Brag#598

ISSUE NO. 598 FEBRUARY 4, 2015

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

MUSIC, FILM, THEATRE + MORE

INSIDE This Week

S A R A H BL A SKO

A new album is on the way, and she promises a brighter affair.

T ONIGH T A L I V E

Sydney’s pop-punk globetrotters bring it on home.

B A ND OF SK UL L S

A gang mentality keeps these college mates going strong.

G. L O V E & SPECI A L S A UCE Bringing that special sauce our way for Bluesfest.

Plus

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THE AMERICAN DREAM

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FOR ALL THE LATEST INFO HEAD TO SOUNDWAVEFESTIVAL.COM

SATURDAY 28 FEBRUARY & SUNDAY 1 MARCH OLYMPIC PARK BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 3

rock music news

the BRAG presents

welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town...with Chris Martin, Spencer Scott and Kelsey Berry

speed date WITH

DEENA

2.

Keeping Busy For the last three to four months we’ve been preparing for the release of the upcoming album – released a single and music video, sent the CDs off to manufacturing and touring. The last three months I’ve been playing gigs in Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Up next is the first Australian tour with the band where we will be promoting the release of the second album, Black Cat, and a single off the record of the same name.

Best Gig Ever The best gig was in Osaka, Japan – it 3. was a small art studio but people were piled

1.

Your Profile We are a little sad like the blues, Western like a cowboy, folk like a nomad and indie like a hipster. We also like long walks on the beach.

in next to each other to see us all play (Taiga Yamazaki, Bambi, The Fractures and Emily Play). The people were actually there to listen and although we were in an intimate acoustic box, all you could hear was the music and there wasn’t a peep from the audience.

Afterwards I was welcomed by people so well, it was so touching – my bunny had just died so a girl made me a rabbit finger puppet, and I got given a handmade pin badge, a drawing of me while I was playing and a cat plushie made out of wool to resemble the second album.

The worst gig needs no description. My chair sunk into the cracks of the stage as I was mid-song. It suddenly went from song to profanity.

Current Playlist I’m currently listening to ‘West Coast’ 4.

by Lana Del Rey – I don’t listen to her too much but damn, the production behind that is ingenious. I’ve also been enjoying the sounds of Gary Clark, Jr. and Alabama Shakes while I’ve been road tripping on tour.

Your Ultimate Rider [Laughs] We are all so vanilla and 5. usually only ask for water. My ultimate rider would be warm tea with Manuka honey and sweet potato fries with aioli alongside a ginger beer to enjoy post-show. I wouldn’t mind some crispy skin pork belly either.

With: Black Cat out Friday February 13 through The Orange Lounge/MGM Where: The Newsagency When: Sunday February 8

FOLK FESTIVAL INDIGENOUS LINEUP

MANAGING EDITOR: Chris Martin chris@thebrag.com 02 9212 4322 ONLINE EDITOR: Tyson Wray ONLINE COORDINATOR: Emily Meller SUB-EDITOR: Emily Meller STAFF WRITERS: Adam Norris, Augustus Welby NEWS: Tori Bedingfield, Kelsey Berry, Lauren Gill, Nicholas Hartman, Spencer Scott ART DIRECTOR: Sarah Bryant PHOTOGRAPHERS: Katrina Clarke, Ashley Mar COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Katie Hovland ADVERTISING: Georgina Pengelly - 0416 972 081 / (02) 9212 4322 georgina@thebrag.com ADVERTISING: Les White - 0405 581 125 / (02) 9212 4322 les@thebrag.com PUBLISHER: Furst Media MANAGING DIRECTOR, FURST MEDIA: Patrick Carr - patrick@furstmedia.com.au, (03) 9428 3600 / 0402 821 122 DIGITAL DIRECTOR/ADVERTISING: Kris Furst kris@furstmedia.com.au, (03) 9428 3600 GIG & CLUB GUIDE COORDINATORS: Tori Bedingfield, Nicholas Hartman, Emily Meller, Spencer Scott - gigguide@thebrag.com (rock); clubguide@thebrag.com (dance, hip hop & parties) AWESOME INTERNS: Tori Bedingfield, Lachlan Mackenzie, Spencer Scott, Nicholas Hartman

the hottest artists on tour...

BALKAN BEAT BOX Oxford Art Factory Wednesday March 11

PAOLO NUTINI Enmore Theatre Tuesday March 31

GEORGE CLINTON & PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC Enmore Theatre Wednesday April 1

G. LOVE & SPECIAL SAUCE The Basement Sunday April 5

JIMMY CLIFF Metro Theatre Thursday April 9

THE OCEAN Factory Floor Friday April 10

Hilltop Hoods

The 2015 National Folk Festival has announced an indigenous program designed to recognise and celebrate First Peoples’ culture across music, song and dance. Headlining the lineup is Kutcha Edwards, a member of Watbalimba and Blackfire, who has worked with acts such as Jeff Lang, Dan Sultan, and Carlos Santana. Also on the bill are Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse, winners of the Best Indigenous Act of 2013 at the WA Music Awards, and Col Hardy, the first Aboriginal person to win a Golden Guitar. The National Folk Festival takes place in Canberra over the Easter long weekend, Thursday April 2 – Monday April 6.

THE WATERBOYS

The Waterboys have extended their upcoming trip to Australia, announcing sideshows in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney ahead of their appearance at Bluesfest. The tour announcement coincides with the release of the band’s 11th album, Modern Blues. This is only the second time Mike Scott and friends have toured Australia in their 30-year history, after embarking on their debut tour in 2013. The Waterboys will hit town on Thursday April 2 for a show at the Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House.

MOO MUSIC

Australia’s favourite bovine-inspired touring festival, Groovin The Moo, is back this year with a moo-vellous lineup of international and local acts. The dates have been shuffled around a little this year to account for various ANZAC Centenary celebrations, but the bill is as strong as ever, led out by Hilltop Hoods, Broods and Flight Facilities. Joining the fun are Sticky Fingers, Peaches, The Preatures, DMA’s, Charli XCX, Ball Park Moosic, A$AP Ferg, Wolfmother, You Me At Six, Peace, San Cisco, Tkay Maidza, RL Grime, Meg Mac, One Day and more. Moove your body to the sounds of Maitland Showground on Saturday May 9. Visit gtm.net.au for more details.

MORE SIDEWAVES

Johnny Marr

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release their sixth album Future Hearts in April, while Fireworks’ latest effort Oh, Common Life was released in March last year.

ÁSGEIR JOINS ALT-J TOUR

Icelandic crooner and Aussie favourite Ásgeir will join Alt-J for their Australian tour in May. This will be Alt-J’s biggest tour of Australia to date, after two intimate shows late last year and a number of festival appearances. Ásgeir has also spent his fair share of time in Australia this past year, playing at Splendour In The Grass, Falls Festival and Southbound. Catch Ásgeir with Alt-J on Saturday May 9 at Qantas Credit Union Arena.

Xxx

EDITORIAL POLICY: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher, editors or staff of the BRAG.

Las Vegas locals Falling In Reverse and Escape The Fate will join forces for two intimate Sidewaves in Sydney and Melbourne.

Falling In Reverse and Escape The Fate have been touring together extensively in recent years, taking their Bury The Hatchet tour across North America in 2014. Falling In Reverse will release their third album Just Like You on Friday February 20. They take over The Hi-Fi on Friday February 27 with help from The Color Morale. Meanwhile, pop-punkers All Time Low and Fireworks team up at the Factory Theatre on Thursday February 26. All Time Low will

Fall Out Boy

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JOHNNY MARR RESCHEDULES

After postponing his summer tour due to family illness, Johnny Marr has confirmed that he will return Down Under this winter. The former Smiths guitarist and sideman to the stars will now tour Australia and New Zealand in July, making up all the originally scheduled dates except for Brisbane.

Existing tickets remain valid for the new shows. Those who are unable to attend the new dates are asked to secure a refund from their original point of purchase before Friday February 6.

Marr will now play the Enmore Theatre on Monday July 20.

RADIOACTIVE ROCK

One of the biggest acts on this year’s enormous Soundwave lineup, Fall Out Boy, have now revealed dates for Sidewaves in Sydney and Brisbane. Fall Out Boy have returned with a vengeance this year to the top of the charts, reaching number one in the US with new album American Beauty/American Psycho. The Illinois foursome will be joined for the sideshows by Glasgow rockers Twin Atlantic and California’s Emily’s Army. Fall Out Boy play UNSW Roundhouse on Tuesday February 24.

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BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 5

live & local welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town... with Chris Martin, Spencer Scott and Tori Bedingfield

five things WITH

PAUL MASON FROM BONEZ on drums, Ben Frank on second guitar and Tomi Gray on vocals/crowd control. It’s been a great time getting to know each other as we’ve only been together with this lineup for a couple of months. We’re currently on the road now touring our new single ‘Lemonade’ and have been having some great times getting a little more familiar with each other. It’s hard not to when you’re sharing a bed.

The Music You Make 4.

We get compared to a lot of

Growing Up Everyone in the band comes from a 1. really different place. We’re a total mixed bag.

Some of us – myself one of them – come from musical upbringings, others in the band found it through total chance. It doesn’t matter how you catch the bug. We all ended up with a passion for music, and having come together in this project it now feels like we’re on the right path.

Inspirations I’m a big guitar nut, I love Mark Knopfler 2. and Jeff Beck. I love the sound they make on the guitar, and the confidence they have leading a band. I used to play ‘Sultans Of Swing’ at my dad’s gigs. Together with the other boys we pull inspiration from everything from acid jazz to ’90s nu metal and every stop in between.

PRESENTS

bands – everything from Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against The Machine to The Doors and even fucking Poison. We can’t wrap our head around that one. But we try to steer away from labelling it cause we think we’ve really got a fresh thing going. We have a bit of a reputation for our live shows being pretty out there.

BUSK LIVERPOOL

This weekend’s edition of the popular Liverpool Night Markets will introduce the brand new Busk Liverpool program, organised by Liverpool City Council and Aviary Social to foster musical creativity in the community. 15-year-old Red Roy Magallanes will lead the lineup this Saturday February 7, when a bunch of talented local performers will share the stage with a view to expanding the program across multiple venues in future. The markets take over Macquarie Street from 4pm.

Music, Right Here, Right Now There are so many great bands 5. scattered all around the place. What we

ROYAL CHANT HIT THE ROAD

need is a little organisation. We all hate the cliquey-ness of a lot of the scenes in Sydney in particular. People in bands get really pissy about their scenes. It’s kind of funny. We just do what we do, we have a great time doing it and we’re meeting more and more people along the way that want to share in this journey with us, which is great.

Royal Chant are returning to the scene with a new single accompanied by a string of tour dates. The first single from upcoming EP The War Cry Of Failure, ‘Just Trying To Meet You’, is an angsty ode to cubicle romance and self-delusion. The quick lyrics and flying drums were recorded in bedrooms around Australia and produced by band member James Carthew. Royal Chant will play three shows across the nation, kicking off in Sydney at Spectrum on Friday February 13.

With: Grenadiers Where: Frankie’s Pizza When: Thursday February 5

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HANDS ON WITH HANLON

After spending time gallivanting around the US, Gympie-based songwriter Darren Hanlon has returned to Australia, announcing his fifth studio album and a national tour. Where Did You Come From? will hit shelves at the beginning of March. Hanlon will kick off his tour at Western Australia’s Nannup Music Festival this month, before taking in all corners of the country in March and April, playing both festivals and headline shows. See him at the Blue Mountains’ Clarendon Guesthouse on Tuesday March 24, the Gallipoli Legions Club in Newcastle on Wednesday March 25 and Manning Bar on Thursday March 26.

IS ONE THING YOU “DOIFINTHERE THIS LIFE: SEE MICHAEL FRANTI SCENESTR ”

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HER SELL-OUT GIG WILL NOW BE MY MEASURING STICK FOR ALL MUSICAL PERFORMANCES THAT FOLLOW.

A MASTERFUL “PERFORMANCE. ” OXFORD AMERICAN

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RHYTHMS 2014 TOUR REVIEW

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3.

Your Band The band’s called Bonez. It’s myself on guitar, Bernardo Lopes on bass, Hugh L. Jones

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free stuff head to: thebrag.com/freeshit

WHATTUP, WATUSSI

The self-described “Afro-Latin rock and roots” crew Watussi have announced a Sydney show to celebrate the release of their new single. ‘Agua’ is the name of the latest song from the band, featuring Ethiopian singer Dereb The Ambassador and mixed by Damien Charles from Red Eyes. The single will be released on seven-inch, and the band will be hosting a launch show in Sydney. See Watussi at Play Bar on Thursday February 26.

Watussi

BELLE & SEBASTIAN

Och aye! Belle & Sebastian are Scotland’s favourite indie band, which makes them England’s favourite British indie band whenever they win something or have a platinum album. Wait no, that’s Andy Murray. Anyway, the Glaswegians have just released their ninth album, Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance, through Matador/Remote Control. It has been received very well: Kevin Harley of The Independent said to “chalk this one up for a win”, Stephen Thomas Erlewine at allmusic.com said, “This is the sound of a band’s that’s growing fearless in middle age … there’s a thrill hearing a band unafraid to stumble”, and here at the BRAG it was our Album of the Week.

CLEAN SLATES

Canada punk boys Slates are setting off on a wide-ranging tour of Australia this month.

Formed in 2008, the Edmonton outfit has two albums under its belt, with the most recent Taiga recorded to tape by the legendary Steve Albini. On that evidence, Slates are a band all about being in the moment, and Sydney’s moment arrives on Saturday February 14 at Oxford Art Factory. Bare Bones and Corpus will support.

Bobby Alu

We’ve got five copies of the new album to give away. To be in the running to win a copy, head to thebrag.com/freeshit and tell us your favourite thing about Scotland.

INTO THE VOID DOCO

A documentary about Christchurch noise band Into The Void has come to Sydney. Rising to cult hero status in New Zealand thanks to their intense but rare live shows, Into The Void released only two albums in 28 years. Darren Knight Gallery is hosting the screening of the new rockumentary Into The Void by New Zealand filmmaker Margaret Gordon. This film documents the history of the band, which was formed in 1987 by Ronnie van Hout, Jason Greig, Mark Whyte and Paul Sutherland, and later joined by Dave Imlay and James Greig. Several members of the band have also become prominent visual artists with independent and highly successful careers in Australia, NZ and beyond. Into The Void is accompanied by an exhibition curated by Scott Donovan featuring works by founding band members Van Hout and Greig. Into The Void is screening until Saturday February 21. Visit darrenknightgallery.com to view screening times.

HERE’S BOBBY

Bobby Alu, singer-songwriter and regular right-hand man to Xavier Rudd, is gearing up for two free shows in Sydney this month. In support of his new single ‘My Style’ from latest EP Bay Sessions, Alu is touring Australia, taking a break from his usual stint of playing as half of Rudd’s two-man show. Alu plays at Marble Bar on Saturday February 14 and Moonshine Bar in Manly on Sunday February 15.

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THE ORIGINAL LINE-UP RETURN FOR THEIR

#45 OF THE UK TELEGRAPH’S 100 BEST GLASTONBURY PERFORMANCES EVER

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TELEGRAPH UK

80 TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR HE’S A GENUINE “LIVING LEGEND ”

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& ORLEANS AVENUE EVERY MUSICIAN ON “STAGE SHOWS OFF THEIR BRILLIANCE IN ALMOST EVERY SONG. ” THE AU REVIEW

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TOURING SONGS BY THE BLASTERS & THEIR FIRST ALBUM TOGETHER AFTER 30 YEARS; COMMON GROUND - THE SONGS OF BIG BILL BROONZY.

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BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 7

Industrial Strength Music Industry News with Christie Eliezer

incident at the Eve club in Melbourne, where a dude was thrown out of the VIP enclosure after their show? * Mötley Crüe and Alice Cooper look like they’ll be here in May. * In the wake of winning the triple j Hottest 100, Chet Faker’s ‘Talk Is Cheap’ jumped from number 52 to number six on the ARIA chart (his first Top Ten effort, and beating its previous peak of number 31 last December), and has gone platinum (70,000 sales). * Aussie grindcorists Blood Duster have parted with guitarist Scott Pritchard and Dave Haley due to, yes, our old friend, Mr. Musical Differences.

THINGS WE HEAR * Which venue looks like it will be closing after injections of funds from a rival operator fell through at the last minute? * Which music identity has such a busy schedule he doesn’t remember being interviewed for a TV profile of a major music act? * Is Prince performing at this weekend’s Grammys alongside Pharrell Williams, AC/DC, Sia and Madonna? * Are police investigating to what extent YG and Ty Dolla $ign were involved in an

FBI INTRODUCES PERFORMANCE SPACE FBi Radio’s Redfern studios are being restructured to include a live performance space called FBi Live, courtesy of a sponsorship by whisky brand Jack Daniel’s.

The room will stage events and, for the first time, live-to-air showcases from new and established acts. FBi ran the FBi Social venue at the Kings Cross Hotel until last November. The Jack Daniel’s involvement is through its Future Legends initiative. In charge of the fit-out is Bob Barton, whose work includes the Golden Age Cinema and Bar and Melbourne’s Rooftop Cinemas.

Sydney band Little May’s Annie Hamilton and photographer Callum van de Mortel are involved with the graphic design.

THUNDAMENTALS TO LAUNCH OWN LABEL VIA UNIVERSAL Thundamentals will launch their own label thanks to a deal with Island Records/ Universal Music Australia. DJ Morgs, Tuka and Jeswon had three songs in the triple j Hottest 100. Island Records’ Michael Taylor said, “Thundamentals are one of the most exciting artists making music today. They

* Taylor Swift trademarked the phrase ‘This Sick Beat’ from her hit ‘Shake It Off’, so others can’t use it commercially without her permission. * The makers of the UK’s Tennent’s Lager offered Noel Gallagher a lifetime supply of free beer after he was pictured with the drink during a night out with Kate Moss and other friends. They also proposed to set up a bar inside his home with a hotline, so deliveries can be made whenever he runs out. * Hundreds of people thronged to Martin Place for a candlelight vigil to call for the sparing of the lives of Bali Nine detainees Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, with sets from

push the envelope – sonically, lyrically and conceptually.” They’re in the studio writing their next album following So We Can Remember.

LEPERS & CROOKS LIGHT UP PETROL INXS creative consultant CM Murphy, who scooped up Sydney band Lepers & Crooks to his Murphy Rights Academy, has also signed them to Petrol Records. It is the label’s first major signing since INXS five years ago. The band is on a 50-date, 25,000km national tour behind the Her Kiss EP.

LIL WAYNE THREATENS TO LEAVE CASH MONEY The feud between Lil Wayne and Cash Money owner and producer Birdman has worsened. Lil Wayne is refusing to hand over his Tha Carter V album until he gets the US$10 million advance he was allegedly promised. He has filed a suit for $51 million in damages, and is threatening to not only leave the label but also to take his Young Money roster with him – including Drake, Nicki Minaj and Christina Milian.

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JUST ANNOUNCED

COMING SOON

Megan Washington, Josh Pyke and Paul Mac. * The late Johnny Ramone’s Red 1965 Mosrite Ventures V1 guitar was sold for US$72,000 at an auction in Boston. * More Sydney acts are touring Asia. Death metal fivepiece Daemon Pyre head to Indonesia in June having just released their debut album, produced by Shane Edwards with Psycroptic’s Jason Peppiatt appearing on one track. Christine Anu has just returned from a week in Vietnam playing shows, conducting workshops with music students and visiting a charity supporting victims of domestic violence.

SONY DROPS MUSIC UNLIMITED FOR PLAYSTATION MUSIC Sony Network Entertainment International has dropped its Music Unlimited service, and will introduce PlayStation Music for PlayStation consoles and Xperia devices next month. Australia is one of 41 countries where the change will take place.

PlayStation Music will have Spotify as its primary partner. The PlayStation Network has a global user base of 64 million.

Existing subscribers to Music Unlimited will be given one free month from February 28 until March 29, and will be offered the Spotify Premium trial once it’s launched.

