig 10. Moptop, Sleaford Mods

Beat’s Top Ten Big Boys Big Money Parry Big Kev Notorious BIG Andre The Giant Hagrid Big Boi Big Daddy Kane The BFG Michael Clarke Duncan Big Ted

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Pharrell Story Becoming A Musical

Fox is working on a musical inspired by Pharrell Williams’ life. The project, Atlantis, described as a Romeo and Juliet style story with lots of music, was pitched last month by Williams and producer Gil Netter. They were lucky that Fox was looking for a musical after the Oscar blitz by Lionsgate’s La La Land.

Streaming Ups Music Sales 5.5% In Oz…

The advent of streaming has seen the Australian recorded music sector grow for the second consecutive year. Figures from ARIA showed that in 2016, the industry grew another 5.5% to a total of 352.2 million units. This was caused by Mr. S. T. Reaming, whose revenue exploded by 90.5% to $135.4 million. Streaming now accounts for close to 40% of all revenues. “To think that the dominant form of our revenue is now derived from a category that did not exist five years ago demonstrates the innovative nature of the Australian music business,” said ARIA CEO Dan Rosen.

Streaming has led to Aussies moving from digital downloads, from $132.5 million to $105 million and remaining the second largest revenue source. Third was the CD, whose sales dropped 21.1% to $87.2 million from $110.6 million but still making up 30% of the market. Vinyl was up 70% to $15.2 million from $8.9 million in 2015, and enjoying the sixth consecutive year of growth.

No specific figures for cassettes, which are making a comeback.

…And The Usa

A 69% leap in revenue from music streaming to $3.9 billion lead to the US music industry reaching US$7.7 billion in 2016. This was a growth of 11.4% – the first time in almost 20 years that America’s music market, the biggest in the world, had a double digit rise.

Streaming is also now the most predominant format in America, at 51%. In a snapshot of that market, CD sales were down by 20.9% to 99.4 million units generating $1.2 billion. Vinyl’s renaissance may have plateaued. After building up 38% each year between 2012 to 2015, last year vinyl sales only rose 1.8% to 17.2 million units and revenues up 3.5% to nearly $430 million. Downloads continued to be less relevant to consumers, down 22% to $1.8 billion.

Entries Open For Communty Radio Awards

Entries have opened until Monday May 8 for the 2017 CBAA Community Radio Awards. The 20 categories cover excellence, small stations, volunteer contribution, community participation, indigenous engagement, music, sports programming, current affairs, digital, training and tech services. Finalists are announced in June, and the winners on Saturday November 11 as part of the CBAA’s national community broadcasting conference.

More deets at cbaa.org.au/awards.

Changes At The Grace Darling

The Grace Darling on Smith Street has undergone changes. With booker of eight years, John Waddell, moving to New Zealand, bookings are now by Amanda Vitartas, of Future Popes agency. She tells us the venue will continue to support great Aussie acts, email contact is gracedarlingbookings@gmail.com. There is also a new venue manager Isaac Rayson (ex-The Lounge Bar in the city) and new special events coordinator in Ed Service. The Grace Darling is shifting to solar power, no more straws and only serving local beer and wine.

Permit Issues To Hit Yemaya?

Permit issues might bring down bush doof Yemaya Festival, to be held Friday April 21 to Monday April 24 on a property in Fernihurst, north of Serpentine. Loddon Shire mayor Neil Beattie said a permit was denied this year for a number of issues pertaining to last year’s event: safety concerns, drug use, camping and parking issues, trespassing and rubbish removal. Police objected as did five neighbouring land owners. Doof organisers say they are still in discussion with council, and refunds will be made if ”circumstances change significantly.”

Last week the two-day autumn equinox in the Sunshine Coast hinterland was axed on the morning of the first day when local council said that relevant approvals had not been granted and it’d face huge fines if it went ahead.

Live Nation Partners With Virgin

Live Nation Australasia and Virgin Australia have taken to the skies together with a new partnership. Virgin is its official airline partner, which means all its touring acts and personnel use its flights. Live Nation in turn will offer marketing and brand experiences at its concerts and events.

World’s Biggest TV Fest Coming To Melbourne

The world’s biggest television festival, Series Mania, is coming to the southern hemisphere for the first time since it started in 2009, launching new TV and web series. Series Mania Melbourne takes over ACMI from Thursday July 20 to Monday July 24 with a bumper program of highlights from Paris Series Mania 2017 in April and sneak peeks of upcoming local productions. Paris has already announced the world premiere of Matchbox Pictures’ Melbournemade Seven Types of Ambiguity with Hugo Weaving, Xavier Samuel and Suzie Porter and based on the novel by Victorian author Elliot Pearlman. It stages in Melbourne courtesy the Andrews Labor government via ACMI and Film Victoria with Paris’ Forum des Images.

The Melbourne program is unveiled on Monday July 3. It will include over 40 free screenings alongside talks and Q&As with key creatives and stars of the television world, as well as workshops and masterclasses for the public and screen industry practitioners. Series Mania has provided an international platform for Victorian-made programs including Please Like Me, Gallipoli and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries. The event also features an influential co-production forum for the industry to discover new talent and share ideas.

Sad Grrrls Open To Artist Expression Of Interest

Australia’s largest female and gender diverse fronted music festival Sad Grrrls – which stages in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney – is accepting expressions of interest from bands and artists wanting to perform. According to organisers, “Bands/artists must have at least one member who is non-male. This includes female, non-binary, gender fluid, gender non-conforming, agender and transgender performers.” Head to sadgrrrilsclub.com. There is also a separate form for the public to suggest acts for the bill.

More Record Store Day Ambassadors

The Australian Music Retailers Association (AMRA) has added more ambassadors for Record Store Day: A.B. Original, Catherine Britt, Federal MP and club DJ Anthony Albanese and music industry executive Tim Dalton join Robert Forster, Mark Gable (The Choirboys) and Instagrammer Steve Kouta.

Celebrating its tenth year in Australia on Saturday April 22, it has a record amount of indie record stores (over 180) participating. It reminds music lovers the important role record stores play as music hubs and places to find new music.

Albanese has already spread the word to his Parliamentary colleagues, urging them in a speech to attend a record store that day. He cited how Peter Buck and Michael Stipe met at a record store and went on to form REM. Last week Daryl Braithwaite and Ross Wilson were among musicians – along with Diesel, Megan Washington, Montaigne and Kav Temperley of Eskimo Joe – who played at Canberra Parliament before 300 senators and MPs singing along to emphasise the importance of copyright protection for artists. In addition, a new Liberal Democrat MP in WA’s Labor government who holds the balance of power in that state, 26-yearold Aaron Stonehouse, is a heavy metal fan constantly seen at gigs.

THE B.EAST IS LOOKING FOR A NEW BAND & ENTERTAINENT BOOKER! Over the past 5 years The B.East in Brunswick East has established itself as a destination for awesome burgers, beers and bands.

We are looking to take the music and entertainment to the next level and we need your skills to help us build on our reputation for having great food and events with music and entertainment booking to match.

This role is part-time

Key points for the role:

-Ability to work closely and contribute relevant input and creative ideas within a group.-Work within a monthly budget.-Book shows specifically to suit events including matching bands and DJs for cohesive flow.-Be organised.-Have previous experience dealing with contractual agreements between performers and venues.-Extensive knowledge of the local and wider Australian music scene inclusive of all genres and a willingness to work outside ones own tastes to create a mixed bag of awesome!!! (We are an eclectic bunch).-Adhere to all requirements set out by management.-Ideally booker will be able to attend a lot of shows to see how different bands and vibes work within the space.-Attend a weekly meeting with the rest of the B.East management team.-Microsoft Office skillz! (Word and Excel).-Report weekly to VM, 2IC on budgets with updated reports filled to show spending and budget compliance.-Previous experience looked upon favourably.If you feel you have what it is we are looking for please forward a resume to: guy@officeofpublicworks.com

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17

Arts Guide

Beat’s Pick

Got some arts news we should know about?

Email James Di Fabrizio james@beat.com.au.

Becky Lucas Brings Little Bitch to MICF

Comedy

Simon Taylor

One of the fastest rising stars on the Australian comedy circuit, Becky Lucas takes to the stage with her pitch-perfect delivery - equal parts laconic and hilarious.

She’s written for Emmy-nominated show Please Like Me and is co-writing Matt Okine’s upcoming show on Stan. But you don’t need her CV. You just need to know this: Becky Lucas is an act well worth catching. Performing up until Sunday April 23 (bar Mondays) at Victoria Hotel.

Masterful funnyman Simon Taylor is back on home turf with his latest show, Spectacular-ish, wowing audeinces at this year’s Comedy Festival with his razor-sharp delivery and endearing charm. Catch him up until Sunday April 23 (bar Wednesdays) at Trades Hall - The Meeting Room.

Comedy Comedy Up Late

Can’t sleep? Feeling restless? Want to get out an enjoy Melbourne for being so great? Comedy Up Late has arrived in tandom with its good-looking mother the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Wednesday April 5 will see MC Nath Valvo take charge of Emily Heller, Merrick Watts, Steen Raskopoulos and more. Thursday April 6 is also running a fancy order. 11.15pm, Max Watt’s, 125 Swanston St, CBD

Alice Fraser

Rohingya

Josh Glanc

Builds her Empire

A refugee crisis in colour

Mans up for MICF

After touring the world to sold out seasons and universal critical acclaim with her 2015 and 2016 festival shows, Alice Fraser is back in Australia with a brand-new hour of reliably silly, unpredictably meaningful, narratively unorthodox and artful comedy. Alice Fraser has done her time in the Cambridge Footlights, the comedy clubs of New York, and the boardroom of Allens Linklaters. You can catch her up until Sunday April 23 (bar Mondays) at The Chinese Museum - The Jade Room.

The ongoing genocide of Rohingya people in Western Myanmar (formerly Burma) remains almost ignored by world media. Rohingya aims to showcase the pride and determination of these people, taken on medium format film at considerable risk. Rohingya: Refugee Crisis in Colour is presented by City of Yarra and Prism Imaging, and is also featured as part of the 2017 Human Rights Arts and Film Festival. Catch it from Wednesday April 5 - Friday May 26 at Fitzroy Library.

The brilliant Josh Glanc has been turning heads across the country, labelled one to watch by those in the know.

Catch him in his latest show, Manful, as he transforms into a hyper-masculine American beefcake that eventually ends up heading on a surreal and strange gender quest. Fresh from a sell-out season at Fringe World in Perth, Glanc stakes his claim this Comedy Festival at ACMI - Games Room until Sunday April 23 (bar Mondays).

The Comedy Zone

Dara O Briain

Matt Stewart

Australia’s freshest funny-makers

Ireland’s favourite son comes Down Under

Nothing dry about that

Catch the next wave of Australia’s funniest in full flight when The Comedy Zone showcases new stars on the ground floor. Featuring Danielle Walker, Rohan Ganju, Tim Hewitt, Nat Damena, and Tom Cashman – it’s the only place to go if you want to see the next big thing before they take it to the next level.

Hit up Trades Hall until Sunday April 23 (bar Wednesdays) to see the magic happen.

One of Ireland’s leading comedians, Dara O Briain, is heading to Melbourne for a limited run of shows. A stand-up comic and television presenter, he’s best known for his work hosting BBC’s Mock the Week and Ireland’s The Panel. With a slew of sold-out shows under his belt, this will likely do the same. Catch him live at Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall on Wednesday April 5.

Rochester Comedy

Inspiring with their wit, guile and sneak at The Rochester Hotel this week is Tommy Dassalo, Cameron James, Rose Callaghan, Michael Chamberlin and more. Your weeks a bit glum and monotonous, The Rochie will sort you out. Thursday April 6, 202 Johnston St, Fitzroy.

George’s Comedy

Thursday April 6 sees Michael Connell MC the second heat of the ‘Are You Funnier Than George Comedy Festival Extravaganza’. Seven competitors step up to enter the battlefield of comedy – the audience pick the winners, culminating in a massive final. Some special feature spot performers have also been slated as a secret added bonus. 120 Johnston St, Fitzroy.

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Fresh from selling out shows at Melbourne Fringe and Perth Fringe World, Raw Comedy winner Matt Stewart is bringing his downbeat comedy and wry wit to Melbourne with his debut solo show, Pretty Dry. Catch him at The Chinese Museum - The Tea Room until Sunday April 23 (bar Mondays).

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21

Cover Story

Aunty Donna

By Tiernan Morrison

Since appearing in 2011, Aunty Donna have built a sizeable following with their brand of absurd, endlessly quotable sketch comedy.

Between their viral YouTube videos and their critically acclaimed live shows, the group have become a staple of the festival scene and a standard feature of group chats around the world. To borrow one of their best-known lines, the Donna boys have done very well for themselves indeed.

According to member Mark Bonanno, it takes a lot of serious work to be silly for a living. “We’re doing it full time. Ten to six Monday to Friday pretty constantly,” says Bonanno. This isn’t a surprise when you consider their huge output, spanning podcasts, live shows, YouTube videos and an upcoming pilot. “We’ve always just wanted to be funny in whatever way we can without putting ourselves in a box. We really love sketch but it always happened by accident for us.”

For Bonanno, all of this was hard to imagine back when Aunty Donna was just a bunch of guys studying theatre at uni.

“It all happened really fast,” he says. “It was me and my mates messing about and then our first Comedy Festival show got nominated for a Golden Gibbo Award. We didn’t win, but the fact that we got nominated made us think this could be a real thing.

For the past five years it’s been very serious in terms of trying to make it a business and trying to work hard at it.”

Ultimately, their dedication has been rewarded with a remarkably devoted fan base.

“I don’t know what it is that we’ve done to inspire that – or why us and why not a whole bunch of other very talented people who deserve it – but it’s all about the fans,” says Bonnano. “We’re so lucky. When you’re generating your own material it can really feel like there’s no point in doing it. We’ve been lucky enough to have people who care and don’t want us to stop right now.”

If their success can be attributed to anything, it’s their distinctive comic voice. Fast, manic, and couched in an unpretentious sense of irony, their work combines a broad slapstick sensibility with a knack for finding the absurd in the everyday. Like most great comedy groups, it’s a product of their varied tastes.

“None of us like the same stuff in terms of comedy,” says Bonnano. “There are some obvious cross-over points, but we came together at drama school because we liked the way each other performed and found each other very funny on stage.”

Like all things Auntie Donna however, their unique comedic perspective was the result of a lot of work.

“Before we made anything, we spent a year talking about doing comedy and how we’d approach it,” he says. “We recorded demos in our mates’ bedrooms and 22 BEAT.COM.AU

sent little sketch ideas to each other over Facebook. I think that time helped us gauge each other’s interests.”

It was through this process of deliberation and workshopping that the Donna Boys seized on their essence.

“At some point we said, ‘You know what’s not really being done anymore? Stuff that’s big and dumb and silly.’ We’re all such fans of that style of comedy but it took us a long time to find a way to do it and do it in our own way.”

Over their five years together, that basic premise has become an intricate world of characters and recurring bits. As Bonnano will tell you, it’s a world they are eager to explore further in their new sitcom, the pilot of which they’ve just finished filming.

“I’ve personally really enjoyed making [the pilot] because it’s so different and something that we’ve always wanted to do,” he says. “We’ve had to take the characters that have been developing in the live show and really refine them which has been awesome.”

Whether its live sketch or videos, all of their work is grounded in a simple principle. “When we work, we’ve always got ‘whatever’s funniest’ written on the wall. It’s just really important to use that. People are laughing and enjoying the show. Nothing else really matters.” Adherence to this principle requires a very careful process of comic distillation. “We sort of Moneyball our sketches, if that reference makes sense.

