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issue 570 // 17 OCTOBER 2013 // next issue: 31 OCT

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A WORD FROM THE TEAM

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

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

luke@fortemag.com.au

Welcome People, to another jam packed issue of one of Australia's longest running street Press magazine's, Forte!. Giving you all you need to know about regional Victoria, Music, Arts, Culture, Film, food, Grogs, gig dates – pretty much everything.

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

David Di Cristoforo SCENE PHOTOGRAPHER.......Marianne Valitutti

This issue we have the band that kept 'Rollin, Rollin” and are still 'Rollin', Limp Bizcut on our cover. We were more than Chuffed to have their famous Gutraist Wes Borland, ring the office late last week for a chat ahead of their upcoming Australian tour, what a workplace we have, where you can answer the phone and its a mega rock star like Wes Borland waiting on the line. We are launching a little section each issue called 'Cafe Culture' where we will be shining a spot light on the wonderful cafe's we have in the region. We have your very own Double page guide to The Kennedy's Creek Music Festival, almost every issue of Forte has had a guide of this nature lately, there is so much going on ATM! We also have a bunch of really cool shit in the arts section up the back, anyone that thinks regional Victoria is some sort of cow pat laden, cultural wasteland best take a look the refining the palette and get their story straight.

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the HIGHLIGHTS

THE LATEST ON international & national news & tours The Highlights: Where the heat is on. Coming up you have…

carving out a solid name also, with his single ‘Black and Yellow’ reaching the #1 spot on the Billboard 100.

Festival Hall – January 4.

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The Super Tanya-Lee Davies

Jimmy Carr Makes His Debut

Melbourne’s queen of the patio frock Tanya-Lee Davies is back with her femme-pop alter ego, Superdarling. Davies released an album, also titled Superdarling, earlier in the year, with the Herald Sun writing: “Loungey 60’s vibe with lots of jangly guitars, breathy organs and more major 7th chords than the Burt Bacharach songbook.” It’s warm. It’s wonderful.

It’s super. It’s darling. Grub Food Van, Fitzroy – October 25.

For the first time, one of the UK’s finest, Jimmy Carr, will bring the funny to Australia. The writer, actor and presenter made the move to comedy in 2000 and he has since racked up a string of awards. He is a regular face on TV panels shows, but there will be some reading who will know him for his compilation of his heckling retorts which has racked up over five million YouTube views. It’s worth a look. Hamer Hall – January 15.

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Extra Leonard Cohen

World’s End Press Push On

Returning for his third concert tour in five years, the ticket demand for legendary songman Leonard Cohen is as strong as ever. Performing his most extensive tour to date, Cohen has added a second Melbourne show, playing the Rod Laver Arena on December 9. Other dates include the Rod Laver Arena on November 20 and The Hill Winery, Geelong on December 7. He just keeps getting better with age.

With their self-titled debut album freshly on the shelves, World’s End Press thought it best to hit the road for a small run of shows. Handling production duties was Tim Goldsworthy, who has put his name to the likes of Massive Attack, The Rapture and Cut Copy. As for the band, they have already found themselves in the company of Primal Scream, Hot Chip and Bloc Party among others. The Corner – December 6.

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Falls Sideshows It will be a busy musical end and start to the year with plenty of Falls Festival sideshows coming your way, so be sure to keep an eye out. We have a few for you now: Hanni El Khatib and White Denim –The Corner, January 5; James Vincent McMorrow – The Corner, January 7; London Grammar – The Prince Bandroom, January 9; The War on Drugs – Northcote Social Club, December 28; Tom Odell – The Corner, December 28. .........................................................................

A$AP Rocky & Wiz Khalifa Following a hugely successful American run, the double-shot of A$AP Rocky & Wiz Khalifa will be in Australia early in 2014. A$AP Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, released his debut album Long. Live. ASAP earlier this year to critical acclaim. It also happened to debut at the #1 spot on the Billboard 200. Wiz is

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Earthcore Draws Closer

Slash Goes Slasher

Earthcore’s 20 th anniversary bash is drawing close, and since the announcement of Shpongle was made things have been heating up. Latest additions include Max Chapman, Fake Forward, Chiara Kickdrum, Renee Divatronic, Sean Kandy, Lani Lux Greer, Benjamin Langmead, Deja Voodoo and Antediluvian Rocking Horse. Freddie’s Lane, Pyalong – November 29 through December 1.

Australia’s favourite rock guitarist, Slash, has produced his first horror film. Nothing Left to Fear was released earlier in the month and stars Clancy Brown, Anne Heche and Jennifer Stone. Slash also provided the score and closing theme for the film, working with pal Myles Kennedy. New music is also on the way with the guitar slinger telling Rolling Stone he is working on a new album due for release in 2014.

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crafting a one-of-a-kind pair of Converse shoes. 70 contributions were made including those from Jason Mraz, Paramore, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and RHCP. The auction goes live on eBay at 6pm on October 24. The global auction is facilitated through eBay’s charity partner, In Demand.

saying: “Tumbleweed’s Sounds From The Other Side is just like being back in the warm, loving embrace of 1995, and it couldn’t feel more like home.” I know what you want though, and that is to hear it loud and in the flesh. Central Club Hotel – November 29.

Stepping Out In Their Shoes

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Warner Music Australia has teamed up with Converse, Sharpie and eBay for a very special Cancer Awareness Month charity auction called In Their Shoes. Warner Music Australia sought out local and international artists to lend their time to

Times Don’t Change for Tumbleweed

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The Beauty of Paul Greene & The Other Colours At the beginning of the year Paul Greene & The Other Colours farewelled drummer Matt Sykes, who passed away after a boating accident near Jervis Bay. If strength can be found in music, the band has proven so, releasing their latest single, ‘Beautiful Delusion’.

The single is a lovely slice of new music, following up on 2012’s acclaimed Behind the Stars. You can check out the single’s clip online. Northcote Social Club – November 2.

Themusic.com.au’s Pete Laurie summed up what was sure to be a familiar sentiment when reviewing Tumbleweed’s Sounds From the Other Side,

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Big Sean is Finding Fame Sean Michael Anderson, better known simply as Big Sean, was raised in Detroit. He developed a solid relationship with a local hip hop radio station and would later find a friend in Kanye West, who

2013 spreading their music to sold-out crowds around Australia. It started with the release of their breakthrough single ‘Bullshit Aside’ earlier in the year and was followed up perfectly with ‘Sleeping at Your Door’. Falling Up the Stairs is the EP that is getting all the love. The band recorded the EP with Daniel Denholm (Washington, Midnight Oil). The Toff – November 2. .........................................................................

Business as Usual for We Are Scientists

Blinded by British India British India will swing by Melbourne’s HiFi tomorrow night (Friday, October 18) in a show which will kick off a tour in support of new single, ‘Blinded’. The single is lifted from their latest album Controller, which was released to a whole lotta love earlier in the year. Accompanying the single is a video clip directed by guitarist Nic Wilson. The band also has dates lined up with Fall Out Boy and A Day on the Green.

signed him to his GOOD Music label in 2007. He has released two albums: 2011’s Finally Famous and 2013’s Hall of Fame. He is also behind ‘Control’, which features Kendrick Lamar and Jay Electronica.

Prince Bandroom – November 16. .........................................................................

Sam Buckingham & Buffalo Tales Sam Buckingham is a lover, a traveller and a teller of truths – if the ol’ internet is anything to go by. She is also a songbird who is making people fall for her tunes, the latest batch of which can be heard on I’m a

New Yorkers We Are Scientists released their new EP Business Casual this month, but Aussie fans will have to wait a little longer until they get the chance to see the band. Not too long, mind you, with the lads set to swing by at the beginning of 2014. The band has been together for over a decade now, releasing four full-length albums along the way. The Corner – January 25. Check out single ‘Return the Favour’.

AWME Additions

Future Music Festival Second Release

50 world-class acts will perform across four days and nights as part of the sixth annual AWME. Ngaiire, The Public Opinion Afro Orchestra, Mama Kin, Blackchords, Warren H. Williams, Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, The Shaolin Afronauts, Manram, Quarry Mountain Dead Rats, Kooii and The Deans join the already stellar line-up which includes The Cambodian Space Project, Sola Ross and Jeff Lang. Melbourne – November 14-17.

In two hours, first release tickets for the Future Music Festival sold out in Melbourne.

It took only 35 minutes in Sydney – seriously Melbourne, what gives? Second release tickets are currently available and remember, the earlier you buy the cheaper it is. Artists include Deadmau5, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Hardwell, Knife Party, Tinie Tempah and Eric Prydz. Flemington Racecourse – March 9.

Bird. She has decided to team up with Buffalo Tales, aka Wes Carr, for a show that is a little for the fellas and a little for the ladies. Make a date with the pair at Revolver on November 4.

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Jason Derulo Gets Inked Apparently RnB crooner Jason Derulo is planning on moving to Australia. That’s according to a recent interview with the Nova Network Anyway. One thing for sure is that the smooth groover has lined up a few shows for next year. The tour will take in his latest album, Tattoos, as well as older material. His single ‘Talk Dirty’ has been copping a solid workout on radio around the country. Rod Laver Arena – April 26. .........................................................................

Ted 2 Coming in 2015 Given the success of Ted, it is unsurprising that a sequel would follow. Creator Seth MacFarlane gave a few hints about a release back in August, but things are looking more definite now with Universal Pictures announcing a June 26, 2015 release date. Nothing is known about the plot at this stage. It will be another big year movies with The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Batman vs. Superman and Jurassic World also set for release.

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The Might of Mayhem

Al Jourgensen Dispending Justice Courtney Taylor-Taylor, Amanda Palmer, Corey Taylor, Tom Morello and Gerard Way have all stepped out into the comic book world, and now Ministry’s Al Jourgensen can add his name to the pile. The founder and frontman of the band has teamed up with British artist Sam Shearon to play a superhero in the comic book series, Ministry: The Devil’s Chord – The Chronicles of Alien F. Jourgensen. .........................................................................

Good Things Come in Threes Well, Harvest may have been cropped from the festival world (I know what I did there and I am thoroughly proud), but that doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy some of those who were set to perform. AJ Maddah hinted at such a possibility recently and has now delivered the goods with Neutral Milk Hotel, M. Ward and Superchunk teaming up for a few shows.

Are we happy now? The Forum – November 15. .........................................................................

Trippin’ on Lime Cordiale Sydney outfit Lime Cordiale have spent much of

If you make it to the 30-year mark in a marriage, you’re doing pretty damn well. If you make it to the 30-year mark as a band, you’re doing exceptionally well. Norway’s black metal masters Mayhem clock up that big number in 2014 – and they have their sights on Australia. Formed in 1984, the band released their debut release Deathcrush in 1987. The word is they’re working on a new album. The Hi-Fi – January 10. .........................................................................

Every Time I Die Supports With their tour set to kick off tomorrow night in Brisbane (October 18), Every Time I Die have selected some very special bands to warm them up in each city, and holding the Melbourne honour are I Exist and Surrender. Canberra sludge lords I Exist are putting the finishing touches on their next release, while Perth-born, Melbourne-based Surrender have their debut One Day to show off. The Corner – October 20. .........................................................................

Chaisson & Diesel “The Last Shower EP started with a writing session via Skype. Tim had just driven a long drive home to Prince Edward Island from NY and I was waking up after a show in Perth, WA.” And so songman Diesel introduces us to the beginnings of the EP collaboration he shares with fellow songman Tim Chaisson. The pair had previously crossed paths on the road. Palms @ Crown – November 2 & Northcote Social Club – November 3.

FRI 18 OCT

Dear Ivy REST

ENT AURA N TS – BARS – ENTER TA I N M

SAT 19 OCT

Tim Tonic Hulsman FRI 25 OCT

Figjam Friday night drink promos 5.30 til 6.30 and 9 til 10.30 Saturday night Bulmers and Carlton Draught promos

SAT 26 OCT

Thom

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THUR DEC 5 THE WOOL EXCHANGE

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THE

FORT-NIGHTLY CALENDAR & GIG GUIDE

Thursday October 17th BAR PIZZA: Open Mic Night w/ Dave Dorman BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Mic Night w/ Dave Dorman, Masters Of Dartness 8:30pm, Parmi Night $11.90 BEAVS BAR: Dave Anderson BLACK HATT: Night in the Bar from 5pm till 7pm, Open Mic from 8pm with acoustic, bands, solos & duets CITY QUARTER BAR: 50% off Menu ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night GOLD DIGGERS ARMS: Bingo Its Bingo with Balls! From 7.30pm Free Entry GPAC: Martin and Jerry Lewis Show KAROVA LOUNGE: Horrorshow, Home Brew and Jimblah THE LOFT (WARRNAMBOOL) (WARRNAMBOOL): Fever Fundraiser THE MAX HOTEL: $12 Parmi All Day All Night, Inquizitive Trivia from 7.30pm ODYSSEY TAVERN AND BREWERY: Jay Hoad THE SPHINX HOTEL: Night from $13

Friday October 18th AT THE HEADS: Live music from 5pm till 7pm (Barwon Heads) BARKING DOG: Flashback Fridays with live band BARWON CLUB HOTEL: The

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Delta Lions and Guests BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Happy Hour 5- 7pm BEAVS BAR: Hayden Scott BLACK HATT: Drink Promos from 5-7,Blackshaw’s Beat THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): Parading with Stre4m and Elizaband CAPITAL THEATRE (BENDIGO): The 39 Steps CITY QUARTER BAR: Friday Unwind from 5pm. Live with live entertainment and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Thank Guinness It’s Friday EDGE GEELONG: Live entertainment plus DJ

Saturday October 19th Sunday October 20th BARWON CLUB HOTEL: Whitley BARWON HEADS HOTEL Summer Festival of Music feat.

Soul Mammas and more BEAVS BAR: Steve Pianto THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): Cosmo Jarvis (UK) with Lime Cordiale CAPITAL THEATRE (BENDIGO): The 39 Steps

ODYSSEY TAVERN AND BREWERY: Ben Dew OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Open Mic Night THE SPHINX HOTEL: Retro Ago-Go VUE GRAND: Austen Tayshus WOOL EXCHANGE: Horrorshow

EDGE GEELONG: Live entertainment plus DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Des Camm

LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Student and Industry Night Free Entry

ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Mr Hyde GPAC: Geelong Ballet Centre Annual Performance, Tarantara Tarantara- The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan, Ovation Ball

THE MAX HOTEL : Trojan

CITY QUARTER: Perfect Sunday Sesh

COURTHOUSE ARTS: Savings

THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Dear Ivy

THE LOFT (WARRNAMBOOL) (WARRNAMBOOL): The Cactus Channel with Tank Dilemma

THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): Archer and the Long Gone Daddies

GEELONG RSL : Bazza Jazz, Melbourne Cup Viewing, Carvery $13

EDGE: Live entertainment plus DJ

LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Live band & DJs Main Room and Terrace, open from 9pm

BLACK HATT: Bergman and Ballandeers

CITY QUARTER BAR:Live Entertainment and DJ

GATEWAY HOTEL: The Wolfe Brothers THE KAROVA LOUNGE: Cosmo Jarvis (UK) and Lime Cordiale

BARWON CLUB HOTEL: Cosmo Jarvis (UK), Lime Cordiale

THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Tim Tonic Hulsman HOME HOUSE: Upstairs: Kalus and Harry Mullins, Downstairs: Russell Bastian LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Live Band & DJs Mainroom and Terrace. Open from 9pm MARTIANS CAFE: Lionel Lee’s Curse THE MAX HOTEL: Frequency ODYSSEY TAVERN AND BREWERY: Samsun WHISPERS: DJ’s including Mashd N’ Kutcher, Hey Sam and Jump Ship

ODYSSEY TAVERN AND BREWERY: Jon Willard THE SPHINX HOTEL: Carvery from $17.00

Monday October 21st BARWON CLUB HOTEL: $10 Parmis ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night LORD NELSON HOTEL: /Parmi & Pot for $15 on presentation of student I.D THE SPHINX HOTEL: Meals for $11

Tuesday October 22nd CAPITAL THEATRE (BENDIGO): Punch Travelling Medicine Show ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20

Steak & Drink night EUREKA HOTEL: Orkestrated with Scndl and more, End of Classes Party GEELONG RSL:Steak Night $13 LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE: Helfgott

Open Mic Night w/ Dave Dorman, Masters of Dartness 8:30pm

CITY QUARTER BAR: Friday Unwind with live music then DJ

LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE: Baker: Go Time

BAR PIZZA : Open Mic Night w/ Dave Dorman

EDGE GEELONG: Live music plus DJ

MARTIANS CAFE: Tyrrell

BEAVS BAR: Andy Forster Live

THE SPHINX HOTEL: Meals for $11, Poker Night (free)

BLACK HATT: Tradies Night in the Bar from 5pm till 7pm, Open Mic from 8pm with acoustic, bands, solos & duets

Wednesday October 23rd

CITY QUARTER BAR: 50% off Menu

BARKING DOG: Parmi Night from $13.90 BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Trivia Night from 7:30pm BEAVS BAR: Dave Anderson, Karaoke, Open Mic THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): Open Mic CITY QUARTER BAR: 50% off Menu ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Geelong Cup Champagne Breakfast with Former Australian Test Cricketer Rodney Hogg plus After Party with DJ Al GPAC: Matt Corby GEELONG RSL: Parma & Pot Night $13 HOME HOUSE: Geelong Cup Night with Josh and George from The Block, Courtney Mills (Billboard) LAMBY’S: Geelong Cup After Party feat. Glittergang LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE: Sing with the Beggars THE MAX HOTEL: Geelong Cup Night feat. Frequency

ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night

ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Thank Guinness It’s Friday GPAC: Swan Lake, Melbourne Chamber Orchestra THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Figjam HOME HOUSE: Girl Audio, Samuel James and Reece Low, JDG

GPAC: Kate Ceberano

THE KAROVA LOUNGE: Joey Cape and Brian Wahlstrom in tribute to Tony Sly

KAROVA LOUNGE: Whitley (Solo), Seagull

LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE: Johnny Cash: The Concert

THE LOFT (WARRNAMBOOL): Tristen Bird and Ebonie Hyland

THE MAX HOTEL: On The Tree

THE MAX HOTEL: Parmi All Day All Night $12, InnQUIZitive Trivia from 7.30pm till 10.30pm, amazing prizes, call to book your team’s spot THE SPHINX HOTEL: Schnitzel Night from $13

Friday October 25th AT THE HEADS: Live music from 5pm till 7pm (Barwon Heads) BARKING DOG: Flashback Fridays with Live Band BARWON CLUB HOTEL: Pons and Guests THE BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Happy Hour 5-7pm

ODYSSEY TAVEN AND BREWERY: Jimmy Graham THE SPHINX HOTEL: Retro Ago-Go

Saturday October 26th BARWON CLUB HOTEL: Oppression with guests BEAVS BAR:Butters Live THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE) : Fiona Lee Maynard & Her Holy Men, Los Dominados CAPITAL THEATRE (BENDIGO): David Helfgott, Porcelain Punch Travelling Medicine Show CITY QUARTER BAR: live music and DJ EDGE GEELONG: Live music and DJ

BEAVS BAR: Rosco Live

ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Regular Boys

BLACK HATT: Drink promos from 5pm till 7pm (free entry), Blue Jam

GPAC: Club Swing, Johnny Cash: The Concert

Thursday October 24th

THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): Go Genre Everything, God’s Come

THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Thom

BARWON HEADS HOTEL:

CAPITAL THEATRE (BENDIGO): Whitley

THE SPHINX HOTEL: Steak Night from $16, Poker Night ($10 buy in)

HOME HOUSE: Upstairs: Heath Renata, Heads & Tails, Downstairs: Kay Z

THE LOFT (WARRNAMBOOL): Tempo #3 THE MAX HOTEL: Trojan THE PIPING HOT CHICKEN SHOP: Ellis ODYSSEY TAVERN AND BREWERY: Pote REVERENCE: Cape with Brian Wahlstrom in tribute to Tony Sly SPHINX HOTEL: Blundell, Show from $25 TORQUAY HOTEL: Fat 2 Skate WHISPERS: Joel Fletcher

Sunday October 27th

THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): Archer and the Long Gone Daddies CAPITAL THEATRE (BENDIGO): Tim Winton CITY QUARTER: Perfect Sunday Sesh EDGE GEELONG: Live music plus DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Yatey’s Maties Geelong RSL: Moonee Valley Jazz Band LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Student & Industry Night (Free entry all night) w/ Live band & DJs in the Mainroom and Terrace LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE: Nutcracker ODYSSEY TAVEN AND BREWERY: James Sidebottom SPHINX HOTEL: Carvery from $17.00

Monday October 28th BARWON CLUB HOTEL: $10 Parmis ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night LORD NELSON HOTEL: Steak/Parmi &

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THE FORTE VENUE GUIDE! THE BARKING DOG

chinese whispers

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Cnr. Shorts Place. Geelong

50 Barwon Heads ....................................

Rd. Belmont

bar pizza

Cunningham Pier, Geelong

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BARWON CLUB 509 Moorabool St. South Geelong

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Club TITANIUM

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1 Bridge Rd. Barwon Heads

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THE BASEMENT 159 159 Moorabool St. Geelong

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BEAVS BAR 77 Little Malop St. Geelong

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black hatt 54 Little Myers St. Geelong

GEELONG RSL

99 Ryrie St, Geelong

eastern station

81 Humffray St Nth. Ballarat

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THE EDGE

1/6-8 Eastern Beach Rd. Geelong

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GROWLERS ....................................

