Forte #580

FREE! OOD ARTS F C I S siness MU re bu cultu AT ONLINE US OUT .au CHECK ag.com m forte

the dillinger escape plan

john butler

hollie smith

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

30 seconds to mars

the holidays

issue 580 // 20 FEBRUARY 2014 // next issue: 6 MAR

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ALL WEEKEND

ANDREA MARR BAND BLUE EYES CRY

BLUES MOUNTAIN BROOKLYN BLUE CHRIs Russell’s CHICKEN WALK

CLAUDE HAY

GEOFF ACHISON JIMI HOCKING JOHN MCNAMARA

LLOYD SPIEGEL

LOUIS KING & THE LIARS kLUB

SPOONFUL SWEET FELICIA & THE HONEYTONES

WAYNE JURY FRIDAY

ALISTER TURRILL

CHOCOLATE STARFISH CROWN OF THORNS DIEHARD DOLLS GEORGE KAMIKAWA & NORIKO TADANO

NICK BARKER

PALACE OF THE KING RAW BRIT

SATURDAY APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION

Absolutely Live The Doors Show

THE AUSTRALIAN QUEEN TRIBUTE SHOW KISSTROYER MARCO GOLDSMITH BAND

MISS LIZZY & THE NIGHT OWLS MR BLACK & BLUES PEARL - THE JANIS JOPLIN SHOW

SHED ZEPPLIN

THUNDERSTRUCK SUNDAY

BOOM CRASH OPERA BRIAN FRASER

CHANTOOZIES DARYL BRAITHWAITE GLITTER GANG MICHAEL STANGEL RICK PRICE tHE TUFF TONES

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TEX MILLER

A WORD FROM THE TEAM Welcome, welcome! This issue of Forte Magazine includes our world famous O-Week feature. It is one of our biggest issues of the year as we welcome a wave of new students to Geelong and other regional areas. It will be with nervous excitement that the new arrivals approach their first days of life as a university student; that is until they jump on the party bus and start enjoying a few drinks as they mingle in with their new uni buddies.

Our O-week guide will fill you in on all you need to know about the region, where to drink and what to avoid, where to eat, where to hang out and what venue does what on what night of the week. It will also include a few funny little stories and some not so serious stuff to read whilst you are hungover from the activity the night before.

Also in this issue we have a massive double-page spread on Soundwave 2014, a double-page poster pull-out for Motor City for you to stick up on your wall, as well as a bunch of fantastic interviews!

Enjoy – and if you are embarking on O-week celebrations, enjoy alcohol responsibly and look after your mates.

Team Forte.

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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

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the HIGHLIGHTS

THE LATEST ON international & national news & tours The Highlights: Where we’re so excited, and we just can’t hide it. Coming up you have… .........................................................................

Good Times with Loon Lake The lovely gentlemen of Loon Lake are part of this year’s Groovin’ the Moo run, but in order to best prepare themselves the band has announced a handful of dates in the lead-up. After a pretty stellar year in 2013, the band kicked off 2014 with a bang, coming in at the pretty handy #29 spot on triple j’s Hottest 100 with their single ‘Cherry Lips’. This is their Good Time tour … so, have a good time, okay?! The Corner – April 3. .........................................................................

A White Night in Melbourne In case ya didn’t know, this weekend (Saturday, February 22) is White Night in Melbourne, a night where exhibitions, street performances, fashion, multimedia installations, film screenings and live music will bring the city’s CBD alive. Client Liaison, Beaches, The Cactus Channel, Baptism of Uzi, Lost Animal, Black Cab, The Murlocs, Teeth & Tongue and Fraser A. Gorman will provide the tunes. .........................................................................

Wipe Your Sticky Fingers Now, I don’t know what a land of pleasure would involve when it comes to Sticky Fingers, but it would probably be worth checking out. The five-piece band is set to release their new album, Land of Pleasure, later in the year and have lined up a few dates that may just give you a little taste. ‘Gold Snafu’ is already doing the rounds. With a two-month tour abroad to follow, it’s time to catch ’em while you can. The Corner – March 29 & March 30. .........................................................................

The Horrors of Penn Jillette Magician extraordinaire Penn Jillette recently had a chat with CinemaBlend.com’s Kristy Puchko in order to reveal some details about his crowd-funded horror flick, Director’s Cut. Interestingly enough, the film has a crowdfunding theme. Jillette: “The bad guy in the movie is a crowd-funder. So, one of the people on the site, who’s crowd-funding and writing about crowdfunding, is the villain in the movie, played by me.”

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DiCaprio & Hill: Take 2 When your film becomes talked about by every man, woman and dog, you’re going to be spending a fair amount of time together. And so it is that Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, who became tight on the set on The Wolf of Wall Street, have been attached to a new project. According to Deadline, the film centres around Richard Jewell, a police officer turned security guard who became known in connection with the Centennial Olympic Park bombing.

Messing About with The Jungle Giants Need a new word for your vocabulary? How about ‘Tuss’? The Jungle Giants explain: “We are always messing around. Smacking each other in the face. Playing around. We call it ‘tussing’ each other … It can be physical or psychological. It’s perfectly annoying and perfectly great.” Oh yeah, Tuss is also the name of their upcoming tour. They’re all about entertainment and education. The Corner – April 4 & 5.

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Twelve Foot Ninja: World Record Holders Australia is number one – well, Twelve Foot Ninja are anyway. The Melbourne outfit recently became world record holders (yep, that’s right) when they conned fans out of some $45,000. With a promise to “create an actionpacked and gory tale of retribution against an internet troll”, the band turned to crowdfunding to raise the bickies.

You can check out the clip for ‘Ain’t That a Bitch’ online. .........................................................................

Dreaming of Stories Sydney metallers Stories are around a week away from embarking on a tour that will put the spotlight on their new single, ‘Dreamwork’. Formed in 2012, the band has already toured Australia, signed with the UNFD label and released their debut EP, Void. Released as a free download last year, the EP has already been downloaded over 40,000 times. Bang – March 8 & Wrangler Studios – March 9. .........................................................................

Nas Celebrates 20 Years In 1994 Nas, then only age 20, released his debut album, Illamatic. Today the album is widely recognised as a landmark album in East Coast hip hop. 2014 also marks its 20th anniversary, which means the album is getting the re-issue treatment. As well as the original album, a second disc will feature previously unreleased material, promo singles and UK singles. You can expect that one in April.

World Photography Awards This May, London will host the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards Winners’ Exhibition; but that doesn’t mean you can’t check out the shortlist now.

Bringing together the best of international photography of 2013, the shortlist serves up some truly incredible works – some that will have you doing a double take. So, if you’re looking to pass a little time, hit up worldphoto.org. .........................................................................

Pride & Prejudice … And Zombies Four years ago Hollywood floated the idea Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a genre mash-up of horror and romance. If a report by Dead Central is to be believed, it looks like things are finally moving forward. Apparently the project is finalising casting and prepping for production.

What we do know is the film will be directed by Burr Steers and is set to star Elizabeth Bennet (The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones). .........................................................................

Prepared Like a Bride Shall Overcome Times are good for heavy-hitters Prepared Like a Bride – damn good. Earlier this month the Gold Coast outfit released their debut album, Overcomer. Kill Your Stereo summed it up by saying: “It’s an honest, powerful and at time heart-wrenching post-hardcore release that won’t just out them in the map; it will make them a tourist attraction.”

Next – March 13; WYRC, Wyndham – March 14 (AA); Wodonga Masonic Hall – March 17 (AA).

The Arctic Monkeys Cool Their Feet So, who does a band like The Arctic Monkeys put in charge of warming up crowds? That would be Perth’s psychedelic wonders, Pond.

And they have probably picked a winner.

Formed in 2008, the band is certainly not short on ideas. They have already released five albums and are currently starting down the barrel of album number six, Man, It Feels Like Space Again. Rod Laver Arena – May 9.

The Great Detroit Swindlers Now, ladies and gentlemen, I want you to make these guys feel welcome. Lars Dales and Maarten Smeets are behind Detroit Swindle, and they’re making their way to Australia for the first time. Don’t let the name fool you. The pair is actually from Amsterdam, though they claim their hearts are rooted in the soul of the Moto City. They love to play house music with soul – you know, like Marvin Gaye would have. Circus – February 28. .........................................................................

Miles Brown & Company Miles Brown (think psych-space-trance heavyweights The Night Terrors) is thrilled to welcome his debut solo single, ‘Electrics’. It’s being promoted as “sharpedged pop brilliance tinged with prog-goth darkness”.

Joining MB is a killer line-up including Berlin’s Keluar.

This synthwave/goth/experimental two-piece is gaining traction, so make sure you catch ’em while they’re in Oz. The Tote – February 22. .........................................................................

Ball Park Music Feels the Love If there was a band to give King Gizzard a run for their money when it comes to musical output, it would be Brisbane darlings Ball Park Music. In early April the band will release Puddinghead, their third album in

24 months. Self-produced in a shabby rental shack in the northern suburbs of Brisbane, the album features the single ‘She Only Loves Me When I’m There’. The Corner – May 3 (includes a daytime show for U18) and 4. .........................................................................

Franz Ferdinand Find Their Spark “You can really hear the mashing together of both bands … If there was a train crash between Franz Ferdinand and Sparks, this is what the wreckage would sound like.” That would be Sparks keyboardist Ron Mael speaking with NME about the album the bands are currently working on. The bands first met eight years ago, but it wasn’t until last year when the groups were both in San Francisco that they got the ball rolling. .........................................................................

The Horrors Part IV Making music doesn’t get any easier, if The Horrors’ Tom Furse is to be believed. Speaking about the band’s upcoming fourth release, Furse said: “I don’t know if every time we’ve made an album it’s been hard and over time I’ve just erased the majority of the bad stuff, but this one took some serious effort to get finished and it was tough. It was sometimes delirious fun and other times quite painful.” He also says it’s a step up for the band.

The King Gizzard is not Dead Melbourne’s fuzzed-out garage rockers King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard are a bottomless pit of ideas. Set for release on April 19, Oddments will be the band’s fourth full-length release in eighteen months. The newie features single ‘Vegemite’, an ode to that divisive spread. And with any new release comes a new tour, so away they will go. Their Melbourne run kicks off at Old Bar on March 26. (Full dates online.)

Ice Ice Baby I Demand More Jurassic 5

Northlane Free Their Mind

Numbers don’t lie, and so due to people snapping up tickets like they’re going out of style, Jurassic 5 has been forced to tag on additional shows around the country. And they seem quite happy to do so. The band has been on hiatus since 2007, returning to the stage last year at Coachella. Tours across Europe, the UK and the US followed.

The band plays a third show at The Palace on March 21.

Metalcore favourites Northlane have a pretty special tour coming up titled Free Your Mind.

The tour will include a handful of touring buddies, some international and some (by way of a competition) local. The band: “We always wanted to have our own brand that we can use to create tours in Australia and around the world. We are starting small so that we can grow it into something truly special.” The Hi-Fi – May 31 & June 1 (AA).

In celebration of the winter spirit of Swedish Lapland, Ice Music is a new form of art where musicians play on musical instruments… made of ice! Conducted inside a gigantic cosmic igloo (where there is a constant temperature of -5 C degrees), Ice Music features violin, viola, cello, contrabass, banjo, mandolin, guitar, drums, xylophone and rolandophone. Discover a cold musical world through icemusic.se/in-english. .........................................................................

Bonding Through Music Have you got around 10 minutes to spare? Do you want to know what atoms bonding sounds like? Well then, type ‘The Sound of Atoms Bonding’ into YouTube and

enjoy. Hosted by Professor Philip Moriarty, a tuning fork is used at its resonant frequency to get the atoms doing their thing. I don’t have the smarts to give you a serviceable rundown, so do yourself a favour and check it out as it’s quite fascinating. .........................................................................

Not Quite a SLAM Dunk As you would know by now, there will be no formal SLAM event (Save Live Australia’s Music) in 2014. It takes a few dollars to stage this event, and organisers were only able to cover costs from last year. However, this weekend, February 22 & 23, organisers are encouraging everyone to get out to a gig. There are plenty on! If you tweet or post to Facebook with the hashtag #SLAMDay, that would be cool too.

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FORT-NIGHTLY

CALENDAR & GIG GUIDE Thursday February 20th BARWON CLUB HOTEL: D At Sea plus Millie Tizzard and Chloe Morgan ntry $12 + BF BEAVS BAR: Dave Anderson Live BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Live and Local, $13 Pizza night EUREKA: Jane Daffy plus Simon One, Shorty J, Pinky, Max McKay, TVB, Aybakez, Michael Cameron Paul E, Rogers. Free Entry before 11pm when using a guest list.

THE CAPITAL THEARTRE (Bendigo): Bobby Rydell ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night THE MAX HOTEL: Parmi All Day All Night $14, InnQUIZitive Trivia from 7.30pm till 10.30pm, amazing prizes, call to book your team’s spot THE SPHINX HOTEL: Schnitzel Night from $13

Friday February 21st LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Test Pilot Molly & DJs Mainroom and Terrace. Open from 6pm

entertainment and DJ EDGE GEELONG: Live music and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Live Band Mr Hyde 9.30pm to Midnight THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Thom OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Taylor Sheridan THE CAPITAL THEARTRE (Bendigo): Karise Eden ODYSSEY TAVERN: Samsun THE THEATRE ROYAL (Castlemine): The Jammin’ Divas live in concert 7pm HOME HOUSE: Upstairs, Kalus, Who Killed Mickey, till late Downstairs The Best Hip Hop and RnB DJ AK THE MAX HOTEL: Hey Charger WHISPERS: DJ’s including from Matt Watkins, Frazer Adam, Jungle Jim, Courtney Mills, Zoolander, Generik, Jack Love, Damon Walsh, Some Blonde DJ

Sunday February 23rd BARWON CLUB HOTEL: Sunday Session Grand Finale on the deck from 2pm with 6 DJs

ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: Thank Guinness It’s Friday

BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): SUNDAY SESH: Spining Vinyl from Noon, DJ RJ from 5pm

HOME HOUSE: Homehouse Fridays Party with DJs, Steve Camp, Simon One, Keith Evans, Marcel & more

BLACK HATT: Andy Pobjoy from 4pm

BLACK HATT: Detonators

EDGE GEELONG: Geordie Shore’s Charlottle Live 9pm to 10pm

BARWON CLUB HOTEL: Sleep Decade plus Epithets BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Dave Johns NIGHTJAR FESTIVAL GEELONG: Johnstone Park 4-10pm - Music, Artist Market, Food PIPING HOT CHICKEN SHOP (OCEAN GROVE): Jeff Lang BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Locals Night, Spinning Vinyl from 4pm BEAVS BAR: 2-Tone Live CITY QUARTER BAR: Friday Unwind with live music then DJ

CITY QUARTER: Perfect Sunday Sesh

ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Live jazz with Shandelle Cooke 3pm – 6pm GEELONG RSL: Moonee Valley Jazz 5 (Jazz) LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: special guest Geordie Shore’s Charlottle Live entry $10 Student & Industry Night. Live Band Adam 12 & DJs in the Mainroom and Terrace OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Sarah Wilkinson ODYSSEY TAVERN: Jimmy graham

EDGE GEELONG: Live music

Monday February 24th

THE LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE (WARRNAMBOOL): Hair: Summer of Love

ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night

THE CAPITAL THEARTRE (Bendigo): Peace Train: The Cat Stevens Story THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Fully Loaded THE MAX HOTEL: Trojan ODYSSEY TAVERN: Guy Perkins OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Nat Allison

BARWON CLUB HOTEL: $10 Parmis

Tuesday February 25th ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night GEELONG RSL: Steak Night $13 BLACK HATT: Bacata Dance Classes

Saturday February 22nd Wednesday February 26th BARWON CLUB HOTEL: Grinny & Big T, Zetes, Primar Source, Full Spectrum, Straitjacket Symphont, Gzuek, Skeetus, Noahrk AKA Jack Hatter

BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Resident DJ’s GPAC: RAW Comedy National Open Mic Comedy Competition from 7.30pm Drama Theatre.

LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Live Band Stella & DJs Mainroom and Terrace. Open from 9pm

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GEELONG RSL: Pot and Parmi Night $13 BLACK HATT: Cuban Salsa Dance Classes ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: Trivia Night from 8pm. Have fun win prizes book a table

BEAVS BAR: Steve Pianto Live

Thursday February 27th

BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Retro Vinyl and live music from Noon, DJ from 8pm

BIRD ROCK CAFÉ: (Jan Juc): Live and Local, $13 Pizza night

MARTIANS CAFE ( DEANS MARSH): Jeff Lang

THE MAX HOTEL: Parmi All Day All Night $14, InnQUIZitive Trivia from 7.30pm till 10.30pm, amazing prizes, call to book your team’s spot

CITY QUARTER BAR: Live

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BEAVS BAR: Dave Anderson, Karaoke Open Mic

ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night THE CAPITAL THEARTRE (Bendigo): Glenn Shorrock and Brain Cadd BEAVS BAR: Andy Forster Live Main Room EUREKA: Andy Murphy plus Simon One, Shorty J, Pinky, Max McKay, TVB, Aybakez, Michael Cameron Paul E, Rogers. Free Entry before 11pm when using a guest list.

Alice in Chains and many more!

THE MAX HOTEL: Hey Charger

CITY QUARTER BAR: Friday Unwind from 5pm. Live with live entertainment and DJ

WHISPERS: DJ’s including from Matt Watkins, Frazer Adam, Jungle Jim, Courtney Mills, Zoolander, Generik, Jack Love, Damon Walsh, Some Blonde DJ

EDGE GEELONG: Live music LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Live band Guilty Pleasure & DJs Main Room and Terrace, open from 9pm THE MAX HOTEL : Frequency ODYSSEY TAVERN: Ben Dew

Friday February 28th APOLLO BAY MUSIC FESTIVAL: Everlast, Kate Miller Heidke, shane Nicholson, Dallas Crane, The Basics, Hollie Smith and Many More AT THE HEADS: Live music from 5pm till 7pm (Barwon Heads) THE BARWON CLUB: The Frowning Clouds Album Launch plus Living Eyes and Sewercide HOME HOUSE: Homehouse Fridays Party with DJs, Steve Camp, Simon One, Keith Evans, Marcel & more BAROWN HEADS HOTEL: Danny Zambelis BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Locals Night, Spinning Vinyl from 4pm BLACK HATT: Blackshaw’s beat live from 9.30pm.

BEAVS BAR: Luke Biscan Live THE GATEWAY HOTEL: Doug Bruce THE LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE (WARRNAMBOOL): Experience Hendrix - Thru Cazz Jayne

Saturday March 1st

Tuesday March 4th

APOLLO BAY MUSIC FESTIVAL: Everlast, Kate Miller Heidke, shane Nicholson, Dallas Crane, The Basics, Hollie Smith and Many More

ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night

BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): SUNDAY SESH: Spining Vinyl from Noon, DJ RJ from 5pm

CITY QUARTER BAR: Live entertainment and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Live band 9.30pm to midnight THE GATEWAY HOTEL: Shannon Noll MARTIANS CAFE ( DEANS MARSH): Tim ‘Tonic’ Hulsman EDGE: Live music plus DJ THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Cam Bryce

THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: 80’s R us

HOME HOUSE: Upstairs, Shameless (Noizy Neighbours), Jack Morrison, (Billboards), Downstairs Australia’s best Hip-Hop & RnB with DJ Kay

PIPING HOT CHICKEN SHOP: The Beez, Sweet Felicia

THE LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE (WARRNAMBOOL): Tom Burlinson

SOUNDWAVE 2014: Flemington Racecourse, Featuring - Green Day, Avenged Sevenfold, Stone Temple Pilots,

LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Live band Stella & DJs Mainroom and Terrace. Open from 9pm

ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: Thank Guinness It’s Friday

Sunday March 2nd

THE BARWON CLUB: Glittergang

BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Retro Vinyl and live music from Noon, DJ from 8pm

LORD NELSON HOTEL: /Parmi & Pot for $15 on presentation of student I.D THE SPHINX HOTEL: Meals for $11

BARWON CLUB HOTEL: Sunday front bar with live band

BEAVS BAR: Steve Pianto Live

ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night

ODYSSEY TAVERN: Jake Epiphone

APOLLO BAY MUSIC FESTIVAL: Everlast, Kate Miller Heidke, shane Nicholson, Dallas Crane, The Basics, Hollie Smith and Many More

BAROWN HEADS HOTEL: Resident DJ’s

Monday March 3rd

BLACK HATT: Bergman & The Balladeers live from 4pm Singles Afternoon from 3pm CITY QUARTER: Perfect Sunday Sesh EDGE GEELONG: Live music and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Live Jazz band + from 6pm Parmi Night 6 Great Parmis $20

GEELONG RSL: Steak Night $13

THE LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE (WARRNAMBOOL): The Searchers BLACK HATT: Bacata Dance Classes

Wednesday March 5th BEAVS BAR: Karaoke and Open Mic and Luke Biscan GEELONG RSL: Pot and Parmi Night $13 ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: Trivia Night from 8pm. Have fun win prizes book a table BLACK HATT: Cuban Salsa Dance Classes

OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Cyndi Boste (solo) THE LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE (WARRNAMBOOL): Foggy Mountain Jam - Kasey Chambers THE CAPITAL THEARTRE (Bendigo): The Searchers

Thursday March 6th EUREKA: Special Guest DJs plus Shorty J, Pinky, Max McKay, TVB Aybakez Michael Cameron Roger E and more. Free Entry before 11pm when using a guest list

GEELONG RSL: Bazza Jazz (Jazz)

BARWON CLUB HOTEL: Fatty Phew

LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Student & Industry Night (Free entry all night) w/ Live band Good Faces For Radio & DJs in the Mainroom and Terrace

BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Live and Local, $13 Pizza night

THE SPHINX HOTEL: Carvery from $17.00 ODYSSEY TAVERN: Cal Young

THE MAX HOTEL: Parmi All Day All Night $14, InnQUIZitive Trivia from 7.30pm till 10.30pm, amazing prizes, call to book your team’s spot ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night

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Breabach written by Natalie Rogers

Fiery, exhilarating, textured and artful is the best way to describe the new-school of Scottish traditional music – and Breabach are, without a doubt, leaders of the pack. Although admitting they needed to “detox plans” after winning over the crowd and critics alike at The Woodford Folk Festival, they’ll soon be back in the air on the twenty-odd hour plane journey to play for us again at the Port Fairy Folk Festival.

“Oh, we had a wonderful time over Christmas and New Year, and I can tell you I miss the warm weather – it’s minus four here at the moment!” laughed Ewan Robertson [guitar, vocals and part-time firefighter in his home village of Carrbridge].

“We’ve haven’t been back home for very long at all, but it’s all been happening in Scotland. We’ve had the Celtic Connections Festival which was epic – a huge festival!