Before our show last year we did a string of test shows where we would literally write brand new material Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and then perform it all on the Thursday night. We try to set the bar really high for ourselves.” He pauses before laughing. “Though if you see our shows, that might not seem like the case.”

Fans can see the fruits of this process in action, when Aunty Donna return to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with their new show Big Boys. “As usual, it’s a sketch show but it is something a little bit different this time,” he says. “It’s got one of my favourite opening sketches we’ve ever done.” If you’re worried this means the Donna boys are going high concept, Bonnano has some words of reassurance.

“The theme of the show is being ‘big boys’ which isn’t a thing. It’s stupid, and they’re not real words,” he laughs. “That’s what it’s about – stupid things that don’t mean anything.”

“The theme of the show is being ‘big boys’ which isn’t a thing.

It’s stupid, and they’re not real words.

That’s what it’s about – stupid things that don’t mean anything.”

You can catch Aunty Donna in Big Boys until Sunday April 23 (bar Mondays) at Max Watt’s as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Tickets via comedyfestival. com.au.

BEAT.COM.AU 23

Arts

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Reviews

Shut Your Juicy Mouth

Soap

Ceiling Fran

Renonsense Man

An unassuming art easel is the only thing that sits on an otherwise empty stage in the back corner of LOOP Bar. As the lights dim, what follows is a stand-up debut from a powerful trio of comedians who by covering a variety of weirdly relatable topics are certain to spark some big laughs.

First to grace the stage is Anthony McCormack who will take you on a winding journey through experiences of sexting, walruses and pinatas. His great set will remind you that being warned a TV show ‘may disturb you’ really can be disturbing (the backstory is worth it).

Next up, Stephen Porter quickly follows the act with an array of funny experiences that tease a laugh because they are so relatable. His accurate take on Tinder and dating mishaps are the highlights particularly because they resonate all too well with some of us.

Donning an almost blinding glittery jacket, Phoebe O’Brien is the final performer to take to the stage. Often ridiculing herself through funny stories about psychics and psychopaths, her natural flair for comedy shines. She certainly covers more ground and through an element of audience participation keeps everyone on their toes, even though this could’ve been executed a little tighter.

Overall the trio complement each other well and the performances flow from joke to joke with ease. Teasing a good response from the audience, it is through their likeable energy that you can sense that these three comedians are equally as funny off stage, as they are on.

Shut Your Juicy Mouth serves the ‘90s kid very well. Their stories will chime with a viewer who is old enough to remember the internet dial up tone, old school SBS and spending hours at school perfecting MS Paint masterpieces (a key feature to look out for during the set) yet young enough to see the birth of Tinder and still be trawling through it to this very day. Although they all shine as natural storytellers, it is wise however to listen carefully or risk sometimes losing track of where our comedians are taking us.

Apparently, more accidents happen in the bathroom than any other place in the home, but the eight-piece ensemble behind SOAP could care less. Performed in, out and over five bath tubs (claw footed to spa-luxury moderne), SOAP’s hour and a half gig is a tight meld of contemporary circus, dance, opera and classic clowning that’s funny, clever, thrilling, beautiful and unabashedly sexy.

Big props to Maree Andree Lemaire, the retro-sweet squeaking and growling clown hostess. Lemaire can turn from cute to psycho on a five cent piece, and the illusion which sees her stretch beyond the realms of possibility in the bath provokes cheek-hurting laughter.

The set is David Lynch-y: super glamorous in the style of a ‘50s Vegas cabaret show and surreal, what with the tubs and all, the sense of which is only compounded by the addition of an opera singer. As a compatriot noted, everything becomes instantly more dramatic and classy when there’s an opera singer. Her rehash of Bobby Darin’s fifties classic Splish Splash as opera was unexpected and funny.

That said, the main event was the circus.

The modern-spin on Chinese foot juggling with bathing accoutrements including towels, face washers and giant cakes of soap was a jaw dropper. The juggler’s multi-ball rebounding and quick change act on top of an upended bath tub set to a funk soundtrack was sleek, impressive and fun.

Then there were the aerial acts, pretty much all of which were hawt. Muscles, water and what not steamed the bathroom right up, without being gauche. The fella using straps to suspend and plunge himself into the bath was mesmerising, as was the trapeze act performed ostensibly in onstage rain. Rain always sounds nice and you could hear it patter on the stage floor, while the aerialist swished through it. The other striking element is that these acts are properly risky at the best of times, but when you factor in water and props like bath tubs the level of risk and requisite talent increases exponentially. SOAP is a marvel and a laugh.

Leave all expectations of what comedy should be at the door and enter the weird and wonderful world of Ceiling Fran. In an energetic 50 minutes, Fran Middleton’s debut solo performance literally takes you through a portal and into a realm of surprises, twists and turns in a mesmerising one woman show.

Set to soothing music, her candle-lit performance space could at first glance remind you of an ambient meditation session. In this intimate room, we quickly ease into our seats and are lured into feeling deeply relaxed – yet do not be deceived. As with many comedy shows, taking a seat in the front row is reserved for the brave and when Fran yells ‘catch!’ whilst motioning to throw a table at an audience member, we quickly learn to expect the unexpected from this wonderful comedian.

What makes this show stand out, alongside its fast-paced tempo, is its genrebending nature.

Rather than being a straightforward stand-up, Fran takes us on a journey and delivers a number of often unrelated snippets with a mixture of sounds and sights that are thoroughly entertaining. The act combines elements of improv, sketch comedy and even a hint of Fran’s very own hilarious take on burlesque to ensure that there is never a dull moment.

As an artist, Fran has a rare talent of captivating an audience just by being herself.

Without giving too much away, it is through this very combination of her unique energy and use of unusual props - such as avocados and cellophane - that’ll really leave you needing a fan to cool off by the end. The performance wakes you up, makes you laugh and keeps you on your toes from the moment she begins her brilliant ‘opener’.

This show is certainly not for the fainthearted. If you are looking for a conventional evening of stand up jokes this might not be for you. However if you are into the otherworldly, absurd and all-round entertaining this is absolutely one to watch.

Be prepared for something weird and you won’t be disappointed.

A 28-year comedic legacy and no one can escape the vice of preconception fastened to Jimeoin’s stage identity. His most rational and loyal guests will do-away with prejudice, absorbing his show with impartiality whereby criticism is undermined by Jimeoin being Jimeoin.

Attending his opening show of the 2017 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, it was important that I, for one, wasn’t starry-eyed in thinking Jimeoin would deliver his greatest ever performance. For the Irish veteran, a live set is just another tuna roll on the sushi train driven more by intuition than methodology.

The gracious undergarment aesthetic he baited from his Renonsense Man press shot didn’t see the light of day albeit aging self-pity fashioned some sort of a metaphorical substitute.

Having accumulated years under his belt, an element of boredom is likely to materialise in life; for Jimeoin, this has had quirky influences on his marriage.

When social gatherings don’t become satirical glaring contests they befit jealousy tussles. Consistently surrounded by selfadmittedly, more handsome men, Jimeoin alludes to the fun of using his wife’s enticement against her. Farts always seem to smell better coming from a good-looking bloke, nevertheless, he wasn’t the only one who recently ate sweet potato – wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

As previously mentioned, it’s assumed that Jimeoin doesn’t furnish his pre-show preparations engineering a script however that didn’t stop his green bible of folly from ‘suddenly’ appearing on stage. Whether it’s a jocular take on Jimeoin having a songbook or not, the crowd really grabbed the cute clumsiness of the Aussie expat stumbling through the pages absent-faced.

From one tangent to another, jollity surrounded the awkward glitch between pedestrian and motorist at the zebra crossing or stupid dancing when you’ve got nothing else to do. Then he reached for the conveniently positioned guitar and without looking at our watches, we all knew it was too early. But that was all part of the humorous goof, evoking rapturous laughter before embarrassing squirm.

From go to whoa, Jimeoin’s set invested in easy-to-understand life that ultimately sparks realisation – a trusted comedic source but not ordinarily heard from an old timer. So the humour of getting old sprung at us again yet it wasn’t repetitive but fresh and resembled Jimeoin as good as ever without striving to be spectacular.

Fran Middleton

Jimeoin

Anthony McCormack, Phoebe O’Brien & Stephen Porter

By Tamara Davison

By Meg Crawford

By Tamara Davison SOAP runs through to Saturday April 22 at the Malthouse Theatre.

Catch Fran Middleton up until Saturday April 8 at Tasma Terrace.

By Tom Parker

Catch Jimeioin at ACMI - Beyond up until Sunday April 23.

26 BEAT.COM.AU

Interviews

“I think we’ve got one of the best festival landscapes in the world.

Even my American friends, they see the way we run festivals, they see our lineups and how much fun we have, and they love it.”

Pentridge Festival:

Billy Davis

Ever since Johnny Cash stepped into Folsom State Prison and recorded the best-selling live album of all time, music and penitentiaries have enjoyed a strange romanticism.

While the maximum security Prison Pentridge in Coburg has been largely silent for 20 years now, you’ll now get the chance to come as close to those Folsom Prison Blues as you’ll likely want to get. The Pentridge Festival stretches over two days of food, music, and history, and right in the thick of it you’ll find neo-soul/hip hop trailblazers, Billy Davis.

“I think we’ve got one of the best festival landscapes in the world,” says frontman William Rimington. “Even my American friends, they see the way we run festivals, they see our lineups and how much fun we have, and they love it. I was able to hang out with a few guys like Denzel Curry, and they were telling me, ‘Bro, you guys in Melbourne, it’s so refreshing.’ Especially down here where we have such a crazy and diverse music scene. People actually appreciate the music. It’s not, ‘Me pay money, me come watch.’ It’s ‘Me pay money, me come watch, me enjoy music, me talk to artist after set.’ I think that’s an awesome thing about playing a festival in Melbourne. I think the reason they succeed is people are not just there to get crunk.” Rimington pauses, then laughs. “Well, that might be a partial reason. But they’re mostly there for the music.”

To that end, it’s a hell of a bill. There are tours of the prison, of course, and more food trucks then you’ll know what to do with. But the music lineup is primed for one epic party; Billy Davis,

Dj collective Cumbia Massive, Big Words. You even have Emotioncuts’ Cut Opera (opera without the boring bits, as they say). Given Rimington is spearheading a posse of ten musicians for Billy Davis, this setting seems oddly appropriate.

“To be honest, because we’re a ten piece, dealing with these guys in rehearsal, I think Pentridge is fitting. I was telling them on Monday that when we do the prison gig, it’s going to be the most appropriate gig for you hooligans,” he laughs. “As you can probably foresee, running a unit of ten people – a horn section, three vocalists, a rhythm section – it gets a bit hectic. So seeing that we’re doing this gig at the prison I thought, ‘Finally, a venue that suits you guys.’ I feel like we’ve come so far that we’re like a family. We can read each other. It’s crazy. I don’t know how we do it and run this unit live on stage with no in-ears.

But we’ve worked out a system. It’s not easy, but

it’s working well.”

And for both band and audience, Pentridge has one more happy accident to enjoy.

“I did a collab with Big Words on our initial EP and we’ve never actually done a show together, so it’s pretty awesome to do this for the first time,” says Rimington. “Because I’m good friends with Oscar [Diaz], who’s helping run the event and is a food master, I know there’s a lot of food involved.

I’m keen as, because as soon as the set finishes – not going to lie – I’m going to pig out.”

Pentridge Festival goes down on Saturday April 8 and Sunday April 9 at the Former Pentridge Prison, 1 Champ St, Coburg - Central Piazza.

By Adam Norris

Turin Brakes Turin Brakes will celebrate their Bluesfest debut this year, showcasing the band’s seventh studio album Lost Property.

One of the finest indie bands of the last decade, Turin Brakes are still going strong after 18 years and multiple world tours.

Ahead of coming to Australia for Bluesfest, Turin Brakes will be performing at the 100 Club in London. “Doing the festival gigs as opposed to the intimate gigs are very different. The intimate gigs, you can be subtle in your movements then bigger festivals you have to combat the outdoors with wind and sunlight,” says Olly Knights, the band’s founder and vocalist.

“We’ve learnt to perform in a different way over the years and have two different versions of the band depending on the gig. It’s a different feeling as well as physical so we have to play like we show up more.”

Touring their latest album, Lost Property, the reaction has been unexpected. “[It’s been] amazing in the UK especially. We’ve been around for 18 years, so we don’t have that new band magic where everyone is excited for the debut album. People get over that when you’ve released seven of the damn things,” says Knights.

“Amazingly it’s been supported strongly by commercial radio in the UK, which was a surprise.

We didn’t think that was going to happen, but it did and it has got us back in touch with a side of the fanbase that forgot we were still putting out records.

They reconnected with the band, so suddenly we have loads of sold out gigs. It’s been one of the best years we’ve ever had.”

Adapting to new crowds comes easily to Turin Brakes. “We get on the stage together and are very lucky there’s a lot of chemistry. We read the crowd 28 BEAT.COM.AU

“We didn’t choose the music industry, the music had chosen us.” and you feel the unique identity of the audience every single night,” says Knights. “We’ve done hundreds of thousands of gigs and they’re all are slightly different. Never the same feeling and it has to do with the chemistry of the crowd, so I’m sure Australia has its own identity that we’ll adapt to.”

Sharing the stage at Bluesfest with Santana, Patti Smith and Jimmy Buffet, Knights is very much looking forward to seeing some of his heroes as well as getting some solid R&R. “Santana again, as when I was a kid he blew my brains out. It’ll be a complete cycle from when I was 13 years old. But we’re looking forward to relaxing by the coast and playing a festival in a landscape that’s very different to what we’re used to. We’re used to cold fields, so we’ll be a bunch of guys on holiday who are playing gigs too.”

Turin Brakes records have been featured in a plethora of places but there are songs that resonate most for the band. “The ones that deep down I know are the most honest and truthful songs, which you can tell when recording a demo to your iPhone. You can change the sound and production but you can’t change the element of truth in that song and that’s

what people recognise after it’s been mastered,” says Knights.

The early beginnings of the band were very humble. “We didn’t choose the music industry, the music had chosen us. We were making music for friends and ourselves. We loved doing it on a homemade level that was raw and honest.

“It got bigger than we expected. One day our friend was playing our record in his car while someone from the label was hitching a ride and enquired about the band,” says Knights. “Then we had loads of record labels trying to sign us and we genuinely had no intention of doing this as a career.

Here we are 18 years later and still doing fine.”

The rest of the year is set to be a big one. “We just finished writing the next album. We’ll head to our studio in Wales – it’s a lovely place far away from London – where we escape and really concentrate on the record. We usually fly through it once we know what we’re going to do, then we’ll play loads of festivals and release it in early 2018, if everything goes to plan.”

By Giddy Heine

Turin Brakes will perform as part of Byron Bay Bluesfest, taking place from Thursday April 13 until Monday April 17 and Northcote Social Club on Thursday April 13.

95-97 DRUMMOND STREET, OAKLEIGH Upcoming Shows

THE APE ONLY MELBOURNE SHOW SUNDAY APRIL 16TH featuring

Tex Perkins,Raul Sanchez Gus Agars & Pat Bourke

FEATURING

HENRY WAGONS JONNY FRITZ RUBY BOOTS THURSDAY

APRIL 2OTH

Coming soon:

29/4 - GEMMA RAY 27/5 - THE CELIBATE RIFLES 17/6 - MICK THOMAS 30/6 - THE MELTDOWN & TESKEY BROS 1/7 - BEN OTTEWELL 14/7 - JOE PUG

bookings & tickets at www.caravanmusic.com.au BEAT.COM.AU 29

Interviews

Adam Glynn If you’ve been around Australia’s metal scene for a while, you’ll almost certainly recognise the vocal chords of Adam Glynn.

