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[Canberra’s Entertainment Guide] #519 July/August

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Mail: 36/97 Eastern Valley Way Belconnen, ACT 2617 Publisher ABN 76 097 301 730 Pty Ltd General Manager Allan Sko T: (02) 6257 4360 E: advertising@bmamag.com Editor Allan Sko E: allan@bmamag.com Accounts Manager Ashish Doshi T: (02) 6247 4816 E: accounts@bmamag.com Graphic Designer/Cover Design Juliette Dudley

Article Design Marty Baker Film Columnist Cam Williams Entertainment Guide Editor Allan Sko Social Media Manager Allan Sko & Ruth O’Brien Columnists Ruth O’Brien, Josh Nixon, Alice Worley, Chris Marlton, Allan Sko Contributors Josh Eckersley, Rory McCartney, Ruth O’Brien, Vince Leigh, John P Harvey, Michele E Hawkins, Allan Sko NEXT ISSUE #519 OUT Thursday, 19 August EDITORIAL DEADLINE Friday, 30 July ADVERTISING DEADLINE Wednesday, 11 August ABN 76 097 301 730 BMA Magazine is independently owned and published. Opinions expressed in BMA Magazine are not necessarily those of the editor, publisher or staff. HANDS LIKE HOUSES p. 16

ST.SINNER p. 21 FUTILITY EP REVIEW p. 23

ARC’S KRAM ON BEATLES + BAND HELP p. 24 TWENTY MINUTES WITH THE DEVIL p. 28

JOHN WATERS/LENNON

TIM FERGUSON p. 30 VENUES REVEAL PLANS p. 32 CBR MUSIC REVIEWS p. 34

EST 1992

FROM THE BOSSMAN

Totally [sic]

BY ALLAN SKO

[ALLAN@BMAMAG.COM]

With the country, nay, the world periodically dipping into the flaming shitpan as is its wont these days, I thought that instead of attempting to wrestle with the heavyweight issues of our time, and thus further add to the doom-scrolling we find ourselves inexorably drawn to, I would instead use these scant column inches for something lighter and altogether more pointless; to invite you briefly into the wonderful realm of editing, and the silly little anxieties a seemingly by-the-book set of rules can conjure. Thus, for this little foray into phrasing fussiness, I call your attention to the term [sic], its usage, and the moral quandary it puts sensitive editors in. Ahhhhhh, she’s an oldie but a goody, is our [sic]. Meaning “intentionally so written”, it first appeared in English circa 1856. If you want to get really high falootin’, it is derived from the Latin adverb sīc, which means “so, thus, in this manner”. So you see, we’re already into some proper wanky territory with this.

Simply put, it’s used when quoting or referring to another source that has a potential mistake, you want to portray said name slash quote accurately, while also letting your reader know that YOU know it’s a mistake.

And therein lies the quandary. It’s nearly impossible to employ the use of a [sic] without looking like a smug elitist who enjoys nothing more than the act of huffing deeply from the well of one’s own farts. Adversely, you don’t want go [sic]less and leave a mistake in there that could leave legions of readers saying, “Ha! Fucked up there, didn’t you!” Here’s an easy example lifted via the cursory use of a search engine of your choice, in which, you might want to quote the printed introduction to a college catalog: “Maple Leaf College is well-known for it’s [sic] high academic standards.” That vital employment of [sic] allows you to join in the point-and-laughery of there being a grammatical error when boasting about academic standards. But Christ does it come across as smug as all bollocks; highlighting psomeone else’s innocent mistake. Leave that [sic] out, however, and people will justifiably assume you, too, are a boob. It becomes acutely painful when the reference you wish to use is from someone you like and respect which, I am equal parts delighted and dismayed to report, is essentially everyone. So every time you see a [sic], spare a thought for the agony a sensitive editor had to work through to put in there. And, of course, whenever you see a mistake, just assume a [sic] was meant to go there, ‘kay? And sometimes, when the world is going mad, it helps to get caught up on such little things. As I say myself in this column right now: “If the use of a grammatical tool is the worst thing to have to worry about that day, things are going allright [sic].”