PLEASE ‘LIKE’ ME SEMINAR: SELF-PROMOTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA How do launch your career in the crowded social media space, and how do you best promote your music and events? MusicNSW is holding a Please ‘Like’ Me seminar on Tuesday February 10, from 4-5:30 pm at 107 Projects in Redfern (107 Redfern St). The speakers will be Tom Ballard (triple j), Melody Forghani (Bossy PR and Music Management), Victoria Sweetie Zamora (Remote ControI), Dom O’Connor (Laneway), Claire Bracken (Pedestrian.TV) and Nic Kelly (2Day FM, Project U.TV). It’s free, but numbers are capped at 30, so send your full name to rsvp@musicnsw.com by 5pm Monday February 9.

VENUES UPDATE The Lansdowne in Chippendale is not offering live music while it undergoes renovations, expected to last four months.

Meanwhile, the new owners of the Bayview in Batemans Bay are trying to restore live music on Saturday nights after it was stopped last September owing to noise issues. They have also launched a petition, which has been signed by 1,500 so far.

VEVO GOES TO RADIO IN AUSTRALIA FRI 27 FEB

FALLING IN REVERSER + ESCAPE THE FATE

THU 05 MAR

ANDY BELL + PAUL RUTHERFORD

SAT 28 FEB

DELTRON 3030

FRI 20 MAR

BONOBO

SAT 18 APR

BLACKSTREET

(ERASURE)

FRI 13 FEB

MODESELEKTOR

SAT 14 FEB

INFECTED MUSHROOM

THU 12 MAR

DJ SHADOW & CUT CHEMIST

WED 01 APR ALL AGES

SWITCHFOOT

THU 30 APR

B-BOY WORLD CHAMPIONS TOUR

In a world first, music video platform Vevo has gone to radio in Australia on Today’s Hit Network. Broadcast Sundays from 2-5pm, Planet Vevo will include Vevo brands such as LIFT (for new artists) and Certified (acts whose videos hit a million views). Another new Hit program is The Drop, aimed at EDM fans on Fridays from 10pm-1am and Saturdays 6pm-midnight. A third show will be announced shortly.

11 AUSSIE ACTS FOR THE GREAT ESCAPE 2015 11 Aussie acts are among the first 150 names unveiled for the UK’s The Great Escape Festival (May 14-16). They are Remi, Bad//Dreems, Saskwatch, Twerps, Apes, Fraser A. Gorman, Flyying Colours, Banoffee, Rolls Bayce, Little May and Pierce Brothers.

STRONG SALES FOR SXSW The Australian and NZ dollars are at their lowest against the US dollar in over five years. But that hasn’t affected registrations to SXSW in Texas in March. They’ve kept pace with last year, says Australia, NZ and Hawaii rep Phil Tripp. 500 people have registered and paid from the three regions (including 465 from Australia). 22 of these are speakers. Last year there were 750 delegates and 45 acts (with 50,000 attending from 150 countries). Tripp is confident this year will beat the 2014 tally. It’s a far cry from when he started as SXSW’s local rep in 2003, when only 20 delegates and five bands made the trip.

Lifelines Expecting: Justin Timberlake and wife Jessica Biel, their first.

Born: a son to Shakira and footballer Gerard Pique, their second child.

Dating: radio’s Andy Lee and PR graduate Rebecca Harding.

He was with Megan Gale for four years.

Injured: house DJ Lil Louis may have been ‘permanently deafened’ after an idiot blew an air horn in the DJ booth inches from his left ear during soundcheck at a nightclub in Manchester. He went to hospital, is light headed, can’t walk straight, and posted to his Facebook page that his “career as a DJ and artist” may be over.

Charged: rap mogul Suge Knight was charged with murder after turning himself in. It is alleged he was behind the wheel of a fatal hit-and-run incident on set in Compton for N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton.

In Court: a 44-year-old Windsor man faces court this month over charges he set fire to the former music venue Jolly Frog last January. The venue, which once hosted major acts, has been dilapidated and empty for years.

There is a move to urge local council to give it heritage listing to stop it from being pulled down.

In Court: Ballarat Magistrates Court heard that visiting Israeli restaurant owner Shimon Kaduri, 34, who allegedly crept into a tent and indecently assaulted a sleeping woman at the Rainbow Serpent Festival, was found with 279 LSD tabs and Ketamine. He faces court again on February 26.

In Court: US funk legend Sly Stone was awarded US$5 million after a suit that claimed his business partners and his own company cheated him of royalties.

Arrested: singer-songwriter Luke O’Shea, after locking himself to a water pump for three hours.

He was protesting work at Whitehaven Coal’s controversial Maules Creek mine, which he said used precious water to wash the coal. His 71-year-old father Rick, a local farmer, joined him and was also arrested.

Arrested: Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler after a bar brawl in Death Valley, California, during which someone was punched and a window broken.

Arrested: a 22-year-old man from Florida for manslaughter after allegedly accidentally shooting and killing a 17-year-old friend.

He was acting out the lyrics to rapper Waka Flocka Flame’s song, ‘Bustin’ At Em’ – which has gunshots throughout and lyrics like “Shoot first, ask questions last” – with what he thought was an unloaded gun.

Sued: Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer on claims the ‘Solomon Northup’ theme from Oscar-winning 12 Years A Slave is from a 2004 composition ‘To Our Fallen’ by Donald Sterling.

Sterling claims this was part of a work called American Heart, made in the same studio where the soundtrack was recorded.

Died: Melbourne singer Margot Cesario (née Moir), 56, due to complications from long-term diabetes. Emerging in the ’70s with the The Moir Sisters (‘Good Morning (How Are You?)’), who were signed to EMI in Australia and Elton John’s Rocket in the UK, she released a solo album Strong & Mighty and did backup vocals on John Farnham’s Whispering Jack tour.

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

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BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 9

Yellowcard WE SHALL OVERCOME

BY AUGUSTUS WELBY

N

ostalgia; it’s a hell of a drug. Here in the mid-2010s, the internet effectively provides us with a nostalgia database.

For starters, terabytes of storage space and manifold social media platforms have made fetishising past activities a daily practice. Then there are music streaming services like Spotify, where a click of the finger lets us revisit old favourites that may have been discarded in a fit of postadolescent taste restructuring.

Anyone partial to pop-punk back in 2003 would know that Yellowcard’s Ocean Avenue was big news. Just a couple of years down the track, however, and the pop-punk boom had largely dissipated. There was a strong chance many Yellowcard fans had turned their ears towards another booming genre movement before the band’s next record.

Those listeners might be surprised to discover that not only have Yellowcard released five subsequent albums, but the pop-punk tag doesn’t do justice to the breadth of the band’s nine-album catalogue.

Nowhere is Yellowcard’s determination to continually expand their repertoire more apparent than on their latest LP, Lift A Sail.

Released last October, the record includes heavy melodic alt-rock numbers, sentimental balladry, stacks of lovely string work, and yes, the occasional outbreak of pop-punk.

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“When Sean [Mackin, violin/backing vocals] brings in a whole piece of music and says, ‘What if this was just a song with vocals and strings and no drums or guitars?’ we go, ‘Yeah, that sounds rad. Let’s do that.’

There were no fucks given. I think we were inspired and really excited to try new things.”

Of course, it’s unfair to suggest that nostalgia is the chief force underpinning Yellowcard’s following.

Along with the hoards of listeners around the world that have stuck with the band album after album, the US fivesome has attracted plenty of fans in the years since Ocean Avenue. For instance, it’s safe to say anyone who was first exposed to Yellowcard courtesy 2006’s Lights And Sounds would have a markedly different conception of the band than that of diehard Ocean Avenue enthusiasts.

Lights And Sounds saw the band sidestep into the realm of alternative rock experimentation. After the platinum-selling success of Ocean Avenue, such a drastic departure left some listeners more than a touch confused.

“Because it was so fresh off Ocean Avenue and it was such a different-

sounding record, people weren’t quite ready for it,” Key says. “After that, we have been a little more focused. Not that we were scared to do what we wanted to do, but [we’ve been] really trying to make a record that we were super stoked and super proud of, but also knowing that fans were going to be excited.”

Following Lights And Sounds, Yellowcard had a rethink. Naturally, if you’ve pleased people once, you want to make it happen again.

Although an Ocean Avenue repeat has never surfaced, the record’s catchy and emotive pop-punk sound proved a durable foundation for 2007’s Paper Walls. “We got a little scared after Lights And Sounds and that got us really focused when we wrote Paper Walls,” Key says, “and Paper Walls became this epic, amazing pop-punk record.”

2013 was Ocean Avenue’s tenyear anniversary. To celebrate, Yellowcard embarked on a global tour, during which they performed acoustic reworkings of the record’s 13 tracks. Along with satisfying fans across the globe, this tour marked a symbolic end to that phase of the band’s career. Thus, when it came time for Lift A Sail, there was no longer any concern about how far Yellowcard could branch out.

“We realised what a new chapter this was going to be for the band and sonically what a new direction we were heading in,” Key says.

“We don’t want to turn our back

on anybody that expects a certain sound from us, but at the same time, when we feel as inspired as we did when writing these songs we have to run with that.”

but I’m navigating my way through it and hopefully I can write a song that can share some of what I’ve experienced and what I’ve learned with you, the listener.’”

Throughout Yellowcard’s history, Key has never hesitated to bare his soul in his lyrics. His knack for illuminating vulnerable emotions while also placing emphasis on willpower as a remedial force is greatly cherished by Yellowcard fans. In the lead-up to Lift A Sail, Key went through what he describes as an “overwhelming” period of existential unrest. His personal struggles were then turned into song subject matter.

While Key tends to incorporate events from his own life into the band’s songs, he points out that his lyrics aren’t a direct account of daily life. “Personally, when I’m not writing songs, I have to really struggle with not going to a dark place. But as a songwriter, I can remind myself that it’s better to stay positive and know that I can share these feelings of positivity and forward-thinking with however many thousand people across the world listen to the Yellowcard records.

“What I’ve been through in the last year and a half – my wife is a professional snowboarder and she suffered a really terrible spinal cord injury, so we’ve been going through rehabilitation and learning how to live with this injury.”

When lyrically pursuing delicate matters of the heart, one risks making blankly naïve statements or alienating listeners with self-pity.

Never mind that though, because on Lift A Sail, Key doesn’t fall into the traps of hyper-sentimental narrative gloom.

“What I always want to do is make it something that everybody can get something from,” he says. “I never want to come across with a ‘woe is me’ vibe. I want to come across as, ‘I’m going through this thing

“We don’t want to turn our back on anybody that expects a certain sound from us, but at the same time, when we feel as inspired as we did when writing these songs we have to run with that.”

“This year has been very dark and very challenging,” he adds, “but that’s not the part of it that I want to share with people. I want to share the part where you overcome it.”

Perhaps he’s doing a better job at staying positive than he gives himself credit for. Either way, Lift A Sail makes one thing certain: Yellowcard are fighting fit and confidently charging ahead.

“There’s just something special about this record and I don’t really know how to put it into words,” says Key. “We do two things: we make records and we tour, and those are our two favourite things in the world to do. So we feel extremely grateful that we still have the opportunity to do both things at the level that we get to do it. It’s pretty amazing.”

What: Lift A Sail out now through Razor & Tie/Cooking Vinyl With: Mayday Parade, Born Lion Where: Hordern Pavilion When: Friday July 10

thebrag.com

Yellowcard photo by Katie Hovland

“I guess people would have put us in a genre for many years and called us a pop-punk band,” says vocalist Ryan Key. “We’ve been doing this for a long time, we’ve written a lot of records. It’s important for us to continue to grow and mature as musicians and writers, and most importantly, never write the same record twice.”

“We always try the best we can to make a well-rounded record,” says Key. “With Lift A Sail in particular, we realised early on in the process that we were going in a whole new direction so we just kind of ran with that.

JOHN BUTLER TRIO LEE KERNAGHAN KASEY CHAMBERS SHANNON NOLL ASH GRUNWALD BECCY COLE MENTAL AS ANYTHING THE MCCLYMONTS WENDY MATTHEWS WE TWO THIEVES THE WOLFE BROTHERS THE WOLVERINES AMBER LAWRENCE KEVIN BENNETT AND THE FLOOD THE BOB CORBETT BAND CHELSEA BASHAM GREG CHAMPION CHRISTIE LAMB AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!

campfirefestival.com.au BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 11

Sarah Blasko Not Finished Just Yet By Christine Lan think As Day Follows Night and I Awake were real explorations of just acoustic instruments, really, and we did find ourselves going into more of a technological… it’s not like it’s electronic music or anything like that,” she clarifies with a laugh. “It’s just breaking, I suppose, the palette of the last album.”

‘N

ot Yet’ – the poignant closer to Sarah Blasko’s fourth album, I Awake – carries a gentle insistence that she won’t give in to her fears. It was a timely statement, as early last year Blasko endured a challenging period that led to a change in trajectory. “Sometimes it’s very frightening,” she admits, “and you just think, ‘Well, maybe this is it – maybe I don’t have anything else.’ I really thought that I couldn’t write, so I had to just totally shake it up.

“The last couple of albums I just wrote on my own in a room where I was just playing simply on a piano,” says the Sydney-born singer-songwriter. “It wasn’t working for me this time; I was coming up with certain kinds of songs,

but not really the kinds of songs I wanted to write. But then I thought, ‘I’m just going to write a whole lot of songs with people I know and see what comes of that, and get away from the piano and just focus on the melody and the lyrics.’ I’ve found [on this album] that this is the best way to write … so it’s just been a matter of getting out of my old ways, I suppose.

I think you’ve just got to keep looking for a different path.”

Besides preparing for a Twilight At Taronga concert and her headlining slot at Victoria’s Riverboats Music Festival (“There’s always something nice about performing in the outdoors at night. There’s always something dramatic about

that – there’s always insects involved somehow”), Blasko is currently working on her new album, which she expects to complete by April or May. “This one’s pretty different in feel so far,” she says. “It’s a pretty ‘up’ kind of album, I think. I Awake was very dark, but I think this is going to be a lighter affair. I think I’ve consciously tried to pare things down a bit for this record and try to keep it simpler, but there might still be an element of strings because I can’t deny that I love them. But I don’t think it’ll be anything near the scale of what I did on the last record. I’ve been writing more on keyboards again, on synths, which I haven’t done for years. I

Over the past year, Blasko has also written the musical scores for two films. She recently completed the score for Brendan Cowell’s Ruben Guthrie – a film about a high-flying advertising agency director’s battle with alcohol addiction, which was first seen as a play. Blasko and Cowell have discussed collaborations since working together on Bell Shakespeare’s Hamlet in 2008. Blasko also scored a 12-minute film by Australian artist and winner of the Archibald Prize in 2008 and 2013, Del Kathryn Barton.

That film is based on Barton’s book of artworks inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Nightingale And The Rose. “It’s been a year of trying new things,” Blasko says.

As for Seeker Lover Keeper – the supergroup comprising Blasko, Holly Throsby and Sally Seltmann – Blasko expects they’ll release more music in the future, too. “We’ve kind of just mentioned it to each other over email in the last little while. I think that will maybe be in another couple of years.”

In her music and conversation, Blasko brings a celestial air to melancholy introspection, but even as one of the country’s most respected, successful and admired artists, she views her greatest achievement as “probably just continuing to move along”.

“I do think that the last record, for me, probably represented a fulfilment of a dream in some kind of way. It was in my mind for such a long time that one day I wanted to play with an orchestra, and to find myself doing it, I really had an out-of-body experience, to be honest,” she laughs. “I’m not really someone who necessarily has specific goals, but that was something I had in mind at that point in my career.

So that was probably the greatest achievement – it was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

“I don’t know if I’d necessarily say it was my most creative period – I think it’s one of those things that ebbs and flows. But I do feel more focused now, creatively. I always feel like I’m just looking forward to the next thing and just trying to get better.”

Blasko remains mystified by the way in which her devoted listeners connect to songs. “I suppose I’ve always decided to speak about what is meaningful to me, and you hope that it resonates with other people. It’s not something that you consciously try and do – well, you consciously try to be honest, but you don’t consciously try and relate, necessarily. I always find it really amazing, a flattering thing, that people can connect to songs. It’s lovely that people can take their own meaning from songs, and I think that there’s often been a little bit of room to interpret with some of my stuff [laughs].

It was an outpouring of where I was at that point. I suppose that’s what all of my albums have been.”

With: Luluc Where: Taronga Zoo When: Friday February 13

Millencolin Harder And Faster By Augustus Welby

I

t’s a fair guess that any Australian music fan with a taste for skate punk would’ve caught Millencolin live by now. Over the last couple of decades, the Swedish foursome – led by vocalist/bass player Nikola Šarcevic and guitarist Mathias Färm – have visited us so frequently that Tony’s probably considering granting them an honourary knighthood. OK, perhaps that’s a touch unrealistic, but ever since the band’s now-legendary album Pennybridge Pioneers danced up the ARIA charts back in 2000, Australian listeners have been unflaggingly besotted.

“Australia has been special for us,” says Färm, “because we’ve been doing really good in Australia and we usually tend to travel there when you have your summer and it’s winter here. So it’s always special memories for us.

“It was the first country where we got bigger than the punk rock big thing,” he adds. “We went gold on Pennybridge Pioneers and it was probably the first country where the recognition was a bit more mainstream.”

While the impact of that record still lingers, Millencolin didn’t respond to their success by shutting down their creative engines. The band kept on chooglin’ for the remainder of the decade, adopting a mature rock sound on 2002’s Home From Home, before returning to full-tilt punk rock on 2005’s Kingwood and venturing into cleaner, poppy territory on 2008’s Machine 15.

However, since Machine 15, things have been quiet on the release front. After 20 years and seven full-length albums, it’d be understandable if Millencolin decided to bow out of the recordmaking game. But the gracious farewell speeches will have to wait, as Millencolin have just about finished recording their eighth LP. 12 :: BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15

“We wanted to find the essence of Millencolin and try to do something that really sounds like Millencolin,” Färm says. “It’s a little bit more oldschool. It’s more punk rock than it’s been for a long time; it’s much faster too. It’s been a fun process. It’s been kind of long, too. I’m very excited to put this out – we’re going to have at least one new song out before Soundwave.”

The promise of fresh tunes is an exciting prospect, but never fear – Millencolin’s Soundwave tour setlists will still be bursting with old favourites.

“We know what songs are the most popular songs and it’s a good idea to play them live,” Färm says. “There’s some songs that I’ve played live 2,000 times but if the crowd are getting into what our band is doing and seem to enjoy it, it doesn’t really matter what song I’m playing. Of course, there’s songs that are more fun to play than other songs, maybe because they’re easier to play or they have something special that I like, but it doesn’t really matter. As long as people are going off, I’m good.”

Drummer Fredrik Larzon and

guitarist Erik Ohlsson join Färm and Šarcevic to complete the band’s lineup. Somewhat miraculously, Millencolin have kept the same lineup throughout their entire history. The band is now 23 years old – with the individuals pushing 40 – and Färm’s pretty chuffed about how things have turned out. “The way I am, I’m still 20,” he laughs. “I still do the same things I’ve been doing my whole life. But of course, if someone would’ve told me when I was 17 that, ‘In 23 years, you’re going to be talking to an Australian about

the same band you’ve been in for 23 years,’ I would probably have a hard time believing it. I’m still living my dream and this band has been my only job in my whole life.”

What: Soundwave Festival 2015 With: Faith No More, Soundgarden, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Slash and many more Where: Sydney Olympic Park When: Saturday February 28 and Sunday March 1

thebrag.com

Tonight Alive Chasing The Sun By Krissi Weiss

S

ydney-bred pop-punk globetrotters Tonight Alive are going from strength to strength, with album number three in the pipeline and another massive UK tour under their belts. As is the tradition with bands of this ilk, touring with their buddies is a highlight of the high life, so their place on an upcoming All Time Low tour (after recent support slots for You Me At Six) is keeping Tonight Alive psyched almost as much as their spot on this year’s gargantuan Soundwave lineup. Singer Jenna McDougall is enjoying her return to the Australian sun after an awesome yet seemingly eternal winter in Europe and the UK. “It was unreal,” McDougall says of the band’s Christmas and New Year break. “We’d had a really big year of touring and writing the record, so we came home five days before Christmas and were able to just hang with our families. New Year’s was a big party at Jake [Hardy, guitarist]’s house and it’s just been able to be summer and that’s all I’ve wanted. We spent so many months in winter just kind of chasing it. No matter how fun the touring was, the sun was going down at 3pm in Europe and it was miserable. It’s just sad for Australians to be in that kind of environment.”

just us, you know? As a songwriter you want to be genuine, and that’s what made people like our music to begin with – if your songs don’t mean anything, people don’t give a shit. We’ve come full circle, back to saying we’re just doing exactly what we want.”

