ISSUE #601 ball ar at | bell arine | Bendigo | ca stlemaine | geelong | surf coa st | warrnambool |
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ALUNAGEORGE “I’m trying to bring the spontaneity back - I’m on a crusade!” pg.21
IMOGEN BROUGH pg.47
THE MEANIES
pg.22
WHOLE LOTTA LOVE
pg.45
GRANT SMILLIE
pg.55
BEER GARDEN FEATURE!
pg.31
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TicMkCMETFSFOORN 50SA%LEOFFNOTIWCK! ETS!
QUOTE FRIDAY AC/DSHE
Broderck smith Chris Wilson
Claude Hay Defrhyme
Electric mary
Gwyn Ashton
painters & dockers Phil Para
Pugsley Buzzard Safari Motel
The Black Sorrows TRIBUTE FEST Appetite for Destruction Credence Clearwater Recycled INXSIVE Rhiannon - A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac Shed Zeppelin To hell & back! Meatloaf Tribute Walkin’ the Line - The Cash & Carter story
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SATURDAY Cass Eager & the Velvet Rope Chubby Rae & the Elevators GEOFF ACHISON Blues Mountain Jimi Hocking John McNamara Lloyd Spiegel Sammy Owen Blues Band Spoonful Sweet Felicia & The Honeytones The Detonators
SUNDAY
Amber Lawrence Canyon Christie Lamb Doug Bruce Eurogliders Glitter Gang James Blundell Jason Singh JR Reyne Kaylens Rain McAlister Kemp Michael Stangel Mick Thomas & The Roving Commission TRavis Collins Vika & Linda Wayne Jury & Brian Fraser
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in this issue:
forte issue #601 t h u r s d a y 4 DECEMBER 2 0 1 4
FORTE
FREEBIES! 19th Annual
fortemag.com.au
enquiries@fortemag.com.au Publisher
McNamara Publishing
2014
DIRECTOR
Luke McNamara editor
pg.21
THE MEANIES pg.22
PO Box 978 Geelong VIC 3220
luke@fortemag.com.au
ALUNAGEORGE
WHOLE LOTTA LOVE pg.45
Ph: 03 5229 7969
Win a double pass to Bluestone Blues Festival this New Year’s Eve at Murgheboluc Reserve
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Marianne Valitutti contributors
Anthony Morris, Adem Ali, Alastair McGibbon, Amanda Sherring, Cameron Brogden, Chris Cruz, Chris Lambie, Daniel Lock, Jessica Alves, Dr John Lamp, Madelin Baldwin, Montana Agustin, Natalie Rogers, Paul S Taylor, Sue Rawkins, Tex Miller, Wylie Caird, Xavier Fenell, Tony Montana
IMOGEN BROUGH pg.47
GRANT SMILLIE pg.55
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t h e l a t e s t n a t i o n a l & INTERNATIONAL music & enterta inment ne w s
Prometheus 2: Prometheus Harder Despite dividing audiences, Prometheus is getting another run. This much we know. Speaking with The Australian (via Scified), director Ridley Scott dished up some news on the sequel. “[The original Alien was] the definitive dragon and he’s a mother. The alien’s real which is why it’s probably one of the scariest monsters in film history. So with Prometheus 2, what I’m trying to do is reintroduce a fresher form of alien in the third act.”
Luther in the US I Want it Now The Veronicas are red-hot once again. And with a new self-titled album, the Origliasso sisters Jessica and Lisa, are pumped. From the sisters: “Australia, we’re coming home! We’re bringing you the Sanctified Tour first & it’s our way of saying thanks to everyone who’s waited six years for us to return to the stage … Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Sanctified Tour will complete our rebirth.” The Forum – February 15.
Not Really That Lazy Central Coast rockers The Lazys play music that is loud. They play music that is raw. They play music that is full of energy. This rocking beast was formed back in 2007. They’ve done heaps of stuff since, most recently enjoying a nice little stint in North America. Back in town, they’ve got a few shows
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lined up in support of their self-titled debut, an effort recorded with rock king, Garth ‘GGGarth’ Richardson. The Espy Basement – December 19.
Headlining Rodrigo y Gabriela Sometimes there comes a band that just connects with an audience. For Rodrigo y Gabriela,
their relationship with Australia is something special. The guitar duo returns to Australia for Bluesfest next year – their sixth visit here in almost as many years. 9 Dead Alive is their fourth and latest release. Each track is a celebration of individuals who have passed on, but whose words and deeds remain alive. The Palais – April 7.
If an idea works, steal it and adapt it. It seems to be a (mostly) winning formula, and so it is that the US has decided to take a shot on the BBC detective drama Luther. The Fox network is behind the rendition. Series creator Neil Cross is on board, while original series star Idris Elba will serve as an executive producer – both things that definitely work in its favour. A two-episode miniseries (UK version) will also screen next year.
Scorsese & Del Toro A HBO series tackling Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés is in the works, and some big names are attached.
Martin Scorsese will serve as director and executive producer, while Benicio Del Toro is interested in starring as the Aztec conqueror (he will also serve as an executive producer). Mississippi Burning scribe Chris Gerolmo, meanwhile, will write the series. The high-profile drama series is in development.
Brittle Bones’ Big New Year It’s always a nice little win for a band when they score the support spot for a travelling band. With Every Time I Die set to return to our shores in 2015 in support of their new album From Parts Unknown, the band has released their local supports. Joining them at their Melbourne show will be Brittle Bones. Be sure to check out their debut single, ‘White Elephant’. The Corner – January 16. Congratulations!
Nothing Fake Here How much do you love Chet Faker? You love him a hell of a lot judging by ticket sales. Recently announcing a handful of February dates, the electronica favourite has added a third Melbourne show due to popular demand. He will now play The Palais on February
25, 26 & 27. At the time of writing, tickets only remained for his February 25 shows. Good luck, everyone. And to scalpers: eat shit and die.
Funny Times with Bill Burr Eating away at your data usage by trawling YouTube is something we can all pretty much relate to. And when it comes to Bill Burr, it’s easy to see why. As one of the biggest names in the comedy world, there is no shortage of clips out there. Plus, there is his Monday Morning Podcast. Plus, there is his film work. With so many clips and so little time, why not see him in the flesh instead? Hamer Hall – January 29.
They Call Him Brooooooooce
Will Butler Goes Solo
Earlier in the year Bruce Springsteen was asked about the possibility of making available official recordings. Well, live. brucespringsteen.net has now been launched. Put together by nugs. net, who have previously developed similar ideas with Pearl Jam, Phish and Metallica, the website offers downloads of most shows from his 2014 High Hopes tour, as well as a few other goodies. Various download formats are offered.
So, we’ve known for a little while now that Arcade Fire’s Will Butler was busy toiling away at a solo album. The word is now in that the release will be called Policy, and it will be available in March, 2015. At the time of writing, little information was available as to possible special guests etc. However, Will has recently been previewing material at some intimate solo gigs, so you have that to check out if you have the time.
Films of U2 Hey kids, do you want a bunch of short films to accompany U2’s latest album, Song of Innocence? My friends, you have come to the right band. This month sees the release of Films of Innocence, 11 short films featuring contributions from Oliver Jeffers, Robin Rhode, D*Face, Mode 2, Chloe Early, Ganzeer, Vhils, Maser, ROA, DALeast and Todd James. All artists were given complete creative control.
Lotta Love for Beach Boys Mike Love, who has done his best to steer the fractious five-decade career of The Beach Boys, has announced that he will release his first book in 2016. The book is tentatively titled Good Vibrations: My Life as a Beach Boy and it’s aiming to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of ‘Good Vibrations’. In the co-writer’s chair is James S. Hirsch, who has written books about Willie Mays and Rubin “Hurricane” Carter.
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Frank N’ Beans The UK’s ITV has ordered a six-part crime period drama which will reimagine the Frankenstein myth. Playing the role of Inspector John Marlott in The Frankenstein Chronicles will be Sean Bean, known fondly for his roles in Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings. The series is created by Emmy-nominated director and writer Benjamin Ross and writer Barry Langford, known for their work on Torte Bluma.
Northlane Find Their Man We Like to Party Sometimes you’re met with an offer you can’t refuse. With Knife Party getting an invite to the Future Music Festival, their planned headlining tour was met with the axe. Hopefully by the time you read this you would have received an email informing you of your options. If not, refunds are currently available, and will be until December 22. If you are up for the Future Music Festival, your ticket allows you entry to the festival.
Let the Battle Begin The lovable late night host Jimmy Fallon has introduced many segments throughout his tenure, with Lip Sync Battles being a favourite. It is such a favourite segment that Jimmy, along with John Krasinski, and Stephen Merchant, are taking it to Spike TV. Basically, each half-hour episode will feature celebrities going head to head in a lip sync battle (to a song of their choosing) where the winner gets the ultimate prize: bragging rights.
There is a strong chance you would have heard the news by now, such is the way of the world, but Northlane have finally found what they were looking for: a new frontman. Following some 1900 auditions from 19 countries, the band welcomed Sydney vocalist Marcus Bridge into their home. He has been introduced to Northlane fans through the single ‘Rot’. Make him feel welcome and give it a listen.
Feeling Suffocated? In one corner you have Suffocation, the Long Island-formed death metal band that has been in business since 1988. Their latest release is 2013’s Pinnacle of Bedlam. In
the other corner you have Decapitated, Poland’s death metal heroes. Their latest release is 2014’s Blood Mantra. What will happen when these two death metal giants combine for a tour? Find out. The Corner – May 9.
25 Years of Rubber Records December is party time for Rubber Records, with the Melbourne music institution celebrating 25 years in the label game. A string of shows featuring artists from the label will take place throughout the month: bZARK with guests – NSC, December 15; Cordrazine with guests – NSC, December 17; 1200 Techniques – Howler, December 17; Underground Lovers – Howler, December 20; and EVEN – Gasometer Hotel, December 19 & 20.
albums between 1995 and 2005. They reformed in October of this year.
Four Bites of The Stand If you thought they padded out The Hobbit, cop a load of this. It looks as though Stephen King’s epic novel The Stand will now be split into four films. Josh Boone, who directed The Fault in our Stars, has been given the green light for the massive undertaking. The novel, which checks in at a whopping 1168 pages, was adapted into a miniseries in 1994. The project is being called “The Godfather of post-apocalyptic thrillers.”
Guns on Film Well, if Mötley Crüe can get a biopic, Guns N’ Roses can, too. According to the man on the street, the flick will be adapted from Marc Canter’s 2008 biography Reckless Road: Guns N’ Roses and the Making of Appetite for Destruction. Canter: “I do have a big say so on the script which is still being put together now but so far looking cool. I am going to see that everyone in the cast is doing their job and doing justice to the band.”
No-Law Zone for Sleater-Kinney With Sleater-Kinney set to release their first album in some 10 years in January, the band has hinted as to what fans can expect with No Cities to Love. Corin Tucker: “Part of this whole Sleater-Kinney 2.0 is breaking the rules … We wanted to tell our story... we feel like we need to stand up for ourselves.” The influential band released seven
Architects Plan an Aussie Assault Having proven they’re as popular as ever when they supported The Amity Affliction recently, British metalcore favourites Architects will return for a headlining run in 2015. The band will be touring their sixth album, Lost Forever // Lost Together, and will be joined by Stick to Your Guns and Being as an Ocean. Arrows – April 11 (AA) & 170 Russell – April 12. Sydney fivepiece Stories will also support.
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THE THURSDAY 4 DECEMBER BABUSHKA BAR (Ballarat): David Grimson with Brodie Glen BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Trivia Night from 7pm BEAVS BAR: Andy Forster BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc) - Live and Local, $13 Pizza night THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): Shiralee Hood, Dan Fox, Tom Lynch EDGE GEELONG: Live Music and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night EUREKA: Thirsty Thursday with local resident DJ’S GPAC: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare 8pm LORD OF THE ISLES: Trivia in the courtyard LORNE HOTEL: Orkestrated MARTIANS CAFE: $25 International Night including drink ODYSSEYTAVERN AND BREWERY: 6pm Jazz n’ Blues THE SPHINX HOTEL: Schnitzel Night from $13 TORQUAY HOTEL: The Pierce Brothers
FRIDAY 5 DECEMBER BABUSHKA BAR (Ballarat): The Gathering Tide BARWON CLUB: Rach Brennan, Alister Turrill, Four Rules Charlie BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Happy Hour 5-7pm, Meat Raffle & Members Draw BEAVS BAR: Jack Harman BELMONT HOTEL: Al Vick BENDED: Live music BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Happy Hour 5-7pm BLACK HATT: River Snake THE BRIDGE HOTEL (CASTLEMAINE): The Meanies, Batpiss CHERRY BAR: Gay Paris, Don Fernando & The Dukes of
fortnightly calendar Deliciousness CITY QUARTER BAR: Friday Unwind from 5pm. With live entertainment and DJ THE EASTERN: Live Music EDGE GEELONG: Live Music and DJ ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: Thank Guinness It’s Friday GPAC: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare 8pm, Dance Fever ‘Celebrating 20 Years’ THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: The Regular Boys HOME HOUSE: Homehouse Fridays Party with DJs KAROVA LOUNGE (Ballarat): Hunting Grounds, Bel Air, Average Personality Star LAMBYS: Test Pilot Molly LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE (Warrnambool): Colin Buchanan Christmas Concert THE LORD NELSON: Happy Hour 5pm-7pm ODYSSEYTAVERN AND BREWERY: Live Music OLD HEPBURN HOTEL (Hepburn Springs): Shaun Kirk PISTOL PETES: Jessey Jackson POTATO SHED (Drysdale): Odyssey Film Festival SAINTS & SAILORS (Portarlington): Jam Rock Creek UNWINED CELLAR BAR: Live Music
SATURDAY 6 DECEMBER AIREYS PUB (Aireys Inlet): Things of Stone and Wood ANALOGUE ACADEMY: Gallery Opening 6.30pm BABUSHKA BAR (Ballarat): Temple of Tunes BARWON CLUB: Glitter Gang BEAVS BAR: Steve Pianto BELMONT HOTEL: Jesse Reid BENDED: Live Music BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Live Music and Happy Hour 5-7pm THE BRIDGE HOTEL
(CASTLEMAINE): Waywardbreed, Dirtbird COURTHOUSE ARTS: Melodies & Murals 11am-3pm THE EASTERN: The Gin Club EDGE: Live Music and DJ EUREKA: Live DJS GATEWAY HOTEL: Chain GPAC: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare 8pm THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Mark Hughes HOMEHOUSE: Katie Valentine, Tom Evans, Reque KAROVA LOUNGE (Ballarat): The Meanies, Bat Piss, Swhat, The Rye Catchers LAMBYS: Stellar THE LOFT (Warrnambool): Blackwood Jack EP Launch, Red Eagle, Kashmere Club, King Evil MARTIANS CAFE: Lightning Jack ODYSSEYTAVERN AND BREWERY: Live Music OLD HEPBURN HOTEL (Hepburn Springs): Cam Kettle PISTOL PETES: Andy Phillips and the Cadillac Walk SAINTS & SAILORS (Portarlington): Tim Hulsman & Guests VILLAGE CINEMAS (Geelong): Odyssey Film Festival WHISPERS: Coming up: DJ’s including Aston shuffle, Andy Murohy, Ruby Rose, John Dahlback, Slice n Dice, Jam Xpress, New World Sound, Jack n Jill, Mic Newman, Apocalypto, John Course, Zoolanda, Jebu, Jane Daffy, Butters, Generik, Tigerlily, Hey Sam, Katt Niall
SUNDAY 7 DECEMBER BARWON CLUB: Spaulding, Flaming Wreckage, Dumb and Bored BEAVS BAR: Jack Carty BELMONT HOTEL: Live music from 5pm BIRD ROCK CAFÉ (Jan Juc): Kids Eat Free 3:30-6:30, Steak and Parma Night, Happy
Hour 5-6pm BLACK HATT: Acoustic Avenue CITY QUARTER: Perfect Sunday Sesh Live music and DJ from 4pm DING DONG LOUNGE: Electric Mary EDGE GEELONG: Live Music and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Live Jazz from 3-6pm and Parmi Night GEELONG RSL: $13 Carvery lunch LAMBYS: Adam 12 LORD NELSON: Sunday Funday Live Music ODYSSEYTAVERN AND BREWERY: Live music SAINTS & SAILORS (Portarlington): Jack Wright THE SPHINX HOTEL: Carvery from $17
chance & pub quiz BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Shit Trivia Mexican Night BLACK HATT: Cuban Salsa Dance Classes ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: Trivia Night from 8pm. Have fun win prizes book a table GEELONG (52 Garden St): No Lights No Lycra GEELONG RSL: Pot and Parmi Night $13 GOLD DIGGERS ARMS: Spinning Wheel and a lot of Parmi’s from $14.50 GPAC: A Very Merry GPAC Christmas 10.30am LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE (Warrnambool): Gaslight Christmas PISTOL PETES: Food and Blues
MONDAY 8 DECEMBER
THURSDAY 11 DECEMBER
BARWON CLUB: $10 Parmis BENDED: Steak night ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night GEELONG RSL: Members Draw, over $3000 in prizes to be won! LORD NELSON HOTEL: Parmi & Pot for $15 on presentation of student I.D PYALONG: EARTHCORE THE SPHINX HOTEL: Meals for $11
BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Trivia Night from 7pm BEAVS BAR: Live Music BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Live and Local, $13 Pizza night EDGE GEELONG: Live Music and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Asahi Seafood & Chips Night EUREKA: Thirsty Thursday with local resident DJ’S GPAC: A Very Merry GPAC Christmas 10.30am KAROVA LOUNGE (Ballarat): Agent 37 LORD OF THE ISLES: Trivia in the courtyard MARTIANS CAFE: $25 International Night including drink ODYSSEYTAVERN AND BREWERY: 6pm Jazz n’ Blues PISTOL PETES: John McNamara THE SPHINX HOTEL: Schnitzel Night from $13
TUESDAY 9 DECEMBER BENDED: Parmi night BLACK HATT: Bachata Dance Classes ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night GEELONG RSL: Steak Night $13 PISTOL PETES: Open Mic Night
WEDnesday 10 DECEMBER THE BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Master of Dartness and Poker from 7pm BEAVS BAR: Open Mic, Karaoke BENDED: Second
FRIDAY 12TH DECEMBER 13TH BEACH GOLF LINKS (Barwon Heads): Archie Roach, Gina William, Guy Ghouse BABUSHKA BAR
(Ballarat): Neil Gibson BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Happy Hour 5-7pm, Meat Raffle & Members Draw BEAVS BAR: Live Music BELMONT HOTEL: Matty Orchard BENDED: Live music BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Happy Hour 5-7pm BLACK HATT: Phil Para Band CITY QUARTER BAR: Friday Unwind from 5pm. Live with live entertainment and DJ THE EASTERN: Live Music EDGE GEELONG: Live Music and DJ ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: Thank Guinness It’s Friday EUREKA HOTEL: Cloud Nine Invades Geelong: Orkestrated, Zoolanda, Press Play, Agmag GATEWAY HOTEL: Ian Moss Trio THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: Trojan HOME HOUSE: Homehouse Fridays Party with DJs LAMBYS: Live band LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE (Warrnambool): ‘Moving Lights’ presented by Melissas THE LORD NELSON: Happy Hour 5pm-7pm NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB: Things of Stone and Wood ODYSSEYTAVERN AND BREWERY: Live Music PISTOL PETES: Screamin’ Honkies SAINTS & SAILORS (Portarlington): Live Music TORQUAY HOTEL: Electric Mary UNWINED CELLAR BAR: Live Music YAH YAHS: Dallas Frasca
SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER BABUSHKA BAR (Ballarat): Dolphy’s Albatross BEAVS BAR: Live Music BELMONT HOTEL: Abe Anderson BENDED: Live Music BIRD ROCK CAFE
(Jan Juc): Live Music and Happy Hour 5-7pm THE EASTERN: Live Music EDGE: Live Music and DJ EUREKA: Live DJS GEELONG RSL: ‘80s Roxx On GPAC: A Champagne Christmas 6.30pm THE GROVEDALE HOTEL: James Carrigg HOMEHOUSE: Generik, Rimmy, Deejay AK KAROVA LOUNGE (Ballarat): Cryptic Abyss, Abreact, Order of Torment, Order of Chaos LAMBYS: Live band MARTIANS CAFE: Steve Thew ODYSSEYTAVERN AND BREWERY: Live Music PISTOL PETES: Neil Gibson SAINTS & SAILORS (Portarlington): Live Music WHISPERS: Coming up: DJ’s including Aston shuffle, Andy Murohy, Ruby Rose, John Dahlback, Slice n Dice, Jam Xpress, New World Sound, Jack n Jill, Mic Newman, Apocalypto, John Course, Zoolanda, Jebu, Jane Daffy, Butters, Generik, Tigerlily, Hey Sam, Katt Niall
SUNDAY 14 DECEMBER BEAVS BAR: Live music BELMONT HOTEL: Live music from 5pm BIRD ROCK CAFÉ (Jan Juc): Kids Eat Free 3:30-6:30, Steak and Parma Night, Happy Hour 5-6pm CITY QUARTER: Perfect Sunday Sesh Live music and DJ from 4pm EDGE GEELONG: Live Music and DJ ELEPHANT & CASTLE: Live Jazz from 3-6pm and Parmi Night GEELONG RSL: $13 Carvery lunch LAMBYS: Live band ODYSSEYTAVERN AND BREWERY: Live music SAINTS & SAILORS (Portarlington): Live Music THE SPHINX HOTEL: Carvery from $17
MONDAY 15 DECEMBER BARWON CLUB: $10 Parmis BENDED: Steak night ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night GEELONG RSL: Members Draw, over $3000 in prizes to be won! LORD NELSON HOTEL: Parmi & Pot for $15 on presentation of student I.D PYALONG: EARTHCORE THE SPHINX HOTEL: Meals for $11
TUESDAY 16 DECEMBER BENDED: Parmi night BLACK HATT: Bachata Dance Classes ELEPHANT & CASTLE: $20 Steak & Drink night GEELONG RSL: Steak Night $13 PISTOL PETES: Open Mic Night
WEDNESDAY 17 DECEMBER BABUSHKA BAR (Ballarat): singers of the Black Book THE BARWON HEADS HOTEL: Master of Dartness and Poker from 7pm BEAVS BAR: Open Mic, Karaoke BENDED: Second chance & pub quiz BIRD ROCK CAFE (Jan Juc): Shit Trivia Mexican Night BLACK HATT: Cuban Salsa Dance Classes ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: Trivia Night from 8pm. Have fun win prizes book a table FEDERATION UNI: Info Days, Mt Helen & Gippsland Campuses GEELONG (52 Garden St): No Lights No Lycra GEELONG RSL: Pot and Parmi Night $13 GOLD DIGGERS ARMS: Spinning Wheel and a lot of Parmi’s from $14.50 PISTOL PETES: Food and Blues
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presents
Lineup includes: Rufus Wainwright CANADA đ Sinéad O’Connor IRELAND đ Toumani & Sidiki Diabate MALI đ Abdullah Ibrahim Quartet SOUTH AFRICA đ Neneh Cherry with RocketNumberNine+ UK/SWEDEN đ Bombino NIGER đ First Aid Kit SWEDEN đ Charlie Musselwhite USA đ Jupiter & Okwess International DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO đ Lake Street Dive USA đ The Gloaming IRELAND đ Youssou N’Dour SENEGAL đ Nick Waterhouse USA đ Criolo BRAZIL đƫ Emma Donovan and The Putbacks AUSTRALIA đƫCanzoniere Grecanico Salentino ITALY đ Malawi Mouse Boys MALAWI đƫSharon Van Etten USA đ Public Service Broadcasting UK đƫLuzmila Carpio BOLIVIA and many more! Plus: Taste the World, The Planet Talks, a Global Village, KidZone, visual arts, street theatre and much more. SEE WEB SITE FOR FULL L IN E-U P Presenting Partner
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AlunaGeorge
FEATURE STORY Written by Natalie Rogers
They’ve been heralded by some as the saving grace of modern British pop music, charged with re-inventing a genre that had lost its way. Whatever you believe, it’s hard to deny Aluna Francis and George Reid are a match made in musical heaven. Singer-songwriter Aluna’s honey-dipped vocals, set against her “partnerin-crime” producer George’s smooth and seductive beats, make them unlike anything else out there – it feels like everything they touch turns to gold. Their unmistakably unique sound, on tracks like ‘Your Drums, Your Love’, ‘Attracting Flies’ and that masterful collaboration with Disclosure ‘White Noise’, captured the imagination of a generation disillusioned by disposable and generic-sounding rubbish, sung by manufactured ‘pop’-pets. Upon meeting the unassuming pair, laidback George takes a more casual view. “Hey, if people want to say that, that’s cool. We’re just doing us. We like to get into the studio, mess around and make some music together. What everyone has heard is proof of doing just that – having a laugh and doing what we really enjoy.” The duo first crossed paths in 2009 when George remixed a track for Aluna’s band My Toys Like Me. “One thing that can be said about us is that from the day we met we clicked and discovered we had a joint goal – we simply weren’t hearing the kind of music we wanted to hear,” Aluna added. “There’s definitely a strange newness to our sound and that’s what keeps us going.” “That’s the hardest thing to do isn’t it?” George interjected. “It’s genuinely difficult to write something that sounds original and pair it with the familiar. As Aluna points out, it’s something we’re constantly striving to do. That’s what we’re going to be doing tomorrow, next week and the day after.” “We still have a lot we want to do,” Aluna affirmed. “We haven’t managed to get our hands on Pharrell for a collaboration yet.” “The problem is since we’ve been saying that, he’s had a second coming and he’s bigger than he was before, so that’s getting further and further and further away,” George joked. “He’s like the friggin’ Messiah now!” Aluna agreed. “Maybe that big hat of his is meant to keep people at a safe distance. The edge of that rim is a radius of safety around him!” George grinned – everybody cracks up. Their meteoric rise to the top has seen AlunaGeorge in demand across the globe, rubbing shoulders with the ‘in crowd’, with invitations to the hottest parties in the world. That said, it’s no surprise they chose to spend the biggest night of the year cutting shapes on the breathtakingly beautiful Phillip Island. “I’m so excited for Beyond The Valley Festival! I heard it’s on a gorgeous Island,” Aluna gushed. “To be fair – Australia IS a massive island, Aluna,” George added cheekily. “Oh shut up George,” Aluna countered in a delightfully British accent. “We felt really at home when we were there last – the whole country is incredible.” “We came over for the Listen Out Festival last summer,” George added. “It’s a beautiful place. The only problem is it’s on the other side of the planet to us.” “Would you like me to let you in on my secret for making the most of a music festival?” Aluna asked. “My new thing for festivals is to avoid bands or acts I know, unless I
haven’t heard them play before, because I remember a time when I’d go to festivals as just a punter, and the total euphoria of walking into a tent and having no idea what was going to be on – never having heard the band, just seeing something totally brand new. “That’s how I discovered a band called Moderat [a German electro band] and it’s one of my fondest memories – I loved that experience. Having no expectation and then thinking, ‘What is this!? It’s amazing!’ and I think it’s hard to find that these days.” “The internet has a lot to answer for,” George chimed in. “You can see everything before you have a chance to see it in a live setting. Seeing a live gig has lost spontaneity.” “Yeah! I’m trying to bring the spontaneity back - I’m on a crusade!” Aluna cried and they both start laughing. Despite all the success that surrounds them, they’ve managed to remain incredibly down-to-earth, the kind of people you’d want to ring in the New Year with. So I ask about their fondest New Year’s memory – has the big night ever lived up to expectations? “I think the deafening silence is an answer to your question!” George laughed. “Last year we played at a little sushi restaurant and there were loads of … what kind of dancers were they George?” “They were Samba dancers - it was carnivale style,” he replied. “Oh right, and I remember the bass player in the Samba band tried to kiss me on the mouth! I nearly clocked him on the nose - that was one of those memorable New Year’s Eves,” Aluna giggled. “I want to know what house parties are like in Australia. House parties here launch themselves then they get shut down really quickly.” “I think England is just too small,” George weighed in. “Everyone lives too near to each other so you just end up annoying whoever lives near you with a house party. Very rarely do they really get going. They don’t happen that often here – maybe that’s just my friends though. Maybe I need to start hanging out with some different people! “Oh wait - actually the last one at my girlfriend’s house was an absolutely amazing dance party, which ended with people going head first down the stairs for fun! It seemed like the thing to do. It was all sorts,” he said, smiling at the memory. “Someone ended up in the hospital because someone always has to do something stupid at a house party. We decked the place out and everyone was hammered - dancing and having a great time.” “The thing that we do well is strange eccentric parties,” Aluna admitted. “One New Year’s I ended up in what seemed like the front of a shop – but a crap shop! There was a lady at the door saying ‘come in’ [Aluna attempts a witchlike voice] and I was like ‘what! This is so weird’. You go two flights down into this makeshift basement or a den thing – it was a little bit scary and people seemed to live there. It was like being in another world. Britain does weird very well.” When&Where: Beyond the Valley, Phillip Island – December 30 – January 1
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Painters & Dockers Written by Tex Miller
How many bands, do you know that take a tugboat as transport to their gig? Well, the answer is one of the most infamous bands in the history of Australian music, the one, the only, Painters and Dockers. With the gig scheduled for January down at Port Melbourne, front man and singer Paul Stewart is excited about their mode of transport to the gig. Having just seen Daddy Cool out on stage at the Melbourne music awards the night before we talked, Stewart feels it’s exciting to see these classic bands back out on the road.