CANCERVIVEFEST / 2-stage 7-band event / Fri, 23 July / The Basement

With all profits donated to The Cancer Foundation Australia, this worthy event looks to raise money for the good cause by rocking your little socks off. On the Main Stage, you can expect to be delighted by the freewheelin’ shenanigans of Traces, Proposal, Karma, Bury Me, Chain Tombstone & The Dead Men. And over at the Afterdark Bar are the joys of 3 Broken Strings, Axiomatic Theory, and AtrocitA. Proudly presented by Milestone Entertainment. From 7pm, tickets are $24.25 from Oztix Box Dye / State of Emergency single launch / Fri, 30 July / The Basement

It’s time. It’s happening. Box Dye have been toiling away in the rehearsal room and recording studio to produce some dangerously attractive music and its FINALLY time to release State of Emergency into the world! Box Dye have had a busy start to 2021 with a packed schedule supporting interstate legends FANGZ, and (almost) BOYSCLUB, as well as local heroes Highland Light and NORA. With everyone else releasing new music they decided it’s time to squeeze out another single for the masses. Joined by HOT local talent Spinning Plates and Bad Lunar. From 7pm, $25.25 via Oztix

Jack Biilmann / With Kim Yang / Fri, 30 July / Blackbird Bar

After the launch of a new rock project, a global pandemic, and a truckload of inspiration comes Jack Biilmann with his 3rd solo record Full Circle. The record sees Biilmann in his true element of blues/ roots but also wanders into the folk, soul, Americana, and soul genres for by far the most complete record to date, with signings to Cooking Vinyl Music Publishing & MGM Distribution. After a near sold-out full production show at The Street Theatre on 8 May, Canberra show #2 will see a more stripped-back variety of songs inside the beautiful backdrop of Blackbird. Doors 6pm, $20 via StickyTickets

The Bec Taylor School of Music - School’s Out Rockshow / Sun, 8 August / The Basement

The School’s Out Rockshow is a showcase of the The Bec Taylor School of Music’s flagship group program: Bandmates. With a headline set from the incredible and professional Reverend Bones & The Exvangelicals, the event features 13 rock bands from the school, including the Bandmates Juniors, Teens, Icons, and Heroes. With Wayne Herbert as MC and an incredible diverse mix of rock bands playing different genres of covers, this is a fantastic celebration of The Bec Taylor School’s music community and student achievements. 3pm, $15 (under 18s), $20 (adult), $40 (family of four) via Oztix. PAGE 12 PAGE 12 st.sinner / CBR punk upstarts’ first ever show/ Sat, 7 August / Live at the Polo

The time has come... the much anticipated and asked-for opportunity to see st.sinner live! st.sinner & The Revelators are “young, rebellious and unapologetic” and have planned a show of the calibre that Canberra hasn’t seen in a very long time. On the night, their friends comprise an amazing line-up of Kilroy, Dead Lazrus, and Subway to Venus - guaranteeing you a quality night of unforgettable music at one of Canberra’s best venues - Live at the Polo. The show will sell out, so get in early, grab your tix, and let’s shout PUNK IS NOT DEAD!!! From 7pm, $15 + bf via Trybooking

CBS celebrates International Blues Music Day 2021 / Sun, 7 August / Harmonie German Club

11 acts across two stages, hot rods, specialty market stalls, raffle prizes, CBS member lucky door prize and nine hours of music from The Groove Kings (ACT), CJ Fairleight-RAVEN (NSW), Simon KinnyLewis Band (NSW), The Bluetones (ACT), The Johnny Reynolds Band (ACT), W. Wade (ACT), Genevieve Chadwick & The Stones Throw (NSW), The Throwbacks (NSW), KillWater (ACT), Darren Jack (NSW), and Pacey, King & Doley (NSW) 1pm - 11pm, $40 + bf from events. humanitix.com/international-blues-music-day-2021

Bangarra Dance Theatre / SandSong / 15 - 17 July / Canberra Theatre

SandSong is a journey into ancient story systems framed against the backdrop of both ever-changing government policy and of the survival of people determined to hold strong to their Culture. SandSong is created by Bangarra Dance Theatre in consultation with Wangkajunga and Walmajarri Elders from the Kimberley and Great Sandy Desert regions, drawing on the stories, knowledge, and memories of the past to create a new narrative for our Indigenous futures. This work honours the legacy of Ningali Josie Lawford-Wolf and her family – past, present, and future. 7:30pm (1pm matinee), $59 + bf via venue That Poetry Thing / Popular regular poetry night / 19 July + 16 August / Smith’s Alternative

One of the hottest and longest running literature events on the Canberra calendar, That Poetry Thing brings Canberra’s best poets into the intimate surrounds of Smith’s Alternative and gives the audience a greater insight into their poetic lives and work processes. The night begins with an open mic session, followed by an interview with the featured poet(s). Recent Work Press has played host of late, with Stephen Gilfedder and Kimberly Williams on 19 July, and Phillip Hall and Damen O’Brien, on 16 August. 7pm - 9pm, $5 - $10 via smithsalternative.com

