Brag#619

ISSUE NO. 619 JULY 01, 2015

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

MUSIC, FILM, THEATRE + MORE

INSIDE This Week

THERE’S NO ESCAPE FROM...

THE BL UR

The Britpop legends return eturn to our shores at last. st.

REFUSED

A surprise comeback from rom the kings of Swedish punk. unk.

OF MICE A ND MEN

Steinbeck goes on trial in the new Sydney production.

CER E S

The days of doubting themselves are over.

Plus

FR A SER A . GORM A N GHO S T S T OR IE S U V BOI

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STARRING BRENDAN MACLEAN, PERLE NOIRE, STEPHEN WILLIAMS,

MIRKO KÖCKENBERGER, JOE ACCARIA, EMMA GOH, CRAIG REID, CHASKA HALLIDAY, RECHELLE MANSOUR AND THE LEGENDARY DIVA MARCIA HINES

“IT IS A SPECTACULAR SHOW.... LEFT THE AUDIENCE STUNNED & AWESTRUCK.”

“SEXY, SPECTACULAR, SPARKLING & JUST A LITTLE BIT SADOMASOCHISTIC”

Dirt & Candy

Adelaide Advertiser

WWW.VELVETTHESHOW.COM

BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15 :: 3

rock music news welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town... with Gloria Brancatisano, Lauren Gill and Vanessa Papastavros

five things WITH

GRACE FARRISS FROM BURN ANTARES

Your Band Thom Eagleton on 3. drums, bass Tom Hoglund,

1.

performer/theatre singer.

And Dad, a rock star and masterful songwriter.

2.

Inspirations I remember the first time I heard Zeppelin. I was in my bedroom, which was darkly lit by candles, with some high school friends bouncing on my bed in a red hazed light and having

Daniel Murchison is lead guitar, and on keys is Sean Casey. We are all basically on the same level – some more reserved than others, or ‘cautious’ is the word.

But you will get that with almost any group of people you meet. We are lucky to have found each other, and that we clicked on the first date. We recently worked with Tony Buchen, who produced our current EP Fur Coat And The Peace

Boat, and will be recording with him again in a few months’ time.

The Music You Make 4.

Our style is a mixed bag of ’60s/’70s-influenced stuff to disco tracks, funk, Motown, folk, rock’n’roll, blues, pop, psychedelic rock, mixed with modern contemporary sounds as we develop as a band. We recorded our Fur Coat And The Peace Boat at Albert Studios, Sydney. People can expect excitement and an electrifying presence from our live show, married with sex appeal, good technique and glitter.

Music. Right Here, Right Now 5.

I think the music scene at the moment is lacking a bit of risk-taking. Even

MARMOZETS

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YEARS & YEARS Oxford Art Factory Sunday July 26

LUNA LANDING

ALITHIA’S SACRIFICE

Space rockers AlithiA will be showing their yet-unreleased short film Sacrifi ce in Sydney and Melbourne this August. The screenings will be part of their live act, which will also serve as the re-release/launch of their debut album To The Edge Of Time. Sacrifi ce was directed by George Kalpa and filmed at AlithiA’s recent headline shows in Melbourne.

With the group’s present reputation as a deeply spiritual and entrancing live act, the mockumentary-meets-arthouse film will no doubt be something a little different. They’ll be joined by Perth heavyweights Chaos Divine, who are out celebrating their latest release Colliding Skies. The whole thing will go down on Friday August 28 at The Factory Floor.

GIANTS ON THE MARCH

With their latest album Speakerzoid ready to drop this August, The Jungle Giants are in full celebration mode and will be heading around the country this September. The album was recorded towards the end of 2014 inside a temporary studio set up near the New South Wales/Queensland border with friend and producer Magoo. So far the four-piece have already released two tracks from it, ‘Every Kind Of Way’ and their latest single ‘Kooky Eyes’. The tour will include 14 shows across the country, with dates spilling into October. Providing support at all shows will be Art Of Sleeping and surf-pop party outfit Hockey Dad. Head to the Enmore Theatre on Friday September 18.

THEY DON’T LIKE CRICKET

Oh no, they love it. Legendary UK hitmakers 10cc have announced an Australian tour for this October and November. After forming in 1970 as a four-piece called Hotlegs, the band signed to Jonathan King’s UK label and changed names two years later. But that wasn’t the end of the upheaval. 10cc split in 1976, going on to work on their own projects, before briefly reuniting in 1991. In 1995 they disbanded again, with original guitarist Eric Stewart leaving the group.

A rejuvenated version of the band kicked things off again in 1999. All up, 10cc have released 11 records during their time together – imagine how many more they could’ve done without all that time apart? Their Greatest Hits tour will

see them at Revesby Workers Club on Friday November 6.

WHAT YOU SAY, JAMES BAY

Brighton singer-songwriter James Bay can’t get enough of Sydney, so he’s returning this winter for a special one-off performance. Having delighted east coast fans back in February with his very first visit to Australia, Bay will be back this August for an exclusive show, joined by Central Coast folk troubadours Winterbourne.

The 24-year-old Bay continues to wow fans at festivals and headline shows in the UK, and even took out the 2015 Critics’ Choice Award at the BRITs. This intimate show will see Bay perform his breakout hit ‘Hold Back The River’ and his latest single ‘Let It Go’, alongside other cuts from his acclaimed debut album Chaos And The Calm. He’ll be at the Metro Theatre on Wednesday August 12.

AS IT IS AND SHOULD BE

English alt-rockers As It Is have announced they’ll make their maiden voyage to our shores this September. They’ll be touring in support of their debut album Never Happy, Ever After, which hit stores in April. Since the release, the fivepiece have maintained a gruelling tour schedule, playing shows throughout Europe, the UK and US. As It Is will hit The Lair at the Metro Theatre on Saturday September 26 and Sunday September 27, the latter being an all-ages show.

Holy Holy

HOLY HOLY ON TOUR

Dual-city indie songwriting duo Timothy Carroll and Oscar Dawson (and friends), AKA Holy Holy, have announced an extensive national tour in celebration of their debut album When The Storms Would Come, set to drop at the end of the month. The announcement comes after a solid stint in the UK and Europe, which saw the band playing festivals like The Great Escape, Liverpool Sound City, Dot To Dot and London Calling. Their Aussie tour will kick off with a set at the Darwin Festival and see them finishing up in Sydney in September. See Holy Holy at Lizotte’s Newcastle on Saturday September 12 and Oxford Art Factory on Saturday September 19.

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Oxford Art Factory Friday July 24

After their break-up 11 years ago, US dream pop outfit Luna have reunited and will return Down Under for the first time in 17 years. Before saying farewell, they had released eight studio albums between 1992 and 2005. Post-breakup, frontman Dean Wareham and bassist Britta Phillips released three albums together and got hitched. Wareham also produced a solo album with Phillips in his band. Luna will roll into Newtown Social Club on Wednesday September 16.

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HANGING WITH LIFEHOUSE

ART DIRECTOR: Sarah Bryant PHOTOGRAPHERS: James Ambrose, Katrina Clarke, Ashley Mar

REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Nat Amat, Prudence Clark, Tom Clift, Keiron Costello, Christie Eliezer, Fergus Halliday, Cameron James, Tegan Jones, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Emily Meller, David Molloy, Annie Murney, Adam Norris, Kate Robertson, Natalie Rogers, Erin Rooney, Spencer Scott, Natalie Salvo, Leonardo Silvestrini, Lucy Watson, Krissi Weiss, Rod Whitfield, Harry Windsor, Tyson Wray, Stephanie Yip, David James Young

Metro Theatre Friday July 24

Get ready to wave those lighters in the air, because Lifehouse are coming to town. The American alt-rockers will hit our shores this October for the first time since 2002, playing songs from their recently released album Out On The Wasteland. Alongside their new tracks, they’ll undoubtedly treat fans to old favourites like ‘Hanging On A Moment’ and ‘You And Me’, which have provided the soundtrack for countless teary television montages from across the last decade. They’ll play on Friday October 16 at Big Top Sydney, Luna Park.

MANAGING EDITOR: Chris Martin chris@thebrag.com 02 9212 4322 ONLINE EDITOR: Tyson Wray SUB-EDITOR: Sam Caldwell STAFF WRITERS: Adam Norris, Augustus Welby NEWS: Gloria Brancatisano, Lauren Gill, Elias Kwiet, Vanessa Papastavros, Jade Smith

AWESOME INTERNS: Vanessa Papastavros, Elias Kwiet, Jade Smith, Bridget Lutherborrow

AZEALIA BANKS

What: Fur Coat And The Peace Boat out now through MGM With: The Tambourine Girls, Wild Honey Where: The Standard Bowl When: Saturday July 11

AlithiA

GIG & CLUB GUIDE COORDINATORS: Sarah Bryant, Vanessa Papastavros - gigguide@ thebrag.com (rock); clubguide@thebrag.com (dance, hip hop & parties)

Newtown Social Club Thursday July 23

though essentially what we are doing is risk-taking, it’s not enough to make you go, ‘Wow!’ And there is a lot of it out there, but it isn’t really being pushed for. I’m talking about the mainstream and other current scenes. But it’s all subjective. We’re all in it together. We all help each other out. And we all know how hard we have to actually work to dance around onstage. I think that’s the best thing about the current music scene.

Years & Years photo by Mike Massaro / Wolf Alice photo by Jordan Hughes

tears of joy roll down my face. Dylan’s ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’’ is why I started writing songs.

And Elvis. Fabric inspires me, pretty girls inspire me, pretty boys inspire me.

Nature, destruction and love as well.

Growing Up I have been surrounded by music. A fair bit – everyone is. But the great stuff was handed to me on a silver platter by my folks, including nursery rhymes. I think one’s childhood greatly affects the rest of their life. It’s a magical time. My parents were musos. My mum, a

the BRAG presents

BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15 :: 5

live & local

free stuff

welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town... with Chris Martin, Vanessa Papastavros and Jade Smith

head to: thebrag.com/freeshit

on the record WITH

ROB SNARSKI initially attracted by the beautiful melody, his laconic vocal delivery and the lovely, sparse production.

There are some interesting sounds on this album, mainly through drum programming/loops shared with piano and strings.

The occasional lyric pops out...

“It’s hard to be a lover when the TV’s on / And nothing’s in your eyes”.

The First Thing I Recorded 3.

My brother Mark and I formed our first band, Chad’s Tree, in 1983. We recorded five songs at Shelter Studios in the Perth northern suburb of Wanneroo, and it encapsulated the music that informed us at the time.

My brother may cringe, but it’s glorious to my ears.

The First Record I Bought We had a pretty basic set1. up at home: a small turntable with

and blistering guitar solos; a touch Spinal Tap.

speakers, and not a vast record collection. My first purchase was The Sweet Greatest Hits with the classics ‘Fox On The Run’ and ‘Ballroom Blitz’. Pretty glam with some ridiculously high singing

The Last Record I The Last Thing I Bought Recorded 2.

4.

I’ve always liked Damon Albarn’s I’ve just released an album called voice. I heard the title track of his solo album Everyday Robots on the radio one morning and was

THE FUTURE IS NOW

A highlight event on Sydney’s all-ages music scene, Future Is Now, is set to make its debut at a new venue. The Bald Faced Stag will host the happenings on Sunday July 12, with music from the likes of Le Pie and Lupa J, supported

by Suiix and Trip Fontaine. If you want to discover the sound of Sydney in ten years’ time, this could be the place to start.

GANBARU AND THE STRUGGLE

Melbourne hardcore band Ganbaru and Brisbane’s The Struggle are teaming up for a run of shows along the east coast this month.

Formerly known as Declaration, the tour will mark the first time the Ganbaru guys head interstate with their new name, while this is The Struggle’s biggest tour yet. Catch them at

5.

The Record That Changed My Life With certain songs, I remember the exact moment I heard them for the first time. The first time I heard the intertwining, angular, obtuse guitar of Television’s ‘See No Evil’ from their debut Marquee Moon was one such moment: the nasal twang of Verlaine’s vocal, the interplay between the musicians. It’s so well crafted and sounds stunning.

At that moment I decided I wanted to play guitar exactly like that.

What: Low Fidelity out now through Rocket With: Shane O’Mara Where: The Vanguard Where: Friday July 3

BLUR

Britpop legends Blur are on their way Down Under for the first time in 18 years.

Yes, Damon Albarn and co. are finally fulfilling on that obscure promise they made all those years ago – “It really, really, really could happen” – and coming to our shores to headline Splendour In The Grass, as well as play their biggest ever standalone shows on Australian soil. The rekindled enthusiasm for all things Blur follows the release of their comeback album, The Magic Whip – a universally acclaimed return to form, crafted out of five days’ worth of recordings in Hong Kong two years ago. Blur certainly are excited to be coming back to Australia, and you can read all about their visit in our interview on p.11 this week.

Blur will play Qantas Credit Union Arena on Saturday July 25 with support from Jamie T, and we’ve got two double passes to give away. Head to thebrag.com/ freeshit for your chance to win.

Blackwire Records on Friday July 3. They’ll be joined by Boneless and Homesick.

xxx

IRISH EYES ARE SMILING

Touring company Troubadour Music is celebrating a tenth birthday in 2015, and a show will take place this week to mark the occasion.

The Glasgow-born Irish rebel singer Gary Og and platinum-selling performer Ryan Sheridan will join forces on four tour dates this month, becoming the latest in a long line of Troubadour bookings Down Under after Damien Dempsey, Sinéad O’Connor, Brian Kennedy and more. Og and Sheridan play Bondi’s Tea Gardens Hotel this Saturday July 4 with local support from The Rumjacks and Mick McHugh.

Low Fidelity using recordings initially taken from my iPhone, all of which are songs requested

by fans. Pulp to Spiritualized, Glen Campbell to Joni Mitchell, classics to contemporary – it’s a mixed bag. I’ve had friends say it’s the purest thing I’ve done and a true celebration of my voice.

ALONG CAME THOMAS

Sydney singer-songwriter Thomas James is set to showcase his solo material for the first time following his debut single ‘Not Anymore’.

Having gigged around Sydney in various guises before heading to Europe to perform solo and with other projects – including a stint at Glastonbury Festival 2014 as part of Freddie Vernon’s band – James’ experiences abroad fed into his upcoming Humane EP. Entirely selfrecorded and produced, the EP is the product of travel and introspection; music that digs deeper into tales of people and circumstance. For his debut performance, James will be offering his brand of indie-folk up close and personal at The Newsagency on Friday July 3 with support from fellow troubadour Trent Williams.

NGAIIRE IN NEWTOWN

Australian songwriter Ngaiire will take to the stage next month off the back of her new single, ‘Once’. Co-written by Megan Washington and produced by Paul Mac, ‘Once’ is the first single from Ngaiire’s forthcoming sophomore album, Blastoma.

It marks a new direction for Ngaiire after her debut release took her on a world tour including shows with Alicia Keys, John Legend and a slot at Glastonbury. See her at Newtown Social Club on Thursday August 6.

Kooii

GOOD VIBRATIONS

Looking for a night of good, clean fun? Then Onespace’s underground gigs are tailored for your taste. Onespace is an organisation within the conscious music community that offers an anti-nightclub and drug-free environment, instead relying on the good vibes of healthy food and live music to get across a message of safe and responsible entertainment.

The upcoming One Vibrations gig will feature members of Xavier Rudd’s United Nations band in the form of Peter Hunt’s group Kooii and drummer Bobby Alu. The live night at Paddington Chapel promises good food, high-energy dance and a friendly environment.

At least this way you’ll remember everything that happens from go to woah, and probably won’t drop your phone down the toilet while you’re there. The event takes place on Saturday August 1.

Winston Surfshirt

SIMA SERIES

Two great talents are hosting album launches this weekend as part of the Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA)’s new July/August performance series. First up is Paul Cutlan, the composer and bass clarinettist who melds classical and jazz music in a style that spans centuries, never mind generations. Across The Top is his new feature, launching at the Seymour Centre’s Sound Lounge on Friday July 3. Meanwhile, the same venue will host The Cooking Club on Saturday July 4 for a night that has less to do with culinary delights and more to do with high-energy jazz, performed by members of Project Collective Ska and Caravana Sun.

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ANARCHY IN THE USA

The good ol’ USA is in the news for the right reasons at the moment (fancy that!), and just in time for its beloved Independence Day, Saturday July 4. Bondi’s Beach Road Hotel is celebrating the night in question with a star-spangled party headlined by Winston Surfshirt, the musical chameleon who takes influences as diverse as John Lennon and André 3000 and fuses them into an irresistible groove. Mr. Belvedere will take charge of the decks in support. ’Murica!

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ReclinkCommunityCup#5080_photo Rod Hunt

The Cooking Club

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Industrial Strength Music Industry News with Christie Eliezer

THINGS WE HEAR * Which budding festival promoter showed his true mettle when one of his acts got delayed in traffic? He rushed to the band onstage and signalled them to keep playing. After 20 minutes, the singer shuffled side of stage and told him they’d exhausted the songs they knew. “Play them again!” he ordered. * Was it a guilty conscience or social media pressure which saw the thief of an iconic pub sign return it – reportedly for a case of beer? * David Guetta has become the first DJ to hit two billion

Spotify plays, joining Eminem and Ed Sheeran in the highly exclusive list. * It looks like Netflix has won the battle of the new streaming services in Australia. According to Roy Morgan research, Netflix has reached one million users since it launched in March, with Australia’s Presto at 97,000, Stan at 91,000 and Quickflix at 43,000. The competitors have sharply questioned the figures. * The ABC’s TV broadcast of Blood And Thunder: The Sound Of Alberts was watched by 515,000 viewers. It covered the musical success of the Albert and Young families. * After being mistaken for one another, lookalikes Ruby Rose and Justin Bieber bonded

THE NEW FACE OF MUZEEK BOOKINGS

Muzeek is a new Sydney start-up that claims it will revolutionise the way the music industry does its live bookings. Co-founder Danny Fiorentini, owner of Las Vegas’ Outbox Records, said he found the standard process of booking gigs for his acts slow and tedious.

The Muzeek site allows artists, venues, managers and promoters to send out booking requests and incorporates the sharing of contracts, worksheets and payment. Acts can post links to social media, videos and info such as music style, location, cost and availability. Venues post their schedule, and either pay a subscription of AU$100 a month or eight per cent per booking.

Fiorentini argues that unlike the recorded music industry, the live sector has not caught up to digital developments. The online process aims to cut costs for venues and make more money for bands. Muzeek launched in beta last year and has 5,000 accounts including VICE’s Noisey, Vivid Festival and many venues. Muzeek has already received AU$250,000 of seed funding this year from Sydney Angels and will seek further capital to expand from Silicon Valley.

COPS CLOSE DOWN REGIONAL RAVE

Police last month shut down the Fruity Melon Festival rave on New South Wales’ Coffs Coast. More than 1,000 ravers were reportedly at the all-night party on private property, but it was closed down after noise complaints. A 22-year-old man from Lismore was charged with the supply of illegal drugs after a Tarago van with six people, whom authorities claim were on their way to the rave, was searched. The alleged cache included 97 ecstasy pills, two bottles of LSD liquid and cannabis. The man faced Coffs Harbour Local Court on Monday and is on remand until he returns on August 25.