HOME HOUSE

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IRISH MURPHY'S 30 Aberdeen St. Geelong

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JACK AND JILL 247 Moorabool St. Geelong

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LAMBYS Cnr of Moorabool & Brougham St. Geelong

ELEPHANT AND CASTLE ....................................

2 Gheringhap St. Geelong

THE MAX hotel ....................................

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THE EUREKA

THE BLUESTONE

98 Little Malop St. Geelong

103 Marr St. Ballarat

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MRS. HYDE

THE gateway HOTEL

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Bridge hotel castlemaine

218-230 Princess Hwy. Corio

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THE GROVEDALE HOTEL

11 Malop St. Geelong

331 Mair St. Ballarat

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RUMORS SLATE Pool Lounge 50 Little Ryrie St. Geelong

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THE SPHINX 2 Thompson Rd. North Geelong

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TOAST 114 Moorabool St. Geelong

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TORQUAY HOTEL 36 Bell St. Torquay

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the wool exchange ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX 44 Corio St. Geelong

the unicorn

THE CARLTON HOTEL

The Gateway Hotel

21 Malop St. Geelong

218-230 Princess Hwy. Corio

236 Main Rd. Hepburn Springs

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Peter Lalor Hotel

611 Surfcoast Hwy. Mt Duneed

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odyssey

236-258 Surfcoast Hwy

21 Walker St. Castlemaine

15 James St. Geelong

5 James St. Geelong 40-42 Moorabool St. Geelong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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158 McKillop St. Geelong

OPIUM BAR

Old Hepburn Hotel

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127 Sturt St. Ballart

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the yarra hotel 120 Lydiard St. Ballarat

boy & bear friday November 1 at The Wool Exchange, Geelong Pot for $15 on presentation of student I.D

THE MAX HOTEL: $12 Steak Night

THE SPHINX HOTEL: 11 Meals for $11

THE SPHINX HOTEL: Steak Night from $16, Poker Night ($10 buy in)

Tuesday October 29th

WOOL EXCHANGE: Baby Animals

THE BRIDGE HOTEL: Trivia Night hosted by Lifon from 7.30pm, free event CAPITAL THEATRE (BENDIGO): Arj Barker- Go Time ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night GEELONG RSL: Steak Night $13 THE SPHINX HOTEL: 11 Meals for $11, Poker Night (free)

Wednesday October 30th BARKING DOG: Parmi Night from $13.90 BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Trivia Night from 7:30pm

BAR PIZZA: Open Mic Night w/ Dave Dorman BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Open Mic Night w/ Dave Dorman, Masters of Dartness BLACK HATT: Tradies Night in the Bar from 5pm till 7pm, Open Mic from 8pm with acoustic, bands, solos & duets CAPITAL THEATRE (BENDIGO): Harrison Craig CITY QUARTER BAR: 50% off Menu ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night GPAC: Eric Bogle SMS Tour

THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): Open Mic

THE KAROVA LOUNGE: The Wise Guyz (Ukraine), Rock A’ Dees

CITY QUARTER BAR: 50% off Menu

THE MAX HOTEL: Parmi All Day All Night $12, InnQUIZitive Trivia from 7.30pm till 10.30pm, amazing prizes, call to book your team’s spot

GEELONG RSL: Parma & Pot Night $13 GPAC: Arj Barker: Go Time FORTEMAG.COM.AU

BARWON CLUB HOTEL: Stonefield

BEAVS BAR: Andy Forster, Karaoke and Open Mic

ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Trivia Night from 8.30pm till 10.30pm

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Thursday October 31st

THE SPHINX HOTEL: Schnitzel Night from $13

Limp Bizkit written By Natalie Rogers

Limp Bizkit’s in the house ya’ll! Well, they will be this time next week when they begin their ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ tour of Australia in Brisbane, before making their way down the coast, playing at Festival Hall on October 27.

The Limp Bizkit – and Pancakes for All Tour 2013 is their first run of headline shows in Australia for more than a decade, and from what master guitarist/renaissance man Wes Borland tells me, it’ll be worth the wait: “I have a new look – a brilliant new stage costume! I’ve been working with a special effects company that worked on the Iron Man and Tron movies and I’ve come up with a pretty insane new stage persona. I can’t reveal too much, but let’s just say it’s the first costume I’ve had that requires a lot of programming.”

If that’s not enough to get your attention, maybe

the promise of an all-killer no-filler setlist, with more than a few surprises, will.

“The main difference with this tour, compared to our previous Australian jaunts, is that we won’t be playing our festival set,” Wes explained. “During festivals we play it safe, but in our own shows the setlist changes every night. People will be in for a treat – a real event every show. We’ll play a lot of material off the earlier records, and we like to decide in the moment what we’re going to play, so you never know. It’s a gamble.

“Also, we may be releasing singles off our new album as soon as next week, but honestly it could be anywhere from a week to six months! It takes us forever to do an album. It’s crazy, but we’re definitely busy working away on it. Right now we’re at the point where we’re done working in the studio as a group; Fred and I are at home in our studios and we’ll finish the songs there. I’m adding a lot of stuff and playing with the arrangements,

while Fred’s doing vocals at his place. We’re calling it Stampede of the Disco Elephants and it’ll be out next year,” Wes promised.

Since the beginning, Limp Bizkit has been on the cutting edge of the metal/rap/rock sound.

Whether you’ve followed them from their humble beginnings, when a not-so-talented tattoo artist and his band of misfits played the Milk Bar (underground punk club in Florida) to an audience of ten people, or you jumped on the Limp bandwagon more recently, there’s no denying their impact on the nu-metal scene from the late nineties to now. Their innovation and popularity has spawned copycat bands all over the world.

Though at times falling out of favour with some, Wes continues to be unapologetic to their detractors. “Describing our style in general you could say, ‘oh that’s a dated sound’ or you could say, ‘that’s an honest sound that’s authentic to the band’, you know? There are two different ways of

When&Where: Festival Hall – October 27

looking at it. We are just who we are. We play what we play when we get together in a room and react to each other; things happen naturally. But I try to keep up with bands that interest me and keep my finger on the pulse of what’s going on. I like to be aware of new bands on the scene.”

So Wes, maybe you’ll have time to check out a couple of bands while you’re here? “Well, I love getting out and doing whatever the ‘thing’ is. My guitar tech and I always say the ‘thing’, meaning to go and find something that we’ll never get to do again in whatever city we’re in. So I guess we’ll be counting on the locals to take us on tour or show us the ‘road less travelled’. I don’t know if I’ll even get it [touring] out of my system! I think it’ll just become a case of me being physically unable to do it at some point, but I don’t see that coming any time soon. It’s so inspiring!”

If you’re a fan of Limp Bizkit you’ll know that accompanying every release is a new, bold image of the band – to like or lump. “I’m very hands-on with the artwork for our album sleeves and the art direction of the band with Fred. I paint all the time and I love to sculpt.

“I also play in another band called Black Light Burns that takes up a lot of my time when Limp Bizkit is on hiatus. In this band I have a completely different character and personality; I have a kind of Sasha Baron Cohen thing going on!” Wes joked.

“We’ve talked about Black Light Burns going on tour with Limp Bizkit, and it seemed like a good idea at one point, but I’m not sure now if I could take the toll. This tour is going to be amazing.

We’re excited that everybody’s so pumped! We’re so glad to come back! Don’t be a stranger – come say hi.”

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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Artist Insight: Evangeline Words by Phil Kearney photo by Natalie V Photography

The journey towards being a solo recording artist has been an interesting one for Evangeline. Having almost completed her studies at Geelong’s Oxygen College doing a Diploma of Music, Evangeline is about to embark on a career in music that has already landed her a spot on the Main Stage at the Anglesea Music Festival.

I sat down to have a chat about her career, its origins and her aspirations as a singer/songwriter.

I know I saw you last year at Anglesea on one of the smaller stages but you were with a band. How does it feel to be up on the Main Stage by yourself this year?

Evangeline: Last year was great. There was this really cool vibe from the crowd and it was a great introduction to the festival scene. The exposure that the band got from that gig was great. But this year I am so pumped to be playing on the Main Stage and also the Bush stage in my solo and all original act.

You’ve have spent a lot of time before in bands. It must have been a big decision to move into the role of solo artist.

It was somewhat daunting at first, but I think I had been swaying that way for a while. I do miss my ‘Rock’ bands, however as an original artist, I think it’s best to be on my own. I find it hard to please everyone when I have my heart set on a certain sound and I am possibly the biggest control freak ever, so solo really works easily for me Every young artist I talk to has a ‘moment’ when they knew that this was the industry for them. What was yours?

It was a small gig in Teesdale, not crowded, but for a good cause. We had finished our set in front of a few dancing kids and some parents wandering through the market stalls in the background. After I got off stage, a lady introduced herself and asked if my band and I could be booked for the Bellarine Easter Egg Hunt, which is a major Barwon Health fundraiser. It made me realise, that there were actually people out there keen to hear me (us) sing.

You do have quite a unique sound. Who or what inspires you?

My original music is a mesh up of all my favorite artists, which of course ranges from ‘The Amity Affliction’ to ‘Flight Facilities.’ My inspiration for lyrics has really mostly been about one person in my life who I saw slowly destroy themselves. The music however stems from a mix of experimentation and whatever I feel flows with the lyrical content.

You do have quite a lot happening on stage for a solo artist. Is there a reason to the multi-faceted approach you have to your stage show?

Due to my love for such a wide variety of music I just incorporated a little bit of everything I listen to into what I was writing. I love the sound of electronic music and the heavy focus on the beat but on the other hand, I feel like my best place to write is just with me and my piano or acoustic guitar. I kind of enjoy how most people cannot really pigeon hole me into one genre because I am forever exploring and changing along with the music I listen to.

You have almost finished your Diploma of Music course at Oxygen College. Do you feel you have

changed as an artist over the last 12 months?

I have really become more independent as a musician. I mean, I have really tried taking my abilities into my own hands by practicing piano more, taking up guitar/effects pedals/electronic music work, trying to compose as much as possible and really get my name out there. As music became my soul focus this year, it meant I had to actually dedicate and commit so I could improve. It was great to have the encouragement and support to try new sounds and the gig opportunities the College has helped me find have been a massive help.

So where can we expect to see Evangeline in the future?

October 26th I will be at Halloween Festival at the Potato Shed and then later on at Teesdale Music Festival. October 29th at Beav’s Bar should also be a pretty cool little gig. I am going to be doing more collaboration work and writingand there are a few projects in Melbourne. However, one can keep posted by ‘liking’ my Facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/pages/Evangeline/639109206109035or subscribing to my youtube at http://www.youtube.com/ user/EvangelineElizabethh

Home Studio Tips: Running a Productive Recording Session Words by David Weir photo by Andrew Whiteford

Are you a budding sound engineer? Do you have a home studio? Are you looking to crack into the evolving industry of Audio Engineering?

Below are some tips from professional sound engineers that can help a beginner in their home studio make sure they run a productive and effective recording session.

LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR: As a sound engineer, whether at home or in a multi-million dollar studio, a recording session is no place to have an ego or a musical agenda. You must be prepared to work with anyone, any genre, any style or personality. The more you experience, the more you can build your craft and develop in your work.

PRE-PRODUCTION MEETING: On a day before the recording session, sit down with your musicians and work out exactly what is expected and needed from your session. Not only will this ensure that you are personally prepared for what the day will bring, but also allow you to become familiar with your clients and have them become familiar with you.

KNOW YOUR EQUIPMENT: For the most part, studio sessions are charged by the hour. Clients will not want to feel as though their money and time is being wasted whilst you are trying to figure how to work the equipment they are paying you to run. Only promise what you know you can achieve, and if a problem occurs that is unforeseen, have contingencies in place

to prevent them being an issue.

MAINTAIN GOOD GAIN STRUCTURE: Often there is an approach by amateur sound engineers that regardless of what is actually recorded, it can be fixed in post-production. Whilst there are some fantastic postproduction features of recording software available, the best way to get a good product is to get a good level and good sound to start with. Spend time at the beginning of the session getting good, clear levels for each of your channels so that what is recorded is not too loud and distorted or not too soft and unusable.

RIGHT MIC FOR RIGHT SITUATION: Too often sound engineers will use whatever mic is available for a situation without knowing if it is the most appropriate one. For example, there are microphones specifically designed for bass drums which will get the most out of that instrument from a level and frequency point of view.

These are very different from microphones designed for a snare drum, which again take into account the instrument they are recording in there design. Do your research and have the correct microphone for each situation.

STUDIO PLAYBACK MONITORS: It is important that what you are listening to in the studio is an accurate representation of what you have recorded. Playback monitors are how you listen to all your hard work. It is worth investing a little more into really good playback

A Change in Direction: An interview with an Audio Engineer Words by Chris Noonan photo by Andrew Whiteford

Paul Senftleben is at his most comfortable sitting behind a mixing desk, staring at a screen full of sound waves.

That is a world away from where he was 12 months ago.

As a younger man, he was in the Navy for 7 years working with radar and sound equipment. After which he was employed for 13 years at Fortstaff Aviation working for QANTAS as an avionics technician. His days were spent knee deep in anything electronic on a 747 aircraft.

So how did he end up behind a mixing console in a live studio?

“It was always what I really wanted to do. When redundancies were announced by QANTAS, I took the opportunity to try and change back to a career that I’ve always had an interest in.”

At the end of 2012, Paul enrolled himself in the Advanced Diploma of Sound Production course at Oxygen College; an intense 1 year course with a focus on covering all aspects of the growing industry. It covers providing live sound at a professional level, operating state of the art equipment in recording studio sessions and operating industry standard software in post-production.

Paul is a local lad, always based in the Geelong/ Warrnambool area, so when the opportunity arose to study his desired field in Geelong, he jumped at it.

Almost at its completion, Paul can reflect on the year with clarity and a sense of achievement.

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“I’ve had a great time. I’ve been able to play with equipment that I would normally not have the opportunity to use. I’ve got to record a bunch of local bands and some of the upcoming talent from within the college.”

At 44, Paul is one of the elder students at the course but has found that it has been a great learning environment.

Given that the reason everybody is there to learn and build a career, age hasn’t been a factor.

“Other than a slightly stronger knowledge of jazz than some of the other guys in the course, I haven’t even noticed the age difference. At the end of the day, I’ve learnt a lot in class with a great bunch of people.”

“The industry has changed a lot since I last had a crack at it, so there has been a lot to catch up on. The trainers there have heaps of actual industry knowledge, not just information in books. So by just talking to them I have gathered heaps of information.”

Moving on from 2013, Paul can see a great career opening up in front of him. When asked if he is going to stay in the field, he can’t help but smile.

“I have to stay in this industry. I’m having too much fun not too.”

“Initially I’ll do more live sound engineering because there’s more work in that area but in the long run I would like to be working in a studio environment. Preferably mixing bands, but post production is not out of the question either.”

monitors so you can hear all the intricacies of your session. It may also be worth listening to your recording on various playbacks (e.g. headphones, car stereo, etc.) so you can make sure your music translates to all systems.

KNOW WHEN TO TAKE BREAKS: Musicians will often want to keep going on a project, even if they are struggling. You can help them know that it is time to have a break, or even call time for the day. The product will be better if everyone is approaching it with a clear and refreshed mind. It is important that the mood of the room is always positive. A little fresh air might help.

ALWAYS CONDUCT YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY:

At the end of the day, you are being hired to do a job, and do so professionally. If the musicians have a choice between the sound engineer who is lots of fun to be around and is a good bloke who is a bit of a laugh, or the one who knows what they are doing and does the job well, they will choose the second option every time. The music industry is huge, but word travels fast. Reputations are made from first impressions.Be professional and you we be respected by your peers.

These tips were given by Tom Isaac, Peter Flynn and Dave Weir, Audio Engineers and trainers of the Advanced Diploma of Sound Production course at Oxygen College. For more information, visit www. oxygencollege.com.au

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Paris is widely considered to house the best bakeries in the world, but it’s a long way to go for a croissant. Fortunately, Geelong’s Le Fournil French Bakery serves up the best bits of France without having to drain your bank account.

Established as an exclusive French bakery serving authentic French breads and sweets, Le Fournil believes in freshness and flavour. Using only the best ingredients, Le Fournil creates homemade delights that will leave you wanting to lick the plate clean.

Authentic French breads, pastries, filled baguettes, quiches, pies and a great patiserrie selection will leave you wondering where to start. All products are made on premises by a real French baker/ pastry chef, so you know what you are eating is the real deal. You think bread is just bread? Think again. The Le Fournil experts make sure that even a simple loaf of bread can be full of flavour. Do you have a sweet tooth? Forget about looking good for summer and try one of their delicious sweet treats instead. The venue is open nice and early too so you can pick up a little something on the way to work.

Weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, baby

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showers – Le Fournil has you covered for any special occasion. Give the venue a bell and they will create a custom-made cake for the special day. They will look great, smell great and taste even better.

With the warmer weather here and much hotter weather to come, escape the heat and drop in for a chilled-out atmosphere.

Their air-conditioning is a bonus. If you

have places to be and people to see that is a-okay; choose a favourite (or two and three) and take it away.

Anyone who knows their coffee with tell you that a good brew is hard to find.

Simply put, if a venue does a good coffee it means repeat business. At Le Fournil they use a Piazza Doro organic blend called ORG. A sweet treat and a good

coffee is always a winning combination.

Le Fournil is located at 90 Pakington Street, Geelong West. Opening hours are: Wednesday through Friday – 6.30am-5pm and Saturday and Sunday – 6.30am-2pm.

The venue is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Freshness and flavour, guaranteed!

Two Sugars, Highton offers a warm rustic environment with a relaxed, casual dining experience. It is constantly buzzing with the energy and excitement of animated diners appreciating Italian food in the true Italian way without neglecting Modern Australian cuisine. The aromas of Vittoria coffee prepared from one of our trained barristers fills the air as you first walk in.

A large variety of delectable cakes and pastries will make your mouth water as you try to decide which one to choose. We are renowned for delicious breakfast and lunch dishes, from our famous Two Sugars Big breakfast to our popular club sandwich.

Two Sugars transforms into an authentic Italian atmosphere at night as a group may chat over a bottle of one our fine Italian wines while casually nibbling from wooden boards piled with an array of antipasti.

Sighs of bliss may be heard as diners take their first bite of an impossibly light, scrumptious slice of one of Two Sugars renowned pizzas. The perfect, slightly smoky flavoured bases are topped with inspired combinations of the best, freshest and most authentic Italian and locally sourced ingredients and then cooked in a traditional Italian wood-fire oven, which was imported from Naples, Italy. The delightful earthy scent of fresh pizza fills the room as our genuine pizzaiolo works hard manning the giant open pizza oven as friendly staff with Italian accents chat

Meet the happy staff at Two Sugars!

amiably with diners making them feel like they are in Italy.

While we may be well known for pizza we also offer a delicious selection of pasta, risotto, meat, chicken, seafood, salads and delicious desserts that are made with the same meticulous care and dedication with which we make our pizza. We also offer specials daily.

Two Sugars boasts a chic and trendy atmosphere, yet it exudes a joy and warmth that comes from the basic pleasures in life that are so celebrated in Italy – food, wine, family and friends. We believe that two sugars is truly a direct line to Italy, representing an ultimate Italian passion: the pure enjoyment of eating.

Join us for the coming summer months ahead with our extensive alfresco dining

areas both front and rear of the building, or dine in our fully air-conditioned restaurant.

Convenient, easy access to ample rear car park is also available.

Two Sugars is located at shop 7/65 Barrabool Rd, Highton. Open 7 days a week from 7am and for dinner Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm. Now Fully Licenced.