“Fucking hell, I’ve got my new liver and I’m all ready to go,“ Stewart says bluntly about Painters and Dockers 2014 and 2015 commitments. Over the last few years, the band has been playing as a trio at wineries around the region so the idea to reform for the Community Cup football match earlier this year, wasn’t a hard decision to make. “That was the beginning of the band again. It was a cracker of a show and since then the offers have been coming in thick and fast. We have just returned from playing at Punkfest up in Brisbane, which was sensational. Nostalgia is a beautiful thing, and I tell the guys we just have to stay alive to keep going.” A couple of months back, James Tidswell from Violent Soho was declined from boarding a domestic flight, because he was wearing a Eat, Shit and Die T-shirt
When & Where: Motor City Music Festival, Geelong Showgrounds - March 6-8
(one of the most famous Painters and Dockers songs), talking about the incident afterwards it seems the T-Shirt and the band are making a big statement in 2014. “ We decided to print 250 T-shirts after that day and we sold out in 17 minutes. We were
really surprised by that fact and fucking look out, the Painters and Dockers are back and you never know what you’re going to get when we come to town.” Most Painters and Dockers songs are about sex or death and, despite the interesting subject matter of the songs, it still surprises the band with the amount of young people that are coming along to the shows these days. “The other night we played a gig and 10 19-year-olds just started singing the songs. It was a weird fucking moment, it turns out that their dad was a mad Painters and Dockers fan
and used to play our music on the way to school.” Since forming in the eighties, the band has put out a swag of CDs and played hundreds of shows all around the country. Given a rebirth in 2014, Stewart feels that touring is easier these days than back in the day. “When Lobbie Lloyd was our manager we’d go out and play six nights a week. It certainly takes a bit of a toll doing gigs these days, so we take a bit of a laid back approach. My liver ain’t like it used to be either, so we don’t really party excessively too much anymore.” The main philosophy of the band is to put on an
amazing stage show, which is exactly what Painters and Dockers will do next March for the Motor City Music Festival show. “Mate! We will be bringing our A-game to Motor City don’t you worry about that! Anything can happen and we can’t wait to hit the stage.”
Buddha in a Chocolate Box Written by Natalie Rogers
Adrian Calvano, frontman for Hamilton’s own Buddha in a Chocolate Box, isn’t afraid to speak his mind. “Reality TV talent shows are dumbing down our nation, art-wise,” he says passionately. “People are chosen on appearance instead of actual talent and substance to their song writing. They’re just quickly manufactured. It’s very fake, very calculated - they’re chewed up and then spat out. “I respect honest musicians – and that’s people who stay true to themselves. They don’t conform just to sell records.” It’s that conviction that has seen the lads from country Victoria create a loyal following and carve their niche in the world of alternative folk rock. Buddha in a Chocolate Box are currently in the middle of an eleven-date tour, proudly named A Solid Tour that will see them play their foot-stomping, hand-clapping tunes at pubs across the state – but there’s one place in particular they can’t wait to visit again. “Port Fairy is pretty much our musical hometown. It’s the first place we felt safe enough to start playing our own music, and Port Fairy was the first town that was really pushing for us to do it our way. The locals brought that confidence out in us,” Adrian says gratefully. “They really embraced us.”
When & Where: Sooki Lounge, Belgrave – December 20, The Torquay Hotel, Torquay – December 26, The Spotted Mallard, Brunswick – December 28 & Star of the West, Port Fairy – January 2 & 3.
Armed with that support and encouragement, Buddha in a Chocolate Box began a new chapter. They released The Feast EP, receiving nation-wide attention when the tracks earned high rotation on triple j Unearthed. Adrian admits that they could hardly believe their ears when they heard that two
tracks from their EP, ‘My Desiree’ and ‘She Feels Like Home’, debuted at no.1 on the Unearthed charts. “We’ve been so happy with the response from people,” Adrian says with a smile. “We’re looking forward to putting out an album soon. I won’t say we’re superstitious, but we plan to use the same studio where we recorded the EP. With the success we’ve had, we thought we’d better stick to the same studio!” he laughed. “We’re locked in with the Aviary Studio on the third week of March. We’d love it to be earlier but our booking agent went a little crazy, and right now we’re too busy playing gigs!” Not that Adrian is complaining. Buddha in a
Chocolate Box is his creative outlet – he says he wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. More of that insight comes through when Adrian explains the origins of the band’s unique choice of name. “Buddha AND the Chocolate Box is a Cat Stevens’ album, released in 1974. I grew up listening to Cat Stevens – my mum used to play it all the time. What I love about him is the fact that he’s not pigeon-holed. He’s not folk, he’s not rock, he’s not pop – and that’s how I base my writing. I want to make music about whatever I’m feeling at the moment and I think Cat was a bit the same . . . “The reason why Buddha and the Chocolate Box stood out to me is because he chose Buddha,
representing religion, with the Chocolate Box representing everything that comes along with music – the touring, drugs, alcohol and all the evils they can bring. So I wanted Buddha in the Chocolate Box because our religion is the music - but a lot of people don’t like it!” he laughed.
The Meanies Written by Natalie Rogers
For fans of Melbourne’s indie punk band The Meanies, summer is about to get a whole lot sweeter. As part of their Silver Jubilee Tour, Link, Ringo, Wally and Jaws have teamed up with Poison City and Tym Records to put out re-issues of The Meanies’ classic back catalogue. Prepare for a trip down Aussie punk-rock lane.
“Everything’s getting a re-released!” Bass player Wally says triumphantly. “Tym Guitars in Brisbane [home of Tym Records] is putting out one of our old singles ‘Never’ and they’re also going to release one of our old EPs that has never been released on vinyl before – that’ll be available in the New Year. “Also, yesterday we made it officially official,” he grinned, “that Poison City Records in Melbourne will be putting out a bunch of stuff for us too. Our two EPs Gangrenous and In Search Of are going to be piled onto a 12” together and re-released. “On top of that, the re-issue of 1992’s Come ‘n’ See is out very shortly with two bonus tracks, and early next year our album 10% Weird will be re-released with a bonus 12” of tracks that you can’t get anymore. We’ve added another ten songs and they’ll be in the same jacket sleeve, so it’ll be like a double album. Phew! That’s a lot to get through!” Wally laughed. If that’s not enough to get even the most die-hard Meanies’ fan smiling, this will do it. “Yes, the rumours 22 forte
are true – we’ve been sitting on new stuff that we recorded last year. We wanted to wait till there was time to give it a really good mix. I’m pleased to say that’s done now, and the album was dropped off to me two days ago. “Yesterday we had a good ol’ listen to it on my classic old hi-fi at home. We all sat down and picked it to pieces and it’s safe to say we’re pretty happy with the result. So we’ll get that mastered soon and lock down some artwork for the cover. Once all these re-releases have come out, we’ll release the new stuff. We figured that was the best way to do it,” Wally said, sounding every bit the seasoned musician he is. In the meantime, Wally assures me that you’ll hear new Meanies’
When & Where: Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine – December 5, Karova Lounge, Ballarat – Dec 6 & Barwon Club, Geelong (Boxing Day Slam) – Dec 26
material at their upcoming gigs. “This leg of the tour is going to be fun – we’ve never played the Bridge Hotel in Castlemaine before, and we’ve never played the Karova Lounge in Ballarat, even though we’ve been to Ballarat quite a few times over the years. At these shows we’ll be bringing along our buddies, Batpiss – we always have a good time with those guys. We love being on tour and this time of year is always so much fun.”
The Meanies are the punks that keep on giving – so why not add a little more brandy to your eggnog and head down to The Boxing Day Slam at The Barwon Club. “The Barwon Club was almost like a second home to us in the early days. We’ve played there tons of times but we haven’t played there for quite some time, so we’ll have to make it count,” Wally smiled. “We plan to have a few beers and a wander around the
crowd, then jump on stage and rock it! I think that’s part of the reason we’re still around after 25 years – we’re just four guys in a punk-rock band having a laugh, you know?”
Live Reviews
PHOTO REVIEW
Photos by Abbey King
GEELONG REVIVAL
MOTORING FE STIVAL
NOV 28 TO 30 2014 @ WATERFRONT, geelong
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imogen brough The Goons of Drawcard So Brian May has a Ph.D. in astrophysics … Queensland’s Drawcard have a degree in “Tumultuous Partying with Honours”. I reckon we all know what 9 out of 10 dentists would recommend. It is hard to party as hard as Drawcard party. It is even harder to party as hard as Drawcard party when they have a new EP to show off. Goons LTD is its name, and, well, you know what its game probably is. The five-track EP was recorded with Sonny Truelove and caps off a year which includes shared stage time with the likes of Dead Kennedys, The Bennies, Dead Letter Circus, The Living End and Art vs. Science. Music Man Megastore, Bendigo – December 5. Get there early to catch some cool supports.
“You just have no idea, and that’s kind of scary. Do you want to put this out for the whole world to judge you?” pg.47
Summer of Beautiful Girls You will find few better ways to spend your summer than by soaking up the sunny sounds of The Beautiful Girls and their Summer Soundsystem tour. Frontman Mat McHugh: “Music is something that really propels me creatively, but there’s something about the ocean that I can’t ever do without. I always get asked whether I was a musician that surfs or a surfer who plays music. I don’t think I have an answer – they are both part of who I am and for me, there’s no better way to spend summer than being able to combine the two. Summer tours in Australia have been a tradition of ours and they are, without a doubt, my favourite part of the year.” Torquay Hotel, Torquay – January 16.
A Breed of His Own Melbourne-based songwriter Justin Avery is as much waywardbreed as waywardbreed is Justin Avery. Avery paid his dues in The Spoils and The Dumb Earth before finding voice as a solo musician under the waywardbreed moniker. It is a comfortable fit. The muso spent the better part of three years based in Berlin, spreading his songs across Europe and releasing his debut, Rising Vicious, in 2010. At the end of 2011 Australia called, and Avery returned to Melbourne to record his follow-up. Enlisting the help of a handful of Melbourne mates, Justin recorded Gathering for the Feast. Taking a leap of faith, Justin told his fellow music-makers not to rehearse too much – one or two takes is what he wanted, so as to capture an organic “live” sound. Avery: “This was particularly hard with full-band tracks like Would You Have It because I had only ever played them solo when I was on tour in Europe. So I knew how I wanted them to sound, but the challenge then became communicating that to the others. But they are all wonderful musicians and individually and collectively captured what the song was meant to be.” The Bridge, Castlemaine – December 6. Joining him will be Dirtbird with their majestic, slow-mo and acoustic sounds.
FedUni Info Day The right support can take you a long way.
Wednesday 17 December Mt Helen and Gippsland Campuses 11am–2pm Whatever your Year 12 results, FedUni has got your back. Register and come along to Info Day to talk about your course preferences. You’ll see how a little support can take you a long way.
Call 1800 FED UNI or visit Federation.edu.au/infoday CRICOS Provider No. 00103D
FED0520
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Half Empty for Blackwood Jack Hey there Blackwood Jack fans. What’s the good word? I think you will find the good word is that The Pessimist is available as a digital download. The warm and wonderful Warrnambool three-piece is celebrating this good time with a gig at their local, and they’re understandably pretty chuffed. Now, in case you are not down with Blackwood Jack, the band is the combined talents of Ben Cue, Daniel Paroissien and Talen Galbraith. They will rock you and they’ll roll you, leaving you with a hazy memory of the night before – a good hazy memory, naturally. The Loft, Warrnambool – December 6. Joining them to launch The Pessimist will be Red Eagle, Kashmere Club and King Evil.
Things Are Looking Grim The chances are you probably know Tané Emia-Moore better as Grim Falkner. Originally from the rural NW coast of Tasmania, Fawkner is more at home in Victoria these days. He has spent the last few years playing the traps around our fine state, but one eye has always been on bigger things. So, taking to Pozible, Fawkner did the call out for funds that would help his travels abroad. With his folk/ roots/country tunes, the young songman hoped to spread the love from the pubs in Ireland to the streets of Scotland – and everywhere else his tunes could take him. Be sure to hit up his Facebook page to share in his adventures. His new single is ‘Ourselves’. The Loft, Warrnambool – December 5.
Chemistry with Kristina Olsen It can take a while to get things right, but having songs 20 years in the making says something. Fortunately, some of these songs have finally seen the light of day on Chemistry, the new album from songbird Kristina Olsen. Olsen: “Some of the songs on Chemistry I have literally been working on for over twenty years. I’d work on it, bring it to my songwriting group, get feedback and put them back on blocks on the back of the songwriting car lot … Songs each take their own time to finish, and some were done in one day and some of these took decades.” Olsen continues her busy run with shows at the Barwon Heads Bowls Club on December 5 and Geelong’s Elephant & Castle on December 15.
Shaun Kirk Takes the Wheel His name sure does get a 26 forte
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good workout in Forte, but in our defence he is always up to something. Set for another touring adventure before 2014 comes to a close, Shaun is on the road with ‘Two Hands on the Wheel’, the second single from his latest album, Steer the Wheel. The newie treads country blues and features contributions from Kyle and Dan Lizotte from Halfway to Forth. Two Hands on the Wheel’s accompanying video clip features snippets from live performances, sound checks, spontaneous musical collaborations and highway drives, along with behindthe-scenes and flyon-the-wall footage. Old Hepburn Hotel, Hepburn Springs – December 5.
You Twilight Up My Life Lakeside Twilights has returned for another season of music merriment. The concert series is held annually during the warmer months, setting up shop at lakeside settings around regional Victoria. Russell Morris, Daryl Braithwaite, Mental as Anything and Pseudo Echo are first up. Russell put out his first releases all the way back in 1967. His big hit, ‘The Real Thing’, was released only a couple of years later. The song, written by Johnny Young, also found success in the US, hitting #1 in Chicago and New York. His latest release is 2014’s critically acclaimed Van Diemen’s Land. Lake Wendouree Fairyland Reserve – December 6. Snap up your tickets through Ticketmaster.
Christmas with Juan Alban After spending a chunk of his life as the singer and songwriter for Ballarat darlings Epicure, Juan took a shot at the solo word following the band’s break-up in 2010. It’s not an entirely easy thing to do, making your mark as a solo musician when your band is done, but things are travelling just fine for Juan. We saw his debut EP, Too Long in Flight, released in 2011. Next up was his debut full-length, Dr Pelican on Holiday!. Work on the album begun shortly after the EP’s release, with the first taste dropping on October 2011. The album was released last year. Favourite sons don’t come much more loved than Juan, so a pre-Christmas gig is sure to be joyful news. The Karova, Ballarat – December 21.
Gin & Musical Tonic Genre slicers and dicers The Gin Club welcome their new single ‘Dancing with the Ghost’ with a nice little
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December tour. The track is lifted from their forthcoming album, Southern Lights. It was in 2003 when a bunch of Brisbane open mic night locals decided to pool their talents and try their hand at music. Their time since has been spent supporting countless bands and gracing the stages of festivals both local and abroad. From the presser: “Another epic tune from the pen of Adrian Stoyles, Ghost shows off all the elements the Club are renowned for – atmospheric pop/ rock with flourishes of cello and keys and a real antipodean character.” The Eastern, Ballarat – December 6.
You Cain Do It 30 years ago. When you start a story with ’30 years ago’, you begin to feel like an old man shaking his fist at the clouds. Anyway, many bands took their first musical steps in the year we call 1984. Adelaide’s The Mark of Cain is one such band. Formed by the Scott brothers, John and Kim, along with Rod Archer and Roger Crisp, the band would have a reshuffle before releasing their debut album, Battlesick, in 1989. Their third album, the 1995 Henry Rollins-produced Ill at Ease, became their breakthrough release. The band has been on the road since the end of October in support of single ‘Greg-11’. The Barwon Club, Geelong – December 19. The always raucous King of the North will provide support.
They’re Not Really That Mean
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In Love with Frasca Put on those dancing shoes because Dallas Frasca is back. Pre-production and recording of her new album, Love Army, has been going on for around a year now, and the end result is so close you can hear the ballsy, riff-rock guitar hammering away. To keep you calm until its release you have their hot new single, ‘You Are Beautiful’. Recorded by New York-based Aussie producer Andy Baldwin, the newie is a discussion on body image and the way in which it is portrayed in the media. The single entered SF Media’s Top 10 releases for the week, holding its own against AC/DC, Rancid and Royal Blood. Join Dallas, along with her manly cohorts Jeff Curran and Zane Rosanoski, at The Vine, Bendigo on December 5.
