Orbital Tour May 2012
Fri04 PalaceTheatre 18+ ticketek.com.au 132 849 & oztix.com.au
On Sale Fri16/Mar/9am
New album ‘Wonky’ out on 6th April CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
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ILLUSIVE AND FRONTIER TOURING BY ARRANGEMENT WITH ARTIST VOICE PRESENT
SPECIAL GUESTS
DANIEL MERRIWEATHER & SAM LAWRENCE
PALAIS THEATRE WEDNESDAY 9 MAY ON SALE MONDAY 19 MARCH 136 100 OR
TICKETMASTER.COM.AU
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In stores now!
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Special Guests
bombay bicycle club
Next Week! Festival Hall
Wednesday March 21 136 100 or ticketmaster.com.au with special guests
next week rod laver arena
2nd & final show
saturday march 24
the palace
tue apr 3
132 849 or ticketek.com.au
132 849 or ticketek.com.au
WITH SPECIAL GUEST
GERAINT WATKINS
2ND & FINAL SHOW NEXT WEEK! FORUM THEATRE
FRIDAY MAR 23 New album The Old Magic out now
FULLY RESERVED SEATING
136 100 or ticketmaster.com.au
2ND & FINAL SHOW
>> SUNDAY APRIL 1 PALAIS 136 THEATRE 100 or ticketmaster.com.au Platinum and Gold Meet and Greet packages now available at www.coppel.com.au
BOOK NOW! Presented by Michael Coppel I evanescence.com I nicklowe.com I elbow.co.uk I briansetzer.com I g3tour.com I satriani.com I vai.com I stevelukather.net I coppel.com.au CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
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THURSDAY ANNAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GO GO ACADEMY $10 - 6:30PM
FRIDAY THE VELVETS + RYAN STERLING FREE ENTRY - 9:30PM
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CHANNEL CHHANNNELL [V], [V], NEW NEW WORLD WORLD ARTISTS ARTISTS & CRUCIAL CRUCIAAL MUSIC MUSIC PRESENT... PRESENT...
THE FLYING TOUR FRI JUN 15, THE HIFI
FFEEAATTUURIN RINGG
GOSSLING AATTAALLL SH L SHOOWWSS! !
MELBOURNE(18+) (18+) SAT JUN 16, PIER LIVE FRANKSTON, 1:00 1:00 –– 5:00pm 5:00pm (UNDER (UNDER 18s) 18s) SAT JUN 16, PIER LIVE FRANKSTON(18+) (18+) SUN JUN 17, THE HIFI MELBOURNE, 12:00 12:00 –– 3:30pm 3:30pm (UNDER (UNDER 18s) 18s)
WITH WITHSPECIAL SPECIALGUESTS GUESTS
HERMITUDE &&BAM BAMBAM BAM
TICKETS TICKETS ON ON SALE SALE THIS THIS THURSDAY THURSDAY 15TH! 15TH!
TICKETS VIA OZTIX: WWW.360.OZTIX.COM.AU / PH. 1300 762 545 / OZTIX OUTLETS TICKETS VIA OZTIX: WWW.360.OZTIX.COM.AU / PH. 1300 762 545 / OZTIX OUTLETS THE HI FI: WWW.THEHIFI.COM.AU / PH. 1300 843 443 THE HI FI: WWW.THEHIFI.COM.AU / PH. 1300 843 443 ‘FALLING & FLYING’ ALBUM OUT NOW! FEATURING HIT SINGLES: Boys Like You (feat. Gossling), Killer, Throw It Away (feat. Josh Pyke), Just Got Started (feat. Pez)
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IN THIS ISSUE...
16
HOT TALK
20
TOURING
22
CHARLES BRADLEY
24
ARTS GUIDE, WILL KENTRIDGE, BEYOND THE NECK
26
ART OF THE CITY
27
COMEDY LISTINGS, COMEDY CALENDAR
28
KIM SALMON, CASH SAVAGE & THE LAST DRINKS, JAMES WALSH
49
DROPBUNNY, FRANCOLIN
50
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH
52
THE LITTLE STEVIES, XAVIER RUDD
FRANCOLIN P. 49
ELECTRELANE P. 54
53
ahab
54
BORIS, ELECTRELANE, WOODEN SHJIPS
55
LUCINDA WILLIAMS, STEVE VAI
56
DEPRESSION
57
CORE/CRUNCH!
58
MUSIC NEWS
64
ALBUM OF THE WEEK, SINGLES, CHARTS
THIS WEEK IN 100%:
BOMBS AWAY & DJ KRONIC 3 NEWTON STREET RICHMOND, VICTORIA 3121 Phone: (03) 9428 3600 Fax: (03) 9428 3611 email: info@beat.com.au www.beat.com.au BEAT MAGAZINE EMAIL ADDRESSES: (no large attachments please): Gig Guide: online at beat.com.au email gigguide@beat.com.au - itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free! Club Listings: online at beat.com.au email clubguide@beat.com.au - itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free! Music News Items: music@beat.com.au Artwork: art@beat.com.au Beat Classifieds 33c a word: classiďŹ eds@beat.com.au
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PUBLISHER: Furst Media Pty Ltd. MUSIC EDITOR: Taryn Stenvei ARTS EDITOR / ASSOCIATE MUSIC EDITOR: Tyson Wray EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Nick Taras SUB-EDITORS: Krystal Maynard, Michelle Aquilina, Penny Coulson GENERAL MANAGER: Patrick Carr SENIOR ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATOR: Ronnit Sternfein BEAT PRODUCTION MANAGER: Patrick Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Luke Benge, Matt Crute, Patrick Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill, Rebecca Houlden, Gill Tucker COVER ART: Patrick Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill ADVERTISING: Taryn Stenvei (Music: Bands/Tours/Record Labels) taryn@beat.com.au Ronnit Sternfein (100%/Beat/Arts/Education/Ad Agency) ronnit@beat.com.au Aleksei Plinte (Backstage/ Musical Equipment) mixdown@beat.com.au Adam Morgan (Hospitality/Bars) adam@beat.com.au Kris Furst (beat.com.au) kris@furstmedia.com.au 0431 243 808 Grace Arena (Indie Bands/Special Features) grace@furstmedia.com.au CLASSIFIEDS: classiďŹ eds@beat.com.au GIG GUIDE SUBMISSIONS: now online at www.beat.com.au or bands email gigguide@beat.com.au ELECTRONIC EDITOR - BEAT ONLINE: Paddington Wray: tyson@beat.com.au
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Patrick Emery, Jesse Shrock. COLUMNISTS: Emily Kelly, Peter Hodgson. CONTRIBUTORS: Tyson Wray, Adam Baidawi, Helen Barradell, Matt Bendall, Cam Binger, Graham Blackley, Chris Bright, Rose Callaghan, Adam Camilleri, Paige Cho, Stefan Chrisp, Nick Clarke, Talitha Conway, Dave Dawson, John Donaldson, Justin Donnelly, Georgia Doyle, Cam Ewart, Paul Fischer, Lawson Fletcher, Jack Franklin, Chris Girdler, Sean Gleeson, Aleisha Hall, Louise Hardwick, Daniel Hedger, Nick Hilton, Lyndon Horsburgh, Briony Jones, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Cassandra Kiely, Greg King, Joshua Kloke, Stuart Lynch, Rhys McCrae, Ruth McIver, Adam McKenzie, Kylie McLaughlin, Nick Mason, Tyler Mathes, Krystal Maynard, Anna Megalogenis, Al Newstead, James Nicoli, John Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Rourke, Matt Panag, Jack Parsons, Liam Pieper, Steve Phillips, David Prescott-Steed, James Ridley, Gav Ross, Leigh Salter, Tim Scott, Denis Semchenko, Side Man, Matt Sutherland, Lin Tan, Steve Tauschke, Brigitte Trobbiani, Rene Schaefer, Melanie Sheridan, Jeremy SheaďŹ&#x20AC;e, Kelly Theobald, Andrew Tijs, Alistair Wallis, Etienne Waring, Dan Watt, Rod WhitďŹ eld, Katie Weiss, Tom Whitty, Cara Williams, Simon Williamson, Bronius Zumeris. Š 2012 Furst Media Pty Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the consent of the copyright holder.