He’s previously contributed decibels to the likes of Frankenbok and Five Star Prison Cell, and he’s just released his debut solo album The Vogue of Ambition upon return from the traditional musician’s hiatus.

“I focused those would be energies that once belonged to my music solely upon myself,” Glynn says. “I adapted this ‘I’m the architect of my life’ mantra and I went into self-improvement / damage control mode. I didn’t want to end up as one of those derelict failed musicians hanging at the local scenester pub. I worked hard, saved money and paid off my debts. I got a better job, my own place, and focused more on my health. I got rid of that monkey on my back of being a jaded musician and all of a sudden music was awesome again.”

The Vogue of Ambition is something a bit different.

Twelve tracks, some comprising of soundscapes of layered vocals, others soundtrack-like instrumentals.

“Imagine if Mike Patton, Gotye, Portishead, and the possessed ladies from The Evil Dead got together,” Glynn says. “Then they made an Indigenous, electronic, ambient, barbershop album full of contiki holiday soundtracks from hell. Well, this is that album.”

Glynn says the soundscapes were inspired by Bjork and Patton’s solo vocal albums. “I feel like such a wanker making a solo album. But it’s something I’ve always wanted to do and cross off my bucket list.

I can hear Jeff Goldblum’s character from Jurassic Park in my ear badgering me with that line ‘You were so caught up with the idea of if you could do this, but did you even stop to think if you should do this?’ ” When compared to Patton, Glynn has mixed feelings. “I would never be so arrogant or conceited

“I didn’t want to end up as one of those derelict failed musicians hanging at the local scenester pub.” as to consider myself as Australia’s answer to Mike Patton,” he says. “Patton has more talent and range in his little finger than I will ever have. But I’ve said this back even in the Frankenbok and Five Star Prison Cell days and I will say it again – there are worse things to be compared to.

“It’s flattering, but there’s two sides to that coin.

Sometimes, it’s done in a manner to insult me or have a dig at my so called ‘lack of originality.’ It doesn’t get to me at all – Patton was a huge influence on me growing up. I’m not going to deny that. He inspired me to be as versatile and as creative as I possibly could. His vocals on Faith No More’s Angel Dust and Mr Bungle’s debut album taught me that you can be a great vocalist, but it’s ideas that take you to the next level. All those rich layers and the personification stuff he did was amazing. It blew my mind when I was 15. The voice can be an instrument too.”

Although The Vogue of Ambition is a solo album, Glynn did have a little help from a guest artist, his cat Cornelius. “I was recording her meowing and then I was playing it back while looking at her face. She

looked so puzzled and confused. I put some effects on it, played it again. She freaked out, knocked over and broke a vase and ran away. I figured if my cat hates it then I’m on the right path.

“I recorded, produced and did everything myself. Even the artwork. I don’t have awesome musicians or amazing productions from DW Norton or Forrester Savell to hide behind anymore.

But it was the most fun I’ve ever had recording. I really enjoyed and challenged myself on this album but not in a stressful way. I could do what I wanted and go at my own pace, experiment to find my sound and direction. Now that it’s done and finally out, it’s really exciting but scary at the same time. I’ve never felt so naked or exposed musically.”

Adam Glynn’s The Vogue of Ambition is out now independently.

By Josh Fergeus

Gemma Ray For those familiar with British television show The Only Way Is Essex, you’ll understand that the accent can be annoying as heck, grating on the ears like nails on a chalkboard.

But don’t let TOWIE give the entire county a bad rep, because people like Gemma Ray come along with voices so sweet and magical, trepidations about accents are quickly forgotten.

Originally an Essex girl, Ray is fast making an international name for herself, as the singer/ songwriter picks up her guitar and makes music that can only be described as haunting, gothic ambience, gripping audiences across the world with the ebony beauty of her psychedelic performances.

On the back of her sensational album The Exodus Suite, Aussie audiences will soon have a chance to witness dark magic personified. “It’s going to be really exciting,” says Ray, “The only thing to say that people should expect from the show is the unexpected.

“I’m there to enjoy the music – any accidents will be happy ones but it’ll be all me, totally raw and authentic and that’s how I like it.”

No stranger to our Australian community, Ray has had the privilege to work alongside several members of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. “It was such a surreal experience,” Ray says. “You hear about people like Nick when you’re starting out and then suddenly you’re playing with his band, learning from people who’ve done it [played music] a long time.

“Thomas [Wydler of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds] was a huge guide for me and I’m pretty lucky I was able to work with him.”

Indeed, it was Wydler who provided Ray with recommendations as to how she could record her 30 BEAT.COM.AU

“I’m there to enjoy the music – any accidents will be happy ones but it’ll be all me, totally raw and authentic and that’s how I like it.” latest album The Exodus Suite, combining the best there was on offer in production married with her absolute need to create an album of authenticity.

“Organic, if you must say that word,” says Ray. “But really, there needed to be an ebb and flow.” Recorded in the renowned Candy Bomber Studios in Berlin, Ray took on the ambitious feat of producing her album in only a week. “I had a bit of a fear of running out of time to record everything I wanted to get down, but the album came out better than I had hoped thanks to Ingo [producer Ingo Krauss].

“I was nervous – it had to happen that way but committing to doing it in such a short space of time was something I had to get the bottle for.”

Travelling and playing music the world over, Ray would have certainly seen some sights – but it’s been Berlin that has captured her attention, and the one place she feels she can call home. A full-time dweller in the famous German city, Ray says she

often draws inspiration from the culture and history of the city around her.

“I feel like Berlin is so central to everything – you can hop over to France or Italy in a day, I can perform there on an evening and still get home the same day if I really want to – I feel like Europe is such a great place for musicians to work out of.

“You do all this travelling and you see all these different people and places and one day, one just sticks with you. Berlin is great culturally, the people are fantastic, [and] I feel so at home here and find so much inspiration,” Ray says.

“This is definitely home, at least for now. Who knows where life will take me.”

By Anna Rose

Gemma Ray will perform at Northcote Social Club on Thursday April 27, Friday Nights @ NGV on Friday April 28 and Caravan Music Club on Saturday April 29.

Interviews

Totally Unicorn There aren’t many bands who have a cake created and named in their honour. In fact, apart from Wollongong heavy metal band Totally Unicorn, none spring to mind.

So it is with a mixture of pride and amusement that Totally Unicorn singer Drew Gardner concedes that the story of the Totally Unicorn beetroot cake in former MasterChef contestant Poh Ling Yeoh’s Same But Different cookbook is actually true.

“Poh was married to our drummer’s brother,” says Gardner. “She used to make the cake for us every time we came to Adelaide and leave it out for us on the bench when we got home from playing the show.”

Despite being celebrated in such culinary form, Gardner hasn’t managed to learn how to make the cake yet. “I’m a terrible cook,” he laughs.

Totally Unicorn was formed from the ashes of two Wollongong bands, Ohana and Gardner’s Hospital the Musical. The original idea was simple: start a band, stop worrying about success and have a good time. “We’d given up on taking music too seriously, especially touring,” Gardner says. “So we thought we’d start a band and have fun with it and not try and make anything too serious, just play a couple of shows here and there. That snowballed and it went a lot better than the previous bands we had.”

The band’s name derives from a story told by Totally Unicorn’s original guitarist, Clancy Tucker, about his time at Byron Bay Bluesfest. Tucker was walking across a field on his way home when he spotted what he thought was a horse lying down in the grass. Tucker felt a strange affinity with this horse and decided to lie down and embrace it. Upon waking up he was surprised to discover his arm

“My hands are still stained from tie-dye at the moment.” immersed in a discarded bath full of green slime, and no magical horse to be seen. “He said he had to hitchhike home the next day when he woke up, and he had a whole green arm. So there’s a guy walking down the road with no shoes or shirt and a green arm,” Gardner laughs.

Totally Unicorn’s commitment to enjoying its time onstage includes in-your-face interaction with its audiences, and Gardner prancing about the stage in tie-dyed underpants. (“My hands are still stained from tie-dye at the moment,” Gardner says.) Some audiences are easier than others to interact with, and the challenge is always to elicit a reaction. “The festivals are always really good because we play to a lot of people who have never heard us before – there’s lots of bewildered faces and people smiling,” Gardner says.

At the other end of the fun spectrum was Totally Unicorn’s experience with its first record, Horse Hugger (again, inspired by that fateful nonencounter with the horse). A deal with distributor Six Nightmares went south and Totally Unicorn and Brisbane band Ironhide discovered they were out thousands of dollars. It was an event that hardened Totally Unicorn’s personal and business resolve.

“Dealing with anyone in the music industry you

have to take everything with a grain of salt and not believe when people promise you the world, then fuck you over,” Gardner says. “For the longest time after that we did stuff on our own because we didn’t trust anyone. We’re now with the Farmer and Owl guys and sitting down and connecting with them as people and trying to see what they’re about.”

Having impressed Cherry Bar owner James Young at Yah Yah’s last year Totally Unicorn will grace the Cherry Rock stage for the first time, before returning to the studio with a new drummer to record their second album.

Despite their underpanted stage antics and metal-math musical assault, Totally Unicorn still has the support of the band members’ parents. “Our song Cool Dads, Cool Sons was inspired by our own dads who are still accepting us for getting older and still being stupid and wearing our underpants in front of people and playing music. I don’t know how I’d feel about my son doing that. Probably alright, now that I’ve been doing it,” Gardner says.

By Patrick Emery

Polish Club David Novak, frontman of the increasingly sought-after Polish Club, isn’t one to mince words.

Though the Sydney duo have only just dropped their debut album, Alright Already, they’re already long-accustomed to the struggles of life in the music industry – including the necessary evils of talking to the press – and know that the best way to get their music out there is to be as honest as you can; even if that means admitting that the road ahead is still a bit of a mystery.

“We’ve been pretty fucking busy. Who’d have thought releasing an album was so much work beyond actually recording it? John-Henry and I still have day jobs because we’re broke as shit and not making any money.

“The daily routine is much like anyone, except instead of going for lunch breaks, you do fun stuff like this. You go to the Polish club and record some stupid skits. It’s pretty funny and I can’t complain, but we’re pretty burnt out right now. I’m going to take a month off before the tour to recharge, and make sure I’m not going to have a cardiac arrest on stage. The audience might go for it, but that’s a onetime trick. I’m going to save that one.”

Given the pair are looking at a solid month of touring, some R&R isn’t a crazy idea. Anticipation for how this album will sound on the road is running high, and having whittled the original number of ideas they had in the studio from 60 to 14, what they’ve settled on is going to make for one energetic gig. It’s especially impressive knowing just how intuitive they found the process.

“Mate, I’ve got no fucking idea what we’re doing [in the studio],” he laughs. “We never will. It’s an intangible feeling of comfort when you know that the end game is in sight. We listened to everything we had, drew up a list, and in no time we knew 32 BEAT.COM.AU

which ones were ready, which felt good.

“Let’s play the songs we’re most excited about.

There’s a shitload of stuff we didn’t touch, and a handful that we did. There’s a lot we haven’t pursued, so there’s no lacking in future songs.”

By happy circumstance, this isn’t the first time I’ve interviewed Polish Club. We spoke on the eve of their appearance at Cherry Rock Festival’s tenth anniversary about Novak’s writing routine.

Years later, I’m curious if success has altered their approach to songwriting.

“John and I were never really ones to dwell on that side of things,” he says. “Fortunately, it’s always come easy to us – long may that be the case. We lock ourselves in a room, we play for three hours, come up with ideas that we record on our phones, and more often than not we won’t actually touch it after that.

“It’s either a song or it’s not, and we’ll just move on. By virtue of that, we’ve really spent most of our time doing other stuff. John’s really heavy into the visual side of things and does all the posters, I do all

Totally Unicorn will perform at CherryRock017 taking over Cherry Bar on Sunday May 7.

the socials and creative writing that the media might want us to do.”

And while it’s premature to start thinking of future releases, Novak has been casting one eye to how their sound might develop down the road. In part, this was born of their Like a Version cover of Flume’s Never Be Like You, and having a taste of the vast array of soundscapes out there waiting.

“People were saying, do you want backing vocals, a fucking horn section, and I was like, no. That’s not what we do. One day, maybe it will be. Look at The Black Keys, they have a much bigger set up these days. Let’s just do a song our way, because that’s the most genuine thing we can do. The least amount of moving parts that could fuck things up. I trust my voice, I trust John’s drumming. So in keeping it simple, we changed it as much as we could.

“But you know, it’s only a matter of time,” Novak says. “I think we’ll add horns, a string section.

We’ll be ridiculous one day.”

By Adam Norris

“I’m going to take a month off before the tour to recharge, and make sure I’m not going to have a cardiac arrest on stage.

The audience might go for it, but that’s a one-time trick.

I’m going to save that one.”

Catch Polish Club at Corner Hotel on Saturday June 3.

Alright Already is out now.

Interviews

Vancouver Sleep Clinic Vancouver Sleep Clinic perform with a wisdom and profound sense of understanding that goes beyond their years – and that’s largely in part to the experience and efforts of the band’s driving force and founder, Tim Bettinson.

When Bettinson first began VSC as a solo artist, he wasn’t even out of school. At only 17 years old, the reception to his work floored the then teenager, catapulting him in to a spotlight of demand and praise.

Beginning his chat with Beat, Bettinson seems shy, reserved though very well-spoken – until discussion turns to his music. Talking about the album’s impending release, Bettinson is another person. Confidence and a finely honed knowledge of his craft pour out, generated by enthusiasm – or is it relief ? “It’s been two and a half years since I’ve been working on it [Revival],” he says.

“It’s really relieving more than anything. We have such a short attention span as a society these days. I was definitely worried because it’s been so long that people will have moved on and don’t really care anymore, but it’s really great to see that people are looking forward to it and have been waiting around for it all this time.”

The fans Bettinson has gathered over recent years have indeed been eagerly waiting for a full album to drop, though Bettington admits he has no explanation as to why his music has been met with such phenomenal and positive reception. “I just do what I do. I don’t try and think about it, I do what’s natural and honest to me,” he says. “It’s hard to put a pin on it – I think different people find different

“I just do what I do. I don’t try and think about it, I do what’s natural and honest to me.” things about it appealing. I have a lot of people say they find it very therapeutic, very calming, relaxing, relatable, things like that, so that’s encouraging.

“It’s very liberating for me,” Bettinson continues.

“Making this album and music in general, I find more than anything, it’s important to me to do this for myself otherwise I’d go crazy. To get stuff off my chest, to try out ideas, creatively express things.”

Liberation through music is, rightly so, the most important focus at this stage for Bettington.

“This album in particular is about, when I was 18 I was thrown into this industry and was living in LA for a year – it’s a way for me to document the whole journey, the whole experience, the emotion that was attached to the two years.”

And what a journey it’s been. The transition from Australia to a fast-paced city like Los Angeles would be a daunting feat for most, let alone a newly graduated student. “It was hectic for sure,” Bettison says, “It’s a bit of a dog fight over there. I had no idea what I was doing at the time because I hadn’t really played music much before. There were a lot of things I had to read about and go through and understand.

“That’s what the album is about – that whole process. Finding out more about myself, where I

want to be, what I want to do.”

It’s interesting to learn that in creating Revival, Bettinson didn’t necessarily answer the questions he had for himself, rather, his experience of writing the album was a way of documenting the experiences of his life as they happened. “I feel like it’s one of those weird things where, because I was writing for this album while I was making it, a lot of the songs are involved in that album making process – the ideas and emotions are from that album making process.

The whole concept of the album is about everything that happened for me at the time.

“One of my favourite and probably more meaningful songs is Someone To Stay – I did this mission trip for a month right before I went in to making the album and the idea of the song is of actually being in LA, being in that competitive industry. I couldn’t believe that a place like Skid Row exists given the city is so prosperous – I found that being in a third world country and being there, it’s the same thing across humanity.”