Here Comes Violet Swells Six of Tasmania’s finest crossed the waters recently to show the rest of Australia the kind of music those living on the Apple Isle enjoy playing. With influences including Brian Wilson, Syd Barrett and Donovan, Violet Swells have been having a great ol’ time in 2014, thanks largely to the release of their debut EP, The Soft Focus. Perhaps, however, the best in ’14 is yet to come for the band, with the six-piece winning a triple j Unearthed competition which landed them a spot at the Marion Bay Falls Festival. You can also throw in new single ‘Here Comes Yesterday’ to the good times. Speaking with Hijacked.com.au about their sound, frontman Ben Simms says: “It’s kind of funny, this whole proposed psychedelic revival, as it never really left the public consciousness. There’s always been an Oasis or an Echo & The Bunnymen in the charts – and it has never left the underground mentality. At the moment, [most] popular music has become such a sterile format that anything with lush sounding instruments seems to be eaten up by the masses … As for how it affects our music, it can only be a positive as far as I see it. Industry types are more likely to view us as a viable asset if our overarching genre is being well received.” The Eastern, Ballarat – December 13.
Let us all rejoice in
Hearty Dose of Carty Time flies when you’re having fun. In 2010, Sydney indie/folk songman Jack Carty released his debut EP, Wine & Consequence. And let me say, the time since then and now has been go, go, go. Let’s have a look: two fulllength albums, a collaborative EP with Sydney-based ‘man of mystery’ Casual Psychotic, songs on soundtracks, critical acclaim, top five in the APRA Professional Development Awards and showcases at SXSW and Canadian Music Week. And yet he keeps on going. And he keeps on giving. His new album is esk, and it’s out now. From his website: “It’s an album of imagery, mood, groove, grit and the kind of lyrical turn of phrase that has won Carty a dedicated and vocal grassroots fan base across Australia and the world. From the rolling, dark and hauntingly dynamic And the Ass Saw the Angel, to the hopeful, melodious invocation of The Universe (written and sung with Katie Noonan). From ‘Honey, Do You Know the Way Back Home’s ’70s groove-cradled melancholia, to the swelling string lines of My Replacement, this is an album as dynamic as it is cohesive, as venturesome as it is reflective and as playful as it is poetic.” Beav’s Bar, Geelong – December 7.
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the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the one, the only, the band-namedefying super stars of punk rock … ladies and gentlemen, The Meanies. 25 years is a long time to be doing anything. Let alone punk rocking across the universe, always going forwards because they still can’t find reverse. But The Meanies have done it like champs. Yes, 1989 was the year things began. While David Hasselhoff was blowing down the Berlin Wall, some dudes decided to play some punk rock. And since then they have pretty much done it all. The Bridge, Castlemaine – December 5 & The Karova, Ballarat – December 6. Hooray, hoorah! * Keep your eyes peeled for possible further dates.
Another Bad Tenant When you know, you know. You know? When Tim O’Connor first heard the blistering Sex Pistols track ‘God Save the Queen’, he knew what he wanted to do. Later down the track, Elvis Costello and the Ramones further fuelled his passion for music. Skip forwards a little later, and Tim crosses
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path with Simon Austin, Angie Hart and Mark Picton – and Frente! was born. Next was a period jumping from band to band, with his original musical inspirations never too far behind. With influences including Ramones, Buzzcocks, The Clash and The Sex Pistols, and a lyrical style influenced by the likes of Costello and Bowie, Bad Tenant is pop-punk poetry. The Bridge, Castlemaine – December 12.
Torquay High Tide Festival While the mood in the Torquay High Tide Festival camp is always buzzing, things this year are sure to be that little bit more joyous with 20th birthday celebrations taking place. The festival works under a simple philosophy: “To conduct a local event that celebrates our diverse community, culture, environment and arts that encourage community participation.” Held in early December, just before the silly season gets too crazy, the festival helps celebrates the region’s rich history while providing varied entertainment throughout the day.
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One of the things I enjoy (obviously) is listening to music. I can listen to most music and respect the art and passion within which leads me pondering what drives that person, or band, to put their heart and soul into the genre they emulate. If I had to narrow my list of music I enjoy to a pinnacle favourite genre, it could only go as narrow as “psychedelic”. Being a sound junky, this makes sense to me. I love the frequency range and harmonics that psychedelic
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8 Ball, Corner Pocket You had better hold on tight as the red-neck preacher at the shotgun wedding between country and blues is on the loose. Who in tarnation am I talking about? His name is 8 Ball Aitken, and he comes packing heat. 8 Ball has been a part of Australia’s festival scene for over a decade now, though in recent times he has called Nashville home. His latest release is Southern Hemisphere, an album recorded with the rich talents of members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Little Big Town. 8 Ball’s music has featured on TV shows including Justified, Breaking Amish and Parking Wars. The Piping Hot Chicken Shop, Ocean Grove – December 12 & The Loft, Warrnambool – December 13.
Building Things of Stone and Wood They are to Melbourne what The Go-Betweens
Frank Turner is All Heart In some awesome news for Geelong, British troubadour Frank Turner has announced a date at The Barwon Club as part of his Bluesfest sideshows. Despite a deep love of metal (his first album was apparently Iron Maiden’s Killers), Turner’s first big musical steps were in post-hardcore outfit Million Dead. The band parted ways in 2005, but Turner, inspired in part by Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska, turned towards a different sound. As a solo musician, Turner has released five albums, his latest being 2013’s Tape Deck Heart. From playing tiny, cramped pubs and churches, he has worked his way to playing arena shows. This is what Gigwise had to say about his date at the 02 Arena in February of this year: “It quickly becomes obvious throughout the course of Turner’s set that size seriously doesn’t matter, as there was not a soul in the room who didn’t seem to be interacting with Frank on some kind of personal level. And it really was a thing to behold. Witnessing 20,000 pairs of arms in the air fist-pumping their way aggressively through I Still Believe creates an emotional stirring in even the most cynical of soul.” Frank will be touring with his band, the Sleeping Souls. The Barwon Club, Geelong – April 16. are to Brisbane, and they are also celebrating a big milestone in ’14. I am talking about those warm and lovely folkies, Things of Stone and Wood. Formed in 1989, the band would ply their trade through long-term residencies around their
Psychedelic SterEotypical Sound and Genres Hello readers and reddits, there hasn’t been much music news to cover since last time I reported (a week ago). Though Suttons House of Music has opened up on Sturt Street, so there’s a new music venue in the heart of Ballarat. They are on Facebook and have a website, which I’ll list at the bottom of this article, so swing by there and check out what they have on. I’ll be keeping an eye out and publishing their gigs in the future so watch this space for that.
s u r f
Every year the festival runs under a theme. In 2014 the theme is Horses by the Sea, based on the Lighthorse Camp held in Torquay during WW2. December 6 is the date.
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Written by Daniel Lock
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music often toys with; the range of sounds and the balance between instruments is an awesome thing to be able to have responsibility over at either a Front of House or Studio desk (I prefer a Front of House desk). But the term “psychedelic” is an interesting one to throw around. Psychedelic usually is in reference to drugs, particularly hallucinogens – which is something I’ve never indulged in. I’ve heard they can enhance sensory perception and I’ve even known people
who’ve admitted to repeated use of them for that reason particularly. They’ve explained to me in detail the buzzes they can get from different frequencies and peaking at varying sound levels. The ideas that this has spurred in me have been a strange journey through sound. I’ve researched sound and frequencies and their effects on emotions and the brain. We’ve all done the following, vented frustration by listening to the heaviest music in your collection at the loudest it can go, put on a favourite
home city. If for no other reason, you would know them as the ‘Happy Birthday Helen’ band. They released the song in 1992, a song written by Greg Arnold for his then girlfriend, now wife, Helen Durham. In 2013 the original line-up band while doing chores around the house, listened to something soft and melodic while taking a relaxing shower or bath. I see these things as the unconscious dealing with the current state of mind with maximum efficiency. It is true what they say, music does soothe the soul. In my head the reason my favourite genre of music is psychedelic is because it fuels my imagination, productivity and curiosity all at the same time. What do you think your favourite genre of music is and does it fit your profile? The psychedelic music itself suits me, but I don’t believe the word defines me at
got things going once again, and now, in 2014, 25-year celebrations are in well-deserved order. Aireys Pub, Aireys Inlet – December 6 & Ararat Live @ Ararat Performing Arts Centre – December 11.
all. This is why I think the amount of music genres these days is ridiculous. The words they use inside genres can have negative connotations when explaining them to your average Joe who knows five to six genres and no more. Doom metal isn’t very “doom” orientated at all outside the musical definition, neither is “house” and I’m yet to see a death at a “death metal” concert. I’m sure there’s been a few but I’m certain it isn’t a requirement. Anyway, I have been Dan your Stereotypist, and if you stuck with this article this long, then you probably think too much, kudos!
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KING GEORGE FISH & GRILL restaurant feature Story and photos by Amanda Sherring
Eating fish and chips at the beach is an Australian tradition and George Likoudis is helping keep it alive with his second King George Fish and Grill on the Waterfront in Geelong. With parents who immigrated to Australia from Greece, they didn’t have much else aside from their hard working attitude and the pride in doing something well. As a result they soon opened up a fish and chip shop, where George spent most of his childhood working. After gaining an insight to a successful business and developing a passion for the trade as a young boy, following on with his passion was the most logical step. We care about our food and our customers so much, we don’t just wake up, come to work and go home – we breath it,” George says. “I wake up every day super pumped to smash out some great food and talk to customers as well. I think that’s how I’ve been brought up with mum and dad, and everyday here I get the staff and do a pep talk. There’s no point creating a negative workspace environment, it’s just like soccer if you have one negative player the team is going to collapse.” Unlike the Geelong West venue, which focuses on take away items, the Waterfront location has ample seating to dine in and enjoy the quality seafood that George and his team dish up every day. It may seem like there are many venues offering up seafood dishes along the picturesque Corio Bay, though not many do it quite like King George Fish and Grill. Glimpsing at the menu and the well thought out dishes, like the braised octopus & quinoa salad, it’s clear that after years in the seafood industry, George knows what he’s doing. “It’s not only just fish, there’s not many places where you can get seafood in a place that really aims for seafood, and that’s what we’re trying to do. And the chef that we’ve got is probably one of the best seafood chefs in Geelong,” he says. George is well tested at running a busy venue, the Geelong West location is a known favourite among locals, though the biggest challenge came when opening his venue corresponding with the launch of the famed Christmas tree at the Waterfront. “It just happened to be that week and I didn’t even know the Christmas tree was getting launched, then I found out there was going to be 20,000 people down there and I nearly had a heart attack. It always happens where everything comes at once,” he adds with a laugh. With a sense for good quality seafood, the tourists and locals f locked to the venue, causing George a lot of early mornings and late nights. “I was doing like 13 hour days, 14 days straight. I was at the shop at four o’clock in the morning filleting fish for both places, running between the two shops and trying to organise. So it’s been an absolute hectic two weeks, but a good two weeks because the shop opened,” he says. From the Friday through to the weekend, the venue sold close to 50 of the venues iconic seafood platters. At $110 each, the platter is an affordable alternative to more expensive options in the region, and with the same quality. Aside from the popular platter, the venue offers frequent lunch deals, with some coming in at $10 – a hard find on the Waterfront. Once things balance out, George plans to have regular seafood nights, where the venue is booked out and has an a la carte menu, as George describes it: “You walk in, get something off the seafood platter, have a glass of wine and chill out to the musician playing in the corner with the guitar.” For George it’s all about atmosphere, and with the Christmas tree glimmering out in the water of the bay, there’s not many places that can beat it.
Open Tuesday to Sunday 11.30am-9pm 100 Western Beach Rd, Geelong Ph: 5229 7771 kinggeorgefishandgrill.com.au
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19th Annual
2014
Accommodation
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Summer Beer Garden Alfresco Dining and
Special Feature!
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Special Feature!
Now that summer’s coming around, we can’t think of anything better than rounding up a group of friends, heading down to your local beer garden and sipping a cold one as you bask in the sun’s warmth. That’s why in this issue of Forte we’ve rounded up some of the best in the business throughout Geelong and the Surf Coast, who know how to pour a good beer and deck out an even better beer garden. While it might seem like a simple process, choosing the right venue can actually become a bit of an ordeal, with friends all wanting specific things from their beer garden. We’ve laid out our selected venues with information on what makes them unique and the exact experience you can get from heading down. There are even venues that have musicians come in and play an acoustic set over the weekend, so not only are you getting a place to relax but some good tunes to help the process along. Pair that with a bar menu to share with friends, and you’ve got every box ticked for the perfect summer afternoon, which may lead to night, out. The venues are spread out over a variety of different suburbs, so there’s sure to be one close enough if you don’t think driving home will be an option. All that’s left is for you to pick the winner, and head on down for a relaxing time with friends. Who knows, you may even see us there. Here’s to summer days spent with friends.
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Leura Park 1400 Portarlington Road, Curlewis Phone 5253 3180 for bookings and enquiries Leura Park Estate is open Saturday & Sunday 10am – 5pm, seven days in January / www.leuraparkestate.com.au
Flying Brick Cider House 1251 Bellarine Highway, Wallington Phone 5250 6077 / www.flyingbrickciderco.com.au
Officially opening its doors for a seven day per week trading on Friday, December 5, this retroinspired landmark venue is definitely calling. Think innovate space, a tasting paddle of ciders, amazing food without the ‘fancy’, the best Bellarine wines around, a solid selection of beer, Friday night ROOTS – live music which traces the roots of rock, soul, rhythm and blues – and you’ll get an inkling of what to expect; fabulous, funky, fun. The Flying Brick story is a good one. Launched three years ago, the quirky name and brand came from the Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo whose local nick name is ‘Flying Brick’. Known for their spunk, these
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birds are loved by most for their happy, playful and seemingly ‘naughty’ appearance and disposition. Local legend also has it that if a flock of black cockatoos flies overhead, you are blessed with good luck. Flying Brick Ciders are made from 100 per cent fresh fruit, traditionally crafted and – unlike the majority of mainstream ciders on the Australian market, which are nothing more than synthetic carbonated water – contain no sugars, colours, flavourings or concentrates. Today, Flying Brick Cider is one of the fastest growing boutique ciders in Australia with distribution moving across Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.
Located at Wallington on the Bellarine Highway, the fantastic new Cider House is true to brand, reflecting the Flying Brick bird itself with the exterior façade echoing the Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoo colours and wing span. Inside, the imposing wood clad ceiling mirrors a commanding, yet highly intricate, wing structure. The Flying Brick Cider House also incorporates an accredited Visitor Information Centre (9am – 5pm, seven days), a hub for tourists and locals alike to be informed about the many attractions and activities on The Bellarine. Patrons definitely won’t go thirsty or be addled about beverage choice at Flying Brick. In addition to the ciders, a variety of popular beers will be on offer as will an extensive wine list showcasing more than 20 wines all grown and crafted on The Bellarine. Fair trade coffee
completes the beverage scenario. In addition to the three classic and highly awarded Flying Brick Cider offerings – original, pear and draught – the on site cidery will be crafting boutique seasonal batches from fresh, seasonal fruit. First cab off the rank is a pure Pink Lady batch, which displays delicious pink grapefruit palate nuances alongside a fresh, crisp apple backbone. Patrons can also grab a ‘Growler’ of cider to take home – hip 1.89 litre Growler bottles which patrons can purchase, take home and enjoy and then return for a discounted replacement Growler of any on tap cider, including the latest boutique batch on the pour. Open seven days a week for lunch and guided tastings. Dinner Friday and Saturday nights. Friday Night ROOTS live music – every Friday night.
If top Bellarine winery, Leura Park Estate, hasn’t made it onto your radar yet, you don’t know what you’re missing out on! This fabulous vineyard and winery is a must do when planning your next wine tasting, lunch or ‘whatever the reason’ get together. Enjoy sensational wines in a funky, rustic chic setting while savouring a gourmet stone based pizza, al fresco platter, salt & pepper calamari or perhaps a (seriously hearty) fillet steak sandwich. The winery also features live music from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s every Sunday all year round. You will be blown away by ‘the Vault’ as well. Completed before Christmas 2013 and truly spectacular, the ‘Opera House-esque’ structure has been turning heads and fast become a hallmark feature of the region. Massive steel pillars, curved concrete, funky portholes and giant fire station doors open onto the much loved al fresco area of the winery in front of the Cellar Door. Inside, polished concrete floors, a feature wall of old wood panels and posts, a funky suspended fireplace and
eclectic furniture complete the picture of contemporary ambience where industrial meets eclectic charm and country warmth. Cellar Door Manager, Keryn Bailey is a Leura Park institution - always on hand and smiling to provide a warm (and seriously knowledgeable about wine) welcome to all. When it comes to wines on offer at Leura Park Estate, you are literally being spoilt with some of the best wines in Australia, with a number of award winning wines served at the venue. Also on offer in the Cellar Door is a selection of beers, freshly ground coffee and the full suite of popular Flying Brick Ciders.
Jack Rabbit Vineyard 85 McAdams Lane, Bellarine / Phone 5251 2223
A regional favourite for all – Jack Rabbit Vineyard’s restaurant, winery and cellar door, offers people the ultimate when only a brilliant regional experience will do. The unrivalled panoramic views across the bay to Melbourne, the You Yangs and Geelong are just the beginning. This winery has forged a reputation as a gastronomic show piece for The Bellarine, alongside a stable of sophisticated cool climate wines. Jack Rabbit Executive Chef, David Hall and Head Chef, Paul Andrews have created a stunning, seasonal a la carte menu, featuring an abundance of local produce to indulge even the most discerning culinary whim. Reflecting this is Jack Rabbit’s status in The Age Good Food Guide 2012, 2013 and 2014 as well as being a Finalist in the annual Golden Plate Awards and prestigious Restaurant & Catering Association Awards for Excellence 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. For those opting for a more casual dining experience, the spectacular ‘House of Jack Rabbit’ Cellar Door and Tasting Room serves up a terrific café-style menu. On
a busy, bustling weekend, if wine tasting and a great cheese platter is all you are after, drop into the Rabbit ‘Creepy Shed’ – a dedicated and very cool space also on site at the vineyard. Jack Rabbit Vineyard is open 7 days per week for lunch, guided tastings and Cellar Door sales, 10.30am – 5pm, Friday and Saturday nights for dinner and breakfast on weekends.
Gold Diggers Arms 87 Skene Street, Newtown, VIC 3220 Phone: 5221 5441
The Yardz 77 Church St, Geelong Ph: 5278 7257
The Yardz boasts Geelong West’s largest outdoor beer garden and is open daily from 10.30am. The Pub is your ideal local with a casual, relaxed and chillled out atmosphere and warm and friendly staff. The area caters for all functions including birthdays of all ages, hens nights, meetings and large groups for dinner or lunch. There is a separate
The Lord of the Isles 3 West Fyans Steet, South Geelong Ph: 5224 2522 www.lordislestavern.com
The Lord of the Isles is situated just down from Geelong’s iconic Simmond’s Stadium and is a must do for any sports fan! They offer a number of diverse dining options, from the finer dining option in Bernie’s Bistro, to the Courtyard and entertainment lounge experience, you will be sure to find something for everyone at this legendary Geelong venue. The Lord of the Isles Tavern Courtyard and bistro bar area has a stunning modern style that blends, lighting, furniture, flooring, & décor, bringing style and comfort to the space. Oh and we have to mention ‘that screen’. Relax in the courtyard area and watch all the top sporting
bar for private functions with close quarters to live entertainment. Meals at the Yardz are infamous, from all your pub favourites to something a bit fancier and all are able to be eaten outside for lunch and dinner. Don’t forget their Parmi Days on a Sunday where you can pick your favourite from ‘around the world’ for lunch or dinner. They also have burger nights on a Wednesday with a heap of mouthwatering options; with chicken, beef, lamb and veggie to choose from. Live Music is played on a Sunday
in the beer garden, which also features a juke box in between sets. For the sports fans, Fox Sports can be played almost anytime and Monday nights at the Yardz is Trivia Night from 7pm! There are 10 varieties of beers on tap at the hotel, as well as boutique beers in the fridge. Bulmers cider is also on tap with more ciders available in the fridge. They have a selection of local and imported white and red wines, with cocktails of all varieties also available on request.
events LIVE on Fox on quite possibly the largest plasma screen you have ever seen! TAB and Keno facilities are also available outside, so there is no need to go running about the venue to place your bets! The menu boasts all of your favourites with more than generous portion sizes that will set you back no more that $13 a pop! They also have a number of sharing options available too. The menu is available in the courtyard Monday to Saturday 11.30am - 4.30pm and Thursday 11.30am – late. The Courtyard also plays host to a hilarious pub quiz each Thursday night, get a team together and enjoy the festivities with a weekly jackpot prize, as well as some other spot prizes! The selection of beers and wines is extensive, with a variety of local and imported choices. On tap, choose from Carlton Draught, Minumum Chips Golden Ale(Matilda Bay), Furphy Refreshing ale, One Fifty Lashes pale ale, Byron Bay pale lager, Asahi
super dry, Fat Yak pale ale, Crown lager, Peroni, Drirty Granny apple cider, Cascade premium light and IGP cloudy ale (Matilda Bay). Bernie’s Bistro is also open seven days a week from 11.30am to late, with all day dining, whether you wish to indulge in their full menu or dine alfresco. Bernie’s has won over 30 different awards at the regional, state and national level, and on three occasions has been been voted best bistro in Australia. Enjoy the elegant yet relaxed atmosphere Bernie’s has to offer whilst you indulge in the extensive menu.
The Gold Diggers Arms, affectionately known as ‘Diggers’, has come a long way in the past few months. A mini-makeover has left the place looking lavish. Whether you’re after a speciality dish in the restaurant, a pub favourite in the public bar or even just some afternoon drinks in the sun, the Diggers has something to suit all your needs! Digger’s functions are famous – in all areas of the venue they can offer you what you’re after – be it platters for drinks and a few nibbles
in the saloon bar with friend, a two or three course dinner in the private dining area, canapés in the refurbished function room or birthday celebrations in the restaurant, they have something for everybody. The courtyard is a relaxed and comfortable area with a number of seating options, umbrellas and amplified music. The space also features its own TAB area, so there’s no need to keep running indoors, you can just sit back and enjoy the sunshine! You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to the menu – with all the pub favourites like cheeseburgers, chicken parmi’s, fish and chips and steaks covered. Monday and Tuesday nights is speciality night at the Diggers public bargets you a
rump steak or chicken parmi for just $14! If you’re in the area for lunch, look no further with the Diggers $10 lunch specials menu. The bar features a number of local and imported beers, wines and spirits. On tap you can choose from Carlton Draught, Cascade Light, Peroni and Bulmers, with Carlton Dry coming soon. There’s also a large selection of bottled beers including Quilmes, Moritz, Asahi and Stone & Wood Pacific Ale.. Taylor Kelly, assistant manager at the Diggers, prides himself in offering a range of aperitifs and cocktails, including and not limited to the following; Aperol Spritz, Americano, Lillet and Tonic, La Paloma, Pisco Sour, Gold Rush, La Contessa. The Gold Diggers Arms is open daily from 11am to 11pm daily.
