Forte #575

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archie roach

a day to remember

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

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issue 575 // 12 DECEMBER 2013 // next issue: 19 DEC

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A WORD FROM THE TEAM Hello Children of the World!

So, it is almost upon us, the time of year we have all been hanging out for. That one Friday night of the year you get to find out what your work colleges are really like at the staff party – and those who have a touch too much to drink have a couple of weeks break to get over the embarrassment and shame of the outlandish things they said to the boss before returning to work in the new year.

It’s that time of year where the family can all get

together and evaluate each other’s lives for better or worse, and uncles around Australia can wind up their nieces and nephews from a distance whilst aimlessly turning a snag on the BBQ. That time of the year where those who don’t enjoy cricket are subjected to a shit load of it everywhere they go.

The time of the year where friends compare ‘how long off they get’; some boasting four weeks, whist others scornfully complaining about returning to

work on the 2nd of Jan (Forte crew).

That time of the year where Australia has about 100 world-class festivals and international bands from all over the world rush Down Under to escape the winter in Europe or the USA!!

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

The time of the year where you can drink with friends for hours in the sun, minus the stress of the working week looming over you – even if it only is for a short while.

Arrr, the best time of the year!!!

PUBLISHER...........................Anton Ballard general..............................enquiries@fortemag.com.au

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EDITOR/SALES MANAGER....Luke McNamara

luke@fortemag.com.au

COVER DESIGN.....................James Dulce PRODUCTION........................James Dulce SCENE PHOTOGRAPHER.......Marianne Valitutti ADVERTISING

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

Anthony Morris, Adem Ali, Ben Schultz, Chris Cruz, Chris Lambie, Cyclone, Daniel Meagher, Lucas Skinner, Natalie Rogers, Nekita Roberts, Nina Bertok, Ophelia Symons, Paul S Taylor, Phil Hickey, Renee Abbott, Sam Eckhardt, Sam Fell, Stephanie Zevenbergen, Tex Miller, Wylie Caird, and Tony Montana

Win a double pass to atKingswood the Torquay Hotel and Calling all Cars on December 30th!

To win just email your name and mobile number to luke@ fortemag.com.au

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the HIGHLIGHTS

THE LATEST ON international & national news & tours The Highlights: Where we’ve got two turntables and a microphone. Coming up you have… .........................................................................

So Frenchy, So Chic So Frenchy, So Chic returns to Werribee Mansion on January 12, bringing with it an indulgence of French music, food and wine. 2014 artists include Lou Doillon, Féfé, Lilly Wood & the Prick, Babylon Circus and Edward Deer. Deer became a name to watch with the release of his debut album About Monsters, a release which included covers of Tom Wait’s ‘Clap Hands’ and Miike Snow’s ‘Animal’. He has started working on his second album, but in his offtime lent his talents to Mélodie Française, a collection of Australian artists singing French songs. When it comes to food you will be spoilt for choice, with So Frenchy offering several grazing plates. There will be plenty for the sweet tooth as well. Games (croquet, pétanque), face painting and a photo booth will be on hand for the little ones. Hit up cartellmusic.com.au for further information. .........................................................................

Beware the Darkside Electronic musician Nicolas Jaar and multi-instrumentalist Dave Harrington are the brains behind Darkside, a couple of likely lads who met at Brown University. They debuted as a live act in December 2011 to a full house at New York’s Music Hall of Williamsburg. Earlier this year the band released Random Access Memories Memories, a remix of Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories. The Palace – April 4.

Kerser Delivers S.C.O.T. Kerser is one of the hottest rappers in the local game at the moment, and he proves why with his new album, S.C.O.T. – his third. During the day of its release, the album held steady at the #2 spot on the iTunes chart, bested only by Katy Perry. A week later it hit the #5 position on the main ARIA Charts while sitting pretty atop the ARIA Urban Charts. Next year you’ll be able to hear it live. The Hi-Fi – February 15.

High Hopes for Bruce Springsteen As Springsteen fans would no doubt know, the man is set to release a new album just in time for the Aussie tour. Titled High Hopes, the album is a nice little mixture of new material, re-recordings of past songs and covers. Tom Morello, who joined Bruce and co on their tour earlier this year and will return for their run in 2014, duets with The Boss on a new version of ‘The Ghost of Tom Joad’. Brooooooooooooooooce.

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Alice in Wonderland 2 It looks as though we will be seeing Alice in Wonderland 2 – albeit not until 2016. Although there have been rumours bubbling way, the Walt Disney Company has made it official with Johnny Depp and Mia Wasikowska set to return. The Muppets director James Bobin is also on board. Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland made over $1 billion globally on its 2010 release. Disney also recently confirmed a new live action Jungle Book movie for 2015. .........................................................................

Kodaline Walk the Line Once upon a time they were known as 21 Diamonds, but these days Kodaline fits them like a glove. The Irish rock band couldn’t have had a better start to their career:

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in March 2007 the band made history when their debut single ‘Give Me a Minute’ became the first independently released track to top the Irish Singles Chart. In a Perfect World is their debut album. The Prince – April 5. .........................................................................

Boogie 8 Drops Line-Up Boogie, the cool little boutique festival that everyone wants to be a part of, celebrates its eighth year in 2014 with another stellar line-up. Coming at you will be Gary Clark Jr. (USA), Pond, Jason Isbell (USA), Vic Simms & The Halfway Allstars, Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk, The Frowning Clouds, Lindi Ortega (CAN), Bed Wettin’ Bad Boys, Machine Translations, Bloods, Saint Jude, Batpiss and much more. Bruzzy’s Farm, Tallarook –April 18, 19 & 20.

More Espy Madness The Espy is going to need the world’s biggest esky with Eagle and the Worm, The Delta Riggs and White Summer joining the venue’s massive New Year’s bash. Something for Kate, Dallas Crane, Bodyjar, Kingswood, The Basics, The Deep End and Black Aces are already signed up for the party. If you can think of a better way to spend your NYE then I’d like to know about it. .........................................................................

The Familiars & The Vanns Two indie buzz bands will join forces for a run of shows early next year. Currently based in Byron Bay, The Familiars have one of the hottest names in the indie rock scene at the moment. Their new single is ‘Let You Down’.

Influenced by old school blues and indie, The Vanns were chosen as ‘Breakthrough New Artist’ for Vivid’s Ideas Sessions. Their new single is ‘Belmore Street’. Ding Dong – January 23. .........................................................................

Tolkien for a Biopic So a little while back there was a trilogy of movies released under the Lord of the Rings title. You may have heard of them. The same thing is happening with The Hobbit.

Well, if a report in Variety is to be believed, Fox Searchlight and Chernin Entertainment are teaming up for a biopic on the author, J.R.R. Tolkien. Early reports suggest the biopic will tread a path akin to the J.M. Barrie biopic, Finding Neverland.

Mad Max 4 Edges Closer There are some movies that keep getting dragged out, and Mad Max 4: Fury Road is one of them. We’ve heard reports about this one for a while now but finally it looks as though it’s getting somewhere, with a May 2015 date locked in. Tom Hardy will take over the role Mel Gibson made famous, with Nicholas Hoult and model-turnedactress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley also set to feature. .........................................................................

Smells Like Queens of the Stone Age You may have heard about a little three-track acoustic EP by usual loud-mongers Queens of the Stone Age that is floating around. Titled …Like Cologne, the EP features acoustic tracks of ‘Long Slow Goodbye’, The Vampyre of Time and Money’ and ‘I Sat by the Ocean’. All three tracks were recorded at their Cologne Kulturkirche Köln on September 3 this year. It is available now via Spotify. .........................................................................

A Punkish Children’s Christmas If you want the perfect way to get your kids interesting in reading, Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge is your saviour. Yep, it’s time to snuggle up with the kids on the couch and share his story, The Lonely Astronaut on Christmas Eve. Telling the tale of a rocketeer alone on the moon at Christmas, the book has been described in the press as a “wistful story for the young and the young-at-heart alike”. Merry Christmas, everyone! .........................................................................

The Reality of I Am Giant Earlier this month I Am Giant released ‘Razor Wire Reality’, the first single off the band’s forthcoming album Science and Survival – and a tour is not too far away either. Bred in New Zealand, the band has been calling France home as they recorded the newie. It was coproduced by Forrester Savell and comes with a clip shot in Germany. Ding Dong – February 7. Science and Survival is set for release early 2014. .........................................................................

Change of Scenery for Tom Ballard Tomorrow, Friday the 13th, at a gig broadcast live from The Metro in Sydney, triple j’s Tom Ballard will say goodbye to the radio station he has called home for the past seven years. Ballard joined the team when he was just 17, and at the age of 20 took over the breakfast slot.

What’s next? Well, he wants to pursue his real passion of stand-up comedy. Not having to wake up at 4 a.m. each morning is a bonus. .........................................................................

Flying Lotus Touches Down Born Steven Ellison, Flying Lotus has released four albums on his way to becoming one of the coolest names in the music game. His Layer 3 audio-visual performance, which he debuted in Australia at the Let

Them Eat Cake Festival, is something pretty special.

Ellison has a long history with Australia, having attended 2003’s Red Bull Music Academy in Melbourne. The Forum – February 28. .........................................................................

Something Toxic is in the Air Underground thrash metal heavyweights Toxic Holocaust and Skeletonwitch have locked in a handful of coheadlining shows for 2014. On the war path since the late ’90s, Toxic Holocaust is the baby of Joel Grind. Their latest album is 2013’s Chemistry of Consciousness. A decade old this year, Skeletonwitch also released their latest this year, Serpents Unleashed. The Espy – April 20. .........................................................................

The Voice Bags a Minogue The Voice will welcome aboard Kylie Minogue and will.i.am for 2014’s season, with their arrival replacing the departing Delta Goodrem and Seal. Joel Madden and Ricky Martin will return for the new season. Both Seal and Goodrem are set to focus on their own music among other things, though Delta is to be involved in The Voice Kids along with Madden. You will be spoilt for voice in 2014. .........................................................................

Better Call Saul in 2014

Children of Bodom Spill Blood Fans of Finland’s Children of Bodom rejoice; the band is set to return to Australia next year with a bunch of fresh new tracks. Earlier this year the band released their eighth studio album, Halo of Blood. 2013 has also notched up the melodic death metal band’s twentieth year in the game. They released their debut album, Something Wild, in 1997. Billboard – May 7.

With Eye of Enemy and Orpheus Omega.

Breaking Bad fans (read: diehard loyalists) can look forward to spinoff Better Call Saul next year. The series will focus on Saul Goodman, a role wonderfully played

by Bob Odenkirk, before his initial meeting with Walter White. Series creator Vince Gilligan and Odenkirk were among those who fielded questions at a Q&A session at the premiere of No Half Measures, a documentary on the making of the final season of Breaking Bad.

New Cypress Hill in 2014 B-Real, Sen Dog and producer DJ Muggs are back in action and working towards their first new album as a trio in almost a decade. It was back in 2004 when they dropped ’Till Death Do Us Part and the time since has been spent working on solo projects. Cypress Hill did release an album titled Rise Up in 2010, but DJ Muggs was absent from that one. Their newie is tipped for a 2014 release.

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Quentin Tarantino Spills the Beans During a recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Quentin Tarantino revealed that his next project will be a Western – but not a sequel to Django Unchained. Tarantino said: “I had so much fun doing Django, and I love Westerns so much, that after I taught myself how to make one it’s like, ‘Well, OK, let me make another one now that I know what I’m doing’.”

He appeared on the show to promote the graphic novel of Django. .........................................................................

Hey Hey We’re the Arctic Monkeys Do we all know the news about the Arctic Monkeys?

Of course we do. Yep, those Sheffield darlings are on their way to Australia next year. Rumours of a tour have been around for some time, then when Blur pulled out of the BDO fingers were crossed that they would step up as replacements. Finally the prayers of fans have been answered. Rod Laver Arena – May 9. The band’s new album is AM.

Jumping at DJ Shadow

Fat Freddy’s Drop Return

He’s already one of the names on the very impressive Perth Festival bill, but now DJ Shadow has tagged on a few other dates around the country. Born Joshua Paul Davis, DJ Shadow was experimenting with fourtrack recording while still at high school. He is highly respected as being a key figure in the development of instrumental hip hop. The Prince Bandroom – February 13.

We love a little Fat Freddy’s Drop. In fact, we love a lot of them. The good news is that they are returning to our shores next year. Their talents have been secured by Golden Plains, but they’re also taking in a Melbourne Zoo Twilights gig on March 8. The band released their third studio album, Blackbird, earlier this year and happily watched it soak up the #1 spot in New Zealand for four weeks.

FRI 13 DEC

Trojan REST

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FORT-NIGHTLY

CALENDAR & GIG GUIDE Thursday December 12th BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Mic Night w/ Dave Dorman, Masters Of Dartness 8:30pm, Parmi Night $11.90 BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Live and Local, $13 Pizza night THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): Annie and Bern BEAVS BAR: Dave Anderson (Live) EUREKA: Girls Audio for a Tights and Brights Party! plus Simon One, Shorty J, Pinky, Max McKay, Dawson, Vickers, Steve Toppa and more. Free Entry before 11pm when using a guest list CITY QUARTER BAR: 50% off Menu THE MAIN BAR (Ballarat): Paige Duggan: Free Entry ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night THE MAX HOTEL: $12 Parmi All Day All Night, Inquizitve Trivia from 7.30pm THE SPHINX HOTEL: Night from $13

Friday December 13th AT THE HEADS: Live music from 5pm till 7pm (Barwon Heads) THE BARWON CLUB: The Nerve, King of The North, The Soulenikoes $15 + BF or $20 at Door.

BASEMENT LOUNGE & NIGHTCLUB: DJ Sunny, Malakai BAR PIZZA: Peoples Poets TORQUAY HOTEL: DJ in the Sports Bar from 9.30 BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Locals Night, Spinning Vinyl from 4pm THE CARLTON HOTEL: Famous Will BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Happy Hour 5- 7pm BEAVS BAR: Hayden Scott (Live) BLACK HATT: Drink Promos from 5-7 Blue Jam Live THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Trojan CITY QUARTER BAR: Friday Unwind from 5pm. Live with live entertainment and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: DJ Brian Retro Party from 8pm awesome sunglasses and caps giveaways all night.

EDGE GEELONG: Live entertainment plus DJ KAROVA LOUNGE: King Parrot Piping Hot Chicken Shop (Ocean Grove): Dead Pirates Society, Scion Pirates and friends “Bad Santa” LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Tackleberry & DJs Main Room and Terrace, open from 9pm THE LOFT (WARRNAMBOOL) (WARRNAMBOOL): Ten Thousand & Special Guests

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THE MAX HOTEL : Adventure Playground

from Noon, DJ RJ from 5pm

OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Nat Allison

THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): Checkerboard 4pm FREE!

THE SPHINX HOTEL: Marcus ‘Elvis’ Jackson

CITY QUARTER: Perfect Sunday Sesh

Saturday December 14th THE BARWON CLUB: Callas Drane plus Thieving Byrds, The Salvadors BASEMENT LOUNGE & NIGHTCLUB: Tube & Berger W/ Others BEAVS BAR: Steve Pianto (Live) BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Retro Vinyl and live music from Noon, DJ from 8pm THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE) : Ron Rude THE CARLTON HOTEL: Enquire Within CITY QUARTER BAR: Live Entertainment and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Regular Boys COURTHOUSE ARTS: 11am – 4pm Pop Up Arts Market with live music FREE MAINBAR (BALLARAT): Kimba & Ryan HARVESTER MOON: Bree De Rome EDGE: Live entertainment plus DJ THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: James Carrigg TORQUAY HOTEL: RDZJB, Famous Will, Alister Turrill, Altitude MARTIANS CAFE: The Mojo Corner HOME HOUSE: Milk Fed Agency INVADES Home House, Upstairs, Zac Depetao (Cloud Nine, Tramp, TFU) vs Johnny Canik (Cloud Nine, Tramp) White (Karova, Tramp) vs Travlos (Tramp, TFU) Rimmy vs Madeleine (Cloud Nine, Tramp) Downstairs Best RnB Hip Hop DJ Crunk (Lab 22) LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Stella & DJs Mainroom and Terrace. Open from 9pm THE SPHINX HOTEL: Fleetwood Mac Tribute, The Australian Eurythmics Show OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Taylor Sheridan THE MAX HOTEL: Frequency WHISPERS: DJ’s including from Matt Watkins, Slice n Dice, Lucille Croft, Frazer Adam, Jungle Jim, Butters, Courtney Mills, Zoolander, Who Killed Mickey, Joel Fletcher, Yatch Club DJs, Katt Nial

Sunday December 15th

BARWON CLUB HOTEL: Sunday Session on the deck from 2pm with Le Chook, Yeh Nah, Eddie Example, DJ Bum Trip, Hakeem Cannons, Moluck, later Good Faces For Radio BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): SUNDAY SESH: Spining Vinyl

EDGE GEELONG: Live music and DJ COURTHOUSE ARTS: 4pm FRESH INK Play Readings FREE ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Des Camm + from 6pm Parmi Night 6 Great Parmis $20 GEELONG RSL: Peter Allen Allstars MAIN BAR (BALLRAT): Owen Campbell LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Student & Industry Night (Free entry all night) w/ Live band Snack Attack & DJs in the Mainroom and Terrace THE SPHINX HOTEL: Carvery from $17.00 BLACK HATT: Andy Pobjoy, Free Entry from 4pm

Monday December 16th 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 December 17th ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night GEELONG RSL:Steak Night $13 THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): Reap What you Sew (Craft night) THE SPHINX HOTEL: Meals for $11, Poker Night (free)

Wednesday December 18th BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Trivia Night from 7:30pm BEAVS BAR: Dave Anderson, Karaoke, Open Mic BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Spinning cool vinyl and Mexican night from 4pm THE CARLTON HOTEL: Parmi & Pot $15 THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): Open Mic CITY QUARTER BAR: 50% off Menu THE LOFT (WARRNAMBOOL): Mick Ferguson ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Trivia Night. Great Prizes from 8pm GEELONG RSL: Parma & Pot Night $13 THE SPHINX HOTEL: Steak Night from $16, Poker Night ($10 buy in)

Thursday December 19th BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Open Mic Night w/ Dave Dorman, Masters of Dartness 8:30pm BEAVS BAR: Live entertainment in the bar BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Live and Local, $13 Pizza night THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): White Ants W/ Rath THE LOFT (WARRNAMBOOL): Jake Gellert & friends THE MAINBAR (BALLARAT): The Slurrymen THE KAROVA LOUNGE: Eyes wide open EUREKA: Katt Niall Christmas Party plus Simon One, Shorty J, Pinky, Max McKay, TVB Aybakez Michael Cameron Roger E and more. Free Entry before 11pm when using a guest list ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night 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 THE BARWON CLUB: Darcee Fox, Sudden State, Burgworth

Friday December 20th BARWON CLUB HOTEL: The Go Set Christmas Show, plus The The Stutterers, Mount Defiant, The Alamo

LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Live Band Test Pilot Molly & DJs Mainroom and Terrace. Open from 9pm THE CARLTON HOTEL: Lani Schwaiger BAR PIZZA: Dean and Curruthers BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Daryl Braithwaite BASEMENT LOUNGE & NIGHTCLUB: DCUP BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Locals Night, Spinning Vinyl from 4pm THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): Bob Log III THE BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Happy Hour 5-7pm BEAVS BAR: Live entertainment in the bar BLACK HATT: Drink promos from 5pm till 7pm (free entry), Cor Ten Live CITY QUARTER BAR: Friday Unwind with live music then DJ EDGE GEELONG: Live music plus DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: DJ Brian Retro Party from 8pm awesome sunglasses and caps giveaways all night.

PIPING HOT CHICKEN SHOP: Sarah Christmas Carrolls THE MAIN BAR (BALLARAT): Sam Lohs CD Launch MARTIAN CAFE (DEANS MARSH): Alister Turrill with support from Henschke

Saturday December 21st

Best RnB Hip Hop DJs

BARWON CLUB HOTEL: Veeped Jerks Squad Xmas.