We’ve played all over Glasgow and even been up to the highlands. We’ve been very busy, but we’re really excited to be getting the opportunity to be coming over again to play such great festivals.”

In what can only be described as a whirlwind run of dates, Breabach will play Port Fairy then WOMADelaide and the Brunswick Music Festival, before crossing the

ditch to appear at WOMAD New Zealand. After a short break they’ll travel to the Apple Isle, finally landing at the HomeGround Festival held at the Sydney Opera House.

“We’ve had some fantastic opportunities and we’re very grateful. To travel and meet people from all over, all different parts of the world, that to me is one of the huge attractions of pursuing a career in folk music. That, and there’s not a lot of room for egos in folk music, which is great, because it attracts a really unique and interesting bunch of people that come along to listen to it. Then we get to mingle with all the different people. It’s not like being a pop musician or anything like that!” Ewan remarked cheekily.

Speaking of unique, Breabach have recently joined forces with an eclectic bunch of musicians from Australia and New Zealand to put together a show that will form part of the celebrations at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

“It’s called The Boomerang Project and we’re going to be premiering it over in New Zealand before coming over to play at the Sydney Opera House,” Ewan explained. “It’s a kind of cultural collaboration of Maori, Aboriginal, Celtic and Irish music and dance. We’ll also be bringing it home to Glasgow at an open-air gig for the Commonwealth Games Festival.”

Back at home Ewan was pleased to announce that The

Port Fairy Festival was chosen to showcase Breabach’s latest release – their fourth LP, Urlar.

“We chose Port Fairy to celebrate the release of Urlar through Planet Records. Urlar is Scottish Gaelic, which is my native language, and it translates as ‘ground’. We took that name because we felt a heightened sense of foundation when we were recording the album.

“We wrote original music but we also sourced a lot of old/ traditional material from our home communities – from family members and friends. That sense of grounding and connection to our roots during the making of the album was inescapable, and we all like the title.”

Urlar’ begins in high spirits with a lively jig, ‘The Poetic Milkman’, and takes you into their world. Combining old and new, Urlar showcases each member’s diversity and skill.

“I think my favourite track would be ‘I’m Proud to Play a Pipe’,” admitted Ewan, who started out young as a piper and fiddler. “It’s an enchanting piece of music, over threehundred-years old. We’ve taken a very modern approach to it. It’s quite an interesting piece of music and definitely my stand out track.

“I grew up listening to traditional music from a very young age, so it’s always been important to me. But the thing that keeps me interested is the fun we all have while we’re playing it.

“That’s what makes Breabach the main focus for us all, but we’ve all been professional musicians for a number of years and we all have other projects to sink our teeth into. I perform solo and as part of a jazz-folk fusion band.

Megan Henderson [fiddle, step-dance and vocals] is also a member of a salsa fusion group. They just got back from Colombia, so she went from Woodford to Glasgow to Colombia!” Ewan added. James Mckenzie, one of our pipers, just started a solo career, while Calum MacCrimmon [pipes, whistles, bouzouki and vocals] and James Lindsey [double bass] play in a funk fusion band – folk funk!” Ewan joked.

“We all keep busy and have loads of commitments but it’s an important part of what we do because it keeps us sharp and motivated, you know? It keeps things fresh.

We know we’re so lucky and we just can’t wait to come back – it’s going to be a really good time. But we know we have to be up to it so I’m getting fit, getting in shape as we speak … No more sitting by the fireplace having a pint!”

When&Where: Brunswick Music Festival, March 2-16 Port Fairy Folk Festival, March 7-10 and WOMADelaide, March 7-10

Staff and Management of the EMC Group Geelong strongly enforce a no-drug policy. Enjoy great music & drinks whilst staying drug-free.

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The Dillinger Escape Plan written by Natalie Rogers

Ben Weinman may be the most loved man in metal – or mathcore, depending on what you subscribe to – and now it’s time to show him we care when he returns for Soundwave with The Dillinger Escape Plan. He’ll be in the company of friends (although recent news of the Stone Temple Pilots withdrawing is a shock), and Ben tells me that being Soundwave alumni has its perks.

“We love to play Australia – it’s our favourite place in the world. It’s so refreshing to be in a place that’s so far away, but at the same time I feel so at home with the people.

You’re a warm and comfortable type of people – it’s great.

We’re really excited to be coming back, so I hope it comes across.

laughed awkwardly. “I just want to do my part.”

His contribution to the metal scene since forming TDEP in 1997 has not been overlooked. With his use of unique and unusual time signatures when playing guitar, he almost single-handily spawned a new genre – mathcore.

“We were pretty much the first band to ever be called that. At first it was weird because the whole reason we became a band was to be something new and to break boundaries, not follow some kind of genre. But then they went away and created a genre to put us in! So at first we really resisted it, but as we’ve gotten older I’ve become proud of it,” Ben admitted.

Once they touch down back in the States after Soundwave, TDEP will tour the US and Canada before heading to Europe.

“At the time we came out, there weren’t really any bands from the punk and hardcore scene that were pushing themselves as musicians. There was a lot of heavy music but none of it really had that punk energy and aggression to it. So now, the truth is, it’s great that there are other bands that considered us an influence and call themselves this category that didn’t really exist before us. I don’t know why we’d been resisting it for so long, you know?” he chuckled.

“It’s not for us to decide, it’s for everybody else. In a way we just do what we do.”

“I’m looking forward to getting back to touring. Over the new year and Christmas I’ve had a lot of time to relax and my New Year’s resolution is to be as positive as possible.

It’s been a crazy twelve months – a lot of people around me have had unfortunate things happen to them and there’s been a weird energy about. So I wanna make sure that moving forward in 2014, I appreciate all the good things and make sure I do whatever I can to influence good energy … without sounding too airy fairy, sorry!” he

They certainly do what they do well. One of Us Is the Killer (2013) is their fifth studio album, and Ben couldn’t help dropping hints about what’s next. “We’re working on some new stuff and we’re hoping to put it out just as a limited edition or a leak from our own label [Party Smasher Inc].

Maybe we’ll make a 7-inch or single that you can only get if you come see us play. We haven’t done anything like that in a really long time, and we’re just gonna try to record something special for our fans.”

“I don’t have the line-up right in front of me but there are a million bands I wanna see.” Ben counts the guys of Thy Art is Murder, Trash Talk and Mastodon as great friends, while TDEP are set to play Sidewaves with fellow Jersey boys Glassjaw and Japan’s Dir En Greg: “We’ll be doing a lot of touring in the next few months.”

When&Where: The Hi-Fi – February 27 (Sidewave) and at Soundwave Melbourne - February 28

Arrested Development written by Natalie Rogers

Like a shining beckon of hope in ’92, Arrested Development rose above the murky waters of early nineties gangsta rap to be named band of the year

by Rolling Stone, win two Grammy awards and sell four million copies of their debut album. Fast forward twenty-odd years and their brand of uplifting, soulful grooves are as pertinent as ever. I was lucky enough to sit down with the one and only original founding member, Speech, ahead of their anticipated appearance at WOMADelaide.

“Our music is as relevant as ever. When we first started this band over twenty years ago, we called it Arrested Development because that was our main focus – to stop the arrested development in the US and all over the world.

It was and still is the thing we fight against. We’re just as energetic, driven and excited now as we were then.”

Their best-known singles, ‘Everyday People’, ‘Mr Wendal’ and ‘Tennessee’, have truly stood the test of time – and have got the crowd dancing on every one of their numerous visits to Australia. “I like to say Australians are smart people … and they definitely know good music!”

Speech joked.

“We are so looking forward to playing WOMAD this year.

I love festivals in general, but I like WOMAD especially because of the different influences in music and culture that are in one spot. And I have an appreciation for the vibe, the love there – you can’t beat it! I promise that WOMAD festival-goers are in for a treat. We have unreleased music that we plan to play and put out very

soon. We’re really excited – it’s awesomely powerful music, but of course we’ll do our classics as well.”

Since those classics were released, Arrested Development has undergone small transformations – line-up changes and the aftermath of losing the onstage presence of the group’s spiritual guru, Baba OJ. “No matter what, Arrested Development has always had a great energy. I think the music helps to produce it, and although we’ve had different members over the years, that vitality is a constant. We absorb the positive energy from each other.”

To harness some of that energy, Speech has been working with revered hip hop producer Kevin ‘Khao’ Cates: “We’re working on a new album, and I can tell you it will be called Splash. As for the release date, we’re not sure but we’re working on that.

“We love to experiment with the sound. We’re going with a lot of synths on this album – a sort of new style.

We’ve messed around with trap beats – it’s interesting stuff we’ve never done before. It’s fresh, it’s innovative.

We want people to view it as if we’re growing,” Speech explained happily, but he wanted to make it clear that

lyrical content and themes had not changed.

However, times have changed since their inception, but Speech assured me he’s no slouch when it comes to social media and keeping in contact with fans: “By the time we get to Australia in March, we’ll have launched an Arrested Development app that people can download – and it’s free!”

When&Where: WOMADelaide, Adelaide Botanic Park - March 7-10

30 Seconds to Mars written by zach broadhurst

30 Seconds to Mars are not scared to dream big and shoot for the stars. Whether that means putting those stars in their music video, or reaching them in space rockets, the band certainly aren’t afraid to do things their own way. Their always extravagant music videos went one step further last year when they recruited some of Hollywood’s most controversial stars – Kanye West and Lindsay Lohan to name a couple – for their ‘City of Angels’ clip. And if that wasn’t enough, they literally launched their single ‘Up in the Air’ by putting it into a rocket. But lead guitarist Tomo Miličević insists they aren’t always attempting to outdo themselves.

“I think just in general that we, as a group of creative people, are trying to always have an interesting adventure with whatever we are doing – even if it’s something like releasing your single and doing it by way of NASA into outer space,” laughs Miličević.

The band will be bringing their extravagant ways to Australia next month, with Miličević thankful for all of their Aussie fans’ understanding and support after their 2013 tour had to be postponed.

“We are very thankful that people were so cool about the postponing of the tour and being really supportive about the whole thing,” says Miličević. “You want to make sure people are happy, and rescheduling a tour like that is difficult, but we knew we were going to do the tour no matter what.”

These arena shows will be the biggest the band has every played in Australia, with Miličević summing up what audiences can expect by saying: “people can

expect total insanity”.

“We feel like it’s our job to give people a place where they can come and let loose for a few hours and kind of forget about whatever they have going on that’s less than satisfactory, and for all of us together to just let go of that bullshit for a little while and have a great time together.”

With four albums now under their belts, the band have an array of songs from which to choose, but Miličević can only give us a vague idea of what their Aussie setlist might look like, as he himself doesn’t usually know what songs will be played until seconds before the band take the stage.

“Honestly – I’m not even exaggerating – it’s not something that gets discussed until the moment we walk on the stage,” says Miličević. “Almost on a nightly basis we make big setlist changes right before we walk on stage, and we probably don’t stick to that anyway. We try to do our best to make sure there is a good spread of all the albums at least in some form of another. We try to please everybody, but definitely we are focusing on Love, Lust, Faith and Dreams – and this tour you are going to hear almost every song of that album.”

Despite their rocket-ships and celebrity friends the boys are still very humble, displayed through Miličević words of flattery, saying: “My experiences of Australia have been incredible. I’ve been privileged enough to see it in a very cool way – by way of the stage. You guys are very lucky. You live in one of the most beautiful places on earth and we are very grateful that you’ve so humbly invited us to come and visit with you guys.”

When&Where: Hisense Arena – March 28

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Keepin' it Regional!

the smith street band

john butler

ival at Apollo Bay Music Fest

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TALK OF THE TOWN! Talk of the Town: Where we’ve got a bad case of lovin’ you. Coming up you have… .........................................................................

ChillOut Festival 2014 Labour Day weekend is fast-approaching, and with it comes a whole host of events taking place around town. One that is pretty special is Daylesford’s ChillOut Festival. The ChillOut Festival is the biggest and longestrunning country queer pride event in regional Australia, making its debut in 1997. While the festival is the first to admit gay pride events come a lot bigger in the cities, ChillOut prides itself on its down-to-earth atmosphere. Its 1997 debut welcomed between 50 and 100 people. Skip forward to 2009 and more than 25,000 people attended the festival. Last year was also a ripper, with its ‘Back to the Future’ theme celebrating 15 years of ChillOut. Main events of 2014 include Slowest Lunch, Bush Dance, Street Parade, Carnival and Dance Party. A massive highlight is a performance by Heather Peace, who makes her return to our shores following a lauded run of dates last year. The actress and singer released her debut album Fairytales in 2012. Her performance at ChillOut will also see her showcase some new tunes. Monique Brumby supports.

The theme for 2014 is Superheroes and Villains. Individuals and LGBT community groups from across the state are welcome to enter – be quick, entries close March 1. If you have any questions, you’re sure to find an answer through chilloutfestival.com.au. Daylesford – March 7 through 10. .........................................................................

SOSUEME DJs in da House ‘99% genre free – Forever’ is the motto of Sydney’s SOSUEME DJs, and it seems to be serving them pretty well. Who are the forces behind SOSUEME DJs? That would be Hayden Luby, otherwise known as DJ Hansom and Pat Stevenson, otherwise known as DJ Hobophonics.

Born from an egg on a mountain top, the pair have spent several years corrupting the youth (and not so youthful) of Sydney. They have also performed at Parklife, Field Day, Good Vibrations, Future Music, Playground Weekender, Splendour and NYE on Sydney Harbour. And they have done it while asking questions like: ‘Can you mix Biggie Smalls with The Cure?’ If you check out their Facebook page you will find a few mixtapes to download, including a mix of all the artists who played 2010’s Splendour in the Grass. Flying Horse Bar & Brewery, Warrnambool – March 3.

drunk, curries were eaten – and music was born. Roll up to a show and you’ll hear the band’s take on songs by The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Stranglers, The Jam, Sham 69, The Undertones, Ramones, The Buzzcocks, The Specials, Talking Heads and Squeeze. They also perform their own material, which you will find on their third album, Mud, Blood & Beer. Troy Donockley (Nightwish) and new recruit Terl Bryant (percussionist for John Paul Jones and Peter Murphy) complete the line-up. The Bridge, Castlemaine - April 19. .........................................................................

Pako Festa 2014 – Weaving of Cultures This weekend Geelong hosts one of the most colourful, vibrant and inclusive celebrations you’re likely to come across: Pako Festa. Held every year since 1983 (wow!), the festival is a celebration of cultural diversity in Australia.

Local and cultural communities, performers, community groups, schools, businesses, street traders and artists all come together for the event. One of the highlights of the event is the Great Pako Festa Street Parade, a wonderful colourful stream of cultural and community floats, groups, entertainers and music. This year Pako introduces its new Family Entertainment Precinct, featuring a Dinosaurs Adventures Interactive Fossil Dig and a performance of The Wizard of Oz, complete with a meet and greet.

For fans of Home & Away, you may just see a couple of familiar faces at Pako. It all takes place on February 22, with further information through pakofesta.com.au. .........................................................................

Get Down with Claude Hay Towards the end of last year, the very talented Mr Claude Hay performed in front of 4000 people at the MusicOz Awards. He also walked away from the night a winner, snaring the gong for Best Live Act Australian Independent Music Award. The one-man show features Hay blending slide guitar, bass and drums to create swampy blues with just the right amount of body-shaking (or indeed bootyshaking) funk. He is also one of the most DIY musicians out there, having built his own guitars as well as his dome house and studio. Last year’s MusicOz award capped off a stellar year for the muso. Not only did he head abroad to perform in Poland, The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium in July, but he also hosted a successful Pozible campaign for a live DVD. You can check out his looping skills online. The Piping Hot Chicken Shop – March 14.

Dave Graney & the mistLY

A Figment of Your Imagination

He is a gentleman. He is a scholar. And he is one talented individual. He is Dave Graney. Dave Graney is a selfproclaimed “King of the Dudes”; others have called him a “Cryptic Rock Voyager”. From 1978 to 1986 he was a part of post-punk outfit The Moodists. When The Moodists disbanded, Graney formed the Coral Snakes. There was also White Buffalos. And The Dave Graney Show.

Of course, don’t forget the Lurid Yellow Mist, changed to Dave Graney & the mistLY in 2012. Yep, he has been around, and he has kept the best of company over the journey. In the mistLY Graney is joined by wife and longtime collaborator Clare Moore, Stuart Perera (guitar since 1998) and Stu Thomas (bass since 2004). Last year Graney released a series of digital singles, while an art pop acoustic solo album is due in 2014. Courthouse ARTS, Geelong – March 14. .........................................................................

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Mick Ahearne & Rex Watts

The Bad Shepherds

Can you teach old dogs new tricks? Well, there are probably not many tricks Mick Ahearne and Rex Watts haven’t picked up over their years. Mick has been playing music since 1973, playing in “any band that would have him”. He was born in the south-eastern town of Springvale where he spent countless hours jamming in his bedroom to the sounds of Neil Young, James Taylor, Steven Stills and Ritchie Havens. Rex Watts has a career that spans a couple of decades. He has performed in bands including Flying Tongue Kiss, Bushfire Band and Ally Harper and her Senile Delinquents, and has worked freelance in the film industry for over 30 years. He has also written over 500 songs. In 2012 the pair teamed up for the album Wild Dogs. Head on down where you’ll find both kinds: country and western. The Comma, Castlemaine – February 21.

Adrian Edmondson is a dude. From 1982 to 1984 he started as punk Vyvyan in The Young Ones. Between 1991 and 1996 he then starred with old pal Rik Mayall in the crude sitcom Bottom. But this isn’t about his comedic genius; this is about his band, The Bad Shepherds. The story goes that Adrian Edmondson accidentally bought a mandolin whilst drunk. Rather than let it collect dust in the cupboard, he began fumbling around with a few chords.

No stranger to music – see Bad News – he brought the mandolin with him while touring with another band, the Bonzos. After mucking around in a dressing room on a version of ‘London Calling’ with Neil Innes, Innes suggested to Edmondson that he round up some “brilliant folk musicians”. The players were found, beers were

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Step right up ladies and gentlemen to the Greatest Musical Show on Earth: Bliss N Eso’s Circus Under the Stars tour. The new tour shines a light on the outfit’s new album, Circus in the Sky. The band had a massive year in 2013 (Circus in the Sky was called a “must-have” album by Themusic.com.au’s Ashleigh Lucas) and has been quick to start off on a high note in 2014, playing the BDO to welcoming crowds.

Our very own Cameron Brogden caught up with Max MacKinnon, aka Eso, at the beginning of the year to discuss various matters, including their newie. “We’ve worked really hard on it. We don’t just kind of go into one studio; we like to spread it around in different atmospheres. So we started on several different locations around the world. And to put that puzzle together finally, and out to the people, it’s awesome.

And to get the recognition it’s getting, we’re really stoked. We’re still young at heart. I remember when we were in high school and this was all just a dream. So we don’t take it for granted, and we’re extremely humbled by the whole thing.” You can’t have a proper circus without a few friends, so joining them on the adventure will be Horrorshow and Seth Sentry.

Ballarat Showgrounds – May 10 & Bendigo Showgrounds – May 15.

Apollo Bay Music Festival So, here we are, with the Apollo Bay Music Festival just up and around the bend. And because we care about your festival comfort (no really, we do), we’ll be taking you through some of the things you need to know. Let’s face it though; the deal is pretty much the same as any festival. Don’t be trying to sneak in anything dodgy – that is right up at the top of the list. Another sensitive issue at festivals is photography and filming. Although you’re free to whip out your camera phone, professional gear is not permitted. Besides, the experience is so much better when viewed through your eyes. Make sure you pack appropriately. If Melbourne weather is considered fickle, Apollo Bay’s weather most certainly is as well. If you happen to lose anything at the festival, be sure to check in at their front desk. Other than that, have a great time – and try not to get in the way of another’s great time.

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Next month Geelong’s Johnstone Park will play host to Figment, a grassroots artistic event where everyone is invited to play. Drawing inspiration from other communitybased arts events, Figment works under 11 principles: Participation, Decommodification, Inclusion, Selfexpression, Self-reliance, Giving, Community effort, Civic responsibility, Leave no trace, Immediacy and Gratitude.

Artistic lovers or casual observers can look forward to a showcase of interactive and collaborative works, with special emphasis on interactive light, illumination and projection. From the team: “The essential FIGMENTal difference is you bring the art, you make the art and you experience the art. An all-inclusive and participatory event, FIGMENT is your chance to make our city a little brighter.”

March 21 & March 22. Further information is available through geelong.figmentproject.org.

Join the Bliss N Eso Circus

Greenthief Take a Voyage

Jeff Lang’s European Vacation

It is very exciting times for Melbourne’s Greenthief, what with the band having just released their debut album and all. Titled Voyage, the album is a culmination of a fouryear journey for the band, over which time they have worked tirelessly and passionately to hone their sound. According to the album’s press, Voyage’s “12 tracks guide listeners through ecstatic energetic highs and brooding atmospheric lows, paying homage to ’70’s inspired drum sounds and heavy bass tones, and woven together with the distinct melodic vocals of guitarist and songwriter Julian Schweitzer.” Last year the band undertook a 20-date tour of Europe and the UK, but I reckon they would be buzzing even more about their album. The Barwon Club, Geelong – March 13; Music Man Megastore, Bendigo – March 15; The Loft, Warrnambool – March 21.

Australia is sandwiched right between the UK and France – at least that is the case for songman Jeff Lang. Having wrapped up a tour in the UK, Jeff Lang is now on home soil where he is finetuning his vocal chords and fingers before he heads for L’hexagone. It comes as no surprise that Jeff’s talents are sought abroad. When in one corner you have John Butler saying “Seeing Jeff Lang was like being at church for three hours – a totally sacred event. He’s the man as far as I’m concerned” and in the other you have Umbrella Music saying “There are certain musicians who are so gifted, so astonishingly talented, so plugged into Something Bigger than we can imagine when they make music ... I witnessed a show a couple of weekends ago that made me want to include Jeff Lang in that company”, you know you must be doing something right. Martians Café, Deans Marsh – February 22.

Calling All Cars: Calling All People

The Holidays’ Good Feeling

With Calling All Cars fans marking down March 7 as the day their newie Raise the People drops, the band has delivered some more good news by the way of a massive tour. Taking in over 20 dates, the band will play a host of spots around the country, including a generous amount of regional gigs. Fans and casual observers no doubt would have come across singles ‘Werewolves’ and ‘Standing in the Ocean’ already, so you know this album has a lot going for it. Formed in 2005, Calling All Cars has become one of the country’s finest rock outfits, supporting names including AC/DC, Queens of the Stone Age and Foo Fighters.

Waterfront, Geelong – April 12 (AA); Bendigo’s Easter Festival – April 17 (AA); Mynt Lounge, Werribee – April 18; The Loft, Warrnambool – April 19; Torquay Hotel, Torquay – April 20; The Karova, Ballarat – April 23.