MUSICNSW LAUNCHES QUICK RESPONSE GRANTS

MusicNSW has announced the dates for its 2015 Quick Response Grant Program.

It supports musicians and artist managers in developing export opportunities while attending Australian industry conferences, trade fairs and other career-defining

on social media and are now hanging out. * Sia’s ‘Big Girls Cry’ has gone platinum in Australia while Birds Of Tokyo’s Anchor EP is certified gold. * Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker and Boy George joined Mark Ronson during his set at the UK’s Glastonbury Festival. * The second floor of San Diego charity shop Thrift Trader collapsed due to the weight of the vinyl records it stocked. * The video for Liam Finn’s new single ‘Wrestle With Dad’ sees him wrestling with Neil in their underwear – something they’ve been doing since he was a kid. * Tyler, The Creator paid a fan £20 to come onstage and eat vomit from a soaked towel at a

opportunities in 2015 – think Bigsound, Face The Music, EMC and AWME. You can apply for one-off funding of up to AU$850 per member of the touring party, with a total limit of AU$5,500. Before applying, read through the 2015 Quick Response Guidelines to ensure you are eligible at musicnsw.com.

DEADMAU5 SETTLES WITH DISNEY OVER LOGO

Canadian DJ superstar Deadmau5 has settled a dispute with Disney over the design of the mouse head he wears onstage. After trademarking the logo in 30 countries over the past ten years, the DJ (Joel Zimmerman) tried to trademark it in the US last September for use on merchandising and endorsement deals, including BMX bikes. But Disney objected. It said it was “nearly identical” to Disney’s mouse ears (Mickey Mouse’s popularity has seen them used since 1928 in films, music and cartoons) and would confuse people. But reports say the dispute has been settled amicably, although no specific details are clear.

CALIGULA’S HORSE SIGN WORLDWIDE DEAL

Brisbane band Caligula’s Horse have struck a record deal with Inside Out Music (of the Century Media family). Its founder/ CEO Thomas Waber called them “one of the most exciting Australian bands we have heard in quite a while”. Singer Jim Grey said, “This is a huge step for us – we’re thrilled to be working with Inside Out, not to mention the honour of sharing a roster with some of our musical heroes … we’re all absolutely stoked!” This year, Caligula’s Horse signed with Wild Thing Presents (management), The Agency Group (North American bookings) and AMF Publishing. In October they will tour Europe for the first time, including a slot on ProgPower Europe Festival in the Netherlands.

SXSW MEET AND GREET NIGHT

A free SXSW meet-and-greet will be held at Newtown Social Club on Tuesday July 14. It will feature a panel of SXSW veterans giving tips, alongside a screening of the film Outside Industry on the history of the iconic music, film and interactive festival. The meet comes in the wake of the opening of submissions for band showcases and films,

Bristol, UK show. * The new owners of the Alexandria Hotel, which hosts live music on Sundays, plan to turn it into a four-storey residential tower. * After playing to a massive crowd at London’s Hyde Park, Chic’s Nile Rodgers went busking on South Bank and earned £12.30. * Ed Sheeran has claimed another record. His ‘Thinking Out Loud’ track spent a full year in the UK’s Top 40. Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ was in for 49 weeks, and John Legend’s ‘All Of Me’ 44 weeks. Frank Sinatra notched up 75 weeks with ‘My Way’ between April 1969 and September 1971, but it was not a consecutive stay.

as well as those who want to propose speaking at a panel topic. For further info, contact Phil Tripp at tripp@sxsw.com.

APPLE MUSIC CHANGES TUNE ON INDIES

Following widespread condemnation from the indie sector (and Taylor Swift refusing to list her 1989 album), Apple Music will pay indie artists during its three-month free trial.

Dan Nevin, CEO of AIR – which was highly vocal about at the initial plan – said, “[We] look forward to the independent sector continuing to develop a stronger relationship with Apple and have opportunities to benefit from their new service.”

LINKIN PARK TURN VENTURE CAPITALISTS

After selling 60 million albums and 30 million singles, Linkin Park have used their moolah to invest in a number of startups, including the delivery app Shyp and carshare app Lyft. Now they’ve hired a “creative business executive” to expand their business into technology, gaming, fashion and lifestyle content.

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE TO LOCK OUT GIGS IN 2017

The Sydney Opera House will temporarily close its venues to performances and concerts as part of its upgrade to facilities.

The 1,500-seat Joan Sutherland Theatre, about to go through a AU$45 million upgrade of its (original) lighting and machinery, will close from May to December 2017. Down the track, the 2,680seat Concert Hall will also close during a AU$150 million overhaul.

NEW MUSIC ACADEMY FOR BYRON BAY

Some of Byron Bay’s music community have set up a not-for-profit music academy.

The Cape Byron Music Academy aims to encourage music excellence in students while not excluding anyone on their ability to pay. One of the founders, Phil Shayer of retailer Ernst Kaps Pianoforte, set up a similar initiative in the UK. Courses include guitar, piano, sax, flute, strings, vocals, music theory, therapy and songwriting.

The academy is at 67 Centennial Circuit, Industrial Estate.

Lifelines Expecting: Sydney nightclub owner Justin Hemmes and model Kate Fowler.

Divorced: Google co-founder Sergey Brin and wife Anne Wojcicki after eight years.

Injured: Alex Lyman, guitarist with US band Slaves, was stabbed and called a “faggot in skinny jeans” in an unprovoked attack.

Ill: Marco Goldsmith, guitarist, singer and songwriter of Warrnambool blues band Blue Heat, will soon begin radiotherapy for throat cancer.

Ill: Nickelback cancelled their North American tour after Chad Kroeger was diagnosed with a vocal cyst.

Hospitalised: Melbourne folk band The April Maze’s Sivan Agam for emergency surgery due to severe abdominal pain, forcing them to cancel a UK tour.

Recovering: INXS’ Kirk Pengilly revealed he was diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year and got the allclear after a fi ve-hour surgery at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Sydney.

In Court: Rebecca Hannibal, the 18-year-old who gave her 19-year-old friend Georgina Bartter the one-and-a-half ecstasy pills at Harbourlife that caused her death, has escaped jail on a 12-month good behaviour bond. She pleaded guilty at Downing Centre Local Court. Judge Graeme Henson said Hannibal “is not legally responsible” for the death.

Arrested: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, for a punch-up with his son’s football coach. Diddy claims the man had been bullying the boy for three years.

Died: prolifi c New Orleans jazz musician Harold Battiste, 83.

He contributed to the careers of Sonny & Cher, Sam Cooke and Dr. John.

Died: singer, guitarist, pianist and songwriter Wendell Holmes of US funk/soul act The Holmes Brothers, 71, after complications due to pulmonary hypertension.

Died: Louisiana rapper Young Ready, 31, in a shooting.

Died: Chris Squire, 67, bassist and founding member of British prog rockers Yes, after a battle with leukaemia.

ENTERTAINMENT MANAGER Hold the keys to entertaining Tasmania. This is a unique opportunity to bring live entertainment to premier venues across Tasmania.

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THE GETAWAY PLAN Four Horsemen Take A Ride By Adam Norris

F

or almost two years, The Getaway Plan, well, got away. Since hurtling themselves onto the scene in 2006 with the Hold Conversation EP, the motley crew from Melbourne began an ascent into popularity that very nearly took on a life of its own. Constant touring, two top 20 charting albums and commitments across the globe made for an incredible ride – but success had come early, with the band’s members still teenagers and not prepared for the dark side of fame.

Lead singer Matthew Wright looks back on the reasons behind their

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“When it happened, we absolutely had no intention of ever, ever coming back,” Wright says. “There was a long period where we didn’t even speak. Maybe a year and a half. I didn’t speak with any of the other members of the band. There was a bit of bad blood. The break-up came out of the blue, too. It all happened within maybe two weeks.

“We’d just finished up on the Big Day Out tour, which was amazing, and then all of a sudden things just turned to shit. Yeah. We definitely had no intention of coming back, but I guess two years later I bumped into Clint [Ellis, guitar] in the city, and we were both drunk of course, and we kind of made up. We realised that we weren’t done with TGP. We’d been going through the same kind of shit with our other bands, and realised what we’d thrown away and what we were missing. From there it was only a matter of months before we were back writing and working on the next record.”

Set for release this Friday, Dark Horses already has a mountain of hype behind it. Following a few lineup changes, and given the reputation the band has developed for its live shows (for which tickets often sell out within the first hour), there are a lot of eyes on Wright and his cohorts. What listeners will most likely be first struck by is the record’s variety. There are broad differences between tracks like ‘Castles In The Air’ and the titular ‘Dark Horses’, and great swings again to a song like ‘Dreamer/Parallels’. If nothing else, it’s an album that keeps you on your toes.

“With any record, we’ve never really made a conscious effort to do anything in particular. We wrote nearly 40 songs going into this album, which is more than we’ve ever done before. Usually we just scrape by,” Wright laughs. “To get all of them out, we’d have to release a fucking triple album or something.

But this time we really went for it, and I think it happens after a while when you’re writing that many songs, you just want to go places you haven’t really been before.

“You know, I’ve browsed this SongMeanings website, it’s basically like a forum where people get on and discuss what they think the stories behind songs are.

There’s some pretty hilarious shit there. I think my songs are pretty cryptic anyway, at least our older stuff. A lot of it is really fucking jargon, man. I was a little kid, I barely even knew what I was doing.

Just putting words to paper and screaming them as loud as I could,” he laughs.

“I think the song choices for the record was just choosing the best tunes that we could. There wasn’t trying to create a dynamic or anything. I think the way the record sits now, it was a very natural process. But we’ve always had a couple of songs that are left at the end of a record, and often those are the starting point for the next album.

There’s always one or two songs that we overshoot where we’re at musically. We’re unable to actually achieve what we’re trying to create.

But those ones are usually good starting points. Basically, we’re not going to release some fucking pile of shit, which is what most of those other songs are right now.”

“I think the songwriter in me has developed a lot more in the last five years. I think the thing is, because we’re in that middle period right now, it’s hard for me to be able to listen to the album from a different perspective. Like, trying to listen to it from a fan’s perspective, let’s say. We’ve just been in fucking cabin fever mode, listening to the songs over and over and over and over, listening to a particular point of a song on repeat, even if it’s just ten seconds again and again. After a while it just starts sounding like a fucking big blur, basically. So I need some time separated from that, and then I need to know that it’s out there, I need to know I don’t have to think about that aspect of it anymore. And then I can start to think about what I really feel about the record.”

Although he’s intrigued by what fans are going to think about their sound in 2015, Wright’s focus is on something far from outside reception. Having listened to the finished album only a handful of times, he is still in the process of letting go of these songs and establishing just what each one means to the band. Regardless of what Wright feels, however, he has found in the past that others are always going to bring their own interpretation to the material.

That notion of needing perspective seems an unavoidable evil across most art. Finding the time and discipline to remove yourself from a genuine labour of love is no simple task, but looking on your work with fresh eyes can be an illuminating, if frightening thing. In this regard, The Getaway Plan’s hiatus might have proved their saving grace.

Each member could drift to other projects and come back having rediscovered their excitement for the band. The necessity of a future break, however, seems rather low on the list.

“Nah. We’ve learnt to manage things differently. Before the breakup we were absolute slaves to this band, you know? We didn’t have private lives, we were away for fucking ten months of the year, and we didn’t even have a chance before that to know what normal life was like. We started when we were 16 years old, just out of school. I’m pretty sure it was a few weeks after I finished Year 12 that we started our first national tour, and that didn’t slow down until we broke up. But we manage things differently now.

We’re a lot older, and we’re a lot more grateful, more appreciative of things.

“Having lost it, and then having the chance to go back – well, we see things in a very different light now.

There are some dark sides to it for sure, some really, really dark sides that a lot of people might not think are there. But I wouldn’t change a thing. It’s been fucking incredible and I’ve had an amazing life.”

What: Dark Horses out independently on Friday July 3 Where: Oxford Art Factory When: Friday September 11 And: Also appearing at The Small Ballroom, Newcastle on Thursday September 3; The Entrance Leagues Club on Friday September 4; and Studio Six, Sutherland on Saturday September 5

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“Before the break-up we were absolute slaves to this band. We didn’t have private lives, we were away for fucking ten months of the year, and we didn’t even have a chance before that to know what normal life was like.”

2009/10 hiatus, and how new album Dark Horses came galloping into life.

Blur Holding On For Tomorrow By Chris Martin

T

he journey to Blur’s comeback album began in unfavourable circumstances. The reunited British indie icons had been booked for the 2013 Tokyo Rocks music festival – yet another bigger-thanever gig since their live reunion on home soil in 2009 – but barely a month from showtime, the event got scrapped. With a spare five days on their touring schedule, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree convened to a recording studio in Hong Kong: a chance to mess around with some new musical ideas, see where the mood would take them. Two years later, the material from those sessions has been fashioned into The Magic Whip, a universally lauded return to form on this lineup’s first full record since the 1999 masterpiece, 13.

Indeed, Blur have a history of building bridges over troubled waters, from the upheaval in Albarn’s personal life that birthed 13 to the departure of Coxon before 2003’s nonetheless excellent Think Tank. During those 24 months between the genesis of The Magic Whip and its release, Blur were booked for a headlining slot on the 2014 Big Day Out tour in Australia and New Zealand. Eight weeks out from the festival, they cancelled their visit.

“It certainly wasn’t a happy time for us,” says Rowntree, the band’s drummer and a high-profile member of the UK Labour Party. “We were really looking forward to coming – in fact, I was desperately excited at the prospect of coming to Australia – but I just think we picked a rather rickety old ship to sail on.

We probably should have picked something a bit more solid.”

At the time, Big Day Out pointed the finger at Blur for being inflexible

over playing times and staging. Now that the festival’s future is perilous at best, Rowntree maintains the band hadn’t a choice. “It’s difficult to know what to do in those situations,” he says. “We were a long way away from it, and couldn’t see at the outset that things weren’t quite as they were being represented to us, so when it became clear that was what was going on, it meant that we had to cancel it all rather late in the day.”

This time around, Blur have chosen Splendour In The Grass and a couple of sideshows to make their return Down Under. Their first shows here in 18 years will also be their biggest, belying the suggestion the band’s heyday came and went with the so-called Britpop era.

“It’s as if we’d never taken a break; it’s as if we’d carried on making music throughout those years,” says Rowntree. “We’ve kind of grown and grown, even in our absence – maybe even because of our absence. Maybe that gave people a chance to catch up and listen to all the old albums – I have no idea.”

When he looks back now on the ’90s Britpop period – the days of ‘Parklife’ and ‘Country House’; when Blur battled Oasis for chart supremacy and Tony Blair threw a ‘Cool Britannia’ party at Downing Street to cash in on British pop music’s newly rediscovered cultural capital – Rowntree is slightly baffled.

“We weren’t invited to that party – or I think we may have been invited but we didn’t go. We weren’t on the list of bands that epitomised all of that at the time. There’s this dreadful word ‘Britpop’ that was coined, and people look back and make this assumption that we were spearheading that

somehow, but actually that was very little to do with us.”

Rowntree pauses to consider the prevailing idea that Blur were leaders of this cultural movement, and chuckles. “We may have kicked it off, but by the time it all happened we were thinking about other things.

The new album doesn’t sing about Englishness and Britishness and ‘la la la’ and characters running around parks – we haven’t done that for a long, long time.”

The Magic Whip instead distils the atmosphere of Hong Kong around the time of those initial sessions, and from when Albarn returned there in late 2014 to finish his lyrics. In between, the project was headed

by Coxon and Blur’s producer from the old days, Stephen Street, who together worked on editing the recordings into a cohesive set of songs.

“After that initial editing process, some excited emails with a few of those edits circulated to all of us, and we were all fired up with enthusiasm,” Rowntree explains. “[Then] more refi ned edits were played to Damon to see if he was up for making an album out of them. The fact that Alex and I were up for making an album was a given, because we were jumping up and down going, ‘Let’s make an album!’ Damon rather wearily said yes, because it was clear from the quality of what they’d done so far that this was going to have to be an album, and he was going to have to juggle quite a few things this year.

“It’s certainly a very different way of making a record, not something we’ve ever done before, so you never quite know how things are going to go … It may have been the case that we went in, had fun

making some new music, and actually when we listened to it back it wasn’t any good, or wasn’t good enough, or wasn’t inspiring enough to carry us forward.

“A lot of things came together, a lot of happy coincidences and accidents happened, that meant this album could happen.”

What: Splendour In The Grass 2015 With: Florence + The Machine, Mark Ronson, Of Monsters & Men, The Wombats Where: North Byron Parklands When: Friday July 24 – Sunday July 26 And: Also appearing with Jamie T at Qantas Credit Union Arena on Saturday July 25 More: The Magic Whip out now through Parlophone/Warner

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Ceres Out Of The Woodwork By Augustus Welby “They were two big bands for me that really made me want to try and write songs. Kisschasy as well of course, that was a big one.

“I was in Year 12 in 2003 and that was the second wave emo boom,” he continues. “At the start of that was incredible – Dashboard Confessional and Taking Back Sunday and Brand New and all those kind of bands. And that comes from listening to Blink-182 as a kid.”

By the time Ceres popped into view in mid-2012, the second wave of emo had all but dissipated. Nevertheless, after a couple of EP releases, they’d gathered enough interest to nab a spot on the Melbourne leg of the 2014 Soundwave Festival. A couple of months later, Ceres dropped their debut LP, I Don’t Want To Be Anywhere But Here, and thanks to some triple j airtime, plenty of people were waiting to gobble it up.

OK, so the record wasn’t a smash hit success, but it certainly struck a significant chord with listeners around the country. However, on the cusp of the album’s release, the band wasn’t feeling massively confident.

W

ithout unfairly pigeonholing Ceres, the Melbourne quartet’s sopping wet emo rock aligns them with a number of Aussie bands who’ve gained increasing recognition in recent years. It’s difficult to pinpoint what catalysed this semi-movement, but it’s fair to say the popularity of The Smith Street Band opened listeners up to bands like Ceres as well as Hobart’s Luca Brasi, Adelaide’s Paper Arms and Brisbane’s The Gifthorse.

When you search for the local progenitors of this sound, the likes of Horsell Common, Blueline Medic and Kisschasy come to mind – all of whom seem to have left an imprint on Ceres’ sound.

However, Lanyon can’t claim to be an underground music buff.

“We were so green when we started,” he says. “I hardly even went to Melbourne punk shows. I went to see a lot of US bands that came out, but I never really supported the Melbourne DIY scene, which sucks because it’s given me so much back. I feel kind of guilty about it. Every time I play a show I’m like, ‘Oh God, I don’t deserve these people singing these songs back at me.’”

Despite being a late bloomer, Ceres’ well-constructed songs indicate that Lanyon isn’t an utter philistine. He fills us in on what compelled him to start making music. “When I was a kid, Jebediah were my favourite band,” he says. “I was a tragic Motor Ace fan.