By Anna Rose

Running Touch There’s always beauty in the unknown. Whether it’s exploring a city you’ve never been to, experimenting with things you’ve never tried, or wearing a black baseball cap on stage to hide your identity – it’s anonymity that can force us to seek new experiences.

Matthew Kopp, better known as Running Touch, has taken part in all of the above, and although not the enigma that he once adopted as his onstage moniker, his music speaks of anonymity and experimentation, sending the Melbourne electronic music scene into meltdown.

“The purpose and use of it has evolved over time from the point of its birth until now. At the start it was all about a personal decision – I didn’t want the project to be based on, or rely on, or worry about what I look like, who I am, my past, and if I’m being really honest, I didn’t really think Running Touch was going to be that successful.”

Online interaction has been the window to Kopp’s success. In recent years, his tracks have featured on triple j Unearthed, securing him a spot for regular rotation on the main radio network.

Since then, his online presence has taken him to places that he never would have dreamed of, recently including a spot on showcases in the United States for South by Southwest.

“I definitely picked up the slack with a lot of things and honed in on elements that were going to be more attention-grabbing at the conferences I did,” Kopp says. “I wanted to incorporate more flair into it, including things like dancing. I’m not the greatest dancer by any length.

“It’s something I’ve rarely incorporated, but it’s also something I haven’t really seen at shows at this level. I put a lot more instrument-based stuff and solos in as well, so people who don’t really know me can appreciate it more.”

Kopp splices genres together in a way that is unfamiliar with the Australian electronic music scene, using elements he has learnt in other music projects – namely his presence in Melbourne hardcore outfit Ocean Grove on keyboards and samples – that contribute to his overall sound and vibe.

“It’s all subconscious ingredients – what you’re listening to, attitude, challenging yourself. But for me, the biggest touchstone for always chasing a threshold and keeping things fresh and challenging is being in two completely different musical projects, you can get a different contrast. In this case, hardcore music. Taking from acts in different genres is quite important, and it’s something I’d like to do a lot more of as Running Touch.”

After learning a lot from the recording and writing process of his debut record, Kopp attempted to change his writing style and perspective on new EP A Body Slow.

“This one I really learnt a lot from, most of all because of the nightmare of its release. It was meant to come out last year, but then it changed to a

Vancouver Sleep Clinic will release Revival on Friday April 7 through Sony Music/RAL.

different title, different concept, and had completely different tracks. A lot of things went wrong, we played the waiting game, and a lot of things changed, that affected the theme.

“I really learnt about the industry side of things.

That led to the concept being a lot more honest, which was a big one because I realised I was being way too over elaborate. That helped me to see music more honestly and in a different perspective.

“I asked myself what was achievable, and most of all what was honest.”

With these new lessons in tow, and with a lot of buzz happening back home in Melbourne and overseas, Running Touch will return for a string of shows. Kopp says that crowds can expect a completely transformed live show and a very different experience that’s true to himself, and most of all, filled with honesty.

“I haven’t played at the Corner before, but I’ve seen plenty of music there. Everyone can expect a better and bigger live show. I’ve learnt to build on my strong points and trust my instincts and my experimental nature, rather than just blend in and do what I know will work.”

I didn’t want the project to be based on, or rely on, or worry about what I look like, who I am, my past, and if I’m being really honest, I didn’t really think Running Touch was going to be that successful.”

Running Touch will play Corner Hotel on Thursday April 20 and Saturday April 22 (sold out). A Body Slow is out now via Island Records.

By Benjamin Potter

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Reviews

Album of the Week (The Flenser)

Singles With Lachlan Kanoniuk Melbourne still has four seasons in one day, but it’s just that all of them are winter again.

Single of the Week:

Aldous Harding

Imagining My Man

(4AD/Remote Control)

Good, good grief, this is an absolute doozy. Aldous Harding puts the fun in funereal courtesy of a few disarming schoolyard shouts of “hey!”. It’s a masterful, bold piece of work, taking emotional hold without respite. On every level, this song is fucking beautiful. What we’ve heard so far from upcoming album Party has all been solid indication for an album of the year contender. I can’t wait.

Jessica Says

Rock Candy

(Chapter)

A power-pop ballad loaded with longing and vice, Rock Candy deals with themes of ephemeral pleasure, showing that it’s pleasure all the same. It’s a comprehensive vision, compounding lyrical prose with complementary aesthetics.

New album Do With Me What U Will is out this May.

Jade Imagine

Walkin’ Around

(Milk)

The moment is savoured on Walkin’ Around, exquisite with understated flourish. Guitars dance together, chiming and snaking like natural wonders. It extracts aspiration from ennui, with delicately crafted moments of power.

Planning For Burial

9.5

Below The House Planning For Burial’s recent release, Below The House, shows a notable refinement for one-man band Thom Wasluck’s spacious blackened slowcore. While at times there appears to be a return to previously used pacing and chord progressions, Below The House’s strength comes through reworking these sounds.

One of the album’s main strengths comes from Wasluck’s charting of new territory as he pushes outside of his drawn out wall-of-noise tracks and into more experimental turf. Warmth of You takes his signature downtrodden progressions and ominous sound to a post-punk song structure, and the payoff is spectacular. Higher tempo drumming and riff work with sad synths floating over the music changes the pace of the album while also encouraging a cheeky headbang. Closer Below The House experiments with a deeply unsettling two note bass riff, haunted by drawn out organ effects.

Dull Knife pt. I and II bring Wasluck back to his element with soaring, cyclic riffs.

While at face value, Below the House can be applauded for its sense of mood and grit, tuning your ears to soak in the ambience and subtle percussion makes it worth the repeated listens. It’s Planning For Burial’s best and most polished release to date.

By Thomas Brand

Kendrick Lamar

Humble.

(Universal)

Kenny has created a monster, again. The Mike Will beat has shades of hip-hop classic etched within, while Kendrick is domineering through sheer directness. If any other rappers tried to pull this off, the risk of being contrived is there. But Kendrick is at the top of his game. Again.

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Albums

Reviews

Hot 8 Brass Band

On The Spot

8.

Diet Cig embodies a remarkable mix of fun, quirkiness, intensity and melancholy. Sixteen is the perfect example. Opening with the line “When I was sixteen, I dated a boy with my own name… it was weird.” This could come across as a novelty but feels sincere coming from lead singer Alex Luciano. Then that punkriff tempo change turns it into something immediately catchy and likeable. Link in Bio is filled with angst, and sounds like every female-led, pop-punk band from the late ‘90s –impressive considering how many bands are still trying to achieve that sound. Apricots is trying to be a bit too cutesy, and unfortunately doesn’t pack the same emotional punch. Thankfully Barf Day, goes in the opposite direction. It’s full of gritty-garage guitar and fist-pumping percussion.

Bath Bomb is a bit of a miss, showing clear restraint when they should’ve gone harder. The album finishes on the same youth-filled energy it started with. Road Trip is pure pop, while I Don’t Know Her applies layered instrumentals to gradually build momentum. Closer Tummy Ache is the best song by far. As with the opening track this feels more sincere than gimmicky; a testament to Luciano’s heart-felt lyrics and delivery.

Hot 8 Brass Band is a collective of New Orleans-based musos who’ve taken the second-line band tradition – mixing up jazz with funk, soul and hip hop – and run with it. Although they’ve been around for 20-plus years with a revolving lineup (tragically, members haven’t just retired or moved on to other projects, numerous players have been shot dead, including in incidents of police violence).

As you’d expect, Hot 8’s fifth album On The Spot is another party for the ears. It’s raucous and jubilant, with the exception of Louis Armstrong’s classic St James Infirmary, where the band keeps it pretty true with a slow, almost funereal spin on the original. Highlights include another inspired cover, Sade’s Sweetest Taboo, in which the band ditches smooth in exchange for boisterous hand-clapping funk, and the super-funky title track On The Spot. As the name suggests, the band penned the latter on the fly during a jam in between songs on their set list.

Wait for the end where you hear a band member marvel, “Did we just make that up?” As the band says, “We brass hard.” Yeah they do.

By Chris Bright

By Meg Crawford

Citizen kicks off with a bang, streaking guitars carry Bridge’s growls, and send listeners into a frenzy. Colourwave begins with a gritty guitar, effectively paired with swirling synths, but soon enough the heavy breakdown erupts and that’s when we know Northlane mean business. Bridge’s vocals in the chorus are infused with emotion, but this is only the beginning, because Savage comes afterwards to take us for a ride with its intense and captivating lyricism.

Intuition has addictive riffs and relentless drumbeats that make you headbang, and Zero One begins with a whimsical electronic sound that hooks you straight in because it stands out from the usual rage that Northlane projects into their music.

Though soon enough they pummel a powerful breakdown, as Bridge’s angst filled vocals penetrate your ears.

Last but not least, Paragon kicks off with a suspenseful beginning, little buzzes and quick breaths that send a chill down your spine, because you know that breakdown is coming– and it completes Mesmer, especially since Paragon is a tribute to the band’s loss of their friend Tom Searle. This album is an emotional rollercoaster, and Northlane have injected their grief beautifully into their new work of art.

By Christine Tsimbis

7.0

In Mind

Real Estate have a neat little niche carved for themselves, which they continue to serve up with latest release In Mind.

Despite a change in the band’s lineup, Real Estate are not looking to completely reinvent themselves. They rarely deviate from their classic recipe of folksy harmonies and guitars with a breezy kind of sadness, and it’s impossible to deny they do that exceptionally well Serve The Song is a standout track, with an interesting flavour combination of a catchy, sing-song chorus and simple structure building to swirling solo display of some of Lynch’s best work on the album. Lyrically, Courtney toes a thin line. His melancholic angst is an anthem for an introvert, and at its best, absolutely beautiful, but a mere slip away, that introspection and attention to the mundane detail is a grinding lament.

In Mind showcases similar vibes to that of predecessor Atlas, though at times the sameness of the tracks does take away from it becoming truly captivating listening. Dedicated fans of Real Estate will rejoice, as the new band lineup has clearly not had an adverse impact on their overall sound.

By Claire Morley

Lektrk

Self Titled - Continuous Mix Version

7.5

Lektrk’s debut album sees the Sydney trio find their feet, blending elements of French house, disco, funk and deeper sonic textures into a sound all of their own. Opening track Whagastalk is what Daft Punk might have sounded like if they were human and embraced the organic. I Like takes that to another level, bringing funk and South American percussion.

From there the narrative gradually gets deeper and more dystopian. Acid-house bass lines play off deeper sub-bass, waves of white noise signalling the beginnings and ends of peaks and valleys in tension. At points, instrumentation is stripped right back, channeling a little minimal-tech influence. Regardless of where the sound veers though, the emphasis on melody remains.

Production wise, every track is polished and full, maybe sometimes a little too full for a genre that can rely heavily on subtle changes. The included remix of ZANU’s Jasmine is a highlight, as the production dynamic changes dramatically, particularly the percussion – a welcome change after 11 tracks.

Closer Cross The Line with vocalist Rebecca Jans could have been a really excellent emotional house banger but the percussion is just too intrusive, the slamming kick and snare really spoil the vibe.

The intent with this release is clearly to party. And it does exactly that. A solid effort and culmination of a lot of work by the boys.

(HopeStreet Recordings)

Mesmer

9.0

Real Estate

(Turnstyle Digital)

(UNFD)

Northlane

(Domino)

Swear I’m Good At This

7.5

(Tru Thoughts)

(Frenchkiss Records)

Diet Cigs

The Cactus Channel & Sam Cromack

Do It For Nothing EP

8.0

The Cactus Channel and Sam Cromack deftly fuse elements of modern soul and quietly soaring widescreen indie pop rock on this addictive EP. Like UK band The Maccabees, this skilled combo whip up a cinematic sound that is both immersive and uplifting.

Ironically on I’m Not Ready To Relax the band generates a deeply relaxing groove that complements the chilled out, melodic vocals. This slow-burn song has a decidedly nocturnal vibe and boasts an expansive sound that envelops the listener.

Sorry Hills weaves its way into the listener’s subconscious with an infectious melody and some quirky, imaginative sonic embellishments while Sleep Demon features poignant brass and wonderfully reflective vocals.

Cromack’s gentle yet emotive vocals are a sparkling highlight of Everything Is Right In Front Of Me, while the catchy title track is likely to reside in your memory banks for a very long time. Brickwall Hallelujah incorporates different tempos and moods and displays the band’s versatility. Like all the best EPs Do It For Nothing leaves the listener hungry to hear more.

By Graham Blackley

By Kokomo Joe

BEAT.COM.AU 35

Profiles

Top Five Songs To Cover With Jason Mohi

New Slang. A great song by The Shins. The falsetto vocal line mixed with an almost monotone delivery sounds great live. I love its simplicity, which makes it a perfect song to play with just an acoustic guitar and vocals.

Razorblade. The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas is one of the greatest songwriters of the last 20 years. Razorblade is cleverly written and fun to play. The Strokes’ lyrics always tell a story and take you on a journey. It’s stripped back acoustic sound shows the quality of Julian’s songwriting when I play it.

Slide Away. An Oasis song from Definitely Maybe. Their songs are written on acoustic guitars and always sound great. Noel Gallagher’s song structure is second to none, the melody and chords are brilliant.

Tighten Up. This Black Keys song is one that I like to layer with a loop pedal. The use of different effects and beats make it interesting to play and listen to. There are guitar solos playing over chords and vocals going at the same time.

Make it Wit Chu. This Queens of the Stone Age track is laid back and revolves around single loops of a drum beat and guitar line.

The melody is super catchy and the song has an overall sexy vibe to it. It’s easy to play bluesy solos over this great tune, which is no accident considering Josh Homme is amazing.

Music

Jason Mohi and a swag of other artists will be playing the Carlton Brewhouse Sunday sessions this season. Kicking off at 2pm, every Sunday.

facebook.com/jasonmohimusic

The Count With MiniCoop

Ten bands everyone should know about. Parkway Drive, Linkin Park, Eminem, Sum 41, The Offspring, Mac Miller, Periphery, The Wonder Years, Underoath, Gorillaz.

Nine food items that you need for a kickarse dinner party. Nachos, pizza, light and tangy crisps, sangria, lasagna, Mum’s Toblerone mousse, wedges with lime aoli, a good salad, lamb roast with veg and spag bol.

Eight possessions that define you. Piano, guitar, drum kit, microphone, debut album, first gig poster, “best teacher in the world mug” from my fave piano student and phone.

Seven favourite movies/TV shows that go on your mixtape. Breaking Bad, Game Of Thrones, Vikings, The Matrix, Inception, Toy Story, Monsters Inc Six bad habits you can’t escape. YouTube-induced procrastination, fast food, too much sub in my mixes, ghost boogers, avoiding saying people’s names, harmonising melodies.

Five people who inspire you. Dave Grohl, Neil Degrasse Tyson, 360, my Mum, Alan Watts.

Four things that turn you on. Sense of humour, confidence, naked video games, lists.

Three goals for your music. Headline the country within three years, give someone the same feeling I got from my first show and have a crowd of 1000 sing my lyrics.

Two live gigs you’ll never forget. Eminem ft Kendrick Lamar, J Cole, 360. Sitting up the very top on the side, you could touch the ceiling. Two girls asked if we wanted to trade tickets with their friends who didn’t want to stand. Centre floor tickets $200 more expensive than ours.

Foo Fighters. They put on one of the best live shows in the world.

One day left before the apocalypse and you…I’m going out in a blaze of glory. Sex, drugs, rock’n’roll and then quiet family time to finish off the day.