Ph. 52445711 or checkout our website www.twosugarscafe.com

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t With Special Gues

Lime Cordiale

TOURING OCTOBER 2013

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Baby Animals written By Natalie Rogers

“It’s going to be a huge show; it’s going to get hot and sweaty!” promised the Baby Animals’ timeless frontwoman, the one and only Suze DeMarchi. We caught up for a chat ahead of their October 30 gig at The Woolshed in Geelong.

Supported by Steve Balbi (Noiseworks, Electric Hippies), the Baby Animals ‘Feed the Birds’ tour is poised to be the hottest ticket in town: “We’re looking forward to going back to Geelong – it’s been a while since we’ve been there. I want to thank everyone; the people of Geelong have been so supportive. In fact, Victorians in general have been really great to us over the years, probably the best I’d say, and we can’t wait to get back down there and connect with everyone again!”

The Baby Animals have had a long and celebrated career since forming in Perth back in 1989. They made a lasting impression on the Australian rock scene with hits like ‘Early Warning’, ‘Rush You’ and ‘Painless’, becoming instantly recognisable and catching the attention of international artists such as Bryan Adams and Van Halen. They went on to support both acts on tour.

“We’ve been lucky to play with a lot of great musicians, and all of them have been inspiring. I took something from everyone, good or bad – sometimes how not to be!’ Suze laughed. “I’m really grateful that what we’ve done in the past enables us to keep going. It’s nice to have such a loved back catalogue and really loyal fans.”

The aptly titled new album This Is Not the End is the

Blackchords written By Natalie Rogers

“It’s awesome to be a part of this expo! Normally we’d only get the chance to go as spectators,” said Blackchords’ frontman Nick Milwright about their inclusion in the line-up of this year’s Australian World Music Expo. “We’re really proud to be a part of something that features such a broad spectrum of music from all walks of life and different parts of the world.”

Designed to foster relationships within the Australian music industry and internationally, the AWME will showcase acts from Europe, the UK, New Zealand, Reunion Island, Vanuatu, Fiji, PNG and Australia.

“Although we’ve toured the US, Canada and the UK, we’re well aware of the opportunities this event could bring. This kind of exposure is priceless, particularly for a little-known indie rock band,” Nick explained humbly. “We’ll have the chance to perform in front of delegates from countries we never thought we would, and depending on how our performance at the expo is received, it could open up a whole new avenue for the Blackchords.”

Nick remained modest about his band’s success, despite the fact they’ve played some of the world’s biggest music events such as The Great Escape Festival and Liverpool Sound City in the UK. They’ve also played the internationally respected SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, followed by shows at Canadian Music Week.

As if that’s not enough, their beautifully haunting music has featured on two movie soundtrack, and several times on Australian and US television.

Baby Animals’ first offering in five years, and Susie explained the experience this time round: “It’s a very different industry now to when we first started recording albums. We didn’t have the strength of a big label behind us. We funded it ourselves and made a deal with an independent label. Because we have the internet these days, we can connect with people ourselves, rather than leaning on the shoulders of an A&R guy. We kept it local with the producer [ARIA Award winner David Nicholls], but we didn’t want to compromise any of the production quality. We just recorded it in a little studio in Sydney and it worked. You don’t need to spend a fortune making a record these days.

“Musically, however, it’s very similar to our other stuff.

Dave [Leslie] and I write what we like and what we get off on, and we hope that other people will enjoy it too.”

This tour is designed to showcase their latest album, although Susie assures me that even the most diehard fans won’t be left disappointed. “The setlist will be songs from all three of our early albums, a couple from my solo album [Telelove – ’99] and a lot from the new album as well.

“We can’t wait! I’ve stepped up my training to help keep my energy levels up while I’m stage. I’ll also have a vodka – that always seems to help … but just one!”

When&Where: The Wool Exchange, Geelong – October 30

Another indication of their growing popularity is the overwhelming and on-going response the Blackchords have received for their ‘Remix Competition’, where they asked Facebook followers to upload their own version of their latest single ‘Sleepwalker’.

“I counted close to eighty remixes. They’re all vastly different, but I noticed that in all the tracks the vocals have been left the same. Hearing my voice floating across someone else’s song is cool, and very inspiring.” (Head to their Facebook page to listen to the best entries.)

With the release of their sophomore album A Thin Line in March this year, the Blackchords are now looking to the future and ready to make some changes. “We’ve been developing our live sound from the tracks on A Thin Line and really loving it!

The expo will possibly be one of the last shows we do for that album before we change direction and find some different ways for Blackchords to go forward. It’s a really exciting time, and we’re hungry to see what comes from playing the expo and what new doors may open up.

“It’s cathartic constantly developing and evolving our sound. It’s really exciting even when we talk about it; just the idea of where this will take us next.”

The sixth annual Australian World Music Expo will be held over four days from the 14th to the 17th of November. Catch the Blackchords at the Ding Dong Lounge on Friday the 15th along with Cash Savage and The Last Drinks, and from Scotland, Admiral Fallow and Manran.

When&Where: Australian World Music Expo, Melbourne – November 14-17(Blackchords perform @ Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne - Fri Nov 15)

The Grates written By Natalie Rogers

Married less than a year, newlyweds Patience Hodgson and John Patterson, aka indie sweethearts The Grates, are three albums deep, café owners and an exquisite addition to the already stellar line-up for the Queenscliff Music Festival. “I was just like, ‘excellent! Let’s go play a festival in Victoria’,” said vivacious frontwoman Patience. “I think it’s going to be a whole bunch of fun. The two bands that I’m looking forward to seeing are The Preatures and The Trouble with Templeton, because we now share their drummer, Richie Daniell.”

Since the release of 2012’s Secret Rituals, John and Patience have continued to tour here and overseas, while also undertaking an entirely new venture. “We opened a shop in Brisbane – it’s called Southside. It’s a real artistic venture in itself and a complete challenge. In a lot of ways I feel like it’s an extension of what we’re doing with the band. It’s really community-driven like the band was, especially back in the beginning, and what’s funny is that as well as playing with two bands, Richie also manages our café! He’s a great dude – we’re a little family.”

In between their new role as proud shopkeeps, The Grates are working on new material. “I just want to focus and figure out what the new sound is that comes with the dynamic of playing with Richie. It’s the first time we’ve had a band room that’s all ours, and also the first time in ten years that we’ve been firmly planted in one place. I really want to stay in

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Australia to record the next album – we’ve recorded all the previous albums overseas.

“We just played The Red Deer Festival and it was the best night I’ve had in a long time! High energy, really good crowd, better than I could have ever even hoped, so it’s made me even more excited for Queenscliff. Festivals are so much fun! We’ve been working on a couple of new songs so we’ll probably play those. We love to play new stuff live and it’s also really good practice, because I always think a live show is worth ten rehearsals. Of course we’ll play old stuff too, but Queenscliff is still a while away so you never know – anything can happen.”

One thing that’s guaranteed at the show is a killer wardrobe. Over the years Patience has become known for her wildly kooky fashion choices. “We have the best fans ever! Last year, just before John and I got married, we were sent heaps of pom-poms as wedding gifts. We had them all around our house until I asked a friend to turn them in to a jacket.

She did and it’s brilliant! She also makes dresses, raffles them off and raises money for charities – it’s fantastic! I don’t know what dress I’m going to wear, but I’m definitely going to be bringing down the pompom jacket because it’s a triumph! So I’ll see you at Queenscliff!”

When&Where: Queenscliff Music Festival – November 22 through 24

TALK OF THE

TOWN!

Keepin' it Regional!

king parrot

stonefield

the murlocs

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TALK OF THE TOWN! Talk of the Town: Where love lifts us up where we belong. Coming up you have… .........................................................................

Cummings & Barnard The considerable talents of Stephen Cummings and Rebecca Barnard will come together for a show at Wolseley Wines later this month. Both artists have spent much of their life in the music game. Cummings spent time in The Pelaco Brothers before going on to front The Sports.

He has been solo since 1983, releasing his latest album, Reverse Psychology, last year. He has also written two novels and a memoir. We first got warm and cosy with Barnard through Rebecca’s Empire. After the band went their separate ways, the songbird took a breather before returning as a solo artist with 2006’s Fortified. The show takes place on October 27 from 4pm, which is perfect as you have time to get in a little surfing and a bite to eat before an afternoon of wonderful tunes. Wolseley Wines is just off the Great Ocean Road, inland from Bells Beach Torquay. .........................................................................

Eric Bogle Sends an SMS We all know that many bands and artists out there go another round in order to make a little extra coin: at least Eric Bogle admits it. The songman has stretched his fingers and warmed up his vocal chords for his SMS tour, or ‘Save My Superannuation’ as he puts it. After many years of touring Australia, North America, Europe and Great Britain, Bogle stepped away from the stage in 2010. That was until he realised his superannuation fund was taking a beating. The Scottish-born musician headed our way in 1969. Although best known for his song ‘And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda’, which was named as one of the Top 30 Australian Songs of All Time by ARPA, Bogle’s music has been covered by artists as varied as The Dropkick Murphy’s and Joan Baez. The Fureys’ rendition of ‘No Man’s Land (Green Fields of France)’ spent 26 weeks on the Irish music charts, including 10 weeks at the #1 position. Playhouse Theatre @ GPAC – October 31. .........................................................................

Harry Howard and the NDE With a musical career born at the same time of The Boys Next Door, The Young Charlatans and the Teenage Radio Stars, Harry Howard was one of many who left behind Australia for London. He has since painted a colourful musical road. In 1983 he teamed up with Mick Harvey in a revived line-up of Simon Bonney’s Crime and the City Solution before moving on to These Immortal Souls. The band disbanded in 1998, and back in Australia Howard found himself playing guitar in psychedelic-edged punk outfit Pink Stainless Tail. These days he leads Harry Howard and the NDE, a band featuring the considerable talents of Dave Graney, Clare Moore and Edwina Preston.

Their 2012 debut Near Death Experience was described

by Time Out as “a memorable excursion through damaged garage rock and twisted punk”. The Bridge, Castlemaine – November 1. .........................................................................

Half Moon Run Rise Again Ballarat’s 2014 will kick off in stellar fashion with Canada’s Half Moon Run set to hit town as part of a handy little run of Australian shows. When your back is against the wall, you either succumb to the pressure or rise above it. For the three members of Half Moon Run, when faced with the hardships of time constraints and choking band accounts, they rose above it, bonding in a way only a shared drive and passion can deliver. Effortlessly blending elements of indie, pop and folk, the band has in their short life made a significant splash. They have wowed audiences at SXSW and Canadian Music Week, while locally they have charmed music lovers at Peats Ridge and Woodford. Last year saw the release of their debut album, Dark Eyes. The album features their single ‘Full Circle’, a track used on the ‘Horizon’ trailer for the upcoming Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. A combination of gamers and music lovers has helped Full Circle clock up over 1.5 million YouTube views.

UK-based website Bring the Noise gave the single the

perfect 10, writing: “Their chilled out indie vibe arrives just in time for summer and provides the perfect soundtrack for lazy afternoons in the sunshine with friends. Well, at least that’s what we envisage as we sing along with the gentle melodies.” The Karova, Ballarat – January 18. .........................................................................

Bendigoat Metal Fest Once again proving it has a heart of metal, Bendigo will play host to the might of the Bendigoat Metal Fest next month. Here is who you can look forward to: Path of Destruction, A Greed Science, Terror Strike, Avirus, Scar the Surface, Bronson, Internal Nightmare, Severity, Myridian, NOÛS, Internal Harvest, Mardraum, Sewercide, Maniaxe, Evil Intent, Order of Torment, Agave Maize, Terra Australis and Adamus Exul. Adamus Exul is your headliner here. Described as misanthropic and anti-social black metal, the band formed out of Melbourne in 2008.

According to Metal Obsession, the band entered the studio midyear to begin work on their sophomore album.

Doors open at 11.30am with the first band hitting the stage at 12.00-midday. Even cooler, the days is all for a good cause with funds raised going towards the Breast Cancer Foundation and Prostate Cancer Foundation. The Newmarket, Bendigo – November 2. .........................................................................

Have a Break, Have a Your Break Metal is not a dirty word, and in Warrnambool it has a new life thanks to the good folk at Your Break Bar and Lounge.

Situated in the heart of Warrnambool’s main drag, the venue recently started catering for those who love their music a little louder – or in their words, “a severe dose of heavy hitting, head bashing, groove crunching metal”.

Your Break Bar and Lounge remains one of the only local venues to cater for metal audiences, opening their doors to heavy-hitting sounds on the first Saturday of the month.

It is the brainchild of Jack Severity (from local death metal act Severity) and Steev Killface (of local horror metal band Spaulding), two metal kings among men who decided enough was enough. Coming up you have Lemonbait, Super Monkey Zero and Lilly Rouge on November 2 and Tripwire, Oppression and Vendetta on December 7. Hit facebook.com/yourbreakmetal for more.

Golden Plains Number 8

Public Enemy is heading to Golden Plains Eight next year. Once again, Public Enemy is heading to Golden Plains next year. Yep, they of hip hop royalty; they of social, cultural and political consciousness; they of game-changing awesomeness. Born in the early ’80s, Public Enemy’s first four albums were called “the most acclaimed body of work ever by a rap artist” by music critic Robert Hillburn. Their second album, It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, is widely considered one of the finest and most influential albums of all time. Public Enemy recently became the fourth hip hop act to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Chuck D, Flavor Flav, Professor Griff, DJ Lord and the baNNed Bring the Noise will perform on the Sunday night of the festival. GP8 takes place at the Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre from March 8 through March 10. The ballot is now open so make sure you hit up goldenplains.com. au quick smart.

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In the summer of 1997, guitarists Ben Calderazzo, Ben Cohen and violinist Phil Smurthwaite began performing in cafés and restaurants, honing their skills as Hot Club Swing. Today the Geelong band is widely considered Victoria’s leading exponents of gypsy jazz. Album number three is now here. Released a few months ago, Douce Ambiance, or ‘Sweet Atmosphere’, was recorded over two days at an improvised studio at The Scarecrow Patch. Violinist Phil Smurthwaite: “We wanted to play in a place where we felt comfortable, could just enjoy ourselves and play the best we can.

What stands out in the recording, apart from the album’s warm sound, is the spontaneity and sense of fun the group had in making the record.” Woodbin Theatre – October 26. *Note: the band will perform both an afternoon show and an evening show.

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Geetroit Rocks 2014 An exciting new festival will make its debut in Geelong next year over the March long weekend. The Motor City Music Festival, or Geetroit Rocks to the cool Gen-Y’ers, will feature a wide range of music taking place across one open-air and four undercover stages. Artists announced to date include 8 Ball Aitken, Alister Turrill, Andrea Marr, Blue Eyes Cry, Blues Mountain Trio, Brian Fraser, Catfish Voodoo, Fiona Boyes, Geoff Achison, Claude Hay, Phil Manning, Sweet Felicia & the Honeytones, Anni Piper, Cass Eager, Buddy Knox, CW Stoneking, Dallas Frasca and Collard Greens & Gravy. The Blues Train will be there, serving up some fine local and international blues performers. Over on the Live and Local Stage, Geelong’s finest will show off their skills. If you’re a little more country, the rustic Showman’s Bar will be up your alley. To learn everything you need to know, be sure to check in on thebluestrain.com.au. Everyone is welcome. .........................................................................

The Tender Touch of Old Man Luedecke Chris Luedecke is the banjo-playin’ soul behind Old Man Luedecke, a Canadian singer-songwriter whose narrativedriven folk songs will keep you warm at night. His new album is called Tender in the Night, an album whose title is a nod to the F.R. Scott Fitzgerald novel. The album was recorded over four days in Nashville where Luedecke surrounded himself with the top players in folk and bluegrass music. On his website, Luedecke says: “The songs are about a variety of topics, a meditation on art and ambition is present in a lot of what I do. Art and whether there is spiritual success without worldly success, that’s at the heart of Tender is the Night ... These are songs of reassurance, the only way I can reassure myself is writing uniquely and successfully as possible.” Old man Luedecke is the very special guest of Jordie Lane at Beav’s Bar on November 7. Lane’s new album is Not Built to Last.

River Rocks Festival 2013

Born in Stanthorpe, Queensland, James Blundell was brought up on a sheep and cattle station. After working as a cattle hand across northern Australia, Blundell did his back while working in Papua New Guinea. It was at this point he turned to music. 1987 was the year that saw the songman make his mark, winning a Golden Guitar for ‘Best New Talent’. He released his self-titled debut in 1989, following it with Hand It Down the following year. Hand It Down did well enough in Australia for it to be released in the States, however, 1992’s This Road is perhaps his best known work. Featuring the song ‘Way Out West’, a collaboration with James Reyne, the album sold over 145,000 copies in Australia. He has walked a varied life’s road over his time but music has always remained close at heart. Sphinx Hotel, Geelong – October 26.

It is the day of year where music is king. It is the day of the year where strangers become friends, and sometimes a little more than that.

It the day of the year that has Geelong’s music loving crowd excited as a kid on Christmas morning. It is River Rocks, and it is almost here. Can I get a ‘Hell Yeah!?’ Enough of this, let’s get to the line-up. You have: King Parrot, Legends of Motorsport, Digger & The Pussycats, Jackson Firebird, King Of The North, Cyberne, BATPISS, Pro Tools, HITS, The Roobs, DEAD, Bitter Sweet Kicks, Mock Turkey, The Dipsticks, Stormtide, The Underhanded, The Kremlings and Poppin’ Mommas. We’re talking a 12-hour music fest that will give you 500% of your daily music needs. It is hard to know who to shine the spotlight on, so the lucky dip gives us Digger & The Pussycats. Digger & The Pussycats is Sam Agostino and Andy Moore, two blokes with an unquenchable thirst for trashy garage rock ‘n’ roll. The lads have been doing their thing since the beginning of 2003, making their mark on the States, Europe and China along the way. The Barwon Club, Geelong – November 9. The big day kicks off at 1pm and runs through to 1am.

The cost? That would be a sweet $20. Oh, and those with earplugs will not be admitted. Well, they will, but seriously, don’t bring earplugs.

So Much Music @ Old Hepburn

The John Steel Singers, Take 2

Out West with James Blundell

As if we didn’t already know the Old Hepburn Hotel is one first-class music venue, a little show, scratch that, a big show at the beginning of next month shows just how firstclass it really is. The Tiger & Me, the Bearded Gypsy Band, Daniel Champagne and Max Savage are all on board for a sweet Sunday shindig. Melbourne outfit The Tiger & Me has been described as “Cabaret/Circus/Euro Indie Folk-Pop Wunderkinds”. Their 2012 track ‘Other Friends Have Flown Before’ features in the trailer for Tim Winton’s The Turning. Hailing from Adelaide, the Bearded Gypsy Band perform their own style of gypsy music while using folk, jazz, Celtic, blues and roots influences. Another Adelaidean is Max Savage, a singer-songwriter who seamlessly switches between country, blues, soul and roots. Old Hepburn Hotel, Hepburn Springs – November 3.

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Sweet Talkin’ Hot Club Swing

The good times continue for fans of The John Steel Singers with the band venturing out for a handful of shows in support of album number two, Everything’s a Thread. We got a little taste of the album not too long ago with ‘State of Unrest’. The track marked the band’s first new music since 2010 – a long, but worthwhile wait. Next was the band’s first official track, also called ‘Everything’s a Thread’. The band released the track on the eve of Brisbane’s BIGSOUND, where the band delighted their hometown crowd with a joyous performance.

Their home Dew Process had this to say about the single ‘Everything’s a Thread’: “The serendipitous affair culminates in a sea of chiming pianos, mutinous guitars and a solid backbeat, hinting to the new musical horizons visited, explored and all-round conquered...”

The Karova, Ballarat – November 9. The album hits stores November 8.

The New Christs Rise Again In 1984 Radio Birdman frontman Rob Younger formed The New Christs to support Iggy Pop on his Australian tour. They have been on-again, off-again since. Following single releases and several lineup changes, the band released their debut album in 1989. Titled Distemper, the band would tour the album in Europe before splitting up. It was a brief break-up, with the band reforming – albeit it briefly – to support the Ramones. A fair bit has happened in between, with the band’s latest release coming by way of 2009’s Gloria. 2013 has been a rather productive year for The New Christs. They appeared as part of the Hoodoo Gurus Dig It Up! invitational, while Younger produced the new studio album

by Brisbane’s HITS. According to the word on the street, the band is working on a new album due for release in early 2014. The Bridge, Castlemaine – November 9. .........................................................................