Three stages of music

WHISPERS: DJ’s including from Matt Watkins, Slice n Dice, Lucille Croft, Frazr Adam, Jungle Jim, Butters, Courtney Mills, Zoolander, Who Killed Mickey, Joel Fletcher, Yatch Club DJs, Katt Nial

LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Live Band Stella & DJs Mainroom and Terrace. Open from 9pm THE CARLTON HOTEL: Rach Brennan & Drew Silaev BEAVS BAR: Live entertainment in the bar GEELONG RSL: Legends of Ol’ 55. Frankie J Holden and Wilbur Wilde

THE MAX HOTEL: Hey Charger OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Lukey Luke

Sunday December 22nd

BASEMENT LOUNGE & NIGHTCLUB: Dylan Bauer, Boogs, Dunks, Ethan Winzer and more

BARWON CLUB HOTEL: Sunday Session on the deck from 2pm with Le Chook, Moluck, UNX, Funk See Funk Do, Johnny El Pajaro, DJ Mike later Test Pilot Molly

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

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

THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE) : Checkerboard

CITY QUARTER: Perfect Sunday Sesh

CITY QUARTER BAR: live entertainment and DJ EDGE GEELONG: Live music and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Live band KAROVA LOUNGE (BALLARAT): Neon Love

EDGE GEELONG: Live music and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Live jazz band + from 6pm Parmi Night 6 Great Parmis $20 KAROVA LOUNGE (BALLARAT): The Dead Salesmen Duo

THE MAIN BAR (Ballarat): Sam Boon Jazz Quartet

GEELONG RSL: New Orleans Night Owls

THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Tim Tonic Hulsman

TORQUAY HOTEL: Imogen Brough from 9.30pm

TORQUAY HOTEL: John Braka live in The Sports bar from 9.30pm,

LAMBY’S BAR & RESTAURANT: Student & Industry Night (Free entry all night) w/ Live band Passion Fruit Pulp & DJs in the Mainroom and Terrace

OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Cam Kettle

HOME HOUSE: Upstairs, DJs till late Downstairs

OLD HEPBURN HOTEL: Sarah Wilkinson

THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Good Faces for Radio THE MAX HOTEL: Trojan

BLACK HATT: Bergman & The Balladeers Free Entry from 4pm SPHINX HOTEL: Carvery from $17.00

Monday December 23rd BARWON CLUB HOTEL: $10 Parmis ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night THE SPHINX HOTEL: 11 Meals for $11

BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Spinning cool vinyl and Mexican night from 4pm THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): Open Mic THE CARLTON HOTEL: Parmi & Pot $15 CITY QUARTER BAR: 50% off Menu ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Trivia Night from 8.30pm till 10.30pm GEELONG RSL: Parma & Pot Night $13 THE SPHINX HOTEL: Steak Night from $16, Poker Night ($10 buy in)

Tuesday December 24th Thursday December 26th ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night GEELONG RSL: Steak Night $13 KAROVA LOUNGE (BALLARAT): Hunting Grounds

BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Open Mic Night w/ Dave Dorman, Masters of Dartness

WHISPERS: Timmy Trumpet, Jane Daffy, Fake Forward plus Simon One, Shorty J, Pinky, Max McKay, Aybakez, Vickers, YAS, Corey Ryan, Herbee Rogers, Metwally Paul E Moxon

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

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

ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night

THE BARWON CLUB: Xmas Eve Craptacular with Moluck vs Le Chook

Wednesday December 25th BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Trivia Night from 7:30pm

KAROVA LOUNGE: Traditional Boxing Day Bash feat. The Yard Apes

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Toro y Moi written by Tex Miller

In the past ten years Chaz Bundick has gone from making electronic beats in his bedroom to playing some of the biggest stages on some of the most acclaimed festivals all around the world. With the release of his third LP Anything in Return, Chaz is headed our way for the Big Day Out circuit which takes off around the country in January, and as expected is really excited about returning to Australia once again on the back of the latest album.

Having played at Golden Plains festival earlier this year, to have the opportunity to get back to Aus and tour around with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Arcade Fire and Pearl Jam in such a small timeframe is fantastic – and Chaz can’t wait to see how the Australian crowds react to the new material.

“Oh, I am pretty excited to get back out there to Australia because every time I have played there it has always been a great crowd and touring with the Big Day Out has been one of the things that I have always wanted to do. Being on the line-up with some other fantastic acts is going to be great. This tour is going to be stellar and the sideshow with Portugal the Man! will also be great fun.”

In terms of what you can expect from the setlist side of things, Chaz assures me that although you will hear the majority of Anything in Return, you can also be certain you’ll hear your favourites from 2011’s Underneath the Pines and 2009’s Causers of This. “It’s all about keeping the crowd entertained and bringing the party to the festival. It’s not like our set will be packed with obscure b-sides; you’ll be hearing your favourites. And the one thing that I’ve learnt from my time in playing in Australia is that the audience likes to dance. It will be fun-loving and I can’t wait to hit the stage.”

The process of creating music for Chaz is a solo affair when it comes to creating the beats for the new tracks. Yet, when the time comes to try and play the tracks live, the live band comes in and everything really starts to take shape. Having played with a live band on each tour of Australia, with a five-piece band this time around you can expect to boogie down to some great tunes that have been well-received all around the world since the release of the album in January this year.

Having played a few festival dates this year in the US, including Austin City Limits and Sasquatch Festival, the acclaim and reaction from each of the live audiences has been extremely positive, as Chaz relates: “Every show that I have played has been fantastic, and everyone seems to really be digging the latest record. I think that it’s generally going through the normal album cycle. After you release a record though you can’t really afford to stop writing. I am always looking for creative outlets and continually writing.

“Things are slowly starting to take shape for the next album and after all of the touring and the Big Day Out shows are out of the way, my focus will turn to recording the next release,” Chaz said as he was on the road to Los Angeles.

When&Where: The HiFi, Melbourne - January 21 and at The Big Day Out, Melbourne - January 24 As the end of the year draws closer the lists of what were the best releases of 2013 are quickly being made. Rolling Stone magazine last week named Vampire Weekend’s latest release Modern Vampires of the City as the best release of the year. Yet, if you look in the comments section of that write up, there are quite a few people angered that Anything in Return didn’t make the cut.

From a small bit of research, the album has been on heavy rotation for the past week on my iTunes and the lush indie-pop sounds of ‘Harm in Change’ make this an incredibly enjoyable listen. Positive reviews from Rolling Stone and Pitchfork rating it 7.9 out of 10 has also led to the track ‘So Many Details’ to be featured on the soundtrack to the latest Grand Theft Auto game on one of the various radio stations.

Although the process for writing and recording didn’t differ too much from the previous two albums, further in studio work at Chaz’s parents house has allowed for more downtown electronic indie beats than previous times, of which can be heard most prominently in the track ‘Rose Quartz’.

“I don’t think that the process of writing and recording has changed a whole lot between the releases. It was still pretty natural and organic and there is a distinct hip hop and RnB sound to it because I have been listening to a whole stack of local tracks on the radio. I think that the main difference between the albums is that for Anything in Return I recorded a lot more instrumentation and different parts in the studio than just piecing it together slowly and heading to the studio for mixing and mastering.”

Each song on the three Toro Y Moi releases sounds very complex and layered, which makes you think that writing the song could take

countless hours of hard work. In many ways, you’re right, but from talking to many artists over the years the inspiration for a track could come from anywhere at any time – and yet again the process seems to be quite similar with Chaz.

“Working on a song can both be hard and really easy at the same time. I think that when a song clicks and it feels right, that’s when you know what direction the album is going to go in and that makes things a lot easier as well. The success that has followed my music has been quite surprising.

When I started out making music, it was a very low-key affair and I just circulated my music around all of my friends. One day I decided to put my music up online and everything went viral from there. Things started to really happen and people started circulating my music.

“Social media has been a great platform to expand my fan base and get exposure in places around the world that were previously impossible.”

With countless festival appearances throughout the years, Chaz must have tour stories longer than his arm, and having performed globally there must have been some ‘pinch yourself’ moments along the way. Travelling on the road to Los Angeles at the time that our phone call is connected, one of the biggest moments of his career was the following night’s show.

“Tomorrow night I’m playing on Jimmy Kimmel, and that is something that when I first started out I never thought would ever happen. I think that three albums in my career is going really well. With each album release the Toro y Moi name gets bigger and bigger and so do the crowds. The rockstar lifestyle is something that I try to avoid, and hopefully in five to ten years I’m still making music. But we’ll just have to wait and see.”

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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A Day to Remember

By Natalie Rogers

Australia really is a home away from home for four-piece metalcore band A Day to Remember.

With legions of fans around the world, Australia is the place they want to call home … well at least that’s what lead guitarist Kevin Skaff told me. “We all want to live in Australia! No joke, we f*ckin’ love it there!”

Well I should hope so; they’ve already graced our shores five times – twice as part of Soundwave – and now they’re about to rock out for a third time.

“I’m excited to hang out with all our buddies that we’ve known for a while now, like August Burns Red, Motionless in White and Less Than Jake. I also wanna check out Green Day and Stone Temple Pilots.

Growing up, my sister loved that band so I listened to them at a really young age with her. I hear Chester [frontman, Linkin Park] is singing with them, which is a little weird to me but I think it’s going to be cool.”

Sounding more like a punter than a performer, Kevin continued: “I’m also excited to see Avenged Sevenfold. I went to their concert recently and their production was insane, so if it’s anything like that you guys are in for something special.

“Whenever we come to Australia we always try to find the best restaurants – we f*ckin’ love to eat! Another thing we love to do is go to the beach. Last time we went to Rottnest Island and it was so beautiful.”

I get the feeling that Kev and the guys are looking forward to some fun in the sun, and who can blame them – the release of their fifth studio album (Common Courtesy, out now) saw them locked in

a nasty battle with former label, Victory Records.

“Ever since the day we were told that we could put out Common Courtesy on our own, things have been amazing!” Kevin revealed. “Before it was like, ‘you can only have this much time off, then you need to get back in the studio and you’ve got two months to make a record’. Or, ‘you need to make a music video – he’s the director, now go make a video. You’re probably going to f*ckin hate it when it’s done, but we’re going to put it out anyway’. It was horrible, but that’s what it was like.

“Now we can do music videos when we want, with the people we want and put them out when we want. So everything that comes out now we’re proud of – it’s one of the best feelings ever. The sad part is that our relationship [with Victory Records] right now is pretty non-existent. We’re not really talking at all, but at least now we can control our own destiny.”

Common Courtesy was released recently to rave reviews, living up to fans and critics expectations alike. “We felt like the record was so real, lyrically and musically. We put everything into it. I don’t know if anyone knows this but the guy who did the cover art illustrated all the original Walking Dead comics.

I’m going to get the vinyl and frame it – it’s a piece of art!

“This tour will be the first time that we get to play all the new songs. We’re excited to see how Australia will take to it – that’ll be the real test. Hopefully you’ll know the words to the songs by the time we get there in February. See you then!”

When&Where: Soundwave @ Flemington Racecourse – February 28

Hermitude written by Natalie Rogers

They may be self-described music nerds, but don’t underestimate Aussie hip hop outfit Hermitude.

After a life-changing eighteen months since the release of their breakthrough album Hyper Paradise, life is pretty good for the boys from the Blue Mountains. I sat down with one half of the duo Luke Dubber – aka Dubs – just in time for the start of the summer festival season.

“Right now we’re at the point where we’re sitting on top of it all looking back and thinking, ‘Holy shit!

What a crazy couple of years that was’. We’re at an awesome part of our career. Everything has slotted in to place and we’ve got the luxury of playing some incredible festivals. We’re going to rock these shows!

We’re going to sink our claws in and get people shaking and sweaty.”

Along with a slew of shows throughout the summer – including ringing in the New Year at Beachlife with Skrillex and the much-loved Meredith Music Festival – Hermitude are proud to be chosen to be part of an unbelievable line-up for this year’s Falls Festival.

“I’m stoked to be a part of Falls this year! There are so many bands I wanna see. I wanna see Bonobo, The Roots, Grizzly Bear – I love Grizzly Bear – and I wanna catch Solange. There’s so much good stuff to see it’s going to be a case of playing the gig and then running around making sure we see everything at the festival. It’s going to be a hectic couple of days, but it’ll definitely be mad fun!”

A recent trip to the US was a welcome break and, as Dubs tells me, their reception was warm: “While

Max Cooper I am not sure how many electronic musicians out there hold a Ph.D., but Max Cooper is one of them. The link between computational biology and electronic music, the Belfast-born, London-based DJ and producer has rather the eclectic resume. We had the pleasure of having a little Q&A with the man as he gears up for the Rainbow Serpent Festival.

Hey Max, thank for taking the time to talk to Forte Magazine. Where are you at the moment?

I’m at home in my studio in north London right now.

I always like to ask where a DJ started out and how they came to make music, so here it goes.

How did you come to make electronic music?

I was big in to the UK clubbing boom in the ’90s and then started deejaying as everyone does. Then at some point in the ’00s I realised I needed to make music if I wanted to get more gigs. It was a totally impure route into production, but it did seed me with a drive for finishing tracks which was useful.

You have taken somewhat of a rapid rise and are now one of the world’s most established DJs – but not without a lot of hard work and dedication.

Tell us about the process in rising through the ranks to become popular internationally.

You already said it – a lot of hard work mainly, and a portion of luck finding the right people to work with of course. Although I had my big share of disastrous agents and musical experiments before it seemed to work, you’ve just gotta keep banging the head against the wall until it starts to crumble. And maybe something more useful to say – I think that it’s important to find what music is really suited to you

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we were in the States we did one of the Aussie BBQ shows, so there were a couple of Aussies in the crowd … We had a few screaming fans!” he laughed.

“We loved the whole experience. New York is kind of a mecca for all the music we love. We were lucky enough to go see some hip hop and some jazz at Birdland [legendary NYC venue] and we tried to soak up as much as we could. We’ll definitely be going back in the not too distant future.”

As worthy recipients of last year’s AIR and AMP awards for 2012’s Hyper Paradise, the world has opened up for the unassuming pair from rural NSW. As well as plans to continue to tour internationally, Hermitude have been busy in the studio to produce their highly anticipated follow-up, and Luke said it could be out as early as mid-2014. “When we wrote Hyper Paradise we had our sights set quite high; what we didn’t expect was how well it was going to go. It’s been a total rollercoaster for us, and although it’s been a little bit tricky this year ’cause the schedule has been so intense, we’ve been working on new tracks all year.

“We’re well into it. We’ve been writing a bunch of really energetic tracks, probably because we’ve been playing so many shows the last two years. As well as writing all these slamming tracks, we’re also working on some more typical Hermitude-esque stuff.

“We’re experimenting to build on the sound of Hyper Paradise – it’s a fun time. We’re really happy with the songs we’ve got going on at the moment. I think it’s going to be amazing … at least I hope so!” as a person, so you can express your individuality musically – that helps to set you apart from the masses replicating the standard formats. Of course, I did my share of replicating early on too. That’s all part of the learning process which I feel like I’m still very much on.

You are a classic composer/producer DJ and you love experimenting and writing music. Briefly take us through your creative process. How important is the production side of things for you?

Ideally I start the process with a concept that I think through carefully to tell me what sort of track I should be making and how I should go about it.

For example, Fragments of Self with Tom Hodge had the concept of combining opposites, so it was just a matter of thinking about how I could do this musically and then experimenting with production techniques until I found something that fit the bill.

Do you think your work in science has played a part in your love of the formula for production of your tracks?

Science is all about experimenting and exploring the possibilities, so in that sense at least maybe it’s had an impact on how I go about my music. It also provides lots of ideas that help creatively, but I don’t use science to explicitly write the music. That is still an artistic process.

You work on a variety of stuff, including mixing well-known bands to doing technical higher level tracks. How would you describe your style? What do you enjoy producing most?

I enjoy producing most whatever it is musically that is closest fitting to my particular mood at the time. So if I’m angry I enjoy making angry music. So maybe my style is about this sort of personal expression, and given we go through a wide range of states of mind, I make a wide range of music. Hopefully with a thread

when&where: You can catch Hermitude at both Meredith & The Falls

of continuity given the same thing exists in each of us independent of our particular state of mind at a given moment.

When making tracks are some tracks made with a huge festival crowd in mind, and others with personal creativity in mind? Or is it just what comes to you at the time?

I don’t consider the size of a crowd when making a track, no; but of course I will consider whether people should be able to dance to it or not. The main thing is for each track to deliver some sort of message as clearly as I can, whether that’s rave ’til your armpits bleed or relax and forget about the crap.

You have played the world over. Is there a formula to making sure you can get massive festival crowds moving?

Probably the best formula is to play the current Beatport Top 10 in reverse order, peaking in some cake throwing and heart shapes – that’s what gets the masses going. But if that’s not what gets you going personally then it’s always a matter of trying to find what it is that you like that they seem to like as well. It’s an experiment every time. I never know what I will or should play until I’m there getting a feeling for what they’re in to.

What have been some collaborations to date?

of

your

favourite

Tom Hodge, Michael Nyman and Nils Frahm were all amazing, and all classical musicians of sorts. It’s nice to bring together the different worlds, but that’s not just for classical. I’ve been collaborating with some jazz musicians recently – Kathrin deBoer and Quentin Collins, and it’s proved just as rewarding.

Are you looking forward to Rainbow Serpent and your journey Down Under? What do you have in store?

When&Where: Rainbow Serpent Festival - 24-27 January Of course! I’ve heard a lot of great things about the event and I’m really excited about playing. Who knows what I’ll do though … maybe a 250bpm Siberian folk speedcore set is in order.

Your parents are Ozzie. Does Australia have a special place for you?

Certainly, most of my family are living there. I’m pretty lucky to be getting out to see them regularly.

Anything you would like to add?

Just this.

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TALK OF THE TOWN! Talk of the Town: Where we wanna be just like you, we wanna be just the same. Coming up you have… .........................................................................

Summer in the Parks FEATURE: Bendigo’s always popular Summer in the Parks calendar is off and running. December is full with plenty of Community Carols around town, including Community Carols in Rosalind Park on December 22. 6.30 p.m. onwards. January is where the music begins. On January 3 you have the first in the Music in the Park gigs, with Dukesy and the Hazzards and P L Williamson performing from 7 p.m. Music in the Park gigs will then take place on January 10 (The Tiger and Me and The Nymphs), January 17 (the Shirazz Jazz Band), January 24 (Luke Legs and the Midnight Specials and Aaron Wales) and January 31 (Andy Irvine along with The Simpson Three). For visitors to the area, the Historical Walking Tours may be for you.

Kick off on Sunday, January 5, the tours will take place every Sunday morning throughout the month from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Gold coin donation. If 9 a.m. is a little too early for you, the Evening Walk Spotting Native Animals provides an opportunity to take a spotlighting stroll with Bendigo’s Park Rangers. Evening walks take place on January 14, 15 & 21 from 8.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. February, and the Summer in the Parks calendar welcomes movies. Outdoor cinema screenings will take place in Bendigo (February 1), Elmore (February 8), Heathcote (February 15) and Maiden Gully (February 22). Be sure to check out the full calendar through bendigo.vic.gov.au. .........................................................................

Neil Finn Reaches New Heights Neil Finn recently announced that his new album Dizzy Heights is set for release in February; now comes the best part: a tour. The tour kicks off in March, meaning you will have at least a month to become familiar with his new tunes. Says Finn on the new album: “I didn’t want to make it a solo record in a stripped back singersongwriter sort of way … I had a feeling Dave would be good at adding some odd shapes to the music; which I always welcome – making things a little more expansive. He is good at subverting things, and making things sound a bit messed up and not as obvious, rather than being too tasteful, which is always a temptation.”

The songman teamed up with Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Tame Impala) for the newie. GPAC – March 11. With Joshua James. .........................................................................