“We recorded that in October 2013 and didn’t release it until April 2014,” Lanyon says. “It makes you sick, but you just listen to it the whole time. By the end, just before we were going to release it, I was like, ‘This thing is fucked – no-one’s going to like it, the songs aren’t cool.’ I just had the craziest doubts about it.

“I was super excited to release it, I couldn’t wait for people to hear it,” he adds. “But there was definitely a feeling of being like, ‘Should we just sit on this record and do a new one?’”

However, once he witnessed listeners’ reactions to the record, Lanyon’s

Not willing to test the limits of their good fortune, Ceres have kept busy in the 14 months since the album’s release, unleashing the Selfish Prick EP last November and following it up with the single ‘Ceres Is For Lovers’ earlier this year.

“I wonder what it would’ve been like if it just bombed and no-one was into it except for our mums,” Lanyon says.

“But it was definitely like a carriage in front of a donkey, to get back in there. We figured, if people are around listening to the songs, we may as well get them while we can and just keep releasing stuff. Selfish Prick was a scrappy seven-inch we recorded over three days down in Tassie. We wanted to keep it secret and just drop it on people as a semi-surprise. Now we just want to keep recording. We can’t wait to start this new record, start recording it.”

What: Selfi sh Prick out now through Hobbledehoy With: The Pretty Littles, Sincerely Grizzly Where: The Factory Floor When: Friday July 10

Fraser A. Gorman Happiness Is A Warm Gum By Augustus Welby It’s somewhat incongruous to hear Gorman discuss music from a strategic, business-minded point of view. See, while he doesn’t strictly make country music, he’s always presented a down-home, workmanlike image. Slow Gum showcases the unique identity he’s cultivated out of existing tools and methods. But it wasn’t always a confident ride.

“I constantly have doubts about whether I’m qualified to do anything, really,” he says. “But my philosophy in life is, whatever you do, give it a crack, don’t be scared. In taking that on board, I really like songwriters, and that tends to lean me towards a lot of country artists, like Townes Van Zandt or Guy Clark, or newer purveyors of country-esque music, like Justin Townes Earle or Wilco or Cass McCombs. So I don’t know whether I’m qualified to do it, but I don’t think you get qualified to do it without just doing it.”

F

raser A. Gorman first registered on the radar way back in mid2012 with the release of his self-titled debut EP. Within months of its arrival, the Melbourne songwriter was playing decent-sized headline shows and even landed a spot at that year’s Meredith Music Festival.

In the ensuing time, his profile has continued to rise, thanks to a slow drip feed of singles and support slots with the likes of Justin Townes Earle, C.W. Stoneking and Augie March, plus a recent UK tour with Courtney Barnett.

Now, nearly three years on from his debut EP, Gorman has unveiled his first full-length, Slow Gum, via 12 :: BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15

Barnett’s Milk! Records imprint. “The record was finished recording about a year and a half ago, but it was mixed and mastered maybe a year ago,” Gorman says. “In between that time, I changed a few things around.

I got a permanent touring band, I got the management team that I wanted to work with and picked up an overseas label. I took my time and now I’m in a position where I’m going to put out this album and, for better or for worse, a handful of people might listen to it.”

He’s underselling himself just a wee bit here. Comprising ten tracks and clocking in at just over 35 minutes, Slow Gum features

several songs that will be familiar to those who’ve eagerly followed Gorman’s progress over the past three years. His four most recent singles are all on there, stretching as far back as ‘Dark Eyes’, which landed in early 2013.

“Because making the record took such a long time, I was like, ‘Fuck, I’ve got to do something,’ so I decided to slowly leak singles,” he says. “It sort of worked to my advantage, because I think that music these days, especially when you’re a new artist, is a singles game. It’s a good way to keep people updated with what you’re doing.”

Above all else, the songs on Slow Gum are distinguished by Gorman’s vocals. The tone and character of his voice – immediate and conversational, if a little gruff and not entirely nimble – have played a crucial role in converting casual listeners into avid fans. It isn’t a classically beautiful voice, so it will also have caused some listeners to turn away. That might seem like an odd paradox, but the same applies to the likes of Bob Dylan, Bill Callahan, Arthur Russell and Lou Reed – artists whose key distinction is a make-or-break issue.

“They’re all artists that I absolutely love, and the way that they’re singing is very divisive,” Gorman says. “I definitely learnt a lot about my voice making Slow Gum, just because I’ve never done that much recording and there’s a lot of different styles of songs on the record. You can only roll

with what you’ve got, and when you try to make something that you’ve got not what it is, people can usually see through that. So I guess I just try to make do with what I’ve got. The way you sing is your style. If people don’t like it, then whatever.”

By making do with the tools available to him, the 24-year-old Gorman finds himself in an enviable position on the cusp of his debut LP. Not only are plenty of listeners around the nation and parts of the globe aware of his music, but there’s a high level of anticipation for what comes next.

Perhaps with good reason, Gorman is quietly confident that this is only the beginning.

“You’ve got to believe in yourself, because if you don’t, no-one else will.

So I think things are going to keep moving forward. I’ve been lucky and fortunate that my career has not really blown up – it’s just moved upwards in a really nice manner. It’s moved along at the same pace as me, which is a really nice way to go about making music.

“I really admire people like Courtney Barnett, who had this huge spike in her career but she totally kept a level head and wrote even more really good songs. A lot of younger artists that that happens to, they flip out and think they’re gods for a couple of weeks and then they really struggle to back it up. I’m really grateful for how things have panned out and I’m looking forward to having heaps more fun and doing more shows and making more records.”

What: Slow Gum out now through Milk!/Caroline With: Big White Where: Newtown Social Club When: Friday July 10 thebrag.com

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“That was all a happy accident,” says Ceres frontman Tom Lanyon.

“When we started the band we almost instantly fell into that kind of

scene – the Reverence [Hotel], the old Arthouse scene in Melbourne.

It’s so lucky. I don’t really know how; I assume it is because of likeminded sensibilities in the music.

But I feel like we just fell into it and started making friends that way, and those friends were also in other bands, including Smith Street and Luca Brasi.”

doubts were instantly repealed. “It was so crazy that people connected to it the way they did,” he says. “We’ve had people telling us about their favourite songs and how they helped them through stuff. That is the most clichéd thing – I can’t believe I can say that.

How many times have you read an interview where a kid’s like, ‘This song helped me through my life, blah blah blah’? But a kid said that to me and it just blew my mind. So the response was ridiculous. The way people connected to it seemed pretty deep and I was like, ‘Maybe this doesn’t happen for a lot of bands. Maybe we got lucky here.’”

Refused Rewriting Punk History By Augustus Welby The majority of Freedom was tracked in Los Angeles with producer Nick Launay (Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Midnight Oil). However, the band also teamed up with young Swedish producer Shellback on two tracks, including ‘Elektra’.

Given that Shellback made his name writing and producing songs for the likes of Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, Lily Allen and Pink, it was a most unlikely partnership.

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Refused photo by Dustin Rabin

or nearly two decades, the three studio LPs and various EPs released in Refused’s heyday have been consigned to history. Not long after the Swedish hardcore kings issued The Shape Of Punk To Come in 1998, they abruptly split up. However, in early 2012, this story sprouted a new chapter. Refused, with core lineup intact, announced they’d be playing that year’s Coachella Festival, followed by a global tour.

After their maiden Australian visit in late 2012, however, Refused made it clear the reunion would soon end, and there were no plans to record more music. But this was nothing but a bluff, as the band’s fourth album Freedom rocketed into view last weekend.

“It was great to play [The Shape Of Punk live] because we realised that stuff feels good,” says

drummer David Sandström. “But we also discovered that there was a lot of room for improvement, not just in the playing, but there were things that we hadn’t done so well and there was a lot of stuff left unexplored. That process was a part of the inspiration for making new music. Me and Kris [Steen, guitar] would be backstage before a show and we were like, ‘We don’t really have a song that does this.’”

Freedom was recorded in mid-2014, and the band did an exceptional job at keeping it a secret. In fact, there was absolutely no news about the album until late April when Refused unleashed its lead single, ‘Elektra’. On the one hand, ‘Elektra’ is the sound of the Swedish punks taking a hearty

wed

“We sort of feel we need to prove ourselves as a contemporary band now – that there’s a point to us being around,” says Sandström.

“It’s perfectly understandable that there’s talk on nostalgia, but it’s a concept that I’m not familiar with.

It removes any sense of progress or uncertainty or any type of danger from the artistic process, which just makes things bland.”

“We were getting ready to go to LA and suddenly I just get this email where one of the songs that we’d sent him – which was a six-and-a-half-minute mammoth – he’d done his own version of it, recorded drums, bass and guitar in his own studio, and it was two-and-a-half minutes long. We immediately thought that it was a better version than our song.

“The process in LA was brilliant, but when we got back home, we realised that particular song, ‘Elektra’, we hadn’t nailed it. So we decided to re-record the whole song back in Stockholm, and we had asked Shellback to produce it.”

As odd as it seems, the decision

“We’re sort of an eclectic rock band,” says Sandström. “We have somewhat disparate infl uences – there might be a vibe of early speed metal, early Slayer to some songs, and then there’s elements of hip hop on another song, and then there’s some almost classic rock, Jimi Hendrix vibe somewhere. We sort of felt like we would need someone sort of old-school that could give us a consistent sound throughout the record.”

For a record made in 1998, The Shape Of Punk To Come has aged exceptionally well. Unlike many big albums made at that time, the instrument sounds are quite organic, which allows the record to continue to recruit fans today. Sandström and Steen spearheaded the Shape Of Punk recording sessions, but this time around, they couldn’t argue with Launay’s sonic vision. “He just thinks about things in a special way,” Sandström says. “It seemed he was on a whole other level.

I hardly understood a lot of the choices he made, but as soon as we listened back to stuff, we felt that he was consistently making the right decisions.”

What: Freedom out now through Epitaph/Warner

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step into the future – adding a touch of stadium gloss to their agile, economical hardcore punk.

But it also shows they haven’t abandoned their roots, harking back to ’80s thrash and the likes of early-era Soundgarden. Either way, one thing’s for sure: The Shape Of Punk might’ve become an unassailable part of hard rock history, but Refused weren’t interested in making a sequel.

“In July [last year] we basically felt we had the songs written,” says Sandström. “So me and Kris were like, ‘Maybe we should let someone listen to this before we go to LA to record.’ We’d met Shellback and it turns out that he grew up listening to Refused and playing in metal/hardcore bands.

So we just hit it off, and then, because he has a pop sensibility, we thought it would be interesting to see what he said about the songs.

to work with Shellback wasn’t made fl ippantly. In truth, Refused weren’t going to welcome anyone into their creative world unless they saw some constructive benefi t. Launay has decades of experience working with fi ercely independent rock bands, and he excels at preserving individual quirks while also capturing an energetic, tactile sound.

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The Babe Rainbow A Broad Spectrum By Adam Norris

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he Babe Rainbow have been leading busy lives of late. While it is disappointing to learn that none of the band members are actual rainbows, they make up for this deficiency with some of the freshest psychedelic pop tracks you’ve heard since… well, it’s hard to say. With a new tour just announced, the Byron Bay trio are still in something of a pupal stage, and comparisons to other acts are rather unnecessary.

As Dr. Elliot Love-Wisdom explains, they’re making the most of this cresting wave, and as long as they can keep making music, they don’t seem to mind where the currents will lead.

“We all have these different characters, and a lot of it is spontaneous,” he says. Love-Wisdom sounds pleasantly bemused when we talk, and given we were expecting to be chatting with bandmate Angus Dowling, it’s possible he didn’t know he’d be fronting the interview until this moment. “It’s definitely nice to drive in the moment,” says the bassist. “I think that’s when the best material will come out – when everything is clear and you’re not thinking about the process too much.”

Planned or not, talking with LoveWisdom is a true treat. His conversation is littered with vibrant analogies and unexpected turns, and he seems genuinely sincere in pondering the current shape of the band, not to mention the transformations ahead.

“I think that’s when the best material will come out – when everything is clear and you’re not thinking about the process too much.”

“More than ever now we appreciate our time together. We all still do a bit of work. Jack [Kool Breeze] builds gardens, Angus makes coffee and I make pizza at night, so our days are getting a bit more cramped. But it just means it’s all a little more special when we do get together. A few times a week we’ll get together and it will be like the old days. It all feels pretty natural, I guess. It’s exciting to get a bit more of the band stuff out there, something that’s away from the dayto-day. But I don’t think we’re as close as we’d like to be to our own sound.

“We just recorded our full-length album, and there are so many different time periods and styles there. Listening back to it now, we haven’t really narrowed down to any one thing. They all do have a collective sound, which is maturing, but I don’t think we’ve reached the peak with it all yet. It’s still exciting, and it gives us the energy to evolve. I think with a few more albums we’ll be even more distinctive.”

The fact The Babe Rainbow’s first LP has yet to drop and they are already peering off into the potential speaks volumes about the band’s ambitions.

Their ‘Ash May And Dr. Lovewisdom’ single tour is unfolding throughout July, with a self-titled EP due in August, and the album to arrive a few months after that – busy times for a band still seeding its sound.

“The EP is kind of lagging behind a little bit from a few months ago,” LoveWisdom admits. “We’d finished some of those songs a year ago, but it’s hard getting things out as quickly as you’d like. But this album kind of happened really quickly, and we’re so keen to get it out so we can keep moving forward. So that’s not going to be too far away at all; sometime in October or November, I think. That’s going to be amazing, all of the touring to come.

“The next six months are all mapped out on paper now – lots of action. That business side of things has been going really well. Things can move forward without us pushing it all the time, and [it] gives us more time to

focus on the music. So far, it’s been great. We love the team around us.

Nothing has been too cutthroat, you know?” he chuckles.

It’s interesting to hear Love-Wisdom sounding quite wistful for the adventures ahead. His heart is clearly enamoured with the idea of evolution, and the prospect of how the band will sound in five years’ time is anyone’s guess. The Babe Rainbow will keep moving forward, and if the development of their songs to date is any indication, there are even grander things ahead. Indeed, they have already travelled quite far from their prologue.

“We were a bit more reckless a few years ago. We were living in this house

in the country, we were all just experimenting a bit heavily, but it was all beautiful. We were all a bit younger, none of us had much responsibility, it was all very loose.

But as we got older, we’ve met our girlfriends, we got jobs, yada yada, it all becomes a bit more real. It’s nice to look back and see how the ball has rolled.

“A few of the songs that we’ve just recorded have gone through so many transformations. There are years of old riffs, little melodies, quirky little things lying around. Not much of it usually makes it to the recording, but then you’ll hear maybe a ghost of it a year later. It’s a good way to be reborn, I reckon. And then they fly off, like eagles.

“It’s amazing when you finally complete them. They sound so satisfied. You watch it grow up, it excites you, and then you stand away from it and see it more objectively. You enjoy it more after that growing process is complete, I think. You hope that they have a long life. You hope that they’re fruitful.”

What: The Babe Rainbow out Friday August 7 through Flightless/ Remote Control Where: Beach Road Hotel When: Wednesday July 8 And: Also appearing at Moonshine, Manly on Thursday July 9; Sweaty Betty’s, Miranda on Friday July 10; and Brighton Up Bar on Saturday July 11

Pretty City Triple Threat By Natalie Rogers “It feels like there’s a real synergy between us at the moment,” he adds. “We all feel really invested in this band and we know that each of our roles is integral to our success.

I don’t think we could function as a band and get the best out of each other unless we have equal input and ownership of everything.”

This theory was behind the band’s recent decision to release not one but three singles simultaneously.

‘Melt’, ‘Running Around’ and ‘Second Hand Clothes’ can all be found on their latest EP, The Triple A-Side.

“There are three of us and we’ve all got different taste in music,” says Schapper. “Each song on the EP is reflective of each of our personalities. There’s method to our madness, not simply flat-out indecision like everyone thought!

‘Melt’ is my baby. I absolutely love that song. Hugh [Matthews, lead vocals and guitar] sounds incredible on ‘Running Around’, and Johnny [John-Luis Moretti, guitar and vocals]’s energy and crazy party vibe ooze out of ‘Second Hand Clothes’.”

M

elbourne shoegaze sweethearts Pretty City are hungry for success – they’ve got a taste for life on the road and are keen for a slice of the pie. “We’ve played in Sydney fi ve or six times, but we’ve never played at Frankie’s Pizza,” says drummer Drew Schapper. “I’ve

14 :: BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15

only heard good things about it and I’m really looking forward to trying their pizza, to be honest – I can’t wait.”

Pretty City are currently at the halfway mark of their Triple A-Side Tour, and from all accounts life couldn’t get much better for the

likeable trio. “Touring is not quite as glamorous as I thought it would be when I was a kid!” laughs Schapper. “But it’s fun and we love playing together live – that’s what we live for. It’s nice to get out on the open road with your mates and do something we all really enjoy.

The EP was the result of Pretty City being “holed up in the studio”, but Schapper reveals that’s not all they were up to. “We’ve actually finished recording our first LP. It’s nearly all mixed – there are two more tracks to mix on it and it should be done by the end of the month, but we’ll probably release it a bit later in

the year. Hopefully we can get it out and about around August or September and do a national tour.”

In the meantime, Pretty City are concentrating on the last few shows on their current tour, with Sydney, Newcastle and Brisbane left to go. “At the Sydney gig our support is a Queensland band The Vultures,” says Schapper. “They’re actually on tour themselves so we’ll just be crossing paths. They’re coming down the coast while we’re going up the coast, and we’ll meet in Sydney. They’re playing in Melbourne while we play in Brisbane, so we’re kind of tagteaming on the way through.

“In Newcastle there are a couple of bands playing supports, but I know that one will definitely be Raave Tapes. They’re Newcastle locals and we’ve played with them in the past – they’re really lovely guys.

We’re looking forward to playing in Newcastle – actually, we’ve only played there once before so we’re pretty excited to get back there.

Last time everyone was really rowdy and we love a rowdy crowd.”

What: The Triple A-Side out now independently With: The Vultures Where: Frankie’s Pizza When: Wednesday July 8 And: Also appearing at the Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle on Friday July 10

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BRAGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s guide to film, theatre, comedy and art about town

arts in focus

of mice and men steinbeck on trial

also inside:

G H O S T S T O R I E S / A R T S N E W S / A R T S G I V E AWAY / A R T S E X P O S E D / R E V I E W S thebrag.com

BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15 :: 15

arts in focus

free stuff head to: thebrag.com/freeshit

arts news...what's goin' on around town... with Elias Kwiet, Vanessa Papastravros and Jade Smith

Ian McKellen in Mr. Holmes

five minutes WITH

MR. HOLMES

BILLY MILIONIS FROM PULSE GROUP THEATRE

Grace

What are the main challenges facing independent theatre in Sydney at the moment?

Well, budget is always a big one. Having to really pull strings, favours and generally do a lot of it yourself. Managing actor rehearsals outside of their own daily jobs is always fun, but hey, that’s just part of the experience. So all challenges

must be embraced and enjoyed also.

The opening production Grace begins on Tuesday July 7. What can audiences expect from it?