D Henry Fenton

1. While the city has its own share of industrial smog some days, you won’t find the steam clouds coming out the top of the Valley’s power stations and Simpsons-like cooling towers.

2. Once I played a gig in Melbourne that took me three hours to get to in peak hour traffic and only 45 minutes to get home. Not so much like the traffic jams back home, where you end up stuck behind a tractor on a windy road for 10 kilometres but equally as frustrating.

3. Out in the middle of nowhere you’re bound to find an old petrol station looking a little bit worse for wear. My producer Jack Hook found one on his travels across rural Victoria that happened to be rattling quite rhythmically – it now features on my track Hurricane where it was rattling in perfect time.

4. Although they seem to be creeping closer and closer to the suburbs, you’re probably not as likely to find a big red kangaroo hanging around the city. Unfortunately they like to jump out in front of cars at the worst times possible on country roads, and in the space of two weeks we hit three.

5. I’ve eaten a lot of takeaway food from a lot of different places, and I definitely don’t have the most refined taste buds but there’s something about the way my hometown does pizza and Chinese food that is yet to be matched by anywhere I’ve been. Probably more to do with familiarity but damn if it isn’t delicious.

What was the first song you wrote? The Loneliest Boy In The World, I wrote it with my best friend from high school Bentley Rumble.

When we were lads we had a band called Holly Golightly. I still play it live although it has morphed over the years.

Tell us about the new album. My new album is Twice I Fell Down Once. It was recorded with my band The Elizabethans in Los Angeles in 2016 and was mixed in Tel Aviv Israel. My last two albums were more of the singer/songwriter with extra musicians to help out. This one is more of a band feel as the three of us played the majority of the music with a little extra help from some friends on percussion and such.

Any songwriting secrets to share? Carry a notebook and a recorder, and don’t worry if everyone doesn’t like or get what you do.

Tell us about the title of your new album. The title comes from something Woodie Guthrie’s daughter Cathy said to him once.

She died in a house fire when she was very young and Woodie never got over it.

What is the song that changed your life? I was at a dinner party last week and someone asked what my favourite song was and I said Black Is The Colour, I became obsessed with the dark haired girl who so inspired the writer of this song hundreds of years ago.

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MiniCoop will perform at Workers Club on Saturday April 8. His album Lift Off is out now.

minicoop.bandcamp.com

Five Other Things You Won’t Music Find In The City With Darcy Fox

darcyfoxmusic.com

Music

Darcy Fox will perform at Workers Club on Sunday April 9.

dhenryfenton.com

Music

Henry D Fenton & The Elizabethans will play The Retreat Hotel on Friday April 7. Twice I Fell Down Once is due out the same day.

Profiles

Blake Everett King of Nothing

Comedy

Tell us about your show. It’s a unique mix of stand-up, musical comedy and sketch. So there’s something in there for the whole family. Except kids – they will be scarred for life.

When was the idea for the show born? I worked really hard in pursuing comedy as a career last year and found I was only taking little steps to where I’d like to be, which is fine, it takes time. It doesn’t matter if I’m the king of nothing, I’m doing what I love and that’s the important thing.

What does your show teach the audience? Probably nothing, or if it’s something, it’s not worth learning. I’m a comedian; not a teacher.

What inspires you about MICF? MICF is that unofficial deadline for a lot of local comedians to perform their last year or two’s material before starting again. It’s inspiring to see your friends (and yourself, I guess) go from five minute spots to a 50 minute show alongside some of the world’s best.

Describe your show in three words. Funny, different and rule-breaking (broke the rules right there - that’s five words, unless you don’t count the ‘and’, and consider the hyphenated ‘rule-breaking’ to also be one word, in which case it would be a three-word description, but after this explanation would be 44 words).

Catch Blake Everett in King of Nothing at Tasma Terrace until Saturday April 22.

facebook.com/blakeverett

Top Five Worst Songs and Mass Murders with Private Function

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Californication. This band was somewhat listenable in the ‘80s but this left a permanent stain on popular rock music. The video looks like a crappy Sims mod and the solo sounds like Anthony Kiedis sold John Frusciante’s fingers for smack money.

1987 Hoddle St Massacre. Our singer Chris and I had some time to kill so we went on our own walking tour of Clifton Hill. We drank a beer out the front of Julian Knight’s house at the time, had a few in his local pub, and poured some out for the victims.

Live - Lightning Crashes. Nirvana and Pearl Jam are celebrated as bringing an end to ‘80s cock rock and bringing in a more alternative sound to the ‘90s, but considering what their kind of music spawned I’m not sure it was worth it. At least they managed to write a hit with the word “placenta” in it.

Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock. First of all the song doesn’t even rock. The original Jingle Bells rocks harder than this. One of the first negative experiences of my life was finding out there was a Christmas song called Jingle Bell Rock only to be treated with this sack of coal.

Columbine High School Massacre. The last example in recent memory of extensive moral panic over teenage fashion trends, music and video games. Blame was placed on now seemingly harmless ‘90s relics such as Marilyn Manson and Duke Nukem. It really was a simpler time. facebook.com/privatefunctionmelbourne

Barnie Duncan & Dani Cabs Weekend at Barnie’s

Tell us about your show. It’s a homage to one of the greatest ‘80s comedies ever made – Weekend At Bernie’s. Instead of it being set in the world of dodgy American insurance companies it’s set in the dodgy world of the Melbourne stand-up comedy scene.

When was the idea for the show born? Adelaide Fringe 2015 we were performing at a variety night and during decided to do a spot together. Barnie had an idea and I was stupid enough to agree to carry 70+ kilos around a stage. Two years on we’re making a full show, clearly I didn’t learn my lesson. PS: This is Dani speaking.

What does your show teach the audience? That death isn’t the end. Sure, once we are dead we can’t talk any more, or snore, or cry, but we can still be fun to hang out with. A corpse is still a person, and hopefully our show will leave that taste in the audience’s mouths. Like a humorous embalming ceremony. Death really is in the eye of the beholder. One man’s corpse is another man’s dinner.

What’s a fun fact about the show? Even though it appears as though Barnie is a corpse, he isn’t, he’s very much alive. That’s testament to the talent of the man. Also I have two slipped discs and a herniated myself (this is Dani speaking again) as a result of the intense rehearsals. That’s untrue, but Barnie is alive.

Comedy

Catch Weekend at Barnies up until Sunday April 23 at the Tuxedo Cat.

comedyfestival.com.au

Music

Private Function will support Dwarves at The Curtin on Friday May 5.

MDRN LOVE

Tell us the story of MDRN LOVE? The band started formally as Revolution in 2014. We launched a self-titled EP, playing around Geelong over the course of two years. We played Queenscliff Music Festival twice and took out the emerging artist award for best rock artist in 2014. In 2015, we placed third in the national final of the Emergenza global battle of the bands competition after taking out the Victorian final.

What was the reason for the name change? The name change was a fresh start, so that we could clear the deck and reinvent ourselves.

What’s your style? Like trying on a new pair of slippers.

Tell us about your single Bring Me Down? Although written in your stereotypical boy-meets-girl relationship scenario, the song was written over the concept of being around someone or something that you know you shouldn’t, and knowing that this negative entity is changing you for the worse and bringing you down.

Plans for the EP? We hope the EP speaks for itself, and let’s people know we mean business. We are hoping to tour the east coast off the back of the EP, and push ourselves into some handy festival lineups and supports for bigger acts. For us it’s the end of a long hiatus but the beginning of a journey we can’t wait to start. It’s the band’s first tour under the new name, but it’s only a sneak peek of things to come.

Music

MDRN LOVE will play Workers Club on Wednesday April 19.

mdrnlovemusic.com

BEAT.COM.AU

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Music

Live Photo by Lewis Nixon

Batpiss

The Gasometer Hotel, Friday March 31 What was a calm looking pub crowd for previous band Harmony (who were fantastic) became a rocking and rolling, sweaty mass of people by the time Batpiss were done with them.

The mosh grew exponentially, people were on the stairs, on the balcony and would literally have been hanging from the rafters if they could get up there (although some crowd surfers did tear down the above stage fairy lights). The energy in the room was massive.

The crowd were there to really get into it and the band made it easy for them to do so. They played loud, they played with intensity and they played non-stop, crowd interaction be damned, there was music to be played. Almost an achievement in itself considering how many punters almost fell onto the stage from the mosh. Despite the madness in front of them, Batpiss powered on like a runaway train, forming a wall of noise that a three-piece group has no right to even attempt.

New single Weatherboard Man got as good a reaction as anything else and a rare pause afterwards allowed for large applause. Such a reaction for new material is the kind of thing that makes it obvious why Batpiss have been getting more and more attention around Melbourne and sold out more tickets than the Gaso seemingly had to sell.

The gig started with Marty Baker thanking the crowd with a beer from behind the drums and ended with the crowd almost uniformly thanking the band back. Heavy Aussie rock is in good hands.

By Nathan Quattrucci

The Waifs

Hamer Hall, Wednesday March 29 Josh Cunningham recalled with a laugh The Waifs first gig review, in which they were labelled as “Backyard Sunday afternoon barbeque music.” The crowd clapped as he continued to recite the critics words, which he remembered perhaps a bit too well.

Celebrating their 25th anniversary, the members of The Waifs were proud to announce they’d been together longer than the average marriage. Their relationship with their audience seemed happier than most marriages. The crowd cheered and whistled with unadulterated glee throughout most of the two hour show, with many on the ground floor of Hamer Hall taking to the aisles to dance.

Cunningham’s bandmates, the founding sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson, are immensely talented, with the flawless harmonies between their sweet and gutturally emotional voices at times absolutely breathtaking. The vocal stylings of the pair are truly hard to match, though the enthusiasm of a huge, passionate, and adoring crowd came pretty close.

The first half of the show was dedicated to newer material, their album Ironbark dominating the setlist. John Butler took to the stage as a welcome surprise guest to play Syria, before settling in for a few more songs. They told stories of meeting in Western Australia, and of the band visiting his home which at the time housed an indoor skateboard ramp – on which Cunningham knocked himself out.

Honeyblood

Highlight: Feeling the energy in the room grow and grow to insane levels.

Lowlight: Poor photographers having a tough time taking photos while getting battered in the mosh.

Crowd Favourite: Weatherboard Man

Photo by Zo Damage

38 BEAT.COM.AU

Photos by Lee Dot

John Cutin Hotel, Saturday April 1 Entering the stage with little presence or assertiveness, locals Totally Mild lived up to their name with a set of apathetic soft rock.

With little change in dynamic or pacing, the band’s clinical and restrained approach left little impression on the crowd or vibe of the show. Channeling the feeling of Photo asinineby boredom and musical Zo Damage conservatism, the band’s performance brought nothing to the table, especially in contrast of the spirited rock‘n’roll to come. It’s a shame when musical commitment and talent is spent on something so far removed from everything that makes Melbourne rock music so great. The only saving grace could potentially be viewing it as something of a parody of the “triple j being nothing but dull castrated wuss music” trope, but even then you’re not gonna have a good time.

Taking the stage with a burst of energy, precision and character, Honeyblood effortlessly powered through their set of garage pop.

Drawing heavily on their 2016 sophomore album Babes Never Die, a vast improvement on the enjoyable but one dimensional 2014 selftitled debut, the set never once dropped the vibe or missed a beat.

Performing a deceptively full sound for just a two piece, drummer Cat Myers carried the bulk of the driving rhythm, performing not only drum parts but constant backing vocals and synth lines. While lead vocalist and guitarist Stina Marie Claire held down a more conservative musical approach to her roles, the sheer confidence and power of both performers brought it all together.

King Parrot

“I learned about live music from these guys,” he proclaimed earnestly, before requesting Lest We Forget as their final track before he left the stage. The final arc of the show was dedicated to the singalongs, the loved favourites, and boy did the audience participate. Feeling Sentimental was a standout moment, with Cunningham – who makes all of his own guitars – pulling out a tiny little one to play, and their harmonies soaring all the way to the top of Hamer Hall, probably even to their hometown of WA. As the final songs played to a room of clapping, cheering and dancing, it became clear how they’ve maintained their dedicated fanbase and place in the music scene for so long. The energy was palpable, the happiness infectious, and the Australian icons finally bowed to a well deserved standing ovation.

By Claire Morley

Highlight: Black Dirt Track made for one of the most emotional, personal, and beautiful moments in the night.

Lowlight: Dedicating a song to Cyclone Debbie. A slight misstep in words, most likely, but came across as a disingenuous moment.

Crowd Favourite: The personal connection and engagement between the band and the crowd. It felt like old friends catching up.

The addition of a full-time bass player or synth player would be wholly unnecessary given the current talent within the band.

Heavy touring and the perfect harnessing of a new band’s desire to prove themselves have worked out well, with a freshness and organic chemistry channeled perfectly into their sound. Singles Sea Hearts and breakthrough hit Killer Bangs highlighted the set, with both tracks in particular showing off the band’s balance of pop-sensibility and garage rock attitude. Despite the band’s industry hype in recent years, supporting the likes of Foo Fighters and playing at international festivals, the feeling was intimate and unpretentious in the small Curtin bandroom, an approach that many bands lose after breaking through to the next level of industry exposure and performance. While the band’s sound is nothing original, with valid comparisons made to contemporaries Best Coast and Dum Dum Girls, the foundation of a solid musical backing, songwriting, and chemistry elevate the band above the bulk of modern alternative rock.

By Joe Hansen

Highlight: Honeyblood’s Killer Bangs closing the set, one of my favourite power pop songs in recent years.

Lowlight: Totally Mild’s lacklustre opening set.

Crowd Favourite: Honeyblood’s latest high-energy single Sea Hearts.

243 Main St. Lilydale HYSTERIALOUNGE.COM.AU FACEBOOK: @HYSTERIALOUNGELILYDALE

First Thurs of Each Month: Wed 5th April

WINE, WHISKEY, WOMEN:

Saffire Rose & Brooke Taylor

8pm:

Thurs 6th April

Open Mic Night

8pm:

Fri 7th April 6pm:

Traditional Irish Music Session 8.30pm:

Rick Hart

band bookings 9689 7088

reverencehotel@gmail.com

Cool Jazz Sessions Fri & Sat Nights

70s, 80s, 90s & the Best of Today MELBOURNE’S BEST PARTY BANDS + DJS SPINNING YOUR FAVS

Sat 8th April

The Tipplers 9pm: The B-Benders 3pm:

Sun 9th April

Slim Dime Duo 6.30pm: Joshua Seymour 4pm:

Tues 11th April

Tuesday Tribute: Lisa Miller sings Lucinda Williams 8pm:

The Drunken Poet, 65 Peel Street (directly opposite Queen Vic Market), Phone: 03 9348 9797. www.thedrunkenpoet.com.au

Sunday Arvos

Acoustic & Heritage Artists FOLLOWED BY TRIVIA NIGHT Coming Special Events: DIESEL - APRIL 8 (SOLD OUT) IAN MOSS - JUNE 10 & 16 (SOLD OUT) THU 2ND 3RD 4TH THURS OF EACH MONTH INDIE/EMERGING ACTS

the rev kitchen hours

Tues ($3 tacos only) 6pm - 9pm. wed/thurs/fri 5.30pm - 9:30pm.

SAT 1pm - 9:30pm & SUN 1pm - 8.30pm

reverencehotel.com

Gig GuideGigs Featured

Gig Guide Wednesday Apr 5 Hip Hop & R&B

Cracodile & The Backs

The Old Bar Cracodile and The Backs are kicking off their April double residency at The Old Bar, getting rowdy with Zombitches for an all-out midweek throw down. Get weird, get your back sweaty and get amongst it at The Old Bar on Wednesday April 5 from 7.30pm, $5.