The Tide Has Turned for Arcane Saints Bendigo’s Music Man Megastore has another massive show lined up for December 14. Leading the pack is Melbourne outfit Arcane Saints, a band making some pretty big waves locally and abroad. Singer-guitarist Michael John formed the band after relocating to Melbourne from New Zealand following a Pacific International Songwriting Competition win. Finding his crew proved a difficult task at times, but soon enough things were sorted. They then released a song which caught the attention of Toby Wright (Alice in Chains, Korn, Metallica) who invited the group to his hometown of Nashville to record their debut album, Turning the Tide. Left-of-centre grunge-pop specialists Dear Stalker returns to the venue that made them feel so welcome at the Queen of Noize show earlier in the year. Michael Yule is pretty familiar to the venue, having performed there on a couple of occasions in recent times. Finally, Chase the Ace is a Bendigo band racking up gigs left, right and centre. .........................................................................

Meredith’s a Real Wild Child Bendigo’s Meredith ‘Mez’ Whittle made more than a few people very happy when she returned to the music world. The classically trained singer, dancer and actor took a pretty lengthy time-out from performing, channelling her energies into family instead. She couldn’t have dreamt of a more perfect return to music

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with her single ‘Survive’ receiving a nomination at the Australian Independent Music Awards. Speaking to the Bendigo Advertiser recently, Mez spoke about the single. “A lot of people are identifying with the song.

There’s a lot of people who like it and that’s great …

The song was written about a particular episode in relation to some pretty horrible stuff that had gone down with a few friends of mine. So it’s in relation to bullying and being horrible to each other; it wasn’t very nice.” The Newmarket, Bendigo – December 14. Mez will be joined by Audemia. .........................................................................

An Evening with RDZJB & Friends FEATURE: Winners are grinners, and there is a tidy handful of winners soaking up the sun and vibes of Torquay this month. Melbourne’s self-described “Folklektro” outfit RDZJB lead the pack. Grand Finalists of 95.5fm K-Rock’s ‘The Band’, RDZJB have been on their musical journey since 2010. On their first year on the road the band clocked up a very impressive 120 gigs, making dance floors everywhere bounce with their jubilant pop tunes. Their EP is Bimbil, and it features the single ‘Dirty Little Dancing Shoes’. Next up you have Famous Will, winner of ‘Maton Guitars; Class Act Award at Port Fairy Folk Festival 2013’. The Torquaybased alternative folk outfit has been likened to artists including Neil Finn, Bob Evans and Lior. Altitude will be there also. The winners of 95.5fm K-Rock’s ‘The Band’ 2012 is an indie-garage-rock outfit hailing from Geelong that not too long ago wrapped up the filming for a clip to accompany their single ‘My Scars’. Likened to The Vines, The Fratellis and Jebediah, the band also released their self-titled EP this year. Finally you have Alister Turrill, winner of Queenscliff Music Festival’s Emerging Artist Award 2012 and a guy whose name seems to be everywhere. With hefty praise coming from the likes of Lloyd Spiegel, this young bluesman/ rootsman is hot property. Torquay Hotel, Torquay – December 14.

Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival 2014 FEATURE: Hey boys and girls, mums and dads, grandpas and grandmas; guess what is coming back to Ballarat next year? Yep, the Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival. Big breath and you have rockabilly, country swing, rock and roll and swing; you have a variety show, VIP meet and greets with international artists; you have pin-up competitions, fashion parades and art exhibitions; and you have dance lessons and glamour central. And the list goes on and on and on. How good is the music? It would make the devil dance, I tell ya. It’s early days yet but at the time of writing you already have The Delta Bombers, The Rhythm Shakers, Alex Vargas and Gizzelle. Born in Denmark, Alex Vargas moved to London at the age of 17 to pursue music. In 2008 he was signed to Geffen Records and released the album You Don’t Know the Half of It with his band, Vagabond. Writing about the young songman, Paul Lester of The Guardian says: “In Alex Vargas they’ve got a frontman who just happens to have one of the most impressive white soul voices since Michael Hutchence, Steve Winwood and Robert Palmer.”

The festival made its debut last year, and it seems there is quite the insatiable thirst for kind of thing. All signs point to an even bigger year in 2014. Ballarat – February 13 through 16. Take a few minutes to have a look at ballaratbeat.com.au. .........................................................................

Ten Thousand Reasons to Smile Having rocked it alongside Aerosmith and Van Halen at the Stone Music Festival earlier in the year, Melbourne’s Ten Thousand has plenty of reasons to smile. They also recently performed at the Music

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King Parrot & Gay Paris The king is dead, long live King Parrot – or something. Melbourne’s King Parrot and Sydney’s Gay Parris have given the big Feck You to the Melbourne and Sydney rivalry, teaming up for a tour which kicked off recently. There is nothing that can stop the beast that is King Parrot. Since hitting the live circuit in 2011 the band has seemingly performed at every metal shindig around the country. Next year they will be taking their tunes to the stage of Soundwave. Oh, and their album Bite Your Head Off was crowned ‘Best Heavy Album’ at The Age Music Victoria Awards. Gay Paris take a little of this and a little of that, throws it in a blender with a shot of whisky and skulls the whole damn thing before you have a chance to take a sip. They were a Rolling Stone stand-out at the recent BIGSOUND conference in Brisbane.

The Karova, Ballarat – December 13.

Eurythmics & Fleetwood Mac Tribute The Eurythmics & Fleetwood Mac tribute show takes place at Geelong’s Sphinx Hotel this weekend, December 14. A quick search reveals that Eurythmics fans can expect hits including ‘Sweet Dreams’, ‘Miracle of Love’, ‘When Tomorrow Comes’, ‘Sex Crim’, ‘Would I Lie’, ‘Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves’, ‘Here Comes the Rain Again’, ‘Missionary Man’ and ‘There Must be an Angel’. The Eurythmics portion of the show is built around their Revenge tour. With Fleetwood Mac having to cancel their Australian tour due to illness, fans were left feeling pretty bummed out. Fortunately, at least you will get a little of their magic with the Rhiannon – Australian Fleetwood Mac Tribute. Adequately filling the big shoes of Stevie Nicks is Penni Perrin, a dynamo of a performer who started her career in the Young Talent Team. Enjoy a dinner and show or the show alone. .........................................................................

Make Welcome Germany’s Tube & Berger Tube & Berger are a couple of guys from a small town in Germany who are slowly but surely becoming big names in the electronic music/dance music game. The band’s hometown was actually pretty punk-heavy, but in the late ’90s the pair got caught up in the techno wave.

In 2004 they had their big break. The released a single called ‘Straight Ahead’, which some bigwigs thought would be cool to redo with English vocals. Chrissie Hynde was brought on board and the single became a dance smash. Forte caught up with the guys recently and got the lowdown on what we can expect: “We play some kind of hybrid half live, half DJ set which means Tube is using CDJs and Berger raps Ableton Live with a super minimalistic controller. We’re constantly working on new edits or bootlegs when we’re on the road so it never gets boring ... Tons of beats waiting to be played.” Fake Chow @ The Basement, Geelong – December 14.

A Hunting Grounds Eve You know about Hunting Grounds, yeah? You should; the band is doing Ballarat and the greater Australian music scene proud. Formerly known as Howl, the band formed at Ballarat High School, winning triple j’s Unearthed High competition with their song ‘Blackout’. Bigger and better times came last year with the release of their debut full-length album, In Hindsight. Speaking with FasterLouder last year, guitarist and vocalist Michael Belsar had this to say about the album: “It was actually a really cruisey process, which I guess surprised all of us.

We went into the studio with a basic idea of how we wanted the record to sound, but I guess had a much more open mind to change than we usually would. We recorded the album to the classic, drums then bass then everything template which made the whole process really quick. It was a lot of fun working with our producer Woody as he had such strong ideas of how the record should sound, which we all loved.” The Karova, Ballarat – December 24.

Checkerboard @ The Bridge Sundays throughout December at The Bridge, Castlemaine belong to improv-infused blues/ soul outfit Checkerboard. Checkerboard is led by singing drummer Carl Pannuzzo and bassist Amos Sheehan who, together with a wealth of world-class players, create dynamic events in music. From soulful blues and roots-based traditions through to journeys of improvisation, Checkerboard is about as cool as they come.

Striking the Right Nerve

Ron Rude Minds His Ps and Qs

Ezekiel Ox, Lucius Borich, Davarj Thomas and Glenn Proudfoot have all been in the music game long enough to have discovered what they like and what they don’t like. So when Proudfoot spotted Ezekiel fronting Full Scale, he knew that one day they would share a stage together. Enter The Nerve, a band full of talent but lacking in BS. They play rock and roll the way it’s meant to be played. Their initial writing sessions began in 2010 when Proudfoot pursued Ezekiel through email. The trouble was, Proudfoot went back to reside in Europe.

Still, you never let a little thing like geographical location get in the way of good music, and so the music writing continued. In February this year, the band, after having come together as a complete unit only four days prior, played their first gig together. Now they have an album, Audiodacity. The Barwon Club, Geelong – December 13.

In 1979, in the hills outside Melbourne, a young punk upstart knew his chance of landing a record deal was diddly-squat. Did he run away? Hell no.

Instead, Ron Rude lined the walls with egg cartons from the poultry farm next door and recorded an album titled The Borders of Disgrace. His debut live show was “a masterpiece of comic punk showmanship”, and soon everyone was talking about him. At one show, at the Hotel Lonsdale, Rude performed with spiked orange hair and black pants made entirely of PVC electrical tape.

Performing barefooted, he cut his foot on a broken beer glass but played out the show, using the blood to paint crosses on the foreheads of those in the front row. In the mid-’80s he adopted an image dubbed ‘the Sinister Minister’, something that would help him appear on one of the first editions of The Age’s EG Guide. He is considered a pioneer of DIY recording. The Bridge, Castlemaine – December 14.

Jam at the Dam Set in the hills of Invermay, Jam at the Dam is a cool little day of music with a few hundred of your closest music-loving community friends. Yep, a maximum of 400 tickets will be put up for grabs to next year’s event, making the event a nice little cosy day out. And when you see the line-up, methinks those tickets will be snapped up quickly. You have the wonderful Ballarat flavour of Apes, Juan Alban, La Bastard, The Yard Apes, The Electric SunKings, The Rye Catchers, Ballarat Ska Orchestra, Soultown DJs and Navaja Negra. Navaja Negra is Mick Trembath and Chilean-born Roddy Ramos. The band has only been in business since the beginning of the year, and their business is reviving the dance music of the blues. Tickets go on sale early January. Hit up Jam at the Dam through Facebook for further information. The Dam, Ballarat – January 24. * Note: Jam at the Dam has been organised to help raise funds for the local CFA. .........................................................................

Kingswood & Calling All Cars There was a time when the Kingswood ruled the world of cars. These days the name has been adopted by some Melbourne lads, and they’re doing a pretty good job of ruling the music world. The indie-rock four-piece has filled their year with a national tour supporting Grinspoon, warming things up for Aerosmith, rocking their socks off at Groovin’ the Moo and showing their stuff at the Big Day Out. They also spent a little time in the US. The Life’s a Beach tour sees them teaming up with Calling All Cars (Cars, Kingswood; what is going on there?) for a string of shows around the country. Kingswood has their new single ‘Sucker Punch’ to show off, while Calling All Cars are in red hot form with their new single ‘Werewolves’. Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads – December 29 & Torquay Hotel, Torquay – December 30.

Oz Awards, adding another notch to their belt. Fans have plenty of reasons to smile too, with the band working hard to bring you new tunes. ‘Drive’ is their latest addition to the music world and you can check out its clip via YouTube. In his review of their recent show at The Espy, Get Shot Magazine’s Dan Stone wrote: “These 5 guys are quickly becoming one of my favourite Melbourne bands. With influences including Nine Inch Nails, Velvet Revolver and Muse their set contains driving rock guitar riffs, soaring solos from both Marty and Brandon and the tight rhythm section all led by enigmatic frontman Jay with his wandering, melodic vocals.” The Loft, Warrnambool – December 14. They’ll be given a helping hand by Caraval. .........................................................................

The Colliders Say Goodbye And now, a word from The Colliders: “Ok people.

We know we’ve played three farewell gigs in the last three years, but in January 2014 we want to play the real one. Some Colliders are heading overseas and I doubt Tim will make it through another year so this will be the ACTUAL farewell gig from The Colliders.

Due to less than ideal circumstances, it looks like our only options will be to play at The Loft on the 24th of January (same day as BDO) or book a Wednesday/ Thursday gig a couple of weeks earlier. We want this one to be big, so tell us; are you willing to get crazy

on the Friday of the Australia Day weekend instead of going to BDO or would you rather have the messiest Wednesday night of your life? Chime in folks. It’s like Big Brother where you decide.” So there you have it; unless otherwise decided, The Loft, Warrnambool on January 24 is the date to mark down. You just know it is going to be an awesome show whenever they have it. .........................................................................

INHEARTSWAKE Dancing in the Sky It’s time for a look at another gig taking place next year. Byron Bay metalcore outfit INHEARTSWAKE will kick off a lengthy tour towards the beginning of January, eventually wrapping things up in early February. Fuelled by the powerful impact made upon Byron Bay and Australia by Parkway Drive, INHEARTSWAKE came together in 2005. The band threw out a few EPs and toured hard before eventually releasing their debut full-length album last year. Titled Divination, the album was recorded in Michigan. When the band hits the road next year it will be on the back of new single, ‘Skydancer’. The single is available as a ‘Pay What You Want’ dealio through their website, with all proceeds going to charity. Bloody good work guys! Mechanics Institute, Ballarat – January 29. The all-ages gigs will also feature Hellions and Hand of Mercy.

Pete Murray Goes Regional ‘Hey Pete, mate, we’re lovin’ the announcement of the tour but those regional folk are feeling left out’; ‘Well, we can’t have that can we. Book in a few shows for ’em’; ‘Thanks Pete, you’re the best’; ‘Right back at ya big fella’. That is how I imagine the conversation went down regarding Pete Murray and his tour celebrating his 2003 gem, Feeler. Well, no longer shall the regional folk feel left out, with the songman adding further dates to an already impressive tour. Feeler entered the charts at #43; however, with his reputation growing and his tunes being played by everyone from surfers to grandparents, the album reached the #1 spot. It has since gone 6X platinum in Australia. The album was recently re-issued. The Capital, Bendigo – March 12; Ballarat Regent Multiplex – March 13; The Wool Exchange Entertainment Complex, Geelong – March 14. .........................................................................

Frank Ifield Live on Stage No matter who you are or what you do, if you reach the 50-year mark of a career you’ve had a bloody good innings. Born in England in 1937, Frank Ifield headed for the warmer shores of Australia in the mid-’40s. In 1949 he received a guitar from his Gran, setting in motion a career that has continued to this day. The 1960s, however, was his golden era, yielding a string of success with Ifield scoring four #1 UK Single hits between 1962 and 1963. ‘I Remember You’ spent seven weeks at the number one spot. Following two more hits, the songman became the first artist to have three consecutive number one hits in Britain.

Frank is returning to the stage in 2014 with new stage production ‘When Aussies Ruled Britannia’. He will be joined by Keith Potger. WPAC, Shepparton – January 29; Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – January 30; Drama Theatre @ GPAC, Geelong – February 1; Her Majesty’s Theatre, Ballarat – February 3.

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TALK OF THE TOWN! Kyneton Music Festival The Kyneton Music Festival returns next year, bringing with it another line-up worth travelling for. At the time of writing details were scarce, but it does look as though Raised by Eagles will be there. Raised by Eagles is an alt-country, pop-folk four-piece fronted by Melbourne songsmith Luke Owen Sinclair, who some readers may know from The Idle Hoes and the Tracy McNeil Band. The band came together last year when Luke secured the talents of Nick O’Mara, Luke Richardson and Johnny Gibson; they have since performed at some of Victoria’s premier live music venues. Speaking about the band, songbird Liz Stringer says: “Raised by Eagles’ songs are the kind you fall in love with at the first listen and then endlessly trawl bars and venues across Melbourne to be near again. This is no crush.

This is a great, enduring romance.” The Kyneton Music Festival will take place from February 28 through March 2. Keep an eye on kynetonmusicfestival.com. au for updates. .........................................................................

Take 3 This Summer With summer here, the Surf Coast Shire Council is encouraging local residents and visitors to keep the Take 3 campaign in mind. A non-profit organisation formed in 2009, Take 3 encourages anyone on a beach, waterway or coastal town to take three pieces of rubbish away with them when they leave. Although a fantastic initiative for any time of the year, the warmer months certainly bring the people out, with coastal towns often swelling to massive numbers during the summer holiday period. Torquay Ward Councillor David Bell: “The marine environment is very sensitive to litter, and the Take 3 campaign has proven a simple but effective way of putting this in people’s minds and ensuring more of us look after these special places …

Take 3 is a great reminder of how easy it is to make a difference to our environment every day through small actions. We’re pleased to embrace the campaign and congratulate found Tim Silverman on its spread throughout Australia.” .........................................................................

Midnight Juggernauts DJs in Bendigo Quick bite: In 2014 the Midnight Juggernauts will celebrate 10 years as a band. Over this time we have been privileged to receive a string of singles and EPs, as well as three albums, their most recent being this year’s Uncanny Valley. Aside from their band duties Midnight Juggernauts have become in-demand DJs, and this weekend they hit Bendigo. In DJ mode the guys have worked their magic at parties, festivals and warehouses from London to Paris to New York, and

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earlier in the year they closed out the St Kilda Festival.

Star Bar, Bendigo – December 13. .........................................................................

Feels Like an Indian Summer Quick bite: Melbourne’s feel-good jamsters Indian Summer is the combined talents of Gabe Gleeson and Chevy Long. Last year saw the release of their debut EP, Haunted, a release which helped the duo’s name spread like wildfire. Sweat It Out, the label founded by the late Adrian Thomas, aka DJ Ajax, signed the lads in what proved a masterstroke. Their Foreign Formula EP is turning heads, winning the lads support from the likes of Pete Tong, The Magician, Sinden, Nina Las Vegas, Ta-Ku and What So Not. Star Bar, Bendigo – December 20. .........................................................................

Get Funked by Tank Dilemma Quick bite: Led by Richard ‘Tank’ Tankard, Tank Dilemma is an Ocean Grove funk-flavoured outfit with a whole lotta snap, crackle and pop. Their new album Having Said That, Let Me Say This comes packed with a big soul sound, rollicking swing blues and hard funk, with a nod to rock as well. They have found a big fan in bluesman Geoff Achison, who says: “…Every track is a winner and it got me in first spin. It’s on high rotation here – so funky, funny, clever, frank, irreverent, spiritual and beautiful.” Caledonian Inn, Port Fairy – December 14 & The Hotel Warrnambool, Warrnambool – December 15. .........................................................................

Not Limits for Eyes Wide Open Quick bite: Hey, here is some great news from Ballarat’s Eyes Wide Open – they drop their debut EP Limitless is a week’s time. Here is some more great news – they’re hitting local stomping ground The Karova on December 19 to welcome it to the world. Well, Ballarat, but still.

The hardcore/metal outfit has been doing business since 2010 and they couldn’t be happier to finally have their EP ready. They will be joined by Left for Wolves, To the Airship and Hideaway. Get on down there! .........................................................................

