Brag#672

ISSUE NO. 672 JULY 20, 2016

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

MUSIC, FILM, THEATRE + MORE

INSIDE

T HE JUNGL E GI A N T S

HEN RY

This Week

They've hit their stride on a long tour, set to wrap up at Splendour.

NE V IL L E S TA P L E

The former Specials toastmaster doesn't hold back on his ex-bandmates.

MICH A EL MCIN T Y R E Britain's cheeriest and most popular comedian takes a trip to Oz.

Plus

T RU S T P UNK S PIRUPA T HIR D F L OOR COOL SOUNDS A ND MUCH MOR E

U D NC O E W N N S U OR N E D D ER

PERIPHERY The shining stars of prog return with a confident new record.

ROL LIN S

JO SH WA DE And how his character Cunny made it from YouTube to the live stage.

It’s your career.

Make it with JMC. AUGUST OPEN DAYS. Register online.

Degrees and Diplomas in Music, Songwriting, Audio, Entertainment Business Management, Film and Television, 3D Animation, Games and Digital Design.

The Australasian institutional partner school of the Berklee College of Music.

Your creative future starts today.

Visit jmcacademy.edu.au or call on 1300 410 311. facebook.com/jmcacademy

youtube.com/jmcacademy

SEPT & FEB INTAKES.

Enrol Now.

FIRST RELEASE TICKETS ON SALE NOW SILENT DINNER PARTY 24 SEPTEMBER Take part in the world’s largest dinner party — a living art installation.

GLOBAL RHYTHMS 25 SEPTEMBER Eight bands from across the country play our massive closing party!

M A R G O R P L FUL EVEALED R T S U G 1 AU ge.com n i r f y e n syd

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rock music news

the BRAG presents

welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town... with James Di Fabrizio, Tom Parker and Natalia Morawski

five things WITH

PETER BJORN AND JOHN Metro Theatre Wednesday July 20

LACHLAN RUSSELL FROM BEARS WITH GUNS singing and ultimately performing. My family and friends continue to inspire me every day on this musical journey. Their love and support is paramount.

recently released a self-titled EP, produced by Al Clay. It’s an honour to work with someone so talented behind the desk (not to mention an all-time legend). His dance moves aren’t bad either.

Your Band 3.

The band is Bears With Guns. We are Music, Right Here, Right Now one-fifth Slovakian for diversity purposes and 5.

On a more serious note: Keep Sydney have been known to quit jobs to play gigs.

Open. It’s so sad to see a city once vibrant

Growing Up 1.

One of my earliest musical memories is of my parents bringing home a $50 drum kit from a garage sale. They put it in a spare room, along with a tape player and some John Fogerty cassettes for me to jam with. This was the start of my fascination for music.

Inspirations 2.

The biggest musical influence in my life hands down is Chris Martin and Coldplay.

It’s the reason I picked up the piano, started

Yes Mum, I am that committed. We all met at uni while studying music, which led to us jamming together. No-one else would put up with our musical shenanigans, as well as Bali’s vigorous pilates routine, so we were destined for each other from the get-go. It’s one big polygamous marriage, just so long as I can be the bread in the sandwich.

The Music You Make 4.

I couldn’t tell you what we sound like.

I feel each time we write something new, it doesn’t remotely sound like the last song we wrote. The closest comparison I could give is like a Death Cab For Cutie vibe, but with awesome blast beats and Slovak-shred.

The band is predominately made up of headbanging metalheads, so that influence tends to come across in our new material. We

with culture and local nightlife being forced out on its arse due to the lockout laws. All these pollies go to bed just after Today Tonight, but feel free to prove me wrong.

Come along to any of our gigs and I’ll show you how safe, beautiful and enjoyable our city nightlife can be. Hell, I’ll throw in a plus one and a CD for you. There’s an orgasmic melting pot of talent in Sydney. Some of my favourite local acts include Lepers & Crooks, Betty & Oswald, Bryn de Neve, Castlecomer, Liam Gale, Chris Neto and Sons Of The East.

What: Bears With Guns out now through Highway 125 Where: Moonshine Bar, Hotel Steyne When: Thursday July 28

THE 1975 Sydney Olympic Park Saturday July 23

AT THE DRIVE-IN Enmore Theatre Sunday July 24

JAKE BUGG State Theatre Tuesday July 26

MANAGING EDITOR: Chris Martin chris@thebrag.com 02 9212 4322 ONLINE EDITOR: James Di Fabrizio SUB-EDITOR: Sam Caldwell STAFF WRITERS: Joseph Earp, Adam Norris, Augustus Welby NEWS: Gloria Brancatisano, James Di Fabrizio, Natalia Morawski, Tom Parker, Anna Wilson ART DIRECTOR: Sarah Bryant PHOTOGRAPHERS: D.A. Carter, Katrina Clarke, Ashley Mar ADVERTISING: Tony Pecotic - (02) 9212 4322 tony@thebrag.com PUBLISHER: Furst Media MANAGING DIRECTOR, FURST MEDIA: Patrick Carr - patrick@furstmedia.com.au, (03) 9428 3600 / 0402 821 122 DIGITAL DIRECTOR/ADVERTISING: Kris Furst kris@furstmedia.com.au, (03) 9428 3600 GIG & CLUB GUIDE COORDINATOR: Sarah Bryant - gigguide@thebrag.com (rock); clubguide@thebrag.com (dance, hip hop & parties) AWESOME INTERNS: Amy Henderson, Anna Wilson, Natalia Morawski REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Nat Amat, Prudence Clark, Tom Clift, Anita Connors, Christie Eliezer, Emily Gibb, Tegan Jones, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Emily Meller, David Molloy, Annie Murney, Adam Norris, George Nott, Daniel Prior, Tegan Reeves, Natalie Rogers, Erin Rooney, Spencer Scott, Natalie Salvo, Leonardo Silvestrini, Jade Smith, Lucy Watson, Rod Whitfield, Harry Windsor, Tyson Wray, Stephanie Yip, David James Young

xxx

EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE A CRAT

Circles

Instrumental rock supergroup The Aristocrats are one of the most impressive and soughtafter experimental bands on the scene today.

Now they’re coming Down Under for the first time ever. Featuring the combined virtuoso talents of drummer Marco Minnemann (Steve Wilson, Joe Satriani), bassist Bryan Beller (Joe Satriani, Dethklok) and Guthrie Govan (Steve Wilson, Asia/GPS), the all-star trio have been busy blowing the supergroup stereotype to bits.

Immense textures and lush layers combine with a near telepathic ability to collectively improvise while maintaining the highest levels of musicianship possible. The Aristocrats arrive at Manning Bar on Saturday October 8.

GET HIM TO THE GONG

The Jezabels, Shining Bird, Pagan and Horror My Friend are joining the Yours & Owls Festival lineup for 2016. These Aussie acts have been added to an already announced lineup of acts including Ball Park Music, Client Liaison, Ladyhawke, Kilter and Thelma Plum.

The Wollongong festival has also released its second and third round tickets, so get in while you still can. Yours & Owls goes down at the Gong’s Stuart Park on Saturday October 1 and Sunday October 2.

INTO IT BEFORE IT WAS COOL

Chicago’s Into It. Over It. has announced his first-ever Australian visit, with a run of shows along the east coast. Into It. Over It. is the

COME FULL CIRCLE

Melburnian metallers Circles are hitting the road this September for their last headline shows of 2016. Kicking off with the Bigsound conference in Brisbane, the four-piece will be joined by Orsome Welles and James Norbert Ivanyi for their remaining dates, finishing off at The Bald Faced Stag on Friday September 23. After winding up a recent tour with US giants Fear Factory, and a hometown show for the launch of single ‘Sand And Wind’, Circles are now gearing up for the release of album number two next year, a follow-up to their successful 2013 debut LP Infi nitas. That means fans can expect to hear some new music as well as old faves.

musical namesake of prolific indie rocker, Evan Weiss. Armed with his latest release, Standards – the project’s third album and follow-up to 2013’s

The Jezabels

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Frenzal Rhomb are looking back on 25 years of noise and debauchery with an anniversary tour.

Pulling out all stops for the occasion, the band will be playing ‘by request’ shows, letting fans pick the songs they’d like to hear. It comes in support of Frenzal’s new album, We Lived Like Kings (We Did Anything We Wanted), which drops next month and compiles a slew of music from their 25 years together. See the iconic Aussie punks on Saturday September 10 at Manning Bar.

Opening 2017 with a bang, Half Moon Run will be hitting Sydney on an east coast tour. The four-piece will be playing in support of their latest effort, 2015’s Sun Leads Me On. It’s the second release from the Canadian rockers, who burst onto the scene with their acclaimed 2012 debut, Dark Eyes. Catch them at the Metro Theatre on Saturday January 14.

SOHO’S SOJOURN THE JEZABELS RETURN

Australian powerhouse four-piece The Jezabels will be heading out on their long-awaited album tour this October. The band returns to stages across the country with some happy news about the health of keys player Heather Shannon, whose cancer diagnosis in January forced the postponement of the original tour. Album three, Synthia, dropped in February and has been hailed as their finest effort yet. The Jezabels play the Enmore Theatre on Saturday October 8 with support from Ali Barter.

Revered Brissy punks Violent Soho are once again hitting the road, backed by some fierce company. The announcement comes in the wake of Soho’s latest album, Waco, which took them on a completely sold-out tour around the country, with a killer lineup including Dune Rats and DZ Deathrays. Showing no signs of slowing down, Soho are back at it, this time with special guests The Bronx, Luca Brasi and Tired Lion. See it go down at Hordern Pavilion on Saturday October 29. thebrag.com

The Jezabels photo by Cybele Malinowski

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Intersections – Weiss will be heading our way for a string of intimate shows. It’s all happening at Oxford Art Factory on Wednesday September 28, with support from Zzzounds.

T H E H I G H LY A N T I C I PAT E D SOPHOMORE ALBUM

FE F E ATURING AT U R I N G SINGLES SINGLES

AN D ND

DL ~ LP ~ CD

STONEFIELD.COM.AU

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live & local

free stuff

welcome to the frontline: what’s goin’ on around town... with Tom Parker, Natalia Morawski and Anna Wilson

head to: thebrag.com/freeshit

songwriters’ secrets WITH

TORI FORSYTH The Last Song I Released 2.

The last song I released is called ‘Black Bird’. It is indeed one of my favourites for its catchy melody. It’s off my EP that is also called Black Bird. I recorded this song with Shane Nicholson and Trent Crawford in The Sound Hole.

3.

Songwriting Secrets I find it incredibly hard to write with a technique or cowrite with someone who uses a technique. I am generally very much about the words and I write a lot of words down with no kind of structure, or I come up with a melody and write some words to it – it’s a very organic process for me.

1.

rhyming ‘black’ with ‘cat’ in poetry class. The first song I had ever completed and was happy with is ‘Johnny And June’.

4.

hard, to just pick one song. So I will tell you about a record. It’s called Candles In The Rain by Melanie Safka and features so many songs that have shaped my writing, from ones that don’t make sense to ones that are straight down the line. I grew up listening to her and she still has a place in my heart for all kinds of inspiration.

What: Black Bird out now independently With: Katie Brianna Where: The Gasoline Pony When: Sunday July 24

MONTAIGNE

Montaigne’s boundless voice is getting the album it deserves on Friday August 5, and with that, a national and regional tour.

Her new single, ‘Because I Love You’, was released in June, giving a taste of an album that is set to be full of electrifying pop heavily influenced by the ’80s. Glorious Heights was written closely with Tony Buchen (Andy Bull, Spookyland, The Preatures).

Montaigne says of the album’s vision, “I want to preach empowerment by means of selfimprovement.”

Montaigne will be playing at Oxford Art Factory on Saturday October 8. To warm you up for the show, we have three copies of Glorious Heights to give away. Enter the draw at thebrag.com/freeshit.

xxx xxx

where 15 singers are invited to pick and perform their favourite song by a Jewish composer. The previously announced lineup includes Dave Faulkner (Hoodoo Gurus), Mahalia Barnes and Martha Marlow. Shir Madness takes place on Sunday September 18 from noon at Bondi Pavilion.

Aviida

The Song That Changed 5.

My Life This question for me is super

Xxx

The First Song I Wrote The first time I ever began to write anything that resembles a song was probably 11-year-old me

The Song That Makes Me Proud My proudest song so far is a song called ‘New Wall’. It always seems to be the most intimate

and well-received live. I wrote this song when I was having a bad day and the words basically wrote themselves in 20 minutes.

The Winter Gypsy

UNDER THE HILLS

Celebrating the release of their fourth studio album, In On Under Near Water, The Kill Devil Hills will return to Sydney as part of an August east coast tour. The Fremantle six-piece turn things up a notch onstage, switching between jokey banter and their swampy, psych and bluesinfused rock featuring fierce guitars, moody keys and gut-thrumming bass and drums. The upcoming tour will take The Kill Devil Hills to stages in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart and Adelaide, and they hit our own fair Factory Floor on Saturday August 20.

WALKING ON WATER LIVING AVIIDA LOCA

Perth husband-and-wife duo Clay Darius and Paula Parore – AKA Aviida – have announced their latest tour, singing the songs of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Prince, plus songs from their debut EP, Dear Me. The duo are best known for their appearance on The Voice in 2015. They originally met in a karaoke bar in Perth, where they sung together for the first time, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. Since teaming up, Darius and Parore have travelled internationally showcasing their soul vocals. Aviida are stopping off at The Basement on Wednesday July 27.

EVERYONE’S MAD HERE

The Shir Madness Sydney Jewish Music Festival is set for its second edition, and the organisers have unveiled a whole list of extra acts to bolster the roster. New additions to the already 30-act-strong lineup include Brazilbeats, Dahlia Dior, David Scheel, Glenn Cardier and The Sideshow, Joanna Weinberg, The Sam Joole Band and Before The King.

This year also welcomes back Song of Songs,

Ex-Cassette

Melbourne folk trio Two Steps On The Water are set to unveil their debut LP, and to celebrate they’ve announced a special Sydney show.

God Forbid Anyone Look Me In The Eye was recorded, mixed and mastered by Simon Grounds (Gold Class, Little Desert) throughout the first half of 2016 and is billed for release on Friday July 29. Coinciding with the album announcement is the unveiling of its second single, ‘A Little Bit Scared’ – an equally anxious and sentimental exploration into vulnerability, recognition and navigating romance and sexuality as a gay transsexual girl. Two Steps On The Water will arrive at The Red Rattler on Friday August 26 with Moonsign, Skin Prison and Dog Dirt.

WINTER IS COMING

Hold on to your hats: triple j heroes The Winter Gypsy are coming our way. The indie darlings have just dropped their brand new tune ‘Took Me By’, a multi-genre pile-up that touches on ambience, Americana and gentle folk all at once. The song has already won rave reviews (including the much sought-after thumbs up of both Richard Kingsmill and Dom Alessio), so at this stage the band’s ascendency to the mainstream is looking fairly assured.

The Winter Gypsy will be hitting Play Bar on Thursday September 8, so you know what to do: save the date and start spinning the tune.

AND FURTHERMORE…

Josh Rennie-Hynes has been put out to pasture. The acclaimed singer-songwriter recorded his newest sonic offering, Furthermore, on his family farm in Woodford, Queensland, and though the album doesn’t feature vocal contributions by the family livestock (that we know of, anyway) it has a bucolic calm entirely of its own. Rennie-Hynes will be touring the album – his second – all around the country, and has saved some space in a jam-packed itinerary for a Sydney show. He’ll be hitting up Lazybones Lounge on Sunday October 2. Just don’t make any Old MacDonald cracks, mmkay?

LOVE YOUR EX

Sydney-based indie-pop outfit ExCassette are set to release their new single ‘Hollywood Romance’ alongside a brand spanking new video clip.

Filmed amongst an arsenal of vintage equipment, the video sees the band capturing the essence of the ’80s to complement their stunning new single.

Just as excitingly, in order to launch the tune, Ex-Cassette will play a one-off Sydney show ahead of the release of their debut EP and subsequent tour dates. Good stuff. You can catch ExCassette’s free show at the Union Hotel on Thursday August 4.

The Porkers

SOUNDS LIKE ROCK AND/OR ROLL

The Sydney Rock ‘N’ Roll & Alternative Market returns at the end of this month with a redhot lineup of entertainment and stalls sure to melt off the winter blues. You’ll find a treasure trove of unique goods, including handmade clothing for men, women and children as well as jewellery, accessories, posters, cult DVDs, artwork and homewares. Also, returning this month is The Record Fair with over 50,000 LPs, 45s and CDs covering rock, punk, jazz, club, hip hop and every other genre since the dawn of rock, while the entertainment lineup features music from The Porkers, Men Into Space, Cruisin’ Deuces and The Hellcat III. Entry to the market is only $6, and it all takes place at Manning Bar on Sunday July 31. xxx

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15 ARTISTS - 3 HUGE WEEKENDS

WEEK 3

JULY 22-23

TOM BUDIN BROOKLYN

GET ON THE GUEST LIST THEARGYLEROCKS.COM 18 ARGYLE STREET THE ROCKS

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Industrial Strength Music Industry News with Christie Eliezer

THINGS WE HEAR • Which international rapper was furious that his high-profile wife didn’t make it to his video shoot?

• Will M.I.A.’s forthcoming album be her last?

• Which hard-bitten rocker got a tattoo done of his mum?

• When a young PA was hired for a wellknown band, she was told that one of her prime roles was to “keep our fucking singer away from the rest of us”.

• Queensland venues have warned the state’s new lockout laws could cost 6,000 jobs. In the meantime, Canberra venues are holding a rally against the ACT’s plans to increase licence fees for late-night venues.

• Reports that Calvin Harris has rebounded to Nicole Scherzinger have been denied – while they were spotted chilling at London’s Tape club, they’re “just good friends”.

• Red Hot Chili Peppers have revealed they twice asked David Bowie to produce their records (2002’s By The Way and 2006’s Stadium Arcadium) but he said no on both occasions. Anthony Kiedis told Classic Rock that Bowie “wrote us extremely thoughtful, kind letters explaining why he couldn’t”.

• Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington said the recording of their first album Hybrid

MATT NUGENT DOUBLES UP Dance music executive and house music DJ Matt Nugent has launched Double-Up Records, an EDM label based in Sydney with a penchant for house music. In the past ten years, Nugent has been GM and A&R manager at Onelove Recordings, dance music consultant and product manager for Sony Music Australia and marketing manager at Central Station Records. He was responsible for helping to launch ShockOne, Nicky Night Time, Generik, Kaz James, Tigerlily, Kaskade and Dirty South, among others. Aside from signing Australian acts for the world, Double-Up will license tracks from abroad. So far, tracks from from Harry Romero, Illyus & Barrientos and Croatia Squad are already scheduled. Nugent’s contact is matt@double-up.com.au.

DJ OBI SETS NEW WORLD RECORD Nigeria’s DJ Obi has set a new Guinness World Record with a 240-hour marathon on the decks at a Lagos café. The old record of 200 hours was set in Dublin by Polish DJ Norbert Selmaj in November 2014.

Obi was allowed a fi ve-minute break every hour, a one-hour break every 12 hours, daily medical checks and massages, had to have someone dancing at all times, and could not repeat a song within four hours of playing it.

Theory were so chaotic that label Warner tried to get Mike Shinoda fired.

• The Game and oldest son Harlem are raising US$50,000 for white police officer Tommy Norman in Little Rock, Arkansas because they were “touched by how active he is in the black community where he polices”.

• Clinton Walker’s 2000 book Buried Country: The Story Of Aboriginal Country Music, about how music gave First Australians a voice, is now a tour. It premieres on Saturday August 20 at The Playhouse in Newcastle. The stage show spotlights classic songs performed by elders like Roger Knox, Auriel Andrew and L.J. Hill, the younger Leah Flanagan and Luke Peacock, and in-betweeners such as Warren H. Williams and Franny PetersLittle. House band The Backtrackers are led by guitarist Brendan Gallagher and includes Cruel Sea drummer Jim Elliott and pedal steeler Jason Walker.

• Delta Goodrem has entered a joint venture with Sony Music Australia for her own record label. The House Of Oz Records will release her own stuff and acts that she discovers.

• The five-year-old Youth Radio 92.5FM in the Southern Highlands had its broadcast licence approved for a further five years.

basics, Buoy on songwriting basics and Andy Garvey on DJing 101. Applications close Wednesday July 27 at musicnsw. com/masterclasses.

KIEHL’S PACTS WITH ACMF, PREATURES Cosmetics company Kiehl’s, which boasts a long involvement with arts, music and the community, has expanded its commitment.

It is throwing its support behind the Australian Children’s Music Foundation, which brings music to Australia’s remote and regional communities. Over the next few weeks, $2 from each sale of a limited edition version of its top seller Ultra Facial Cream will be donated to the ACMF, while The Preatures have been enlisted to raise awareness of ACMF’s activities.

2SER WANTS ARTS REPORTERS 2SER is seeking volunteers as arts reporters to share the story of musicians, artists, actors and directors in their areas. You need access to the internet and a smartphone. The Community Media Training Organisation will provide free training in presenting, producing and editing audio and video. Find out more info from Lia Tsamoglou at (02) 9514 9540 or lia@2ser.com, and the deadline is 11pm on Monday July 25.

• Sydney’s nine-year-old arts precinct Carriageworks has posted a fourth successive loss, The Australian reports.

The deficit for 2015 was at $221,000, down from the $269,000 in 2014. Its reserves have dropped by 87% from $704,000 in the bank in January 2012 to just $84,000 late last year. But it has new income: sponsorship and philanthropy brought in $222,000, and the New South Wales State Government raised its annual grant from $1m to $2.5m. In 2012, Carriageworks spent $797,000 on programming and artists, and by 2015 that grew to $4m, with 790,000 visitors during the year. Income from performances dipped slightly to $890,000 but commercial income from venue hire grew from $3m to $3.6m.

• Sydney’s Goodbar club on Oxford Street is to be relaunched “in a few weeks” after its current renovations provide two levels, three bars and a state-of-the-art sound system.

Behind the venture are long-time EDM producers Scott Robertson (Kink) and Paul Strange (Tank, Home).

