Forte #561 by Forte Mag

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katie noonan

kerser

ballarat // bendigo // geelong // surfcoast // warrnambool // werribee

stevie mink

loc

LINE AT OUT ON

strange talk

ly o w n e d

t n e c r 00 pe

OOD ARTS F C I S MU re business cultu

m forte

d oper

the engagement

issue 561 // 13 JUNE 2013 // next issue: 27 JUNE

STRANGE GEROMINO HEY GERONIMO EUREKA HOTELLIVE&LOCAL

TIX $15 AVAILABLE AT THE VENUE OR VIA MOSHTIX

EUREKA HOTEL AND BOAG’S DRAUGHT PRESENT

STRANGE TALK

SNAPBACK & JERSEYParty TH U RS 13 J U N E • RESIDENT DJ'S • TVB • MCK • VICKERS • TOPPA • DAWSON • SPENCEY • SOME DECKHEADS •

EUREKA HOTEL AND BOAG’S DRAUGHT PRESENT

STRANGE TALK

STRANGE GEROMINO HEY GERONIMO

EUREKA HOTELLIVE&LOCAL EUREKA HOTEL // 98 LITTLE MALOP STREET, GEELONG 3220 (03) 5229 5266 // OPEN WEDNESDAY—SATURDAY

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RELAUNCH OF EUREKA HOTEL – REOPEN 29 JUNE

— CAPE TOWN TOUR —

SATURDAY 6 JULY — SUPPORT FROM —

PANAMA & I KNOW THE CHIEF DOORS 9PM | ROCK PAPER SCISSORS DRINK SPECIALS TICKETS $15 AVAILABLE AT THE VENUE OR VIA MOSHTIX

SATURDAY 2ND MARCH

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CHINESE WHISPERS & L0VE THAT MUSIC PRESENT

F0RTUNE C00KIE R0B PIX

(M0S)

THURS 20TH JUNE 0PEN TILL 5AM

YASUM0/LESWARE + MATT BLACK/ISAAC FRYAR/KIDS TABLE TVB/MAX MCKAY/DAWS0N/STEVE T0PPA VICKERS/4PLAY/THAT SPENCEY MASSAGE PARL0UR

SIM0N-0NE & SH0RTY J WWW.CHINESEWHISPERS.TV CNR SH0RTS PLACE, GEETR0IT 3220

PRE-S0LD TIX AVAILABLE VIA EDGE CL0THING, 0NLINE 0R 0UR PR0M0TERS.

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A WORD FROM THE TEAM

FORTE mag is published by FORTE PUBLISHING p/l abn 64 054 589 641 pHONE: 03 5229 7969 fAX: 03 5229 0318 po box 1388 GEELONG VICTORIA 3220

This week has been another sad one for the Australian music industry with the founding member and lead singer of Yothu Yindi passing away. Mr M Yunupingu was an artist who has graced our pages on hundreds of occasions over the last 22 years, and someone who had a pronounced influence on not only Australian music, but the ongoing efforts for reconciliation in our great country. He is a superstar, an icon, a loveable character, and someone who will be deeply missed by all. RIP.

PUBLISHER...........................Anton Ballard

This issue is another jam-packed one. We have the incredible Kate Miller-Heidke on our cover as she prepares to tour Australia; she will be hitting up regional venues and we were very lucky that Natalie was able to get some time with her. And of course she makes for a beautiful front cover. We also give you a comprehensive overview of the upcoming ‘Music Slam’ event happening at the Bendigo Music Man Megastore – it is a jam-packed line-up showcasing a bunch of national and local talent.

CONTRIBUTORS...................

general..............................enquiries@fortemag.com.au EDITOR/SALES MANAGER....Luke McNamara

PRODUCTION........................James Dulce

ADVERTISING ......................Anton Ballard

SATURDAY 15TH JUNE

MICHELANGELO & THE TIN STAR

Phil Hickey, Renee Abbott, Sam Eckhardt, Sam Fell, Stephanie Zevenbergen, Tex Miller, Wylie Caird, and Tony Montana PRINTED BY......................... RURAL PRESS PRINTING (VIC) BALLARAT 30-32 Grandlee Drive, Wendouree ADVERTISERS AND AGENTS ARE ADVISED THAT ALL ADVERTISING COPY IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THE TRADE PRACTICES ACT. ADVERTISEMENTS ARE PUBLISHED IN GOOD FAITH AND ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CONTENT IS LEGITIMATE AND LAWFUL. ADVERTISERS AND OR AGENTS SUBMIT ADVERTISEMENTS AT THEIR OWN RISK. THE EDITOR AND CREATORS HOLD NO RESPONSIBILITY WHATSOEVER FOR THE CONTENT OF THE MAGAZINE IN THE CASE THAT IT MAY OFFEND. FORTE ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS. FORTE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EDIT ALL ARTICLES AND LETTERS.

7:30PM FREE

THURSDAY 27TH JUNE

THE NAYSAYERS THE VELVETS 8:30PM $5

FRIDAY 28TH JUNE

MY LEFT BOOT

LOW FLY INCLINE

8:30PM $10

SUNDAY 16TH JUNE

SATURDAY 29TH JUNE

4PM FREE

FASSBENDER

THURSDAY 20TH JUNE

MICHAEL PLATER 8:30PM

FRIDAY 21ST JUNE

FASSBENDER

KING OF THE NORTH 8:30PM $10

SUNDAY 30TH JUNE

THE EXIT CROWD 4PM FREE

THURSDAY 4TH JULY

8:30PM

KYLE TAYLOR

SATURDAY 22ND JUNE

8:30PM $10

THE FISH JOHN WEST REJECT THE STEINBECKS

SARAH WILKINSON FRIDAY 5TH JULY

8:30PM $10

MOJO JUJU

SUNDAY 23D JUNE

8:30PM $15

THE EXIT CROWD 4PM FREE

TRIVIA TUESDAY!!

DAN WATERS

THE EXIT CROWD

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marc@thegeelongtimes.com.au

Nina Bertok, Ophelia Symons, Paul S Taylor,

HOSTED BY LIFON

8:30PM

Marc Wilkins

Lucas Skinner, Natalie Rogers, Nekita Roberts,

8:30PM FREE

THE STARRY FIELD

aballard@fortemag.com.au

Chris Cruz, Chris Lambie, Cyclone, Daniel Meagher,

TUESDAY 25H JUNE

TIGERTOWN

Anthony Morris, Adem Ali, Ben Schultz,

THURSDAY 13TH JUNE

FRIDAY 14TH JUNE

David Di Cristoforo

SCENE PHOTOGRAPHER.......April Grenfell

Our Arts section dips into its second issue. The first was greeted with a pleasing response – it seems as if people are happy the arts in regional Victoria is finally getting some shine! There is plenty happening around regional Victoria at the moment, and we have it covered.

THE BELLWETHERS

luke@fortemag.com.au

COVER DESIGN.....................James Dulce

LUKE LEGS

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the HIGHLIGHTS

THE LATEST ON international & national news & tours The Highlights: Where every single one of us is a devil inside. Coming up you have... .........................................................................

Sink Your Teeth into This Ah, pawnshops and the stories they hold. One particular story involves Melbourne band The Sinking Teeth whose life began in a flat above a Brunswick pawnshop. The place, the punk rock band admits, was an absolute dive. But, they say in the same breath, it was perfect for writing tunes. Grubby, gritty tunes. The band has had a gun of an 18-month period and is thrilled to welcome new single, ‘Temporary Living’. The Retreat – June 21. .........................................................................

Attention Udays Tiger Those noise-rock duos are all the rage, aren’t they? But hell, if you do it well and do it because you love it, then where is the harm, right? Say hello to Udays

Tiger, the Melbourne-based noisemakers comprised of Devin de Araujo and Nathan Morris. The lads drop their second EP Dead Attention tomorrow (June 14). The Queensland ex-pats returned to Brisbane for its recording. The Old Bar – June 14. .........................................................................

Converse Get Loud Hey kids, do you like music? Do you like free stuff? Well, those makers of those hip shoes you dig so much, Converse, have put together a series of free concerts. The travelling series will make its way to five cities, including Melbourne on June 22. Now, at the time of writing the venue wasn’t available, but lining up will be Millions and ScotDrakula. Get onto facebook. com/converseaustralia now for details. .........................................................................

Whitley Sees Stars How good is Splendour in the Grass? So good it is

Fleetwood Mac Australian Tour All those crossed fingers and wishful prayers have paid off – Fleetwood Mac is touring Australia at the end of the year. The two-hour show (which you just know is going to have all your favourites) is sure to be an incredible night of tunes for longtime fans and casual fans alike. Steve Nicks: “I’m very excited for the Australian tour and can’t wait to get there.” Rod Laver Arena – November 26 & The Hill Winery – November 30.

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able to coax Lawrence Greenwood, better known as Whitley, out of the “indefinite hiatus” he went on in 2010. Better yet, he is one of the many Splendour folk doing sideshows around the country. And even better than that, his new album Even the Stars Are a Mess, is out now. Everthing’s coming up Milhouse Whitley. The Hi-Fi – July 19.

The Melbourne-based singer-songwriter has been involved in music for some time, perhaps most notably as a founding member of Gretchen Lewis. He has just released a four-song EP featuring the tracks ‘Burnt Out By The Light’, ‘In Over My Head’, ‘Sanchez’ and ‘What You Dream Is Not Your Fault’. Wesley Anne – June 21.

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Fat Freddy’s Drop, Fly

The Amenta in the Flesh

We love us some Fat Freddy’s Drop, and it’s probably fair to say that the New Zealand genre slicers and dicers love them a little Australia. Combining elements of dub, reggae, soul, jazz, rhythm and blues and techno, the mighty, mighty seven-piece is set to release their new album Blackbird on June 21. ‘Silver and Gold’ and ‘Clean the House’ would both be familiar to fans by now. The Forum – August 31.

Originally named Crucible of Agony when they formed in 1997, The Amenta chose their new name in 2001. The band combines the uglier aspects of modern black metal, the atonality of death metal and the grime of extreme industrial. The band has a new album out called Flesh Is Heir which Metal Obsession called “... the most dynamic and most organic collection of tracks that The Amenta have put together.” Bendigo Hotel – July 13.

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Hits & Pits: 2.0 Sometimes a sequel works, sometimes it doesn’t. Looking at Hits & Pits 2.0, it’s looking like it is going to work just fine. The mini-fest made its debut in March, but rather than wait 12 months like most boring festivals do, it has decided to do another run this November. With a “Punk-as-F” attitude (no prizes for guessing what the ‘F’ stands for), the line-up includes Boysetsfire, No Fun At All, Jughead’s Revenge and Off With Their Heads. The Palace – November 22.

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The End of Deap Valley It’s going to be tough picking out which Splendour sideshows to save your bucks for but Deap Valley at The Tote on July 27 is sure to be on the to-do list for many. The L.A. duo (Lindsey Troy, guitar and Julie Edwards, drums) made their Aussie debut earlier in the year but such was the noise created that they’re back. Their latest album is End of the World and it will kick your arse. Twice.

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Your Shot 2013

KIM & Beni’s DJ Tag-Team

Founded in 2010, Your Shot has become s shining light for boys and girls who love to DJ. Winners of the DJ competition receive a six-week DJ training course and the opportunity to perform at a two-day Your Shot event. From there, the sky is the limit. If you have the goods, there is no telling where you may end up. Registration has closed but a Your Shot event hits Melbourne’s Royal Melbourne Hotel on August 3 & 4.

Kim Moyes (The Presets), or K.I.M. as he is known on the cool side of town, and Beni have teamed up for a tour which is sure to heat up the dance floor this winter. Providing keys, drums and production to The Presents, Moyes also makes original production and remixes under the alias K.I.M. Beni released his first solo release in 2008 and is also part of duo Riot in Belgium (with Joel Dickson). Survivor! – July 13.

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Funk Volume Tour

Fear Factory Play Demanufacture

Dizzy Wright, Jarren Benton and DJ Hoppa will hit Australia next month for the Funk Volume tour, a run of shows giving rappers a chance to express themselves unrestricted by major labels. Michigan-born Wright, Georgia’s Jarred Benton and L.A.’s DJ Hoppa are three hot names within the rap community. All have been praised for adding freshness to the scene. Prince Bandroom – July 27.

Fear Factory fans are in for a real treat when the band hits town next month with the metallers set to perform their iconic album Demanufacture in its entirety. Released in 1995, the album was the band’s second full-length effort. It is widely considered their finest album and is held in the same regard as Metallica’s Black. In Australia, Demanufacture is Certified Gold. The Palace – July 7.

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Spinning the Delsinki Records

Make Room for Another Passenger

To his family and friends he is known as Craig Johnston; in music circles he is better known as Delsinki Records.

Ol’ Mike Rosenberg, he just keeps getting through customs. Good thing too as he is much-loved within

our country. The UK singer-songwriter, better known to the kids as Passenger, has already toured Australia once this year, but as they say: Once you go Australia, you never go back. Just ask any backpacker. The tour announcement comes on the back of his everywhere single, ‘Let Her Go’. The Palais – December 4. .........................................................................

Get Intimate with Eskimo Joe The nights are much colder these days; a little companionship certainly wouldn’t go astray, would it? A nice warm body to snuggle up to? Perhaps three? Perth’s Eskimo Joe has announced a handful of intimate shows ahead of the release of their next album, an album that comes off the back of a successful crowdfunding campaign. The intimate shows will feature interpretations of the band’s impressive back catalogue. Ormond Hall – July 12.

Xavier Rudd & Friends The upcoming tour of Xavier Rudd, Donavon Frankenreiter and Nahko and Medicine for the People promises to be an amazing evening of tunes so there is no harm in a little reminder. ‘Three voices. Three cultures. One love of music and the ocean’ is how this tour is being presented, and anyone familiar with the artists knows how perfectly fitting this tag is. The Forum – October 3. Don’t miss it.

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Shapeshifter’s Delta Force One of the world’s biggest Drum N Bass acts would have to be Shapeshifter, and Australia can proudly call them our neighbours. The New Zealanders have appeared at festivals from Glastonbury to Parklife, but right now they’re focusing all their energies on new album, Delta. The album, the band’s fifth, features singles ‘Monarch’, ‘Diamond Trade’ and ‘Gravity’. It was recorded in Germany and NZ. Billboard – August 16. .........................................................................

At the Gate of Nile Technical death metal maestros Nile have lined up a few shows towards the end of the year. Hailing from South Carolina, the band’s music and lyrics are inspired by ancient Egyptian/Near Egyptian mysticism, history, religion and art. They have been doing their thing since 1993 and last year released their seventh album, At the Gates of Sethu. They will be joined by The Faceless. The Corner – November 16. .........................................................................

Top Honours for The Seekers The Seekers will receive the top gong for this year’s impending ARPA Awards, taking out the Ted Albert honour. The honour is the latest in a distinguished career which includes joint Australians of the Year, induction into the ARIA Hall Of Fame and acceptance into the National Film and Sound Archive. Congratulations to the band, and we wish Judith Durham the best in her ongoing recovery. .........................................................................

Blade Runner Take 2 Although it has struck fear in the minds of many men and women, a sequel to Blade Runner keeps gaining

Reclink Community Cup 2013 The all-too-awesome event that is the Reclink Community Cup is making its way around again, taking place at Elsternwick Park on June 23. As well as the almighty clash between PBS 106.7FM / Triple R 102.7FM and the Rockdogs, the event also brings out some great guns in Aussie music and this year you have Beasts of Bourbon, Super Wild Horses, King Gizzard and the Wizard Lizard and Justine Clarke. The event raises funds for Reclink Australia, a sports and arts program designed to enhance the lives of those experiencing disadvantage. Adults $10, U16 $5. Food and beverage will be available. For further information please visit reclink.org.

Mr M Yunupingu

momentum. According to The Wrap, Michael Green is on hand as the screenwriter. Green was one of the five writers involved with Green Lantern. Ridley Scott is (thankfully) back in the director’s chair, though it still remains unclear as to whether the film will be a sequel or prequel. .........................................................................

The Horrors Feeling Euphoric The Horrors chewed the fat with NME recently, clueing them in on their forthcoming new album. Said bassist Rhys Webb: “We’re right at the end of the recording process and ready to roll. We’re recording 11 tracks. It’s sounding very exciting.” He went on to speak about its first single, saying: “It’s a very upbeat song full of electronic oscillations ... ‘Euphoric’ is definitely a good word to describe the way it sounds.”

The founding member and lead singer of groundbreaking Indigenous band Yothu Yindi passed away on the second of June. The 1992 Australian of the Year and ARIA Hall of Famer, Mr Yunupingu (his full name will not be used out of respect for the beliefs of Indigenous Australians), was a major figure in reconciliation and Indigenous rights movements. Yothu Yindi’s song ‘Treaty’ was the first Top 40 hit by an Indigenous Australian act, reaching #4 in 1991. The album it was taken from, Tribal Voice, reached #3 on the US Billboard Album Charts in 1993. As part of Yothu Yindi, Mr Yunupingu founded the Yothu Yindi Foundation in order to further the spread of Indigenous culture, particularly that of the Yolngu peoples in Arnhem Land. The foundation is also responsible for The Healing Place, which addresses the health and wellbeing problems facing the Yolngu peoples; Mr Yunupingu was one of the first patients there. Mr Yunupingu was an inspiration, not just to the Indigenous peoples of Australia, but to everyone. He will be sorely missed by the music community, the Indigenous community, and the greater Australian community.

Ricky Martin, Olé Olé Olé There has long been a lot of love for Ricky Martin in Australia. His role as a mentor on Australia’s version of The Voice has only made him more popular. If you consider this, then consider he has not toured Australia for ten years, it stands to reason that when he announced his tour that demand for tickets was high. It’s time for a little Latin magic. Rod Laver Arena – October 5 & October 20.

FRI 14 JUNE

Trojan REST

ENT AURA N TS – BARS – ENTER TA I N M

SAT 15 JUNE

Tim Tonic Hulsman FRI 21 JUNE

Good Faces 4 Radio Friday night drink promos 5.30 til 6.30 and 9 til 10.30 Saturday night Bulmers and Carlton Dry promos

SAT 22 JUNE

Wayne Thompson

GROVEDALE HOTEL 236-258 SURFCOAST HIGHWAY PHONE: (03) 5243 2814 | GROVEDALEHOTEL.COM.AU

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THE

FORT-NIGHTLY CALENDAR & GIG GUIDE Sunday June 16th

kerser june 14 at the barwon club, geelong

Thursday June 13th

BARWON CLUB HOTEL: Kerser and Rates, guestsKwasi and Hoodloof.

THE MAX HOTEL: $12 Parmi All Day All Night, Inquizitive Trivia from 7.30pm ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night THE KOROVA LOUNGE: Kerser w/ Rates BAR PIZZA: Geelong Open Mic BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTEMAINE): The Bell Wethers BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Open Mic Night w/ Dave Dorman LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE (WARRNAMBOOL): St Josephs Primary - Where in the world THE LOFT (WARRNAMBOOL): The Doctor BEAVS BAR: Dave Anderson main bar, Tiger Town live in the band room. BLACK HATT: Tradies Night in the Bar from 5pm till 7pm, Open Mic from 8pm with acoustic, bands, solos & duets THE SPHINX HOTEL: Schnitzel Night from $13 EUREKA HOTEL: Snapback & Jersey Party with, Simon-one, Shorty J, Pinky and heaps more!

ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Thank Guinness It’s Friday

Friday June 14th CITY QUARTER BAR: Friday Unwind from 5pm. Live with Tom & Tayla and DJ Yas. THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Trojan SPHINX: Karaoke Night EDGE GEELONG: Levi and Cody plus DJ Blake THEATRE ROYAL (CASTLEMAINE): Song for Marion (PG) 12pm, 2pm, The Beards live in concert 8pm THE MAX: 3 on a Tree BAR PIZZA: Dear Ivy GPAC: Lisa Williams Messages from Beyond BLACK HATT: Blackshaws Beat. Free Entry from 9.30pm BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTEMAINE): Tigertown THE LOFT: Tom Carr LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE (WARRNAMBOOL): The Angles BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Music in the Bak Bar ODYSSEY TAVERN: Sam Fletcher OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Sarah Wilkinson BARKING DOG: 70s 80s Friday with live band Mr Hyde plus DJs from 5pm BEAVS BAR: Abe Anderson 14

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BAR PIZZA: DJ Merv & Drink Promos LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Live band: Test Pilot Molly & DJs Downstairs Joe Joe and Upstairs Joubin , open from 9pm AT THE HEADS: Live music from 5pm till 7pm (Barwon Heads)

ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Live Shandelle Cooke Quartet Jazz THEATRE ROYAL (CASTLEMAINE): Therese Desqueyroux (M) 2pm, 6pm, Song for Marion (PG) 4pm, 8pm BLACK HATT: Original Sundays with Cameron Henderson with Luke Beavis, Luke Biscan, Jake Epiphone, and Jimmy. Free Entry from 6pm. BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): : The Exit Crowd ODYSSEY TAVERN: James Sidebottom OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: The Tiger and Me GPAC: Foster and Allen LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE (WARRNAMBOOL): Kate Miller-Heidke GEELONG RSL: Maryborough Trad Jazz Ensemble EDGE GEELONG: Good Faces for Radio plus DJ Daniel LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Student & Industry Night (Free entry all night) w/ Live band – Adam 12 & DJ’s Upstairs - Yas, Downstairs - Joe Joe

Monday June 17th BARWON CLUB HOTEL: $10 Parmis THEATRE ROYAL (CASTLEMAINE): Song for Marion (PG) 2pm, 8pm, Therese Desqueyroux (M) 6pm

SPHINX HOTEL: 11 Meals for $11 ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night LORD NELSON HOTEL: Steak/Parmi & Pot for $15 on presentation of student I.D

Tuesday June 18th ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night GPAC: Kate Miller-Heidke THE MAX: Swing Dance Classes from 7pm $10 Entry THE SPHINX HOTEL: 11 Meals for $11, Poker Night (free) GEELONG RSL: Steak Night $13

Wednesday June 19th BEAVS BAR: Karoke with Dave Anderson BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Trivia Night from 7:30pm CITY QUARTER BAR: Industry Night GPAC: Kate Miller-Heidke THE LOFT (WARRNAMBOOL): Tarryn Hawker LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE (WARRNAMBOOL): Foster & Allen THEATRE ROYAL (CASTLEMAINE): Therese Desqueyroux (M) 4pm , Song for Marion (PG) 6pm, 8pm DIGGERS ARMS HOTEL: Wednesday Night Wheel from 7pm,

Saturday June 15th ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Live Bands 9:30- Midnight - with Mr Hyde live THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Tim Tonic Hulsman DIGGERS HOTEL: Marcus Hayden THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): Michelangelo @ the Tin Star TORQUAY HOTEL: Ash Grunwald, Feat. Scott Owen and Andy Strachan of Living End BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Music in the Bak Bar THEATRE ROYAL (CASTLEMAINE): Therese Desqueyroux (M) 12pm Song for Marion (PG) 2pm Swoon in June featuring the Swing Sisters live in concert 8pm ODYSSEY TAVERN: Ben Dew MARTIANS CAFE: Slime Dime & The Prairie Kings BAR PIZZA: Peoples Poets OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Untapped GPAC: The Angels TORQUAY HOTEL: Ash Grunwald & Friends HOME HOUSE: Upstairs: Heath Renata, Downstairs: Surrender CHINESE WHISPERS: Stevie Mink & Keesh THE LOFT (WARRNAMBOOL): Copper Street THE MAX: Trojan EDGE: Tom and Tayla plus DJ Yas EUREKA: The Pulp, FREE before 11am CITY QUARTER BAR: Andy Forster and DJ Joe Joe BEAVS BAR: Abe Anderson LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Live band: Steller & DJs Upstairs Fabs and Downstairs Joubin , open from 9pm

kate miller-heidke june 18 at the geelong performing arts centre

cash & prizes up for grabs! ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Trivia Night from 8.30pm till 10.30pm THE SPHINX HOTEL: Steak Night from $16, Poker Night ($10 buy in) GEELONG RSL: Parma & Pot Night $13

Thursday June 20th EUREKA: Resident DJs withTVB, Simon-one, MCK, Shorty J, Dawson, Some Deckheads, Vickers, Steve Toppa and heaps more! ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night KOROVA LOUNGE: Op Shop ball BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE) : Micheal Plater THEATRE ROYAL (CASTLEMAINE): Song for Marion (PG) 2pm, 4pm, Do the Math (MASG Fundraiser) 7.30pm BEAVS BAR: Andy Forster main bar, Lady Lash in the band room. LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE (WARRNAMBOOL): Frankinstein BLACK HATT: Tradies Night in the Bar from 5pm till 7pm, Open Mic from 8pm with acoustic, bands, solos & duets CHINESE WHISPERS: Fortune Cookie with Rob Pix, Yasumo, Lesware, Matt Black, Isaac Fryar, Kids Table, TVB, Max McKay, Dawson, Steve Toppa, Vickers, 4Play, That Spencey, Massage Parlour, Simon-One and Shorty J. THE SPHINX HOTEL: Schnitzel Night from $13 THE MAX HOTEL: Parmi All Day All Night $12, InnQUIZitive Trivia from 7.30pm till 10.30pm, amazing prizes, call to book your team’s spot

Friday June 21st BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE) : Fassbender BEAVS BAR: Steve Pianto THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Good Faces For Radio THE BARKING DOG: 70s 80s Friday with live band Mr Hyde plus DJs from 5pm BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Music in the Bak Bar ODYSSEY TAVERN: Cam Smith OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: 70s DISCO NIGHT fundraiser. THEATRE ROYAL (CASTLEMAINE): Song for Marion (PG) 12pm, 2pm, Steve Lucas (X) and Hugo Race (Bad Seeds, The Wreckery) perform classic Small Faces and The Doors albums MEGASTORE (BENDIGO): Music Slam FESTIVAL #1 , Loads of Local and National Bands, 3 days, Support Local music. THE MAX: Adventure Playground KOROVA LOUNGE: Kingswood PIPING HOT CHICKEN: Collard, Greens and Gravy THE LOFT (WARRNAMBOOL): Scaramouche CITY QUARTER BAR: Friday Unwind live with Matt and Justin and DJ Fabs EDGE GEELONG: Andy Forster plus DJ Patch BARWON CLUB HOTEL: The Goddess (USA), Audemia, Sons of Stereo, Thieving Bryds. ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Thank Guinness It’s Friday BLACK HATT: Drink promos from 5pm till 7pm (free entry) Blue Jam performing live free entry from 9.30pm HOMEHOUSE: Deakin Juggernauts EOS: Gym Party withSamual James

LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: DJs Upstairs - Joubin, Downstairs Joe Joe, Band - Test Pilot Molly AT THE HEADS: Live music from 5pm till 7pm (Barwon Heads)

Saturday June 22nd SPHINX HOTEL: Fistfull of Steel THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Wayne Thompson EUREKA: The Pulp, FREE before 11am GEELONG RSL: Credence Clearwater Recycled THE BARWON CLUB HOTEL: Scaramouche with The laughing Leaves and Red Eagle The Capital (Bendigo): Kate Miller Heidke MEGASTORE (BENDIGO): Music Slam FESTIVAL #1 , Loads of Local and National Bands, 3 days, Support Local music. GPAC: Katie Noonan, Once Upon a Mattress BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE) : The Fish John West Reject BAR PIZZA: Match Girl ODYSSEY TAVERN: jimmy graham MARTIANS CAFE: Carus Thompson BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Music in the Bak Bar CHINESE WHISPERS: Will Sparks HOME HOUSE: Upstairs:Kaylus, Shameless Downstairs:Krunk EDGE GEELONG: Tom and tayla live and DJ Fabs OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Cam Kettle BEAVS BAR: Rosco ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Live music with The Regular Boys - 9.30 till midnight TORQUAY HOTEL: Live Music in the Sports Bar from 9.30pm

THE MAX: Hey Charger DIGGERS HOTEL: Tom and Tayla CITY QUARTER BAR: Jesse Reid live and DJ Yas. LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Live band: Steller & Downstairs DJs Joe Joe and Upstairs DJ Mawry, open from 9pm

Sunday June 23rd BRIDGE HOTEL(CASTLEMAINE): The Exit Crowd ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Des Cam band MEGASTORE (BENDIGO): Music Slam FESTIVAL #1 , Loads of Local and National Bands, 3 days, Support Local music. GPAC: The Wiggles KOROVA LOUNGE: Averia skies w/ others GPAC: Once Upon a Mattress ODYSSEY TAVERN: Ben dew HOME HOUSE: Upstairs Helena (Farewell tour), Downstairs Kay Z OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Carus Thompson LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Live band Unlimited & DJs Downstairs Yas & Ustairs Sulusi- open from 9pm GEELONG RSL: Peter Allen Allstars Jazz EDGE GEELONG: Good Faces for Radio plus DJ Adam

Monday June 24th BARWON CLUB HOTEL: $10 Parmis ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night GPAC: Once Upon a Mattress SPHINX HOTEL: 11 Meals for $11 LORD NELSON HOTEL: Steak/Parmi & Pot for $15 on presentation of student I.D

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KATIE NOONAN june 22 at the geelong performing arts centre

Tuesday June 25th BRIDGE HOTEL: Trivia Night hosted by Lifon Uranus from 7.30pm, free event (Castlemaine) GPAC: Once Upon a Mattress ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night THE SPHINX HOTEL: 11 Meals for $11, Poker Night (free) THE MAX: Swing Dance Classes from 7pm $10 Entry GEELONG RSL: Steak Night $13

VENUEGUIDE!

THE gateway HOTEL

THE BARKING DOG

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126 Pakington St. Geelong West

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DIGGERS ARMS HOTEL: Wednesday Night Wheel from 7pm, cash & prizes up for grabs! ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Trivia Night from 8.30pm till 10.30pm LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE (WARRNAMBOOL): Cheek to Chic BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Trivia Night from 7:30pm CITY QUARTER BAR: Industry Night GPAC: Once Upon a Mattress BEAVS BAR: Karoke, Open Mic and Andy Forster THE SPHINX HOTEL: Steak Night from $16, Poker Night ($10 buy in) GEELONG RSL: Parma & Pot Night $13

Thursday June 27th BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): The Naysayers w/ the Velvets BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Open Mic Night w/ Dave Dorman GPAC: Once Upon a Mattress SPORTING GLOBE: The Charge BLACK HATT: Tradies Night in the Bar from 5pm till 7pm, Open Mic from 8pm with acoustic, bands, solos & duets ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night 16

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THE GROVEDALE HOTEL

bar pizza

236-258 Surfcoast Highway

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GROWLERS

137 Pakington St. Geelong

BARWON CLUB

509 Moorabool St. South Geelong

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BARWON HEADS HOTEL 1 Bridge Rd. Barwon Heads

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THE BASEMENT 159

Wednesday June 26th

218-230 Princess Hwy. Corio

159 Moorabool St. Geelong

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BEAVS BAR

77 Little Malop St. Geelong ....................................

THE BENDED ELBOW GEELONG

69 Yarra St. Geelong

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black hatt

54 Little Myers St. Geelong ....................................

THE BLUESTONE

103 Marr St. Ballarat

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Bridge hotel castlemaine

21 Walker St. Castlemain

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chinese whispers Cnr. Shorts Place. Geelong

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23 The Esplanade. Torquay

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HOME HOUSE

40-42 Moorabool St. Geelong

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IRISH MURPHY'S

30 Aberdeen St. Geelong

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JACK AND JILL 247 Moorabool St. Geelong

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LAMBYS

Cnr of Moorabool & Brougham St. Geelong

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THE MAX

2 Gheringhap St. Geelong

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MR. HYDE

11 Malop St. Geelong

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THE NATIONAL HOTEL 191 Moorabool St. Geelong

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odyssey

611 Surfcoast Hwy. Mount Duneed

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OPIUM BAR

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15 James St. Geelong

CITY QUARTER

Peter Lalor Hotel

Cunningham Pier, Geelong

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CLOUD 9

96 Pakington St. Geelong West

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Club TITANIUM

99 Ryrie St, Geelong

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eastern station 81 Humffray St Nth. Ballarat

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THE EDGE

1/6-8 Eastern Beach Rd. Geelong

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ELEPHANT AND CASTLE

158 McKillop St. Geelong

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THE EUREKA

98 Little Malop St. Geelong

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331 Mair St. Ballarat

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RUMORS

5 James St. Geelong

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SLATE Pool Lounge

50 Little Ryrie St. Geelong

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THE SPHINX

2 Thompson Rd. North Geelong

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TOAST

114 Moorabool St. Geelong ....................................

the wool exchange entertainment complex 44 Corio St. Geelong

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the yarra hotel 120 Lydiard St (North). Ballarat

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When&Where: Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – June 16; GPAC – June 18 & 19; St. Michael’s Church, Melbourne – June 21 (HS); The Capital, Bendigo – June 22 PHOTO: By Dan Gray, Graynoise

Kate Miller-Heidke by natalie rogers

Whether she is singing about bullying, national disasters, or just about listening to Cyndi Lauper, Kate Miller-Heike is always quirky, fun and fabulous. This month she joins the list of lovely ladies that have graced churches and cathedrals around the country as part of the Heavenly Sounds Sessions. “I’m a big fan of the whole concept,” Kate told Forte recently. “I’ve followed the series and I think the idea of having concerts in churches is wonderful because of how the acoustics of the beautiful architecture affect the music – it enhances the experience for the audience. So when I was asked to be involved I thought it was a very special thing to do.” For these unique shows Kate will be joined for the second time by Brendan

McLean. He is the man of the moment thanks to his scene-stealing performance as Klipspringer, the “dubious descendant of Beethoven”, in Baz Luhrmann’s latest smash hit The Great Gatsby. His day job is presenting on triple j, but since making his small screen debut as a dancer on a video clip for Nikki Webster, he knew he was destined for centre stage. His pitch-perfect indie stylings are an ideal fit for this tour. As well as these highly anticipated shows, Kate can be found at slightly less religious venues across the country. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been out to these regional places, and so I’m looking forward to seeing more of Australia and places I haven’t been before – some I’ve never heard of,” she laughed. “It’s been so much fun.” Chosen to support Kate at these shows is Toowoomba’s own Franky Walnut, and Kate insists we’ll be in for a treat! “He’s a comedy act from regional Australia and this will be his first national tour. He’s

going to surprise a lot of people – I find him hilarious. I think it’s really important not to bore the shit out of people before I come on stage, and all I can say is that all will be revealed on the night,” she laughed. Also unveiled on the tour is Kate’s first solo album since 2008’s Curiouser. Nightflight was written between London and Australia, including a lifechanging stay in Toowoomba at the time of the floods in early 2011. Nightflight is a candid, touching and brilliant album. “I think it’s my best album so far, and it means a lot to me that other people think so too,” Kate said. From the first track ‘Ride this Feeling’ (written about her time spent in Toowoomba), till the last song ‘Fire and Ice’, Kate’s ethereal voice draws you in to her world. “Growing up I listened to a lot of folk music. I love musicians like Loudon Wainwright III and Joni Mitchell – they are true storytellers. I’ve always loved that aspect of music. It’s very powerful.” In 2008 Kate and her husband/collaborator, Keir

Nuttall, won the International Songwriting Competition for ‘Caught in the Crowd’; a song that is “a real story of lingering childhood regret”. They were the first Australians ever to win the grand prize of $25,000. Fans of the songbird will recognise her style of storytelling in tracks like ‘I Will Change Your Mind’; or ‘Sarah’, that revisits the haunting tale of a teenage girl who goes missing at a music festival. “This story happened to a friend of mine – I’ve never forgotten it.” Not all of Nightflight follows that formula though. “The track ‘Ride This Feeling’ was inspired by that strange, eerie feeling of being in Toowoomba at the time of the floods and the fact that I couldn’t be there for all my friends in Brisbane who had their houses flooded. I couldn’t get down the road to help. ‘The Tiger Inside Will Eat the Child’ is basically about being in the moment, and without sounding too wanky, about your inner child.” Kate laughed when recalling a backstage moment that happened after a show on her recent US tour. “I played that song recently on our American tour, and a woman came up to me and said [Kate puts on a cheesy America accent] ‘What’s that cannibal tiger song?’, and I had to make it clear that it wasn’t about a tiger eating a human child or a tiger eating another tiger! The tiger is your bad thoughts and ego, and so there are a lot of Zen metaphors in the song.” Any final words Kate? “I’d like to say thank you to everyone who has supported me through the years and I can’t wait to see more of our beautiful country!”

Live Music and DJs Friday – Sunday Edge Geelong Ph: (03) 5222 2666 | edgegeelong.com.au | manager@edgegeelong.com.au | 6–8 Eastern Beach Rd, Geelong, Victoria, 3220 18

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the carlton hotel 21 malop st, geelong. (03) 5229 1954

RESTAURANT

BARS - EVENTS

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Kerser By Tex Miller

With the release of No Rest For The Sickest late last year, Kerser is about to head out on the road for the second time in as many months in support of the album. Since breaking onto the Australian hip hop scene in 2011 with the release of his debut The Nebuliser, the reaction to his music has snowballed due to the social media presence that the MC holds. You may have seen his rap battle with 360 back in the day; and with no marketing help, Kerser has redefined the role of the hip hop entrepreneur, racking up massive support with 95,000 Facebook fans and 61,000 YouTube views within the space of two days. I recently caught up with Kerser ahead of his gig at the Barwon Club. “The support that I have got to my shows between the first album and No Rest For The Sickest is quite unbelievable. The crowds have doubled, if not tripled, and in turn that makes the vibe in the room a hell of a lot more energetic. I now have a solid following and my music has really blown up. It is just crazy to think how much it is developed over the past eighteen months,” Kerser relates about the recent success of the album. In addition to pulling bigger crowds to his show, the album, within the first few weeks of release, topped the ARIA urban charts, which previously was a dream for the Sydney-based artist. “I was always aiming to top the charts with this set of songs, but never really thought it was possible without any radio airplay. Most of the hype surrounding my music that has built

Strange Talk By Natalie Rogers

It’s easy to fall in love with Melbourne synthpop band Strange Talk. I did recently when I caught up with Gerard Sidhu (producer/DJ/bassist) ahead of the Strange Geronimo Australian Tour. He chatted about the band’s affection for Geelong audiences, their link to everyone’s new favourite duo MS MR and the controversy over Daft Punk’s new offering. “I’m really happy we’re going back to Geelong!,” Gerard began. “They’re always good shows when we play down there and the crowds are fantastic. So when the chance popped up to play there again the whole band was like, ‘yeah definitely!’ We’re really looking forward to it.” Joining Gerard and the guys on this national tour are those cheeky lads from Brisbane, Hey Geronimo. “To travel with such a cool upcoming band will add a new flavour to the tour and something different. We love to support new bands because that was us not too long ago.” It was only a few short years ago that Strange Talk were plucked from obscurity to join hip NYC label Neon Gold (part owned by Lizzy Plapinger, the Ms in MS MR). “We played the Neon Gold party which was incredible. It was one of the best parties we had played or been to – it was such a crazy night! Neon Gold have been a fantastic support to us, especially during our EP.” The highlight of the show will be the chance to hear Strange Talk’s debut album Castaway (out now through Sony) live and loud – just the way it was meant to be. “We do come from a guitar pop influence, and

ASH GRUNWALD By Tex Miller

The evolution of Ash Grunwald’s blues sound throughout his career has been an interesting journey to follow. Having already played a stellar set at the Wool Exchange in February this year, Ash is set to get you grooving again this Saturday night at the Torquay Hotel. The gig at The Wool Exchange (February) prominently featured the rhythm section of The Living End, and this was seen as a one-off performance. Yet, given the explosive energy and chemistry between the trio, they are on the road for the Gargantua tour. Although he was in the airport, jet-setting around and getting ready to tour once again, it was great to talk to one of the legends of the Australian blues scene. “We’re really excited about the Torquay show. I used to live there for five years, so it is always fantastic to get back down there and soak up the atmosphere. Hopefully, fingers crossed, there will also be some waves, which would be good,” Ash said about the homecoming show. Having written a stack of songs over the last decade, the decision of what to play on the upcoming tour must be hard; yet given the party atmosphere of the majority of Ash’s songs, there is definitely something to get you moving on the dance floor. From just a quick YouTube, if you have nothing on this Saturday night, Torquay is the place to be. To coincide with this tour, Ash is releasing a new album entitled Gargantua, which was born out of this collaboration. The first taste of this album, ‘The Last Stand’, went live on

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up over the years has been through word of mouth, so it was a very big surprise when it happened,” Kerser said. The production on this record as Kerser relates was technically very similar to that of The Nebuliser, however due to Nebs, his right-hand man, the beats were a lot more soulful and deeper rather than the party atmosphere. “I think that through this we were able to create a more personable feel to the record and give the listener a more in-depth look at my life.” The lyrics of these songs have been influenced by Kerser’s upbringing in the southwest Sydney suburb of Campbelltown. As a pioneer of self-promotion, the main advice that Kerser would like to impart is to get amongst the scene and soak it all up. “When I first started out, I went to every gig and handed out a free CD and relied solely on word of mouth to get my tunes out there. This was eight or nine years ago, but it goes to prove that the simplest technique to get your music out there works. You can’t make a go of a music career in 2013 without having a strong social media presence,” Kerser said. Kerser and his brother Rates are headed out on tour around the country, which takes in a date at the Barwon Club, and the excitement and energy could not be higher when we start to talk about the gig. “The last time we came to Geelong we had a decent turn out and it was a great night. We have a highenergy set in the works and everyone should come down and check it out!” we’re influenced by artists such as Michael Jackson and Queen, so I think it was just inevitable that we would try different ideas like we have in Castaway, but I don’t think we’re going to stray away from our indie sound [more prominent in earlier stuff]. I think we’ll just experiment with a lot of new sounds and ideas that we haven’t tried. If anything it’s helped us to develop our abilities across different sounds, and when we do start working on the next album, which will be soon, we’ll have a large repertoire of sound, ideas and technique we can take into it. We’re constantly building and developing.” It’s true that they’re always making new music. Their May Mash Up (check it out on SoundCloud) is a weekend party starter, and they’ve remixed Madonna, Michael Jackson and the timeless Daft Punk tune ‘Around the World’, as well as ‘Get Lucky’. “I really like Get Lucky. I think it’s a good mixture of organic disco and the classic Daft Punk chopped sound with great hooks. But for me, as a classic Daft Punk fan, and someone who has very much been influenced by their sound (the sequencing and programming and sound structure), I have to say I was a bit disappointed. But I did read an article that said they’re looking to remix the album themselves, so it could be another live album and that always takes it to the next level!” And taking things to the next level is exactly what these guys plan to do. “We’ve got some big things to announce over the next few weeks, so stay tuned to our Facebook page and Twitter account. It’s looking like there’s going to be another overseas run of dates and a lot of exciting things happening soon.”

When&Where: The Hi-Fi, Melbourne – June 27 & Eureka Hotel, Geelong – June 29.

social media last week to rave reviews and steers away from his 2012 release, Trouble’s Door. “The sound of this record is as far away removed from the last few albums as possible. It’s still got a lot of bluesy elements to it, but it’s the classic rock band setup. We started off recording for a few hours and that turned into six solid days of work. There’s two new songs, two covers and some reworkings of my older tunes. Playing with The Living End guys is fantastic because it is a lot more high energy than what I would usually do. The recordings were a lot more raw and original with everything done live. They are definitely one of the best rock rhythm sections in Australian music. “The way that the Living End work is that they practice and practice; and Chris Cheney is an amazing guitarist and taskmaster, so that was definitely an interesting concept within the recording process because I am the complete opposite,” Ash said about the new collaboration. The first single off the release, a cover of Gnarls Barkley’s ‘Crazy’, started out as just a bit of fun as a promotional piece of material for the tour; yet after receiving airplay on commercial radio, the response from Ash’s fans has been extremely warm and positive. “It’s always good to change things up when you’re playing someone else’s song. Cee Lo is a great singer and I wanted Andy to go really rocky and arse-kicking in the chorus, rather than being smooth. Looking back now, it’s a lot more high energy than we first thought, but it’s going be epic to throw down live.” I’ve got my tickets, have you? When & Where: The Torquay Hotel – June 15; The Corner – June 27; The Prince – June 28.