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HOT TALK
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FREE SHIT
11 THE ESPLANADE ST KILDA 3182
THURS MAR 15
My Morning Jacket live in a magical world where Southern rock and psychedelic surrealism happily co-exist. You can go to this world too, you know. The stellar live band from Louisville, Kentucky are bringing their five-piece machine to Australia for Bluesfest and are performing a sideshow at the Palace Theatre on Wednesday April 4. We have two double passes to give away. Head to beat.com.au/freeshit. There you will find us with gifts in arms.
* FRONT BAR *
What do you get when you cross Tim Rogers, Nick Barker, Davey Lane, Chuck Jenkins and Dave Larkin with a bar full of beer-drinkin’ Replacements die-hards? You get one of the best local gigs of the year, that’s what! Whatever plans you might’ve made for Thursday March 29, bloody well cancel them because A Night Out With The Replacements happens for absolutely one night only at Brunswick’s Phoenix Public House. This killer lineup, which also includes Van Walker, Suzannah Espie, Kat Spazzy (and more yet to be announced) celebrates the life and music of one of the most influential garage-poppunk acts of all time. The night will also be the Australian premiere of Color Me Obsessed the brand new yet-to-be-released documentary on The Replacements, directed by American filmmaker Gorman Bechard. The film screening will begin at 7pm, and the all-star band Garry and the Boners will kick off just after 9.30pm. Visit phoenixpublichouse.com.au for more details.
BEARDED GYPSY BAND Eaten By Dogs. FREE! From 9pm
FRIDAY MAR 16 * FRONT BAR *
OVER-REACTOR Epidemic... Over, Cave Of The Swallows, Apache Medicine Man, Rusty From Electric Mary. From 6pm * GERSHWIN ROOM *
ENNIS TOLA
Anna Salen, Shadow Queen, Lords Of This World, Steeple Jack. Tickets $12+bf from espy.com.au. 8pm * BASEMENT *
SCORN OF A SUPERHERO Indian Mynah, The HIdden Venture, Oscar Mike. FREE! From 9pm
SATURDAY MAR 17 * FRONT BAR *
Stay tuned... Check facebook.com/theespystkilda our special guest will be announced shortly!
* GERSHWIN ROOM *
KILL EM ALL!
(METALLICA TRIBUTE), Thunderstruck, Foovana. Tickets $20 on the door, from 8pm * BASEMENT *
CARTERROLLINS Crooked Saint, Rick Steward. FREE! From 9pm
SUNDAY MAR 18
* FRONT BAR *
LANEWAY FUNK BROS. The Marabou Project, Bad Boys Batucada. FREE! From 5.30pm
MARCH MONDAY RESIDENCY * FRONT BAR *
AINSLIE WILLS FREE! From 9pm
A NIGHT OUT WITH THE REPLACEMENTS
KIMBRA Hey. She’s back. A five-date interstate jaunt brings the jet-setting Kiwi Kimbra back to her adopted Australian home in May for her first headline tour in close to a year. The intimate affair will see Kimbra bring her acclaimed live show to limited-capacity venues for what is set to be one of the hottest tickets in town. Kimbra will be joined by another of the country’s most promising young artists – one Daniel Merriweather – who has taken the world by storm in recent years (including a Platinum album in the UK) with his impossibly smooth vocals and a little bit of help from long-time friend Mark Ronson. Now residing in New York, the ARIA Award winner returns home to give us a little taste of what’s to come from his long-awaited sophomore album. Kimbra, with Daniel Merriweather, plays the Palais Theatre on Wednesday May 9 and tickets are available from Ticketmaster.
SIMPLE PLAN
MICK THOMAS
Get ready for the return of punk-pop ensemble Simple Plan this winter. Simple Plan will embark on a massive tour that sees them hit metropolitan and regional venues large and small in their most extensive east coast tour to date. Their latest offering Get Your Heart On! (out now through Warner Music Australia) stormed the ARIA charts upon its release late last year, armed with fan favourite and ARIA Top 10 single Jetlag (featuring Natasha Bedingfield). Joining Simple Plan on tour is We The Kings, whose current single Say You Like Me from their latest album Sunshine State Of Mind (out now through Liberator) is racing up the US Singles Charts, having hit Top 30 with no sign of slowing down. Rounding out the lineup will be local powerpop dance quintet The Never Ever, a group of exuberant Sydneysiders ready to get crowds moving with their boundless enthusiasm and danceable tunes. Simple Plan and friends play Festival Hall on June 2. It’s an all ages show and tickets are available from Ticketmaster from 9am, Friday March 16.
Mick Thomas is mighty proud of his new album Last of The Tourists. After recording albums as Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing for the last few years, this time around Mick decided to focus on what is really his first ever solo studio album. After much thought and deliberation, Mick decided to head over to the USA to record the album in Portland, Oregon with long time friend and music associate Darren Hanlon at the producers helm. The album will be released on Friday March 16 and Mick will launch it at The Regal Ballroom on Friday May 11. Tickets from webtickets.com.au.
CHERRY WEENED
SAN CISCO After selling out their first Groovin’ The Moo sideshow at the Corner on Wednesday May 2, Fremantle’s indie-popsters San Cisco have announced another Melbourne show for their Ricket Ship tour on Tuesday May 1, also at The Corner. Tickets are on sale now via The Corner website.
THE SONICS Garage-rock pioneers The Sonics (special guest invitees of the Hoodoo Gurus on their national Dig It Up! tour) are to perform a one-off, rare and intimate headline show when they appear at Oakleigh’s Caravan Music Club in the outer-suburbs of Melbourne on Friday April 27. The godfathers of garage-rock, The Sonics laid down the blueprint for garage-rock back in 1963 with the release of their first single The Witch. Revered and covered by the likes of The Cramps and The Black Keys (alongside a list of Australian bands too lengthy to mention), the influence and spirit of The Sonics has never waned. Tickets for this show are on sale today from caravanmusic.com.au, and tickets for Dig it Up! The Hoodoo Gurus Invitational, Wednesday April 25 at The Palace in Melbourne, starring The Sonics, Redd Kross, Died Pretty, The Fleshtones, Steve Wynn, Hard-Ons, The Lovetones, Royal Headache, Beaches, The Frowning Clouds, guest DJs and more, are on-sale now from digitup.net.au.