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The Juke at The Grovedale Hotel The Juke is at The Grovedale Hotel, 236 Torquay Rd, Grovedale VIC 3216 Ph: 5243 2814 www.grovedalehotel.com.au
Belmont Hotel 77 High Street, Belmont Phone: 03 5243 2802
Feel like you’re on top of the world, as you take in all the sights from the Belmont Hotel’s famous roof top terrace! The Belmont Hotel has something to suit all of your needs – whether it’s a sit down meal in their sizeable bistro, a function in their upstairs function room, relaxed drinks in the lounge, a few cold ones and a meal at the bar or taking in
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the sun on their rooftop terrace or balcony. The terrace features a number of different seating options, with wide bench seating catering for large groups and smaller bar tables. Choose to sit in the sun or shaded by one of a number of umbrellas scattered through the area. There’s also a funky retro-caravan with a comfy couch and separate upstairs bar to escape the hustle of the bar downstairs. The Belmont has live music in the bar on Friday and Saturday nights, with Sunday sessions on the terrace from 5pm on Sundays in Summer. The pub has a brand new
kitchen and offer an impressive menu of pub favourites and speciality dishes. Monday nights are the famous Parmi nights, where you can choose your favourites from ‘around the world’ for just $13. There’s also a number of local and imported beers, from the tap or the fridge, on offer at the venue. The wine list has been carefully selected and features quality wine from down the road and all around the world. The Belmont Hotel is open from 11am till late every day, with the kitchen open for lunch and dinner each day with all day meals on Sundays.
Let’s face it, if you’re heading to a beer garden this summer, you want assurance that you’ll be sipping on some great quality beer. Joel Taylor, co-owner of the Grovedale Hotel, can assure just that as the Juke is one of very few venues in Victoria taking on the duo tank initiative of Carlton Draught, which gives you the freshest beer possible. The duo tank system takes away the need to pasteurise the beer for preservation – like in beers on tap – instead, every glass poured from the tank will be fresh from the breweries – basically beer as it should be. “They take it straight from the brewery, put it in a tanker, drive it down the highway and fill our tanks up. The same day it’s brewed, we’re serving it,” he says. Though if you’re not a CD fan, Joel has opened up the craft beers on tap, with ciders and even more beer available in the fridge as well, so there’s plenty to choose from regardless of your preference. Though the real charm lies in the decor of the beer garden, which Joel designed and sourced himself. “I just kept buying stuff and we got to a point where the interior designer was like, ‘You have to stop buying stuff, we’ve got enough stuff ’. Then we sort of just put it all in here and it all worked,” Joel says. Red and yellow oil tin seats are scattered across the venue as well as a quirky collection of antique chairs, providing pops of colours and ample seating. A large wooden planter box sprouts beautifully greenery from the centre of the space with a large communal table placed beside it – made from wood from the Point Lonsdale pier and supplied by Williams & Campion in North Geelong. If sitting in a group isn’t your thing, intimate seating lines the far wall next to a large wall garden, similar to something you would have seen in The Block. Completing the beer garden experience is live music played on Friday and Saturday nights as well as a exstensive bar menu with an American inspiration, think sliders, ribs and fried chicken burgers. Another drawcard is the huge art mural by street artist Mike Makatron. Featuring a large cyclindrical piece and a large wooden ship, the artwork is a point of difference in beer gardens around the region and makes it worthy of a spot in a laneway on Melbourne.
WELCOME IN SUMMER AT GEELONG’S NEWEST GARDEN BAR
Fine craft beers on tap
The heartiest comfort food
Stonking live music
Great times in the sun
WEB.
GROVEDALEHOTEL.COM.AU PHONE.
1300GROVEDALE (1300 476 833)
GROVEDALEHOTEL
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The Bush Inn 58 Corio St, Geelong Ph 5229 5194 www.thebushinnhotel.com.
The Lord Nelson Cnr of Malop & Bellarine Streets Open 11.30am-late 7 Days a week Phone: 5222 8756 www.thelordnelson.com.au
The Lord Nelson’s new beer garden opened in January 2014 and has been a resounding success. With the hand made bar, nautical relics from the past and the bright sunshine, it has taken its place as the most popular Beer Garden in Geelong. The area has multipule seating arrangements with a number of booths, tables and stools – some are undercover and others in the sun or shaded by umbrella’s – the options are endless.
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The beer garden has its own bar, so there’s no need to keep running inside to grab a drink and there’s even a number of big screens so that you’re able to watch all of your favourite sports while you sip your beer! You can’t go past the food at The Lord Nelson. The kitchen specialises in steaks, tapas and traditional pub meals as well as a variety of sweets for dessert. Their chef ’s focus on selecting high quality, fresh, local produce is arguably their greatest strength, with the kitchen serving outstanding, world class meals at affordable prices. The menu features five premium certified aged steaks, a selection of seafood, meat and vegetable tapas, a signature Parma and more. The menu is available for lunch and dinner seven days a week. The bar features two Lord Nelson beers, “Three Sheets” Pale
Ale and “Old Admiral” Old Ale from Australia’s oldest pub brewery, the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel in Sydney. In addition, there are over 26 local and international beers, an extensive list of over 100 wines, a selection of ciders and spirits including British Navy Pusser’s Rum, “The Original Admiralty Rum” affectionately named “Nelson’s Blood”. Furthermore, The Lord Nelson’s signature cocktails are sure to become famed attractions at the historic drinking establishment. Sundays in Summer are a must with the fortnightly ‘Sunday Funday’, featuring some of the regions best DJs! The sound system and acoustics are incredible, whether you’re breaking it down on the decks or casually listening to some of the fantastic live musicians that frequent the space.
For a great night out look no further than The Bush Inn. The pub is home to one of the CBD’s finest beer gardens for those cold drinks on the warmer days and nights! The bar even has TAB facilities for those feeling a little on the lucky side. The spacious beer garden features a number of different seating options, with tables undercover, in the sun or shaded under an umbrella – the perfect setting no matter how many friends you’ve come with. Staff are friendly and helpful, led by owners Luke and Adam Richardson, you will feel right at home at the Bush Inn. Each Friday night they run the spinning wheel and raffles with great prizes to be won including meat packs and drink cards. Meals can be eaten outside, and with a large selection of great value quality dishes you won’t be
disappointed by the menu at The Bush Inn! From your traditional pub food, to the more speciality dishes with an array of salads, pastas, risottos and a whopping six different steaks to choose from! They have two speciality nights, $13.50 steak night on Tuesday and $12.50 Parmi night on Thursday as well as roast special lunch and dinner Sunday $13.00. Bookings are encouraged as they fill up
fast! Lunch specials are also now available ranging from $9-13 and you are certainly spoilt for choice! The Bush Inn is open seven days a week from 11am until late, lunch is available from noon until 2pm. Dinner is served from Tuesday to Sunday from 6-8pm Friday and Saturday nights dinner till 8.30pm The Bush Inn is located at 58 Corio St, Geelong VIC 3220, just off the bay end of Moorabool Street.
Elephant & Castle 158 McKillop St, Geelong Ph: 5227 3707 www.enc.net.au Mon-Thurs 11am-11pm Fri & Sat 11am - Midnight Sun midday - 11pm
It’s not often you can sit down to dine with the likes of James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Raquel Welch and even the Queen gazing down at you. Purchased earlier this year by locally born and worldrenown celebrity photographer Darryn Lyons the Elephant & Castle hotel has fast
become one of Geelong’s major attractions due to its stunning refurbishment and home to one of the country’s mostprized photographic collections, Images Of Our Time. The exhibition features over 120 iconic photographs adorning the walls of the bistro and function room that can be viewed at your leisure or purchased. Inside the menu is the finest on offer, created by award winning executive chef Damien Beggs. The menu takes advantage of the fresh and quality produce of the region, with a wine menu of equal quality available at the Elephant & Castle. Outside in the beer garden, earthy Red Gum tables are scattered around the space with plenty of
umbrellas to go round. The beer garden is considerably more relaxed than the venue inside, and is the perfect location to enjoy the 12 beers and 3 ciders on tap and 12 other ciders by the bottle. The space, that comfortably fits 100 people, looks over a quiet park located just minutes from the city - the perfect distance. Eating from the bar menu gives you the chance to enjoy the classics, with a variety of traditional parmis, steaks, fish dishes, soft taco and beef burger sliders on offer. Elephant & Castle is easily a venue that has the best of both worlds, the fine-dining classy experience of inside, or a casual night out in the beer garden with friends.
The Barwon Club 509 Moorabool St, Geelong Ph: 5221 4584 Monday-Friday 11am-10.30pm; Saturday 11am-late and Sunday 3pmmidnight
Chances are when you think of the venues in Geelong with the most impressive beer gardens, The Barwon Club is up there. An icon in itself, the venue has been serving locals since 1990, and it doesn’t seem like things are slowing down. The Mountain Goat Summer ale beer garden offers punters a chance to escape the rush of inside, a true sign the venue is still
alive, with a variety of different seating options. Seek shelter under the shed where large tables sit along the wall or walk a bit further and enter an open space with considerable bench seating. With huge acts regularly playing the band room, a juke box blasting tunes in the outdoor area and regular DJs playing inside, there’s bound to be something to gain your interest whatever day of the week you choose to sidle up to the BC. The good times continue on Sunday night with drinks specials on ciders. This is the perfect way to enjoy the sun whilst nursing a hangover from the Saturday night before or a way to make the weekend last a little bit longer. Though if cider’s not your
thing, there are plenty of beers on tap and in the fridge and a decent selection of wines for those feeling a bit fancy. Traditional bar dishes are served up seven nights a week, with various specials on throughout. The Barwon Club also have a few annual events coming up this summer, the Veeped Xmas Party (December 20) and the Boxing Day Slam (December 26) both with heaps of entertainment and with bands like The Meanies, Civil Civic and Tromboner playing at the venues (at Boxing Day Slam). The Barwon Club easily has everything covered for a summer session with friends, all that’s left is for you to head down and see what it’s all about.
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There’s No Basement in the Alamo Meet The Alamo, a band where the men are men. Once upon a time, four rugged individuals met on the dusty crossroads in a place called middle of nowhere. There was Cobey Fletcher, a fearless songwriter; Derrick ‘Harmony’ Price, a bass slinger with a voice of gold; Tristan Piper, a drummer who can play anything with a set of sticks; and Luke Burns, a man whose guitar sings the blues. Together they swapped stories before deciding that by combining their skills they could create a unique breed of cowboy rock. With their spontaneous energy, they’ll get rowdy with the fellas while they croon the ladies. The Loft, Warrnambool – December 20 & December 24.
Dean Ray & Bonnie Anderson Melbourne-based Dean Ray stunned X-Factor with his rendition of ‘Bette Davis Eyes’ during his audition. Proving it was no fluke, Dean would place runner-up on the sixth season of the show. His selftitled album is out now. Not bad for a kid who grew up in Meandarra, Queensland. In what must seem like a lifetime ago, Bonnie Anderson became the winner of the first Australia’s Got Talent in 2007. She was only a kid back then, but her drive was evident. She has since performed over 150 gigs, which includes a tour with Olly Murs. ‘Rodeo’ is her latest single. Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool – December 17 & The Capital, Bendigo – December 19.
Karise Eden’s Reflections
WHO WANTS FREE STUFF?? Check out the Forte Freebies on page 10!
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Another success story of music-based talent shows is Karise Eden, who, at the age of 19, won The Voice. And although her Things I’ve Done tour doesn’t kick off until mid-2015, we figured there was no harm in an early look. Upon her win, Karise would break records for the most number of singles in the national sales chart – a record previously held by The Beatles. She would also have the best selling album for an Australian artist for My Journey. Things I’ve Done is her new release, an album in which 11 of its 12 songs depict her own life experiences. You may well have been one of the 1.3 million to tune into October’s Australian Story feature. The Capital, Bendigo – June 20.
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One Summer with Daryl Braithwaite
Tom Richardson’s Wall of Sound
Like running into an old friend you haven’t seen in years, Daryl Braithwaite and Sony Music Australia are together again – and they are hitting it off in a way only warm familiarity can. More than two decades since the release of his multiplatinum albums Edge (1988) and Rise (1990), SMA re-signed Daryl Braithwaite. Sure, his old favourites still have a voice, but the re-signing had far more to do with Forever the Tourist, the latest chapter in the songman’s life. From his website: “Forever the Tourist is in one way a personal gift from Daryl to his most loyal fans, a thank you for their unrelenting support across the decades.” Daryl will perform shows in Ballarat and Torquay on December 6.
Music and travelling just seem to go hand in hand for so many musicians. Within a couple of years, songman Tom Richardson performed in 15 countries. It was not so much the search for fame that fuelled his travels; rather, it was the freedom that travel offered and the relationships made along the way. Those who have taken in a live show know what to expect. For those who haven’t, Tom creates a wall of sound through the use of loop pedal technology, overdubbing fourpart vocal harmonies, complicated percussion grooves and lead and rhythm guitar parts. Tom Richardson will join Jay Hoad for what is sure to be a ripping gig at The Loft, Warrnambool on December 12.
It’s a Darren Hanlon Christmas Well, Christmas is heading our way again. And for many that means just one thing : Darren Hanlon. Seriously, where we would be without Darren Hanlon’s annual Christmas shows I don’t want to know. And because it’s the season of joy, Darren has a new single for you titled ‘Where You Go’. Darren: “When You Go is probably the more obviously link to my older stuff. From Memphis, as I went deeper into the South and the project itself, I became more influenced by my surroundings and the weirdos I met and I think a lot of the other songs reflect that.” The Bridge, Castlemaine – December 11. Joining him will be Western Australian songbird Rowena Wise.
Me & Spencer P. Jones With a list of those he has performed with as long as your arm, the chances are you would have come across the guitar sounds of Spencer P. Jones whether you realised it or not. Born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand, Jones was given a guitar on his 14th birthday. Bands he has been a member of include Beasts of Bourbon, Paul Kelly & the Coloured Girls, The Johnnys, Chris Bailey and the General Dog, Maurice Frawley & Working Class Ringos and Sacred Cowboys. In May 2012 Australian Guitar magazine rated Jones as one of Australia’s Top 40 best guitarists. With a guitar amp that is always on, Jones has a couple of dates lined up at The Bridge, Castlemaine on December 7 and December 14.
BallaRatCat Comedy It has been a big year for the team at BallaRatCat Comedy, but they still have just enough left in the tank for one final night of laughs. Luke McGregor, Claire Hooper, Karl Chandler and Jonathan Schuster are the guests of honour at BallaRatCat’s final show for 2014. Luke’s stand-up career began in Tasmania in 2007 when he entered the Raw Comedy competition after one of the other contestants failed to show up. In 2008 he was selected as a Raw Comedy finalist. In 2013 he made his debut at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, where he would win Best Newcomer for his show My Soulmate is Out of My League. He has also had acting roles in It’s a Date and Utopia. The George Hotel, Ballarat – December 5.
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Jack Attack Legend has it that when you repeat ‘Jack’ three times while holding a saxophone and looking in a mirror, Melbourne’s JackJackJack appears. If you take a look at their Facebook page, you may wonder what a band whose influences include Nirvana, Prodigy, The Muppets, Judy Garland and The Cure sound like. Sure, perhaps they are just messing with people, but have a guess anyway. Give up? It’s a fresh combination of hip hop, rock and funk – complete with two saxophones! Yep, one is for amateurs. The band only made their debut festival appearance last year, at the Rainbow Serpent Festival, but they took to it like old pros. Perhaps it’s Maggie Baines’ cool as cool vocals and rap that makes them such a hot band. Perhaps it’s their thick, tight, delicate and tough rhythm section. Perhaps it’s their two firebrand horns-men who know how to blow. Come on, you know it is a combination of all those things. Earlier in the year the band took in The Loft, Warrnambool as part of their Arockalypse show. Now they return for another round on December 19. * If you head across to their Facebook page, you can get to know the members a lot better through some Q&As. They seem like such nice folk.
The Karova’s Xmas Treats The Karova in Ballarat has a nice little run of shows leading up to Christmas, and here we look at a couple. First up you have hometown Ramonescore heroes Agent 37 on December 11. Formed in 2012, the band sings songs about anything from zombies to Liam Neeson. They have shared the stage with Jay Whalley (Frenzal Rhomb), The Bennies, Clowns, Wil Wagner (The Smith Street Band) and Foxtrot among others. Next up you have Cryptic Abyss on December 13, who will be joined by Abreact, Order of Torment and Order of Chaos. Groove metal is the name of the game for Melbourne five-piece Cryptic Abyss. They released their EP Into the Abyss this year.
Neil Murray Brings Stormy Weather The music journey for Neil Murray begins with one of Australia’s most iconic bands, the Warumpi Band. Across the course of three albums (Big Name, No Blankets, Go Bush and Too Much Humbug) and twenty years of performing, the band propelled Indigenous music into the mainstream through songs including ‘My Island Home’, ‘Blackfella Whitefella’ and ‘From the Bush’. Since 1989 Murray has enjoyed a solo career which has spawned more than 10 albums, his latest being Bring Thunder & Rain. It doesn’t stop there, however. Neil has also written a novel, Sing for me Countryman, and a poetry book, One Man Tribe, as well as a play, King for this Place. In 2005 he received an environmental achievement award by the Glenelg-Hopkins Catchment Management Authority in western Victoria for his efforts in instigating Healing Walks and in 2007 co-wrote ‘Jailanguru Pakarnu (Out From Jail)’, which was honoured by National Film and Sound Archive’s Sounds of Australia series as a significant recording in Australia’s musical heritage. ‘My Island Home’ arguably remains his greatest work; a work re-recorded by Christine Anu and one that has been published as a children’s book. The Bridge, Castlemaine – December 20. He will be accompanied by Damien Neil.
Bluestone Blues Festival with Geoff Achison Geoff Achison is celebrating 20 years in the music industry, and headlining the Bluestone Festival. He first began playing in his father’s dance band at the age of 13. Soon after, he heard John Mayall and the Blues Breakers (with a young Eric Clapton on guitar) playing the opening strains of ‘All your Love’ by Otis Rush and “it just burst out of the speakers!”. After that, Geoff became hungry for more of that sound. He developed a passion for American blues and learned the rudiments of the art form. In his early 20s he moved to Melbourne and joined with legendary local bluesman ‘Dutch’ Tilders. After several years with Dutch, he departed to focus on his own music and embarked on an international discovery tour. His first stop was the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, USA where he won the Albert King Award and was offered an endorsement deal with Gibson Guitars. Not a bad start! He spent many months in the USA on the road performing countless live shows and recording his One Ticket, One Ride album there. In 2008 a Guitar
Player magazine reader’s poll listed Geoff as one of the Top 10 ‘Hot New Guitarists’ on the US scene. He adores jamming with other musicians and has developed close musical relationships with many other artists including Georgia based songwriter/musician Randall Bramblett with whom he shares a ‘live’ album release, Jammin’ In The Attic. His annual Boxing Day Blues concert with our own bluesman Chris Wilson has also resulted in a shared album release titled Box of Blues. The passion for jamming has paid off on a personal level too, with Geoff being invited onstage at various times with musical heroes such as Hubert Sumlin, Delbert McClinton, Jorma Kaukonen, legendary bassist George Porter JR, the Allman Brothers Band and
Written by John Lamp
even the great Les Paul. According to Geoff, the biggest highlight was “sitting in and trading licks with the Allman Bros in 2012”. Geoff chose to produce a DVD to commemorate his 20th year since leaving Dutch Tilders’ band to focus on his own music. The CD/ DVD double disc set was recorded live at his 20th anniversary concert at the GH in St Kilda back in March. It covers his repertoire as he has played it over the past 20 years. The recording of the band, and the music the Souldiggers have been best known for, also seemed quite timely as Geoff has been writing new material and there is a new album in the pipeline for 2015. Geoff is thrilled to be back at Bluestone as he loved it when he was there before but hasn’t played there for a while. “Well, we’ll start it up and play on the energy of the crowd. So we aren’t really sure what will happen as you can’t script a party, but we’ll be going for it,” he says. Just the thing to usher in the New Year and take us through the countdown to the future.
When&Where: Murgheboluc – December 31 – January 1
Whole Lotta Love Q&A with Amy Findlay
No matter who you are or what your taste in music is, chances are you love at least one Led Zeppelin song, or you’ve got some sort of childhood memory attached to their bands. We had a chat to Amy Findlay, drummer for Stonefield, who’s set to perform in the Led Zeppelin celebration show: Whole Lotta Love. So normally you’re playing drums and singing for Stonefield, how did youget on board for the Whole Lotta Love show? A while ago I sang a couple of guest songs for Frank Zappa cover band Petulant Frenzy. One of the guys from that band is friends with the organiser of the Whole Lotta Love shows and put us in touch. It’s been a very different experience for me. I am so used to singing my own songs, so there is a lot of pressure when performing Led Zeppelin songs for hardcore fans! It’s also a lot of fun and an honour to sing some of my favourite songs. And the rest of Stonefield weren’t interested in the part? The way the show works is that they have a great band for the whole show and rotate guest vocalists. It makes for a really entertaining, exciting show. I guess being a vocalist opens me up for a lot more
opportunities like this. It must be pretty great knowing you’re a part of such a wellrespecting and longrunning national show? For sure, I feel totally honoured to have been asked in the first place. The musicians I get to sing with are pretty phenomenal! Growing up were you always a big fan of Led Zeppelin, what is it you love about the band? Always! Zeppelin make up majority of the soundtrack to my childhood. They are brilliant songs, an incredible band – both individually and it’s magic with them all together! Do you have a favourite Led Zeppelin album? It’s hard to pick when there isn’t a single song I don’t like.. but I love II (1969). Are you nervous at all to be paying homage to one of the most influential bands in the world?