Being an intimate theatre space (which is my favourite type), we want to take the audience into their living room, into the dreams, hopes and fears of the characters’ lives. We want to make the audience really feel that they are a part of it, not just watching it.

Who are the key players involved in Grace?

We currently have three actors – Pulse graduates Joe Addabbo, Nikki Waterhouse and Jeremy Shadlow – who have been a core part of the school for a while now, and Dudley [Hogarth], who has joined our stable recently.

Where does Pulse Group Theatre aim to go from here?

We aim to be a big part of the Redfern and inner city theatre community. I relocated The Actors Pulse to Redfern in 2000, with the aim that once the area picked up that we would open PGT. PGT has been brewing for over a while now, but economically it couldn’t survive back then. So here we are now. We have a great group of actors and artists alike. We are planning to do a season next year, and hopefully have an opportunity to get some of our work into the larger theatre spaces as well.

What: Grace Where: Pulse Group Theatre When: Tuesday July 7 – Sunday July 26

It takes a fine actor to step into the shoes of Sherlock Holmes, history’s greatest fictional detective. Ian McKellen is the latest to take on the role in the new film, Mr. Holmes, which introduces a Sherlock even his most fanatical followers haven’t encountered before. It’s 1947, and the beloved sleuth has retired to the country for a simple life tending to his bees. He remains frustrated with the reputation he’s earnt through his misrepresentation in Dr. Watson’s best-selling novels, but gets one final chance to set the record straight.

Mr. Holmes will open in cinemas on Thursday July 23, and we’ve got ten in-season double passes to give away. To be in the running to win, head to thebrag. com/freeshit.

Mr. Holmes photo by Giles Keyte

W

hat’s the story behind the launch of your new independent theatre company, Pulse Group Theatre?

Being the artistic director of The Actors Pulse gave me a direct insight into what actors

and artists need in Sydney, what was lacking, and the opportunities that are needed to take their skill sets to another level once they have graduated from an acting school. The idea was to give opportunities to local talented actors and artists. Besides having a great love and respect for acting and performers in general, I really didn’t have much choice [laughs].

xx

Seventeen

COFFEE ROCKS

Sydney’s The Rocks Aroma Festival will be entering its 18th year in true caffeinated style, after the announcement of this year’s festival program. For the whole month of July, The Rocks will be in full celebration mode for all things coffee. To ignite the senses, there will be more than 50 coffee and gourmet food stallholders, vintage and specialty coffee carts, pop-up bars and cafés, as well as a variety of workshops on coffee appreciation and latte art curated by the Australian Specialty Coffee Association. The Rocks Aroma Festival will run events and workshops throughout July, culminating in Aroma Festival Day, 10am-5pm on Sunday July 26.

– Saturday August 1 at The Depot Theatre, Marrickville.

MYSTIC MISFITS SEVENTEEN AGAIN

Aptly named Seventeen, a new Australian play will explore the lives of six teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. Sound kinda familiar?

There’s just one twist. It’s that these six teenagers will be portrayed

by Aussie theatre royalty in Peter Carrol, Maggie Dence, John Gaden, Genevieve Lemon, Anna Volska and Barry Otto. Seventeen was written specifically for these venerables to play the drinking, dancing – and at times, pashing – teenagers through the characters’ last moments of childhood and first moments of adulthood. Written by Australian theatre mind Matthew Whittet and directed by Anne-Louise Sarks, the play will delight both the young and the young-at-heart. Seventeen will open on Wednesday August 5 and run until Sunday September 13 at Belvoir St Theatre.

THE CHERRY DEPOT

16 :: BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15

Velvet

FEAST IN THE EAST

After three years of sold-out shows, recordbreaking winter crowds and chill-defying beachgoers, Bondi Feast is back this July for its fourth and finest festival outing yet. The feast is a pop-up winter festival of comedy, music, theatre, storytelling, visual arts and hot foods (washed down with some wine, of course), and takes place over 11 nights with more than 50 shows from 100 artists. This year, designer Jade Alex is transforming the festival bar into an interactive rumpus room of vintage board games – think murder mystery meets mulled wine. The festival lineup includes interactive theatre experiences such as Ignoramus Anonymous, Bitch Boxer and Finger Your Friends, as well as comedy acts Zoe Coombs Marr, Barnie Duncan and Jack Gow. For fans of ’80s fitness, last year’s sold-out ’80s dance spectacular Retrosweat is also returning. And of course, the tasty local food vendors, mountains of hot drinks and DJs spinning their tunes will help while away the winter evenings. Make your way to the Bondi Pavilion Theatre between Tuesday July 11 to Saturday July 25 to enjoy the winter festival fun.

More details at thebrag.com.

MARINA IN THE HOUSE

OPERA HOUSE GOES FULL VELVET

With a discotheque soundtrack, dazzling performers, singing and acrobatics, Velvet is set to redefine cabaret in an explosive and scintillating way. Welcome to director Craig Ilott’s pitch-perfect world of disco divas and seductive chanteuses: a place where singer-songwriter Brendan Maclean heads the cast in this nightclub party extravaganza alongside international circus, cabaret and music talent, as well as acrobatic wunderkind Mirko Köckenberger and aerialist Emma Goh. Also performing is the one and only Marcia Hines. Hot on the heels of the Edinburgh and Adelaide Fringe Festivals, Velvet is a party, a show and a hedonistic experience of burlesque, which is quickly becoming one of the hottest new shows on the international festival circuit. Velvet will be taking over The Studio at the Sydney Opera House for a limited season between Tuesday October 8 and Sunday November 1.

Performance-based visual artist Marina Abramović and Kaldor Public Art Projects have turned the Walsh Bay Pier into a popup gallery to feature Abramović’s latest piece, Marina Abramovic´: In Residence. Known for transforming the way art is perceived, Marina Abramovic´: In Residence is no exception. For 12 days, Abramović and her team are onsite at the Pier to conduct the public through a series of experiences designed to allow for deep contemplation and self-awareness. The project resembles a physical and emotional journey, reflecting the meditative and ritualistic practices which have long been central to Abramović’s work. Along with the interactive experience of Marina Abramovic´: In Residence, the exhibition is hosting an artist’s residency program, public talks and other special events. Marina Abramovic´: In Residence is taking place at Walsh Bay until Sunday July 5. Entry is free. thebrag.com

xxx

Sydney’s newest multipurpose independent theatre, The Depot Theatre, has announced it’s first production: Anton Chekhov’s masterpiece, The Cherry Orchard. First produced by the Moscow Art Theatre in 1904, Chekhov’s final play documents the struggle of a noblewoman through a period of social and political transition in provincial Russia.

Directed by Julie Baz, it will feature a range of Sydney’s emerging and seasoned performers, including Jane Angharad, Anne Brito, Myles Burgin and Leo Domigan among others. The Cherry Orchard runs from Wednesday July 15

Sydney-based painter Leo Coyte is set to host his second solo exhibition at Galerie Pompom. Coyte’s Mystic Misfi ts offers a feast for the eyes, merging realistic renderings of semi-figurative objects and bodies with bursts

of colour and abstraction. These otherwordly paintings capture the open-ended narratives and absurd memories that underpin the human consciousness. Coyte is a finalist in this year’s John Fries Award, as well as the Hazelhurst Art on Paper Award. Mystic Misfi ts marks his second solo exhibition at Galerie Pompom.

Check it out from Wednesday July 22 – Sunday August 16.

Ghost Stories

David Cardy in the UK production of Ghost Stories

[THEATRE] Mind Games And Madness By Tegan Jones

Ghost Stories photo by Helen Maybanks

“A

re you brave enough to book?”

This daring question is just about all we know ahead of the upcoming Sydney production of Ghost Stories, the macabre and wildly successful West End play that will be haunting the Opera House this month. Written by the masters of horror Jeremy Dyson (The League Of Gentlemen) and Andy Nyman (Death At A Funeral), the plot of the show is shrouded in secrecy. At the very least, it promises to be a psychological thriller that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Creative director Peter Snee doesn’t tell us much more, but he certainly piques our interest about Ghost Stories and how the horror genre will translate to the stage.

“Films are created with a complete believability,” explains Snee.

“We believe the characters that we’re watching and the situations that they’re in because we’re able to fi lm in environments that are identifi ably real to people.

Theatrical productions, in their very nature, have a kind of elevated sense of reality – we always know that we’re watching these characters who are only a few metres from us, so nothing truly terrifying is happening to them. One of the big challenges with this production was how to capture that horror and make it relatable to every single member of the audience.”

The answer to that challenge

was to mess with people’s minds, naturally.

“One of the huge advantages we’ve got is that one of the writers, Andy Nyman, does a lot of psychological magic,” Snee says.

“So although there’s no blood or gore in this show, there’s a lot of psychological manipulation and we play on all of the senses to make it as immersive for the audience as possible.”

Psychology has proven an important element not just to the play itself, but also the marketing of it. How do you sell tickets to a show that not only defi es the normal theatre genres, but is completely shrouded in secrecy?

“If you say to someone, ‘There’s something in that box, don’t look in it,’ the first thing they’re going to do is look into it,” says Snee.

“It’s all they’ll be able to focus on for that whole conversation.

It’s playing on that element of excitement and people just wanting to know. It’s human curiosity. Also, everybody enjoys the thrill of a surprise. It’s like The Sixth Sense; all the fun of that movie is the twist at the end, and when you’re in on the secret it’s kind of nice to be part of the inner circle.”

He continues, “I also think that a portion of the audience see that it’s horror, can’t really fi nd much information but give it a go. They are just looking for something different, looking to push their own

boundaries and be challenged in their own beliefs and views.

also features an element of comedy.

“Without giving too much away, we do have a twist in our show as well which brings people back to the theatre, and people in London reported seeing the show two or three times so they could come back and see it with fresh eyes.”

“The great thing about comedy and horror is that they fi t so comfortably together; they’re both instinctive reactions,” explains Snee. “The chemistry of both of those emotions works so well together. The minute you make someone laugh, they feel very comfortable and very safe. The moment you can make someone

Despite being firmly planted within the horror genre, Ghost Stories

feel safe, well, there’s no better time to throw a bit of horror at them, just as they’ve relaxed into their seat.”

So, are you brave enough to book?

What: Ghost Stories Where: Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House When: Wednesday July 8 – Saturday August 15

Of Mice And Men [THEATRE] On Hard Times By Adam Norris corrupted by larger forces beyond their control – environmental, governmental, economic – and how easy it is to become complicit in others’ hardship. Even a cursory glance at society today reveals this lack of empathy, this somewhat hollow cynicism of contemporary life, and we are now over 70 years since Steinbeck first published his story of abuse and loneliness. The parallels are certainly not lost on Sinclair.

Iain Sinclair

“There’s so much in the play that talks about that gradual growth towards meanness, and it’s a meanness that comes out of necessity, in a way. The play just hums with loneliness. We meet the characters often at their best, but they each have a very specifi c kind of solitariness that has come from having to be a little bit more selfi sh as times get tougher.

S

tories endure for manifold reasons. The beauty of the prose, the profundity of thought and theme, the clarity of dialogue. Certain stories hold all of this, while presenting a world so harrowing that we recall their details if only as a warning; stories like Conrad’s Heart Of Darkness, McCarthy’s The Road, Steinbeck’s Grapes Of Wrath.

Director Iain Sinclair is no stranger to mounting challenging work, having staged many plays evoking what he styles “the Great American Emptiness”. What is most striking within his latest production, however – an adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novella, Of Mice And Men – is the universality of the tragedy, and

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that so much of what was penned in the 1930s still rings true today.

“Not much has changed, unfortunately, since Steinbeck wrote it,” Sinclair explains. He is a jovial speaker, although it is very clear that he takes his subject matter seriously.

“On Netfl ix right now there’s a documentary called The Overnighters, which documents the plight of American men who are all headed up to North Dakota at the moment to chase the coal trails. And that documentary, which was made I think last year, shows single men out on the farm, spending their last wages to get a bus ticket, and arriving in these towns to knock on doors only to

fi nd there aren’t enough jobs for the amount of people turning up.

That’s happening right now in the United States, and it’s an exact mirror of Steinbeck’s story.

“I think Steinbeck very presciently spotted the hard bone end of capitalism, and what happens when it doesn’t turn out right, what that does to people. That has continued on for the past century, and you look at places like Detroit now, which are the logical extension of what Steinbeck was warning us about. In a way, Of Mice And Men is a premonition of the post-America which we see today.”

In part, the novella addresses how gradually the individual is

“In a way, I don’t feel the need to push the themes very hard at all.

Steinbeck is such a clean, simple, strong writer, that what he put out in 1937 harmonises with the loneliness we feel in the city now as things are getting tougher. That general worry we have about how mean society is growing, and that our care for people in trouble diminishes and diminishes as we look to ourselves more and more.

It’s unfortunate, but what he wrote back then is alive and well today.”

While he is helming this production as director, Sinclair has a muchlauded history as a dramaturge (and enquiring minds can fi nd his splendid essay on the subject, Some Notes On The Text, online).

Yet coming to Of Mice And Men, he found his skills in script development and interpretation largely unnecessary. Steinbeck’s writing proved so clean, even after all this time, that the story often took care of itself; the trick instead was to provide space for these themes to breathe.

“This adaptation is by Steinbeck himself, which is interesting,” says Sinclair. “Sometimes when novelists make the transition to adapt their own stories, it doesn’t always work. But Steinbeck really knows drama; his adaptation is almost filmic. Pretty much everything that’s said in the book is said in the play. So much of the novella is already dialogue-driven, and his writing is so particular, there’s not much need to colour anything in.

“I’ll give you a really good example of just how efficient he is. Curley, who’s the boss’ son and causes all of this trouble, is presented as a wrong’un, a source of trouble. The way Steinbeck lets us know that there’s just something skewiff with him is that he gives him one glove full of Vaseline, and one character mentions that he wears it to keep his hand soft for his lady. That’s all you need to say, and every time that character walks onstage, you see the glove and you think, ‘There’s just something horrible about that guy.’ It’s so efficient, it’s so lean, and that’s the joy of doing Steinbeck.

“I think we elaborate on his efficiency at our peril, in a way. The first thing we did was go through and make sure we were being absolutely clear to what Steinbeck wanted, in the knowledge that a great deal about Steinbeck is struggle. What we’re discovering as we go through is that the closest we stay to the simplicity of his symbols and dramatic action, the better the story works. It makes me realise how often we overstate things in theatre, whereas this is really an exercise in efficiency.”

What: Of Mice And Men Where: Seymour Centre When: Thursday July 9 – Saturday July 25

BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15 :: 17

Film & Theatre Reviews Hits and misses on the silver screen and bareboards around town

THE DOG / THE CAT

Underdog

Playing at Belvoir St Theatre until Sunday August 9 The Dog / The Cat is a double bill about love. And pets. Two one-acts, written

by Brendan Cowell and Lally Katz, show the various lengths we go for love – for our pets and each other – and how animals may be in our lives for company, yet ultimately bring us closer together.

Cowell tells a late-Gen-Y Sydney tale, with down-and-out writer Ben (Xavier Samuel) meeting academic Miracle (Andrea Demetriades) on their regular dog walks. Ben co-parents dog Jerry with Marcus (Benedict Hardie), whose douchey hipster start-up ambitions hide a raft of insecurities.

Katz’ The Cat is a hilarious story of a separated couple now forced to share their cat. Demetriades and Hardie are newly divorced and coming to terms with their new lives, while trying to placate their cat, played by Samuel.

When the cat begins telling them where they both went wrong, the couple needs to choose whether to save the marriage for the pet.

The Dog / The Cat The two short plays are a refreshing take on modern love and the current trends of urban pet ownership, with each play both neatly packaged while also cleverly referencing the other. Stellar performances play across the board, with the cast of three leaving an infectious spell on the audience in the perfect show for Belvoir’s Downstairs space.

This performance had seniors laughing at Nicki Minaj jokes along with students, and is definitely a show to catch.

Julian Ramundi

MISTERMAN Played at the Old Fitz Theatre until Saturday June 27 Enda Walsh can seem at times like the third McDonagh brother. Like them, he’s a regular purveyor of the blackly comic interspersed with explosive bouts of violence. But unlike the London-raised McDonaghs, the Irish don’t consider Walsh a fraud. And he isn’t: quite apart from his national bona fides, Walsh is a substantial playwright, capable of being both flinty and poetic. One only has to compare his monologue for Michael Fassbender in Hunger to the McDonaghs’ overwritten, self-congratulatory work in films like Calvary or In Bruges.

Which makes Misterman all the more disappointing. A one-man show performed by Cillian Murphy to raves in New York and London, it’s a play that feels like a McDonagh B-side. Set in a small rural town, with a nutter protagonist aggrieved at the world and who inevitably visits bloody retribution upon it, Misterman could be a sequel to The Leenane Trilogy.

The play’s protagonist, Thomas Magill, is meant to be occupying an unidentified industrial site, perhaps a derelict factory, on the outskirts of the town of Inishfree.

In New York and London, the play was

Thomas Campbell in Misterman

UNDERDOG Playing at Palace Cinemas from Saturday July 11 – Sunday July 26 as part of Scandinavian Film Festival 2015 Dino is a Swedish immigrant living on the outskirts of Oslo. Following a stint in rehab for alcohol, she’s squatting in a sharehouse with a group of fellow Swedes, having fled a harsh economy in their homeland.

Looking for work, she befriends former tennispro-cum-restauranteur Steffen, who has her babysit his two daughters.

As a relationship blossoms between the two, the couple escapes the grind of their daily existence, until the harsh reality of Steffen’s

separation forces them to face reality.

Showing as part of this year’s Scandinavian Film Festival, the film is a solid character study on the strong yet setback Dino as she pushes forward trying to make sense of her self. The story is also a stark examination of Swedish/Norwegian relations, depicting the large amount of racism toward Swedes in Norway. As Dino’s housemates host Swedeonly house parties with Swedish food and music,

Steffen’s middle class friends lament the influx of Swedes in their hometown while simultaneously pointing out they’re only good for menial labour, albeit in front of Dino.

While it may get off to a slow start, there are excellent performances from Bianca Kronlöf as Dino and Henrik Rafaelsen as Steffen, allowing the story to slowly creep up on the audience.

Julian Ramundi

staged in cavernous spaces (St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, the National in London). Murphy was ranged against a vast, empty space – a sense of one man in an eternal void impossible to duplicate in the tiny Old Fitz.

Thomas Campbell is entirely credible in the lead role, but the space – full of old cans and tape players, on which disembodied voices loop – is disorienting in its indistinctness. Adding to the confusion are Campbell’s conversations with the edited voices, clearly much practised: townsfolk we never see but only hear, and often difficult to distinguish from each other. Kate Gaul’s production is hard to fault and Campbell’s performance strong if a bit studied, but the whole thing feels airless, and the bloodbath it culminates in all too predictable.

“PPOWERHOUSE OWERHOUSE PPERFORMANCE” ERFORMANCE”

THEE AG TH AGE GE

Harry Windsor

See www.thebrag.com for more arts reviews

Arts Exposed What's in our diary...