Their lips are sealed on who’s producing the upcoming record, but so far the hints are that he’s male, located on the US east coast, involved in the punk scene and a little scary.

“We’re going to work with an American producer who we’ve met on tour and spent a lot of time with and we feel he’s really gonna push us,” McDougall says. “We’ve heard a lot of horror stories about him tearing you apart, but I think that’s what we need. We just can’t be in our comfort zone again for this record.”

What: Soundwave Festival 2015 With: Faith No More, Soundgarden, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Slash and many more Where: Sydney Olympic Park When: Saturday February 28 and Sunday March 1

Don’t be fooled, though – it hasn’t been all bad.

Tonight Alive are looking at their biggest year yet, and as a band with an amp in many ports, they’re playing to larger crowds overseas than in their hometown. It’s not that they haven’t enjoyed success here – it’s just that the US, UK and Europe have caught on quicker than Australia.

“We played the biggest headlining tour in the UK we’d ever played, and with that came a lot of responsibility,” says McDougall. “There were signings and meet-and-greets and reasons to be up before 2pm. There was minimal time for choice; everything is just kind of planned out for you in your day. Then after that we had a tour in Europe where we were the support band and weren’t needed until eight at night, and so we definitely took advantage of that. We’d jump on public transport and not know where we were going and just ask people to point us to the centre of town.”

It’s one thing to play massive festivals like Soundwave (they also hit the Reading and Leeds festivals last year), but headline shows are their own creature – especially when they sell out. While filling a venue seems to be the ultimate pay-off, the self-doubt and anxiety can creep in. After all, everyone has come just for you – here they are now, entertain them.

“If your songs don’t mean anything, people don’t give a shit. We’ve come full circle, back to saying we’re just doing exactly what we want.”

“I definitely felt that way with this last UK tour,” McDougall admits. “It was sold out and we were playing to 3,000 people and we’ve never sold out 3,000-seat venues in Sydney, and I was like, ‘How do we handle this? Do bands when they get to this point feel like they’re this big, or do they just act like they’re this big?’ Bands always appear like they’re bigger and more successful than they are because inside your mind you’re always working for the next thing and reaching for the next goal and then you’re like, ‘Do I deserve this?’

“On the day of the show in London, on the day and night I was an emotional mess. The theatre was gorgeous with gold trimmings and a mezzanine with this floor area and it was just all really grand. It was a really emotional day and I couldn’t get it out of my mind – I was crying – and then when I got onstage it was just all on. It’s what I imagine it’s like when you go into space and this rocket is shaking and screaming with speed and once the shuttle or whatever falls off and you’re in space there’s just silence. Once I got onstage I was like, ‘It’s over. I’m here doing what I can do and we’re capable.’ After experiencing that tour I don’t feel like we have to question ourselves as much anymore.”

In their early days, Tonight Alive wrote their music all for their own satisfaction, with no concern for trends or sales targets or how many singles they could pull from an album. But signing to various labels around the world can change all that, and bands can often find a whole bunch of unwanted fingers in their creative pie. Tonight Alive experienced these issues briefly while writing their next record, McDougall reveals, but things are back on track.

“Everyone has had their hearts in the right place and they care about the band, but there were just too many voices involved. In the beginning it was thebrag.com

BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 13

The Vandals Punk Is In Their Blood By Dan Watt

O

range County punk band The Vandals have been releasing music since 1980, with the most recent of their 11 studio albums being 2004’s Hollywood Potato Chip (a title that comes from a euphemism for a semen stain on a casting couch). However, the band’s name stretches even further back into history. As we understand it, a vandal is one who wilfully or maliciously defaces or destroys public or private property. But the root of the word lies in the actions of an East Germanic tribe from around the fifth century AD, the Vandals, who sacked Rome in 455AD. From then on, the name has been associated with the concept of trashing the establishment.

Fans of The Vandals (the band) are frothing with anticipation for the group’s forthcoming Soundwave tour, and the feeling is mutual. Australian audiences hold special significance for guitarist Warren Fitzgerald, who says unlike Americans, fans Down Under tend not to take themselves too seriously. In fact, the whole point of The Vandals has been to issue a wake-up call to an overly self-important society. “And not just Americans,” Fitzgerald says, “but also bands, punk rock bands – why are you guys such pussies? Why take things so seriously? You’re a punk band, come on guys, lighten up!”

Fitzgerald prefers to follow in the footsteps of a band like British three-piece Gang Of Four, who take a staunch political stance in their

lyrics without losing their sense of humour. “There’s a subtle wit to that band,” says Fitzgerald, “and I love Gang Of Four because they were interesting musically, they were taking themselves seriously in making music but doing it with their own voice, as opposed to: ‘We got to sell to be a popular band right now, right now, it’s really important that people like us otherwise no-one will ever have sex with me!’”

It was not only The Vandals’ commitment to punk ideals that allowed the band to withstand a rocky first eight years in existence from 1980-88 – including multiple lineup changes – but also the strength of the punk scene around Huntington Beach in California’s Orange County. However, as well as being the birthplace of an influential music community, Orange County is one of the most bourgeois parts of the state.

“I didn’t realise how conservative Orange County was,” says Fitzgerald, “until Facebook came around and all these assholes I went to high school with are born-again Christians who are super conservative and I’m like, to myself, ‘What?! You were a heroin addict when I knew you!’ I was oblivious to it when I grew up in it because I felt like a weirdo, but I thought I’d feel like a weirdo anywhere.”

Fitzgerald is supremely busy outside the band these days, serving as

head of The Vandals’ own imprint, KungFu Records. The label released what many regard as The Vandals’ breakthrough record, Fear Of A Punk Planet, and was partly responsible for launching the career of pop-punk act The Ataris. According to Fitzgerald, it’s the band members’ outside pursuits that have allowed the band to last so long.

“Part of the way that we manage to stay together and do what we do is [the idea] that if you’re taking it too seriously, trying to be professional, then what the fuck are you doing in a punk rock band? We always treat it like our joke – the day we have a band meeting is the day we’re breaking up because we are having band meetings.”

What: Soundwave Festival 2015 With: Faith No More, Soundgarden, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot, Slash and many more Where: Sydney Olympic Park When: Saturday February 28 and Sunday March 1

Spoon Where They Belong By Augustus Welby different. For instance, while Divine Fits seemed like a distraction at first, the band’s debut was undeniably a collection of bristling rock songs. On top of this, Daniel’s time with Divine Fits reignited his enthusiasm for playing with Spoon.

“The very end of [Spoon’s seventh album] Transference, I could tell that everybody wasn’t as excited,” he says. “I think we toured too long on that record. It didn’t want to be toured as long as we did.

If anything, playing with Divine Fits just made me more eager to work with the Spoon guys again.

Because I had so much fun with Divine Fits, I saw how great it was to play with people where everyone was excited about it.”

Over the course of their career, Spoon have earned a reputation as critical darlings. Each of their releases from 2001’s Girls Can Tell onwards has received lofty praise from contemporary music commentators. It only takes a quick browse through 2014 ‘best of’ lists to recognise They Want My Soul has secured the band’s impressive critical standing.

J

14 :: BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15

clear he relished this new project.

Meanwhile, Daniel’s longtime Spoon sideman, drummer Jim Eno, comfortably settled into the role of record producer, working with the likes of !!! and The Preatures.

Thankfully, all doomsday speculation was put to bed when Spoon – now a five-piece – dropped the new single ‘Rent I Pay’ last June. Then came album number eight, They Want My Soul, which showcased a band back at peak strength.

“I made it my thing,” says Daniel, “when we got back together this

time: ‘I don’t want to do anything that’s not fun, I don’t want to do anything that’s not creative.’ That frame of mind was the biggest aim in putting the band back together.

It’s worked well. I like the way the record turned out a lot.”

Whenever the members of an established band start messing about with side projects, it’s met with more than a touch of scrutiny.

Selfishly, we fans would prefer musicians to stay focused on that which we’ve come to love and depend on. This reaction neglects the liberating potential that comes from experimenting with something

Of course, what’s of greater significance than a star rating is the music itself. They Want My Soul is distinguished by a muscular sonic quality (thanks to the input of producers Dave Fridmann and Joe

“All I’m trying to do is just come up with songs that I like,” he says.

“Writing songs is such a process, and you go through so many that you discard or are not going to be useful, so all I’m doing is… I want to find that batch of them that I feel really, really solid about – like, ‘I know that’s a solid song.’ And that’s hard enough without trying to make a grand statement.”

Evidently, Daniel’s primary objective is to write quality tunes. However, he doesn’t pretend to be completely disinterested in how the Spoon fan base reacts. “I’m just trying to make something that I feel good about, but then once it’s done, shit yeah I want people to like it. But I have no control over it. I’d rather just make it myself and then put it out there and hopefully it captures somebody’s imagination and somebody likes it.”

On They Want My Soul, he’s accomplished this task. Spoon have spent the last nine months on the road and next week they’ll kick off an Australian tour. By the looks of things, the enthusiasm recovered while making They Want My Soul remains in effect.

“These songs are fun to play live,” Daniel says. “I love touring. Touring is the easy part for me. You don’t have to think too hard. It’s just pure fun.”

What: They Want My Soul out now through Loma Vista/Spunk With: Deep Sea Arcade, Hockey Dad Where: Metro Theatre When: Saturday February 14

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Spoon photo by Tom Hines

ust 12 months ago, Spoon fans had plenty of reasons to worry about the band’s future.

After 20 years together – and a decade-long stretch of nearflawless releases – the Austin, Texas foursome broke apart to pursue a range of separate projects. Most notably, frontman and songwriter Britt Daniel teamed up with Dan Boeckner (of Wolf Parade and Handsome Furs fame) to create Divine Fits. Not only did that group’s debut album of 2012, A Thing Called Divine Fits, prove Daniel could make excellent records without Spoon, but witnessing Divine Fits live, it was

Critical opinions are somewhat arbitrary, but garnering unanimous praise is still a mighty achievement.

Despite this, Daniel pays no mind to what’s written about the band.

“I just think that makes you crazy, reading that stuff,” he says. “I think that the best way for a musician or a songwriter to develop is to go down your own path. When you read those reviews, whether they’re positive or negative, they do get into your brain and make you think about the way you’re writing songs.

Whether it’s someone saying that, ‘He does this part well, he does this part shit’ – I don’t need that kind of conflicting information. I’d rather just figure it out for myself.”

Chiccarelli) and a slew of Daniel’s most immediate and concise compositions. It’s interesting to note that the record’s predecessor, 2010’s Transference, was rather murky and experimental. Although there’s a marked contrast between the two, Daniel wasn’t monitoring how these new songs would correspond to the band’s earlier work.

BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 15

Band Of Skulls River Deep, Mountain High By David James Young

F

rom humble college beginnings to allencompassing world tours, Bristol’s Band of Skulls can truly count themselves as the little band that could. 2014 saw the altrock-leaning trio emerge from the studio with a third studio album, Himalayan. It’s an album that scales the kind of peaks suggested by its literally mountainous title – and one that the band feels is its strongest work to date.

“We wrote and recorded it in London over our summer,” says Emma Richardson, the band’s bassist and co-lead vocalist. “We worked with Nick Launay, which was really cool as we hadn’t worked with him in the producer role before.

When we were making it, it was all a matter of pushing ourselves, bettering ourselves. We wanted to bring something out that we were all proud of, but it actually came out better than we could have ever hoped.”

Band of Skulls – completed by guitarist Russell Marsden and drummer Matt Hayward – have developed a method within their collective madness when it comes to writing new material.

It was never more prevalent than during the creation of Himalayan – as Richardson explains,

it was a matter of breaking down the elements of the band and rebuilding from there. “It all comes together piece by piece, really,” she says.

“We all write individually and have a bunch of ideas, then we’ll get our demos together and just go from there. We see what works together – it’s like we’re assembling a puzzle or something. You can’t see the full picture until you get it all in the right order. It’s an interesting balance between some kind of competition and some kind of democracy. We want to always better ourselves and compete, in a way, with one another, but it’s always for the greater good.

A better song always comes out of it.”

Band of Skulls’ tour in support of Himalayan will bring them back to Australia yet again, less than a year since their last run of dates. As well as appearing as part of the massive Bluesfest lineup, the trio will play a few headlining shows in between dates opening for the festival’s headliners, The Black Keys. If you haven’t caught Band of Skulls on this album cycle yet, expect to hear a substantial amount of Himalayan – although it may not be the exact same set of tracks every night.

“I think we’ve played three-quarters of the record live on tour,” explains Richardson. “We more or less tag them in and out – give some an airing, give some a break. The record is still relatively new to us, so we don’t want to grow tired of it too quickly. It’s almost our duty as a band to try and keep it as exciting as possible. I remember we were playing a few shows just a couple of weeks after we’d finished recording. We were playing a couple of the new songs, and even then it felt like they were already changing. I think that’s a part of the natural progression of writing songs. We like to play around with our creations – there are some songs that have managed to change every night. We’ll mix that in, typically, with as many of our old songs that we can fit within an hour and a half. We want it to fly by so fast that people do a double take – the kind of show where they’ll turn to their mates and ask, ‘What just happened?’”

“We just feed off one another when we’re playing. You can’t describe it – you just instinctively know what’s going to happen next.

There’s a trust there.”

Despite the often layered nature of their songs, Band of Skulls have never employed another guitarist – or any studio, session or touring members, for that matter. They put a great importance on what you hear being exactly what you get. “I think there’s something there when the three of us play together,” says Richardson. “It’s an unsaid thing, in a lot of ways. We just feed off one another when we’re playing. You can’t describe it – you just instinctively know what’s going to happen next, or who in the band is going to make the next move. There’s a trust there. We may start out playing the songs as we know them, but we don’t ever want to be limited by that.”

2015 marks the 11th year of Band of Skulls.

They’ve achieved a lot in that time, but perhaps one of the more overlooked aspects is the fact they have never changed their lineup. While many groups come and go, Band of Skulls have remained a constant. Richardson narrows it down to an ability to see true friendship over everything else.

“We were a bit of a gang back in school,” she says with a laugh. “We were mates, and we ended up just playing music together. It was never meant to be anything beyond that – we had no greater hopes of becoming famous or anything like that. We just wanted to play music and make records. Sometimes you just don’t think about what could happen from there. It doesn’t factor in. So I suppose that core friendship has been what kept the band together all this time. It helps you to deal with the knocks, the blows, the bad times, the good times – it’s what makes you stronger as a band.”

What: Himalayan out now through Electric Blues/[PIAS] Where: Oxford Art Factory When: Thursday April 9 And: Also appearing alongside The Black Keys, Zac Brown Band, Alabama Shakes, Train and many more at Bluesfest 2015, Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Thursday April 2 – Monday April 6 More: Band of Skulls support The Black Keys at Qantas Credit Union Arena on Friday April 10 16 :: BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15

thebrag.com

BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 17

G. Love & Special Sauce All About The Chemistry By Meg Crawford

G.

Love & Special Sauce have brought ear joy to the world since 1993 with their flavour of blues, groove and funk. Naturally, in the space of 20-plus years, a shitload of things have happened – they’ve released eight albums (not counting the compilations) and played with innumerable greats, including Merry Clayton (yep, the Merry Clayton who sang with Mick Jagger on ‘Gimme Shelter’) and Dr. John. They’ve also had a few lineup changes, although 2014 marked the end of that cycle with bassist Jimi Prescott’s return to the fold.

This interview starts on an inauspicious note – G. Love’s first word is a loud “Ow!” – but the rest of the chat crackles with mirth and good yarns.

For instance, there was the time New Orleans legend Dr. John guested on G. Love’s 1997 record, Yeah, It’s That Easy.

“I’ve been such a huge fan of Dr. John since I was a kid,” Love explains. “My mum had just a small record collection, but it really impacted me, and one of the records was Dr. John’s famous record, In The Right Place. That record had a big impact on my whole vocal delivery,

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COMEDY GALA!

TUES 3 FEB 8PM Clayton Fletcher (US) Winner; Best of the Fest, Stockholm Comedy Festival, Hulu TV’s ‘Comedy Brew’

Dane Hiser

TUES 10 FEB 8PM Tom Ballard Triple J, ‘Reality Check’, ‘The Project’

Dan Rath

TUES 17 FEB 8PM Joel Ozborn “He’s disarming...articulate and clever without being smug... bloody funny,” The Age

Ray Badran ee Sydney Comedy Festival, 'Breakout Comedy Tour'

The Stevenson Experience Winners: 2011 Green Faces, “Killer comedy songs, they’ll be packing houses around the country,” Herald Sun

Feature Support: Michelle Betts 'The Joke's On Me'

2 FOR 1 MEALS ALL A NIGHT! 18 :: BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15

All tickets: $15 online, $20 at door. *Unless publicised otherwise on occasion. Acts subject to change.

Naturally, playing with Dr. John was pretty damn exciting. “He came in for a day – it was funny, because we were recording so many tunes and in the end we got him to play on 11 songs that day. We might have cut two or three live and we had him overdub on nine other tunes. His wife or his girlfriend was with him and she was getting so pissed off, because we were paying him x amount of dollars and he was just having a good time with it and he was ready to play on anything, but his wife was like, ‘Goddammit,’ and when I’d leave the room she’d tell the engineer, ‘Tell that skinny motherfucker I know what he’s doing. We’re getting the fuck out of here.’ Mac [AKA Dr. John] didn’t know and I’d be like, ‘Mac, you wanna do one more?’ and he’d be like, ‘Let’s do another one.’”

More recently, Love is pleased at Prescott’s return to the band. “We had hit a wall creatively and socially five or six years ago,” he admits.

“We needed to take a little break, which we did, but when we went in to make the record we decided to give Jim a call. He came into the studio and he was so great – his energy was great, the mix was great and we had a great time.

“Time, especially with music, seems to drift by, but then you blink your eyes and it’s 20 years later. Music, well, it’s like anything – if you do what you love, you feel like a kid forever.”

“You could really see that chemistry – it’s like something that bands have, just like people have in their romantic relationships. There’s always a reason that you chose someone in particular to marry – you might have had a different girlfriend who was hotter, or richer, but you choose the other one to marry because you have something together. Same thing with musicians. You could get a different player, say a sharper dressed player, but maybe you have a certain thing with these other people. Jim, Jeff [Clemens, drums] and I have that. It’s hard to put a fi nger on it, but the minute Jeff came back in the studio it was like, ‘Oh, there we go.’”

Remembering the early days back in ’93, Love is a little blown away that time has elapsed so quickly. “Looking back it does seem like quite a long time ago, but at the same time, it went by so quick,” he refl ects. “If you break it down, so much has happened in that time and we’ve had so many different chapters of our career and our journeys – even if you break it down by your romantic relationships, it starts to feel like a pretty long time. I always feel like time, especially with music, seems to drift by, but then you blink your eyes and it’s 20 years later. Music, well, it’s like anything – if you do what you love, you feel like a kid forever.”

Love is looking forward to bringing Special Sauce back to Australia for Bluesfest this Easter. “There’s always those moments there where you are like, ‘Holy shit, look who I’m hangin’ with backstage,’” he says. As for the specifi cs of his plans in between shows, he’s already fi gured it out. “I know I’m gonna surf and I know I’m gonna play music, so I know I’m gonna have a damn good time. I love Australia. I love everything from the beer, the food, the coastal living, the surfi ng, and I love the fact that Australian people have really embraced our type of music, roots music, I think more so than anywhere else in the world.

“The women are beautiful, the land is beautiful and Road Warrior [Mad Max 2] is one of my favourite movies. You know how you daydream about random stuff? I was thinking about that last night – how the hell did they fi lm all that shit?”