The Virginia Slims @ Eastern Station Quick bite: Featuring Andrew Fry on double bass, Daniel Watson on drums and Angela Crebbin on guitar and vocals, The Virginia Slims is an acoustic soul trio with a country twist. Once upon a time the trio was a five-piece funk band, but somewhere along the way they discovered a soulful acoustic three-piece was more to their style. In the words of the band: “Think Etta James around a camp fire, with a guitar and a glass of

Pop Up Market @ Courthouse ARTS Don’t forget that this Saturday, December 14, Geelong’s Courthouse ARTS will host its inaugural pop up market featuring the work of local artists and much more. Forte’s Tex Miller spent a little time with Marketing and Membership Co-ordinator Chelsea Hatherall recently, and she filled him in with how the idea came about: “The concept to have a pop market at the Courthouse was an idea that I thought about around a month ago, and I’ve done a few solo exhibitions and creative collaborations before, but nothing in the form of a market before. I looked at a number of items that were laying around my house and thought ‘wouldn’t it be great to get rid of a few things before Christmas and earn some cash as an artist as well’ … “The idea of having a creative garage sale was something that everyone has jumped on board with and the response from putting the word out on social media has simply been incredible.” 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

whiskey.” Eastern Station Hotel, Ballarat – December 15. .........................................................................

Davidson Brothers @ Goldmines Quick bite: Hamish and Lachlan Davidson grew up in the rural Victorian country town of Yinnar. Music was in the family’s blood, so Hamish and Lachlan had their performing shoes on early. Regarded as one of Australia’s finest bluegrass acts, the Davidson Brothers have released seven albums and performed extensively in Australia and America. Their most recent album is 2011’s Here to Stay, a release featuring many of the brothers’ favourite Nashville session musicians.

Goldmines Hotel, Bendigo – December 22.

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RDZJB written by Tex Miller

You may have seen the adverts for the show at the Torquay Hotel on the 14th of December, so to finally have the opportunity to sit down with the man and the legend himself Reece Dillon, frontman for the band RDZJB, was an absolute privilege. I’ve only seen the band perform once at Beav’s Bar earlier in the year, but from the very first moment of their electro-indie cover of ‘Home’ by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (who I am quick to find out are one of the band’s main influences) I was hooked.

Over the past week a new clip for the latest single ‘My Scars’ has been doing the rounds on the internet for fellow Surf Coast musician Will Gardiner, and it is where we begin the conversation about the band as Reece features in the clip alongside other local legends.

“That is Famous Will’s new single and he basically invited all us local lads to join him on a rooftop in Chapel Street to film it on a very cold night. It’s great to see that he is succeeding so much as a musician, and we are all behind him pushing him to be the greatest musician and person that he can be.

Together with his label Melodic Music we decided on the rooftop, and after a few beers up there and some skateboard action we all turned to each other and thought this is going to work. We are all very happy with the finished product,” Reece said about the clip that is going viral on all of the local Facebook pages.

When&Where: Torquay Hotel, Torquay – December 14 With a few tracks up on their Unearthed page, the beginning of the band started back in 2010 after Reece’s extended four-year trip around the world playing music. “I backpacked around the world for four years and didn’t have a real want to return home at a certain time. I sold everything and started playing shows throughout Europe and the US solo. When I returned home, a few old mates came to see me play in Melbourne and said we should have a jam. Since then, it’s turned into the big family that you see at all our shows today.”

One of the main tunes of the RDZJB live shows is ‘Dirty Little Dancing Shoes’, a song which pays tribute to Emmanuel, or ‘E Man’ as he is better known, who sadly passed away last October. The song came about quite naturally and is a staple of the live set, played at each and every show. “In the last year before he passed away we started hanging out and partying in Melbourne, and throughout our love for house music and hip hop, we wrote the song together. It’s a legacy and a tradition at our shows now. “ If you haven’t had the opportunity to catch a live show of RDZJB yet, make sure that you kick off your summer in style and head to the Torquay Hotel on the 14th of December. The highly energetic set and philosophy of the band will make this one night to remember. “One of the main goals that we set out to do when we first started playing shows is that we wanted to offer an experience to each and every punter that they wouldn’t forget. For each and every

one of us music is therapy and helps heal through the band and painful parts of life. Although we may seem like very loose cannons on and off stage, we are very serious people underneath, because there is a lot of meaning behind playing Dirty Dancing Shoes at every show we do.”

With the first show of the ‘Summer Series’ at the Barwon Club a few weeks back, things are ramping up for the second one in Torquay. Having booked a whole stack of gigs under the business name Them Local Thieves, Reece wants everyone to walk away saying that the RDZJB show was one of the best of the year, if not ever.

“The thing is, I put in 110% to each and every show that I play. It isn’t about the true rock star lifestyle or the money; playing music for me is about giving people the opportunity to tackle the next working week with a smile on their face and a cheerful attitude remembering the night they had listening to some killer tunes.”

Their latest EP, BIMBIL (Brothers in Music, Brothers in Life), was recorded throughout houses and alternate recording studios around the state. It shows the progression of the band’s music and their wide range of influences including Led Zeppelin, Portishead, Local Natives and Arcade Fire to name just a few.

The EP is available at all of the upcoming shows.

In the words of Molly, ‘Do yourself a favour’. These guys put on a rocking show and will not disappoint!

2014 VET IN SCHOOLS PLACES ARE STILL AVAILABLE Diversitat Training presents two information sessions.

CUF20107 Certificate II in Creative Industries (Media) See the training facilities at the Pulse Radio Station and Pulse TV and experience a hands on taster of what this course offers.

Wednesday, 11 December 2013 from 2pm - 4pm followed by a Parent Information Session from 4pm - 4.30pm at the Pulse, 68-71 Lt Ryrie Street, Geelong.

SIB20110 Certificate II in Retail Make-Up and Skin Care

Participate in a hands on make-up taster and discover where a career in make-up can lead you.

Wednesday, 11 December 2013 from 1pm - 3pm followed by a Parent Information Session from 3pm - 3.30pm at Centrepoint Arcade, 132 Lt Malop Street, Geelong.

Call 5224 2329

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

www.diversitat.org.au/training FORTEMAG.COM.AU

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Parkers Steakhouse My favourite animal is steak – Fran Lebowitz

aged a further 10 days to ensure a tender, blood-free, high quality piece of meat.”

Is there anyone who doesn’t enjoy a good steak? Sure, but they’re missing out. Few things in the world of food beat a good steak; the trouble is a good steak can be hard to find. People may think they hold the secret, but few do. At Parkers Steakhouse you will find a winner. With a comfortable, rustic look and open kitchen so you feel part of the process, you know you’re in for a treat even before you take your first bite. Douglas Unsworth is the King of the Steak at Parkers, and he gives us the rundown here: “Parkers in Geelong opened eight years ago to fill the void in the market for great steak done properly.

We are the premiere steakhouse in town, having established a great following by people of all ages. We have been diligent in our research in order to make your experience a unique, and most importantly, a memorable one.”

Fear not, hungry travellers, although steak is Parkers speciality, there is plenty more on the menu including chicken breast, lamb mignons, pork ribs, Angus beef ribs and salmon. They even have a vegetarian meal (this is a steakhouse, after all), eleven entrees, five salads, a small selection of sides, a menu for the little ones and desserts. Mushroom, Black Pepper, Green Pepper, Creamy Garlic, BBQ and Danish Blue Cheese sauces are available for your steak. The sauces actually became so popular that they had to outsource the production of them, working with a company called Steakhouse Supply Group to create sauces that will have you smacking your lips together.

It would seem their research and attention to detail has paid off, with Parkers opening a second steakhouse at 7 Palmerston Street, Drysdale, nine months ago. “We converted a doctor’s surgery into a restaurant, making what was 12 rooms into one big room with the trademark open kitchen using wood from the old Barwon Heads bridge to hold up the roof – really rustic indeed!” With the warmer months here, Douglas expects things to get a lot busier.

So, what makes a steak from Parkers so good? Is the secret ingredient love? Well, they love what they do, but it’s all about the quality of ingredients. “What makes our meat different to most restaurants is that our specifications go back as far as when the cattle are still grazing. We only accept cattle that are between three-and-half years old to four-years-old, yielding a full flavoured piece of meat. All cattle are strictly pasture fed; therefore no feed lots which ensures no growth hormones, steroids or antibiotics are added to their feed. The meat is then dryaged for a minimum of 28 days, then wet-

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Unfortunately, the venue does not book functions. There is a valid reason, however.

Because the venue prides itself on firstrate quality, they try and keep numbers to a maximum. Many chefs will bite off more than they can chew, and because you don’t want a chewy steak, the maximum number at any one table is 16. That way the chef can prepare your steak to your liking without compromising quality.

If you love to pair a good drop with your steak, Parkers has a fantastic wine list which includes several Geelong wines including Scotchmans Hill Swan Bay, Moorabool Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Waurn Ponds Shiraz, Oakdene Vineyards Shiraz, Austins Shiraz and Scotchmans Hill Shiraz. You will also find numerous beers and soft drinks.

I am going to leave it to Douglas to tempt you one last time: “Parkers is not just the best place to eat in Geelong this holiday season, it’s the best place to eat at anytime.

With our superior quality meat, attentive service and our commitment to hygiene and innovation in food preservation, we are at the pinnacle of the hospitality industry.”

Eat up.

INFO: Geelong: 2 Shorts Place 03 5221 8485 Drysdale: 7 Palmerston Street 03 5251 5551 parkerssteakhouse.com.au

The Barwon Club Hotel With summer fast-approaching, we start thinking about how we are going to enjoy our break, and part of any good holiday must include getting together for a few drinks with friends. When considering where to assemble your next social outing look no further than the Barwon Club.

There are good pubs, there are great pubs and then there is the Barwon Club. Started in 1990, the Barwon Club has grown to become Geelong’s most iconic pub. Offering classic pub meals, a place for a pot on a Friday night and an ever-evolving line-up of live music, the Barwon Club continues to provide the perfect option for all occasions. This summer is sure to be no different with a bunch of day parties planned, along with a variety of other fun events.

So, let’s take a look at the summer ahead shall we? First off, let’s take a squiz at what is happening ‘On the Deck’. Every Sunday there are ‘DJ Summer Sessions’ from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. featuring some of Geelong finest DJs including Moluck and Le Chook, with a rotating cast of others. The new look deck provides sensational and spacious outdoor seating options where you can enjoy the sunshine with a bar close by, as well as great music from experienced local and out of town DJs. The good times continue with ‘Super Cider Sunday’ with Geelong best cover bands, including ‘Good Faces for Radio’ and ‘Test Pilot Molly’ playing from 8 p.m. until late. This is a perfect way to enjoy the sun on a Sunday whilst nursing a hangover from the Saturday night before – or a way to make the weekend last a little bit longer.

The bar staff will keep you cool with Cider Specials that run from 8 p.m., so you can drink responsibly whilst saving some coin.

There is a huge summer of live music set to take the band room by storm. Across December there are performances planned for The Nerve with King of the North and the Soulenikoes (13th); Callas Drane with Thieving Byrds, The Salvadors (14th); and The Go Set Xmas Party (20th). Combined with these dates there is also the Veeped Jerks Squad Xmas Party and the Boxing Day Slam which, for anyone who has attended in the past, comprises a huge line-up of DJs and bands. The Boxing Day Slam, now an iconic event on Geelong’s calendar, will have three stages of live music, so keep your eye out for details on the line-up as they emerge.

Every Monday night is Parmy Night, with over 10 unique options to choose from. The Barwon Club is open for lunch Monday-Friday with dinner available 7 nights a week. Drink promos are available on a regular basis.

INFO: 509 Moorabool Street, South Geelong 5221 4584 barwonclub.com.au

Jump on your phone and download the BC app, FREE from the app store, and keep up to date with what’s on, plus be rewarded for ‘Checking In’. You can also follow the Barwon Club on Facebook.

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Bird Rock Café written by Luke McNamara

As summertime approaches people start thinking about the beach and the cool atmosphere that being at the seaside creates. Geelong has a rare luxury of having several great coastal locations within a half hour’s drive, and no coastal spot is more beautiful and iconic than Jan Juc. Up on the hill, on the corner at the Jan Juc shopping area, a stone’s throw from the Bells Beach walking trail is Bird Rock. Forte caught up with Mickos, Bird Rock’s owner, to have a chat about his iconic venue.

Bird Rock is a restaurant/café/bar that is known locally and afar for its food. It is also a place where you can get together with friends to enjoy some live music and have a few drinks. When you walk through the doors you will be instantly struck by the unique and seemingly effortless surfie, skate, ’80s-’90s retro vibe and the welcoming energy from staff who provide a relaxed atmosphere.

Bird Rock’s menu is one that will always leave you scratching your head on what to pick – I am speaking from experience here, as I have eaten at Bird Rock upward of 10 times. The Bird Rock menu has all your stock standard favourites: Scotch Fillet 300gm steak, Oven-baked Parma and sensational burgers; however, there are also more adventurous options such as house-made Thaistyle spring rolls, San Choy Bow, Nasi Goreng, Shark Quesadilla or a crunchy Vietnamese chicken salad. The food options are creative and there is something for everyone; if you are expecting only stock standard pub fare when you sit down to eat you will be pleasantly surprised.

Mickos summed up what is important to him when it comes to service and dining: “I guess we just do our best to provide people with a great atmosphere, vibe and service; somewhere where you can go on a date or take the wife and kids out for dinner.

We strive to cater for everyone and I think that’s what sets us apart from the rest.” As a patron I can personally vouch for this. Mickos will always take a couple of minutes when you order to spruik his wonderful menu options and let you know what sauce goes best with what and what might tickle your fancy. There is a Mexican Night Wednesday and a Pizza Night Thursday and the menu is well priced with mains from $17 to $26.

If the food is what people come for, then they stay for the party. Bird Rock is not only a café it is also a popular nightspot for locals and tourists. Bird Rock is the perfect place for beers with friends on the weekend, and they also boast a colourful cocktail and wine list. When it comes to music Mickos has it covered, as he happily divulged. “Thursday nights have become awesome nights for us – having live music with many solo and duo performances of the blues, indie, rock, acoustic type. Saturday night and Sunday arvo/night we have funk, soul, dub, hip hop DJ RJ playing on the decks, spinning super funky laid-back booty shaking tunes which suit our vibe. And other than that you’ll hear awesome records playing new school and old school.”

Whilst at the moment the music line-up generally consists of funky vinyl on rotation and a few very talented local acts, there are plans to attract some bigger names. At this stage details are still under wraps, but keep your eyes peeled for more word on that front.

As with everything, Bird Rock’s attitude to the live music is very inviting, and Mickos extends a warm welcome: “If someone is keen to come down and play some music please contact us via Facebook or come in and say hi. We are always keen to hear great music.” So there you go aspiring DJs and bands – get in touch!

So, there it is people; this is a venue for which our region is very lucky to have. It offers both food and drinks in a casual and funky environment, with close proximity to the beach. What more could you ask for? If you’re tossing up where to go during summer, why not find a designated driver and hit up Bird Rock.

INFO: 1 Stuart Avenue, Jan Juc

A few footnotes: It is very important for people to book tables all year as this place is popular. In January Bird Rock will be open 5 days a week for lunch – closed for lunch Monday and Tuesday. It will be open every night for dinner – food from 5.30 p.m., drinks from 4 p.m., with lunch and coffee from 12-noon.

Ph: 5261 5590 birdrockcafe. com.au facebook.com/ birdrockcafe

If you want to book functions, birthday parties or big groups call 5261 5590 and ask to speak with Michael.

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

Lead Guitarist with Vocal Ability wanted for a 70’s/80’s Cover Band.

Age: 30 -35++. must be reliable. Gigs waiting.

Contact Phil: 0410465634 or 0352758691

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

Guitarist & Keyboard Player Wanted for pop/rock originals band.

Looking for experienced musicians who can also sing harmonies, are easygoing and reliable.

Contact Phil 0421 901 530 www.zeffamusic.com

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

30ish year old trumpet player, looking to form or play in jazz group.

Ballarat area. Contact Mel 0435360076 19yo Male singer looking for funk/ rock musicians: Want similar aged guys who like Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Beatles, and ANYTHING funky bass! i love ANY music prior to 1950s all the way back to classical and beyond! I also play trumpet, Contact Sam 0407 347 444

Looking for a rock singer between the age 17-19. Main Influences are Green Day, Foo Fighters and Led Zeppelin. Band with Management and Label. Email and info at melodicmusic.com

Looking for a drummer, not afraid to experiment. Male/ female. Age 35++ ono. All original. English/Australian influences without the radio play. Original to the extent of punk/pop Lead Guitarist, Bass sensibility 1978 to the Player and Vocalist not-so-now style. Think are looking for an of yourself as a patron experienced drummer of The Saints, Stiff Little to complete a Geelong Fingers, Radio Birdman, based Blues/Rock outfit.

Buzzcocks, The Smiths, Influences include : Jimi Psychedelic Furs, Iggy & Hendrix, Cream, The The Stooges, Wedding Doors, Pink Floyd, John Present, Happy Mondays Lee Hooker, Van Morrison, etc etc, then forget you Black Keys, Ash Grunwald, have to be. The usual...

Stevie Ray Vaughan car, equipment, attitude, etc... Also have originals mental state (in an OK kind to develop together as of...) punctual, earplugs well. If interested contact accepted. Be prepared to - Craig: 0404 054 045 apply yourself. Let us know or email transform_pt@ on 0409 567 043. Please yahoo.com.au leave your details and we will hear you - Confirmation Screaming Vocalist wanted for metalcore code: AKA 1963

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BENDIGO:

Ryan Gay – All in a Day’s Work

What’s On in The Rat:

Thursday, December 12 – December 19

by Darlene Taylor

By Daniel Lock

At the age of twenty-two, Ryan Gay has already established a profile as a DJ named ‘Knot’, he’s continuing to hone his skills as an acoustic performer and he’s just started working for a bank that gives many local musicians gainful employment.

Hello Bangers and Mashers, Daniel here with a rundown of this next week’s gigs.

Friday the 13th of December will be alive and superstitious. Try not to step on any cracks, walk under any ladders and don’t let black cats cross your path on this devils night – but do make sure you get along to one of these gigs.

A university graduate with a dual degree in IT and business, Ryan, who looks every bit the professional in his office attire, started his involvement in music at the age of nineteen when he purchased a deck that helped him survive financially during his studies. With a focus on events like weddings, Ryan isn’t coy about identifying what he sees as the qualities required (and not required) of a successful disc jockey: “Song selection, public relations and attitude [is] a huge thing as well. There’s so many dickheads, so many dickheads … I’ve never met more dickheads in an industry.”

At the Babushka Lounge/Café/Gallery they’ll be hosting Ron Rude & the Renaissance Band along with Matt Malone. Entry cost TBC. Down and around the corner at The Main Bar they’ve got Paige Duggan playing and singing for patrons. Paige is a solo artist well known within Ballarat’s music community for not only her music, but also her support of the University Live Production course and local community radio station Voice FM.

Even if being a DJ is his most fruitful extra-curricular activity – with more than fifty bookings already this year – Ryan can also be seen playing guitar and singing in places like The Music Man Megastore and at strategically located positions near nightclubs.

“I feel like I might be absolutely trying to play the full marketing card there in every way, shape and form, and I think in that way I’m trying just to be an acoustic DJ,” he says about the places he busks and the songs he plays when busking.

While performing on footpaths comes with hazards such as repeated requests to hear ‘Wonderwall’, Ryan views it as an opportunity to practise, make some money and perform to an appreciative crowd.

Indeed his first effort as a busker with his brother and a friend resulted in the tidy sum of $300, which is more than most acts get for playing in a venue.

“People don’t want to give you pity money; they want to give you money because they like what you do,” he says.

Ryan’s acoustic endeavours, although secondary to his DJ work, are still approached with a work ethic that appears to be present in everything he does. The young musician, who’s an admirer of the expressive Ed Sheeran and Jeff Buckley, only picked up a guitar a couple of years ago but his diligent approach to practising has been harmful to his fingertips. “They tried to take blood from me the other day when I donated and they couldn’t get through my calluses,” he says.

Fundraising efforts for the forthcoming Rock in the Vines festival, which is scheduled to occur in March 2014, have given Ryan the chance to play at the Golden Vine Hotel and the Big Hill Vineyard.

However, he’s an uncertain acoustic artist whose apprehensions are partly explained by sharing accommodation with the exceptionally talented Grim Fawkner (aka Tané Emia-Moore) and also by a desire to acquaint himself with his vocal style. “I feel like I’ve been having this identity crisis when it comes to singing with my own voice,” he says.