So Frenchy, So Chic 2014 A Day with Hunters & Collectors

As was announced late last month, Aussie royalty Hunters & Collectors will head out on their first tour since 1998 next year. The team behind A Day on the Green managed to sweet talk the band into performing as part of the series, but the band will also perform a couple of theatre dates as well. You could say that everything is coming up Milhouse Hunters & Collectors at the moment. The band will warm up the Melbourne crowds for Bruce Springsteen next year, while a tribute album featuring contributions from The Living End, Birds of Tokyo, Neil Finn & Eddie Vedder and Paul Kelly has also been released. They also performed at the AFL Grand Final. Let’s face it though; we’re the real winners here. Frontman Mark Seymour had this to say last month: “The reputation of the band – its iconic status, so to speak – was built up over constant touring, just this relentless approach to getting out there and playing for years and years and years. It was very much about being in a pub and having thousands of people jammed into a room, with this big, incredible sound. There was unity. There was pride and a total lack of bullshit.”

The Hill Winery, Geelong – January 25.

You Am I, Something for Kate and British India will also perform.

So Frenchy, So Chic heads once again to Werribee early 2014, bringing with it the flavour of France. The boutique event spreads its wings in 2014, finding a second home in Sydney. Lou Doillon, Lilly Wood & the Prick, Féfé and Babylon Circus will perform while a gluttonous menu of French food and wine will also be on the cards. The daughter of director Jacques Doillon and British actress and singer Jane Birkin, Lou Doillon began her music career in 2006 when she started writing music with her friend and musician, Chris Brenner. She released her debut album Places last year. Doillon is also an actress, starting her career in the 1988 film Kung-Fu Master.

Lilly Wood & the Prick is an alternative pop and folk duo comprised of Nili Hadida and Benjamin Cotto.

The duo came together in 2006 after meeting in a café and deciding to collaborate. Their latest album is 2012’s The Fight. Babylon Circus is a ten-piece ska and reggae group founded out of Lyon in the mid-’90s. Fusing elements of punk, reggae, rock, swing and jazz, the band performs in both French and English, sometimes combining the two. Oh, and there is plenty for the little ones as well with croquet, face painting, puppet shows, pétanque and more.

Werribee Park Mansion – January 12. .........................................................................

Music Slam #3, Bendigo Bendigo’s Music Man Megastore is leading the way in Bendigo for how to put on one hell of a good rock show. Kicking off tonight, October 17, the venue will serve up four days of blissful tunes in the latest installment of Music Slam. The short and skinny of it is that music lovers will be served up 50 bands across Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

If you are going to choose just one day, Saturday, October 19 is the pick of the bunch. Dubbed Rock

Bottom Bash, music will run from 2pm until 3am on the Sunday morning. Unfortunately, at the time of writing line-up details were hard to come by, but really, 50 bands across four days? You can’t go wrong. I can tell you the times, however: Thursday and Friday both kick off at 6pm and run through to 1am; Saturday as you know is 2pm until 3am; and Sunday is 2pm until 10pm. The Music Man Megastore held their first Music Slam earlier this year. Keep up to date through facebook.com/ themusicmanbendigo. .........................................................................

You Am I Get Their Kicks After having turned back time on their 20-date Hi Fi Daily Double tour, You Am I have lined up a Melbourne Cup Eve show, their first following a five-year break. The good news for those in the Warrnambool area is that the band also has a show for you. There is a whole lotta love for this band in Australia, and rightfully so. For over twenty years the band has lived and breathed music. They have eaten with music, drunk with music, slept with music and woken up with many musical hangovers. When the book The 100 Best Australian Albums was released, You Am I was recognised, with their 1995 album Hi Fi Way coming in at the #9 spot. Lending a hand at the gig will be Bitter Sweet Kicks. Born from the gutters of St. Kilda, BSK deliver a cocktail of rock, swamp and blues. Whalers Inn, Warrnambool – November 1. Don’t miss out Warrnambool.

to The Loft, Warrnambool on October 18. Songman Matt Corby settles into GPAC’s Playhouse Theatre on October 23. The awesome ladies of Roller Derby host the National Breast Cancer Foundation fundraiser Pink Ribbon Booby Bout at Leisuretime Centre, Geelong on October 26. Baby Animals take in The Wool Exchange, Geelong on October 30, Boy & Bear hit the Exchange on November 1, Matt & Beki play The Karova, Ballarat on November 1 and Stonefield do their thing at The Loft, Warrnambool on November 2 and The Karova, Ballarat on November 8. .........................................................................

Major Reminder The Anglesea Music Festival has arrived, my friends. By now you know the line-up includes Brian Cadd, Sandi Thom, Dallas Frasca, Damian Howard and the Ploughboys, The Little Stevies, Bowie Jane, Cleveland Blues, Diehard Dolls, Spyndrift, Jay Hoad, Keshie, McAlpine’s Fusiliers, Michael Waugh and Murdena. By now you know there are a heap of other activities to fill the weekend. By now you know it takes place this weekend, October 18-20. So, you know who to expect. You know what to expect.

You know when to expect it. So just head along and enjoy it.

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The Delta Lions Code Hard work can go a long way, as Newcastle outfit The Delta Lions have discovered. Always on the go, the band is currently working their way around the country in support of their sophomore album, Post Code. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, they’re described as a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll. The Replacements, The Plimsouls and DriveBy Truckers are a few names tossed around when drawing comparisons. Post Code is the quick followup to 2012’s Magnetic South and was recorded by guitarist/singer Michael Ferfoglia and drummer Mat Taylor in Taylor’s home studio, ‘Scabbey Road’. The band played live for their first time at a mate’s birthday party, playing a selection of originals and covers of Danzig, Springsteen and Thin Lizzy among others.

The Barwon Club, Geelong – October 18. Nathan Seeckts and Japan For support.

DANIEL CHAMPAGNE - MAX SAVAGE

This Is How You Remind Me That’s right; Nickelback is being used to remind you about some shows around the traps. Hip hop duo Horrorshow take to Geelong’s Wool Exchange on October 18. English singer-songwriter Cosmo Jarvis has dates at The Karova, Ballarat on October 18 and The Barwon Club, Geelong on October 20. Tank Dilemma and The Cactus Channel take

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TALK OF THE TOWN! Halloween with The Yard Apes Quick bite: The Yard Apes return to Ballarat’s Karova Lounge for the fourth year running to spread their garage-inspired rock ‘n’ roll in a little post-Halloween bash. The hometown heroes have spent the last 12 months writing, recording and road-testing new material, and if the music gods are smiling, a new release will be available at the show. Joining them at the Halloween horror will be all-female garage outfit The Reprobettes (making their Karova debut) and Shovels (formerly Electric Jellyfish). The Karova – November 2. .........................................................................

The Bennies in Space There are those who mash genres, and there are those who MASH genres – and Melbourne’s The Bennies certainly fall into the latter camp. Proudly boasting “psychedelic party ska doomalicious punk rock anthems from hell”, the band is gearing up for the release of their second album next month. It is titled Rainbows in Space, and was jammed out in the studio with Sam Johnson (The Smith Street Band, A Death in the Family). If you needed proof about the band’s wide-ranging sound, gigs this year have included a bush-doof psy-trance festival, a

metal festival and a gazillion punk shows, including a nice little 20-date tour with buddies The Smith Street Band. They also have another run of shows in Japan and China coming up – their third in as many years – so you had best see them now. You will thank yourselves for it. The Karova, Ballarat – November 14. .........................................................................

Transvaal Diamond Syndicate Sing the Blues Brisbane’s Transvaal Diamond Syndicate have laid down one almighty challenge to see out the year with a massive 12-week tour. The End of the ’13 tour kicked off at the beginning of the month in support of new single ‘Estranged Blues’, a little taste of their forthcoming debut album. Shot at Moffat Beach on the Sunshine Coast, you can check out the single via YouTube. TDS has become known as one of Australia’s leading exponents of foot-stompin’ swamp and dirty blues-rock. As far as touring goes, there are few bands that are as familiar to the road as TDS. In 2011 the band played a 40-date tour, and in 2012 the band travelled from Cairns to Tasmania, clocking up 63 dates and 20,000kms. The beginning of the year also saw a 72-date tour. When it comes

to road stamina, this band has it in spades. The Loft, Warrnambool – November 16. *Note: The band will also step out in style at the Queenscliff Music Festival. .........................................................................

QMF Grant Recipients

We already know that the Queenscliff Music Festival is a cracking music fest, but they also do fine work in supporting emerging artists in the Geelong, Barwon South West and the Bellarine Peninsula regions. This year $10,000 has been distributed to three very worthy artists and acts: Yirrmal Marika, The Murlocs and The Sweethearts.

Fusing traditional and contemporary with class and passion, Indigenous Australian artist Yirrmal will sit down with several mentors to create six original songs. He will then perform them as part of a full set of material to Victorian audiences. Soulful RnB outfit The Murlocs will use their share of the pie in the funding of their debut, while Geelong’s nu-soul gang The Sweethearts will also put their grant towards the production of their latest CD. Congratulations to all recipients and may your music continue to shine. You can check them out through: facebook.com/yirrmal. marika, facebook.com/themurlocs and sweethearts. com.au

you like it is. The nine-piece soul/RnB outfit is about as red-hot as bands can get. Fronted by Nkechi Anele, a woman whose vocals will knock your socks off, Saskwatch has had a big year supporting Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and Earth, Wind and Fire. They have also stepped out at Glastonbury and Spain’s Black is Back Festival.

However, there still remains enough time in the year for a little more, and so the band welcomes new single, ‘Hands’. Do you like rabbits? Of course, you do, everyone does. The accompanying clip features a couple of the creatures on a feel-good rabbit road trip. The Karova, Ballarat – November 22.

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All Hands on Saskwatch

“If you’re yet to experience the sensation that is the swirling hurricane of unmitigated soul put forth by Saskwatch, then you’ve only got yourself to blame.”

You hear that folks? That is Beat Magazine telling

Hepburn Springs Swiss & Italian Festa It’s the big 2-1 for the Hepburn Springs Swiss & Italian Festa in 2013 and one and all are invited to raise a glass. The festa was first staged in 1993 as a way to celebrate the history, culture and lifestyle of Hepburn Springs and Daylesford with an emphasis on the region’s Swiss and Italian heritage.

Highlights include Cosmo Cosmolino at the Convent, which is described as: “A hot-blooded collision of exquisite tango, chamber bijoux, romantic song and gypsy romance. This luscious quintet of strings with accordion from Melbourne entrances its audience with a sound that is both ancient and modern from gypsy inspired fury to seductive tangos and heart-wrenching songs.” Another shining star is an evening of food, drink and music at Buffalo Bar on the Saturday of the festa. October 30 – November 3. The program is absolutely jam-packed, so make sure you hit up swissitalianfesta.com and start making a checklist.

Boutique Beaute Boutique Beaute is a gorgeous beauty salon located in the Geelong area offering amazing services at affordable prices.

Services ranging from Eyelash Extensions to spray tanning and Teeth Whitening all performed in a comfortable and relaxing environment. Packages available for all special occasions and group bookings are welcome. Boutique beaute also offers certified short courses. Learn beauty one on one and start your career in beauty today. For any enquiries please contact Alissa 0400805109

Geelong Roller Derby Fundraiser

We all know about the awesome ladies who take part in Roller Derby: well, now they’re set to show a lighter side to their rumble in the ring ways with a fantastic fundraiser for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The Pink Ribbon Booby Bout is a massive double-header featuring skaters from leagues across Australia. Taking place at the Leisuretime Centre on October 26, the first smackdown pits the Itty Bitty Titty Committee against Simply the Breast. Once the heart settles, the Rack Attack will brave themselves against the Mammoslams. The first bout gets underway at 4pm, but make sure you give yourselves a little time. There will also be market stalls and raffles, plus DJ Johnny El Pajaro will provide some tunes. Tickets are $15 while children under 10 free. All proceeds go to the NBCF. Remember, that is October 26 at Leisuretime Centre.

CLARIFICATION: Inadvertently the wrong artwork for

Geelong Roller Derby ran in the last issue. The correct and authorised artwork appears in this issue and should have read 100% of ticket and raffle profits will go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. The error was made in production.

Photo Credit: Forte Magazine would like to acknowledge

the photography of John Conway from Chromagraphics Photography who’s photos were used on Page 42 in conjunction with the editorial ‘Roller Derby Goes Pink’ in issue 569 October 3rd.

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get cut from the setlist (unless you’re Green Day, who I’ve been told just keep adding more tracks and making the setlist longer and longer). I asked Jon if we’d still be hearing some songs from the band’s debut EP, With Emperor Antarctica.

“We’ve been kind of tweaking the setlist recently,” Jon explained. “We’ve actually been in a rehearsal studio for the last few weeks, trying to get things sorted out for the upcoming tour, and we’ve got a couple of festivals before that. It really depends on how long we’re playing.

“At the moment there is definitely something off every release we’ve done. We haven’t quite finalised that, but we’re not just going to play the new album completely, we’re definitely going to get tracks from the older stuff going as well.”

At time of print, only the first round of ARIA nominations had been released, and Harlequin Dream has already been nominated for Best Production. I asked Jon if we were going to see a repeat of 2011’s ARIA sweep. “Our managers – not that our managers needed to do it – have been reminded by enough people, ‘You know, you did well the first time, you probably won’t get anything this time. Just be happy to get nominated for anything’. I mean, there’s been a lot of big records in this cycle – you’ve got Flume’s record, you’ve got Tame Impala to just name two as people who are probably in line for the nod there,” Jon said.

boy & bear written By Cameron Brogden

One of Australia’s favourite bands is back on the road, touring their second album Harlequin Dream. The Sydney outfit are doing fifteen dates, and when you throw in an appearance at Fat As Butter Festival, you could say they’ve got the next month or two pretty much booked solid. I spoke to Jon Hart, the band’s keyboardist, mandolinist and backup vocalist, last week to talk about the new album and the tour.

Pretty much everyone knows about the “sophomore slump”, when a band’s second album fails to live up to the hype of their first, or when a band just can’t seem to produce that second album. I asked Jon how much of a relief it was that it was over and done with. “I think it wasn’t something we thought about too much before actually releasing it,” Jon said. “We finished recording in May, and then it didn’t come out until August. We sort of had this three month period to think about what was going to happen. It was sort of at that point that a few of us were like, ‘Oh, this is our second album, I

wonder what’s gonna happen. I wonder if people are going to listen to it, and buy it and keep coming to shows’.

“You try not to get in to those thoughts too much because you’ve gotta just go and make the record you think you should make. We did have a few moments of nerves before the thing came out, but hopefully that’s past.”

Jon was the last of the original five members to join the band, joining his brother Tim, the band’s drummer. I asked him if he knew how big they were going to be from those early days. “No, not at all,” he said. “I mean, you have no perspective for that when you’re a, I don’t want to say ‘Weekend Warrior’, because we didn’t even get gigs on weekends … just playing those sort of midweek gigs at little bars in the city when you’re at uni, you just sort of can’t imagine that you can bring it to, I guess, bigger situations like we’ve got to do now. I think you dream of it, you sort of imagine it when you go and watch gigs, and you go ‘It’d be awesome to be up there doing it’, but it’s hard to actually kind of conceive of it.”

This is the band’s fourth time headlining in Geelong.

I asked Jon whether he was looking forward to being back. “We’ve always had fun in Geelong – I think we’ve been there on nearly every tour. People always turn out and there’s always a really good vibe,” he said.

Boy & Bear built their popularity touring as supports for international acts Mumford & Sons and especially Laura Marling, as well as locals like Angus and Julia Stone and Lisa Mitchell, and Jon says they learnt a lot. Now it’s their turn to pick support acts, and this time around it’s indie favourites Battleships and newcomer Dustin Tebbutt. ”We all felt like Battleships would make a great main support, and everyone was in to the new Dustin Tebbutt song, so a few of us went and checked him out live and we thought this would be really cool. It was pretty simple this time really; we just vote five of us and figure it out.”

Anyone who has been to a Boy & Bear show knows that their support acts are always fantastic, from Emma Louise and Jinja Safari on the With Emperor Antarctica Tour, to Tin Sparrow and The Jungle Giants on the Remember the Mexican Tour, with one of the best line-ups I’ve ever seen in between with The Paper Kites and Ball Park Music on the Moonfire Tour. “We did take that seriously. We want to make sure that anyone that comes out to the show doesn’t just get to come see what we do, but gets to see something new or something they’ve already been familiar with, but in a different context,” Jon said.

So buy the album Harlequin Dream – it’s been out for months, you should have it already. And get down to their show, tickets are still available.

When&Where: The Wool Exchange, Geelong – November 1

Whenever a band releases a new album, songs

Live @ Turtle Bend 2013

CHECK US OUT ONLINE AT FORTEMAG .COM.AU facebook.com/

The much anticipated community event at Turtle Bend is taking on a new form this year as the Turtle Bend Events Committee joins forces with Oxygen College to bring you Live @ Turtle Bend 2013. Commencing at 2pm, Saturday the 26 th of October, the free event will show case bands and musicians from the Golden Plains and Geelong areas. Local bands will kick start the day and lead into an afternoon and evening of live music featuring Oxygen College musicians and concluding with indie darlings, Skipping Girl Vinegar. Warming fires, great food and the magical lantern parade will add to the already striking atmosphere and combine to make an unforgettable experience. For more information go to www.turtlebendevents.com and use the links to check out the Facebook and blogspot pages or contact direct via email at turtlebendevents@gmail.com

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DANDO’S: ICONS

FREE CLASSIFIEDS

STUART WILLETT

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

by Brendan Dando / photo by leiko manalong A lot of things go into organising and running a successful gig. Whether it’s the bookers, security or the musicians themselves, each play a key part in ensuring everything runs smoothly.

However, quite often a gig is judged by how well the band sounded, which isn’t entirely their doing. Sound engineers are just as important as the artists themselves, and one of Geelong’s best up and coming engineers is Stuart Willett.

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

Though currently living in Werribee, all of Willett’s work is done in Geelong, which he does so voluntarily. “You’ve got to do what you have to in order to follow your dream and passion. If you try hard enough and put in the effort you will get there,” he says. “I may not get paid, but just being able to go to shows and work alongside massive names such as The Rubens, Seth Sentry, Karnivool, The Butterfly Effect and Dead Letter Circus is amazing!”

Willett is able to add these impressive names to his resume as he is a volunteer for Geelong Booking Agency Spinning Half. “They’ve taught me so much in the past year, especially Andre who is head of their sound department.

He’s a legend, and that’s not just because we share the same birthday,” he jokes. Although Willett insists there’s more to learn than just technical skills. “ I truly believe that learning to deal with artists and crew is possibly one of the most important skills to have as a house engineer, you need to be on the same page with the people you’re working with.”

As Willett explains though, it’s not always fun and games when it comes to his job.

“It can be really stressful when you have ten minutes until doors open and things aren’t going to plan, but I think it’s these moments that show what type of person you truly are and test your skill set.” He also understands the importance of setting new goals. “Finding challenges

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

is necessary since we can never 100% learn everything in a given field. Obviously some people know a lot more than others, but there will always be one area that they lack in, even if it’s slightly.”

Wanted: Bass Player & Drummer. I’m a Singer/Songwriter, who has written/produced an album of original songs, looking to gig originals & covers.

Influences include U2, INXS, Oasis, The Verve, Snow Patrol. Looking for easy going/reliable muso’s who know their craft. Call Phil 0421 901 530 www. zeffamusic.com

With a growing resume that solidifies his passion and talent in the sound engineering field, Willett can still pin point the moment he knew this was the right career path.

“Ever since I was in Year 9 studying music industry tech production I knew that it was something I could see myself doing, since it combines my love of music with creative freedom,” he reveals. “Then when I completed my VCE and scored a perfect study score for the subject, that was the defining moment for me where I realised I could actually pursue this.”

Vocalist Wanted.

Experienced 25 y.o. guitarist looking for female vocalist to form acoustic duo to start playing cover gigs asap.

Would also be interested in writing together music if partnership works well.

Phone Curt 0412 166 393

Although his schedule may already be booked out for the next few months, there are still a few names Willett would like to add to his list.

“I would absolutely love the chance to do sound for Relient K or Switchfoot!”, he says with a great deal of enthusiasm. “I’d also like to work with Imogen Brough again, her sets are always fun to mix since her music has a diversity to it that always presents the opportunity to be creative.”

Looking for a rock singer between the age 17-19. Main Influences are Green

It’s people like Stuart that prove Geelong is filled with many music-related opportunities for anyone willing to put in the dedication and time needed to succeed. Keep up the great work mate!

BENDIGO: The Blister Transistor

by Darlene Taylor

What’s On in The Rat:

By Daniel Lock

With typical brevity, The Blister Transistor recently announced on their Facebook page that the group is soon to be no more. The statement by the band is hard to categorise, saying they “do not belong in this parallel universe...”, indicating the possession of a sense of humour and a degree of frustration with the music scene.

