in this issue
free stuff
what you’ll find inside…
head to: thebrag.com/freeshit
4
The Frontline
6
Back To Business
8-9
DMA’s and The Jezabels
10
Nikki Hill
18-19 Arts reviews, Game On
12-13 Jessie Lloyd, Vintage Trouble 14
14
The New Pornographers’ Carl Newman explains the workings of a long-distance band
15
St. Paul and The Broken Bones
16
Polish Club might be Australia’s most exciting twopiece band
17
Inside Jokes, Sex Object, Blondie: Parallel Lives
“We just have to be ready to give up every element of the world as we once knew it – our food included.” (20-22)
24-25
“I use the word ‘comfort zone’, but it’s pretty fuckin’ far from comfortable when we play it live.” (16)
21-23 How Changing Our Food Habits Can Save The World From Global Warming 24-25 The 50 Best Coffees In Sydney: Part One, Jersey Rd. reviewed, bar of the week 26
Album reviews, First Drafts
27
Dun Robin, Psycroptic, Young Dog New Tricks
28-29 Live reviews 30
Off The Record, Out & About
31
Gig guide
ONE MORE TIME WITH FEELING
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds’ latest documentary film, One More Time With Feeling, was one of the finest music features released in 2017. It took audiences behind the scenes of the toughest period in Cave’s life, following the accidental death of his son Arthur, and the creation of a new album in the masterful Skeleton Tree. Now, following The Bad Seeds’ 2017 Australian tour, One More Time With Feeling is available on DVD and Blu-ray. We’ve got five DVDs to give away. Enter the draw by tagging the biggest Nick Cave fan you know on our Nick Cave video piece at facebook.com/thebragsydney.
the frontline with Chris Martin and Poppy Reid ISSUE 707: Wednesday April 5, 2017 PRINT & DIGITAL EDITOR: Chris Martin chris.martin@seventhstreet.media SUB-EDITOR: David Molloy STAFF WRITERS: Joseph Earp, Nathan Jolly, Adam Norris NEWS: Nathan Jolly, Tyler Jenke, Poppy Reid
Grinspoon
ART DIRECTOR: Sarah Bryant PHOTOGRAPHER: Ashley Mar COVER PHOTOGRAPH: Sam Brumby ADVERTISING: Tony Pecotic - 0425 237 974 tony.pecotic@seventhstreet.media
GIG GUIDE: gigguide@thebrag.com AWESOME INTERNS: Anna Rose, Ben Rochlin, Abbey Lenton
Please send mail NOT ACCOUNTS direct to this NEW address Level 2, 9-13 Bibby St, Chiswick NSW 2046 EDITORIAL POLICY: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher, editors or staff of the BRAG. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: Carrie Huang - accounts@seventhstreet.vc (02) 9713 9269 Level 2, 9-13 Bibby St, Chiswick NSW 2046
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GRINSPOON REUNITE FOR ANNIVERSARY TOUR
The inaugural winners of triple j’s Unearthed competition will reunite for a 20th anniversary edition of debut LP Guide To Better Living and a 27-date national tour. Grinspoon, who formed in a pub in Lismore in the mid-’90s, announced their indefinite hiatus in 2013. Since then, frontman Phil Jamieson, guitarist Pat Davern, bassist Joe Hansen and drummer Kristian Hopes have lived relatively family focused lives. Jamieson has remained active in the music industry, performing solo shows and touring the Australian production of Green Day’s musical American Idiot. But now, it’s Grinspoon time, with an anniversary edition of Guide To Better Living out Friday June 23, the same day the national tour kicks off at Traralgon. They roll into the Enmore Theatre on Friday July 7. Tickets go on sale Monday April 10.
TAKE COVER, IT’S GRENADIERS
South Australian rockers Grenadiers are about to drop some truth bombs on yo’ face. ‘Suburban Life’ is the new single and video from the high-volume trio, and an early taste of what to expect from the band’s forthcoming third album. In a nutshell: guitars, shouting and incessant rhythms. If you like your music pure, then check out Grenadiers at The Chippo Hotel on Friday May 12.