“So I don’t really know exactly what my own voice is yet and that’s one of the things I really want to sort out. It’s not metaphorical; I’m not taking you on this spiritual journey to find my Zen. I’m trying to find technically my comfortable vocal range,” adds Ryan.

Wholeheartedly embracing the madness of a Friday the 13th is the Karova Lounge with their rock and metal line-up. King Parrot headline with their unique high vocal death metal which will be sure to enflame the spirits of fans and regulars into a crazy myriad of moshing. Supporting them on tour are the throaty rock gods Gay Paris who recently took out the Australian Independent Music Award for their genre, metal/hardcore.

Also on the bill are local rockabilly fellas The Yard Apes and local metal boys HackxWhore.

Tickets $15.

Saturday the 14th has an artist called DASH playing at The Babushka Lounge.

Over at The Main Bar they have jazz duo Kimba and Ryan playing with guests. Who those guests

are it doesn’t say, but if classic jazz tunes in a relaxed atmosphere sounds like an evening that would fit your taste, get to The Main Bar. Entry $12/$15.

Sunday the 15th at The Main Bar they have professional lap steel guitarist Owen Campbell showing for a promotional tour of his latest album The Pilgrim. Supporting him will be local music lady Freya Hollick bringing tunes to the table from one of her preferred music genres (or perhaps from all of them – a bit of variety never goes astray). Entry $15.

Sunday over at Babushka Bar still includes the open stage jam. So get along to that if you like to play and share with other artists on a lazy Sunday.

Thursday, December 19 at Babushka Bar has the publican Garth Horsfield stepping out from behind the bar and onto the stage with resident favourite, musician, singer/songwriter and barfly, Birahny Lawrence.

That same night at The Main Bar they have The Slurrymen playing their casual rock blues in their four-piece ensemble. Entry $5.

Anyway, that’s the report for what’s happening at the forefront of the Ballarat music scene over the next week and a bit. Remember to check out The Eastern Station also for live gigs that’ll be advertised closer to the date on their Facebook: facebook.com/easternstation?fref=ts The Main Bar: themainbar.com.au; The Babushka Bar:evileye.com.au/ babushkalounge.com; and last but not least, The Karova Lounge: karovalounge.com

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Ryan’s the sort of performer who’ll put in the hard yards to find that voice.

25 Songs of Summer

… excluding Summer of ’69

That’s right readers, it has come to this. It’s summer, there are songs with the word summer in the title – we’re doing it.

Oh yes, we’re doing it. But we live a little dangerously here at Forte; hence we are not including Bryan Adams’ ‘Summer of ’69’. To us Bryan is like the guy at a party who picks up a guitar and starts playing it when no one asked him to. We jest, of course; Big B isn’t so bad. We’re just giving his song about a summer of a particular year the flick for this one.

Summer Babe

The Other Side of Summer

Summer, Highland Falls

Artist: Elvis Costello

Artist: Billy Joel

Opening lyrics: The sun struggles up another beautiful day, and I felt glad in my own suspicious way.

Opening lyrics: They say that these are not the best of times but they’re the only times I’ve ever known.

Sweetheart in the Summer

The Summer

Artist: Led Zeppelin

Artist: Ween

Opening lyrics: No lyrics.

Opening lyrics: She’s a sweetheart in the summer; summertime is here again. She’s a sweetheart in the summer; and I hope it never ends.

Opening lyrics: On darkened streets tonight, I see a simple time; I see the waning light, when the summer comes undone.

Artist: Pavement Opening lyrics: Ice, baby; I saw your girlfriend and she’s eating her fingers like they’re just another meal.

White Summer/ Black Mountain Side Summer Romance Artist: The Rolling Stones Opening lyrics: Just a few days and you’ll be back in your school; I’ll be sitting around by the swimming pool.

Summertime Blues Artist: Eddie Cochran Opening lyrics: Well, I’m gonna raise a fuss, I’m gonna raise a holler; About a workin’ all summer just to try an’ earn a dollar.

Girls in their Summer Clothes Artist: Bruce Springsteen Opening lyrics: Well the street lights shine down on Blessing Avenue; Lovers they walk by holdin’ hands two by two.

Summer in Siam Artist: The Pogues Opening lyrics: When it’s summer in Siam, and the moon is full of rainbows; When it’s summer in Siam, and we go through many changes.

Artist: Yo La Tengo

In the Summertime Artist: Bob Dylan Opening lyrics: I was in your presence for an hour or so, or was it a day? I truly don’t know.

My Summer Vacation Artist: Ice Cube Opening lyrics: (This is the final boarding call for flight 1259 departing from Los Angeles, final destination to St. Louis.

Thank you). Damn G, the spot’s getting’ hot; so how the f**k am I supposed to make a knot?

Summer Days Artist: Radio Citizen (featuring Bajka) Opening lyrics: Summer Days are filled with rain, and the clouds just won’t stop crying.

Saddest Summer Artist: The Drums Opening lyrics: If you’ve got a boyfriend, well go kiss him; If you’ve got a girlfriend, well go kiss her

Summer Song Artist: Louis Armstrong & Dave Brubeck Opening lyrics: Love, to me, is like a summer day; Silent ’cause, there’s just too much to say.

Summer of the Lily Pond

Summer of Drugs

Artist: Hellogoodbye

Opening lyrics: My sister got bit by a copperhead snake in the woods behind the house; Nobody was home so I grabbed her foot and I sucked that poison out.

Opening lyrics: Summer of the lily pond, how long I didn’t know.

Summer ’68 Artist: Pink Floyd Opening lyrics: Would you like to say something before you leave?; Perhaps you’d care to state exactly how you feel.

Summer in the City Artist: The Lovin’ Spoonful

Artist: Soul Asylum

Long Hot Summer Artist: Helen Love Opening lyrics: (When I say I’m in love, you best believe I’m in love. L-U-V). Pledged her love, at Burger King; She gave him a candy ring.

Summer’s Gone Artist: The Kinks

Dirty Black Summer

Opening lyrics: Hot town, summer in the city; back of my neck getting dirty and gritty.

Artist: Danzig

Summer Skeletons

Summer’s End

Artist: Radical Face

Artist: Foo Fighters

Opening lyrics: We were sun-burned and shoeless kids; it was the dead of July.

Opening lyrics: Early morning without warning woke me with a scare; I had that dream again, that the sun was dead.

Opening lyrics: No summer in the wintertime will keep you warm like a funeral pyre.

Summer Artist: Smashing Pumpkins Opening lyrics: In the summer I can breathe, I don’t need a single thing; and all the love you give, is so sweet.

Opening lyrics: Looking in a window on a rainy day; Thinking about good things that I just threw away.

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The Glitter Gang

written by Natalie Rogers

If you’re a live music junky or take pride in supporting your local scene, The Glitter Gang will need no introduction. The Geelong-based seventies glam rockers are local heroes and now, thanks to a new show on the ABC, ‘Exhumed’ (and its tagline – It’s not for hasbeens, it’s not for wannabes, it’s for neverweres), The Glitter Gang has the chance to show Australia that “glam rock lives!”

“It’s certainly been different! A mixture of excitement and terror!” laughed Grant Whiteside, aka Barry Glitter (frontman, guitarist and original member). “Our keyboard player Jon [or Stevie Kineval] entered us in the competition. We didn’t actually know about it – he sprung it on us at a gig. It was only a week later we found out we were chosen as a band they wanted to look at. So we quickly organised a gig at the Barwon Club on a Tuesday night and we had nearly three nights of cameras shoved in our faces. As time has gone on we’ve got more used to being filmed, but poor old Jon is still very nervous,” he joked.

Since they were picked as one of the final six, The Glitter Gang has spent many hours being filmed: “We were nervous that we’d be portrayed as the token joke band. With clever editing you can turn anyone into a hero or zero, but the ABC definitely hasn’t portrayed us that way at all. It’s been an incredible experience.”

So, first things first – who is your biggest competition? “I don’t really know, they’re all such good musicians. The New Zealanders [now Kalgoorlie-based band, Jahsifik] have got great voices and harmonies, which is what we pride ourselves on, so that’s a bit tough. It’s just such a diverse group so it’s very difficult to say who our rivals are,” Grant replied diplomatically.

“When we were shown the other five finalists we all thought, ‘Wow, we’re privileged to be in amongst them!’ I think it’s going to be a very difficult task for the judges to actually come up with a winner.”

Four episodes in, all that’s left to see is the Gang win over the judges and Australia at the live grand final tonight! “We’re really looking forward to getting out there and performing for everyone at the

live Grand Final. That’s what we’re about – we’ve always seen ourselves as a live band. We love it and hopefully we’ll pull it off and impress James Valentine and the three judges [Julia Zemiro, Tim Rogers and Clare Bowditch].”

No matter what the outcome, Grant assures me they’ll stay true to their hometown fans and continue to play their usual haunts. “Being part of Exhumed has definitely opened some doors, but The Glitter Gang is all about having fun; we don’t have any aspirations to be the biggest band in the world. It’s

been nearly twenty-three years of gigging around town and we’re still enjoying every minute of it.”

So it makes perfect sense that these local guys will ring in the New Year at home – at The Sphinx Hotel, to be exact. “We’re playing with eighties glam band Fistful of Steel – as we’re a seventies band there’s a bit of a rivalry between us. There’s definitely been a bit of trash-talking going on,” Barry chuckled. “It might come down to a sing off. We’re planning something around midnight to showcase the two bands on stage at the same time – The Gang loves

E&D summer edition Out Now!

a bit of theatrics!”

Tune in tonight to see who’ll be crowned the winner of ABCs inaugural Exhumed competition, and in the meantime go to sphinxhotel.com.au for tickets to The Glitter Gangs NYE show with Fistful of Fury.

Seriously, who can resist a glam rock sing-off with trash-talk to boot?

When&Where: The Sphinx, Geelong – NYE

FREE! FREE! ISSUE #04 ISSUE #03 SPRING‛13 SUMMER‛13-14

eat & drink magazine - quarterly guide -

the region's premier food and wine guide!

edmag.com.au

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geelong, bellarine, surf coast & golden plains

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Dean and Carruthers written BY TEX MILLER

Over the years, Geelong has produced many entertainers and musicians, from the likes of Barry Crocker, Chrissie Amphlett to Adalita from Magic Dirt, and many musicians have spread their wings and gone on to bigger music scenes. One such duo that has done just that but also has never forgotten the local scene is Terry Dean and Garry Carruthers.

Since forming in the mid eighties, the duo has played hundreds of gigs, played long term residencies at many pubs around Melbourne and the region and mingled with rock royalty in Cat Stevens and the band America, most well known for their classic tune ‘Horse With No Name’. I recently got the opportunity to sit down with Terry for a retrospective chat about their career ahead of their gig at Bar Pizza.

When I get on the phone with Terry Dean, he informs me that it has been hectic with loads of Christmas parties and private functions. “It’s been a pretty busy time of late because it’s getting into the festive season, we have three or four gigs a week, which is quite laidback compared to the old days, where we were playing six or seven nights a week.” Terry said.

Throughout their time together as a group, Dean and Carruthers have set the standard for what can be achieved by just two guys with guitars and vocals.

Although there is no official set list, the spontaneity of just winging it and getting up and playing has some merit in it. “ Between the two of us, we know about 500 songs and so we just get up and start playing.

Luckily everybody else seems to like them too. The workload is a lot more carefree and easier than the

Archie Roach written by Natalie Rogers

Archie Roach is one man who has truly struck a chord in the hearts and minds of fellow Australians and touched many more people around the world. As one of the stolen generation, Archie’s start in life was difficult to say the least, but his strength of spirit and love of music saw him break down barriers to become one of Australia’s most awarded and respected singer-songwriters.

Archie recalled his reluctance to pursue fame and fortune, even after being taken under the wing of Paul Kelly.

“I didn’t really think about making records or being in the public eye; it’s something I’ve had to come to terms with. When it first happened [being recognised in public] it was a bit of a shock and surprise, but I’ve got over that now!” he laughed. “I had no idea back then that I’d be here now. I’m just happy to play music and I do it for the love of it. I’m happiest when I’m at home playing music with my family and around the community.”

Community and family are very important to Archie, and have become even more so since the loss of his wife and musical soul mate Ruby Hunter plus two recent health scares – first a debilitating stroke, then a very lucky, early diagnosis of throat cancer. Archie feared he may not sing again, but thanks to his fighting spirit returned to live performance soon after major surgery. “Overcoming everything that’s happened has given me great strength; it wasn’t easy, but I’m pretty thick skinned. I just put everything into my music and it helped me through. I love making music and I want

Jaaleekaay written by Tex Miller

Steve Berry – acclaimed producer and guitarist who has worked with the likes of Australian rock royalty in Shane Howard, Kev Carmody and Robyn Archer to name just a few – took a trip to The Gambia in February this year and the result comes out as his new project entitled Jaaleekaay, who have on the back of a few initial recordings landed themselves gigs on some of Australia’s biggest festivals including Woodford and Port Fairy Folk Festival next March. On the morning of the group’s first Australian show at the Mullum Music Festival, I got the opportunity to chat with Steve, who is incredibly excited about taking this project on the road.

“Our first show is tonight and Amadou and Yusupha have come over from Gambia a couple of weeks ago and it has all come together very organically and quickly. Mullumbimby is my home town and so to be launching this new outfit at the festival is a great opportunity. It feels like a great success, even though we haven’t hit the stage yet!” Steve said.

Having been together as a band for such a short period of time, the success that has followed the band is simply remarkable. With three tunes up on their SoundCloud page, the skill and musicianship that each brings to the group is shown throughout each of their tracks that are all stunningly beautiful in their own right. Travelling throughout The Gambia after being invited over by percussionist King Marong, the musical partnership of Jaaleekaay furthers on from Steve’s working with Indigenous

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eighties and I think playing slightly less gigs means that I am able to enjoy getting up and playing a lot more.”

The main physical change that has affected the career of Dean and Carruthers, was the introduction of pokie machines throughout the 90’s into licensed venues.

From their ten year residencies at The New Boundary Hotel and the Barwon Heads Hotel, the duo are now playing more private parties and functions, than the pub gig. However, these experiences have helped build a healthy career. “It really follows on the old adage of what goes on tour, but some of the fondest memories of our pub residencies were being able to pull 500- 600 people every Saturday night and get everyone singing and dancing. It was a hectic time but we loved every minute of it. These days Gary plays a lot with Troy Casser Daley and Kasey Chambers, and I run a guitar shop in Essendon, so the fun of getting up and playing as Dean and Carruthers, is always there although it’s not a full time gig anymore.”

Influenced by the likes of Chuck Berry and the Beatles, the spontaneity in playing, means that literally anything can happen at a Dean and Carruthers gig.

If you haven’t experienced the stage show yet, head along to Bar Pizza to finish your year in style. “If we like a song between the two of us, we’ll play it, the song selection is that simple. We showcase anything from The Beatles to Pearl Jam and back again. With a range of instrumentation, the crowd most often directs us and if last time was anything to go by, this is set to be a cracker. See you there!”

When&Where: Bar Pizza, December 20.

to continue to for years to come.

“It’s my job and I’m very lucky to be doing something that I love. My work is writing songs, getting up on stage and playing my songs for people. Music brings people together. Music festivals in this country are a great thing, particularly the Port Fairy Folk Festival.

It has a great atmosphere and people from all walks of life and all ages – young to old and in between.

We’ve got some amazing Australian performers and this festival will showcase that.”

For the Port Fairy Folk Festival Archie is planning something quite unique, and he tells me it’ll be a lot of fun: “I’ll be joined by a ten-piece ensemble. When I have a great ensemble around me it makes it so much more enjoyable. There are some incredible musicians, including a string quartet, and I have three wonderful backup singers.”

Archie and his ensemble will play songs from his recently released compilation Creation. As well as unreleased demos and recordings, the compilation features all four of Archie’s pervious LPs beautifully remastered. “I sat down with my producer Craig Pilkington, who did all the remastering, and over a period of time we decided what to include. It’s not easy to decide what to leave out and what to put in.

Some of the songs have never been heard because they failed to make it onto one of the four albums.

We’ve also added some live studio sessions as well.”

Creation also includes commentary from old friend Paul Kelly and other producers who’ve worked with Archie over the years, as well as some unseen images by former Mushroom Records Art Director Pierre Baroni. “I’m very proud of this album and it’s been really well received. Putting together Creation reminded me what I love about music in the first place: that is playing music and interacting with the crowd. That’s why I love festivals and I love what I do; so yeah, the future looks bright!”

Australians and using music as a means to help education outcomes.

“King came out and did some percussion work with kids and me in the far north of South Australia and saw what I was doing with music there and said ‘Steve, you should come to Gambia and see the country and what you can do there’. Without any expectations, I travelled over there with my guitar and along the way happened to meet Amadou and Yusupha. We had an immediate musical connection and it felt really exciting. That’s when the cogs really started turning and we started to plan this tour we are just starting now,” Steve related about the chance meeting.

Throughout the next few days, the three-piece recorded a few tracks on a portable recorder that Steve had brought with him and the foundation for the band’s upcoming releases was laid down. In Germany a few months later, Jaaleekaay recorded a couple more tracks, the result of which is their debut EP which can be bought side of stage after the band’s set at each show.

If you’re heading along to Port Fairy Folk Festival next year, I highly recommended you check these guys out. From the technical prowess of the playing, it’s easy to see that this is a sound that will progress as the band plays more shows together. Not only have they released a debut EP, through the continual process of writing and recording on the road, Jaaleekaay are aiming to push out another EP by the time that Port Fairy rolls around.

“Port Fairy is always a fantastic festival and I can’t wait to showcase what we have been working on. It’s a natural feeling between all of us, and I’m excited to see where it will develop to into the future.” when&where: Port Fairy Folk Festival - 7-10 March 2014

when&where: Port Fairy Folk Festival - 7-10 March 2014

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Because the Internet – Childish Gambino

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You loved him as Troy Barnes on Community; now you tolerate him as a mid-range American hip hop artist. This is Donald Glover’s second album. Available now on Universal.

The Sunnyboy I got to see this documentary at Splendour this year, and it was brilliant. It tells the story of Sunnyboys frontman Jeremy Oxley and his battle with schizophrenia. Available now from Madman.

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They Might Be Giants are releasing their biggest records in two doubledisc sets – just in time for Christmas.

Flood is pretty much the definitive TMBG album and contains most of the band’s best-known songs.

Available now on Elektra.

Our Best Of – The Sunnyboys And in conjunction with that release, The Sunnyboys are releasing a greatest hits compilation just to remind you of how great they were.

Available now on Warner.

Wicked – Original Cast Recording Deluxe Edition To celebrate the tenth anniversary of Wicked, a deluxe edition of the cast recording is being released, complete with bonus tracks, extra artwork and… essays? Available tomorrow on Decca.

Flood / Apollo 18 and John Henry / Factory Showroom – They Might Be Giants

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Rebel Soul – Kid Rock

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B

C

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Because why not? White-trash royalty Kid Rock is back with a new album. Apparently this is a “return to form” for Kid Rock, which I think is supposed to be a good thing.

Available now on Atlantic.

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Rabbit Don’t Come Easy – Helloween The massive tenth album by German power metal band Helloween is celebrating its tenth anniversary, and as such has been re-released in what is no way a money-grab. Available now on Warner.

TOO HEAVY TO HUG PAUL S TAYLOR chris cruz

It’s Christmas already? Where the H E double hockey sticks has the year gone? Yikes!

Bad Religion have made a video for a track on their recently released Christmas album. ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ can be seen online now – go check it out.

Ron Reyes has officially been ousted from Black Flag. It’s a very long, drawn out, complicated story, so you might wanna grab a comfy chair and park yourself in front of your PC and read the various statements and reports doing the rounds online.

Bag 7” yet? It’s killer, so shame on you if you haven’t!