Before advising of their approaching demise, I met the band’s iconoclastic and likeable frontman, Mark Chatterton, at a pub in town to discuss topics such as the phony anger of some metal bands, social media, his message seeking guidance from a member of the defunct Radio Birdman – a suitable pen-friend given The Blister Transistor’s sound – and his line of attack when it comes to writing songs.

The results of the latter can be heard and viewed on the, dare it be uttered, blistering CD/DVD package televisión follada, which was released in June this year after being recorded and filmed live at the

Newmarket Hotel, one of the two venues in Bendigo readily capable of presenting the band.

“I guess it’s part of my ethos of just being myself ...

I don’t like to try and make myself sound intelligent,” Chatterton said of his approach. “I just like to say what I want to say and say it in the most efficient way possible which is usually just like you’re talking to somebody. I’m not trying to be all mystical and a poet.”

Songs on televisión follada include the vociferous ‘Harder You Fall’, which refers back to when a younger Chatterton couldn’t relate to the nightclubbing habits of his associates.

The group’s curt declaration about its upcoming end is perhaps guided by a degree of scepticism about social media and its role in making venue owners lazy when it comes to selecting line-ups.

“You can buy Facebook likes on eBay ... (groups are) doing it because a lot of the venues are just booking bands purely based on online figures,” said Chatterton. “It seems like venues aren’t really necessarily interested in doing their research themselves; they’re asking these bands can you bring in a lot of people to our business and they’re saying yes, check us out online,” he added.

The fame-obsessed attitude that social media seems to inspire among some acts is another irritant. An earlier post on their page was possibly intended for satirical purposes as much as for pleading when it stated: ‘We are unpopular. Share us’. “I think we just consider ourselves a bit of an anti-band ... and if we’re online self-promoting all the time that’s not who we are,” said Chatterton.

It should be noted that the former Radio Birdman member’s reply advised Chatterton that he and his band mates, including brother Lee who’s also a member of the self-described hardcore/metal outfit Abreact, should keep doing their thing regardless of the reaction to their music.

The Blister Transistor’s last gig is scheduled for November 1 at The Music Man Megastore. As for metal bands manufacturing rage Chatterton argued that, “You see some of these guys, young guys especially, that play in metal bands; sometimes you think, well, they’re just pretending to be angry because that’s what the genre expects … What are you actually angry about?”

Day, Foo Fighters and Led Zeppelin. Band with Management and Label. Email and info at melodicmusic.com Looking for a drummer, not afraid to experiment. Male/ female. Age 35++ ono. All original. English/Australian influences without the radio play. Original to the extent of punk/pop sensibility 1978 to the not-so-now style. Think of yourself as a patron of The Saints, Stiff Little Fingers, Radio Birdman, Buzzcocks, The Smiths, Psychedelic Furs, Iggy & The Stooges, Wedding Present, Happy Mondays etc etc, then forget you have to be. The usual...car, equipment, attitude, mental state (in an OK kind of...) punctual, earplugs accepted. Be prepared to apply yourself.

Let us know on 0409 567 043. Please leave your details and we will hear you - Confirmation code: AKA 1963 Geelong rock band looking for lead vocalist. We are a Geelong based original band looking for a lead vocalist, have a lot of experience and heaps of great original music waiting to be sung. Influences: pearl jam, chili peppers, foo fighters, nirvana, led zep, sound garden. Contact Ben 0432049231.

Experienced Lead Guitarist Wanted. Top 40 Coverband. 70s 80s 90s and current. Based in Geelong. Must have commitment. Please Call Mark on 0438836469 or email at pudge_ gypsy33@hotmail.com

Saving Civic

Ballarat Civic Hall, a building unused since 2002, has become a hot topic amongst Ballarat residents again since the recent Council decision to have the building demolished. This year has already seen resurgence in support to restore the Hall to its former glory, with many community events involving the Hall as much as possible (with it being boarded up and all).

Back in its prime, the Hall played host to famous Australian rock groups such as Mondo Rock, The Angels, The Divinyls, Australian Crawl, Cold Chisel and INXS. This year has seen two ‘Rock the Civic’ concerts which took place on the Ballarat Civic Hall’s front porch, plus a community rally with live music also held.

The first ‘Rock the Civic’ hosted The Jail Bird Jokers, Vinegar Hill, The Boggy Mountain Boys, Kingdom in Crisis, Death by Snu Snu and Soultown DJs; the second ‘Rock the Civic’ featured MC Krisdafari, Navaja Negra, The Electric SunKings, Geoffrey Williams, Alive and Kicking plus Soultown DJ’s again. The rally, meanwhile, hosted Nev Quick, Vinegar Hill, Micky D and The Vests. With this much live music already taking action toward the Civic Hall, imagine what would happen if people were allowed in the place!

There are many, many different opinions regarding what should be done with the Civic Hall site, and a popular one (if the decision to demolish is rescinded) is turn the place back in to a live music venue. The Civic Hall already has an adequate stage that is perfect for events such as live music, theatre productions and public speaking. Although the outside of the

building isn’t the prettiest form of architecture in Ballarat’s history (this is also in part due to graffiti and vandalism), the interior is intact and quite attractive. A makeover to the exterior could do wonders for such a venue. Kind of makes you think that demolishing it would be Ballarat cutting off its nose to spite its face.

The Council’s decision to turn the Civic Hall site in to an empty lot and then go from there is the current standing proposal that has been voted in. Obviously whether the Hall stands or goes was the important hurdle in the debate, what to do with it doesn’t matter… (I’m sorry, there’s no appropriate font to illustrate sarcasm.)

The Music Victoria Summit which took place at the Ballarat Mining Exchange last week also recognised the fact that Ballarat has known the loss of a central music hub since the closure of the Bridge Mall Inn in 2003. Having a disused theatre right in the heart of Ballarat would give hope that two and two were put together and the obvious answer was the one that would be sought after by the public and Council alike. But this year has already proven beyond doubt that common sense has no place in politics.

Another opinion held by a silent majority is quite simply: deal with it! The Civic Hall has been closed since 2002; it is a centrepiece of Ballarat and currently only plays host to graffiti and the Soup Bus while the poor neglected statues of William Shakespeare and Sir Walter Scott look on. The only meaningful art in their limited view being the times the Civic Hall has been “rocked” to attract attention to it this year.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEW FORTE NEWSLETTER AT FORTEMAG.COM.AU

Catch The Blister Transistor while you still can.

When&Where: Music Man Megastore, Bendigo – November 1

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King Parrot written by Xavier Fennell

If you’ve seen a King Parrot live show, you’ll know Matt Young, lead singer and all round destroyer.

You’ll probably have seen him leave the stage several times and become one with the swelling mass of a crowd in front of him – the show is intense and in some ways, almost frightening. And yet, Young is a really pleasant bloke to speak to.

King Parrot boasts one of Australia’s and definitely one of Melbourne’s greatest live metal acts: precision machine-gun drumming and wailing deathly guitars melt the faces of punters while Young tears his vocal chords within an inch of his own life.

The Barwon Club has played host to many a band over its time; up and comers, internationals, and those just wanting play some music and drink beer are welcomed to the stage without fuss. The upcoming River Rocks Festival is a celebration of the music and people who have been rocking by the River consistently for many years. King Parrot are excited to be taking part in what, for many, is a leap back to their ‘Old BC crew days’.

“We love crowd involvement, so the smaller stage is totally fine with us,” Young replied enthusiastically when I mentioned how hectic it might get due to the size of The Barwon Club stage.

“The last few times we’ve played in Geelong there’s been a pretty good turnout. We’re really excited to be playing. Being a metal band we have strong ties to the rock community and a lot of our friends bands are playing too. Our guitarist and our drummer have been around for a long time and we’ve been playing in Geelong for many years, so I’m sure we’ll know more

The Murlocs written by Tex Miller

The past few months for The Murlocs haven’t been without tragedy. If you have been following the band’s online social media pursuits, you will know that their debut record was due out later in the year, yet after Stu Mackenzie’s laptop got stolen, the majority of the progress was lost and the band had to start again from square one. In the unusual downtime of the band, I recently got the opportunity to sit down with Callum Shortal, guitarist for the psychedelic blues-rock group, to have a chat ahead of their appearances at the Kennedys Creek Music Festival as well as the Queenscliff Music Festival on the last weekend in November.

Despite most of the material being lost, Callum remains positive and relates that things have been quite hectic in the band lately, whilst they are working hard to make up for lost time. “We’ve just released our latest single entitled ‘Space Cadet’, and the video for that track should be up online in the next few weeks. Mikey Young produced it and it was part of the original set we had laid out for the album.”

If you haven’t had a chance to listen to the track just yet, it is available for your aural pleasure on their Facebook and SoundCloud pages. Continuing on from their fuzzed-out guitar and thundering bass of their previous ramshackle jangly tracks, e.g. ‘Tee Pee’ and ‘Rattle the Chain’, ‘Space Cadet’ is full of the distinctive harmonica and the Dylan-esque snarl of Ambrose Kenny-Smith.

The re-recording process of the album has in

than a few people down there.”

For King Parrot, the release of the ‘Bozo’ video carries with it the importance of their home ground and the legitimacy of their music: “We have a good affiliation with Cherry Bar and they’re a big part of Melbourne’s music scene and are definitely important to Melbourne’s music scene. We love doing Cherry Rock and Cherry Fest. I don’t know of any other places in the world where you can have a festival in a laneway and be a metal band getting exposed to a whole different audience.”

The Video for ‘Bozo’ features footage taken from this year’s Cherry Rock Festival and depicts the preparation and delivery of the highest metal order to an AC/DC Lane packed with punters. “We did a video before ‘Bozo’ for ‘Shit on a Liver’ and some people might have taken us for a bit of a parody band after seeing that.

‘Bozo’ was kind of a way for us to show that we are a serious band and this is what we do at our shows, and what better way to do that than at something as awesome as Cherry Rock.”

King Parrot is one of many leading Australia’s metal scene forward in the world, a niche scene often brought together through festivals like Soundwave, but otherwise often not given the recognition that it deserves.

“You get this projected image that the metal scene is huge and it’s had so many people in it, but in actuality it’s a pretty tight-knit community. But it has a lot of support from people who enjoy it. It’s definitely not as big as some people might think. Things like Soundwave are great; you see a lot of part-time metalheads come out of the woodwork, but as far as the underground scene goes it’s pretty small.”

When&Where: River Rocks @ The Barwon Club, Geelong – November 9

Callum’s mind produced a greater set of songs, as they have had time to sit down and work through the initial parts of the tunes again. “The album was supposed to be out in November, yet due to this setback, it’s going to be a few more months before the debut record is out. It’s backtracked us a bit, so hopefully all going to plan it’s going to be out by February 2014. We had laid down about 8 tracks so far for the album and we were fortunate enough to save two that we had already sent off for mixing and mastering. This new set of recordings is sounding a lot better than the original, so in a way it’s like a blessing in disguise.”

That said, with support from the Queenscliff Music Festival through their emerging artist grant, it shouldn’t be too long before it is released to the world and the band is off touring around the country in support. The new material will follow on from the success of their two EPs, Rattle the Chain and Tee Pee, which has landed the band significant attention on social media.

The psyched-out blues-rocking vibes of the band, which we will get to see quite a few times over the next few months with their upcoming string of shows, is influenced majorly by the likes of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, who are one of Callum’s influences when it comes to writing the music for the group.

Over the last few years, the name The Murlocs has gained quite a bit of attention in the Australian music scene, and with the release of their album in the not too distant future, the opportunities for the group are going to snowball: “It’s going to be fantastic to get down and play at Queenscliff. We have a great gig on the Rip Stage on the Saturday, and we can’t wait to get down there again. Camping in the Otways for a night and playing at Kennedys will be awesome as well. See you on the road!”

Stonefield written By Natalie Rogers

Those feisty rock chicks the Findlay sisters (Amy, lead vocals and drums; Hannah, lead guitar; Sarah, keyboards; and Holly, bass) are riding high on the release of their long-awaited debut album and the excitement of their upcoming tour. Here at Forte we were lucky enough to score an interview with Hannah, who was open and talkative, contrary to her reputation for being mysterious and aloof.

“Everything has been leading up to the release of the album; we’ve been waiting patiently. It’s been a long time coming and it’s so exciting. Now we’re just rehearsing and getting everything ready for the tour.

It’s our biggest tour to date and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Starting later this month, Stonefield will play twentytwo dates in six weeks, stopping in at towns and cities up and down the east coast. “We’re looking forward to getting out there and playing some regional shows; places we’ve never been before as well, which is exciting!”

Since taking the title of Unearthed High back in 2010, the girls have taken everything in their stride. “From the time of winning Unearthed to getting asked to play Glastonbury, it was completely a whirlwind. We didn’t really have time to stop and think about it. It was not until we took a little break to start writing the album, that’s when everything sunk in and we were kind of like, ‘Whoa this actually happened to us! Look what we’ve done’.”

When it came time to start work on their self-titled debut album (out now through Wunderkind/Illusive)

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the sisters called in some heavyweight help. “Working with our producer Ian [Davenport, best known for his work with English indie outfit Band of Skulls] was an absolutely amazing time. We were really lucky in the decisions that we made and working with Ian, because he just completely got what we wanted. It was incredible to have a bit of time to make sure everything was right.

We made heaps of good memories and it was really laid-back; it was all just about capturing the vibe and the energy of each take that we did. We were able to be totally free and collaborative with him because we were all on the same page. We all wanted the same thing.

“I don’t have any closer bond than with my sisters.

We’re really lucky. Obviously we have our fights every now and then but they’re just over stupid little things that we get over really quickly. I think it’s just because we’ve grown up together – we’re in sync most of the time. So it works out really well.”

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the reports of ‘special guests’ appearing alongside Stonefield at the shows, so it was no surprise that Hannah wants to keep the mystery alive: “There are quite a few bands that we’ve been talking to, but I’m not sure exactly who we’ve booked – you’ll have to wait and see! But now we’re ready to go full steam ahead!”

When&Where: The Corner, Melbourne – October 26; The Barwon Club, Geelong - October 31; The Loft, Warrnambool – November 2; The Karova, Ballarat – November 8

When&Where: Kennedys Creek Music Festival – October 26-27 & Queenscliff Music Festival – November 22-24

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Paul McCartney – New Pretty much everything you need to know is in the title. Sir Paul McCartney has released a new album, called New. You don’t need a plug, you don’t need hype.

It’s all there in the name “Paul McCartney”. Available now on EMI.

Matt Corby – Resolution

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Jimblah – Phoenix Former Hilltop Hoods initiative winner Jimblah has released his second album. The Western Australian Indigenous hip hop artist has been building a pretty big following in the past couple of years, and is worth listening out for.

Available now on Elefant Traks.

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Thinner which was nominated for the Album of the Year at the Australian Independent Music Awards, so it has a lot to live up to.

Available tomorrow on Vitamin.

The Fratellis – We Need Medicine The ‘Chelsea Dagger’ band is back with their third album after a five-year quiet period. I absolutely loved their 2006 debut Costello Music, so I hope this lives up to expectation. Available now on Cooking Vinyl Australia.

Jordie Lane – Not Built to Last Jordie Lane is releasing the follow-up to his 2011 album Blood

I saw Matt Corby perform a onehour headline set that was twenty minutes of “oohs”, twenty minutes of “woahs” and ten minutes of instrumental – a full hour and a half of swooning girls, though. Hopefully his sound has matured on this new EP. Available now on Universal.

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Stonefield – Stonefield The Findlay sisters have finally released their much-anticipated debut album. There will be a review of this album next issue, so make sure you pick that up.

Available now on Illusive.

triple j Like a Version, Volume 9 The latest in the series of acoustic cover albums features Something for Kate’s cover of Florence Welch and Calvin Harris’ ‘Sweet Nothings’.

There’s a bunch of other awesome songs on there, but this is worth the price of the album alone.

Available tomorrow on ABC/triple j.

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Loon Lake – Gloamer I saw these guys three times last year, they’re that good. I’m hoping the new album lives up to the two EPs that precede it. Pick up next issue for a review. Available now on Caroline Records.

Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt Pearl Jam’s tenth album comes out just in time to be filler for their Big Day Out set. It’s a pretty safe bet that tracks from this album will serve to calm the audience down between their nineties classics.

Available now on Republic Records.

TOO HEAVY TO HUG PAUL S TAYLOR chris cruz

They’re finally here – the two most eagerly anticipated psychobilly records of 2013! I am, of course, referring to the brand new albums from The Creepshow (Life After Death) and the amazeballs Koffin Kats (Born of the Motor). Go get ’em, if that’s your thing!

Also out and well worth your time is The Songs of Tony Sly: A Tribute, featuring covers of songs by the late, great singersongwriter and No Use for a Name frontman. Among the bands and artists playing homage include NOFX, Bad Religion, Rise Against, Alkaline Trio, Snuff, Lagwagon, Frank Turner, The Bouncing Souls, Pennywise, Anti-Flag, Swingin’ Utters, The Gaslight Anthem, Teenage Bottlerocket, Yellowcard, local heroes Frenzal Rhomb and, believe it or not, Simple Plan.

Yowsa.

The first of two IDIOTFEST sideshows has been announced on Facebook: Brisbane grunge/punk/grrrl powerhouse The Unprettier will be taking over the Barleycorn Hotel in Collingwood on Friday, October 25. Joining them on the night will be The Murderballs, The Savages, Hopes Abandoned, Nurnberger and Rise of the Rat. And of course, the following night (Saturday, October 26) is IDIOTFEST proper at Melbourne’s DV8 nightclub. To say that this will be a big weekend for Aussie punk rock is an understatement. Be there!

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‘Born a Wise Man’ is the first single from the forthcoming new album from A Wilhelm Scream.

Titled Partycrasher, it hits stores and the interwebs on November 5.

Pennywise are working on their first new album since the return of prodigal frontman Jim Lindberg. To say that it is already eagerly anticipated by fans would be putting it lightly.

Another fun new single is the newie from Reggie and the Full Effect. It’s called ‘Revenge is a Dish Best Served at Park Chan-Wooks’, and it’s some of the most fun keyboarddriven pop-punk you’re ever likely to hear. It’s taken from their forthcoming full-length album No Country for Old Musicians. Look for it on November 19.

Rumour has it that legendary UK heavyweight Iron Maiden may be a surprise co-headliner at Soundwave 2014.

I’m not sure what the point would even be, considering the monster line-up already announced, but hey, why not?

It’s not like they’ve played Soundwave in recent years ... Oh, hang on!

Did you know that besides writing for Forte and fronting a shitty punk rock band, I’m also an author? Coz I am!

My first book, a horror yarn called Deadtime, hits interweb retailers just before Christmas. I’ll post more info closer to the time.

Stay tuned, kids; lots more things and stuff coming your way next issue!

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By the time you read this, chances are you’d have seen Metallica’s cinematic debut, Through the Never. While twothirds of the film consists of footage taken from their live show somewhere in Canada and one third is actual plot, it would be pretty cool to see a live show of theirs in 3D in the cinema … I mean, or you could just see the band live and watch the small plot portion on YouTube whenever someone can be bothered editing it down.

What’s strange is Lars Ulrich has been quoted as saying something along the lines of “There’s a new frontier heading towards Metallica in December”. Apart from the statement being plents (slang for plenty) arrogant because frontiers don’t head towards individuals or groups of people it’s actually the other way around, I need to know what’s happening in December.

What will this new frontier be? A puppet show done with those lanky Indonesian puppets?

A Broadway musical of Through the Never? A Metallica video game? A Metallica saves Christmas animated film? A Metallica reality or talent quest TV show? Metallica being floated as a company on Wall Street? A plan to kill prisoners like in Metalocalypse, but instead of shooting them out of cannons and blowing them up midair maybe they’ll all be strapped to electric chairs and electrocuted to death to ‘...And Justice For All’?

The members of Metallica have a cultish mantra that goes something like “It’s better to be in Metallica than not be in Metallica” that probably also extends to their road crew, admin team and marketing team – which is all good and well, but when it comes to coming up with zany ideas, branding them with the Metallica logo and marketing the shit outta

them, it’s all becoming a little too Kiss.

There are plenty of franchises in this crazy world of ours, and as the guys from Metallica get older it would seem like a reasonable idea to wind down on the music and start f*cking around with business ideas that would make them even richer than they already are while at the same time pushing the envelope until it all becomes too much and fans turn away in droves because their favourite band isn’t a band anymore but a corporate brand.

In other news…

Every Time I Die will bring their unique brand of metalcore to the Corner Hotel on Sunday, October 20.