CNR SPRINGVALE & WELLS RD, CHELSEA HEIGHTS PH 9773 4453 WWW.CHELSEAHEIGHTSHOTEL.COM.AU
Ween’s Chocolate and Cheese fourth LP was originally released on September 27, 1994. Freedom of ‘76, I Can’t Put My Finger On It, Baby Bitch, Voodoo Lady, Buenas Tardes Amigo, What Deaner Was Talkin’ About, Don’t Shit Where You Eat, the list goes on from this 16-track masterpiece from Dean and Gene Ween. So, to honour its apocryphal 16.5 Year Anniversary the Cherry Bar in AC/DC Lane Melbourne is hosting a one-off celebration of Ween on Saturday March 24. Incredible Ween Tribute act Weened will play two sets. Firstly, Chocolate and Cheese track-fortrack in its entirety, secondly, all your Ween favourites. Patron Saints will support. You should be there. Doors 8pm, bands 9pm. Tickets are $13, only from the Cherry door.
DAWES Ok, it’s all starting to happen for LA Americana stars, Dawes. They have just announced they have scored the grand supports of My Morning Jacket, and a country date with Justin Townes Earle as well as two slots at Bluesfest in Byron Bay. But wait, there’s more. For the music loving community of Melbourne, Dawes now announce their very own headline show at The Toff In Town on Wednesday April 11. Joining the band will be some very special, secret guest fans of the band. Too big a name to announce let’s just say they could fill the Toff several times over. So there we have it. An introduction to Dawes at festival, support slots and now their very own headline show in Melbourne. Do not miss this musical movement this April. Tickets on sale now and available from lovepolice.com.au/tours.
SAT 17TH MARCH
BLACK SORROWS & IAN MOSS TIX $38
10CC (UK) TIX $55
SAT 28TH APRIL
SAT 10TH MAY
CHOCOLATE STARFISHTIX $30
PEZ TIX $27
STEVENS, BRAITHWAITE & BARKER TIX $37
AND
SAT 2ND JUNE
SAT 23RD JUNE
ABSOLUTELY 80’S
CADD & MORRIS
MANNIX/CARNE/RYDER TIX $25
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CARUS
For folkies, rockers and folk rockers alike, it’s one of the tours of the year – a double-headline featuring English multi-instrumentalist, virtuoso fiddler Seth Lakeman, and Australia’s own international troubadour Carus Thompson. Seth Lakeman has sold over a quarter of a million records, and his music has broken down perceptions and barriers of folk music in the mainstream, which has earned him the ‘Poster Boy of Folk’ tag. Carus Thompson is one of the few fully independent Australian troubadours to be able to carve out a full-time living from his craft. Years of touring at home and overseas has assured that he possesses the enviable ability to draw hundreds of people wherever he goes. If you want to see two highly experienced, accomplished, energetic and passionate live performers backed by their respective bands, from either side of the globe, do not miss this tour. For Seth Lakeman fans it’s a chance to see him playing on his first tour of Australia, and for Carus Thompson fans you’ll see him with his band, sharing the stage with one of his best mates. They play two special shows at Bennetts Lane on Sunday April 8 and Monday April 9.
FRI 16TH MARCH
SAT 21ST APRIL
Beat Magazine Page 16
SETH LAKEMAN THOMPSON
TIX $32
HOT TALK
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60 SECONDS WITH… THE BEARDED GYPSY BAND
THE 5.6.7.8’S The 5.6.7.8’s, Japan’s premier garage-rock group, stars of Quentin Tarantino’s 2004 blockbuster Kill Bill Vol. 1, and special guests of the Hoodoo Gurus on their national Dig It Up! tour in April, have announced a select, limited capacity headline show at The Tote on Tuesday April 24. Tickets are on sale today from feelpresents. oztix.com.au.
KYLIE MINOGUE
LA LUCHA GLAMOUROSA
Unsurprisingly, Kylies’ two Australian Anti Tour shows sold out in just minutes last week. Inundated by pleas from fans, our favourite soft-hearted pop princess has agreed to perform not just one but two shows on the same night in each city. The ‘late’ Anti Tour Melbourne show is now scheduled for 11.30pm at The Palace on Sunday March 18. Tickets to these second and definitely final shows are on sale now. If you missed out the first time around, this is your last chance.
Big Bennies (a Red Bennies spin off) and Dolores Daiquiri (co-producer of The Australian Burlesque Festival) present a night of world class Mexican Wrestling Burlesque Action. Following a series of sell out shows at Red Bennies, La Lucha Glamourosa returns to the Prince Bandroom where it all began for a no holds barred battle royal, where tassels collide, tequila gets slammed and tail feathers get well and truly shook, featuring ten-piece band Abbie Cardwell and The Chicano Rockers. Obsessed with this music and her op-shop Mexicali Brass records, (Cardwell, better known for her rootsy-rockabilly music with her band The Leading Men), decided to bring this magical music to life. She began Spanish lessons and formed a new band, complete with a brass horn section and Latin percussionist, and let her inner ‘chica’ shine!. DJing is the Mexicali Mammas and the wrestlers are drawn from Melbourne’s burlesque elite. It happens on Saturday April 31 from 8.30pm and tickets are $30+bf from the Prince website.
LOS CHICOS After more than ten years shaking fat on the stage non stop, Los Chicos have become one of the most important garage and rock’n’roll bands not only in Spain, but also in Europe. From the beginning, they have been moving like duck to water between styles like soul, R&B, country, punk and garage but in their last album We Sound Amazing But We Look Like Shit, they have added touches of the best power pop – kind of Flamin’ Groovies, NRBQ, Real Kids or Paul Collins (friend and fan). You certainly won’t be disappointed by their live shows. They’re playing a string of them, including Wednesday April 4 at The Tote, Thursday April 5 at Yah Yah’s, Friday April 6 at The Old Bar and Saturday April 7 at Boogie Festival, which is taking place on Bruzzy’s Farm at Tallarook from April 6 - April 8.
Bonjah have started the year off in a big way. The band saw in 2012 at Pyramid Rock Festival, played the East Coast leg of the Big Day Out and sold out their national summer tour. Bonjah have just announced their Fall Together East Coast single tour, the band’s last Australian headline shows for 2012. The brand new single from the Melbourne based four piece, encompasses driving rhythms, gorgeous melodies and fantastic production from Steven Schram (Little Red, San Cisco, Tinpan Orange). The multi award nominated band have made a name for themselves from their powerful live performances, relentless touring and masterful song writing. Be sure to see it for yourself when the Fall Together tour reaches The Corner on Friday June 8. Tickets are on sale on Wednesday March 21 from The Corner website.
Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? People often have mixed responses, but in general I believe we come across as an energetic dancey type band, with many different sounds. What do you love about making music? Personally I love the development of a song from the idea all the way through to sharing it with someone and seeing the effect it may, or may not have. What do you hate about the music industry? I guess no matter what you may or may not like about the industry there is always a way around it, and that’s half the fun anyway! If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Oh tough... but it would have to be Django Reinhardt, because of his influence on the development of our sound.
BIG DAY NOT OUT
BONJAH
So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? The band name is The Bearded Gypsy Band. We draw sounds and influences from around the world, and throw them together to create an eclectic sound.
Knocking back a few cheap frothies, enjoying a couple of BBQ’d snags and witnessing rank amateurs attempt to play sport... few things are as idyllic, or as fun. Or, as in the case of Pub Cricket, few things in the world are attempted with as much gusto by people so illsuited to a pursuit. That’s right – the unfit, beer-loving denizens of a dozen local pubs are back on the field for the annual Big Day Not Out at Edinburgh Gardens, Brunswick Street, on Sunday March 25. After a long season of trying to figure out how many beers there are in an over, 12 pubs (who form part of the Yarra Pub Cricket Association) from around the inner northern suburbs duke it out in a day-long battle royale in one of Fitzroy’s most celebrated annual community days. With a strong community focus (proceeds go to local charity) the Big Day Not Out continues its inner-urban focus (that means you can bring the kids), and offers a day more full than Boonie after a flight to ol’ Blighty of cheap beers, a huge BBQ, live music, DJs, and dubiously-talented cricket. All in the perfect surrounds of Melbourne’s historic Edinburgh Gardens, the Big Day Not Out is a day out you’ll savour more than anyone ever did Brett Lee’s terrible band.
If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? That’s a question you don’t get asked every day! If I had to, it might be Justin Bieber, purely for the fact that I get called Bieber! But in reality, the act of assassination is generally frowned upon! What can a punter expect from your live show? Many, many things, but chances are you will dance, sing and be merry! Oh also expect something mysterious. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? A full length album, and a secret EP that will be available for download soon. When’s the gig and with who? We’ve got a few gigs coming up in Melbourne. Our first is at the Espy on Thursday March 15. Then we’re playing on the same bill as The Band Who Knew Too Much at the Brunswick Music Festival (Phoenix Public House) on Friday March 16. After that we’re playing at the Baha Taco Joint on Saturday March 17, with our final show at The Old Bar on Sunday March 18. Anything else to add? Follow us online beardedgypsyband.net and on Facebook! Thank you social media!
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Beat Magazine Page 17
HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
MORDIALLOC BY THE BAY FINE FOOD, WINE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL The City of Kingston is pleased to announce the line up for the Mordialloc by the Bay Fine Food, Wine and Music Festival. The festival will feature jazz and blues music across two stages, a non-stop swing stage, Latin dancing, gourmet food and wine, rides, childrens’ activities and more. A talented array of musicians is set to be showcased at the festival at Peter Scullin Reserve on Saturday March 17 and Sunday March 18, including, Ol’ Skydaddys featuring Frankie J Holden and Wilbur Wilde, Jimi Hockings’ Blues Machine, Sweethearts, Matt Katsis & Blakistons Owl plus heaps more. The festival will also feature a gourmet food trail, and a free Master Chef Marquee where a range of talented chefs and skilled professionals from Melbourne’s southeast and regional Mornington Peninsula will present a series of culinary skill demonstrations throughout the weekend. Culinary chef skills demonstrations will be complimented by an enhanced rolling program of progressive handcraft skills such as pasta making, vegetable carving, oyster shucking and ice carving. For more information about Mordialloc by the Bay Fine Food, Wine and Music Festival please visit kingston.vic. gov.au/mordifest or call 1300 653 356.
f r o n t s p a c e 212a Whitehall St
Ya r ra v i l l e
9687 0233 www.kindredstudios.com.au Friday 23rd March Doors Open 7pm VUSU AND KINDRED STUDIOS PRESENT
WORLD MUSIC NIGHT
BEN SALTER, JOE McKEE Ben Salter (The Gin Club, Giants of Science) and Joe McKee (Snowman) are embarking on a co-headlining tour of Australia this April. After ten years spent touring around Australia with the aforementioned Gin Club and Giants as well as acts such as The Wilson Pickers and The Young Liberals, Ben Salter released his debut solo album last year. Produced by Gareth Liddiard (The Drones) and Robert F. Cranny (Sarah Blasko, 78 Saab) The Cat’s combination of striking arrangements, unusual instrumentation and classic melodies has slowly but surely won Salter a whole new group of fans. Joe McKee’s previous outfit, Snowman, were significant. They released two albums out of Perth 2006’s self titled effort and 2009’s violent masterpiece The Horse, The Rat & The Swan. Praise, wide ranging and effusive, came from all corners of the globe. Now these two veterans of the Australian music scene are joining forces to perform a series intimate shows, including the Grace Darling on Saturday April 28 and Pure Pop Records on Sunday April 29.
TUMBLEWEED Tumbleweed return to the studio in Sydney in June with Paul McKercher (ARIA award winning these days mind you!) who last worked with the band on the last album the original Tumbleweed lineup recorded; the Galactaphonic LP back in 1994 – a nice complete of the circle. Since the success of their recent reformation shows, Tumbleweed has even had the time to come up with 20 original new songs. Some of these songs will be recorded for a new Tumbleweed album in June, but before all that, the band are taking some new songs out for road testing, playing two special shows at The Tote on Friday May 25 and Saturday May 26.
TIMOTHY NELSON & THE INFIDELS Perth based five-piece Timothy Nelson & The Infidels have officially announced their first ever national tour. Solo, Nelson has made the pilgrimage east fairly consistently over the last 12 months but this will be the first time that east coast Australia will get to see the full force of his Infidels in full flight. With a reputation as one of Perth’s must-see live acts, Melbournites will have three chances to catch them when they play Pure Pop records on Saturday March 31 (special acoustic show at 3pm), The Wesley Anne on Saturday March 31 at 4.30pm and The Tote on Sunday April 1 with Hudson, Celadore and Tiaryn Griggs (tickets are $12 on the door).
ORBITAL Last seen in Australia just over a year or so ago, the English dance institution known as Orbital (made up of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll) were last seen here road-testing their live show out on a sea of blissed-out raver kids reliving the heady days of early ‘90s dance. It’s been a busy few weeks for the boys, having just announced their first new studio album in eight depressingly long years, titled Wonky – a reference to the delightfully left-field approach the duo have always taken during their immense career. Promising a customary stunning audiovisual live show that will feature classics from throughout their career, as well as first live airings of the new album – one perfect evening. Join Orbital at the Palace Theatre on Friday May 4.
SEASIDE WEEKENDER Go and witness some of the finest acts in punk and pop punk as Apart From This, Up And Atom, Backyard Surgeons and Tim Hampshire join forces and head to the seaside in what will be a show to remember. Formed in the outer suburbs of Melbourne in mid 2009, Apart From This have established themselves as one of the real up-and-coming forces in the ever growing Australian pop punk scene. They Have shared stages with the likes of Fireworks, The Wonder Years, No Trigger and Such Gold, as well as local heavyweights Heroes For Hire, Skyway and Tonight Alive. This gig will also feature Melbourne punk rock demigods, playing a one off gig under the name ‘Grants Pants’ – this band is legendary. Fans of the genre will be stoked. It’s not to be missed, at the Bendigo Hotel this Thursday March 15.