Mike Noga

The Retreat Hotel You might know Mike Noga as the former drummer of The Drones, or from any of his other musical projects. Of late, he has been riding solo. You can catch Mike Noga’s minimal folk-rock every Wednesday this April at The Retreat Hotel. The starting night of the residency is Wednesday April 5, from 8.30pm.

Tripmonks

The Brunswick Hotel Psychedelic rock group Tripmonks will be delivering a show like no other with their experimental, avant-garde bluesy rock filling eardrums and exploding brains at The Brunny.

Make the trip down on Thursday April 6 from 8pm. Free entry.

Strangers In Town

The Bendigo Hotel Melbourne ska/punk three-piece Strangers in Town are indeed in town and they’ve brought their new album, Welcome To The Ozzie Dream.

With support from Le Pine, The Miyagi and Filthy Hacks, they’ll be pumping out their new tunes at The Bendigo Hotel on Thursday April 6 from 8pm. $10 entry.

Glenn Skuthorpe & Band

Spotted Mallard Indigenous folk singer and storyteller Glenn Skuthorpe is making his way to Melbourne with his band. They’ll be joined by Kutcha Edwards who will be launching his album, Beneath The Surface. Flock to the Spotted Mallard from 8pm on Thursday April 6.

Tickets $15 via Moshtix.

Reactions

The Reverence Hotel Get prepared for some hardcore festivities this Thursday April 6, as Reactions take to the stage. There will be supports from Pridelands, Dregg, Blinded and The Accursed, so get ready to utterly exhaust yourself. It goes down at The Reverence Hotel from 7pm. Tickets are $15 at the door, or $10 presale from Second Guess Records.

Sarah Belkner

The Wesley Anne Trekking down from Sydney, alt pop artist Sarah Belkner is coming to Melbourne with her debut album, But You Are, But It Has. You can soak up the music at The Wesley Anne this Thursday April 6, from 8pm. Tickets are $15.

40 BEAT.COM.AU

Mellowdíasthump - Feat: Geezy + Skomes + Cazeaux O.S.L.O Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $15.00.

Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers Coq Roq - Feat: Mr Moonshine + Agent 86 + More Lucky Coq, Windsor. 8:30pm.

Cracodile + The Backs + Zombitches Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $5.00.

Crooked Colours + Dena Amy + London Topaz Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $22.99.

Crossfire Hurricane + Cosmos + Ben Cue Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00.

Damn The Man + She Wolf + Sisters Doll + Ablaze Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $5.00.

Double Marathon + Golden Helmet + Mote Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

Ferla + Jacky Winter Solo + Trouble Peach Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.

Longboys + Floss + Saara Myers Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

Lovers Of The Blackbird + Monsters Of Poetry + Gate Planchette Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $8.00.

Mike Noga Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm.

Moody Beach + Mental Tremors + Shitsville + Magpie Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00.

Open Mic Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East.

6:00pm.

Rebecca Barnard & Billy Miller (Sing-ALong) Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 7:00pm. $18.00.

Scout + Lizard Queen + Latreenagers Last Chance Rock And Roll Bar, North Melbourne.

7:30pm.

So Fresh - Feat: George Ikon + Change Le Disque Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

The Boats + Great Earthquake + Goodbye Enemy Airship Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $10.00.

Wicked Figures + Public Liability + Fortnight Jumbo + Simon & Shannon Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 7:30pm. $8.00.

Wirtschaftliche Entwicklung + Poor Violet + Soviet Moods Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford.

8:00pm. $5.00.

Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Bohjass + Lo-Res + Edelplastik 303, Northcote. 8:00pm.

Bopstretch Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

Dizzy’s Big Band Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond.

8:00pm. $14.00.

El Numero Perfecto Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $20.00.

Food For Funk Spqr Pizzeria, Melbourne.

7:00pm.

Resonances- Music From Japan - Feat: Tomoe Kawabata & Aura Go Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 6:00pm. $29.00.

Wednesday Jazz Night - Feat: The Rookies The Rooks Return, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Alanna & Alicia Egan + Slim Dime + John S Williams Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8:00pm.

Chris Doheny Matthew Flinders Hotel, Chadstone. 10:30am. $15.00.

Freya Josephine Hollick Trio + Mikelangelo & Anushka + The New Pigface Stringband Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 8:30pm. $10.00.

Muddy’s Blues Roulette Catfish, Fitzroy.

8:00pm.

Open Mic Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm.

Open Mic Night Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale.

8:00pm.

Wine Whiskey Women - Feat: Brooke Taylor + Saffire Rose Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.

Thursday Apr 6 House, Electro, Trance & Club Nights Diger Rockwell + Able8 + Walla C + Sadiva + The Boost Hero Man Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.

Disco Volante Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm.

Mettā Club Launch - Feat: Ukiyo + Kendl + Feelds Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood.

8:00pm. $13.29.

Midnight Express - Feat: Prequel + Edd Fisher + Oliver Francis Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm.

Presents - Feat: Plutonic Lab + Dan San + Sadiva Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm.

Thursgay Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

Treat Thursdays Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

We Are Your Friends Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

Hip Hop & R&B Boney Thursdays - Feat: Kiti Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.

Mallrat Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.

No Frills Thursdays Laundry Bar, Fitzroy.

9:00pm.

Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Artie Styles Quartet 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00.

Bernard Fowler & Tim Ries + Dj Vince Peach + Dj Pierre Baroni Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $30.00.

Black Caesar Presents - Feat: Mr Lob + Obliveus Spqr Pizzeria, Melbourne. 7:00pm.

Come Get Fresh Fox Hotel, Collingwood.

8:00pm.

Melbourne Improvisers Collective Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

Mike & Andy Bevan Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $20.00.

Mikri Kompania Open Studio, Northcote.

8:30pm.

Mozart’s Serenade - Feat: Anam Orchestra Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank.

11:00am.

Nichaud Fitzgibbon + John Montesante + Mark Elton + More Phamish, St Kilda. 7:00pm.

The Vinyl Frontier - Feat: Ac23 + Gsm + Colette. Belleville, Melbourne. 6:00pm.

Timbalero Thursday La Di Da, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00.

Wes Montgomery + Jack Pantazis Group Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $25.00.

Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers Alexa Dexa Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm.

Alter Bridge + Like A Storm Festival Hall, West Melbourne. 7:45pm. $93.80.

Atomic Hi Tones Musicland, Fawkner. 8:30pm. $10.00.

Blondie & Cyndi Lauper Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne. 7:45pm. $109.85.

Dead Planet 1964 + Khan + Murphy + Hurlin Up Limbs Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford.

8:00pm. $5.00.

Electric Mary Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8:00pm. $21.45.

Gee Seas + Chillers + Tony Dork + Public High Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 7:00pm.

Glenn Skuthorpe + Kutcha Edwards Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $15.00.

Hits At The Ev Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

Jimmy Chang + Arbes + Pastiche + Jacuzzi Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00.

Reactions + Dregg + Blinded + Pridelands + The Accursed Reverence Hotel, Footscray.

7:00pm. $15.00.

Resident Thursdays - Feat: Dj Shadow Pier Live, Frankston. 9:00pm.

Sadults + Sam Agostino Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm.

Shards + Lauren Tarver + Take Your Time Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:00pm.

Strangers In Town + Le Pine + The Miyagis + Flithy Hacks Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood.

8:00pm. $10.00.

Super X + Still Mess + Ms.45 Last Chance Rock And Roll Bar, North Melbourne. 7:30pm.

Throwback Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm.

Tripmonks + 00 + China Beach + Toby Knox Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.

Twin Pines + Eddie Dillion + Fin Fright Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.

Yukon Era + Trout + Tenthousandtaipans + Silver Delay Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $8.00.

Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Alexis Nicole Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.

Ben Mastwyk + Mitch Power Charles Weston Hotel, Brunswick. 6:30pm.

Chris Wilson & Alison Ferrier Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:00pm.

Dan Brodie Tramway Hotel, North Fitzroy.

8:00pm.

Matt Bradshaw Elephant & Wheelbarrow, St Kilda. 9:30pm.

Morning Melodies - Feat: Marceau Camille: Islands In The Sun Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 10:30am. $17.00.

Open Mic Night Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 7:00pm.

Reuben Stone + Jack The Fox + Tiny Horse + Erik Parker Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $20.89.

Sarah Belkner Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $15.00.

Tom Lee-Richards + Natalie Carolan + Grim Fawkner Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

Trick Dog Syndicate + Alfalfa Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 8:30pm.

Friday Apr 7 Hip Hop & R&B Bright Lights Big City - Feat: Dj Rcee + Kahlua + Dj Shook + Dj Angel Jay Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

Cushion Fridays Cushion, St Kilda. 9:00pm.

Faktory Fridays - Feat: Damion De Silva + K Dee + Durmy Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm.

Free Dope Dnb Warehouse Party - Feat: Skelta Vs Coop + Undefined + More Rubix Warehouse, Brunswick. 9:00pm.

Party & Bullshit Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.

Perfect Strangers Section 8, Melbourne Cbd. 5:00pm.

House, Electro, Trance & Club Nights Boney Fridays - Feat: Scotty Pesticide Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.

Ciroq Fridays Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

Eat Your Greens Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

Elephant In The Room Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm.

Etapp Kyle + Adrian Bell + Sarantis + More Platform One, Melbourne. 10:00pm. $16.67.

Fabulous Fridays - Feat: Various Djs Co., Southbank. 9:30pm. $20.00.

Featured Gigs

Gig Guide

D Henry Fenton & The Elizabethans

Formation - Feat: Donny & Friends + One Puf + More Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm.

Friday - Feat: Mell Hall + Pete Keen + More Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm.

Horse Bull & Flames - Feat: Retza + Tim Koren + Jono Brayshaw + More New Guernica, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm.

Luck Truck Friday Downstairs - Feat: 99 Prblmz + Congo Tardis #1 + Little League Bounce Club Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm.

Mild Manic Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $9.35.

Outrageous Disco (Big In Japan Fundraiser) - Feat: Norachi + Ja Moire + More Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $10.00.

Pawn Fridays - Feat: Will Clarke + Marc Spence + Abby Jane Pawn & Co, South Yarra.

7:00pm. $16.67.

Poprocks - Feat: Dr Phil Smith + Dr Nick Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.

Revolver Fridays & Thick As Thieves - Feat: Third Son + Brian Fantana + Who + More Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. $16.90.

Six Nightclub - Feat: Ruback + Dubdogz Railway Hotel, Brunswick. 10:00pm. $11.44.

Smoke Me A Kipper - Feat: Scorb + Axial Tilt 24 Moons, Northcote. 8:00pm. $21.89.

Techno Temple - Feat: Thankyou City + Stockholm Syndrome + More Brown Alley, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $16.67.

The Disco Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm.

The Emerson Club Fridays The Emerson, South Yarra. 3:00pm. ¿Club D’érange? - Feat: Brooke Powers + Daddy’s Garage + Millú Hugs & Kisses, Melbourne. 11:00pm.

The Retreat D Henry Fenton has been out and about with his latest album, Twice I Fell Down Once.

Check out his modern spin on Americana and indie pop, when he breezes into The Retreat on Friday April 7. It’s all happening from 9.30pm.

Anti-Violet

The Workers Club Homegrown indie-punk rockers Anti-Violet are back in action after taking some time to work on new music. They’ll be launching their new single Fuzz Brain with support from Amiko, Tali Mahoney and Heat Wave. Head to The Workers Club on Friday April 7 from 8pm to catch the jams. Tickets $7 via Oztix.

Brungas Band

The Bendigo Hotel Beach rock outfit Brungas Band are gearing up to deliver a night of extra loud, delicious, face-melting rock, demonstrating their musical prowess along with their good looks.

They will be joined by The Attention Seekers, Vulgar Born and Australiana at The Bendigo Hotel on Friday April 7 from 7pm. Free entry.

Chris Wilson

Cherry Bar Aussie blues legend Chris Wilson is treating fans to two live sets in AC/DC lane. He’ll have those weekday woes melting away as he churns out his silky smooth blues while the staff at Cherry Bar deliver the booze. Catch him from 5.30pm and again at 7.30pm on Friday April 7. Free entry.

Rick Hart

The Drunken Poet Rick Hart will be tugging on heartstrings as he delivers his emotive, storytelling lyrics, oozing vocals and gentle folk melodies, backed by his Bare Bones Quartet. Catch him and his band for two sets at The Drunken Poet on Friday April 7 from 8.30pm. Free entry.

Grasshole

Whole Lotta Love Grasshole, Go Van Go, Swamp Moth and Road Train are getting together for a night of rock, rock and also a bit of rock. They will be hitting the stage back to back and making the crowd really happy all night at Whole Lotta Love. Kicks off at 8pm on Friday April 7. Free entry.

The Bean Project

The B.East Get ready for something a bit different as Melbourne two-piece The Bean Project bring two voices, a guitar and French horn to The B.East. You can catch them along with Patrick Wilson and the Bare River Queens on Friday April 7 at The B.East, starting at 10pm. Free entry.

42 BEAT.COM.AU

Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Africa Entsha Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 8:30pm. $25.00.

Apodimi Compania Spotted Mallard, Brunswick.

8:30pm. $23.00.

Global Safari - Feat: Keito + Kyohei + Eddie Mac Belleville, Melbourne. 6:00pm.

Hana Maru + Bonewoman Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:00pm.

Jackie Bornstein’s Jazz & Social Justice Quintet Boîte World Music Cafe, Box Hill. 8:00pm. $16.00.

Jam The Funk Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick.

8:00pm. $18.00.

Liana & The Perolas - Feat: Liana & The Pérolas Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.

Mike Nock + Julien Wilson + Stephen Magnusson Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank.

7:00pm. $25.00.

Northside Records Present - Feat: Mike Gurrieri + Chris Gill + Dj Manchild + More Spqr Pizzeria, Melbourne. 7:00pm.

Olivia Chindamo Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $25.00.

Pixar In Concert - Feat: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne), Southbank. 7:00pm. $45.00.

Re-Imagining Peggy Lee Project Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $25.00.

Shapeshifter + K+Lab + Jps + Sean Deans 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $50.00.

Sin Frontera Band Open Studio, Northcote.

8:30pm. $10.00.

Stephen Magnusson Quartet Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

Stokavski + The Seduceaphones Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $13.30.

Swing Train Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $25.00.

The Bean Project + Patrick Wilson & The Bare River Queens The B.East, Brunswick East.

10:00pm.

The Fox Soundtrack - Feat: Ellie Young + Josie Smart + More Fox Hotel, Collingwood.

8:30pm.

The Seven Ups + The Let Your Hair Down Girls + Dj Miss Goldie Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy.

8:30pm. $15.00.

What The Funk Fridays Purple Emerald, Northcote. 9:00pm.

Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers ‘70S ‘80S ‘90S & The Best Of Today Hysteria Lounge, Lilydale. 7:00pm.

Adam Harvey Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8:00pm. $34.70.

Airwolf Pawn & Co, South Yarra. 8:00pm.

Anti-Violet + Amiko + Tali Mahoney + Heat Wave Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

Banoffee + Gussy + Sovereign Trax + Jalé Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $24.00.

Black Springs + No Local + Spit Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $8.00.

Brungas Band + The Attention Seekers + Vulgar Born + Australiana Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm.

Captain Spalding Customs House Hotel, Williamstown. 9:30pm.

D Henry Fenton + The Vendettas Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm.

Danny Ross Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh.

8:00pm. $20.00.

Diesel + Shaun Kirk Satellite Lounge, Wheelers Hill. 8:00pm. $37.00.

Disasteradio + Wywy Brix + Slimbillgates Catfish, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00.

Dj Dustin Mcclean Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick.

9:00pm.

Grasshole + Go Van Go + Swamp Moth + Road Train Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East.

8:00pm. $10.00.

Hang Out - Feat: Donny & Friends Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm.

Hey Hey It’s Friday - Feat: Astro Boys Royal Hotel, Essendon. 10:00pm.