Behemoth and Hour of Penance will play the Prince Bandroom on Friday, October 25.

Limp Bizkit will take to the stage at Festival Hall on Sunday, October 27.

Wednesday 13 will appear at Billboard, The Venue on Friday, November 1.

The Enslaved show at The Hi-Fi has been moved to Friday, November 1.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club will be at Billboard on Friday, November 15.

Nile will play the Corner Hotel on Saturday, November 16.

The Vans Warped Tour will be held at a TBA venue in Melbourne on Saturday, December 7. Notable acts on board include The Offspring, Hatebreed and Parkway Drive.

Steel Panther and Buck Cherry will play the Myer Music Bowl on Sunday, December 8.

Mayhem and Watain will play The Hi-Fi on Friday, January 10.

Soundwave 2014 will be held at Flemington Racecourse on Friday, February 28.

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

I’m not sure whether I want a girlfriend or the sister that I was denied in life.

Yet, I fail to see the relevance this has to why I cropped out the watermark on my intellectual property. I think it all started here and then spiralled out of control.

You’re a young woman; I can’t give you credit where credit is due, mainly because I want you to love me like a brother and fuck me like a lover – each in equal throws.

I find you incredibly repulsive. We’re two emails in to a correspondence and already I am feeling overwhelming remorse for having pursued such a petty financial matter as this. But lamentations aside, we need to talk this through. Well, no, we don’t.

The issue is cut and dry: you used a photo that I took while under employ and cut out the watermark of my business, avoided crediting me for the shot and then used it to promote a tour for the band that you manage, whom the photo was of. The culling of the watermark was a symbolic act, meant to represent my deeplyseated fear of castration. By removing the watermark from the creative work of the mother figure I am exacting a revenge based upon the desire to rob you of a phallus you intend to rob from the father figure. And who on earth is the father-figure in this situation? The Band? As in, English Bharat, the ensemble that you manage?

No, as in, The Band, the band. Garth Hudson, etc.

What on earth does Garth Hudson have to do with anything? His organ playing was wildly revolutionary. Voice-leading alone,

he turned that confounded machine in to a bastard child of Bach and Jimi Hendrix. I guess I can concede on this point. But still, what sort of reparations are you going to provide for me after you knowingly slighted me with this phallic-centric, Freudian photoshopping?

All I have to offer is my heart. When do you want me to cut it out? Jesus, is that really all you have to offer? That’s a little brash. It is my all. It is my final gift to you. My heart was always yours, so now you can keep it in a jar in your jacket pocket and know forever that the last beat of my heart was for you and you alone. Silenced for you and you alone. Well, fine. I’ve never said no to a free organ before. And from what I can tell about you so far you have a heavy heart, so it would really take the weight off to finally be free of it. No pun. Oh, fuck you.

You know what your problem is? You’re a crumb. You’re a crumb in a small loaf down the bottom of a big bag in a rural bakery that’s not as popular as another one in the same town but still somehow manages to stay afloat even though by-and-large the overall quality of the bread is sub-standard.

But here you are all snide and proud that you’re a loaf at all and now here we are having to deal with the repercussions of your inability to acknowledge that both photography is an art that deserves financial compensation correlating directly to skill and experience, as well as somehow having the gall to state on the record that you’re barely out of the anal-sadistic stage and that the only dynamism that you are a part of is the dynamism of impotency.

Michele Adamson An electro witch and Shpongle vocalist may at quick read sound like a rather insulting way to introduce Michele Adamson, but in reality it couldn’t be further from the truth. Sitting at the cutting edge of dance music, Adamson has performed in Europe, the US, South America and Russia. Here we get to know her a little better.

For those who are not familiar with what you do, could you introduce yourself? Greetings and Salutations! I am Michele Adamson, an electro witch lucky enough to call myself Shpongle vocalist, an aural opportunist with psychedelic timing and an arsenal of dirty jokes and tight t-shirts.

Where are you right now and what are you currently working on? I am blissfully at home in my studio in the Hampshire countryside firing off lyrical musings down the Ethernet. I have several projects on the go – the last track for a new EP with Deep Dive Corporation, a tech house EP with Ronen Dahan, psy with Vice, and top of the priority list is rehearsing for the Shpongle live gigs in London and Israel at the end of this month.

You have led an extra ordinary life which is tied up in your love for creativity and expression. Where and how did your journey with music begin? My awakening to music is a constant revelation; a nonstop singular sound of beauty. I have always sung for release, for love. It is who I am. As for where the journey began, Carl Sagan said it best: “If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”

Your involvement in music in double-edged: you are both a unique DJ and vocalist. If someone was to ask you what you do musically, what would your

awme written by Tex Miller

Now in its sixth year, the Australasian World Music Expo, or AWME as it’s better known, is gearing up for yet another ripping year of music conferences and concerts. I got the opportunity to sit down with Simon Reynor, the founder of the event, to find out a little more about this year’s stellar program which features the best blues, roots and world artists from both here and abroad. A couple of months out from the festival, things are getting hectic, but all going to plan it’s sure to be the best one yet.

“For the uninitiated, AWME is a conference and music expo showcasing the region’s finest roots music. We have a massive two-day conference program and artists from all around the world attending: keynote speakers, delegates and buyers attending all of the concerts at night, to hopefully book some Australian bands for international tours and festivals,” Simon said.

From just one look at the program, I think it’s fair to say that it’s easy to get lost, and over four days in midNovember, many artists are going to be performing sets throughout the festival precinct which includes the Arts Centre, Toff in Town, Ding Dong Lounge and the Hi-Fi. With over 500 delegates and 10,000 punters last year, be sure to get your tickets, because this will sell out. For help on deciphering the line-up, I asked Simon who we should be on the look out to see live.

“Melbourne Ska Orchestra are doing a major show on the Saturday night with Kooii, Stan and the Earth Force and Loryzine, which is set to be a big night of

Go Genre Everything written by Tex Miller

Over the past ten years, Go Genre Everything have released a stack of albums and toured around Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

Featuring just Zach Von Bamberger on electric guitar and vocals and Jen Tait on drums, vocals, synth and percussion, Go Genre Everything started the duo craze before The White Stripes became a household name. With a gig at the Bridge Hotel in Castlemaine on the 25th, I recently caught up with Zach to find out about the feature film that the band is currently producing, with a release date in the not too distant future.

“We have finished editing the movie that is the result of our launch gig which we played this time last year.

That is now rendered and ready to put online for the world to see. The film is called Domestic Dreams and Robots and should be out by the New Year, I think. It’s an art film and goes for 120 minutes and has been a lot of work to get it out in between recording new songs and booking tours, but it’s fantastic to be hectic all the same,” Zach said.

Although you may or may not have heard of Go Genre Everything, the history of the band is quite acclaimed. Formed out of a musical partnership of twenty years between Jen and Zach that spawned from playing in different bands, the original idea was to be called Go Genre Everything Munchie Go Hilarious, yet given that was too long, they settled for the shorter version. As Zach relates to me, you

answer be? I do it all! Really, if you are going to work in the music business I have found the best attitude is to be prepared to do it all. Don’t expect someone to do it for you. There are the fascinating elements that you can easily absorb yourself in and the shitty parts that, although you may want to run a mile from, forewarned is forearmed so learn everything you can.

I’ve made album covers, handled bookings, am constantly learning the new technology, legalese and contracts. It is an endless exploration. I’d also recommend a book called The Music of Life by Hazrat Inayat Khan, or anything by Oliver Sacks. My ears, mind and body are open to music. I guess the only time I don’t hear it is when I am not listening.

I sense for you music is more than just a sound and something to dance to at a party. Is music to you something that can create a connection and even define a different reality through? Wow, good question. Does music create the connection or sanctify it? If you spend long enough in your different reality does it become the main reality? I define my reality by singing it, but I am nothing without listening. Going to fry my noodle over this and maybe write a book or a pamphlet.

You have teamed up with so many producers – there’s too many to name. What do you think makes collaborating with you so appealing? How do you come to collaborate with different producers?

I am a child of this scene: my psyche was born and destroyed within its electronic arms. I am so excited by the music and machines, and like attracts like. I want the best sound and I am not precious about my voice or how it is affected.

Originally I was doing this for a ticket into the party. Now it’s all about the sound. I’m chasing certain frequencies and they lead me to different artists.

Where are some of your favourite places in the

When&Where: Earthcore – November 29 through December 1 world, having seen so much of it? Rio DJ is my favourite city. It’s breathtaking and beats any floating island fantasy landscape I have seen in the world of Warcraft. Redhead in NSW has the best beach I’ve ever seen. Ibiza is heavenly, and the individuals there are so colourful. The world teaches me humility and the people show me how to party.

Are you excited about this year’s Earthcore and the prospect of coming to Australia? I just pissed in my

pants and nobody can do a thing about it.

Have you played Earthcore before, and what do you expect when deejaying to an Australian audience?

I love playing at Earthcore. For me it has been a distinctly shamanic experience – amazing artists and diversity, big smiles and a hippy vibe. I have found it more psychedelic than some other countries I play in which makes it a perfect melting pot for stirring in my music.

reggae and roots. Damien Dempsey and band are playing with Mama Kin and Richard Frankland at the Hi-Fi. All the artists playing in the concert series are exclusive to AWME, so you won’t be able to see them anywhere else!”

Starting out in 2008, AWME has since developed in to the most renowned music conference in the region. At the head since its beginning, Simon Reynor believes the growth of the event has been steady throughout: “I never thought that AWME would grow to be this big.

Every year though we get more artists and delegates wanting to be involved in the event and more interest from the general public.

“I had been touring Australian acts nationally and around the world and attending trade fairs and saw that there was an absence with Australian acts being represented at these trade fairs. Obviously it was expensive to send artists to North America and Europe, so we wanted to revert the model and bring the artists to us,” Simon said about the growth of the festival.

Since the interview with Simon, the first announcement of conferences has been unveiled and so far features APRA workshops and a talk on marketing Indigenous music. Over the next few weeks as the conference draws closer, more details will be announced, so be sure to keep an eye on awme.com.au as it happens.

AWME this year also features local born and bred guitar virtuoso Jeff Lang, who is returning to the festival after a few years absence. If last time’s appearance is anything to go by, his concert with Stephen Pigram of Pigram Brothers fame is sure to be stellar.

When&Where: Melbourne – November 14 through 17

can’t miss them when you do a Google search for the band.

Growing up in Tasmania, Zach feels that music was always going to be his career path, and after he slept with guitar effect pedals under his pillow for a few years until he was sixteen, he knew he was destined for the stage. The thing that sets Go Genre Everything apart from every other grunge-rock band around is that they release all of their music and videos on the internet for free. Although this method of distribution isn’t going to be making the band millions of dollars, it clearly reflects the recording philosophy of Zach and Jen. “The magic of recording nowadays is that it is so portable and so you can do a vocal or instrument take wherever takes your fancy. You can spend thousands of dollars trying to get something to sound right, but it won’t always help you out. We aim to have a more earthy and organic sound to our recordings, and you don’t want to hear all the money that you are investing into the record, but you want to spend it nonetheless to achieve something great.”

From hundreds of pub gigs over the years – the quirkiest of which being in New Zealand where the band stayed overnight in a punters house fitted out with zebra print wallpaper – the energetic live show can be compared to the likes of The White Stripes, and the upcoming show in Castlemaine is sure to be one sweaty affair. Showcasing some new material at the gig, costumes and shenanigans are surely going to ensue. For one of the more energetic gigs of 2013, head down to The Bridge to catch these guys perform.

When&Where: The Bridge, Castlemaine – October 25

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CAMPERDOWN CRAFT MARKET

Held on the historic avenue of Camperdown’s Manifold Street, the Camperdown Craft Market is held on the first Sunday of each month. The market offers opportunity to browse and buy home produced goods including cakes, produce, plants, clothing and novelties. Top this off with the opportunity to climb the Gothic style clock tower to inspect the clock mechanism and enjoy the panoramic views of the historic town before heading to the heritage centre to learn more about the area and its fascinating history.

Where: Finlay Avenue, Manifold Street, Camperdown, VIC. WheN: Nov 3.

PHONE: 5593 1990 INFO: www.visit12apostles.com.au

WINCHELSEA UNITING CHURCH ART & PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW

This is held in the beautiful, historic Globe Theatre. The event attracts works from both local and further afield artists, offering an opportunity to display their works. There will be an exhibition by Springdale Artists group ‘On Memory, Art and Conversation’. with a theme on Dementia.

The Winchelsea Quilters Group will also display their recently completed Heritage Quilt.

About the Globe Theatre The Globe Theatre was built in 1926 by William Lawrence and Sons, who was the father of Opera singer, Marjorie Lawrence, who was born at Deans Marsh, near Winchelsea. The ‘Globe’ was purchased by the Shire Council for 1500 pounds in 1946. in 1948 the first talking movies were shown. A new committee has restored the venue, creating a beautiful setting for the Art Show. A memorabilia room is a recent addition.

Where: Globe Theatre, 17-19 Willis St. (Princes Hwy) Winchelsea, VIC. WheN: Nov 1-4.

INFO: www.homeiswherethehallis.com

ZOMBIE PROM

This girl-loves-ghoul, rock ‘n’ roll, Off Broadway musical is set in the atomic 1950s at Enrico Fermi High, where the law is laid down by a zany, tyrannical principal. Pretty senior Toffee, has fallen for the class bad boy. Family pressure forces her to end the romance, and he charges off on his motorcycle to the nuclear waste dump. He returns glowing and determined to reclaim Toffee’s heart. He still wants to graduate, but most of all he wants to take Toffee to the prom. The principal orders him to drop dead while a scandal reporter seizes on him as the freak du jour. History comes to his rescue while a tuneful selection of original songs in the style of 50s hits keeps the action rocking across the stage.

Where: Shenton Performing Arts Centre, Cnr Garden & Ryrie Streets, East Geelong, VIC. WheN: Nov 1-9 INFO: www.centerstagegeelong.com TIX: go to website.

AVENUE Q

Avenue Q is a part flesh, part felt and packed-with-heart musical. It tells the story of Princeton, a recent college grad, who moves into a shabby New York apartment way out on Avenue Q. There, he meets a bunch of colourful characters including girl next door Kate, Rod the Republican, Trekkie the internet sexpert and Lucy the Slut, who all help Princeton discover his purpose in life. It’s just like your life. But funnier and includes puppets!

Where: GPAC. 50 Little Malop Street, Geelong, VIC. WheN: Nov 1-9.

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

SPRINGFEST MARKET WEEKEND

GEELONG VINTAGE MARKET

2000 SQUARE METER ANTIQUE MARKET & CAFE in NORTH GEELONG Antiques, collectables, industrial, vintage clothing, rustic furniture, second-hand books, music memorabilia, vinyl records, café. Great destination for a day trip and lunch if you are looking for things to do in Geelong.

Where: 287-301 Melbourne Road, North Geelong, VIC. WheN: Open 7 days, 10-6.

PHONE: 5277 1186 EMAIL: info@geelongvintagemarket.com.au INFO: www.geelongvintagemarket.com.au

Last year, 25,000 people flocked to Lake Wendouree’s foreshore for Market Sunday, with 350 stallholders on show from across Victoria and beyond. Now, with dragonboat racing, an outrigger canoe regatta and an International Fest on the Saturday, the once one-day event has grown to a two-day festival.

Through all events last year, $60,000 was raised and distributed back into the community via 12 beneficiaries such as Cops ‘n’ Kids, the Lighthouse Foundation and Nazareth House.

One of the highlights this year will be a Saturday night performance on a pontoon floating on the stunning Lake Wendouree surrounded by floating lanterns made by local school children. Food vans will be set up around St Patrick’s Point and various musical groups will entertain as dusk falls.

Where: Lake Wendouree, Ballarat, VIC. WheN: Nov 2-3.

PHONE: 5332 2812 or 0478 435 415 EMAIL: info@ballaratspringfest.com.au INFO: ballaratspringfest.com.au

RESILIENCE

Rebecca Hosking captured stunning black and white images of Surf Coast women, reflecting cultural diversity, strength and community contributions, now Rebecca will highlight some of our Surf Coast men with her stunning new images to complement the tour.

Where: Qdos Arts. 35 Allenvale Road, Lorne, VIC 3232.

WheN: Oct 13-27.

PHONE: 5289 1989 INFO: www.qdosarts.com

GEELONG CAMERA CLUB

Geelong Camera Club Inc. provides a positive environment for both members and the visitors to learn about photography and develop photographic skills through competition, presentations and social activity. Geelong Camera Club Inc. prides itself on being an informal, enthusiastic and friendly club which extends a warm welcome to anyone with an interest in photography. The club has been meeting for more than 120 years, making it the oldest club on mainland Australia. The club continues to support all forms of photography whether it is pursuing the newest trends in digital photography or retaining the traditions of film.

Geelong Camera Club Inc. offers an interesting and varied program throughout the year, including, guest speakers, members evening, regular competitions, practical sessions and weekend outings. (See club Syllabus for details) Club members vary from beginners to competent experts all with the aim of sharing knowledge, developing skills and enjoying photography.

Where: Barwon Valley Activity Centre, Barwon Heads Road, Belmont. (opp Kmart).

WheN: Meeting nights are Weds at 7.30pm.

INFO: www.geelongcameraclub.org.au

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HOME Home features some extraordinarily beautiful works by three talented artists: Amanda Koh, Jenee Roberts-Thomson and Sharon Hughes.

Amanda Koh’s work, Between Earth and Sky, is a series of four large, beautifully coloured images of sculpted faces glimpsed through cloud, mist and water. Jenee Roberts-Thomson has captured the

beauty of wintry Australian rural settings. And Sharon Hughes haunting landscapes explore the connection between the land, memory and identity.

Through the eyes of these three artists and their interpretations of our earth, we are gently encouraged to consider our land in another light. Their ethereal, eerie and otherworldly images take us far away from

the everyday. They also serve as a quiet reminder of the delicate beauty and fragility of the world we share.

Where: Quirk Collective Design & Space. 85 Pakington St, West Geelong, VIC. WheN: Oct 7-Nov 16.

PHONE: 5229 9930 INFO: www.quirkgallery.com.au

IMAGES, FROM LEFT: Amanda Koh, Between Earth and Sky / Jenne Roberts-Thomson, Winter Fields / Sharon Hughes, Memory

arts news from around town – and beyond!

Daylight Savings

by Tex Miller

In the theatre world of Geelong, James Pratt is quickly becoming one of the most recognised names within the scene. His latest incarnation is Daylight Savings, which is on at the Courthouse on Saturday the 19th of October. As expected from just a week out from the show, things are starting to get a little hectic, but nonetheless it is as exciting as ever, as James relates.

“We are looking to perform it on the 19th and everything is going really well with the rehearsals.

The main difference between a standard theatre piece and this show is that we are working in a different method to create the show. Instead of it being scripted and having a strict structure to the piece we are improvising with the material and working off that. It’s a different and more exciting way of making theatre I think, and the cast are getting their heads around it really well. I have quite a diverse range of talent in the show and that’s going to help tell a stronger story I think,” James said.

MODERN LOVE

Fashion Visionaries from the FIDM Museum, LA. More than 40 of some of the world’s most influential designers will feature in Modern Love. Bendigo Art Gallery has drawn on archival fashion objects from the extensive collections of FIDM Museum at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. Modern Love focuses on approximately 60 works from the post-punk period from the 1980s to the present day. It reflects fashion in our contemporary lives with works ranging from haute couture designs such as a museum commission Alexander McQueen gown to t-shirts and Adidas high top runners.

Where: Bendigo Art Gallery, 42 View Street, Bendigo, VIC. WheN: Oct 26- Feb 2, 2014.

PHONE: 5434 6089 INFO: www.bendigoartgallery.com.au

photos (from left): Thom Browne, fall/winter 2013-14.

Gift of Thom Browne, Inc. Photographer: Dan Lecca Jean Paul Gaultier Autumn/winter 1985 Image courtesy of catwalking.com

From the posters all around town and circulating on the internet, it might be a little hard to understand initially what Daylight Savings is about – and I will happily vouch that I am one such person. “It’s based around people’s experience with daylight savings and the content, I think, is another aspect that makes this different to other productions. We have people telling stories about their childhood experiences and some live music as well. There is a story within the play as well, so with the diverse range of content it should be an interesting night.

“It will go for just under an hour, and there is another surprise at the end that I can’t reveal too much about, but it has to do with having an extra hour up your sleeve and possibly to do with eating.”

James Pratt has seen him travel around Australia, New Zealand and even to the infamous Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he shared a whisky or two with Dave Hughes and Wil Anderson. That opportunity arose from his comedy trio The 4 Noel’s which he formed after theatre school in the late 1990s.