From Cliff Richard’s political-leaning punkness of ‘Summer Holiday’ to Dead Kennedys’ cheesy wholesome pop of ‘Holiday in Cambodia’ (just seeing if you’re paying attention), the word holiday often pops up in songs. Then along comes a few guys who go one better and decide to call their band The Holidays. A tour in support of their new album, Real Feel, (released tomorrow, February 21) kicks off next month, which lead singer Simon Jones describes as “A travelogue of the last few years, ideas sketched in different places while experiencing something; wonder, isolation, stress, happiness.

Then slowly taken apart and scrutinised and run through amplifiers and synthesisers only to find that often the original feeling was the purest and then joyfully getting back to that.” The album is the follow-up to 2010’s Post Paradise. The Karova, Ballarat – March 21.

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2014

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Forte's guide to that big ol' universe after high school!

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O Week Address Welcome, young minds, to a new chapter in your life. Hoorah! The way I see it, one of two things awaits you: 1. Success.

2. Failure.

So, you’ve made it. Good for you. With years upon years of learning now behind you, you can look forward to the new challenges that await you in life. Perhaps you travel; you know, soul searching and all that. Perhaps you find that perfect job, and that perfect guy or girl. You’re happy. You’re content. People can tell that you’re happy and content. You get married; perhaps even have a couple of rugrats.

You’re halfway through a course before a realisation hits you in the face like a sledgehammer: this is not what I want to do.

So, you take time off to re-evaluate things. Perhaps you change your course. Perhaps you travel; you know, soul searching and all that. It may even work to some extent. But slowly, and surely, that slight niggle becomes greater and greater. It scratches at your soul, reaching deep inside and squeezing the life from you.

All your insecurities, all your doubts come to the surface. You stumble about life; eventually, perhaps, finding something that you feel you can give a life to. But it’s merely a distraction. It’s superficial. Sure, you may still have a fruitful life, but you’ll know.

You’ll know the demon of regret lies within. It’s a big fracking world when you don’t know your place in it.

You dance about life; all those things you have given your life to are working out perfectly. You may switch your job here and there, but still, you’re happy and content. You upsize your house, you have kids on the way. Twin girls and a boy: Moxy, Foxy and Captain Locksley.

Anniversaries come and go, as do birthdays. Your children are soon off to school. Time has a funny way of moving quicker as your years ripen, and soon enough your kids, Moxy, Foxy and Captain Locksley, are off to university themselves. You’re filled with the greatest pride as they follow in your footsteps. And to think all this started with your university degree. The world seems easier to handle when you know your place in it.

Flash forward to the future. It’s Christmas time, and your grandkids are at your feet. They look up at you, their eyes wide open as they ask about your life. A life you are happy and content with. You tell them the story. You are, in their young eyes, a worldly story; you’re larger than life. They hang to your every word. They laugh; they cry. You are who they hope to be one day.

Flash forward to the future. It’s Christmas time, and your grandkids are at your feet. They look up at you, their eyes wide open as they ask about your life. A life you have finally found peace and satisfaction with. You tell them the story. Then, in a heartbeat, their expression changes as you tell them about your university days. It is an expression of crushing disappointment; for in that moment, all the times your grandkids have heard you tell them ‘Don’t give up’ comes crashing down with the brutal realisation that their favourite grandparent is full of crap. They run away, crying. You are, in their young eyes, a liar.

Your chest tightens, your breathing becomes laboured. You feel weak. The last words you heard were: I hate you.

In all seriousness, may this new experience be fondly remembered in years to come as one of the greatest times in your life. At times you will question whether what you are doing is actually what you want to do, and that is okay. Sometimes we don’t figure out what it is we want to do until we’re doing something else. It may even take a few turns. And it won’t always be easy, and that’s okay too. As the expression goes, nothing in life worth having comes easy.

You will be okay.

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What’s going on throughout O Week?

Well, quite a lot actually. So before your mind is sculpted, let

it loose for a few days. Keep some brain cells reserved, though.

Deakin University, Geelong

Federation University, Ballarat

Monday, March 3 (Waterfront): Free lunch in the John Hay Courtyard from 12-midday to 2 p.m. with music from Cal Young. (Waurn Ponds): Free lunch on the Union Green with music from Eureka House DJs. Later: Kickstart Party at Homehouse Nightclub. Party on with HH’s hottest DJs. 8 p.m. through midnight.

Monday, February 24 (Mt Helen, SMB and Camp Street campuses): Opening Night Music Festival. Taking place inside/outside the Uni Bar, nice acts will perform across two stages. There will also be a Silent Disco. 5.30 p.m. ’til late.

Tuesday, March 4 (Waterfront): Karaoke and DJ – John Hay Courtyard. 12-midday through 2 p.m. (Waurn Ponds): Clubs and Market Day – Union Green.

Check out what kind of clubs the campus offers. Later: Beach Party at ‘The Pier’. Get down with the Sosueme DJs. 8 p.m. through midnight (after party at Lamby’s). Dress in your best beach attire (no thongs).

Wednesday, March 5 (Waterfront): Clubs and Market Day – John Hay Courtyard. 12-midday through 2 p.m.

(Waurn Ponds): Karaoke & DJ – Union Green. Later: Amazing Race & Dodgeball.

Grab a map and complete the challenges.

The starter’s pistol is fired at 5 p.m. from Waurn Ponds Union Green. The race is on.

Thursday, March 6 (Waurn Ponds). Free lunch and tunes on the Union Green. 12-midday through 2 p.m. Later: Magical Mystery Bus. 4.30 p.m. through 11.30 p.m. It is the ride of your life. I want more: dusa.org.au.

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Tuesday, February 25 (Mt Helen): Free all you can eat pancake breakfast from 8.30 a.m. through 10 a.m.

Also: Amazing Race. Grab a map and complete the challenges. The race of your life kicks off from the grassed area outside the food court. 1 p.m. through 3 p.m. Other events (Mt Helen, SMB and Camp Street campuses): Back to School Party featuring The Stonecutters. Just when you thought your high school days were over, it’s time to don the uniform one last time. The Bluestone Hotel is where it’s at. 7 p.m. ’til late.

There will also be a Movie Night for those looking for something more laid-back.

Wednesday, February 26 (Mt Helen, SMB and Camp Street campuses): The Main Event. Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon/evening with Bungee Trampolines, Sumo Wrestling Suits, a Bucking Bull and more. Or you can take a chilled approach and enjoy a bite to eat and listen to some tunes.

4 p.m. through 7 p.m. Later: Café Crawl starting at Pancake Kitchen. A ticket gets you a free beverage of choice at each café, with finger food at the final destination. 6.30 p.m.

Thursday, February 27 (Mt Helen, SMB and Camp Street campuses): Barefoot Bowls. If you think you have the goods, you can enter a tournament; otherwise, you can just play for giggles.

Friday, February 28 (SMB and Camp Street campuses): Op Shop Tour. Meet at the Camp Street Student Lounge for a 9.30 a.m. start.

Wednesday, March 5 (Mt Helen, SMB and Camp Street campuses): Colours Night. Dress as your year colour (first – white; second – red; third – green; fourth – black; international – purple) and enjoy a night of tunes at The Bluestone Hotel. I want more: federation.edu.au.

Deakin University, Warrnambool Monday, March 3 Free BBQ Lunch. 12-midday through 2 p.m. in the Quad. Check out the campus’s clubs and societies while you’re there. Later: Beach Party at the Flying Horse Bar and Brewery. Also featuring a Silent Disco. Come dressed in your best beach attire (no thongs). 9 p.m. through 1 a.m.

Tuesday, March 4 Mature Age Morning Tea. Finger food and music for the not quite as fresh-faced. Also: Tour of the Town (with free pizza). Bus departs 12.30 p.m. sharp. Later: Movie night. Enjoy an open-air flick from 9.p.m.

Wednesday, March 5 Free Salad Bar in the Quad, and Amazing Race. 12-midday through 2 p.m. Grab a map and complete the challenges. Also: Mystery Bus Tour. Climb on board for a tour of Warrnambool’s pubs and clubs. Also includes dinner at the Horse. 6 p.m. through midnight.

Thursday, March 6 Free Sausage Sizzle in the Quad. 12-midday through 2 p.m. Also: Fancy your golfing skills? Grab some mates and head to the course for ‘Meet the Putters’ and a chance to win some great prizes. I want more: dusa.org.au.

La Trobe, Bendigo Tuesday, February 25 Faculties Welcome Lunch. Join staff and new students for a free lunch on the La Trobe Sports Oval. 12.15 p.m. through 2 p.m. Also: Market Day. Meet the clubs, societies and local businesses responsible for a range of social academic activities on campus. Reunion Court and Sports Oval from 12.30 p.m. through 3.30 p.m. Later: O Week Launch Party presented by Universal and BSA. Taking place at the campus, Will Sparks, Some Blonde DJ and Jack and Jill will provide the tunes. Oh, and there will also be 1000 litres of glowpaint and 5000 glowsticks … and paint canons.

Wednesday, February 26 Student Breakfast on the Deck from 9 a.m. through 10 a.m. Also: BSA Lunch at the Student Union Entrance from 12-midday through 1 p.m.

Later: A Hypnotist Show will take place on the La Trobe Sports Oval from 7 p.m. through 10 p.m. Are you game?

Thursday, February 27 Student Breakfast on the Deck from 9 a.m. through 10 a.m. Also: BSA Lunch at the Student Union Entrance from 12-midday through 1 p.m.

Later: BSA Mystery Bus Tour. 5.30 p.m. through 8.30 p.m. Also: Movie night from 8.45 p.m. A perfect chance to chill with some friends. I want more: latrobe.edu.au/bendigo

As well as the fun stuff, O Week is about getting things sorted. If you have any questions, please refer to the websites listed above.

Alternatively, there will be plenty of opportunities to have a chat with those in the know throughout the week. Have an awesome time.

A Survivor’s 10 Tips for Surviving 1st Year 1. Get out of your comfort zone that’s where the cool stuff happens.

It’s not like high school where the stereotypical bullshit applies to what you should or shouldn’t do, or what’s cool or uncool. It’s a clean slate. So be yourself, it’s a chance to become a hippie, and artist, a Wanna be rich person, a sports star or even a stripper if the bills start ppiling up to quickly - what ever you do... just.... be something.

2. Find yourself a local GP. Sadly but truly, you’re likely to get three or four mass e-mail outs from Student Life crying ‘Chlamydia outbreak’ for on campus students.

Meaning that many of you partaking in adult activities are likely to be trekking to the Docs to get tested for the ‘clap’. (Which apparently means Gonorrhoea but Uni students always reference it to Chlamydia for some reason) And let’s face it, it’s easier to hand over pee in a cup to someone you have met at least one.

3. There’ll be embarrassing moments.

You’ll have at least 3 or 4 girlfriends (and the rare boyfriend) in the first year who go out and get so shamefully and embarrassingly drunk and messy that they’ll cry ‘drink spike’ - don’t buy into the lies. But, there are some creeps out there, so try and follow the buddy system and always keep an eye on your mates - whether their disgustingness is self inflicted or otherwise.

4. Arts students revel in your advantage at Uni now because post-Uni you’ll be bottom of the food chain.

Please explain? Well Arts students enjoy the wonderfully flexible world of the Arts where formula is replaced with theory and there is simply no right answer. You can say whatever you want as long as you can bullshit well enough to make it sound like a reasonable argument. And the second bonus of the Arts is that your Tutors don’t collect assignments until 9am the day after they’re due - so if you want to pull an all-nighter and get it in before 9am you won’t lose marks. Plus arts only lose 5% of their mark for late submission, where as with other faculties it’s a strict 10% for each over-due day. The glory is short-lived when you finish your arts degree and cannot get a job, so enjoy the bonuses while they last.

5. Go to Juggernaughts & Stonecutters and student-body affiliated parties.

They’re parties run by students for students.

And they really are like an extremely loose high school party with no parents home. Except more booze - and the only one who will be disgusted by your behaviour when you get home will be yourself - and perhaps a couple of close friends. You won’t remember much of what went on, but you will remember how much fun you had. Nudity, vomiting, pants peeing, group loving and endless ciggie smoking are all highly likely at these events, but never violence. Violence is for drop kicks.

6. Mature Ages (as you will come to know them) have a really bad reputation for being an incredible pain in the arse.

No offence to the 10% of good ones out there, but students prepare accordingly for the inevitable ‘mature age’ to ask the most boring, irrelevant questions that will make you late for your next class, and in severe cases ruin your mood for the rest of the day.

For those of you who have managed to stay awake and are still in the Lecture Theatre after class is meant to be finished you are probably thinking one of two things - ‘Are you using big words and talking irrelevant shit to stroke your own ego? Or are you trying to blow the lecturer?’ Either way. Do it in your own time..

7. All you Resis & 1st Years living away from home for the first time - embrace resi-spread.

It’s grose, it’s inevitable and it happens to most of us. Especially to women. And the occasional man who suffers from the munchies. Forget your old best friend Meat & 3Veg, and embrace your new one - he’s called Mi Goreng aka. ‘The Late Night Asian Persuasion’. He’s cheap. He’s easy. He’s always willing. And whether you like it or not, he will keep you warm all through the winter. Don’t stress too much guys, everyone knows the reason behind the additional KG’s.

Plus, it all falls off once the late-night Maccas drives have to end because you’re flat broke and Centrelink isn’t due in for another week.

8. There is always going to be the Super Rich Kids.

The ones that claim having $5,000 in their bank account and access to Daddy’s credit cards is doing things tough. All you want to do is scream, ‘Bitch please, I’m an overgrown beast because I can’t afford a wax. Razors are expensive. I have regrowth that puts Shakira to shame. I’ve gained 9 kilos because I can only afford my old mate Mi Goreng. All my undies have holes in them. And whilst you’re drinking Smirnoff Blacks at pre-drinks, I’m going HALVES in a goon sack and stealing ciggies from people’s rooms when they go to the laundry. Now that’s poor.” Accepting that ‘desperate times’ means different things to different people takes a while, but it takes a whole lotta’ anger out of the ‘making & keeping new friends’ situation.

9. Save the hefty drinking games for nights where you’re planning to stay in.

The Lay-Backs, the Hours of Power, the Goonof-Fortunes, the King’s Cups... 90% of the time these dangerous festivities all leave you nude... with company. If you stay home, at least you will end up shagging a mate that can see the funny side and not some critter that you met blind on the dance floor who may or may not smell like cheese.

10. P’s really do get degrees.

Most of you will end up dumber after your first year of Uni than you are after finishing Year 12...Academically anyway. And that’s Ok. You still have at least two years to make up for it and prove to your parents that their life savings is being really really well spent.

WE’VE BEEN HELPING

STUDENTS CELEBRATE their achievements

party with friends

&

RUIN THEIR GRADES

SINCE 1937 21 Malop STreet Geelong, 3220 (03) 5229 1954

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10 things you should all know about Geelong! * Geelong is affectionately known by those who reside here as ‘G - Town’ or ‘Gee - troit’. When you are feeling a bit down about your surroundings, ‘G - Hole” might be more suitable. * The Geelong Cats are what makes this town tick. Get used to it, it ain’t gonna change. * ‘Hipsters’ are few and far between in our area. Generally, we are roughly a decade behind the 8 Ball of Cool - But when you’re a broke Uni student it’s a good thing - you don’t want anyone walking around making you look bad in all their trendy shit. * Geelong is half an hour drive from some of the nicest beaches this country has to offer. Make the most of them. * The inner city, the Waterfront, Pako Street and surrounding suburbs provide some amazing areas to eat, drink, play and shop. * If your going to Melbourne, train it, 50 minute’s up and 50 minute’s back.

Plus a lot of you will have Healthcare cards making it cheaper than chips. * Don’t go near the Breakwater Bridge after heavy rain.

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* The violence in the city is overstated.

Dickheads attract dickhead behaviour.

Just be smart... Not a smart arse.

And look after your mates. * Getting a taxi home from town after 3am is a nightmare, but the Magic Window makes the wait bearable. * Geelong is affordable, easy to get around, provides great venues for live music and is slowly expanding its appreciation of unfootball related things - if you embrace the city / country lifestyle you will fall in love.

Enrol now in Specialist Makeup

for Film/TV/Fashion/Catwalk/Theatre This exciting one-year course in Specialised Makeup will develop yours skills in high fashion makeup for catwalk, studio, film television and theatre. You will learn from one of the industry’s most highly skilled makeup artists Ron Santuccione, using the industries’ best makeup brands and be given opportunities to work with Geelong’s own Pulse Television and build a portfolio to advance your career.

Listed below are 10 reasons Ron Santuccione has the skills and experience to teach you everything you need to know!

• R on has had over 15 years’ experience in the beauty and makeup industry.

• R on was Head Creative Training and Events Manager for Napoleon Perdis for 7 years.

• H e is experienced in makeup for television, including working on Series 1, 2 and 3 of Australia’s Next Top Model on Fox8. He has also been a TV presenter in his field.

• H e has National fashion event beauty and makeup experience including Mercedes Fashion Week in Sydney and Melbourne.

• R on has worked with many Australian designers including Collette Dinnigan and Alex Perry among others.

• I n 2014, he will be heading over to London to work on London Fashion Week, and he will be working again on the Salon Melbourne Expo.

• R on has been a Specialist Makeup Trainer for five years and he has been with Diversitat Training since 2013 as a Makeup Trainer and Coordinator.

• R on has been the makeup artist for numerous editorial photo shoots, using leading products and brands for over 15 years.

• H e has worked alongside top hair stylists, including international stylist Lorna Evans.

Contact: 7-9 Ryan Place, Geelong, VIC, 3220 Tel: 5224 2329 Fax: 5224 2328 Email: training@diversitat.org.au Web: diversitat.org.au/training

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NIGHTLIFE GU Eureka Hotel

Home House Nightclub

City Quarter

The Barking Dog

Location: 191 Moorabool St, Geelong

Location: 40- 42 Moorabool St, Geelong

Location: 126 Pakington St, Geelong West

Wrap up: The Eureka quickly became the home of ‘Uni Night’, packing up with students on Thursdays after it underwent major renovations a few years ago. Whispers runs in the upstairs space on Saturday nights and is a huge new drawcard for the building on weekends. The Eureka Hotel also underwent a funky refurbishment as part of the Reborn Project. Using a combination of street art and recycled, vintage or pre-loved items, the venue is currently looking amazing.

Wrap up: The unshakeable, unmovable, irreplaceable nightclub of Geelong, Home House truly will become your home away from home this year people. Whilst they have a “no dickhead” policy, they respect that uni kids love a good time, and security manages accordingly. It feels safe enough to call ‘home’, but you can get away with all that crazy shit that mum would never let you do inside. It is Geelong’s Michael Jordan of clubs.

Location: Cunningham Pier, 10 Western Beach Foreshore Rd, Geelong

Karova Lounge Location: Cnr of Field St & Camp St, Ballarat Wrap up: One of the biggest icons for live music in Victoria, the Karova Lounge will host some of the best gigs you’ll see all year. It gave birth to the Yacht Club DJs and is a regular hangout for stars like Tim Rogers. It draws a pretty trendy crowd but is balanced out by the grungy live music pub-vibe. If you love live music your best nights in Ballarat will be had at The Karova. It has proven to be a mainstay in the fabric of live music in regional Victoria.

Cloud 9 Bar Location: 2/96 Pakington St, Geelong Wrap up: An intimate bar, Cloud 9 is the perfect place to catch up with a mate for a cocktail on a Friday night or a pre-drink location before you hit the town. Also perfect for an after-date drink with that new miss/mister you snagged on the Eureka dance floor during O-week.

Cloud 9 and the dedicated team also offer Geelong’s number one function service, so if you need to book a 21st look no further.

Lamby’s Location: CNR Moorabool & Brougham St, Geelong Wrap up: Lamby’s’ Sunday Sessions is a phrase you will become quite familiar with.

Sunday nights and Lamby’s have and will continue to go hand-in-hand for a long time. Lamby’s is known for having a great atmosphere, a good crowd, a packed dance floor and some very fond but hazy memories.

The Black Hatt Location: 54 Little Myers St Wrap up: Feel like learning to dance the Bacata or the Cuban Salsa? Then check out the Black Hatt Hotel at the top end of town. They have classes every Tuesday and Wednesday. The Black Hatt has blues and rock bands most Fridays and also has a Sunday afternoon session with a variety of styles.

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Wrap up: One of the best views of Geelong can be captured from this venue as you overlook Corio Bay. Love a great acoustic set on a Friday and Saturday night and is similar to Edge in terms of style and crowd. A very trendy bar to enjoy a drink at, especially throughout the warmer months.

The CQ also plays host to the CQ Unplugged series which continues to grow in stature.

Wrap up: Located down Pakington Street in one of Geelong’s few “hot spots” is the Barking Dog. Mid-week it is an awesome place to study over a coffee or grab a delicious lunch; a drink there on a Wednesday night will get you that ‘Hump Day’ pick-me-up that you are looking for, but the best time to be there is Friday nights from 5 p.m. onwards. There’s a real ‘Thank F*** it’s Friday’ attitude that everybody loves.

The Wool Exchange Entertainment Complex

The Max Hotel

Irish Murphy’s

Location: 2 Gheringhap St, Geelong

Location: 30 Aberdeen St, Geelong

Location: 44 Corio St, Geelong

Wrap up: One of the best places in town to throw a party, the team at The Max go above and beyond for your special occasion – so keep that in mind when you begin planning your upcoming 21st. A great place to have a knock-off-from-class beer as it is just opposite the Waterfront campus, and their mid-week meal specials are great for those nights you want to feel fancy enough to go out for a meal but don’t have much cash to back it up.

Wrap up: Great location for those of you who aren’t too sure where the night is going to end up. Located halfway between Newtown and the centre of town, Irish Murphy’s is a good ol’ fashioned Irish bar hosting some great live music on weekends. The menu has tongues around town wagging, so try and save a few pennies for a feed when you head in there next.

Wrap up: This historic venue used to be the pinnacle of the local live music scene back in the day and has recently been restored to its former glory. Reinvented to include a state of the art upstairs band room, it’ll be in this room you’ll witness performances from some of best touring artists in the country this year. Band bookers Spinning Half have a rotating cast of Australia’s best talent coming through each month. If it’s playing 10 times a day on triple j, our guess is you will be seeing them at The Wool Exchange Entertainemnt Complex at some stage soon!

The Carlton Hotel Location: 21 Malop St, Geelong

Barwon Club Location: 509 Moorabool St South Geelong Wrap up: Another iconic live music venue, the BC is everything you love about a pub. The BC is without doubt Geelong’s most iconic and successful pub. The BC is infamous for pre/ post Cats game day celebrations – make sure you are feeling courageous if you decide to rock up in another team’s guernsey. The BC is currently providing Geelong with its most consistent and worthwhile line-up of live music each week, under the watchful eye of Band Booker Al O’Neil. Also keep an eye out for their day parties – they are off the hook.