When&Where: The Karova, Ballarat – June 13 & The Barwon Club, Geelong – June 14.

TALK OF THE

TOWN!

Keepin' it Regional!

katie noonan

BY POPULAR DEMAND

ben otwell

stevie mink

mrs hyde

“ The response back home has been incredible and really vindicated us taking the plunge on a decent release.” - abreact

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TALK OF THE TOWN! Talk of the Town: Where we always stand by our man. Coming up you have... .........................................................................

Once Upon a Mattress Although not as well-known as other fairytales, The Princess and the Pea remains a much-love piece by Hans Christian Andersen. The fairytale tells the story of a prince who is having difficulty finding his beloved. One stormy night, a young woman arrives at the prince’s castle seeking shelter. Claiming to be a princess, the prince’s mother decides to test the young lady’s sensitivity by placing a pea in the bed she is offered for the night; covered by twenty mattresses and featherbeds. The following morning, the young lady complains of a restless night where she was kept awake by something hard. At this the prince rejoices for only a real princess would have such a sensitive touch. Directed by Sadat Jon Hussain, Once Upon a Mattress is a wonderful spin on the classic tale. You will laugh so hard you just may pea a little. Get it? GPAC – June 22 through June 29. .........................................................................

Don’t Forget to Put on a Scarf The fifth Scarf Festival Exhibition is underway at the National Wool Museum, and will be on display until August 25. Given that it is now winter, it is no small coincidence that the exhibition is bubbling along warmly. More than 250 scarves are on display, submitted by individual craft-makers from around the country and abroad. Now, if you’re walking around and say to yourself, ‘I like me that look of that one’, well, the chances are you will be able to purchase it. Most scarves on display will be available for purchase, but will remain on display for the exhibition’s duration. A program of craft demonstrations will also run throughout the festival. The National Wool Museum is located at 26 Moorabool Street. You may even find a Tom Baker special. .........................................................................

The Welcoming Scaramouche Scaramouche has decided to make 2013 an ambitious year, and will head out on the road shortly for their biggest tour yet. The band named themselves after the roughish clown who entertained his audiences by his “grimaces and affected language”. (He is also an iconic character from Punch and Judy.) Formed out of Canberra in 2008, the now Melbourne-based band is high on rock and heavy on the swagger. They released their sophomore EP, Welcome to the Parlour, last year. Speaking about the tour on their website, the band said: “This is probably going to be the most exciting time for us since we’ve been together as a band, so we really hope to share that with all our fans across the East Coast.” The Loft, Warrnambool – June 21; The Barwon Club, Geelong – June 22; The Vic, Shepparton – July 26; Music Man Megastore, Bendigo – June 27. .........................................................................

Torquay Froth & Bubble Literary Festival Taking their name from a poem by Lindsay Gordon, the Torquay Froth & Bubble Literary Festival is a celebration of everything to do with literature. The festival commenced in 2008 and runs annually, setting up shop in cafés, restaurants, schools and libraries throughout Torquay. Literary workshops and theatre performances, as well as special events and window shop displays, are all part of the celebration. The first date on the Froth & Bubble calendar is June 21 at Torquay’s Sticks and Stones Café. The evening will feature poets, balladists and writers, with music from folk veteran, Jill Meehan. Gourmet hamburgers and local wines and ciders will also be available. *Note: Other dates include July 19 at the Sticks and Stones Café and August 3 at The Wyndham Resort.

The Mohawk Lodge Bring the Goods In between their national duties, Canada’s The Mohawk Lodge has managed to squeeze Shepparton onto their touring calendar. And all we can say is: lucky Shepparton! Steering the Mohawk ship is Ryder Havdale whose previous outfits include Kids These Days and Second Narrows. He formed The Mohawk Lodge in the early 2000s as an outlet for tunes that didn’t fit into these projects, and now tours will different collaborators and guests. The latest offering from the indie-rock band is Damaged Goods (2012). The UK’s Daily Mirror has described the band as the lovechild of the “grunge fried sound of Neil Young with Nick Cave at his most feral and tempestuous and you have an indication of the sonic territory this groups alights on.” Yahoo Bar, Shepparton – July 12. .........................................................................

The Sanctuary of Words FEATURE: If you love pop-punk, and I have it on good authority that a lot of you do, then you are going to love the news that Boston’s A Loss for Words is heading this way. Forming at the end of the nineties, the band took a decade before they released their debut full-length album, The Kids Can’t Lose (2009). The band had their fair share of smaller releases prior to The Kids, but that release took them to a whole new level with the band touring the US, Canada, Japan, Russia, Europe and the UK in its support. They then won Phoenix Magazine’s All Ages Band of the Year, beating out Boys Like Girls in the process. 2011 proved another big year with a signing to Rise Records. They were quicker to release their second full-length effort, dropping No Sanctuary to the Absolute Punk review of: “No Sanctuary is a shockingly solid, diverse output from a band that probably didn’t have enormous expectations heading into this record.” The Absolute Punk crew also awarded it a highlyrespectable 8 out of 10. Rumours around the internet – and how much you trust the internet comes down to either previous experience, common sense, or paranoia – suggest that the band is gearing up to release another full-length album sometime in 2013. This is their first Aussie tour so make ‘em feel welcome. The Barwon Club, Geelong – July 31.

The Graceful Clubfeet Melbourne via South Africa outfit Clubfeet have fast become one of the music wonders of the world. The love that is flying in thick and fast is thanks to their sophomore album Heirs & Grace which the band released in January. Singles ‘Heartbreak’ and ‘Everything You Wanted’ went gangbusters, while their latest single ‘Cape Town’ is following suit. Both a homage to their homeland and an ode to “desperate nights out on the rebound”, the single has strengthened their international profile with its release via iconic New York indie dance label Plant Music. The band has also scored an album deal with Japan thanks to the success of their singles. (‘Everything You Wanted’ has clocked up over 400,000 YouTube views.) The Karova, Ballarat – July 5.

Moving on with Andrew Stockdale Ladies and gentlemen ... Andrew Stockdale has just hit the road to show you that everything his band could do, he can do better. The former Wolfmother kingpin is now in solo territory and is showing off his new album, Keep Moving. The journey of the album was none too smooth. In November last year, Stockdale revealed news of a new single, ‘One More Time’, which was to be on Wolfmother’s third album. In December he revealed that following a fifteenmonth slog, eight songs were ready. This year, Stockdale revealed the biggest change of the album’s journey: that it would now be released as a solo effort. So, Wolfmother said goodbye to the world and Stockdale stepped out on his own. The Wool Exchange, Geelong – June 15.

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A Good Book As locals know, after 54 years the current Geelong Library closed its doors at the beginning of the month to make way for a re-development project. The library was designed by Geelong architectural firm Buchan, Laird and Buchan, and opened on the 28th of August, 1959. By the end of the year, the construction on the Geelong Library and Heritage Centre will be underway with doors expected to be open for business by the end of 2015. Geelong Regional Library Corporation Cr Andy Richards: “The current Geelong Library building has served the community well for over 50 years. We now look forward to a new Geelong Library and Heritage Centre which will serve our growing population in the digital era.” Until the project is complete, the Geelong Library will be relocated to the ground floor of the State Government Offices. .........................................................................

Baby on Board Babies … they can’t do much. They can’t cook. They can’t drive. They can’t dish out helpful advice. What’s the good of them? Why do we have them? The Baby Show comes from the mind of performer and writer Donna Jackson whose previous one-woman show, Car Maintenance Explosives and Love, was nominated for a Greenroom Award. In her new show she tears back the BS and explores babies … who has them, how we get them and what we do if we don’t want them. The show features stand-up comedy, a live Bull Terrier and surrogate parents played by hand-knitted nativity puppets. It can be as harsh as it can be hilarious, with Jackson sharing delicate memories of true family stories. Directed by Trevor Maitland and featuring a 20person choir. Courthouse ARTS – June 14 through 16.

Blues Boot Camp Anyone familiar with Forte would probably know about the Blues Boot Camp. If not, well, you’re a little behind the eight-ball but that is okay. In a nutshell, the Blues Boot Camp is a two-day music workshop tutored by industry professionals that culminates with a public performance. Guiding you through the ins and outs of performance will be Wayne Jury, Sarah Carroll, Sandy Brady, Tim Neal, Dave Steel and Chris Wilson. Details: July 10 & 11 from 9am to 5pm. Live performance: July 12, 7pm and the Courthouse ARTS Theatre. Tickets for the Blues Boot Camp usually run at $150 but the awesome people at FReeZA have covered a sweet $60 of that pricing. So, if my math skills are up to par, that leaves you with a $90 bill. Numbers are limited to 30 so be quick. Further information can be found through courthouse. org.au.

Kicking it with My Left Boot If psychedelic fuzz rock is what floats your boat, My Left Boot is the band for you. The Melbourne four-piece is led by Matt Champan who has been in the game for many years and who has probably played more gigs than he’s had hot dinners. They kicked off in 2005 with a mission to fuse 70s fuzz rock, 60s psychedelia and grunge-era heaviness. They have played some of Australia’s most loved venues and performed with a stack of artists, including a recent bash with Unida and Truckfighters. Late last year saw the release of Summer Songs. Support comes from Low Fly Incline who recorded their debut album with Scott Reeder (ex-Kyuss) at his desert ranch last year. Low Fly Incline is Tarek Smallman (T-Rek) on vocals/guitar/bass and Mitch McGregor (Children Collide/No Zu) on drums. The Bridge, Castlemaine – June 28.

Watch Your Guttermouth If you have felt a funny feeling somewhere deep inside recently, something you couldn’t explain in a place too embarrassing to say, perhaps the answer lies in the upcoming tour of Guttermouth. Those Huntington Beach punk rockers have a love so great for Australia they may as well move here. Hell, if you go to a show and ask them if they want to crash at your place for a bit, they may just say yes. Born in the late 1980s, the band defines punk rock. They live it. They breathe it. They eat it. They s**t it. Their latest album may have come in 2006 (Shave the Planet), but one can forgive them for that for they’ve stayed true to their art and raised a middle finger to those in their way. Speaking about their 2010 tour, a FasterLouder reviewer wrote: “The whole band got shirty about the amount of missiles that were directed their way. Adkins even tried to get the matching pair of a shoe that was thrown at him. The highlight was when he jumped into the crowd to punch someone: what’s a little assault between bands and fans?” That’s just one of many Australian road stories. The Loft, Warrnambool – August 10; The Barwon Club, Geelong – August 15; The Karova, Ballarat – August 16. This will be their final Australian tour so bring your friends. Bring your neighbours. Bring your mum and dad. The more the merrier!

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ballarat / bendigo / geelong / surfcoast / warrnambool / werribee Check Out my Sweet Jeans

Driving Miss Krista Polvere

Turn Up The Blister Transistor

I want you to meet two charming people: Sime Nugent and Alice Keath. This fella and lady make up Sweet Jean, a “gravel and soul” indie duo set to release their debut album Dear Departure early next month. The names will be familiar to some readers. Nugent learnt the tricks of the trade in the loved trio Acapelicans before finding voice as a solo artist in 2000. Muso and broadcaster Keath, meanwhile, graduated from the Conservatorium of Music in 2004 with First Class Honours in Composition. As for the release, Sweet Jean co-produced the album with John Castle whose credits include Washington and The Drones. It has been winning favour with fellow musos, with Paul Kelly saying: “This record deserves to be heard far and wide.” Now there is a pretty big wrap. The Bridge, Castlemaine – July 11.

Singer-songwriter Krista Polvere was born in Adelaide but nowadays calls Melbourne home. Her old man was a former band manager so Polvere was no stranger to music. She moved to Melbourne after exhausting the local stomping grounds, taking a detour to New York along the way to immerse herself in the folk scene. Good fortune can play a big part in the music game, and not long after moving to New York she met Ryan Adams. The alt-country/ rock singer would co-write some tracks with Polvere for her debut album, Here Be Dragons. Adams would also play guitar and piano on the recording. Adams has once again appeared on Polvere’s second album, Reservoir Drive. The album was recorded over a three-week period in California. The Bridge, Castlemaine – June 14.

Bendigo band The Blister Transistor is hard at work. Not just with gigging, but getting stuff done. On the gig front, they have recently supported I am Duckeye and Eater of the Sky and later this month play the massive threeday Music Slam event in Bendigo. (You can check out the Music Slam Local Feature in this issue if you’re so inclined.) As for getting stuff done, they have some new merch available including a spiffy limited edition Calculator Design t-shirt. At the time of writing, a CD/DVD release entitled Televisión Follada was to be made available online. On top of this, they also appeared on MUZoHUB tv (available for view through YouTube). Formed in 2010, the band is for those longing for a dose of 90’s alternative. Hit facebook.com/theblistertransistor to make them your friend.

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Mic Conway and Friends

You Asked for Metal?

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Ballarat’s Karova Lounge will serve up another chunky metal show on June 27 with Saprotroph, A Greed Science, Order of Torment and Terror Strike set to perform. The journey of Saprotroph began in 2010 when drummer Dylan Clarke and guitarist Matt Mclean started workshopping ideas. As time went on, the guys recruited new members until the band cemented itself as a five-piece towards the end of 2011. The thrash metal band comes with a generous dose of 80’s heavy metal sounds. Extreme metal band A Greed Science has their roots in 90’s death metal, trash, doom, hardcore and grind. Earlier this year the band released the six-track EP Being Ignorant. The venue is no stranger to hosting metal nights and this one is a beauty.

It’s hard to know where to begin when it comes to Mic Conway when it comes to his profession. Let’s see. He is a singer, a musician and a songwriter. He is a screen composer, actor and magician. He is a juggler and a creator of musical instruments. In short, he is an entertainer. Some may say he achieved infamy in the 1970s when, along with his brother Jim, he founded The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band. Projects including Pram Factory Theatre (A.P.G.), Soapbox Circus, Circus Oz, Conway Brothers’ Hiccups and The National Junk Band followed. Children, meanwhile, know him as Magic Mic on Humphrey Bear. With over 40 years of performing under his belt, Mic is a rich part of Australia’s entertainment industry (and history). Piping Hot Chicken Shop – June 28. With Robbie Long and Sarah Carroll.

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Take a Dip with Melody Pool

Revisit the Classics

Hailing from the Hunter Valley in NSW, Melody Pool was born into a musical family. At the age of eight, Melody was harmonising with her dad on stage; a year later she ventured onto the stage in her own right. Fast-forward to 2008 and the songbird released her debut EP, Heart to Heart Talk. This would be followed in 2011 by her second EP, Awake, You’re all Around Me. Around the release of her second EP, Melody caught the eye of four-time BMI winner Jace Everett (fans of True Blood will know his work – the theme song is his); the following year the songbird headed to Nashville to record her debut full-length album with Everett and Brad Jones. Early this year Melody released this highly-anticipated twelve-track album, calling it The Hurting Scene. And to think she is only in her early 20’s. Beav’s Bar, Geelong – July 11.

In 1968 England’s Small Faces released the concept album Ogdens’ Nut Gone Flake. The band’s final album, and arguably their finest moment, spent six weeks atop the UK album chart. The album took a year to complete, and due to its arrangements (among other reasons), the band never performed the album live. Ogdens’, however, remains a key piece of the psychedelic movement. In 1971 The Doors released their sixth album, L.A. Woman. The album would prove to be the last recorded with Jim Morrison, with the legendary frontman passing away less than three months after the release of the album. On June 21, Theatre Royal, Castlemaine will host a very special night with the two important albums being performed live. Steve Lucas & The Small Fakers will present Ogdens’ while Hugo Race will perform L.A. Woman.

Into the Valley with Midnight Juggernauts A little while back Midnight Juggernaut fans received the second taste from the band’s new album, Uncanny Valley, with the release of ‘Memorium’. Its accompanying video clip was more recently released and it’s a pretty interesting one by all accounts. Let’s face it though; you want the big one, so let’s move on to that. Much of Uncanny Valley was recorded in a French church in the Loire valley. In an interview with Ross Purdie, drummer Daniel Stricker gave the lowdown: “We’ve always come from the view of a traditional band, just put through a range of effects and pedals to complete a new sound ... That’s something we’ve been interested in for a long time, not just the robotic connotations of testing technology but in the way there are endless possibilities.” The Karova, Ballarat – August 23.

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TALK OF THE TOWN! Kingswood Country The times are good for Kingswood. The band was the tour buddy of Grinspoon earlier in the year – Tone Deaf reviewer Rochelle Flack called their hometown show a “high-octane, high energy, speaker shaking and spontaneous set – and in July they will make their headlining debut at The Corner in Melbourne. Good on you Kingswood! There is also the small matter of the re-issue of their Change of Heart EP in April. Featuring the band’s first three singles (‘Yeah Go Die’, ‘Medusa’ and ‘She’s My Baby’), life favourite ‘Wolf’, newie ‘Ohio’, plus an alternative “stoner” reworking of ‘Change of Heart’, the EP packs in a whole lotta goodness. On top of that, the band has gone all Tarantino on us with a 10-minute short-film born out of latest single, ‘Ohio’. Short in and around Sydney and NSW, ‘Some Motherfucker’s Gotta Pay’ is a charged-up tribute to B-movie cinema featuring the way too cool to be true cast of Seth Sentry, Thelma Plum, Kira Puru and Reg Mombassa, as well as featuring Sydney icon The Annandale. The short-film debuted at the beginning of the month at Melbourne’s Eureka Rebellion Trading. See, what did I tell ya? The times are good, so share in them. The Karova, Ballarat – June 21.. .........................................................................

DJ Sever in the House Quick bite: In his day life he is known as Chris Warren, but when he steps behind the decks he is better known as DJ Sever. The Ballarat-born deckmeister started out playing drums before the magnetism of the decks caught him as a 17-year-old. He has performed at a list of venues that stretches longer than your arm, serving up an eclectic mix of hip hop of the 80’s and 90’s, nufunk, Moombahton, dubstep, club and house. He has gigs coming up in Ballarat, Torquay and Geelong so keep an eye on facebook.com/DJSEVER. .........................................................................

A Night of Bawdy Burlesque Quick bite: You gotta love a show that can both entertain and disgust you, and that is exactly what Elena Gabrielle has in mind when she returns to Geelong for Bawdy Burlesque. Starting up monthly, Miss Gabrielle will host the burlesque and cabaret shows with a little more ass than class. Caterina Vitt, Jasper Jewel and Midnight Velvet will kick off the first Bawdy Burlesque show at Beav’s Bar, Geelong on June 27. The show doubles as a fundraiser for the graduate short film, Relinquish. Tickets through stickytickets.com.au.

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Friendly Reminder – Never Lose Sight Equinox Productions has teamed up with Geelong FReeZA and Courthouse ARTS to present a killer allages show at Courthouse ARTS on June 22. Lining up you have Brisbane’s Never Lose Sight, South Australia’s Sierra, Outlines, Oh, Pacific, Head Check and Searcher. The drug, alcohol and smoke free event kicks off at 6pm before wrapping up at 10pm. Tickets $15. .........................................................................

The Real McKenzies Blow In Ten years is a long time to wait for anything. And if you’re a fan of The Real McKenzies, then you know that better than anyone. But, by the good grace of God, the Celtic-punksters are heading back to our fair shores. The band has been doing their thing since 1992. Legend has it that one fine day Paul McKenzie had an epiphany after the sounds of an Andy Stewart record from one room played off against the sounds of a Sex Pistols record coming from another room. All these years later, the band continues to play music to drink to, music to dance to and music to fall in love to. Their new album is Westwinds – their first in four years. The Grand defenders of the Scottish realm head to Oz in August, kicking off their tour with a show at The Loft, Warrnambool on August 28, followed by a night at The Barwon Club, Geelong on September 1. Lending support on tour will be Melbourne heroes The Go Set. In celebration of ten years in the game, the band will be releasing a retrospective DVD in coming months. To warm up, why not crank up a little ‘Farewell to Nova Scotia’ or ‘Drums of Chelsea’. .........................................................................

Comedy Roadshow The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the best comedy gigs on the planet, and the Comedy Roadshow is its cool little travelling offshoot. Last year the event took in 90 performances in over 65 Australian towns, covering a distance of more than 25,000km. And many, many, many laughs were had along the way. The Roadshow has been making its way around the country since last month and has a few local stops on its calendar including The Capital, Bendigo on June 20, Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat on June 21, Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool on June 27, Aireys Pub, Aireys Inlet on June 30 and COPACC, Colac on July 2.

ESSENTIAL WINTER '13 COATS @ FREESTYLE Mens jacket by Autonomy. Ladies jacket by Jorge. Available from Freestyle, Geelong.

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TALK OF THE TOWN! salon sojourn Over the last 5 years Salon Sojourn has grown beyond our expectations. Jamie and Teena are incredibly proud to introduce an amazing team of award winning hairdressers back into the Geelong arena. The fire though unfortunate allowed the team to regroup and refocus. While the Newtown salon was being refitted, Jamie and Teena where blown away by the amazing amount of love and support offered by the their collegues in the industry, local community and clients, but especially from their incredible staff. Salon Sojourn want to thank all who helped and supported and the team can’t wait to see you at Salon Sojourn Newtown.