David Helfgott / Piano genius / Fri, 30 July / Canberra Theatre

The internationally acclaimed Australian pianist, David Helfgott OAM, will be in town for one of his mesmerising concerts. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Academy Award winning Australian film Shine, which was nominated for an astonishing seven Academy Awards, the 74-year-old is a national treasure, awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his service to the performing arts, following a career spanning seven decades. He’s played The Hollywood Bowl, Royal Albert Hall, and Carnegie Hall, now this is Canberra’s chance to witness this amazing talent live. 7:30pm, $65 - $79 via venue Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead / 12 - 28 August / Canberra Repertory

A modern classic, this fabulously inventive tale of Hamlet as told from the worm’s-eye view of the bewildered Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two minor characters in Shakespeare’s play. This Shakespearean Laurel and Hardy finally get a chance to take the lead role, but do so in a world where echoes of Waiting for Godot resound, where reality and illusion intermix, and where fate leads our two heroes to a tragic but inevitable end. Wed - Sat, 8pm; matinees: 21, 22, 28 Aug, 2pm - $35-$45 + bf from Canberra Repertory

Lightbulb Improv / Switched On / Thu, 12 August / Smith’s Alternative

Join Lightbulb Improv for a comedy variety show like no other, that is, completely made up on the spot! In a lively and daring journey, the players craft stories, games, songs, and fearless theatre that frees the mind, delights the intellect, warms the heart, and stirs the soul. Since 2016 Lightbulb Improv have performed in comedy and improv festivals in Australia and overseas. They love bringing their improvised magic to Smith’s Alternative in their long running monthly show. Tickets $15 online via the venue or available at the door from 6.30pm. Be warned, shows do sell out quickly! facebook.com/bmamagazine

TAIKOZ / Side By Side / 20 + 21 August / Belconnen Arts Centre

Australia’s premier taiko group Taikoz emerges from lockdown stronger than ever in their latest production Side By Side. Taikoz’s trademark dynamism, dramatic flair, and superb musicianship bring five brand new works exploring intimacy, innermost thoughts, and shared experience to life on a stage full of taiko, percussion, and evocative light sculptures by designer Bart Groen. Come and celebrate, experience and contribute to real, live music making with Taikoz! 8pm, $55 ($45 concession) + bf via belcoarts.com.au/ taikoz/

LOCALITY

[THE WORD ON LOCAL MUSIC] WITH RUTH O’BRIEN. SEND YOUR GIGS AND INFO TO:

[RUTH@BMAMAG.COM]

Well, hello! How’s it going? Welcome and settle in with a warm beverage of some description, it’s time for another snapshot of what’s coming up in the Territory’s arts and music scene. Now, at this point in time, all of the gigs and events listed below are still happening but, with the shit show that is COVID, there’s a chance that some things may be cancelled or postponed closer to the date, so be sure to check what’s on before you rock up. First up is the awesome young musical powerhouse that is Sophie Edwards, the mastermind behind She’s On The Bill.

This fantastic initiative was started by Sophie to provide opportunities to female and gender non-conforming folk in the Canberra music industry. Not only does every event have an all female/gender non-conforming line-up, all other staff involved in each event including the sound technician, photographer, and event manager are also female/gnc. The next gig for She’s On The Bill is coming up on Friday, 16 July at Queenies in Kingston from 8pm. Tickets are FREE and the line-up includes Emily Grace and Samantha Sly. Keep an eye out for more SOTB gigs throughout the year and be sure to visit shesonthebill. com.au for more info!

For those of you seeking a bit more jazz in your world, Canberra bassist and composer Brendan Keller-Tuberg will be debuting his sophomore album, In Spite Of It All. The show will be a one-time opportunity to hear Brendan, alongside some of Australia’s best young jazz musos, before he jets back to the US for the next stage of his musical career. The show will be happening at Ainslie Arts Centre on Saturday, 24 July from 6:30-8:30pm. Tickets are $20$30 and can be bought via humanitix.