PINK MOUNTAINTOPS While in Australia opening up for the Los Angeles based heavy psych legends Dead Meadow, Canada’s Pink Mountaintops have announced their only headline show at The Tote on Monday April 2. Special guests are Jason Simon (Dead Meadow), The Night Terrors and Dead Wasp. Tickets $20, available from heathenskulls. com, Collectors Corner and The Tote.
Q&A WATERLINE
BOMBAY ROYALE BLACK JESUS EXPERIENCE MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!
Saturday 31st March $10
Doors Open 8pm
DEEP CUTS H A U L
M U S I C
CHRISTIAN VANCE (LIVE) CRAIG MCWHINNEY (LIVE) MIKE CALLANDER (LIVE) LOST FEW + VJ JUNIOR
Friday 30th March OPEN FROM 7PM RIPON AND KINDRED STUDIOS PRESENT
RIPON OPEN STUDIO COME DOWN AND PERFORM! ALL ACTS WELCOME ALL PERFORMACES RECORDED AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE $20 PER CD www.facebook.com/kindredstudios
Beat Magazine Page 18
Define your genre in five words or less: Retro indie rock. So, someone is walking past as you guys are playing, they then go get a beer and tell their friend about you... what do they say? Let’s get more beer and go listen to these guys I just saw – they’ve really got something happening. How long have you been gigging and writing? WATERLINE is the culmination of about 25 years of playing and writing, but it’s only a bit over 12 months old. What has been your favourite gig you’ve played to date? Probably our first gig. There were plenty of rough edges but you could hear that the sound was gelling and had real power. For me, after several years playing solo and with a variety of lineups, it was a great feeling. Which band would you most like to have a battle/ showdown with? Lubricated Goat /Neatly Folded Goat/any other band with the word ‘goat’ in it. What inspires or has influenced your music the most? The writing is most influenced by Australian music
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of late ‘70s - ‘80s, especially songwriters like Don Walker, Paul Kelly, Neil Murray and Mick Thomas. The playing additionally has elements of folk, reggae, and metal. What do you think a band has to do these days to succeed? You either have to be good writers, players, performers with a strong work ethic – or be in the right place at the right time. Do you have any record releases to date? What? Where can I get it? Your Town is WATERLINE’s debut CD. It will be available through myspace.com/waterlinetheband and at gigs. Why should everyone come and see your band? They shouldn’t – only people who like songs with words that mean something and that don’t have doof doof kick drum set at 140bpm. Judging from the radio that makes it just a select few. When are you playing live/releasing your album/ EP/single/etc? Our new CD Your Town will be released on Friday March 16 at Bella Union Bar, Trades Hall Carlton, corner Lygon and Victoria Streets. Check it out.
HOT TALK For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
60 SECONDS WITH… VALENTIINE
THE PROCESS The Process will be launching their double A side single I Burn/Religion from their forthcoming debut LP on Sunday March 18 at the Montsalvat Great Hall. Formed in 2006 in the gothic towers of Montsalvat on the outskirts of Melbourne, The Process have evolved and channeled the raw, chaotic energy of a five-piece into the streamlined mood of the three core members: August Skipper (vocals, bass), Saxon Jorgensen (guitar) and Vijay Singh (drums, moog, samples). Drawn from a collective obsession with fringe philosophy and post-new-age consciousness, The Process’ sound evokes the moods and spaces of 4AD’s early roster (Swans, Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins), with a nod to contemporaries The Soft Moon, Factory Floor & Portishead’s Third. Thick pulsing rhythms erupt into glorious, cascading conclusion; from narcissistic rants, to sickly crooned anthems; from the outer regions of reality to the depths of the subconscious, this is The Process. The band will be accompanied by the striking lineup of Kirin J. Callinan (fresh from his impressive performance with Lost Animal at Golden Plains), Young Romantix & Machine. Well worth the road trip.
DEEP ROOTS Deep Roots has hosted a selection of amazing artists over the years that include Kora, Salmonella Dub, The Beautiful Girls, Ash Grunwald, TZU, Jackson Jackson, Mia Dyson and many more. Continuing with tradition, the next instalment is set to be a cracker, featuring Australia’s premier eightpiece urban roots crew Blue King Brown, multi-award winning Bonjah and the globe-spanning beats of Tijuana Cartel. Also joining the bill are School Of Dub, Savona Sound System, Direct Influence, Jess Harlen and Ms Butt on the Espy decks. Deep Roots happens on Thursday April 5 (Good Friday Eve) at The Espy. Tickets on sale now from espy.com.au and all Oztix outlets.
DAVE GRANEY AND THE MISTLY Dave Graney and the MistLY play a Spiegeltent show in the heart of the city outside the Arts Centre on Sunday March 25. Dave Graney and the MistLY are set to release a rock’n’roll album in the second half of 2012 which will be a self titled, 12 track, up-vibed, loud and smart master-piece. In the meantime, you can catch Dave Graney and the MistLY play at the Spiegeltent on Sunday March 25 from 5pm.
MATT CORBY Following the leaping success of the single Brother on the triple j Hottest 100, it seems Australian fans can’t get enough of Matt Corby. His current national Into The Flame tour has seen him play 14 shows in 18 days, to 10,000 fans and had completely sold-out a month ahead of the first show. Catering to a crowd that just can’t get enough, he has also announced The Winter Tour, which will see Matt play in theatre venues around the country this June, including The Forum on Wednesday June 6. Tickets are on sale now.
DEAD MEADOW With their headline show at the Corner selling hot damn fast, Los Angeles psych lords Dead Meadow, together with Pink Mountaintops, have announced a special fans-only end of tour party show at Cherry Bar on Sunday April 8 with special guests. Tickets are $35 and will be issued in the form of a personalised laminate (see heathenskulls.com for details). The laminate will gain you entry to the show and the tour party. Earlier that day both bands rock the annual Boogie Fest in Country Victoria.
So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? The band’s called Valentiine, I’m Vanessa and I do guitar and vocals. What do you reckon people will say you sound like? People have said a mix between Veruca Salt, Nirvana The Breeders… you get the drift. What do you love about making music? There are no rules… there is no right or wrong way to play and write music and that’s refreshing in a world where everything’s suffocated by rules What do you hate about the music industry? Absolutely nothing… I love all the people that work in the business of music. They are all just great, always taking risks, supporting young and new bands and always passionate. It’s never about the money and I love the way music is never manufactured by global corporations for profit …. hmmm…..? If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Blondie. God, they were just so unique and ahead
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of their time and still making awesome music today. I would love to do some show and tell for Blondie If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it be and why? Rihanna. I just hate her. What can a punter expect from your live show? A real band who write their own songs. Lots of pretty melodies and dirty guitars. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? Our very first self titled album which we released late last year, a single off our upcoming album which will be released early next year and an early edition split 7” with a Wollongong band The Spills. When’s the gig and with who? Cherry Bar on Saturday March 17 with the Seedy Jeezus and Dukes of Deliciousness! Anything else to add? Its going to be an awesomely messy St. Pats day so get down and enjoy some gritty dirty cherry Valentiine rock and let’s get that cherry popped!