Watercolour Painting Workshop Art Gallery Of NSW, Saturday July 4 If you want to enjoy a relaxing yet productive weekend, join artist and designer Amanda Picman at the Art Gallery Of NSW to create your watercolour magnum opus – or at least build the skills to do so. This casual workshop will give you the chance to either improve your skills or challenge yourself by learning to paint portraits and Australian landscapes. Picman will impart her knowledge of portraiture and botanical illustration techniques, as well as teach how to use masking fluid to create patterns. You will learn how to apply and handle watercolour paint and the different brush techniques involved in bleeding your colours together. All materials are provided by the gallery and all skill levels are welcome to participate.

Tickets cost $48, for bookings and more details visit artgallery.nsw.gov.au 18 :: BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15

■ Film

The Etta James Story

STARRING VIKA BULL

AND THE ESSENTIAL R&B BAND WED 15 FRI & THU 16 17 JULY ANITA’S, A NITA’S, JULY WOLLONGONG W OLLONGONG LLIZOTTES, IZOTTES, NEWCASTLE N EWCASTLE

NEWCASTLE.LIZOTTES.COM.AU N NEWC EWC W AS ASTL TLE. E.LI L ZO LI OTT TTES E .C ES COM O .A .AU U PH HON ONEE 49 4956 56 2206 0666 06 PHONE 2066

TTICKETMASTER.COM.AU TI ICK CKET E MA ET MAST STER ST ER.C ER .COM .C OM.A OM . U .A PHON PH ONEE 93 9332 32 3371 7111 71 PHONE 3711

SAT 18 JULY TTHE HE CONCOURSE CONCOURSE TTHEATRE, HEATRE, CHATSWOOD CHATSWOOD TIICK TTICKETEK.COM.AU C ET CK E EK EK.C .C COM O .A .AU U PHONE PH HON ONEE 13 2288 499

ffac facebook.com/atlasttheettajamesstory aceboo ac ook. ook k.co k com/ om/ m/at /at a la atla ast stth tthee th e tt eett ee ttaj taj a am ajam mes esst sstor stor oryy ww www.ro www www.room8.com.au w ro room oom om8. om8 88.co com. co om m..au thebrag.com

Misterman photo by Diana Popovska

■ Theatre

The Dog / The Cat photo by Brett Boardman

■ Theatre

out & about

F O U N D R Y616 – S Y D N E Y ’ S F I N E S T J A Z Z C L U B

Queer(ish) matters with Lucy Watson

S

omeone needs to write a book on Tinder etiquette.

Especially lesbian Tinder etiquette, and particularly Inner Western Sydney lesbian Tinder etiquette. I have a lot of questions that demand answers.

616 HARRIS ST ULTIMO ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST POPULAR JAZZ VOCALISTS!

Hetty Kate

(MELBOURNE)

Who says hi first? And how long is it before it’s too late to say hi? If I’ve fi nally ballsed up to talk to the babe I matched with in March, is that weird? I went on a date with a Tinderella a while back, and one of the first things she said to me was, “You matched with my housemate too, but you didn’t say hi to her.” When I met said housemate, she also exclaimed, “You never said hi to me on Tinder!”

This just after another girl came up to me in the bar: “We matched on Tinder and you didn’t say hi.” Why is it always my fault?

What’s the etiquette on friends? I usually swipe right on all my friends, because I’m a firm believer in selfaffirmation through the match. But someone once told me that you’re only supposed to swipe right on people you’d actually bone.

In which case I might have accidentally led on a bunch of my friends. And also, what about when you become friends with your Tinder matches? At what point does the spark go out and get replaced by platonic spooning and high fives? The friendship is literally predicated on a mutual acknowledgement of each other’s good looks, so does that ever properly turn into a platonic friendship? Or are you always dancing on the edge of “Will they? Won’t they?” (Wink face emoji to all my Tinder mates out there).

What about catfi shing? People say that online dating, particularly Tinder, is just like picking up in a bar – judging people based on their appearance, only in an online context rather than an in-the-fl esh one. And people not intending on picking up go to bars, so why can’t they be on Tinder too? Because it’s confusing as hell, that’s why. Over the weekend I went on a day adventure with a friend (who I met on Tinder) and sitting beside me in the car were a couple – both of whom I’d matched with on Tinder. I’m quite glad I matched with both of them, so as not to display a bias toward either side of the relationship. But I still don’t know why they were on it in the first place.

Why are there so many dudes on my Tinder? I’ve heard it’s because they set their gender as female, despite defi nitely being cis-masc dudes. Do they think they’re going to get lucky with a lesbian?

Because I don’t think it works like that.

FRIDAY 10 JULY TICKETS: $25/20 DINNER/SHOW: $50 PLUS

SUNDAY JAZZ SALON

+ GREAT GIGS TUES-SAT

The Consouls, Rachel Delgado, Virna Sanzone, LAUNCHES 5 JULY Lana Rita & the Soul Beats, Joe Chindamo and more…

Check website for full program. www.foundry616.com.au WITH:

And what about mixing business with pleasure? I matched with one of my co-workers on Tinder, about two weeks before I got the job (don’t worry, she wasn’t responsible for hiring me; it was pure Inner-West-Sydney-lesbian coincidence). I never brought it up, until I saw her at a party a few weeks ago while I was drunk. The conversation went something like this: Me: Hey colleague. Did you know we matched on Tinder before I got the job?

Her: I’m glad you brought it up, because I wasn’t going to.

Me: Well, now it’s in the open, we fi nd each other attractive.

Her: Wanna make out?

Me: OK. And lastly, friends’ potential love interests? My friend met a girl in a store, and was quite, but not completely sure she was gay. And then the girl came up on my Tinder, with the girls-holdinghands emoji in her bio. So, 100 per cent confirmed. I swiped right, and she never matched me back. I told her this, and she was like, “Well, I am literally dating your friend…”

I’m beginning to realise that maybe I’m just using Tinder all wrong.

this week…

My favourite Sydney party turns one! On Wednesday July 1, celebrate Homosocial’s birthday at the Imperial Hotel. Apparently there will be drag shows involving water guns and Priscilla tributes, given the location.

Featuring party DJs from Palms, Girlthing, and the babin’ L’Oasis boys.

SARAH MCLEOD – 9pm Thursday July 9 – Let iconic Aussie rock chic and multiple ARIA award-winner, Sarah McLeod entertain you with an intimate acoustic performance.

Support act: Joseph Calderazzo and Simon Meli

On Saturday July 4, the Sydney Uni Queer Action Collective is hosting a trivia fundraising night. It’s ’90s-themed, so pack your Tamagotchis. From 6pm at Stucco Housing Cooperative (on Wilson Street, Newtown).

Sunday July 5, and every Sunday (provided the venue isn’t shut down) is Strobe Light Unicorns! at the Imperial Hotel. Hosted by resident DJs Stereogamous, there’s always a bunch of special guests and special times.

And fi nally, every day this week, and every other week, are a whole host of awkward encounters waiting for you on Tinder.

LEVEL 1, 80 PYRMONT STREET, PYRMONT STAR.COM.AU/ROCKLILY

/ROCKLILY.LIVE

The Star practises the responsible service of alcohol. Guests must be over 18. Think! About your choices.

Call Gambling Help 1800 858 858 www.gamblinghelp.nsw.gov.au

thebrag.com

BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15 :: 19

BARS BRAG

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

A Work In Progress 50 King St, Sydney CBD (02) 9240 3000 Mon – Fri noon-2am 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

(02) 9247 2229 Mon – Sun 10.30am-midnight

Mon – Thu noon-late; Fri – Sat noon-3am; Sun noon-midnight

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

Balcony Bar 46 Erskine St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 3526 Mon 5pm - late; Tue – Fri noon-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight

Bar Eleven Lvl 11, 161 Sussex St, Sydney CBD (02) 9290 4712 Thu 4-9pm; Fri – Sat 4-11pm

The Australian Heritage Hotel 100 Cumberland St, The Rocks

BAR100 100 George St, The Rocks (02) 8070 9311

The Barber Shop 89 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 9699 Mon – Wed, Sat 4pm-midnight; Thurs –

Fri 3pm-midnight The Baxter Inn Basement 152-156 Clarence St, Sydney CBD Mon – Sat 4pm-1am Bondy’s L1, 16 Philip Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 9251 2347 Thu – Fri 5pm-late; Sat 5pm-late Bulletin Place First Floor, 10-14 Bulletin Place, Circular Quay Mon – Wed 4pm-midnight; Thurs – Sat 4pm-1am deVine 32 Market St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 6906 Mon – Fri 11.30am-11.30pm; Sat 5.30-11.30pm

TH

EK

ADDRESS: SHOP 4, 256 CROWN ST, DARLINGHURST (ENTRANCE ON FOLEY LN) WEBSITE: SHADYPINESSALOON.COM OPENING HOURS: 4PM-MIDNIGHT DAILY

OF

SHADY PINES SALOON bar E E W

Frankie’s Pizza 50 Hunter St, Sydney CBD Mon – Fri noon-3am; Sat – Sun 4pm-3am

199 Elizabeth St, Sydney CBD Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 6pm-10pm

Gilt Lounge 49 Market St, Sydney CBD (02) 8262 0000 Wed 6pm-midnight; Thu & Sat 6pm-2am; Fri 5pm-2am

Rockpool Bar & Grill 66 Hunter St, Sydney CBD (02) 8078 1900 Mon – Sat lunch & dinner

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 Grain Bar 199 George St, Sydney CBD (02) 9250 3118 Mon – Sun noon-late Grandma’s Basement 275 Clarence St, Sydney CBD (02) 9264 3004 Mon – Fri 3pm-late; Sat 5pm-late The Fox Hole 68A Erskine St, Sydney CBD (02) 9279 4369 Mon 7am-3pm; Tue – Fri 7am-evening The Grasshopper 1 Temperance Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 9947 9025 Mon – Thurs & Sat 4pm-late; Fri noon-late Harpoon Harry 40-44 Wentworth Ave, Sydney CBD (02) 8262 8800 Mon – Sun 11:30am-3am The Lobo Plantation Basement Lot 1, 209 Clarence St, Sydney CBD 0415 554 908 Mon – Thu, Sat 4pm-midnight; Fri 2pm-midnight

Tell us about your bar: Shady Pines is a time machine that takes you back to the days of the American Wild West. Once you have propped yourself up on a stool at the bar, it’s hard not to imagine that you’ve just come off a hard day on the trail to a warm welcome watering hole!

What’s on the menu?

We don’t have a kitchen here, but can order pizzas from up the road for patrons as well as all the peanuts you can eat!

Care for a drink?

We have the best Bourbon selection in Sydney (if not Australia), as well as 60+ craft beers from around the globe. Our signature would have to be whisky and fresh apple juice served tall, but we also do a mean Old Fashioned and whisky sour.

Highlights: We guarantee a fun, original Sydney experience. Our bar staff are both knowledgeable and friendly. It doesn’t matter if you come early in the week when it’s a bit quieter, or on the weekend when we are pumping – you will have a good time!

Sounds: Country, country and more country. Sit back and soak up the sweet sounds of Johnny Cash and Old Crow Medicine Show. Live country music takes the stage every Sunday from 6pm.

The bill comes to: We can cater to any budget. Our house spirits start at $8.50 up to a $70 bourbon. We also have $7 Coopers Lager tinnies that go down a treat!

The Loft UTS 15 Broadway, Sydney (behind 2SER) (02) 9514 1149 Mon – Wed 2pm-10pm; Thurs – Fri 2pm-late Mojo Record Bar Basement 73 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 4999 Mon – Wed 4pm-midnight; Thu, Sat 4pm-1am; Fri 3pm-1am The Morrison 225 George St, Sydney CBD (02) 9247 6744 Mon – Wed 11.30am-midnight; Thu 11.30am-1am; Fri – Sat 11.30am-2am; Sun 11.30am-10pm Mr Tipply’s 347 Kent St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 4877 Mon – Sat 10am-late Palmer & Co. Abercrombie Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 9240 3172 Mon – Wed 5pm-late; Thu – Fri 3pm-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

20 :: BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15

The Rook Level 7, 56-58 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 2505 Mon, Sat 4pm-midnight; Tue – Fri noon-midnight The SG 32 York St, Sydney CBD 0402 813 035 Tues – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 6pm-midnight

(02) 9280 1980 Mon – Sat 6pm-late; Sun 11am-3pm Bellini Lounge 2 Kellett St, Potts Point (02) 9331 0065 Thu – Sun 6pm-late The Beresford 354 Bourke St, Surry Hills (02) 8313 5000 Mon – Sun noon-1am Black Penny 648 Bourke St, Redfern (02) 9319 5061 Mon – Sat 7am-midnight; Sun 7am-10pm Brooklyn Social 17 Randle St, Surry Hills 0451 972 057 Tue – Sat noon-2am

Shirt Bar 7 Sussex Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 8068 8222 Mon –Wed 8am-8pm; Thu – Fri 8am-10pm

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

Since I Left You 338 Kent St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 4986 Mon – Wed 5pm-10pm; Thu – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat 6pm-midnight

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

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 Stitch Bar 61 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9279 0380 Mon – Wed 4pm-midnight; Thu – Fri noon-2am; Sat 4pm-2am The Swinging Cat 44 King St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 3696 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight Tapa Vino 6 Bulletin Place, Circular Quay (02) 9247 3221 Mon – Fri noon-11.30pm Uncle Ming’s 55 York St, Sydney CBD Mon – Fri noonmidnight; Sat 5pm-midnight York Lane 56 Clarence St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 1676 Mon – Wed 6.30am-10pm; Thu – Fri 6.30pm-midnight; Sat 6pm-midnight

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 Arcadia Liquors 7 Cope St, Redfern (02) 8068 4470 Mon – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-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

Casoni Italian Bar & Eatery 371-373 Bourke St, Darlinghurst Tue – Thu 5pm-11pm; Fri – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 5pm-10pm Ching-a-Lings 1/133 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (02) 9360 3333 Tue – Wed 6pm-11pm; Fri – Sat 6pm-1am; Sun 5pm-10pm The Cliff Dive 16-18 Oxford Square, Darlinghurst Wed – Sat 6pm-4am The Commons 32 Burton St, Darlinghurst (02) 9358 1487 Tue – Wed 6pm-late; Thu – Fri 12pm-late; Sat – Sun 6pm-late Darlo Bar 306 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst (02) 9331 3672 Mon – Sun 10am-midnight Eau De Vie 229 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst 0422 263 226 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 6pm-midnight Gazebo 2 Elizabeth Bay Rd, Elizabeth Bay (02) 9357 5333 Mon – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat – Sun noonmidnight Goros 84-86 Mary St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 0214 Mon – Wed 11:30am-midnight; thebrag.com

COCKTAIL OF THE WEEK Pour it in your mouth-hole... (responsibly).

Sat 12pm-11pm, Sun 12pm-10pm Queenie’s Upstairs 336 Riley St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 3035 Tue – Sat 6pm-late & Fri noon-3pm Peekaboo 120 Bourke St, Woolloomooloo 0403 747 788 Mon – Thu 4pm-10pm; Fri – Sat 4pm – 12am Roosevelt 32 Orwell St, Potts Point 0423 203 119 Tue – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Shady Pines Saloon Shop 4, 256 Crown St, Darlinghurst Mon – Sun 4pm-midnight The Soda Factory 16 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills (02) 8096 9120 Mon – Fri 5pm-3am; Sat – Sun 6pm-3am Surly’s 182 Campbell St, Surry Hills (02) 9331 3705 Tue – Sun middaymidnight

SPICED APPLE MOJITO @ ALBERTS BAR, 100 MOUNT ST, NORTH SYDNEY Ingredients: • Bacardi • Oakheart • Cloudy Apple Juice • Lime • Mint • Topped with Cider

Origins: It’s been on our cocktail menu for years, as it is so popular Method: Built Glass: Highball Garnish: Mint Best drunk with: Friday evening drinks During: Friday evening drinks While wearing: Casual Friday threads And listening to: Smooth knock-off tunes More: alberts.net.au facebook.com/albertstavern

Thu 11:30am-1am: Fri 11:30am-3am; Sat 4pm-3am The Hazy Rose 1/83 Stanley St, Darlinghurst (02) 9357 5036 Wed – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 3pm-midnight; Sun 3-10pm Hello Sailor 96 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (02) 9332 2442 Tue – Sun 5pm-3am The Hills 42 Chalmers St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 3814 Mon – Sun midday-1am Hinky Dinks 185 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst (02) 8084 6379 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 1-10pm Hollywood Hotel 2 Foster St, Surry Hills (02) 9281 2765 Mon – Wed 10am-midnight; Thu – Sat 10am-3am

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 4pm-late Li’l Darlin Surry Hills 420 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills (02) 9698 5488 Mon – Fri noon-late; Sat 4pm-late LL Wine and Dine 42 Llankelly Place Potts Point (02) 9356 8393 Mon – Thu 5pm-11pm; Fri – Sat noon-late; Sun 11am-10pm The Local Taphouse 122 Flinders St, Darlinghurst (02) 9360 0088 Mon – Wed noonmidnight; Thu – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-11pm

Hustle & Flow Bar 105 Regent St, Redfern (02) 9310 5593 Tue – Sat 5pm-midnight

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

Jekyll & Hyde 332 Victoria St,

Low 302 302 Crown St, Surry

thebrag.com

Hills (02) 9368 1548 Mon – Sun 6pm-2am Mr Fox 557 Crown St, Surry Hills 0414 691 811 Tue – Wed 5pm-late; Sat 10am-midnight; Sun 10am-10pm The Norfolk 305 Cleveland St, Surry Hills (02) 9699 3177 Mon – Sat noonmidnight; Sun noon10pm The Passage 231A Victoria St, Darlinghurst (02) 9358 6116 Mon – Sat 5pm-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 11 Glenmore Rd, Paddington 0424 034 020 Wed – Fri: 3pm-late;

Sweethearts Rooftop 33/37 Darlinghurst Rd, Potts Point (02) 8070 2424 Mon – Thu 2pm-11.30pm; Fri – Sun noon-11.30pm This Must Be The Place 239 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (02) 9331 8063 Mon – Sun 3pm-midnight Tio’s Cerveceria 4/14 Foster St, Surry Hills Mon – Sun 5pm-midnight Unicorn Cellar Basement, 106 Oxford St, Paddington (02) 9360 7994 Tue – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat noon-midnight Vasco 421 Cleveland St, Redfern 0406 775 436 Tue – Sat 5pm-midnight The Victoria Room Lvl 1, 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst (02) 9357 4488 Wed – Fri 6pm-midnight; Sat noon-2am; Sun noon-midnight 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 5pm-late; Fri noon-midnight; Sat 9am-midnight; Sun 9am-10pm The Bucket List