• Jack White will serve on Nashville’s council for gender equality, joining a team of 45 to combat sexism, and to suggest ways to improve workplace treatment and unfair wages. Meanwhile, White’s next project could be with Dolly Parton.

REPORT: FLUME BIGGEST SINGLE OF 2016 Sydney’s Flume beat all the top artists in the world to have the best-selling single in Australia for the first half of 2016 with ‘Never Be Like You’ featuring Kai. The Music Network, in its inaugural Singles and Market Share Report, said Flume topped nine of the 20 charts it surveyed, including national radio airplay and ARIA streaming. Sia was second on the radio chart and top ten in airplay and streaming.

NEW SIGNING FOR SWEAT IT OUT Sweat It Out Records has signed rising Sydney DJ and producer Dena Amy, releasing her debut single ‘Wait For You’, produced with labelmate Benson. The South African-born DJ and actor made an impact last year with her ‘Midnight Allúre’ mix and tour, and also toured with labelmates RÜFÜS after appearing on their Bloom track ‘Hypnotised’. She’s heading off for six shows on her debut North American tour before returning to open for Hayden James in late August.

GOLDEN STAVE ANNOUNCES CHARITY LUNCH The Golden Stave’s annual Melbourne Cup charity lunch is on Tuesday November 1

MILLENNIALS: SHOW US THE STREAMS

AC/DC

Music fans aged 15 to 19 are fuelling the streaming phenomenon, so much so that they’ve turned their backs on AM/FM radio.

The new Music & Millennials report by trade body Music Business Association found that US millennials’ use of streaming is twice that of other Americans (51% versus 24%). Their time spent listening to traditional radio is 12% compared to the 38% national average. Their preferred listening sources are connected devices such as smartphones (41% of their listening time, overall average is 18%). 40% of 15-to19-year-olds cite mobile access as a major factor to upgrade to premium streaming services, compared with 29% of the US population.

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Ill: The Ghost Inside’s guitarist Zach Johnson faces more problems with his hip, which might lead to an 11th surgery.

Recovered: Poison drummer Rikki Rockett, diagnosed with tongue cancer 12 months ago, says he’s “cancer free”.

Ill: Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry collapsed onstage during a New York show with side band Hollywood Vampires (with Johnny Depp and Alice Cooper) and was hospitalised for checks.

Split: after her break-up with actor Wilmer Valderrama after six years, singer Demi Lovato moved on to martial arts fighter Guilherme ‘Bomba’ Vasconcelos… but that had finished by the weekend.

In Court: after riot squad officers were called out to what turned out to be the shooting of a music video in Faversham Street in Marrickville in June, when passers-by saw a man wearing a ski mask and carrying an air rifle, Paul James Nicholson pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing an unregistered firearm in a public place at Newtown Local Court.

Fellow filmmaker Gawain Keith McGrath pleaded not guilty. They return to court next month.

In Court: Melbourne nightclub promoters An Ken Vi and Raymond Lach were among five men in court last week after a federal crime task force allegedly discovered 275 kilograms of methamphetamine under the floorboards of shipping containers imported from China. The drugs, found in packets disguised as udon noodles, have a street value of $275 million.

In Court: self-styled Rastafarian Dan Morris was fined $3,000 for operating pirate radio station Irie FM from his West Wollongong home. Morris started the station because of a lack of reggae music on radio. Irie FM had an estimated 800 listeners and more than 500 Facebook followers. The Australian Communications and Media Authority began inquiries after he was profiled in January on Vice.com in a piece titled ‘Meet Australia’s Preeminent Jamaican Pirate Radio Broadcaster’.

Died: Alan Vega, singer of iconic electro duo Suicide, peacefully in his sleep, aged 78.

Died: Danny Smythe, drummer for US band The Box Tops (‘The Letter’).

Died: Steve Young, co-founder of British ’80s electro-dance acts Colourbox and M/A/R/R/S (‘Pump Up The Volume’).

After an eight-month blackout, Universal Music Australia and Foxtel have smoked the peace pipe. From Monday August 1, Universal artists will again be seen on Foxtel channels [V] Hits, Max, Foxtel Smooth and CMC. Universal’s major acts include Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, 5 Seconds Of Summer and The Weeknd.

After the success of its Ableton Liveschool masterclasses, MusicNSW has added four more events to the Women In Electronic Music program. They will be held on Saturday August 13 at Studios 301 and FBi Radio, and are $35 a session. The classes include Rainbow Chan on layering and loops, Antonia Gauci on engineering

Ill: Ellie Goulding was forced to cancel appearances at festivals in Latvia and Finland on the weekend due to exhaustion.

Sued: Lil Wayne by by credit card company American Express for over AU$86,000 in unpaid bills dating back to last December.

UNIVERSAL AND FOXTEL MAKE UP

MORE MASTERCLASSES FOR WOMEN IN ELECTRONIC MUSIC

Lifelines

Died: two 17-year-old men at Scotland’s T In The Park, while the body of a 29-year-old man was found after he got off a bus leaving the site for a cigarette and did not get back on.

AC/DC HIGHEST-EARNING ROCK BAND AC/DC were the biggest-earning band in the last financial year, according to US business magazine Forbes, ranking 17th in a list of actors, comedians and pop stars. They earned US$67.5 million (AU$88.4m) between June 2015 and June 2016, or $185,000 every day, from music, ticket and merchandise sales. They beat The Rolling Stones ($66.5m), Foo Fighters ($48.5m), and individual members of U2, Muse and Dave Matthews Band, all of whom generated $30m (AU$39.3m) in the period. The list was topped by Taylor Swift with $170m (AU$224.3m).

at the Sheraton On The Park. The dress code is race day cocktail. Artists will be announced shortly. Over 37 years, The Golden Stave has raised over $14 million for more than 50 children’s charities in New South Wales. Tickets are $195 each (or $1,950 for a table of ten). Book through Larry Warren, larry@goldenstave.com. au.

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COVER STORY

HENRY ROLLINS

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ON THE RECORD

BY JOSEPH EARP

H

enry Rollins is a dangerous man. Over the course of a career spanning more than three decades, the punk rock icon has systematically set his sights on a thousand different forms of authority, all the while resisting the conformist pull of the very industry he manages to make a living from. There are a lot of so-called rebels out there who look like children’s show hosts next to Rollins, and most of his contemporaries are either babbling their lives away in drug funks or starring in ads for car insurance. Or they’re dead.

And yet despite his reputation, in conversation Rollins speaks gently, with surprisingly good grace. He might have a reputation as a warrior – as an old-school anarchist, a Hunter S. Thompson type with all the subtlety and manners of a bull terrier – but more than anything Rollins is eager to talk about his loves. Or perhaps love, singular, given music seems to be the obsession that drives everything he does.

Rollins is even a connoisseur when it comes to smaller-scale Australian bands, and name-drops acts as diverse as Hierophants and Straight Arrows. “There’s so much good stuff in Australia, you almost wonder if there’s something in the water,” he says with a laugh. “When you see all these bands from Sydney to Brisbane, Melbourne, Geelong…” He sighs. “There are so many great ones.”

“I’ve always found Australia to be interesting in that – don’t take this the wrong way – you’re kind of nowhere in the world. You’re not Europe. You’re not near America. You’re kind of blessed in that you’re not tied to all these countries. In your own way, you’re kind of left to your own devices. There’s a lot of purity and originality that can be derived from that relative isolation. I’ve always thought you are left alone enough that true talent can grow without getting stepped on, redirected or somewhat corrupted.”

“The mainstream has never done much for me. I find as time goes on, you really don’t need to leave the independent world of music. It is quite alive and quite well and churning out amazing music, while the mainstream is just deadened. You feel bad for them, all these fans who like all this mediocre stuff, because you can’t throw a Ty Segall record at them and go ‘here’ and have them go, ‘Wow, thanks!’ They’ll go, ‘It doesn’t sound like (insert platinum-selling album artist here).’

“Well, I don’t feel that bad for them.

They’re adults, they can make their own decisions. I just think the mainstream crawled away and died and is still producing sound. It’s still emitting content.

Whereas the alternative world is really exciting. I mean, every once in a while someone will write me and say, ‘Music sucks now,’ and I’m like, ‘Not at my house, man.’ I can’t keep up. There’s so many good records to listen to, you’ve gotta stay up late and get up early to keep up with them. It’s a great problem to have.”

A great problem, and one that Rollins tackles the same way he has chosen to combat so many other obstacles in his life: systematically, with an awe-inspiring mix of dedication, perspiration and sheer unbridled effort. Henry Rollins doesn’t just listen to music – he listens to music.

“There’s protein listening and carbohydrate listening,” he explains. “Protein is when you’re burning. You’re finding new bands, you’re trying to push yourself. You’re listening to bands [and] you know it’s good, but it’s tough. You have to drag yourself up to it. You put in the time. And on weekends or long plane rides, I go for the carbohydrate listens.

Carbohydrate listening is basically the music I’m familiar with. Comfort food for the ears.

So I do five or six days a week protein and about four hours a week carbohydrate.”

“THE MAINSTREAM CRAWLED AWAY AND DIED AND IS STILL PRODUCING SOUND. IT’S STILL EMITTING CONTENT. WHEREAS THE ALTERNATIVE WORLD IS REALLY EXCITING.”

Rollins’ patronage of the Aussie scene doesn’t just extend to simply buying albums or mentioning bands in interviews – he finds the opportunity to spruik acts from Down Under whenever he can, writing articles for LA Weekly about our record stores and filling his radio show with tunes from artists like Summer Flake. His piece on Sydney’s own Red Eye Records wasn’t just an account of a store – it was a devotional, a paean to the endless possibilities of vinyl.

“In Australia, not living there, I can’t keep the closest track on what’s going on,” he says, almost despondent. “Between trips to Australia, a lot goes on musically. And I miss things, even though I pay attention.

And I do pay attention.”

As far as Rollins is concerned, the vibrant Australian scene represents a nice change when compared to America’s more claustrophobic community. “In America everyone’s in a band, and everyone’s trying to play the Super Bowl half-time proceedings … You hear these bands, you’re like, ‘Are you kidding? You think someone can’t tell your record collection?’

They’re so derivative it’s painful. You feel sorry for them.”

The one-time Black Flag frontman and now spoken-word artist’s pity is a terrifying thing. He resists the idea that contemporary American bands might be paying homage to nostalgic acts; he barks out a laugh when the phrase is mentioned.

“I don’t even think it’s that conscious. I think they don’t listen to that much music and all of a sudden they want to be in a band. And so they go from what they know – but what they know is not much. MTV doesn’t even play music videos anymore.”

He considers for a moment – softens.

“This is in more the mainstream,” he says.

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For Rollins, the internet has been singularly useful in his quest for new protein listens to devour. He’s a proud patron of websites like Bandcamp and the endless pleasures provided by YouTube’s ‘suggested videos’ bar.

“For me, the internet has been a great tool for listening to music,” he says. “If I can listen to your album for free, or listen to songs on your Bandcamp page, [then] if I like what you’re doing, I’ll buy your record.

And [I like] the fact that I can listen to it first, so I don’t have to gamble – you’ve not penalised me 99 cents for a download just for me to hear I don’t like your music.”

Ultimately, nothing about this man is casual. Nothing is half-arsed or perfunctory. To hear Rollins talk about buying records and listening to music is to hear a man talking about his very life’s work. “I’m very careful with my money, ’cause it came to me very hard,” he says.

“I never had an inheritance. I went out and earned my money. So I’m not interested in buying drugs or fancy food. I want something I can use next week, next month, next decade.

“You take care of your records … man, you’ll be able to play those records as long as you’re living,” he says, and there’s no mistaking his tone. It’s the same one he used some 35 years ago, back when he first barked out the chorus hiding in ‘Rise Above’ like a snake in the undergrowth. A tone of sheer, terrifying conviction.

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MARRICKVILLE SMALL BAR & LIVE MUSIC VENUE

Friday 222 July (7pm) Kiing Curly Trio + Simone East (indie!)

Saturday 233 Julyy (7pm) Berniee Hay yess (Bernie’s songbook of everything!)

Sunday 244 July (5pm) To ori Forsyth + Katie Brianna (Country) Wednesdaay 27 Jully (7pm) Dan nny Yau Podcast w’ Fal allo lon n Cu C sh h, Michael Carpente t r & Br B ya an Es Este tepa (entertainment!)

Saturday 30 July (7pm) The Maybes + Rogue Company (indie roots)

“When everything else falls apart in my world, it’s just too bad I can’t eat vinyl,” he says. “I have enough of it here. I think it’s the one thing in my life I got right.”

What: Festival Of Dangerous Ideas 2016 Where: Sydney Opera House When: Saturday September 3 – Sunday September 4

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Cool Sounds No Laughing Matter By Claire Varley

“I

guess it was sort of a joke,” says Dainis Lacey, frontman of self-proclaimed ‘jazz-gaze’ band Cool Sounds. “We wrote these ridiculous joke songs, about the internet mostly. One about having a crush on a YouTube streamer, one about online friends – they were all very silly. [We] took the band very much as a joke until about a year in, when we started playing live and recording and hanging out with the Ocean Party guys, who said we should actually play instead of writing joke songs.”

The sextet’s album Dance Moves is quite a departure from those roots as a technology-themed parody band, with an introspectively gloomy sound and emotionally charged lyrics.

“I was in Berlin visiting my girlfriend, and I stayed with her in her apartment while she was working,” says Lacey. “I just had a guitar and my laptop and wrote pretty much all of the songs. All the songs were written within a month or two, so it was a time and place thing. It was mainly long-distance relationship stuff, and living across the world and being anxious and worried and not knowing what’s going to happen next. That’s pretty much what all the songs are about.”

After returning to Australia, the album process began, and though much of the LP was recorded in Lacey’s Melbourne bedroom, the record sounds nothing like a home production. The tracks are smooth

and gentle, sadly romantic and musically cohesive, something that Lacey attributes to saxophonist Liam ‘Snowy’ Halliwell, also of The Ocean Party and Ciggie Witch.

“Snowy produces and mixes and masters all of the stuff as well,” Lacey explains. “He’s extremely good at mixing badly recorded stuff.

All of the Ocean Party and Ciggie Witch stuff that he does is done at home, and he’s really good at getting the most out of it.”

No matter how lo-fi the recording techniques involved, Dance Moves has been met with positive reviews, thanks in particular to Lacey’s crooning delivery and melancholy vibes. Cool Sounds are profoundly unique, not just for their sound but also in their quirky imagery and humour. The video for ‘In Blue Skies’ features the band not only matching Miley Cyrus by licking a hammer, but one-upping her by passionately making out with one, as well with as a variety of inanimate household objects, including a toaster and a basketball.

“Because we have very little money between us all, and we have very good friends who are filmmakers, we usually just go to them and ask if they’ll help us do a clip,” says Lacey.

“We can’t give them much money, but we let them take full creative control. So with the ‘In Blue Skies’ clip, half the band was very hesitant and really nervous about making out with objects, but I guess it was

something we had to do to get the clip done.”

As the project continues to grow and morph, Lacey continues to harness Cool Sounds’ idiosyncrasies and push their boundaries. This takes form both onstage – where he

prepares nonsensical scripts for the entire band to read from in between songs – and in his plans for future records.

“For a lot of other people in the band, Cool Sounds is the side project, or another band,” says Lacey. “But for

me, Cool Sounds is definitely a main project. It’s the only band where I write songs, it’s my baby, and it’s definitely my main focus.”

What: Dance Moves out now through Deaf Ambitions

Neville Staple The Special One By Alex Watts in it a long time. That’s what ya gotta do: Bernie Rhodes knows, so don’t argue.”

The Specials went on to have several charting singles including ‘A Message To You, Rudy’, ‘Too Much Too Young’ and ‘Ghost Town’, but folded shortly after Staple, singer Terry Hall and guitarist Lynval Golding left to form Fun Boy Three in 1981.

However, the ska revival of the ’90s prompted renewed interest in The Specials, eventually leading to a reunion in 2008. The band has continued to tour ever since, a situation that Staple says was enjoyable for the first two years until old tensions arose.

S

“I didn’t think I was going to be in bands, all I was doing was DJing –

what they call rap now,” says Staple of getting his start in ‘toasting’ – the Jamaican style of rhythmical singing – over records as a teenager. Having moved to Britain at the age of five, he credits joining The Specials and the top ten success of their first single, ‘Gangsters’, with keeping him out of trouble.

“You gotta remember I’m straight off the street, meaning I didn’t go to college, I wasn’t on no higher education. So when that happened it was like, ‘This is beautiful, I used to see it on TV, now I’m doing it.’ It was a great feeling – I was 17.”

The band got a big leg-up when Joe Strummer personally selected them as a support act for The Clash On Parole UK tour of 1978. Besides the massive exposure this afforded the young group, The Specials were also briefly taken on by The Clash’s svengali manager, Bernie Rhodes. This union didn’t last long, with Staple’s line “Bernie Rhodes knows: don’t argue” at the start of ‘Gangsters’ appearing to comment on the relationship.

“He was quite strict and we weren’t used to it at the time,” says Staple.

“He was used to it ’cause he’d been

“I GOT A GOOD EARNING BEING IN THE BAND, BUT POINTLESS ISN’T IT? STAYING IN JUST TO MAKE MONEY AND NOT ENJOYING MYSELF? C’MON.” 12 :: BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16

The press release announcing Staple’s departure in 2013 cited health issues, referring to a 2011 car crash and a subsequent series of strokes that affected his movements onstage. However, Staple claims this was untrue. “I got sacked,” he says definitively. “That’s just what they say – ‘Oh, the door’s open for Neville anytime’ – of course it wasn’t. I used to jump around off speakers, off monitors, that’s how I got bad knees over the years. So basically it was that [and] I had a four-car pile-up, that didn’t help. I’m alright, it just took a little bit of time to get over my illness of my knee.”

Although he still maintains relations

“The rest don’t talk to me, I don’t talk to them [and] I’m not losing sleep over it. But fair enough, let them do what they’re doing. Good luck to them.”

Despite The Specials’ claims that his health was restrictive, Staple has remained highly active with his own act, The Neville Staple Band. “The energy’s not the same – I’m old, for God’s sake,” he laughs. “I don’t jump around [but] I’ve always been an entertainer. The energy’s still there.”

After years of playing a basically identical setlist of songs, each delivered exactly as they were recorded in the late ’70s, the 61-yearold is enjoying the freedom of being able to vary his live shows. “If the crowd’s into it we let them sing a verse [and] we keep going,” he says.

“It’s like a party thing. It’s not like, three-and-a-half minutes, finished.

Next song. Three-and-a-half minutes, finished. We get the crowd involved.”

Arriving to tour the east coast next week, Staple is grateful that his music continues to appeal across different generations of fans. “The parents bring their kids [and] they’ve grown up listening to their mother’s and father’s music,” he says. “They look on YouTube and they see ‘Gangsters’ or ‘Ghost Town’ and when I go over [to Australia] they wanna hear that. And what better than one of The Specials coming and doing those classics, if I say so meself?”

With: Rocksteady Ratpack, DJ Wally Where: Newtown Social Club When: Sunday July 31

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Neville Staple photo by Vic May Photography

peaking from his home in Coventry, Neville Staple is battling a very sore throat, having picked up a cold while performing at two outdoor festivals over the weekend. Being the British summer, of course it rained, but Staple was determined as ever to give his audience a quality show. It’s this workman-like attitude that has helped to sustain the Jamaican-born singer through a 44-year career, both as a solo artist and with 2 Tone ska pioneers The Specials.

“There’s that camp, that camp and that camp. You can’t run a band like that. One thinks he’s higher than the rest of ’em, next one’s the next one down, then there was me and Roddy [Radiation, guitar], who was like scum of the earth. We were from the streets and we didn’t like people saying, ‘Oh, you gotta do this, you gotta do that,’ especially one person. And it started to not get enjoyable. You need to enjoy what you’re doing. I got a good earning being in the band, but pointless isn’t it? Staying in just to make money and not enjoying myself? C’mon.”

with Radiation, who left The Specials in 2014, and their former leader, songwriter, producer and keyboardist Jerry Dammers, who was never invited to be part of the reunion, Staple has no time for the other members of The Specials today.

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Trust Punks Second Time’s A Charm By Natalie Rogers

T

rust Punks are in a bind: a Double Bind, in fact, that being the name of their second album, releasing this week via Spunk. “We’re just keen to get it out there – out of my head and into somebody else’s!” says guitarist and vocalist Joseph Thomas.

“We wrote a lot of the music quite a long time ago. We actually started recording this album before our first one [2014’s Discipline] had even come out.

to remedy that situation was to throw ourselves into whatever we were going to do next, and work really hard on these songs to make sure they were going to be as good as we could possibly make them. So we took our time with it as much as possible over a number of months – that turned out to be a couple of years – to make sure we were going to be perfectly happy with this release.”

opinion on the state of the American prison system, while ‘Paradise/AngelWire’ offers a much-needed critique of the failing policies surrounding Australian immigration.

of the major parties here really seem to want to put an end to it. And I don’t think me not having voted would change anything anyway.”

and level of distortion the way Trust Punks intended them to be heard.

Like Discipline before it, Double Bind will also be released on vinyl – arguably the only way to hear the jangly guitars, left-of-centre melodies

“It’s my favourite way to listen to music and I think it sounds better, so it just makes sense to me to have our music available on that format,” says Thomas. “Also, it keeps some level of independent music afloat, in a sense. I really value the idea of an independent record store as a hub for people of different ages and backgrounds, ideally to meet, discuss and exchange ideas.

I think that without LPs they wouldn’t necessarily be around. So it’s good to support local independent stores, because if we don’t, we may risk having them fall by the wayside and people will be reduced to listening to music through a screen.”

“IT’S GOOD TO SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT STORES, BECAUSE IF WE DON’T, WE MAY RISK HAVING THEM FALL BY THE WAYSIDE AND PEOPLE WILL BE REDUCED TO LISTENING TO MUSIC THROUGH A SCREEN.”