What: Sugar out now through Brushfire Where: The Basement When: Sunday April 5 And: Also appearing alongside The Black Keys, Zac Brown Band, Alabama Shakes, Train and many more at Bluesfest 2015, Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm, Thursday April 2 – Monday April 6 thebrag.com

G. Love photo by Emmett Malloy

Andrew Barnett

TUES 24 FEB 8PM

especially the stuff that Dr. John would sing about. It was street – he used a lot of slang in his lyrics and street talk, which I really related to as a kid. So when I started writing songs I had a lot of that same kind of flavour in my songwriting.”

arts in focus

free stuff

arts news...what's goin' on around town...with Chris Martin, Tori Bedingfield and Spencer Scott

five minutes WITH

SONGS NOT TO DANCE TO

GEORGIA MATTS It is definitely still my medium of choice. I believe that good photography has the power to undo your assumptions about the world and change your perspective on life, and surprise people with something that they had no idea existed. I love the idea that photographs inspire, horrify and have the power to stop time for a moment. And that’s something I want to pursue.

Wollongong. It featured my local surf photography images.

That exhibition got me a lot of attention, and I was given a job as a sports photographer for Balanced Image Studios. As my love for photography progressed I applied for a job as a photographer for Fairfax Media, which is where I am currently employed.

Cam Knight

You’ll be exhibiting at the Mercato Arte event this month.

How important is a local art market like this for artists’ exposure?

I believe they are extremely important. For an artist, getting local exposure is your kick-start to a great career. The majority of artists’ ideas come from their local town and people they know, so to have that kind of support and encouragement means everything.

Who do you consider to be some of the most inspirational and important artists in your field?

FREAK WINDS WILL BLOW YOU AWAY

Dani Green, who is the genius behind Nineteenth Hole. Dani taught me everything I know, always encouraged and pushed me to the limit in photography, and helped me expand my creativity.

Also, my fellow photojournalist colleagues, who capture events and present their images, and tell a story in a way that no other media can.

How active is the local arts community in New South Wales?

I think more recently it is expanding, in order to keep up with trends. Art is in vogue and nearly every second town has a stall or market on each weekend, which is a perfect place to display your work. Also, little boutiques and bars are more than happy to display your works. Art has a great sense of community.

What: Mercato Arte Where: Matthew Gillett Gallery, Scarborough Hotel When: Thursday February 26 More: matthewgillettgallery.com

Tom Ballard

Songs Not To Dance To, presented by FORM Dance Projects and opening next month at the Riverside Theatres, will attempt to tackle the age-old question of hedonists everywhere: can all songs be danced to? Choreographer Martin del Amo and dance artist Phil Blackman have teamed up to tackle this conundrum, attempting to dance to songs like Jimmy Barnes’ ‘Working Class Man’, ABBA’s ‘The Way Old Friends Do’, and the cheesiest song this side of the moon, Christina Aguilera’s ‘Beautiful’. Their brave attempts to dance the undanceable (an achievement only Peter Garrett has pulled off before them) will be on show from Thursday March 5 – Saturday March 7.

We’ve got two double passes to give away to the Friday March 6 show. To be in the running to win, head to thebrag.com/ freeshit and tell us which song you can’t dance to.

Jan van de Stool

Red Line Productions has announced a run of Marshall Napier’s classic play Freak Winds, one of the more celebrated Australian plays in recent years. Returning to its original home at the Old Fitz, the play will feature Napier in his role of actor/director, alongside Ben O’Toole from Love Child and The Water Diviner. The story follows brash insurance salesman Henry Crumb as he invades the home of the reclusive Ernest and Myra. The sales pitch doesn’t go exactly as planned, and the evening takes a strange and unsettling turn. Freak Winds runs at the Old Fitzroy Theatre from Tuesday March 10 – Saturday April 11.

HATS OFF FOR A CAUSE

HAPPY ENDINGS

The Happy Endings comedy night at The Unicorn in Paddington is getting even happier this month (if that’s even possible) with a weekly lineup of Aussie talent that’s sure to tickle your funny bone. Next Wednesday February 11, the easygoing Daniel Townes does the honours, headlining a bill that also includes Matty B and Andrew Barnett. Then on Wednesday February 18, catch the contagious laughs from Cam Knight, who earned five-star reviews for his Fringe shows around the nation last year. Joining Knight are Peter Meisel and Nikki Britton.

SUPANOVA 2015

The Supanova Pop Culture Expo has announced a huge list of special guests for its 2015 lineup, returning to Sydney this winter.

Actor Nathan Fillion and authors Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta will be among the “supa-star” guests at the event taking place in Sydney this June. Moesta and Anderson both wrote for the Star Wars franchise, while current Castle star Fillion has also appeared in Firefly and Dr. Horrible’s SingA-Long Blog. Other guests include Austin St. John and Walter Jones, the original Red and Black Power Rangers from Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers. Supanova returns to Sydney Showground from Friday June 19 – Sunday June 21. thebrag.com

The Paris Cats

THE PARIS CATS

The cabaret-style musical The Paris Cats, celebrating jazzy French beats mixed with Australian flair, is coming to Sydney this month. Pianist, composer and musical director Chris Cody has returned from a 20-year stint in Paris, during which he earned a reputation as one of the city’s finest performers. Completing the Paris Cats trio is singer Rose Grayson, also back home from a time in Paris, and Ruby (AKA Jazmin Baret) from the Paris Tap Crew. The Paris Cats will debut at Venue 505 on Wednesday February 11.

TOM BALLARD AT THE LAUGH STAND

The effervescent Tom Ballard, he of television, radio and stand-up fame, will make tracks to The Laugh Stand night at Harold Park Hotel on Tuesday February 10. Ballard’s career has come on in leaps and bounds since he departed the triple j breakfast slot he co-hosted with Alex Dyson, with his latest gig on ABC’s Reality Check program alongside live engagements here and overseas.

The Laugh Stand runs every Tuesday at one of Sydney’s most famous comedy venues, with a comedy gala night on the calendar for Tuesday February 24.

The annual Oz Showbiz Cares/Equity Fights AIDS show Hats Off! has announced its return to the Seymour Centre this month. The production gathers the stars of Sydney’s musical theatre and cabaret industry to raise money for the fight against HIV/AIDS. This year’s extravaganza will be co-hosted by 2015 ambassador Jan van de Stool and Garry Scale. The show promises performers in camp celebration, turning pop classics into Broadway dynamite. It features Lucy Maunder, Tom Sharah, Bobby Fox and Queenie van de Zandt, among others. The 2015 edition of Hats Off! takes place Monday February 23.

CHINESE NEW YEAR GARDEN PARTY

In celebration of the Chinese New Year, artists from the Yangjiang Group will lead a series of live performances at the Chinese Garden Of Friendship, built as a symbol of friendship between Sydney and Guangzhou (the capital of Guangdong province) in 1988. Yangjiang Group, the contemporary art collective hailing from the coastal city of Yangjiang in China’s southern Guangdong province, is making its first Australian appearance this Chinese New Year. There’ll be a number of interactive pieces, part of the group’s major 4A Centre exhibition Actions For Tomorrow. The garden event will take place on Saturday February 14.

BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 19

xxx Songs Not To Dance To photo by Heidrun Löhr

Y

ou got your start as an artist in photography.

How did that come about? Is it still your medium of choice?

My jump-start into photography came when I was 20 years old. I was scouted to be a part of a RAW: Natural Born Artists exhibition, which was held in my hometown,

head to: thebrag.com/freeshit

Gaybies [THEATRE] Family Matters By Annie Murney

A

fter a critically acclaimed season in Melbourne, Dean Bryant’s topical and thoughtprovoking Gaybies will be staged at the Eternity Playhouse as part of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival. Drawing from a broad spectrum of rainbow families, the play focuses on children who have grown up with same-sex parents. In gathering his material, Bryant conducted interviews with over 40 people – toddlers through to adults. Their responses have been woven into a script that forms the basis of a very funny and moving night of ‘real-life’ theatre.

While it’s great to see homegrown theatre tackling big issues, it can also be difficult to strike the right balance between honouring personal stories and the inevitable politics that are involved. “Samesex marriage is in the media a

The characters are at the forefront of the raw and minimally staged production. However, unlike traditional theatre – where character motivations and thought processes are ironed out – Gaybies demands that the actors work with what little they know and fi ll in the blanks. “I guess it’s a matter of transcribing the text in order to get the rhythm of the character,” says Okenyo. “For me, it’s about making sure I get across their opinions correctly. As an actor, with any character that you play, it’s important that you don’t judge them. It’s important that you say the things they say wholeheartedly and convey those beliefs.”

Rather than being overly earnest or moralising, it would appear that humour is sometimes a better means of reaching out to people.

Gaybies aims to sidestep the politically correct in favour of a more intimate way of speaking. “I think often we’re arguing to try and prove that same-sex marriage is OK and that we’re all equal,” says

Okenyo. “But often we’re making these statements for people who aren’t around gay people or aren’t engaged. I think what we can do is make things more relatable.”

With each actor playing multiple characters, the diversity of viewpoints should spark plenty of post-performance conversation.

“What’s interesting is how these kids who have grown up in same-sex families are so welladjusted,” says Okenyo. “They’re very socially aware and politically aware. Maybe it comes from being aware of discrimination and being different. We do a section where we play little kids and the stuff they come out with is so insightful.”

That said, Okenyo also explains that much of the confl ict within the play comes from broken family units, irrespective of sexuality.

In this way, perhaps Gaybies revolves around what should be a non-issue: the fact that families are families, whoever your parents are.

Gaybies photo by Helen White

A stellar ensemble will be bringing the Sydney production to life, including actor and musician Zindzi Okenyo. “I found the subject fascinating and it’s just a really lovely script,” she says.

“I’ve done verbatim theatre before and I quite like it. We get to listen to the actual interviews and read transcripts. Then we try to capture the essence of that real person and make our own theatrical choices. It’s an interesting way to work as an actor.”

lot,” says Okenyo. “It’s always politicised and there can be a lot of negative connotations attached to it. The great thing about this play is that it’s very gentle and positive. I have a feeling people coming to the show will expect more of a political edge, but essentially it’s about families.”

What: Gaybies as part of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras When: Friday February 6 – Sunday March 8 Where: Eternity Playhouse

The Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe [THEATRE] The Spirit Within By Adam Norris humorous stories of four African women forced to fl ee the sexual, physical and psychological violence of their home countries and fashion a new life here in Australia. Writer/director Ros Horin recounts how despite the horror these women have faced, they still have the courage to share their stories onstage.

“It’s all about journeys, really,” Horin explains in a jovial, somewhat rushed voice. Since Horin is currently working 16-hour days, six days a week, it’s little wonder she sounds a touch frazzled. “It’s a journey from trauma towards healing and a new life in Australia. I think all the women have such amazing spirits – it is a celebration of their life force, of their energy, and you know, that’s where the humour comes from. You see this affirmation that, ‘I am still here, I have survived.’ These are tales being told by survivors – and often horrendous tales – but humour is one of the basic human tools for survival. Black humour, ironic humour, silly humour, whatever the form. I don’t think people can survive without it in some way. So it’s not forced humour, and these African women, in the same way a lot of indigenous women do, they have a kind of earthy, gutsy humour, which is just a part of who they are. But also because music, song and dance is such a part of their culture and everyday life, it bubbles up fairly naturally from who they are.”

The Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe

I

n addition to having a delightfully odd title, The Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe is likely to be one of the most illuminating, if confronting productions you’ll come across in 20 :: BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15

the next few months. Relaunching at Parramatta’s Riverside Theatres and the Sydney Opera House before embarking on an international tour, the production recounts the harrowing yet

The production, featuring Yarrie Bangura, Aminata Conteh-Biger, Yordanos Haile-Michael and Rosemary Kariuki-Fyfe, had its genesis in Horin’s investigation into the aftermath of trauma – how victims of violence and calamity go about rebuilding their sense of self; how they fi nd the strength to live with such dark shadows. One of the great responsibilities she subsequently faced was how to shape the abundance of material

into histories that told each woman’s story without losing the depth of their experiences.

“I interviewed each of them for many hours over a great length of time, so there is really a luminous amount of material. I guess it’s a kind of slow, multi-layered process. You start to fi nd common threads, or threads that are really counterpoint, and work out the peaks and troughs from there. It eventually emerges. But it is rather like sculpting, where you start with a lot of marble and chip away, chip away until you reach something that feels like an essence. I would take material into the rehearsal room and we would try it out. On the fl oor you’d quickly see, ‘Well, that sounds good, that doesn’t.’

We’d improvise it again, and new little gems would emerge. So it’s very much a process of me being a kind of synthesiser, I suppose. A curator of memories and gestures that come from them.”

Complementing the four women onstage is a troupe of dancers, whose role is both performative and somewhat anthropological; they emerge from the stories as representations of certain themes, but also as extensions of the women’s own cultural practices and entertainments.

“The dancers emerge as aspects of the stories,” says Horin. “For instance, there’s a cleansing, healing dance, which from gestures of washing and cleaning evolves into a dance. It’s quite meaningful in the context, quite ritualistic in a way. In another context we have an absolute break-out, wild freedom dance, which is almost an African-styled disco or nightclub, an exuberant dance. One of the comic spots we have is an African quiz, where we interact with the audience and blow down the clichés that Africa is only a place of dysfunction. We ask this question, ‘Do you think all Africans dance the same?’ And the

answer of course is no way. The South Africans dance in huge bounds and leaps, the Congolese dance with their bums,” Horin laughs. “There’s one scene in the play where, having moved to Australia, the women are discussing what things they miss the most, and one of them is dancing. They refl ect on how back home they all used to dance far beyond the regular events like weddings. But they would dance at funerals, at harvests, for childbirth.

And so here we are certainly trying to express things through dance because it is meaningful, but also because it’s beautiful to watch.”

This upcoming season will be the second time Parramatta has been treated to the production, and Belvoir audiences were also fortunate enough to witness the show in 2013. The response from audiences and performers alike has been an incredibly moving experience, and it remains Horin’s enduring hope that those who see the play might fi nd the inspiration to lead brighter lives as a result.

“We’ve had really strong responses, where people have come out feeling inspired and hopeful. You see in them this sense of, ‘My God, if these women have been through that and survived, what might be possible in my own life?’ People come out deeply moved, and we’re deeply thrilled because, well, while you’re making a work you just don’t know exactly what it’s going to do, but people are coming out feeling uplifted. And I do very much hope that continues.”

What: The Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe Where: Riverside Theatres When: Wednesday February 18 – Saturday February 21 And: Also playing at the Studio, Sydney Opera House, Thursday March 26 – Sunday March 29

thebrag.com

Theatre Reviews

education profile

Hits and misses on the bareboards around town

Masterclass

After Dinner ■ Theatre

■ Theatre

AFTER DINNER

MASTERCLASS

Playing at Wharf 1 Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company until Saturday March 7

Played at the Old Fitz Theatre until Saturday January 31

The Sydney Theatre Company’s 2015 season is off to a superb start with this perfectly calibrated new production of Andrew Bovell’s first play, After Dinner, from 1988.

Returning to maintain the momentum at the Old Fitz, Masterclass succeeds without breaking a sweat. The brainchild of actors Charlie Garber and Gareth Davies, it takes the form of an acting seminar given by Davies, the greatest actor alive. But there’s a problem: the last time Davies acted, he was so transcendent that he literally blew people’s minds, leaving several dead.

Masterclass is mainly taken up with Garber trying to coax Davies back on the horse, complicated by the fact that Garber is not just an acolyte but an invention – a character Davies created, one whom refuses to be left behind.

Five characters in their 30s – three single women and two single men – sit at separate tables in a gaudy bistro, squabbling over the bill and surreptitiously eyeing one another. Written when the playwright was just 21, After Dinner is funny but not patronising, and one of its marvels is that a writer so young could capture thirtysomething ennui so compassionately.

Imara Savage has got this show down to a satisfying purr, partly because it’s perfectly cast. Rebecca Massey is gloriously unlikeable as the pocket ogre Dympie, while Anita Hegh as her offsider Paula demonstrates unexpected grit as well as sweetness. Glenn Hazeldine and Josh McConville are the lotharios, one a bumbler and the other all chintzy suavity – both equally as hapless with the ladies.

Masterclass photo by Marnya Rothe

But as with the STC’s Children Of The Sun last year, Helen Thomson runs away with it. Is there a better comic actor in the country? Thomson plays Monika, whose recent widowing is the pretext for the girls’ night out. Unravelling with alarming speed, Monika’s journey from dazed housewife to teller of hard truths culminates in a monologue for the ages. It’s like an outtake from an alternative Wake In Fright that admits the female point of view, in which the denizens of the Aussie pub might startle Bosch himself. The whole cast is dynamite, but Thomson dazzles.

Bovell’s recent work – adaptations like the The Secret River, Edge Of Darkness and A Most Wanted Man – are hardly gag-fests, but After Dinner is more in the mode of Strictly Ballroom, released only a few years after it, in which Bovell mines the pathos of romantic longing in suburban Australia. As in Strictly, the characters here find a way to connect with each other through music and dance. Madcap as it is, After Dinner is also a clarion call from a young Bovell, a celebration of the power of art to transcend even the most prosaic of environments.

The whole thing manages to be both polished and loose, and the Inside The Actors Studio conceit gives the show an energising sense of interactivity. The space at the Old Fitz is so small that breaking the fourth wall feels almost like a relief. Garber and Davies jump back and forth between the seminar itself and backstage downtime; the audience either getting talked to or talked about. The boys also travel back in time to relive Davies’ greatest hits, or so the pair can settle arguments about who said what when. If only disputes of history could always be settled so emphatically.

JMC ACADEMY SYDNEY

T

his month, JMC Academy Sydney opens applications for its new course in Digital Design. If you’re looking for a change in career direction or just keen to learn some new skills, this could be the place for you. We asked JMC to tell us more.

What makes the Digital Design Bachelor’s Degree different?

The new course will be centred around design for the future, designing for apps and devices as well and spaces and experiences. As part of this incredibly handson course, students will study in a studio, designed to mimic a real-world industry environment, and be immersed in the digital tools and software required for a career in design. Here, students will be given realworld projects to include in their first portfolio. Classes will be small, so as to maximise interaction with lecturers and make the learning experience more personal. These lecturers will have an industry background, and bring with them a wealth of experience, not only in design, but in working with clients and working to deadlines.

In undertaking this course you will be equipped with the design tools to turn your ideas into things that we can not only visualise, touch or hear, but also things we can actively experience.

Where can a JMC degree take me?

JMC Academy graduates are currently at work in a wide range of creative positions, from being team members at major studios like Dr D and Animal Logic, through to design houses like ZSpace. They are working in television and advertising and some individuals are running their own small studios as well as freelancing. With a finely honed balance between theoretical and practical knowledge, JMC Academy graduates are prepared to make rapid progress in the workplace. Specific roles

may include: interaction designer, user experience (UX) designer, digital producer, web designer, app designer, retail designer, point of sale (POS) designer, exhibition designer, events designer, 3D visualiser, design entrepreneur and media artist.

What are the enrolment dates?

February, June and September 2015.

What: JMC Academy, Ultimo More: jmcacademy.edu. au

Masterclass has the whiff of undergraduate revue, but it’s expertly played. Garber is all wide-eyed encouragement and positivity, even in the face of a dawning awareness of his own artifi ciality. It’s a Frankenstein story but even scarier, driven by dreams of actorly glory, not scientifi c innovation.

The whole thing is bonkers and hilariously free-associative, and the duo has the good sense not to overstay its welcome, onstage just over an hour. By play’s end, Davies has rediscovered his love of acting, and Garber has become a person all his own, the umbilical cord cut as Davies strikes out alone on the path to greatness.

Harry Windsor

Harry Windsor

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Music and Romance Valentine’s Market

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After Dinner photo by Brett Boardman

WITH

Street food

Billy Connolly Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House, Friday February 6 – Thursday February 12 / Allphones Arena, Saturday February 21 Up-and-coming Scottish entertainer William Connolly, best known for his work with the National Association for Bikers with a Disability, is lending his hand at comedy on a tour around Australia. Connolly has also had some occasional work in film and TV, recently appearing in something called The Hobbit. This promising Scottish all-rounder is beginning to get quite a buzz about him, so expect tickets to be snapped up quickly for his remaining club show.

Connolly’s Sydney Opera House shows are all but sold out, so visit ticketek.com.au for information on his final date. thebrag.com

7 FEBRUARY 4-9pm, Macquarie Street, Liverpool Next Night Markets: Saturday, 7 March 2015 4-9pm Macquarie Street, Liverpool Get involved! Call 1300 36 2170 or email nightmarkets@liverpool.nsw.gov.au For more information visit liverpool.nsw.gov.au/nightmarkets In the event of wet weather, please check Council’s website and the Night Markets Facebook page for updates.

BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 21

BARS SMALL

A Work In Progress 50 King St, Sydney CBD (02) 9240 3000 Mon – Fri noonmidnight.

The Attic

275 Pitt St Sydney CBD (02) 9284 1200 Mon – Fri 11am-1am Saturday 5pm-1am Ash St Cellar 1 Ash St, Sydney CBD (02) 9240 3000 Mon – Fri 8.30am-11pm

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

Heritage Hotel 100 Cumberland St, The Rocks (02) 9247 2229 Mon – Sun 10.30am-midnight Balcony Bar 46 Erskine St, Sydney CBD

GOROS

Bar Eleven Lvl 11, 161 Sussex St, Sydney CBD (02) 9290 4712 Thu 4-9pm; Fri 4-11pm; Sat 3-11pm The Barber Shop 89 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 9699 Mon – Wed

bar

OF

84-86 MARY STREET, SURRY HILLS PH: 02 9212 0214 OPEN: MON-WED 11:30AM-12AM / THU 11:30AM-1AM / FRI 11:30AM-3AM / SAT 4PM-3AM / SUN CLOSED WEBSITE: GOROS.COM.AU

BAR100 100 George St, The Rocks (02) 8070 9311 Mon – Thu noon-late; Fri – Sat noon-3am; Sun noon-10pm

TH

EK

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

(02) 9299 3526 Mon 5pm - late; Tue – Fri noon-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight

E E W

4pm-midnight; Thurs – Sat 3pm-midnight The Baxter Inn Basement 152-156 Clarence St, Sydney CBD Mon – Sat 4pm-1am The Bear Thomas Ln, Haymarket 0451029226 Mon – Sat 5pm-midnight Bondy’s L1, 16 Philip Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 9251 2347 Wed – Fri 5pm-late; Sat 7pm-late Bulletin Place First Floor, 10-14 Bulletin Place, Circular Quay Mon – Wed 4pm-midnight; Thurs – Sat 5pm-1am deVine 32 Market St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 6906 Mon – Fri 11.30am-11.30pm; Sat 5.30-11.30pm Frankie’s Pizza 50 Hunter St, Sydney CBD Mon – Sun 4pm-4am Gilt Lounge 49 Market St, Sydney CBD (02) 8262 0000 Wed 6pm-midnight; Thu & Sat 6pm-2am; Fri 5pm-2am The Glenmore 96 Cumberland St, The Rocks (02) 9247 4794 Mon – Thu, Sun 11am-midnight; Fri – Sat 11am-1am Goodgod Small Club 53-55 Liverpool St, Sydney CBD (02) 8084 0587 Wed 5pm-11pm; Thu 5pm-1am; Fri 5pm-3am; Sat 6pm-3am

Tell us about your bar: Goros offers Surry Hills and Sydney patrons a much-needed injection of all things wacky and wonderful.

Sydney has quickly become overrun with swanky bars, wine rooms and over-the-top share food restaurants. Goro is here to open his Japanese doors to those looking for a fun night and to bring the late-night party to Surry Hills. Away from the lockout area, Goros is the perfect place to unwind, eat great food, drink great beer, sake and most importantly, have fun.

Whats on the menu?

When it comes to food, Goros does not design food to be shared.

The menu features traditional Japanese food such as yakitori, karaage, ramen and gyoza – all delivered in small, ready-to-eat servings, no cutting or sharing involved. Goro calls it ‘selfi sh food’. For lunchtime visitors, bento

Grain Bar 199 George St, Sydney CBD (02) 9250 3118 Mon – Fri 4pm-1am; Sat noon-1am; Sun noon-midnight Grandma’s Basement 275 Clarence St, Sydney CBD (02) 9264 3004 Mon – Fri 3pm-late; Sat 5pm-late boxes, freshly made hand rolls and donburi of the day are also available as well as fresh sashimi for anyone looking to keep down the calories. The most popular dishes on Goros’ menu are the fried chicken karaage, the “buns of steam” and “anything on a stick”.

Chef’s favourite dish is the ribs with chilli in mandarin sauce but recommends that you “don’t go past the crab buns either”.

The drink list at Goros is a really interesting infusion of flavours. We’ve taken all sorts of spirits, liqueurs and various style of sakes to create something for everyone. Fresh, fun, flavoured cocktails is the name of the game at Goros. A great example of this is the Sanchez Does Kyoto – a twist on the margarita with a wasabi salt rim and umeshu. We have various highballs using Japanese whiskies and sakes, along with sours, iced teas and martinis. We also have a Goros Bellini on the list to cater for anyone who likes a bit of fizz. The Geisha Iced Tea is a definite favourite.

Sounds: We play fun, loud music and we have an entire radio station dedicated to Japanese pop.

Highlights: Each day the head chef creates brand new specials, which allows him to be creative and to express his future vision for Goros. The staff are always evolving and trying new drinks and will often offer you a try of something they have been creating. Everything about Goros is constantly evolving. New trinkets, new dishes and new drinks – you’re never going to get bored at Goros.

22 :: BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15

The Fox Hole 68A Erskine St, Sydney CBD (02) 9279 4369 Mon 7am-3pm; Tue – Fri 7am-late The Grasshopper 1 Temperance Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 9947 9025 Mon – Thurs & Sat 4pm-late; Fri noon-late The Lobo Plantation Basement Lot 1, 209 Clarence St, Sydney CBD 0415 554 908 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri 2pm-midnight; Sat 4pm-midnight Mojo Record Bar Basement 73 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 4999 Mon – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight The Morrison 225 George St, Sydney CBD (02) 9247 6744

Mon – Wed 7.30am-midnight; Thu 7.30-1am; Fri 7.302am; Sat 11.30-2am; Sun11.30am-10pm Mr Tipply’s 347 Kent St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 4877 Mon – Fri 11am-2am Palmer & Co. Abercrombie Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 9240 3172 Mon – Wed 5pm-late; Thu – Fri 5pm-late; Sat – Sun 5pm-late Papa Gede’s Bar Laneway at the end of 348 Kent St, Sydney CBD Mon – Sat 5pm-12am Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern 199 Elizabeth St, Sydney CBD Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 6pm-10pm Rockpool Bar & Grill 66 Hunter St, Sydney CBD (02) 8078 1900 Mon – Sat lunch & dinner The Rook Level 7, 56-58 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 2505 Mon – Fri 4pm-late; Sat 4pm-late The SG 32 York St, Sydney CBD 0402 813 035 Tues – Fri 4pm-midnight Shirt Bar 7 Sussex Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 8068 8222 Mon –Wed 8am-6pm; Thu – Fri 8am-10pm Since I Left You 338 Kent St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 4986 Mon – Wed 5pm-10pm; Thu – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat 6pm-midnight Small Bar 48 Erskine St, Sydney CBD (02) 9279 0782 Mon – Fri noonmidnight; Sat 5pm-midnight The Smoking Panda 5-7 Park St, Sydney CBD (02) 9264 4618 Wed – Sat 4pm-late; Fri midday-late The Spice Cellar Basement 58 Elizabeth St, Sydney CBD (02) 9223 5585 Mon – Wed 4pm-late; Thurs 5pm-2am; Fri 5pm-4am Stitch Bar 61 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9279 0380 Mon – Wed & Sun 4pm-midnight; Thu – Fri noon-2am; Sat 4pm-2am Tapavino 6 Bulletin Place, Circular Quay (02) 9247 3221 Mon – Fri 11am-11.30pm Uncle Ming’s 55 York St, Sydney CBD Mon – Fri 11am-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight York Lane York Lane, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 1676 Mon – Wed 6.30am-10pm; Thu – Fri 6.30pm-midnight; Sat 6pm-midnight

The Angry Pirate 125 Redfern St Redfern (02) 9698 9140 Tue – Thur 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 3pm-midnight; Sun – 5pm-10pm Bar-racuda 105 Enmore Rd, Newtown (02) 9519 1121 Mon – Sat 6-midnight The Bearded Tit 183 Regent St, Redfern (02) 8283 4082 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat midday - midnight; Sun midday - 10pm Blacksheep 256 King St, Newtown (02) 8033 3455 Mon – Fri 4pm-11pm; Sat 2pm-11pm; Sun 2pm-10pm Bloodwood 416 King St, Newtown (02) 9557 7699 Mon, Wed –Thu 5pm-late; Fri – Sat noon-late; Sun noon10pm The Chip Off The Old Block 3 Little Queen Street, Chippendale (02) 9318 0815 Tue – Sat 4pm-11pm Cornerstone Bar & Food 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh (02) 8571 9004 Sun – Wed 10am-5pm; Thu – Sat 10am-late Corridor 153A King St, Newtown 0422 873 879 Tue – Fri 3pm-midnight; Sat 1pm-midnight; Sun 1-10pm Cottage Bar & Kitchen 342 Darling St, Balmain (02) 8084 8185 Mon – Wed 5pm-midnight; Thu – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Different Drummer 185 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9552 3406 Mon – Sat 4.30pm-late Earl’s Juke Joint 407 King St, Newtown Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4-10pm Freda’s 107-109 Regent St, Chippendale (02) 8971 7336 Tues – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 7pm-midnight; Sun 4-10pm The Green Room Lounge 156 Enmore Rd, Enmore (02) 8021 8451 Wed 5pm-late; Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 5pm-1am; Sun 9-10pm Hive Bar 93 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville (02) 9519 9911 Mon – Fri noonmidnight; Sat 10am-midnight; Sun 10am-10pm Kelly’s On King 285 King St, Newtown (02) 9565 2288 Mon – Fri 10am-2.30am; Sat 10am-4am; Sun 10am-midnight Knox Street Bar 21 Shepherd St, Chippendale thebrag.com

COCKTAIL OF THE WEEK

2pm-midnight; Sun 2pm-9pm

Pour it in your mouth-hole... (responsibly).

121BC 4/50 Holt St, Surry Hills (02) 9699 1582 Tue – Sat 5pm-midnight Absinthe Salon 87 Albion St, Surry Hills (02) 9211 6632 Wed – Sat 4-10pm Banter Surry Hills 425 Bourke St Surry Hills (02) 8354 0954 Tue noon-midnight; Wed – Sun 6pm-12am Bar H 80 Campbell St, Surry Hills (02) 9280 1980 Mon – Sat 6pm-late; Sun 10am-3pm The Beresford 354 Bourke St, Surry Hills (02) 8313 5000 Mon – Sun noon-1am Black Penny 648 Bourke St, Redfern (02) 9319 5061 Tue – Sat noonmidnight; Sun noon11pm Brooklyn Social 17 Randle St, Surry Hills 0451 972 057 Mon – Sun 12pm-2am

CRAVADO @ COOGEE PAVILION ROOFTOP 169 DOLPHIN STREET, COOGEE Ingredients: • vodka • lychees • lime • mint • coconut • water

Origins: We came up with this drink in a matter of minutes and put it on the menu for Papi Chulo. It quickly became one of the biggest sellers across the group.

More: merivale. com.au/ coogeepavilion

Glass: A footed beer glass.

Tue – Thu 4pm-l0pm; Fri – Sat 4pm-11pm Kuleto’s 157 King St, Newtown (02) 9519 6369 Mon – Sat 4pm-late; Thu – Sat 4pm-3am The Little Guy 87 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9200 0000 Mon – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 1pm-midnight; Sun 3-10pm Mary’s 6 Mary St, Newtown (02) 4995 9550 Mon – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm The Midnight Special 44 Enmore Road, Newtown (02) 9516 2345 Tues – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 5-10pm Miss Peaches 201 Missenden Rd, Newtown (02) 9557 7280 Wed – Sun 5pm-midnight thebrag.com

Button Bar 65 Foveaux St, Surry Hills (02) 9211 1544 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight

Garnish: Mint bouquet.

Café Lounge 277 Goulburn St, Surry Hills (02) 9016 3951 Mon – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sunday 4-10pm

Best drunk with: Jordan Toft’s spicy Eastern Mediterranean bites.

During: Summer, of course!

While wearing: Sunnies and swimmers.

And listening to: The Sam Redmore remix of ‘Is This Love’ by Bob Marley

Casoni Italian Bar & Eatery 371-373 Bourke St, Darlinghurst Wed – Thu 5pm-11pm; Fri – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 5pm-10pm

Method: Blend together in a Vitamix on setting six.

The Moose Newtown 530 King St, Newtown (02) 9557 0072 Wed – Sat 6pm-midnight

156 Norton St, Leichhardt (02) 9569 2638 Mon – Thu 10am-1am; Fri – Sat 10am-3am; Sun 10am-midnight

Mr Falcon’s 92 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9029 6626 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat noon-midnight; Sun 2-10pm

Secret Garden Bar 134a Enmore Rd, Enmore 0409 284 928 Wed – Sun 5pm-11pm

Newtown Social Club 387 King St, Newtown (02) 9550 3974 Mon – Sat noonmidnight; Sun noon10pm The Oxford Tavern 1 New Canterbury Rd, Petersham (02) 8019 9351 Mon – Thu middaymidnight; Fri – Sat midday-3am; Sun midday-10pm The Record Crate 34 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9660 1075 Tue – Sat noonmidnight; Sun noon10pm The Royal

Timbah 375 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9571 7005 Tue – Thu 4-9pm; Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 2pm-midnight; Sun 2-8pm The Workers Lvl 1, 292 Darling St, Balmain (02) 9555 8410 Wed – Sat noon-3am; Sun noon-midnight ZanziBar 323 King St, Newtown (02) 9519 1511 Mon – Sat; Sun 10am-12am Zigi’s Wine And Cheese Bar 86 Abercrombie St, Chippendale (02) 9699 42221 Wed 2pm-midnight; Thu – Sat

The Carlisle 2 Kellett St, Kings Cross (02) 9331 0065 Thu – Sun 6pm-late Ching-a-Lings 1/133 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (02) 9360 3333 Tue – Wed 6pm-11pm; Fri 6pm-1am; Sat 6pm-1am; Sun 4pm-1am The Cliff Dive 16-18 Oxford Square, Darlinghurst Wed – Sun 6pm-4am The Commons 32 Burton St, Darlinghurst (02) 9358 1487 Tue – Sun noon-late Darlo Bar 306 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst (02) 9331 3672 Mon – Sun 10am-midnight

Mon – Sat 6pm-1am; Sun 6pm-midnight The Flinders 63-65 Flinders St, Surry Hills (02) 9356 3622 Tue – Thu 5pm-3am; Fri – Sat 5pm-5am The Forresters 336 Riley St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 3035 Mon – Wed noonmidnight; Thu – Sat noon-1am; Sun noon10pm Gardel’s Bar 358 Cleveland St, Surry Hills (02) 8399 1440 Tue – Sat 6:pm - 12am Gazebo 2 Elizabeth Bay Rd, Elizabeth Bay (02) 9357 5333 Mon – Fri 3pm-midnight; Sat – Sun noon-midnight Goros 84-86 Mary St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 0214 Mon – Wed 11:30am-midnight; Thu 11:30am-1am: Fri 11:30am-3am; Sat 4pm-3am The Hazy Rose 1/83 Stanley St, Darlinghurst (02) 9357 5036 Tue 5-11pm; Wed – Sat 3pm-midnight; Sun 3-10pm Hello Sailor 96 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (02) 9332 2442 Tue – Sun 5pm-1am The Hills 42 Chalmers St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 3814 Mon – Sun midday2am Hinky Dinks 185 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst (02) 8084 6379 Mon – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 1-10pm Hollywood Hotel 2 Foster St, Surry Hills (02) 9281 2765 Mon – Wed 10am-midnight; Thu – Sat 10am-3am Hustle & Flow Bar 105 Regent St, Redfern (02) 9310 5593 Tue – Sat 5pm-midnight Jekyll & Hyde 332 Victoria St, Darlinghurst (02) 9360 5568 Wed – Fri 4pm-late; Sat 8.30am-late; Sun 8.30am-evening Li’l Darlin Darlinghurst 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst (02) 8084 6100 Mon – Sun 4pmlate Li’l Darlin Surry Hills 420 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills (02) 9698 5488 Mon – Thu noon-3pm & 5-11pm; Fri – Sun noon-11pm

Darlie Laundromatic 304 Palmer St, Darlinghurst (02) 8095 0129 Wed – Sun 5-11pm

LL Wine and Dine 42 Llankelly Place Potts Point (02) 9356 8393 Tue – Thu 5pm-11pm; Fri 5pm-late; Sat 11am-late; Sun 11am-10pm

Eau De Vie 229 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst 0422 263 226

The Local Tap House 122 Flinders St, Surry Hills

(02) 9360 0088 Mon – Wed noonmidnight; Thu – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-11pm

Redfern 0406 775 436 Mon – Sat 5pm-midnight

Love, Tilly Devine 91 Crown Ln, Darlinghurst (02) 9326 9297 Mon – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 4-10pm

The Victoria Room Lvl 1, 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst (02) 9357 4488 Tue – Fri 6pm-midnight; Sat noon-2am; Sun noonmidnight

Low 302 302 Crown St, Surry Hills (02) 9368 1548 Mon – Sat 5pm-2am; Sun 6pm-2am Mr Fox 557 Crown St, Surry Hills 0414 691 811 Mon –Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun noon-10pm The Norfolk 305 Cleveland St, Surry Hills (02) 9699 3177 Mon – Wed noonmidnight; Thu – Sat noon-1am; Sun noon10pm The Passage 231A Victoria St, Darlinghurst (02) 9358 6116 Mon – Fri noon-late; Sat 4pm-late Play Bar 72 Campbell St, Surry Hills (02) 9280 0885 Tues – Sat 5pm-midnight Pocket Bar 13 Burton St, Darlinghurst (02) 9380 7002 Mon – Wed 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 4pm-1am; Sun 4pm-midnight The Print Room 1 Glenmore Rd, Paddington 0424 034 020 Wed – Fri: 3pm-late; Sat 12pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-10pm

The Wild Rover 75 Campbell St, Surry Hills (02) 9280 2235 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun noon-10pm The Winery 285A Crown St, Surry Hills (02) 9331 0833 Mon – Sun noonmidnight

Anchor Bar 8 Campbell Pde, Bondi (02) 8084 3145 Tue – Fri 4.30pm-late; Sat – Sun 12.30pm-late Bondi Hardware 39 Hall St, Bondi (02) 9365 7176 Mon – Wed 5-11pm; Thu 5pm-midnight; Sat 10am-midnight; Sun 10am-10pm The Bucket List Shop 1, Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive (02) 9365 4122 Mon – Sun 11am-late The Corner House 281 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 8020 6698 Tue – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 3-10pm Fat Ruperts 249 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 9130 1033 Mon – Fri 6pm-late; Sat 4pm-late; Sun 4-10pm

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

Mr Moustache 61-79 Hall St, Bondi Beach, Bondi (02) 9300 8892 Mon – Fri 5pm-11pm; Sat midday-11pm; Sun midday-10pm

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

The Rum Diaries 288 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 9300 0440 Tue – Sat 6pm-midnight; Sun 6-10pm

Shady Pines Saloon Shop 4, 256 Crown St, Darlinghurst Mon – Sun 4pm-midnight

Speakeasy 83 Curlewis St, Bondi (02) 9130 2020 Mon – Sat 5pm-11pm; Sat – Sun 4-10pm

The Soda Factory 16 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills (02) 8096 9120 Mon – Wed 5pm-late; Thu 5pm-2am; Fri – Sat 5pm-5am Sweethearts Rooftop 33/37Darlinghurst Rd, Po tts Point (02) 9368 7333 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sun noon-midnight Tio’s Cerveceria 4/14 Foster St, Surry Hills Mon – Sun 3pm-midnight Unicorn Cellar Basement, 106 Oxford St, Paddington (02) 9360 7994 Tue – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat noon-midnight Vasco 421 Cleveland St,

Spring Street Social (and Jam Gallery) Underground 110 Spring St Bondi Junction (02) 9389 2485 Tues – Sat 4pm-3am Stuffed Beaver 271 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 9130 3002 Mon – Sat noonmidnight; Sun noon10pm

Firefly 24 Young St, Neutral Bay (02) 9909 0193 Mon – Thu 5-11pm; Thu 4-11pm; Sat noon-11pm; Sun noonmidnight The Foxtrot 28 Falcon St, Crows Nest Tue – Sat 5pm-3am; Sun 5-10pm

Your bar’s not here? Email: chris@thebrag. com Harlem On Central Shop 4,9-15 Central Ave, Manly (02) 9976 6737 Tue – Sun 5pm-midnight The Hayberry Bar & Diner 97 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest (02) 8084 0816 Tue – Thu 4pm-12am; Fri & Sat noonmidnight Sun noon-10pm Hemingway’s 48 North Steyne, Manly (02) 9976 3030 Mon – Sat 8am-midnight; Sun 8am-10pm Honey Rider 230 Military Rd, Neutral Bay (02) 9953 8880 Tue – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4-10pm In Situ 1/18 Sydney Rd, Manly (02) 9977 0669 Tue – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sun 9am-10pm The Hunter 5 Myahgah Rd, Mosman 0409 100 339 Mon – Tue 5pm-midnight; Wed – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Jah Bar Shop 7, 9-15 Central Ave, Manly (02) 9977 4449 Mon – Sat 9am-late; Sun 9am-10pm The Local Bar 8 Young Ln, Neutral Bay (02) 9953 0027 Tue – Fri 11.30am-midnight; Sat 7am-midnight; Sun 7am-10pm Manly Wine 8-13 South Steyne, Manly (02) 8966 9000 Mon – Sun 7am-late The Mayor 400 Military Rd, Cremorne (02) 8969 6060 Tue – Wed 5pm-midnight; Thu – Sat noonmidnight; Sun noon10pm Moonshine Lvl 2, Hotel Steyne, 75 The Corso, Manly (02) 9977 4977 Thu – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 3-11pm The Pickled Possum 254 Military Rd, Neutral Bay (02) 9909 2091 Thu – Sat 9pm-1am SoCal 1 Young St, Neutral Bay (02) 9904 5691 Mon – Tue 4pm-midnight: Wed – Thu midday-1am; Fri – Sat midday- 2am; Sun midday-midnight The Stoned Crow 39 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest (02) 9439 5477 Mon – Sun noon-late Wilcox Cammeray 463 Miller St, Cammeray (02) 9460 0807 Tue – Thu 4pm-10pm; Fri – Sat 2pm-11pm; Sun 2pm-10pm BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 23

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

ALBUM OF THE WEEK MARILYN MANSON

Manson’s voice continues to shift through a variety of characterisations, but there’s something about this one that feels more vulnerable and damaged, and maybe closer to who he really is underneath the makeup and imagery.

xxx

The Pale Emperor Cooking Vinyl

There’s always been a darkness to Marilyn Manson’s music – duh – but it’s usually been more of a ‘Halloween in the Hellfire Club’ kind of darkness.