Shop 1, Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive (02) 9365 4122 Mon – Tue 11am-5pm; Wed – Sun 11am-late The Corner House 281 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 8020 6698 Tue – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 3pm-10pm Fat Ruperts 249 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 9130 1033 Tue – Fri 6pm-late; Sat – Sun 2pm-late Mr Moustache 61-79 Hall St, Bondi Beach (02) 9300 8892 Mon – Fri 5pm-11pm; Sat noon-11pm; Sun noon-10pm The Rum Diaries 288 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 9300 0440 Tue – Sat 6pm-midnight; Sun 5pm-10pm Speakeasy 83 Curlewis St, Bondi (02) 9130 2020 Mon – Sat 5pm-11pm; Sat – Sun 4pm-10pm

noon-10pm Different Drummer 185 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9552 3406 Mon – Sat 4.30pm-late Doris & Beryl’s Bridge Club and Tea House 530 King St, Newtown Mon – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat – Sun 5.30pm-midnight 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 – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4pm-10pm The Hideaway Bar 156 Enmore Rd, Enmore (02) 8021 8451 Tue-Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat noon-1am; Sun noon-10pm

Spring Street Social (and Jam Gallery) Underground 195 Oxford St, Bondi Junction (02) 9389 2485 Tues – Sat 4pm-3am

Hive Bar 93 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville (02) 9519 9911 Mon – Fri noonmidnight; Sat 11am-midnight; Sun 11am-10pm

Stuffed Beaver 271 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 9130 3002 Mon – Sat noonmidnight; Sun noon10pm

Kelly’s On King 285 King St, Newtown (02) 9565 2288 Mon – Fri 10am-2.30am; Sat 10am-3.30am; Sun 11am-11.30pm

The Angry Pirate 125 Redfern St Redfern (02) 9698 9140 Tue – Thur 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 3pm-midnight Bar-racuda 105 Enmore Rd, Newtown (02) 9519 1121 Mon – Sat 6pm-midnight The Bearded Tit 183 Regent St, Redfern (02) 8283 4082 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat noon - 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 1pm-10pm Cottage Bar & Kitchen 342 Darling St, Balmain (02) 8084 8185 Mon – Wed 5pm-midnight; Thu – Sat noon-midnight; Sun

Knox Street Bar 21 Shepherd St, Chippendale 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 3pm-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 5pm-10pm Miss Peaches 201 Missenden Rd, Newtown (02) 9557 7280 Wed – Sun 5pm-midnight The Moose Newtown 530 King St, Newtown (02) 9557 0072 Wed – Sat 6pm-midnight Mr Falcon’s 92 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9029 6626 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri 3pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun 2pm-10pm Newtown Social Club 387 King St, Newtown (02) 9550 3974 Mon 9am-6pm; Tues – Fri 9am-8pm; Sat 10am-8pm The Oxford Tavern 1 New Canterbury Rd, Petersham

(02) 8019 9351 Mon – Thu midday10pm; Fri – Sat midday11pm; Sun midday-9pm The Record Crate 34 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9660 1075 Tue – Sat noonmidnight; Sun noon10pm The Royal 156 Norton St, Leichhardt (02) 9569 2638 Mon – Thu 10am-1am; Fri – Sat 10am-3am; Sun 10am-midnight Secret Garden Bar 134a Enmore Rd, Enmore 0409 284 928 Mon – Sun 1am-11pm The Spice Cellar Basement 35 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville (02) 9519 9899 Mon – Wed 4pm-late; Thu 5pm-2am; Fri 5pm-4am Temperance Society 122 Smith St, Summer Hill (02) 8068 5680 Mon – Thu 4pm-11pm; Fri – Sat: middaymidnight; Sun: midday10pm Thievery 91 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 8283 1329 Tue – Thu 6pm-11pm; Fri 6pm-midnight.

Sat 11pm-3pm & 6pm-midnight Timbah 375 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9571 7005 Tue – Thu 4pm-10pm; Fri noon-11pm; Sat 3pm-11pm; Sun 4pm-8pm The Workers Lvl 1, 292 Darling St, Balmain (02) 9555 8410 Thu – Sat 5pm-3am; Sun 2pm-late ZanziBar 323 King St, Newtown (02) 9519 1511 Mon – Sat 10am-4am; Sun 10am-12am Zigi’s Wine And Cheese Bar 86 Abercrombie St, Chippendale (02) 9699 4222 Tue 4pm-10pm; Wed – Sat 2pm-late

Alberts Bar 100 Mount St, North Sydney (02) 9955 9097 Mon – Wed 11.30am-10pm; Thu 11.30am-11pm; Fri 11.30am-midnight Firefly 24 Young St, Neutral Bay (02) 9909 0193 Mon – Thu 5-11.30pm; Fri 4-11.30pm; Sat noon11pm; Sun noon-10pm The Foxtrot 28 Falcon St, Crows Nest Tue – Wed 5pm-midnight; Thu 5pm-1am; Fri – Sat 5pm-2am; Sun 4pm-10pm Harlem On Central Shop 4,9-15 Central Ave, Manly (02) 9976 6737 Tue – Sun 5pm-midnight The Hayberry Bar & Diner 97 Willoughby Road,

Your bar’s not here? Email: chris@thebrag. com Crows Nest (02) 8084 0816 Tue – Thu 4pm-12am; Fri & Sat noon-midnight 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 4pm-10pm In Situ 1/18 Sydney Rd, Manly (02) 9977 0669 Tue – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat 9am-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 – Fri 4pm-late; 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 6.30am-late The Mayor 400 Military Rd, Cremorne (02) 8969 6060 Tue – Wed 5pm-late; Thu – Sat noon-late; Sun noon-10pm Miami Cuba 47 North Steyne, Manly (02 99775186 Tue – Thu 8am-10pm; Fri – Sat 8am-1am; Sunday 8am-4pm Moonshine Lvl 2, Hotel Steyne, 75 The Corso, Manly (02) 9977 4977 Thu 5pm-2am; Fri 1pm-2am; Sat noon2am; Sun noon-midnight 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-late: 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 The Treehouse Hotel 60 Miller St, North Sydney (02) 8458 8980 Mon – Fri 7am-late; Sat 2pm-late Wilcox Cammeray 463 Miller St, Cammeray (02) 9460 0807 Tue – Thu 4pm-10pm; Fri – Sat 2pm-11pm; Sun 2pm-10pm

BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15 :: 21

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

ALBUM OF THE WEEK LEON BRIDGES

xxx

Coming Home Columbia/Sony

Blessed with Leon Bridges’ sunshine ray of a voice and boasting an immaculately rendered retro soul backdrop, Coming Home is probably the best record of 2015 that sounds like it could have been made in 1964. The debut from the 25-year-old Texan, it’s a stylish and resolutely sedate affair with peaks including the gently swinging ‘Flowers’ and the title track, which recalls Sam Cooke at his most effortless.

Deeply felt but silky smooth, Coming Home is a retro-leaning treat.

BATPISS Biomass Poison City

Batpiss rip shit. There’s probably a more tasteful, eloquent and distinguished way to explain what it is this noisy Melbourne trio do, but it would only be doing them a greater disservice. Ripping shit is Batpiss’ business – and business, tellingly, is good.

Their second album is one that furthers their penchant for knifeedge intensity, robust guitar snarls and head-spinning wig-outs when things get a little doomier. Biomass presents itself as yet another wad of bile built up by the band; a hocking spit of black blood through clenched, chipped teeth delivered with seething rage and explicit disgust.

It arrives in typically guttural fashion with ‘The Store’, ending on the rollicking post-punk of ‘Waking Up At The Wheel’. Needless to say, it’s not what one should be making their way towards if they fancy something of the user-friendly variety. Then again, the band name alone should do enough to eliminate the room of squares. The rest, as they say, is up to God – or, in this case, Satan.

Through the noise and the vicious nature of Biomass, the band’s songwriting finesse still shines. Batpiss are excelling and evolving rapidly.

While the ten songs here rarely raise a sweat, it is a record steeped in emotion, with ‘Better Man’

seeing Bridges plead for a second chance and ‘Pull Away’ an elegantly rendered sign-off. It’s not just the production that’s anchored in the past, the imagery also recalls a bygone era. When Bridges isn’t singing of salvation beckoning, he’s considering the possibility of hopping on a crosscountry train to escape his woes.

There’s a strong vein of humility here as well, highlighted by ‘Lisa Sawyer’, which begins irresistibly with doo-wop vocals bathed in lush reverb and builds into a heartfelt biographical sketch of Bridges’ mother. While likely too polite for some tastes, Coming Home will be catnip for anyone longing for a return to a sunnier era of soul music.

Daniel Herborn

LOVE PARADE

INCUBUS

Shake On The Mission Electric Sun

Trust Fall (Side A) Island/Universal

Love Parade’s second album, Shake On The Mission, is drenched in negativity. The lyrics don’t digress from whatever it was bugging the band during this album’s conception, and if you’re not empathising with them, you’re probably bored.

But polarising the audience isn’t necessarily a bad thing to do.

After four years away, Incubus have attempted to shift with the times and present their new material in a more easily digestible EP form. They’re not the first to attempt a deviation from the album format – everyone from Ash to ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic has given it a try and returned to long-players with tail between legs.

The Newcastle-cum-Sydneysiders’ opening track ‘I’m Not Gonna Get It Now’ is danceable and the most uplifting moment of the album.

Optimism isn’t obligatory for music, but when you’re being told for the next 28 minutes things like “I was looking for any way out” or “I took my body to the river and tried to drown it”, you need some kind of relent.

The slower ballads like ‘Wake Up, It’s Midnight’ and ‘Lake River Lake’ have sparse and simple acoustic guitars, boosted by haunting vocal harmonies. Then quicker and quirkier stuff like ‘Suspicious Delicious’ chugs along in easygoing and bittersweet blasts of fuzz and driving double-time. The diversity in song structures and instrumentation is this album’s saving grace.

If vague negativity bugs you, Shake On A Mission probably won’t float your boat. But if you can work around that, you should enjoy this catchy, pubfriendly pop-rock.

For a band that has not made an EP for nearly 20 years, the return feels slightly awkward and untimely – even if there’s some merit within the four songs on offer. The title track throws some bright guitar shimmer to the wind generated

by Brandon Boyd’s soaring vocal, while ‘Absolution Calling’ nods to the pop smarts the band picked up through hits in the late ’90s and early 2000s. The problem, however, lies with the fact these tracks are neither allowed to gain momentum nor find their place within the context of a full, proper album. Trust Fall feels like a project the Incubus hive-mind has not properly thought through.

As the band members move toward their 40s and look to maintain a degree of relevance, there’s a sense that Incubus will come away from this isolating both long-time fans and newcomers alike.

David James Young

I’LLS Can I Go With You To Go Back To My Country Solitaire Can I Go With You To Go Back To My Country is another notch in the belt of the electronic trio I’lls.

Echoing their predecessors in more ways than one, they’ve kept it fresh enough to imbue new life into the clicks and slurps popular within the genre of ambient electronica.

From the outset, this album is soothing in its simplicity. The synths are softer than before, and the instrumentals aren’t quite as in your face. I’lls are still experimenting, coupling garage beats with shifting piano melodies on tracks like ‘Let Me Have Just One’, and if you think you hear something a tad derivative, it’s quickly caught up in a new idea that piques your curiosity.

This is partly due to the dense soundscape they’ve maintained from their older releases, but this time around the effects are more Hot Chip than they are Portishead.

Simon Lam’s vocals are often relegated to the back of this EP, which is nice because the stars of this show are the interesting tangents that appear throughout the course of the songs. The vocals are a pleasant addition rather than a dominating focus.

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful Island/Universal Everything Florence Welch has done under the Florence + The Machine moniker has had considerable weight to it, even in the early days. All her music feels momentous and ornately layered.

As such, the balance has proven difficult to strike across her two previous studio albums – the issue lies with either having too much going on or not enough.

To use a Goldilocks analogy, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful feels just right. Welch and co. appear to have found the middle ground that so rightfully needed to be stomped upon for fear of toppling over a nearby cliff side.

That’s not to say, of course, that How Big… is a record that’s complacent or uninspired – it’s a record, rather, that knows when to sing to the heavens and when to use its inside voice. Songs such as the title track, opener ‘Ship To Wreck’ and ‘Third Eye’ have their own moments of pure pop grandeur, but are also anchored by solid arrangements and smart progressions.

I’lls are jazz aficionados, and once again their ability to form something new out of the old carries this EP.

Whatever level of entry you may have pertaining to Welch’s music, there’s a better chance than ever of finding something to enjoy within this particular collection.

James Ross

David James Young

David James Young Elias Kwiet

INDIE ALBUM OF THE WEEK

JOANNA GRUESOME Peanut Butter Turnstile/Caroline

22 :: BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15

What’s in a name? A hell of a lot if your name is as awesome as Joanna Gruesome’s. Of course, there’s a lot more to this Welsh quintet than a love of puns – their debut LP is a Frankenstein concoction of noisy lo-fi garagedwelling femme-punk (think Perfect Pussy and Bikini Kill) and warm, twee indie-pop (think Camera Obscura and Los Campesinos!).

surprise packages for taking the aforementioned elements – which, admittedly, seem more than a little crazy on paper – and creating something substantial, smart and savage. After bolting out of the gates with ‘Last Year’, the band flies through nine more buzzsawpop hybrids that are nothing short of stunning in their contrasts and deceptive simplicity.

The tracks either furiously smash-cut between the two stylistic approaches or run them concurrently in a blaze of flurrying drums and dual vocals. That’s a lot to take in purely on its own – now imagine the whole thing flying by in about 20 minutes. Peanut Butter is one of the year’s biggest

The band’s namesake once sang about ‘The Book Of Right-On’.

With Peanut Butter, Joanna Gruesome have written a chapter all of their own. For lack of a better term, it’s bloody delightful.

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

PIXIES - Surfer Rosa JONATHAN WILSON - Fanfare JOHNNY MARR - Playland

REFUSED - Freedom GATEWAY DRUGS - Magick Spells

David James Young

thebrag.com

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

The fact Melbourne’s Colossvs titled their debut LP Unholy seems to summarise what they are about better than genre semantics ever could. It’s black metal that incorporates elements from its earliest movements and adds a sting in the tail through various contemporary twists and turns. Frontman Lochlan Watt did his best to get the early attendees onside, and they were rewarded with a brief yet worthwhile insight into one of the country’s best upand-coming heavy acts.

Indeed, the entire opening bill was demonstrative of the current metal climate in this country. This meant, of course, taking the good with the bad – or, more specifically, the Colossvses with the Boris The Blades. From their creepily misogynistic recorded intro to the ugly, caveman-like songs themselves, Boris The Blade are the kind of band that should have never left the alternative club night scene. Neither style nor substance showed their face even once during this cringeworthy half-hour.

Business picked up once more with the arrival of Psycroptic, who manage to prove time and time again they are

It’s almost unfair to consider The Black Dahlia Murder to be also-rans in the grand scheme of American heavy metal.

Theirs is a name that has always hovered below the top of festival bills and yet they’ve never had a proper breakthrough in the way that some of their peers have.

At least if tonight’s proceedings were any indication, there’s still a degree of interest around the band, with over a decade of experience and more than half-a-dozen albums under their belt.

The all-ages crowd was incredibly responsive from the get-go, particularly to vocalist Trevor Strnad, who has enough goofy charm to crack a smile on even the most intense of metalheads’ faces. Although the constant calls for chanting along with the songs grew a little tiresome, and the hour-and-a-bit felt just a little much, this was still an enjoyable enough performance from an act that has perhaps been overlooked for too long.

the milk carton kids

PICS :: AM

Factory Theatre Saturday June 28

among the top tier of metal both on and off the mainland. Following a slight hiccup with some drum issues after the first song, the quartet blazed through a selection of their furious, fiery blend of old-school thrash and technical death metal from across their 15-year-plus discography. Let the record show that Psycroptic can outplay, outclass and outgun more or less any other band of the heavy persuasion out there right now – hell, why stop at Australia?

28:06:15 :: City Recital Hall :: 2 12 Angel Pl Sydney 8256 2222

David James Young

sosueme ft. the walking who

PICS :: JA

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, PSYCROPTIC, BORIS THE BLADE, COLOSSVS

24:06:15 :: Beach Road Hotel :: 71 Beach Rd Bondi Beach 9130 7247

TITLE FIGHT, PAPER ARMS, OSLOW Factory Theatre Wednesday June 24

the filth ft. asta

PICS :: JA

Anyone who has paid even fleeting attention to developments in the realm of interesting guitar-oriented music within Sydney of late is already all over Oslow. The out-west 20-somethings have spent the last 18 months developing their garage-dwelling math rock to its sharpest, hookiest and sunniest, showcased here in key tracks like ‘Fatigue’ and ‘Blue On Blue’. Having played with the likes of La Dispute, RVIVR and Knapsack, Oslow have also found themselves performing for incrementally bigger crowds. Tonight’s set is not only a justification of this, but irrefutable proof that they won’t be stopping this roll anytime soon.

26:06:15 :: Beach Road Hotel :: 71 Beach Rd Bondi Beach 9130 7247 OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER

thebrag.com

S :: JAMES AMBROSE :: KATRINA

You ever heard the saying “Always the bridesmaid, never the bride”? Adelaide’s Paper Arms are so underrated they didn’t even get invited to the damn wedding.

Thankfully, the tide looks to be turning with both the release of their third album, Great Mistakes, as well as this tour, which has them as the main support.

Vocalist Josh Mann can tear strips off walls with his Chuck Ragan husk, leading his bandmates (as well as fill-in drummer Pat Murphy) through a highlight reel of their bristling, cathartic brand of melodic

punk. If you weren’t paying attention before, wake up quick smart.

The last time Title Fight were in town, they took over the old Annandale Hotel for a weekend of shows that had all the body-flying, finger-pointing, lungsexhausting intensity of a hardcore show – which was especially peculiar as they began their set with a hazy shoegaze number, ‘Head In The Ceiling Fan’, from their second LP, Floral Green. Tonight begins in an even quieter manner, utilising the slow-burning ‘Murder Your Memory’ from February’s Hyperview.

The contrasts between the band’s past and present are more polarising now than ever – and indeed, to the more stagedive-hungry punk kids in attendance, the Hyperview material may feel like an endurance test. For those with more of an open mind, however, tracks such as the beautiful ‘Your Pain Is Mine Now’ and the Smiths-aping ‘Mrahc’ prove to be some of the best parts of the entire set. As far as Title Fight have come in the past few years, they still pay respect to where they’ve been through older numbers including ‘Symmetry’, ‘You Can’t Say Kingston Doesn’t Love You’ and the chaotic closer of ‘Secret Society’. No encore. No need. The Title Fight saga continues exclusively on their terms.

David James Young

CLARKE :: ASHLEY MAR ::

BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15 :: 23

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VIEW FULL GALLERIES AT

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up all night out all week . . .

EMMYLOU HARRIS & RODNEY CROWELL, HARMONY JAMES The Star Event Centre Saturday June 27

A former jillaroo who ditched her cowboy hat when she made the switch to being a full-time musician, Harmony James has retained a real earthiness in her music and a knack for heartfelt, straightforward storytelling. On older songs like ‘30,000 Feet’ she does a nice line in travelling songs, while ‘Skinny Flat White’ is a well-observed slice of life. Obviously stoked to be part of this tour, she proves a good choice for support act, not least because her setlist includes a song touching on the influence of tonight’s headliner, ‘Emmylou’s Guitar’.