Trust Punks are a breath of fresh air on the indie scene, but that doesn’t stop them being compared to other post-punk luminaries from the past and present, such as Fugazi, Deerhunter

“That’s kind of the reason we started recording again so quickly,” Thomas adds. “We had a feeling that our first LP wasn’t really going to turn out the way we wanted it to. I remember being kind of disappointed by those songs, so I thought that the only way

Double Bind may only be the New Zealand five-piece’s second attempt at a full studio album, but it’s certainly not light on the integrity, conviction and insight that many other young bands seem to lack. ‘Good Luck With That’, the third single from the album, reveals Trust Punks’ unabashed

Thomas relocated to Sydney in 2015, and in light of our recent election debacle, I ask what he thinks about living in a country and being unable to vote. “I didn’t even know it was happening until the day before,” he admits. “But on a really basic level, it kind of sucks that I couldn’t vote – but I also have the freedom of being able to leave this place literally whenever I want.

“What really sucks is that refugees face mandatory detention and neither

Their latest single ‘The Reservoir’, which focuses on feelings of disillusionment and the anxiety of being perceived as different by society, was one of the tracks Thomas worked on as he settled in to life in Australia. “I recorded the guitars just after I arrived in Sydney, so I sent it to the guys in Auckland and they just threw it all together,” he explains.

Periphery A Degree Of Difficulty By Rod Whitfield “So it’s a nice process and I’m really lucky to be working with this bunch of guys.”

With so many creative voices in the band, including six producers and three guitarists who are constantly working on riffs and ideas, Periphery often find themselves having too much material to work with. “It’s a nice problem to have!” says Bowen.

“The hard part becomes, not writing the stuff, but choosing the stuff we like the best from everything everyone’s brought in.”

Of course, this creates issues of its own at times. “That’s when our opinions start to get in the way,” Bowen laughs. “Because some of us like this song or idea better, some of us don’t like certain songs and others are really stoked on them.

That’s really where the work comes – the rest of it just comes nice and easy.”

Ultimately, Bowen is stoked with the way Select Difficulty has come out, and how straightforward the process was relative to the long and immersive incubation period required for the complex Juggernaut double concept record.

P

eriphery started out life more than ten years ago as a glorified solo project for guitarist and founding member Misha Mansoor. However, as the band has grown into its current position as one of the most important groups in progressive heavy music, its writing

14 :: BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16

and recording process has become far more collaborative, to the point where the stunning new album Periphery III: Select Difficulty was a full-blown group effort between all six members. And long-time guitar player Jake Bowen could not be happier with the situation.

“With [2015 double album] Juggernaut it started to solidify as like, ‘This needs to be a six-person process,’” he says. “Before that, we would just kind of break off into little groups or on our own and work on songs. Now, after Juggernaut, everyone had input on every song

and everyone has to be happy with it and approve it. All the guys in the band are all producers in their own right, so there was always arrangement suggestions, and if someone was stumped on a part, somebody else could step in and help with the forward momentum.

“I’m really happy with it, and that it was so easy – well maybe not easy, but it was a smooth experience. We really nailed down that collaborative process on this one, and it seems this one is going to be a good entry for us.

“Because of the format of Juggernaut, it was a concept record and it took a lot of planning and a lot of back-and-forth on what material we were going to use, and writing

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The Jungle Giants Levelling Up By Zanda Wilson

B

risbane four-piece The Jungle Giants have spent a decent chunk of the last year on the road, touring off the back of their second studio album Speakerzoid.

They’ve played dates in Australia and overseas, and will wrap it all up this week at Splendour In The Grass – their last show of 2016.

Despite the long haul, the band is far from relieved that the tour is over. Quite the inverse, actually, suggests chief songwriter and lead singer Sam Hales – he feels the indie rockers have really just started to gain momentum. “We just finished the Perth leg of the tour, which was the end show, and the guys were saying that we feel like we’re just warmed up now,” Hales chuckles.

and more recently the outspoken Canadian band Preoccupations, formerly known as Viet Cong.

“I like most of the bands we get compared to, so it doesn’t really bother me that much,” Thomas says. “But if they were comparing us with stuff that I didn’t listen to or didn’t think was very good, or I didn’t feel that we really related to in any way, it would probably bother me. But I understand that we’re a new band and there is a need to compare us to others. The bands that we get compared to are bands we listened to in high school, so I don’t sweat too much about it.”

To celebrate their second release, Trust Punks will kick off an east coast tour in Brisbane this week, before heading to Sydney to play Marrickville’s Cosmo’s Rock Lounge on Friday night.

Make sure you catch them while you can – because according to Thomas, the future is uncertain.

“After the Australian shows we will probably play some shows at home in New Zealand, and we’ve been talking about maybe going to Japan for a bit too. That would be sick if we could make that happen, but I honestly don’t really know what the future holds. We haven’t talked about it too much, but that’s probably something we have to do in the tour van. I haven’t even seen those guys for quite a long time, so once we’re all in the same room together, we will have to work it out.

“We may be recording another album before the end of the year. Or we could be broken up. I don’t really know.”

What: Double Bind out Friday July 22 through Spunk With: Enderie Nuatal, Tim and The Boys, WDK, Skin Prison, Pinkbatts Where: Cosmo’s Rock Lounge When: Friday July 22

“It’s been such a good year, and last year was really good as well with our touring. It’s good timing for Splendour because we’re hitting our stride, and we’ve been playing a lot of shows, so we’re looking pretty good on the live thing at the moment.”

For anyone who’s seen The Jungle Giants since they released Speakerzoid, don’t be dissuaded from catching the guys at Splendour.

“It’s going to be all the songs, but we’ve actually got one thing up our sleeve; it looks pretty cool,” Hales reveals, as he momentarily pretends he’s going to remain tight-lipped on what the secret is.

“There’s this dance warehouse club, this underground thing that’s been happening in Brisbane, and a friend of mine is running it. I went recently and they have this insane lighting guy there, and he uses four projectors at once to project insane moving cube images onto these giant boxes. He puts the boxes everywhere around, and it adds this crazy depth to the stage. Each box has something different going on. I went up to the guy and said, ‘Hey man, I love what you do,’ and we talked for a while, and he’s going to

be doing Splendour for us, which is cool. So we have this extra element going on now.”

Putting together the live show for their current tour forced The Jungle Giants to address the fact their catalogue is made up of two albums with quite distinct sounds. For Hales and co., going back and using songs from 2013’s Learn To Exist and 2015’s Speakerzoid to create a coherent live set was a challenge, but it came with its own rewards.

“After the [second] record it was really hard,” Hales says. “We had to get back into rehearsals and relearn everything. It’s funny, because they’re two very different records, and we started to put sets together and it was a bit of, ‘We can’t put this song next to this song because it’s a completely different vibe.’

“But as we started touring, we realised that it’s more of an energy thing when you’re playing live.

While we were doing the record, we were doing all these crazy on-thespot recordings, and so we took them to the library and tried to work out how we were going to play those extra little bits. So we ended up getting a fifth touring member in for these recent gigs and it’s been going really good. It’s been a new challenge for us, trying to fit in more immersive arrangements, but at the moment we’re just loving it – it’s added an extra depth to the sound and to the live thing. People can get way more into it because there’s more going on at different points in the set, giving it more ebb and flow.”

After successfully releasing their second album last year, some members of the band took time out to focus on their own personal projects. Notably, drummer Keelan Bijker went way off the grid and opened up a café called Two Donkeys in the Brisbane suburb of Spring Hill. It’s a venture that’s taken off as 2016 has gone on, and Hales

is one of the many supporters of Bijker’s business.

“Yeah, I’ve been a couple of times.

I wouldn’t have picked Keelan to do that, but at the same time it makes sense because he’s really into design and he loves his coffee.

He just put together this really epic café, and he got together with this guy called White Stag from a band called Moses Gunn Collective, who did all this cool décor, built all these tables and built a bar out of this rustic old wood. It’s this cool, hip café. It’s awesome, and he’s killing it.”

It’s almost a shock to hear The Jungle Giants have only been on the scene since 2011. They played Splendour In The Grass for the first time in 2013, but this time around will be a far cry from that chill, early afternoon set three years ago.

“I feel like it’s going to be a totally new experience. Last time we played, we played early afternoon – we played at three or something – and now we have a night-time slot,” says Hales.

“It’s like levelling up; it’s a whole different thing. We’ll be able to use lights, which add a whole extra thing to the production. [The] last day feels good after sunset. It’s going to be absolutely nuts, and we’ve always wanted this. I know it seems like a small thing to reach for, playing nighttime at Splendour – it’s just a thing that we’ve always wanted to do, and we’re going to do it guns blazing.”

What: Splendour In The Grass 2016 With: The Strokes, The Cure, Flume, The Avalanches and many more Where: North Byron Parklands When: Friday July 22 – Sunday July 24 And: Speakerzoid out now through Amplifire

“ALL THE GUYS IN THE BAND ARE ALL PRODUCERS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT … IF SOMEONE WAS STUMPED ON A PART, SOMEBODY ELSE COULD STEP IN AND HELP WITH THE FORWARD MOMENTUM.” stuff on the spot to accommodate the story and vice versa. This time we just worked on it a song at a time and got the songs’ identities set, and it was just way more smooth.”

Periphery have been no strangers to our shores since the release of their self-titled debut album in 2010.

They were last here in 2015 on a dream lineup with the mighty Devin Townsend, and Bowen is confident that Australia will be on the priority list once again for the Select Difficulty tour. “I hope so – we try to get there every other year, and hopefully once a year once we get a bit more momentum with this album.

But it’s something we’re always talking about.”

It’s no secret that Australia loves having Periphery come here as much as the band enjoys touring our country. “It’s one of our best markets – the fans there are really well versed in our stuff, and it’s a fun country to go to,” Bowen says. “There’s no downside, aside from 20-hour flights!

So we really want to get back over there as soon as possible.”

Periphery have seen a number of lineup changes over the years, but aside from founder Mansoor, Bowen has been in the band the longest of any member. In fact, he is coming up towards the decade mark as a

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member, a fact that amazes him just a little.

“Yeah, late ’06, early ’07, no-one’s really sure!” He laughs again. “I’ve been thinking about that more these days. It’s hard to believe, because I still feel like it’s young and it’s exciting and I never get tired of it. Every day it’s Periphery, Periphery, Periphery in my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I just love having this in my life and it really doesn’t feel like coming up on a decade, and I’m very, very grateful for this.”

Conscious of the ‘burn bright, burn out’ phenomenon in music, Periphery have managed to maintain a steady rise over the last six years since the release of their debut, rather than exploding overnight.

“I prefer things to be that way,” says Bowen. “If you explode into a scene, there’s a good chance that it won’t last very long. I feel like the way that we did it, I feel like we established ourselves as a reliable entity. We’ve created a core, loyal fan base and those are the people that we really want to reach out to.”

What: Periphery III: Select Difficulty out Friday July 22 through Roadrunner

“IT’S BEEN A NEW CHALLENGE FOR US, TRYING TO FIT IN MORE IMMERSIVE ARRANGEMENTS, BUT AT THE MOMENT WE’RE JUST LOVING IT.” BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16 :: 15

Rock Bands And Branded Booze A Taste Test By Joseph Earp

The two greatest pleasures God blessed upon this miserable hellhole named Earth are (1) gettin’ drunk and (2) listenin’ to music.

That’s not an opinion or anything – that’s, like, a literal statement of fact.

So of course, the combination of these two blessed joys was inevitable, a question of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’. There exists an entire world out there of bandbranded beer – everyone from Car Seat Headrest to KISS has had booze blessed with their names.

DZ Deathrays’ Pils ‘N’ Thrills Pilsner I don’t have a lot of kind things to say about DZ Deathrays’ music, but I’ll tell you this: they sure know who to loan out their brand to. Their Pils ‘N’ Thrills branded pilsner reminded me a little bit of Pabst Blue Ribbon (AKA the greatest brew in the world) and so won an instant tick. Plus, it was only ten bucks for a tall bottle, so it didn’t feel like a rip-off. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, it almost felt like the universe’s way of apologising for Black Rat.

In the interests of both journalistic integrity and my ongoing dedication to destroying my liver, I sampled a variety of these alcoholic delights.

Spoiler alert: only a couple tasted like garbage water.

Read on!

You Am I’s Brew Am I One of my housemates still has a limited edition bottle of Brew Am I, Young Henrys’ You Am I-branded beer. She was pretty reticent about cracking it open, but I managed to swing her round by talking about journalistic integrity and also how it was cold and late and I wanted another drink but couldn’t be bothered walking up to the liquor store. I think she was a little concerned, given at this stage I was looking and smelling like Johnny Depp in the latter half of The Libertine, but she acquiesced.

And actually, you know what? I’m glad she did change her mind, because Brew Am I was without a doubt the nicest drink of the bunch. It didn’t make me feel like I was going to barf up my own intestinal lining, and my sense of self-worth was pretty much intact by the time it was all done.

So, if you’re the kind of person who values your own body, I’d recommend this one. But if you’re the kind of person who feels very strongly about ruining your own flesh and paying above cost price for the opportunity, then the bottle of swill and self-loathing us mortals refer to only as the Trooper is probably better suited for you. Sicko.

AC/DC’s Back In Black Shiraz

Hey folks, remember to always drink responsibly, eh? Oh, and Young Henrys might not be selling Brew Am I anymore, but they do have a lotta pretty grand alternatives to check out on their website. Find out more about responsible drinking at drinkwise.org.au.

I purchased my bevy of band brews from my local liquor store, and was helped around the joint by a lovely fellow named Dan. Or at least, he seemed lovely at the time – I am now fairly sure that he hated me and was trying to make me horrendously unwell, given he actually used the word ‘good’ while describing this AC/ DC-branded wine.

“It’s actually really nice!” he said. He was lying. The AC/DC Back In Black Shiraz tastes like a terrifying combination of illicit prison liquor and the bullshit they serve you in plastic cups when you’re on a plane. It’s cheap and offensive and illadvised – a lot like the decision to supplant Brian Johnson with Axl Rose. Amirite?

Iron Maiden’s Trooper Beer

Yeastie Boys

Crystal Head Vodka: Rolling Stones Edition I can’t actually tell you what this one tastes like, because it’s two hundred and something dollars a bottle and I am a freelance writer who still occasionally has to call his dad up for help when it comes to paying the water bill. But hey, the bottle looked really fancy, and Dan Aykroyd is responsible for it, so those are all good things, right?

I think this was Dan stretching things a little. I told him that I doubted Yeastie Boys beer had anything to do with the actual Beastie Boys, but he was insistent. I don’t blame the bloke: sales targets are bastards. And, actually, Yeastie Boys was one of the more pleasant brews I tried. I had the dark one, so it was fairly bitter and, uh, yeasty, but it had that nice crisp finish too.

(Disclaimer: not entirely sure what ‘crisp finish’ means, but it sounds like the beer tastes, so I think it fl ies.)

80 per cent of the time I’m busy listening to weird, angry art-punk bands like Royal Trux, Captain Beefheart and Death Grips. The other 20 per cent, I’m listening to Iron Maiden. I am such an unashamed Maiden-head that I actually expected good things from the Trooper, despite Dan’s concerned face when I told him how much I was looking forward to it.

“Interesting one, that,” Dan said with all the anxiety of a man who was about to sell someone something with the potential to cause them grievous bodily harm.

I’m not sure what to tell you about the Trooper other than it almost made me throw up all over the Iron Maiden hoodie that I wore especially for the occasion. It tasted like Bruce Dickinson’s piss and convinced me that there is nothing good or decent in this world.

16 :: BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16

thebrag.com

BRAG’s guide to film, theatre, comedy and art about town

arts in focus

Away photo by Maryna Rothe

josh wade

the new face of aussie comedy also inside:

ARTS NEWS / MICHAEL MCINTYRE / ARTS REVIEWS / GIVEAWAY / ARTS EXPOSED / OUT & ABOUT thebrag.com

BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16 :: 17

arts in focus

free stuff head to: thebrag.com/freeshit

arts news...what's goin' on around town... with Natalia Morawski, Anna Wilson and Joseph Earp

five minutes WITH

KRYSTAL KLEER FROM LIP SYNC BATTLE ROYALE are also weekly themes, which the hosts (myself and 2016 ‘Rising Star’ Drag Industry Variety Award winner Coco Jumbo) pick and announce every Thursday.

Is there a secret to being a great lip syncer?

To be an ace lip syncer, one must truly understand what the actual vocalist is feeling at the time they were singing it. Always pick a song you can relate to, and really love!

What’s the one song that always gets requested?

‘I Will Survive’… Enough said.

the ante and have put together a great prize bundle. The first place winner wins $200 cash and instant placement into our grand finale for the chance to win $1,000. Second place wins $100 cash and third place wins a mystery prize. Lip Sync Battle is also the only weekly lip syncing contest in Sydney, and it’s focused towards the crowds that usually come to watch the drag queens lip sync. There

THE LIVES THEY LEAD

18 :: BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16

Barry by Louise Hearman

THIS GOES WITH THAT

The Sydney Collage Society will celebrate turning one with artworks, music and drinks next week. A limited edition print exhibit will take place as part of the birthday party, featuring 50 works from SCS collage artists.

All prints will be for sale in limited edition sets of five with artists’ signatures. Music will be supplied by We Play Records and drinks by Poor Tom’s Gin and Young Henrys. The free celebration and exhibition will take place at Academy XI, Surry Hills on Friday July 29.

A TOUGH UPBRINGING

Never Did Me Any Harm premiered in 2012 at Sydney Festival, and now it returns to the stage with director and choreographer Kate Champion (Not In A Million Years, The Age I’m In) overseeing its reproduction. The fears and complexities of contemporary family life will be danced, voiced and performed at Glen Street Theatre in a collaboration between Force Majeure and creatives from Sydney Theatre Company. Drawing inspiration from Christos Tsiolkas’ best-selling novel The Slap, Champion and her company interviewed people of all ages and backgrounds for their opinions on what makes a good parent. The cast includes Marlo Benjamin, Kristina Chan, Alan Flower, Tracy Mann, Josh Mu, Veronica Neave and Timothy Ohl. Never Did Me Any Harm will play from Wednesday August 17 – Saturday August 20.

AND THE ARCHIBALD GOES TO…

It’s an all-female victory this year at the prestigious Archibald Prize, and its associated exhibitions the Wynne and Sulman Prizes. Melbourne artist Louise Hearman has won the 2016 Archibald with her portrait of iconic Barry Humphries. Best known for his alter ego Dame Edna Everage, Humphries is a favourite sitter for artists entering work to the Archibald Prize, having sat six times, this win being his first. The Wynne Prize for the best landscape painting of Australian scenery was awarded to five sisters from the Ken family – Tjungkara Ken, Yaritji Young, Freda Brady, Maringka Tunkin and Sandra Ken – who live in the remote Aboriginal community of Amata in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands. Esther Stewart received the Sulman Prize for her painting Flatland Dreaming. All the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman winners and exhibited works are on show at the Art Gallery of New South Wales until Sunday October 9.

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Barry © Louise Hearman

Dame Julie Andrews is on her way to Sydney with her daughter, actress Emma Walton Hamilton, for a special ‘in conversation’ event.

At this special evening, exclusive to Sydney, Andrews and Hamilton will share personal stories and insights into their careers on a specially recreated stage set of My Fair Lady.

The audience will engage with the stars in an informal setting as they discuss their respective work as critically acclaimed best-selling authors, television creators and producers.

Together, Andrews and Walton have published 30 books and created several television projects. A Conversation With Julie Andrews And Emma Walton Hamilton is on Sunday August 28 at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House.

Sydney Fringe Comedy photo by Anneliese Nappa

Sydney Fringe Festival is back in 2016 for its biggest edition yet, and the producers of the Sydney Comedy Festival are joining the fun once again.

The sixth annual Sydney Fringe Comedy program spans the duration of Sydney Fringe, and features more than 100 shows from local and international funnypeople. Marrickville’s Factory Theatre will be the home of comedy in September, becoming a festival hub for all things laughter. In true Fringe spirit, the tickets will be kept affordable, with the majority of them available for between $10 and $15. The highlights on the program include shows from Becky Lucas, Cameron James and Gen Fricker, Bridie Connell, Corey White, Jack Gow, Jared Jekyll, Jordan Raskopoulos, Mantaur and Spokey Blokes. Sydney Fringe Comedy runs at the Factory from Tuesday August 30 – Friday September 30.

DON’T CALL IT ART

After selling out at the Sydney Comedy Festival, an encore of the Jagged Little Singalong has been announced. Alanis Morrissette’s classic ’90s album, Jagged Little Pill, will be celebrated at another sing-along show featuring Tom Dickins, Alison Avron, Lady Sings It Better and Sorcha Albuquerque. Audiences are encouraged to bring their best and worst singing voices to celebrate the 21st birthday of the album. Jagged Little Singalong will take place at the Factory Floor on Friday August 5 and Saturday August 6.

The show runs from Friday August 5 – Sunday August 7 at Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park.

We’re giving away two double passes to attend the show on any one day, so lick your lips and enter the draw at thebrag.com/freeshit.

LAUGHS ON THE FRINGE

This Is Not Art

YOU OUGHTA KNOW ABOUT THIS

Matt Moran

What: Lip Sync Battle Royale Where: The Shift When: Thursdays until Thursday August 25

Sydney Fringe Comedy

This Is Not Art is this year inviting punters to "get lost". That’s the theme of the Newcastle Writers’ Festival arm of the program, anyway, with a flock of young authors ranging from Giselle Nguyen to Jennifer Down set to descend on the city for a long weekend full of talks, panels and impromptu poetry readings.

But that’s not all. The 2016 TiNA lineup also boasts the inclusion of the Crack Theatre Festival and the Critical Animals fest, the latter being an exploration of satirical contemporary art that tackles “the madness of many”. And, to top it all off, the excellently monikered collective Hobotechno will take over the Watt Space Gallery, treating punters to an experimental exhibition of durative work. How’s that for a good weekend, eh? This Is Not Art hits Newcastle from Thursday September 29 – Sunday October 2. Find out more about the program and venues at thisisnotart.org.

The Good Food & Wine Show Sydney is back this year and once again bringing together world-class chefs, amazing food, tasty wine and opportunities to learn from the best. This year’s three-day event will see classes and workshops from Alastair McLeod (Al’FreshCo), Gary Mehigan (MasterChef), Miguel Maestre (The Living Room), Matt Moran (ARIA Sydney), Sammy & Bella (My Kitchen Rules, 2011) and many more.

Krystal Kleer photo by Dream Syndicate

T

he Shift is currently hosting its Lip Sync Battle Royale over eight weeks.