The Pale Emperor is probably the darkest album of Manson’s career but for entirely different reasons.

SLEATER-KINNEY

DR. DOG

No Cities To Love Sub Pop/Inertia

Live At A Flamingo Hotel Anti-/Epitaph

Seminal ’90s feminist punk band Sleater-Kinney have returned after a near ten-year absence with their new album No Cities To Love.

Usually a break that long would make even a longtime fan give pause, but Sleater-Kinney pull through with a great release.

The sound that garnered them so much respect in the ’90s is still present here, and their musicianship is every bit as rounded and passionate as before.

There’s a Fugazi influence, and while noisy, all three members play so tight it feels like there isn’t a single note wasted.

The classic dual guitar sounds of Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein really fill the album out, proving there’s no need for a bass player in the band. No Cities To Love feels like a classic guitar album, with big effects and innovative playing on nearly every song. Highlights include opener ‘Price Tag’, which takes aim at capitalism, and ‘Gimme Love’, a track that really shows off some dominant vocal chops. Closer ‘Fade’ is the slowest track on the record, but still keeps a solid pace and feel.

I’m not so sure about live albums anymore. I didn’t realise they were still a thing, to be honest, but Pennsylvania’s Dr. Dog are so influenced by a time when live recordings were the shit, it was perhaps only a matter of time before they put one out. They’ve approached it a little differently, though. For one, there is no Flamingo Hotel – the 16 live tracks are selected from recordings taken over a 20-show tour. Bassist/singer Toby Leaman told The Wall Street Journal the experience of listening to it “should be like you’re listening to a record, because you’re not actually at a show”. So it’s a live recording from a fictitious venue that’s actually several shows, but you shouldn’t listen to it like a live recording.

If you’re confused, fret not because the recordings are top-notch, featuring the best tunes from Dr. Dog’s 12-year career. Kicking off with their most delightfully frenetic track ‘These Days’ is a smart choice – it’s a great launch pad of a tune that’s followed by a cover of Architecture In Helsinki’s ‘Heart It Races’ which, dare I say it, supersedes the original.

Sleater-Kinney prove that a ‘comeback album’ doesn’t have to be a dirty word with this true return to form. It’s a record that adds to their legacy, instead of tarnishing it.

The taut but impassioned musicianship is also a highlight.

Though the songwriting doesn’t always smack of ’60s and ’70s influences like The Beatles, Bowie and the Eagles, the set-up and sound certainly does.

Spencer Scott

Garry Westmore

It felt like Manson was searching a little during recent albums, not quite able to locate and settle in to wherever it is he belongs. Now he’s found a place that feels unforced and fully realised.

Peter Hodgson

CHARLES JENKINS AND THE AMATEUR HISTORIANS The Past Is Never Where You Think You Left It Silver Stamp After the success of Too Much Water In The Boat last year, Charles Jenkins returns with a new album inspired by life in his hometown of Melbourne. Many different themes are explored, from public transport to well-known landmarks. Jenkins’ distinctive folk vocals and great harmonies (with his Amateur Historians David Milne and Douglas Robertson) are on show throughout.

The Past Is Never Where You Think You Left It is a somewhat humorous yet at times heartbreaking record. It opens with ‘Melbourne Eye’, one of the best songs on the album. Jenkins reflects on a driving nuisance in ‘Hook Turn’, and a popular Melbourne tourist attraction in ‘Victoria Market’.

‘Little Audrey’ pays tribute to the city’s iconic Skipping Girl, while ‘Chloe’ details the moving story behind the historic painting, delivered mostly in spoken word.

This track in particular highlights Jenkins’ excellent songwriting ability.

BJÖRK Vulnicura POD/Inertia

24 :: BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15

As the open wound on the cover art suggests, this is a very personal record. Musically, it has much in common with 2001’s Vespertine, but replaces that album’s sensual discovery of a

TITLE FIGHT

CONNAN MOCKASIN

Hyperview Anti-/Epitaph

Forever Dolphin Love and Caramel Special Edition Warner

Title Fight’s third album release, Hyperview, is more of the same. Not that that’s a bad thing, especially when you’re working in a niche genre like revival emo – and that’s real emo like Jawbreaker and Sunny Day Real Estate, none of this From First To Last garbage.

Hyperview has been considerably toned down, however, opting for more atmospheric and emotive rock.

It sports none of the raw, throaty vocals found on Floral Green, and the drumming has taken a turn as well – technical and lingering, opposed to the circle-pit fodder that previously backed their tracks.

‘Your Pain Is Mine Now’, for instance, has something distinctly Smithsish about it in moniker and sound.

Ned Russin does a wonderful job of mimicking Morrissey’s warble, depressed and heartfelt but with the juxtaposing jangly major chords.

However, there seems to have been a downgrade in production that gives the record a very surreal and garage feel, almost like it’s a first record, paid for and produced off the band’s own backs.

Connan Mockasin’s tantalising brand of psychedelic pop music is characterised by its oddly seductive form: a playful, near-impish voice, the lyrical obscurity and the happyhigh acid trip instrumentals creating warped lullabies of sorts. As a re-release of his past two albums, this serves as an adequate access point for new fans, but offers little else.

The clever use of flanged guitar effortlessly brushes over ’70s prog rock bass hooks as each song, drawn out and unfolding slowly, provides a minimalistic aesthetic that isn’t afraid to let silence do the talking.

This generates a delicate element of spaciousness that Mockasin has only half-mastered, as the Caramel side of the release relies too heavily on this emptiness with noticeable seconds of frustrating silence detracting from the music.

The Forever Dolphin Love side of the release is where Mockasin shines, as a more humble balance between the psychedelic riffs and spacious song structure results in a brighter and simply more enjoyable album.

The Past Is Never Where You Think You Left It is an impressive album from Charles Jenkins that will leave you wanting to hear more.

Hyperview seems unrealised, as if the band still hasn’t arrived in its final destination. Genre-bending, but at the same time sticking to a trite and true sound, this album is best directed at fans.

The unfortunate issue of this double release is the contrast in quality, but Forever Dolphin Love stands out as an involved and cleverly made collection of psychpop – well worth the time for any curious music lover.

Ali Birnie

Navarone Farrell

Thomas Brand

INDIE ALBUM OF THE WEEK Vulnicura abruptly hit the digital shelves last month, a rush release sparked by yet another early album leak. Hopefully it caps off a bad run for Björk – her new album documents the last gasps of her long-term relationship with artist Matthew Barney and it’s not an easy ride. But it’s also an invigorating return to form, shaking out the unfocused excess of her past three albums and returning to her more established template of soaring strings anchored by throbbing, amorphic beats.

xxx

Deep into his career, Marilyn Manson has landed one of his best efforts yet.

For his ninth album, Manson has partnered up with composer Tyler Bates (Californication, Guardians Of The Galaxy, 300) and stripped everything back to the bone.

Instead of industrial rock textures, there are guitars that alternate between brash, bashy chords and lowdown lonesome melodies straight out of ’80s goth rock.

This is an album that demands attention and to be listened to all the way through, but the first four songs in particular are a hell of a suite on their own. ‘Cupid Carries A Gun’ is another standout, which offsets stacked Manson vocals with eerie acoustic guitars and a drum beat that recalls ’70s glam.

new love with a stoic, analytical breakdown of a difficult break-up.

The nine songs are broken into three parts: prior to the breakup, the months following and an undated fi nal trio that closes the album somewhat open-endedly.

The opening song, ‘Stonemilker’, is also the most accessible, and would sound at home on 1997’s Homogenic. ‘Lionsong’ grasps at hope with the chorus, “Maybe he will come out of this loving me”, while Björk documents the intimacy of “our last time together” in the bittersweet stocktake, ‘History Of Touches’.

OFFICE MIXTAPE And here are the albums that have helped BRAG HQ get through the week...

JUNGLE - Jungle OCEAAN - Grip POND - Man It Feels Like Space Again

TODD TERJE - It’s Album Time ST. VINCENT - St. Vincent

Vulnicura is heavy but liberating, and it’s easily one of her best.

Chris Girdler thebrag.com

BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 25

snap sn ap live reviews

up all night out all week . . .

What we've been out to see...

BELLE & SEBASTIAN, TWERPS Enmore Theatre Thursday January 29 You’re a critically revered band with a number of early classics, entering your 20th year of existence while still being culturally relevant.

What type of set do you play? If you’re Belle & Sebastian, you play a set that tries to make every type of fan happy, even if that means the great new album you’re ostensibly there to promote gets given short shrift.

Twerps opened the show, playing endearing jangle pop that matched up perfectly with B&S. Still within weeks of the release of their solid album Range Anxiety, it was a great opportunity for the band to pick up some new fans. And while Martin Frawley’s vocals are even more grating live than they are in studio, they received a well-deserved warm reception.

Belle & Sebastian then appeared onstage, all 14 of them. An impressive sight that included a string quartet, it grew more impressive as you watched everyone else onstage change instruments so often you lost count of how many were actually played.

They only performed four songs from the new album, which was a disappointment.

But they had too many amazing songs to get through. Almost all of the band’s eras were accounted for, which didn’t allow for much set momentum but seemed the best approach to appease the diverse crowd gathered.

Looking around, the varied style and age of

FAT FREDDY’S DROP Sydney Opera House Monday January 26 Theory: you are either a fan of Fat Freddy’s Drop, or you haven’t heard of them. If you are in the latter category, seeing them live is the best introduction.

The band’s trumpeter Toby Laing has said, “Live performance is the most natural state for music,” and anyone who has experienced one of Fat Freddy’s notorious jams will know they practise what they preach. The Kiwi eight-piece (including rapper MC Slave) has always written music for the stage – and in comparison the recordings seem like a necessary formality.

It seems like most fans here already have seen them live, which might explain why from the moment Fat Freddy’s took the stage – which was in the middle of the room – the seats were totally forgotten. Dressed sharply in an array of suits, fedoras and dark sunglasses, they wouldn’t have looked out of place in a smoky New Orleans jazz club.

The opening to ‘Blackbird’ was given an explosive treatment from the brass section.

Trombonist Joe Lindsay couldn’t contain himself for long, twirling the instrument around. Eventually, he was in a singlet and

JUNGLE Metro Theatre Thursday January 29

belle & sebastian

PICS :: AM

Dance collective Jungle began their career as something of an enigma – the two masterminds behind the project, known only as J and T, were frequently hidden in crowded press shots, and their videos didn’t reveal much more. The mystique served them well – the buzz grew deafening as genre labels were hastily flung their way (neo-soul, funk-revivalist, tropical lo-fi). For a long time I pictured a ’70s-style big band, with huge hair and shirts unbuttoned so low as to reveal a glimpse of landing strip.

29:01:15 :: Enmore Theatre :: 118-132 Enmore Rd Newtown 9550 3666 OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER

26 :: BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15

Of course, between the touring and the press interviews this shroud of mystery has dissipated, but it seems like they haven’t quite let go of the allure of anonymity.

Kicking into ‘Platoon’, the expanded sevenpiece was silhouetted against heavy backlighting, made more dramatic with big felt hats, at least one gold chain and Tom ‘T’ McFarland’s impressive jacket.

Jungle’s challenge in the live environment

the audience spoke of Belle & Sebastian’s far-reaching appeal.

That appeal has its own setbacks, however.

Before launching into the great ‘The Boy With The Arab Strap’, a video encouraged the crowd to get onstage and dance with the band. When the song started, no-one got up, leading to an awkward, long loop of the intro until frontman Stuart Murdoch had to get up from his piano and single out people in the crowd. Which then encouraged more people to do so, and the obligatory public nudity followed.

But that initial reluctance from the crowd to get onstage was confusing. Perhaps it was because the average age of a 20-year-old band’s fans would be something close to 30, and when you’re 30 you’re no longer interested in climbing over two barriers just to dance onstage, even if that means the band dies on the vine while asking you up there.

Still, there was one thing that everyone in the crowd was equally excited for, and that was If You’re Feeling Sinister. Four songs were played with gusto from the album, all instantly recognised by the audience. It’s a masterpiece for the ages, and the band now knows that the key to a successful show is to pay the album proper attention and everyone will leave happy, which is exactly what happened. The definition of crowd-pleasing.

Leonardo Silvestrini

white shorts, giving Miley Cyrus a run for her money in the booty-shaking department.

During ‘Russia’ it was hard to know where to look when MC Slave also started running around to high-five the crowd between rapping, “You feel it in the rhythm / And you feel it in your heart”. In contrast, singer Dallas Tamaira kept up an impenetrable air of cool, not even removing his shades.

At one point he asked, “Are you are all just happy because you had the day off?”

A huge part of Fat Freddy’s charm, of course, is their unabashed love of music.

Where any other band would come off either cheesy or conceited, they manage to bring the crowd up to their level. Even though newer material from Blackbird had a fresh intensity, it was undeniable that older songs like ‘Cay’s Crays’ were highlights. This was partly because of the crowd’s response – these are the closest to ‘hit singles’ Fat Freddy’s will play live.

There may be no such thing as universally loved music, but Fat Freddy’s are not far off it. The great irony is, they couldn’t care less about being popular – they’re in it for the unadulterated passion. It’s their willingness to share it that keeps people coming back.

Emily Meller

was always going to be making their distinctive sound stretch enough to give a sense of variety. With only one full-length release, there wasn’t a wealth of material to go on tonight. Things dipped before ‘The Heat’ brought the mood back up, aided by Josh ‘J’ Lloyd-Watson’s boogaloo intensity on the synths.

The potential for explosive moments underlies all of Jungle’s songs, but it wasn’t until towards the end of the set that they delivered on that promise. With so many parts to layer in order to create their sound, it’s almost inevitable that some elements get lost onstage. As impressive as it is to watch, at points you could feel how hard they were working to keep it together. The catch-22 of their meteoric rise was not having much of a chance to develop their performance.

Luckily, by the encore things fell into sync.

They once again gave us a taste of how great a live Jungle set can be. Maybe getting to that level for an entire show is just a matter of – sorry – ‘Time’.

Emily Meller

MAR :: S :: KATRINA CLARKE :: ASHLEY

thebrag.com

snap sn ap up all night out all week . . .

SPARROW AND SEED TOUR

24th JANUARY - MELBOURNE - THE WESLEY ANNE 25th JANUARY - MELBOURNE - THE BONEY 1 2 t h F E B R U A R Y - S Y D N E Y - T H E VA N G U A R D HIGHASAKITE, JAPANESE WALLPAPER Metro Theatre Tuesday January 27 A relaxed Tuesday evening gig with the opportunity to unwind before hump day is usually going to be a winner.

And as it turned out, Norwegian band Highasakite and Melbourne producer Japanese Wallpaper provided an excellent combination of relaxed yet vibrant sounds for this working week.

Melbourne multi-instrumentalist Japanese Wallpaper kicked things off by playing peacefully to a still audience. Though beautiful, at first his swirling notes left the crowd in quiet, detached reflection.

However, as his set went on, the sound became the hero of his performance. He created well-paced transitions, floating from one song to the next, and his voice was calm and comforting to a now captivated crowd.

Highasakite made an attention-grabbing entrance when they stepped onstage into a simple setting of shadows and ghostly, glowing lamps. The lighting allowed lead singer Ingrid Helene Havik to quite literally shine, and make the vocals the focus.

W W W. E D W E L L S M U S I C . C O M

As their performance went on, Highasakite demonstrated intriguing variation in their music, flipping from mystical thrumming beauties to upbeat, syncopated numbers.

The use of backup vocals added incredible dynamic strength – it created a sound that engulfed the room. However, while their sound is special, it’s truly their showmanship that makes them stand out from other indie bands.

Havik made a deep impression with her silvery, controlled vocals, but it was guitarist and flugabone extraordinaire Kristoffer Lo who really stole the show.

Dancing like a classic rock god, playing his electric guitar with a bow and wielding his brass instrument with bizarre mastery, you could almost forget that all the other layers existed. This was particularly otherworldly in the beautiful encore, a cover of Bon Iver’s ‘Heavenly Father’.

If anything, the Norwegians’ set may have been one or two songs too long, slightly detracting from the uniqueness of tracks like ‘Darth Vader’ and ‘Since Last Wednesday’. But Highasakite proved they have much more to offer than one or two popular singles, and are certainly a live act to keep an eye on.

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SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Erin Rooney

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27:01:15 :: Metro Theatre :: 624 George St Sydney 9550 3666 thebrag.com

BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 27

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up all night out all week . . .

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30:01:15 :: Oxford Art Factory :: 38-46 Oxford St Darlinghurst 9332 3711

g g guide gig g send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com

pick of the week

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7

You Am I

Taronga Zoo

You Am I + Jack Ladder And The Dreamlanders 7pm. $70.95.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Lionel Cole Imperial Hotel, Paddington.

8pm. free.

The Necks The Basement, Circular Quay.

7pm. $32.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

Connan Mockasin + Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders

thebrag.com

Goodgod Small Club, Sydney.

8pm. $43.60.

Fat Bubba’s Chicken Wednesdays Soda Factory, Surry Hills.

5pm. free.

FKA Twigs Metro Theatre, Sydney.

9.30pm. $54.

Kylie Whitney + Emma Beau + Maia Jelavic The Vanguard, Newtown.

6:30pm. $16.80.

Perfect Pussy + Low Life + Tanned Christ + Todd Anderson-Kunert Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 7pm. $43.

The 10 Guitar Project Venue 505, Surry Hills. 8pm. $15.

The Delta Riggs Beach Road Hotel, Bondi

Beach. 8pm. free.

The Squeezebox Trio Frankie’s Pizza. 9pm. free.