John Doe & The Shallow Graves + The Unholy Racket + Gothum + Blue Hearts Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:30pm. $15.00.

John Swan Musicland, Fawkner. 8:30pm. $20.00.

Kevin Buckingham Band Upwey Belgrave Rsl, Upwey. 8:00pm. $5.00.

Kiko Smokes Penny Black, Brunswick. 8:00pm.

La Danse Macabre + Brunswick Massive Resident Djs Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.

Looks Like Rain Woody’s Attic Dive, Collingwood.

8:00pm. $10.00.

Mel Fest - Feat: Paul Dempsey + Glenn Richards + Dan Kelly + More The Croxton, Thornbury. 8:00pm. $40.00.

Metrik Elephant & Wheelbarrow, St Kilda.

11:00pm.

Mezz Live Chelsea Heights Hotel, Chelsea Heights. 5:30pm.

Nobody’s Home + Katana Cartel + Riot After Midnight + Chase The Ace Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.

Orange Tuxedo Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale.

8:00pm.

Orion + Spotting + Vacuum + Sistema En Decadencia + Crop Top Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $15.00.

Pony Face + Baby Blue + Closet Straights Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.

Red Aid + Redro Redriguez & His Inner Demons + Devil Electric + Fluff Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $15.00.

Rickie Lee Jones + Dj Rich-Spanning-Time Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 8:00pm. $79.00.

Roman Tucker + Checkout + Matty Whittle 303, Northcote. 8:00pm.

School Damage + Hot Topic + Qwerty + Permit Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. $10.00.

Tall Sean’s Tick List Tago Mago, Thornbury.

8:00pm.

Tanya George Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. $7.20.

The Hazard Circular + Blackhelm + Voros + Armata + Behold The Defiant Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $11.25.

The Revenants Reverence Hotel, Footscray.

7:00pm. $10.00.

The Velvet Addiction Workers Club, Geelong.

8:00pm. $12.25.

Ups & Downs + The Moth Body With Sam Sejavka + Charles Jenkins Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $19.90.

Versus Party Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

Watt’s On Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 9:00pm.

Wet Lips + Shrimpwitch + Hexdebt Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00.

Whiskey Priests + Thousands Left Stranded Inkerman Hotel, Balaclava. 7:30pm. $10.00.

Windhand + Cough + Inverloch + Merchant Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $57.66.

Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Acoustic Sessions Matthew Flinders Hotel, Chadstone. 5:00pm.

Cadillac Drifters Black Hatt, Geelong. 9:00pm.

Chris Wilson Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:15Pm. Customer + Muscle Male + Local Cowards Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

David Huxtable Inkerman Hotel, Balaclava.

8:00pm.

Flying Engine Trio Testing Grounds, Melbourne.

6:00pm.

Garrett Kato Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood.

7:30pm.

Honkytonk Rockers Pascoe Vale Rsl, Pascoe Vale. 8:00pm. $10.00.

Max Teakle Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East.

5:30pm.

Mike Waters Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $20.00.

Olly Friend Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood.

8:00pm.

Pappy & Maureen Tramway Hotel, North Fitzroy. 5:00pm.

Rick Hart Drunken Poet, West Melbourne.

8:30pm.

The Boys Compass Pizza, Brunswick East. 7:00pm.

The Songs Of Tom Smith Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm.

Tim Guy Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 6:00pm.

Traditional Irish Music Session Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6:00pm.

Zerafina Zara & Alleged Associates Smokehouse 101, Maidstone. 7:00pm.

Saturday Apr 8 Hip Hop & R&B Big Dancing - Feat: Larrie + Mitsu + Sofie Roze + Paige Play Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

Khokolat Koated Saturdays - Feat: Damion De Silva + K Dee + Durmy + Timos Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm.

Minicoop + Cylo + Boy Graduate + Ezra Allen Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

Rhythm Nation Saturdays - Feat: Dj Timos + Dj Kahlua + Dj Ange M & Andy Pala Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00.

Step Off Festival Hall, West Melbourne. 6:00pm. $42.00.

Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers ‘70S ‘80S ‘90S & The Best Of Today Hysteria Lounge, Lilydale. 7:00pm.

A Day On The Green - Feat: Blondie + Cyndi Lauper + Alongside The Clouds + Montaigne + Alex Lahey Rochford Wines, Coldstream. 2:30pm. $114.90.

Animal Hands + The Brain Snaps Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:00pm.

Batpiss + Tsugnarly Karova Lounge, Ballarat.

8:30pm. $12.00.

Benny & The Flybyniters Satellite Lounge, Wheelers Hill. 8:00pm. $17.00.

Depths + Atlantis Of The Sky + Driven To The Verge Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $15.00.

Don Fernando + The Ugly Kings + Vadge Daggar + More Last Chance Rock And Roll Bar, North Melbourne. 8:00pm.

Dylanesque - Feat: Jeff Jenkins Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $23.00.

Forever 21 Fest - Feat: Squid Fishing + Berkeley Hunts + Agent 37 + More Old Bar, Fitzroy. 2:00pm. $10.00.

Gayle Cavanagh & The Mixed Company Showband + Rob & Ruby Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:30pm. $15.00.

He Who Seeks Vengeance + Amaros Pier Live, Frankston. 8:00pm. $10.00.

Hotel Fifteen Love + Swamp + Hugh Fuchsen Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

Jrb & The Heaters Woody’s Attic Dive, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00.

Little Daniel + Pilgrim + Green Hollows 303, Northcote. 7:30pm. $5.00.

Muscle Car + 180 Proof + Lace & Whiskey Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.

Featured Gigs

The Seven Ups

The Evelyn Hotel Armed with new album Drinking Water, The Seven Ups are heading to The Evelyn Hotel to rock out. Joining the party are The Let Your Hair Down Girls as well as DJ Miss Goldie.

Get keen. Head to The Evelyn Hotel this Friday April 7 from 8pm. Tickets are $11.25 from Oztix.

The Boys

Compass Pizza Melbourne composer and musician Tim Pledger’s trio, The Boys, is back in town.

The Boys perform music with a strong jazz foundation, but with influences ranging far and wide. The Boys features Tim on clarinet and saxophone along with double bass and drum backing. Kicks off at 6pm at Compass Pizza. Free entry.

Pony Face

Ding Dong Lounge Melbourne indie four-piece Pony Face are gearing up to release their fifth studio album and in the interim have just released first single, Justine. Providing moral and musical support are Baby Blue and Closest Straights.

You can catch the action this Friday April 7 from 9pm at Ding Dong Lounge. Tickets are $17.35 from Oztix.

MiniCoop

The Workers Club Melbourne rapper MiniCoop is launching his new album Lift Off. His smooth, upbeat fusion of hip hop, pop and electronica will no doubt have feet moving and hips grooving. MiniCoop takes on The Workers Club with the help of Cylo, Boy Graduate and Ezra Allen on Saturday April 8 from 8pm. Tickets $10 via Oztix.

Sugar Fed Leopards

Howler Disco outfit Sugar Fed Leopards are gearing up to launch their second album Take You Out Tonight in style. Not ones to do things by halves, the night will be a beautiful blur of bedazzled costumes, funky disco pop beats and killer dance moves.

Catch them at Howler on Saturday April 8 from 8pm, tickets $20 via Moshtix.

The Hack Ensemble

Charles Weston Hotel Melbourne three-piece improv aficionados The Hack Ensemble are hitting up Charles Weston Hotel on Saturday April 8 with some truly unpredictable tunes. The only thing you can predict is that it will be a good time. It kicks off from 6.30pm, and entry is free!

Rad Island

The Reverence Rad Island are cruising into The Reverence on Saturday April 8 for a radical time.

They’ll be launching their EP Power Couple and the forecast for this baby is wild.

Supports are Crusch, Ships Piano and The Second Sex. 8pm for $10.

Tame the Sun

The Evelyn Hotel Armed with a new bass player and a camera to film the proceedings, Tame the Sun are set to kick up a storm at The Evelyn Hotel this Saturday April 8. Come groove to some good music and maybe get your mug filmed. The jams kick off at 8.30pm, tickets are $15.

Gig Guide Rad Island + Ships Piano + Crusch + The Second Sex Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $10.00.

Rewind 80S Commercial Hotel, Morang South.

8:00pm.

Root Rat + Tropical Deadbeats + Killer Birds Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm.

Sadvia + Messy Mammals + Squid Nebula + Cocoa Noire + Neil Morris Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. $8.00.

Saturdays Rock - Feat: Riffinery Royal Hotel, Essendon. 10:00pm.

Shouse + Lihaona + Toni Yotzi + Dj Demeanor Mcintosh Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy.

3:00pm. $10.00.

Snivints Fest Ii - Feat: Beyond Contempt + The Fckups + Molasses + More Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 12:00pm.

Split Singles Club Launch - Feat: Blank Realm + Jade Imagine + Dag + More Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm. $20.00.

Sugar Fed Leopards Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $20.00.

Tame The Sun + Cicadastone + Idle Fret Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $15.00.

The Australian Queen Tribute Show + Ironstone Musicland, Fawkner. 8:30pm. $20.00.

The Braves + The Baudelaires Gin Lane, Belgrave. 9:30pm.

The Kite String Tangle + Wallace + Theia Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $33.50.

The Knave & His Big Band Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $25.00.

The Patient + Hammertime + Soulless + Brainfreeze + Cordell Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $10.00.

The Pink Tiles + Penny Ikinger + Chelsea Bleach + Bitch Diesel Tote Hotel, Collingwood.

8:00pm. $11.25.

The Yukon Era + Deadpans + Chimera + Shysters + Tenthousandtaipans Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00.

Thee Wylde Oscars Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy.

9:30pm.

Torrential Thrill + Dangerous Curves + The Lesser Giants Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $15.00.

Two Steps On The Water + Sarah Mary Chadwick + Slippy Mane + Lalic Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.

Vincent Sole + Aeora + Yollks Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $12.75.

West Thebarton Brothel Party Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

House, Electro, Trance & Club Nights Audioporn Saturdays Onesixone, Prahran.

9:00pm. $15.00.

Bad Habits Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

Cq Saturdays Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

Cushion Saturdays Cushion, St Kilda. 9:00pm.

Electric Dreams - Feat: Various Djs Co., Southbank. 9:00pm. $20.00.

In The Carriage - Feat: Dj Jnett Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm.

Jank Facques Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 12:00am.

Laser Highway Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.

Late Night Tip - Feat: Garrett Stevenson + Stephelles + Steezy Section 8, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm.

Loomer Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.

Pony Saturdays La Di Da, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm.

Ppb Late Night Saturdays Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 10:00pm.

Progression Sessions Synchronicity - Feat: Ruback + Spacey + Peztek + More Railway Hotel, Brunswick. 10:00pm. $16.67.

Rarehouse - Feat: Chiara Kickdrum + Lucca Tan + More Rubix Warehouse, Brunswick.

8:00pm. $15.00.

Saturdays - Feat: Jamie Vale + Dj Demize Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

Seven Saturday Discotheque Seven Nightclub, South Melbourne. 10:00pm. $20.00.

Snack Attack - Feat: Dj 2P Elephant & Wheelbarrow, St Kilda. 10:00pm.

Sooki Saturday - Feat: Mike Callander + Scotty Pesticide Sooki Lounge, Belgrave.

8:00pm.

Textile Saturdays - Feat: Kodiak Kid + D’fro + Jens Beamin Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm.

The Emerson Club Saturdays The Emerson, South Yarra. 9:00pm.

The Late Show - Feat: Ransom + Manchild + Nick Thayer + More Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 10:00pm.

Tramp Saturdays Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Arthur Penn & The Funky Ten + Francesca Gonzales + Lewis Coleman Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $10.00.

Club Voltaire Comedy Club Voltaire, North Melbourne. 7:30pm.

Dj Baba Noir Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick.

9:00pm.

Fabulous Diva (The Music Of Dr Nina Simone) Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $30.00.

Hack Ensemble Charles Weston Hotel, Brunswick. 6:30pm.

Jasmine Nelson Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $25.00.

Julien Wilson Standards Quartet Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

Kelsey James Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $25.00.

More Fire - Feat: Sista Itations + Troublemekka + Dj Agent 86 + More New Guernica, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $10.00.

Pixar In Concert - Feat: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne), Southbank. 2:00pm. $45.00.

Pixar In Concert - Feat: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne), Southbank. 10:30am. $45.00.

Snarky Puppy + Dj Chris Gill Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 4:00pm. $69.00.

Snarky Puppy + Dj Chris Gill Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:30pm. $69.00.

Something’s Got Me Started Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $16.00.

Thando Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:00pm.

The Fox Soundtrack - Feat: Ellie Young + Josie Smart + More Fox Hotel, Collingwood.

8:30pm.

The King Louie Collective Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:00pm.

The Putbacks - Feat: Sin Frontera Band + The Putbacks Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.

Wax Museum Presents - Feat: Aux One + Geezy + Benny Badge + More Spqr Pizzeria, Melbourne. 7:00pm.

When The Roads Meet - Feat: Anja & Zlatna Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank.

6:00pm. $29.00.

Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Chasing Claire + Molasses + Poison Fish + Kooyong Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East.

9:00pm.

Craig Woodward & Friends Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 4:00pm.

Crystal Ignite Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East.

2:00pm. $15.00.

Dave Holmes Gang Retreat Hotel, Brunswick.

5:00pm.

Devil Goat String Band Compass Pizza, Brunswick East. 7:00pm.

Diesel Hysteria Lounge, Lilydale. 6:00pm.

Hanksaw Surabaya Johnnys, St Kilda. 7:30pm.

Ivan Zar Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 5:00pm.

Josh Forner + Anna Cordell + Taylor SmithMorvell Open Studio, Northcote. 2:00pm.

Josh Owen & Jason Heerah Baha Tacos & Tapas Bar, Rye. 8:00pm. $10.00.

Lot 56 Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.

Old Guard Of The North Bar Open, Fitzroy.

5:00pm.

Phia Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.

Rich Davies & The Low Road + Dj Bobby Mcgee Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 8:30pm. $20.00.

Russell Morris + Taylor Sheridan Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:00pm. $33.00.

Simon Hudson + The Walter Boys Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $5.00.

Steve Boyds’ Rum Reverie Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm.

Teaser Pony + Waterford + The Newsletters + Wizard Oz Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $7.00.

The B-Benders + The Tipplers Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 3:00pm.

The Blackeyed Susans + The Spoils + Skyscraper Stan & The Commission Flats Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $33.50.

The Glorious North Union Hotel, Brunswick.

5:00pm.

The Great Unknown Farouk’s Olive, Thornbury.

5:00pm.

The New Monos + Djs Uncle Barnie + Randy Castilla Belleville, Melbourne. 9:00pm.

The Stetson Family Union Hotel, Brunswick.

9:00pm.

Wrong Turn Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

Sunday Apr 9 House, Electro, Trance & Club Nights Anyway - Feat: Various Artists Bottom End, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $25.00.

Cushion Sundays Cushion, St Kilda. 9:00pm.

Down The Rabbit Hole - Feat: Dj Nigel Last Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

Jungle Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00am. $15.00.

Miles Cleret Section 8, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm.

Rabbits Eat Lettuce Melb Warm Up Feat: Recovery Collective + Euphorie Bezirk + More Rubix Warehouse, Brunswick.

3:00pm. $16.67.

Strikly Irie Sessions - Feat: The Shredder + Sensi Warriors + Empress Grumpy’s Green, Fitzroy. 3:00pm.

The Sunday Set - Feat: Dj Andyblack + Mr Weir Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm.

Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers A Blonde Moment Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale.

8:00pm.

Alexa Dexa + Bitter Sweet + Chitra + Tomgirl Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm.

Amaya Laucirica + Sand Pebbles + Parading Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $8.00.

Big Creature + I Know The Chief + Essie Holt + Sex On Toast Djs Workers Club, Fitzroy.

7:30pm.