Anyone interested in playing drums for Hopes Abandoned can hit the band up via their Facebook page.

Authority Zero are about to embark on a co-headlining North American tour with Guttermouth.

Should be very, very interesting! I hope nobody gets punched in the face on THIS tour!

Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins is facing some pretty serious jail time for the child sex charges he’s up against in Wales. This is some Title Fight have made seriously messed up a video for their song shit. If you DO Google ‘Be a Toy’. It’s on their the details, have a Spring Songs 7” and bucket ready. it’s out now through The first Australian Revelation Records.

Vans Warped Tour For those of you on in FOREVER will be Facebook, I implore over and done with you to check out a by the time you read page called Punk this, but don’t worry, Rock Memes. It’s so there will be NO funny you will literally report on it next issue shit. My favourite – I promise. If you dig one is a dude with a Simple Plan and emo mohawk dry-heaving bands that hardly into a rubbish bin anybody has ever after his girlfriend heard of, I’m sure you says that Blink-182 were there and saw are punk. Classic! for yourself!

NOFX have a new 7” There will, however, EP out in time for the be a complete report holidays! It features on the Nevermind outtakes from last the Warp’d Tour mini years’ self-entitled festival show that took full-length, plus bonus place on the same demos and alternate day at the Brunny. I takes of songs. Pretty know which of the two sweet, and yes, it’s had the better bands! also available on CD. Plans for Hits & Pits Guitarist Frank 2014 are already well Iero (My Chemical underway.

Romance – the The Up the Punx!

ONLY emo/modern festival won’t be rock band worth a damn EVER) has just limiting itself to Melbourne in 2014: issued a two song 7” there’ll be a second and digital download show in Tassie! Pretty via his website. cool!

Have you checked out Teenage Bottlerocket’s American Deutsch

More next week, kids. Have a rad Christmas!

Welcome to THTH, Forte’s premier source of all things heavy, hard, fast and metal.

level, it’s not the focus of their tracks; the focus is proficient musicianship, evil vocals and a beat to bang heads Here we are; we’ve finally made it to the end to. There are some glimmers of Opeth-type of 2013 and with that riffs, Primordial-type comes the complete THTH top5 of 2013! So, interludes amongst the sheer, shredding, let’s celebrate with a f*ck load of beer, cricket, frantic black metal, and gigs and whatever else that’s where this album you need to numb the comes out on top: it has grind of life. everything you could want plus more that you 5) Queens of the didn’t know you wanted Stone Age – …Like until you heard it.

Clockwork That’s it from us here 4) Satyricon – at THTH. Have a killer Satyricon Xmas, get smashed, 3) Erimha – Reign f*ck shit up, whatever Through Immortality – just do it with a metal 2) Avenged Sevenfold shirt on and a bourbon – Hail to the King in your hand. See you 1) Watain – The Wild next year as we embark Hunt on another year of this drudgery we call life, or Yep, those Swedish a calendar … whatever.

Satanists take the number one spot this In other news… year for The Wild Hunt, Mayhem and Watain will a haunting, beautiful, play The Hi-Fi on Friday, brutal, black as night, January 10. intelligent and varied black metal album that As you probably know, obviously not only ticks Blur pulled out of the all of the boxes but sets BDO because they’re a them alight with candles bunch of pussy primapositioned at the five donnas. Deftones are points of the pentagram. one of the bands who will be replacing them From the thrashy and that is a big win for ‘Outlaw’ to the melancholy ‘They Rode music no matter how On’ to the eclectic much you think Blur are ‘Black Flames March’, cool. BDO will be held at Watain have taken Flemington Racecourse black metal and mixed on Friday, January 24. it up with elements Periphery will be at from other sub-genres, Billboard on Sunday, thrust it into the future February 2. with high production and polished it off with Soundwave 2014 will intelligent songwriting be held at Flemington while leaving a lot of Racecourse on Friday, the vocals screaming February 28. and tearing and echoing Start planning your in the halls of past trip to Europe to catch black metal production, leaving a cauldron full of Avenged Sevenfold and Rob Zombie headline bubbling brutality.

Download 2014, to be What Watain do so held on June 13. well is add dashes of If you have any news progression to their about local metal bands, tracks, something almost unheard of back shows or albums, let in the formative days of THTH know by emailing to tooheavytohug@ traditional black metal, and while Satyricon also hotmail.com or get in touch via Twitter at @ do that, Watain do it on that whole subliminal TooHeavyToHug

Blank Thankless Air

By BLAIR HALL

It all started with a plan that Mira had concocted. Bargaining the likelihood that their dull, ignorant parents would probably just snap at them one day soon and actually commit abuse, being that abuse is not outside the realms of possibility for such dull and ignorant people, against the route in which the children intervene and frame their parents for acts of abuse - being that they are so dull and ignorant that abuse might not even come into their small minds. It was a delicate web of psychoanalytic rhetoric and life experience that nudged Mira into arranging a situation where the automobile, the chief symbol, Mira thought, of the decadence of modern western thought, could be used as a tool whereby the parents would be framed into seeming as though they finally snapped mid-breakfast, taking their child outside and placing their head under the wheel of their automobile, reversing over them. So far three children had laid down their lives for the cause, sweeping a “psycho parents crush children skulls” headline across the nation and sending a lot of media types flocking, door-knocking and asking loaded questions like “so when do you think you’ll be next to pulverize your child’s skull in a violent display of parental dominance?”

At one point amidst all of this a man came to the door asking to talk to Mira.

He was tall, vaguely European and wore immaculate suits with sharp, elegant shoulders and crisply tied ties. He couldn’t have been a lawyer, his eyes spoke of absolutes. He got down on one knee so that his head was directly in line with Mira’s, placed her head in between his open palms and looked right into her eyes, stating “It seems we have a very unique individual on our hands here.” His steps were careful and considered, his shoes bowed against the wooden floors of Mira’s house. He took her to the kitchen table and asked to be able to speak with

her alone. Sitting two meters directly across from Mira at their kitchen table, he continued to inquiringly gaze into Mira’s eyes to the point in which she didn’t feel alone. “I have one thing to say to you and then you will never see me again”, stated the man. “Whatever you’re doing, it’s right.

Don’t let anything sway you.”

When the first child committed to this heinous act of self-sacrifice and shaming, the news painted it as a tragic accident in which a child playing intersected with their parent rushing to work. Eventually, after the third identical incident occurring on the same block in the same neighborhood in as many weeks as the killings, the first two incidents were put to review and the parents eventually retried for murder, conspiracy to multiple homicides, illegal private cult activities and misuse of a lethal vehicle. In order to seem heavy on crimes against children, the law decided to make an example out of every aspect of the murders and even go so far as to have the cars “put down” (dismanted, incinerated, buried – all for what exactly?).

None of this made sense to the common man, so eventually an organisation sprung up in response to this with interests vested into the plight of the innocent automobile.

Around the time scientists stepped in to inform the populace that Cars are in fact not sentient and thus there is nothing ethical about how they are treated in any way, following which the organisation in protest, P.E.T.A. (People for the Ethical Treatment of Automobiles), dismantled until only the radical terrorist wing of the organisation remained in charge.

Resultantly, 17 bombings occurred in used car yards across the nation and an underground slogan tagged onto cars whose tyres they slashed - “Am I in the wrong?”.

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arts news from around town – and beyond!

THEATRE RESTAURANT SEASON AT SOVEREIGN HILL

8 in ’88 DISPLAY

WAVES AND WATER

The beach is dominant in Australia’s national identity. It is a physical and cultural landscape, a place for a shared, universal experience.

The photographic lens has been a tool in constructing ideas about the beach, stretching back to late 19th century postcard images of an increasingly active pleasure ground. Waves and Water – Australian Beach Photographs consists of 35 framed photographs, the work of seven important Australian photographers.

Each reveals differing and changing perspectives of the Australian beach and the swimmers and surfers who populate it.

Where: National Wool Museum. 26-32 Moorabool St, Geelong.

WheN: Nov 25-Feb 23, 2014. Open daily.

PHONE: 5472 4701 EMAIL: nwminfo@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

Do you remember the fight to save the Bow Truss Building?

Did you see the Queen when she visited Geelong in 1988?

Do you know anyone who danced the night away with the Comedy Company’s Uncle Arthur at Geelong’s Venus Dance Club?

The Geelong Heritage Centre is featuring eight stories from 1988 in a progressive display until the start of February 2014.

On Now - Yarra Street Pier Fire In the small hours of Sunday 16 October 1988, fire destroyed the familiar and distinctive 80 year old cargo shed at the end of Yarra Street Pier. Find out what ulimately happened to the pier, and read the fascinating story of its earlier brush with fire when the clipper ship Lightning burnt in Corio Bay.

BALLARAT CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

All along Sturt Street, Bridge Street Mall and up Bakery Hill you can see the most amazing collection of Christmas lights, baubles, reindeers and their sleigh made of flowers, and more. There are two huge decorated trees and gigantic baubles near the tree in Sturt Street. It’s a wonderful, winter wonderland sight! Take a visit and be charmed and made to feel like a child again!

Ho, ho, ho!

Where: Geelong Heritage Centre. Top floor – National Wool Museum. 26-32 Moorabool Street, Geelong.

WheN: Various dates through to Feb 7, 2014.

PHONE: 5272 4970.

EMAIL: heritage@geelongcity.vic.gov.au INFO: www.geelongaustralia.com.au/heritage

With a hoot and a holler and a do-sido, Delaware North, In association with Entertainers Anonymous presents the 2013 Theatre Restaurant Season at Sovereign Hill. That’s right, pilgrims, we have a grand old Western show for y’all.

There will be rip-roaring songs, some funny business and a bang-up sassy pantomime.

There’s also fine grub to fill your bellies and thirst quenching beverages to bend your elbow. Bookings are essential.

Where: Victoria Theatre, Sovereign Hill, Bradshaw St, Ballarat.

WheN: Dec 13-14. 7pm.

PHONE: 5329 2393 INFO: www.sovereignhill.com.au

Where: Ballarat – Sturt Street, and more.

WheN: Now.

STEPHEN BOWERS – Beyond Bravura

A SKULK OF FOXES

Need some funky Christmas decorations? A Skulk of Foxes has beautiful wooden pieces.

This particular one was created by illustrator Laura Blythman out of maple. See their website for more, or visit a real shop!

Where: Shop 17/111 Pakington Street, Geelong.

WheN: Shop open Weds-Sat. See website for hours.

PHONE: 5224 1636.

INFO: www.askulkoffoxes.com

TERRAFIRM – Ngaio Lenz

“Terrafirm celebrates an aesthetic of imperfection, of well worn surfaces and landscapes and the imagined history of a place. The works have been created during my year of battling breast cancer and have provided me with the grounding and therapy needed to battle the fight of my life. The process of adding numerous layers and then removing, scraping, scratching and even peeling back into the surface parallels the personal journey I have been on, and my need to

tear back layers of myself to discover a strength and resilience I didn’t know I possessed. There is beauty for me in a surface that has revealed it’s history and a strength in the person that has survived a battle.” - Ngaio Lenz

Geelong Gallery is proud to be the exclusive Victorian venue for Stephen Bowers: Beyond Bravura—JamFactory Icon 2013, a major touring exhibition celebrating the unique career of one of Australia’s leading contemporary ceramic artists. For over 35 years Stephen Bowers has been creating works that fire the imagination, combining intellect and inventiveness with skills and traditions that stretch back thousands of years. Using an array of large vessels and other objects made by various collaborators — including wheel-thrown plates, vases and mugs as well as handmade surfboards — Bowers creates images and stories on ceramic surfaces that blend art historical references with Australiana motifs and icons from popular culture.

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

WheN: Dec 5-Feb 1, 2014.

PHONE: 0428 305 639.

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

Where: Geelong Gallery, 55 Little Malop Street, Geelong.

WheN: Nov 30-Feb 16, 2014.

PHONE: 5229 3645.

EMAIL: geelart@geelonggallery.org.au INFO: www.geelonggallery.org.au

Forte freebies!

Win a double pass to see

the railWAY man starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman

To win just email your name and mobile number to luke@ fortemag.com.au

In cinemas Boxing Day December 26

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Fresh Ink Play Readings written by Amanda Sherring

understand what the basics of the play are and what it could look like. That’s the stage these writers are at; they’re on that bridge of potential.”

The trio previously presented a 15-minute play to the public back in March as part of the yearlong program. “The first play I developed I have since adapted into a film with my friend Michael FJ McCallum. Seeing the alternate paths to delivering the message has been one of the most exciting experiences,” Linford said.

Though the life of a writer may seem like a relaxed and simple path, the students have been studying for the whole 12 months, whilst juggling their busy lives.

As part of the program each writer has been taught about structure, dialogue, character, context and all the foundations of contemporary writing. “The content of the year has been quiet discussion based and making things, so people have been writing stuff every day,” Mueller says.

When&Where: Courthouse ARTS – December 15

Sit down and open your mind, ears and eyes as the first graduates of the Victorian Fresh INK program share their plays in a free reading at 4pm on December 15. After three months of intense writing, the three emerging playwrights will present their 30minute plays at Courthouse ARTS. Creative writing student Zac Linford, Alexandra Macalister-Bills, who organises Melbourne publication Going Down Swinging, and Izzy Roberts-Orr, who comes from a performance background, will all showcase their work.

The three lucky writers spent a day each month of the year with renowned Australian playwright Ross Mueller, honing their craft of writing magnificent plays. “I’ve really encouraged them to take a risk and write something that they haven’t tried to do before and it’s been really exciting to read the drafts as they’ve come through,” Mueller says.

Tales of reclusive housemates and the thoughts we all hide will be key features amongst the plays. Each play has a unique intensity that harnesses the reality of life, whilst making the

watcher question aspects of their own lives.

“We all approached our plays with the idea of banning the censor,” said Deakin student Zac Linford.

The readings are a first look at what the writers have learnt from the entire course and will be performed on a minimal scale, allowing the writing to become the focus for the audience.

“We’ve got five actors, and I’ll spend the day with them rehearsing each play, but they’ll have the script in their hands,” Mueller says.

“It’s enough rehearsal so the audience can

Fresh INK is a program that arose from the Australian Theatre for Young People based in Sydney, and the course at Geelong is the first time it has ever stepped outside New South Wales borders. The partnership is likely to continue next year and Ross is elated at what it will do for the young writers of Geelong and surrounding regions. “I think it has definitely put Geelong on the map as far as a national understanding of where young writers could be coming from,” Mueller says. “It’s also important to be happening outside a capital city. The fact that there’s a regional base changes the storylines that are being told.”

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tweet of the week

T H E INSI D E SPLIN T E R S

TOP 5 POP WEBSITES of 2013

and is already making waves across the poploving community. The staff consists of nine hugely talented Australian and New Zealand writers, some still living in their home country and some who have since set their sights abroad. The point of the blog is to take a critical and often personal look at pop music from an Aussie’s perspective, whether it be Aussie pop releases or international mega-hits.

Another hallmark online presence for pop, The Singles Jukebox is one of the most exciting (and nerdy) pop music blogs you will ever come across.

Sample quote: “A compelling portrait of a sociopath who knows he’s about to utterly dominate yet another game of emotional chicken. ‘Say Something’ is the sound of someone who only knows how to fall in with Sigur Rós videos. It’s goosed by the name, if not the presence, of Christina Aguilera; she’s so tiny here, it’s as if she’s echoing her lover’s words on the drive home, cratered by the idea that she gave herself for so long to something so monstrous. Great work, all.”

SILLY OLD DANIEL sillyolddaniel.blogspot.com

celebsthatcopymadonna. tumblr.com This satirical blog shines bright in its genius with some of the most hysterically breathtaking posts the internet has ever seen.

The pictures that accompany the stories are usually as golden as the words that follow them (for example: “Fire-crotched lead singer of lesbian emo-pop band

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needs to know that in this country we have copyright laws!”

Sample quote: “1989: Madonna invents long brown wigs with flat, long bangs. 2004: Rihanna steals Madonna’s most iconic haircut! Poor little girl, somebody take her to her embassy! She

SCHIZOPHONIC

POPJUSTICE popjustice.com All of these years on, Popjustice still remain one of the absolute go-to spaces on the internet.

Although they have developed an interestingly odd appreciation for Glee-warbler Lea Michele over these last few weeks, I urge you not to let that get in the way of visiting the site.

Sample quote: “The [Fifty Shades of Grey] film is due out in 2015 so there’s still some time for Rita Ora to get her second album out before this potentially ends her career.”

schizophonic.org This relatively new pop blog emerged at the start of November

Sample quote: “Hey, do you remember that time when Lady Gaga could get away with literally anything and people would still say she was brilliant? So does Lady Gaga. In fact in Lady Gaga’s head, and literally no one else’s who doesn’t have the word ‘monster’ or ‘Germanotta’ in their Twitter username, that time still exists. The problem is, she’s come out as if nothing has changed, but frankly it has. It’s not that people are tired of Lady Gaga or she got ‘boring’ or anything like that, but that X-Facto performance is not accessible to everybody is it?”

NEXT ISSUE: The Splinters Lists of 2013 continue!

Will it be Singles or Albums of the Year next week? Get those Christmas stockings ready folks...

Lady Gaga and The Muppets recently joined forces for a Thanksgiving Holiday Special that was so insanely bonkers it needs to be seen to be believed.

MISS PIGGY

The decades have been kind to our favourite piggy diva; the ladies may come and go but Piggy retains all of her youth with each passing year.

BEAKER & JANICE

The two best Muppets after Miss Piggy, right guys?!

THE #KIMYE ‘BOUND 2’ VIDEO

Does this give anybody else ultra-creepy Michael Jackson/Lisa Marie in the ‘You Are Not Alone’ video vibes? The only thing worse than the Bound 2 video is...

THE ROGEN/ FRANCO ‘BOUND 2’ PARODY

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

Just putting this out there: The 20/20 releases from JT in 2013 were without a doubt the year’s worst.

SHIT!

CELEBS THAT COPY MADONNA

Green Day, Jaymee Williams, copies Madonna’s iconic posing with wide-nosed Barbadian STD clinic “Most Frequent Clients” wall awardee, Rihanna”). The webmaster once called Florence of the Machine-fame ‘Flo Rida and the Machine’ and often engages in heated discussion and arguments with readers; usually with them so seriously telling him “Marilyn Monroe died a long time ago, HOW CAN SHE BE COPYING MADONNA?”, only to then have him reply, “BITCH, MARILYN MONROE MADE A MOVIE IN 1994 SHE IS ALIVE, SHE IS WELL, AND SHE IS A PLAGIARIST”, and refuses to partake in any factual interaction. He even accuses Jesus Christ of plagiarising Madonna’s ‘iconic’ walking on water trick. That copy-cat!!

Daniel is a UK resident who runs what is easily one of the funniest pop music and culture blogs out there. With an unmistakable wit, charm and intelligence unlike most, Daniel’s 2013 blogging year has been one of his absolute best, with a running Kelly Osbourne/Dannii Minogue twitter gag still pulling all of the punches.

Daniel likes pop music and men of pop who like to parade about without their shirts on.

THE MUPPETS

HIT

Sample quote: “Britney has long been the Tipsy McStagger of the pop world yet she has somehow managed to project a consistent personality that, coupled with some of the best produced pop songs money can buy, has endeared her to pop fans throughout her career. As someone who has invested themselves in the Britney brand, I can’t help but feel that the Britney Jean of the album’s title has become lost amongst the noisy production deployed here to compensate for both the pedestrian material and for an artist who is clearly not engaged (or capable) enough to offer anything remotely resembling personal discourse.”

thesinglesjukebox.com

The World Wide Web is not just a mystical place filled with porn and pictures of One Direction members shirtless; it is also a place BURSTING with pop music MADNESS you’d otherwise not be able to read in your day-to-day publications. 2013 was a great year for the pop site, so let’s take a proverbial surf through the absolute crème-de-lacrème of online pop waters.

@holidayhaylor gives us the sole ARIA Awards commentary you will see in this week’s column.