Beav’s Bar Location: 77 Little Malop St, Geelong Wrap up: Great place to listen to some acoustic original singer-songwriters and chill out on the lounge having a drink with your mates.

It’s quirky and it has personality, and that’s why we like it. And promise you will too.

Edge Bar

Wrap up: Really cool art deco hotel right near the centre of town, the Carlton has always been known to attract a decent uni crowd for after class drinks, or a meal before continuing the night at one of the clubs. They also have a great bunch of staff that make wining and dining there a pleasure.

The Sphinx Location: 2 Thompson Rd, North Geelong Wrap up: The venue whose exterior wins the award for ‘Most Personality’, hands down The Sphinx Hotel is like nothing else in the region. All sorts of fun to be had here, and a great location to bond with your newly acquired uni mates ...

Most of the time by shaming yourself through a less than inspiring karaoke performance.

The Grovedale Hotel Location: 236–258 Surfcoast Hwy, Geelong Wrap up: This is a pub with a real local feel. You know when guys are like, ‘Hey mate, wanna pop down to the local for a pot?’ Well, they are probably referring to the Grovedale – or the Grovey as you’ll come to know it. Great food, live music on the weekends and pokie machines for those of you who can spare a couple of bucks for a flutter.

Location: 6-8 Eastern Beach Rd, Geelong Wrap up: For the nights when you’re feeling a little less drab and a touch more classy.

Quite a sophisticated venue to hang out, it’s not really one for getting messy and rocking up in your trackies with a goon sack. Great for pre-drinks on a Friday night or celebrating a special occasion with your friends. A lot of pretty people hang out here, and the food is good.

The Ponds Location: Princes Hwy, Geelong Wrap up: Just down the road from the Waurn Ponds campus, the Ponds Hotel used to play host to a lot of ridiculous student antics. It has since mellowed out with the major renovations and the retirement of Wednesday nights’ Dodgy Disco, but the Ponds hosts regular poker nights and there are always pool tables on hand if you are looking to get off campus and enjoy a study break over a parmy and a game of pool.

The Elephant & Castle Location: 158 McKillop St, Geelong Wrap up: Owned by Geelong’s infamous Darryn Lyons, the Paparazzi King’s trademark is all over this venue. If nothing else, you will enjoy sitting down over a drink and checking out all the amazing photographs of A-list celebs taken by the man himself. The food is incredible at the Elephant & Castle, and they have some good deals on Monday and Tuesday nights so even the student breed can afford to eat like a king every now and then.

The Torquay Hotel Location: 36 Bell Street, Torquay Wrap Up: One thing you will learn very quickly whilst livng in the area is we have access to some of Victoria’s best coastal towns. Topping that list is Torquay, and laying at its heart is the Torquay Hotel. It’s got everything from a great menu to live music. It is the perfect place to escape after class on a balmy evening.

Slate Pool Lounge Location: 50 Little Ryrie Street Wrap Up: Slate Pool Lounge is so much more than your average pool lounge. At Slate you can relax with a beverage and shoot some pool with your mates. The venue has become a mainstay. It is stylishly furnished over three levels, including a mezzanine level and an outdoor smoking area. It is the perfect place to meet before a night on the town.

The Basement 159 Location: 159 Moorabool St, Geelong Wrap up: Establishing itself as quite the trendy little hotspot, The Basement is underrated and understated. You don’t hear a lot about it, but they host some awesome DJs and draw a cool crowd. It’s the type of venue you’ll have an unplanned but really fun night at.

UIDE The Bluestone

The Loft

Location: 101-103 Mair St, Ballarat

Location: 6/58 Liebig St, Warrnambool

Wrap up: The kind of venue you walk in to and go ‘Woah’, The Bluestone is huge. But not the sort of huge where you go ‘Man, it looks like no one is here’. It fills up super quick, especially on Wednesday nights (Ballarat uni night) and weekends. It also has a really cool, contemporary design so you can feel a little bit fancy, even if you’re not.

Opium Bar Location: 15 James St, Geelong Wrap up: Really intimate little bar located in the busiest pocket of the city. The perfect spot for a small function, a celebration with some friends or an end of the week uni debrief. A delectable cocktail menu and an A-grade list of boutique beers available.

Barwon Heads Hotel Location: 1 Bridge Rd, Barwon Heads Wrap up: Great place to escape with your newfound friends and discover some of the hidden gems the region has on offer. As live music lovers, the team at the Barwon Heads put on an array of live music with all kinds of genres, making it a trendy place to hang out, discover a new artist and enjoy a beer up the coast.

Wrap up: Home of original live music in Warrnambool, The Loft enjoys a booking list of both local bands and international headliners. Awesome selection of beers and ciders on tap and a great affordable menu. For Warrnambool students it will be their home away from home this year.

Gallery Club/ Onyx Bar Location: 214 Timor St, Warrnambool Wrap up: This place has four large bar and lounge areas, two big dance floors and a taxi rank directly across the road. They also book a lot of Australia’s best DJs and basically steer the reins on the Warrnambool nightclub scene. Huge range of cocktails and tap beers, plus carry the reputation as one of Warrnambool’s best function venues. Keep that in mind for those of you wanting to throw a birthday party away from home this year.

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DUSA

O Week+4

This year, with the help of Deakin University, DUSA are bringing you O’Week + 4. We aim to extend the festivities and fun so that it continues throughout your first four weeks of classes. During these weeks we will offer activities and events on your campus that aim to teach you student survival techniques, that will inform you of the support and services that are out there, and will show you why you made the right choice to study at Deakin. These weeks are designed to help you settle into your new life as a student, so find out what’s happening on your campus in those weeks and get involved to make the most of your first year at Deakin.

WEEK ONE CARNIVAL WEEK

WEEK THREE GET INVOLVED

THE PARTY CONTINUES around campus with festivities, performers, free food and a Drive in Cinema on Wednesday night at the Waurn Ponds campus to assist in banishing those first week ‘uni blues’. Lectures aren’t the only reason to come to campus this week

ARE YOU TURNING INTO A COUCH POTATO???

WEEK TWO SURVIVAL WEEK NO MONEY? TIRED OF 2 MINUTE NOODLES EVERY NIGHT FOR DINNER? DON’T KNOW WHERE TO GO? DUSA CAN HELP YOU! This week we have invited Luke Hines from MKR to come on campus and show you some tricks of his trade on how to cook healthy nutritious meals on a student’s budget. There will also be a number of different organisations that will also be on campus who can assist you in different ways. Free lunch and entertainment will finish off a fun and informative day.

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Well get up and get involved…Whether it’s a job you need, a sporting team you want to join or you’re thinking of fleeing the country to Study Abroad, DUSA will help you GET INVOLVED!!! Look out for live music, games and free food around campuses.

WEEK FOUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING “TREAT YO SELF” Whether you’re hanging out for Trimester Break or just wondering why all your assignments are due at the same time, take some time out this week to centre your universe and find inner tranquillity like the Dalai Lama. This week is about celebrating diversity, difference and acceptance in all walks of life and maintaining that healthy balance between YIN and YANG.

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Specialised Make-Up For Film s Television s Fashion s Catwalk s Theatre This exciting 1 year course in specialised make-up will provide you with opportunities to develop skills in high fashion make-up for catwalk, studio, film television and theatre. You will learn from the industry’s most highly skilled make-up artists with the industries best make-up brands and be given opportunities to work with Geelong’s own Pulse Television and build a portfolio.

Your career in make-up can take you from the set of Pulse TV to Fashion week in Paris.

Do you have a genuine interest in assisting people with addictive behaviours or mental health issues? ENROL NOW Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs CHC40412 combined with Certificate IV in Mental Health CHC40512 These two qualifications are delivered in one course so that our graduates have a certificate for both qualifications providing broader employment opportunities. Course starts 13 March 2014.

Information session on Monday, 24 February 2014 at 1pm-2.30pm at The Pulse, 68-70 Lt Ryrie St, Geelong Affordable payment plans for all students. Government funding for eligible applicants.

2014 Short Courses s Interview Techniques and Resume Writing s Provide First Aid HLTAID003 s Provide Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation HLTAID001 s Anaphylaxis and Asthma s 1 day Make-Up Workshop s Provide Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) SITHFAB009A s Follow Workplace Hygiene Procedures SITXOHS002A HLTFS207C s Food Safety Supervisor Certificate SITXFSA001A

There’s still time to enrol - APPLY TODAY

Call 5224 2329

www.diversitat.org.au/training 36

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Geelong Ethnic Communities Council Inc. trading as Diversitat, RTO 5819. Training at Diversitat is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding.

by anthony morRis

TOP 10

University Movies

10. Old School In which old guys love

university so much they set up their own frat to relive the good times. This is a brilliant idea for a movie, because it flatters both university students (yes, what you’re doing right now is the most important thing in the world) and old farts (you’re still relevant, and you could totally show those kids how to party if you felt like it). Don’t worry, it’s just a movie. In the real world, nobody in their right mind wants to go anywhere near university once they make it out the door. That’s why they never made a sequel.

9. Revenge of the Nerds This is pretty bizarre to watch today because the idea that people would actually pick on nerds is up there with discriminating against people because they’re Irish or Catholic. Plus nerds aren’t usually known for their partying skills, which is what these frat movies are all about.

And some of the sex jokes are a little dubious. But nerds?! Never not funny.

8. PCU Another campus comedy

that feels a little strange these days, this was based on the idea that what was killing good old frat party culture wasn’t the evil dean working alone but the repressive spread of political correctness. Oddly, the good guys (mostly Jeremy Piven, playing a slightly poorer, slightly more well-meaning version of Ari Gold from Entourage) are actually pretty politically correct in their behaviour anyway – they just like to party while various stuck-up types try to stop them, just like almost every other film on this list. Only their partying is pretty lame.

7. Higher Learning John Singleton’s

follow-up to Boyz n the Hood (which you may have heard of) and Poetic Justice (which you probably haven’t)

One of Hollywood’s most loved and cherished genres is the university (or “college”) movie. Not because Hollywood is a place that holds higher education in any kind of special regard or anything; if you actually believe that, you might want to spend a few more years in high school getting your mind right.

No, Hollywood loves films set at universities because they almost always involve young people getting drunk and enjoying themselves. Like pretty much everything else Hollywood tells you, this has very little to do with the truth about campus life, but at least with the following ten films you’ll have something to have on in the background as you stay up until dawn studying for the 87th night in a row.

took a serious and clear-eyed look at divisions on US campuses in the mid-’90s. Which basically meant that Jennifer Connelly played a student who turned gay while Michael Rapaport played a country bumpkin so confused over black people being black he ended up a neo-Nazi sniper. Which makes this preachy film sound a lot more exciting than it really is.

6. Soul Man It’d be nice to think that

university campuses were packed to the brim with enlightened folks who treat everyone around them equally. But no: occasionally on campus you may encounter somebody who may seem to have made it into university for reasons not entirely connected to academic ability, which means you’ll probably also encounter some people not happy about that fact. Before you pick a side of the debate, you might want to take a look at Soul Man, a 1986 film in which a well-off white guy discovers that the only way he can afford to get into Harvard is by posing as a black man to get a scholarship. Now imagine trying to defend that film to random strangers as “not as bad as it sounds, really”. Yeah, university is hard enough no matter how you got in.

5. The House Bunny When a Playboy

bunny gets kicked to the curb for being too old (at 27), why shouldn’t she find a job running a sorority full of socially awkward girls? Oh right, sexism. Which is kind of the point of this rare example of a girl-heavy campus movie – and no, I haven’t forgotten about Pitch Perfect (but I really wish I could). Also, this is pretty funny … and doesn’t feature Rebel Wilson.

4. Van Wilder It’s a familiar story: Ryan Reynolds is a party dude who grows up (kind of). But because it’s not quite as old as some of these other films, it’s

not quite as creepy in parts. Seriously, the campus comedy, while a popular formula, is also pretty limited, so rather than getting a lot of variations on a theme you tend to see the same film getting remade every decade or so.

Which means we’re probably about due for another version of this any day now… oh wait, we already had that crappy “Hangover on campus” movie 21 and Over last year. Man, that was not a good time. Maybe this formula is wearing a bit thin.

3. The Social Network Forget

studying: university really is just a place to go and hang out while you come up with a genius idea that will change the world and make you insanely rich and powerful. Of course it is.

2. Back to School Rodney Dangerfield is an old rich guy who kicks his snooty cheating young wife out of his mansion then decides to bond with his son by following him to university and enrolling with him. This is a brilliant idea, as Rodney then spends the rest of the movie partying, being rich and also being the world’s best diver, while his weeny son eventually figures something or other out … but no one really cares because Rodney is awesome. Best campus movie ever.

1. Animal House Not only is this the

original and therefore ultimate university movie, it’s also pretty much the only one that hasn’t dated terribly – partly because it was made by smart people not trying to cash in on a fad, and partly because it was already set twenty years in the past when it came out. It’s a bit of an eye-opener to watch this now because roughly 80 per cent of all American comedy comes directly from this film. Also, John Belushi is even funnier than the rumours would have you believe.

: al iv rv su k Wee oa few of the handy things

by Dani Shaw

We’ve all had the line “first impressions count” hammered into us since childhood, just as we’ve had it confirmed after drunken rendezvous’, dinner with the partners’ parents, submission to the workplace bully at our first fast food gig and so on and so it goes. O-Week is the epitome of this nasty little truth, with students and universities vying equally to make a GOOD impression.

But this can be a challenge for students when O-Week across the country mean bar crawls, beach days, boobs, beer and bad DJs. This annual introductory period – initially intended to familiarise students with their campus, peers, clubs and societies – has fast become a week of perpetual inebriation and anxious beliefs like “I must make everyone like me or else”. And herein lies the first tip for surviving O-Week, and the remainder of your uni life in fact: not everyone will float your boat, just as you don’t theirs. So forget the need to tap dance past every Chuck Taylor wearing hipster with an undercut, and as cliché as it sounds, just be you.

Be polite, take opportunities, get to know people… but try not to be nervous because even the most hedonistic extroverts are suffering some sort of social anxiety. And while they may neknominate to release theirs by introducing alcohol as a sixth food group, you might balance the partying with intellectual or physical stimulation (slow down) by joining a faculty group or sports club. In fact, join a few.

You’ll make a lot of over-enthusiastic people very happy. And although making friends comes as easy to most of us as class does Rosleigh Rose, if you’re the exception, spread your love and courage by introducing yourself to the socially challenged! But don’t spread too much love during O-Week. You don’t want to be stuck sharing your Sex and Sociology elective with the sporadically bearded bohemian you snogged during the John Course guest set. Nor do you want to relive awkward post-coital conversations with whatshisname. “But seriously”, you’ll be asking a less promiscuous girlfriend, “What’s his name?”

Most unis will have an online StalkerSpace, accessible through Twitter, Facebook, or even MySpace (no kidding). Get acquainted

immediately. Deakin’s StalkerSpace is second to none for finding accommodation, buying and selling textbooks, cars, cameras – you name it. As you’re reading this, a relentless lad is still flogging a Thermaltake Chaser MK-1, having recently acquired a Corsair Obsidian 750D. (With Google’s assistance I discovered these are merely hard drive chassis’.) And where better to confess your throbbing lust for the short-haired blonde with the sternum piercing at your US Foreign Policy tute. If you’re not into blondes, it’s still a great way to kill time in and out of lectures.

Here are a few of last year’s priceless Deakin Geelong StalkerSpace comments: To the girl in the Superman jumper that left the 4:30 p.m. exam early today: It kinda reminded me of that Mr Bean scene where he climbs down the stairwell to get past the old people when you furiously hung a right and got past the ol’ cobbler doing a blocky.

To the guy who threw up outside the cafeteria at 8:30 a.m. before exams, you stay classy.

And my personal favourite: Big spoon is looking to become little spoon. Anyone interested PM her. (Name omitted for dignity salvaging.)

Do make friends with international students. If not because they’re noticeably overwhelmed or to expand your cultural knowledge, for the free overseas accommodation! Don’t give your e-mail address to every society and sports club that hound you. You’ll be deservedly bombarded and spend more time emptying trash from your inbox than the ten minutes you’d allocated to such frivolous school-related bores. Do make friends with Red Bull. Late night, last-minute cramming sessions allow for a first years’ success academically AND socially, and uni students straight up can’t afford better stimulants. Besides, heed Mr Garrison’s advice, fellow youths.

Do distinguish the female toilets from the male and use accordingly. This was one of my first and most confronting mistakes on campus and set the ball rolling for years of scenes straight out of Bridget Jones’s Diary. Don’t start any conversation with, “In my gap yah…” or “I’m not a racist, but…” And do get excited!

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who are the stone cutters?

The University of Ballarat may have recently changed their name to Federation University Australia, but one thing that hasn’t changed on campus is the students love of great entertainment, unique social events and little society known simply as ‘The Stone Cutters’.

Forming all the way back in 2003 & named after a very iconic episode of the cartoon genius that is ‘The Simpsons’, the Stone Cutters quickly became the benchmark for not only Uni social events but almost all events in the town of Ballarat. It’s like being stuck in the movie ‘Van Wielder’, but better than the movie, this is real life and a membership is all you need to get involved.

The Stone Cutters are Fed Uni’s own ‘Party Liaisons’ with every one of their events likely to turn into an epic affair attracting 1000’s of students. To kick off 2014 they will be hosting some of the iconic O Week social events including the largest University Pub Crawl in all of Australia as well as a music festival and crazy ‘Back to School’ theme night. They don’t even look like slowing down as term 1 kicks in either, as Week 3 will play host to arguably their largest event of the year, the now famous ‘Beach Party’ (fully equipped with a 12 ton real beach sand dance floor!).

When asked about the upcoming year, 2014 co-president Cam Marchbank was only too happy to comment; “We have cracker of an O Week planned with events on every night, but without a doubt our biggest night of the week is going to be Pub Crawl, AKA ‘Tour of Tradition’. I went to this in my first year at Uni and could not believe how many people get involved, over 2000 in fact....it’s just crazy. Now i am in charge of running it, I’m very happy to be able to keep the tradition going for other students”.

Ballarat’s pub crawl is in fact the largest University-based crawl in all of Australia, only missing a spot in the Aussie Guinness Book of World Records due to a criteria technicality concerning the number of hotels visited. This is the event that attracts not only current Fed Uni students but students from Geelong & Bendigo as well as past graduates back for a reunion tour.

The Stone Cutters will be out in force during O Week at Mt Helen, with a membership stall set up on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as well as Week 1 & 2. Check out some of

benefits listed in their below membership flier. Basically if you plan to immerse yourself into the social scene this year at Fed Uni then a $15 investment into a 2014 Cutters Membership might be the best $15 you will ever spend.

If you’re not studying at Mt Helen or Federation Uni for that matter then no need to worry, the same $15 membership is also available to any university student, irrespective of town or campus. Memberships, along with tickets to all the Fed Uni O Week events will be available at both New Generation (Doveton St, Ballarat) and Cellarbrations (Mt Clear, near shopping center).

2014

MEMBERSHIP

ADVANTAGES

Stay connected with all the best social events happening at Fed Uni and save big time throughout the year with your 2014 Stone Cutters Membership.

Its always been about ‘Mates’, ‘Mischief’ & ‘Memories’ for us here at Cutters HQ, but also check out the value for money this year…..

MEMBERSHIP PRICE ONLY $15

Over $75 in savings throughout 2014. Savings throughout 2014 Include:

O-WEEK Tour of Tradition – Save $5 A Day on the Lawn – Save $10

2014 MEM BER SHIP PACK

2014 EVENTS Save $10 – Beach Party Save $10 – Frat Party Save $15 – Black Tie Ball Save $5 – Dis O-Week Mystery Tour Save $10 – Bronze Age Save $10 – Oktoberfest

INCLUDES: 2014 Membership Card Show Bags with discounts from businesses $10 Drink Card to 1st Function (Beach Party) Stone Cutters Stubby Holder Stone Cutters Sticker FREE Magazines (O Week Forte & Hotch Potch).

50% off all cutters merch, including T-shirts and Singlets (only $10)

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Before you go: Know your stuff. Whether this means visiting a travel agent, talking to friends that have been there, or reading travel blogs, you need to plan a realistic travel timetable (not unlike what Uni does for you now, although I have heard they can be somewhat unrealistic at times). How long do you have? Can you really fit in six countries, or should you pick three and not be too rushed so that you can spend more time travelling?

Start a ‘Travel Savings Fund’ that you can’t take money out of once it’s in. Even if it is $50 a week, thats $1350 in 6 months, which is an amazing mid-year trip to Phuket – in a 4-star resort with a swim-up bar and a jet ski transfer out to Phi Phi Island for a week!

Travel is possible as a

student!

A lot of students will say, “I can’t travel whilst I am a student” – and a lot of students, if not most, will postpone studies or take a gap year in order to be able to see the world. This article is set about helping students realise travel and study can be done at the same time; however sometimes difficult, it is possible.

So, would you like to explore the most interesting corners of the world on a student budget? Have you seen pictures of places like Machu Picchu, Niagra Falls, the Greek Islands and the Great Wall of China and longingly wished you were there, but secretly thinking you could never save that kind of money?

Funnily enough, it can be super easy – and I’m going to tell you how!

Consider a tour, and compare which one is best for you. How many meals are offered? If you’re not fussy, do a camping trip.

The tents and bedding are provided and all the meals are included (sometimes you have to help cook). This can be the most affordable manner, and not too much different than an extended Meredith Festival!

Look into companies that specifically tailor their trips for youths. Topdeck, Contiki, Busabout, Geckos & G Adventures will cover every continent and offer the best ‘YOLO’ trips out there! This means you are guaranteed to be with like-minded people, see and learn about stuff that really interests you, and visit the best bars in town!

Go to a travel expo and book.You’ll save about 20% overall on your trip.

Make sure your travel insurance has comprehensive medical and dental. Or speak to my friend who fell over on the ice in Austria walking across the road and had medical bills topping AUD $20,000… then get your travel insurance.

Websites like Airbnb let you rent a room or entire home of someone else who may be vacationing themselves. This is such a bonus as the rooms are often comparable to hotel prices but you have little home luxuries as well!

See if your Uni course has a semester you can take overseas. This is really popular right now, and spending a few weeks or months in a foreign country with other students is so amazing – and the best part is, Uni pays for a chunk of the costs!

When you’re there: Take a drink bottle with you. The cost of water every day is something you take for granted at home and will dig into your funds.

Stick to a daily budget and leave the rest of your money in your hotel safe/on your cash passport card. This will stop you overspending and running out of money right when you need it. For two euro, beers on the grainy beach of Barcelona!

If you are flexible with your dates and destinations, Ryan Air and EasyJet offer great discounts on flights from as little as five euros, as long as you can leave on particular dates to particular destinations! Sign up to the email alerts.