Although there have been no serious injuries from performing (the worst being falling off stage), having the opportunity to be in Edinburgh during the fringe festival was a surreal experience that James looks back on fondly: “When we got to Edinburgh, we really had to make things happen for ourselves, and we had some really bad ’60s suits as costumes and we had to start improvising and spruiking a show together. We’d just do some simple improv games and eventually we got quite a large audience surrounding us.

It’s a free event, and what better opportunities have you got to experience some edgy theatre going into summer than with some (possible) eating surprises?

“I remember Dave Hughes used to perform in the same building as us when we first got to Edinburgh in a max 30 people room. Our capacity was 100 people and Hughesy was sceptical about how he was going to go. We had no idea at that time that he would evolve to be where he has today.”

Over the past twenty years, the theatre career of

When&Where: Courthouse ARTS – October 19

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Mitch Cunningham

Infinite Dance Studios

WORDS: tex miller / PHOTO: leiko manalang as poet and professor at the Illinois State University. The most appealing part of Wallace’s work to Mitch is through his ability to link the character with language. “I like a lot of authors that can do this, but Wallace has a particularly intersecting language and the subject in a really elemental way as part of his bigger task of challenging post-modernism at the turn of the twentieth century. He challenged it and improved it through his own fiction. I’m trying to figure out how he did that. Wallace was an interesting author who unfortunately had a tragic end to his life.”

Taking part in the Ensemble Project 2012 at the Courthouse, Mitch has quickly honed his theatre production and playwright skills, which will inevitably result in his upcoming production Glitch, premiering at the Courthouse by hopefully this time next year. All of these skills within writing Glitch were honed incredibly at Mitch’s week at the Griffin Theatre in Sydney.

Over the past year and a half, the profile of local playwright Mitch Cunningham has evolved due to his involvement with Courthouse ARTS. In between studying for his PhD, Mitch took some time out to have a chat with Forte about his recent success in winning the Courthouse ARTS Griffin Residency. At the time of talking with Mitch, he is madly working away on writing his paper ahead of the trip of a lifetime to Paris next year.

“My day job at the moment is trying to write my PhD, because I have to deliver it at a conference next year in Paris in September. How that opportunity came about was the conference is all about the acclaimed author David Foster Wallace, who is the subject of my thesis, and they are releasing his works in French at the same time and I was lucky enough to submit my abstract and get chosen to speak. It’s a huge honour, and I’m just rewriting that into a full-length paper,” Mitch said.

For those that are unaware about David Foster Wallace, he was an American novelist as well

“I was involved in a lot of theatre experiments and shows last year and I was learning as I went, and after applying for the week at the Griffin Theatre, I was lucky enough for that to be confirmed. In a word, the experience was illuminating. It was very interesting to see professionals at work in a professional space that was not fighting for a voice. That theatre is like a machine, and there is a lot more that can get done because there are a lot more resources available. Looking at the solutions that were devised to certain problems was a great learning experience and I am very thankful for the opportunity.”

Although Glitch is on the backburner at the moment whilst Mitch is working on the PhD, the development of Mitch’s work could not have really happened without Courthouse ARTS helping him along. “When it comes time for production for Glitch, I will have a greater knowledge of how things work and I owe that to the Griffin opportunity and Ross Mueller at the Courthouse. It will be interesting to see how Glitch turns out, so keep your eyes and ears open and come on down when we get the machine rolling.”

Michael Sandford, Designer Beverages Project – PlusMinus Prototype Packaging Class Diploma of Graphic Design

thegordon.edu.au

No boundaries. No limits. Just passion. That is what Infinite Dance Studios prides itself on. If you have a passion for dance, Infinite Dance Studios opens the door to a world of possibility.

Please introduce Infinite Dance Studios to Forte readers. What is it you guys do? Infinite Dance Studios opened its doors to Geelong and the Surf Coast in February 2006. From a humbling 33 students at the end of 2006, Infinite Dance Studios has received enormous support and faith from the Geelong community and now offers dance tuition to over 260 students in 2013. Creating an atmosphere that nurtures learning, individuality and self-confidence, Infinite Dance Studios caters for those who want to become a dancer and those that just want to dance.

Infinite Dance Studios offers classes from ages 3.5yrs above in all genres, from beginner to advanced, and is currently accepting enrolment enquiries for 2014.

You are essentially a ‘dance school’, is this correct? Tell us how the classes operate? Classes in jazz, tap, ballet, hip hop, contemporary, acrobatics and singing are offered each week. Students have the option to do one or many of the genres within our jam-packed, exciting weekly timetable. Class placement is guided by age, experience and ability. Many students are offered opportunities to represent Infinite Dance Studios at regional competitions, fundraisers and several other performances throughout the year.

What sort of age bracket do you cater to? Can anyone get involved? Infinite students range from 3.5yrs to 28yrs, with an open adult ballet class to entice more mature dancers. With such a developed timetable, there is often always a class suitable for everyone!

How many students are involved? Do you have any stand-out success stories? Since opening in 2006, eight Infinite dancers have followed on to complete their full-time studies in dance at well recognised Melbourne establishments. Many of those dancers continue to perform in the industry both in Australia and overseas today.

Current Infinite competitive students have received phenomenal results at both local and regional competitions throughout 2013. Infinite Dance Studios has had a 100% success rate in competitions this year, with all solo, duo and troupe competitors receiving a place at every competition that they have attended.

Once someone has finished at Infinite Dance, what could they hope to have gained? Infinite dancers are passionate, driven and committed to their sport. Fiona Luca and staff pride themselves on instilling these qualities and encouraging students to be the best they can be at each class. Dance is a form of discipline, and whilst ensuring Infinite dancers leave each class smiling, they have also gained a strong work ethic and desire to strive to be their best, whilst developing beautiful friendships along the way!

Do you guys also do shows, or is it only really classes? Infinite Dance Studios is currently preparing for our end of year production IDANCE 2013, an entertaining, energetic and dynamic production created by Infinite Dance Studios and performed by the talented and passionate Infinite dancers. Since the start of Term 3, Infinite students have been learning and refining routines to ensure a performance even

greater than the last! IDANCE 2013 is held on Saturday 7th December with both a matinee and evening show. Tickets go on sale on Monday, 4th November from the GPAC Box Office: 5225 1200.

Tell us about The Shed @ 10?

Infinite Dance Studios conducts classes in its very own, fully equipped premises, boasting two spacious dance studios, waiting and reception area, toilets and change room facilities and kitchenette.

‘The Shed @ 10’ is located at 10 Grayling Street, Belmont. Melways 466 A1 (The Shed @ 10 is available for hire. If you are interested in hiring ‘The Shed @ 10’, please contact us.)

If someone is thinking of getting involved, or has been thinking about getting in dance for a while, what would you say to them about Infinite Dance? Infinite Dance Studios is a great place to start for any dancer. Class focus is on developing sound technique in all genres, allowing students young and old an understanding and appreciation for dance as an art form.

Director Fiona Luca and Infinite staff are qualified, experienced, trained and dedicated to offering some of the best dance tuition in Geelong and Surf Coast.

Class sizes are kept to a reasonable limit so that each student is dedicated enough time and energy so that they have opportunity to develop each week.

Infinite Dance Studios continues to grow rapidly and consistently each year, with more and more people intrigued and excited to be a part of the Infinite family. I tell any new enquiry to please come along and view a class to gage if it is what they are looking for, and more often than not, they leave smiling.

Anything else you would like to add? Infinite Dance Studios is now accepting enrolment enquiries for 2014.

Places are limited, so please get in quick.

Please contact Fiona on 0431 018 087 or email dance@infinitedancestudios. com.au.

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE!

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THE SPLINTERS

AZEALIA BANKS TOURS AUSTRALIA, WALKS OFF EVERY STAGE SHE PLAYS, LEAVES NOBODY SURPRISED.

Former Splinters favourite and current Twitter lost cause Azealia Banks has just wrapped up her Australian tour for the Listen Out Festival, and has left a mass of destruction in her wake. The rapping singer made headlines last week when she stormed off stage 25 minutes into her set for the Sydney leg of the festival, 90 seconds into her set for the Melbourne leg of the festival, and no more than 60 seconds after the start of her only Melbourne DJ set, reminding us all of the fiascos that surrounded her last two Australian tours: Future Music Festival and Splendour in the Grass.

At Future, Banks took to Twitter to call fellow festival headliner Rita Ora “Rihanna’s understudy” and rockers The Stone Roses “old saggy white niggas”. She then pulled out of Future Music Adelaide due to a “disagreement” with promoters.

Her Splendour tour was cut short also, after only 25 minutes, with the singer profusely apologising online to fans afterward and passing the blame on to the festival’s sound equipment – which is interesting seeing as every other artist that

played the stage that day went without a single hitch, playing the entirety of their allocated slots.

The official story for this current series of walk-outs all revolves around bottles and cans being hurled at the rapper. Medical emergency or not, Azealia’s shocking actions in Australia – not just on this tour, but all of her tours to this country – speak a lot louder than the words of apology on her Twitter timeline. All of this begs the question: why the fuck are promoters in Australia STILL booking this absolute TRAIN WRECK? This girl hasn’t had a hit since her debut single – two whole years ago – and has a total of zero studio albums released to support her career.

The only thing Azealia has managed to garner over the two years since her debut single is an incredibly bad reputation for herself; nothing more and nothing less. By the time this elusive debut album IS released (now scheduled for release in 2014), people are going to be more than over her tired arse. ‘212’ was great, but one great song does not a legend make.

Who do you think you are Banks, Grace Jones?!?!

AUSSIE ROWLEY RILES US UP Sydney-based singer/songwriter John Rowley has a new single out called ‘Intoxication’ featuring the vocal prowess of Alyce Renee – and it is one helluva funka-tron of a track. Intoxication follows the release of

the incredible ‘Notice I’m Alive’ – also featuring Renee on vocals – which is without doubt one of the best songs of the year. Intoxication takes a much different tone to Notice..., with an incredibly lush 70’s-inspired disco melody supporting the vocals, whilst the latter plays like an eerie and straightforward melancholic pop song. Rowley is one of Splinters’ favourite local artists. Criminally unsigned, Rowley has made his gorgeous pop melodies available to purchase for less than the cost of a loaf of bread via his Bandcamp website, which you can visit here: johnrowley.bandcamp.com.

MILEY vs SINÉAD O’REBELLION Oh dear. Let’s break this down in points: Miley tells Rolling Stone Magazine that parts of the ‘Wrecking Ball video were inspired by Sinéad O’Connor’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’. Sinéad is then bombarded with calls from media outlets for the first time in over two decades, asking for a sound bite in response to Miley’s clear praise of her work. Sinéad, who has been out of the limelight for an entire lifetime, gets excited by all the attention she has received – the first of this kind since she tore up a picture of The Pope back in 1623 – then decides she will write an open letter to Miley, begging her not to become a “prostitute” (a word she uses repeatedly throughout the open letter which has, rightly so, infuriated sex workers the globe over) simply because she does not approve of the amount of skin Miley has showing.

Miley responds by posting a screenshot of reckless tweets from Sinéad asking the people of Ireland to direct her to a doctor who would be able to prescribe her anti-depressants. Sinéad then writes another open letter, this one being a lot more sweary than the last. Miley then responds on Twitter by saying she hasn’t had a chance to reply properly because, basically, she has a career, before inviting O’Connor to meet up with her to discuss the disagreement face to face: “If you’d like to meet up and talk, let me know in your next letter!” Checkmate Miley, checkMATE.

2013’s brightest newcomers Du Tonc (made up of Mighty Mouse and Van She’s very own Matt Van Schie) have a new single out called ‘Island’, an interestingly sexy and moody departure from the clear-cut house/pop grooves of previous singles ‘Darkness’ and ‘Surging Memories’. The duo is currently making waves across America and Europe, with plans to take over the Australian market just in time for the summer festival season.

Australia’s own @Sia addresses the Miley Cyrus vs Sinéad O’Connor debate with the entertainment world’s only valid response. Sinéad O’Connor, Amanda Palmer and Annie Lennox, please sit down.

MILEY CYRUS

Bangerz is a forwardthinking urban-pop album that truly realigns Miley as a lot more than just the Disney Daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus.

LADY GAGA’S ARTPOP The Jeff Koonscreated cover has been revealed and is nothing short of Awesome.

TINA ARENA

She is BACK with killer new single ‘You Set Fire to My Life’, her first English album in almost a decade, Reset, and a mind-blowing autobiography entitled Now I Can Dance.

The campaign to get Tina Arena live at The Arena begins NOW.

SLUT SHAMING

Isn’t it interesting that the people with the most negative of opinions toward Miley Cyrus seem to be women? Slut shaming is not cool – how do you expect others to stop it if females the world over are generally the ones who instigate the act?

SINÉAD O’CONNOR’S HATRED OF SEX WORKERS

In her open letter to Miley Cyrus, O’Connor referred to sex workers as “prostitutes” more than a handful of times and practically begged Miley not to be a “whore”. Even women who claim they are bona fide feminists are, seemingly, at the front of the slut shaming pack.

That shame should be directed at yourselves!

AZEALIA BANKS

SHIT!

DU TONC RETURN

“ I truly believe that feminism is being nice to other women, and allowing them to express themselves however they choose, without criticism.”

HIT

OCTOBER MIXTAPE

tweet of the week

How about you just fuck off?

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FILM REVIEWS

by anthony morris

Diana

Prisoners

If you make a film about Diana, Princess of Wales that opens on the night she died, what are we to assume; that the filmmakers thought we’d forgotten she died, or that the filmmakers wanted to assure us that they knew she was dead?

It’s not like there’s any other reason to put it in – she just travels through a hotel to get into a car, which even if you’re the most famous woman in the world isn’t exactly gripping stuff. And so the stage is set for Diana, a movie that wants to tell us the relationship between Diana and Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan (Naveen Andrews) was the kind of romance that only occurs once in a generation, but ends up telling us something very close to the opposite. When they met during a hospital visit by Diana, it was love at first sight – on her behalf at least. When she joins him in the lift he says, “Are you going down?”, and while this sadly doesn’t turn in to a raunchy sex comedy you do have to wonder what everyone involved was thinking at this stage. She invited him around for dinner but she can’t cook (lucky he likes hamburgers), she slaps on a wig so she can go with him to jazz clubs, he says he has to live his life out of the spotlight, she says fine, she gives a massive television interview to dynamite what’s left of her relationship with Charles, and it starts to become kind of clear that this relationship probably has nowhere to go. But go on it does – on and on and on through a bunch of cornball romantic antics that largely make Diana look like a slightly crazed stalker while Khan seems to be happy to get what he can out of the deal but knows he could never settle down with her. If this was just a little bit worse it’d be a must-see for fans of over-the-top lunacy, but it can’t even get that right. The performances are decent enough. Andrews is likable enough and Watts has all the Diana mannerisms during her public appearances, but drops most of them in private – which is probably a good thing as a full imitation would rapidly become unbearable. Fans of the late princess will probably be offended, as will fans of romance, medicine, convincing dialogue and wigs.

On a cold grey Thanksgiving afternoon in Pennsylvania, two young girls wander off from their families and disappear. Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) is assigned to the case, and quickly has their prime suspect in custody. But while Alex (Paul Dano) was driving the van the girls were seen playing on hours before they vanished, the van is evidence free and Alex – who has the IQ of a child – isn’t saying much that’s useful either way. With nothing to hold him on, Loki has to set him free, which enrages one of the girls’ fathers, Keller (Hugh Jackman). Convinced that Alex knows where his daughter is, Keller kidnaps him and chains him up in a crumbling building he’s renovating. The other girl’s father, Franklin (Terrence Howard), reluctantly tags along as Keller tries to torture what he needs to know out of Alex. Meanwhile Loki is out there chasing up other leads, and the picture that’s coming together looks a lot more complex than just a couple of missing girls. For a while there this slow-paced, gritty drama promises to be more than just a pulp whodunit, as Keller’s vigilante antics are seemingly justified but clearly too over-the-top for the film to condone, while Loki doesn’t seem to be getting anywhere for long stretches of the story. But the final act swerves firmly into traditional and safe territory, erasing just about all the moral question that seemed to be being raised in favour of a generic serial-killing angle you’d expect to find in a far trashier film. Maybe Gyllenhaal and Jackman are to blame, as they both give excellent performances as men tortured in very different ways; Loki is a coiled spring, Keller is constantly on the verge of exploding, and together they go a long way to keeping this extremely slow-paced and occasionally outright tedious film watchable. Prisoners is the kind of story more usually told as a television series these days; at least there the slow pace would be easier to overlook.

About Time Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) is a normal man living a normal life – well, for Richard Curtis values of “normal”, which means Bill Nighy is his dad and his family live in a crumbling mansion on the Cornwall coast – until after a fairly below-par New Year’s Eve, his dad says that now that Tim is old enough it is time to reveal the family secret: all the Lake men can travel back in time. Not back to kill Hitler or anything, just back along their own lifetime to relive whatever they were up to back then. For Tim’s dad, it was a great way to read a whole lot of books; for Tim this is going to be his way of finding true love. Being a Richard Curtis film this isn’t so much about the ramifications of time travel (though there is a little – a very little – bit of that here) as it is the chance for Tim to make a complete arse of himself – then go back and do it again only properly. This doesn’t always lead to love, but eventually he meets Mary (Rachel McAdams) and it’s love at first sight … only not, as they meet in one of those pitch black restaurants where you can’t see anything. And then by helping a friend out he accidentally erases their meeting and has to jump through all manner of time travel hoops to arrange a second (well, first from her point of view) encounter that leads to love. The time travel angle is the thinnest of hooks to hang a whole story on and Curtis refuses to let anything like an actual drama develop here; instead he uses the time travel bit as a metaphor for treasuring every day of life as it comes. Once Tim and Mary are together the time travel is mostly used to tweak minor events out of the Curtis rom-com playbook; yes, there is a wacky wedding, there are a lot of bumbling comedy stereotypes, kids are the most magical things ever and nothing’s stronger than family. At times it feels like an elderly relative talking about how life goes by so fast you have to hang onto every moment, which is bad advice when you’re spending two hours on a film as lightweight as this one. But if you’re after a mostly charming, mostly drama-free celebration of family life, this one does have a few good jokes in it.

The Family 2 Guns Robert “Bobby” Trench (Denzel Washington) and Michael “Stig” Stigman (Mark Wahlberg) are tough-talking criminals. Oh wait, no they’re not: thanks to the trailers and all the other promotional, pretty much everyone going into this film knows that they’re really undercover cops – Trench for the DEA, Stigman for Naval Intelligence?

Knowing this doesn’t really hamper your enjoyment of the film, but it is a shame that this twist is all over the promotion for the film while the film itself treats the big unveiling as, well, a big deal. Anyway, Trench is a guy who knows a lot of other guys and therefore can get things done, while Stigman is just muscle. But when their deal with Mexican cartel boss Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos) doesn’t pan out, Trench’s undercover operation is over.

Well, almost over: Trench decides to try one of Stigman’s crazy ideas and rob the small town bank where Greco stashes his spare change. This’ll flush Greco out, Trench can slap the cuffs on him and life goes on as it should.

Only thing is, they get away with a whole lot more than the three million they expected and now everyone is after them. Worse, you remember how they each didn’t know the other was a cop? After the heist, and the failure of the police to turn up on schedule to arrest them, Stig and Bobby had a bit of a falling out. Okay, Stig shot Bobby.

That’s a blow not a lot of relationships could come back from. This is a fun action romp that never really threatens to become remotely serious. The action itself is merely solid but the film makes up for that by fleshing out the bad guys at least a little (or in the case of Bill Paxton’s underwritten killer, hiring Bill Paxton to play him) so that when the guns are pulled you might almost care who’s left standing. Washington and Wahlberg don’t have a huge amount of chemistry, but Wahlberg’s eager puppy act works well with Washington’s old dog. It’s hardly the return of the golden age of action movies, but for what it does, it does it well.

Rush: The Formula One rivalry between Nikki Lauder and James Hunt was epic in the early 1970s and Ron Howard’s film does a decent job of capturing their relative personality types – and an excellent job of capturing the thrill of racing at a time where one in ten drivers died on the track.

Gravity: George Clooney and Sandra

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Bullock are in space when Things Go Wrong. The result is one of the most thrilling (and tense) movies of recent years, and one that demands to be seen on the biggest screen you can find.

Runner Runner: Justin Timberlake is a mature age student with a primary school bank account. But don’t worry, online gambling is a sure fire

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way to cash in, right?

At least Ben Affleck as the sleazy head of the online casino seems to be having a good time.