The Vanguard Friday June 26

It’s been said that the key to a great song is to write what you feel, and then put a beat to it. In the same way, a touch of sincerity can make a whole lot of difference in a live performance, transforming what could be a by-thenumbers tribute band into something worth seeing. Amid the rosy lights of The Vanguard, a collection of musicians give us their takes on the blues, ranging from the sincere to the generic.

Skyscraper Stan whistles over the track as his bowler-hat-wearing drummer accompanies him on the snare. Their stripped-back instrumentation gives them the impression of a jug band as they play lilting guitar riffs with a dash of melancholy. Talking about the girls they’ve known and the songs they’ve struggled to write, lead singer Stan Woodhouse’s interactions with the crowd are endearing. His singing is more akin to an ocker Lou Reed, and he mumbles a love song dedication to the audience mid-track. A walking bassline sends the

fans into a hoedown and Stan bows out after a solid display of country and blues.

In stark contrast to Stan’s easygoing demeanour, Papa Pilko and The Binrats are about as reserved as you would expect from a group called The Binrats. Pumping his fist and staggering around the stage, Papa Pilko is the loosest unit. Shedding clothing throughout the set, he ends up conducting his rhythm-and-blues band in a wife-beater and akubra, while the horn section reminds us why there need to be more horns in songs.

‘Bring It On Home To Memphis’ and the autobiographical ‘Red Dirt Girl’ continue the mellow mood, while ‘Back When We Were Beautiful’, a skeletal lullaby in recorded form, is more fleshed out with upright bass, lap steel and tasteful guitar from Australia’s Jedd Hughes adding to the harmonies without threatening to overwhelm them.

The crowd is appreciative throughout and coaxes the band back onstage for a hushed version of Crowell’s evergreen ‘Stars On The Water’, before James returns for the closing ‘Boulder To Birmingham’. Despite the huge room, it feels intimate and relaxed, a chance to see two of country’s most fabled names in laidback mode.

Daniel Herborn

Coupling reverb with soulful blues choruses, Frank Sultana and The Sinister Kids have chops. That’s resoundingly obvious, even when they’re working with the simple chords of the 12-bar blues. Joey Panucci shreds on the lead guitar and Sultana growls over the riffs, but the real standout is Alyce Schulte, whose soaring vocals match the highpitched refrain of the guitar. The band’s gospel and blues repertoire is finely tuned but eventually the songs begin to sound a little overdone. Rather than writing what they feel, they’re writing for the genre, and feeding a little too regularly into the clichés of blues and roots.

James Ross

frankie’s

PICS :: AM

FRANK SULTANA AND THE SINISTER KIDS + PAPA PILKO AND THE BINRATS + SKYSCRAPER STAN

Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell may be icons in their field, but there’s a likeably low-key tone to tonight’s set, with both chatty and relaxed throughout. Their creative partnership has been a productive period in terms of songwriting, but they both remain firstrate song interpreters and begin with Gram Parsons’ ‘Return Of The Grievous Angel’, which sets the tone for the night: classic country delivered with attention to detail and an obvious reverence for the source material.

Further covers include the Townes Van Zandt classic ‘Pancho And Lefty’ and Lucinda Williams’ aching ‘I Just Wanted To See You So Bad’, where the interplay between Crowell’s earthy croon and Harris’ ethereal lilt make it arguably better than the original. Perhaps the real jewel, though, is ‘Love Hurts’, originally a hit for The Everly Brothers. In Harris’ and Crowell’s capable hands, it’s an affecting slice of yearning with heavenly harmonies underscoring its message of consolation.

28:06:15 :: Frankie’s Pizza :: 50 Hunter St Sydney

PHOTOGRAPHER :: ASHLEY MAR

24 :: BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15

OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER

S :: JAMES AMBROSE :: KATRINA

CLARKE :: ASHLEY MAR ::

thebrag.com

g g guide gig g

send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com

Harts

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

FRIDAY JULY 3

Stonefield

Goodgod Small Club

Stonefield + Magic Bones + Destrends 7:30pm. $22.10.

WEDNESDAY JULY 1 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Trio Red + Special Guests Foundry616, Ultimo. 8:30pm. $16.50.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

Greenthief + Glass Skies Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney.

4pm. Free.

Powla + Capital Coast + The Franco Prussians Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 7pm. $10.

Sosueme’s 8th Birthday - feat: Carmada + Paces + Furnace And The Fundamentals + Young Franco + Mickey Kojack + I Oh You DJs + Falcona DJs Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach. 8pm. Free.

THURSDAY JULY 2 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK Jed Rowe And Alison Ferrier Union Hotel, Newtown.

7:30pm. Free.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC George Golla, Jacki thebrag.com

Cooper Foundry616, Ultimo. 8pm. $21.50.

Jones Jnr. + Venusians + Okenyo Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 7pm. $18.

Jordan C. Thomas Band The Golden Sheaf, Double Bay. 9pm. Free.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

At Fates Spectrum, Darlinghurst.

8pm. Free.

Finality’s An Ashtray + Rainbow Chan + Eugene Choi Golden Age Cinema, Surry Hills. 10pm. Free.

Flaccid Mohawk + The Flenegenergy + Tinsmith + Into The Wild Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 8pm. $10.

John Vella + Carly Kling Mr Tipply’s, Sydney. 5:30pm.

Free.

Noire Cliff Dive, Darlinghurst.

10pm. Free.

Ryan Thomas Campbelltown Catholic Club, Campbelltown. 6pm. Free.

Sydney Reclink Community Cup Fundraising Gig - feat: Scabz + Surprise Wasp Vic On The Park, Marrickville. 7pm. Free.

Ted Nash Fortune Of War, The Rocks.

7pm. Free.

The Lazys Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney.

10pm. Free.

FRIDAY JULY 3 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

James Thomson & The Strange Pilgrims + Handasyd Williams + Simone East The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 7pm. $5.

Lloyd Spiegel Stag And Hunter, Newcastle.

8:45pm. Free.

Rob Snarski & Shane O’Mara + Jep & Dep The Vanguard, Newtown.

8pm. $28.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Jake Edgley Omega Lounge, Sydney.

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

Andrew Barnum Parliament On King, Newtown. 7:30pm. Free.

Blake Wiggins Kings Park Tavern, Kings Park. 7pm. Free.

Brad Christmas Vikings Sports Club, Dundas Valley. 9:30pm. Free.

Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers Show Bull & Bush Hotel, Baulkham Hills. 9:45pm. Free.

CLN Jam Gallery, Bondi Junction.

8pm. Free.

Dave Ireland + Glenn Esmond Manly Leagues Club, Brookvale. 9:30pm. Free.

DJ Marty Wentworthville Leagues Club, Wentworthville. 9pm.

Free.

Endless Summer Beach Party Western Suburbs Leagues Club, Leumeah. 9pm. Free.

Flangipanis + Love Maul + Cap O Capo + Dead Joe + Topnovil Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 9pm. $10.

Glenn Esmond Fortune Of War, The Rocks.

8pm. Free.

GTS The Juniors, Kingsford.

8:30pm. Free.

Hand Of Mercy + Prepared Like A Bride + Vices + Glorifi ed Red Rattler, Marrickville.

6pm. $15.

Harts Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $14.30.

JJ Duo Ingleburn Hotel, Ingleburn.

9pm. Free.

Nathan Cole Chatswood RSL, Chatswood.

5pm. Free.

One Hit Wonders Campbelltown Catholic Club, Campbelltown. 9:15pm. Free.

Party Central Blacktown Workers Club, Blacktown. 8pm. Free.

Rob Eastwood The Push Bar, The Rocks.

7:30pm. Free.

Rock Solid Duo Courthouse Hotel, Darlinghurst. 10pm. Free.

Rosenthorne Optus Centre, Macquarie Park. 4pm. Free.

Seether Metro Theatre, Sydney. 7pm. $67.19.

Shifting Sands Factory Theatre, Marrickville.

8pm. $14.

Stonefi eld Goodgod Small Club, Sydney. 7:30pm. $22.10.

The Church Factory Theatre, Marrickville.

8pm. $55.

Us Too Penrith Gaels, Kingswood.

8pm. Free.

Waxahatchee Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $39.

SATURDAY JULY 4 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK Lloyd Spiegel Camelot Lounge, Marrickville. 9pm. $25.

Mojo House Band - feat: Jesse & James Mojo Record Bar, Sydney.

7pm. Free.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Connie & Jetson The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 3pm. $5.

John & Yuki Jazz Band Well Co. Cafe And Wine Bar, Leichhardt. 8pm. Free.

Men Of Soul Foundry616, Ultimo. 8:30pm. $27.50.

Sexy Sunday Jam Bellini Lounge, Potts Point.

7pm. Free.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

AJ The Push Bar, The Rocks.

7:30pm. Free.

AM 2 PM Picton Bowling Club, Picton.

8:30pm. Free.

Armchair Travellers Duo Courthouse Hotel, Darlinghurst. 10pm. Free.

Benn Gunn Picton Hotel, Picton. 8pm.

Free.

Billyfest - feat: Belligerent

Intent + Bloodklot + Internal Nightmare + The Murdering + Infested Entrails + Wounded Pig + Gutter Tactic + Sceptic Mutagen + Cryptic Scorn + Extracor + Exsul + Penetrated + Jon Doe + Daemon Foetal Harvest + Tortured + Mytile Vey Lorth + Trollgasm + Atra Vetosus + Inhuman Remnants + Headless + Dionysus + Squawk! + As Flesh Decays + Drillsaw + Nekrology + The Dirty Headbangers Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 1pm. $20.

Cigars Of The Pharaoh Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham.

8pm. $11.25.

Dave Ireland Panania Diggers, Panania.

8pm. Free.

DJ Marty Wentworthville Leagues Club, Wentworthville. 9pm.

Free.

Draw Captain Cook Hotel, Paddington. 8pm. Free.

Endless Summer Beach Party Orient Hotel, The Rocks.

9:30pm. Free.

Gary Og + Ryan Sheridan + The Rumjacks + Mick Mchugh Tea Gardens, Bondi Junction. 7pm. Free.

Glenn Esmond The Belvedere Hotel, Sydney. 7:30pm. Free.

Got It Covered Carousel Inn Hotel, Rooty Hill. 8pm. Free.

Hooray For Everything Manly Leagues Club, Brookvale. 9pm. Free.

Iron Lion Oatley Hotel, Oatley.

8:45pm. Free.

Japanese Wallpaper + Nick Hill + Montaigne Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $20.

JJ Duo Padstow RSL Club, Padstow.

6:30pm. Free.

Marlon Williams & The Yarra Benders + Laura Jean The Basement, Circular

Furnace and The Fundamentals

The Church

BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15 :: 25

Xxx photo by Xxx

pick of the week

6:30pm. Free.

Sean Mackenzie Trio Foundry616, Ultimo. 8:30pm. $21.50.

Sexy Sunday Jam Bellini Lounge, Potts Point.

7pm. Free.

g g guide gig g

g g picks gig p

send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com Quay. 8pm. $24.30.

Marty’s Place Kelly’s On King, Newtown.

9:30pm. Free.

One Hit Wonders Riverstone Memorial Club, Riverstone. 9:30pm. Free.

Paradise City Hermann’s Bar, Darlington.

9pm. $10.

Rob Eastwood Campbelltown Catholic Club, Campbelltown.

6:30pm. Free.

Sam Marks Hunters Hill Hotel, Hunters Hill. 3:30pm. Free.

Ted Nash Duo Kings Park Tavern, Kings Park. 7pm. Free.

The Tribe The Mercantile Hotel, The Rocks. 8:30pm. Free.

Toxic Dolls St Marys Rugby Leagues Club, St Marys. 9pm. Free.

Unleash Overlander Hotel, Cambridge Park. 8pm.

Free.

Wildcatz Epping Hotel, Epping.

10pm. Free.

Young Lions Spectrum, Darlinghurst.

8pm. Free.

SUNDAY JULY 5 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC

Sunday Jazz Salon - feat: Sandie White Foundry616, Ultimo. 1pm. $16.50.

up all night out all week...

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK

WORLD MUSIC

Satellite V Vic On The Park, Marrickville. 4pm. Free.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS American Football + Birthmark Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $50.

Andy Illinois Picton Hotel, Picton. 1pm.

Free.

Bruce! + Batpiss + Meatcake Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney.

4pm. Free.

Ego + Delphine Geoff + Mac The Knife + Glab + Vasban + Glab + Cosmic Flanders Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 4pm. $10.

Glamma Rays + Ben Mason The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 5pm. $10.

Krishna Jones Waverley Bowling Club, Waverley. 2pm. Free.

Nathan Cole The Mill Hotel, Milperra.

12pm. Free.

Sam Newton Kings Park Tavern, Kings Park. 3pm. Free.

MONDAY JULY 6 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN &

Jackie Brown Jr Foundry616, Ultimo. 8pm.

Free.

Jazz Jam Session & Games Night Venue 505, Surry Hills.

6pm. Free.

Sonic Mayhem Orchestra Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville. 8:30pm. Free.

Waxahatchee

TUESDAY JULY 7 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

Katherine Vavahea + Jackie Brown Jnr + Sabrina Mcsab + Oliver Downes Mr Falcon’s, Glebe. 7:30pm.

Free.

Owen Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 7pm. $24.

Twenty One Pilots Metro Theatre, Sydney.

8pm. $49.90.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC

Jazzgroove Presents @ Foundry616 - feat: Ping Ping Ping + Arthur Washington Quartet Foundry616, Ultimo. 7pm. $16.50.

Old School Funk & Groove Night Venue 505, Surry Hills.

6pm. Free.

WEDNESDAY JULY 1 Sosueme’s 8th Birthday - Feat: Carmada + Paces + Furnace And The Fundamentals + Young Franco + Mickey Kojack + I Oh You DJs + Falcona DJs Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach. 8pm. Free.

THURSDAY JULY 2 Jones Jnr. + Venusians + Okenyo Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 7pm. $18.

Sydney Reclink Community Cup Fundraising Gig - Feat: Scabz + Surprise Wasp Vic On The Park, Marrickville. 7pm. Free.

The Lazys Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney.

10pm. Free.

I M A G I N E B E I N G M A D E TO

FRIDAY JULY 3 Hand Of Mercy + Prepared Like A Bride + Vices + Glorified Red Rattler, Marrickville.

6pm. $15.

Harts Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $14.30.

FEEL LIKE CRAP J U ST FOR

Metro Theatre, Sydney.

7pm. $67.19.

Shifting Sands Factory Theatre, Marrickville. 8pm. $14.

The Church Factory Theatre, Marrickville. 8pm. $55.

Waxahatchee Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $39.

SATURDAY JULY 4 Billyfest - Feat: Belligerent Intent + Bloodklot + Internal Nightmare + The Murdering + Infested Entrails + Wounded Pig + Gutter Tactic + Sceptic Mutagen + Cryptic Scorn + Extracor + Exsul + Penetrated + Jon Doe + Daemon Foetal Harvest + Tortured + Mytile Vey Lorth + Trollgasm + Atra Vetosus + Inhuman Remnants + Headless + Dionysus + Squawk! + As Flesh Decays + Drillsaw + Nekrology + The Dirty Headbangers Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 1pm. $20.

Cigars Of The Pharaoh Lewisham Hotel, Lewisham. 8pm. $11.25.

Gary Og + Ryan Sheridan + The Rumjacks + Mick Mchugh Tea Gardens, Bondi Junction. 7pm. Free.

Japanese Wallpaper + Nick Hill + Montaigne Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $20.

Marlon Williams & The Yarra Benders + Laura Jean The Basement, Circular Quay. 8pm. $24.30.

SUNDAY JULY 5 American Football + Birthmark Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $50.

Bruce! + Batpiss + Meatcake Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney.

4pm. Free.

TUESDAY JULY 7 Owen Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 7pm. $24.

Twenty One Pilots Metro Theatre, Sydney.

8pm. $49.90.

Marlon Williams

Rob Snarski & Shane O’Mara + Jep & Dep The Vanguard, Newtown.

8pm. $28.

Sean Mackenzie Trio Foundry616, Ultimo.

8:30pm. $21.50.

Seether

BEING

LEFT

H A N D E D.

Okay, that’s hard to imagine? But being gay, lesbian, bi, trans or intersex is no different to being born left handed, it’s just who you are. So stop and think because the things we say are likely to cause depression and anxiety. And that really is pretty crap.

GO TO LEFTHAND.ORG.AU TO WATCH THE VIDEO

26 :: BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15

STOP t THINK t RESPECT

The Lazys

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 Sam Caldwell and Chris Martin

five things WITH

CRISTOPH

SUBSONIC 2015

The beats are getting back to rural New South Wales, with the Subsonic Music Festival revealing its lineup for 2015. Organisers have called this year’s lineup “a sharp nod to our house and techno roots”, and that’s more than reflected in the names booked in so far. Headlining Subsonic 2015 will be Germany’s Roman Flügel, joined by UK electronica man and label head Max Cooper. Also on the lineup are the likes of Enzo Siragusa, Rich NXT, Seb Zito, Kink, Dop, Alexkid, Rick Wade and Dub FX. Subsonic Music Festival returns to Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort at Barrington Tops from Friday December 4 – Sunday December 6.

Jay Daniel

TIMMY’S TRUMPET

Growing Up Growing up, there was always 1. some sort of music being played in my house. What really grabbed my attention were the Chicago house and Detroit techno records my brother would play. My dad was a DJ, so I guess I followed in his footsteps there. He introduced me to a lot of Motown and ’80s music, which has had a great influence on my production. I think living in a house with so many different genres being played has allowed me to see the benefits of always staying open-minded when it comes to music.

Inspirations Masters At Work have 2. inspired me a lot over the years. I remember first seeing them play at the Southport Weekender in the UK and it was absolutely amazing, six decks and two mixers between the two of them. A lot of inspiration comes from ’80s producers, as well as the more obvious ones like Daft Punk and Michael Jackson.

Nowadays I love Maceo Plex, Eric Prydz, Tale Of Us… they all have such a positive effect on the way I look at both DJing and producing.

3.

Just A Gent

The Music You Make And Play 4.

I love all sorts of house and techno,

JAY DANIEL Kyro

so I don’t try define my sound in one specific subgenre. That’s also how I play – I seem to just think if I enjoy a record then I’ll play it.

You can normally judge a crowd and what they like after watching the DJ(s) beforehand, or even by your first few tracks, so I always approach sets with an open mind and don’t have anything planned.

Jayteehazard

Music, Right Here, Right Now 5.

I think the music scene is really good at the moment. There are some amazing DJs and producers about, and each one will help inspire other artists within the industry to keep improving, and also younger/newer artists trying to break through. This all adds to the overall strength in my eyes. A lot of people need to remember music is an art so there is no right and wrong, it’s just people’s opinions.

If you believe in yourself, then you can reach your goals. Everyone struggles with certain factors in their chosen profession at some point, and I never let that put me off. The scene back in Newcastle, UK isn’t the strongest, but there is some great talent there, so I hope it works out for them all. Recently I’ve seen Mano Le Tough, Tale Of Us and Dixon, and they have given me some great ideas and inspiration for future projects.