Le Fournil French Bakery Introducing a touch of France to Pakington Street, Le Fournil has a delicious range of freshly baked breads, cakes and pastries. Perfect for the inoffice snack, or a cake and coffee catch-up with a loved one, Le Fournil is renowned for putting smiles on dials. The almond croissants come highly recommended. Location: 90 Pakington St, Geelong West Phone: 4208 0754

Mrs Hyde Mrs Hyde’s chef, Josh Bouwman (pictured) has already taken on more than most ‘nearly 21 year old’s’ could possibly handle. As Head Chef of Geelong’s premium Tapas and Cocktail Bar, Josh has created an enticing tapas menu that has captured the true sense of “sharing plates”. His menu offers something for all. The concept being individual items from “The Land”, from the “The Sea”, and “Lifestyle”…Lifestyle being options that cater for Gluten Free and Vegan diners. Following in the footsteps of his father also a chef, at 20 it isn’t experience that prevails, but his passion and raw talent, that is second to none. His culinary gift, has also landed him a place in the Apprentice of The Year “cook off” competitions, to be held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre on June 4th. With Mrs Hyde’s new Winter menu launching June 5th, come in and try some of his tasty tapas dishes such as the “Crispy pork belly, black pudding, cauliflower puree” or a Winter warming “Venison sweet potato pie”. Also available - 7 course degustation with matching wines – for bookings 5223 1228

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Cucina One12

brooke's body and skin care Brooke’s welcomed Kristen to their team over 6 months ago and she is a young enthusiastic therapist who takes care in all her customers. She has over 18 months experience behind her and looks forward to many more years in the industry. Kristen welcomes new and old customers with some great specials over winter we have half price waxing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturdays. Also like Brooke’s Body and Skin Care on Facebook to keep up with more specials over winter.

PURPLE COW Cure the winter chill by visiting www. purplecowclothing.com.au. Browse 800+ styles, anything from denim in the latest colours, basics for layering and much more… and with overnight delivery, tomorrow night’s outfit will be yours.

Cucina One12 is a family friendly, exciting and modern dining experience. Providing traditional Italian dishes, along with affordable prices. Located in the heart of Belmont, be sure to grab a bargain on Monday to Wednesday where they offer a two course meal deal for only $25! Their $10 lunches have been a proven success with a full restaurant almost daily. Weekend breakfast start from 8.30 am- 12 pm and provides a fresh and healthy way to kick off your weekend! They offer dinner daily from 6pm, but be sure to book so that you don’t miss out! Or if going out isn’t your thing, why not order take away or even get it delivered, with their popular pizza and pasta take away! Their private function room caters comfortably for 45 people, with no room hire necessary! Come in and see what everyone is talking about, call on 52430333.

BENDIGO Music Slam By Natalie Rogers

Bendigo’s live music scene is no stranger when it comes to criticism. In the past its reputation has not only been dragged through the mud, but it has been hung out to dry in the pouring rain. There have been those, however, who have stood strong. And it’s these people who have helped build the scene into what it is today: a city which hosts a major touring festival, a city that will this year welcome the third Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival, and a city which is finally starting to attract a more deserving reputation. Now, Bendigo welcomes Music Slam, a threeday event that may just have the doubters choking on their words. Music Slam is chockfull of homegrown talent. It is an event for the bands that scrap hard to get a gig. It is an event for music lovers who dedicate themselves to the cause. It is an event of music for music’s sake. Music Man Megastore main man and festival organiser Paul Tzountzourkas fills us in: “The Music Slam Festival is a showcase of 33 local and out of town bands hitting the stage in a massive three-day event; showcasing a variety of musical genres from alternative, rock, punk to some seriously hardcore metal. The idea came along firstly to promote our recently opened licensed live band venue in Bendigo, but also to show touring bands that the Bendigo music scene is growing and should now be a must-to-play-at on the touring circuit. “The Music Slam Festival will help to develop a strong network between touring bands, local bands and event promoters, which in hand will be beneficial for the live music scene. Our main priority in opening this venue is to promote live bands and to ensure that live music not only continues, but grows into an integral part of society. We are already in the process of organising Music Slam #2 in July and are hoping to have it grow into a regular event every two months with some huge outdoor festivals in the warmer summer months.” It’s an ambitious venture, but Paul has spent enough time in the music sun to know what it takes. “I think its biggest hurdle [regarding Bendigo’s music scene] has been from the lack of support from the locals. For so long punters have complained about not having any bands playing in Bendigo, and now that there is at least 20 venues in town doing some form of live music no-one is going out to support them.” It is a point not uncommon among venue owners and it makes life bloody tough. On the flipside, the response by bands and promoters has been fantastic. “We had bands and promoters popping up from everywhere wanting to be part of it which was mind-blowing. But it also made it quite easy to organise a line-up of 33 bands, hence why we are running #2 in July to accommodate a lot of bands that we could not fit onto the original bill.”

Paul has been in the music industry for over twenty years. From selling musical instruments to playing in bands, running bars and entertainment, and mixing for some of the country’s best bands, music is his driving force. Hosting gigs at Music Man was always going to happen and these days the sailing is a little smoother. “Hosting gigs is getting a lot easier now that we have been up and running for six months or so. We have promoters organising their own shows and then we also organise some ourselves. This allows us to put predominantly 4- to 6- band line-ups on every Thurs, Fri and Saturday Night. We still often run some AA shows which have also proven to be very positive for touring bands and the younger generation.” So, here we are folks. After six months in the making, Music Slam will make its inaugural outing later this month. You asked for it, you have got it. Now is your chance to support it. “I believe an event like this is very important to Bendigo as it allows locals a chance to see a variety of bands that they might not ever make the effort to go and watch at an out of town venue. It’s also a way to cement Bendigo’s feet into being one of the largest regional centres for live music and a must for the touring circuit.” And that can only be a good thing.

Good Things Come in Threes FRIDAY, JUNE 21: The Approach, Path of Destruction, Zen Deluxe, Styx and Stonz, Outlines, Eater of the Sky, Ever Rest, Saprotroph, Asperity Within. From 6pm. Eater of the Sky: Bendigo’s Eater of the Sky continues to climb the ranks following their decision to strip back to a three-piece in early 2012. A Push Start appearance and supports with Stonefield and Antagonist A.D. make them a band to keep an eye on.

SATURDAY, JUNE 22: Sandpit Heroes, Anient, The Filthy Hacks, Stevenson’s Rocket, Chase the Ace, Fallen Angel, Mannik, Horizons Edge, Evilution, Kilamaine, Low Point, Reeds of Temptress, Dreamers Like Us. From 3pm. Stevenson’s Rocket: They say every joke has an element of truth, so what can be said about Stevenson’s Rocket who began as a joke in 2009 at a NYE bash? A new incarnation kicked off in 2012 and they have continued on their merry way since.

SUNDAY, JUNE 23: Blackbird, Euphoria, One Girl Army, Vendetta, The Blister Transistor, The Spitting Swallows, Fractal, Breaking Tradition, Rapid Zulu, Artilah, Oppression. From 2pm. Artilah: Described as heavy melodic rock, Artilah dropped its first official release in March of this year. Titled Prisons, the release followed a ‘Play anywhere, anytime’ philosophy and a seven-track selfproduced demo.

WHEN&WHERE: Music Slam takes place across June 21, 22 & 23 at the Music Man Megastore. One-day pass = $10, two-day pass = $15, three-day pass = $20. Further information can be found through facebook.com/ themusicmanbendigo.

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down to business:

Mrs Hyde

Chef: Josh Bouwman Tapas: Crispy Porl Belly, Caramelized Apple Puree, Apple And Walnut Salad

By Sue Rawkins

Every Wednesday thru Sunday night, 5pm til late, there is something for everyone at Mrs Hyde. Wednesday night is “Study Break”, aimed at students who want to take a break from study during the week and let their hair down a bit. Mrs Hyde’s bartenders will be dressed in braces, bow ties and glasses; providing that “studious” look. All regular $19-priced cocktails are reduced to $12. The extremely knowledgeable bar manager, Damien Kos, is happy to explain all intricacies of the cocktail to his “students”. Extremely educational! Thursday night is the “Seven Course Degustation” with matching wines. This includes such tasty items as candied scallops with spiced carrot purée and fried chick pea salad; roasted kangaroo, white bean cassoulet and red wine jus; and chocolate delight with chocolate sauce and Chantilly cream – and that’s just three of the seven courses! This is a great evening for groups. Cost is $69 per head and bookings are essential. This can also be booked any night of the week if required. Friday night is “Wine Down Fridays” for office and corporate types to “wine down” and relax after work. Wine by the glass is reduced to $8 between 5pm and 7pm. The delicious full tapas menu is available too, with options from the land, from the sea, and lifestyle, including gluten-free and vegan. The winter menu has just been launched and will continue right thru to October. There are over 40 wines to choose from, 15 of these are available by the glass. Tapas is $13 per plate. The more you buy the better value it is. For one to three plates the cost is $13 per plate; four to five plates is $12 per plate and anything over that is $11 per plate. There is also a group bookings menu which is great value for money – $37 for five courses (without wine) and $48 for seven courses. Mrs Hyde owner, Natalie Spagnardi, says: “It’s a great way to dine; people really love it.” All food is created by Chef Josh Bouwman, recently selected for the Apprentice of the Year competition in Melbourne, in which he got through to the final round. Saturday night is especially popular for pre-dinner cocktails and after-dinner drinks. The Espresso

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Martini is very popular and a real pick-me-up! But of course, you can spend the entire evening wining and dining at Mrs Hyde. Sunday is “Sunday Sesh”, an industry night specifically for people within the hospitality industry. Drinks are at reduced prices. Beer is $5, spirits $6 and cocktails $12; and there is an Industry Card which entitles the bearer to $10 cocktails. Natalie

says: “In the hospitality industry a lot of places close on Sunday night, and for workers in that industry, Monday and Tuesday is their weekend. But, of course, anyone is welcome to come.” With GPAC nearby, Mrs Hyde is a great choice for after-show drinks and socialising. Plenty of air kisses and “Dahling, you were wonderful!”

WHERE: 11 Malop Street, Geelong WHEN: Weds – Sun, 5pm-late PHONE: 5223 1228 INFO: www.mrshyde.com.au or email: natalie@mrshyde.com.au

Bangin’ Rackettes & Chicken Walks The Karova, Ballarat.

memorable way to end the set, and the two-piece was a great lead-up to what was coming later. After a 20-minute break and changeover, it was time for Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes to go on. The crowd bustled up the front as the lights dimmed and the backing music faded out; everyone eager to get close to the stage. Once completely faded, the drums, keys, brass, bass and guitar players all stepped onto stage, followed by the three “Rackettes”.

Saturday, June 1. By Daniel Lock.

Saturday the 1st of June. Ballarat has provided its most hospitable weather (meaning it occasionally isn’t drizzling), parking is scarce in the CBD and the Taco Van stands proudly in The Good Guys car park overlooking the entrance to the Karova Lounge, beckoning the inebriated. The Karova had a mixed crowd that night: the usual indie dressed young men, a bunch of pin-up-girl-dress-inspired young ladies, and a middle-aged bunch of rockers with possibly the original pin-up girls on their arm. They’re all there to see Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes. The support act was Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk, a tight two-piece blues band that got the crowd going. Chris Russell’s vocals are reminiscent of many great blues players. With his rolling drawl on the end vowels of his lyrics, Chris’s guitar, coupled with Dean Muller on drums, goes through stop/start phases to full-on consistent lengthy jams throughout his songs. He ended the Chicken Walk’s support by abandoning his guitar and simply audibly projecting a song while clapping a beat and walking through the audience, encouraging their participation. It was a wicked and

The sound of the saxophone broke the dim hustle of the crowd and the Rackettes sang a song of their own. Enter Clairy, dressed in a plain black top with transparent sleeves which complemented a glittering golden corset. Her opening song introduced her sultry voice to the audience; making every male in the room feel like he was wearing a tuxedo while ordering a dry martini (shaken, not stirred), and making every woman feel like they were the femme fatale in a film noir flick. Clairy Browne’s songs sound like they’re more from the 50’s and 60’s era of jazz and soul; when rhythm and harmony were required (and thankfully, auto-tune hadn’t been thought of). Her vocals are classic like the era she seems to be inspired by, with elements that sound like artists such as Shirley Bassey, Nancy Sinatra and Nina Simone. Her lyrics follow the theme of the music also; from heartbreak to lustful-love, and even some lovemaking/murder metaphor (the song ‘Frankie’ brings to mind Roy Brown’s ‘Butcher Pete’ and Ella Fitzgerald’s ‘Everything I’ve Got’). Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes played a good hour and fifteen minutes (give or take a few) including the encore. They knocked the socks off the audience at Karova Lounge with their swinging stage presence and the Rackettes’ subtle dance choreography. It’s not often you see the Karova Lounge that crowded before 1 o’clock, and for an alternative band to bring that amount of people within the late hours of the evening showed something special was expected. Young OR old, Clairy Browne and the Bangin’ Rackettes delivered.

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FREE CLASSIFIEDS SEND YOUR INFO TO: editorial@fortemag.com.au or p.o. box 1388, geelong 3220 or fax 5229 0318 FOR INDIVIDUAL USE ONLY, NOT FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. Looking for a rock singer between the age 17-19. Main Influences are Green Day, Foo Fighters and Led Zeppelin. Band with Management and Label. Email and info at melodicmusic.com Looking for a drummer, not afraid to experiment. Male/female. Age 35++ ono. All original. English/ Australian influences without the radio play. Original to the extent of punk/pop sensibility 1978 to the not-so-now style. Think of yourself as a patron of The Saints, Stiff Little Fingers, Radio Birdman, Buzzcocks, The Smiths, Psychedelic

Furs, Iggy & The Stooges, Wedding Present, Happy Mondays etc etc, then forget you have to be. The usual... car, equipment, attitude, mental state (in an OK kind of...) punctual, earplugs accepted. Be prepared to apply yourself. Let us know on 0409 567 043. Please leave your details and we will hear you - Confirmation code: AKA 1963 Geelong rock band looking for lead vocalist. We are a Geelong based original band looking for a lead vocalist, have a lot of experience and heaps of great original music waiting to be sung.

Influences: pearl jam, chili peppers, foo fighters, nirvana, led zep, sound garden. Contact Ben 0432049231. Experienced Lead Guitarist Wanted. Top 40 Coverband. 70s 80s 90s and current. Based in Geelong. Must have commitment. Please Call Mark on 0438836469 or email at pudge_ gypsy33@hotmail.com Singer wanted for acoustic covers duo. Must like 90’s British bands and not into songs your “normal” covers bands play. Think Oasis, Morrissey & The Smiths, Libertines, Pulp, Blur, Verve, and similar Aussie & American groups. Nothing serious to start with but possible gigging if we sound great! Age no barrier and male / female encouraged to contact. Contact Liam: britpopcovers@gmail. com or 0430904407 Band Members Wanted: Looking for band members between the ages of 16-19 years of age for pop group. Looking for bass guitar, electric guitar, vocals and synth player. If interested, please contact 0417575237. Hard Rock Covers Band with experienced, solid, bass player and drummer team requires guitarist with skill, awesome sound, and decent equipment. We have full rehearsal live room, pro gear, and all recording equipment. Project will involve gigging, recording, and working on original material as well as edgy covers. Age no barrier, but must be directable team player and have own transport. Carlos: 0409493521 Wanted: Male Vocalist,

Two Guitarists Lead/ Rythm,Keyboard,Drummer to form an Original Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Band,Kevin Phone 0352757689, Email linnums@ optusnet.com.au Vocalist Wanted: Rock/alternative band, currently consisting of guitar, bass, drums. In search of a clean vocalist preferably with experience. Influences: Tool, A Perfect Circle, Karnivool, 12 stones, Godsmack, etc. Contact Dean 0431067758 Singer For Rock Covers Band Needed. New project that will incorporate some originals. We have large acoustically enhanced rehearsal room inc. P.A and all recording equipment. Project will involve live gigs/shows, recording, and working on orginal material. Age no barrier, but must be team player with own equip and transport. Covering rock/ pop/grunge/hair-band/ glam. You will be working with experienced team. Carlos: 0409 493521 Photographer Wanted for band photos. Semniprofessional ok. Call Josh 0430971319 Wanted, 40+ y.o. Muso’s to form a fun Rock Band. Bass, Drummer, Lead Guitar, Keyboards or other welcome. To play Classic Rock from the 70’s onwards. Call or Text Nick on 0408359821. Geelong Vocalist Looking for guitarist, bass and drummer to form contemporary blues/ rock band. Experienced players required.Ph: Craig 0404054045 or email transform_pt@ yahoo.com.au Singer/songwriter looking for musicians

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Scaramouche By Tex Miller

Originally hailing from Canberra, Scaramouche have over the past two years moved to Melbourne and developed a strong following in the local music scene. On the back of their sophomore EP Welcome to the Parlour, the band will hit the road in June and July in support of the release. Having just completed a residency at the Espy in St Kilda, and with a gig at the Barwon Club on the 22nd of June, I sat down with John Milton (drummer for the band) to find out about the upcoming tour and why there is a particular importance on regional dates this time around. As the tour manager for the band, the pressures of booking a tour at times can be quite intense. However, as talking to venues is one of the most important aspects of being in a band, John finds that it is a steep but important learning curve. “I’m going to be completely honest with you, it’s a challenge. It’s difficult as we are all equal musicians making music, but somebody has got to book the shows. The way that the music industry is in 2013, there is a certain pressure put on bands to self-manage. You can’t wait for a record company to come and throw money at you; you have to make things happen for yourself. We have this tour all sorted out though, so I must be doing something right, yeah?” John laughs candidly about the upcoming tour schedule. Taking in 24 dates around the East Coast of Australia stretching from Melbourne to Brisbane, the excitement

within the rehearsal room could not be stronger. One of the main factors that the band is hitting the regional centres of Australia (which includes shows in Shepparton, Warrnambool and Armidale to name just a few) is that growing up in a regional town, there was always a constant disappointment of not getting to see your musical hero. “Growing up in Canberra in the nineties, all the main bands would just bypass Canberra and that was hurtful. We always had to travel to Melbourne or Sydney to see our favourite acts. Even if you don’t hear about them in famous ways, there are people in all towns and all centres in Australia that love music, and it’s just an exciting aspect of the tour to get out and play these cities. I can’t wait.” The band has two EPs under their belt and a studio album that is not too far away; and if you haven’t heard of the music of Scaramouche yet, it can be best described as hard-edged rock and roll. The first EP, Access Denied, was recorded in Queensland and produced by Stuart Stuart who discovered The Veronicas. It was a completely different process to the second time around, as John relates. “We spent two weeks away working on the first EP and learning things that as musicians we probably should have already known. We came out with an EP that wasn’t really an accurate interpretation of what we do live. I love hearing live recordings and hearing the raw kind of vibe, and so this time around with Parlour that was the vibe that we were aiming for. Between these recordings we went from one extreme to the other, so the future of our music is definitely an exciting aspect.”

When&Where: The Loft, Warrnambool – June 21 & The Barwon Club, Geelong – June 22. Later dates include: The Penny Black, Melbourne – July 19; The Vic, Shepparton – July 26; Music Man Megastore, Bendigo – July 27.

BY POPULAR DEMAND you asked for it, we go it!

Hardcore/metal four-piece Abreact found success when their first single, ‘Bomber’, made it to the #1 spot on triple j’s Unearthed Metal Chart. These days the band is unstoppable, doing whatever it takes to get their music heard by as many people as possible. Forte spent a little time with guitarist Lee Chatterton to discover why they’re in such demand… Thank you for taking part in Forte’s ‘By Popular Demand’ section. Does it feel good to be nominated as one of Regional Victoria’s most popular bands? Well that is pretty awesome to be honest. We do pride ourselves on how far we travel for shows and where we will travel to for shows. We do a lot of regional shows, because we understand what it’s like being in a country town where it is a struggle to see music at all of any kind. So we like to play those kinds of places because people seem to genuinely appreciate it and love having you there. You were nominated as a ‘Regional Victorian’ band. Where is it you guys reside?

Mostly known to fans in Geelong for his stint on K-Rock/ Bay FM, Peter tells the glory days of his career back at Triple M. “At NEW FM I started hanging out with one of the writers for the breakfast show, Chris Fletcher. The idea was I was going to get ‘Fletch’ to teach me some writing techniques for my show. We ended up clicking and started a show called ‘Mobbs and Fletch’.” After their show became a massive success, they were approached by Triple M Brisbane, then Sydney and Melbourne; eventually becoming the first commercial radio show networked along the east coast.

Dando’s Icon’s: Peter Mobbs By Tex Miller

Whether it was getting high-fives from Metallica’s Lars Ulrich or playing Madden on the SEGA against Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell, Peter Mobbs is a man who has experienced it all in the radio industry. Better known by fans as ‘Mobbsy’, he spent over 30 years entertaining us all through the airwaves – which was something he knew he wanted to do from the early age of 10. “I used to record shows onto a cassette player. Then when I was about 14, my mates and I would record parody songs goofing about; making up song ideas and dumbass radio shows,” Mobbs explains. Well those years of practice paid off when he landed his first radio job at 3CS in 1984. “That’s when my crazy radio merry-ground of a gypsy life began!,” he laughs. “I ended up at 3KZ in the 80s doing mid-dawns. I got to work alongside some of my radio heroes, including the late Don Lunn.” At this time Don Lunn was one of the biggest stars in the business. “I was crapping myself when I first met him. However, after about fifteen minutes we were singing along to lame rock songs live on air as part of his 6 o’clock rock show.” After his venture at 3KZ, Mobbs moved between a number of stations including 2CC in Canberra and KIX FM, before ending up alongside John Paul Young hosting an Australian music show on NEW FM. As Mobbs says: “The show was a hit, so JPY and I scammed a trip to Toronto, Canada to see the Rolling Stones with some listeners.” How did they do this, you ask? “JPY lived in Toronto near Newcastle, so we cooked up a ‘Toronto to Toronto’ idea to see the Stones!” Mobbs is a diehard Rolling Stones fan, something he isn’t shy to talk about. “I got hooked at a very young age; the riff to Jumping Jack Flash just entered my soul and I was gone. So far he has seen them perform seven times over the past twenty years. “My first Stones gig was in Canada in 1989. There really is no bigger high than seeing the band strut out on stage.”