Beat Magazine Page 19
TOURING
WHO'S ON TOUR, WHERE AND WHEN
PROUDLY PRESENTS:
For all the latest touring news check out beat.com.au
INTERNATIONAL ST. VINCENT Hi-Fi Bar March 14 AQUA The Palace March 13, March 15 LENNY KRAVITZ, THE CRANBERRIES Sidney Myer Music Bowl March 17, 18 A DAY ON THE GREEN All Saint’s Estate Rutherglen March 17 ONE PERFECT DAY South Gippsland March 17 CHARLES BRADLEY Corner Hotel March 18 BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB The Forum March 20 TIM MCGRAW, FAITH HILL Rod Laver Arena March 20 ELBOW Festival Hall March 21 DURAN DURAN March 21 NICK LOWE The Forum March 22, 33 ELECTRELANE Corner Hotel March 23 JAMES WALSH, SARAH MCLEOD The Espy March 23 BORIS Corner Hotel March 24, Northcote Social Club March 25 EVANESCENCE Rod Laver Arena March 24 JOHN FOGERTY Rod Laver Arena March 27 WOODEN SHJIPS Corner Hotel March 28 CROSBY, STILLS & NASH Palais Theatre March 29 KINA GRANNIS Ormond Hall March 29 STEVE EARLE Corner Hotel March 29, 30 THE ROYAL BATHS The Tote March 31 SIXFTHICK Phoenix Public House March 31 G3 Palais Theatre March 31, April 1 DEAD MEADOW Corner Hotel April 1 LUCINDA WILLIAMS Palais Theatre April 2 PINK MOUNTAINTOPS The Tote April 2 BRIAN SETZER’S ROCKABILLY RIOT The Palace April 3 BLITZEN TRAPPER Prince Bandroom April 3 THE POGUES Festival Hall April 4 MY MORNING JACKET The Palace April 4 YANN TIERSEN Recital Centre April 4 CANNED HEAT Corner Hotel April 4 LOS CHICOS The Tote April 4, Yah Yah’s April 5, The Old Bar April 6 BYRON BAY BLUESFEST Byron Bay April 5-9 TROMBONE SHORTY & ORLEANS AVENUE The Corner April 7 ALABAMA 3 Prince Bandroom April 8 NEW FOUND GLORY, TAKING BACK SUNDAY Festival Hall April 8
THE FABULOUS THUNDERBIRDS Corner Hotel April 8 SETH LAKEMAN & CARUS THOMPSON Bennetts Lane April 8, 9 SUBLIME Palace Theatre April 9 ZIGGY MARLEY Corner Hotel April 9 SEASICK STEVE Corner Hotel April 10 CANDI STATON Toff In Town April 10 DAWES Toff In Town April 12 JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE Prince Bandroom April 12 PETER HOOK The Palace April 12 LOU BARLOW Northcote Social Club April 17, April 18 HENRY ROLLINS The National Theatre April 18, 19 SUPAFEST TBA April 21 THE 5.6.7.8’S The Tote April 24 DIG IT UP! HOODOO GURUS INVITATIONAL The Palace April 25 MARK LANEGAN BAND Forum Theatre April 26 AN HORSE Corner Hotel April 27 THE SONICS Caravan Music Club April 27 THE EXPLOITED Corner Hotel April 28 CHERRY ROCK Cherry Bar April 29 FU MANCHU The Tote April 30 CITY & COLOUR Palais Theatre May 2 ANDREW W.K. Corner Hotel May 4 ORBITAL Palace Theatre May 4 DEVILDRIVER Billboard The Venue May 6 WAVVES Corner Hotel May 9 FRANK TURNER AND THE SLEEPING SOULS The Espy May 10 THE MOUNTAIN GOATS Corner Hotel May 10 dEUS Corner Hotel May 12 PUBLIC ENEMY The Palace March 15 KAISER CHIEFS Palace Theatre May 16 THE MACABEES The Hi-Fi May 16 MUTEMATH Corner Hotel May 17 NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK/BACKSTREET BOYS Rod Laver Arena May 18, 19 BRIAN JONESTOWN MASACRE, THE RAVEONETTES The Forum Theatre May 19 FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE Rod Laver Arena May 20 S CLUB 7 The Palace May 23 YOUNG GUNS The Hi-Fi May 30 SIMPLE PLAN Festival Hall June 2 MARK KOZELEK The Toff In Town June 9, Phoenix Public House June 11
BONJAH Corner Hotel June 8 PROUDLY PRESENTS:
SAN CISCO Corner Hotel May 1, 2 LADY GAGA Rod Laver Arena June 27, 28, 30 MELISSA ETHERIDGE The Plenary July 15 RADIOHEAD Rod Laver Arena November 16, 17
INTERNATIONAL DIRTY THREE The Palace March 16 THE BEARDS Corner Hotel March 15, 16 SNAKADAKTAL Northcote Social Club March 16, 17, 18 FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS Toff In Town March 17 VELOCIRAPTOR The Tote March 17 CLARKEFIELD MUSIC FESTIVAL Clarkefield March 18 XAVIER RUDD The Hi-Fi March 20, The Forum March 21 CANYONS The Toff In Town March 22 JACK LADDER Grace Darling March 29 BODYJAR, ANTISKEPTIC, ONE DOLLAR SHORT Corner Hotel March 31 YACHT CLUB DJS Prince Bandroom April 5, Bended Elbow April 6, Karova Lounge April 7, 8 THE MEDICS Northcote Social Club April 13 MY DISCO The Toff In Town April 15 BALL PARK MUSIC The Corner April 14, 15, 16 KYLIE MINOGUE The Palace March 18 HUSKY Corner Hotel April 19, Barwon Club April 20 BLEEDING KNEES CLUB Northcote Social Club April 21 TIN SPARROW Grace Darling April 21 CHET FAKER Toff In Town April 21 BIG SCARY The Corner Hotel April 24 STONEFIELD Northcote Social Club April 24, 25 JOHN BUTLER The Hi-Fi April 24, 25 Beat Magazine Page 20
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EMMY BRYCE, KATE VIGO Thornbury Theatre April 26 DZ DEATHRAYS The Tote April 27 BLUEJUICE The Hi-Fi April 28 SAN CISCO Corner Hotel May 1, 2 GOSSLING Thornbury Theatre May 5 KIMBRA Palais Theatre May 9 CALLING ALL CARS The Hi-Fi May 11 JOSH PYKE The Forum May 11 MICK THOMAS The Regal Ballroom May 11 CATCALL Toff In Town May 12 BOY & BEAR The Hi-Fi May 20 TUMBLEWEED The Tote May 25, 26 LANIE LANE Corner Hotel May 26, 27 POND Northcote Socil Club April 22 THE JEZABELS Festival Hall June 1 MATT CORBY The Forum June 6 BONJAH Corner Hotel June 8 360 The Hi-Fi June 15
RUMOURS The Knife, Grimes, Pearl Jam, Björk, Fugazi, That Kirin J. Callinan got conscripted by Chic after dancing on stage with them at Golden Plains = New Announcements = Beat Proudly Presents
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Beat Magazine Page 21
CHARLES BRADLEY BY TYSON WRAY
The hyperbolic notion of the ‘miraculous’, the ‘remarkable’ or the plain ‘unbelievable’ rise to prominence of an artist within the contemporary music industry is a more clichéd and often fallacious concept than the fable of penning an album in isolated woodland cabin. This ideology, however, is perhaps the only way to describe the astonishingly uplifting yet undeniably heartbreaking journey of Charles Bradley. For the majority of his life, Bradley battled against homelessness, severe health problems and the idyllic yet near-impossible dream of a stable and viable career within the notoriously intricate music industry. As soon-to-be portrayed in the upcoming documentary Charles Bradley: Soul of America debuting at the Texan South By South West festival later this month; Bradley was born in Gainesville, Florida, in 1948, and in 2011 his 48 year dream finally came to fruition with the release of his stunning debut album No Time For Dreaming at the age of 62. In preparation for my interview with Bradley, I rose at 6am and wandered through the musty streets and laneways of Melbourne’s CBD with No Time For Dreaming on repeat through my Sennheiser HD215s. The album itself is an amalgamation of soul, funk, R&B and Bradley’s contemplation-defying