Where: Home Nightclub / Kit And Kaboodle When: Sunday July 5 / Saturday July 11

KYRO

Local boy Kyro is around this weekend for a big headline set at Marquee.

The Sydney DJ has been going from strength to strength since the release of his debut EP Space Cowboy last year, and a stint of sell-out shows on his maiden national tour.

Known for a broad range of styles including rave, trap and house music, his live set will get you moving. See him on Friday July 3.

SPLENDOUR PRE-PARTY LINEUP

Did the announcement of the Red Bull Music Academy stage at this year’s Splendour get you excited? Then the announcement of RBMA’s Thursday night pre-party should have you jumping for joy.

Early Splendour campers will be lucky enough to warm up for the weekend with the sounds of DJ prodigy Just A Gent, beatmaker LDRU, triple j House Party host KLP and Splendour returnee Yahtzel. They’ll also be joined by Melbourne’s Swick, Red Bull Music Academy alumnus Lewis Cancut and Slumberjack. You also may have heard that the RBMA stage headliner for Splendour, Jay Electronica, has cancelled his Australian tour. Thankfully they’ve found a replacement in US hip hop artist Knwledge. Warning: expect fire.

thebrag.com

The Imperial Hotel is gearing up for a big Friday night, with Jay Daniel headlining, joined by Ben Fester, Preacha, T Mingus and Adrian E. Over from Detroit, Daniel has previously been labelled Kyle Hall’s protégé – and rightfully so. He’s had releases on Sound Signature, Apron and Wild Oats, and is about to drop a fourth release on his very own imprint, Watusi High. Check it out – Friday July 3.

HALFWAY CROOKS RETURNS

Halfway Crooks is back this month after a massive sixth birthday, this time featuring Newcastle favourite Jayteehazard. He’s been blowing minds with his sets at One Day Sundays of late, and will no doubt do good things. He’ll be joined by Captain Franco and DJ Levins for a wild night at Goodgod Small Club’s Danceteria, Saturday July 4.

SPENCER PARKER

Renowned European DJ Spencer Parker has announced his first Australian tour in six years. Originally from the UK, Parker is now a Berlin resident and known throughout the city for his regular sets at Berghain.

With a reputation for a unique style of underground house and techno, his show at Home Nightclub for S.A.S.H Sundays will go off. Sunday July 19 – don’t miss it.

WORDLIFE AT LAUNDRY

For many, July 4 is a day of celebration.

Maybe not here in Australia, but that doesn’t mean we can’t party anyway.

This Saturday July 4 sees some familiar faces hitting Chinese Laundry for a good ol’ Saturday night out.

Featuring the live phenomenon of

Wordlife, who combine DJing with live vocals for a uniquely cool experience, as well as GT, Lo’99 and many more, it’ll be a great night of great beats – whether you care about your (lack of) independence or not.

ADVERSE PLAYERS

Hip hop lovers are in for a treat with Adverse and Makoto hitting up Play Bar this weekend. You may remember Adverse from the early 2000s when he became known for his ’80s and ’90s hip hop mixes, hitting the mainstream circuit.

Makoto, who’s shared a stage with the likes of Talib Kweli, is a renowed crate-digger, and has uncovered some fine selections of hip hop, soul, funk, Latin and jazz. Both will be supported by resident Benny Hinn, and it all goes down on Friday July 3.

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Your Crew My family and friends are all people I keep very close to me.

They all support me so much in everything I do, and I tend to take a lot of advice from them. They are all into the music I make and play, which is great. I work alone 99 per cent of the time, but would definitely consider collaborating with artists I respect and enjoy. I became selfemployed last September, and this became my main job then, so my idea is to focus on growing my name further before looking to

collaborate.

Timmy Trumpet is a busy guy. In less than a decade he’s gone from critically acclaimed jazz-man to a global dance music superstar, juggling over 200 shows every year across the globe, including major festivals and international super clubs. After a 34-date, two-month stint in Europe, Timmy is back and ready for action this weekend with Pacha.

He’ll be joined by Kyro, A-Tonez and more this Saturday July 4 at Ivy.

UV Boi It’s a Luv-In By Kerry Restante

H

e’s only 19 years old, but UV Boi is about to embark on his third national tour.

Brisbane producer Emmanuel John first created UV Boi just 18 months ago, yet in that time he has been shortlisted as triple j’s Unearthed Artist of the Year for 2014, collaborated with the likes of Ryan Hemsworth, and earned regular national airplay. In time for the release of his new single, ‘Luv’, John explains that his music is a mish-mash of styles.

“I wouldn’t really call it dance music,” he says. “I would call it electronic.

Whatever idea comes to my head I try to make – I don’t really try to pigeonhole myself in one genre.”

John’s listening habits, which take in genres as distant as jazz and classical music, inspire his mixture of heavy 808s, hip hop influences and melodic sounds. “You don’t really hear it so much in my music, but I do listen to [those styles],” he says. “I try to use everything and put it together into what I am trying to express.”

‘Luv’ has been three or four months in the making – a decent stretch in the timeline of UV Boi’s career thus far. “I linked up with my friends from New York, from Brooklyn, Brasstracks, and they wrote the brass in there,” John explains. “And from there I fell in love with the whole track.”

Another collaborator’s vocals, those of Fionn Richards, were added later.

“The song came together real nicely, it was real natural. I loved it all together,” says John.

UV Boi is currently on the road to launch the new track, and he’s been putting on a bigger and brighter live show to celebrate. “My first tour was more DJ-based, but through the Tkay [Maidza] tour I was able to try some different equipment,” John says. “I was able to bring my keyboard, my drum pad with me, to see how that [went]. Now with me going on my third tour I have this live show planned out and it is working very well.”

John first met breakout rap star Maidza after winning a spot at the Listen Out festival last year.

“I am so glad she chose to tour with me,” he says. “It was a really good experience.” But it was more a matter of time before John’s contemporaries took notice, thanks to the attention surrounding his earlier self-released tracks, ‘Thank U’ and ‘Ghost’.

“Before triple j and Nina [Las Vegas] hopped on board with my sound and my music, I was getting a lot of love from online from places like America and Europe,” says John.

Indeed, Las Vegas has been a major supporter of UV Boi and

his work, featuring him on the Mix Up Exclusives program as well as introducing his sound to her peers, including the Canadian production and DJ high-flyer, Hemsworth. An instant fan, Hemsworth started emailing John about UV Boi, and the

“I was like, ‘Holy crap, Ryan Hemsworth wants to make a song with me!’ But I had to play it cool.”

connection led to their collaborative track, ‘Gods’.

“We were chatting and all of a sudden he was like, ‘Hey, do you want to make a song?’ says John. “I was ecstatic. I was like, ‘Holy crap, Ryan Hemsworth wants to make a song with me!’ But I had to play it cool, so I was like, ‘Yeah, cool, let’s make a song.’”

Off The Record

With: Zuri Akoko, Kailo Where: Goodgod Small Club When: Saturday July 18 And: Also appearing alongside Mark Ronson, Peking Duk, Flight Facilities and many more at Splendour In The Grass 2015, North Byron Parklands, Friday July 24 – Sunday July 26

RECOMMENDED Lapalux

Dance and Electronica with Tyson Wray

Support on the night will come from Simon Caldwell, Ken Cloud, Jimmi James and Zootie. It’s happening on Saturday August 8 at Marrickville Bowling Club. Highly recommended.

dOP

The Something Else crew have locked in a visit from Paradigma Musik head honcho Marc Marzenit. The label, which he founded at the age of 23, is now home to the likes of Paul Ritch, Henry Saiz, Gary Beck, David Keno and Gavin Herlihy, while his own productions have been approved by John Digweed, Sven Väth, Hernan Cattaneo, Wally Lopez and Secret Cinema, just to name a few. He’ll be supported

by Brosnan Perera, Sam Arellano, James Petrou, Dave Stuart, Bodywork, Thomas and Rouss. Catch him on Saturday July 11 at the Burdekin Hotel.

o Subsonic Music Festival has dropped a pretty solid first lineup for its 2015 incarnation, hey? My picks of the bunch: KiNK’s mad professor-esque live shows are always incredible; same goes for dOP. Detroit house and techno don Rick Wade never fails to get a dancefloor heaving, and the heavy-hitting German Roman Flügel is one of the most versatile producers in the game. It’s all going down at Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort at Barrington Tops from Friday December 4 – Sunday December 6. Stay tuned for loads more names to be revealed in the upcoming months.

S

Speaking of Subsonic, it usually shares a host of names with Victoria’s Strawberry Fields festival, which has just revealed its second lineup. Expect visits from international heavyweights such as Booka Shade, Shigeto, Justin Martin, Eric Cloutier and Palms Trax later this year.

Woah, mumma – The Black Madonna has

confirmed her debut Australian sojourn.

The talent booker for Chicago’s legendary Smart Bar has become one of the fastest rising names around after the release of her track ‘We Don’t Need No Music (Thank You Rahaan)’ in 2012. Her EP Goodbye To All This was lauded by many as one of the best of 2014. If you need any more convincing that this’ll be one of the best parties of the year, have a spin of her killer mixes for Little White Earbuds and Beats In Space.

Shigeto

FRIDAY JULY 3

Jay Daniel Imperial Hotel

Tour rumours: word on the grapevine is that we’ll be seeing Rush Hour’s very own Antal in Sydney later next month, while Laurel Halo will be visiting our shores in August.

SATURDAY JULY 4

Best releases this week: OK, so I slept on the Trevor Deep Jr. record when it was released earlier this year, but after copping it this week, it’s one of the best things I’ve heard in ages. It’s titled TDJ (on HPTY) and I couldn’t recommend it more. Other new things I’m spinning include LFT’s Janus Head (Woodwork), H.O.M.’s Feldspar (HOM), Lowtec’s Man On Wire (Avenue 66), Beat Detectives’ Climate Change (Not Not Fun), Various Artists’ Edit Compilation (Public Possession) and House Of Doors’ Starcave/ Burmstar (Mood Hut).

SUNDAY JULY 5

Marc Marzenit

Mike Callander The Spice Cellar

Cristoph Home Nightclub

The Spice Cellar

SATURDAY AUGUST 8 The Black Madonna Marrickville Bowling Club

SATURDAY AUGUST 22

Borrowed Identity Bridge Hotel

FRIDAY SATURDAY NOVEMBER 20 JULY 11 Lapalux Iron Curtis The Spice Cellar

Chinese Laundry

FRIDAY DECEMBER 4 – SUNDAY Cristoph DECEMBER Kit & Kaboodle SATURDAY 6 Subsonic Music Festival – feat: JULY 18 Marc Marzenit Burdekin Hotel

Steven Tang Burdekin Hotel

SATURDAY JULY 25 Tiefschwarz

KiNK, dOP, Rick Wade, Roman Flügel and more Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort

Got any tip-offs, hate mail, praise or cat photos? Email hey@tysonwray.com or contact me via carrier pigeon.

28 :: BRAG :: 619 :: 01:07:15

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club guide g

send your listings to : clubguide@thebrag.com

club pick of the week Cristoph

SUNDAY JULY 5

Home Nightclub

S.A.S.H Sundays Feat: Cristoph

CLUB NIGHTS

Rihanna Dance Class (BBHMM) - feat: Amrita Goodgod Small Club, Sydney.

6:30pm. $17.

The Wall The World Bar, Kings Cross.

9pm. $5.

THURSDAY JULY 2 CLUB NIGHTS

Holy Balm + Liberation + Basic Mind + UTD Goodgod Small Club, Sydney.

8:30pm. $12.

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

Free.

The Midnight Swim Sessions - feat: Thomas Studdy Goros, Surry Hills. 8pm. Free.

The World Bar Thursdays The World Bar, Kings Cross.

9pm. Free.

HIP HOP & R&B

Dizz1 Play Bar, Surry Hills. 8pm.

Free. thebrag.com

FRIDAY JULY 3 CLUB NIGHTS

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

Free.

Bassic - feat: Hybrid Minds + Redial + Jawz Chinese Laundry, Sydney.

9pm. $17.50.

Blvd Fridays - feat: Kyro Marquee, Pyrmont. 10pm. $13.40.

Derriere - feat: Rotating DJs Goros, Surry Hills. 6pm. Free.

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

10pm. Free.

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

7pm. Free.

Feel Good Fridays Bar100, The Rocks. 5pm.

Free.

Friday Lite - feat: Body Promise + Air Max ’97 + Victoria Kim + Baby Face Thrilla + Denzel Sterling Goodgod Small Club, Sydney.

9pm. Free.

Jay Daniel + Ben Fester + Preacha + T Mingus + Adrian E Imperial Hotel, Erskineville.

11pm. $16.50.

CLUB NIGHTS

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

8pm. $10.

DJ Crazy Caz + DJ Cool Jerk + Robbie Rommers Soda Factory, Surry Hills. 5pm.

Free.

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

10pm. Free.

Independence - feat: Kerry Wallace + Magda Bytnerowicz + Persian Rug + Jimmi Walker + Luke Walker + Boet + Sam Arellano + Arta + Andy Mcqueen + Thomas Lisse + Mødulus + Louke + Jordi & Mike Chippendale Hotel, Chippendale. 12pm. $38.50.

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

Le Fruit DJs Goros, Surry Hills. 8pm. Free.

Lndry - feat: Lo’99 + Wordlife + Terace/GT + Watson & Clive + Jade Le Flay + Noy-C Andee + DJ Just 1 + Samrai + Jossy & Connell Chinese Laundry, Sydney. 9pm. $17.50.

My Place Saturdays Bar100, The Rocks. 8pm. Free.

Pacha - feat: Timmy Trumpet + Kyro + A-Tonez + Glover + Terace + I Am Wolfpack + Deckhead + DJ Moto + Natnoiz + Jace Disgrace + Nanna Does + Chris Arnott + Offtapia + Devola + Jade Le

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

Free.

Rimbombo & Alltalk Present All Night Long - feat: Declan Esau + Nisco Disco + Jeremiah + Benny G Goodgod Small Club, Sydney.

11pm. $10.

Treble N Bass Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly.

8pm. Free.

True Vibenation Spectrum, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $15.

HIP HOP & R&B

Adverse + Makoto + Benny Hinn Play Bar, Surry Hills. 6pm.

Free.

Freshly Squeezed - feat: Beastside + Corner Store Superheroes + Roleo + 40oz Bounce DJs + Ziggy And Mumbles + Ran MC + VJ Spook Lansdowne Hotel, Chippendale. 7:30pm. $5.

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

Free.

Mum - feat: Coda Conduct The World Bar, Kings Cross.

8pm. $10.

The Filth - feat: Citizen Kay Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach. 8pm. Free.

Flay + Nad Ivy Bar/Lounge, Sydney.

6:30pm. $38.

Resident DJ The Kent Bar & Grill, Hamilton.

9:30pm. Free.

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

9pm. Free.

Soda Saturdays (Happy Independence Day) - feat: DJ Cool Jerk + DJ Crazy Caz + Robbie Rommers Soda Factory, Surry Hills. 5pm.

Free.

Something Else - feat: Shivers* + Dave Stuart + Aaron Robins + Tech No More + James Petrou + Brosnan Perera + Eliot Mireylees Burdekin Hotel, Darlinghurst.

9pm. $11.

Spice - feat: Mike Callandar + Softwar + Timmy Maxwell + Junglesnake + Jamie Bianco + Mike Whitcombe + Ant J Steep + Adi Toohey + Steven Sullivan & Aaron Andrew + Jack Shit + Paris Groove Scooter The Spice Cellar, Erskineville.

9pm. $25.

Winter Wonderland Party feat: Graham M + Brenny B Side Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly. 6pm.

Free.

SUNDAY JULY 5

Willie Sabor The Establishment, Sydney.

8pm. Free.

Murray Lake Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly.

6pm. Free.

Northies Cronulla Hotel feat: DJ Generik + You’re Welcome Northies Cronulla Hotel, Cronulla. 3pm. Free.

S.A.S.H Sundays - feat: Cristoph Home Nightclub, Darling Harbour. 3pm. $10.

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

Free.

MONDAY JULY 6 CLUB NIGHTS

Mashup Monday - feat: Resident DJs Side Bar, Sydney. 8pm.

Free.

HIP HOP & R&B

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Metro Theatre, Sydney.

7:30pm. $71.85.

TUESDAY JULY 7 CLUB NIGHTS

CLUB NIGHTS

La Fiesta - feat: Samantha Fox + Agee Ortiz + Av El Cubano + Resident DJ

Coyote Tuesdays The World Bar, Kings Cross.

9pm. $10.

up all night out all week...

THURSDAY JULY 2 Holy Balm + Liberation + Basic Mind + UTD Goodgod Small Club, Sydney. 8:30pm. $12.

3pm. $10.

WEDNESDAY JULY 1

SATURDAY JULY 4

FRIDAY JULY 3 Adverse + Makoto + Benny Hinn Play Bar, Surry Hills. 6pm.

Free.

Bassic - Feat: Hybrid Minds + Redial + Jawz Chinese Laundry, Sydney.

9pm. $17.50.

Blvd Fridays - Feat: Kyro Marquee, Pyrmont. 10pm. $13.40.

Jay Daniel + Ben Fester + Preacha + T Mingus + Adrian E Imperial Hotel, Erskineville.

11pm. $16.50.

9pm. $17.50.

The Filth - Feat: Citizen Kay Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach. 8pm. Free.

Pacha - Feat: Timmy Trumpet + Kyro + A-Tonez + Glover + Terace + I Am Wolfpack + Deckhead + DJ Moto + Natnoiz + Jace Disgrace + Nanna Does + Chris Arnott + Offtapia + Devola + Jade Le Flay + Nad Ivy Bar/Lounge, Sydney.

6:30pm. $38.

SATURDAY JULY 4 Independence - Feat: Kerry Wallace + Magda Bytnerowicz + Persian Rug + Jimmi Walker + Luke Walker + Boet + Sam Arellano + Arta + Andy Mcqueen + Thomas Lisse + Mødulus + Louke + Jordi & Mike Chippendale Hotel, Chippendale. 12pm. $38.50.

Lndry - Feat: Lo’99 + Wordlife + Terace/GT + Watson & Clive + Jade Le Flay + Noy-C Andee + DJ Just 1 + Samrai + Jossy & Connell Chinese Laundry, Sydney.

Softwar

Sgt. Slick + Who Killed Mickey Marquee, Pyrmont. 10pm. $23.70.

Something Else - Feat: Shivers* + Dave Stuart + Aaron Robins + Tech No More + James Petrou + Brosnan Perera + Eliot Mireylees Burdekin Hotel, Darlinghurst. 9pm. $11.

Spice - Feat: Mike Callandar + Softwar + Timmy Maxwell + Junglesnake + Jamie Bianco + Mike Whitcombe + Ant J Steep + Adi Toohey + Steven Sullivan & Aaron Andrew + Jack Shit + Paris Groove Scooter The Spice Cellar, Erskineville. 9pm. $25.

MONDAY JULY 6 Bone Thugs-N-Harmony Metro Theatre, Sydney.

7:30pm. $71.85.

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Entries close: 31 July 2015

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