If you have time, look into working for food/accommodation. This means you won’t have to get visas for the countries you are going to, and if you have some small savings behind you is an astonishingly beautiful way to really learn how a country or city works. Websites like workaway.info are brilliant at placing you and there are loads of blogs about this on Google if you’re a little unsure.

For all of your sightseeing, look the monuments up online first. Often there are days when entrance is free, like the first Sunday of the month. Get there nice and early as the queues are undoubtably longer, but you’ll save a lot of money!

In Asian countries, learn the art of bartering. It’s not rude to barter but part of the culture, and if you take every price at face value, you will lose yourself a decent chunk of your money! In Bali, for example, sunglasses should cost you between $2- and $6- AUD and clothing between $4- and $10, depending on what you’re buying! You can make it fun and turn it into a game to see how much more money you can save over your friends!

But most of all, do what you want to do. The third biggest monetary expense of your life will be travel. Make the absolute most of every second of it!

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a much bigger sound than a two-man band generally creates, the Pierce Brothers have a certain musical presence that’s very appealing.” Torquay Hotel, Torquay – March 15. .........................................................................

River of Gold for Mark Wilkinson

Kyneton Music Festival

Carus Thompson is a Believer Why does the name Carus Thompson pop up in Forte so often? Well, it could have something to do with the fact that he spends the better part of his time on the road. Born in Fremantle, Carus began his musical journey at the age of 12; by the time he was 18 he was earning a crust playing music. In 2003 he released his debut album Acoustic at the Norfolk, recorded at the familiar haunt of Fremantle’s Norfolk Hotel.

At the time he was largely unknown outside of WA, but that soon changed as he found himself on the road with John Butler and The Waifs.

It was also around the same time that Carus first set foot on European soil, a place that has warmly embraced him. Several years later he returned to the same venue for an encore to the album, titled (obviously enough) Acoustic at the Norfolk II. Babushka, Ballarat – March 7 & The Piping Hot Chicken Shop – April 26.

Frank Sultana & the Sinister Kids What does the Mississippi delta bluesman of the 1930s sound like when crossed with the reckless abandon of the 1960s? It sounds a lot like Frank Sultana & the Sinister Kids. As the name suggests, Frank Sultana is the leader of the pack. His band, the Sinister Kids, is an interesting lot, with anything up to a nine-piece band taking the stage. From Son House and Skip James, through to Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones, and on to artists like Tom Waits and Nick Cave, Frank and his crew cherry pick the best bits of those they love most. Over the past couple of years or so the band has been picking up speed, last year supporting Gary Clark Jr at his sold-out Sydney Big Day Out sideshow and performing at Brisbane’s Little

Well, well, we’re here. With 40 bands across one weekend, the Kyneton Music Festival is going to be an absolute cracker. Eagle and the Worm, APES, Cash Savage & the Last Drinks, Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk, D.D Dumbo and Raised by Eagles is just a wee sample of what’s on offer. Things kick off on February 28 and run through until March 2. For the full line-up and all the other details you need to know, take a minute or two and take a look at kynetonmusicfestival.com.au.

Day In. The band is rounded out by Simon Panucci, Nath Boaden, Lyall Moloney and Jessy Wadeson. The Bridge, Castlemaine – February 22. .........................................................................

Recycled Roots Festival Bendigo’s Goldmines Hotel is celebrating the glory and imagination of homemade and handmade instruments with the Recycled Roots Festival. US songman Justin Johnson leads the way, with Jarrod Shaw, Kim Volkman, Stackhouse, Jamie McPherson, Captain Tricko, Blind Kiwi and Billroy Buzzard completing the line-up. Workshops will also feature. It all takes place at the Goldmines Hotel on April 19. We’ll do a bigger write-up next issue, but now you know the basics. .........................................................................

The Pierce Brothers on the Run Jack and Pat Pierce are twins from Melbourne who love their guitars and love their music. The lads spent years busking on the streets of Melbourne, a somewhat largely thankless task. However, it was through this that they managed to fine-tune their skills. They obviously picked up a few fans along the way, as their EP Blind Boys Run has sold over 10,000 copies. Festivals and support with The Beards, Bonjah and The Bamboos have also followed the brothers. In a live review of their NSC performance late last year, Tone Deaf’s Amelia Cunningham wrote: “From the spot-on harmonies to their easy stage presence, and using a plethora of musical instruments that generate

He may have been born in England, but since the age of four Mark Wilkinson has called Australia home. Recently named ‘Singer-Songwriter Discovery of the Year’ in North America by SiriusXM Radio, Wilkinson has been winning fans over with his new album, Let the River Run. Thanks to the album, the songman climbed to the #1 position on the iTunes chart and spent over a month in the ARIA Australian Singles chart. He has also sold over 50,000 physical albums, a pretty impressive feat for an unsigned artist. Those he has supported is enough to make any artist a little jealous, with names including Eric Clapton, Peter Frampton, Brian Wilson, Chicago, America and Seal gracing his resume. Towards the end of last year he spent time in the States. This tour is his biggest national run to date. Beav’s Bar, Geelong – March 23. .........................................................................

The Voodoo of Marta Pacek Marta Pacek had a dream start to her career, writing and recording with Mark Seymour. The Polish-born songwoman used a handful of these co-written recordings to form the basis of her first EP. She then went on to record four further songs, combining the tracks for her self-titled long-player. Roll around to 2008, and the good times with Seymour continued. After being approached by Torontobased management, Pacek made her way to Canada, later opening for Seymour on his North American tour.

Locally the neo-folk artist has performed at the Queenscliff Music Festival, Brunswick Music Festival, St Kilda Music Festival and the Mount Beauty Music Festival, while internationally she has performed at Canadian Music Week, NXNE, Folk Music Ontario Conference and Indie Week Canada. Pacek releases her third album, Voodoo Dolls & False Alarms, next month. Beav’s Bar, Geelong – February 27. .........................................................................

Kilmore Country Music Festival Sunday, March 2 at the Trackside Racing Venue, Kilmore, is going to be a country music lover’s paradise. Lining up to perform will be Jayne Denham, Amber Joy Poulton, Lee Forster, Baylou, Tim Farren, Roughcut, Dalton Gang, The Blackhill Ramblers, The Grandsons of the Pioneers and Kaitlyn Thomas. Jayne Denham, who is fast-becoming a household name in country music circles, released her third album, Renegade, last year. Then there is Kaitlyn Thomas, a young country gal with big talent. In fact, she was the ‘Australian Song Writers Association Youth Songwriter of the Year’ in 2013. Other highlights of the festival include the Ute Comp. Categories includes ‘Best Chicks Ute’, ‘Best Holden’, ‘Best Ford’ and ‘Best Import’. If you’re looking for a little more friendly help, hit up kilmorecountrymusicfestival.com.au.

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TALK OF THE TOWN! Warrnambool Portuguese Cultural Festival The Lake Pertobe Reserve comes alive with colour this weekend as the Warrnambool Portuguese Cultural Festival celebrates traditional music, dance and cuisine.

It may seem like an unusual festival to take place in Warrnambool, but their link is an interesting one.

There is a legend of the ‘Mahogany Ship’. The legend purports that an early shipwreck lies beneath the sand in the Armstrong Beach area, only a stone’s throw from Warrnambool. Kenneth McIntyre, in his 1977 book The Secret Discovery of Australia, associates the wreck with the theory of Portuguese discovery of Australia. The festival kicks off on Saturday, February 22 with a dinner and performances of Fado, the national music of Portugal.

Sunday, February 23 continues the celebrations with more music, as well as some delicious tastes. .........................................................................

Meredith Plays On Bendigo’s Meredith “Mez” Whittle has been penning tunes for over two decades now – long enough to have seen musical trends come and go, and occasionally return again. While it may have taken a while, Meredith finally released her debut album, Wild Child, last year. The album received an Australian Independent Music Award nomination for its single, ‘Survive’. The Newmarket, Bendigo – February 21 & Music Man Megastore, Bendigo – March 7. .........................................................................

Miss Universe Australia “Miss Universe® Australia provides an opportunity for delegates to advance their careers, boost confidence and make a difference to the lives of others.” That is the message that greets you on the Miss Universe Australia website. The beauty contest has selected Australia’s representative to the Miss Universe pageant since 2004.

Jennifer Hawkins won the title that year, also winning the main event. A local heat takes place at The Sphinx, Geelong on February 22. .........................................................................

The Journey of Karise Eden Karise Eden needs little introduction, but we’re going to go ahead with one anyway. Yep, she is the winner of The Voice Australia 2012. Yep, she broke records for the most number of singles in the national chart. And yep, she had the biggest selling album of an Australian artist for that year. Born in New South Wales, Karise began singing in public at the age of 13. On The Voice’s first episode, Eden performed James Brown’s ‘It’s a Man’s

LP Communications Work hard... Play hard! Want to stand out from the crowd? Diploma of Events... get a qualification and do it in style!

World’. In a heartbeat all four judges turned their chairs.

Her performances of songs including ‘Back to Black’ (Amy Winehouse), ‘Landslide’ (Fleetwood Mac) and ‘Hallelujah’ (Leonard Cohen) stunned the judges and audiences alike. Unsurprisingly, Eden’s debut album, My Journey, debuted at the #1 spot on the ARIA Albums Chart. As part of a handful of stripped back performances, Karise plays The Capital, Bendigo on February 22. .........................................................................

After Hours with Gay Paris Fans of Gay Paris only have one more chance to catch the band before they take a little time out to write some new tunes. The band that is “Too sweet for The Devil to lick and too damn hot for God to dance to” had a blast last year taking their album, The Last Good Party, around the country. So they have decided to do it one more time before concentrating on some new tunes. Going by the reviews, it was the album Australian rock needed. Kill Your Stereo: “Make no mistake, this is what Gay Paris are offering you and this is what you will get. The Last Good Party is an appropriate title for their latest record as the music featured on it seems like the soundtrack playing at a party that would be crazy enough to earn the title “good”, while also possibly being your last.” The Barwon Club, Geelong – March 14. Don’t forget to bring your mum. .........................................................................

Brickyard Sessions @ Theatre Royal The Brickyard Sessions are off and running at Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal, serving up a selection of music so good it will cure your hangover within minutes.

Coming up over the next few weeks you have some outstanding musical acts. Deborah Conway is the next cab off the ranks, making her way to the venue this Sunday, February 23. As strong as she is eloquent, Deborah has been a rich part of Australia’s music scene since the eighties. In 1992 she won the ARIA for Best Female Artist.

Sime Nugent is next, and will cosy up to the venue on March 2. From The Wilson Pickers to Sweet Jean to his solo work, Sime has been releasing music for around 20 years. He always seems to have a song in his head. King Stone has a date with the venue on March 9. Who is King Stone? Well, they’re Castlemaine’s first-wave ska band, of course. They’re just a whole lotta fun – oh, and they played Rob’s party. The warm sounds of Daniel Champagne will sweep through the venue on March 16. Originally from the South Coast of NSW, the road is now where this rising star calls home. Seasoned songman Broderick Smith is next up on March 23, while The Hollands! close out a joyous series on March 30. All shows take place in the relaxed environment of the Brickyard Garden at Theatre Royal.

Asta to Headline this year NYR @ the Courthouse Arts.

Asta, Winner of Triple J’s unearthed High 2012 is a brilliant artist out of Tassie. Asta first caught Australia’s attention with her tracks ‘My Heart is Fire’ and the follow up ‘Escape’. With strong 80’s pop influence Asta is an artist who is continually evolving and looking to push the boundaries.

Asta will be headlining this years NYR at the Courthouse Arts building that is all set for the 13th of March. Forte will have a massive double page spread of info in the next edition so keep your eyes peeled!

Where and When: Asta will be headlining the NYR, the Courthouse, 13-14th of March.

Next to Normal Doorstep Arts is thrilled to present a little Broadway in Geelong. Tony Award-winning production Next to Normal, which features a contemporary rock score, tells the story of Diana, a troubled woman in danger of being engulfed by her past. As she battles with her past, Diana’s family and their “normal” existence is threatened. The response from actors across Australia was massive, with Mamma Mia’s Natalie O’Donnell winning the part of Diana. Stage veteran Mark Dickinson plays Diana’s long-suffering husband Dan, while Ballarat Academy of Performing Arts graduate Kiane O’Farrell plays the couple’s daughter, Natalie. Director Darylin Ramondo on the cast: “This makes directing and acting such a brave and powerful play a challenge and a complete joy. I am thrilled to have assembled such a talented cast.” Drama Theatre, GPAC – March 14 through 22.

The Geelong Impetus Youth Awards 2014

So popular, this practical program with a difference is for people who want to get into the events industry but do not want to do a course which is run of the mill. This is the Diploma of Events program at L. P. COMMUNICATION, a boutique Registered Training Organisation in the vibey part of Geelong.

For those who would like to pursue a career in event management a recognised qualification is a must! L. P. COMMS is offering a new program each month aimed at providing ‘real life experiences’ in the industry which is underpinned by relevant theory. The events program, one night a week for 17 weeks, has an excellent reputation in the events industry with large numbers of graduates finding immediate employment.

L. P. COMMUNICATIONS Director, Lynette Petersen, said, “Each month we run a small group of 8 – 10 participants, which means everyone attending gets loads of attention”. Lead by high energy trainer, Trish Redman, the group organises real life events, she said.

Ms Petersen said the participants get fully hands on with the training workshops which are conducted more like a meeting rather than classroom training.

“L. P. COMMUNICATIONS have a very different approach to managing the training with highlights being strong links with key events organisers in the region, a no nonsense approach to managing theory, collaboration between the trainer and group about the type of event they organise, not to mention the amazing training venue that encourages the flow of creative juices” she said.

Past events include Living in the 70s, an event for 300 people held at the Pier; Break out for a Cure which 250 people attended at the Geelong Gaol; Teddy Bears Picnic held at the Potato Shed; and the very successful Art Bizarre which attracted 150 people and 50 artists held at Beav’s Bar. Proceeds from the events raise funds for Geelong based charities.

The trainer Trish is an accomplished performer and event manager, with bucket loads of experience and energy. She is full of ideas and leads the events group through the program with the greatest of ease. Her experience spans nearly thirty years over which time she has managed art extravaganzas, dinner shows, fund raisers, open

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mic nights, various theatre productions at the Potato Shed as well as singing/playing in a range of line ups.

Those who have previously enrolled in courses at L. P. COMMUNICATIONS will know the training organisation is tightly run by Director, Lynette Petersen, who is supported by a strong team of talented industry trainers. They share a strong commitment to participants, acting to the highest degree of professionalism and customer focus.

All training programs are customised to suit the needs of individual adult learners, achieving competencies with stimulating learning strategies and practical, work oriented assessment tasks.

Those eligible for a funded spot in the program will pay $220. Fee for service participants pay a special price of $2500 all up – with a pay as you go option –available.

Training takes place at L.P. COMMUNICATIONS, 54 Corio Street, Geelong. Potential participants can enrol at any time and are encouraged to drop in and say hi to the team. To find out more or to enrol call the team on 5222 4358 or email admin@ lpcomm.com.www.lpcomm.com

The Geelong Impetus Youth Awards are held annually. The Awards aim to recognise and celebrate young people, workers, volunteers and corporate bodies who have made and/ or are making significant contributions in the areas of education, leadership, community work, sport culture, arts, environment and young development.

This year’s award categories include:

•

Active Achievement Award

•

Advocacy Award

•

Community Award (Group)

•

Community Award (Individual)

•

Corporate Award

•

Cultural / Arts Award

The Awards are open to young people aged between 12 and 25 years who live, work, learn or play in the City of Greater Geelong.

•

Inspiration Award

•

Leadership Award

•

Sustainability Award

Now in their seventh year, the awards encourage young people to inspire others and to succeed in areas that they are passionate in.

Nominations are open from February 3rd to March 21st .

• Volunteer Award – Working with young people

• Worker Award – Working with young people

•

Young Carers Award

The successful nominee/s in each youth category will receive a personal trophy and a $500 contribution to support their ongoing interests, education and/ or community work.

The Awards will be presented by the City of Greater Geelong (during National Youth Week) on Thursday, 10 April, at GPAC. Nominating is easy!

Visit www.youthcan. vic.gov.au or call Laura Costello from the City’s Youth Development Unit on 5272 6120.

Hollie Smith written by Tex Miller

Although it may be clichéd to say, after considerable research and having a chat to Hollie Smith ahead of her performance at the upcoming Apollo Bay Music Festival, I think it’s fair to say that she is definitely one of the most creative and successful musicians to come out of New Zealand in recent years – if not ever.

Lorde and the Finn brothers are obviously up the top of the list too when you think of the greatest NZ acts of all time, but having shared the stage with Bob Dylan and Coldplay as well as Fat Freddy’s Drop, I can say with confidence that Smith is definitely one talented lady.

Having a chat to her via email in the midst of the creative process of the illusive third album (currently untitled), Smith is extremely excited about getting the opportunity to return to the land of OZ, after an absence of playing on an Aussie festival bill. “Things are really great at the moment and incredibly busy. I haven’t played a festival in Aus for a while, so naturally I am really excited about the opportunity to come and play. I have heard many great things about Apollo Bay, so it will be great to get back down there.

“The setlist will be a mixture of different material from each of my solo albums as well as some new stuff, and I have a new band which is sounding really fresh and kicking, so it will be a high energy show and we can’t wait to get over there.”

To date, Smith has released two solo studio albums as well as worked with the likes of Trinity Roots and Mara TK from Electric Wire Hustle fame. You may or may not have heard of any of these bands, but trust me, they are some of the most acclaimed in the New Zealand roots and RnB scene. Like many artists before her, with the creative process of the third album Smith is branching out into different techniques, which as a result will develop both her songwriting capabilities as well as musicianship.

“The album hasn’t even hit the studio yet and I am still in the midst of writing the record. There are a few ideas floating around for its production, but nothing set in concrete. I have always done live band recordings for both Long Player and Humour and the Misfortune of Others, and I think I want to move into using more sample-based electronic production. It’s still early days and a bit like dating I think. I gotta get to know them first before I know whether I want to commit to it!” Smith said.

One of Smith’s most acclaimed works is the track ‘Bathe in the River’, which was used as the title track for the film of the same name directed by infamous New Zealand director Don McGlashan.

In the years following, the track has since become one of the biggest-selling NZ singles of all time. An achievement that, years after, still surprises Smith.

“That song, although to this day is an absolute pleasure to play live, was a bittersweet success for me. It really wasn’t supposed to do what it did, and if I’m being truthfully honest with you, I felt it stole the spotlight with what I was trying to achieve with my music.

It has a lot of meaning to people, and will always be a favourite for many years to come I think.”

With a family of musicians, the decision was simple when push came to shove. From a very early age Smith recalls always being obsessed with music and recalls fondly of watching her father play blues and rock covers in the local pub. Apart from the obvious family influence, another strong inspiration on her music was the one, the only, ‘Godfather of Soul’, James Brown.

“My first favourite artist was James Brown. I remember when I was a child I found an old VCR tape recorded off the TV and I watched it every day for several years until my stepdad taped over it with the world cup soccer. There was a particular solo from one of Brown’s backing singers that I absolutely fell in love with. From there I discovered Hendrix and Ray Charles, and I think when I started writing all of those influences become apparent in each of my songs.”

Lucky enough to win ‘Best Female Solo Release’ at the 2007 Vodafone Music Awards, failure was never an option for Smith, having worked hard at music for several years before receiving the accolade. Working her ass off since 12-years-old, receiving the acknowledgement from the industry confirmed that she was on the right track with her music.

As mentioned previously, Smith has toured with the likes of Trinity Roots, Bob Dylan, Coldplay and Simply Red to name just a few; so logically, she would have quite a few tour stories up her arm, right?

“Bob Dylan doesn’t talk to anyone on the road, and I understand that decision. It doesn’t make me feel any different to his music though. Just watching his sound checks and shows from side of stage was incredible. Those shows were at the Civic Theatre in Auckland, which was one of the most intimate shows he had done in decades – a true honour.

“I had a couple of great nights out with Chris Martin and the Coldplay boys, and they were very eventful evenings let me tell you … but that’s a story for another day!”

With so many artists on the bill for Apollo Bay, like any other festival it can be easy to get lost in the scheduling. However, make sure that you make time to catch Hollie Smith doing her thing. With a desire to collaborate with Prince one day, the raw energy and enthusiasm that Smith brings to her performance will make for a true highlight over the weekend, so make sure you head down and check it out!

When&Where: Apollo Bay Music Festival - February 28 to March 2

FORTEMAG.COM.AU

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BENDIGO:

Berlin Postmark written by darlene taylor

Berlin Postmark has recently released Repetitive Highway Syndrome, an energetic and quite eclectic follow-up to their eponymous debut EP. With a title inspired by the considerable amount of time members of the group spend commuting to and from band-related activities, the new EP begins with the jaunty and entertaining ‘Get Up and Get Down’.

The song seems especially designed to encourage audience members at a gig to dance, particularly with the amusing spoken interjection near the end of the track inviting listeners to “…get up and go berserk”.

The first single from the EP is the self-proclaimed Who-influenced (the introduction on its own warrants this assertion) ‘I Don’t Believe You’, a song that manages to be catchy and also lyrically astute about aspects of depression. That is, it relates the fairly typical scenario of a sufferer refusing to admit they are ill, and a friend disputing this denial: You tell me carefully constructed lies over a glass of wine; And as you fall deeper in your own sorrow you say, ‘I am in control and I fit into the mould; I know where I am going and I know where I am at’; I don’t believe you.

Mez Whittle, a local singer-songwriter, has had a significant number of hits on YouTube of late for the video for her song ‘Survive’, in part because it has been publicised by a group fighting against bullying.

Given the ongoing need for accessible discussions about mental health issues, it is no stretch to think ‘I Don’t Believe You’ could have some efficacy for organisations working in that sector.

The EP’s second strongest track after the first single is ‘Come on Baby Now’, which has a sexy and slow feel and returns to the regular Berlin Postmark territory of intimate relationships and their eventual demise. Frontman Steve Saxton, who is wellknown in Bendigo for his performances as a solo artist, member of the duo IN2U and founder of the upcoming Rock in the Vines festival, has an endearingly pronounced strine that lends the band an authentically Australian sound. This vocal approach works particularly well on ‘Come on Baby Now’, with Saxton’s style in general more certain than on the band’s previous effort.

This is undoubtedly a common occurrence for any band that has developed since its first release.

It should be noted that the members of Berlin Postmark (Saxton, Anthony Murphy, Paul Van Emmerik and Mik Weir) have had a lot of musical experience, with part of that experience shared when playing in bands together while studying at La Trobe University a couple of decades and a bit ago.

Including some handy trumpet playing on ‘Winter’ gives the song an emotional depth that might have been less evident if the instrument had been absent. Meanwhile, ‘Notch’ readily fits into the category of a dynamic rock song, with a cracking chorus and another one of those engaging spoken interjections. Indeed, the EP as a whole is much rockier than their debut EP. Repetitive Highway Syndrome will be launched at the Golden Vine Hotel on 22 February, with the Jordan Allen Band and Jack Kennedy in support.