What makes it a ‘Battle Royale’?

The Shift Club has really stepped it up for the new season of Lip Sync Battle Royale.

So rather than our normal weekly prizes (first $100, second a $50 voucher for the fabulous restaurant attached to the club, and third one of our delicious cocktails), we’ve upped

How did you become involved in drag superstardom yourself?

I started in 2008 doing a weekly amateur drag competition. Then I slowly started to book jobs through the years (a very edited career explanation). And now I work six nights a week and couldn’t love my job more, but most of all I look forward to Thursdays at The Shift.

GOOD FOOD & WINE SHOW SYDNEY

arts in focus

Josh Wade [COMEDY] Cunny Stunts By Alex Callan

T

here is no holding back when it comes to Australia’s love for homegrown comedians. If history shows us anything, it’s that the more outrageous and politically incorrect the jokes are, the more Aussie crowds love them. As proven on festival stages by the likes of Rodney Rude and Jim Jefferies, there is something so appealing about hearing someone make jokes you really shouldn’t be laughing at.

At the forefront of the modern era of Australian comedy is Josh Wade – perhaps more commonly known for his character portrayal of Cunny.

Cunny is a foul-mouthed, bongsmoking bogan who maintains a contrarian outlook on the world at large. Having scored a massive burst of popularity in the digital age of YouTube and Facebook, Wade has now established a name for himself on the live comedy circuit and has attracted legions of fans all over the country. His history with Cunny, however, dates way back to when he was doing stand-up at the “innocent” age of 13.

“I was doing open mic stuff around Townsville at ten o’clock at night in pubs. There would only be about three to four 45-year-old men who were obviously at the bar wanting to escape their 13-year-old kids at home, so the last thing they wanted to hear was one on the microphone. I realised no-one was laughing because I was just talking about things that were unrelatable to them.

“At the start, the person who got me into comedy was Ellen DeGeneres.

Through watching her stand-up, I tried to emulate that a lot when I started out, and then I realised that being a 13-year-old boy from Townsville who sounds like a

“People have such a short attention span now that if you don’t make something weekly or every couple of weeks, there is always someone new and just as good that is going to come out.”

45-year-old lesbian with opinions on America wasn’t really working. So where the vulgarity of the character I now do comes from was realising that if I want people to pay attention to me, I have to speak like them.”

Online comedy is something that’s only really become a craze in the last five or so years, but its popularity has been on the rise exponentially since.

“Back when I was about 15 and posting videos,” says Wade, “I realised if I wanted to get out of Townsville, simply by being funny, I would really have to push myself.

I didn’t get a degree. I didn’t finish school. So I thought, ‘What is the best way to do it?’ I gave myself a goal and said, ‘In a year’s time I am going to go down and do the Melbourne Comedy Festival through building enough fans on YouTube and Facebook to get an audience.’”

His plan worked, with Wade selling out two shows in Melbourne this year. However, he’s laid down roots in Sydney, moving here when he was 18 and soon making friends with

Neel Kolhatkar, another renowned internet comedian.

“We sort of just linked up and went, ‘OK, we have the same goal.’ We had both been doing stand-up and open mic and then we both started doing these videos. It was sort of a collaborative effort, and then Frenchy came along and it’s been a community that we have sort of built up. Now I go on Facebook and your whole news feed is videos. It’s like YouTube on crystal meth,” Wade laughs.

“Now there is a whole scene – anyone can do it. You’re now seeing traditional comedians who pretty much need to adapt or die. I see a lot of traditional comedians like Hughesy who are going, ‘We have to make online content.’ People have such a short attention span now that if you don’t make something weekly

or every couple of weeks, there is always someone new and just as good that is going to come out.

There’s something now for everyone on the internet.”

Taking inspiration from this mentality for his latest Australian tour, Cunny’s Modern Life, Wade tackles issues that he has observed in the world over the course of his life.

The last two years have seen Wade jet set around the US, making videos all over the country while also taking the time for some very personal selfreflection.

“This show is kind of like a really messed-up TED Talk. Cunny’s Modern Life is a play on the show Rocko’s Modern Life. From 9/11 to the wars to the financial crisis and all those different things, it’s kind of my take on it all in an absurd and funny but truthful sort of way. It’s almost like watching a 70-year-old man who is pissed off with the world and just rants for an hour.”

“I have spent a lot of time in America the last two years, and I have had a lot of time to sit around and do nothing but smoke bongs because it was legal.

I sort of fell down a rabbit hole in terms of discovering everything I had learnt from school and society was false.

I feel like everything was a lie. I feel that I was never told the full truth. I still don’t know the full truth, but I definitely don’t believe anything I was brought up with.”

What: Cunny’s Modern Life Where: The Comedy Store / The Red Rattler When: Wednesday July 20 / Sunday July 24

Michael McIntyre [COMEDY] Something For Everyone By Augustus Welby

I

n 2013, Michael McIntyre was revealed to be the world’s highest-grossing comedian, and his popularity certainly hasn’t waned since then. Last year he sold out London’s 20,000-capacity O2 Arena an astounding ten nights in a row. Such widespread approval could easily go to one’s head, but McIntyre’s success hasn’t alienated him from his core fan base. His stand-up isn’t especially glamorous, nor is it flashy. In fact, his jokes often address rather banal subject matter, which could explain his broad accessibility.

McIntyre will bring his Happy & Glorious tour Down Under this October, and his objectives are straightforward. “What I’m trying to do is just to make you laugh really, really hard,” he says.

Xxx

McIntyre’s comedy tends to be observational with a touch of social satire, particularly with regards to the British people. There have been a number of major political events in the UK during the last couple of years, of course – in the 2015 federal election, David Cameron’s centre-right Conservative Party won a second term of government, surprising just about everyone. And last month came the referendum to determine whether the UK should leave the European Union. Cameron introduced the referendum, but he strongly campaigned for the UK to remain. When the leave campaign won, Cameron resigned as Prime Minister.

Like many Londoners, McIntyre seems to be living in the eye of a storm. In May this year, the

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Labour Party’s Sadiq Khan became the new city mayor, which was seen as a big win for the left.

The Conservative candidate, Zac Goldsmith, greatly harmed his chances at victory by nastily attacking Khan and exploiting Islamophobia as a campaign tactic.

But despite all of this commotion, McIntyre is unlikely to include any political commentary in his upcoming performances.

“Left and right – I’m one of those people that I don’t really understand what that even means,” he says.

“I have to remember which hand I write with just to remember which side right is.”

Given the comedian’s popularity, you’d think he was in a considerable position of influence. However, he rebuffs this assumption.

“I would never get carried away with thinking I had any influence, or I would never try that, because it’s not my field,” he says. “If I wanted to have influence in politics, I would’ve become a politician. It’s another job.

I wouldn’t want to tell my builder what to do; I wouldn’t want to delve into other [fields]. I just tell jokes, so my influence is purely comedic. If I can’t think of anything funny, I might try and see if I’ve got any influence elsewhere. But until that day comes, I’m just going to stick with trying to make people laugh and give them a break from the rigours of political debate.”

It’s a justified career intention, no doubt. But although McIntyre doesn’t presume to wield political influence, he must at least have some thoughts on the status quo.

“You have to be careful, because you can start giving your opinions and things get taken out of context,” he says. “And also, I don’t think I have enough information to think my opinions have enough weight. I don’t tweet, I don’t really get involved.

I like to just live a family life and try to make it funny. I feel like that’s my role.”

Therein lies the secret to McIntyre’s success. He extracts humour from everyday situations, exaggerating ordinary events in order to illuminate core truths or expose things as silly, awkward or absurd. It’s an inclusive brand of comedy, conversational and jovial in spirit. But outside of trying to be as funny as possible, many comedians hope to leave audiences with something to think about – to impress upon people’s thoughts beyond the moment of laughter. McIntyre harbours no such ambitions.

“I think there’s a lot of value in enjoying the moment and having a laugh,” he says. “Personally, I think all the value is there. There are other comedians or other people who have different agendas. There are people that maybe look down on comedy that is fleeting and in the moment, but my challenge is to be as funny as possible and to make you laugh as hard as possible in that moment. And maybe there’s an argument that if a bit of your brain is thinking as well, then you’re not filling it completely with joy and laughter.

“What I try and do, it’s more difficult than people would think, because I’m constantly honing and shaving away what I’m saying. And I know when I’ve achieved it and I know

when I haven’t. And I have never achieved it for a whole show. It’s my objective to make a whole show as funny as possible. You know what it’s like when you watch comedy; you don’t really remember the jokes so much afterwards. You just know that you’ve had a really good time. That’s all I’m trying to do, really.

“The only thing I want to stay with people is a face that hurts from laughing, because if you’re laughing for two hours, that is going to hurt.

That’s when I feel happy.”

Where: Qudos Bank Arena When: Friday October 21

BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16 :: 19

film & theatre reviews Hits and misses on the silver screen and bareboards around town

■ Film

SWISS ARMY MAN In cinemas now From its first joyous expulsion of hot air, Swiss Army Man is resolutely – and proudly – the weirdest film of the year.

But beyond that, the little indie that could has a geniality and complexity that make it worth overlooking its childish inclinations.

■ Film

GHOSTBUSTERS In cinemas now Director Paul Feig’s female-led reboot of Ghostbusters has been battling foes on all fronts. Not just the usual ghosts, but also the dinosaurs who have been passing judgement on the film in the year prior to its release. I’m happy to say that your childhood memories haven’t been trampled upon in the making of this film.

No recent comedy has received so much scrutiny prior to its release. One group of fanboys was so affronted, it launched a campaign to make the first trailer the most disliked video in the history of YouTube.

Given Feig’s formidable previous successes with the genre-changing films Bridesmaids, The Heat and Spy, the distrust seemed somewhat misplaced in a director who has become one of the best things to happen to bigscreen comedy in some time.

Instead of taking the keyboard insults to heart, Ghostbusters writers Feig and Katie Dippold have deftly dropped them into gags with military-like precision. The writing is sharp and punchy, and some of the best jokes in the film are potshots at the doubters.

Hank (Paul Dano) is about to die alone on a desert island, suspended from a poorly tied noose, when a body (Daniel Radcliffe) washes ashore. The body’s unnatural flatulence provides Hank a novel means to escape his fate, and the two seek civilisation together, becoming friends and discovering deeper truths about life, the universe and everything.

That’s right – Manny, the corpse portrayed by Radcliffe, is essentially a multi-tool, a butt-belching deus ex machina the likes of which has never been seen on screen before. While ripping rump is a particular speciality, Manny’s disturbing versatility makes him the film’s gag generator, and debut directing duo The Daniels seem to have found a bottomless (sorry) pit of potential in their expired star. It seems unkind to say, but this may just be Radcliffe’s best performance.

The playful magical tone that hangs over the whole affair keeps things reasonably innocent, at least for a concept so mired in gallows humour. Once Manny starts speaking, the question of whether or not Hank is hallucinating is left unspoken; it’s hardly relevant to his survival.

As the story develops, and the lives of both Hank and Manny are given clarity, we start to realise that the romantic advice Hank gives is deeply flawed, trapped in the past. Right when you might start to worry about that, The Daniels flip it on its head. They know exactly what they’ve created, and that selfawareness makes them formidable. That said, they stumble as they dip too deeply into the dark. Naturally, the narrative progresses to some pretty uncomfortable places, but it lingers there too long; so much so, one finds themselves wishing they’d just return to dropping whoppers.

The Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) have taken their music video prowess and applied it liberally, with both Radcliffe and Dano performing much of the film’s soundtrack a capella. It’s a very endearing trait, one that ties Swiss Army Man to the whimsical tradition of Wes Anderson, and certainly makes for a refreshing break from Manny’s rectal turbulence.

In exploring the potential of the human body (and soul) even at its worst, The Daniels make grand statements about the transience of life, and they do it while releasing low-flying geese with gusto. Swiss Army Man proudly toots its own horn and encourages you to do the same. Maybe wait till you’ve left the cinema.

What surprises most is not the immaturity – which, once

David Molloy

The chemistry amongst the four leads fuels the momentum of the picture. Feig favourite Melissa McCarthy plays the defiant Abby Yates, a down-andout paranormal scientist who toils relentlessly with her ragtag engineer Jillian Holtzmann, portrayed excellently by Saturday Night Live alum Kate McKinnon.

Straight-laced university lecturer Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) crosses paths with the two after spending years repressing her previous life as an authority on paranormal activity. They team up with Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones), and Chris Hemsworth rounds out the team as ditzy secretary Kevin in what becomes a tonguein-cheek subversion of gender roles in cinema.

■ Theatre

While the film respectfully doffs its cap to the legacy of Ivan Reitman’s ’80s hits, it never feels overwhelmed by it. Much was made of Ghostbusters being a reimagining rather than a reboot and that rings true. What’s left is a charming, if at times ragged action-comedy that puts four likeable performers front and centre.

In Resident Alien, Capsis ditches the auto- and splashes down deep in biography. He is near unrecognisable as our elderly raconteur Quentin Crisp, and not only because of his grand, greying pompadour. In addition to the Griffin Theatre performance, I’ve caught Capsis inhabit numerous roles, and this is the first time I have truly felt unconscious of the performer underneath. The real Crisp died back in 1999, but left a legacy almost tailor-made for Capsis.

Grandiloquent, relentlessly idiosyncratic, fashionable, flamboyant, and a touch tragic; really, everything you need to keep a one-man show on the rails.

The laughs are plentiful and the special effects deftly incorporated. This is the kind of blockbuster that has been sorely needed in what has been a trying year at the box office.

embraced, is immeasurably satisfying – but how much beauty and wonder can be spun out of a one-joke film. The pathos and candour of Radcliffe and Dano make them a perfect pair, and The Daniels show a great flair for their craft even as they indulge their inner children.

RESIDENT ALIEN Playing at the Seymour Centre until Saturday July 23 Almost six years ago I saw Paul Capsis appear in his autobiographical one-man production at Griffin Theatre, Angela’s Kitchen. It would go on to not only win Best New Australian Work at the Helpmann Awards, but Best Male Actor as well. As such, the prospect of catching him in another solo show is pretty darned enticing, even if (to be entirely honest) I wasn’t as moved by Angela’s Kitchen as the rest of the theatregoing public. to playwright Tim Fountain for avoiding the pitfall of this being an artificial litany of eccentric observations. Rather, our audience with Crisp feels quite natural, although like any real conversation, I suppose, there are occasional ruminations – one on music, in particular – that continue on needlessly after the point had been made.

Well, they’ve brought it. Hopefully, they’ll bring it again soon.

We meet Crisp in his cluttered apartment in New York, his days seemingly spent entertaining whichever strangers happen to call and request an audience. He is already in his 70s, and it is a testament to Capsis’ physicality that he can portray this age with such delicate assurance; Crisp moves about stage both confident and stiff with impairment.

Nevertheless it is hugely enjoyable, assisted in no small measure by Gary Abrahams’ direction and, particularly, Romanie Harper’s set and costume design – Crisp’s cluttered bedsit, strewn with books, dirty dishes and clothes, comes to feel like a genuine apartment we are somehow privy to. But it is Capsis – the hair, the mannerisms, the make-up that adds an extra 30 years to his face – who keeps all the plates spinning. It has certainly become my favourite turn from the stage veteran, and revived my faith in the possibilities of one-person theatre. Funny, sharp, sad; Resident Alien is a success.

Tim Armitage

The story is essentially a series of vignettes, each a philosophical reflection on life, art, society, sex. Kudos

Adam Norris

The comedian Chris Rock used to say that the beauty of comedy lies in the fact that you’re not judged on what you look like, or how you dress, but simply whether you can ‘bring it’.

Arts Exposed What's in our diary...

Get Reel Short Film Festival The Ritz Cinema, Randwick, Sunday July 24 1,650 films were submitted to the judges of the Get Reel Short Film Festival this year, and now that number has been whittled down to ten. The finalists’ short films will be shown, plus the winner will be announced, at the red carpet screening this weekend. The judges include prominent film and television actors, directors, producers and industry experts. Each of the films are no more than ten minutes long and were all shot on a mobile device, to a theme of ‘Being Seen’. The competition is also a charity event supporting Suicide Prevention Australia.

Tickets to the red carpet gala are $25 and can be found at officialtoptennight.com.

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Get Reel Short Film Festival judges

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out & about Queer(ish) matters with Lucy Watson

Disneyland Paris

I

n Sydney, being gay is fairly safe.

Also, being my hometown, I know where it isn’t. Out on a Friday night in the CBD? Probably not so fine to hold your partner’s hand. In the Shire, ever? Would also avoid.

Travelling makes everything confusing.

I’m in Europe at the moment – and sure, most of Europe is pretty damn tolerant. I had no problem holding my partner’s hand anywhere in Amsterdam, where they’ve been gay married for 15 years now, or in Berlin, where you’re more likely to bat an eyelid at someone wearing colour than a homo, but there have been a few other places where I’ve been more hesitant.

Largely that’s a product of not knowing the area. Having lived in Sydney for years now, I know most of it pretty well: where I’m safe, where’s questionable, where you couldn’t drag me blindfolded. In a new city, you don’t have that luxury. And as a gay person in a new city, often you can’t take that risk. Yesterday, for example, I saw a man glare at me as I put my head on my girlfriend’s shoulder. In Sydney, knowing my surrounds, I might be bold enough to take his glare on the chin, and kiss her out of spite. In a new city, you don’t what the area is like, what the people are like, whether they’d back you or him.

Mostly when I travel, I gravitate towards gay areas. When a friend asked me for travel recommendations recently, I could only give her advice on where the best gay bars are.

However, on this trip, I went to the one of the most heteronormative places that exist in this world.

was most definitely a homo (but I guess if you ask me, everyone’s a homo, so I’m not really a reputable source), but the Disney empire survives on the nuclear family – just look at literally every Disney film, not to mention the family deals at every hotel, ride and restaurant. Disneyland is about family, and straight families at that.

So, as my partner and I roamed the streets of this magical land, I have never felt more out of place. Mostly because I’m 26 and had no small children accompanying me, but also because I was there, and queer.

Of course, gender is far more than just presentation, but as far as it seemed, I was surrounded by hetero, nuclear families. No single parents, let alone gay ones.

And for once, despite being stared at more than I have in a long time, I felt safe. It’s Disneyland! No respecting adult would make a scene about the homosexuals in front of their children. I felt visible (so goddamn visible, the staring was insane), but like I deserved a place there.

Proudly presents...

Get Reel: Top Ten Filmmakers’ Festival 2016

Often when confronted with the position of being the only (obviously) gay in the village, one has a sense of duty: to exist, and thus to educate. By simply being there, holding my partner’s hand, I felt like we were showing these children that yes, we exist – perhaps only in the land where princesses and talking animals exist, but yes, gay people also exist.

Being surrounded by children forces adults to be civil, so even if anyone had an issue with us (and the staring indicated they did), they couldn’t really do all that much about it. So we were ourselves, and proudly so.

I went to Disneyland.

Sure, the Disney parks in the States have their gay days, and Walt Disney himself

And obviously, there’s something fun about kissing in public when you know everyone’s watching (or gawping).

this week…

Disneyland Paris photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons

This week sees another instalment of About Life at Tatler Sydney on Thursday July 21, this time featuring Cunningpants. As a special treat, organiser Rohan has created scents for each DJ – an aroma installation – that will waft through the venue.

Also on Thursday July 21 is a special R&B version of No Lights No Lycra – an hour of dancing in the dark designed for you to get sweaty to some of your favourite beats without having to care about looking good. So prepare to get red-faced to Destiny’s Child, TLC and Salt-N-Pepa at the Main Hall on Church Street, Newtown.

Finally, on Sunday July 24, don’t miss House Of

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Mince god Lovertits’ birthday party at 77.

Featuring DJ Gemma from 8pm until 3am, this

free event will be the best way to kick the “I’m not at Splendour” blues.

Cunningpants

The Ritz Cinema Randwick 6pm - 8.30pm, Sunday 24 July See the Top Ten Films from international filmmakers’ competition, Get Reel. Winners announced at event.

MC: Luke Carroll Special Guest Judges: Andrew Morley, Dov Kornits, Erin James, Greg van Borssum Jessica Grace Smith, Macario De Souza, Paul Sullivan Peter Reynolds, Socratis Otto and Ursula Dabrowsky.

Tickets $25 at www.officialtoptennight.com All funds raised go towards Suicide Prevention Australia.