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“Every night was a blast and a crazy experience! We got to hang out with people like Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bon Jovi, Kylie, Michael Hutchence, Slash, Mick Jagger and more. My head goes numb just thinking about it!” However, all good things come to an end, so after the merger between Triple M and FOX FM, Mobbs found himself working at K-Rock in Geelong where he spent 13 years of his career. “I loved breaking new bands at K-Rock,” he says with a sense of pride. “Since both K-Rock and Bay FM are in the same building, I used to buzz the receptionist to ‘flick the monitor onto Bay FM’. Then I would sneak local bands like Red Arrow Black Shirt, The Jades, Modern Legion, Nick Lovell and heaps of others on.” Eventually Mobbs was moved to Bay FM, which “wasn’t his scene”, yet he still enjoyed himself. That was until one particular afternoon where everything came crashing down to reality. “I experienced something that unfortunately lots of people in Geelong are experiencing; a sad-looking manager entered the studio during my shift and handed me a letter that said, basically, your shift has been made redundant.” With his radio career on somewhat of a hiatus, Mobbs is able to reflect on where he feels the industry currently stands. “I think what has happened to commercial radio in Geelong is a shame. It used to be fun, exciting and local. Now it’s just beige, irrelevant, safe, unexciting and programmed by people who don’t even live in the town.” He doesn’t squash any possibilities of a potential return in the future though. “It seems every week someone comes up to me or hits me up on Facebook asking about radio. If the bean counters leave the radio stations alone, who knows, I might get back on the horse.” For now though he is enjoying spending time with his wife, Deryn, as well as playing guitar in his band Coastal Pop Monkeys who have a gig at The Ocean Grove Hotel on August 3rd. “Come down and get your groove on. At least now I know that no fat-headed suit executive can hand me another redundancy letter!” When&Where: The Ocean Grove Hotel – August 3. LIKE Coastal Pop Monkeys on Facebook – www.facebook.com/ coastalpopmonkeys

Tim, Chris and I (Lee) live in Bendigo and our singer Mat lives in Wallan. I spend a lot of time out of Bendigo, so I basically just sleep here, ha-ha. Can you introduce each band member for Forte’s readers and tell us a bit about each? We have Tim on Drums; he likes to hit things and he does, hard. Tim and I met in high school, and as soon as we both realised we played musical instruments we couldn’t be separated. We used to jam at lunchtimes; basically any opportunity that arose through free periods or breaks. Chris is our bass player. He has a knack for melody and groove; provides the brown note. Chris was introduced to Tim and I at an after school fight. It was actually the most action that occurred during this socalled beat down that, like most times, was much ado about nothing. Mat lives in Wallan. He is our sick vocalist. Mat is only reasonably new to the band (joining around two months ago), but is fitting in really well. He has a great sense of humour and he is really killing it on stage. We are very happy with his addition to the band. Then there is I. Guitarist. Love a good chug, some white-knuckled riffing, throwing down and enjoying myself. You have released your debut album Entities. Tell us about the process of making that album and the response to it? Writing the album was fairly easy; we road tested a lot of the material which helped us batter it into reasonable shape. The recording process was reasonably drawn out. We’d work during the day then go in for a few hours every couple of nights when time or money permitted. From start to finished pressed product it was about ten months. There was a lot of downtime due to funding issues and our producer going overseas for a month; also us squeezing in sessions between other bands that could book longer and for more sustained periods of time. The upshot of this, however, is that we had a fair while to mull over each idea or sound and make sure we were happy with everything before moving onto the next task. Finished product? There is nothing like opening a box and seeing your first release – what a feeling! We had fantastic artwork done by Zero Art Studios in Michigan and it was mastered in Germany by Dennis Israel from Clintworks Audio. We are really happy with it, and luckily so are our supporters. We have had a couple of reviews overseas and some interest shown over there. The response back home has been incredible and really vindicated us taking the plunge on a decent release. We have had some support from triple j via airplay and we were the triple j Unearthed feature artist a couple of

Abreact weeks ago. The first single, ‘Bomber’, was number one on the triple j Unearthed Metal for four weeks, which was a total shock but very cool nonetheless! You guys make ‘Hardcore Metal’. How did you become immersed in such a heavy genre of music? It chose us I guess. We have always played heavier, louder music. We have always listened to, and been inspired by, heavy music. We also listen to many different styles of music. If it’s good, it’s good regardless of genre. I think with the more hardcore element of our sound, it’s just a style of sound; a belief system, an attitude that really spoke to us more so than others. We always try to stay true to ourselves and believe in ourselves. It’s all about honesty too. Our music is very honest. We play with conviction, real emotion and energy. No bullshit or pandering to trends. You guys have played some sensational support slots over the years. Do any shows stand out as highlights? We have been very fortunate with some of the bands we have played with. The Amity Affliction and In Hearts Wake was a good one – that show was off the hook. Northlane, awesome. Texas In July (USA) were great, and it was really special for our drummer Tim who is in total man-love with their drummer Adam Gray. Obviously playing Groovin’ the Moo was something special, but there are a lot of local talented bands we love to play with: Sydonia, Lomera, Summonus, Dark Horse, Strength Of A Bear, For The Vultures, Artilah, Frankenbok, King Parrot, Series, Heaven The Axe, Dreadnaught, House Of Thumbs … I could go on for ages! No matter the size of the show, or band we are playing with, we treat every show the same: Have fun, enjoy ourselves. What is your view on the current state of ‘Heavy Metal’ music in Australia? I think it’s pretty good really. You have bands like King Parrot absolutely tearing shit up; Northlane are really doing well; Parkway Drive have obviously been putting Australian hardcore on the worldwide map for a while now and that’s great. Boris The Blade are destroying venues. There is a heap of great stuff out there! I could go on for ten years here too.... You have associations with various other bands from around the place. Do you enjoy the close-knit network of the Australian metal scene? Yeah, I think that in the past that has been missing a bit but now it seems to be building. We are pretty close to a lot of people around Australia now and that makes life pretty easy. It’s like a big family; almost a brotherhood in a lot of cases. If Abreact could collaborate with one other band, who would it be? Hard question! If I stepped out and went for something that has nothing to do with our sound, I would probably say UNKLE … So many possibilities, it would be a damn tough choice. What are the hopes and dreams for you guys over the next few years? We try not to look too far ahead. Short/medium-term goals are where it’s at, and a sly peripheral eye on the big picture. Ideally we want to tour overseas. Japan, Europe, America, even Indonesia or New Zealand. What can we expect next from you guys? We have one more single coming out off the album. There will also be a film clip for it. More deets on that soon though. We are heading to Perth in November so that is rad, with a tour to follow also. Hopefully towards the end of the year we will be back in the studio for album number 2! Anything you would like to add? Thanks for the support!

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Dick Diver By Xavier Fennell

When writing about a band whose music you find extremely nice to listen to, you’d think it would be quite easy to come up with some sort of introduction. Turns out it’s harder than originally thought, and everything you seem to come up with either feels inadequate or ridiculously corny. As you may have gathered, I’m a big fan of Dick Diver and their jangly garage sound. I love their beautifully poetic Australianisms equally. But I am at a loss when it comes to writing an eloquent introduction for a band that truly transcends a genre that was fast becoming overdone. With a new approach to the sound that jangly indie-rock was long associated with, I got really excited when I found out I’d be speaking to guitarist Rupert Edwards. Rupert was kind enough to give up some of his time to listen to me fan-out over the band and ask him questions in my best (nervously) calm voice. Dick Diver fans will have noticed a slight difference in sounds between their first full-length album, New Start Again (2011), and their second, Calendar Days (2013). Noticeable, yet subtle electronic drum beats, and what sounds like the soft dings of a xylophone, appear throughout songs ‘Blue and That’ and ‘Amber’. Rupert explained where these small differences came from and why the band chose this adventurous route of composition. “Most of the sounds that you would have heard were coming from my keyboard. This time we were more comfortable with using heaps of overdub stuff and not worrying too much about it sounding over the top. It was the third time we’d recorded with Mikey Young, so we were comfortable being able to record with him and do some stupid stuff.”

Ben Ottewell By Tex Miller

As the lead singer for Gomez, Ben Ottewell over the past fifteen years has experienced the true rockstar lifestyle. Since their debut album Bring It On won the Mercury Prize back in 1998, the band has toured Australia several times to rave reviews and released seven studio albums to date. Having followed their music since the beginning, it was an honour to sit down with Ben ahead of his Australian tour and show at the Barwon Club on July 4. The band may be on a hiatus for the moment after releasing Whatever’s On Your Mind in 2011, yet Ben has spent this time on his debut solo release Shapes and Shadows. An avid fan of acoustic music, the progression to record this album was quite natural. “I think that Shapes and Shadows is a collection of songs that have been written over quite a period of time. I began to play a whole heap of acoustic shows and I really liked the intimacy that was achieved by just a guitar and me; it was a natural progression to get into a studio and record it to tape I think.” Ben said. If you happen to be reading this article without having heard Shapes and Shadows, it can be best compared to How We Operate, Gomez’s 2006 release which explores a particular ‘classic’ Brit-pop sound, with acoustic elements to it as well. With five members in the band there is without a doubt many musical tastes coming into the mix within the recording of each album. This is just one of the reasons that Gomez are so unique within their music, as Ben relates:

Katie Noonan By Natalie Rogers

Katie Noonan is a rare talent; she possesses the voice of an angel that can glide effortlessly through the genres of classical, jazz, operatic, pop and rock with ease. Her incredible versatility was recognised recently when she was named by The Sun Herald as one of the top 20 Greatest Australian Singers of All Time. “It’s pretty wild!,” Katie said of the news. “It’s particularly amazing because it was peer voted, so that made it feel really special – kind of wonderful honestly.” Forte had the chance to sit down with Katie ahead of the Victorian leg of her Songbook tour that will showcase her latest album of the same name. “The whole idea for the record is that it’s an intimate exploration of my music for the last fifteen years – and it’s presented in a stripped-back way,” Katie explained. “I wanted to create a gentle moment of escapism.” Katie revealed that the process of combing back through old recordings was cathartic and a welcome trip down memory lane. “It was kind of like reading my diary; it’s been a really interesting journey with the record. I’ve seen my evolution as a musician – my journey from a girl to a young woman, a wife and a mother, and I’ve enjoyed sharing it with people.” ‘Songbook’ sees Katie re-imagining material from all of her musical endeavours, including songs from george, Katie Noonan and the Captains, Elixir and her acclaimed solo albums. Although her performance style has varied through the years, Katie tells me there was always one constant source of inspiration: “I’ve always loved Joni Mitchell – she’s been a hero of mine for years.”

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The name Mikey Young comes up a lot when referring to the garage and indie bands of Melbourne and Geelong. A member of Eddy Current Suppression Ring, as well as being the prolific sound engineer of some of Melbourne’s greatest musical releases, Young was the obvious choice for recording and mastering Dick Diver’s third release. Rupert spoke highly of Young and explained why he is such a positive person to have around. “Mikey’s a really nice guy and he’s really easy to record with; really accommodating and patient. He’s just really good at what he does; he’s got all the gear and the skills that are needed. I think he really gets our vibe as well and knows how we want to do things. Because we’ve worked with him heaps before, we’re comfortable; and he has a no fuss way of doing stuff.” Thematically, Dick Diver’s lyrical content moves in a different direction to what is often associated with bands of their demeanour. Throughout the songs there are countless references to small fragments of what can really only be described as the Australian household. Mentions of Omo, Hills Hoists and Paddock Bombs are used poetically to great effect. I asked Rupert about the significance of these themes and what it means to him. “It’s something I’ve wrestled with a bit. Sometimes I think people consider these things to be uncool or in poor taste, and maybe it’s something to do with a cultural-cringe thing that we all have. It’s funny when you’re 20 and listening to The Velvet Underground and think it’s really cool that they sing about New York, whereas now I don’t really see that as a super cool thing anymore. Yet there’s still these Australian references in our songs. I’m not entirely sure about it. I think it’s weird that people consider these things to be off limits.” Dick Diver will be touring throughout Australia during the month of July. They are playing at the Corner Hotel on the 5th and 7th of July and at the Barwon Club on the 12th. Go and see them because they are awesome, and it won’t cost you more than $20.

When&Where: The Corner, Melbourne – July 5 & 7; The Bridge, Castlemaine – July 6; The Barwon Club, Geelong – July 12.

“Every record for us is different; we try not to stay still for too long, and we don’t like trying out single ideas for an extensive period of time. We may have been together for fifteen years, but we are still trying to figure out how to make music. It’s pretty nuts to look back retrospectively at everything we have done. We’ve never made the same record twice, and we don’t really have an identifiable sound. That’s the main thing that people love about us I believe, that we’re like a jukebox on shuffle.” The awards and accolades that have followed the band since the beginning were never at the forefront of anyone’s minds in the early days, and having barely played live, the hype that surrounded the band in such quick timing surprised Ben; and looking back now was “just ridiculous”. Quizzing Ottewell about some of the finer points of his career, a hidden story about recording the Beatles tune ‘Getting Better’ at Abbey Road comes out. Having also paid tribute to The Rolling Stones last year, playing ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ alongside Taj Mahal and others, Ben relates that there is no reason to fret, and another Gomez record is on the cards. “I am working on another solo album due out next year and then we will regroup and see where we are at. The spontaneity in playing together keeps it fresh, so it would be nice to do another Gomez record. “ Ben Ottewell playing in Geelong is quite possibly one of the most exciting things to happen to our music scene in the last few years. With a couple of solo records under his belt and a whole Gomez catalogue to choose from, what can we expect from the set? “I think you can expect to hear a wide array of material with a few covers and Gomez tunes. It should be a real laugh, so come on down!” Since its release last year, Katie and her songbook have travelled all over, playing sold-out capacity shows in Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and the Big Apple. But it was a one-off performance in the Northern Territory that made a lasting impression on this four-time ARIA Award-winning artist. “It really is beautiful getting to see all around Australia. One of the most incredible places I’ve played is in the desert near Alice Springs – it’s a particularly special part of the country that I hadn’t had the opportunity to see before. It’s like nowhere else – it’s a very magical, profoundly spiritual part of the world.” Another unforgettable experience for the singer was her first time at the iconic Sydney Opera House. It’s always an exciting feeling to tread those boards. Some of the greatest entertainers in the world have played there.” She’ll be appearing at Toff in Town in the city and The Substation in Newport, as well as the Drama Theatre at GPAC later this month. “I haven’t played in Geelong for a REALLY long time – not since I toured with george!,” Katie laughed. “I can’t wait to get back down to Geelong – it’s such a beautiful place and the venue will be great.” Chosen as special guests on this tour are Melbourne indie outfit, Playwrite. “Playwrite are a really amazing up-and-coming band, and I highly recommend coming in early to check them out,” Katie said. “Also, I love a collaboration, so the guys will definitely be joining me on stage for a couple of songs; so come along!” When&Where: The Substation, Newport – June 21; GPAC, Geelong – June 22; The Toff, Melbourne – June 23. *Kate recently announced a Songs of the Southern Skies tour which includes a gig at Theatre Royal, Castlemaine on July 12 with friend Karin Schaupp.

When&Where: The Barwon Club, Geelong – July 4. Ben also performs at Theatre Royal, Castlemaine on July 5.

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WHAT'S NEW!? Devildriver – Winter Kills

Californian heavy metal band Devildriver is back with their third album, Winter Kills. The band will be touring worldwide in support of this new album. Available August 23 on Roadrunner Records. A

Sydney’s indie darlings, Boy and Bear, are back with a new single ‘Southern Sun’, in advance of their upcoming album Harlequin Dream. Available now on Island Records.

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Barenaked Ladies – Grinning Streak

Rick Moranis – My Mother’s Brisket & Other Love Songs In the eighties and early nineties, you couldn’t see a comedy movie without seeing Rick Moranis. He retired from the movies after the death of his wife to take care of his children, but his comedy albums kept on coming. Available June 18 on Warner Bros.

Apparently these guys are still around. Hopefully they do another video with Katy Perry, because that’s the only way I can listen to them. Available June 18 on Atlantic.

John Legend – Love In The Future

Houndmouth – From Hills Below The City

Houndmouth is an up-andcoming band from Indiana who has supported the likes of the Alabama Shakes and The Lumineers. From Hills Below The City is their debut record. Available now on Remote Control Records.

Bret Michaels – Jammin’ With Friends Seven words: ‘Every Rose Has It’s Thorn’, Country Version. That’s all I need to know about this album. Available June 25 on Poor Boy Records.

3OH!3 – Omens

The man with the most humble stage name in the business, John Legend, is back with his fifth album; his first in three years. Available June 25 on Sony.

Remember Barenaked Ladies? Well, they’re back with their eleventh studio album (twelfth if you count Are Me and Are Men as separate albums). Available now on Vanguard Records.

City and Colour – The Hurry And The Harm

Boy And Bear – Southern Sun

Jimmy Eat World’s eighth studio album was released last week and includes the single ‘I Will Steal You Back’. Available now on Dine Alone Records.

Dallas Green has released his first album since the breakup of Alexisonfire. Recorded in Nashville, it is also the first City and Colour release to be recorded outside of Canada. Available now on Dine Alone Records. C

UK duo Disclosure has finally released their debut LP. It features a number of collaborations, including Eliza Doolittle and Jesse Ware. Available now on PMR.

Jimmy Eat World – Damage

Mat McHugh – Live At Random Hall

Singer-songwriter Mat McHugh has released a live album. The ten tracks were recorded with his band The Separatista Soundsystem in venues across Australia. Available now on Die!Boredom.

Disclosure – Settle

The Smith Street Band – Don’t Fuck With Our Dreams

The Smith Street Band is touring the country later, and it’s in support of their newest EP, Don’t Fuck With Our Dreams. Available August 9 on Poison City Records.

FUN MUSIC facts! Michael Jackson’s Bad album had 5 number one songs, more than any other album Michael Jackson’s Thriller is the biggest-selling album of all time. MTV went live August 1st, 1981. The first video was ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ by The Buggles. Simon & Garfunkel, one of the most famous duos of all time, were originally called Tom & Jerry. Warner Communications paid $28 million for the copyright to the song ‘Happy Birthday’. The most recorded song of all time – with more than 2,000 versions – is ‘Yesterday’. At age 4, Mozart composed a concerto for the clavier. To this day, the location of Mozart’s burial remains a mystery.

WHAT THE??

Kid Flying Around on Broomstick This is one of our faves. This kid does a great Harry Potter impersonation using some clever editing. Sure, the editing isn’t smooth, and the effect isn’t breathtaking, but the overall hilarity of this kid flying around on a broomstick makes for many a funny viewing. The strange noise he makes completes the funny.

The NFL: A Bad Lip Reading Another gem from the ‘Bad Lip Reading’ crew. This time they voiceover a bunch NFL players and coaches. Watch as they change sentences and expressions into bizarre ramblings. It’s a good one. Score 9/10

SCORE 10/10

Just Search: The NFL: A Bad Lip Reading

Just search: Kid Flying Around on Broomstick like Harry Potter

21 Accents This is one from the now famous Amy Walker. Amy calmly takes you through 21 accents; from South London, deep Texas and Occa Ozzie, she can do it all. Not only does she display her talent in this area, she also highlights the obvious difference between accents; not only between different countries, but between different areas within those countries. Score 8/10 Just search: 21 Accents

Not long ago, Forte Magazine did a focus on Victoria’s ongoing ‘Big Cat’ mystery. Well, it seems in the Northern Territory the problem is becoming a very real one. While these “Super Cats” are not panthers as rumoured in Victoria, they are still bloody huge. It would appear as if Australia’s unique environment is giving rise to cats the size of goats! A ginger cat which was recently caught in Arnhem Land weighed a whopping 20kg’s. There have been several captures and sightings, so this is not just another conspiracy theory. These cats are proving a handful, able to inflict serious damage on livestock, so NT rangers are doing all they can to kill these big boys, including the use of dogs. Cats the size of goats!? What The?

TOO HEAVY TO HUG PAUL S TAYLOR chris cruz

Ski Jump Gone Wrong

How Animals Eat Their Food

This is an old one, but a very good one. It only goes for three seconds (and has 100K views), but it is pure gold. It will get you pumped for the upcoming snow season.

This vid has a spectacular 68 million views. It is bizarre – and some find it very “Un-Funny”. This guy goes through a short routine showing his friends how animals eat their food. You basically have to watch it to know what’s going on.

Score 9/10

Score 8/10

Just Search: Ski Jump Gone Wrong

Just search: How Animals Eat Their Food

Blank Thankless Air By BLAIR HALL

On Being So in Love That You’re Completely Alone… “I make kissy faces with my brain”, proclaimed Maury Laurenstein, a 6’ WASP with a brown beard so thick it could wash barnacles off the hull of an ocean liner. “It’s what I do. It’s what I’ve always done. It’s who I am down to my core.” His associate, Derek LaFonda, 5’7”-ish and remarkably slender and healthy-looking for a man with a diet consisting nearly entirely of coffee, muesli and cauliflower, was entirely unamused by this cute attempt at trivialising what to him was a seriously intellectual vanity; Maury’s inability to see past this confines of the self and penetrate even a superficial layer of another being he didn’t see as ≥. Derek looked at Maury like he was a foolish genius (a look Maury liked, Derek noted, so he used it to his advantage). “So, what you’re saying is that romance for you is purely intellectual, Maury?” Friends for nearly a decade, Maury and Derek went way back to high school where they played in band, laughed in English class, and shared a passion for philosophical insight and the absurd. “So tell me then, Maury, how come I keep hearing how overly un-intellectual you are when push comes to shove and the girl just won’t put out?” Secretly, however, the two thought and spoke ill of one another and would fantasise about attending one another’s funeral. It was in this fantasy they’d shed a tear and wax lyrical about the “real” other and hopefully one of their attractive female companions (and there were many of them) would take pity on the grieving eulogiser and take them home for a tender night of tear-stained love-making. Perhaps if either

of them had read the other’s diary (Derek had ceased keeping one years earlier, but Maury was a compulsive journal/science-fiction writer), they would have realised that they both shared nearly an identical fantasy about one another’s parting and maybe would have felt a sliver of what it is to connect with anything at all outside of abstract images (Derek) or pure math (Maury). The two of them were seated out the front of a franchised-looking (but more likely than not franchise-hoping) Italian Gelati store that served espresso shots in paper cups and never seemed to have more than two customers at a time, mostly post-date dessert stops from awkward first-date couples. “I’ve got some big news, Maury.” Derek liked it when he achieved, almost solely so he could catch a glimpse of the look on Maury’s face when he told him about all the acclaim he was on the receiving end of; Maury found it hard to believe that anyone even remotely liked the abstract pieces of multi-coloured shit and collage work that Derek smeared onto a canvas and sold for prices that would, by comparison, make Baz Luhrmann’s high-concept garbage seem like a good idea. “Maury, I’ve been picked up to do concept design work on Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby!” Maury was taken aback by his previous comparison to Baz Luhrmann and the current reality of having his friend Derek collaborate with said director, so he promptly stood up and told a lie about needing to attend a doctor’s appointment that he only just remembered and was now late for. “Very nice, Derek, I’m really happy for you. I’m sorry, but I’m late for an appointment and it’s medical so I should definitely not miss it, lest it turns out I’m dying and there would have been something I could have done about it now to stop it from happening so soon as this.”