Oh dear.

Articles within the site range from a threethousand word review of Lady Gaga’s ARTPOP, a series of retrospectives covering the entire discographies of artists such as Madonna and Michael Jackson, a hilarious look at the Australian and New Zealand singles charts on a weekly basis, plus an article where one of the writers tells Australia’s Got Talent judge Geri Halliwell to “Go home”.

THE SINGLES JUKEBOX

Written by Adem Ali

“ I basically hate the ARIAs because I hate indie music and there’s like one good Aussie popstar.”

Kid Massive Everyone say hello to Benjamin Pedersen, a man perhaps better known as Kid Massive. He took his first steps on the electronic music road in the early noughties, delivering his first international hit, ‘Get Busy’, in 2008. He may proudly fly the flag for Denmark, but these days Australia is his second home. He is coming to Geelong to rock Whispers on NYE and Forte was lucky enough to get a chance to chat with him as he prepares to venture South.

Kid Massive, thanks for taking the time to catch up with Forte ahead of your trip to Geelong/ Whispers for NYE! At the moment I believe you are, like many others in your field, attending EMC. How is that going?

EMC has been great – meeting some of the brightest talent that Australia has to offer. There was also a big focus on the Asian market, which is set to become a major player in the EDM world in the next few years.

You are from Denmark, living in England and spending a lot of time in Australia – just the standard life of an international producer/DJ really. What have you been up to (in brief) for the last six months? Where currently is home?

I’ve been in Australia for a while now and recently made the decision to be based here indefinitely, so this is going to be my new home!

In between working on my tan and enjoying the sunshine, I’ve been busy touring Australia, India and Japan. I’ve had a great year of international releases on Revealed Recordings, Harem Records,

Strictly Rhythm and Mutants Recordings. To follow up on that, I’ve been locked away in the studio collaborating with the likes of local producers Jimi Frew, Dave Winnell and The Only and have upcoming projects locked in with Feenixpawl, Tom Piper & Skyden over the next few months.

Take us back to the start. How did you come to produce dance music?

I have always loved dance music and anything with a 4x4 beat. After deejaying for several years it was a natural progression from playing tunes to eventually making them. A friend introduced me to Logic and became my mentor whilst I learnt the ropes, which was really invaluable. Learning to produce was a fun and challenging journey and off the back of it I was able to start a fully-fledged career that has led me to where I am now.

What is your balance in terms of touring and producing? Do you go home for a period of time, make your material and then tour; or is it just one big mish-mash and an ever-progressing process?

It’s more free-flowing as I’m comfortable with producing in both the studio and on the road via my laptop. This year my focus has been on collaborations, which comes in really handy whilst on tour. I can pass the idea over and let the other person continue to work on the track whilst I’m away so it doesn’t lose momentum.

Tell us about what releases you have out ATM that people can check out.

I did a collab with my Dutch buddies Disfunktion called ‘Amrock’ (out on John Dahlback’s Mutants Records) which has had huge support from a whole host of international DJs and radio stations.

Also, Kill Shot EP with Dean Cohen has just been released on Lazy Rich’s label Big Fish Recordings

and is gaining similar attention.

Let’s talk NYE. You are coming to Geelong – what do you have in store for your set at Whispers?

I’m excited about playing in Geelong for the first time – I hear the regional shows really go off! Plus I get to enjoy NYE in summer which is pretty cool – normally I’m freezing my ass off somewhere in Europe!

Expect a great cross-section of big EDM tunes with an international flavour, plus plenty of KM exclusives. It’s all about starting the year with a massive bang (pardon the pun).

Is NYE a particularly special night for a DJ? Do you feel extra pressure to make the night memorable for the crowd? Do you look to make the night more memorable for yourself?

NYE is all about having a celebration and creating a real party vibe. It’s that special time of year when the crowds are always 100% up for anything so it’s really fun to play. I just see it as an even bigger party than usual.

For someone who has toured the world and played in front of 15,000 fans at festivals, is it just as exciting playing in a club environment in a smaller city like Geelong?

Festival music is all about the epic big bangers or crowd pleasers. Clubs on the other hand are more intimate and allow more experimentation. And as my audience is right in front of me, I can form an instant connection which is very satisfying.

What would you like to say to people in Geelong trying to decide where to party on NYE? Make sure you come along if you want to see me dropping my first set of 2014! It’s going to be a guaranteed MASSIVE start to the New Year!

WHERE&WHEN: Whispers, Geelong - New Years Eve. Anything you would like to add?

Keep an eye out for my upcoming releases. I have a new tune plus mixed compilation coming out on Australian label Onelove Recordings, a single due out on Ministry Of Sound and a follow-up record on Mutants Records – so plenty of KM action coming to Australian clubbers!

Connect with me here: kidmassive.com; twitter. com/kidmassive; youtube.com/kidmassive; facebook.com/kidmassive; instagram.com/ kidmassive; soundcloud.com/kidmassive

Altitude written by Brendan Dando / Photo by brenton ford

There aren’t many Geelong bands who can claim they have played a set at the Big Day Out; however, with the recent announcement that two local acts will be on the bill at next year’s festival, it’s a clear insight into the bright future our region’s music scene has to look forward to.

Joining Audemia next year will be garage-rockers Altitude, a Geelong four-piece who are no strangers to success, after already earning a spot to play Homebake Festival last year. “Getting the chance to play at Homebake was amazing! I mean, we were flown to Sydney and given the real ‘rockstar experience’ like free flights, accommodation, everything,” drummer Lachlan Brown explains. “Not only that, our guitarist Luke even got to meet his idol Kevin Parker, which he still doesn’t shut up about.”

However, despite already having Homebake, Queenscliff, Apollo Bay and other prestigious festivals on their resume, guitarist Luke Reeves gives fans a reason to look forward to their upcoming Big Day Out appearance. “We’ve joked around with the idea of playing a full Blur covers set to make up for their no-show,” says Reeves with a laugh.

“Although apart from that, we haven’t really started looking at the set-list just yet. It’s too soon!”

Another accolade was winning the battle of the bands presented by local radio station 95.5 K-Rock in 2012, which saw their single ‘Badada’ quickly become the theme music for the station’s breakfast show. “I only ever hear it when I’m not expecting it,

Calling All Cars written by Natalie Rogers

How would you like to get your hands on the pants that lead singer Haydn was wearing when he took that now infamous spill in the crowd at this year’s Big Day Out? Or would something more substantial like their former touring van (affectionately named Ron, because it’s burgundy – get it?) may be more to your liking? Well, what are you waiting for?!

Calling All Cars is one of the latest bands to call on the help of networking site Pledge Music. The Melbourne trio are asking to be deported to the UK – no not literally, although it is an option!

Jokes aside, 2014 is the year Calling All Cars will show those pommy rockers how it’s really done. “Making it overseas has been on our bucket list since we started out. We want to go over there and give it a full shot.

We plan to work really hard and not stop until we get somewhere,” Haydn told Forte last week. “We think a good example of not stopping until you get the success you want is [Scottish three-piece] Biffy Clyro. They’d done three or four albums before they were noticed in the mainstream. It’s all about doing what you believe in and sticking to it.”

A little closer to home, if you want to help Calling All Cars realise their dream, grab a few friends, pack up the car and join the Kingswood/Calling All Cars ‘Life’s a Beach’ convoy when it rolls into town. Starting on the Friday the 27th of December at the Westernport Hotel in San Remo until Sunday the 12th of January, Calling All Cars and good mates Kingswood will slowly make their way up our beautiful east coast to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

When&Where: Torquay Hotel, Torquay – December 14. They’ll also show their fine form at the BDO. so it is a bit weird but I always get pretty excited,” Reeves reveals. “The good thing is that it helps when we’re telling someone from Geelong about the band, since you can always use that as a reference they’ll most likely get.”

“We’ve been planning on hitting the studio and doing a stand-alone single along with a video clip midJanuary, so hopefully we can get it out not long after the Big Day Out if we’re lucky. After that we’re just gonna focus on another EP, aiming for mid-year.”

The track also appears on Altitude’s debut EP which was released earlier this year, although as Reeves explains, we can expect new material on the horizon.

So with an already impressive catalogue of awards and achievements, Altitude is a perfect example of the flourishing talent Geelong currently has to offer.

In saying that, their summer plans indicate they’re fully aware that success doesn’t come without hard work. “We’ll be playing a few more shows with Famous Will, RDZJB and that gang, hyping everyone up for Big Day Out, learning some new songs and just getting all of the groundwork for our follow-up EP out of the way.”

‘LIKE’ - facebook.com/altitudeband

“It’s going to be one big party on the road! We’re Kingswood fans and we’ve played with them before.

They’re really cool to hang with – we’re all looking forward to it. We all love to chill out at the beach. Last summer we were doing heaps of writing and rehearsals in the studio. Luckily our rehearsal studio is not far from the beach, so we’d go down and chill there most of the time. James [brother, drums and backing vox] and I grew up on the far south coast of NSW, so we try to get down to the water as much as possible.”

From all accounts life truly is a beach for Calling All Cars, especially now that work on their third LP is done and dusted. “As of three days ago it’s completely finished.

We got the master copy back and we listened to it from start to finish, which is a nice feeling.”

Haydn said that musically they’ve moved away from their two previous releases (Hold, Hold Fire, 2010 and Dancing with a Dead Man, 2011), but found it hard to pinpoint exactly what has changed. “It’s difficult for me to give an objective answer because I’ve been so close to it for so long, but we wanted to try something fresh, new and keep it exciting for us and the listener.

“Other people that have had a listen to the album in full said there are songs on it that still sound like the old Calling All Cars, but then there are songs like ‘Werewolves’ [first single – out now] that are completely different. We’re fully behind it, and hopefully other people will be too.” Unfortunately Haydn wasn’t at liberty to say exactly when this highly anticipated album will be released but he promised that “it‘ll be out early next year.”

So, before Calling All Cars swap their boardies for thermals, spend a balmy night drinking cold beer to some rocking tunes – it’s the Australian way!

When&Where: Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads – Dec 29 & Torquay Hotel, Torquay – Dec 30

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cq

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cq

lambys

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beav's bar

the wool exchange entertainment complex

the wool exchange entertainment complex

the wool exchange entertainment complex

the wool exchange entertainment complex

edge

edge

elephant & castle

elephant & castle

the carlton hotel

elephant & castle

the barwon club

the barwon club

the carlton hotel

basement

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the barwon club

the barwon club

FORTEMAG.COM.AU

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the max hotel

home house

home house

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the max hotel

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whispers

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the max hotel

geelong rsl

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THURS 19TH DEC 5PM–3AM

Free BBQ 5pm-7pm FRI 20TH DEC 5PM–5AM SEXUALLY EXPLICIT ENTERTAINMENT MAY OFFEND

Free BBQ 5pm-7pm SAT 21ST DEC 7PM-5AM

Double Mega Strip THURS 26TH DEC 7PM-3AM

Topless & Micro Gs

28 Little Ryrie St, Geelong 03 5221 8439 DOORS OPEN 7PM TILL LATE 42

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www.acsstriptease.com.au

facebook.com/alleycathotel

grovedale hotel

grovedale hotel

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slate pool lounge

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FORTEMAG.COM.AU

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FILM REVIEWS

American Hustle There’s a certain kind of high-energy, free-wheeling, voice-over-using style of filmmaking that Martin Scorsese doesn’t quite own, but certainly does best. But that doesn’t mean other directors don’t occasionally take a swing at it: Paul Thomas Anderson gave it a go with Boogie Nights, and now David O. Russell (director of, amongst other things, The Fighter and Silver Lining Playbook) steps up to the plate with American Hustle.

It’s the tale of a couple of mid-’70s con artists – the astoundingly comb-overed Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale), who splits his time between legit dry cleaners and bogus art and his mistress Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams), who’s faux-British accent comes in handy when they step up to bogus international financing – who get busted by over-enthusiastic FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper) and then used by him to entrap politicians, starting with New Jersey mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner). All of which kind of happened for real (it ended up as an entrapment scandal known as Abscam), but while this isn’t exactly a flat-out comedy, it does tend to play things for laughs a little more than you might expect. Which is a good thing: while Rosenfeld is the sad sack at the heart of

by anthony morris

Ender’s Game the story glowering away at what a mess he’s stuck in, Prosser decides the only way out is to go all in with DiMaso’s increasingly overblown schemes; meanwhile, Rosenfeld’s wife (Jennifer Lawrence) is an increasingly loose cannon threatening to blow it all up in between accidentally burning her house down.

It’s not that these cartoony characters don’t have depth – the love quadrangle between the leads has more than its share of heartfelt moments alongside the bitch fights and “who’s playing who” scenes – but unlike a lot of these kind of films where the tone starts off light then darkens as the characters plight worsens, this keeps on finding room for laughs right to the end. It’s a lot of fun once you realise it’s not meant to be taken that seriously, and any film that opens with minute upon minute of Bale swirling hair around his head to create his comb-over is letting you know serious is not a prime concern here.

The soundtrack is bombastic, the outfits are prime ’70s clown (no one here ever wears anything more than five minutes old), the hair is amazing across the board, and when the cast are clearly having this much fun you’d be a fool not to join in.

It’s fifty years since the Formics first attacked Earth, and humanity isn’t waiting around for them to come back. Having defeated them through sheer luck the first time around, now Earth’s military has put together an elite training school to create a new generation of warriors and military strategists – and Ender Wiggin (Asa Butterfield) wants to be one of them. His older brother was washed out for being too violent; his sister was too compassionate.

School head Colonel Graff (Harrison Ford) thinks Ender might have the right mix of the two to get the job done, but it’s a tough school and while Ender might have the smarts to outwit bullies, does he have the leadership qualities needed if he’s ever going to get the mighty forces needed to conquer the aliens to follow him?

Based on a novel by Orson Scott Card, this is enough of a classic for the film to not rely on the book’s big twist – if you know the theme song to The Footy Show there’s a pretty good chance you can guess it – for shock value. That’s probably a good thing, as what’s interesting about this story – the extent to which a military would intentionally abuse its members in order to get the job done – would be

undermined to some extent by a twist ending.

As a young adult version of the opening third of Full Metal Jacket this works fairly well: the effects are solid (though any film with extended zero-gravity sequences is going to suffer in comparison with Gravity), the kids actually are kids and not older actors playing kids and Butterfield does a great job of conveying Wiggin’s determination without hiding the fact that a lot of the time he’s in over his head. Ford’s usual performance as a grumpy sod is handled better than usual here too, as for once he’s playing someone who doesn’t secretly have a heart of gold.

The big problem here is that while all the individual parts are effective – even the big space battles are better than usual, thanks to the film clearly spelling out our heroes goals so we know exactly what they have to achieve to win – the whole thing never really comes together. It’s a young adult science fiction film about the horrors of war and how you can do the wrong thing for the right reasons, and it just doesn’t hit hard enough to hammer its message home.

- Film Wrap Carrie

Carrie’s back! But while this remake sticks close to the original movie version, it’s the little things that count and there are just enough changes here to defuse much of the tension – and the impact – of the original

The Spectacular Now

Delivery Man

Kill Your Darlings

Sutter Keely (Miles Teller) is a class clown who actually is funny and popular, and he’s got the girl (Brie Larson) to prove it. Well, maybe not: after she dumps him over a misunderstanding (he was in a car with another girl but they were just talking, honest) he thinks he can smooth things over with a smile and a wink at a party. Uh, no: it turns out that she’s moved on to the school’s sports star. No hard feelings, right?

Sure, he says, and promptly gets blackout drunk, thus underlining her point that his lack of ambition and his fondness for drink are why she left. Next morning he’s awoken by fellow high school student Aimee Finicky (Shailene Woodley). She’s doing a paper route, he’s totally lost, they team up to help each other out, and by the end of the morning he’s taking her out to breakfast. He needs help with his geometry, she already seems a bit besotted by him – popular guy, remember – and clearly this is a relationship that’s off to a strong start. And for a while things only seem to get better. Aimee’s home life is rough, but Sutter’s advice is actually good advice; Sutter meets his ex a few times, but it’s more bittersweet than awkward (or leading to a reconciliation). They go to the prom, they have sex, Aimee buys him a hip flask … hang on a second, didn’t his drinking help kill off his last relationship?

Vince Vaughn has built a nice little corner for himself in the Hollywood comedy scene where he can explore the kind of stories he seems to be interested in making – comedies where the main guy’s problems are a little closer to home than usual. In The Internship he was a guy who lost his job and tried to get unpaid work at Google to reboot his career; in The Break-Up he actually broke up with Jennifer Aniston. So at first The Delivery Man seems like a bit of an odd fit, being as it is about David (Vaughn) who, thanks to a mess-up at a sperm bank, is now the father of some 500-odd children. Surely wacky hijinks are all that will result from this situation?

Who doesn’t love a movie about writers? Forget all the stuff where they actually sit down and write: by making a movie about a writer you can basically remake their most beloved stories without having to go to the trouble of licensing them simply by suggesting that they weren’t really writing fiction – they just turned their real-life experiences into their “fiction”. So Kill Your Darlings gets off to a good start by actually being about the formative experiences of Beat Generation poet Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe) as he goes to university in New York in the ’40s.

Based on a novel by Tim Tharp, director James Ponsoldt doesn’t avoid all the pitfalls of teen romance (the ending is a little too pat, for one thing), but he does get a lot right. This does a great job of capturing that lazy, drawn-out feeling as the end of high school draws near, set in a suburbia that somehow feels both idyllic and crumbling at the edges. Even more importantly, Teller and Woodley both give great performances and have real chemistry together.

He’s a funny guy trying to hide his pain but he’s still a funny guy; she’s a smart girl who’s clearly deeply in love but remains a smart girl. They’re believable people in a relationship that feels real – who wouldn’t want to see if they can make it work?

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Well, no: David starts out as yet another one of Vaughn’s usual man-children, being as he is a goodhearted but absent-minded slacker cruising along at the family business and attempting to pay off his massive debts by growing dope in his massive warehouse apartment. Yes, he does have a girlfriend (Cobie Smulders), but that relationship is on extremely thin ice due to the aforementioned “cruising through life” attitude. And then a lawyer turns up at David’s door to tell him that not only does he have 500-odd kids, but 100 or so of them want to know who he is. Uh oh.

But it’s at this point that this film’s true colours are revealed, as instead of some unspecified but expected wacky twist, David quietly begins to track down his kids and – without revealing who is he – briefly inserts himself into their lives. He helps a barista go to an audition by taking over his bar (it doesn’t work out well); he talks up a busker; he delivers pizza to a girl who turns out to be a junkie and he saves her life. If that doesn’t sound all that funny, you’re right, and while the heart-warming scenes work well – it should be no surprise that Vaughn can do subtle when he needs to, but it still kind of is here – it still feels like an odd development for a comedy featuring Vince Vaughn.

It’s a satisfying, if unspectacular film that’s a lot gentler and more kind-hearted than you might expect. It’s also funny … just not all that funny.

Steeping in tradition (his father was a poet; he’d been studying it his whole life), the artistic freedom he encountered when he fell into the orbit of Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan) changed his life. As did figuring out he was gay, of course. And getting to hang out with William Burroughs (Ben Foster) and Jack Kerouac (Jack Huston) was eye-opening too. In fact, all that stuff is so interesting it’s not really that surprising that it’s not until well into the final stretch of the film that it finally gets around to what is meant to be the whole reason why we’re here: Lucien’s murder of his mentor and (maybe) lover David Kammerer (Michael C. Hall).

The film version of this isn’t really much of a mystery – Lucien spends a lot of the film stirring up Ginsberg’s feelings without ever following through, so his whole “honour killing” defence (basically, he was so offended at Kammerer’s gay advances he killed him) is pretty dubious – and the film’s real focus is much more on how Ginsberg’s New York experiences would shape his future work.