Subsonic, the three-day music, camping, arts and lifestyle festival held at the start of summer, is back for 2017. And in similarly exciting news, organisers have locked in a brand new theme for the event: “Where everything is everything, but not always as it seems.” Let’s face it, that sounds about right for a three-day odyssey of electronic music in rural New South Wales. The 2017 Subsonic lineup includes Andrew Weatherall & Sean Johnston (A Love From Outer Space), Tini, Madmotormiquel, Dirty Doering, Alexkid, Catz ‘N Dogz, Barac and more. The festival runs at Riverwood Downs, Barrington Tops from Friday December 1 – Sunday December 3. First release tickets are on sale now.
SAD BY SAD WEST
The Inner West-focused Sad By Sad West festival is back in Sydney this May. Sad By Sad West II follows the successful launch of the event last year, and the 2017 lineup features a bunch of great indie acts from Australia and overseas. And it’s not just about music, with a lineup of poets and visual artists being added to the program in the lead-up. The Sad By Sad West II lineup includes music from Carb On Carb, Pinch Hitter, Long Distance Runner, Zzzounds, Pinkbatts, McLovin, New Seddon Dads, Bilby, Sink Head, Lower Body and Subsumer. The event takes place over three days at three venues across the Inner West, including D.I.Wine & Dine at Cornersmith (Thursday May 4), Beatdisc Records (Friday May 5) and The Red Rattler (Saturday May 6).
KINGS CROSS GETS A NEW CLUB NIGHT
The Kings Cross Hotel has launched a brand new Saturday night party, taking place each week across three separate levels. Uptown is the name of the latest party from the enduring Kings Cross party people, and they’re not shy about providing a diverse range of music. The ground level features anthems, pop, rock, disco and early hip hop. On the balcony, you’ll get ‘mum rock’, ‘dad rock’, yacht rock and more. Boom! And lastly, head to the rooftop for electronic, hip hop, house and future pop.
Whitney: Can I Be Me
SYDNEY FILM FESTIVAL FIRST LOOK
The 2017 Sydney Film Festival program is starting to take shape. Organisers this week revealed their teaser program of 28 features and documentaries, including 16 Australian premieres. In addition, the Randwick Ritz has joined the program as a new festival venue this year. Program highlights include Whitney: Can I Be Me, A Ghost Story, I Am Not Your Negro, Maudie, Winnie, The Opposition, Mountain and Spookers, plus a Skyline Drive-In screening of horror comedy classic An American Werewolf In London. This year’s Sydney Film Festival runs from Wednesday June 7 – Sunday June 18. Find out more at sff.org.au.
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Xxx Grinspoon photo by Sophie Howarth
DEADLINES: Editorial: Friday 12pm (no extensions) Ad bookings: Friday 5pm (no extensions) Fishished art: No later than 2pm Monday Ad cancellations: Friday 4pm Deadlines are strictly adhered to. Published by Seventh Street Media Pty Ltd All content copyrighted to Seventh Street Media 2017
One of the biggest buzz bands in the country, Skegss, are stepping out to prove their credentials with a national tour of seven cities this year. It’s all in celebration of Holiday Food, the Byron surf punks’ new EP due out this Friday April 7. These will be Skegss’ largest headline shows to date, and if their reception on the recent Dune Rats tour is anything to go by, you’ll want to move quickly to get your tickets. See Skegss at Oxford Art Factory on Friday June 16.
SUBSONIC MUSIC FESTIVAL LINEUP
PUBLISHER: Seventh Street Media CEO, SEVENTH STREET MEDIA: Luke Girgis - luke.girgis@seventhstreet.media MANAGING EDITOR: Poppy Reid poppy.reid@seventhstreet.media THE GODFATHER: BnJ
REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS: Nat Amat, Arca Bayburt, Lars Brandle, Chelsea Deeley, Matthew Galea, Emily Gibb, Jennifer Hoddinett, Emily Meller, David Molloy, Annie Murney, Adam Norris, George Nott, Daniel Prior, Natalie Rogers, Erin Rooney, Anna Rose, Spencer Scott, Natalie Salvo, Leonardo Silvestrini, Jade Smith, Aaron Streatfeild, Jessica Westcott, Stephanie Yip, David James Young
SKEGSS HIT THE ROAD