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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; Sat 5pm-2am Ash St Cellar 1 Ash St, Sydney CBD (02) 9240 3000 Mon – Fri 8.30am-11pm The Attic 275 Pitt St, Sydney CBD (02) 9284 1200 Mon – Wed 10am-midnight; Thu 10am-1.30am; Fri 10am-3am; Sat noon1.30am

Assembly 488 Kent St, Sydney CBD (02) 9283 8808 Mon – Tue 5pm-midnight; Wed – Fri noon-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight The Australian Heritage Hotel 100 Cumberland St, The Rocks (02) 9247 2229 Mon – Sun 10.30am-midnight Bar Eleven Lvl 11, 161 Sussex St, Sydney CBD (02) 9290 4712 Mon – Thu 4-9pm; Fri – Sat 4-11pm The Barber Shop 89 York St, Sydney CBD

(02) 9299 9699 Mon – Wed 4pm-midnight; Thu – Fri 3pm-midnight; Sat 4pm-midnight

Burrow Bar De Mestre Place, Sydney 0450 466 674 Mon – Sun 4pm-midnight

Basement Bar Basement, 27-33 Goulburn St, Sydney CBD (02) 8970 5813 Mon – Thu 5pm-10pm; Fri – Sat 5pm-midnight

The Captain’s Balcony 46 Erskine St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 3526 Mon – Fri noon-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight

The Baxter Inn Basement 152-156 Clarence St, Sydney CBD Mon – Sat 4pm-1am

deVine 32 Market St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 6906 Mon – Fri 11.30am-11.30pm; Sat 5.3011.30pm

Bulletin Place First Floor, 10-14 Bulletin Place, Circular Quay Mon – Wed 4pm-midnight; Thurs – Sat 4pm-1am; Sun 4-10pm

Easy Eight 152-156 Clarence St, Sydney (02) 9299 3769 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight

El Camino Cantina 18 Argyle St, The Rocks Mon – Thu noonmidnight; Fri – Sat noon-3am; Sun 11.30am-midnight

The Fox Hole 68A Erskine St, Sydney CBD (02) 9279 4369 Mon 7am-3pm; Tue – Fri 7am-late

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

The Grasshopper 1 Temperance Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 9947 9025 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri noon-1am; Sat 4pm-1am

Gilt Lounge 49 Market St, Sydney CBD (02) 8262 0000 Mon – Fri 5pm-2am; Sun 5pm-midnight The Glenmore 96 Cumberland St, The Rocks (02) 9247 4794 Mon – Thu, Sun 11am-midnight; Fri – Sat 11am-1am Grain Bar 199 George St, Sydney CBD (02) 9250 3118 Sun – Fri noon-9pm Grandma’s Basement 275 Clarence St, Sydney CBD (02) 9264 3004 Mon – Fri 3pm-midnight; Sat 5pm-1am

Harpoon Harry 40-44 Wentworth Ave, Sydney CBD (02) 8262 8800 Mon – Sat 11.30am-3am; Sun 11am-midnight Kittyhawk 16 Phillip Ln, Sydney CBD Mon – Thu 3pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 3pm-2am The Lobo Plantation Basement Lot 1, 209 Clarence St, Sydney CBD 0415 554 908 Mon – Thu, Sat 4pm-midnight; Fri 2pm-midnight

Sydney CBD (02) 9953 0027 Mon – Wed 7.30am-10pm; Thu – Fri 7.30am-11pm

Mon – Thu 11.30am-10pm; Fri 11.30am-midnight; Sat 10pm-4am

The Loft (UTS) 15 Broadway, Sydney (behind 2SER) (02) 9514 1149 Mon – Fri 2-11pm

Palmer & Co. Abercrombie Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 9240 3000 Sun – Weds 5pm-3am; Thu 3pm-3am; Fri noon-3am; Sat 4pm-3am

Mojo Record Bar Basement 73 York St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 4999 Mon – Wed 4pm-midnight; Thu 4pm-1am; Fri – Sat 4pm-1am The Morrison 225 George St, Sydney CBD (02) 9247 6744 Mon – Wed 7.30am-11pm; Thu 7.30am-midnight; Fri 7.30am-2am; Sat 11.30am-2am The Palisade 35 Bettington St, Millers Point 9018 0123 Mon – Fri noon-midnight; Sat – Sun 11am-midnight Mr Tipply’s 347 Kent St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 4877

The Local Bar 161 Castlereagh St,

Papa Gede’s Bar Laneway at the end of 348 Kent St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 5671 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight Plan B Small Club 53-55 Liverpool St, Sydney CBD Wed 5pm-11pm; Thu 5pm-1am; Fri 5pm-3am; Sat 6pm-3am Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern 199 Elizabeth St, Sydney CBD Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight Rockpool Bar & Grill 66 Hunter St, Sydney CBD (02) 8078 1900 Mon – Sat noon-3pm, 6-11pm

bar

TH

EK

ADDRESS: LEVEL 1, THE FORRESTERS, 336 RILEY ST, SURRY HILLS PHONE NUMBER: (02) 9212 3035 WEBSITE: QUEENIES.COM.AU OPENING HOURS: TUES – SAT 6PM-LATE; FRI 12PM-3PM (LUNCH)

OF

QUEENIES BAR AND RESTAURANT bar E E W

Sounds: The playlist at Queenies is a mixture of classic reggae through to golden era ’90s hip hop.

Tell us about your bar: Queenies is a bar and restaurant located in the iconic Forresters Hotel in the heart of Surry Hills. It boasts a heavily Jamaican-influenced menu offering pan-tropical specialities consisting of modern takes on classic Caribbean staples. The bar itself makes its presence known as you reach the top of the stairs, drawing your attention with a battery of lights and voodoo styling. Bar manager Ross Te Paa, an expert in all things rum, has handcrafted a cocktail list of boozy libations that will knock your socks off… literally.

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What’s on the menu?

The menu presents a Caribbean cantina, taking influence from the coveted old spice routes, and offers a large variety of snacks, curries and mains – some traditional and some just bloody tasty. Executive chef Daniel Corbett has provided the people with a modern, yet homely take on the flavours of the Caribbean that even Viv Richards would be proud of. From the handmade cassava bread bammies to the BBQ jerk chicken, you can’t go wrong.

Care for a drink?

Queenies provides an extensive drinks list showcasing Caribbean staples such as Red Stripe and Jamaican ginger beer. The cocktail list is a mind-blowing iteration of Ross’ 20 years’ experience in the game. It ranges from modern takes on classic Tiki and Caribbean styles through to Caribbean twists on old-school classics. The crowd favourite at Queenies would have to be the coconut daiquiri, delivered in a chili-salt-rimmed coupette – a beautiful smooth and drinkable concoction that will have you coming back for more.

Highlights: The music, food, booze and unique design all come together to make Queenies like nowhere else in Sydney. Tuesday night is an unmissable night on the food calendar at Queenies, providing an exclusive Jamaican take on the classic curry. With four different flavour options, ranging from a fried chicken coconut curry through to a tamarind beef short rib curry or a Kingston fish curry, you can’t go wrong. We also offer cocktail classes, banquet menus and function spaces to make your dining and drinking experience unforgettable, plus a schedule of events throughout the year such as our infamous Stoner Dinner series.

The bill comes to: The BBQ jerk chicken ($24) and a coconut daiquiri ($16) will set you back $40 and you won’t be forgetting about it anytime soon.

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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 Tues – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 6pm-midnight Shirt Bar 7 Sussex Ln, Sydney CBD (02) 8068 8222 Mon –Wed 8am-8pm; Thu – Fri 8am-10pm Since I Left You 338 Kent St, Sydney CBD (02) 9262 4986 Mon – Wed 5pm-10pm; Thu – Fri 4.30pm-midnight; Sat 6pm-midnight Small Bar 48 Erskine St, Sydney CBD (02) 9279 0782 Mon – Fri noon-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight The Smoking Panda 5-7 Park St, Sydney CBD (02) 9264 4618 Mon – 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 noon-midnight; Sat 4pm-midnight York Lane 56 Clarence St, Sydney CBD (02) 9299 1676 Mon – Wed 6.30am-10pm; Thu – Fri 6am-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 Bar Cleveland Cnr Bourke & Cleveland St, Redfern (02) 9698 1908 Mon – Thu 10am-2am; Fri – Sat 10am-4am Bar H 80 Campbell St, Surry Hills (02) 9280 1980 Mon – Sat 6pm-11.30 Bellini Lounge 2 Kellett St, Potts Point (02) 9331 0058 Thu – Sun 6pm-late The Bells Hotel 1 Bourke St, Woolloomooloo (02) 9357 3765 Mon – Sun 10am-1am The Beresford 354 Bourke St, Surry Hills (02) 8313 5000 Mon – Sun noon-1am Big Poppa’s 96 Oxford St, Darlinghurst Mon – Sun 5pm-3am Black Penny 648 Bourke St, Surry Hills (02) 9319 5061 Mon – Sat 7am-midnight; Sun 7am-10pm thebrag.com

Button Bar 65 Foveaux St, Surry Hills (02) 9211 1544 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight Café Lounge 277 Goulburn St, Surry Hills (02) 9016 3951 Mon – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sunday 4-10pm

10am-midnight; Thu – Sat 10am-3am

Thu – Fri noon-midnight; Sun – Wed noon-10pm

The Horse 381 Crown St, Surry Hills 1300 976 683 Mon – Thu noonmidnight; Fri 11.30am-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon10pm

Queenie’s Upstairs 336 Riley St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 3035 Tue – Thu 6pm-late, Fri noon-3pm & 6pm-late; Sat 6pm-late

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

Jangling Jack’s Bar & Grill 175 Victoria St, Potts Point Tue – Wed 4-11pm, Thu – Sat 4-1am, Sun noon11pm

Central Tavern 42-50 Chalmers St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 3814 Mon – Sat 10am-2am; Sun 10am-10pm

Hustle & Flow Bar 3/105 Regent St, Redfern (02) 8964 93932 Tue – Thu 6pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 2pm-midnight

Ching-a-Lings 1/133 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (02) 9360 3333 Wed 6-11pm; Thu – Sat 6pm-1am; Sun 5-10pm

Li’l Darlin Darlinghurst 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst (02) 8084 6100 Mon – Sun 4pm-midnight

The Cliff Dive 16-18 Oxford Square, Darlinghurst Fri – Sat 6pm-late

Li’l Darlin Surry Hills 420 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills (02) 9698 5488 Mon – Fri noon-11pm; Sat 4pm-midnight

The Commons 32 Burton St, Darlinghurst (02) 9358 1487 Tue – Wed 6pm-midnight; Thu – Fri noon-late; Sat – Sun 8:30am-late Darlo Bar 306 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst (02) 9331 3672 Mon – Sun 10am-midnight Darlo Country Club Level 1, 235 Victoria St, Darlinghurst (02) 9380 4279 Wed – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 5pm-2am Dead Ringer 413 Bourke St, Surry Hills (02) 9331 3560 Mon – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-midnight Della Hyde 34 Oxford St, Darlinghurst Thu – Sat 5pm-late Eau-De-Vie 229 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst 0422 263 226 Sun – Fri 6pm-1am; Sat 6pm-midnight The Forresters 336 Riley St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 3035 Mon – Wed noonmidnight; Thu – Sat noon1am; Sun noon-10pm Gardel’s Bar 358 Cleveland St, Surry Hills (02) 8399 1440 Tue – Sat 6pm-midnight Gazebo 2 Elizabeth Bay Rd, Elizabeth Bay (02) 8070 2424 Tue – Sun noon-midnight Golden Age Cinema & Bar 80 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills (02) 9211 1556 Wed – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat – Sun 2:30pm-midnight Goros 84-86 Mary St, Surry Hills (02) 9212 0214 Mon – Wed 11:30am-midnight; Thu 11:30am-1am: Fri 11:30am-3am; Sat 4pm-3am

LL Wine and Dine 42 Llankelly Place Potts Point (02) 9356 8393 Mon – Thu 5pm-11pm; Fri – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 11am-10pm The Local Taphouse 122 Flinders St, Darlinghurst (02) 9360 0088 Mon – Sun noon-9:30pm Love, Tilly Devine 91 Crown Ln, Darlinghurst (02) 9326 9297 Mon – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 5-10pm Low 302 302 Crown St, Surry Hills (02) 9368 1548 Mon – Sun 6pm-2am Mr Fox 557 Crown St, Surry Hills 0410 470 250 Tue – Wed 4pm-midnight; Thu – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 3pm-midnight; Sun 10am-10pm The Norfolk 305 Cleveland St, Surry Hills (02) 9699 3177 Mon – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Old Growler 218 William St, Woolloomooloo 0458 627 266 Tue – Sat 5pm-midnight The Oxford Circus 231 Oxford St, Darlinghurst 0457 353 384 Wed – Sun 7pm-late Peekaboo 120 Bourke St, Woolloomooloo 0403 747 788 Tue – Thu 4pm-10pm; Fri – Sat 4pm-midnight Play Bar 72 Campbell St, Surry Hills (02) 9280 0885 Tue – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat 5pm-midnight Pocket Bar 13 Burton St, Darlinghurst (02) 9380 7002 Mon – Sun 4pm-midnight

Hinky Dinks 185 Darlinghurst Rd, Darlinghurst (02) 8084 6379 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 2-11pm

The Powder Keg 7 Kellett St, Potts Point (02) 8354 0980 Wed – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 4:30pm-midnight; Sun 4pm-midnight

Hollywood Hotel 2 Foster St, Surry Hills (02) 9281 2765 Mon – Wed

The Print Room 11 Glenmore Rd, Paddington (02) 9331 0911

Riley St Garage 55 Riley St, Woolloomooloo (02) 9326 9055 Mon – Sat noon-midnight Roosevelt 32 Orwell St, Potts Point (02) 8696 1787 Tue – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun 3-10pm Rosie Campbell’s 320 Crown St, Surry Hills (02) 9356 4653 Mon – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sun 11am-midnight 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 – Wed 5pm-midnight; Thu – Fri 5pm-3am; Sat – Sun 6pm-3am Surly’s 182 Campbell St, Surry Hills (02) 9331 3705 Mon – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Sweethearts Rooftop 33/37 Darlinghurst Rd, Potts Point (02) 9368 7333 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sun noon-midnight This Must Be The Place 239 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (02) 9331 8063 Mon – Sun 3pm-midnight The Tilbury Hotel 12-18 Nicholson St, Woolloomooloo (02) 9368 1955 Mon 9am-10pm; Tue – Fri 9am-midnight; Sat 10am-midnight; Sun 10am-10pm Tio’s Cerveceria 4-14 Foster St, Surry Hills (02) 9368 1955 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight Vasco 421 Cleveland St, Redfern 0406 775 436 Mon – Sat 5pm-midnight The Village Inn 9-11 Glenmore Rd, Paddington (02) 9331 0911 Mon – Sun noon-late The Wild Rover 75 Campbell St, Surry Hills (02) 9280 2235 Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight The Winery 285A Crown St, Surry Hills (02) 9331 0833 Mon – Sun noon-midnight

Anchor Bar 8 Campbell Pde, Bondi (02) 8084 3145 Mon – Fri 5pm-late; Sat – Sun 12.30pm-late Bat Country 32 St Pauls St, Randwick (@ The Spot) (02) 9398 6694 Mon – Sat 7am-midnight; Sun 7am-10pm Beach Road Hotel 71 Beach Rd, Bondi Beach (02) 9130 7247 Mon – Fri 11am-1am; Sat 10am-1am; Sun 10am-10pm Bondi Hardware 39 Hall St, Bondi (02) 9365 7176

Mon – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri noon-midnight; Sat 9am-midnight; Sun 9am-8pm The Bucket List Shop 1, Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive (02) 9365 4122 Mon – Tue 11am-5pm; Wed – Sun 11am-midnight The Corner House 281 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 8020 6698 Tue – Sat 5pm-midnight; Sun 1pm-10pm Fat Ruperts 249 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 9130 1033 Tue – Fri 4pm-midnight; Sat – Sun 2pm-midnight Jam Gallery 195 Oxford St, Bondi Junction (02) 9389 2485 Tue 4pm-midnight; Wed – Sat 4pm-3am The Phoenix Hotel 1 Moncur St, Woollahra (02) 9363 2608 Tue – Wed 4-11pm; Thu – Fri 11.30am-1am; Sat 8am-11pm; Sun 8am-10pm The Robin Hood Hotel 203 Bronte Rd, Waverley (02) 9389 3477 Mon-Sat 10am-3am; Sun 10am-10pm Speakeasy 83 Curlewis St, Bondi (02) 9130 2020 Mon – Sat 5pm-11pm; Sat – Sun 4pm-10pm Spring Street Social 110 Spring St, Bondi Junction (02) 9389 2485 Tue – Sat 5pm-3am Stuffed Beaver 271 Bondi Rd, Bondi (02) 9130 3002 Mon – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm

Bar-racuda 105 Enmore Rd, Newtown (02) 9519 1121 Mon – Sat 6pm-midnight Batch Brewing Company 44 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville (02) 9550 5432 Mon – Sun 10am-8pm Bauhaus West 163 Enmore Rd, Enmore (02) 8068 9917 Wed – Thu 5-11pm; Fri 4-11pm; Sat 2-10pm; Sun midday-10pm The Bearded Tit 183 Regent St, Redfern (02) 8283 4082 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-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 – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Calaveras 324 King St, Newtown 0451 541 712 Wed – Sat 6pm-midnight Cornerstone Bar & Food 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh (02) 8571 9004 Sun – Wed 10am-5pm; Thu – Fri 10am-late; Sat 9am-late Corridor 153A King St, Newtown 0405 671 002 Mon 5pm-midnight; Tue 4pm-midnight; Wed – Sat 3pm-midnight; Sun 3-10pm

Cottage Bar & Kitchen 342 Darling St, Balmain (02) 8084 8185 Mon – Thu 5pm-midnight; Fri – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm

Newtown Social Club 387 King St, Newtown (02) 9550 3974 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat noon-2am; Sun noon-10pm

Different Drummer 185 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9552 3406 Mon 4.30-11pm; Tue – Wed 4.30pm-1am; Thu – Sat 4.30pm-2am; Sun 4.30am-midnight

The Oxford Tavern 1 New Canterbury Rd, Petersham (02) 8019 9351 Mon – Thu noon-midnight; Fri – Sat noon-3am; Sun noon-10pm

Doris & Beryl’s Bridge Club and Tea House 530 King St, Newtown Mon – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat – Sun 3.30pm-midnight

Lord Raglan 12 Henderson Rd, Alexandria (02) 9699 4767 Mon – Sat noon-midnight; Sun noon-10pm

Earl’s Juke Joint King St, Newtown Mon – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4-10pm

The Record Crate 34 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9660 1075 Mon – Thu 5pm-midnight; Sat 2pm-midnight; Sun 3-10pm

Forest Lodge Hotel 117 Arundel St, Forest Lodge (02) 9660 1872 Mon – Sat 11am-midnight; Sun noon-10pm Freda’s 109 Regent St, Chippendale (02) 8971 7336 Tues – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4pm-10pm The Gasoline Pony 115 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville 0401 002 333 Tue – Thu 5-11.30pm; Fri – Sat 3-11.30pm; Sun 3-9.30pm The Grifter Brewing Co. 1/391-397 Enmore Rd, Marrickville (02) 9550 5742 Thu 4-9pm; Fri – Sat noon9pm; Sun noon-7pm The Hideaway Bar 156 Enmore Rd, Enmore (02) 8021 8451 Tue– Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri – Sat 4pm-1am Hive Bar 93 Erskineville Rd, Erskineville (02) 9519 1376 Mon – Fri noon-midnight; Sat 11am-midnight; Sun 11am-10pm Kelly’s On King 285 King St, Newtown (02) 9565 2288 Mon – Fri 10am-2.30am; Sat 10am-3.30am; Sun 11am-11.30pm Knox Street Bar Cnr Knox & Shepherd St, Chippendale (02) 8970 6443 Tue – Thu 4-10pm; Fri – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 5-10pm 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) 8084 0758 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 Mr Falcon’s 92 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9029 6626 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri 3pm-midnight; Sat noon-midnight; Sun 4pm-10pm

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 0403 621 585 Mon – Tue 7am-5pm; Wed – Fri 7am-11pm; Sat 7am-10pm; Sun 7am-11pm Staves Brewery 4-8 Grose Street, Glebe (02) 9280 4555 Thu 4-10pm; Fri – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4-10pm Temperance Society 122 Smith St, Summer Hill (02) 8068 5680 Mon – Thu 4pm-11pm; Fri – Sat: noon-midnight; Sun: noon-10pm Thievery 91 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 8283 1329 Mon – Thu 6pm-11pm; Fri 6pm-midnight; Sat noon3pm & 6pm-midnight Timbah 375 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe (02) 9571 7005 Tue – Thu 4-10pm; Fri 4-11pm; Sat 3pm-11pm; Sun 4pm-8pm Wayward Brewing Co. 1 Gehrig Ln, Annandale (02) 7903 2445 Thu – Sat 2-10pm; Sun noon-8pm Websters Bar 323 King St, Newtown (02) 9519 1511 Mon – Sat 10am-4am; Sun 10am-midnight Wilhelmina’s 332 Darling St, Balmain (02) 8068 8762 Wed – Fri 5-11pm; Sat – Sun 8am-11pm The Workers Lvl 1, 292 Darling St, Balmain (02) 9555 8410 Fri – Sat 5pm-3am; Sun 2pm-midnight Young Henrys D & E, 76 Wilford St, Newtown (02) 9519 0048 Mon – Sat 10am-7pm; Sun noon-7pm Zigi’s Wine And Cheese Bar 86 Abercrombie St, Chippendale (02) 9699 4222 Tue 4pm-10pm; Wed 4pm-midnight; Thu – Sat 3pm-midnight

Crooked Tailor 250 Old Northern Road, Castle Hill (02) 9899 3167 Mon – Sun 4pm-midnight Daniel San 55 North Steyne, Manly

Your bar’s not here? Email: chris@thebrag.com

(02) 9977 6963 Mon – Thu 4pm-midnight; Friday – Saturday noon–2am; Sunday noonmidnight Firefly 24 Young St, Neutral Bay (02) 9909 0193 Mon – Wed 5-11pm; Thu 5-11.30pm; Fri noon11.30pm; Sat noon-11pm; Sun noon-10pm The Foxtrot 28 Falcon St, Crows Nest Tue – Wed 5pm-midnight; Thu 5pm-1am; Fri 4pm-2am; Sat 5pm-2am; Sun 4-10pm The Hayberry Bar & Diner 97 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest (02) 8084 0816 Tue – Thu 4pm-midnight; Fri & Sat noon-midnight Sun noon-10pm Hemingway’s 48 North Steyne, Manly (02) 9976 3030 Mon – Sat 8am-midnight; Sun 8am-10pm The Hold Shop 4, Sydney Rd Plaza, Manly (02) 9977 2009 Tue – Fri 5pm-midnight; Sat 3pm-midnight; Sun 3-10pm Honey Rider 230 Military Rd, Neutral Bay (02) 9953 8880 Tue – Sat 4pm-midnight; Sun 4pm-10pm InSitu 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 noon10pm Jah Bar Shop 9, 9-15 Central Ave, Manly (02) 9977 4449 Tue 5pm-midnight; Wed-Fri noon-midnight; Sat 8am-midnight; Sun 9am-midnight Manly Wine 8-13 South Steyne, Manly (02) 8966 9000 Mon – Sun 6.30am-late Miami Cuba 47 North Steyne, Manly 0487 713 350 Mon – Sun 8am-4pm Moonshine Lvl 2, Hotel Steyne, 75 The Corso, Manly (02) 9977 4977 Mon – Thu 9am-3pm; Fri – Sat 9am-2am; Sun 9am-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 – Wed 5pm-midnight; Thu 5pm-1am; Sat noon-2am; Sun noon-midnight The Stoned Crow 39 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest (02) 9439 5477 Mon – Sat noon-late; Sun 11.30am-10pm The Treehouse Hotel 60 Miller St, North Sydney (02) 8458 8980 Mon – Fri 7am-midnight; Sat 2pm-midnight BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16 :: 23

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

ALBUM OF THE WEEK STONEFIELD

As Above, So Below Wunderkind/Mushroom

OK, before I begin, let me say this: our very existence is on a knife-edge and everyone dies alone. In a world of uncertainty, we have to grab hold of whatever takes the edge off the grim reality on the front pages. The country’s going to hell in a Hansonshaped handcart, so the time for plunging worried fingernails into the small certainties that make life worth living is upon us.