Rock in the Vines is on March 9 at the Big Hill Winery.

PRESENTED BY CATTLEYARD PROMOTIONS SUPPORTED BY TRIPLE J & CHANNEL [V]

AUSTRALIA’S ONLY REGIONAL MUSICAL ODYSSEY

The Stackshots

SOLD OUT

written by Brendan Dando

It’s not often you fall in love with a band the minute you hear them for the first time, however Geelong’s own The Stackshots are certainly a band who break that mould.

ACTION BRONSON (USA) ANDY BULL ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI CULTS (USA) DISCLOSURE (UK) DIZZEE RASCAL (UK) HOLY F**K (CAN) ILLY THE JEZABELS THE JUNGLE GIANTS KARNIVOOL KINGSWOOD THE KITE STRING TANGLE LOON LAKE THE NAKED AND FAMOUS (NZ) PARKWAY DRIVE PEKING DUK THE PRESETS ROBERT DELONG (USA) THUNDAMENTALS VANCE JOY VIOLENT SOHO WAVE RACER WHAT SO NOT

Originally forming at school during a VET music program early last year, frontman Corey Cookson explains how the band came about. “We all just clicked really. Dylan and I decided that we wanted to start a band, since we’d both been involved in little projects that kind of stopped before they started, so we were keen to do something real and stick with it.”

It wasn’t long before they then discovered drummer Bonnie Beasant, knowing instantly that she was the right fit for the position. “Bonnie was the only person we ever dreamed of having drum for us, so I awkwardly yelled out at the top of my lungs during class that we should all jam some time. Thank god she agreed.”

With the band complete, it was time to start writing their first track for their debut album, Cause For Concern. “We started working on the song ‘Bright Red Scar’ in May, but didn’t finish it until the last day of recording the album”, reveals Cookson.

SATURDAY

3 MAY 2014

PRINCE OF WALES SHOWGROUND BENDIGO VIC

“There is something really tough about your first song, since there’s an expectation for it to be great, which freaked us out.

After almost pulling the plug on it four times, we eventually put it on the record and I think it’s one of the songs I am most proud of.”

Whilst the album has proven their music capabilities, Cookson explains that an album wasn’t always the plan.

“We initially aimed to release a three-track EP, just so we could have something to hand out to venues because it’s hard to convince people to let you play when you have nothing to show them,” he says. “Although, we just kept writing new songs and before we knew it we had an albums worth of material that we were really proud of.”

So after such an intense first year of writing and recording, it’s no wonder The Stackshots chose to ease up a little over the past few weeks. “After releasing Cause For Concern, we made a pact to relax from writing over the summer so we could find as many gigs as possible, whilst just chilling out and enjoying not having any outside pressures,” Cookson says. “The only problem is that we crave the urgency of a deadline, and since playing the same two hour set over and over again can become really boring, it didn’t take long to start writing for the new album.”

However fans shouldn’t get too excited just yet for the next release, for it may still be a while away.

“We really want to take our time with this one, so we can get the best out of ourselves and hopefully write our best songs to date,” reveals Cookson. “There is no official release date on the cards just yet, especially because we are still in Cause For Concern mode, but rest assured we are back to writing and can’t wait to debut some new songs live over the coming weeks.”

So after a stellar debut year, with the release of an album along with being a part of Geelong’s flourishing music scene, Cookson is simply excited for what 2014 can bring. “All we could ask for is that people to listen to our music and enjoy the album, since there’s nothing we love more than hearing a complete stranger say they really like our sound. It’s far more gratifying when it’s not coming from mum and dad.” Yes, yes it is.

LIKE - facebook.com/thestackshots3 RELEASE: Cause For Concern available now

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The Smith Street Band

FREE CLASSIFIEDS

written by Tex Miller

SEND YOUR INFO TO: editorial@fortemag.com.au or p.o. box 1388, geelong 3220 or fax 5229 0318 INDIVIDUAL USE ONLY, NOT FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.

Over the years, The Smith Street Band has been lucky to support an incredible array of artists. Given the chance, they’d love to collaborate with Luca Brasi and The Bennies on the Pushover bill because it would be “one hell of a party”. A pun on The E Street Band, Bruce Springsteen’s infamous group, when it comes to talking about influences, ‘The Boss’ is definitely the main driving force behind Wagner’s songwriting.

Looking for talented singers, male and female, who would like to collaborate and record on a project for submission to labels.

We are coming close to completion of the 31 track demo and are looking for people who can sing (all styles) to contribute to certain tracks, please don’t hesitate to call for more information. Call Matt on 0468 632 012

“The E Street Band are f*cking phenomenal man, and on top of that is the greatest lyricist and frontman in rock history. I love Springsteen’s lyrics and how that everything is catchy without being overtly catchy. Everything is smart without trying. He seems so authentic – and the man’s a genius. That’s all there is to it.”

The Smith Street Band is one of those bands that you hear and from the very first moment you are hooked. With an energetic stage show and some killer tunes, they are definitely developing into a special live experience. With two studio albums under their belt (The Smith Street Band and Sunshine and Technology) as well as an EP entitled Don’t F*ck With Our Dreams, this is a band on the edge of super stardom – although you would probably say that they have already made it after just one look at their CV. In the lead up to their first show of the tour, I caught up with lead songwriter and frontman for the group, Wil Wagner, for a chat.

“The past couple of months we have been having a bit of downtime after the last tour, which has allowed us to recharge the batteries and get back into the rehearsal space. We toured last year on the back of Don’t F*ck With Our Dreams and all of those shows were fantastic. We’re all very excited to be doing another lap of the country before trying to make a mark on the third release.”

One of the headlining bands for Pushover festival this year, Wagner feels that having the opportunity to perform an all-ages show is quite a refreshing change for the band, as all-ages gigs are becoming a rarity more and more these days. “Because of different laws and stuff, it’s hard to get an all-ages show on a tour, and this is probably one of the biggest that we could be doing.

“It’s a good thing to support and a good thing to be a part of. It’s also at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl which is cool because we are playing on the same stage as The Pixies. I hadn’t thought about it yet, but now that you mention it, I’m kinda shitting myself,” Wagner laughs about the first show of the tour.

Drummer Available - Geelong. 20 years + live experience to play in a working/near working band. I have pro equipment & transport.

Can play a range of styles from Rock, Blues, Jazz & Funk. Please contact Matt on 0404 543 416 or email mattgroove@gmail.com

After this tour, The Smith Street Band is heading over to Europe for a run of dates and then they are back into the creative process for the third record. If you haven’t been to check this band before, I highly recommend that you head down to Pushover.

Chatting about the support slots the band has been lucky to fill over the years, one of the main highlights was supporting Frank Turner: “We played at the Fillmore in San Francisco and it was a definite pinch yourself moment. I’ve watched many music DVDs of band’s playing in these iconic venues of which now we have shared the stage.

“I don’t really have any goals or ambitions for the band, and we originally just wanted to be able to play to a room of 50 people.

Things have definitely snowballed a lot since then and I can’t wait to see where our music develops to next.”

When&Where: Reverence Hotel, Melbourne - March 8 and Pushover 2014, Melbourne March 10

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE! CALL LUKE ON 0422 809 042

Drummer Wanted for original punk rock band around Ballarat.

Influences include NOFX, The Offspring, Millencolin and AC/ DC. If you enjoy jumping around and making noise - phone 0417566478 Lead Guitarist with Vocal Ability wanted for a 70’s/80’s Cover Band. Age: 30 -35++. must be reliable.

Gigs waiting. Contact Phil: 0410465634 or 0352758691 Guitarist & Keyboard Player Wanted for pop/rock originals band. Looking for experienced musicians who can also sing harmonies,

are easygoing and reliable. Contact Phil 0421 901 530 www. zeffamusic.com 30ish year old trumpet player, looking to form or play in jazz group.

Ballarat area. Contact Mel 0435360076 19yo Male singer looking for funk/ rock musicians: Want similar aged guys who like Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Beatles, and ANYTHING funky bass! i love ANY music prior to 1950s all the way back to classical and beyond! I also play trumpet, Contact Sam 0407 347 444 Lead Guitarist, Bass Player and Vocalist are looking for an experienced drummer to complete a Geelong based Blues/ Rock outfit. Influences include : Jimi Hendrix, Cream, The Doors, Pink Floyd, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison, Black Keys, Ash Grunwald, Stevie Ray Vaughan etc... Also have originals to develop together as well. If interested contact - Craig: 0404 054 045 or email transform_pt@ yahoo.com.au Screaming Vocalist wanted for metalcore band. Vocalist required between the ages of about 17 - 19.

Live experience not necessary. Influences include Parkway Drive and August Burns Red. Email andyw14@live.com.au

Applications now open.

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john butler written by Tex Miller, photo by Kane Hibberd

John Butler has just released his latest album entitled Flesh and Blood. A combination of his previous works, Flesh and Blood is Butler’s most ambitious release to date. Produced by Jan Skubiszewski – longtime collaborator with Owl Eyes – Flesh and Blood is taking a different direction. Off around the country in support of the album throughout March and April, I recently got the opportunity to sit down with John to have a chat about the different direction and sound of the band.

From listening to the album over the past couple of weeks, this release seems to be a lot more focused on the electric guitar than the acoustic to which Butler has become infamous for since the days of busking in Fremantle in the early stages of his career. “I think that really, Flesh and Blood features the same amount of electric guitar playing as April Uprising – and I’m playing it better so you can hear it,” Butler laughs.

The catalyst behind the decision was fuelled from Butler’s original love of a Silvertone vintage electric guitar whilst on tour in America, the anecdote of which brings a smile to Butler’s

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face as he reminisces fondly. “We were on tour in America and the guitarist in the support band had just bought a Silvertone catalogue guitar that was really cheap and I played it through my Marshall amp and it was just like I was under the spell. I stumbled across the guitar and then after a bit of research saw that The Black Keys and The White Stripes had been using them for years.

Before then, electric guitar just didn’t feel right, but maybe it’s the blues legacy of Silvertone that has got me hooked.”

The songwriting for Flesh and Blood after talking to Butler seems to have followed a really natural and organic process, as opposed to his previous releases. This can be seen from how Butler penned one of the funkier tracks on the record, ‘Livin’ in the City’. “I was sitting in the backyard eating some lunch and playing with my kids when the riff and the main hook came into my head.

I think the main influence behind it is either the early Spearhead album Home or De La Soul. It also features an instrumental piece off the last album if you listen really closely.”

With six studio releases under his belt, you may be led to think that the Flesh and Blood tour will feature mainly the new album on the setlist – but John has different ideas in mind, as he relates. “I just try to play good songs, and we are going to

play almost half new stuff. It’s always important if you’re starting a new chapter. As an artist you need to create a connection with the audience and the new material. That said, I really do love playing ‘Betterman’, ‘Zebra’, ‘Funky Tonight’, ‘Ocean’ – and the setlists are getting longer and longer. You will definitely hear songs that you know and love, but I will be rotating the setlist so each audience gets a taste of something a little different.”

Over his career John Butler has played some big shows, and in the beginning of his career busking on the streets of Fremantle, John sold 3500 selffunded cassettes which served the foundation to becoming Australia’s most successful independent musician ever. Looking back in the weeks leading up to the tour, Butler never thought that any of the acclaim that has followed him since would happen to him.

“In the early days, I really just wanted to be a gypsy. I wanted to earn enough money to get an inflatable busking trolley and travel around playing music. I met Phil Stevens and started playing at Mojo’s and things started to take a drastically different direction. It’s been a great journey and I can’t wait to see what the next chapter with this new band holds,” Butler said.

Although the process to writing and recording hasn’t changed much over the years with the different line-ups of the trio, the end goal was to write something that is both natural as well as a killer song. With that said, I asked John Butler whether he thought that Flesh and Blood was his greatest work to date.

“I think every artist thinks their latest album is the best because it’s where they are at in that particular moment. There are some great musical moments in terms of the trio. I’m singing the best that I ever have and this set of songs is the strongest I’ve ever written. From a subjective point of view, I guess, yeah, this is the best album I’ve done.”

Heading out on the road (starting off in WA in late March), Butler will tour around the country with support from Emma Louise as well as Mama Kin. Be sure to snap up your tickets now for their Palais Theatre performances because the tracks are sounding as lovely as ever and these tickets won’t stay around for long.

When&Where: The Palais, Melbourne – April 1 & 2

A

Vegemite – King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard

b

Packaged in with this album is a DVD showing a bunch of behind the scenes stuff, as well as the music videos to ‘All Golden Eagle’ and ‘Right Back at it Again’.

Available tomorrow on Victory Records.

D

C

Into the Blue – Kylie Minogue Our Kylie is back with a new single, the leadin to her upcoming album, Kiss Me Once.

The single contains a couple of remixes to what is essentially a dance song.

Available tomorrow on Parlophone.

Triple J’s Hottest 100, Volume 21 Relive Vance Joy robbing Lorde of the title that should have been hers (I’m not bitter at all).

The guys at triple j have picked forty-one of the hundred songs they played Australia Day and are releasing a two-disc set. Available February 28 on ABC Records.

The follow-up to their ARIA-nominated debut United in Isolation, this album contains the singles ‘My Life is Yours’ and ‘Smother’. Available tomorrow on EMI.

Find the video on YouTube – you won’t regret it. Available now on Flightless/ Remote Control.

Common Courtesy (Australian Tour Edition) – A Day to Remember

White Deer Park – Papa vs Pretty

E

Apocalypse Soon – Major Lazer The first (of presumably many) release from Major Lazer for the year, this EP features the likes of Pharrell Williams and Sean Paul. Available tomorrow on Interscope.

F

Helios – The Fray This is the fourth album from the band that brought us such hits as ‘How to Save a Life’ and ‘Cable Car’.

I had no idea they were still around, but there you go. Available tomorrow on Sony.

A

B

C

D

E

F

Happiness Is – Taking Back Sunday Taking Back Sunday are back with their sixth album. This is the second album the band has released since getting the original line-up back together. Available March 19 on Unified.

TOO HEAVY TO HUG PAUL S TAYLOR chris cruz

Woot! There’s a new Me First and the Gimme Gimmes album on the way. The record will feature punk rock versions of songs by divas of the Christina Aguilera/Mariah Carey/ Barbara Streisand/Lady Gaga variety.

Even so, it’s gonna be AMAZING! This tour better come out to Australia, because if it DOESN’T... *shakes fist* Unwritten Law have been added to the already epic Hits & Pits festival – joining the likes of Face to Face, The Casualties and Masked Intruder!

Dead Ending has an EP on the way. The hardcore supergroup (featuring members of Alkaline Trio, Articles of Faith, The Bomb and Rise Against) have been around for a while now, having released two albums via Alternative Tentacles.

Yikes! For a band with a following as obsessive as AFI’s once was, it’s painful to see the group’s decline in popularity.

Their Australian tour in support of Decemberunderground saw them pack out Melbourne’s Festival Hall. The Crash Love tour saw them booked to play Festival Hall again but this time they only managed to sell 1,500 tickets to the 6,500 capacity venue before Faith No More were added as headliners at the last minute. This time around, in support of Burials, the band will be playing The Prince of Wales, a pub in St Kilda. Obviously the band’s constant switching of styles and genres has taken a toll on their original punk fan base. Still, it’s a chance for the diehards to really get up close and personal with the band. Wednesday, February 26. Prince of Wales Hotel. I’ll bet their soundalikes, Energy, are still big fans!

The annual Punk Rock Bowling Festival in Las Vegas is going to be an absolute CORKER this year. The Descendents, Face to Face, NOFX, Cock Sparrer, The Dwarves, Against Me!, SNFU, The Adicts, Leftover Crack, AntiNowhere League and Good Riddance are amongst the announced acts so far.

Winning! May 23-26 in downtown Las Vegas. Be there! Well, in spirit at least!

The Used have a new album on the way, if you’re into that sort of thing. Imaginary Enemy drops on April Fools’ Day, believe it or not, and features the first single, ‘Cry’. You couldn’t make this shit up.

Melbourne combo Kill TV will be launching their debut single, ‘Never Gonna Change’, at Yah Yah’s on Smith Street on Friday, February 21. Too cool! Get on down there if you can!

Until next time, kids, stay cool.

Literally. It is HOT out there!

In case you didn’t hear, Joey Jordison has left Slipknot. Shortly after the departure a statement was released suggesting he decided to leave. Then I saw a lead for an article stating Joey didn’t decide to leave. Intriguing…

So, in a world first Forte exclusive, THTH will continue to dissect the goings-on behind the scenes in the Slipknot camp in the only way we know how: speculation.

This is THTH’s Holiday Joey Departs Slipknot Fanfic.

like, proper musicians now and it’s all thanks to Monte,’ Sid continued.

‘Bullshit, it’s all thanks to us. He had nothing to do with it so I don’t see why we need to give him a shot. All he did was sign us. If he didn’t some other record A&R stooge would have,’ Joey yelled back.

Silence filled the rehearsal room; tears welled in Monte’s eyes.

‘No other A&R stooge would have signed you bunch of children. I took a risk. I stuck my neck out and this is how you repay Part IV me? You sounded shit before I came along. Your The unfamiliar rehearsal shows were nothing but in the unfamiliar sound an embarrassment but I studio were both rather saw the potential through small for the large band. the immature shit you They worked through guys still carry around old songs with Monte on like fifteen-year-olds. bass; there was nothing You’re all still children, terribly wrong with his ability, and the guys knew crying about your issues through songs and trying that. to be rebels but you’re ‘Look, Monte, you not. You’re grown men sounded good,’ Corey and you need to move began after the guys away from your whinging rehearsed, still sitting in bullshit. That’s why you the studio, ‘but it’s the need me,’ Monte said attitude, man. Where’s with a stern, hard voice. the attitude?’ he asked.

‘You don’t like my lyrics?’

‘Who gives a shit?! The asked Corey. attitude has to be natural.

‘No. They’re cheap, If it ain’t there then he’s childish and weak,’ Monte out,’ Joey interrupted. answered through a lump ‘The attitude can’t be in his throat, knowing learned … Monte is full well he liked Corey’s too much of a softcock lyrics. for us.’

‘Fine, you pen some ‘Shut up, Joey,’ Sid lyrics and show ’em to yelled, realising his me, then you’ve got dream of playing with Monte was about to come yourself a deal,’ Corey said. true but the only person in the way was Joey.

‘Don’t be the douche like you always are, ‘Nah, Joey is right,’ man,’ Shawn said to Shawn said. ‘How Corey. ‘You know this is would he go jumping off a democracy and you keg risers or, like you, jumping off balconies? He can’t make your douche decisions without half of wouldn’t. He’s too much us agreeing to it.’ of a mammy’s boy.’

To be continued...

‘Shut up too, Shawn,’ Sid yelled with tears beginning to well up in his eyes. ‘We’re not into all that setting each other on fire and shit like that anymore. We don’t need to be. Our music speaks for itself. We’re,

If you have any news about local metal bands, shows or albums, let THTH know by emailing to tooheavytohug@ hotmail.com or get in touch via Twitter at @ TooHeavyToHug

Blank Thankless Air

By BLAIR HALL

“The Two” “Have fun, or an equivalent chemical response.”

“Oh what, you mean fear?”

These two had been bickering for years. Always the same topic. Destined to become enemies, these two were in the chrysalis stage of what would be a supreme battle of pseudo-intellect and greed.

For the two, living small was entirely a pissing contest. In order to maintain fairness in the competition, full access to one another’s financials was essential. Everything was accounted for, everything compared for efficiency and frugality. Documented by hand in a single financial table notebook, the financials of the two sitting next to each other as a mirror image within the book, daily totals (after estimated taxable deductions) were beginning to get so tight that a collection of five cent pieces that had been happened upon that day in their wide-reaching program of profit at all costs became tipping points.

Receipts were the raw product to be moulded into a mâché sculpture of the man accounting for them. The resultant sculptures, fashioned from the triplicate copies of the receipts, were grotesque and demonic. The harder the two tried to prettify them – attempt to straighten a nose or a collar bone – the sadder the posture or the look on the face would become. When the hassle of keeping them in the living room became too much, being that having visitors was becoming both less and less a thing, yet still a complication that would require them to justify what they were doing in the comfort of their own living space, the two suspended them from the ceiling in the garage with fishing wire and hooks.

The wire and hooks, of course, created a whole

other problem for the two. Now that these wet, papery and dense pieces were suspended by the shoulder blades from the ceiling, the weight bearing down on that specific point of the body began to create two spines ending at a point at the hooks. Unable to conceive another method in which they can store the beings, the two simply started applying more glue and receipt triplicates to the spines, which through the sheer will of gravity began to drip and form wings that eventually extended to the waist.

At the end of the financial year things became more desperate. The two took on jobs in fields as wide-ranging as catering and computer programming in order to become eligible for tax breaks on the essentials of their daily lives.

Rent, of course, was the one exception to this, but sharing the living space as they do, the cost was split 50/50 on all things in order to create an equally blank slate from which to compete from. All well and good until the inheritance arrived.

One of the two had an elderly grandmother pass away suddenly in her sleep a week before the deadline they had set for their tax returns, bolstering his annual profit margin to staggering heights; heights so pure and good that it would be next to impossible for the other of the two to compete for the title of ‘Most Financially Sound’.

Gripped with anxiety, perspiration pouring from every available pore, the lesser of the two was not in a good way whatsoever. Was it possible that this sudden doping of the statistics was the result of homicide? Could the greater of the two have delved into such dark territory in order to secure a victory?

When daylight broke the following morning, there were three sculptures suspended from the ceiling.

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arts news from around town – and beyond!

Simon Finch in Almost, Maine.

ALMOST, MAINE It’s love, but not quite…

Written by John Cariani.

Directed by Kelly Clifford for Geelong Repertory Theatre Company.

In memory of Mike Ellis.

On a cold, clear, moonless night in the middle of winter, all is not quite what it seems in the remote, mythical town of Almost, Maine.

As the Northern Lights hover in the starfilled sky, the residents of Almost find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways.

Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken.

But the bruises heal and the hearts mend – ALMOST – in this delightful cross between Thornton Wilder and The X-Files! This romantic comedy’s deceptive simplicity can be peeled back to reveal so many truths about human nature.

WHERE: Woodbin Theatre, 15 Coronation Street, Geelong West.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA This iconic masterpiece of musical theatre will transform Her Majesty’s Theatre into the Paris Opera House as the story of the mysterious Phantom unfolds. He is the unseen singing tutor of the beautiful Christine Daaé and is obsessed with her and her voice. This love story is peppered with humour, drama and tragedy as the extraordinary music lifts you and the extravagant scenes amaze you... and then, there is that chandelier!