Grown Ups 2: Adam Sandler and his mates get back together to have a bunch of random fun that was probably a lot more exciting to do than it is to watch.

Blue Jasmine: Woody Allen’s latest is a return to more serious

character-based drama with a portrait of a mentally unsteady upper class socialite (Cate Blanchett) who’s forced to live with her sister after her financier husband (Alec Baldwin) is busted for fraud.

Blanchett is amazing, the supporting cast is excellent, and Allen’s script, while not as broad comedy-wise as his last few efforts, is razor sharp.

Remember when Robert De Niro was a heavy-hitter in the acting world? You won’t after this Luc Besson-directed action-comedy (okay, you probably stopped around the time De Niro starred in Rocky & Bullwinkle) in which he plays Giovanni Manzoni, a one-time American mob boss who turned snitch and thanks to the Witness Protection Program he’s now hiding out with his family in northern France. His FBI handler is a professional sourpuss (as you’d expect from Tommy Lee Jones), so the Manzoni family generally tries to keep things as low-key as they can to avoid undue attention. Giovanni’s cover is that he’s writing a book on WWII, while his hard-boiled wife (Michelle Pfeiffer) is a stay-at-home mum, his feisty daughter (Dianna Agron from Glee) is hitting on her math tutor and his son, aka the brains of the outfit (John D’Leo), is gaming the school system to his advantage. The comedy here comes from the mob family’s over-the-top violent reaction to even the slightest infraction, and pretty soon the sleepy French village they call home is under siege. It’s a solid idea for a comedy and at first things tick along nicely as the loving family beat up plumbers, blow up supermarkets and just generally treat regular folk with the contempt they deserve. But that’s pretty much all there is to this film, at least until the obvious third act twist when the mobsters they’re meant to be hiding from track them down and the carnage can finally kick into overdrive. Visually at least Besson can still turn out an exciting action sequence and there’s a number of moments when this looks like it’s about to become a better film, whether just as an action cartoon or as a satire on family life or American-European relations. But it just never follows through. If you like your comedies heavy on the gore this may be for you, but the inevitable DVD release feels like a more natural home for this one.

Metallica: Through the Never Don’t be fooled by the trailer (and poster and all the other marketing material) in to thinking this is some kind of concert-movie-actualmovie hybrid. Metallica: Through the Never is a concert film with the occasional cutaway to an ongoing but completely pointless story in which one of the band’s roadies is sent out to find something the band really needs only to discover there’s a riot going on. It’s a pretty cool riot, mind you, plus there’s a big masked guy on a horse hanging people from lamp posts and our hero has his life saved by an actual puppet – but it’s maybe ten minutes of footage in a 90-minute film. Basically it’s a feature-length music video: loads of songs, whatever’s not a performance doesn’t make much sense. The performances themselves are solid and cover most of the band’s big hits – ‘One’, ‘Enter Sandman’, ‘Master of Puppets’ – while the stage show is impressive stuff right up until the painfully contrived bit where everything breaks down and the band says: “We don’t need that stuff anyway”. Um, if you didn’t need to build a giant statue of Lady Justice on stage then have it crumble, why do it? This probably won’t win Metallica any new fans (and there’s zero look into the band’s person life here – go watch 2003’s excellent documentary Some Kind of Monster for that), but as a concert experience at the movies goes it gets the job done.

MUSIC REVIEWS MILEY CYRUS BANGERZ RCA You couldn’t be blamed for thinking Miley Cyrus’ fourth studio album Bangerz was actually her debut. The singer herself has taken the opportunity to reinvent the type of artist she is and has on multiple occasions referred to BANGERZ as her first real record.

There is a huge contrast between Cyrus’ first three Disney-approved albums on Hollywood Records and this, the first chapter with an exciting new label (RCA) and sure-fire signs that this is the first project whose direction Miley herself is 100% in charge of.

Distancing herself away from the bubblegum pop of her Disney years, Bangerz does exactly what it says on the tin: It bloody BANGS. Don’t let the album opener ‘Adore You’ fool you; whilst there may be a couple of tender, beautifully crafted ballads like the aforementioned on Bangerz, it is, more or less, a stonkingly good urban pop album that hammers away at your amplifier from start to finish.

The project’s first singles, ‘We Can’t

Stop’ and ‘Wrecking Ball’, have already made headlines for Cyrus the world over, but it’s future singles like ‘SMS (Bangerz)’ – which not only contains a Salt-nPepa sample but also features Britney Spears, whose vocal alongside Miley’s southern twang is like smooth honey being poured all over your speakers, and the monumentally brilliant ‘FU’, a track which combines the best of dubstep and trap and throws it in to the mix with the sounds of a 1940s burlesque bar – which will further her career as a powerful vocalist, an intelligent songwriter and, perhaps most importantly, solidify her spot as one of the biggest pop stars of the decade.

Lorde

The Grand Rapids

HOT CLUB SWING

Pure Heroine

Great Shakes

DoUce Ambiance

Universal

Psyche Ward Records

Independent Release

Without doubt every other critic in the world has taken their stab at this album, and I’d hate to be left out: Lorde provides New Zealand with their very own Taylor Swift.

Bear with me. Teenager? Check.

First album has its share of hits and gains both critical and commercial success? Check. Lyrics capture the feeling of teenage years? Check.

A unique sound, unlike the rest of the current pop scene? Check.

Co-written with professional songwriters? Check.

I had every intention of reviewing Grouplove’s new album but my iTunes download screwed up, and while I was waiting for Apple to fix it, The Boss sent me this. I had never heard of these guys before, but if the rise of psych-rock bands like Tame Impala is any indication, then I’ll be sick of hearing about them soon enough.

All in all a solid outing that’s worth checking out. There’s a lot of potential here; the vocals are probably the best thing about this album, but that’s not to take anything away from the instrumental work. Hopefully these guys manage to get somewhere without being played to death like a certain Perth-based psych-rock band.

Hot Club Swing are back once again, with their latest release entitled Douce Ambiance, which is their third album since forming back in 1997.

Over the past sixteen years the band has developed their French Gypsy Swing style, which has developed over the years from honouring the sound of the legendary Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt.The album, which was recorded over two days in the summer of 2012 at the Scarecrow Patch theatre in Ceres, consists of thirteen tracks that have become a staple of their live set over the past few years. Recorded with a ‘live to tape’ feel with two takes of each tracks, there is certainly the raw and original feel to the songs most predominately in ‘Padam Padam’, which features the soulful vocals of Nadine Joy. Ben Calderazzo spoke to Forte Magazine last issue (F569) and stated that his favourite track on the album was ‘I Surrender Dear’ and after a few listens to this album, I wholeheartedly agree with him. From the jaunty bouncing guitar rhythm to the somewhat sorrowful violin line of Phil Smurthwaite, it is easy to hear the live feel that this album holds.

The band is touring the album now, and is set to launch the album at the Woodbin Theatre in Geelong on Saturday the 26th of October. If you haven’t heard of Hot Club Swing and are looking for an album to kick back and relax to, look no further than Douce Ambiance. A must for Jazz and Blues lovers alike.

By Cameron Brogden

By Tex Miller

Pure Heroine is the best release this year, and with only two months left, there isn’t much time for the industry to top it, so Ella YelichO’Connor has pretty much got it locked in. It’s two years in the making, and those two years have been spent with professionals from the biggest record label in the world, Universal. Between her pure wunderkind talents and the honing of industry veterans, only a series of ridiculously unfortunate events would have held this one back.

Ignore the controversy and slut shaming through the media, give in to submission, and allow Bangerz to change your opinions of Miley, because this is quite the pop event.

This album would be worth buying for ‘Royals’ alone; ‘Tennis Court’ makes it worth buying twice. So when the inevitable “Deluxe Edition” comes out, buy that too. Third single ‘Team’ is decent, and tracks like ‘Ribs’ are solid enough to hold up the album. If you haven’t bought it yet, buy it now. Right now. This is without a doubt the best pop album of the last couple of years, and definitely the best album this year.

By Adem with an E

By Cameron Brogden

Bangerz will leave you delightfully surprised. There isn’t a single skip-worthy moment on here, and for an album that contains sixteen tracks in total (most records struggle to get seven tracks right, much less sixteen!), that is quite the feat.

Miley has well and truly reshaped her destiny and changed the game she’s playing in and, in turn, has created the best urban pop album since Rihanna’s Good Girl Gone Bad.

PULP.

POrPe!

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

Alastair:

cultu

By An th on

After stumbling on my new favourite comic, Bedlam, a while back, I’ve started sniffing around Image titles in the hopes of picking up something that’s just as good (metaphorically, actually sniffing books is just weird). While I haven’t found anything that has knocked it off the top of my list, I’ve found a title that came damn close: the relatively new epic tale that is Saga.

y Mor ri s

Usually when an Australian goes to Hollywood they’re swallowed up by the system, surfacing only occasionally as bit players in other people’s projects. Not Rebel Wilson: not only has she made it big in the US, she’s created her own sitcom and put herself in the lead.

Which would be good news if Super Fun Night was any good, but as those who saw it make its debut on Nine last Tuesday know, it was … well, not good.

Two minutes in and we’d already had a toilet joke, a “whoops, check out my embarrassing underwear” joke and a cutaway which … okay, they’re an accepted part of comedy now, but if you can’t do them better than Scrubs (or in animation, The Simpsons and/or Family Guy), then maybe you shouldn’t try.

Of course, the jokes in Super Fun Night aren’t what you’re tuning in for; Rebel Wilson has pretty much raced to the top (well, top of the middle) of the US comedy pack, and while usually someone in her position would have stuck to movies for a while to try and consolidate the career gains they’ve made, Wilson has decided to be a moving target. It’s a brave decision. Much of her movie success has come from playing characters that weren’t all that important to the movie that they’re in, at least not in plot terms. That way if she had any dud lines or crap scenes they could easily be cut out because they weren’t doing any of the heavy lifting story-wise.

Opening track ‘Dronemachine’ is exactly what it sounds like – droning guitars for the most part, with a heavy bass and pretty nice guitar licks. The next track is something different. ‘Headless Riders’ has a reverby guitar hook and some nice drumming. The vocals sound a little like Mark Seymour, which is high praise, but it does seem to be lost among the noise of the instruments. It does sound like a lot of early Hunters and Collectors stuff: it’s heavy, but not too heavy; they’re doing something outside of mainstream rock. ‘Brian’s got a Rubber Soul’ brings out the keyboards, and it’s their turn to drown out the vocal.

Basically, if you saw her in a movie over the last few years it was because she was funny, which is exactly the kind of roles you want if you want to get noticed. If, on the other hand, you want to build a career, the traditional path is usually to take a couple of more central roles just to show that you can do more than crack wise on the edge of a scene. You know, baby steps.

Instead, Wilson’s leapt in at the deep end with a sitcom that she developed once, had rejected by one network, then had it picked up by another network who paid for a brand new pilot (with new casting), then liked the show enough to go ahead but didn’t like the pilot enough to show it. All of which gives the impression that Wilson is currently hot enough that she could have pitched a show that was just her changing car tires for twenty minutes and it probably would have made it on air.

As it stands, Super Fun Night is just a fairly generic US sitcom featuring a bunch of slightly offbeat characters everyone involves hopes you’ll come to grow and love and in doing so ignore the fact that the stories (especially week one’s “we’ve got to overcome our pasts and learn to love who we are today” effort) are not exactly thigh-slappers (or if you prefer, ribtickers). And what’s with Wilson’s off-on accent?

It’s not like her Australian accent stopped her before…

Written by Brian K. Vaughn (Y: The Last Man, Lost), Saga combines an intricate sci-fi universe (a la Star Wars) with a dramatic love story that has seen comparisons to Romeo and Juliet. It’s certainly not lacking in the art department, either. Artistic duties on Saga are handled by Fiona Staples, a Canadian illustrator who seems to have flown under the radar somewhat, mostly handling miniseries and cover art.

the set of the film that looks like it has a face, and it was the most believable character in the entire thing. The rest of the characters spent the first 15 minutes successfully alienating me by running around and shouting at each other ’til I felt no bond with any of them. Also, there is a mime that spends the majority of the film with a guitar in his hands and an amp strapped to his back while he solos endlessly. He also stops the movie for five minutes to do a magic show because … of course he does.

Usually with bottom of the barrel horror like this the kills are at least memorable – often the one saving grace. This is not one of those films. The killer, after brandishing his knife for a solid third of the film, takes down the first of the main victims by jumping on the hood of his car while he leans over the engine. He is crushed to death, I guess – I rolled my eyes so hard I lost track of the action on screen.

I feel that if I’d watched this over a few drinks with some friends while we ran our own MST3K-like commentary I could have forgiven the film its many, many flaws. Unfortunately I watched this sober and alone, and I highly doubt I could give it another chance – even in that sort of setting.

Saga follows Alana and Marko, lovers from opposing sides of a galaxy-wide war – the technologically advanced Landfall Coalition and the magic-wielding Wreath. Pursued by their own people for desertion, they travel from planet to planet, dodging the authorities and mercenaries along the way. If their situation wasn’t harrowing enough already, they’re also trying to raise their newborn child at the same time.

While it might sound strange at first, the setting of Saga is nothing short of spectacular.

Vaughn’s writing, combined with Staples’ versatile art, makes for a winning combination, and this is definitely a series I’m going to keep following.

Cameron: As it is officially Halloween month I decided it was time to crack out a VHS and get into the seasonal spirit. Unfortunately, I picked one of the worst tapes in my collection: the awful piece of thanksgiving horror that is Home Sweet Home.

Let me illustrate how terrible this film was with this simple observation: there is a fountain on

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grogwatch The trouble with the weather isn’t that everyone talks about it but no one ever does anything about it, it’s that most of the idiots who want to talk to me about it don’t seem to realise that if you don’t like it you can get in a car and drive in a straight line for days until you find somewhere you do like it. Or in other words, we had a 30 degree day last week and everyone who knows me knows my opinions on the weather so put your ear up close to the page because I’m only going to say this once and I want to make sure you’re listening good: If you want searing heat all day every day, move to goddamn Queensland. If you don’t want to move to Queensland, shut the hell up about how great hot weather is.

What’s so difficult to understand about that? By the time you’re old enough to take care of yourself, you’ve been through enough seasons to have a pretty good idea of what the weather’s like around here, and one of the advantages of Australia is that if you don’t like the cold, you can walk to somewhere where it’s hot. In fact, pretty much every other part of this great big brown land has warmer average temperatures than this bit, so it’s not like you’re going to be struggling to find somewhere warmer to live. But, as the German fighter pilot said as his plane was shot down, ‘Noooooooo’. Not only do you persist in living in the one part of this country where it’s not a billion degrees every single day of summer, you then decide to spend the few days when it’s not a billion degrees wandering directly around in front of me complaining about it not being hot enough like it was a complete surprise and it had never frigging happened before in your life.

Now, usually this isn’t that big a problem for me. Over the years I’ve fallen in to a little habit of telling everyone I meet that I actually, honest-to-God, like the cold weather. It’s not like I go around bursting

in to conversations with this bit of information or anything because spreading the word is surprisingly easy to do: just wait until they start complaining about the cold – and rest assured, they will, tho’ at this time of year it’s usually more like grumbling having to wait just a few more days before the air combusts around us in to six months of Summer Hell – then simply say, “I really prefer feeling slightly chilly until I go put on a jumper instead of sweating my guts out despite wearing nothing but a damp flannel over my groin and praying that the power doesn’t cut out under the weight of everyone in the nation running three electric fans and four air conditioning units on themselves in a desperate attempt to prevent themselves from exploding in a shower of grease and bubbling fat”. And if that doesn’t work, I start in on how we should sink New Zealand because in summer it’s the reason why high pressure systems sit over Victoria turning the whole frickin’ place in to an oven AND I’M NOT JOKING. After a few conversations like that people usually get the point, and so normally any discussions about the heat that take place around me tend to go along the lines of “You must really be suffering in this hot weather we’ve been having lately?” so I can say, “Aww yeah, you know it!”, followed by me putting my hand up for a high five and leaving it there way, way too long. I don’t get a lot of sex, so I have to take my thrills where I can.

Speaking of which, have you ever noticed that most relationship breakups happen in spring?

I don’t mean those two-week relationships that just fizzle out or the ones where someone suddenly moves to Iceland or something; I’m talking a proper relationship that your friends all know about that ends when someone says, “Dude, I’m outta here”. They’re the ones that end in spring, because once winter’s over suddenly everyone’s out and about again looking all rosycheeked and perky-bottomed and suddenly that person you put up with all through winter because it was cold and the pickings were slim doesn’t look like such a sweet deal after all.

Basically, spring comes along, suddenly there’s a smorgasbord of warm flesh out there jiggling past to choose from and you think you can do better – only it never quite seems that simple, does it? There’s always some solid pressing reason why the relationship had to end right around October or November that has nothing at all to do with the theory I’ve just outlined and you’re sitting there shaking your head thinking “what a load of crap” until you go back and think about exactly when it was that all your long-term relationships ended and bam! Case proven, thank you very much.

Of course, there’s slightly more to it than that.

Some people say the October dumpings aren’t so much about the desire to get a mate for winter as it is a desire to avoid being stuck with a loser over the high-pressure Xmas season. Maybe they’re right: the end result is the same. After all, there’s also a second, even more depressing spike in relationship breakups around the tailend of summer. Perhaps those ones happen because one of the partners in the relationship – having missed the first window of dumpatitude – suddenly realises that winter is looming and they’re stuck with someone they really don’t want to spent those long, cold months snuggled up next to. Or perhaps it’s because the person you picked up for Xmas doesn’t really stand up to post-holiday examination. Or maybe even it’s simply that in winter your fat, flabby body is hidden under cool-looking coats ’n stuff and come warmer weather your partner suddenly realises how badly you let yourself go over the cold months.

THE END RESULT IS THE SAME: The first wave of dumpings is motivated by optimism.

They’re the, “Hey, I can do better” breakups; the late summer ones are all about, “Shit, I can’t do worse” – even though by that time of the year they probably can.

So, where was I? Oh, right: I don’t really enjoy summer. By which I mean, I don’t enjoy sitting around having my brain melt inside my skull while my arse is sliding around on my seat hovercraft style, kept buoyant by a thickening layer of congealed sweat and bodily muck as a parade of morons waddle past saying “hot enough for ya?” and “real beach weather we’re having today, huh?” even though none of us are anywhere near a beach and it’s almost always the middle of a working week that’s even more flat out with work than usual so there’s no f**king way in hell any of us are going to be able to escape the heat down at said beach even if I wanted to go there which – and hold your breath, whoever it is in our government who decides

5 TOP OF ALL TIME:

what is or isn’t anti-Australian, because as a third generation Aussie on both sides of my family tree what I’m about to say may shock you – I don’t, because I hate the beach.

Oooh, I can hear the gasps and fainting spells from here. ‘No wonder he’s so grumpy and surly and drunk all the time’, I hear you think, ‘being an Australian who doesn’t like the beach is like being an astronaut who’s afraid of heights … or nappies’. True dat, and yet the fact remains: the beach is nothing more than a salty kitty litter tray populated by screaming bogans, preening jocks and dickhead kids as far as the eye can squint in to the sight-searing glare.

And who gets time to go to the beach anyway? Summer looks flash and has some superficial charm, but once you take away the fancy extras like Christmas and office parties and daylight savings what’ve you got? The same old work – only now with added hot weather, wind blowing sand up your clacker, the next door neighbour wandering around in his undies right outside your front window and you discovering that yes, it really is possible to sweat from the back of your head.

In contrast, winter f**king rocks: plenty of stylish clothes to disguise the fact that you’ve got a gut, plenty of tasty hot food to give you a gut in case you didn’t have one before, a nice chill in the air to keep you awake when you’re staggering home after a big night on the turps, the ability to actually regulate your temperature by simply putting on more clothes instead of having to throw bags of cash at the electricity bill just to cover the cost of running a fan, the ability to chill your booze just by leaving it on the bench for a couple minutes and some mildly romantic crap other people have told me about like open fires and snuggling up and putting your coat over your loved one to keep them warm. Awwww. So in summary: if you like summer, then you’re clearly some kind of creepy neutered no-sex freak who enjoys the feel of their own sweat trickling down their back and lives on the Gold Coast to boot. Do I lie?

Tony “one day above 30 and he turns in to a killing machine” Montana

FORTE'S

Geelong Born Celebrities

1 Christina Amphlett

2

Portia de Rossi

3

Daryl Somers

4

Sam Newman

5

Barry Crocker

Each week we will be picking a topic, debating it in the office, and listing our Top 5. We will also be positing each Top 5 to our Facebook and invite your opinion as to what your Top 5 is!

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