Southern Californian punk rock legends Guttermouth are sadly calling it a day – although not without one last Aussie tour to say goodbye. The massive run of dates includes a stop at the Barwon Club Hotel on the 15th of August. Miss it and regret it for the rest of your life. Supports TBA.

The other day I received an email stating Fear Factory will be playing all of Demanufacture live in Australia and I nearly wet my pants with sheer joy. For an album that was released in metal’s modern heady days of the mid-1990’s, Demanufacture has, over its seventeen years on this planet, only gotten better with age.

The HITS N’ PITS festival is heading back to Melbourne on Friday, November 22. The first run of announcements features Boy Sets Fire, Jughead’s Revenge, No Fun At All and Off With Their Heads! Stay tuned for more.

Let’s get all nostalgic shall we? Yeah, why the hell not!?! What other albums should bands play live from the 90’s? Let’s see…

Ballarat punk-rockers The Savages are launching their debut EP at the IDGAFF in Abbotsford on Friday, June 21. Hopes Abandoned, Too Soon and All We Need round out the killer bill. $5 gets you in. Be there. Melbourne hardcore/metal heroes Mindsnare return to action to celebrate their 20-year anniversary. Where the hell has the time gone? Catch them at the Central Club with Warbrain, Crisis Alert and Metal Storm on Saturday, August 3rd. Killer Sydney Ramonescore combo Batfoot! has parted ways with drummer Joel Sedgewick. Boo-urns. Boo-urns indeed. The UP THE PUNX! festival is going national in 2014 after two big years in Melbourne. While 2013 saw the introduction of interstate bands, 2014 will see a slew of international bands on the bill. Pretty awesome news! Sunday, June 23rd, thrash supremos Municipal Waste hit The Corner Hotel, Richmond … Just in case you’ve been living under a rock for the last few months. Hell yeah! Melbourne punk rock mofos Aitches launch their brand new CD on Thursday, August 1 at the Public Bar with total gig sluts Hopes Abandoned in tow. Supports TBA. It’s taken almost seven years, but AFI’s controversially-received album Decemberunderground has been certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of over one million units. Its follow-up, Crash Love, hasn’t even managed half that. It’s AFI’s second platinum album, after their commercial breakthrough / crossover smash, Sing the Sorrow. Have you ordered your copy of FLY from annwitherall.com yet? It’s an essential read for ANYBODY even remotely interested in Australian punk rock and a good yarn. Don’t make me shake my fist at you. Until next time, kids, remember, sharing is caring.

Meshuggah’s Chaosphere,Tool’s Ænima, Deftones’ Around The Fur, Machine Head’s Burn My Eyes, Sepultura’s Roots Bloody Roots, Marilyn Manson’s Antichrist Superstar, Satyricon’s Nemesis Divina, Strapping Young Lad’s City, System Of A Down’s self-titled debut, Faith No More’s King For A Day..., Cradle Of Filth’s Cruelty And The Beast … the list could go on, but let’s not lose our cool here. It might be a matter of taste or consensus, not sure, but it really seems as if everything else that followed the likes of the above mentioned was absolutely shit. The 80’s gave us thrash, the 90’s gave metal a more modern sound, the 00’s gave us f*cking Linkin Park and the 10’s have so far given us BVB and Periphery. The 90’s was full of kick-arse game-changing albums and it’ll be the last decade, I fear, to do so. Mastodon has been the quality modern big name stand-out (they played Letterman, twice), Gojira are steadily gaining a strong allegiance and Lamb Of God gave us, what, five albums which were all exactly the same and no-one seemed to care. But what will metal come to in the future when Iron Maiden and Metallica and Slayer and Anthrax and the modern bands mentioned above all decide to hang up their instruments and go live with Kirk Hammett on his giant-arse ranch? Who can we all rely on? Slipknot? No. F*cking. Thank you. There are heaps of bands out there in cyberspace and somewhere in the real space, AKA Mum’s basement, who’d jump at the chance to take the torch from the big boys when they decide to quit the metal relay, but what exactly is it that we the fans want? We, the fans, gave as much to the big name bands as what they gave us. Are we becoming stingy with our praise? Are we getting too old and leaving the young and naïve to decide which bands will be kings for the next ten to twenty years, or have our attention spans become so short that an entire album is too much to listen to at once? One thing seems sure: we don’t invest as much into bands anymore and we don’t have to. They’re too busy investing in keeping us up-to-date and informed constantly to the point that any mystique surrounding them is shot to the point we now take them and their music for granted. Fear Factory will play Demanufacture in its entirety in Melbourne at The Palace on Sunday, July 7. RIP Jeff Hanneman.

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Darren Percival By Natalie Rogers

It’s that time of year again – time for the Queenscliff Music Festival Winter Warmup. Headlined by 2012’s Voice favourite Darren Percival and boasting a handful of hot acts, this year’s celebration will melt even the coolest of punters.

stake. They know how the game works now – and it is a game, the contestants should not forget that. I’m still waiting for the contestants to have their moment. I just want to be covered in goose bumps and I haven’t yet. They have to be braver.

“I love the Queenscliff Music Festival and the Winter Warmup!,” Darren told Forte mag last week. “I played it last year and it’s such a great gig! So I thought I’d come down and do some looping [as his popular alter ego ‘Mr Percival’]. I’ll bust out a few tunes on the piano as well – you never know what might happen! I think it’ll be one of those gigs!”

“But no matter what the outcome it’s going to change your life because you’ve been in the lounge rooms of the Australian public, and I wouldn’t change anything about the experience. It gave me the opportunity to play all around the country and be part of some amazing shows, like the Winter Warm Up.”

Darren feels totally at home on the stage; a born performer – but he’s the first to admit his life has never been the same since his stint on the hugely successful reality TV show. “It’s been completely mental since I did The Voice. It’s been an amazing ride for me and it hasn’t stopped since! I got my approval for the blind audition on my fortieth birthday. “The whole experience felt like the scene in Walk the Line where a producer says to Johnny Cash something like, ‘sing like it’s the last thing you’re ever going to sing’ – there’s no point in keeping anything in reserve.” With that comment noted my urge to resist asking this question was overwhelming. So Darren, what do you think of this year’s show? “I’ve been watching it – it’s been great to watch from my lounge because I know what they’re going through,” Darren replied honestly. “I think the coaches are playing the game much more this year because they’re more aware of what’s at

Stevie Mink Like many in his field, Melbourne DJ and producer Stevie Mink was once an avid collector of vinyl. Also like many, this growing obsession paved the way for a career in dance music. After seeing him do his thing at the country’s biggest and best dance music festivals, it was a pleasure to spend a little time shooting some questions his way. Can you take us back to the start and tell us how you came to make dance music? I always enjoyed listening to music, but loved having a play with programs such as Ableton during my late years in high school. When I started, hip hop and RnB was dominating the charts. There was no Justin Bieber; it was just guys rapping about bitches and the rims on their car. It was terrible. I started listening to dance music which was “house music”, and it was different. It was all about the groove, and was really appealing. As a youngster it sounds like vinyl and the process of creative mash-ups captured your imagination. Was it always a very important part of your growing up? Some of the records I liked you could only get on vinyl; even Beatport wasn’t fully set up then. And it was very vague where you would get your music from. I think it was a little bit important in terms of music had to be good to get pressed on vinyl, and there wasn’t so much music back then. Now it’s almost impossible to keep up, and it’s more about how many plays you get on YouTube etc. then whether it’s a good record. Problem with that is anyone with a high profile will get noticed, even if the record is terrible. You have had a lot of success on the DJ circuit, particularly since 2010. Has the success caught you by surprise? Yes. I was in Uni studying a

The Engagement Drawing influence from bands including Coldplay and Muse, two-piece The Engagement is an electro-rockpop ball of energy and good times. Forte spent a little time with the band recently and discovered just how engaging they were. How did the name ‘The Engagement’ come about? We wanted to get people’s attention, particularly by utilising our musical talent and creativity; something that we are both passionate about. The name ‘The Engagement’ felt appropriate as we wish to ‘engage’ our audience. Contrary to the name, we don’t do weddings. You guys are from Geelong, but do a lot of your music in Melbourne. How do you find the travel and juggling work, music, life etc? Well I (David) am from Geelong, however Adrian is from Melbourne. Times do get tough and busy for us, especially when we are up till 12:30am most nights and have to be up next morning by 7am. But I guess we feel so strongly about our music that it feels like a worthwhile sacrifice to make. Forte believes you guys are pop-rock. How would you describe your music? We certainly have an electronic element to our music, but we also incorporate a diverse variety of other genres. This includes pop, rock and even reggae. If you had to sum us up, we write music for how we feel at the time, whilst trying not to conform to a specific genre. Our sound would be more suited to a commercial audience as opposed to an ‘indie rock’ audience, for example. You are currently working on a release. Tell us about how that is coming along. At this stage we are

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Other acts on the bill include much-loved eight-piece outfit Eagle and the Worm, rock’n’roll royalty Empra, blues duo Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk and Geelong’s hometown favourites The Frowning Clouds. There is truly something for everyone. “If there’s anyone reading this and they don’t have any plans on Saturday the 22nd, get some tickets and come support the festival; it’s local, it’s by the people and made for the people. It’s an important festival for the area, so come along to this celebration – there are really fantastic vibes. “If you are local, get off the couch and show your support and appreciation for all the work that goes into this world class event.” When&Where: The Queenscliff Town Hall on June 22 as part of the Queenscliff Music Festival Winter Warmup.

Bachelor of Commerce and was probably going to be an accountant or something. So being able to make a career out of what I do has surprised me. How would you describe your style? My style is always evolving. I always take in so much from what’s around me and abroad. Right now I think my style is very much big impact and big drive. Tell us about the various steps that have been taken in getting to where you are today. As with all producers, there have been some specific shows and tunes that have helped you take that next step. What were they? I think making my way from playing in the back room or side room to the main stage of clubs changed what sort of music I would produce. I take in so much all the time so it’s hard to be specific, but I’m loving songs that have impact, and that’s what I try to make. What element do you enjoy most: sitting in your studio making the magic happen, or seeing the people dancing to your work? It’s a bit of both. The studio is where the magic begins, and playing it out to a club full of cheering people, I guess, is the applause you get for your hard work. What are some of the best parties you have performed at? Too many to remember. Have you played Geelong before? Loads of times! How do Geelong party-goers rate in the scheme of things: ‘Super loose’ or ‘Tame and Timid’? Super loose Are you excited about rocking out at Geelong’s hottest address, ‘Chinese Whispers’? What do you have in store for the crowd? Always excited; I always have new stuff to test out. Anything you would like to add? Get ready to rumble Chinese Whispers!!! making the necessary preparations in order to release our 2nd single, ‘Heartbeat’. By the end of this week the tracks for the song will be sent off to New York to be mixed and mastered for the official release. We have some amazing ideas in store for our music video! You guys have been doing lots of shows about the place, including Geelong and Melbourne. Tell us about your live performance? Fundamentally, we want to put on an entertaining show. Whilst our music is the focal point, we strive to create an entertaining atmosphere utilising lights, smoke etc. Carrying Adrian’s keyboards is a show in itself! You have a single that people can check out on YouTube. Can you fill us in? Yep. Viewers can subscribe to our channel: youtube. com/theengagementband, which features live performances, rehearsals and our current single, ‘Psychotherapy’. The single is available on iTunes. We also have ‘Psychotherapy’ and b-side track ‘Luminous’ on our SoundCloud page for a listen: soundcloud.com/theengagement The Engagement took a unique step in handing out showbags at a recent performance. Tell us why you did that. We wanted to entice the general public. It’s a way to say ‘thank you’ for supporting us, and hopefully a reason to come to our next show. Do you find you are constantly being mobbed by women everywhere you go, and if so, how do you deal with the pressure of being a sex symbol? ALL THE TIME! When you are born with good looks, it’s a small price to pay. What are the plans for The Engagement going forward? We are constantly in the studio with our producer coming up with new and exciting material for our forthcoming EP and live shows. These preparations are also helping to prepare for a national tour.

When&Where: Mofo Lounge, Melbourne – June 13. You can check out the band through facebook.com/theengagement or twitter.com/engagementmusic. According to their Facebook page, new song ‘Orbit’ will debut at the show.

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tweet of the week

INSIDE SPLINTERS PRESENTS…

Pet Shop Boys 'Electric'

POP STARS AND THE DAMAGE CONTROL RECORD

In light of the news that 80’s synth-pop geniuses the Pet Shop Boys are about to release what can only be referred to as a damage control record (a brand new album virtually less than a year after their last, which was panned critically and ignored by many of their long-term fans), this issue’s Splinters takes a trip through the Pop World’s most needed Damage Control Records. Who so desperately needs a mind-blowing record to follow up the disappointment of their last? Let’s take a peek...

LADY GAGA team could have imagined. Gaga’s fourth album, ARTPOP, is reported to be dropping this year with the popstrel claiming that it’s a return to the fun of her first two records, The Fame and The Fame Monster. We have faith; mainly because there was a lot of genius spread amongst a lot of shit on her last album Born This Way, a record and era which singlehandedly destroyed the global pull Gaga once had as a pop star. She may have her work cut out for her, but something tells us there’s nothing to worry about. She’s got this. Those who were quick to discredit her values as a musician and pop star may well be gearing up for a nice surprise.

Kylie Minogue

For an album that was as critically-driven through the dirt upon release as Madonna’s MDNA was, the era continues, twelve months later, to break records and snatch awards, which is a testament to how much of a Living Legend this woman is. Just last week Madge was awarded Best Touring Artist by Billboard Music (for a concert which broke global touring records previously achieved by, yup, Madonna) and the album MDNA took out the Best Dance Album gong. Not bad for a record that could have been between 4-7 songs shorter than it was. With the MDNA-era nearing an end, and the tour hitting US television sets in the southern end of June, we have a feeling The Queen of Everything’s brain is going into overdrive thinking about the next musical endeavour she’ll embark on. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: We want Madonna to stop focusing on making new fans and start focusing on the ones she has left. Toss out the features. No more songs with hip teen idols like Nicki Minaj or Justin Timberlake; and no, Madonna, not everything has to be a dance track. Let’s go for a minimum of THREE monolithic ballads, with the first one to be so bloody good it’s the next album’s first single. And while we’re at it, let’s rope Nile Rodgers, Pat Leonard, Shep Pettibone, Stephen Bray and Stuart Price in to write and co-produce the entire thing.

KYLIE MINOGUE

PET SHOP BOYS After the abysmal Elysium last year, our favourite British duo are about to launch the very exciting and rush-released follow-up to their dire last release and, thank Heavens to Betsy, it’s a proper dance-pop record. The album is produced by music legend Stuart Price (Madonna’s Confessions On A Dance Floor, Take That’s Progress) – also known as Jacques Lu Cont – and is, no surprises, all the better for it. First single ‘Axis’ is a mind-blowing foray into the classic PSB synths of yesteryear, all whilst mashing it up together with the upfront rave of today. The track is virtually without vocals and manages to be the first Pet Shop Boys song to excite in just over two of their albums. New single ‘Vocal’ has already hit the interwebs and is causing as much of a commotion as ‘Axis’ has. Written by Adem with an E

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HIT OR SHIT!

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT Season 4 has arrived thanks to Netflix and comes complete with a new scene-stealing star: an Ostrich.

MADONNA The MDNA Tour DVD is coming. We’ve seen it and it’s FIERCE.

BAY FM For being the only station in Victoria who seems to love Madonna, Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga as much as we do.

AUSTRALIA’S GOT TALENT We went, we sat, our view was obstructed, and we couldn’t see Ginger Spice or Dawn French – the single reason we were attending – so we left almost immediately. An evening well and truly wasted. Thanks Channel 9!

MKTO’s ‘THANK YOU’ We are so sick of hearing this song 10 times a day every day on the radio. STOP!

TIMOMATIC Just No.

SHIT!

Kylie’s very lucky (lucky, lucky, lucky) when it comes to needing a damage control record because, judging by all recent reports, she’s already working on it. After the decent but patchy at times Aphrodite, Minogue K signed a deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and began working with the people behind some of the latest hits from Solange Knowles and Sky Ferreira. The Roc Nation deal has already sparked debate and controversy amongst Kylie’s most faithful fans (who refer to themselves as The Al-Kylieada), with many speculating that this exciting new change in record contracts and management will usher in an era of worldwide domination; perhaps more so in America than her previous endeavours. The sound seems to be right, but will Americans be ready to accept a 46-year-old Aussie into their charts after so many wasted opportunities to crack their market over the last 25 years in her career?

@spawnofthediva spills the tea on The Hunger Games.

HIT

With the ARTPOP project practically either minutes away from launching, or never launching at all, one does have to ask: How exactly do you solve a problem like Stefani Germanotta? Never in the history of pop music have we seen such a meteoric rise to the top – a feat helped by not only the internet but also a fearless marketing team – nor have we seen one as meteoric since. There’s always been more to Lady Gaga than just a great team with an eye for saturating the market with their clients face, but as the years have progressed she has not only lost fans but has, arguably, done more damage to her own image and legacy than anybody in her marketing

MADONNA

“ I’m watching The Hunger Games. I don’t really understand what’s going on and I’m sorely tempted to put on The Little Mermaid.”

Back to Back Theatre By Tex Miller

Celebrating 25 years as a theatre company in 2012, Back to Back Theatre is heading out on the road once again with some exciting theatrical productions. I recently sat about with Alice Gerlach to have a chat about what one of the most successful independent theatre companies Australia has to offer. Following on from a successful run around Australia, Back to Back Theatre is currently touring Ganesh Versus the Third Reich around North America and Canada; the success of which has been extremely positive as Alice relates: “We have performed Ganesh in thirteen cities so far in 2013, and this is the second time that we have performed in America. We started out in Los Angeles and New York and have returned to perform in Chicago, Calgary, Quebec City and Montreal. We have had other shows that we have performed internationally to great success and so initially we were hoping the same for Ganesh, and so it has been fantastic.” The international success, however, was nearly not realised when the production was marred by controversy on the initial American run of shows, due to content within. “Some of the Hindu community were offended by some of the early publicity because they found it to disrespect their gods. Although they hadn’t yet seen the show, we eventually got them on side and everyone around the world has loved it. But it was a little bit touch and go there for a while, and it nearly jeopardised the success of the show. It did give us a few nervous moments that is for sure,” Alice reminisces. The success that has followed Ganesh all around North America on the second run has been extremely positive, with standing ovations recently in Montreal and Calgary. Through working with the disabled community, Back to Back Theatre has become one of the most acclaimed theatre production companies throughout the world. You may remember having seen Small Metal Objects (SMO) being performed in the middle of Westfield a couple of years ago; and by creating a more personal experience for the audience, SMO is just another production that has gone onto bigger and better things overseas. The key to putting on a successful show predominately rests within the hard work in the pre-production stages and throughout successful marketing campaigns. “Ganesh was three years in creative development, which is a really long time for a play. However, this is the most important time for a play because it is the voice of the ensemble; if we can tell our stories in a very considered way, then we can create a production of the highest quality. Bruce Gladwin is our theatre director and is one of the greatest within Australia, receiving Best Director for Ganesh at the Helpmann awards. The actors have amazing skill and are dedicated to their craft, so it is a full team effort,” Alice said. As one of the pioneers within the theatre industry – creating opportunities primarily for the disabled community – the next production set to premiere in September is Laser Beak Man, the incarnation of which was created by Brisbane playwright Tim Sharp, which initially started out as a collection of paintings and drawings before being transformed into the theatre setting; a quirky and light-hearted play, of which Back To Back Theatre is excited to see the transition and how it looks onstage. Currently in negotiations for an international run of shows, only time will tell if it can become as successful as Ganesh and Small Metal Objects. For anyone that is keen to get involved with Back to Back Theatre, there are weekly workshops called ‘Theatre of Speed’ which run throughout the school terms and allows for you to engage and work with some of the best mentors and actors within the industry – so contact Back to Back today! 25 years in the industry, the next 25 promise to be just as exciting – so keep your eyes peeled.

Diversitat Training Music, Media and Sound Upcoming Info Sessions

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CUF40107 Certificate IV in Screen and Media Info Session is Mon June 17 at 1.30pm

CUS50109 Diploma of Music Info Session is Mon June 17 at 1.30pm

CUS40209 Certificate IV in Sound Production Info Session is Mon June 17 at 1.30pm

CUF20107 Certificate II in Creative Industries (Media) Info Session is Mon June 17 at 1.30pm

The Pulse Training Facility (68-70 Little Ryrie Street Geelong 3220)

Start your new career today by calling us on 5224 2329 Diversitat Training trading as Diversitat, RTO 5819. Training at Diversitat is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding.