Vibrations At Valve - feat: Band Competition Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 8pm. $15.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

Claude Hay And The Gentle Enemies Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville. 9pm. free.

Dave White Duo

Maloney’s Hotel, Sydney.

9:30pm. free.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

Alex Hopkins Wenty Leagues Club, Wentworthville. 8:30pm. free.

Andy Mammers Hillside Hotel, Castle Hill.

7pm. free.

Black Diamond Hearts Soda Factory, Surry Hills.

10pm. free.

Bonez + Grenadiers Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney.

10pm.

Cambo Observer Hotel, The Rocks.

8:30pm. free.

Casey Golden Trio Venue 505, Surry Hills. 8pm. $15.

Chris Cavill & The Prospectors Golden Sheaf Hotel, Double Bay. 9pm. free.

Chris Cooke Trio Orient Hotel, The Rocks. 9pm. free.

David Agius Dee Why Hotel, Dee Why. 7pm. free.

Greg Agar Duo Scruffy Murphy’s Hotel, Sydney. 8pm. free.

Grenadiers Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 7pm. free.

Jamie Hutchings + Buddy Glass Camelot Lounge, Marrickville.

7pm. $17.70.

Jamie Lindsay Northies Cronulla Hotel, Cronulla. 8pm. free.

Little Dragon Sydney Opera House, Sydney.

8pm. $49.

Luke Escombe & The Corporation Golden Sheaf Hotel, Double Bay. 9pm. free.

Noise ‘R’ Us - feat: Abortificant + Anthrotaxis + Agrocalm + Gravitation Constant Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 8pm. free.

O’Shea The Vanguard, Newtown.

6:30pm. $28.80.

Paul Kelly Presents The Merri Soul Sessions Taronga Zoo, Mosman. 7pm. $70.95.

Polish Club + Motorcycle Rambo Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. free.

Pond + Peter Bibby Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $24.

Steve Crocker Fortune Of War, The Rocks.

7pm. free.

The Late Night Soda Social Soda Factory, Surry Hills.

5pm. free.

The Swamp Stompers Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville. 9pm. $10.

The Walking Who + Flowertruck + Will Chittick Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 7:30pm. $12.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC

Jazz Hip Hop Freestyle Sessions Foundry616, Ultimo. 11:30pm. $5.

Keyim Ba Venue 505, Surry Hills.

8:30pm. $20.

Soulganic Duo Time & Tide Hotel, Dee Why. 7:30pm. free.

The Mesclados + Ally Oliver Foundry616, Ultimo. 8pm. $15.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

Alex Hopkins Ettamogah Hotel, Rouse Hill.

3:45pm. free.

Claude Hay And The Gentle Enemies The Wicko, Newcastle. 8pm. free.

Mandi Jarry PJ Gallagher’s Whisky Bar, Jacksons On George, Sydney.

5:30pm. free.

Zoltan PJ Gallagher’s, Enfield. 9pm. free.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

Alex Hopkins Wenty Leagues Club, Wentworthville. 9pm. free.

AM 2 PM Kurnell Recreation Club, Kurnell. 7:30pm. free.

Andy Mammers + Crash Avenue Campbelltown Catholic Club, Campbelltown. 9:15pm. free.

Bachelor Pad + Driffs + Wolf Cola Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $5.

Ben Finn Duo Emu Sports Club, Leonay.

7:30pm. free.

Big Way Out Sportsmans Hotel, Blacktown.

8:30pm. free.

Carl Fidler Observer Hotel, The Rocks.

6pm. free.

Collarbones + Htmlflowers + Yoke Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $15.

David Agius Band Crows Nest Hotel, Crows Nest. 10:30pm. free.

Divyatma Saraswati Yardarm Taphouse, Manly.

7:30pm. free.

DJ Marty Wentworthville Leagues Club, Wentworthville. 9pm. free.

Double Jeopardy Duo Vikings Sports Club, Dundas Valley. 7pm. free.

Endless Summer Beach Party Western Suburbs Leagues Club, Leumeah. 9:30pm. free.

Evie Dean Mona Vale Hotel, Mona Vale.

6pm. free.

Forenzics + Scattered Order + Maria Moles + Adam Halliwell Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 9pm. $10.

Funkified Windsor Leagues Club, Windsor South. 9pm. free.

Geoff Rana Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill.

9pm. free.

Harbour Master Rose Bay Hotel, Rose Bay. 8pm. free.

Hitseekers Western Suburbs Leagues Club, Leumeah. 9:30pm. free.

Honey Badgers - feat: Dead Brian + Adaptors World Bar, Kings Cross.

7:30pm. free.

James Englund Parramatta RSL, Parramatta.

5pm. free.

Jamie Lindsay Harbord Beach Hotel, Harbord. 8pm. free.

Jess Dunbar Crows Nest Hotel, Crows Nest. 7pm. free.

JJ Duo Springwood Sports Club, Springwood. 8pm. free.

Kris Mcintyre Family Inn Hotel, Rydalmere.

7:30pm. free.

Lady Sings It Better Seymour Centre, Chippendale. 6pm. free.

Live Coverage Hillside Hotel, Castle Hill. 8pm. free.

LJ

Kareela Golf Club, Kareela.

6:30pm. free.

Lost Ragas + Jep & Dep Camelot Lounge, Marrickville.

7:30pm. $17.70.

Luke Dolahenty Duo Kirribilli Hotel, Milsons Point.

8pm. free.

Marty Stewart Western Suburbs Leagues Club, Leumeah. 6:30pm. free.

Matt Jones For Reels PJ Gallagher’s, Leichhardt.

10pm. free.

Mucho Mambo Camelot Lounge, Marrickville.

7:30pm. $32.70.

Noel Macdonald Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill.

6:30pm. free.

One Hit Wonders Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain. 9pm. free.

Original Sin - INXS Show Bull & Bush Hotel, Baulkham Hills. 10pm. free.

Party Central Club Cronulla, Cronulla.

8:30pm. free.

Paul Kelly Presents The Merri Soul Sessions Taronga Zoo, Mosman. 7pm. $70.95.

Reckless - feat: Jonathan Jones Orient Hotel, The Rocks.

4:30pm. free.

Rob Henry Northies Cronulla Hotel, Cronulla. 9pm. free.

Rock And Roll Circus - feat: The Mick Hart Experience + White Knuckle Fever + Hairpin Culvert And Monkey Boy The Vanguard, Newtown.

6:30pm. $18.80.

Sarah McLeod & Mick Skeleton The Basement, Circular Quay.

7:30pm. $25.

Skyzthelimit Penrith Gaels, Kingswood.

8pm. free.

Steve Crocker Mill Hill Hotel, Bondi Junction.

7:30pm. free.

The Daily Vibe Duo Ettamogah Hotel, Rouse Hill.

7pm. free.

The Laurels + Day Ravies + Mezko Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst.

8pm. free.

The Sphinxes Vineyard Hotel, Vineyard.

9:30pm. free.

The Tribe Scruffy Murphy’s Hotel, Sydney.

9pm. free.

Tim Conlon Greystanes Inn, Greystanes Inn. 8pm. free.

Tom Freeman Club Rivers, Riverwood.

8:30pm. free.

Vanessa Heinitz Chatswood RSL, Chatswood.

5pm. free.

Velvet In Sane + Stellar Addiction + Psycich Sun + The Volts Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 6pm. $10.

Visions - feat: Chicks Who Love Guns + Black Springs + Winston Surfshirt + James Cooney DJ + Deep Sea Arcade DJ + Visions DJs Waywards, Newtown. 8pm. free.

Wren Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst.

9:30pm. free.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Mandi Jarry Le Pub, Sydney. 9pm. free.

Soulganic St George Rowing Club, Wolli Creek. 7:30pm. free.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 29

gig picks

g g guide gig g send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com

FOLK

Claude Hay And The Gentle Enemies Katoomba RSL, Katoomba.

7pm. $18.

Common Eclectic - Feat: High Tea + The Maple Trail + Phia Glebe Town Hall, Glebe. 7pm. $15.

Josh McIvor Greystanes Inn, Greystanes Inn. 8pm. free.

Paul Hayward And Friends Town & Country Hotel, St Peters. 4pm. free.

Sarah McLachlan City Recital Hall, Sydney. 7pm. $89.

The White Brothers Ettamogah Hotel, Rouse Hill.

7pm. free.

Tony Williams Kirribilli Hotel, Milsons Point.

8pm. free.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

80’s Flashback Bull & Bush Hotel, Baulkham Hills. 9:30pm. free.

Alex Hopkins + Masterpiece Campbelltown Catholic Club, Campbelltown. 6:30pm. free.

Andy Mammers Maloney’s Hotel, Sydney. 9pm. free.

Andy Mammers & The Social Addiction + Evie Dean Crows Nest Hotel, Crows Nest.

7pm. free.

Antoine Observer Hotel, The Rocks.

4pm. free.

Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers Show Colyton Hotel, Colyton. 9pm. free.

Cara Kavanagh & Mark Oats Duo PJ Gallagher’s, Leichhardt.

10pm. free.

Carl Fidler Observer Hotel, The Rocks.

5:30pm. free.

Chase The Sun Katoomba RSL, Katoomba.

7pm. $18.

Crash Avenue Kareela Golf Club, Kareela.

8pm. free.

David Agius St George Motor Boat Club, Sans Souci. 6pm. free.

Divyatma Saraswati Rose Bay Hotel, Rose Bay. 8pm. free.

DJ Marty Wentworthville Leagues Club, Wentworthville. 9pm. free.

Elevate - Feat: Jimmy Bear Orient Hotel, The Rocks.

4:30pm. free.

Endless Summer Beach Party Pj Gallagher’s, Parramatta.

9pm. free.

Felicity Robisnon The Belvedere Hotel, Sydney.

9pm. free.

Gary Johns Hillside Hotel, Castle Hill. 7pm. free.

Geoff Rana PJ Gallagher’s, Enfield. 9pm. free.

Here Comes The Sun - feat: Wes Carr Venue 505, Surry Hills. 8pm. $20.

Honey Badgers - feat: Grand Oyster Palace + Main Beach Freda’s, Chippendale. 8pm. free.

Hooray For Everything Penrith Gaels, Kingswood.

7pm. free.

Icehouse Enmore Theatre, Newtown.

8pm. $80.54.

John Vella Marrickville Ritz Hotel, Marrickville. 8pm. free.

Keith Armitage Time & Tide Hotel, Dee Why. 7:30pm. free.

King Colour Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst.

8pm. free.

Kris Mcintyre

30 :: BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15

Harbord Beach Hotel, Harbord.

8pm. free.

Live Coverage Northies Cronulla Hotel, Cronulla. 9pm. free.

Matt Jones Buena Vista Hotel, Mosman.

2pm. free.

Michael Mcglynn New Brighton Hotel, Manly.

10pm. free.

Party Central Courthouse Hotel, Darlinghurst.

9:30pm. free.

Rick Fensom Sir Joseph Banks Hotel, Botany. 8pm. free.

Sam Newton Epping Club, Epping. 7pm. free.

Sharron Bowman Brewhouse Marayong, Kings Park. 8pm. free.

Stephen Kiely + Cover Me Crazy + Luke Zancanaro Castle Hill RSL, Castle Hill.

6:30pm. free.

Ted Nash Fortune Of War, The Rocks.

3pm. free.

The Happy Hippies Ettamogah Hotel, Rouse Hill.

6:30pm. free.

The Loaded Six Strings Yardarm Taphouse, Manly.

7:30pm. free.

The Maple Trail + Phia Glebe Town Hall, Glebe. 7pm. $15.

The Swinging Sixties Club Cronulla, Cronulla.

8:30pm. free.

Tim Conlon PJ Gallagher’s, Moore Park.

7:30pm. free.

Under Wraps Macarthur Tavern, Campbelltown. 8pm. free.

Vanessa Heinitz Yardarm Taphouse, Manly.

2:30pm. free.

With Confidence Metro Theatre, Sydney. 4:45pm. $11.

You Am I + Jack Ladder And The Dreamlanders Taronga Zoo, Mosman. 7pm. $70.95.

Zoltan Adria Restaurant, Darling Harbour. 5pm. free.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Kotahi Groove Time & Tide Hotel, Dee Why. 2pm. free.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

Claude Hay And The Gentle Enemies Towradgi Beach Hotel, Towradgi. 5pm. free.

C.W. Stoneking Lizotte’s, Dee Why. 7pm. $45.

Greg Agar Family Inn Hotel, Rydalmere.

2pm. free.

Jess Dunbar Woolwich Pier Hotel, Woolwich.

2pm. free.

Newtown Hotel Presents Part 2 Of The Cider Series - feat: Alice Terry Duo Newtown Hotel, Newtown. 1pm. free.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

3 Wise Men + Krishna Jones Observer Hotel, The Rocks.

2pm. free.

Andy Mammers Harbord Beach Hotel, Harbord. 4pm. free.

Armchair Travellers Duo Henry Lawson Club, Werrington. 1pm. free.

Bruce!

up all night out all week...

Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 6pm. free.

Cabaret Sasquatch The Vanguard, Newtown.

6:30pm. $26.80.

David Agius Le Pub, Sydney. 3pm. free.

Divyatma Saraswati The Mill Hotel, Milperra.

12pm. free.

From Valley Ruins + Burnside + Lion Calamity + A Gentlemen’s Agreement + Brumby + Seasons + Van Coopers + Of Asena + Paperlain + Reign Of Mars + The Right Words Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 2pm. $10.

Greg Byrne Duo New Brighton Hotel, Manly.

5pm. free.

Harbour Master Yardarm Taphouse, Manly.

7:30pm. free.

Icehouse Enmore Theatre, Newtown.

8pm. $80.54.

Jamie Lindsay Duo Hillside Hotel, Castle Hill.

3pm. free.

Jordan Roach Summer Hills Hotel, Summer Hill. 3pm. free.

Luke Dixon Pritchards Hotel, Mount Pritchard. 1pm. free.

Mark Travers Ettamogah Hotel, Rouse Hill.

1pm. free.

Muddy Feet Northmead Bowling Club, Northmead. 1pm. free.

Scott Floyd Waverley Bowling Club, Waverley. 3pm. free.

The Beatville - feat: White Bros Orient Hotel, The Rocks.

4:30pm. free.

The Chosen Few Duo Northies Cronulla Hotel, Cronulla. 6pm. free.

The Lizards + Nudist Colonies Of The World + Batfoot + Love Maul Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 4pm. $10.

Tony Williams St George Rowing Club, Wolli Creek. 1pm. free.

Vanessa Heinitz Ingleburn Hotel, Ingleburn.

3pm. free.

FKA Twigs

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6 Collarbones + Htmlflowers + Yoke Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $15.

The Laurels + Day Ravies + Mezko Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. free.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4

Icehouse Enmore Theatre, Newtown. 8pm. $80.54.

Connan Mockasin + Jack Ladder & The Dreamlanders Goodgod Small Club, Sydney. 8pm. $43.60.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8

FKA Twigs Metro Theatre, Sydney. 9.30pm. $54.

Perfect Pussy + Low Life + Tanned Christ + Todd Anderson-Kunert Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 7pm. $43.

Bruce!

Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 6pm. free.

C.W. Stoneking Lizotte’s, Dee Why. 7pm. $45.

C.W. Stoneking

The Delta Riggs Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach. 8pm. free.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5 Paul Kelly Presents The Merri Soul Sessions Taronga Zoo, Mosman. 7pm. $70.95.

Pond + Peter Bibby Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $24.

MONDAY FEBRUARY 9 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

Redux Metro Theatre, Sydney.

6:30pm. $28.

The Consouls + The Consouls + Josue And The Soulbenders The Vanguard, Newtown.

6:30pm. $18.80.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

Live & Originals - Feat: Shane Flew + Rosanna Mendez With Allen Hill + Katherine Vavahea Mr Falcon’s, Glebe. 7:30pm. free.

Triumphant Tuesdays - feat: Dave Eastgate Karaoke Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney.

8:30pm. free.

thebrag.com

brag beats

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

dance music news club, dance and hip hop in brief... with Chris Martin

REMEMBERING J DILLA

five things WITH Growing Up As a young Asian 1. boy growing up, my mother made me do piano lessons when I was about nine years old, and I stuck with it for about three or four years.

Inspirations Zedd, Tommy Trash, 2.

Hardwell, Hook N Sling, Nicky Romero, Will Sparks.

Your Crew The crew that I 3. base myself with are from the Northern Beaches.

In the past year or two I’ve started to meet more people around Sydney through the nightlife industry. I got into DJing after I started promoting at my local nightclub and I made a bit of money from it, so I thought I’d use the money and get some DJ decks just to play around at house parties as I was very passionate about music.

Next thing I remember, the club asked me if I wanted my first club gig in 2011 and I said yes.

4.

The Music You Make And Play I only got into production about a year ago and in that time I’ve been getting a lot of private production lessons from one of my good DJ mates, who is a very talented producer.

The stuff I’m getting into and making is Melbourne

Hip hop legend J Dilla, AKA James D. Yancey, is a true household name when it comes to the golden era of his chosen genre. The iconic producer worked with and infl uenced the likes of Questlove, Erykah Badu, A Tribe Called Quest, Common and even Janet Jackson, leaving a trail of breaks in his sizeable wake until his untimely death in 2006. Grindin’, Keep It Movin’ and April77 Creative are this weekend celebrating the sixth edition of the Genius of J Dilla tribute night, with all proceeds going directly to the J Dilla Foundation, which helps fund inner-city music programs and provide scholarships to students attending schools with progressive music curricula. Surry Hills’ Play Bar is hosting the event this Saturday February 7 as part of its second birthday, with DJs Katalyst, Frenzie, Naiki, Mike Who, Trey, Juzzlikedat & Adverse, Edseven, Ology, Josie Styles, Krystel Diola and Benny Hinn.

DLE

bounce, as one of my inspirations ns at the moment is Will Sparks. arks.

I’m pretty versatile in the stuff I play. Each nightclub I play at has a different erent music policy, licy, so whatever music they ask for I’ll be happy ppy to play it, whether it be R&B B and hip hop op to commercial ercial house and party tunes es or even deep/ funky house. use.

Mark Ronson

JOHN COLLINS & FRANCIS INFERNO ORCHESTRA

Fresh from their manic Underground Resistance: Timeline event, the good people at Picnic and Charades have announced another party with UR man DJ John Collins.

The Detroit selector (boy, does the Motor City pump out some beats or what?) got his beginnings in the mid-’80s at the Cheeks club, and has developed since then into a giant of the techno scene. But hey, it’s not all about the international superstars.

Joining the fun this time around is Francis Inferno Orchestra AKA Griffin James, the Melbourne talent who’s been taking his disco sounds around the world lately, including performing a debut set at the famed Panorama Bar in Berlin. Kali and the Charades DJs round out the bill at Erskineville’s Imperial Hotel on Saturday February 21.

5.

Music, sic, Right Here, Right ht Now For me personally ersonally and to this day, it’s t’s just trying to get my name out there in the very competitive petitive industry I’m in. Everyone one in the industry has something thing unique and special about bout them, and I guess for me it’s about trying to show everyone veryone that I have something g different to offer.

Where: Cargo Bar / Scary Canary When: Friday February 13 / Saturday February 14 And: Also appearing alongside Avicii, Drake, The Prodigy, Afrojack and many more at Future Music Festival, Royal Randwick Racecourse, Saturday February 28

AY, KOLOMBO

The good people of Belgium have given us plenty to enjoy over the years. French fries, for one – no, seriously, look it up – plus an enormous selection of nice and strong beers and even Wally de Backer, the Bruges-born lad who grew up to be Gotye. They’re not too shabby on the dance music front either, and leading the charge is Kolombo, the producer and DJ who’s coming to Sydney this weekend. Over the years, Kolombo has released on renowned labels Kompakt, 2DIY4, Future Classic, Noir Music and Turbo, and branched out into more experimental creations via his work with Geoffroy Mugwump. A host of locals will join Kolombo at Chinese Laundry this Saturday February 7, including Acaddamy, Avon Stringer, Sveta, Spike The Punch, DJ Just 1, Oscar De Lima, Circa 87, Greywolf, Adamwah, DJ Eko and King Lee.