life experience, and provides an undefinably evocative soundtrack to a stroll along to a Swanston St reminiscent of a ghost town on a frigid March morning. “I grew up in a bad stretch of Gainesville,” shares Bradley underneath his husky voice, not yet fully awake in his Intercontinental Hotel Adelaide room. “My grandmother and my mother made us go to church every Sunday. There’s a Holy Ghost out there and there’s a spirit inside you. When you go through a lot in life – and when you can’t deal with it – the spiritual road has always been the best road to go to.” For the following half an hour, Bradley and I spoke intimately. There were no scripted questions, no generic rhetoric or any of the universal staples for an interview with a musician. Why? Because this wasn’t an interview. This was a long-awaited conversation – an exploration of the soul – with a man that I feel holds more faith within the ethos of the human condition than almost any other on the planet. “I made living being a James Brown impersonator for 15 or 16 years. Everybody still loves me doing James Brown – but thank god I found Charles Bradley,” he expresses with overwhelming gratitude. “One night I met Jimmy Hill (the organist of Naomi Shelton And The Gospel Queens) at one of my shows, and through Jimmy I met David Roth and through David I met Gabriel Roth (wife of David and founder of Daptone Records) and through Gabriel I met Tom Brenneck (guitarist of Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings). Tom was looking for a soulful singer at that time and I was going through a lot of changes, trying to make ends meet. I was going through a lot of depression. When I Beat Magazine Page 22
met him, he took me to Stanton Island and they were going through a rehearsal and they asked me to sing for them over a song. If I like something then the lyrics come to me naturally. And that’s what’s happened. They played, I liked it – Tom just said ‘wow’.”
“WHEN I PERFORM, I AIM TO OPEN MY HEART AND TO SHOW THE PEOPLE THAT I HAVE KEEP MY HEART CLEAN AND OPEN ALL THE TIME” “Three years later Tom moved to Brooklyn and called me up and said ‘Hey Charles, come and do some stuff with me’. At that time I was going through a lot more depression after losing my brother, there was a lot of hardship. I told him that I needed somebody to talk to – to let it out. I went over there and we started talking and he fixed me a hot toddy. He went to the piano and started playing, and then he grabbed a cassette and started taping everything. It was hard. I broke down. He fixed me another hot toddy and we sat on his bed talking. Days and days passed by and all of a sudden we started putting it together – and that was my first recording Heartache and Pain. Gabriel called me up and asked to hear what I did. I went to their studio and they started playing it and I had to run out. I couldn’t take it. They gave me a copy of it and I took it home and let my mother listen to it and she broke down crying. Tom then said ‘Charles, I want to do an
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
album on you’. We started with Heartaches and Pain and then Lovin You, Baby, How Long and The World (Is Going Up In Flames). All of the truths just started coming out of me. If I hear music right now and it hits my soul the lyrics will just come right out of me. That’s the way I am. It’s a way of life to me. It saved my life. If I tell you these things it helps. I get really emotional thinking about my past – I’m trying to find ways to be able to grow and be able to talk about it.” Of course, underpinning No Time For Dreaming, and indeed responsible for its premise and possibility, is Bradley’s startling, heartfelt and miraculous voice. Following the success of his debut album, Bradley has been allowed to share his startling voice and story to all corners of the globe. However, no one performance holds a greater place in Bradley’s heart than that of his sold out album release show. “People that believed in me and gave me the chance to come forward. I can never thank them enough. Because it took a long time. My mother said ‘don’t worry about it’, she said ‘god works on his timing’ and I see that. I have to dedicate my love and compassion. When I perform, I aim to open my heart and to show the people that I have keep my heart clean and open all the time. That all the anger, hurt and bitterness that came to me – I found the strength and the love to keep my heart growing. I knew if I kept my heart open, if I kept going, kept keeping my dream – then it’s truly something greater than we all can think of. They can expect the true love of my soul. I’m out to give love and show that I’m a clear and honest person. I want to show and give love. To let people feel good about themselves when they think of their past and what they’ve been through, and know that there’s still hope for everybody.” Whilst remaining incredibly humble of his success and ever-growing profile, Bradley confesses his true gift is not being able to broadcast his voice nor his story to the world, but something much deeper. Something much closer to his home and to his heart. “It makes me feel – I can’t describe it. Everyone who believed in me – it means so much. I have a chance to show my mother how much I really love her for what she’s been through. In my late days, we’ve really started to open up and talk to one-another. It shows me – wow – the things that she’s been through,” shares Bradley as he pauses, apologises, and wipes away a tear. “With the dream of my music I can show her a place that I can say ‘this is home, ma’. This is what I gave her. I can say ‘this is where you can lay your head’. She was paralysed for six months. She was in the hospital, trying to raise us by herself. I’m able to show her before she leaves this life that she has a son that remembers everything that she’s been through. And that’s my blessing.” After blowing the effing roof off Golden Plains and The Hi-Fi last weekend, CHARLES BRADLEY will return for an encore performance at The Corner Hotel this Sunday March 18.
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Beat Magazine Page 23 au.yamaha.com
THIS WEEK: ON SCREEN
WILLIAM KENTRIDGE: FIVE THEMES BY KATE MCCARTEN
Talk about cerebral. This week, the Arts Centre are going back 90 years to bring audiences a free outdoor screening of Laborer’s Love (Laogong Zhi Aiqing) from 1922 – a short film that forms the earliest example of a complete film from China’s extensive cinematic history and a veritable classic, with the Blue Grassy Knoll providing soundtrack duties. It takes place at the Arts Centre Curve Bar from Friday March 16 - Friday March 16.