Where: GPAC – March 20 & The Palais, Melbourne – March 21
Most definitely! It’s a huge deal for me. It is going to be a lot of fun though. Do you know yet what songs you’ll be performing? Yes, but I’m not sure that I should be giving that away.. I’ll give you one.. ‘In My Time Of Dying’. There’s another classic that I’m really excited to do as well! Is it nice being able to
do a show closer to home? It is always a luxury... being able to go home to my own bed is quite nice. It also means it’s easier for friends and family to come along and enjoy the show. The show does go for three hours, do you have a favourite part at all? I really enjoy the whole show. I love watching the other singers from side of stage
and being inspired by their performances. The encore is also so much fun, being able to have one last bang where we all come together. Do you think you’ll be doing more shows like this in the future? I’m not really sure. I am very focused on my own music and that is always the number one priority for me – if a great opportunity
comes up and it doesn’t interfere with what Stonefield is doing, then sure. And why should people come along and see the show? Because it’s awesome, entertaining and great to hear all those songs live! Tickets are available now from www. gpac.org.au. forte 45
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Imogen Brough LOCAL FEATURE Written by Amanda Sherring
With her spine tingling, angelic voice, wavy brown hair and exotic looks, Imogen Brough has unofficially become the poster girl of Geelong. She’s been the ambassador for Geelong Sidewalk Sales two years in a row, was successful in raising funds through a Pozible campaign for her second EP but, surprisingly, the focus wasn’t always on Imogen’s talent. “Music was something I was always confident at and good at but I was never the lead woman,” Imogen says of her time with high school band the Sweethearts. “I never got the opportunity to be the lead woman because I didn’t have a big soul voice. I had a really good ear so I was good at holding harmonies, but it actually improved my musicianship so much, so I’m really grateful for being in that position.” Imogen soon went from singing harmonies at the back of the Matthew Flinders high school band, to having all four judges turn around on reality show The Voice. Since then Imogen has shared her music with Geelong locals, a town she is more than proud to call home, and made the decision to take that process one step further through the creation of her second EP, which was recently crowd-funded through a Pozible campaign. At first Imogen was unsure whether even starting the campaign was a good idea.“ You just have no idea, and that’s kind of scary,” she says. “Do you want to put this out for the whole world to judge you?” The campaign proved to be a success for the young musician, and after raising $10,000, with $5,000 for recording and the remainder for design, CD replication and marketing, we can expect the second EP in February next year. After releasing two singles earlier this year, ‘Heart’ and ‘Love Is Like a Match’, Imogen has fallen in love with the orchestral sound and heavy drums incorporated into the tracks. An idea Imogen loved, but was made possible by working with producer Michael Paynter. “The way they came out was incredible, I never dreamt of my songs coming out the way that they did,” she says. “They sat me in the middle of the studio so you had speakers on either side and it was really emotional because these are songs that I’ve written from the bottom of my heart.” While her music has a great way of tapping into peoples emotions, music for Imogen, has also become a great way for her to share her feelings. When living out of home studying in Melbourne, Imogen told one of her sisters that she loved them in the best way she knew how. “It makes you think how if you can’t express yourself as a person and your feelings for someone, it’s how to do it,” she says. “You just don’t say that when you live with someone and they’re your sister, but I did it through song and that was so emotional.” It soon becomes clear from Imogen’s experiences over the past two years that she’s gained a great deal of industry savvy and aside from releasing the two singles has ensured that she doesn’t get pigeon-holed as a musician. “I’d like to be able to slot into all sorts of different genres, because I’m interested in so many different types of music,” she says. “I love house music, as silly and as lame as that may sound, I love having a dance and finding those songs that are really good to work out to and are really motivating.” “Then I love theme music and really emotional music like the Lord of the Rings theme songs, and there’s a musician Lisa Gerrard who is just incredible, so there are all these different influences, they all kind of come under the one roof of having huge vocal and massive drums.” Recently Imogen worked with local rappers Spit andMac on a single for their new release. When asked what the experience was like, Imogen pauses, before singing the chorus to ‘The Price of Fame’ by 360 likening it to her experience to Spit and Mac. “I think branching out in the music industry and finding other genres that you can link in with is really important,” she says. “The song they chose to do with me I was in the chorus and it reminded me of a lot of Hilltop Hoods kind of stuff and that really worked with my voice somehow, it fitted together nicely.” Though rap songs are a long way from what first ignited Imogen’s passion to pursue a career in music. A love that was realised through the introduction to the band Celtic Women from her Year 12 singing teacher. “She sent me home with the live DVD of their performance in a castle in Ireland and that changed what it was I was all about,” Imogen says. “I’d had other moments growing up when I thought I need to do this, I loved Enya and as a five-year-old I often went to bed listening to her sing.” RELEASE: Look out for her second EP out February next year
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T H E NIG H T V IBE
The Shopping Ensemble
Written by Tex Miller / thenightvibe.com.au
Written by Jessica Alves
I recently travelled up to Melbourne for a day of shopping with a friend of mine. We went to Bourke Street mall and Melbourne Central, as well as a few direct factory outlets. Needless to say, the day was very successful, however, I made the mistake of wearing a pair of the most useless walking shoes I own with the hardest pants to get on and off. Although I got a lot of goodies on that shopping trip, it made clothes shopping pretty difficult. I think trying on clothes when you’re shopping is so important, because you never know exactly how something is going to look until you’ve got it on. But it does make it very difficult when you’re wearing the hardest clothes in the world to get on and off. That’s why I’ve decided to put together the formula for a perfect shopping outfit. Don’t even think about wearing anything with a heel on it. Stick to something trustworthy, something you’ve walked around in for hours and been comfortable in. I’d personally go for a shoe that’s easy to get on and off, particularly if you’re likely to be trying on shoes. For this, I love a good slipper. They’re classy, comfortable and, as the name suggests, they’re super easy to slip on and off. You want to be wearing clothes that are both
comfortable and easy to change in and out of as well. I recommend an oversized button down shirt paired with your most comfortable pair of jeans. The shirt is easy to slip off over your head, is thin enough not to heat you up, but thick enough not to leave you freezing. The jeans, given they’re a comfortable, non-restricting pair of jeans, are easy enough to pull on and off and are super comfortable for traipsing around your favourite boutiques. Underwear is something a lot of women forget to think about when putting together an outfit, but it’s one of the most important steps in creating the perfect ensemble. I highly, highly recommend wearing nude underwear for any shopping trip, as you know that it’s going to work with 90 per cent of clothing pieces you try on. Dark and even white underwear can sometimes be seen through sheer or light clothing, whilst nude is barely detectable and will go well with most items. You definitely want to be carrying some sort of handbag around with you for your wallet, phone and other life necessities – but I do suggest downsizing if you’ve got a large bag. Carrying around a huge bag with a lot of stuff in it, as well as shopping bags, can take a toll on your arms. Opt for a medium sized over-the-shoulder bag instead. There’ll be plenty of room for all of your things, without the risk of over-packing, and straining your back and arms. I know it seems like such a strange idea for a shopping outfit to be so important, but trust me when I say that it makes your day so much
The Night Vibe: Top 5 Albums of 2014
more enjoyable when you don’t have to worry about trying to squeeze in and out of those slightly-too-small jeans, or limp around for the next two weeks after trying to break in brand new shoes. Trust me, I’ve been there. With all that in mind, you’re ready to go exhaust your bank account. Have fun! Instagram @jessicazalves youtube.com/msbonvivants
It’s that time of year again folks – Christmas and 2015 is upon us. It’s a scary thought that another year is over, but not to stress, 2015 is set to unleash a whole new set of acts and albums to indulge in. So without further ado, lets jump into The Night Vibe’s top 5 albums of 2014. This list is in no particular order. It’s been a great year for music both locally and internationally and there have been some amazing live sets, courtesy of headline tours and major festivals such as Splendour in the Grass and Groovin’ the Moo. If you were at Splendour, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Otherwise you will have seen the Youtube clips of the band playing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, but first up on the list is Ball Park Music with their third album Puddinghead. Right from the get go, ‘She Only Loves Me When I’m There’ includes all the elements of their signature sound with a groovy riff that’s easy to get your head around. It was the feature album on triple j upon its release and is just a stunning set of songs. Paying homage to Ray Manzarek on the track ‘A Good Life is the Best Revenge’, the catchy organ and piano runs are what makes this song. Simple verse chorus and hooks, this song is blissful. A perfect stocking filler and Christmas gift!
#2 comes from British rockers Band of Skulls who released their third album Himalayan earlier this year. If vintage guitars and saucy rock blues riffs is your thing, then you’re going to be able to get your head around this one very easily. Only a three piece, the sound that they have created on this album is a lot bigger. Coming out for Bluesfest next year, Australia is about to get a blues-rock shakeup of the best kind. Having seen these guys in the start of 2012, they put on a killer show. I think that over the past few albums, the band has been working on their sound, and they have defined it on this record. My favourite tracks are ‘Asleep at the Wheel’, ‘Hoochie Coochie’ and ‘Brothers and Sisters’. #3 comes courtesy of Eric Clapton and his tribute to the late, great J.J. Cale. Paying tribute to the songs of the man he has enlisted, quite possibly, every guitarist he could to put together a bluesy album dream. From Mark Knopfler to John Mayer, Tom Petty to Derek Trucks, the playing on this album is absolutely sensational. Having not really heard much of JJ Cale, I think that this album presents the perfect intro to a great musician. Eric Clapton & Friends presents The Breeze: An Appreciation to JJ Cale, dads Christmas present sorted! #4 is the ever impressive and certain to be on everyone’s list, the multi ARIA award winning Built on Glass by
Chet Faker. I bought this album on the day it was released and it has been a staple in my car and on my iPod ever since. Combining all the lush elements of the classic Chet sound, both the radio singles and other tracks, present a complete journey through each of the tracks. It’s hard to pick a favourite off the album because they are all brilliant. The thing that I think presents this album as the best, apart from the song writing, is the first half of the record is the radio friendly, three minute tunes and on the back half is some lush electro eight minute jam. If this isn’t in your record collection yet, what have you been doing with your life? #5 and rounding out the list is Ray Lamontagne with Supernova. His fifth album, produced by Dan Auerbach from The Black Keys, was released in April and showcases some great acoustic rootsy song writing. Recorded in Nashville, this album has a southern American sound to it. I’m just hoping that Mr Lamontagne decides to come back to Australia sometime soon. A solid album, and something that could compliment a summers day playlist. As you know it’s very hard to pick 5 albums of the year and there are many omissions. But here’s to 2014, let’s see what 2015 has to bring, hopefully a new record from The Wombats and Noel Gallagher. Here’s hoping.
By Steev Cowled
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New Years at The Sporting Globe Q&A
Some people wait all year for the celebrations of New Year’s Eve, but as soon as it comes around the countdown is finished and it’s another 365 days until it happens again. That’s where The Sporting Club are a point of difference. Instead of just one chance to celebrate, they’ve got three, and each brings a different themed party. We had a chat with Luke Peters about what we can expect from the celebration, three times over. Hey Luke, how are you and what are you up to at the moment? Great thanks, we are busy promoting our New Years concept NYE3X, as well as finalising all details for the Australian Open and Super Bowl next year. So it’s a pretty interesting concept you’ve come up with, what made you think of the idea? We wanted to give customers a unique experience for NYE, one they haven’t had before and something a bit different to a typical dress up theme. When you say “themed
areas”, will that mean all decorations, food and drink in that area are specific to the city? Yes, each area will be themed to the appropriate city with a NZ “ shire” type fernery (hobbits not included), Bondi Bar & relaxing Japanese lounge with lanterns. Themed finger food such as NZ lamb ribs, Aussie Seafood and Japanese Sushi will roam throughout the venue as well as a great selection of drinks from each country from the bars. And why did you choose Auckland, Sydney
and Tokyo as the cities? The city choice was one of the easiest decisions with a high number of Kiwis calling Melbourne/ Geelong home we thought it’d be great to celebrate the New Year at the same time as their friends and family back home. Sydney obviously because the city and Harbour Bridge have some of the best fireworks in the world and Tokyo as it falls perfectly into our schedule at 2am and who doesn’t love Japanese beers and sushi? I imagine with everyone celebrating New Year’s three times it will
When&Where: The Sporting Globe – December 31
be a crazy night, are you prepared for anything and everything to happen? We certainly know that the three countdowns will definitely add a new aspect to New Year’s Eve like never before, and we are excited to celebrate it with everyone else. What can we expect at the Sporting Globe when it hits midnight? Expect all of our 40 plus TVs to switch over to the live coverage of the Sydney fireworks and with our huge 3.75m screen in the beer garden you’ll think you’re there
- there’ll be no second guessing if it has struck midnight! Also probably lots of hugs, kisses and celebratory drinks! What have you done in previous years? Previously we have had pretty typical NYE parties with live bands and Djs, but this year we wanted to do something different! So Test Pilot Molly have been announced, is it likely you’ll be getting a few more local DJs on the night? Correct we are excited to have Test Pilot Molloy locked in
and we will also have local DJ “Pinky” taking you through to close. Playing a set at New Year’s is a pretty big deal, what did the acts have to encompass to make the cut? It is a big deal and we are always keen to showcase Geelong’s local talent as it resonates with our core customer base. If all goes well, do you think this will be an idea you keep up, but rotate through different capital cities? Definitely an option we’d like to explore,
but it is limited with the time zones. But who knows, next year it may be Brisbane, Melbourne & Perth! Do you think you’ll have any time to enjoy the festivities? Our staff always enjoy these events because everyone is in such great form and, unlike a sporting event, there isn’t winners and losers, just big groups of people celebrating a great year and welcoming one another. What are some of the Sporting Globe’s
New Year’s resolutions and plans for 2015? Our resolution every year is to continue to give our customers exceptional service and innovative ideas, whether that’s through menu items, events or experiences. Thanks again for taking the time out to chat with us, is there anything you’d like to add before we finish up? Just be sure to visit our NYE3X site www. sportingglobe.com.au/ nye for all the event details and we hope to party with you this New Years!
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When&Where: Saints & Sailors, Portarlington - Dec 21
Josh Dance
Q&A
Josh Dance might be a familiar face and after busking and performing around Geelong and surrounds for around 10 years now, chances are that’s why. We had a chat with the bluesy rocker ahead of his performance at Saints & Sailors in Portarlington. Hi Josh, thanks for taking the time out to chat with Forte, how are you and what are you up to right now? Hi guys, I’m doing pretty well thanks. I’ve just moved house andI feel very happy with the move, though my dog Jeffrey doesn’t. He misses his neighbours and is actually a bit depressed, do they make anti depressants for dogs I wonder? I know you’ve been playing around Geelong and Victoria for around 10 years now, what’s been the most memorable gig for you over the decade? I played the Espy front bar a
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couple of years ago with a threepiece band I had and that was great. Really good sound and ambience. You also do a little bit of busking, what is it that you love about performing on the street? And do you think it’s important for all musicians to have a try at busking? Busking can be great fun, but it can be pretty demoralising too! I only busk if the sun is out, and it’s the weekend. I really enjoy the cross section of people, from tiny tots to old codgers and everyone inbetween. Busking is going to work for some musicians and not others, but I find it a fairly interesting experience. Many will probably think your name is a stage name, but it’s actually not, did you grow up in a musical household? Was music the obvious career path for you? Both my parents are lovers of music, real music appreciators, though neither played musical instruments. I reckon my dad’s got a
really good voice, and would’ve made a good frontman playing in a blues band. I’ve told him that too. I started playing violin at nine, but wished it was a guitar. Then I was given my first guitar at age 12. I always wanted music to be my profession, and to make a living from it, I still do. What do you think you’d be doing if you weren’t a musician? If I wasn’t a musician I’d probably be a tram driver. Or a psychologist. One or the other. Hang on...maybe I’d be a crime fiction writer in the style of Peter Temple. You’ve got a few shows coming up at Saints & Sailors, what’s the venue and crowd like down there? Saints and Sailors is a great venue in Portarlington. For some reason (I don’t know why) it reminds me of a the kind of funky bar/restaurant that they might have in Austin Texas. The people who run it are ace, and they support and encourage local musicians and music. They’re open minded folks, the best kind, in my mind. Nat Depalma is gonna help out on drums – if we ever get a chance to practice that is. Nat’s a very busy man, too busy if you ask me. Chill out Nat! Is there another release on the horizon? I’ve been writing a few songs lately, so releasing something again soon would be good. Maybe not something as quiet and low key as the last one either. A bit more rock n roll man. Thanks again for taking the time out, is there anything you’d like to add before we finish up? Please check out my website joshdance.com.au for any more info. Also come along to my Saints and Sailors gigs for some funky, folky, bluesy and rocky tunes.
Chain
Q&A
Hands down one of the most influential blues/rock bands in Australia, even after over 40 years in the industry, Chain are coming our way again for a show at Gateway Hotel. We had a chat to Phil Manning ahead of the gig, and what he thinks of the bands approaching 50th year since forming. Hi Phil, thanks for taking the time out to chat with Forte magazine, how are you and what are you up to right now? I’m in great spirits and enjoying life! Lately I’ve been doing a lot of travelling it seems, doing mainly solo shows and occasionally jamming with other players. I did a couple of small shows in Lembongan, Bali a few weeks back (which were great) and since then I have been on planes, trains and been driven every which way. It’s going to be great to be back in Melbourne for a while. So over 40 years later and Chain is still one of the most influential
blues/rock bands in Australia, is it pretty surreal looking at what you’ve achieved over the years? Yes, it can seem surreal at times if one thinks about it, which usually I don’t. There’s always something to get on with, so reflection is a luxury I don’t have - not that I mind - being busy is good. Also, I tend to look at other’s achievements more than I do my own or Chain’s. One achievement though is that Matt Taylor and I still play together having started in late ‘66 or early ‘67 in the Bay City Union - it seems so long ago! Another thing I like is that there are a bunch of people who still love our music after so many years. In a few years times you’ll hit the 50-year mark, have you talked about doing a celebratory tour at all? Or even another release? One year at a time is about the best we can manage haha! Naturally we talk about what we might do next and, yes, there may be a future release but for now we are putting our focus on the immediate things at hand, like the gig on December 6 at the Gateway in Corio. As for the band being 50, it’s hard to even
contemplate. It was enough of a shock turning 50 myself let alone a band I was in when I was 20. I understand you’ve done a fair bit as a solo-performer and with other bands, is it nice to be playing in Chain again on December 6? It’s always great to play with the band and, in fact, I enjoy it more than I did in the seventies. Then we were constantly on the road and had no time for anything else. Now, we put Chain together for short tours and so it becomes very special for us. You’ll be doing the show in Geelong too, will you be playing all the classics? Most of the classics will be there as well as newer material from albums like our most recent one Sweet Honey. I do a solo spot as support and, as a special treat, we’ll be adding the ever wonderful Mike Rudd (Spectrum, Murtceps, Ariel, Heaters) for some classic blues and for a lotta fun. When&Where: Gateway Hotel, Corio – December 6
World Sideshow Festival By DeeJ InnaScence
Shep Huntly has been performing sideshow for about 15 years or more and, if you’re from the area, he was long known as the “Circus in a Suitcase”. It’s been around 20 years since Ballarat has seen the face of the freaky sideshow stuntman. As he finds Ballarat to be his second home, he is bringing some of the world’s most critically acclaimed superstars of freaks to Ballarat ONLY, in May 2015 for the World Sideshow Festival. Stunts, the freaky-looking, burlesque, music and stunning superstars of the sideshow industry will perform at the Mechanics Institute, Sturt St over May 23-26.
When&Where: Mechanics Institute, Ballarat - May 23-26
Shep goes on to say that he has travelled the globe with his own sideshow spectacular, has met some “amazing performers” along the way and made some great friends within the industry. Within the scheduled line up of shows for the festival is The Dark Party: “A show that’s performed in France, Spain, National theatre of London. Sydney Opera House and hundreds of other theatres”. Don’t miss the ‘League of Sideshow Superstars’ that have performed at “massive rock festivals like Big Day Out and all royal shows in this country.” Shep is also bringing you
a show called ‘Not Dead Yet’ with Aerial Manx – a sword swallower – and seeing his show you’ll wonder how he can swallow swords in those positions, and up in the air! And don’t forget The Lizard Man from Texas who is 100 per cent tattooed! The performer that I am more than interested in seeing is The Space Cowboy. He has broken multiple Guiness World Records with his sword swallowing stunts and he will also try to break another Guiness World Record within one show, that’s just one part of this amazing festival. Not only does Shep love Ballarat and the people, he goes on to say that the Mechanics Institute is, “A beautiful heritage theatre built in 1861. The perfect marriage of heritage, history and modern sideshow art”. “This festival wants to develop a relationship with Ballarat that goes on for years – a festival landscape, and we can’t do it without your help”. What Shep means by this is that with all that’s needed for the back draft of this festival, and the sky-rocketing prices of everything, there is a pozible campaign where you can donate to make this festival even more of a masterpiece, and let Ballarat see the world’s best freaks for years to come. If you can donate, please head along to www. pozible.com/project/187848 and make a pledge. I assure you, you will not regret it! The festival will see the year 2015 students from the Sound and Lighting Production of Federation Uni use their skills to help beautify this festival. It will also be streamed so you can watch the acts all over the globe, if for some reason you’re unable to make it. If you want to know more about the festival, please head along to www. worldsideshowfestival.com and check it the hell out!
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so drop us a line and we'll take it from there! ben@ bellemusique.com.au Experienced 22 y/o singer, songwriter, guitarist looking for a drummer, bassist and lead guitarist to start up an original rock band based in Geelong. Influences: QOTSA, Sublime & Dave Grohl. Contact Tom at: 0487067083 Heavy metal/death metal vocalist & lyricist looking to join a band. Have original material ready to go. 0432959094 Wanted expirenced drummer to start a metal/ death metal band. Must be dedicated, be able to play double bass very well and be able to perform original material. 0415676768
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Spoonbill Written by Jessica Alves
For many up-and-coming artists, it would be a dream to perform at a music festival. For Jim Moynihan, better known on stage as Spoonbill, is not only well versed in performing at music festivals, but around the world. Jim has been performing at the Rainbow Serpent Festival for close to a decade, playing up to 17 sets in that time. His 10 year anniversary with the festival comes with the Rainbow Serpent Festival of January of 2015, an exciting milestone in his long and prosperous career as a musician.
“Back in 2005 when I released my first album, a bunch of people that were involved with Rainbow, like some of the crew and friends, must have enjoyed my first release and got in their ear and managed to convince them to book me,” Jim laughs, explaining that he’s always had a good rapport with the festival. The kind of music that Spoonbill encompasses is definitely not easy to describe. It seems to be a big mix of a lot of different kinds of music and genres, so it’s very difficult to pigeonhole it, more often a good thing than not. It consists of recordings of real life instruments and bits of pre-existing songs, mixed in with organic sounds such as a twig breaking and adding it with the drums to add texture. Then putting in some extra fancy computer generated noises in a process that I’m not going to even pretend to understand, but somehow works.
Having been with the festival for so long, Jim is eager to try something new with 2015’s festival – promising a separate live performance on the stage as part of his set. “I’m pretty sure my main set is an hour, which is not super long but it’s cool to do a set that length because you can really add a lot of changes and variations, particularly with the kind of music I make, so it’s good to keep things fast paced and exciting.” To add to the excitement of the performance, Jim confirmed that festival goers can expect to be hearing some brand new material, making its debut at the festival. “People can definitely expect to be hearing some stuff that nobody has heard,” he promises. “I’ve
“ People can definitely expect to be hearing some stuff that nobody has heard!” been working on a lot of down tempo stuff as well, so hopefully I get to include that somehow.” Throughout the time he has spent planning for the festival, creating new material and putting together new tracks. He’s also putting together a new album as well as touring around North America, Europe, India, Japan, Russia and Israel. “At first I was sort of nervous as to how certain places would receive my music, particularly at the beginning when it was very tongue in cheek, ‘Australiana’ based music, but it went down surprisingly well.” For those of you who are looking forward to the new album release, Jim has confirmed that there is one on the way, very vaguely due to drop “sometime next year.” On top of that independent album, he’s also bringing out a compilation album with his label Omelette Records, in celebration of Omelette Records reaching it’s first decade in existence. But, if you’re looking to check him out live, or if you’re looking for something that sounds quite unique, I certainly wouldn’t be missing the Spoonbill set at Rainbow Serpent.