For the first time, local audiences will experience Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most acclaimed work in the appropriately historic surrounds of Her Majesty’s. With a hugely talented cast of 34 actors and a 24-piece orchestra, it is a spectacular production designed to delight the senses.

Murphy Teece, View of Country, 2013, acrylic on linen, 76 x 76 cm

Emily Pwerle 80x60cm

SUMMER SHOW AT SALT CONTEMPORARY ART More than 50 works of art will open Salt Contemporary’s latest exhibition of Aboriginal art.

Paintings, sculptures and barks from the APY Lands, Papunya, Utopia, the Canning Stock Route, the Kimberley, Queensland, the NT and Arnhem Land are on display. “We’ll be showing works from some regions completely fresh to a Queenscliff audience, as well as new works by artists and arts centres that have developed a great following here,” says Salt’s curator of Indigenous art Susan McCulloch.

WHERE: Salt Contemporary Art. 33-35 Hesse Street, Queenscliff.

WHEN: Feb 14–March 3.

INFO: www.salt-art.com.au EMAIL: info@salt-art.com.au

WHERE: Her Majesty’s Theatre. 17 Lydiard Street South, Ballarat.

WHEN: Feb 22 - March 9.

INFO: www.hermaj.com PHONE: 5333 5800.

WHEN: February 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 & 22 at 8pm. February 9 & 16 at 2pm.

TIX FROM GPAC: 5225 1200. www. gpac.org.au INFO: www.geelongrep.com PHONE: 5229 1130.

BLINK DANCE THEATRE

MEREDITH EARLS “MATTER” – Boom Gallery THE SPIRIT OF CHINA IN CRESWICK HAIR - Summer of Love Victorian Tour The musical that rocked, shocked and defined a generation hits town for a strictly limited run after its sell out season in Melbourne.

Based on the Tony award winning Broadway revival, Hair will ignite the stage in all its raw, and stripped down glory.

The Chinese came to the area they called The New Gold Mountain searching for gold. In many cases their fare to Australia was paid by their village as it was expected that when they made their fortune it would be for the good of their homeland. Often they left behind their families and in many cases never returned. Chinese were in the area from circa 1854 onwards.

Featuring the hit songs, Aquarius, Hair and Let The Sun Shine In, you will join America’s most passionate hippies in spreading, peace, love, freedom and happiness. You will laugh, you may cry but you will definitely be entertained.

The exhibition will be a mixture of artefacts, storyboards, and artworks either from Creswick Museum, Bendigo Golden Dragon Museum, Art Gallery of Ballarat, Melbourne Museum, Chinese Museum, Gold Museum, Wesley College and private collections.

WHERE: GPAC. 50 Little Malop Street, Geelong.

WHERE: Creswick Museum. 70 Albert Street, Creswick 3365.

WHEN: Feb 27, 28 and Mar 1 at 8pm.

INFO: www.gpac.org.au TIX: 5225 1200.

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An exhibition portraying the contribution the Chinese had in the area, in particular the Chinese at Black Lead.

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WHEN: February 1 until June 15.

INFO: www.creswickmuseum.org.au PHONE: 5345 2845.

Meredith is a Melbourne based graphic designer, who after a period of travel and change has created this body of work which explores ideas of spaces - real and imagined, physical, intangible and the space between past and future. She uses a range of painting, mixed media and collage to create these fresh and surreal works.

WHERE: Boom Gallery. 11 Rutland Street, Newtown, Geelong.

WHEN: Until March 8.

INFO: www.boomgallery.com.au EMAIL: info@boomgallery.com.au

Blink Dance Theatre will be holding an Information Session & Audition for experienced dancers and actors interested in our 2014 major work. At the information session you will hear more about this exciting project, meet the producers/director and ask any questions prior to the audition. Please contact Blink to receive an Information Pack before booking your audition.

WHERE: The Loft Studio. 7 Rutland Street, Newtown, Geelong.

WHEN: Information Session: Wednesday February 26, 10.3011.30am. Audition: Sunday March 2, 11-1pm.

INFO: www.blinkdancetheatre.com.au EMAIL: artisticdirector@blinkdance. com

Have an arts event coming?

Let us know about it!

Email Luke on luke@fortemag.com.au

Salt Veins written by Amanda Sherring, photos by Elise Carver

There’s a new player in the Geelong arts scene and after such a short time they’re already making a name for themselves. Elise Carver is the mastermind behind artistic blog Salt Veins, which recently unleashed its first exhibition to the public.

Salt Veins first came about when Elise realised her talented artistic friends just weren’t getting the credit they deserved. “I had no intention of world domination, but I wanted to help the people I knew who were good at what they did and loved it but never got any recognition,” Elise said. “Giving credit where it’s due and opening a space up for the little guys is what Salt Veins is all about.”

Almost a year on, Salt Veins has become a popular site for like-minded creatives to discover new artists. But with their increasing popularity, Elise realised that she wanted to create something a bit more tangible. “It’s one thing to show everyone’s work online, but sometimes you just want to see it in front of you,” she says.

Though Salt Veins has mastered the digital world, creating something away from technology was a lot more challenging. Luckily, Elise was given some help undertaking the mammoth task.

“It’s a tough gig to pull off on your own but lucky for me I have a few helpful hands when it gets tough – and Stacey from Courthouse ARTS has been super helpful,” Elise says.

The exhibition featured a variety of well-known artists as well as some new faces, with Jenna Ramondo, Scarver by Design, Hey Stubby and Morgan Connoley just a few of the talented artists sharing their pieces.

And while Elise has been updating and managing Salt Veins, hanging paintings on the gallery walls and building her health and fitness business Little Bantam (facebook.com/bantamdigitalmarketing), she still keeps time on the side for the things she loves.

“I was doing body painting for a bit which is featured in the exhibition.

I’m also working on a lot of vibrant water colour poems, which I’m super excited to release,” she said.

Also being an artist, Elise has a keen eye for talent in the industry and is continually finding young artists to feature on her site. “I always feel like I’m on to something special that no one has seen before! It’s like finding buried treasure,” Elise says.

With her eagerness to take Salt Veins further and the many artists that cross her path, Elise hopes to one day open a Salt Veins store for artists to sell their wares.

“I would love to offer an online gallery; like a one-stop shop for originals and print sales,” she says.“But if someone beats me to it I’ll want to go in a different direction, go against the curve. But for now it’s fun, and I want to keep it that way.”

In the meantime, Elise is content to enjoy the attention that her wonderful blog is garnering her.

To see what Salt Veins gets up to next and for details on their exhibiting artists visit saltveins.com/blog

TS

MEDY FESTIVAL PRESEN

NAL CO MELBOURNE INTERNATIO

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tweet of the week

mixtape the i n s i de S P L IN T E R S

Written by Adem Ali

GAGA ANNOUNCES NEXT SINGLE The next single to be lifted off Lady Gaga’s excellent 2013 album ARTPOP will be the ferocious ‘G.U.Y.’. Gaga spent most of last week filming the video for it and, thanks to the internet, photos from the set have emerged online. Judging by those shots, we at Splinters are expecting something on the scale of ‘Bad Romance’ for this – one of the absolute mightiest songs from an album full of them.

“ If Beyoncé is having an affair with Obama, it ONLY proves that she doesn’t respect ANYONE named Michelle.”

The hilarious Mathias (@britneyspeans) gets political on Twitter this week.

SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM RETURN! Aussie nightcluband-pop-culture legends Sneaky Sound System are back, whetting our appetites for their fourth studio album with a featurespot alongside US EDM outfit The Knocks.

The track, aptly titled ‘The One’, is being released on February 18th through Neon Gold and will feature on the US duo’s upcoming EP Comfortable.

The brand new Kylie Minogue single is here and it is safe, safe, safe. There seems to be a cloud of controversy surrounding the release of ‘Into the Blue’ as well, with many online claiming Kylie plagiarised fellow Australian songstress Delta Goodrem’s ‘Sitting on Top of the World’.

But THEN AGAIN, Delta HERSELF copped claims of plagiarism when she released ‘Sitting on Top of the World’ last year, after claims Goodrem had actually stolen the riff and melody (the same one Kylie’s used!) from Arcade Fire’s ‘Rebellion (Lies)’. Amazingly, when asked about it, Delta’s response was so flawless she may as well have said ‘I’ve never even heard of Arcade Fire’. Will Kylie take the same approach?

The song itself is breezy, quite Classic Kylie and exactly the kind of thing Australian radio should lap up entirely. The video – in which Kylie essentially re-enacts a night in the life of Girls Aloud’s Sarah Harding – sees Minogue traipsing around the town, club-hopping with her beau-for-hire and getting up to bedroom shenanigans, all whilst squeezed into a gold cocktail dress that looks like it was made from the leftover ‘Spinning Around’ hotpants material.

The new album, called Kiss Me Once, is released later this year, and whilst ‘Into the Blue’ is fun, it’s not the groundbreaking pop moment some had perhaps been hoping for. That’s still not to say the album itself won’t be great: Sia is the

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Executive Producer, and with Roc Nation – Jay-Z’s label – behind Kylie for this project, it’s probably a no-brainer to think that a song called ‘Sexercise’ (oh yes!) will be anything but terrible.

‘Into the Blue’ has – surprisingly – grown on me with each repeated listen. It seems to take all of the bits we’ve liked about The Kylie Single™ in the past and thrown it all together to make this summery, mid-tempo pop monster that, lyrically, doesn’t allow Kylie to play the victim. It should also be noted that it’s nice to see the switch to Roc Nation hasn’t disrupted her legacy.

‘Skirt’, the song Kylie unleashed on to us last year without any much-needed warning, was an actual nightmare to sit through, thanks to Kylie taking to the much recycled “genre” of dubstep with dismal results. ‘Skirt’ came with a good chorus, but it wasn’t good enough to save the song, a dire experiment in a sound that has well and truly overstayed its welcome.

Whilst we all want Kylie to experiment with her sound, dubstep is not the direction forward, and although ‘Blue’ plays it safer than a children’s crossing, there are surely bigger, brighter pop moments yet to be lifted off this upcoming album – and we’re hoping for more Impossible Princess/KM94 experiments rather than the ‘pandering to a certain age-group’ sounds of ‘Skirt’. We’ll keep you posted as soon as we hear any of the other new tracks...

THE INXS MOVIE

Long live Michael!

HIT

MERCEDES CORBY

SOUND YOUR KLAXON AND RAVE LIKE IT’S 2006: THE KLAXONS ARE BACK It’s been close to four years since British indie darlings the Klaxons have sounded off their, er, Klaxon, on to the unsuspecting public, but with the overnight release of their latest single ‘There Is No Other Time’, that’s very swiftly changed.

Hopping on to the proverbial saddle with UK production team Gorgon City has proven to be a move of visionary proportions, slamming forth the most 100 per cent, unashamedly POP tune from the group to date, swapping the Nu Rave of their previous releases for the classic rave of disco and ’90’s-tinged piano house.

Gorgon City are not the only producers of note to be hauled in for service by the Klaxons, with James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem), Chemical Brothers and dance music genius Erol Alkan all being linked to the production of the band’s follow-up to their 2010 album, Surfing the Void.

Forget Schapelle: bring on Mercedes’ inevitable pop career, thanks.

MARIAH CAREY

Who has just announced her new album will be dropping in May. FINALLY.

THAT ALOE GUY FUCK. OFF.

SHIT!

KYLIE’S INTO THE BLUE

The track welds together the French Housestylings of the early naughties with minor splashings of the true-and-tried EDM formula of this current decade. Thankfully, ‘The One’ refrains from clamouring itself into your ears with an abundance of the unavoidable EDM noise the genre delivered in 2013, and the marriage of these luscious house grooves with Miss Connie’s silky-smooth and flawless vocal makes for the first truly Big Dance Bomb of 2014. This also marks the first taste of new music from the iconic Aussie duo since 2011’s groundbreaking ‘From Here to Anywhere’. Miss Connie and Black Angus – Welcome Back! We’ve been expecting you!

THE SCHAPELLE MOVIE

Which would have been a lot more interesting if they’d gotten Mercedes to play herself, Schapelle, her mum and the Mercedes the three of them will be driving around Bali.

AMERICAN TV ‘SEASONS’

Will the Yanks EVER show a season of a TV show in its entirety, i.e. AS AN ACTUAL COMPLETE SEASON?!

NICK BARKER written by Tex Miller

In the late eighties/early nineties, Nick Barker and the Reptiles were one of the biggest bands in the Australian music scene. With two top forty albums – Goin’ to Pieces and After the Show – they were at the top of the game. One of the main players on the Friday billing at Motor City Music Festival, Nick Barker and the Heartache State are bringing a string of new tunes, but Nick also assures me that your old favourites such as ‘Timebomb’ and ‘Make Me Smile’ will get a guernsey as well. Ahead of rocking out the Southern Cross stage, I caught up with the man to have a chat about his illustrious career.

Upon mentioning the welcome return to Geelong after several shows around town throughout the early nineties, Nick is quite excited about the opportunity to be involved with the festival. “What a crazy thing this festival is, hey?! I wanted to do something a little different than the usual Nick Barker set. I looked at the line-up and saw that there was a whole stack of cover bands so I thought, ‘what a better chance than this to show off my new original tunes’.”

For the past little while, Barker has been working tirelessly on putting together the new project and recording an album. Described as the “rawest” material that Barker has done in years, it also features the “A-List of Australian rock and rollers”, including longtime collaborator Justin Garner from Adelaide band Southpaw.

The process of working with the new band in the studio has been an overall pleasant experience for Barker and he truly cannot wait for everybody to hear the new record. “We’ve been tracking the record just guitar and

drums and it’s just been a really good way to work. It’s been really enjoyable working with people that I can trust and we’ve been rehearsing it and then going into the studio and banging it down, which although is a quick process, also has its advantages.”

This new record, which was to see the light of day earlier this year, is now slated for a mid-year release after returning to the studio a few times to continue writing in an attempt to write something for himself rather than for what the industry wants to hear. Produced by Shane O’Mara, this beast is sounding like the freshest record since Barker’s Backyard Six, which was released in 2003.

“Shane is my go-to man, and 99 per cent of the time I trust him. It’s about making a record with people you trust, and having the support behind you makes going into the studio a non-daunting experience.”

Having been a staple in the Australian music scene for many years, Barker has relied on the use of Mini Maton guitars both in the studio and on stage. “Those little guitars are f**king incredible. They sound better than any large bodied guitar. They are extremely portable as well. I travelled all around Europe with that in a soft case and put it in as hand luggage. People laughed and thought I was bringing a ukulele, but trust me the jokes stopped when they heard it plugged in.”

Nick Barker and the Heartache State are coming to town, so pick up your Friday tickets and get ready to rock down to Motor City. “You’ve got plenty of great bands on the bill, and I can’t wait to share the stage with the likes of Kisstroyer and Daryl Braithwaite. See you there.”

When&Where: Motor City Music Festival, Geelong - March 7-9

The Holidays written by Natalie Rogers

This week sees the release of Real Feel (out Feb 21 through Liberation), the sophomore album from Sydney band The Holidays. “We’re excited!” revealed frontman Simon Jones when he spoke with Forte ahead of the release. “We’ve had a lot of these songs for a really long time now, so we just can’t wait for people to hear them.”

History has shown that many young bands struggle under the weight of pressure to surpass a popular debut (2010’s Post Paradise), but The Holidays seem to have taken it all in their stride. Choosing to take time out to travel and see the world was something that appealed to them and, as Simon discovered, this newfound freedom stirred their creative juices.

“We worked on bits and pieces everywhere – in studios and hotel rooms around the world. Old ideas were picked back up, including songs recorded at home and away. Real Feel is like a collage of years of recording.

“Working on our second album was different in a lot of ways. When we were making Post Paradise everything was very new – it was the first time I’d produced anything. We were like kids in a candy shop,” he laughed. “We didn’t really know what we were doing!

This time around we were a little more deliberate.

Generally there was less of a scatterbrain approach; everything was more planned.

“I was putting most of the pressure on myself. I wanted it [Real Feel] to be different enough from the first album so that it was new. Freshness in music for us is paramount, but I also wanted it to be good enough.

Now we’re just happy that people want to hear it.”

Simon – who counts albums by British band Spiritualized, Toro y Moi and Deerhunter as some of his go-to records – said he was very careful not to listen to anything in too much depth while working on ‘Real Feel’ as it could be a distraction: “I never let myself get into anything too heavily as I believe it colours the music I’m making, but I definitely have favourite albums that I love listening to purely for pleasure.”

For your listening pleasure, The Holidays have released three singles off their latest offering: ‘Voices Drifting’, ‘All Time High’ and most recently, ‘Home’.

These killer tracks and more can be heard live across Australia when the guys hit the road next month.

Unfortunately Geelong missed out this time round, but Simon promises they’ll be back, so until then catch them at The Corner Hotel in Melbourne or the Karova Lounge in Ballarat.

“We’ve played the Karova Lounge countless times with some awesome bands – I think some of the best shows we’ve seen and played before. Victoria has the best regional venues and crowds. We can’t wait to play down there again.”

The guys will be joined by Brisbane indie four-piece The Cairos. Get in early – they’re definitely worth a listen.

When&Where: The Corner, Melbourne – March 20 & The Karova, Ballarat – March 21

Tinpan Orange written by zach broadhurst

For Emily Lubitz, family and music seem to go hand in hand: her brother Jesse is the guitarist in their band Tinpan Orange, she is married to the Cat Empire’s Harry Angus and their two-year-old son has already been to more gigs and festivals than most people will in their lifetime. And while Lubitz and Angus both being in successful bands is great, it can be hard to find time together, but they’ve found a simple solution – book the same gigs.

“In the last three or so years, we’ve just toured a lot together – which is amazing,” explains Lubitz. “Either we’ve supported them on their big tours in Canada and Europe, or toured in Canada alongside them. Our managers often work together to help the family stay together, so we have amazing support and the people organising it are very sensitive to it, and we are really lucky with that.”

It seems the family who play together certainly do stay together – and that trend will continue when both Tinpan Orange and Cat Empire play this month’s Riverboats Music Festival.

“I think it’s going to be great,” says Lubitz. “I’d actually never heard of it ’til they wanted to book us, and then I saw who they had on their line-up and I was really excited. It’s nice that we are all playing on the same day so we can go down together. It’s good when that happens and you can keep everyone together.”

Lubitz’s list of music family members is no doubt impressive, but it’s still not the most interesting thing about her – after all, how many people can boast

over 70 million YouTube views for a song they were hesitant to even record.

“I kind of didn’t want to be associated with advertising and jingles, so I was hesitant,” says Lubitz. “But it became so much more than what I thought it was; it was more than this ad, it was this sort of anthem.”

Lubitz added her flowing vocal to the Metro Trains ad campaign ‘Dumb Ways to Die’ which turned into a viral hit, something that never remotely crossed her mind while recording her part.

“My friend wrote the music and produced … it only took

me two hours and I’d told him not to tell anyone and that I wanted to remain anonymous. Then a few weeks later he texted me saying, ‘by the way the campaign’s gone viral’, and in one day it had two million hits, so then I was like, ‘tell them it’s me’,” laughs Lubitz. “It coincided with us releasing our latest album Over the Sun, so it was actually amazing timing.”

2014 is shaping up to be a big year for the band, but even more so for Lubitz personally, with her musical family set to grow.

“We are about to start a little bit of a writing phase

in the next few months and we are hopefully going to record something by the end of the year, or even have it out by the end of the year,” says Lubitz. “I’m actually having my second child in June, so that’s very exciting. In a way that puts on the breaks a little bit. I hope to be writing up until then, and [then] we will stop playing shows after April.”

When&Where: WOMADelaide, Adelaide Botanic Park - March 7-10

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Delivery Drivers Wanted!

Forte Magazine is looking for delivery drivers in all areas around Regional Victoria. If you are looking for some extra work email luke at luke@fortemag.com.au for more info!

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FILM REVIEWS

by anthony morris

Winter’s Tale Occasionally there comes a movie that tries something a little different. And by “a little different” they mean “urban fantasy”, because while orcs and hobbits and the like rake in billions every time they hit the screen, trying to make fantasy work outside of long ago and far away seems to be a whole lot trickier. Exactly why this should be the case is a bit of a mystery: after all, much of the appeal of fantasy is escaping our average world for somewhere special, so logically a movie which features our average world turning into somewhere special should have even more appeal.

It’s not like there’s any shortage of books on the subject that can be adapted either – even Winter’s Tale is based on a novel from the mid-’80s – and yet for whatever reason time and again these films fail to connect. At least here it’s kind of easy to see why, because underneath a kind of superficial competence – it’s a movie with a beginning, middle and end, and while its use of magic as a universal plot device is annoying, it’s at least consistent – this is one big mess.

After being sent to America in a model boat at the turn of the century (which isn’t quite as silly as it sounds – his parents were turned back at Ellis Island, so the boat only had to drift ashore from their ship – but it’s still silly), Peter Lake (Colin Farrell) in now on the run in 1916 New York. Yes, Farrell is playing someone barely 20 years old. He’s a professional thief who’d fallen foul of the gang led by Pearly Soames (Russell Crowe), and if Crowe seems to be massively overacting here, that’s because he’s playing a literal demon.

After stealing a magic flying horse, Lake goes on a crime spree to finance his escape, only to find his final target isn’t as empty as he expected. Having nothing to lose, consumption sufferer Beverly Penn (Jessica Brown Findlay) decided to have a chat with her home invader, and as is always the way when someone breaks into your home, they start to fall in love. She doesn’t have long to live; if Soames catches up with him, Lake won’t have long to live either.

How Lake then manages to stay alive until the present day, where he’s an extremely wealthy man with no memory of who he is until Jennifer Connelly teaches him to use microfiche, is actually a lot less interesting than you’d think. Which sums up this film as a whole: it somehow manages to make the fantastic seem mundane as it uses magic more to cover plot holes than to inspire wonder, while the central love story fails to create sparks. Without any real emotion to drive the story forward, everything else is just window dressing – even Will Smith as Lucifer.

Blue is the Warmest Color

Lone Survivor

Adele (Adèle Exarchopoulos) is a high school student in modern-day France where just about every book they study has some bearing on her personal life. Something a little less relevant is her peers’ obsession with boys.

She acts interested but her heart isn’t in it – and then one glance at a mysterious blue-haired woman (Léa Seydoux) is enough to send her heart (and other regions) a-flutter. As Adele explores her attraction to women, her path and Emma’s crosses again and they become friends, then more than friends, and if you were wondering what “more than friends” actually means, there’s a ten minute sex scene just to make it clear.

American films about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have usually failed to connect with audiences. Director Peter Berg’s adaptation of US Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell’s memoir Lone Survivor is an exception, raking in big money at the US box office: it seems the secret to mainstream success is no-holds-barred patriotism.

Adele’s transformation from inquiring student to dutiful housewife makes her a much duller character in the film’s second half, and when Emma’s art career (based largely on painting naked portraits for Adele) takes off, that only widens the gap between them.