The Findlay sisters offer a slice of comfort in an uncertain world.

CANE HILL

One of those certainties is the ability of a good rock band to soothe the soul and free the mind, and the four Findlay sisters of Stonefield have been a

good – hell, great – rock band on the national scene for close to six years. This release, their second full-length along with a couple of EPs, is a work of maturity and drive that expands on their instantly riffy, ’70s-soaked psych-rock sound and pulls in other influences from the wider rock realm to make for quite the gut-kicker. The sludgy, Sabbath-esque ‘Sister’ and organ-driven ‘Dream’ let you know they haven’t gone soft since their 2013 debut, while ‘Love’, ‘Eyes’ and ‘Higher’ (what’s with all the one-word titles, guys?) sound like they will be monstrous onstage.

There’s a lingering feeling this is much more of a ‘band’ album than previous Stonefield records.

Rather than four talented individuals ripping into their instruments, it has a cohesion most likely forged by constant touring at home and abroad, including dates with Fleetwood Mac.

Country Victoria can be proud of the Findlays, and the rest of us can take heart from the knowledge that while just about everything is slipping through our fingers, some things remain steadfast.

Paul McBride

EMMA LOUISE

ABOVE & BEYOND

TRUST PUNKS

ALESA LAJANA

Supercry Liberation

Acoustic II Central Station

Double Bind Spunk

Frontier Lullaby Independent

Let’s put on the Captain Obvious cape for a second and confirm that, yes, the hallmarks of Cane Hill’s sound are an awful lot like those of Iowa’s masked maniacs Slipknot. The similarity has been noted in almost every piece of media and probably dogs this quartet like door-to-door sermons on a Sunday morning.

The past is a good topic to write about. For most artists it can be a form of therapy, reliving the experience outside yourself. On Supercry, Brisbane’s Emma Louise is crying out for the past; those times when she was younger, freer or in love as in ‘West End Kids’, ‘Talk Baby Talk’ and ‘Underflow’.

Trust Punks hail from New Zealand, though their sound has more in common with the post-punk sounds from Britain in the late ’70s than the ‘Dunedin Sound’ that Kiwi bands are inevitably always compared to.

Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist and banjoist Alesa Lajana has delved into Australia’s history postcolonisation to create this diligently researched and heartfelt collection.

However, if you not only love a bit of the ’Knot, but also the likes of Marilyn Manson and Korn, then you’ll be sure to appreciate Cane Hill’s efforts on their debut album Smile. The low, murderous growl of lead sinner singer Elijah Witt and the thunderous instrumentation behind him demonstrate just how tight their song construction is. For every throaty roar, there is a sinister guitar rumble to further emphasise the ferocity inside, flipping effortlessly to a snaking groove when Witt simmers down to his low, moan-like singing.

Louise’s exploration of the past makes this album an extremely painful one – one of loss and disregarding the pain that provides a warning not to lose again. And then there’s ‘Grace’, an ode to a friend who has passed.

Above & Beyond’s Acoustic II is a bit of a paradox. While the album features some of the trance legends’ most well-known tunes, these acoustic reimaginings would be more at home in a speakeasy, orchestra hall, or a hole-in-thewall gin joint. With a collection of soulful jazz and sweeping orchestral moods not dissimilar to the soundtrack of a Bond movie, it’s a far cry from the euphoric synths and lights of a festival or warehouse rave.

Smile Rise Records/Cooking Vinyl

Standouts include single ‘(The New) Jesus’, with its catchy-as-hell chorus and cheerleader chants in the background, and ‘St. Veronica’, which shows off the less bombastic and more melodic side of the band, while ‘Cream Pie’ provides a nu-metal tone to the project.

For such heavy themes, Supercry could risk becoming draining, but the warmth in Louise’s voice is such a pleasure to hear, especially in the latter half where the instrumentals are largely acoustic and slower.

This follows a first half that’s loaded with synthesizers, drum machines, eccentric layering and child-esque backing vocals that occasionally water down Louise’s magic. ‘West End Kids’ is one of those nostalgiafilled songs that could pass as a tame Lana Del Rey track.

For regular Above & Beyond fans, the album offers a unique take on songs they know and love. ‘On My Way To Heaven’, a song trance fans have been drifting away with for years now, features an orchestral score worthy of a Spielberg flick, punctuated with the aforementioned jazzy riffs. On the other hand, ‘Black Room Boy’, a track about a darker, seedier side of life, feels as if it’s finally found its ideal form. The tone is truly ominous, transporting the listener to a rainy, black-and-white night shot on celluloid.

It may be an amalgamation of sounds already mastered elsewhere, but the execution and catchy lyricism make it well worth revelling in a bit of familiarity.

Ultimately, the top half of the album is radio-ready, with its catchy hooks and big production, but the back end is where Louise shines. Influences like Missy Higgins and Sarah Blasko seep through, resulting in songs that are brimming with substance.

Acoustic II offers the feeling of connection trance lovers have always cherished, but outside of the electronic format. It’s educational in many ways, as it highlights the relationships between electronic dance music and genres such as classical and jazz.

Chelsea Deeley

Natalia Morawski

Seth Robinson

INDIE ALBUM OF THE WEEK Former Bamboos buddies Graham Pogson (G) and Ella Thompson (L) are a band on a mission. The sound of their debut album lies somewhere in the realm of electro/funk/soul/ R&B/pop, and while caring about fitting into an easily defined category is nowhere near the agenda, the duo’s obvious goal appears to be getting people dancing.

GL Touch Plastic World/Midnight Feature

This generous 14-song collection will most certainly do that and more, revealing killer track after killer track, and at no point does the quality take a dip. A constant throughout is the ghost of ’80s electronica, albeit strained through a filter of contemporary Australian pop.

‘Number One’ is perhaps the silkiest track here, while single ‘Hallucinate’

24 :: BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16

brings the funk and ‘Grip’ the bass.

Elsewhere, ‘Scully’ introduces a little menace and ‘Cheap Shot’ is Thrillerera pop with better vocals.

Thompson must be a contender for busiest musician of the year, having released a record with Dorsal Fins and a solo album in the past few months. As with anything she is involved in, it’s her voice that steals the show; she could probably sing pages of the dictionary and her soulful delivery would still melt the hardest of hearts.

Touch doesn’t sound like much else being released right now and debut albums aren’t often this assured.

Double Bind is the group’s second album, steeped in jarring, angular tones, dissonant vocal melodies and plenty of grit. If not for the metallic sheen draped over the record’s production, you could compare Trust Punks to acts like Fugazi or Slint. But these guys aren’t so derivative, and there’s plenty of originality packed into the 11 songs. ‘Paradise/Angel-Wire’ opens with an eerie ringing of guitar feedback before launching into a sonic assault against Australia’s treatment of refugees. Things get a little more upbeat on ‘Good Luck With That’, a pacey pop song that leans heavy on the drums. From here, the album becomes much more introspective. ‘The Reservoir’ is a painful lament with a powerful refrain, and the demented ‘Leaving Room For The Lord’ is the heaviest track on the album, a mashing of harrowing guitars leading into a brooding middle section.

The CD is packaged in an insightful and aesthetically pleasing hardback booklet that places the tracks into context and provides a thoughtprovoking and often sobering glimpse into the past. For those listeners interested in further exploring the history, Lajana provides a detailed list of both oral history references and written sources.

The album features collaborations with artists such as the award-winning American banjoist Béla Fleck and legendary Aussie songwriter Shane Howard, and is characterised by a deftness of touch and an uncluttered musical palette that allows the lyrics to take centre stage.

One of the most moving highlights of Frontier Lullaby is the haunting instrumental ‘The Ghosts On The Sea’, which sonically captures parts of the colonisation process and features the lonely and aching sounds of the ocean, conjured by Lajana on her trusty banjo.

Double Bind is a finely executed album – it has plenty of ideas, instantly digestible post-punk anthems, and most importantly, gives the audience something to think about.

On Frontier Lullaby, Lajana inspires a thoughtful yet toe-tapping reaction to songs that are buoyed by both humanitarianism and melody.

Alexander Pink

Graham Blackley

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

SUICIDE - Suicide TWEEDY - Sukierae DAPPLED CITIES - Zounds

SUEDE - Suede DAVID BOWIE - Blackstar

Paul McBride thebrag.com

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

WEEDEATER, CONAN, LO! Manning Bar Friday July 15 With Weedeater crossing the seas from the States, picking up Brit rockers Conan along the way, it’s difficult to put your finger on the atmosphere or the people at Manning Bar: it’s a motley crew of punters, and stoner rock has lured them in tonight with a maniacal grin.

Support act Lo! arrive with a surprisingly powerful opening from frontman Sam Dillon – who’d have thought such a pretty boy could make that kind of noise?

Dillon channels a young Ozzy Osbourne with a demonic glint in his eye, and by their final song, the singer is creeping among the crowd spreading the brutality of his vocals and pumping at his chest in the most manly of fashions. It’s a good clean finish; as clean as it gets for a band so dark and epic.

Despite the vocals of Jon Davis getting washed away with feedback in their first couple of songs, Conan bring a gnarly bassline you can feel through your feet.

You get lost in the lull of euphoric riffs, and by mid-set, the pace picks up and

so does the crowd. With ‘Earthernguard’ they’ve saved the best song till last, one that chugs along and takes the people with it, as bassist Chris Fielding takes over the bulk of the vocals with a raspy element.

FEEDTIME Newtown Social Club Saturday July 16

Casual in presence yet intent on purpose, Weedeater drummer Travis ‘T-Boogie’ Owen sets up in the middle with a sidelong view for the crowd, as bassist ‘Dixie’ Dave Collins is on the edge of the stage, riling up the audience.

Owen’s arms are waving about perpetually, a fluid motion of skill; the music is brutal, grinding and beautiful.

Feedtime’s legacy is a collection of wholly formed parts. Crafting a noise based on both dirty distortion and dancepunk antagonism, the band has cranked out some of the finest albums ever to be produced in this country, mixing the clenched fist of ’Strayan pub shanties with loops of distortion. A record like Shovel is an overloaded equation – part blues, part rock, part something else entirely, and their magic is the kind of messy alchemy that takes gold and turns it into mud somehow worth more.

What’s so captivating about Weedeater is the delirium that consistently overpowers them. Collins feigns crossed eyes, and he and guitarist Dave ‘Shep’ Shepherd jump around as their amps channel a guttural feed across their fans’ heads. Stoner rock has a special kind of vibe. It doesn’t really fit in a particular category of music – it’s the unusually appealing underbelly of the alternative world, and as Weedeater prove, it brings all kinds of explosive reactions to its wonderfully visceral call.

The surprise of their show on Saturday was not their greatness – given their pedigree that was almost guaranteed – but how polished they sounded. This was artful noise being crafted by expert hands: a grimy bowl full of cracked eggs being reassembled into a Fabergé. The loping, lurching significance of ‘Ha Ha’ rested not on the croaky vocals or the unhinged lyrics, but the pinpoint accuracy of the rhythm section, and the bass and stripped-down drum set were both handled with a precision oft associated with brain surgery.

Anna Wilson

Their exemplary cover of ‘Paint It Black’ was just one of many of the night’s treasures, with the song’s twisted, tortured chorus breaking out like a riot. The audience,

snap sn ap

LADYHAWKE Oxford Art Factory Friday July 15 Ladyhawke played a sold-out gig at Oxford Art Factory on Friday night as the Sydney stop on her Wild Things tour. The New Zealander has had a long love affair with this country: in 2008 she was poised to be the next big star in indie electropop, and her first Australian tour in 2009 had her packing out the Enmore.

In the near-decade since her triumphant self-titled debut, however, her momentum has slumped under the weight of personal issues and an extended four-year hiatus.

But it’s a testament to her indelible appeal that both her Sydney and Melbourne shows on this tour were rammed with enduring fans, with the OAF crowd overlooking the initial sound issues and offering up a lot of love for the earlier hits.

SHIHAD, THE VANNS, GRENADIERS Factory Theatre Friday July 15 For those living in the hope that pub rock is alive and well, the Factory Theatre can be a double-edged sword. While it attracts great rock’n’roll acts like Shihad, it also produces a special kind of attendant – the late-30s rocker desperate to relive the glory days.

PICS :: DC

Few of the latter showed for The Vanns, an Unearthed trio of great promise who looked every bit the sun-worshipping Kiama boys they are. For the first few tracks, the lads hammered through some enjoyable, energetic pop-rock, but something wonderful happened as guitarist Jimmy Vann announced, “We’re gonna play you some blues.” Suddenly the band transformed into a potent live act, ripping out a number that would make Jon Spencer proud.

14:06:16 :: Slyfox :: 199 Enmore Rd Enmore 9557 2917 OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER

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Rollicking, demented verses broke apart like ships upon shores – ‘Fastbuck’ didn’t so much end as it did collapse in upon itself, and the oversaturated pleasures to be found in the latter half of the band’s discography sent the stage buckling under the weight of all those crunchy choruses. It was relentless – an unending anxiety attack that you could dance to – and by the time it was all done, the fans shuffled away like they had been punched in the gut.

But before that, in the bathrooms, a man stood staring at the mirror as it vibrated and hummed in time to the music. “Look,” he said, pointing at it with a stubby finger.

“Even the fuckin’ mirror is gettin’ into it!”

It was fitting. The endorsement of grimy bathroom mirrors is exactly less than Feedtime deserve, and yet precisely what they might be after.

Joseph Earp

thebrag.com/snaps

up all night out all week . . .

live@the sly

a half-and-half mix of diehard fans and new blood, were respectful but energised, jerking and spluttering around the place like one of Feedtime’s songs. The band appeared humbled – almost surprised by the affection that rippled through the fans like heat coming off tarmac on a sunny day.

“Thanks,” they said, more than once, their heads bowed, before launching into the next spasmodic number, again and again and again.

Grenadiers lit a fire under the burgeoning crowd, attacking with a relentless set of punk-infused bangers, buoyed by Jesse Coulter’s cheeky and encouraging banter. They may, in fact, be the perfect pub band – their give-a-fuck attitude suited the crowd and space to a tee. After firing shots in Mike Baird’s direction, the boys dedicated their last track to Satan (praise his name) and

The majority of the night was devoted to tracks from Wild Things, with the likes of ‘The River’, ‘Golden Girl’, ‘Sweet Fascination’, ‘Let It Roll’ and ‘A Love Song’. There were tangents into 2008 with ‘Manipulating Woman’ and ‘Magic’, as well as 2012 single ‘Blue Eyes’.

Listening to Wild Things at home is obviously a different experience to hearing the songs performed with a live band – the production on this record is far poppier than on Ladyhawke’s two preceding albums – so it was surprising (and perhaps gratifying) to see that not all of that added pop was translated to the stage. ‘My Delirium’ was wonderfully received as the encore, and suddenly we all felt together, sat in the passenger seat of the top-down car Ladyhawke drives in that film clip; we were the Thelma to her Louise.

Sarah Little

disappeared into the black with a roar of approval.

Appropriately, the devil then welcomed Shihad to the stage in the guise of Black Sabbath. Jon Toogood’s big grinning face acted as antidote to the rising ire of the tipsy attendees, as did opening with ode to the good ol’ days ‘Home Again’.

“There’s nothing like real guitars onstage, right?” Toogood crooned to the adoring crowd. Shihad certainly made it hard to disagree, churning up the stage with the energy of much younger men in a chronological setlist covering their selftitled album, The General Electric, the Blue Light Disco EP and 2014 release FVEY. It was in the latter half that Shihad truly shone – the churning wave of riffage that is FVEY is a force to be reckoned with when played live. Karl Kippenberger proved himself the core of the band as his fingers flew across the bass frets in ‘Think You’re So Free’, and the three-minute breakdown of closing number ‘Cheap As’ was enough to pull the Factory apart at the seams.

FVEY is anger incarnate, but for these New Zealand boys, it’s also sweet release.

All that righteous pent-up fury dissipated, leaving them grinning and grateful before their devotees. Welcome back, guys.

David Molloy

S :: ASHLEY MAR :: D.A. CARTER

BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16 :: 25

snap sn ap live review

VIEW FULL GALLERIES AT

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up all night out all week . . .

What we’ve been out to see...

COG, SLEEPMAKESWAVES Metro Theatre Sunday July 17

dua lipa

PICS :: AM

Roughly a year removed from their biggest hometown show to date, Sleepmakeswaves have returned to the hallowed halls of the Metro Theatre with a new guitarist – that’s Dan Oreskovic of Meniscus leading the charge stage left – and, in turn, a heightened sense of freshness and vitality. Not that the Sydney quartet has ever been lacking in the live department by any stretch of the imagination. There is, however, a lot to be said for how much Sleepmakeswaves have developed on this front since the release of their excellent 2014 album Love Of Cartography. This is a band that can present a style of music that is – for lack of a better term – not entirely user-friendly to a wider audience, and then have previously unfamiliar listeners completely captivated within minutes.

totally 80s

PICS :: AM

13:07:16 :: Newtown Social Club :: 387 King St Newtown 1300 724 876

16:07:16 :: Enmore Theatre :: 118-132 Enmore Rd Newtown 9550 3666 26 :: BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16

This much is proven in due course as one fresh convert alerts the band prior to the start of ‘Great Northern’ with a solitary cry of “You guys are sick!” Better that than the bullish neanderthal who attempts a one-man mosh pit later in the piece. With him evicted, Sleepmakeswaves let their actions speak louder, and ‘Something Like Avalanches’ becomes an allencompassing bliss release.

After quietly imploding some six years ago, and a ‘final’ show in Coogee treated as an afterthought, Cog stirred frenzy earlier this year with news that the trio was to ride again. Initial tickets were snapped up instantly, leading to extra dates – tonight included – and a further frenzy of ticket purchases.

The passionate response from those who never gave up the dream has left the band speechless – and that’s not just an expression, either. Vocalist/ guitarist Flynn Gower is squeaky and hoarse in the few moments he gets to speak to the fans, calling upon them to sing as loudly as possible to assist him through this final night of their first leg on tour.

This is not the type of crowd that needs a second invitation – the choral masses hold their own against a booming PA, routinely drowning the band out. It’s what drives cuts such as ‘Anarchy OK’ and ‘Silence Is Violence’, lifted from Cog’s game-changing 2005 debut The New Normal, as well as ‘Bird Of Feather’ and ‘Are You Interested?’ from 2008 follow-up Sharing Space. These songs still resonate in 2016 – perhaps, amazingly, now more than ever. Glory be to Cog. David James Young

EY MAR :: OUR PHOTOGRAPHER :: ASHL

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BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16 :: 27

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

pick of the week Jake Bugg

TUESDAY JULY 26 State Theatre

Jake Bugg + Blossoms 7:30pm. $72.90.

WEDNESDAY JULY 20 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Guantanamera - feat: DJs Av El Cubano + Don Rivera + Guest DJs + Monthly Live Bands Barrio Cellar, Sydney. 8pm. Free.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK Folkswagon - feat: Hannah Marjorie + Tenderfoot + Colin Jones & The Delta Revue Cafe Lounge Bar, Surry Hills. 7pm.

Free.

Live Music @ Manning Manning Bar, Camperdown. 3pm.

Free.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS Beach Slang + Spring King Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $45.

Cath & Him St George Leagues Club, Kogarah. 7pm.

Free.

Lennox Lust Orient Hotel, The Rocks. 9pm. Free.

Manouche Wednesday - feat: The Squeezebox Trio Mr Falcon's, Glebe.

7pm. Free.

Muso’s Club Jam Night Ruby L’otel, Rozelle.

7:30pm. Free.

New Lovers + Sweat Saint + Bourgeios Earth + Hugo Murray Waywards, Newtown. 8pm.

Free.

Peter Bjorn & John Metro Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $59.90.

Sugar Jam Open Mic Night Sugarmill, Kings Cross. 8pm. Free.

The Lazys + Grand Union And The New Regulars Frankie's Pizza, Sydney. 9pm. Free.

THURSDAY JULY 21 JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Gin + Jazz Busby, Woolloomooloo.

6pm. Free.

Leon Bridges + Ngaiire Enmore Theatre, Newtown. 8pm.

28 :: BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16

$74.30.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK Anthony Charlton Australian Arms Hotel, Penrith.

8:30pm. Free.

Big Rock & Roll Show - feat: Dick Smithers & The Doo-Wops Play Bar, Surry Hills.

9pm. Free.

Dear Orphans + Don Draper’s Sofa The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 7pm. $5.

Ginger’s Jam - feat: Various Bands Oxford Hotel, Darlinghurst.

7:30pm. Free.

Harbourview Hullabaloo - feat: Zack Martin + Kenneth D'Aran Harbourview Hotel, The Rocks. 7pm.

Free.

Joey Eugine And The Glue Factory - feat: Hibernia + Sophia Koop Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 8pm. $10.

Live Music @ Manning Manning Bar, Camperdown. 3pm.

Free.

Shake The Shackles The Little Guy, Glebe. 8pm. Free.

Sunset Sessions The Bristol Arms Hotel, Sydney. 6pm.

Free.

Wilder Lee + Citizen Of The World + Nelipot Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $10.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS Alice Night feat: Anatole + Alphamama + Queen Nardine Oxford Circus, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $15.

Cath & Him St George Leagues Club, Kogarah. 7pm.

Free.

Dee Donavan Revesby Workers Club, Revesby.

12pm. Free.

Gary Sterling Revesby Workers Club, Revesby.

12pm. Free.

Grooveworks Revesby Workers Club, Revesby.

12pm. Free.

Horshack Mr Falcon's, Glebe.

8:30pm. Free.

Jack Garratt Metro Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $54.90.

Joseph Liddy & The Skeleton Horse + Gypsys Of Pangea + Party Dozen Newtown Social Club, Newtown.

7pm. $15.

Leigh Archer Revesby Workers Club, Revesby.

12pm. Free.