When & Where: Rainbow Serpent, Lexton – January 23-26
We Two Thieves Written by Amanda Sherring
If it weren’t for a chance meeting at Nannup music festival in Western Australia, where Mama Kin (aka Danielle Caruana) and Emily Lubitz of Tin Pan Orange were both performing, it’s unlikely We Two Thieves would have ever happened. “We just started having a jam on our veranda and the Tinpan Orange crew came over and we just had a night of whiskey and songs and it was so much fun,” Danielle says. “I remember at the end of the night when they left, saying to my husband, ‘Oh I want to be her friend!’” Before this point, Danielle hadn’t heard any tunes from the folk band, and on receiving an album at that same festival the release earned a spot on her repeat list. “They gave me their new CD at the Nannup festival and it became the soundtrack of a camping trick we had after that, so it all sort of happened backwards for us,” she says. The respect for each other quickly grew and both Danielle and Emily managed to take on any opportunity together that they could. Teaming with Dave Mann, who forms the instrumental backbone of the band, a new side project was born in We Two Thieves. Much like their beginnings, the process of
recording their new album, , was just as natural. Singing at a microphone, the duo, featuring a very pregnant Emily, harmonised to perfection and created the sounds that you hear in the nine track release. “We recorded the tracks around a specific microphone and…unlike other recordings where you can do a few takes and stitch together one that sounds the amazing, all of us had to perform a perfect take all the way through the song for it to work,” she says. “The pressure is really high so the presence has to be really on, and it was an amazing experience. The ability to be joking, hanging out and complete dickheads together and
“ ...we just had a night of whiskey and songs and it was so much fun!” then to switch it on for the song is incredible.” When asked if Danielle felt any pressure with the release, given their success independently, she states that in fact there is barely any, as We Two Thieves isn’t their main project. “It’s our side project for both of us, it’s not like we have everything hinged on it. So there’s this degree of not being too attached to it that makes it far more enjoyable,” Danielle says. While it might be different from their separate ventures, Mama Kin and Tin Pan Orange, the love is still there for what the two do together. Danielle also shares a bit of love for Port Fairy folk festival, which We Two Thieves are set to play early next year. “It couldn’t be more perfect,” she says. “I see Port Fairy as a big theatre festival where you go and get to experience acts in a festival setting but in the same way that you would in a theatre. It’s one of my favourite places to perform because of that feeling of the absolute presence of the audience, so you’re not bound to keep the party pumping.”
When & Where: Port Fairy Folk Festival - March 6-9
Sigma Q&A
Summer’s here and that means one thing: Future Music Festival is just around the corner. We had a chat with Sigma ahead of their performance at the festival and getting to enjoy an Australian summer this time around.
Hey Sigma, how are you and what are you up to right now? I’m good thanks, just in the studio working on new music. You seem to have a lot on your plate at the moment, amongst getting nominated for awards, performing at events and launching your new website, have you had a chance to take some time out and relax at all? Not really, I think we’re going to need a holiday very soon! You recently worked with Paloma Faith too, how was that? It was great, she’s an amazing vocalist and a very inspiring person. Are there any other musicians you’d like to work with? There are tonnes; Emeli Sande, Maverick Sabre, Jacob Banks, Ella Eyre...the list goes on. You both seem to be really active on social media with your fans, do you think it’s important to maintain that connection?
We do it because we enjoy it, and it definitely helps. The other side of it is, you get people coming up to you in clubs feeling like they know you, which is pretty strange, but interesting nonetheless. Earlier this year you came to Australia, unfortunately during winter, are you excited to catch a bit of the Australian summer this time around? Yeah we can’t wait to get our pasty bodies out on Bondi beach. Sight for sore eyes... What are your thoughts on the Australian crowd? Do we know how to party? Australian crowds are always fun, enthusiastic people with great vibes. Can’t wait to come back out. When you play Future Music festival is there anyone you’re hoping to take some time out and see play live on the day? Definitely Drake, we are big fans of him. Aside from music you seem to have a bit of love for street art. What’s the street art scene like over in London? It’s cool, Banksy has made it very commercial, but in turn that opens it up to a wider audience. And Gnasher actually did a mural of you both, how’d it feel seeing yourselves interpreted on the wall like that? It was great, it looked amazing. Thanks again for taking the time out to chat with Forte, is there anything you’d like to add before we finish up? Come and see us at Future music festival 2015! Also check out our website www.sigmahq.com and download our debut album early next year.
When & Where: Future Music Festival, Melbourne – March 8
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CHAIN NOT TO BED MISSE
AND PHIL MANNING L I V E . I N T I M AT E . E X C L U S I V E
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The Grates Written by Amanda Sherring
Regardless of who you are, everyone has that one musician, artist, scientist or prolific other who they admire for one reason or another. Patience Hodgson from The Grates just so happens to be mine, but interestingly enough, The Preatures are up there for the Brisbane musician.
“I’ve had the most amazing morning, it’s been brilliant. I just woke up this morning, had a really good breakfast, we put the film clip online and did stuff about the album coming out,” Patience says in excited bursts. “Then we shot over to our shop to start doing a couple face-to-face interviews and the Preatures were hanging out there because they were in Brisbane – that was a total trip. I’m a big fan of those guys, so it was just special, unexpected and really sweet of them. So that was fucking cool.” Talking to Patience on November 28 means one thing : their new album Dream Team has officially hit the shelves. An album that was the culmination of a month’s work of recording, mastering and perfecting all for Australian music month. “I actually feel amazing and that no matter what happens to the album now it’s just a dream,” she says. “The last 25 days have been so wonderful and it feels like there’s already been so many good things to come out of doing this album that whatever
happens is awesome.” “There was never any moment when I was worried or scared, and I feel like there were a lot of people around us saying that the album wasn’t going to get out today, and I never felt that. I was like, ‘Of course it’s going to come out today, what could possibly hold it up?’” It may have been three years since we all heard Secret Rituals, but The Grates have been keeping busy. Band members Patience Hodgson and John Patterson opened the Southside Tea Room together in Brisbane, got married and have a baby due at the end of January. While the tearoom was one of the main constraints on them getting
back to the studio, it also allowed them to meet their new drummer, Ritchie Daniell. Originally hiring Richie’s then girlfriend, she chose another job over the Southside Tea Room and recommended Ritchie as her replacement. ”Not that I know if I even believe in fate, but it was really beautiful knowing that he really needed a job and we really needed someone to work for us. Then it turned out we needed someone to play drums and he was a drummer,” Patience says. Working together 40 hours a week gave them a bond unlike any other, and when it came time to head into the studio the whole process was seamless – even with the month deadline. The follow up tour may be a little while away yet, as Patience isn’t due until the end of January, but that didn’t stop her from trying to get the new music out to her fans. “I would love to do a pregnancy tour – it would be really fun, and as a lady kind of empowering. How many pregnant ladies get to go around touring?” Patience says. “But when we were coming back from recording the album, they denied me from going on the plane unless they got a fax through from my doctor saying I could fly. That pretty much killed any chance of us doing any sort of tours. That and the entire time John was like, ‘You’re insane, we are never playing a show, your stomach is huge and there’s a baby in there, it’s not worth it’.”
I’m very much looking forward to it. It must be a pretty great moment helping people celebrate the New Year, what’s your favourite thing about performing these events? You know what, people are all very excited and in a positive frame of mind, thinking about the new year ahead. I love it and a lot of thought goes into the music around that time Do you have any New Year’s resolutions? None that won’t be broken! I think it’s just a great time to reflect and distil a vision for the year. My 2015 is clear in my head – I just want to make sure then I deliver upon it. We saw a picture you shared on Facebook and you were performing to a crowd of thousands. Do
you still have those pinch-yourself-moments when you do a gig like that? Of course – that’s natural. I mean, I have played gigs for more than 100,000 – it’s crazy to see the explosion in dance music popularity. There’s no greater feeling than having a crowd sing back to you a song you’ve written. Your production outfit, TV ROCK, is just as successful as your DJing, how do you balance the two? With great difficulty! You just need to work in blocks of time and when you work on either one of them you give it 100 per cent of your attention Do you ever get much down time in between touring, performing and recording? Never. I have a record label Neon in Sydney and LA, and last year we had some breakthrough acts in Milky Chance & Jubel to name a few. Plus my DJ Agency 360 whom we look after Timmy Trumpet, Stafford Brothers, Havana Brown and many more. Add to this my Bar Ponyfish Island, my brewing company MCBC, which produces Ponyfish Lager, and then my PR firm iDCollective on top of US commitments… there’s not an inch of time left in my schedule. Thanks again for taking the time out to chat with us, is there anything you’d like to add before we finish up? Bring your dancing shoes NYE… it’s going to be killer. Tickets for New Year on the Pier are available from oztix.com.au.
a very tough time to come through. I went into the studio and did a vocal take, then I’d take a little bit of oxygen and rest for a bit. It took a bit longer to record in that respect. It was a great process though and it helped me to rehabilitate,” Roach says. This latest release is regarded as, quite possibly, the most ambitious album of Roach’s career due to the extensive list of musicians involved in the production. Choirs, brass sections and strings, Roach describes the experience of playing a live show with this arrangement as just “magic”. One of Roach’s long time collaborators is Paul Kelly. Working with Roach on his debut album Charcoal Lane, it was the rock royalty walking into the studio that initially surprised Archie as they
“ ...it’s all about connecting with people emotionally.”
RELEASE: Dream Team is available now
Grant Smillie Q&A
With a venue in LA, his own record label, a brewing company among many others, somehow DJ Grant Smillie managed to make some time to chat to Forte magazine and for a show this New Year’s at the Pier in Geelong.
Hi Grant, thanks for taking the time out to chat to Forte, how are you and what are you up to right now? I’m great – sipping on a glass of red and sitting on a plane from LA and, via the wonders of email and wifi, will be sending this questionnaire back to you! So you’ve spent a lot of time recently over in America, how are things going for you over there? Everything is great thanks. I’m opening a venue in LA in West Hollywood called E.P. and it has a rooftop called L.P. it’s due to open in February next year and I do a bunch of travel through there for music and hospitality. One of my business partners is Axwell, of Swedish House Mafia fame, so we have a strong musical undercurrent throughout Is that somewhere you can see yourself calling your new home? Absolutely, but I will always be back to Australia. This New Years you’ll actually be doing a gig down in Geelong, is it nice to be closer to home for the New Year’s celebrations? It is. I love being in Australia for NYE – we have the climate to do it so well and for the past five years I have been tied to the same event, so this year it’s great to be able to come to Geelong and do something different.
When & Where: The Pier, Geelong – December 31
Archie Roach Written by Tex Miller / Photo by Pierre Baroni
Archie Roach is a man that needs no introduction. Over the past twenty-five years, Roach has developed a unique style of storytelling that has woven its way into his many songs. Best known for his ‘90s tune ‘Took The Children Away’, which talks directly of experiences of his family being a part of the Stolen Generation, Roach was on tour with Rodriguez when I caught up to chat with him. “I’ve only played one date with him, but the crowd was great. It was good to perform with such a legend like Rodriguez. I haven’t had the opportunity to sit down with the man himself but I’ve chatted to his daughter – who is a lovely lady. He is getting a little frail these days, but it’s going to be good to sit down and chat with him at some point,” he says. After taking some time off from performing, it’s good to see Roach back on the road and on stage. One of the upcoming dates for Roach is playing as a part of the Music to a Tee event on the 12th of December at Barwon Heads: “The shows are going great and I can’t wait to get back down to Barwon Heads and along the coast and play again. There is just something really special about those audiences, the vibe is simply electric.” Into The Bloodstream is the latest release for Roach and one that involved dealing with many personal problems to take on in the writing and recording process. “I suffered a stroke and they took half my left lung – it was
worked on the songs. Having experienced musicians play on the tracks it made the eye-opening experience for Roach a comfortable and positive one. “I never knew anything about recording and you’d go in and do a vocal track to this guide. Different musicians would come in and lay down their part. I remember being really taken back by the experience. Steve Connelly produced it and the next minute we were working with the Bull Sisters (Vika and Linda) and the Finn Brothers. I learned so much from recording that first album and having all those heavyweights of the industry alongside me was great too,” he says. At the time of writing ‘Took The Children Away’, Roach had no idea of the success that was soon to follow. Last year, the song was added to the National Sound Archive, which is one of the most prestigious honours for a track. “I never knew that song would be as big as it has become. You never set out to write hit songs, but it’s all about connecting with people emotionally. I think that’s what made that song – the story and emotion behind it,” Roach says. With a new album out next year make sure you catch this living legend whilst he’s in town.
When&Where: 13th Beach Golf Links, Barwon Heads - December 12
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PULP Written by Alastair McGibbon
le monde entier Written by Madelin Baldwin lemondeentier.net
Last week I read an amazing article on the co-founders of the small group adventure tour company Intrepid, and it got me thinking about the many different aspects of travel, tourism and the roles you can have. I’ve always loved the idea of being a ‘rep’ for a company, since all of my local reps are fun, interesting people who get to go and talk to people everyday about something they love and are passionate about. David McMahon is my Intrepid rep, and started doing the same thing as me – working in a travel agency selling a whole range of companies – but fell into working with Intrepid because he used to love waiting for their new brochures to come out. “I always loved the innovative itineraries and couldn’t wait to travel with them. I realised I wanted to work for a company that I would want to travel with myself and was impressed with their grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies,” David says. Although having taken many trips in his life, self professed ‘independent traveler’, David admits his first trip with Intrepid to Cambodia surprised him. “We had dinner with a local family and danced with the local kids in the street for hours. I always want to see more than just the main sights, I want to see how the locals live, eat and drink – which is basically what Intrepid offers,” he says. Intrepid have some truly incredible tours, which offer you a true insight into the country you are visiting – taking you off the beaten track and into the villages, and even into the homes of local families. One tour they offer in Chiang Mai in Thailand, is a three day trip at an Elephant Orphanage. David explained to me that although you can do Elephant trekking in southern Thailand quite easily, the treatment of the exquisite wild animals is terrible, and so this tour allows you to bathe, feed and interact with the animals that have been rescued or abandoned, and learn their stories from the local guides. Pricing starts from as little as $380 per person, so it’s a brilliant add on to any Thailand trip after a week of sunbaking in Phuket! David says his favourite trip so far was the Cambodia one, however: “I recently did our 15day ‘Best of Turkey’ trip. I loved Turkey so much, I didn’t want to come back. Turkey has something for everyone...sailing along the coast, ancient ruins, local Whirling Dervish performances, Turkish baths, to enjoying a home-cooked meal with a Cappadocian family”. And next on the agenda? “Next on the list is Morocco... anyone that works in travel always has a destination (sometimes more than one) in mind for where they’re planning to go next. Again, it seems like one of those countries that has a bit of everything – to getting lost in Medina’s to riding a camel through the sandy dunes of the Sahara” Never a truer word spoken! For more details on the amazing tours Intrepid offer, visit www.intrepidtravel.com.
blues news Written by John (Dr John) Lamp Proudly pesented by The Sleepy Hollow Blues Club
Over the last eight months Pistol Pete’s Food n Blues has become a major venue in Geelong. It’s not a huge venue, but the acts are right in the blues genre. The food at Pistol Pete’s speaks for itself, but what of Pete himself ? What about his music and where this blues interest comes from? Pete has played a bit in his past, “I played bass – nothing too fancy, most of the stuff we did was original … I dabbled with other instruments too, but that was not a career. I’m more into the appreciating, listening.” He started listening to blues in the late ‘90s when he found the album Short Cool Ones from Chris Wilson and Johnny Diesel. “I started looking backwards from that…and I’ve been doing that pretty much ever since,” he says. Meanwhile he was getting involved in the cooking side of things, but how could that combine with the blues? “I had an idea of what I wanted: my two passions are the music and the food. Bringing them together was always what it was going to be…I’ll become the blues chef !” To develop his expertise in these areas, he travelled to New Orleans. “Bourbon St, full stop, saw Eric Hughes in Beale St, anything on the streets was good … while it’s in earshot, you’re grooving away to it.” New Orleans cooking is no more predictable than its music. “Every house has got their own gumbo or fried chicken recipe, at the end of the day it’s the one you like or tinker with and make your own and that’s the one you go with,” Pete says. This also applies to the music. A big concern of Pete’s is keeping a good mix of blues. He is tapping into local bands, bands from Melbourne and some further afield. Often he’ll contact an act booked for the Blues Train and offer them an additional gig in the area. “I did feel quietly confident it was going to work,” he says. The live music nights and the menu have been fine-tuned. People on the street hear the music and come in. The format is becoming more stable – a dinner sitting, then music: come for one or come for both. Since Pistol Pete’s opened, the big crowds are getting more consistent. “Everybody feels comfortable here, that’s what I’m enjoying most.” “With Mr Black and Blues, at one stage everybody was here, and I’m talking staff and whatever, we’re all down the front and everybody’s jumping around dancing.” Local artists like Tex Miller and Alister Turrill have developed into big draws, and Pete has enjoyed watching that happen. His real passion is the music of Son House, Muddy Waters and that rural style of blues. “For me, if I was going to be in a blues band now, that’s the type of blues I’d want to do, it’s just rawer and edgier.” And for the future? “There’s space to grow … and keep going with the local people,” he says.
Ladies and gentlemen, Pulp has hit its first milestone. Yup, this is the 50th column where I get to ramble on about comics in a professional setting. Thank you to everyone that has read Pulp thus far – hopefully I can keep your attention for another 50 issues. This week, I’m looking at one of Marvel’s more recent additions to its lineup – G. Willow Wilson (Cairo) and Adrian Alphona’s (Runaways) Ms Marvel. The current Ms Marvel run only started in February of this year, so there’s only one trade out thus far, but boy is it a doozy. The current Ms Marvel, Kamala Khan, is a rather unique hero – she’s the first Muslim character to have her own book. Marvel seems to be making serious moves to diversify it’s lineup, and for the most part it appears to be working – Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon, is now Captain America, a mystery woman has taken on the mantle of Thor and Hawkeye is once again deaf. In this sense, Kamala is something of a diversity doublewhammy, and is the figurehead of what is a really enjoyable series. The new Ms Marvel series is basically what I’d call a superhero series for the Tumblr generation. It’s smart, it’s funny, and most of all, it covers some really common ground for teens around Kamala’s age. Kamala is the 16-year-old daughter of Pakistani immigrants, and has to deal with clashing cultures, racial insensitivity and overbearing parents as part of her regular routine. Her Friday nights are spent browsing the internet for Avengers fan fiction – when she’s not writing her own – and she feels stifled by her parents’ reluctance to let her socialize with unfamiliar people. One night, she decides to sneak out and enjoy the party, only to leave after being tricked
into drinking alcohol. As she heads home, she breathes in Terrigen Mist (following on from the “Infinity” crossover storyline from a while back that I completely ignored), and becomes an Inhuman, gaining shapeshifting powers. Deciding to follow in the footsteps of her idol, Carol Danvers (former Ms, now Captain Marvel), Kamala dons a home made costume and begins to fight crime – in between placating her parents, going to school and trying to juggle clashing cultures. Marvel seems to be really pushing the Inhumans into the spotlight in recent times – possibly as a way of getting around the Fox-owned mutants in the MCU – and as far as I’m concerned, Ms Marvel is their best effort yet. Alphona’s art is excellent – it perfectly matches the mood of the story, whether it’s fantastical, funny or grim and serious. Wilson’s writing is what makes this book great, though; Kamala is funny, smart and a fascinating protagonist, and seeing her adjusting to her new role makes for a great story. It’s much like watching Peter Parker develop his powers and become Spider-man all over again, but with a sense of duty and love for family in place of grief and responsibility. Spider-man’s biggest strength is his relatability, and it’s a trait that Kamala shares – despite her own unique circumstances. When all is said an done, even if you choose to ignore the fact that Wilson’s Ms Marvel run is something of a groundbreaker, it’s still an excellent story. It seems to take inspiration from more light-hearted series (such as Amazing Spider-man and Hawkeye) and adds a new dimension to the Marvel universe. Pick up the book if you can – I loved it, and chances are you will too.
PUNK!
Muscle Mary have some awesome new merch on the way. Go take a look at their Facebook page for more info, and try not to drool on your phone/computer/laptop! Crazy to think it’s almost Christmas already – support your favourite local bands by turning up at their shows and buying up all their merch. Perfect way to make sure some deserving musos get to have a great holiday season themselves! Speaking of Billy Idol, the still awesome punk/rock legend will be gracing our shores in 2015! Tuesday March 24 at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena, to be exact, with super special guests Cheap Trick! Are you kidding me? This is going to be bananas! I’ve already got my ticket, hurry up and get yours before they’re all gone! Fast-growing local punk promoters Punx Productions have announced that their Up The Punx! festival will indeed be returning in 2015. It hit Hobart and Melbourne in 2014, so here’s hoping the next run hits even more cities! Don’t forget, Nevermind The Warp’d Tour is fast approaching at the Brunswick Hotel! Saturday December 6 in fact. Two stages, skate ramp, BBQ, souvenir CD’s, the works. Frickin’ sweet! Take that, actual Vans Warped tour! Is it just me, or is the wait for the second round of announcements for Soundwave 2015 becoming unbeareable? Make with the bands already, AJ! Hopefully I’ll be able to tell you all about it next issue, but don’t hold your breath! And on that note, I’m outta here! Well, until next time, anyways!
Written by Christopher Cruz
Oooh, more Download news has filtered through from the UK. Joining the already announced Muse, Slipknot, Faith No More, A Day To Remember and Marilyn Manson will be KISS, Slash, Mötley Crue and Enter Shikari, with a slew of smaller bands rounding out the lineup. Epic! Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls will be out here in April for shows in Melbourne (Sunday April 12 at the Corner Hotel, Richmond) and Geelong (Thursday April 16 at the Barwon Club). Another crazy festival worth putting in your calendar is Hellfest in France next June. With over 120 bands already announced for the three day event, there’s no possible way I could list them all in the space I have this week, so I’m going to just give y’all the rundown on the punk (and related sub-genre) bands! Ready? Here we go: Motorhead, Faith No More, Billy Idol, Anthrax, Exodus, Sticky Boys, Body Count, DRI, Dead Kennedys, Envy, Rise Against, NOFX, Madball, OFF! and The Exploited. The biggest names in metal all seem to be taking part, too, sooo... Damn! Crazy! Thursday December 11 is gonna be a biggie for Ballarat punk rock fans ramonescore heroes, Agent 37, will be taking over the Karova Lounge with special guests The Shorts and more. If you’re in the area you’d be nuts not to rock up! Melbourne queer punk favourites
too heavy to hug
pop culture
Written by Paul S Taylor
Written by Anthony Morris
Here we go, let’s wrap up this year up and the final Forte issues by continuing THTH’s annual Top5 of 2014 countdown!
