MISSY HIGGINS BY JACINTA MATHEWS
TOUR GUIDE GIG OF THE WEEK
TAME IMPALA
TAME IMPALA, THE GROWL @ FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE
Unless you’ve been living: a) under a rock; b) in the cold vacuum of space; or c) in the Andromeda Galaxy, you’ll know that Tame Impala are kind of a big deal right now. After a relatively short amount of years on stage, the group have become national and international superstars, with their funky, psychedelic and powerful brand of garage rock becoming a lynchpin for what is great about contemporary music. A slew of awards from triple j and numerous other music industry bodies…hell, even a Grammy nomination. It seems like nothing can stop the rollercoaster that is Tame Impala from riding around the world. Their second album, Lonerism, is going absolutely crazy, and is sure to be listed on many a Best Of lists this year. Now, the Tame boys are on their way back to their hometown, stepping into Fremantle Arts Centre this Saturday 15 December, joined by garage-blues outfit The Growl. Oztix to get your tickets.
MISSY HIGGINS, KATE MILLER-HEIDKE, ALEXANDER GOW FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE: 08/12/12
A glance at the line-up for Missy Higgins’ Razzle Dazzle Summer Tour, and it was instantly clear why she packed out one of WA’s biggest venues two nights in a row. Taking opening proceedings, Oh Mercy’s Alexander Gow welcomed an early crowd with a charismatic solo performance that allowed his lyrics to breathe new life. Returning to Australia from a US tour with Ben Folds Five, Kate Miller-Heidke and her backing band were in fine form and knew exactly what moves would get the sea of seated punters on their side and ready for the headline act. Guitarist Keir Nuttall wasn’t as lively as usual, but what he lacked in enthusiasm, he made up for with guitar work. Although MillerHeidke’s music and stage presence was quirkier than Higgins’, their styles complimented each other nicely, and if catchy melodies didn’t win her new fans, the occasional operatic moments would have definitely caught the attention of some. A warm bed of synths took control of the crowd, who, one by one, rose to their feet and drifted towards the beaming stage lights. An unmistakable silhouette burst through the rays of light and into the foreground
of the stage. Missy Higgins received a deafening welcome, and she responded to the roar with upbeat, feel-good single Hidden Ones. From there she rattled off Hello Hello and Set Me On Fire – all tunes from The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle, her latest and third album. She performed her triple j Like A Version of Gotye’s Hearts A Mess, before walking off stage for a few minutes to let guitarist Butterfly Boucher, who co-wrote a few songs on The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle and co-produced the record, play her own song, Warning Bell. You can tell crowd favourites these days not by the amount of people singing along, but by how many people are holding up their phones. No surprise then, when Scar saw the majority of the crowd raise their arms into the air and press record. With an hour and a half to kill and three albums under her name, fans got to hear a few tunes that don’t normally make the cut. Not partial to encores, she bided farewell with Steer, the most recent single of her new album, and disappeared into the cool night’s breeze. No doubt, many avid fans would have returned the following night for a second installment. Daniel Cribb
FRONTLASH
BACKLASH
News that James Murphy is working with Arcade Fire for the group’s next album is, well, damn exciting.
Matthew Tomich’s tanties and now loss of license, ‘racist’ impersonations amongst the women’s ranks – tennis is really trying to sex itself up for summer.
ARCADE SOUNDSYSTEM
STEEL GOT IT
The pretty awesome new trailer for Man Of Steel has already wiped clean any memories of Superman Returns.
PRIME VOICE
Congrats to Julia Gillard on being the Most Influential Female Voice of 2012. Now it’s time to use it for less petty bickering during question time and more kicking arse elsewhere.
DRUM MEDIA IS PROUD TO PRESENTS SHOWS INCLUDING: EVIL EDDIE: DEC 13 Amplifier; DEC 14 C5; DEC 15 Prince Of Wales JEFF MARTIN: DEC 21 Clancy’s Dunsborough; DEC 22 Mojo’s; DEC 23 Indi Bar EVAN DANDO & JULIANA HATFIELD, BAMBINO KORESH: DEC 22 Rosemount Hotel BREAKFEST: KRAFTY KUTS, A SKILLS, DJ YODA, LADY WAKS, THE NEXTMEN, SPECIMEN A, PYRAMID, MARTEN HØRGER, HIGH CONTRAST, CAMO & KROOKED, SPY, MC WREC and locals: DEC 26 Belvoir Amphitheatre SOUTHBOUND: BEACH HOUSE, BEST COAST, BOY & BEAR, COOLIO, THE FLAMING LIPS, SBTRKT, THE VACCINES, BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB, FIRST AID KIT, MAXIMO PARK, MILLIONS, HILLTOP HOODS, TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS, ANGUS STONE, BALL PARK MUSIC, COSMO JARVIS, DJANGO DJANGO, THE HIVES, JINJA SAFARI, LISA MITCHELL, MATT CORBY, SHARON VAN ETTEN, TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB, BERTIE BLACKMAN, DJ NU-MARK TOY SET, THE JUNGLE GIANTS, LOON LAKE, OH MERCY, RODRIGO & GABRIELA, SAN CISCO, EMPERORS, RAINY DAY
WOMEN, STILLWATER GIANTS, BASTIAN’S HAPPY FLIGHT, THE LOVE JUNKIES and more: JAN 4 & 5 Sir Stewart Bovell Park, Busselton SARAH BLASKO & WASO: FEB 23 Kings Park & Botanic Garden FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL: THE PRODIGY, THE STONE ROSES, BLOC PARTY, DIZZEE RASCAL, AZEALIA BANKS, RITA ORA, PSY, BOYS NOIZE (LIVE), HARDWELL, THE TEMPER TRAP, FUN, MADEON, ELLIE GOULDING, STEVE AOKI, GYPSY & THE CAT, RUDIMENTAL, KILL THE NOIZE, FEED ME (LIVE), ZEDS DEAD, ZANE LOWE, NERVO, BORGORE, THE STAFFORD BROTHERS, TIMMY TRUMPET, TENZIN, SVEN VATH, RICHIE HAWTIN, RICARDO VILLALOBOS, SETH TROXLER, MAGDA, COSMIC GATE FEAT. EMMA HEWITT, W&W, ANDY MOOR, SUPER 8 & TAB, BEN GOLD and more: MAR 3 Arena Joondalup DINOSAUR JR., JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION, MOON DUO: MAR 12 Astor Theatre GRINSPOON: APR 5 Prince Of Wales; APR 6 Capitol
ONGOING: GIGNITION: Upcoming band showcases 2-10pm monthly on Sundays at The Railway Hotel CULTURE CLASH & BASS CULTURE: Rotating Thursdays at The Newport Hotel
TENNIS TURMOIL
NOT SO GROOVY
Deee-Lite’s Lady Miss Kier claims to have received a royalty payment of just $39 from 3.1million plays on music site Pandora. 3.1million plays…seriously?
OUR FACE
The top ten mentions and check-ins for Facebook Aus’ don’t paint a pretty picture – One Direction, Big Brother, Fifty Shades Of Grey, Crown Casino and…a shopping centre. LADY WAKS (PLAYING BREAKFEST)
For more reviews go to themusic.com.au/reviews • 51