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KAT PENGELLY 'Wear Art Now' Kat Pengelly is a well known Ballarat artist and designer who has created a wonderful collection of artful fashion, including wearable art outfits and accessories for this exhibition. ‘Wear Art Now’ is a collection that aims to exalt the artfulness of each garment while also keeping them wearable and accessible to most. Finer details in the folds or fall of the fabric cause one to look longer and Kat is working with leather for the first time with this collection. Kat has collaborated with other Ballarat artists for this exhibition to produce a remarkable blend of artistic processes. This includes hand painted fabric by Ballarat artist Casey Tosh and tattood leather with design work by Kat Radcliffe from the Iron Flamingo Studio. Kat has also teamed up with teachers and students from

17th VIGEX International Photography Exhibition From 1 June the Geelong Gallery will present the 17th VIGEX international photography salon 2013, a popular exhibition featuring 70 works by photographers from 16 countries. VIGEX (an abbreviation of Victoria Geelong Exhibition) is a biennial competition, which receives thousands of entries from around the world. Established in 1980, VIGEX is one of only two international photographic competitions in Australia accredited by the Federation Internationale

de l’Art Photographique (FIAP) and the Australian Photographic Society (APS). In 2013, over 2,500 prints were judged in the following categories: Monochrome Open, Colour Open, Nature, Photojournalism, People, and Creative. A panel of nine leading photographers in their fields judged this year’s entries. VIGEX is co-ordinated by a voluntary committee—largely drawn from the Geelong Camera Club and Corio Bay Camera Club—which partners with the Geelong Gallery to present the award-winning works as a special exhibition for the public to enjoy. Major award winners for 2013 include— Monochrome Open—Wing

Fai Ng (Hong Kong) Colour Open—Manfred Kluger (Germany) Nature—Cheng Lu (China) Photojournalism—Marg Huxtable (Australia) People—Yiutung Mak (Hong Kong) Creative—Peter Hammer (Australia) Where: Geelong Gallery, Little Malop Street, Geelong, 3220 When: June 1-July 7. Phone: 5229 3645 Info: Free Entry. Open daily, 10-5. www.geelonggallery.org.au PICTURED ABOVE: Ammar Abdulrasool (Bahrain) Flowers revolution 2013 VAPS Gold Medal (Photojournalism)

MAILLE FANTASY Kelly Clitheroe took a six-week trip to the USA in 2007 with her (then) 15 month old son. She bought a magazine with a Dragonscale bracelet on the cover, came back to Australia and was hooked! She started up her business ‘Maille Fantasy’ in July 2007 and hasn’t stopped mailling since. Chainmaille is an ancient and traditionally classic style of jewellery, dating back thousands of years. Originally used in armoury, it has been adopted by jewellers to make stunning, individual and timeless pieces. She makes all of the jewellery at home using Sterling Silver, 14K Gold fill and semiprecious stones. Kelly also use recycled and reclaimed materials. She is currently a high school teacher of Mathematics and Science at her local Secondary College, a mother, a Chainmaille instructor, a small business owner, a writer of Mathematics textbook solutions and a co-contributor to Mathematics teaching resources, and in her spare time, likes to cook. Kelly has been credited with over 20 weaves and numerous variations to weaves. She teaches internationally and nationally and is writing her second book on chainmaille techniques. Kelly designs kits and tutorials which are sold exclusively through www.ChainWeavers.com, a US based chainmaille supply company. Kelly currently lives near the beach in Victoria, Australia. She can be contacted at enquiries@ maillefantasy.com.au or at www.Facebook.com/ MailleFantasyJewellery. Her work can be viewed at www.maillefantasy.com.au.

UNISTYLE, a department of University of Ballarat who are doing the hair and makeup on models for the opening parade. The students worked with Kat on a design brief for ‘Wear Art Now’ which explores the theme and style behind the collection to devise unique hairstyles and make up to complement the total look. “I find it enjoyable that my fashion enters the world through a gallery; it provides a moment to contemplate the artistic elements that go into the design and construction of clothing, and not just considered haute couture, all clothes. I gain particular inspiration from military attire, work and sport clothing which are often tailored, very well made and designed to work with the body. “ Where: Gallery on Sturt, 421 Sturt St Ballarat VIC 3350 When: June 7–July 12 Phone: 5331 7011 INFO: www.galleryonsturt. com.au

Burning Geelong Production Company and Mad As Us presents a Victorian premiere of Verity Laughton’s Australian play, Burning. “A true gem… starkly written, highly nuanced work… an incendiary experience not to be missed.” Katrina Schwarz, Drum Media. A couple inherit an old family home. They find a body in the garden. This discovery opens a Pandora’s Box.

Company Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by George Furth. Directed by Davina Smith Crowley. Musical Direction by Michael Wilding. Vocal Direction by Tania Spence. This multi-Tony Award winning musical comedy production is a unique collaboration between two of Geelong’s premier theatre companies, Geelong Repertory Theatre and Geelong Lyric Theatre Society. It’s Robert’s birthday. He’s 35, he lives in New York City and he’s a confirmed bachelor. His friends, his “Company”, most of them married and all of them couples, have gathered at his apartment to give him a surprise party. Robert tries to blow out the candles, but they stay lit. “It’s alright,” someone cries, “he still gets to make his wish.” What was his wish?

Starring 2-time Logie Award winner, Libby Tanner (All Saints, Pacific Drive, Rescue: Special Ops, Fireflies, Headland), Stephen Macklin, Lauren O’Callahan, Scott Middleton and Edie Van Vriends. Where: Courthouse ARTS, Cnr Gheringhap and Little Malop Streets, Geelong, 3200. WheN: June 28, 29; July 4, 5, 6 at 8pm. TIX: GPAC. Phone: 5225 1200 or www.gpac.org.au INFO: www.courthouse.org.au

Nothing. Not even to be married. In vignette after hilarious vignette, we meet Robert’s married friends, as he weighs the pros and cons of married life. Making his way through a series of encounters with various women, as well as his married friends, in the end he realises being alone is “Alone, not alive.” The clashing sounds and pulsing rhythms of New York City underscore this famous landmark “concept” show, considered by many to have inaugurated the modern era of musical theatre. Where: Woodbin Theatre, 15 Coronation Street, Geelong West, 3218. WheN: July 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20 at 8pm; July 7, 14 & 20 at 2pm. TIX: GPAC. Phone: 5225 1200 or www.gpac.org.au INFO: www.geelongrep.com.au or www.glts.asn.au EMAIL: info@geelongrep.com.au or newsletter@glts.asn.au

Midsummer (A Play With Songs) By David Greig & Gordon McIntyre Bob and Helena meet at a wine bar. He’s a failing car salesman waiting to pick up the keys to a stolen car. She’s a divorce lawyer with a taste for other people’s husbands. She’s totally out of his league; he’s not her type at all. They absolutely should not sleep together. Ever. Which is why they inevitably do.  This is the story of two strangers whose onenight stand turns into a fabulous lost weekend of stolen money, car chases, wedding bust-ups, Japanese rope bondage, midnight trysts and self-loathing hangovers. Absorbing, lyrical and irresistibly funny, Midsummer is a quirky, charming love story by one of Scotland’s leading playwrights David Greig and top Edinburgh singer/songwriter Gordon McIntyre.

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Kat Pengelly ‘Racy Rascal’ Design and construction by Kat Pengelly Hand painted fabric by Casey Tosh Photo – Luke Prendergast (2013)

Where: GPAC Drama Theatre. 50 Little Malop St, Geelong. When: July 10-13 at 8pm, matinee July 13 at 1pm. Phone: 5225 1200. INFO: www.gpac.org.au

ZONE – New paintings by Kasper Raglus – LAST FEW DAYS! Zones & Inner Visions explored. “Do you read me? Outside this diamond core, raw and fractured meanings. Tell them I’m waiting for another, tell them to look within. It’s pain and simple. It’s now.” Observing frames of mind was the main influence for my newest pieces. Whether pleasing or painful, direct or lost, always a honest feeling that I would focus on capturing. Like a song sung by The Everly Brothers about seeing a lover with another or the first glass of red by the fire, all the corny stuff you can’t run from sometimes. Being surrounded by advertising in this new digital age I think back to people who had jobs painting signs by hand. Seeing the human touch to me is pleasing. Like somebody worked hard to get their lettering as neat as they could. Basically I’m inspired by people who work hard at what they do. I see these new pieces as a step forward into a zone I’m super excited to be in right now. City or coast, day or night. Inside and out, it’s all there for you baby. - Kasper Tiger Snake Raglus Where: Boom Gallery. 11 Rutland Street, Newtown, Geelong 3216. When: Until June 22. Weds-Sat 9.30-4.00. Phone: 0417555101. INFO: www.boomgallery. com.au or info@ boomgallery.com.au

arts news from around town – and beyond! Scarf Festival 2013: - Home

ALL STAR CHEERLEADING – GEELONG Get your pom-poms on! The 2013 WINTERFEST VICTORIAN Cheer & Dance Championship will be conducted at the Geelong Arena on the 29th–30th June. See over 2,000 of the State’s best cheer and dance teams go headto-head to see who will be crowned 2013 WINTERFEST Champions. Where: The Arena. 10 Victoria Street, North Geelong, 3215. WheN: June 29-30. INFO: www.aascf.com.au EMAIL: steve@aascf.com.au

Now into its fifth year in Geelong after a very successful run at its former home at Craft Victoria in Melbourne. The key event for the festival is an exhibition of original handcrafted scarves created to reflect the maker’s own unique experiences and featuring a range of awards for the best scarves in each of the 11 categories. The Festival will also incorporate a People’s Choice Award, allowing visitors to vote for their favourite entries.

More than 300 scarves will be on display submitted by individual craft-makers from around Australia and overseas. Most of the scarves will be available for purchase, although all will remain on display until the end of the exhibition. There’s also an exciting program of craft demonstrations running throughout the Festival, daily from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Where: National Wool Museum. 2632 Moorabool St, Geelong 3220. When: June 7-August 25. Open Mon-Fri 9.30-5; Sat & Sun 10-5.

Phone: 5272 4701 INFO: www. nwm.vic.gov. au or nwminfo@ geelongcity.vic. gov.au

Supplied by Ross Mueller (Artistic Director of Courthouse arts)

No great work of art has ever been created from a place of safety. Good art is all about risk; and because risk can be risky, expensive, and emotionally dangerous, the creative team at Courthouse ARTS is taking action. They have recently announced a brand new opportunity for young artists with new ideas and it’s called The Laboratory Project.

B Manjanovic Home Is Where The Heart Is

SB LIBRIS BOOKBINDING Learn the ancient craft of bookbinding in a one day, hands-on workshop in the heart of Bendigo’s Arts Precinct. Under the guidance of an experienced bookbinder, learn the skills required to create a traditional hand sewn, hard cover binding. The cost of the workshop is $250 and includes: • One full day tuition 9.30am-3pm. • All materials. • Take home Bookbinding Kit comprising simple binders tools & course manual. • Morning tea & lunch. • Small group size(6 persons max.)

The Laboratory Project at Courthouse ARTS

• Use of traditional binding equipment. Where: SB Libris. 81-83 View Street, Bendigo. When: Next workshop date: June 29. Others: July 27, Aug 31, Sept 28, Oct 26, Nov 23. Phone: 5444 5933. www. sblibris.com.au INFO: www.sblibris.com.au or enquiries@sblibris.com.au

The Laboratory Project is a groundbreaking access program designed to develop new theatre, dance and music from the Geelong region. If you’ve got an idea, you’ve got to get onto this. In 2013/2014, three Geelong-based artists/ companies will have the opportunity to come into Courthouse ARTS and stage their own new work with major support from the company.

Courthouse ARTS has had significant success with the cutting edge programs like A Conversation in the Key Of... and the permanent gallery space. This month they presented FONY 2013, a brand new play that focused on Facebook. The play was a knockout success and is touring to Sydney this month. It has been an incredible learning opportunity for the cast and crew. The Laboratory Project is inviting dancers, writers and actors to come to the table and make a suggestion that involves risk and the development of a new idea. It could be a new piece of theatre, a concert, a dance piece; anything as long as it’s physical, local and taking a risk. “As long as you’re a member of Courthouse ARTS and you want to make new work, then you’re able to apply to this program,” says Mueller. “Our artistic team are committed to supporting this scheme. We all know how hard it is to get started in this business and this project is designed to help make the hard road a little bit easier.” In the last twelve months Courthouse ARTS has become a significant player on the national stage. They have created partnerships with theatre companies in Sydney and are currently developing plans with youth arts company, The Point, in the United Kingdom. It is an exciting place to be if you want to be part of the development of new ideas and new culture. Support for your idea in the Laboratory Project includes free venue, free rehearsal space, free access to the artistic staff and marketing and publicity. You can’t ask for more than that. All you have to bring is the next big thing! If you have an idea that you would like to get into the lab, email your completed application form to youtharts@courthouse. org.au before July 1, 2013.

This is an amazing opportunity for young and emerging artists in Geelong and Artistic Director Ross Mueller is very excited. “There has never been a program like this in Geelong. We’re thrilled to be leading the way in the development of these opportunities for young local artists.” Your new work can be in any discipline, but it must be exploratory in nature. That means that it’s not another version of Phantom of the Opera or Cats all over again. The Laboratory Project is for young people who are interested in making performance work that is outside the boundaries of straight plays and tired old musicals. It is a playground for new form and new ideas, and a major investment in the development of young artists.

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EMMA ARMSTRONG Our Arts Q&A this issue is with twentysomething Emma Armstrong, a gal with a steady hand and a rock and roll heart. Read on to get to know her a little better... Please introduce yourself to Forte readers and tell us a bit about your background? Emma Armstrong. 27-year-old full-time Graphic Designer, part-time selftaught artist. Where is it you reside? And how has living in that area shaped the art you have come to produce? I’ve lived in Geelong all my life, and enjoy the ‘small town’ lifestyle. Two years ago I moved house to a place that is much more surrounded by nature, which has been a great environment for me to start producing art more regularly.

Moongate Studios By Tex Miller

Moongate Studios is located just off the picturesque Great Ocean Road on the Geelong side of Anglesea. Jan and Geo Francis, who run the studio on their 26 acre property, live an ideal eco sustainable lifestyle while pursuing their artistic endeavours. I recently got the opportunity to sit down with the couple to have a chat about their inspirational life together.

What is it you do? Are you a painter, sculptor, photographer etc? I paint large black and white portraits on canvas, and produce pencil illustrations on both wood panel and paper. How did you get into this art form? What has been your inspiration to continue to pursue this? I have drawn all my life and painting is something I gave a try on a whim. Music is a huge inspiration to continue my paintings (portraits of musicians), and my pencil work is largely inspired by my love of fashion and nature. If you were listening to someone describe your work, how would you like it to be described? Beautiful tonal pieces with a realistic style influenced by fashion and nature. Have you taken part in many exhibitions, displays, shows etc? No, I have never exhibited

my work, but am very excited to announce that I am currently working on a solo exhibition of wood panel illustrations to be held at the Courthouse ARTS in early 2014. What has been your greatest achievement as an artist to date? Definitely my painting of Eddie Vedder. That is one sexy piece of work! Briefly take us through your collection. Describe what people would be seeing. Large black and white photographic-style portraits of musicians; and colour portraits of women in pencil on wood panels. What is it you look to gain from your work? Is it a hobby or are you looking for widespread exposure? I have always drawn for my own enjoyment, but in the last 12 months I have been drawing with the intention to share my work with others and gain some exposure. Where can people go to check out your stuff? Originals and prints of my work are exclusively available at Pretty In Paper (Little Malop Street, Geelong) and directly through me. Check out my website www. emscorner.net

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE! CALL LUKE ON 0422 809 042

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Starting out as potters three decades ago, Jan and Geo self-built their beautiful mudbrick home amidst the Bellbrae bush whilst raising four children. Pottery has given way to many artistic endeavours including sculpting for Geo and oil painting for Jan. Some of Geo’s more well-known sculptures around the Geelong region include the Orange Pipeline outside the Surf Coast Shire office on the Torquay Road and Tango in Aireys Inlet. Jan, it has been said, “is an artist who has found in painting her own distinctive voice”, from oils to black and white drawing, etching and linocuts. Talking about the lifestyle choices the pair has made over the past three decades, Jan feels that they have followed their lifelong philosophy of taking the more adventurous road in life no matter the consequences. “The first initial question you may ask us is, ‘Why did we build a mud brick house from scratch?’ I think that we like to take on

the challenges of life, and George and I often think it’s the chicken and the egg. Are you an artistic person who puts in the hard yards and confronts the hard challenges? If not, I think you just become one. It’s who we are and you have to commit yourself to everything you do, and that is what we have done since the beginning.” As artists together, Jan and Geo have toured their works throughout the world including Paris, New York, and most notably, Italy as part of the Qualitaly program which they started with support from Piedmont local Massimiliano Panero in 1997. As an entrepreneur with a desire to bring art all around the world, Max has helped significantly with the logistics of touring artwork overseas. “When we met Max on my first solo exhibition in Italy, it was great to see the enthusiasm that he had for overseas artists. His career ambition was to take artwork around the world and since then he has toured exhibitions throughout Russia and Tonga. He is a remarkable person who is dedicated to developing friendships throughout the arts industry,” Jan said. The program over the years has gained support from the City of Greater Geelong and Diversitat, which has allowed for numerous artworks to be exhibited over the years. The current project Arte’ Dall’Australia commences in Turin in September. Resulting from this strong artistic partnership between Italy and Australia, Jan and Geo were awarded an honorary Arts degree from the local university as well as citizenship to the town of Piedmont. Following on from a trip to Japan last year, Jan has embarked on creating 100 pieces of art based on ‘The 100 Aspects of the Moon’ by Japanese artist Yoshitoshi who worked with woodprints in the late 19th century. There is always something new at Moongate. Open days to the property are scheduled for later in the year. Where: 90 Elkington Road, Bellbrae.

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FILM REVIEWS

by anthony morris

The Great Gatsby

Fast & Furious 6 Remember how Fast & Furious 5 ended with our heroes stealing a bank vault by driving away with it? Truly this is a franchise where if you can’t do it with, in, or on a car, it’s not worth doing; which is why our story begins with Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) and Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) racing their cars along a winding cliff-top road to see who can be first at … the birth of O’Conner’s child with Dom’s sister Mia (Jordana Brewster)? Wait, that’s not car-related? No; while you might have thought this franchise was all about cars, what with pretty much every scene being all about cars, it’s really all about family. Every single line of non-action dialogue is one character or another either talking about how it’s great being part of a family, the general importance of family, the firm need to maintain a family, how a family is a group of people that stick together … family, family, family. Family is important because it explains why, when Interpol agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) turns up with a brand new photo of Dom’s supposedly dead former girlfriend Letty Ortiz (Michelle Rodriguez), Dom, O’Conner, and the rest of their crime crew instantly give up their glamorous high-rolling lifestyles to track down the bad guy she’s now hanging out with. She’s family; they’ve got to get her back. Who wants to live in a mansion with millions of dollars and a hot Brazilian girlfriend anyway, and so on. And then it turns out that bad guy, ex-SAS vehicular warfare specialist turned criminal Owen Shaw (Luke Evans), is pretty much the opposite of a family guy – and then it’s on. Well, first there’s a few low-key chases and kung fu fight scenes and shootouts that are all perfectly fine (but nothing really spectacular), but we finally get to what you’ve paid to see: Owen and company in a truck, everyone trying to stop them in fast cars, a stretch of highway that goes forever, and plenty of other cars to wreck. And it’s amazing. Yes, the film is full of lunkheads you expect to go around high-fiving each other after every action sequence. Yes, the original idea of gritty street racing and crime has been replaced by a crew of friends (a family even) pulling off ridiculous heists. It just doesn’t matter. This is the silliest, most over-the-top, most fun action movie of the year. Run, don’t walk to see this one. And that’s run as in “run red lights”.

People have been dreading Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic 1925 novel ever since it was announced – and it turns out for good reason. Not that it’s a terrible movie – it’s not that bad judged merely as “A Baz Luhrmann movie” – but if you’re looking for a film that understands, let alone has actual insight into the source material, this is not the film for you. There’s a new framing sequence; narrator Nick Carraway (Toby Maguire) is now drying out in a sanatorium under the guidance of Jack Thompson, who suggests he write down what drove him to drink so Baz Luhrmann can turn it into a movie 80 years later. It adds nothing to the story but does provide the opportunity to show Nick occasionally typing away while words float up on the screen.Meanwhile, back in the past, the story unfolds: it’s the early 1920s and Nick comes to New York to make his money selling bonds. There he catches up with his airy cousin Daisy (Carey Mulligan) and her thuggish sports star millionaire husband Tom (Joel Edgerton), then realises his shabby shack is situated next to the largest party house in the state: the four-storey mansion of one Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio). In bad news for Baz, once Gatsby arrives on the scene he has to start making a movie about people as people, not manikins he can dress up and make dance against a CGI backdrop of Arrow Shirt’s billboard-packed Old New York. Luckily DiCaprio is almost certainly the best cinematic Gatsby to date, and not just because he makes Gatsby’s constant refrain of “old sport” seem like something an actual human being might say. The other performances are uneven at best. Edgerton has a sweaty energy, but he’s playing the only character who gets to do anything; Mulligan is largely just a simpering object of desire; and Maguire is stuck playing a hopeless geek for the first third of the film and never really recovers. This is a film that promises crazy excess but in the end only hints at it; a film that isn’t afraid to go all out with its costuming, but is constantly worried that audiences won’t understand basic plot points unless a voiceover literally describes exactly what we’re seeing on the screen. Basically, it’s the movie Gatsby would make to try and win over Daisy. If you don’t like being compared to a ditsy blonde who marries for money and neglects her daughter, maybe this isn’t the film for you.

Mud Despite the presence of an all-star adult cast – Matthew McConaughey is the only guy on most of the posters – Mud is one of those rare films that’s actually about being a kid. This particular kid is fourteen-year-old Ellis (Tye Sheridan), who lives with his parents (Ray McKinnon and Sarah Paulson) on a riverboat in Arkansas. Their relationship is crumbling; to escape the tensions at home, Ellis and his best friend Neckbone (Jacob Lofland) spend their days exploring the river, including an isolated island where a recent flood had dumped a boat high up in a tree. Turns out Mud (McConaughey) is living in that boat, and after some initial wariness they make a deal: if they help him fix up the boat and get back his girl, he’ll give them his pistol. Problem is, Mud is a wanted man, with both the police and a family of thugs after him for killing the last boyfriend of his dream girl (Reese Witherspoon), and they’re watching her like a hawk. Yes, this is a coming-of-age story – Ellis learns a fair bit about love during the course of his adventures, not all of it positive – but director Brad Furman (Take Shelter) isn’t interested in spelling out obvious lessons or talking about “the summer when everything changed”. Instead, he’s created a solid adventure story that really does feel like fun for the whole family; the kids are heroic without being idealised, the threats are real without being over the top, the story is straightforward but still contains plenty of nuance and engaging characters, and while you wouldn’t want to take little kids to it, there’s enough going on to make this a great film whether you’re fourteen or just remember what it was like trying to figure out how the world works.