With television ratings for 2014 wrapping up last week, so did many of the first run programs on our television screens – well, on the ABC at least, the commercial networks seem to have largely given up on quality programming (a few reality shows aside) somewhere around mid-October. Of course, “quality programming” is a matter of person opinion. While the days when the nonratings period meant a rush of quirky yet sub-par US sitcoms and drama series are long over (these days those shows all go to the digital channels or pay TV – or you’ve already downloaded them). Even the ABC has announced their big run of comedy repeats over the holiday break are going to be taking place on iView now – the current default of endless repeats of The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men on Nine probably aren’t going to be all that disrupted. Well, not until the sport side of things kicks in after Christmas. And with reality television increasingly operating like a television-only version of sports, it’s a wonder we even have a nonratings period – television (in this country at least) is increasingly dominated by big events that have to be watched live (that is, sports or reality television). Even a few years ago free-toair television had a distinctly different feel during the nonratings period, as the commercial networks dusted off failures and US shows that never quite made it over here (remember when each summer would see rapid-fire bursts of sitcoms like That 70s Show on Seven? Or even New Girl on Ten?). These days television feels pretty much the same all year around. And it’s probably going to feel even more like a bland flavourless mush in the coming years, as the kind of television we’ve come to think of as “quality” – that is to say, someone wrote a script for it somewhere down the line – is increasingly shifted over to platforms where we’re expected to pay for it (or the ABC, which we already do pay for). Commercial television increasingly only invests in local drama when they don’t have a bunch of reality shows to fill up their schedules, and even then it’s rare that a quality drama rates well enough to make it worth their while. Channel Ten this year was almost entirely propped up by Offspring and Masterchef, both of which you’d have to think were reaching the end of their lifespans. And if you had to bet what they’d be investing in for the future, shows like Offspring probably wouldn’t be at the top of your list. Which means that the non-ratings period is also the future of television: loads and loads of bland filler padding out the schedule inbetween the big shows that actually get you to tune in. Sport or reality television: they’re the kind of shows the networks will be giving away to us in the future. If you’re after something with a bit more thought put into it’s production, one way or the other you’re going to have to pay for it.
5: Triptykon – Melana Chasmata 4: Boris The Blade – The Human Hive
The lyric from album opener ‘Serpents Crown’, “no one will be saved”, is a telling warning for the rest of the album. No one will be saved from this unrelenting violent, methed-up, demonic juggernaut rampaging constantly at a ridiculous BMP through your head. Pounding your brain with its fists to absolute mush, kicking holes in your skull and shredding your ears to ribbons. This shit is intense, it’s exciting, it’s brutal and heavy as all fuck – it’s absolutely monstrous. After your first listen, you’ll either be quivering in the corner shaking in disbelief that such a sound can be made by humans, or you’ll be stunned and breathless after trying to keep up with the tempo, adrenaline rushing after what just happened and dive right in for another arse-kicking ride straight away. The seriously tight drums are the star here as the double kicks fire off as fast as machine guns, the beats are blasting, the fills are rapid and it’s almost unbelievable anyone could fit a fill in such a short amount of time. The predominately growling vocals are that of a man consumed by pure dissatisfaction with the world and humanity. The guitars and bass are there to simply thicken the drums and vocals – merely as a byproduct do they add some seriously killer riffage, again, proving you can fit many notes in such a short amount of time. The song writing here is intelligent enough to hold your attention without causing burn-out or boredom, which is so easy to do when you’re a deathcore band with a running time of little over half an hour – Boris The Blade don’t overstay their welcome. ‘Malevolent’ is the longest track at a comparatively epic almost five minutes, but doesn’t drag on at all. These guys know exactly how to craft a seriously superior album and they’ve done it right off the bat with this, their debut album, and if they continue along this route then they’ll be one mega fuck-off-force to be reckoned with. In other news
Thy Art Is Murder and Psycroptic will play The Hi-Fi on Saturday December 13 and Ringwood OLP on Sunday December 14. Graves and Ocean Grove will play Bang on Saturday December 20 and an all ages show at Phoenix Youth Center on Sunday December 21. Metallica will be re-releasing Kill ‘Em All and Ride The Lighting in remastered deluxe versions in 2015. Marduk, with special guests Inquisition, will tear the Northcote Social Club to shreds on Wednesday January 14. Marilyn Manson will release The Pale Emperor on Friday January 16. The 2015 Melbourne Soundwave festival will be held at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday Feburary 21 and Sunday February 22. All That Remains will release their new album The Order Of Things on Friday February 27. Cancer Bats will release their fifth studio album Zero on Friday March 13. If you have any news about local metal bands, shows or albums, let THTH know by emailing to tooheavytohug@hotmail.com or get in touch via Twitter at @TooHeavyToHug
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Refining the Palette
A rti
12 x 12 PLAYS
Q&A with Ian Priddle
While many people think being an artist may be the easiest thing in the world, making a living from it is actually a pretty tough act. That’s where the new app idea, Arti, by Codeacious comes in. They’ve designed an app for your iPhone, Samsung or whatever contraption you may have – provided it can download apps of some sort – where you can buy and sell artworks, but it’s so much more than that. We had a chat with app designer Ian Priddle, about the ins and outs of the app and how you can help make it a reality.
Hi Ian, thanks for taking the time out to chat with Forte, how are you and what are you up to right now? Hi Forte, it’s my pleasure! Right now I’m working on a hilarious new feature for next year’s Pako Festa app. I understand you work for Codeacious, what does an average day for you look like with them? I actually co-founded Codeacious with my good friend Glenn Schmidt three years ago, so there’s not much I don’t do. My average day starts like most; with coffee. Long black, no sugar. Then I open my email. Oh the email. Delete a bunch of nonsense emails, flag the stuff I need to come back to, quickly reply to the important ones... aaaand it’s lunch. After visiting that day’s choice of one our many awesome local cafés, it’s time to get down to some serious business so I open up our job tracking system, JIRA. I’d like to say I follow a strict regiment of addressing the top priority issues first, but sometimes I can’t help but tackle “Photoshop grass onto tab bar” before looking at “Analyse TPS reports”. Most of the time I’ve got my head buried in Adobe Illustrator, designing wireframes or app graphics, or I’m using Xcode or Android Studio to implement the designs in code. And you’ve decided to create a Kickstarter campaign for a new app called Arti, where did the idea for this app originate? I first got the idea when I was in a Geelong café a few years ago and saw a piece of work that I wanted to buy. Customers
58 forte
sat in front of it, the staff was flat out and I couldn’t see any information. I came back another day and found the situation the same. The next time I returned, the painting had gone. I was frustrated, not just because I missed out on a piece that I wanted, but also because I could see how that artist had potentially missed out on further sales. If I’d been able to take out my phone and buy the piece then and there using a simple app, that artist would have made an immediate sale and could have replaced that work with another, and potentially sold two – or more – pieces in that same time-frame. Are you a big lover of the arts scene? Absolutely! Supporting the arts scene in any town is of critical importance for a number of obvious reasons. Right here in Geelong we have a huge number of extremely talented artists producing fantastic work which should be out there and being appreciated by as many people as possible, and we want to build Arti to make that happen. How will the app benefit artists, curators and buyers in the region? Arti will be a technology platform that brings together artists, art lovers, art spaces, buyers and sellers. The app will be free, and usable anywhere in the world which means greater exposure for artists and their work and with a fast and seamless way to buy, bid or possibly even tip, artists can be financially supported to keep doing what they love. The campaign is asking for $50,000, can you give us a breakdown of where
LOVE, DESIRE AND RICHES Barwon Park Mansion presents Love, Desire and Riches - The Fashion of Weddings A collection of over 50 famous and rarely seen wedding gowns and accessories sourced from around the world. the money is going? Sure. First of all, Kickstarter will take 5 per cent, then the credit card companies take another 2-5 per cent. That leaves us with around $45,000 of which $30,000 will be used to support Glenn and myself to eat, pay rent, and live off noodles while we work for around six months consulting with practising artists, developing the backend systems, iOS app and Android app. This works out to be about $16 per hour (as a comparison, the going rate for experienced app developers at the moment is about $125 per hour). The small amount left will be used to market the app once it’s built. What kind of rewards can people get for supporting the campaign? Just by backing Arti, with even a dollar, you’ll be able to contribute your ideas and help us shape Arti for your needs. That’s what’s most important for us. But for those who are able to pledge more, there’s opportunities to access the app in beta, create profiles in the app before it’s even launched, and have your artwork or profile featured in promotional material. If it’s a t-shirt you’re looking for, we’ve decided not to do novelty rewards, because every dollar is precious and we want to make sure all the cash goes directly to funding the project. We don’t think people want us spending all our development time producing and mailing out custom clothing. No one wears them anyway… Once the app is created it’s actually going to be available for free, what’s made you decide that instead of charging
people to purchase it? Arti is all about getting artists exposure so that more people can buy their art, so that means we want as many people as possible to download Arti and one of the best ways to do that is to make it free, and available on both major platforms. And no, there won’t be any banner ads. Ewww. People mightn’t realise but you actually created the Queenscliff Music Festival app, how long did it all take you? This year we’ve released our third major version of the Queenscliff Music Festival app and we love it. We love sponsoring the festival and to date we’ve spent a total of around 1700 hours on the app. To put that in perspective, that’s about the equivalent of one person working full time on the project for a whole year. What do you think makes a good app? First and foremost - a good app just works. It’s fast and intuitive. I don’t think we make good apps though, we make awesome apps. Awesome apps that are powerful behind the scenes, driven by really smart custom software, and are intuitive and look fantastic. Is there a back up plan for if the campaign isn’t successful? There’s no way we can afford to do this particular project without crowd funding support. People are starting to take notice and the feedback we’re getting from artists is awesome - basically they want this app! To support the campaign visit www. facebook.com/codeacious and follow the links.
Romance is never without drama and costumes from great moments in literature and film will be placed along side real life love stories of the women and men of Melbourne. The collection spans over 200 years of fashion, including pieces from the world-leading designers such as Valentino for Princess Marie Chantal of Greece. A mini retrospect of leading Australian
designers – Akira Isogawa and Collette Dinnigan will showcase their fashion career. Celebrity gowns include dresses designed for Jennifer Hawkins (Maticevski) and Kyly Clarke (Alex Perry) to film and television pieces worn by Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow and Meryl Streep. A vast collection of dresses from the 18th to 21st centuries will also feature prominently within the exhibition. WHERE: Barwon Park
Mansion. 105 Inverleigh Road, Winchelsea. WHEN: 17 December
– 28 February. INFO: www.
nationaltrust.org.au/vic/ LoveDesireandRiches
Local writers and performers from across the region bring 12 original plays to the Potato Shed. Each play is 12 minutes long. Some deal with the darker side of life while others will have you laughing in the aisles.
This very popular series of original works is a must-see end of the year dramatic treat not to be missed. WHERE: Potato
Shed. Peninsula Drive, Drysdale. WHEN: 12
December. 7pm. PHONE: 5251 1998.
ABIGAIL’S PARTY Mad As Us /Geelong Production Company is proud to present Abigail’s Party - a wickedly black comedy that has gained a cult status in the theatre world since its debut in 1977. Come see what all the fuss is about and join the party in Beverley and Laurence’s London ‘70s lounge room- a night you won’t forget. Starring Libby Tanner, Brad Beales, Lauren O’Callaghan, Clare Springett and Scott Middleton. A casting coup with our leading couple being the popular TV actress Libby Tanner along with Geelong’s treasured theatre male lead, Brad Beales. Libby well known for her TV work in Wentworth, Special Ops, All Saints and more – and Brad for
is lead work in theatre performances such as Les Miserables, Sweeney Todd, Drowsy Chaperone, Into the Woods, Jesus Christ Superstar to name a few… Come join Abigail’s Party! Four performances only at the Woodbin Theatre. WHERE: Woodbin
Theatre. Coronation Street, Geelong West. WHEN: 11 - 13 December. BOOKINGS: www.
trybooking.com
STONE’S STYLE – Jessica Simon, A Life in Fashion
ART OF BRADMAN EXHIBITION ‘The Don’ finally plays Geelong! An exhibition experience like no other, this amazing cricketing feast features over 50 selected original works by renowned artist Brian Clinton. The exhibition will include rare Bradman objects, memorabilia and images – some never before seen on public display – and artifacts from Geelong’s cricket tradition. The Art of Bradman is the ultimate display of Bradman art, capturing the moments that Bradman himself considered the most poignant in his 23-season career. Journey with the boy from Bowral from his first cap and test century to his 100th first class century, the Invincibles and his final farewell. WHERE: National Wool Museum, 26-32 Moorabool
Street, Geelong.
WHEN: 1 December – 15 February. INFO: www.nwminfo@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
A new fashion exhibition opening at the Gold Museum Ballarat, will showcase the fashions of one of Ballarat’s most prominent figures during the mid-20th century, Jessica Simon (née Stone). Fashion director, clothing designer, retailer, philanthropist, world traveller and local style icon, Jessica Simon was a key figure in Ballarat’s fashion history. She played a managerial role in her family’s business, Stone’s Drapery Store (in operation 18601965), which was widely considered the place in Ballarat for fashion purchases, in particular wedding gowns. She cohosted a fashion program on local television station BTV6, and designed
many of the garments for sale in the store. A selection of some of the finest garments, dating back to the 1950s and ‘60s, along with other fashion-related items, will feature in Stone’s Style: Jessica Simon, A Life in Fashion, an exhibition that honours and celebrates this true style icon. WHERE: Sovereign
Hill, visitor entrance: Bradshaw Street, Ballarat. WHEN: Until 1 March. INFO: www.
sovereignhill.com.au
Refining the Palette
Graphic Design at The Gordon With another successful year ticked off, The Gordon Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design students are in the process of putting the finishing touches on their portfolios. From corporate branding, product packaging, great digital media and illustrations, the folios are brimming with eye-catching and attention to detail pieces. In a win-win situation, the students collaborate each year with industry to develop printed collateral from annual reports to a broad range of promotional collateral. Medimime Productions Incorporated is a non-profit organisation made up of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers who present a pantomime each year, to which The Gordon design students pitched their concepts for this year’s production of Cinderella. The brief included; posters, t-shirts, colouring competitions, programs, illustrations and flyers. This gave students a real work project to work on with deadlines and client expectations to deal with. The winner of the pitch Michael Sanford has his artwork attached. Barwon Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) also gave the students an opportunity to design and layout their annual report. Each student pitches for the tender and then works collaboratively to bring the annual report together once the final design was chosen. This builds key skills of working within a team and working to deadlines. Currently students and staff are on a study tour to Singapore, attending design schools, visiting a touring exhibition and international advertising agencies. This gives students face-to-face contact to the global design community and an ability to view design from an international perspective. The tour continues onto Malacca, a traditional Malaysian
cultural precinct, broadening their cultural diversity and international perspective on art and design. As part of the Gordon’s Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design, students are given the opportunity to go on industry placement. Local design agencies including Circle Media and Ivy Street Design are some of the many agencies who continue to support The Gordon. Andy Worland, Director of Circle Media, is impressed by the broadness of subjects students cover. “The fact that they work closely with industry and learn in a “hands on” environment ensures they are ready made for the design industry. The environment in which they learn promotes maturity and that is what we are always looking for in a designer,” Andy says. Students from The Gordon’s design courses have had many global opportunities presented to them. There is a graduate working as a junior graphic designer for Goodfolk, an independent creative agency in Auckland, New Zealand. “We even have a past student in Dubai in a lead design role for Etihad Airways,” said Ant Zavaglia, graphic design teacher at The Gordon. “With dedication and motivation the sky is the limit for our graduates.” For more information on the design course at The Gordon head to thegordon.edu.au or call 5225 0500 as they are taking applications now for 2015.
Poster for Cinderella production by Michael Sanford
OFF THE WALL – Etch Gallery and Studios’ First Birthday Exhibition
38th APOLLO BAY ANNUAL SUMMER ART SHOW The Apollo Bay Annual Summer Art Show is all about showcasing the work of local and regional artists. Established and successfully managed for 33 years by the Apollo Bay & District Historical Society, the 34th Art Show was hosted, for the first time, by Apollo Bay Arts Inc. Few changes have been made to the successful format of the show apart from a greater emphasis on encouraging entries from local artists. Both traditional and contemporary styles are featured. Mediums
include: oil, acrylic, watercolour, pastel, charcoal, pencil and printmaking. All works are for sale. WHERE: Catholic Church
Hall, Trafalgar Street, Apollo Bay.
WHEN: 26 December – 4
January.
INFO: www.apollobay.
com/arts
A wonderful eclectic mix of work from the Geelong region’s talented, new and emerging artists. ETCH invites you to come join in and help celebrate this milestone. It’s the perfect opportunity to see what work local artists have been making. The exhibition as the title suggests is an off the wall show; meaning that when one of these fabulous artworks is purchased it can be wrapped and taken home straight off the wall - there is no
waiting until the end of the exhibition. The sold artwork is then replaced with another by the same artist, making an everchanging exhibition. WHERE: ETCH
Gallery and Studios. 215 Moorabool Street, Geelong. WHEN: 3 - 23 December. INFO: www.
etchgalleryandstudios. com
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MUSIC WORKSHOP CRAZY SALE DAY
Some people think crazy clearance sales only happen at winter at stock take time. They certainly don’t happen in the lead up to Christmas. Well somebody forgot to tell Music Workshop!! Music Workshop will hold a 1-day only sale on this Sunday (7th Dec) with all items massively reduced and
some clearance items at up to 80% off!! We’re talking a Gibson Les Paul LPJ which normally retails at $1,199 must be sold at $200, a professional Bach trumpet that normally retails for $4,795 is selling for $1,250 and a Mapex Meridan Burgandy drum kit normal retail is $1,399 for a crazy
$425!! And this is only a couple of the crazy deals. Another bonus is the clearance of ex-hire stock including cables, stands, mics, speakers and amps. Wulitzer 1015 Jukeboxes new sell for $14,000 are priced at an unbelievable $5,000. A full list of clearance items can be viewed on Music
Workshop’s website – www. musicworkshop.com.au This is a genuine one off f loor stock clearance sale and only while stocks last. There is only one of many of the clearance items, so be sure to get in early. Doors will open at 9am. All products storewide will be massively reduced at better
than on-line pricing. Guitars from $39, Drum hardware from $10, Headphones from $10, music books & DVD’s from $1..... Everything must go! Why not get all of your Christmas shopping done this Sunday 9am to 4pm at Music Workshop , 39 Fyans Street South Geelong. Ph: 52215844 www.musicworkshop.com.au
When & Where: Music Workshop, Geelong – Sunday December 7 – 9am to 4pm
Turn on your creativity
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Inside Splinters
Written by Adem Ali
INSIDE SPLINTERS PRESENTS
TOP 5 EPS OF 2014 Continuing on from last issue – as promised! Before you’re taken through the Splinters songs and albums of 2014, I thought we’d take a goosey-gander with a choice cut of the five very best EP releases of 2014. The EP was not too long ago considered somewhat of a dying medium, but in a climate where 80 per cent of albums released contain an overfill of about 60 per cent, its resurgence in recent years has been something of a musical revelation. So I am very proud to present to you the very best extended play releases of 2014, in the beloved Top 5 format.
#01.
ROISIN MURPHY Mi Senti Former Moloko vocalist and iconic solo artist Roisin Murphy surprised everybody in 2014 with her long-awaited return to music. The only ‘problem’ being that it was an EP full of Italian pop song covers, with one original that was also sung in Italian. Seeing as this release marked the very first, reasonably full-lengthed affair from Murphy since 2007s lifeaffirming Overpowered LP, it left fans a little dumfounded as to what direction she was going in. Murphy admitted she does not speak a word of Italian, and whilst she had help from her husband, Italian producer Sebatiano Properzi, she further admits that “The correct pronunciation of the words along with understanding and conveying the meaning was difficult and tedious.” All of that hard work paid off, because Mi Senti is nothing short of a modern masterpiece. KEY TR ACKS: Ancora Ancora Ancora, Pensiero Stupendo, Ancora Tu, In Sintesi, Non Credere, La Gatta.
#02.
CLIENT LIAISON EP Holy shitballs, Australia’s very own Client Liaison blew minds in 2014 with their epicly produced debut EP. A fiery punch of mainlined electronic gold, slabs of ‘90s house, and a beloved blend of ‘80s pastiche. It’s been a while since an Aussie act took on those elements and did so with such ease, but Client’s Montie and Harvey have done just that with this super-impressive collection of a six track. During their support slot at the Flight Facilties show earlier this year, the band took a moment to dedicate a song to “The late and great Christopher Skase”, a gag that a good 10 per cent of the crowd at this gig were old enough to get, but a gag that, nonetheless, turned them into even bigger icons than they had already become. The highlight of the EP sits with massive hit ‘Feed The Rhythm’, but then again, the whole thing is all killer, no filler. KEY TRACKS: Feed The Rhythm, End of The Earth, Feeling.
#03.
ROYKSOPP & ROBYN Do It Again Time has proven that the beautiful union of Royksopp
and Robyn is one of the most delightful musical marriages we could bear witness to. When they teamed up for the iconic ‘The Girl and The Robot’, the melancholic electro-romper topped many a pop connoisseur’s Best of 2009 lists, so the pairing for an entire EP in 2014 was going to be nothing short of magical. A magical EP of this calibre should probably spawn a magical tour, wouldn’t you think? Well in true Robyn fashion, the pixie-haired starlet pulled out of their scheduled double-bill January 2015 tour of Australia due to family matters. Absolutely sincere reasoning, it should however be noted that this is not the first time Robyn has cancelled an Australian tour due to family reasons. Royksopp themselves were still scheduled to appear with talk of finding a ‘Robyn Replacement’,
but then a few short days later they too announced they’d be pulling out of the Aussie tour. Great EP. Terrible Tour Etiquette. KEY TRACKS: Do It Again, Monument, Inside The Idle Hour Club.
#04.
SOPHIE ELLISBEXTOR Wandermix British warbler Sophie EllisBextor broke her usual formula of dance floor rompers that potentially also made you cry in 2014 when she released thealbum Wanderlust – a Russian-inspired folk record that seems to have resonated with the British record buying public. The album was a disappointment, however, for the loyal gay fans who’d been used to Sophie’s particular blend of heartbreak with a donk on It. Then came along Wandermix, a remix EP that took key
moments from Wanderlust and turned them into dance floor classics. There is something missing though, and that something is even just one remix by The Freemasons, who have arguably produced some of Sophie’s absolute best dance floor singles. A pretty glaring omission, but the EP is pretty great despite all of that. KEY TRACKS: Young Blood (Kick It), The Deer and the Wolf (Role Reversal), Wrong Side Of The Sun (Phoenix Rising).
#05.
HUDSON MOHAWKE “Chimes” If you like techno when it’s noisy, you’ll love the Chimes EP from the UK’s Hudson Mohawke. Techno in the key of Crystal Castles rather than in the key of Dave Clarke, but nonetheless Amazing.
Lady Gaga blew our minds last week with a live stream from Paris of the very last artRAVE of her World tour. Looks like a DVD release has been confirmed too!
TAYLOR SWIFT Doing a much better job at Pop than most of the others.
BEYONCE New video for ‘7/11’ is bonkers (and on a serious budget).
KEY TRACKS: Chimes, King Kong Beaver. Next issue we sit down and trawl through the best Songs and Albums of 2014!
or
Written by Adem Ali. For more music news and reviews follow @ AdemWithAnE on Twitter!