This is a film exploring the minutiae of a relationship, with numerous lengthy scenes (not just sex ones) giving us the space to take in the countless ways they create their relationship. Some of this is subtle, some not-so-much, and there’s little here that’s startling: once it becomes clear that the women come from two different worlds (Emma is a middle-class arty type; Adele is workingclass and wants to teach small children for a living) it’s not all that hard to predict where things will go. But if the relationship we see here turns out to be unable to hold on to its early passion, at least we’re reminded that all this is just the beginning of Adele’s life.

The true story of a failed four-man mission in 2005 to assassinate a Taliban leader in Afghanistan, this film is smarter than it looks. Which, to be honest, isn’t all that hard thanks to a lot of extremely overt US patriotism. (It opens with a real-life Navy SEAL training montage and ends with a terrible soft-rock version of Bowie’s ‘Heroes’.) Despite all the flagwaving, it doesn’t fudge the fact that the SEAL team was basically a kill-squad sent to murder an enemy leader in a part of the country where he enjoyed popular support. Not to mention their main reason for not executing a kid who spotted them was their concern they’d go to prison.

The male bonding is generic but the fights are tense and extremely well-handled. The actors (including Mark Wahlberg and Eric Bana) are basically bodies to be flung down cliffs and repeatedly shot up. This is a film that gets right down to the nitty gritty of what it means to fight a war, and it’s hard to come away from it thinking it’s all been worthwhile.

She may not be a particularly engaging or interesting character, but as the end credits roll her story has only just begun.

Dallas Buyers Club Nebraska The films of Alexander Payne (About Schmidt, The Descendants) are not exactly know for their warm and fuzzy view of humanity. So a film from him about an old man determined to cash a clearly bogus lottery ticket despite the protests of his family seems a little like business as usual. Thankfully, a bit of warmth and kindness seems in around the edges of this at times harsh tale, mostly due to the work of comedian Will Forte.

Endless Love First, the bad news: this reworking on the 1981 classic does not take the same approach as that film and depicts quasi-underage love (he was 17; she was 15) as some kind of dangerous mental affliction that will burn down both homes and lives with its unstoppable passion.

For starters, both our endless lovers here – small town mechanic and country club valet David (Alex Pettyfer) and rich girl Jade (Gabriella Wilde), who’s spent the last few years in a social isolation chamber after the death of her brother Chris – are firmly of age, with the film’s opening scene showing the pair of them graduating from high school. He’s had a crush on her forever but never had the guts to speak to her; she sees him at the local country club and decides there’s never been a better time to hold a party. So of course they end up getting it on in a closet, which doesn’t impress her dad (Bruce Greenwood).

Having already lost one son, and with his other something of a disappointment, dad has Jade’s future all mapped out – and it doesn’t involve spending summer having sex with her boyfriend every chance she gets.

Despite David’s best efforts – fixing the dead son’s car, always showing respect, getting on well with Jade’s mum (Joely Richardson) – it’s increasingly clear that Jade’s father is never going to warm to him. But when you’re that deeply in love, who cares? Oh look, here come the cops with a restraining order…

It’s kind of refreshing to see a big screen love story that’s just a love story – no supernatural elements, no high stakes drama, just two crazy kids in love and the grumpy dad trying to keep them apart. Though the reason why most love stories have those things now is because a): showing anyone under 18 getting it on is a no-no and b): having anyone over 18 being told what to do by their parents is kind of lame, which means that even though this mostly manages to get away with it there are a few point where it’s tempting to yell at the screen “just move out of home already”.

Pettyfer has a slightly wider range of anguished expressions, so he wins on the acting front, but everyone here is on the same, somewhat bland, level – not an insult, by the way, as even the slightest trace of ham from anyone would upset the low-key but finely-balanced tone – so it all evens out.

This has nothing wider to say about love, romance, being young, having kids, or anything else: it’s just a small-scale, generally efficient, totally unspectacular love story.

Are We Officially Dating?

Zac Efron stars in this featurelength sitcom about a trio of dudes trapped between hook-up culture and finding a girl they actually want to settle down with.

Labor Day The heart-warming

tale of a housebound single mum

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He’s playing David, son of Woody Grant (Bruce Dern), a grumpy and most likely somewhat senile old coot who is found walking down the highway trying to get to Lincoln, Nebraska to cash a million dollar sweepstakes ticket. It’s not the first time he’s broken loose; after this one, David, who’s at a loose end after a failed relationship and a gonowhere job, says he’ll drive the old man there. They’ll bond, they’ll visit some relatives – it’ll be fun. Then Woody gets drunk, loses his teeth, their relatives all believe his ramblings and want a cut of the money and Woody’s former business partner Ed (Stacy Keach) turns up claiming he’s owed some serious money too.

The black and white camerawork plays up the stark beauty of the flat and empty landscape; while most of the squabbling is funny in a sad and hollow fashion. Life is something to be survived here and any pleasure you get most likely comes at the expense of others. But there are a few moments of family bonding that prevent this from becoming too bleak, and Dern’s performance as a man with all the warmth leeched out of him is first-rate.

He’s a man who’s been taken advantage of all his life, and while the shell he’s built up around himself never quite cracks, Dern gives us enough hints of what’s underneath to make this a story about a real person rather than yet another cynical look at the greedy and foolish.

and the home invader she falls for after he ties her up and does all her household chores, this is perhaps a little too silly to work even as a cheesy romance.

remake of the ’80s classic is not a classic. Not bad CGI in some scenes though.

is pretty good before the aging makeup kicks in.

Last Vegas Don’t go see this.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom This look at the

life – the entire life – of Nelson Mandela rarely reaches higher than a decent telemovie, though Idris Elba as Mandela

people acting like utter bastards for 180 minutes: with Martin Scorsese directing in his best Goodfellas-style, how could this look at stockbrokers on a rampage not be a lot of fun?!

Robocop This humourless

and needlessly complicated

The Wolf of Wall Street Horrible

When Texas rodeo cowboy and electrician Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) wakes up in hospital with thirty days to live, he’s not happy. As a (generally) straight non-junkie, HIV is not something he’s supposed to have in 1985. His friends promptly shun him and trash his house. The treatment available does nothing. So he does what a hustler does – he pays an orderly to steal him a supply of AZT, a drug that, maybe, might help.

Increasingly desperate, Woodroof ends up in Mexico trying to score AZT, only to end up in a clinic where they dose him up with a range of drugs currently illegal in the US. This time the drugs work, and once he’s back on his feet Woodroof figures out there’s money to be made selling this particular off-brand approach to AIDS patients back in the US. Reluctantly teaming up with Rayon (Jared Leto), a transgender woman who’s also HIV positive and who has the contacts he needs, Woodroof sets up a ‘Buyer’s Club’ to get around the fact that selling these non-Food and Drug Administration approved drugs and supplements is illegal – once you pay $400 a month for membership of the club, you get all the drugs you want for free. The FDA doesn’t like the way their regulations are being avoided, and every time they manage to interrupt the supply Woodroof, Rayon and their clients get sicker.

This is basically a traditional disease-of-the-week weepy that tells its story by the numbers. Fortunately you can’t build a movie out of shocking weight loss alone, and McConaughey deploys his usual southern charm to curdled effect for much of the film, while Leto’s transformation is perhaps even more effective because it’s less obvious.

Making a film about AIDS in the ’80s with a straight lead who’s taught to see beyond his prejudices by a transsexual woman could have (and occasionally still does) comes across as pandering: it’s the strength of McConaughey and Leto’s work that makes this worth a look.

Saving Mr Banks The creator of

Mary Poppins (Emma Thompson) has spent the last 20 years fending off offers from Walt Disney (Tom Hanks) to turn her novels into a film. Somehow this film makes her caving into him and letting him create a fairly forgettable film into a triumph of

the human spirit. Why yes, this is a Disney film – why do you ask?

The Book Thief More like The

Time Thief. This looks like a quality drama, only they forgot to add the quality. Whatever your taste, there are better films to watch at this time of year.

MUSIC REVIEWS

AKOVA

JUNGAL

John Butler TRIO

Bombay Bicycle Club

Earth Recruit

Leave My Head

Flesh and Blood

So Long, See You Tomorrow

Indepdent

Indepdent

Family Music

Universal Island Records

No need for a ‘happy hippie’ alert here. Queenslander AKoVA (Andy Kovacic) wears his new age sensibility unashamedly on his op-shop chic sleeve. Described as “the love child of Cat Empire and Xavier Rudd”, the latter reference is the most applicable. Formerly of roots/reggae group Shoebox, Earth Recruit is AKoVA’s solo debut. The one-man band deftly wrangles guitars, vocals, cajon, djembe, ankle bells, ukulele, kazoo and sundry percussion tools. With an almost Balkan gypsy base, ‘Peace, Love ‘n’ Music’ rhythmically announces the overall habitat ahead. High-end vocals drift into psychedelia on ‘Give It to Me’, before AKoVA gets rapping – albeit a long way from gangsta land.

Grew up in regional Victoria. Rehearsed in a big shed.

Line-up features siblings of the female variety. Natural harmonies influenced by cranking rock from the ’60s and ’70s. Embraced by major off-shore festivals…

I suspect this local rock/roots trio would be happy to never hear the name ‘Stonefield’ ever again.

Flesh and Blood is the latest release from the new incarnation of the John Butler Trio, and their sixth album to date takes on a lot more of a different direction to their previous releases. One of the main catalysts behind this move was bringing in Jan Skubiszewski to produce the record. Jan is Owl Eyes’ longtime collaborator and is the man to work with in Australia for electronic music and production.

So Long, See You Tomorrow is the latest release from London indie kids Bombay Bicycle Club, and their fourth album to date draws on a sound that the band has been working on for quite a while. Breaking into the music scene with their debut album I Had the Blues but I Shook Them Loose in 2009, they stormed on to the scene with the singles ‘Always Like This’ and ‘Ghost’.

Fast-forward five years and the band are now making blissful electronic music.

Dr Bluevein remixes the song on Track 6, where I can imagine festival-goers locking into ‘the zone’. Backing vocals introduce ‘The Revolution’ with a marching ’60s pop beat. There’s more than a hint of the Xavier Rudd’s across ‘La La Song’ and the acoustic reggae of ‘The Dance’ – he’s certainly not the first Aussie minstrel to go there. Single ‘Let’s Get Messy’ is a callto-party with a Latin twist. Vocals on ‘Home’ recall Paul Simon a la ‘Me & Julio’. The “greedy and grumpy” are shunned in favour of John Lennon and the Dalai Lama et al. on the closer ‘Different the Same’.

AKoVA’s lyrics will likely cop accusations of being idealistic, naïve or even a tad twee. No matter.

He’s already made the finals in various songwriting awards and competitions. His welcoming vibe has a worthy place at summery festival gatherings universally, and by all accounts he’s a natural showman. Any act to get people dancing ‘like no-one’s watching’ is always welcome in this crazy world.

Chris Lambie

Although they’re probably fans of the four Findlay sisters, Jungal may tire of inevitable comparisons between the two bands. Does this challenge arise for all-male groups whose members originate from the same urban base and play within similar genres? I think not. But if the gritty grounding of their playing and writing is any indication, Jungal will thrive on their own merits regardless.

Jungal are lead vocalist Leisha Jungalwalla (guitar, slide guitar), Victoria Beard (bass vocals) and Jessie Jungalwalla (drums, percussion, vocals). Leave My Head is their second full-length album following 2010’s This Crooked Track. This one was recorded in Melbourne with Fraser Montgomery (The Cat Empire, Bonjah, Nicky Bomba) co-producing. Guests contribute extra vocals; Montgomery also keys and guitar. Each of the three core members anchors various tracks, with either scorching guitar, authoritative pipes or a blitz of bass and beats. The songs are big, bold and energetic.

Extensive touring across Canada inspired stories full of the crazy, the creepy and the unpredictable. First single ‘Wolf’ is one such. Soul, pop, blues and metal are evident, but not in a ‘sounds of yesteryear’ way.

Opening with the track ‘Spring to Come’, this album has many flavours to it, and I’ll say this: not everyone from the get go will enjoy this record.

Having listened to this record many times over the past two weeks it does, like any good album or book, take a while to get into and thus you should indulge and give it a few listens before drawing judgement.

The vocal harmonies at the end of the track are warm and a welcome introduction to the record.

Without a doubt my favourite track is ‘Livin’ in the City’; the electric guitar combined with the hip hop beat on the drum kit makes it a pleasurable listen.

When I first heard these tracks at QMF 2013, I was a little sceptical about whether the live tracks would translate well to the studio session, because the live versions seemed a little too overdrawn. Yet, here is the record and it is a big step forward for the band.

A few months back, we heard the lead single ‘Carry Me’ being premiered on triple j – and now the full product is here. Jangly guitar lines, electro synth and soaring vocal lines from lead singer Jack Steadman are all present within this track, and it is a definite highlight to this record. If you haven’t seen these guys’ live then make sure you check them out when they come to Australia once again. It may be a while, but I think given the back catalogue of awesome tracks this band has, it’s worth the wait.

Fans of Hole, Heart, Tegan & Sara, Stonefield (yeah yeah, I know) or even blokey equivalents will get a major kick out of this bunch of tracks.

New drummer Grant Gerathy makes one appearance on the album on the track How You Sleep At Night and it will be interesting to see how he fits into the band given the fantastic chemistry between Bomba, Luthiers and Butler. Check this disc and then go see them live, otherwise you’ll regret it.

It may take a while for you to be hooked to the new sound, but hopefully you find some merit in these tracks. It’s edgy, upbeat and a different direction for this band, but it definitely works positives. From the first listen this record is a pleasure, and you should check it out for yourself.

Chris Lambie

Tex Miller

Tex Miller

Forte is looking for new

Music Reviewers!

Are you an aspiring writer with a love for music? Want a chance to review the latest music releases and live acts?

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Grog Watch So last week I got touched up at the bus stop – and it was a lot less fun than it sounds. Which means not only was it no fun at all, but pretty much all of the experience was some form of negative fun that was the opposite of fun – “unpleasant” would not, I feel, be understating the case. And let me stress, I was felt up at a bus stop: for something like that to be bad it would have to be pretty bad indeed. For is it not the dream of every public transport user to find love on the train, tram or bus? Isn’t part of the fun of getting around on public transport – insofar as it’s possible to have any kind of fun at all on a system that, outside of inner Melbourne at least, seems basically designed to take you nowhere near where you want to go at an extremely slow and meandering pace – the hope that you might

PULP. >>>>>> By Cameron Urquhart & Alastair McGibbon

Alastair: So, DC doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to movies. Sure, The Dark Knight trilogy is a high point (though I have serious beef with The Dark Knight Rises), but most other (live-action) attempts have been sub-par at best. (Opinions on Man of Steel are divisive to say the least.)

So, when local comic sage Darren told me that Superman: Earth One was what Man of Steel should’ve been, I was cautiously optimistic – the comic stories are inspirational for a reason, after all. I definitely wasn’t disappointed.

I’m not usually a huge fan of Superman, and I generally avoid buying trades that feature him as the central character. Until now, the exception had been All-Star Superman, and while Earth One isn’t as high quality as Grant Morrison’s Superman masterpiece, it’s still a damn good read. It’s an alternate dimension origin story (what is it with good comics and origins?) featuring Clark Kent’s first public outing as Superman.

Written by J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, The Amazing Spider-Man) and drawn by Shane Davis (Batman), Earth One sees Clark Kent arriving in Metropolis to decide on a career. While weighing up his options, ships from a distant planet arrive, their leader threatening to destroy the planet unless the fugitive he is hunting reveals himself. Torn between maintaining a quiet, normal life and defending the planet he loves, Clark has to make the most important decision of his life.

Earth One is most definitely a modern Superman story. Leather-clad and brimming with potential, Straczynski’s Clark Kent isn’t the Boy Scout we’re all used to. Earth One is a comic that makes the most of being outside the current continuity (much like the Marvel Ultimate universe), and I’m excited to see where the Earth One series is headed.

Cameron: I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I kind of dig horror. I also rather dig comics – and this year Vertigo heard my pleas for some new horror comics. Some have pointed out that Vertigo does this on a regular basis without my input, but I disagree. So let’s thank me (and Vertigo) for their

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meet new people and maybe forge some kind of lasting connection with them? Short answer: yes. So why then am I complaining about feeling a stranger’s warm caress while waiting for my regular bus?

Maybe I should start from the start…

and then next thing I know the guy had draped his hand over my right leg. Like I said, “draped”.

He wasn’t grabbing me or anything: his hand just flopped there like it had been for a long run and was too tired to move.

It was a hot and unpleasant day, and I was waiting for a bus on the fringe of Geelong’s CBD. For those unfamiliar with Geelong’s rubbish bus system, not only do the buses generally run close to once an hour on each route (so if you miss your bus it’s often quicker to walk home, considering you won’t be getting home until over an hour later) but a few years ago they removed all the bus stops from the city that weren’t the two big bus stops on Moorabool St. One bus stop in the middle of town … two or three blocks with no bus stops … then bus stops. So basically I was in the middle of nowhere (as far as pedestrians were concerned) waiting for a bus that I had to catch.

“Uh,” I said, “what the f**k?” and flicked his hand off me like you would a spider. He kind of mumbled something that I assumed was “sorry”. I didn’t get up or anything – hey, I was there first – which turned out to be a mistake because the next thing I knew he had his wallet out and was rubbing it on my leg.

I’ll be honest here: that freaked me the hell out. I leapt to my feet, expressing my displeasure in a strongly verbal fashion, backed off in a direction that only later I realised was directly onto the fortunately briefly not amazingly busy road, and generally kept my distance. He didn’t move from his seat.

Then this guy came out of nowhere and sat down next to me. This was a little annoying, because who wants anyone sitting next to them anytime, anywhere? But to be fair, the bus stop bench was pretty small and I was sitting close to the middle of it so when he sat next to me he was pretty close to me. Because of all that, my dodgy dude radar didn’t really go off; plus it was the middle of a hot day, the bus stop was by a busy road, I was busy reading the back cover of a Jason Statham DVD I’d just bought,

While I had no desire whatsoever to spend any more time near this guy – who was wearing dodgy tracksuit pants, a t-shirt, and had stringy blonde hair hanging down over his face – my options were limited. The next nearest bus stop was at least two blocks away; I wouldn’t have made it before my bus went past, and the bus after that was at least 40 minutes away. So I backed away from this guy in a big arc until I was on the other side of the bus stop standing by the bus stop sign. He was still on the seat. I looked down the road to see if the bus was

coming; though what I would do if he got on the bus I had no idea.

No sign of the bus. I looked back at the seat. No sign of the guy. Wait, what? The seat was empty.

So where was he? And then I realised he was standing right behind me reaching out to touch me again and I just about lost my mind because this was some serious horror movie shit and for all I knew every time from now on until the end of time every moment I opened my eyes he would be there reaching out for me. Only this time, something was different: he wasn’t reaching out to me, he was holding his hand out like he wanted to me to shake it.

It’s never a bad idea to get on the good side of your demonic tormentor, so I did. Shake it I mean, and as I did he mumbled something. I leant in close. “I’m not feeling very well,” he said. “Do you need medical help,” I said. “Do you need the hospital?” He shook my hand a second time, let it go, and walked off down the road without saying another word.

My bus arrived a few minutes later. I still use that stop. But if I see him again, I think I might take up running.

Tony “Never sleep again” Montana

newest series, Coffin Hill.

Written by urban fantasy novelist Caitlin Kittredge (the Iron Codex & Nocturne City series) and drawn by Inaki Miranda (Fairest, Judge Dredd) this series is a breath of fresh air … Also of dank, musty air with a scent of archaic tomes and the foulest of magics. I had heard of neither of the women involved in this comic but gravitated towards it due to Dave Johnson’s incredible cover for issue #1. Thankfully its innards are as beautiful as its … outtards? Whatever the word I meant to use was – it’s incredible.

The comic follows two periods of time in the life of Eve Coffin, first as a rebellious teenager born into money and experimenting with magic. The second sees Eve Coffin injured as a cop in Boston before returning to her hometown, the after effects of her younger experimentations still being felt in the world. The woods surrounding her New England family mansion have a hunger for flesh, and it all appears to be Eve’s fault when the bodies start stacking up.

It’s gory and thrilling while managing to balance it with backstory and character development. At the moment we’re only five issues in so the first storyline is yet to wrap up, and I gotta tell you, I’m way excited to see how it ends.

POrPe! cultu

By An th on

y M or ri s

The big loser in the recent Sunday night clash of the Aussie dramas was the first episode of the new series of Rake (ABC1, Sundays, 8.30 p.m.). Which makes no sense if you think about it, because Rake is an actual good show that’s entertaining on its own merits, while both Seven’s INXS miniseries and Nine’s Schapelle Corby telemovie were firmly in the trash TV bracket.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking Australia can’t actually make entertaining drama that’s actually good – so often do we get telemovies and miniseries that are only watchable if you take a sarcastic, jokey attitude to everything you see on screen – and with the increasing popularity of Twitter as a platform for people to make jokes about what they’re watching, it’s more than plausible that the networks know this and program for it.

Obviously docudramas have always had a big role on Australian television – thanks in large part to the generally abysmal state of television writing in this country; at least if it’s based on a true story you don’t need to pay someone to come up with that part of things – but in the current climate even when they don’t work you still win. If your true story drama works as quality television, then viewers get to watch quality television, which presumably they’ll enjoy; if your true story drama is a sloppy mess with bad wigs and accents and loads of gratuitous nudity, then audiences get to go on social media and have fun making fun of it. So if you think about it, why would you bother making something with a smart plot and fun characters? Yes, it might be “good” – and again, it bears mentioning that while Rake does have its

problems, it was easily the best of the three local dramas by any real comparison – but good isn’t what it used to be. Look at it this way: the job of television is to get you to watch it, even if it’s the ABC. Why you watch it doesn’t really matter – you could be watching the news or current affairs for information, some big live event just to see what happens, a comedy to laugh (probably not an Australian comedy then), an historical show to be informed, and so on. In the past, the reason for making “good” programming was to a): keep people watching as it happened and b): get people to talk about it afterwards so that other people would tune in next week – you know, “word-of-mouth”. That didn’t work for crap programming, because people would stop watching and tell their friends it was crap.

But now, thanks to social media, it doesn’t work like that: people will watch a bad show to tweet about how bad it is, and people on social media will see people tweeting about a bad show and tune in to see what all the fuss is about. So a bad show – just so long as it’s an “event”, preferably with a local hook – works just as well when it comes to getting people to watch it, right? Actually, it works even better: if a show is good (with interesting characters, engaging plot and so on), you’re going to actually want to watch it. It’s only the rubbish shows where you can go off and tweet about them, because you don’t really care about what’s happening as anything more than something to make fun of.

Congratulations: we now live in a world where bad shows no one really enjoys make for better television than good ones.

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