Live & Original @ The Merc - feat: Paul Davison + Seatreestone + Bowen & Clare The Mercantile Hotel, The Rocks.

7:30pm. Free.

Live At The Sly feat: Godriguez + Ines + Lord St Collective Slyfox, Enmore.

7:30pm. Free.

Live Band Karaoke Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain. 9pm. Free.

Melanie Oxley + Chris Abrahams Camelot Lounge, Marrickville. 7pm. $22.90.

Moonshine Thursdays - feat: Sons Of The East Moonshine Cider & Rum Bar, Manly.

8pm. Free.

Muso’s Club Jam Night Carousel Inn Hotel, Rooty Hill. 8pm.

Free.

Nothing But Thieves Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $38.20.

Roadhouse Rockabilly Night - feat: Voodoo Rhythm Shakers Miss Peaches Soul Food Kitchen, Newtown. 7pm. Free.

Save The Clocktower + We May Fall Bald Faced Stag Hotel, Leichhardt.

7pm. $11.80.

Shnand + Space Monk Vic On The Park, Enmore. 8pm. Free.

Steve Edmonds Band Frankie's Pizza, Sydney. 9:30pm.

Free.

Taylor Made - The Music Of James Taylor - feat: Nic Jeffries Django Bar @ Camelot Lounge, Marrickville. 8pm. $22.90.

The Dandelion Golden Age Cinema, Surry Hills. 9pm.

Free.

The Justin Yap Band Lazybones Lounge, Marrickville. 9pm. $10.

White Bros Orient Hotel, The Rocks. 9pm. Free.

Winterbourne + Ed Wells Hotel Steyne, Manly.

9pm. Free.

FRIDAY JULY 22 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK King Curly Trio + Simone East The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 7pm. $7.

Leah Senior + Leroy Lee The Newsagency, Marrickville. 8pm.

Free.

Live Music @ Manning Manning Bar, Camperdown. 3pm.

Free.

Sunset Sessions The Bristol Arms Hotel, Sydney. 6pm.

Free.

Tent Camp Show - feat: Sugar Bowl Hokum Coogee Diggers, Coogee. 7:30pm.

Free.

William Crighton + Claire Anne Taylor Oxford Circus, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $17.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Brazilian Journey - feat: Bateria 61 + DJ Paulo + Mark Crissy + Soulquest Play Bar, Surry Hills.

6pm. Free.

Cookin’ On 3 Burners + Yum Yum + DJ Huwston Newtown Social Club, Newtown.

8pm. $28.

Rita’s Late Night Lounge - feat: All Shook Up! The Oxford Tavern, Petersham. 9pm.

Free.

Tent Camp Show Coogee Diggers, Coogee. 7:30pm.

Free.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS Barry Leef Band Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain. 9pm. Free.

Beatnix - Beatles Show Revesby Workers Club, Revesby.

8:30pm. Free.

Black Knuckles + Capital Colours + Dirtbag Bald Faced Stag Hotel, Leichhardt.

8pm. Free.

Blake Tailor Orient Hotel, The Rocks. 8pm. Free.

Ciaran Gribbin + Joel Leffler Brass Monkey, Cronulla. 7pm. $36.75.

Funk Engine Mr Falcon's, Glebe.

9pm. Free.

Grouse + Jack Shit Waywards, Newtown. 8pm.

Free.

Hightime + Special Guests Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $15.

Jesse Younan Tribute Concert Camelot Lounge, Marrickville. 7:30pm. $17.90.

Mooshine Fridays feat: Special Guest Moonshine Cider & Rum Bar, Manly.

9pm. Free.

Old School Band Penrith RSL, Penrith.

9pm. Free.

Reckless Orient Hotel, The Rocks. 10pm. Free.

Red Velvet + Deep Cast + Ironic Maiden + Alisha M Chatswood Club, Chatswood. 8pm. $15.

Santigold Metro Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $59.90.

Terror Squad + Anatomy + Dark Horse + Blackhelm + Bastardizer + Brutal Struth Bald Faced Stag

Hotel, Leichhardt.

5pm. $20.

The Angels + Mi-Sex The Juniors, Kingsford. 8pm. $45.

The Escapes + Rackett Vic On The Park, Enmore. 8pm. Free.

The Justin Yap Band The Beaches, Thirroul. 8:30pm.

Free..

The Nature Strip Django Bar @ Camelot Lounge, Marrickville. 8pm. $22.90.

Warren H Williams & Dani Young Rooty Hill RSL Club, Rooty Hill. 7:30pm. $25.

SATURDAY JULY 23 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK Songsonstage feat: Russell Neal + Murder Of Crows Orange Grove Hotel, Lilyfield . 7pm. Free.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC May I Be Frank – A Tribute To Frank Sinatra - feat: Frank Bennett Brass Monkey, Cronulla. 7pm. $30.60.

Planet Groove Revesby Workers Club, Revesby.

8:30pm. Free.

Spectres Of Andre The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 3pm. $5.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS 1976 - feat: Simon Meli + Mitchell Anderson + Tim Moxey + Nicky Kurta + Carmel Mesiti The Basement, Circular Quay.

7:30pm. $44.60.

28 Days + Area-7 Bald Faced Stag Hotel, Leichhardt.

8pm. $33.80.

Abbalanche - The Australian Abba Tribute Show St Marys Rugby Leagues Club, St Marys. 8pm. $20.

American Graffiti Coogee Diggers, Coogee. 8pm. Free.

Christine Jane + Braden Evans + Golden Fear + Damien Cullen The Record Crate, Glebe. 8pm. $10.

Dami Im Revesby Workers Club, Revesby. 8pm. $40.

Fat White Family Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $40.

Geoff Power Penrith RSL, Penrith.

2pm. Free.

Hightime + Special Guests Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst. 8pm.

$15.

Johnny G & The E Types Camelot Lounge, Marrickville. 9pm. $27.70.

Mark Lanegan Band Factory Theatre, Marrickville. 8pm. $64.90.

Moonshine Saturdays - feat: Animal Ventura Moonshine Cider & Rum Bar, Manly.

9pm. Free.

Rob Henry Orient Hotel, The Rocks. 5:45pm.

Free.

Space Bong + Dispossessed + Hawkmoth + Burlap Newtown Social Club, Newtown.

8pm. $18.

Splendour In The West Newtown Hotel, Newtown. 8pm.

Free.

The 1975 Sydney Showground, Sydney. 7pm. $79.50.

The Headliners Paddo RSL, Paddington. 8pm.

Free.

The Justin Yap Band Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor. 9pm. Free.

This Time Only Bald Faced Stag Hotel, Leichhardt.

8pm. Free.

Trilogy Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain. 9pm. Free.

Vip Orient Hotel, The Rocks. 10pm. Free.

Whispering Jack Show (A Tribute To The Music Of John Farnham) Parramatta RSL, Parramatta. 7:30pm.

Free.

Zefereli + Bourgeois Earth Vic On The Park, Enmore. 8pm. Free.

SUNDAY JULY 24 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK Chasm Mr Falcon's, Glebe.

7pm. Free.

Heath Burdell Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain. 3pm. Free.

Meats & Rockabilly Beats - feat: James Jennings The Oxford Tavern, Petersham. 2pm.

Free.

Miss Peaches Hootenanny Bluegrass Sundays Miss Peaches Soul Food Kitchen, Newtown. 8pm.

Free.

Sundays Live At The Bowlo - feat: 50 Million Beers Marrickville Bowling Club, Marrickville.

4:30pm. Free.

The Salty Sunday Sessions - feat: DJ Sani Hotel Steyne, Manly.

4pm. Free.

Tori Forsyth + Katie Brianna The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 7pm. $7.

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g g guide g

gig picks up all night out all week...

send your listings to : gigguide@thebrag.com

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Bobby Singh + Friends Django Bar @ Camelot Lounge, Marrickville. 7:30pm. $27.90.

From Yiddish To Jazz - feat: Fay Sussman Camelot Lounge, Marrickville. 6:30pm. $32.90.

Sunday Roots & Reggae - feat: Majun Bu Moonshine Cider & Rum Bar, Manly.

4pm. Free.

The Unity Hall Jazz Band Unity Hall Hotel, Balmain. 4pm. Free.

The Kills photo by Kenneth Cappello

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS At The Drive-In Enmore Theatre, Newtown. 8:15pm. $89.90.

Atlantis Of The Sky + Hope In Vein + Liability + Pillager Frankie's Pizza, Sydney. 4pm. Free.

Blake Tailor Jamison Hotel, Penrith. 1pm. Free.

Crystal Fighters Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $46.

Explosive Hits Trio Orient Hotel, The

Rocks. 8:30pm. Free.

Finn And Friends Town Hall Hotel, Newtown. 6:30pm.

Free.

Steve Passfield And The Hand Picked Band Penrith RSL, Penrith.

2pm. Free.

Sunday Social feat: Danny Marx Young & The Young Ones Bridge Hotel, Rozelle. 3:30pm.

Free.

The Ramblers Bald Faced Stag Hotel, Leichhardt.

8pm. Free.

U2 Elevation Orient Hotel, The Rocks. 4:30pm. Free.

MONDAY JULY 25 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK John Maddox Duo Mr Falcon's, Glebe.

7pm. Free.

Live & Original @ The Corridor Corridor Bar, Newtown. 7pm. Free.

Songsonstage feat: Russell Neal + Kenneth D'Aran + Steve V Kelly's On King, Newtown. 7:30pm.

Free.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC Fiddes Vs Tinkler feat: Scott Tinkler + Andy Fiddes Foundry616, Ultimo.

6:30pm. $25.

Latin & Jazz Open Mic Night The World Bar, Kings Cross. 7pm.

Free.

The Monday Jam - feat: The New Ojezz House Band The Basement, Circular Quay. 8pm. $6.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS Band Of Horses Sydney Opera House, Sydney.

9pm. $70.

Frankie’s World Famous House Band Frankie's Pizza, Sydney. 9pm. Free.

The Cure Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park. 7:30pm. $101.85.

TUESDAY JULY 26 ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY,

BLUES & FOLK Little Sundays feat: Local Talent The Little Guy, Glebe. 6pm. Free.

Live Music @ Manning Manning Bar, Camperdown. 3pm.

Free.

Songsonstage feat: Ingrid Mae Gladstone Hotel, Dulwich Hill. 7:30pm.

Free.

Songsonstage feat: Stuart Jammin + Papaya Tree Kelly's On King, Newtown. 8pm.

Free.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS Jake Bugg State Theatre, Sydney. 7:30pm. $72.90.

Live & Original @ Mr Falcon’s - feat: Tulane + Julianne Jessop + Gene Gibson Mr Falcon's, Glebe.

7:30pm. Free.

Live Rock & Roll Karaoke Frankie's Pizza, Sydney. 4pm. Free.

Tegan & Sara Metro Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $68 The Kills Enmore Theatre, Newtown. 8pm. $76.70.

Nothing But Thieves

WEDNESDAY JULY 20 Beach Slang + Spring King Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $45.

The Lazys + Grand Union And The New Regulars Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 9pm. Free.

thu

20 July

21 (9:00PM - 12:00AM)

July

(9:00PM - 12:00AM)

fri

22 July (10:00PM - 1:40AM)

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

sat

sun

4:30PM  7:30PM

28 Days + Area-7 Bald Faced Stag Hotel, Leichhardt. 8pm. $33.80.

Dami Im Revesby Workers Club, Revesby. 8pm. $40.

Fat White Family Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $40.

Peter Bjorn & John Metro Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $59.90.

Mark Lanegan Band Factory Theatre, Marrickville. 8pm. $64.90.

THURSDAY JULY 21

Space Bong + Dispossessed + Hawkmoth + Burlap Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 8pm. $18.

Jack Garratt Metro Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $54.90

The 1975 Sydney Showground, Sydney. 7pm. $79.50.

Leon Bridges + Ngaiire Enmore Theatre, Newtown. 8pm. $74.30.

SUNDAY JULY 24

Live At The Sly - feat: Godriguez + Ines + Lord St Collective Slyfox, Enmore. 7:30pm. Free.

At The Drive-In Enmore Theatre, Newtown. 8:15pm. $89.90.

Nothing But Thieves Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $38.20.

Atlantis Of The Sky + Hope In Vein + Liability + Pillager Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney. 4pm. Free.

Winterbourne + Ed Wells Hotel Steyne, Manly. 9pm. Free.

Crystal Fighters Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $46

FRIDAY JULY 22 wed

SATURDAY JULY 23

Tori Forsyth + Katie Brianna The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville. 7pm. $7

Funk Engine Mr Falcon’s, Glebe. 9pm. Free.

MONDAY JULY 25

Grouse + Jack Shit Waywards, Newtown. 8pm. Free.

Band Of Horses Sydney Opera House, Sydney. 9pm. $70.

Hightime + Special Guests Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $15.

The Cure Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park.

7:30pm. $101.85.

The Nature Strip Django Bar @ Camelot Lounge, Marrickville. 8pm. $22.90.

TUESDAY JULY 26

Santigold Metro Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $59.90.

Tegan & Sara Metro Theatre, Sydney. 8pm. $68

William Crighton + Claire Anne Taylor Oxford Circus, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $17.

The Kills Enmore Theatre, Newtown. 8pm. $76.70.

The Kills

23

5:45PM  8:45PM

July

24 July

(10:00PM - 1:15AM)

mon

25 July

thebrag.com

(8:30PM - 12:00AM

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(9:00PM - 12:00AM)

26 July

(9:00PM - 12:00AM)

BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16 :: 29

brag beats

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

dance music news club, dance and hip hop in brief... with James Di Fabrizio, Chris Martin and Christine Tsimbis

five things WITH TOM

Gwenno

I DREAM OF GENE

The self-trained dancefloor god Gene Farris is spreading the gospel to Australia this August. Coming up in the famed Chicago house scene in the ’90s, Farris has well and truly taken advantage of the global explosion of house music, cementing his longevity with the 2014 hit ‘Move Your Body’. From the underground to the biggest nightclubs on the planet, Farris has proven himself a must-hear mixer along the way. Taste the flavour at Chinese Laundry on Saturday August 13.

BUDIN

Gene Farris

SOMETHING WITH SAUNDERS

Growing Up 1.

My mum Lisa is a vocalist who does a show in memory of The Carpenters. She brought me into music at an early age. My father was always listening to earlier, more experimental types of electronic music like Kraftwerk, Focus and Massive Attack. These artists interested me a lot as a kid – my childhood has defi nitely inspired my passion for music production and DJing.

Inspirations 2.

My earliest memories were listening to Daft Punk and Fatboy Slim on Video Hits and Rage. Growing up during the birth of the internet, I spent way too much time researching music production and watching internet tutorials. Some of my current biggest inspirations are Oliver Heldens, Diplo and Calvin Harris – all of these guys have been extremely successful.

Your Crew 3.

I met my identical twin managers Michael

Music You Make And Play 4. The

30 :: BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16

Music, Right Here, 5.

Right Now In Australia I think it depends on where you are. In Sydney the lockout laws have wreaked havoc on what was once a blossoming scene and industry. That is really sad, especially because Sydney is my home.

Though through my recent gigs in Melbourne and Adelaide, it seems these places are rocking! I’m heading to Brisbane, Canberra, New Zealand and other parts of Australia soon, so I am really looking forward to seeing what they have to offer. To make things easier on your music journey I think you need to align yourself with key people you can trust, that are unbiased, that give you genuine and constructive feedback. This way you can ensure you are always learning, growing and making yourself a better musician.

What: Winter Nights Where: The Argyle When: Friday July 22

HEAR HIM ROAR

Following his support slot on Urthboy’s national tour, L-Fresh The Lion is charging towards the launch dates for his own new album on yet another lap of Australia.

L-Fresh The Lion’s new album Become has landed glowing reviews both at home and abroad. Joining him on his tour will be Big Village artist Omar Musa, along with spoken-word poet Sukhjit. L-Fresh The Lion will be roaring into Newtown Social Club on Saturday September 10.

AT YOUR COMMAND

Shaun Pickett and Louis FrereHarvey, together Command Q, are making the long journey across Australia to get the dancefloor moving. You don’t make the trip all the way over to Sydney from Perth unless you’ve got a damn good reason, and these guys sure do: their infectious brand of bass music has attracted the attention of Diplo, Dillon Francis and Flosstradamus, and now they want you to join the action. They’re touring in support of their forthcoming We Are Animals EP, starting out at Chinese Laundry on Friday July 29.

in the US – no mean feat for an Aussie rapper. As anyone who’s tried to crack the American market will know, touring hard is the only way to make it happen, so you can bet Allday’s live show has grown leaps and bounds since last time he played Australian stages. He’s been working on new material too, and the catchy ‘Sides’ is the first taste of the next phase of his career.

He’ll launch it at the Enmore Theatre on Friday September 23 with UV Boi and TyneJames Organ in support.

Schoolboy Q

BACK TO SCHOOL

Grammy-nominated rapper Schoolboy Q will return to Australia for a national tour in celebration of his fourth studio album. Q is back with his latest album Blank Face, which is being touted as his most ambitious work to date. The record brings together a formidable cast of collaborators, including Kanye West, Vince Staples, Miguel, Anderson .Paak, Swizz Beats and Jadakiss. Join the Q at the Hordern Pavilion on Friday November 4.

He’s also been announced for This That festival on the Newcastle foreshore on Saturday November 5, before its full lineup drops next month.

JOG ON, JAGWAR

Three years since the release of their game-changing debut album, esteemed electronic psych-pop trio Jagwar Ma are back with a new single and a Splendour In The Grass set.

Capping it off, they’ll be playing a secret location in Sydney this week to warm up for the festival stage. It all comes in the wake of their new single, ‘O B 1’. The video gives fans an insight into the journey Jagwar Ma have been on over the past few years, capturing key moments such as global studio sessions and appearances at Coachella, Summersonic and Glastonbury. Their secret show takes place this Wednesday July 20.

Jagwar Ma photo by Maclay Heriot

and Anthony Di Francesco about fi ve years ago.

These boys have been there from the start, helping me with everything they possibly can. They spend time every week in the studio with me, work on my general direction, all things business-related and everything else an 18-to-20-year-old doesn’t quite think about. I don’t really work a day job but I am studying full-time at UTS, which makes things pretty interesting when it comes to paying the bills.

Hopefully one day music will make them all go away.

I try to keep my original production as dancefl oor-worthy as possible. I do love to push the boundaries of sound design, though I understand it’s a balancing act between being experimental and keeping it relatable. I also try to do the same in my sets by maintaining a high energy whilst offering a very relatable sound for all audiences to enjoy. I am currently really into artists like Throttle, Calippo, EDX, and I also like listening to other genres such as trap, hip hop and funk as it consistently offers a creative sound that is refreshing to my mind and ears.

Welsh electropop artist Gwenno has announced her first Australian tour. Gwenno Saunders is a sound artist, DJ, radio presenter and singer from Cardiff. Before focusing on her solo career, Saunders wrote and performed for Brighton-based conceptual pop band The Pipettes, and was a touring synth player for Elton John and Australia’s own Pnau. Her record Y Dydd Olaf (The Last Day) is a political concept album inspired by an obscure 1970s Welsh language sci-fi novel. Gwenno will be touring as a three-piece with a show at Newtown Social Club on Thursday October 13.

ANOTHER SIDE OF ALLDAY The reigning enfant terrible of the Australian hip hop scene, Allday, will be embarking on another lap of the country this September. Allday smashed it with his debut album Startup Cult in 2014, and since then has started to make waves

Jagwar Ma

thebrag.com

Third Son Matt Meler Elia Kerry Wallace Greenwood Hotel 2pm to 10pm

Pirupa Secret Guest

HOME Nightclub 9pm till 4am

Marlie Matt Ticehurst Girl Friday CoCo Dick Cosmic Davie Deep Recovery Collective: Bongani Less Is Moar

www.sash.n net.a au

presents

2

ND

BIRTHDAY F U N D R A I S E R

SAT 23 JULY SPECIAL GUESTS

DOUG MASTERS JIM POE RESIDENT

R O L A N D T I N G S DJ set

MESAN

J U S T A G E N T just added R A I N B O W C H A N LIVE

MOTORIK VIBE COUNCIL PURPLE SNEAKERS DJS ADI TOOHEY LUEN

T H I R D F L O O R LIVE debut

WORLD CHAMPION DJS

3 0 . 0 7.1 6

A R I A N E Rhythm of the Night set

8

pm

- L AT E

OXFORD ART FACTORY

KATO B2B BAD EZZY

ANNIE BASS B2B ELLIE SASS

UNDRCTRL.COM

UNDR Ctrl DJs

Early Bird Tickets SOLD OUT

Visuals by E G O + P U R E L Y M E N T A L

DRESS CODE IT’LL BE ALL WHITE ON THE NIGHT [AGAIN]

1 0 P M T I L L L AT E

$10 BEFORE 12AM / $15 AFTER 1 9 9 E N M O R E R O A D W W W. S LY F O X . S Y D N E Y

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BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16 :: 31

Pirupa Getting Funked Up By Joseph Earp

T

he old adage “where there’s a will, there’s a way” might well be the hoariest in a very hoary book. And yet in the case of internationally renowned DJ and producer Pirupa, it has particular relevance. Though his upcoming dates in this country mark the maverick’s first time spinning tunes Down Under, he has been trying to make it our way for a while. “I was looking to come to Australia three years ago,” Pirupa reveals, “but in the end we had some problems with my schedule and we had to move it. It took some time.”

Given this tour has essentially been a passion project, it’s understandable that the trendsetter behind thumping anthems like ‘Party Non Stop’ and ‘Get Funky’ seems as excited about the shows as his fans are.

“I can’t wait,” he says. “This is my first time there and I would love to inspire [the] continent, have a good time and play some beautiful gigs. I’m really excited. You can’t imagine!”

Despite the fact his interview with the BRAG is being conducted over email – the young Italian’s lessthan-perfect English has been offered as the reason a phoner is a no-go – Pirupa comes across as singularly humble. Every one of his responses understates his talents – even when discussing ‘Spin Me Round’, the collaboration

he released last year with rapper Ninho, he makes his creative process sound shockingly easy.

“Ninho sent me [‘Spin Me Round’] to help him with the mix and mastering,” he says. “While testing his track in a club, I put the a capella on and the people went mad. So we decided to change his original track. We put [in] different bass, synths, pads and the vocals from [‘You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)’ by] Dead Or Alive.”