Farewell My Queen The Internship Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson have got their double act pretty much down pat these days. Vaughn is the slightly sleazy, slight dodgy, but generally good-hearted one; while Wilson is the all-heart nice guy (which is why he usually gets the real relationship), and together they basically encourage each other to talk a whole lot of hopefully amusing crap. Thankfully The Internship (with a script co-written by Vaughn) doesn’t mess around with the formula: the duo is a pair of salesmen with the gift of the gab who find themselves out of work when the boss (John Goodman) of their watch company closes it down without telling them. Rather than continue doing the same old same old with their lives now they’re unemployed – one promptly loses his girlfriend, the other realises he’s never been in a relationship longer than three months – Vaughn rescues Wilson from a nightmare mattress sales job (his boss is Will Ferrell, who has a neck tattoo) and they head out to San Francisco to try out for intern jobs at Google. Viewed one way, the film is a massive ad for Google; but it makes just enough sense story-wise to be tolerable. These guys are the past when it comes to corporate culture (they almost wouldn’t be out of place in an episode of Mad Men), while Google is the future of business. Still, the movie pretty quickly turns into a campus comedy as it’s revealed getting an internship requires them to form teams – guess who gets the team full of misfits and outcasts – and compete against each other. The bad guys are lead by a smug evil git (Max Minghella); in contrast, our guys start out hating each other but pull together thanks to the power of going to a (surprisingly tame) strip club and teaching the kids how to party down. At two full hours this is way longer than it needed to be; and there are plenty of clunky scenes, flat patches and not-quite-funny jokes here. But Vaughn and Wilson are in fine form, and while the Google-worship rankles, the whole thing is just funny enough to feel like a good time – even if you might be laughing at it almost as much as you laugh with it.

The year is 1789, and while on the streets of Paris the peasants are revolting, inside Versailles life goes on in pampered luxury. Well, it does for Marie Antoinette (Diane Kruger); for the savvy Sidonie Laborde (Léa Seydoux), whose job it is to read to the queen, the rumblings outside the palace add a growing tension to the usual palace intrigue. She’s obsessed with the Queen, the Queen is obsessed with noblewoman Gabrielle de Polignac (Virginie Ledoyen), and as the situation outside the walls gets worse, everyone else just wants to get out alive. Which is easier said than done with angry mobs roaming the streets and a royal family not exactly keen on people jumping ship. Writer-director Benoît Jacquot creates an intimate look at a closeted group trying to ignore history even as it bears down on them – it’s an eighteenth century version of last-days-of-Hitler-drama Downfall, only with more needlepoint. Seydoux gives Sidonie ruthless smarts without the experience to realise the Queen is only out for herself, while Kruger makes erratic self-obsession seem almost admirable. Neither a sensuous wallowing in luxury nor a dry history lesson, this has the grim momentum of life aboard a sinking ship; and while the ending is a little up in the air, a quick check of any history book will reveal that for a lot of the characters involved things did not turn out for the best.

FIL M W RAP The Hangover III Our three heroes (plus the one who always vanishes ten minutes in) are back – and they’re heading back to Las Vegas. Whoo. Rarely has a film title been more evocative of the feeling it’ll leave you with than this one.

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After Earth In the far future mankind has left Earth, which has reverted to a savage jungle state. So crashing a spaceship on it is probably not a good idea, yeah? Will Smith goes all out to guide his son Jaden inside the movie, while outside it’s not hard to feel a little like you’re watching a billionaire father give his son a movie role as a present.

Still Mine James Cromwell and Geneviève Bujold is a couple who’ve been married for six decades. She’s getting frail; he wants to build a new house they’ll both be able to live in; the local council doesn’t like the idea; and this is one of those stories that really could go either way depending on the exact point they decide to wrap things up.

Star Trek Into Darkness The old gang is back in this effort that feels a lot more like a retread than the last one did. If you don’t think about what’s happening at all, it’s a fun thrillride. If you can’t keep your mind blank, it’s actually pretty stupid and slightly insulting.

Iron Man 3 Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) has issues after all the action in The Avengers, so having to deal with super-terrorist The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and a sleaze (Guy Pearce) hitting on his girl (Gwyneth Paltrow) makes for a pretty full schedule. Oh yeah, there’s a bunch of explosions and he flies around a lot in a robot suit.

The Call Halle Berry is a 911 operator scarred for life by a call where a young woman died. So when a teenager calls from inside the boot of a car while she’s being kidnapped, you better believe it’s on.

MUSIC REVIEWS

POrPe!

The National Trouble Will Find Me

cultu By An th on

Remote Control Records I’m not a fan of The National. There, I said it. I like one song, ‘Bloodbuzz Ohio’, and that’s only because Julia Stone covered it; so you can probably see which way this review is going. You could go read a hundred other publications and see them out-do the band’s own press release for vague, positivesounding words about how the album has “the effortless and unselfconscious groove of a downstream swimmer”, or you could read mine, which tells you in plain English what is wrong with it. Two words: It’s BORING.Apparently the band drew inspiration from Cat Stevens, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and David Bowie for this record; and sure, there are elements of their musical styles in here if you look hard enough. Unfortunately, their iconic lyric writing, storytelling, or their ability to grab you with a song and never let go, got lost somewhere in the translation. Bob Dylan had one of the worst voices in the history of popular music, but you could feel the emotion in every line. Same goes for Neil Young. There is no emotion in this album; instead we have Matt Berninger’s low droning voice, which seems to go as low as Nick Cave to Roy Orbison with no warning, and to no effect. Everyone will be calling this the best album of the year, and will forget about it in a week. Come end of year award time, it might get a nomination nod here or there; but for the most part, this one will go away. But not quick enough. By Cameron Brogden

y M orr is

The fourth season of Arrested Development debuted a fortnight ago on US online streaming service Netflix, and despite not being legally available in Australia (though there are some quasi-legal methods of getting around things), chances are you already know someone who’s seen it. It’s not like it’s never going to be available here either: Netflix’s previous move into original programming, a reworking of the UK political drama House of Cards, is currently showing on Pay TV and is due for a DVD release in a month or so. And while it’s understandable that people would be keen to check out the return of a much-loved series, the Netflix model – which involves releasing all the episodes in a series at once, more like a DVD box set than a regular weekly television series – does seem to have inspired a fairly stupid approach to taking the show in. Rather than taking the time to actually watch each episode and consider it before moving on – and let’s not forget that Arrested Development is a comedy, and extended exposure to a comedy usually means the jokes stop working around the ninety minute mark – people viewed the whole series in a rush; then rushed to talk about it on social media. It’s the kind of situation where no-one wins. By rushing through a comedy you make sure you’re enjoying it less than you otherwise would (you can argue that immersing yourself in a long-running drama gives you a better grasp of the twists and turns of the plot; comedy and exhaustion don’t work well together), and then by rushing to social media to talk about it, you only ruin things for those who’ve decided to take their time. But this is what social media has reduced television to: it’s now become a race where

the whole point isn’t your own personal enjoyment of the show, let alone your insights into what you’ve just seen, but the ability to get out there first – preferably with a smart-arse comment or hyperbolic praise. It’s hardly surprising then that the first wave of comments on the return of Arrested Development were generally negative. When you’re powering through a comedy series like it’s a chore, you’re hardly receptive to the comedy side of things. More importantly, this is Arrested Development we’re talking about. It’s a series that’s always been about running gags and reoccurring reference; a series where it took a few episodes to get into the swing of things and realise just how funny things were. Now that a few weeks have passed and people are going back to re-watch it, the critical response seems to be changing, with people suggesting the early, “slow” episodes are in some ways as funny as the later ones once you know where the jokes are heading. It may not be as good as the original, but it’s not the car crash many were saying in the first few hours after it was released. Now, what was the rush again?

PULP.

Cameron: Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon looks like any other run-of-the-mill slasher film, and to be honest the only reason I picked it up in the first place was because I had watched every other run-of-the-mill slasher film and enjoyed them all. Even the terrible ones …Perhaps, especially the terrible ones. Behind the Mask, though, is

On My Mind/In My Heart Alligator Seems the Soul revival is universal. At home we’ve got The Bamboos, Saskwatch, and Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes with their sizzling and sassy frontwomen. Boston’s Jesse Dee is set become the USA’s new poster boy among male singers of Soul and R & B. At only 33, he’s already gone from small club gigs to opening for Al Green, Etta James, Solomon Burke and Bettye LaVette. On My Mind/In My Heart serves up a celebratory package of 11 original tracks that already sound like classics. In fact, I had to check songwriting credits to make sure some weren’t standards from the vault that I’d forgotten along the way. Vocally, Dee channels a little Sam Cooke, a hint of Otis and the white hot soul of Van Morrison. He doesn’t so much wail or testify but croons his romantic brand of the genre. Dee plays guitar with his core band bringing in the old school cred; various members have played with the likes of Wilson Pickett, Ray Charles and The Temptations. There’s plenty of brass, Hammond B3 organ, hand clapping and sweet soul backing vocals. The title track opens the show in bright and bouncy fashion. There’s a 50’s feel to ‘From the Start’ featuring the very fine vocals of guest Rachael Price. The analogue recording was produced by Dee along with Jack Younger. It’s a polished balance of retro and fresh. Perfect party starter. By Chris Lambie

The Baby Grand Renaissance Independent You might not have heard of Washington D.C. indie poprock band The Baby Grand, but you will. Their sound is equal parts Jack’s Mannequin and Dashboard Confessional. Renaissance was released in the second half of last year, to little fanfare, which is a shame because this EP is quality. The title track is a pleasant instrumental build-up, exactly what the opener needed to be. It flows perfectly into the next track, ‘Peace & Grace’, which somehow recalls both Coldplay’s ‘Clocks’ and ‘Viva La Vida’, as well as having shades of U2 in there. ‘Meet Me In Warsaw’ is a fun little pop-rock ditty, even if the repeated “ooh ooh’s” recall Bruno Mars a little bit. ‘Mute Me’ is turn of the century indie-rock to the core; it recalls all those bands of the early 2000’s while still retaining the band’s own unique sound. ‘Come Home’ continues this; the pop quality takes over, with little repetitions here and there, but it doesn’t take from the quality of the song. The EP is rounded out by ‘We Will Make It Out’, which doesn’t quite live up to the rest of the record. It is slower, and while the instrumental work is superb, the lyrics, and by association the vocal part, just isn’t that impressive. All in all a great EP, and hopefully a glimpse into a great musical career for The Baby Grand. Check it out on iTunes; and while you’re there, get their new single too. By Cameron Brogden

>>>>>> By Cameron Urquhart & Alastair McGibbon

Alastair: I think it’s well established by now just how obsessed Cameron and I are when it comes to Batman. So, when the lovely folks at Popcultcha announced their warehouse-to-public sale, I couldn’t resist the urge to go and rummage around for some Batman-related goodies. I ended up walking out with no less than three new trade paperbacks – two of which featured everyone’s favourite caped crusader/man with a million vehicles. I picked up Volume 1 of Chew (which you might remember Cameron mentioning a while back), Volume 1 of Batman Incorporated by the legendary Grant Morrison and host of artists, and Batman and Son, again by Grant Morrison, this time with Andy Kubert on artistic duties. The main reason I decided to pick up Batman and Son is that after Damian Wayne’s untimely death in Batman Incorporated Vol. 2’s eighth issue, I realised that I knew next to nothing about the surly little Robin. Damian was introduced around the time I was more interested in Manga than western comics, so it made sense to go back and have a look at how he got started. The story itself is great (as you’d expect from Morrison), and Andy Kubert’s art is – for the most part – solid. Smack bang in the middle of the trade is a story (penned by Morrison) following the Joker, which attempts to explain the Joker’s sporadic personality and style changes over the years. Grant Morrison is one of the few writers that could actually do a great job of interpreting the Joker’s fractured psyche, and he does so with aplomb. The accompanying 3D art by John Van Fleet, however, alternates between fitting and downright appalling. Sometimes it works, but at others it just looks cheap and nasty. Other than that, it’s a great read!

Jesse Dee

something else entirely. The film focuses on some journalism grad students putting together their thesis documentary based around the life of Leslie Vernon, the famed slasher of Echo Park. Luckily for them, Leslie invites them to come around and interview him. Over the course of the film Leslie shows them what goes into being, essentially, an unstoppable supernatural serial killer. It is ridiculous and amazing. There are so many winks and nods to horror cinema throughout this film, and the script does an amazing job of the ‘reality’ of Leslie’s chosen line of work. Cardio is key; as not only do you have to “run like a fricken gazelle, but you got to make it look like you’re walking. It’s really hard”. The one element that really carries this film is the charisma of leading man Nathan Baesel. He perfectly sells the idea of the serial killer as an artist and generally likeable guy, and even when the last half hour turns into an out-and-out terrifying horror film, you can’t help but still like him. Behind the Mask really is something special. It takes the tropes of the serial killer genre, and rather than just pointing out how stupid it is, treats them with the love of a real horror fan who still respects them – no matter how goofy they can be. Watch it. You really won’t regret it.

RORY ELLIS TWISTED WILLOW Independent Each release from this trusty troubadour cements my esteem for his understated talent. I’ve been progressively impressed by his voice (big, rich and welcoming as a hearty beef stew), his songwriting (catchy rolling rhythms and soulful tunes) and the no-bullshit personality delivered in his lyrics. With his sixth album, I’m overwhelmingly struck by his poetry - Twisted Willow is thick with killer turns of phrase. As always, the stories describe Ellis’ latest activities and observations. The road warrior, wearing his heart on rolled up sleeves, is never corny maudlin or clichéd. He describes his ‘Right Hand Woman’ on the opening track: ‘She’s tough / she’s enough’; no back-handed compliment but meant in the noblest possible way. The title track intrigues: ‘A razor blade to slice the buds, should fruit appear to bear / And when I find that perfect Sunday, I will not be there’. ‘Floordrobe’s piling up again…’ he sings in celebration of his beloved but limited finery on ‘Dirty Clothes’ (‘They come when I whistle and they jump right on my back’.) Ellis annually plies his trade across the globe yet maintains a realistic outlook on the biz. ‘The Road Is Not My Friend’ dispenses with any romanticised view of clocking up miles and sleeping rough. He faces up to the regrets of being a dad at a distance, falling foul of small-time crims and other realities of touring life. Elsewhere, his distinctly Australian droll and dry sense of humour punctuates the pensive notes. ‘Too Fat To Do That’ is a toe-tapping confessional from a man who enjoys his tucker. Threatening to ‘lose it’ when thrust into territory wars with a van vendor, he warns ‘Gonna wrap those metal signs of yours around your skinny neck.’ Playing various strings, Ellis recorded and produced the lot with minor assistance from Dave Steel (mandolin, Dobro), daughter Carly (piano) and Paul Robert Burton (mix and master). Folk, blues and country shades combine to form another captivating chapter in the Rory Ellis almanac. I’m yet to decode all the lyrics within; the true poet providing us a challenge to relish beyond first listen. BY Chris Lambie

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grogwatch I hope you’re reading this sitting down because when it comes to shock developments this column is starting off with a jaw-dropper: about a fortnight ago, I got an email. And not one of those ones where you think it’s some attractivesounding woman addressing you personally in the subject heading by shouting “ARE YOU GETTING MY EMAILS”; only when you open it all they want to tell you is about some website where you can buy cheap watches either, oh no. This was an actual real email from a living, breathing human being, I think, with something to say to me – and for once it wasn’t about some awesome deal waiting for me at an online casino. Regular readers might remember that I never seem to shut up about my search for a vodka stronger than the traditional 40% alcohol content, and these mythical regular readers might also wake up screaming every night haunted by my discovery of such a vodka from the fine Swedes at Absolut. Unfortunately, Absolut 100 seems to have been something of a limited time only deal in Australian bottle shops, and when I’d finished off the last bottle I could find, I sent out a plaintive call in a recent column: if anyone ever saw a bottle of the stuff for sale, let me know (at grogwatch@ yahoo.com.au) and I’d get my arse out there to grab it. A fortnight ago, someone did just that. Well, not exactly just “that”, because I haven’t defined what “that” is, but they did send me an email saying they worked at a bottle shop on the other side of town and that they still had two bottles of the stuff for sale. Was I interested? Hell yes. Could I get there right away? Hell no. It wasn’t until a few days later that I staggered along Malop St, heading towards the bottle shop foretold in legend. I was kicking myself that I hadn’t thought to check out this side of town earlier. Many

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years ago a friend of mine had a girlfriend living out there, back when that side of town was basically a collection of shabby old run down places and not … well, I’m assuming they’re all fancy new developments and rebuilt heritage places these days, but buggered if I know, I’m never out there these days. Actually, come to think of it at least four of my friends have lived on that side of Geelong over the years; it must have been a real shithole for a while there. Anyway, when I had friends on that side of town, this bottle shop, being the only bottle shop on that side of town, a situation I don’t think has changed unless, you know, one’s opened up to serve the kids at Geelong High, was the one we spent a fair amount of time getting our grog from. In fact, it’s safe to say this was the bottle shop where I first learnt that cheap booze was bad tasting and bad for you, going by the number of shocking hangovers I had around there. Not to mention the number of bizarre experiments we conducted to try and make $20 vodka taste even remotely drinkable, most of which seemed to involve dumping tons of sugar into it and then swinging the bottle around our heads in a pathetic attempt to get the sugar to dissolve. Also, I dimly recall the place had one of those semi-outside toilets, because I seem to remember it was quite a long walk to get to somewhere where you could throw up safely. And I think a mate of mine bought a car secretly and left it parked out the back for a few months while he tried to figure out what to do with it. And I had a New Year’s Eve there that was so bad I swore off socialising forever. Ahh, good times… Anyway, this bottle shop was, and still is, a drive-through, which meant it was always fun to come walking in. It was also attached to a pub, which even back then was an insanely dodgy venue and one that we never dared go inside for fear of being sold to white slavers or some such. It must have been really bad because a couple of my friends at the time were working out at Fords – back when if you wanted a job in Geelong you just turned up at Fords and they

put you on the night shift, where you promptly clocked in then went to the toilet and slept for six hours – and as part of the night shift when they finished they went off to the pubs where the night shift workers drank … only wait a minute, it’s seven in the morning. Those places were extremely dodgy by all accounts, so if those guys didn’t want to go into this pub it must have been a pretty serious venue. Or, you know, we’d just bought a bunch of cheap booze at the bottle shop and why were we hanging around there when we could just go home and drink it? This pub had been closed for a bunch of years though – which I’m going to say is why I never thought of the bottle shop, even though I’m pretty sure it was still open – but surprise, surprise, it’s open now and all renovated; and by the looks of the inside it’s a pretty classy venue. So, of course, I steered well clear and went straight to the bottle shop. In I walked, went straight to the vodka shelves, and had a look. No Absolut 100 to be seen. Bugger: I’d left my run too late. “Can I help you?,” said a guy with the look of the owner about him. This was one of those rare consumer occasions when he could. I explained the situation, which, if you think about it, was no easy task: I’m a guy who writes about booze for a free paper and I’d complained so long and loud about not having one particular brand of booze that someone – and I’m guessing that was someone else apart from this guy, as this guy didn’t seem much of a Forte reader – was actually motivated to a) check and see if the bottle shop where he worked at stocked the booze this guy in the paper was talking about, and then b) send him an email telling him they had it in stock if he wanted to stop complaining and actually do something about his situation. So yeah, explaining took a little while. But the guy was cool. He just went and had a look on the computer which told him that yes, just like the guy had said in his email, they still had two bottles on their shelves. Cue us looking at the shelves, where these two bottles were nowhere to be seen. We didn’t exactly tear the place apart looking for them, but we did do a fair amount of fairly serious searching. No luck, the place was, and is, basically a concrete box with shelving, so it wasn’t like there were a bunch of places where you could misplace a couple of bottles of quality vodka. In between searching we had a brief chat about the state of the old Ritz Flats across the road – I thought they should be kept for

historical value and to prevent the owner from profiting from letting them decay; the boss thought they were too far gone and Geelong had torn down all their classic old buildings anyway. I expressed approval at the renovation work they’d done and eventually went on my way. But not emptyhanded. While they may not have had the 50% alcohol content Absolut 100 on their shelves, they did have a bottle of some rival brand (whose name escapes me) who also had a 50% alcohol content variant. Obviously I’m going to buy it. Not quite so obviously, when I got stuck into it on the bus on the way home, it turned out to be, to use a technical term, weak as piss. And I mean seriously weak. I honestly thought the next day I’d misread the label and the stuff was half-strength. And when I went and checked and no, it was 50%, I started to wonder if it had gone off. Can vodka go off? The bottle was three years old, and I guess it’s possible the alcohol had somehow evaporated past the screw-top or something because for a vodka that was meant to be 1/5 stronger than the usual paint thinner I drink, it was way too easy to drink. I mean, doing shots of Absolut 100 usually had me clutching my throat and trying to stop my eyes from falling out of my head – this stuff was lucky if it got a shrug out of me. So the question, as usual, is: was the booze really kind of crap and not at all doing the job, or am I now such a hardcore drunk that even booze so overstrength it seems to be all but banned from store shelves means nothing to me now? And if so, do I need to spend a few months drying out? – because seriously, I can’t afford to have to increase my alcohol intake just to get the same old results. Don’t rush your answers in to me, mind you; getting more than one email in a month might be more than my heart can take. Tony “I really should pitch to a television network a series where I explore old bottle shops looking for forgotten treasures … and then take them home and drink them myself” Montana

QUESTION:

What is your favourite Album of the last 12 months?

Katie Noonan Father John Misty ‘Fear Fun’

Club Feet The Nationals ‘Trouble will find Me’

Darren Percival Justin Timberlake ‘20/20’

John Milton (Scaramouche) Sound Garden “King Animal’

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