MARK RONSON DJ SET

UK superproducer Mark Ronson is on his way Down Under this week for a promotional tour, and he’s locked in a special Sydney DJ set to spread the love. The ‘Uptown Funk’ hitmaker is celebrating the release of his new album Uptown Special, featuring the aforementioned collaboration with Bruno Mars as well as appearances by Stevie Wonder, Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker, Andrew Wyatt and more. Apart from that darn bassline that’s taken over the world of late, Ronson has also released work with Lily Allen, Adele, Paul McCartney, Kaiser Chiefs and the late Amy Winehouse. Ronson will spin some tunes at Oxford Art Factory this Wednesday February 4.

Max Vangeli

J. Rocc

J. ROCC ON TOUR

The Red Bull Music Academy club night series returns this month, with none other than J. Rocc touring the nation with a suitcase full of hip hop, house, Latin, Afro, techno, disco and anything else that passes the bar of his discerning tastes. The Californian native is known not only for his work with Madlib and Stones Throw Records, but also as the founder of the Beat Junkies DJ group. In Stones Throw’s eyes, he’s the World’s Greatest Hip Hop DJ, and thanks to RBMA you can party down with him for free – just visit redbullmusicacademy.com to RSVP ahead of the show on Saturday February 21 at Goodgod Small Club.

MAX VANGELI

It’ll all be about house anthems in the house at Marquee this weekend, as Max Vangeli rolls in. First making a splash back in 2011 as an MTV-approved “most promising artist”, Vangeli has spent the intervening years remixing the likes of Ellie Goulding and Pendulum and chumming it up with Steve Angello and Tiesto. He’s a regular at Pacha Ibiza and all across his native US, but this Saturday February 7 it’s Sydney’s turn.

BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 31

Off The Record Dance and Electronica with Tyson Wray

wAFF

Mr. Scruff Scruffy Business By Zoe Kilbourn

W

ith a prodigious 18-year career behind him, Andy Carthy’s music still eludes easy categorisation: his breaks span funk, soul, hip hop, and everything lumped under the hopelessly broad labels ‘avant-garde’ and ‘roots’. As Mr. Scruff, Carthy is bringing his mammoth music collection on an Australian tour this month.

Carthy, also a cartoonist, drew one of his super cute sketches to announce his Australian tour: a potato-shaped Mr. Scruff tells the nation he’s been “record shopping”. “[Touring is] something that’s always been in the back of my mind, but I’ve got a family now,” he explains. “If I come to Australia, I’ve got to come for at least three weeks. I think it was just the stars aligning, the magic combination of some really good gigs and plenty of time to relax and meet up with friends, explore, that sort of thing. It was too good an opportunity to miss – playing outdoors in great weather is not really something you can take for granted in the UK.” Carthy certainly knows how to pace himself.

This is the DJ, producer and vinyl enthusiast’s first Australian visit in seven years, and 2014’s Friendly Bacteria was his first album in six.

Hooked into classic Scruff breaks, Rhodes sounds and soul samples, the album explored original composition and sample-building far more than Carthy’s previous work.

“I’ve always used synths, I suppose, but every album I’ve moved away from sampling,” he says.

“A lot of it comes from all these record labels who are like, ‘We don’t get out of bed unless we have all the writing [rights].’ After a few of those, where you’re really pleased with a tune and you can’t release it due to mostly major labels being quite stubborn about what they expect from the use of the sample, I just go, ‘I can do it on my own then.’ I can still record and create, I can even write a tune – a couple of times I’ve done an entire tune and then sampled a tiny little bit of it to build something else. It’s all playful.

“Depending on how you set up the mics on your real instruments, you can really develop your own sound, and then, depending on compression and how you treat the sounds, it’s still about having fun with objects and making them sound as odd as possible. Kind of twisting reality, which is a big thing for me. I try to get it half-robotic, half-human, and through that tension you can really give a tune an edge, which I’m always striving for.”

For Carthy, much of that human side comes from sampling existing esoteric records, as in early hit and Moondog reimagining ‘Get A Move On’.

32 :: BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:14

“The guy who played sax on that – a guy called Jim Nye – he’s a proper mad character,” Carthy says. “He’s only got a tiny little sax, but he makes it sound like a whale.

It’s enormous. It was quite nice to have that combination of something quite fat and electronic and this really rude, obnoxious sax over the top that just kind of elbows its way into the tune. I love that energy that comes out, and you can defi nitely see that when you play it – it’s quite fi ery, quite elemental.”

T

Melbourne’s foremost house and techno producer Lewie Day AKA Tornado Wallace will headline the next instalment of Picnic’s revered One Night Stand parties. Having released on the likes of Tim Sweeney’s seminal Beats In Space label and ESP Institute, the lad is also one of the brains trust behind two of Melbourne’s best parties – C Grade and Animals Dancing.

His track ‘Kookaburra’ alongside Tom Moore as Coober Pedy University Band was one of the biggest jams of 2014. The bearded wonder will return for his fourth marathon set at Oxford Art Factory on Saturday February 28. Highly recommend.

The lads behind Something Else will return for their next party late this month with a double bill of big-name internationals. Leading the charge is Sound Architecture resident and Belgium native Joachim Spieth, alongside the Dutchman Dave Mayer. The house and techno dons will be joined by a killer local smorgasbord of talent, including Felix Warmuth, Gabe Fernandes, Trinity, Methodix, Spike The Punch, Oscar de Lima, Pantheon, Circa 87, Nach, Dave Stuart, Phil Kanis and Belvie. It’s on Saturday February 28 over the two levels of the Burdekin Hotel.

Tour rumours: Alfie Granger-Howell and Nick Harriman AKA Dusky took to Facebook over the weekend to let Australian fans know that “plans are in motion for a return”. You can also expect international visits this month from the likes of ON Bast, Egbert, Deadbeat and John ‘Jammin’ Collins.

Joachim Spieth

Best releases this week: the producer behind arguably one of the best dance albums of 2014, Vril, has backed it up with another ridiculously solid full-length title Portal (on Delsin). Other highlights include the Bakradze/HVL/Akwaabak collaboration on Ritual In Transfi gured Time Vol 1 (Transfigured Time), HVL striking again with Lucky Star Of High Minded (Rough House Rosie), and Delroy Edwards in fine form on Kickin’ Butts!!!

(LA Club Resource). Unfortunately, the Donato Dozzy record, which this column mentioned last week – and is recorded using only samples of Anna Caragnano’s voice – sounds like a half-baked Andy Stott album.

Although Carthy’s musical method is all about exploration and surprise – “I’ll bring in people I’ve never met before, friends of friends, and we’ll do three or four tunes in a day” – he’s self-described as “fussy” when it comes to equipment. He’s risking a heap of vinyl on the plane to Australia, but he’ll spend days transferring boxes more into highquality, 24-bit WAV fi les. He’s also bringing his custom EQ and mixer set to ensure it all works smoothly.

“I fi nd that when it sounds better, you can get away with playing a lot more weird and wonderful music as well,” he says. “That goes for any DJ – if it sounds good, there’s a really clear line of communication and people get it straight away. If it sounds a bit rubbish, it’s almost a little abrasive and pushes you away, whereas a good sound kind of pulls you in and gives you a cuddle.”

He’s beyond comfortable with his very individual set-up, but Scruff’s schtick is the absence of schtick – he’s constantly moving boundaries, defying his own and his audience’s expectations while delivering consistently excellent sets.

“The main thing is, as a DJ and as an artist – probably more so as a DJ – I’ve got myself in a position where people expect me to play anything and everything, which is great,” he says. “I don’t feel hemmed in by previous creations, and I’m really careful to push what I’m comfortable playing with every gig. You’ve got to push yourself at every opportunity so you’re not rolling your eyes going, ‘Oh no, this just feels really constricting.’ With the music, I never know what’s going to happen – that’s half the fun.

That’s all the fun, really.”

What: Friendly Bacteria out now through Ninja Tune/Inertia Where: Metro Theatre When: Saturday February 7

Aphex Twin fans were treated to a treasure trove last week. The inimitable producer has put 110 unreleased demos (we’re talking over eight hours of recordings) up for free download on SoundCloud under the account user48736353001. Get diggin’.

This follows the release last week of his latest EP, Computer Controlled Acoustic Instruments pt2 EP, just four months after his 2014 full-length Syro.

RECOMMENDED FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6

Genius Of Time Civic Hotel

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7

Steffi Marrickville Bowling Club

Theo Parrish Oxford Art Factory

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14

Kolombo Chinese Laundry

Danny Howells Chinese Laundry

DJ HMC Burdekin Hotel

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21

Mr. Scruff Metro Theatre

Detroit Swindle Chinese Laundry

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8

DJ Tennis TBA

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13

Moodymann National Art School

DJ EZ National Art School

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 22

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28 wAFF The Pontoon

Joachim Spieth, Dave Mayer Burdekin Hotel Tornado Wallace Oxford Art Factory

SUNDAY MARCH 1

Marcellus Pittman, Giles Smith, James Priestley The Bristol Arms

SATURDAY MARCH 7

Carl Cox The Greenwood Hotel

Moderat The Hi-Fi

Got any tip-offs, hate mail, praise or cat photos?

Email hey@tysonwray.com or contact me via carrier pigeon. thebrag.com

Xxxx

“One of the things I like about sampling is the same as DJing,” he says. “You’re restricted by using what’s already a finished piece of music. I like to have something that’s difficult to manipulate or get the different sounds out.

It gives you something to push against. When you’re using limited equipment or samples, the way you chop it up to make it your own – that’s quite character-building.”

Now more than ever, Carthy the producer has had to build not just drum loops but entire songs, extensively working with guest instrumentalists and vocalists on Friendly Bacteria. One standout example of his human-robot synthesis is the fl oormelter ‘What’, an astonishing arrangement of raw, register-breaking sax into a tight mesh of loops, underpinned by the album’s trademark synth bass.

he Start:Cue crew have announced the lineup for their final boat party of the season, and it’s a big ’un.

Headlining the shindig is Hot Creations and Cocoon heavyweight wAFF, whose booming back catalogue of techno and deep house has seen the UK-based DJ and producer held in the same regard as luminaries Loco Dice, Tania Vulcano, Martin Buttrich, Luciano and Marco Carola. He’ll be joined by locals Adam Proctor, Al Hearnshaw, Dyson, Rickstar, Ross Ashman and Tommy Rutherford. The party sets sail on Saturday February 28 on The Pontoon.

club picks p

g guide

up all night out all week...

send your listings to : clubguide@thebrag.com

club pick of the week Max Vangeli

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7

Max Vangeli 10pm. $28.80.

HIP HOP & R&B

Vic Mensa Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $49.90.

CLUB NIGHTS

DJ Tom Kelly Goldfish, Kings Cross. 9pm. free.

Mark Ronson DJ Set Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 11pm. $49.90.

The Wall The World Bar, Kings Cross.

9pm. $5.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5 CLUB NIGHTS

El Loco Later - feat: DJs On Rotation Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills.

10pm. free.

Ghostly DJs + Guests The Spice Cellar, Sydney.

7pm. free.

Pool Club Thursdays - feat: Resident DJs Ivy Bar/Lounge, Sydney. 5pm. free.

The World Bar Thursdays The World Bar, Kings Cross.

9pm. free.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6 HIP HOP & R&B

Hustler Fridays - feat: MC Shaba Hustle & Flow, Redfern. 7pm. free.

CLUB NIGHTS

Argyle Fridays - feat: Resident DJs The Argyle, The Rocks. 6pm. free.

El Loco Later - feat: DJs On Rotation Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills.

10pm. free.

thebrag.com

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8 CLUB NIGHTS

Marquee

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4

Graveyard Rockstars + Nasjap + Pink Industrial Whores + Noveaux Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 8pm. $15.

Factory Fridays - feat: Resident DJs Soda Factory, Surry Hills.

7pm. free.

Feel Good Fridays Bar100, The Rocks. 5pm. free.

Launch Party For Squad - feat: Gent & Jawns + The Mane Thing + Nemo + Daggers + Gradz + Magic Bird + Sidechains DJs + Marley Sherman Chinese Laundry, Sydney.

8pm. free.

Loco Friday - feat: Various Live Bands And DJs The Slip Inn, Sydney. 5pm. free.

Mashd N Kutcher Marquee, Pyrmont. 10pm. $18.60.

OPM Aquarius Marquee, Pyrmont. 10pm. free.

Soul Control - feat: Ben Fester + Preacha The Spice Cellar, Sydney.

10pm. free.

Thank Funk It’s Friday The Ranch, Eastwood.

9:30pm. free.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7 HIP HOP & R&B

Saturday Dance Fever - feat: DJ Rescue + Impromptu Acts Buzzzbar, Newtown. 7pm. free.

CLUB NIGHTS

A State Of Trance - feat: Armin Van Buuren + Alex Morph + Aly & Fila + Menno De Jong + Tydi + Shogun Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush. 9pm. $153.90.

Cakes - feat: 4 Rooms Of Live Music + DJs And International Guests The World Bar, Kings Cross.

8pm. $10.

Halfway Crooks DJs + Captain Franco + DJ Levins + Kato Goodgod Small Club, Sydney.

11pm. $10.

Infamous Saturdays - feat: Live DJs Scubar, Sydney. 7pm. free.

Kolombo & Refuge Host

La Fiesta - feat: Samantha Fox + Agee Ortiz + Av El Cubano + Resident DJ Willie Sabor The Establishment, Sydney.

8pm. free.

Reggae Sundays Kings Cross Hotel, Kings Cross. 5pm. free.

S.A.S.H Sundays Home Nightclub, Darling Harbour. 2pm. $10.

Summer Dance - feat: DJ EZ National Art School, Darlinghurst. 2pm. $43.95.

Sunday Sessions - feat: Cadell + Tom Kelly + Ocky Goldfi sh, Kings Cross. 4pm. free.

Sunday Spice - feat: Kato + Francis Xavier + Guests The Spice Cellar, Sydney.

9pm. $10.

Sundays In The City - feat: Various DJs The Slip Inn, Sydney. 12pm. free.

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10 The Cave + Von Stringer + Sveta + Refuge + Spike The Punch + Oscar De Lima + Circa 87 + Greywolf + Adamwah + DJ Eko + DJ Just 1 + King Lee Chinese Laundry, Sydney.

8pm. $20.

Max Vangeli Marquee, Pyrmont. 10pm. $28.80.

Mr. Scruff Metro Theatre, Sydney. 9pm. $49.90.

Onespace Presents: Desert Dwellers DJs + DJ Marc Kundalini + Amar Dhall + Leigh Wood Paddington Uniting Church, Paddington. 7pm. $40.

Pacha Sydney - feat: Uberjak’d + Marcus Santoro + Glover + Ben Morris + Matt Nugent + Mo’Funk + Nanna Does + Hobophonics + Eko + Just 1 + Vito + A-Game + Dylan Sanders + Jack Bailey + Mike Hyper + Chris Fraser Ivy Bar/Lounge, Sydney.

6:30pm. $32.90.

Sienna Saturdays - feat: Resident DJs The Establishment, Sydney.

9pm. free.

Something Else - feat: DJ HMC Burdekin Hotel, Darlinghurst. 9pm. $20.

Spice - feat: Murat Kilic + Mesan + Sam Francisco + Guests The Spice Cellar, Sydney.

9pm. $25.

The Genius Of J Dilla (A Tribute) - feat: Katalyst + Frenzie + Naiki + Mike Who + Trey + Juzzlikedat & Adverse + Edseven + Ology + Josie Styles + Krystel Diola + Benny Hinn Play Bar, Surry Hills. 4pm. $10.

The House Of Who - feat: Rotating DJs + Levins + The House Of Who + Nacho Pop + Kato’s Wig Shop Goodgod Small Club, Sydney. 8pm. free.

Tilt @ The Lewie - feat: DJ Tubz + DJ Korus Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham.

9pm. $10.

Venom Clubnight - feat:

CLUB NIGHTS

Chu The World Bar, Kings Cross.

9pm. free.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4

Paddington Uniting Church, Paddington. 7pm. $40.

Mark Ronson (DJ Set) Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 11pm. $49.90.

Pacha Sydney - feat: Uberjak’d + Marcus Santoro + Glover + Ben Morris + Matt Nugent + Mo’funk + Nanna Does + Hobophonics + Eko + Just 1 + Vito + A-Game + Dylan Sanders + Jack Bailey + Mike Hyper + Chris Fraser Ivy Bar/Lounge, Sydney.

6:30pm. $32.90.

Vic Mensa Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $49.90.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6 Launch Party For Squad - feat: Gent & Jawns + The Mane Thing + Nemo + Daggers + Gradz + Magic Bird + Sidechains DJs + Marley Sherman Chinese Laundry, Sydney.

8pm. free.

Mashd N Kutcher Marquee, Pyrmont. 10pm. $18.60.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7 A State Of Trance - feat: Armin Van Buuren + Alex Morph + Aly & Fila + Menno De Jong + Tydi + Shogun Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush. 9pm. $153.90.

OneSpace Presents: Desert Dwellers DJs + DJ Marc Kundalini + Amar Dhall + Leigh Wood

Something Else - feat: DJ HMC Burdekin Hotel, Darlinghurst. 9pm. $20.

The Genius Of J Dilla (A Tribute) - feat: Katalyst + Frenzie + Naiki + Mike Who + Trey + Juzzlikedat & Adverse + Edseven + Ology + Josie Styles + Krystel Diola + Benny Hinn Play Bar, Surry Hills. 4pm. $10.

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8 S.A.S.H Sundays Home Nightclub, Darling Harbour. 2pm. $10.

Summer Dance - feat: DJ EZ National Art School, Darlinghurst. 2pm. $43.95.

BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15 :: 33

snap

ratking

PICS :: AM

up all night out all week . . .

29:01:15 :: The Basement :: 7 Macquarie Pl Sydney 9251 2797

live review What we've been out to see...

SOHN, KLO

s.a.s.h sundays

PICS :: AM

Oxford Art Factory Thursday January 29

01:02:15 :: Home :: 101/1-5 Wheat Rd Darling Harbour 9266 0600

This was a show that offered carefully constructed beats, floating vocal croons and one of the most engaging and precise light shows Oxford Art Factory has likely ever seen. Sitting at the centre of it was the quietly charismatic Christopher Taylor, otherwise known as Sohn.

Special guests Klo proved a fitting opener on only their sixth time out, with a set that merged UK garage, hip hop attitude and Little Dragon-esque quirk-pop. Their potential was apparent throughout and the dynamic of the Melbourne duo – the expressiveness of Chloe Kaul juxtaposed with the more diminutive demeanour of Simon Lam – provided for interesting viewing.

Despite an accomplished performance, the opening act was never going to outshine the main attraction. Sohn has taken the delicately constructed instrumentation of the likes of Four Tet, Pantha Du Prince and Arca and delicately placed his exquisite voice on top.

His thought-provoking lyrics provide a further emotional layer to what has been termed “thinking man’s electronica”. The result is emotionally encapsulating whilst always remaining musically challenging.

acaddamy

thebrag.com/snaps British-born Taylor base himself, at least part-time, out of Vienna, shone throughout his performance, both visually and musically.

The confines of the venue combined with the artful and intense lighting gave off a distinct industrial Berlin ‘rave cave’ vibe.

Seated throughout, at a desk laden with synthesisers and samplers, Taylor placed no reliance on showmanship – an apparent gamble. However, he proved himself to be a truly charismatic, though somewhat serene performer. His ability to seamlessly manipulate his compositions sets the live experience completely apart from that of his recordings, with a stripped-back, semi-acappella version of ‘The Tempest’ a notable highlight.

Further enhancing an already breathtaking show was Taylor’s carefully constructed setlist, twisting and turning, constantly building to its intense climax. As the night grew so did the energy in the room, the sequence of ‘Oscillate’, ‘Artifice’ and ‘Lights’ turning the crowd into a throbbing mass before the show culminated with an encore performance of ‘The Wheel’.

Taylor is not only a master producer and vocalist, but a master performer. With only an album’s worth of material, he managed to create an hour-long experience that left the crowd with no room for distraction.

Joshua Manning

PICS :: KC

The European influence that has seen the

VIEW FULL GALLERIES AT

31:01:15 :: Beach Road Hotel :: 71 Beach Rd Bondi Beach 9130 7247 OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER

34 :: BRAG :: 598 :: 04:02:15

MAR :: S :: KATRINA CLARKE :: ASHLEY

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