The film tries a little too hard to be relevant to “the kids” (a couple of modern day soundtrack choices really jar), but strong performances across the board – Radcliffe especially – and a real sense of the influences of the Beats and how he absorbed them helps keep this relevant – whether you’re interested in their works or just wanting to see Radcliffe getting it on with partners of both genders. Don’t worry; it’s important to his character’s development. Seriously.

One Chance

This real-life story behind an amateur opera singer who won first prize on Britain’s Got Talent is surprisingly grim and gritty (and entertaining) for much of its running time… but hey, you know it’s going to have a happy ending.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

More food jokes! So many food jokes! But some of them are pretty funny food jokes, and this quest to an island of living food has a few surprises in store too.

Enough Said

This slow-burning romance between Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini features two great comedic actors at the top of their game – and a lot of great (without seeming forced) oneliners too.

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

Who knew that Johnny Knoxville dressing up as an old man and stirring up trouble could

be so much fun?! Well, okay, it does sound like fun. But it’s really fun – and surprisingly sweet in parts for a film that involves a lot of corpse abuse and at least one attempt to mail a small child to another city.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

This is basically a doover of the first film, only better. The love triangle works (well, now at least one of the guys seems worth it), the action is better staged, the behind-thescenes drama is more interesting and Jennifer Lawrence really comes into her own as the emotionally shattered but still sharp heroine.

Thor: The Dark World Thor’s back, his story makes no sense, but he gets his shirt off and some of the jokes aren’t too bad. Which, if you think about it, is pretty much all you can expect from a superhero/fantasy mash-up these days.

Oh, and the fights are okay as well.

Captain Phillips

Tom Hanks is the captain of a cargo ship attacked by Somali pirates (who in some ways are the real stars of the story) in this gripping and thoughtprovoking procedural thriller by Paul Greengrass (director of the two best Bourne movies).

MUSIC REVIEWS l i V e r eview

Ian Ball

The Barwon Club, Geelong – Nov 21

In late November Ian Ball, the co-frontman for English rock group Gomez, came to play a show at the Barwon Club in support of his solo sophomore release Unfold Yourself. When I got the opportunity to sit down and talk with Ian, he said that whatever Gomez track you wanted to hear for the audience to just shout out requests. With support from locals Nathan Seeckts and Justin Keenan from The Go Set, this was one cracking gig.

The main support slot was filled by You Am I guitarist Davey Lane, whose entrepreneurial CD sales from his Aldi hessian bag proved comical. The highlight of the set was ‘Shoppin’, a groovy guitar riffin’ song that was the highlight in his otherwise somewhat bland set.

Ian took to the stage and launched the gig with his new solo electronic tunes that were, although maybe a little long, spacious and creative at the same time. A stripped back and different look at ‘Airstream Driver’ off A New Tide followed, with numerous Gomez tracks that were different to what Ben had played earlier in the year.

Bobby Alu

Jeremy Neale

Deborah Conway & Willy Zygier

Take It Slow

In Stranger Times EP

Stories Of Ghosts

Vitamin Records

Create/Control

MGM

Earlier this year I interviewed Bobby Alu for his upcoming performance at the Apollo Bay Music Festival and the vibe was very excited because Take It Slow, the sophomore release from Bobby, was due out in a matter of months. Now it is here and it is very relaxing listen. (You may have seen the live show when he was touring around the country with Xavier Rudd and Donavon Frankenreiter.)

Brisbane-based Jeremy Neale has released his first EP, and it is a corker. Nice, clean, indie pop at its finest here, there’s something particularly good about a pop release that isn’t auto-tuned and loop-pedalled into something completely different.

Conway’s 1997 album My Third Husband remains a favourite of mine. The Melbourne-based artist has of course done much since, mostly in communion with partner Willy Zygier. There’s a very personal element behind this project reaching beyond the pair’s own contemporary stories. Stories Of Ghosts looks back into the roots of their families’ stories - displacement, love, loss and the minutiae of day-today survival.

The first album was an experiment with the one-man band show, but on this release we see Bobby with a full band that sees Paulie B (from The Beautiful Girls fame) on guitar, Stewart Barry on bass and Grant Gerathy on drums; the result is a fuller and rounder sound that slowly weaves its way in to your mind. The relaxed atmosphere on this Bobby Alu record makes it the perfect soundtrack to dinner parties.

The title track, featuring fellow Brisbanites (Brisbanians?), Go Violets, is pretty much my summer jam. It’s catchy, it’s fun, it’s a perfect pop track. There’s a nice, surfy, American West Coast vibe in the guitar, it reminds me of Best Coast a little bit. The chorus will stick in your head for days, and it just makes you long for both summer and years past all at once.

There isn’t really a bad track on here, but it is only an EP, so there’s no room for filler. Will Jeremy Neale stand the test of time, or go the way of many a Brisbane indie band and completely change his sound when it comes time for an LP release? Only time will tell. In the meantime, buy this EP, it is more than worth the $10 you’ll spend.

The press blurb announces the album as “an unbeliever’s examination of Old Testament themes from a Jewish perspective, exploring the connections between ancient practice and modern life”. Sounds pretty high-brow and a tad dry. But Conway has always pushed the boundaries so, of course, manages to make this quest accessible, thought provoking and a complete listening joy. Musically you’ll hear the full gamut from the ethereal and acoustic to full band rhythm with blues as at home here as in the bayou. ‘The Writing’s On The Wall’ is an aptly named opener, reassuring the listener at once as to the calibre of what’s to come. Conway’s fulsome distinctive vocals are accompanied by Zygier’s harmonies and instrumentation. Vika and Linda Bull contribute vocals to two tracks. James Black and others (including one of the couple’s daughters) join the line-up. Brave, bold and beautiful. Nothing less than we’ve come to expect.

Tex Miller

Cameron Brogden

Chris Lambie

Leroy Lee

Jordan Riddle

Shaun Kirk

The Kite Machine

Arcadia

Beyond the Pines

Giving

The Crook and The Skank EP

Paper Sleeve Music

Independent

Independent

Independent

Arcadia is the latest release from Sydney folk superstar Leroy Lee. It’s been a few years between drinks for Leroy, whose debut album was released in 2010. Since then, the majority of his back catalogue has been featured on the popular Channel Seven show ‘Packed to the Rafters’. From the very first moment of ‘Howl’, the acoustic-folk tunes that we have all grown to love from the debut are back.

Beyond the Pines, the debut EP release for local troubadour Jordan Riddle, is an impressive debut. Recently opening for Bob Evans and playing at the recent Spin Cycle 2, Jordan is definitely one to watch in the upcoming twelve months. The easy listening acoustic guitar and haunting vocals of ‘Jane Doe’ open the EP and shows his development as a musician over the past few years.

Shaun Kirk is a Melbourne-based blues and roots troubadour. He’s a multi-instrumentalist, a songwriter, and he’s kind of a superstar on independent radio. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, blues music doesn’t get anywhere as much love as it should in this country. Some of our most talented artists go their whole lives without mainstream radio play, and it’s a damn shame.

Soft sweet vocal harmonies and delicate acoustic guitar rings out through each of the five tracks, and having toured in America alongside music legend Willie Nelson, the follow-up sophomore album can’t come quick enough. Chances are you will have most likely heard ‘Mountain Song’, which was the most commercial successful track of his debut, and with the rollicking southern Americana vibe, I think that ‘Window Sill’ will strongly follow suit.

As a featured artist with Spinning Half and a support slot with triple j favourite Dustin Tebbutt at Harvester Moon on Thursday the 12 th, be sure to check out Jordan before he hits the big time. In terms of instrumentation, acoustic and electric guitar play a big part in all of these tracks, and the soulful vocals make this an enjoyable listen.

I know what you’re thinking, and no, this isn’t something I saw come into the Forte office, had a giggle at the name, and decided I just had to review it. I bought this one from the band themselves in Queenscliff after seeing them play on a train at Queenscliff Music Festival. These guys have a great, low-key blues-rock sound, the centrepiece of which is Levi Anderson. If you don’t recognise his name, you probably haven’t seen live music in Geelong for a while, I’m sure he played Beav’s Bar pretty close to every time I went there in my late uni days, and I know I’ve seen his name at a half a dozen other venues.

The favourite request for me was a close race between ‘Charley Patton Songs’ and ‘In Our Gun’ that although lacked other instruments, pulled out quite nicely. Although the show was quite poorly attended, this was probably the last time that we will see Gomez or any other variation of the band play in Geelong.

My friend wasn’t too impressed by the electronic sounds, but you can’t always please everyone with your new incarnation of the music. Two gigs ticked off my bucket list this year; let’s see what 2014 holds…

Tex Miller

Combined with the cute and intriguing packaging of the EP, If you are after a chilled out acoustic disc for that special someone with Christmas creeping up, I’d highly recommend Leroy Lee. Within a few listens this EP quickly elevated itself to my Most Played list in my iTunes. Lanie Lane provides guest vocals on ‘Morning Rolled’, which is a tune that I could hear Neil Young heavily influencing.

It’s painful that we have to wait for the followup album from Leroy, and talking to him at Queenscliff it’s looking like a late 2014/2015 release. Until then, this will whet your appetite.

As a semi finalist in the International Songwriting Competition, support slots for The Beautiful Girls, Watussi, Blue King Brown and Katchafire, and gigs at Byron Bay Bluesfest, if you haven’t heard Bobby Alu’s music, you should definitely check it out. The soft and carefree tracks that are laden with ukulele and hypnotic percussion make this a feet tappin’ listen.

My favourite track on this five track EP has to be ‘California’. The songwriting and lyrics combined together with the laid-back instrumentation make it a highlight on an EP for one of Geelong’s most promising and exciting live artists. Keep your eyes and ears out in 2014 because it’s sure to be just as big.

Tex Miller

Opener ‘Do Do Do’ is pretty much what it says on the tin, one of those “Do do do” songs, that is ridiculously catchy and boppy. The actual words don’t matter, because half the chorus is singlesyllable sounds. There’s a sax break in there too, for good measure.

Last time I reviewed Shaun Kirk, it was a live album, this time, it’s an EP, with two studio tracks, and three live tracks. The first track is ‘Give To The Needy’, and it has this rock beat that grabs you straight away. Kirk’s vocal is great, the lyrics clever, and even a little bit catchy, which is strange for blues. Second is ‘Tranquility’, and it’s a bit slower, as the name suggests. There’s a great backing vocal on the chorus that’s a great counterpoint to Kirk’s raw, bluesy lead vocal.

But the album truly shines in the live performance, as blues music is in the passion, not the polish.

‘Blues For My Birthday’, ‘Thing Goes Up’ and ‘Find Me A Lady’ are all brilliant tracks, Shaun puts his all into the vocal, there’s a little banter between songs, and the crowd absolutely loves him.

Buy this EP, go to a show, support blues music.

Cameron Brogden

Undoubtedly, the highlight of this EP is ‘Magnum’, with its catchy beat, Levi’s vocals and great lyrics. I’d even go as far as to compare it to Australian blues-rock legend, Diesel, there’s just something about it that grabs you. The EP is worth buying for this track alone, but it’s not the only bright spot.

‘The Turn’ is another highlight, but really, all six tracks are great.

Buy this album, because I really think that with a label backing them, these guys could go pretty far. And if they do, don’t you want to be able to say you were a fan back before they were cool?

Cameron Brogden

Tex Miller

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Grog Watch “So this is Christmas/And what have I done/Spent another year whingeing/ And talking ’bout my bum.”

Yep, Christmas is lurching towards us like a knifewielding nutcase in a Santa suit, and as we prepare to give thanks and celebrate the birth of Christ our saviour I’ve gotta ask: Why the hell can’t we have one single religious holiday without the church sticking their nose into it?

Sure, most of us manage to keep religion and Christmas separate the way God intended, but if our Lord really is everywhere watching us like a holy security camera, then what’s so special about going to church? Wouldn’t an omnipotent God – or even one who was just everywhere all the time – be just as present and open to worship at, say ... the spewcovered dance floor of a sleazy pub disco? Maybe even more present, considering that most churches

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

Cameron: You know who’s cool? Robert Downey, Jr. Outside of his incarceration and addictions he’s been in some pretty fantastic movies, the most recent of which was Iron Man 3. The latest instalment of the Iron Man franchise was directed by Shane Black, and you know who’s also cool? Shane Black. The guy wrote Lethal Weapon which is the textbook definition of perfect movie, and he was in the main cast of Predator and Night of the Creeps. Are you even kidding me? There are polar ice caps that will never be as cool as him.

How great would it be if RDJ and Black got together to work another film that was really pulpy and semi-related to Christmas so I could write about it in this column? Oh, wait. They did in 2005. It’s called Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and it’s so good it made Val Kilmer stop being insane for a whole hour and a half. For reals.

Val Kilmer is an outstanding actor who people should appreciate more. Unfortunately for us, however, he Brando’d out. That’s when a talented actor gets way fat and seems to forget how to act except for one shining example that reminds of how great they used to be (Brando’s being the Godfather). What is weird is the turning point for Kilmer is The Island of Dr Moreau, which co-starred Brando. I’m not saying we should blame Brando for what became of Kilmer’s career, but I’m totally going to.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is some straight up noir – it really doesn’t get more Pulp than this.

RDJ delivers pitch perfect first-person snark as the continually beleaguered detective in training Harry Lockhart. The film isn’t in 100% chronological order, but it also isn’t a Tarantino movie, instead it plays out like a man telling a story. There’s a natural flow to the events and even when he screws up and has to go back and ensure you caught all the salient details, it never really disrupts the viewing.

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don’t have drunk 17-year-old girls in tank tops jumping around on stage. And if God is just as present at pubs as at church, why doesn’t the tax department count my bar tab as a religious donation?

But let’s say that organised religion has – for pretty much the first time ever in recorded history – got it right and God DOES hang out at churches more than anywhere else, why would a supreme being want to hang out at a place full of the kind of people who go to church? Okay, a church is packed with people constantly calling out God’s name, but if that’s all it takes to get Him hanging round, wouldn’t He be spending a lot of time at brothels? How does He tell the difference anyway? They’re both packed with people calling out His name, and to be honest, the people at the brothel are probably putting a lot more feeling into it.

Unfortunately, the only logical conclusion is that when you say God’s name – in any context whatsoever – he turns up to see what all the fuss is about. And that’s why this Christmas, put some religion back into the Godless frenzy of capitalist excess and give the gift God Himself will thank you for giving: Pornography.

Stick flicks, inflatable dates, a subscription to Fornication Nation … whatever. This year, the best way to express “God’s Love” this season is silently in a room all by yourself.

But let’s not forget the more wholesome side to

Of course, this is Shane Black, the man who perfected the buddy-cop drama (also see: The Last Boy Scout, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Last Action Hero) and this is where Val Kilmer’s character Gay Perry comes in. Gay Perry is the real detective, the one who has made a career of discovering and keeping secrets. Perry is hired to give Harry P.I. lessons as part of Harry’s newly beginning film career.

While Perry promises the real world to be banal and not at all like the oft-mentioned Johnny Gossamer novels, they accidently witness a murder and are drawn into the sleazy side of Hollywood.

Also, it’s Christmas time. This is barely worth mentioning save for one interesting party and some pretty Christmas scenery, but in my opinion the best Christmas movies are rarely about Christmas (see: Die Hard, and then you know, watch Die Hard again because it’s awesome). So this is how I get away with talking about it in this week’s column.

But I didn’t really need an excuse. This film is amazing in every conceivable way and is pulpy as all hell. If you like movies – and more specifically films that are good – you should really get around to watching Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Christmas – aka that special, magical time where all the children are smiling, all the adults are filled with good cheer and all the stockings are stuffed … WITH LIES! What, it’s not magical enough that kids are getting stuff for nothing, we have to tell them a fat hairy dude pulled around by flying cows came down the chimney with it too?

Okay, I suppose getting something for nothing in the current political climate is so unlikely that you might as well play it for all it’s worth, but I think I’ve figured out the mystery of exactly why parents say this crap, ’cause the parents I know tell me it sure ain’t for the thrill of spending hundreds of dollars on your kids only to have some fictitious fat bastard get all the credit: They do the whole Santa thing for years just so that one day they can crouch down in front of their innocent, loving child, look them in their trusting little eyes and say “Sucked in!” Which is always a fun moment for a kid – “Oh God, my parents have been lying to me for years! What else have they been lying about?! Hey, maybe battery acid really is good for me...”

All of which highlights another sinister aspect to a previously accepted practice: what’s the idea behind having kids’ photos taken with “Santa” anyway? Who’s gonna treasure a photographic memory of being sucked in by a giant HOAX? Twenty years later you stumble across it in your parent’s photo album and all it reminds you is that is wasn’t enough for them to lie to your face at home, they had to take you out and show

an entire shopping centre how gullible you were.

But what really gets to me about the whole Santa deal is that kids learn that Santa’s a bullsh*t fairy story and go ,“Uh, yeah, knew it all the time” – but then heaps of us go off and believe in Jesus. Flying reindeer, that’s crap, but walking on water – ooh yeah, that’s waaay more believable. Personally, once I discovered that Santa was crap, I just figured Jesus was my parents’ second attempt at the same scam, and sorry, I ain’t falling for that line twice.

“Yeah yeah, coming back from the dead is clearly much more believable than a fat guy flying around the entire world in one night”.

I mean, if they go to the trouble of putting fake Santas in shopping centres everywhere, who’s to say you don’t get to, say, 50 years old and some old guy takes you aside and says “that guy on the cross? Yeah, forget that ‘Jesus’ stuff, it’s really just the international logo for the chiropractors guild. We just told you it had religious meaning for a laugh – they only came up with it in 1965!”

You know the last rites? The ceremony where the priest comes in and says a few words over a religious believer just before they die? You know why they always say them softly so the others can’t hear? That’s because they consist of three words and three words only: SUCKED IN BAD. Tony “Ho Ho Ho” Montana

POrPe! cultu

By An th on

y M or ri s

It’s time once again for the usual round of musical chairs in the commercial radio business, as all your favourite on-air personalities quit and lay low for a couple of weeks before popping up at a rival station.

The dust had barely settled on Kyle and Jackie O’s departure from one big-time Sydney radio slot before they turned up in another, slightly-older-skewing radio slot; Triple J’s Tom Ballard is heading off for pastures new too.

As for Melbourne’s Hughesy & Kate (formally of Nova) and Matt & Jo (from Fox), we’re yet to see where they’re going to turn up next, if anywhere.

On the one hand, obviously all these changes are a big deal: Hughesy and Kate have all but ruled the breakfast radio ratings for years now, while Matt & Jo have been a fixture for just as long, even if in recent years their ratings have started to slip. Not to mention that replacing breakfast radio teams is not an easy thing to do: it took Triple M close to a decade to settle down with their current well-performing team.

Remember when they were flogging Peter Helliar and Myf Warhurst as their breakfast team? They barely lasted a year and never really caught on, despite both being reasonably well-known and liked media personalities.

Breakfast radio is a tough gig – three hours of chit-chat tends to burn through people pretty quickly and unless you’re the kind of person who can ramble on (and ramble on

entertainingly) about yourself and the news you’re not going to make it. Then there’s the audience interaction that’s increasingly dominating radio these days; talking to the kind of people who’d call in to breakfast radio is not an easy job day after day, especially when a large part of that conversation is getting them off the air in a way that doesn’t seem like you’re, well, getting them off the air. So hats off to the guys who can make it work for them; on the other hand, who cares?

Breakfast radio is basically garbled noise in the background of a hectic time of day for most people, where the hosts’ main job is to be annoying enough to keep the audience awake while not being so annoying that they change to another station. Much as breakfast radio is talked about as being a big deal media-wise, it’s pretty rare for breakfast radio types to make any kind of splash in any other media (especially if you’re a girl sidekick): Kate Langbroek made her name on TV’s The Panel before she went to commercial breakfast radio; Dave Hughes was already a successful standup comedian and had a steady gig on The Glasshouse.

So the real story here is just that people who are very good at one aspect of the media have left their jobs, chance are they’ll soon be snatched up by another station – most likely one aimed at slightly older listeners – and the cycle will begin all over again…

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