Brentwood Temperance Hotel, South Yarra.

4:00pm.

Darcy Fox + Caravan Kids + Scott Boyd Workers Club, Fitzroy. 1:00pm.

Evil Twin + Shit Tatts + The Devours Last Chance Rock And Roll Bar, North Melbourne.

7:30pm.

Fantis Atlantis + Girlatones + Negative Gear Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 6:00pm. $8.00.

Grand Element + Cyclone Diablo + Jeary + Dirty Blood Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 6:00pm.

Jam At Musicland Sundays Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm.

Jules Boult & Friends Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy.

4:00pm.

Lucy Lockett &The Sometimes Band + Only Aliens + Troubled Minds Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.

Open Mic Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 3:00pm.

Piers Festival 2017 - Feat: Joe Camilleri & The Black Sorrows + The Core-Tet + More Princes Pier, Port Melbourne. 11:00am.

Roy Ayers The Croxton, Thornbury. 7:30pm. $82.65.

Seagull + Great Earthquake Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 1:30pm. $14.59.

Level 1/402 Chapel St, South Yarra

BEAT.COM.AU 43

Featured Gigs

Gig Guide

Jamie Vale & DJ Demize

The Will & Carlos Show Inkerman Hotel, Balaclava. 4:00pm.

Total Strangers + Ironstone Musicland, Fawkner. 4:30pm. $10.00.

Truly Holy + Astral Skulls Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm.

Tusk - Fleetwood Mac Tribute Tramway Hotel, North Fitzroy. 3:30pm.

Warships + Gold Gull + Edi Valentina Old Bar, Fitzroy. 3:00pm.

Wax On Wax Off Lucky Coq, Windsor.

7:00pm.

The Carlton Club Joining The Carlton Club this Saturday April 8 are regulars Jamie Vale & DJ Demize. Both DJs are prepped to get the dance floor rocking with styles ranging from house, R&B, and hip hop. Put your hands up and get your bootie boogying this Saturday April 8 from 8pm at The Carlton Club.

Only Aliens

The Brunswick Hotel Cosmic alt-rockers Only Aliens are landing at The Brunny where they’ll be delivering their lush, otherworldly vibes with Lucy Lockett and The Sometimes Band and The Troubled Minds. Catch them on Sunday April 9 from 8pm. Free entry.

Warships

The Old Bar Homegrown rock outfits Warships and Gold Gull are hitting the stage on a sad note, as they remember the late Tristan Querol who was a member of both bands. The night will be a very intimate, heartfelt shout out to Querol, featuring an acoustic set by Edi Valentina and performances by Gold Gull and Warships respectively. Pay your respects by having a listen, at The Old Bar from 3pm Sunday April 9. Free entry.

Joshua Seymour

The Drunken Poet Joshua Seymour writes and performs music that reflects the folk of America in the dust-bowl era. Listening to Seymour, you’ll experience a unification of disparate sounds – a nostalgia for the sound of ‘30s America with a modern interpretation. Catch him at The Drunken Poet on Sunday April 9 from 8.30pm. Free entry.

Brendan Forward

Whole Lotta Love Brendan Forward will have you easing back into the work week with his rock’n’roll style blues, rife with licks of slide guitar and complimented by his harmonica. Steph Bitter and Nick Ferretti are joining him at Whole Lotta Love on Sunday April 9 from 3.30pm.

Free entry.

Yukumbabe

The Old Bar Keeping your Monday lively, Melbourne grunge three-piece Yukumbabe are hitting up The Old Bar on Monday April 10. They will be joined by fellow locals Golden Girls and RKDA for some entrancing times. Hit up The Old Bar at 8pm for some quality entertainment. Only $5.

Charles Jenkins

The Retreat Hotel Melbourne folk champion Charles Jenkins is on the final leg of his four-month long Monday residency at The Retreat Hotel. He will be there warming your heart with his relatable lyrics and mellow tunes from 8pm.

Head to The Retreat Hotel on Monday April 10. Free entry.

Horris Green

Cherry Bar Thrash blues/rock duo Horris Green want you to meet their new EP The Dog Line. T o get you aquainted they’re doing a Tuesday residency at Cherry Bar all month. They’ll be joined by The Ivory Elephant and Witches Child at Cherry Bar on Tuesday April 11 from 8pm. Free entry.

44 BEAT.COM.AU

Windhand

Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Music Big Band Frequency Penny Black, Brunswick. 2:00pm.

Bold As Brass (An Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Benefit) Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $35.00.

Johnny Can’t Dance Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm.

Peppercorn Jazz Open Studio, Northcote.

5:00pm.

Thongbirds Open Studio, Northcote. 2:00pm.

University Of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 5:00pm.

Vintage Trouble + Hamish Anderson 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $55.00.

Acoustic/Country/Blues/ Folk Acoustic Artists Hysteria Lounge, Lilydale.

3:00pm.

Brendan Forward + Andy “Silky Digits” Newman + Umbra Duo Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 3:00pm.

Danny Ross Wesley Anne, Northcote. 4:00pm.

Don Hillman’s Secret Beach Royal Oak Hotel, Fitzroy North. 4:00pm.

Elwood Blues Club Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 5:00pm.

Ezra Lee + Miss Whiskey Duo Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:30pm. $5.00.

Hot Wings Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 3:00pm.

Jason Mohi Carlton Brewhouse, Abbotsford.

2:00pm.

Joshua Seymour + Slim Dime Duo Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 4:00pm.

Kevin Walsh Catfish, Fitzroy. 5:00pm.

Marty Kelly & Co Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:00pm.

Matt Borg Trio Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick.

4:00pm.

Michelle Gardiner Customs House Hotel, Williamstown. 3:00pm.

Mitch Power Union Hotel, Brunswick.

3:30pm.

Nathan Brailey & The Big Southern + Craig Coburn + Russell Martin Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm.

Robyn & The Rancheros Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.

Roz Girvan Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.

Sammy Owen Blues Band Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

Slimpickins + Gumboots Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 4:30pm.

Soursob Bob + Outland Brothers Duo The Who Club, Warburton. 3:00pm. $10.00.

Sunday Session - Feat: Brunsy Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 2:00pm.

Sunday Sessions - Feat: Various Artists Lucky Coq, Windsor. 4:00pm.

The Bakersfield Glee Club Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 4:00pm.

The Big Southern + Russell Martin + Craig Coburn Reverence Hotel, Footscray.

8:00pm.

The Climax Compass Pizza, Brunswick East.

4:00pm.

The Mat Black Band + Henry J Sawyer Fox Hotel, Collingwood. 4:00pm.

The Shug Monkeys Union Hotel, Brunswick.

5:00pm.

The Ugly Uncles Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 5:30pm.

Tk Reeve Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick.

5:00pm.

Gig of the Week

Windhand & Cough

Richmond is set to be blessed this week by performances from two stellar bands from another Richmond, half-way across the world. Raised in the capital of Virginia in the US, Cough and Windhand have both made a name for themselves as heavy hitters in the murky field of stoner/doom metal. Cough emerged around 2005, aiming to produce the heaviest music to ever originate from Richmond. With lyrics betraying a misanthropic headspace and music sufficiently thick and chaotic to match, Cough present an intense but surprisingly hypnotising front. In addition to spawning in the same city, Windhand’s drummer, Parker Chandler, is also the vocalist and bassist of Cough. There are many similarities between the two bands, but also sufficient differences to make their similarities complementary rather than repetitive. They’re playing at The Corner Hotel in Richmond this Friday April 7 from 8pm with supports from Inverloch and Merchant. Tickets are $53 via Eventbrite.

Monday Apr 10

Deja Vu’s + The Paddy Cakes + The Constables Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.

Dumb Dog + Castilles + Golden Helmet Old Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Bar, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $7.00.

Music Horris Green + Ivory Elephant + Witches Child Rasgueado Y Punteado Melbourne Recital Centre, Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm.

Make It Up Club - Feat: Llara Isabell Arena + Southbank. 6:00pm.

Scott O’hara + More Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

Open Mic Nite Inkerman Hotel, Balaclava. 7:30pm.

House, Electro, Trance & Club Santana + The Doobie Brothers Rod Laver Arena, Nights Melbourne. 7:00pm.

Call It In - Feat: Instant Peterson + Dylan The Naysayers + Marley Wynn + Karl Kaiser Michael Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

Schmidt + Ill Starred Captain Workers Club, Struggle Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm.

Fitzroy. 7:30pm.

The Breakfast Club Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm.

The Monday Bone Machine - Feat: T-Rek Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin & World Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.

Music

Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers

Andrea Keller Transients Tuesdays Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

European Masters Of The 20Th Century Bonnie Raitt + Rhiannon Giddens Hamer Hall Feat: The Melbourne Ensemble Melbourne (Arts Centre Melbourne), Southbank. 7:30pm. $111.00.

Recital Centre, Southbank. 6:00pm. $29.00.

Callan + En. V + Bodies + Heartattracks Yarra Gregory Porter + Dj Richie 1250 Melbourne Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. $8.00.

Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:30pm. $69.00.

Chase City + Empire Park + Dolphin Soup Oi Dipnoi + Santa Taranta Open Studio, Northcote.

Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:30pm.

7:00pm.

Cherry Jam Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:30pm.

Trombone Shorty + Orleans Avenue + Jordan Clay & The Skeleton Band + Hugh D-Analogues 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm.

Fuchsen Open Studio, Northcote. 7:00pm. $66.00.

Tommy Castles Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $7.00.

Uncomfortable Science - Feat: Lachlan Yukumbabe + Golden Girls + Rkda Old Bar, Mitchell Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.

Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00.

Zoe Fox & The Rocket Clocks 303,Northcote.7:30pm.

Acoustic/Country/Blues/Folk

Acoustic/Country/Blues/Folk Charles Jenkins Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.

Jake Shimabukuro + Dj Elle Young Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:30pm. $55.00.

Mud Morganfield + Hamish Anderson Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $54.51.

Tuesday Apr 11 House, Electro, Trance & Club Nights Oasis Tuesdays Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm.

Vecchio’s Summer Serve Up Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm.

Indie, Rock, Pop, Metal, Punk & Covers Barbiturates + Gunnamatta Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy.

8:30pm.

Culcairn - Feat: 19Th Century Strongmen + Hannah Francis & The Fake News + New Hat Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 7:30pm.

Irish Session Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8:00pm.

Lisa Miller (Sings Lucinda Williams) Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.

Rhiannon Giddens + The Teskey Brothers Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $48.21.

The Mountain Goats Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm.

Trevor Hall + Nyck Northcote Social Club, Northcote.

7:30pm. $44.00.

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Backstage

David Liebe Hart “David’s disappeared.” This is the voice of Jonah, the manager of musician, puppeteer, devout Christian and unlikely comedy star David Liebe Hart.

Our interview was supposed to start ten minutes ago, but the main man is nowhere to be found.

Like a lot of weirdos of my generation, I first found Hart’s work through Tim And Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!, the psycho sketch comedy horror series on Adult Swim that kicked down the doors for a new wave of alternative comedy. Without Tim And Eric there’d be no Portlandia, no Zach Galifianakis, no BoJack Horseman, and of course, no David Liebe Hart.

Hart’s regular segments came across like children’s TV by way of David Lynch – long, bizarre, public-service-announcement-type songs informing people about email or alien races. Hart was always a highlight, always hilariously offbeat, and always accompanied by one or more large puppets.

“OK, he’s in a restaurant,” Jonah says. “They won’t let him stay in there without eating something, so he’s just ordering a sandwich. Then he’ll call you.”

When Hart finally calls, he has one thing on his mind. “What’s the time in Australia right now?” I tell him. “That’s a 19-hour time difference. I put my phone number on my website and I get calls from Australian fans at three, four, 5am some nights. You gotta tell them to look at the time difference.”

Interviewing Hart is like talking to a hurricane.

He’s quick, passionate about everything, and definitely

hilarious – only you’re never entirely sure how much of it is for real, and how much is just hot air.

“I love Australia,” he says. “I love the people. I love your trains. I love Olivia Newton-John, I’ve always wanted to sing with her. I love Samantha Armytage on Sunrise. Ever since I first saw her I knew she was an outstandingly talented woman. She reminded me of my ex-wife.”

On his first tour here in 2015, Hart stumbled upon a unique format for his shows. By using different local bands as his backing group, alongside video projections, his stream-of-consciousness monologues and (yes) the puppets, a Hart show feels like some sort of punk children’s entertainment – like if Sesame Street were set in a worse neighbourhood.

“I want to have a kangaroo puppet and a koala puppet for the kids,” he says. “I want to start doing TV shows and movies in Australia. I’d like to work with Crocodile Dundee and Samantha Armytage.

You need to tell the Australian industry I’m ready.

“I got new songs I’m very excited for you to hear.

I’m Not A Hoarder, Space Ranger. I’ve got one about eating fruit. All my puppets are coming out. Jason the Cat will be there. Chip the Black Boy’s coming.”

Google them. Seriously.

And as excited as Hart is to perform, he seems just as happy to get away from the craziness of the US for a few weeks. “Things are scary over here. People are upset. I got into an argument with a Trump voter at church. I’m not mad at her, I try to see the good in everybody, even in bad people. Plus I have a cousin who looks just like Trump. On my Caucasian side.”

The hurricane is whipping up again. I have no idea what’s real, and what’s for laughs. Hart segues from his cousin/Trump-doppelgänger to the level of UFO activity in the Blue Mountains to an altercation he had with a Hillsong member during his last Sydney visit, before spiralling his way back to his original point.

Hart is open to adventures. He hopes to spend time with his fans, explain the time difference to them, and would love to be shown the sights by the locals. “And if you can drive me to church on Sunday, that’d be great too.” I don’t know if he’s talking to me.

He might be talking to you.

David Liebe Hart will perform at The Toff In Town on Wednesday April 12, with Mandek Penha, Curse Ov Dialect and Luis.

By Cameron James

Wordy Fun

That’s So Hospo

This is an homage to Smooth FM, not sponsored in anyway by Smooth FM. Wassup Smooth FM? How's tricks?

facebook.com/thatssohospo

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“I’d like to work with Crocodile Dundee and Samantha Armytage. You need to tell the Australian industry I’m ready.”

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Across Which artist is preoccupied by working her assigned work hours? (5,6) The winner takes it all, according to who?

If you get caught between the moon and New York City, you are listening to which song?

(7,5) Which two basic elements of weather and energy does James Taylor think are fascinating enough to remark on? (4,34)

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Which Billy Joel song features people putting bread in a jar?

(5,3) 10 What was the name of the song cum geography lesson penned by the Beach Boys?

11 Dire Straights are the sultans of what?

12 Which band wants to know what love is?

13 Sir Thomas John Woodward is better known by what stage name? (3,5) 14 Lionel Richie famously can count to what number when addressing feminine qualities?

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Down Which family band jammed the phrase "shing-a-ling-a-ling" into lyrics about nostalgia? (3,10) Which continent is Toto enamoured with?

Neil Diamond creepily named this song after JFK's daughter, sweet what?

The Bee Gees want to know how deep what is? (4,4)

www.dccoffee.com.au

Classifieds Guitarist Wanted for Maiden/Priest/

Dio /Queensyryche/classic metal project. Call Dave Schroeder 0410 442 199

46 BEAT.COM.AU

Lead Guitarist Wanted for Dirty Eyes-The Bon Scott show to fill the role of Angus Young and put on a real show.

Dirty Eyes are unique in bringing the taste of 1976 to the stage. If you have the chops and would like the opportunity of joining what will be the biggest trib in Melbourne contact Roger on 0449 678 862.

Vocalist Seeks Band/Project

Influences: Mike Patton, TOOL, NIN, Deftones, Soundgarden. Also, looking for paid work in Music/ Entertainment Industry. Experienced in scheduling, marketing and advertising sales. Ph: Neal 0424 557 577.