Brendan Keller-Tuberg

Canberra garage-pop purveyors Barry Drive are dusting off the amps and playing a one-off show at Live At The Polo at 7:30pm on Saturday, 31 July for the nostalgic, the curious, and the weren’teven-born-then, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of their debut May Contain Traces Of Peanuts. So get out the time machine, set the course for 2001, and come sing along and jump about one more time to Barry Drive, with special guest Adelaide Jones. A good night is a distinct possibility. Tickets and more info is available at bit.ly/3xxtNV8 Not that we wanna make you choose but another cool gig happening on this same evening is the Welcome Back Party featuring Flyying Colours, Cable Ties, Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers and more at Kambri at ANU. With sounds ranging from grunge pop to shoegaze to post-punk and garage-rock, this gig’s sure to have something for everyone. Starts at 6pm. For more info, head to Moshtix or visit the Yours & Owls website - yoursandowls.com.au

Thursday, 5 August will see local singer/songwriter Jen Broadbent launch her debut EP The Final Heartbreak at The Basement. Jen started out in the Canberra band scene almost 30 years ago (!), and after a much too long hiatus she has decided to finally go solo with her music. Hallmarked by strong, passionate vocals and lyrics, Jen will be joined by friends Christiaan Sep and Chris Wark. To book go to thebasementcanberra.oztix.com.au and to have a listen to the EP head to jenbroadbent.bandcamp. com/releases If blues tunes are more ya thang then you’ll wanna check out International Blues Music Day happening over at the Harmonie German Club on Saturday, 7 August. The Canberra Blues Society have put together an amazing line-up of 11 acts across two stages from 1-11pm. These nine hours of music will feature Canberra bands The Groove Kings, The Bluetones, Killwater, W. Wade and The Johnny Reynolds Band. There’ll also be a whole lot of bands from NSW. To book (advised because of COVID restrictions) and/ or to find out more head to events.humanitix.com/internationalblues-music-day-2021 or canberrabluessociety.com.au As always, if you’re a muso or industry professional in the Canberra music scene, make sure you subscribe to Upbeat - the music industry newsletter I curate and email out every second Wednesday. This free resource is full of all the latest professional opportunities, jobs, competitions and grants I come across. To sign up head to eepurl.com/g2T5iz

That’s all ’til next time. Stay safe and well, and happy gigging! Ruth O’Brien - Singer | Songwriter | Writer | Lover of all things artsy and creative - email: ruth@bmamag.com

Hands Like Houses to Rock the Foundations of the UC Refectory

Local rock legends, Hands Like Houses, are set to unleash their stadium-sized rock show at the UC Refectory on Friday, 30 July as part of the Semester 2 O-Week celebrations. We caught up with singer Trenton and bassist Joel to see what they’ve been up to recently and to talk about the highlights of their wild, decadelong career. Hands Like Houses (HLH) formed in 2008 from a bunch of different bands on the Canberra music scene. The five members quickly bonded over their love of artists such as Nothing But Thieves, Linkin Park, and Karnivool. With their sights set high, they quickly found themselves partaking in huge international touring festivals, such as the Vans Warped Tour, sharing lineups with the likes of Foo Fighters, Deftones, Alice Cooper and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Add to this over 150,000 album sales globally, two top-10 ARIA albums and over 200 million streams, HLH are nothing short of a huge Australian rock band making an enormous impact both here and overseas. They have even dominated in the sporting arenas, having scored the official theme songs for the WWE Super Showdown, as well as both AFL & NRL Grand Finals back in 2020. But it didn’t all happen overnight for HLH, and as Joel assures us, it took a lot of hard work and having that Aussie battler attitude that pushed these five friends to achieve these huge milestones. In saying that though, they certainly had a lot of fun along the way. “We started off touring America, playing to maybe 20 or 30 people each night, and we were absolutely loving it. Living off less than $5 a day and sleeping in the back of our van in Walmart carparks,” Joel reveals. “We were pretty much living off peanut butter wraps and half cooked microwave pasta. We didn’t have a song that blew us up or get any free

By Josh Eckersely

rides. We just worked our arses off and invested all our time and money into backing ourselves and what we were doing. We took nothing for granted, and our core fanbase was built through this kind of mentality.” Interestingly, whilst HLH quietly achieved massive results overseas, it took some time before the Australian music industry really sat up and started taking notice. Having shifted 40,000 albums mainly in America, and consistently selling out 400-500 seat venues in America and the UK, they would be lucky to sell 40 tickets to a show in Australia in those early days. That all changed with the release of their third album, Dissonants (2016), which debuted at No. 7 on the ARIA Albums charts, and gave the band both a huge boost and their first ever sold out shows in the home country. Their latest release, 2020’s self-titled EP, has continued the evolution of their sound, with notable pop elements and catchy vocal hooks being utilised at every turn. When asked about the recording process, singer Trenton tells us: “We made the EP on the Central Coast in NSW over 12 days in late 2019, pre- COVID… It was a difficult process, engaging with our own strengths and weaknesses and having to trust our musical instincts to craft the best possible songs in the time we had. “Our producer, Colin Brittain, flew out from the US to put it all together, and he was absolutely key to focusing our process, and shaping a bunch of different vibes and directions into a cohesive collection of songs.” Unfortunately, the rest of 2020 and the overall impacts of COVID have been devastating on all aspects of the entertainment industry. For HLH, as with many others, the loss of the ability to tour means a loss of income, and a huge loss in momentum after ten years of hard work. That’s why the upcoming HLH show at the UC Refectory is going to be a truly special occasion and a chance for everyone to let their hair down and rock out all of the pent-up frustrations from the last 12 months.