Rather touchingly, Ninho isn’t just a collaborator – he is also one of Pirupa’s genuine mates, adding something resolutely honest about the pair’s work together. “We met for the first time four years ago,” Pirupa says. “He was very young and one of my biggest supporters ever. I gave him some input for production and helped him a lot with his [stuff]. He is a nice guy and a good friend.”

Though ‘Spin Me Round’ was a resounding success, the jewel in Pirupa’s studded crown is probably ‘Party Non Stop’, a life-affirming celebration of, uh, partying, which won the producer a legion of devoted fans. And yet again, Pirupa reveals his reaction to the success of that track wasn’t knowing acceptance – he was fl oored by the positive feedback.

“It was a big surprise because I didn’t expect it!” he says. “[It’s]

the same with my management, who didn’t expect all of this so suddenly. At the end of the day, it’s changed my life and allowed me travel everywhere. If I’m still travelling, maybe it is because that big track remained in the hearts of millions of clubbers around the world.”

Certainly, Pirupa spends a staggering chunk of his life traversing the globe, and his touring schedule is the kind that would make other musicians weak at the knees. Even he admits that occasionally it all gets a bit much. “I need to [rest] sometimes, especially after long periods on tour,” he says. “I need to switch off my mind and enjoy my life with the people I love and who make me happy.”

These periods of break aside, Pirupa seems to relish life on the road, and he speaks about his time touring with all the brazen enthusiasm of a man who has found an occupation that doesn’t feel like work at all. “I have had so many memorable and crazy shows,” he says. “I’ve played in many funny and weird places: in the water, in a cave, in the snow, under the rain… it’s unbelievable how mad this job is!”

What: S.A.S.H By Night Where: Home Nightclub When: Sunday July 24

Third Floor The State Of Play By Sarah Little choreography. But what of the musical infl uences behind the project itself?

Growing up, Bannie says he “listened to a lot of trip hop and early house music, which has defi nitely fi ltered through into my production”. Sure enough, the nod to trip hop can be found in the spaciousness and dream-like ambience of Dream State.

Massive Attack are his “all-time favourite artist”, Bannie says, and the Bristol pioneers have had a huge infl uence on his sound.

Being an English-born producer with a Sydney postcode, Bannie is also “partial to UK electronic acts such as Snakehips and Bondax”, but has an equally soft spot for Australian producers Flume, Ta-ku, Deutsch Duke, The Tapes, Kilter and fellow UNDR Ctrl artist Roland Tings.

“The Australian electronic scene is doing really great things all over the world, and I do love to keep up with all the local producers,” says Bannie. Among his closest peers are Set Mo, who Bannie gigged with in their earliest days. “I’ve watched them chase their dreams, grow their brand and become one of Australia’s best duos and producers,” he says.

E

Veiled behind a larger-than-life and intricately put-together face, Bannie is protected against self-consciousness. “[I’m] unhindered by social norms and 32 :: BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16

constraints,” he says. His brand new live show for the project will premiere in Sydney this month, at the UNDR Ctrl second birthday party that doubles as an Oxjam fundraiser.

Bannie’s four-track EP Dream State is spacious, with a tendency to sweep up the listener. The Third Floor project itself is infl uenced by art, dance and fi lm, and these touchstones will be echoed in the live show, with visuals and human movement featuring throughout the performance. Sydney musician and fi lmmaker J Motor (Jonathan Vassallo) was enlisted to create a four-part

short fi lm series to coincide with each of Dream State’s tracks. “[The fi lms cover] the dark, ambient story of love with all four songs refl ecting different stages of a relationship,” Bannie explains. “[Vassallo] and his team were able to take [my] ideas and bring them to life on the screen. You will defi nitely be seeing some more Third Floor and J Motor collaborations in the near future.”

Indeed, J Motor’s fi lms depict a story of prescription-pill-popping, kidnapping, boyfriend-napping, partying and elaborate

What: UNDR Ctrl 2nd Birthday x Oxjam Fundraiser With: Roland Tings (DJ set), Rainbow Chan, Motorik Vibe Council and more Where: Oxford Art Factory When: Saturday July 30 And: Dream State out now through Inertia Access

thebrag.com

Third Floor photo by Zanerobe

nglish expat producer Third Floor has a penchant for theatrics. His most recent musical offerings are performed behind a humanoid backlit mask that changes colour depending on the emotion and BPM of the tracks he’s playing. The reasoning behind the masked anonymity lies in his desire to champion a more romantic, emotional and uninhibited version of himself than his daytime self, Aaron Bannie, allows.

Besides his recent EP release and imminent first live show, Bannie is dropping the track ‘Can’t Do This Alone’ in August, featuring emerging dance vocalist Duke, who’s also featured on notable tracks with the likes of Elizabeth Rose and Flight Facilities. In the meantime, Bannie will help celebrate his agency’s second birthday this month with the Purple Sneakers DJs, World Champion DJs, Rainbow Chan, Roland Tings, Motorik Vibe Council, Adi Toohey, Luen and more.

The event doubles as Oxjam’s Sydney launch for the month-long August charity festival, and all proceeds raised on the night will go towards helping Oxfam combat poverty across the globe.

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club picks p up all night out all week...

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club pick of the week James Blake

TUESDAY JULY 26 Hordern Pavilion

James Blake + Mark Pritchard 7:30pm. $84.90.

WEDNESDAY JULY 20 CLUB NIGHTS Birdcage - feat: Various DJs Slyfox, Enmore. 9pm.

Free.

Queerbourhood feat: Seymour Butz + Friends The Bearded Tit, Redfern. 7:30pm.

Free.

SBW - feat: Jonski Babysham + Resident DJs Side Bar, Sydney.

8pm. Free.

Sosueme - feat: Set Mo + Montaigne + Skies + Bernie Dingo + Sports + Viberia Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach. 8pm.

Free.

The Wall The World Bar, Kings Cross. 9pm. Free.

Yellow Wednesdays Secret Garden Bar, Enmore. 7pm. Free.

THURSDAY JULY 21

xxx

CLUB NIGHTS About Life - feat: Cunningpants + Luke O’Connor + Rohan Willard Tatler, Darlinghurst.

8pm. Free.

Bookclub - feat: Odd Mob + Clueless + Louis Stenmark + Rondon + Julian Robertson + Jvke Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney. 9pm.

Free.

DJ Del Lumanta The Bearded Tit, Redfern. 7:30pm.

Free.

Femme Fetale thebrag.com

The Argyle, The Rocks. 6pm. Free.

House Keeping - feat: DJ Conor Boylan + Guests Side Bar, Sydney.

8pm. Free.

Mansion Lane The World Bar, Kings Cross. 9pm. Free.

Thump Presents - feat: Alba + Nico Niquo + Phile + Body Promise The Chippendale Hotel, Chippendale.

8pm. Free.

Thursday Mix Up feat: DJs + Bands Hermann’s Bar, Darlington. 4pm. Free.

Toho Nights - feat: Jay Katz + Special Guests Goros, Surry Hills.

8pm. Free.

Wawa #3 - feat: Jimmy Serrano + Hani Hanbali + Jon Bonsoyvi Freda’s, Chippendale.

7pm. Free.

FRIDAY JULY 22 HIP HOP & R&B Broken Thought Theory & Waza feat: Rhapsydi & Stable + Peace & Hazy Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $17.90.

Hip Hop Show - feat: 316 + Jah Thung + Hyjack + Little Hunta + Sub C & Creep + Asp P + Mr Nat + DJ Skae + DJ Jimmy New Valve Bar, Agincourt Hotel, Ultimo. 8pm. $10.

CLUB NIGHTS Argyle Winter

Nights - feat: Tom Budin The Argyle, The Rocks. 6pm. Free.

Banquet - feat: Bitmore + Camille + Bobby Gray The World Bar, Kings Cross. 8pm. Free.

Bassic - feat: Figure Kayzo + Lennon + Blackjack + Autoclaws + Chenzo + Stalker + Sippy Chinese Laundry, Sydney. 9pm. $33.10.

Blvd Fridays - feat: Jay Karama Marquee, Pyrmont.

10pm. $13.40.

DJ Ben Morris Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly. 8pm. Free.

DJ Koby Mandic Revesby Workers Club, Revesby.

8:30pm. Free.

DJ Robbie Buck The Bearded Tit, Redfern. 7:30pm.

Free.

El Loco Later - feat: DJs On Rotation Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills. 9pm. Free.

Feel Good Fridays Bar100, The Rocks.

5pm. Free.

Friday Frothers feat: DJ Babysham + Guests Side Bar, Sydney.

8pm. Free.

Fridays - feat: Bozo Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach. 8pm.

Free.

Front Left Techno Affair 0.3 - feat: Archi†Ex + Not Mani + Eko + Chris Cornelius + Tom Walmsley Red Rattler, Marrickville. 8pm. $27.50.

Hotbox Live Launch Party - feat: Young Butter + Bad Rapper + Munroe The Basement, Circular Quay. 9pm. $19.20.

Late Night DJ - feat:

Brett Burton Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 9:30pm.

Free.

Loco Friday - feat: DJs On Rotation The Slip Inn, Sydney.

5pm. Free.

Memo Fridays - feat: Resident DJs Cargo Lounge, Sydney. 5pm. Free.

Scubar Fridays - feat: DJs On Rotation Scubar, Sydney. 8pm.

Free.

Slyfox Presents - feat: Anthea + Mantra Collective + Datura Slyfox, Enmore.

10pm. $20.

Sublime 20th Birthday - feat: Amber Savage + Andrew James + Archie + Jumping Jack + Mark Dynamix + Nik Fish + Pee Wee Ferris + MC Losty + Craig Obey + Kate Monroe + Matt Roberts + Elroy + Klaus Hill + Kid Kenobi + Arbor + Cantosis + Matrix + Pulsar + Scotty G + Suae + Tom-E Home Nightclub, Darling Harbour. 9pm. $55.

UK Garage Sound Investment - feat: Champain Lyf + Lupr + Lab 5 + Adrian E + T-Syd + Jon Watts Plan B Small Club, Sydney. 11pm. $10.

Welove - feat: Various DJs Burdekin Hotel, Darlinghurst. 10pm.

Free.

SATURDAY JULY 23 HIP HOP & R&B Luxury Plu$ - feat: Cache One + Flexmami + Batesy + G Coo Cliff Dive, Darlinghurst. 9pm.

Free.

Soul Train - feat: Shan Frenzie + Juzzlikedat + Makoto Play Bar, Surry Hills.

5pm. Free.

CLUB NIGHTS Argyle Winter Nights - feat: Brooklyn The Argyle, The Rocks. 6pm. Free.

Bare Essentials feat: Delano Smith + Magda Bytnerowicz + Jake Hough + Mantra Collective + James Fazzolari + Jimmi Walker + Marley Sherman + Jackson Winter + Sam Roberts Cafe Del Mar, Sydney.

1pm. $35.

C.U Saturday - feat: Tristan Case + Gabby Civic Underground, Sydney. 10pm. $20.

Cakes The World Bar, Kings Cross. 8pm. Free.

Canvas - feat: Jac Frier + Mitch Fowler + Lee Novell + Shacklo Plan B Small Club, Sydney. 9pm. $14.30.

Charades & Something Else

Present - feat: Delano Smith + Kate Doherty + U-Khan + Aaron Robins + Dave Stuart + James Rogan Burdekin Hotel, Darlinghurst. 10pm. $16.50.

DJ Koby Mandic Rooty Hill RSL Club, Rooty Hill. 8:30pm.

Free.

DJ Tim Boffa + Brenny B-Side + Surfdisco Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly. 6pm. Free.

Duke Dumont Metro Theatre, Sydney. 9pm. $59.70.

El Loco Later - feat: DJs On Rotation Excelsior Hotel, Surry Hills. 9pm. Free.

Frat Saturdays feat: Danny Simms + Jayowens Side Bar, Sydney.

8pm. Free.

Kick On Saturdays feat: Guest DJs Cargo Lounge, Sydney. 6pm. Free.

Kings Cross Saturdays - feat: Resident DJs Kings Cross Hotel, Kings Cross. 5pm.

Free.

Late Night DJ - feat: Conrad Greenleaf Newtown Social Club, Newtown. 9:30pm.

Free.

Lndry - feat: Sinden + Mantra Collective + Friendless + Watson & Clive + Highbeam + Goonz + Royle Pineapple + Fingers + Non Applicable DJs + DJ Just 1 + King Lee Chinese Laundry, Sydney. 9pm. $22.90.

My Place Saturdays - feat: DJs On Rotation Bar100, The Rocks.

8pm. Free.

Pacha - feat: Tydi Ivy Bar/Lounge, Sydney. 6:30pm. $38.

Precious Cargo feat: Helena Ellis + Kormak + Lucia + House Bear Cargo Lounge, Sydney. 8pm. Free.

Rita’s Late Night Lounge - feat: Money For Nothing DJs + Al & Dion The Oxford Tavern, Petersham. 9pm.

Free.

Saturdays - feat: Resident DJs + Special Guests Kit & Kaboodle, Kings Cross. 10pm. $10.

Scubar Saturdays - feat: DJs On Rotation Scubar, Sydney.

8:30pm. Free.

Subjected + Adrian Bell + Magda Bytnerowicz + Qu-Zen + Aidan Psaltis + Sebastian Bayne + Gav Whalan + Jordan Peters Zoo Project, Potts Point. 9pm. $33.

Trancendence feat: Ferry Tayle Burdekin Hotel, Darlinghurst. 9pm. $32.38.

Trncnd - feat: Exis Marquee, Pyrmont.

10pm. $26.60.

Underground Jack - feat: Husky + DJ Nycks + Richie Haynes + Mark Simonds Burdekin Hotel, Darlinghurst. 9pm.

WEDNESDAY JULY 20 Sosueme - Feat: Set Mo + Montaigne + Skies + Bernie Dingo + Sports + Viberia Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach. 8pm. Free.

THURSDAY JULY 21 About Life - Feat: Cunningpants + Luke O’Connor + Rohan Willard Tatler, Darlinghurst. 8pm. Free.

Bookclub - Feat: Odd Mob + Clueless + Louis Stenmark + Rondon + Julian Robertson + Jvke Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney. 9pm. Free.

FRIDAY JULY 22 Broken Thought Theory & Waza - Feat: Rhapsydi & Stable + Peace & Hazy Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst. 8pm. $17.90.

Front Left Techno Affair 0.3 Feat: Archi†Ex + Not Mani + Eko + Chris Cornelius + Tom Walmsley Red Rattler, Marrickville. 8pm. $27.50.

Cantosis + Matrix + Pulsar + Scotty G + Suae + Tom-E Home Nightclub, Darling Harbour. 9pm. $55.

SATURDAY JULY 23 Bare Essentials - Feat: Delano Smith + Magda Bytnerowicz + Jake Hough + Mantra Collective + James Fazzolari + Jimmi Walker + Marley Sherman + Jackson Winter + Sam Roberts Cafe Del Mar, Sydney. 1pm. $35.

C.U Saturday - Feat: Tristan Case + Gabby Civic Underground, Sydney.

10pm. $20.

Charades & Something Else Present - Feat: Delano Smith + Kate Doherty + U-Khan + Aaron Robins + Dave Stuart + James Rogan Burdekin Hotel, Darlinghurst.

10pm. $16.50.

Duke Dumont Metro Theatre, Sydney. 9pm. $59.70.

Precious Cargo - Feat: Helena Ellis + Kormak + Lucia + House Bear Cargo Lounge, Sydney. 8pm.

Free.

Hotbox Live Launch Party - Feat: Young Butter + Bad Rapper + Munroe The Basement, Circular Quay.

9pm. $19.20.

Subjected + Adrian Bell + Magda Bytnerowicz + Qu-Zen + Aidan Psaltis + Sebastian Bayne + Gav Whalan + Jordan Peters Zoo Project, Potts Point. 9pm. $33.

Slyfox Presents - Feat: Anthea + Mantra Collective + Datura Slyfox, Enmore. 10pm. $20.

SUNDAY JULY 24

Sublime 20th Birthday - Feat: Amber Savage + Andrew James + Archie + Jumping Jack + Mark Dynamix + Nik Fish + Pee Wee Ferris + MC Losty + Craig Obey + Kate Monroe + Matt Roberts + Elroy + Klaus Hill + Kid Kenobi + Arbor +

S.A.S.H By Day - Feat: Third Son Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney. 2pm. $15.

S.A.S.H By Night - Feat: Pirupa + Secret Guest Home Nightclub, Darling Harbour. 9pm. $15.

Odd Mob

$21.89.

Yours - feat: Bang Gang DJs + Kato + Commandeur + Bruno Who & Giannou Beach Road Hotel, Bondi Beach. 8pm.

Free.

SUNDAY JULY 24 CLUB NIGHTS Beresford Sundays - feat: DJs On Rotation The Beresford Hotel, Surry Hills. 12pm.

Free.

DJs Anthony Toomie And Alex Mac Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly. 4pm. Free.

S.A.S.H By Day -

feat: Third Son Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney. 2pm. $15.

S.A.S.H By Night - feat: Pirupa + Secret Guest Home Nightclub, Darling Harbour.

9pm. $15.

Sin Sundays The Argyle, The Rocks. 7pm. Free.

MONDAY JULY 25 CLUB NIGHTS I Love Mondays Side Bar, Sydney.

9pm. Free.

Lost In The Zoo feat: Open Decks 9 To 11 + Anthony Elia + Anya B2B Surkess B2B Nick

Reverse + Kazi Zoo Project, Potts Point. 9pm. Free.

TUESDAY JULY 26.

CLUB NIGHTS Coyote Tuesdays The World Bar, Kings Cross. 9pm. $10.

James Blake + Mark Pritchard Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park. 7:30pm. $84.90.

Side Bar Tuesdays - feat: Black Diamond Hearts Side Bar, Sydney.

9pm. Free.

Terrible Tuesdays Slyfox, Enmore.

5pm. Free.

BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16 :: 33

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up all night out all week . . .

Dance and Electronica with Tyson Wray

xx

Gunnar Haslam

One of the fastest-rising names in contemporary techno, Gunnar Haslam, has locked in his debut Australian tour.

A literal mad scientist who used to study particle physics, Haslam has – since taking to techno back in the early ’10s with religious visits to New York’s seminal rave cave The Bunker – scored releases on the likes of L.I.E.S., Mister Saturday Night Records, Argot, Delsin and Naif. He’s already dished up one of the best mixes of 2016 with his #504 instalment for Resident Advisor, so give it a whirl before he comes to Jam Gallery on Saturday August 20.

A founder, resident DJ and curator of Berlin’s renowned techno and house events agency Grounded Theory, Henning Baer, has for the past decade been at the forefront of Germany’s electronic music zeitgeist. Also a regular at Berghain, over the course of his career he’s had releases on imprints such as Non Series, Rauh, Sonic Groove and K209, and earlier this year launched his own label Manhigh Recordings. Get schooled by one of the best in the business when he hits Zoo Project on Saturday August 20.

For those wishing to dance away the winter chill on the cheap, you’ll be stoked to hear that Bacardi is hosting a series of free gigs in Sydney next month. Featuring some top-class international talent, including London’s Steven Julien AKA FunkinEven, German head Damiano Von Erckert and Metro Area member Darshan Jesrani (alongside two of Melbourne’s finest names Edd Fisher and Otologic), the shows will be taking place every Saturday in August at Club 77 in Darlinghurst. Head to fuegorevolutions. com.au for more information and to RSVP for free entry.

Tour rumours: methinks that Apron Records and L.I.E.S. regular Greg Beato will be coming our way mighty soon.

Best releases this week: the new record from Kassem Mosse titled Chilazon (on Honest Jon’s Records) is straight-up fire. I’m also feeling Nhk Yx Koyxen’s Sparrow’s Gardens (L.I.E.S.), Legowelt’s Laundromat Of Your Mind (Bakk) and Machinedrum’s Angel Speak (Ninja Tune). Sadly I’m not really vibing on John Roberts’ new album Plum (Brunette Editions). Keep your eyes peeled on the Giegling website, too. It’s just updated the store to say that “a new release and some represses will be available” from Monday July 25 – fingers crossed that we’re going to be copping some new DJ Metatron.

RECOMMENDED SATURDAY JULY 23 Delano Smith Burdekin Hotel Subjected Zoo Gallery

SUNDAY JULY 24 Pirupa Home Nightclub

SATURDAY AUGUST 6 FunkinEven Club 77

SATURDAY AUGUST 13 Damiano Von Erckert Club 77

SATURDAY AUGUST 20 Return To Rio launch party: M.A.N.D.Y. Manning Bar Gunnar Haslam Jam Gallery Edd Fisher, Otologic Club 77

SATURDAY AUGUST 27

Darshan Jesrani Club 77

seth sentry

PICS :: AM

F

irst up, if you haven’t already, you need to jump onto Theo Parrish’s Facebook page and read his statement following the deaths of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling and the role that the dance community needs to play when confronted by racism-fuelled violence.

“How do you dance when we still swing from trees, when we still are murdered in front of our loved ones, murdered while subdued and harmless?” he asks. These are just some of the ridiculously powerful words from the Detroit luminary – I’m not going to try and summarise their importance in so few words. Just read the statement. Real talk.

15:07:16 :: Enmore Theatre :: 118-132 Enmore Rd Newtown 9550 3666

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8 – SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 11 Red Bull Music Academy Weekender: Mr. Fingers, Bok Bok, Peanut Butter Wolf + more Various venues

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 11 – SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13 Return To Rio: Carl Cox, De La Soul, Eric Powell, DJ EZ + more Del Rio, Wisemans Ferry

FRIDAY DECEMBER 2 – SUNDAY DECEMBER 4 Subsonic Music Festival: Lee Scratch Perry, Mad Professor, Josh Wink, Ben UFO + more Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort

FunkinEven

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

34 :: BRAG :: 672 :: 20:07:16

PICS :: AM

s.a.s.h by day

FunkinEven photo © Laz Rodriguez

Henning Baer

17:07:16 :: Greenwood Hotel :: 36 Blue Street North Sydney 9964 9477 :: ASHLEY MAR :: OUR LOVELY PHOTOGRAPHER

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Strong horror themes and violence

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