“ Just glanced at the TV at work and saw that a former colleague is now the Brand Power lady. Mixed emotions.” Brilliant stuff this week from the always great @MelbourneBitter.
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Film Reviews
Films reviewed by Anthony Morris
the wrap The Hunger Games: Mockingjay pt 1 As you might expect from a movie made out of the front half of a novel, this is a bit short on action – but Jennifer Lawrence’s performance in the lead role remains strong, some interesting ideas are here even without the action to back them up.
Serena
Nightcrawler Lou Bloom ( Jake Gyllenhaal) is a creepy guy willing to do what it takes to succeed. And that’s fine when he’s just creeping around at night stealing scrap metal, but when he realises that being known as a thief is not the best way to get people to give you a full time job, he starts looking around for a new line of work. What he comes up with is the already seedy world of freelance news cameramen, racing across Los Angeles trying to be the first to accidents and crime scenes so they can get the best footage to sell to the morning news shows. His utter lack of morals combined with a superficially plausible line in business-speak, soon gets him an “in” with morning
news producer Nina (Rene Russo), whose desperation to lift her shows flagging ratings soon has her hooked on the dubious yet compelling footage that he brings in. But in the cut-throat business Lou finds himself in, just being good isn’t good enough. Fortunately for him, he’s willing to go that extra mile to ensure that his product is both the best – and the only one available. Nightcrawler is pretty up front about what it’s trying to say: Lou is an industrial level creep (yet superficially charming enough to pass for human), yet in encouraging his grisly trade in human misery, are we any better than him? And if Gyllenhaal’s performance was any less compelling, this preachiness might have grown wearying. But
the newly gaunt and unblinking Gyllenhaal is utterly compelling as he oozes his way into everyone’s lives like some creature that’s crawled out of a swamp with a fully comprehensive vocabulary of bland motivational platitudes and corporate jargon. The story, as it plays out, quickly turns into a kind of nightmare as it becomes clear that Bloom will do whatever it takes to get to the top – and in a business that involves a lot of racing cars and accidents, there’s a lot of scope for him to do evil – but Bloom himself is the kind of creep you can’t help but be transfixed (and appalled) by. Nightcrawler’s vision of a ruthless, brutal world of news predators is enthralling: Gyllenhaal’s performance turns this into something not to be missed.
The year is 1930, and in North Carolina logging magnate George Pemberton (Bradley Cooper) is in serious trouble. With the stock market having crashed and the Great Depression looming, the banks are after him to refinance his timber plantation using his land holdings in Brazil as collateral. Worse, there’s a big push from the federal government to turn this entire part of the country into a national park, and the money they’re offering won’t go near to covering his debts. Then he sees Serena ( Jennifer Lawrence), the daughter of a logging empire who’s whole family died in a fire, and all his worries go out the window. But true love can’t solve his money troubles, even if it becomes increasingly obvious that Serena is both extremely capable (when the plantation has a snake problem, she’s out there training an eagle to take care of it) and will
stop at nothing to help the man she loves. Having sat on the shelf for a year or more after a troubled production history, this feels like one of those Hollywood projects where a producer somewhere has decided to cut their losses and edit the story down to the bare bones. That’s not to say the film feels incomplete – all the plotlines resolve in a reasonable, if somewhat predictable, fashion. More that there are numerous elements that feel like they were explored further in some longer, wilder directors cut. Serena’s character seems to have suffered the most: while there are occasional hints as to her past and her ruthless nature (especially involving George’s illegitimate child), many elements seem glossed over. The whole nature angle seems especially thin: with her pet eagle and his obsession with hunting and killing a puma, it – and some much more of this entertaining but forgettable film – feels threadbare.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
so closely Brandy’s forced to read books to get some time to herself. But forcing Brandy to live in the real world means she notices Tim and they strike up a romance – though with Patricia monitoring her every text message, what chance does young love have? Add a pushy stage mum ( Judy Greer) pimping out her spoilt would-be star daughter (Olivia Crocicchia) via website “modelling shoots”, and a young girl (Elena Kampouris) who finds the internet very supportive of her anorexic lifestyle, and you’ve got a grim vision of a society where technology is driving us apart
even as it’s supposedly bringing us together. At least it brings Helen and a man known as ‘Secretluvur’ (Dennis Haysbert), together… in bed. Once known for making decent films like Up In The Air and Young Adult, director Jason Reitman brings little to a project that rarely rises above the level of muted anti-internet propaganda. There’s no knowing satire here, no room for nuance in the depiction of the way people live their lives online. It’s like a “special report” on the pipeline bringing depravity right inside your house; if that sounds alarmist, this isn’t the film for you.
Even by Housos standards this is pretty below par, but if you like people shouting a lot and running around while they do it, you might get something out of this.
Lets Be Cops This manages to wring the maximum possible laughs out of the idea of two kind of dumb guys pretending to be police officers, which is an idea just funny enough to stretch out to movie length.
John Wick Keanu Reeves is the baddest bad-ass alive, so when the Russian mob kills his puppy and he comes out of retirement for revenge, everyone else dies. Front-runner for best movie of the year.
Interstellar It’s the future and Earth is falling apart. Luckily there’s space, which is full of food and water and… uh, maybe not. Still, our heroes blast off into it to find somewhere new to live. Basically, this looks gorgeous, but doesn’t really hold up either as science lecture or heart-warming human tale.
Fury
Men, Women and Children In a small town that could be anywhere (where well-off white people live) there are a group of people (who are well-off and white) who are struggling to come to terms with the massive upheaval the internet has caused in (white, middle-class) society’s values. Hang on – is that Adam Sandler ordering a sex worker online? Indeed it is, and that’s because his character, average suburban dad Don Truby, no longer connects sexually with his wife Helen (Rosemarie DeWitt). She doesn’t connect with him much either these days, which is why she’s cruising online dating sites for one night stands. As for their son Chris (Travis Tope), he’s so addicted to domination porn that he can’t even get it up when a real girl falls into his lap. Meanwhile, teen Tim Mooney (Ansel Elgort) has given up on both football and friends in the wake of his mum running off with some guy she met online. At least he’s got online gaming to keep him busy, even as his dad Kent (Dean Norris) worries they’re drifting apart. Then there’s Patricia Beltmeyer ( Jennifer Garner) who monitors the online activity of her daughter Brandy (Kaitlyn Dever)
Fat Pizza vs Housos
It shouldn’t really be surprising that, despite Alexander (Australia’s own Ed Oxenbould) being the only one to get his name into the title, this isn’t really Alexander’s story. After all, if you’ve got Steve Carrell and Jennifer Garner playing his parents, you’d be pretty stupid not to take full advantage of them. His grumbling over the way his family seem so wrapped up in their own lives to pay attention to the crappy day he’s having is what kicks this story off, once it gets going it’s everyone around him who are the ones having the lousy day. It’s Alexander’s birthday, and his big wish is that everyone else in his family knows the pain of having a really bad day. Trouble is, today is also a big day for everyone else: his home hubby dad (Carrell) has a big job interview that could finally get him back out there; his mum (Garner) has the
launch of a children’s book that could get her a big promotion; his older brother Anthony (Dylan Minnette) is going for his drivers license so he can drive his somewhat high-maintenance girlfriend (Bella Thorne) to the prom; and his older sister Emily (Kerris Dorsey) has the opening night of her school play, in which she’s playing Peter Pan. So it’s basically the worse possible day for everything to go wrong. The story doesn’t really have anywhere to go once everything goes wrong, so the resolution is kind of sappy and half-baked, but it’s a short film (a little over 80 minutes) that takes a lot of glee in tearing everyone’s lives apart so the flat ending isn’t as big a problem as it could have been. Despite the focus on the older cast this is still firmly a kid’s film – it’s just one that babysitters can enjoy as well.
World War II is coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean any shortage of tank-related action in this crude action film that really would like to have something profound to say about the nature of war but just ends up serving up a bunch of fairly silly action clichés – what elite Nazi troops were trained to just run blindly at machine guns?
Pride Based on the true story of a group of London Gay and Lesbian activists who banded together to help the striking miners in Thatcher’s Britain, this is the kind of heartwarming film that doesn’t need to resort to cheap tricks to make you cry and feel good.
The Drop It’s crime time in your typical seedy New York neighbourhood, and while this isn’t really anything special story-wise (thugs are robbing local bars in an attempt to score big on the mob’s money. Plus Tom Hardy finds a puppy), this is your last chance to see the recently departed James Gandolfini on the big screen, which makes this well worth your time.
Gone Girl ADVANCED STYLE Dec 6, 8:30pm / Dec 7, 12:00pm / Dec 8, 7:30pm / Dec 13, 9:00pm LOCKE Dec 4, 7:00pm / Dec 5, 9:00pm / Dec 6, 2:00pm / Dec 7, 8:30pm / Dec 10, 9:00pm
Tickets: $10 concession $12 adult
Rock The Casbah Dec 12, 9:00pm / Dec 13, 7:00pm / Dec 14, 6:30pm / Dec 20, 9:00pm
Licensed Candy Bar
The Tale Of Princess Kaguya Dec 12, 6:30pm / Dec 13, 2:00pm / Dec 14, 4:00pm Two Days One Night Dec 11, 9:00pm / Dec 13, 4:30pm / Dec 15, 7:30pm / Dec 19, 7:00pm WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS Dec 6, 4:30pm / Dec 7, 6:00pm / Dec 14, 2:00pm When The Queen Came to Town Dec 4, 9:00 pm / Dec 6, 12:00pm / Dec 7, 2:00pm The Young & Prodigious T.S. Spivet Dec 5, 7:00pm / Dec 6, 6:00pm / Dec 7, 4:30pm
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More movie times and info available online pivotcinema.com.au The Ukranian Community Hall, 57 Pakington St, Geelong West
The best-selling novel is now a hit thriller – well, it’s a thriller unless you figure out the stories many twists and turns (which aren’t all that hard to figure out), in which case the first section is a bit of a plod. But once the various mysteries are all out in the open this becomes a fun, if jet-black, satire on relationships and the way those outside of them are always quick to judge.
Music Reviews
ScotDrakula
and a smoother drawl, seamlessly balancing the tunes levity that is induced by the ever-present jingle of the tambourine. This up-beat tempo is carried between tracks and compliments the fuzz and familiar playful rhythms that define ScotDrakula’s sound. There are only a few songs that break up these rockabilly vibes, but when they hit, they signal a marked shift towards a rebellious,
dirtier feel. ‘Pig Eyes’, with a pulsing bassline and snarling distortion, slices through the more effervescent tracks to convey the heaviness behind its inception (Neumann’s unsettling fear of cops). Similarly, ‘Break Me Up’ slows the pace with steadier vocals, crunchy guitar and a scorching breakdown to add a muchneeded rock ‘n’ roll edge. From the bouncing bass of ‘Kill What You Love’, to the jangle-pop of ‘Shazon’, every song has a dance-ability and buzz that’s hellishly fun. Albeit slightly repetitive, this debut album offers a classic lo-fi sound that’s rough-yet-harmonious and perfectly understated. SCOTDRAKULA is screaming (quite literally) to be played, and loudly, this summer. By Emily Hirst
Being such a new band they still have to finesse their sound and pin point exactly where it is they feel comfortable sitting in the industry. They may have thrown away their dreamier smooth style from earlier track ‘Make Me Wonder’, but there’s still something so intriguing about the songs that follow. While Chloe Kaul’s vocals always help tie things together, in ‘Take Us To The Grave’
they take the front bench. She hits notes that she hasn’t in previously tracks, and it’s exciting just to hear where she’ll take her voice next. Whether it’s thanks to her vocals or not, ‘Take Us To The Grave’ is the standout track on the album. ‘Ride/Carry On’ is perhaps the biggest experimentation from the band. All backing sounds are kept to a minimum at the start and Chloe’s vocals are given the spotlight. As the song goes on and the layers flow in, there’s a mixture of sounds never heard before in the previous tracks. It’s great to see Klo experimenting with the skills they’ve got, and that’s exactly what Cusp stands to be. One big experiment – that has paid off mind you. By Amanda Sherring
talent Tom clearly has. His flawless falsetto is achieved with such ease it makes you wonder why you even bother singing in your car at all when people like him exist. Or maybe that’s just me. When you think you’ve got the track figured out it takes a turn two thirds through and slowly builds
to an amazing ending. The last of the originals on the release, ‘Silver Birds’, is a beautiful addition and slows things down considerably with its focus on the keys and the story behind the song. All that remains are two remixes, and while I’m not a fan of remixes on a debut-anything, the tracks show the possibility of where the band could go. For what started as a solo project by Tom that quickly expanded to a five-piece, it seems the bands natural progress is towards bigger and better things. Specks is simply a great start to what I’m sure will be a very promising career in the industry. By Amanda Sherring
SELF-TITLED Indepdendent
Explosive and energetic, ScotDrakula never fail to deliver good time garage rock that’ll have you grooving. Their self titled album is no exception, with the Melbourne based trio – Matt Neumann on vocals and guitar, Dove Bailey on bass and Evianne Camille on drums – giving us some jaunty riffs and infectious hooks reminiscent of their earlier EP, Crack Strength. The LP bursts open on an instantly catchy number, ‘O’Clock’, which will get your hips shaking in no time. Neumann’s unhinged vocals jump sporadically between party screams
Klo CUSP Dot Dash Recordings
‘Make Me Wonder’ with it’s electronic synths, dreamy feel and deep female vocals, put Klo on everyone’s radar. Their debut performance earlier this year saw wallto-wall of sweaty bodies pack into Melbourne’s Boney M, and the fandom hasn’t slowed down since. Their debut EP Cusp is just another testament to the band being able to live up to the hype. ‘Under Lie’ follows on from the hit-track and has a slightly grittier R n B feel than their previous release. Things are sped up, but it all works. ‘False Calls’ continues much in a similar pattern.
Sleepy Tea SPECKS Indepdendent
Sleepy Tea are subtle, soothing, perfectly harmonised and more in their debut EP Specks. ‘Hold On To Your Breath’, with it’s anthemic and atmospheric sound, simply takes over all and any room in the best possible way. Stand out of the release is ‘Waves’, where Tom Wearne speaks almost in a whisper with his dreamy vocals, the track culminates in layer upon layer of electronic sounds and instrumental additions. Perfection. ‘Starry Eyes’ easily serves as a tribute to the
Röyksopp THE INEVITABLE END POD
Arguably the high point of Röyksopp’s career was when they decided to partner up with fellow Scandinavian musician, Robyn, in their mini album release Do It Again. It would be silly not to include her in the follow up, especially after its success, so ‘Monument’ is slipped in for good measure. You wouldn’t exactly say the track is a high energy electro-pop song, it teeters on the edge of being something much bigger, but with holding back they’ve achieved a song that’s an
easy listen no matter what you’re doing. But then again, I guess that’s what makes Röyksopp’s music so appealing. Their style of “Scandipop” – as people are branding it – doesn’t show off. It’s smooth, with layer upon layer of synth that slowly develops and evolves into something completely different. ‘Sordid Affair’, ‘Rong’ and ‘Coup De Grace’ are just a few of the soothing
electro-pop numbers. Though that’s not to say it’s all mellow music and the duos work with Susanne Sundfør is where the dance element comes into play. ‘Running To The Sea’ is a slow building track that’s already earnt significant play in nightclubs, the backing to many sweaty grinding bodies. While there’s not much that’s wrong about the album, the title is what’s worrying : The Inevitable End. While it isn’t the end of the band, it’s said to be the end of traditional album releases. Take it in while you can kiddies, chances are the excitement of listening to new music won’t be coming around as often as it has. By Amanda Sherring
The Grates DREAM TEAM Death Valley
I hope I’m not alone in saying that much of my early teen years were spent dancing along to the Grates debut album Gravity Won’t Get You High, in particular the infamous ‘19-20-20’. So when I heard they were back recording and releasing an album in a month, flashbacks of those early
moments in my bedroom came to mind. After several years break, there’s always fear the band will release an album that falls far from the others, though as soon as ‘Call Me’ starts, it pretty much continues on from where they left off with Secret Rituals. ‘Holiday Home’ is the grungier version of the Grates that we don’t hear as much as often as we should, though the track is a great reflection of what their live performances often turn into it. ‘Dirty Hands’ has Patience screeching through the speakers in between bursts of instrumental – two things that pretty much sum up the Grates’
iconic style in just over two minutes of perfection. I may be biased, but singling out even a few tunes as the stand outs is a hard feat, though ‘Wild One’, ‘Friends With Scum’ and ‘Back to Back’ would definitely make the cut. Dream Team is for those who love nothing more than to get up and dance, listen to rough, up beat lyrics and something a little bit different to other songs released today. I’m glad it scraped in before the end of the year so I could say this: best album of 2014. It may be a big claim, but I stand by it. By Amanda Sherring
counted a handful of instruments in each song. Looking at the breakdown, Fiona plays over 10 instruments over the course of the 12 tracks. ‘The Machine’ is a highlight with the perfect mix of nylon stringed guitar, violin, harp, double bass as well as a few others. ‘Dial
D for Denial’ is uplifting, ‘Exorcist’ is full of emotion and ‘Pirates and Diamonds’ is upbeat and full of sass. Talk To Strangers is one of those albums that you don’t really know what to expect, but boy does picking it up pay off. By Amanda Sherring
Fiona Bevan TALK TO STRANGERS Navigator Records
You’ll have to give me a moment to think of a proper way to start this review, as Fiona Bevan’s incredible vocals have simply left me with nothing to say. ‘Rebel Without A Cause’ has Fiona jump straight into what she clearly does best. And that’s seamlessly hitting the raspy lower notes seconds before a falsetto. While I’m blind-sided a little bit by her vocal ability, it’s worth knowing that every track was written by the songstress herself, something that probably doesn’t happen as much as it should. Given that she’s created each and every song, the passion shows through when she sings it, as she clearly feels every word, ‘Us And The Darkness’ serves as a great example of this. By the time the fourth track comes along, I’ve already LIVE REVIEW
Josh Pyke The Barwon Club Saturday November 22
A few weeks ago, I got to have a chat with Josh Pyke about his upcoming shows and what gig-goers can expect to see. When I found out that it was going to be a solo performance, I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t a little bit skeptical. I mean, exactly how exciting can one guy on a stage with a guitar and a few loop tracks be? Well, I can’t say that I wasn’t pleasantly surprised
by his performance. I, for one, am very used to gigs consisting of loud bands and people jumping around and basically just rocking out. In saying that, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a gig that has been just as chilled out as this one. Josh was quite happy to have a bit of banter with the audience in between songs, of which he played both old and new, although personally I was hanging out for the old songs. There’s something about his tracks ‘The Summer’ and ‘Beg Your Pardon’ that are just so soul
soothing. Josh’s voice is exactly how it sounds on his recorded tracks, which is always a good sign for any musician. The way he stacked the loops to make beats and harmonies was so effective and raw, which really added to the performance rather than hindered it. It wasn’t necessarily a particularly exhilarating performance, however I don’t think that was the aim of it in the first place. His performance was honest and very chilled out. A welcome change of pace, gig-wise. By Jessica Alves
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Last Words
grog watch Written by Tony Montana
Travelling on public transport is a great way to get a view of the world. Sure, it’s not so great a way to get anywhere, but you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth when you’re riding the rails. For example, when you’re sitting on a bus and the woman across from you is having a video chat on her phone with what most definitely sounds like a screaming baby, ok sure, eyebrows might be raised. Especially when she doesn’t really seem to be saying anything much to the small child past “Are you not feeling well?”, which is probably safe to say even I could diagnose. But you know, if I’d been driving around in my car – I don’t have a car, by the way – I totally would have missed out on that sight and just been left with the usual run of traffic light nose-pickers and teenagers who
think singing along to a track in a car makes them free spirits rather than just regular chumps. But then sometimes when you’re on the train you get to see some real action, and by real action I mean a knock-down drag-out fight between two different layers of society. Public transport brings together people who almost certainly should not be put anywhere near each other. On one side of the great divide we have a couple of business types clearly committed to public transport as some kind of eco-friendly statement. I’m not saying they rode their bikes to the train, but they were wearing the kind of stylish middle-aged gentlemen outfits that are usually a pretty good signifier of a Greens voter – or just a background in university wankery. On the other we had a young lady who, well, I wouldn’t say was “as rough as guts”, but she clearly had the kind of general attitude that comes with putting your own needs first in pretty much every possible occasion. As she
Music Reviews
PHOTO REVIEW
QUEENSCLIFF MUSIC FESTIVAL 28,29 and 30th November 2014 Photos by lucinda goodwin
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was doing here: she had her (muddy) feet up on the seat in front of her. Speaking personally, I am nowhere near stupid enough to point that kind of shit out – sure, putting your feet up on the seat can be the kind of thing someone lazy and thoughtless but basically decent does, but more often than not it’s the kind of thing done by someone happy to start a shouting match over bugger all. As it quickly proved to be, one of the Greens voters asked her to take her feet off the seat and it was on, for young and old. Sure, they were right: having your feet on the seat is against the law. On the other hand, an older, richer guy condescendingly telling a young woman to get her feet off the seat because “your shoes are covered in mud” was never going to end well. She said ‘What’s it to you?’ and anyway, she had a broken ankle. He basically said “Bullshit”, only using bigger words. I don’t want to say these guys were clearly not regular public transport
users, but instead of shutting up – “I’ve got a broken ankle” being pretty much a trump card in this situation – he kept on going at her, demanding she take her muddy foot off the seat, pointing out that these train carriages would be used by other people down the line (presumably the train carriages would never be cleaned again; to be fair, he may have had a point) and doing a pretty good job of calling her an oik – or even just a “povvo bogan” – without actually saying those words. Eventually they won: she took her feet off the seat. In fact, she took them off the seat, put them on the floor, and walked off down the train. A job well done was the general vibe from these two guys, until in a shock twist ten minutes later, the train conductor stopped while he was checking out tickets and asked the two guys how their train trip was going. “No trouble here?” he asked, in a manner that suggested he was fully aware of the previous trouble, and the two guys
began to tell their story in that vaguely annoying, “Yeah, there was an issue but we handled it,” way you often get from older well-off guys who think that something – age, wealth, having a dick – entitles them to maintain order in our society. Only it turned out it was actually the conductors job to maintain order on the train, as he pointedly underlined when he said that not only had he been aware of the young woman’s sore ankle, he’d given her the green light to put her foot up on the seat to rest it. Up until this point I’d kind of been on the fence about the whole thing: yeah, these guys were dicks, but muddy feet on a train seat is not cool either. But then they started (low-key) arguing with the conductor, basically saying that it didn’t matter what he’d said, she had muddy feet on a seat and that simply wasn’t good enough. “You have to know where I’m coming from,” said the conductor, being all friendly-like, “You can’t have a go at
passengers just for having the sake of having a go at them.” But of course, they weren’t having a go at her just for the sake of it: they were having a go at her because they were glad to have an excuse to have a go at someone younger and poorer than themselves. Eventually the conductor walked off, having told them the train was not a place for “vigilante justice”; they didn’t say another word, and they got off the train at the very next stop. Awwww. Tony “I’m usually quite fond of vigilante justice” Montana
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