The show’s line-up boasts some killer local talent, including renowned hip-hop artist Citizen Kay and indie-pop artist Hope Wilkins. Add to this special interstate guests, garage rock duo Polish Club, and the show is nearing festival status. No one is keener to get the show started than singer Trenton, as he lets us know: “Hometown shows are always a rip. It used to be mostly friends and a handful of people, but in the last few years the crowds have grown and grown. I think that same sense of home-town pride comes on extra strong when it’s made up of genuine fans from the city where you grew up. It’s also a chance to put on a homegrown mixed bill of artists that we know and love as people as well as performers.” Hands Like Houses play the UC Refectory, Canberra, on Friday, 30 July. Tickets and further information can be located on the Hands Like Houses website - handslikehouses.net

PUNK & DISORDERLY

[THE WORD ON PUNK] WITH ALICE WORLEY

Hey lovelies, corona is kicking up again so let’s see how many shows I’m about to hype you up for actually go ahead… But get hyped anyway because maybe they will happen! It’s still possible that we will be able to see all these bitching bands this coming month. Fingers crossed (and thoroughly sterilised)!

Well-well-well... Look who finally decided to show. The much anticipated live performance debut of st.sinner is finally on the cards, playing with Dead Lazarus, Kilroy, and Subway to Venus on Saturday, 7 August at The Polish Club. Hot off the heels of their third single being released, We’re All Going To Hell, they’re talking a pretty big game on their facebook event, boasting “a show of the calibre that Canberra hasn’t seen in a very long time”. Find out if they can put their money where their mouth is by buying a ticket on trybooking.com! I’ve got mine, so I’ll see y’all there! This column was due for publication the day of Sketch Method’s single launch for Panic! At The Costco, so I can’t report on how it went, but I’m pretty damn sure it was awesome. Nah, I can report on it. It was awesome. How could it not be when they were supported by Melbourne’s punk gods Wolfpack and locals Signs & Symbols and Box Dye? It was the best show ever and if you missed it, we were all very perplexed by your absence. What the hell, mate? Where were you? We’ve missed Sketch so much and I’m so so happy to see them getting things up and running again. Panic! At The Costco has been making the rounds on local radio stations around the country and it’s an instant Aussie punk classic. I’m absolutely bursting in anticipation of their other tracks set to be released this year. Thanks for hanging in there through COVID guys, we love you so much! The end of July will see Box Dye having their first ever single launch. Been a hot minute since their first release last year, Julia, so get ready to pop their new track, State of Emergency, on your Spotify mix! Playing on Friday, 30 July with other locals Spinning Plates, Bad Lunar, and Northbourne at The Basement, this limited number of tickets is at high risk of selling out, so get onto that quick sticks if you wanna come celebrate this release. The trio will be going on hiatus for a spell after this show, set to return to the stage later this year, so get your ticket from Oztix before they go into hibernation! Flash Anthem will be having their last show EVER at UC Hub on Friday, 23 July, so if you wanna get your final fill of those guys, plus performances by Enfants, The Narcissists, and Sunday Sojourn, this is the time!

Flash Anthem have been a staple of the Canberra music scene for the last 4 years, and they’re sure to finish off with a bang, so get your tickets at moshtix.com.au if you wanna say your farewells!

winners are st.sinner

Flash Anthem to play their final ever gig!

In bummer news, The Meanies have had to postpone their upcoming show with Dicklord and Charlotte and The Harlots at The Basement, but I’m so keen for them all to be back on the cards when it’s safe for them to travel.

Sweet lady ‘Rona be a harsh mistress, but hey, we just gotta roll with the punches these days. Wishing all of you the very best through these virus-addled times. Stay safe, keep those hands clean, and thrash responsibly xx