ON STAGE The Port Arthur massacre of April 28, 1996 is one entirely ingrained into the consciousness of the Australian public – an unparalleled and still entirely-inexplicable display of shocking violence perpetuated by a man whose shocking actions are universally condemned. Some managed to survive, but were wounded in other ways that run beyond the physical - hence the inspiration for Tom Holloway‘s Beyond The Neck, a heartrending exploration of the aftershocks of such an event. The premiere takes place at Red Stitch on Wednesday March 14.
ON DISPLAY No longer the exclusive realm of sweet, technicallytalented elderly ladies – the humble doily is the material from which all manner of artistic masterpieces can be crafted, it seems. Melbourne’s most imaginative and skilled craftisans are set to expand the possibilities of the little wonders with the rapidly-approaching exhibition I Say Doilies, You Say Doyleys. Go get roped in – it opens at Gleaners Inc. on Friday March 16.
BEAT’S PICK OF THE WEEK:
William Kentridge: Five Themes is an internationally-acclaimed monster of an exhibition that has been travelling around the world for over two years, treating audiences from New York to Jerusalem. A hugely diverse exhibit consisting of over 60 works from one of the greatest living contemporary artists of our time, the gallery is teeming with a visual feast – from paintings and sketches to animations and sculpture. A last minute addition to the exhibition’s tour circuit, the ACMI Gallery in Melbourne will be the last breath for this overwhelming insight into the mind, life and career of William Kentridge. Born in Johannesburg in 1955, William Kentridge is no stranger to political strife and social unease. Although Caucasian, Kentridge has witnessed firsthand decades of racial oppression, apartheid and dodgy governments. His father was a prominent South African lawyer who fought vehemently against apartheid throughout his career, and that passion for justice is something that is engrained in Kentridge’s life and art. Kentridge initially began his artistic career as an aspiring actor, but admitted later he “was fortunate to discover at a theatre school that I was so bad an actor [that] I was reduced to an artist, and I made my peace with it.” Self-deprecation suits Kentridge, as it does most great people, but his career so far speaks volumes of his artistic talent and relentless dedication to his work. Kentridge has his hand in a multitude of different pots. He is a painter, a sculptor, a writer, a draftsman. He creates short animated films, weaves tapestries, and writes operas. Kentridge and his team have brought forth pieces from all of these different media to create the most expansive and thorough exhibition of his works – William Kentridge: Five Themes. Only at the eleventh hour, after Amsterdam and Vancouver both had to drop out of the program, was ACMI decided as the tour’s final location. The exhibition is inspired by the five key themes that, together, essentially tell the story of Kentridge’s career to date. However, the works on display are pieces that may not initially have been created for general consumption. Kentridge says the centre of this exhibition is the ‘studio as a category’. “One could characterise the studio as a safe place for stupidity; a space in which ideas can be tested, played with, before they are evaluated,” Kentridge explains.
“Everything gets the benefit of the doubt in the studio, while it’s being made, and some of what’s made in the studio is then allowed out into the wider world where it can be looked at with a more critical eye. But it’s very important to understand that the work itself doesn’t start with the kind of clarity or final meaning that may be evident when one looks at an exhibition.” With Five Themes, Kentridge is trying to bring us inside his studio, inside his mind. He wants to show us the adaptive process of his art, and not just the finished idea. The mood of the exhibition is sombre, the music is eerie and before you’ve even entered the space, a sense of melancholia encases you. But there’s a beauty in the sadness, and once you approach some of these expertly chosen works, you can’t help but be transported. The exhibition is so personal that at times you feel as if you’re intruding into Kentridge’s mind. It also manages to make your own mind seem extremely insignificant by comparison. Kentridge has used a different means to a different end to express each idea in this exhibition, and that’s what gives Five Themes such versatility. Through all these themes though, runs a shared sentiment of oppression, transience, reconciliation and sometimes even hope. Even more than the issues they attempt to tackle, the actual artworks are heart-wrenching; the charcoal sketches are beautiful, the animations are mesmerising, the theatre models are exciting. Highlights of the exhibition include an assortment of animated film fragments titled ‘I am not me, the horse is not mine’, and a simple sketch of an old man standing on an empty hill with the words ‘her absence filled the world’ sprawled across
the empty space – allowing even the broadest messages to personally resonate. The works are thought-provoking, even if they may provoke the thoughts you would much rather ignore. The exhibition’s curator Mark Rosenthal has perhaps an even more intimate knowledge of Five Themes than Kentridge himself. Rosenthal began working on the development of this exhibition five years ago, and he has followed it around the world since its first showing in San Francisco. Winding down to the end of the tour, he is just as much in awe of William, Rosenthal says, as he has ever been. However, he laughs when asked if planning and installing such a multidisciplinary exhibition makes his job more interesting. “It makes it more difficult in some ways, because it’s hard to install many media in the same room. Not just physically – to just push them into the room – but to actually make it look good.” But he has done a fantastic job. The careful design of the exhibition adds to the experience tenfold. It’s a sprawling display, moving from room to room; twisting and turning with every change of mood. Seldom does an international artist of William Kentridge’s calibre grace Melbourne galleries with such an historic exhibition, so you’re pretty much obliged to take advantage of the opportunity while you can. William Kentridge: Five Themes is exhibited exclusively in Australia at ACMI until Sunday May 27. Tickets and further information is available at acmi.net.au
BEYOND THE NECK BY BELLA ARNOTT-HOARE
In April 1996, a man named Martin Bryant unconscionably thrust a small Tasmanian community into international repute. Arriving at Port Arthur Bay’s historic site, he unloaded his shotgun hundreds of times, picking off 35 locals and foreigners one by one. For some of the victims, efforts to escape were futile. Others were lucky enough to survive, but wounded in other ways and left bearing the trauma of what being spared that day meant. And with that came the inspiration for Tom Holloway‘s Beyond The Neck.
“I try to be a role model for kids around the park,” Ricky of infamous Canadian mockumentary Trailer Park Boys once proudly proclaimed. “If some kid wants to grow dope, they can come talk to me, instead of growing dope six or seven times through denial and error.” Focusing on the misadventures of a group of Sunnyvale Trailer Park’s residents in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Ricky and his rag-tag bunch of neighbours are the picture of model citizenship, right? It’s been a while since the curtain fell on the final series, but it’s your lucky week – they’re taking their stageshow down to Melbourne soon to make a little bit of honest coin that doesn’t involve committing any felonies. Catch them at the Forum from Wednesday March 14 – Thursday March 15.
Beat Magazine Page 24
Named for a geographical bottleneck visitors must pass through to reach Port Arthur, the play was shown for the first time in Tasmania in 2008 marking over a decade since the massacre. The playwright, a 17-year-old when it happened, collected stories from survivors and weaved together a mostly fictional account of their trauma and recovery. Having shown in Sydney as well, the play comes to Melbourne’s Red Stitch Theatre for the first time, all the more poignant as the majority Port Arthur’s survivors live in Victoria. While possibly resurfacing painful events the story still resonates for audiences and cast-members alike. Marcus McKenzie, who plays a young boy in the production, was nine years old and living in Launceston at the time of the shooting. Having seen the show many years ago in Tasmania, he has a very personal attachment to the story, roughly analogous to his own experience of the tragedy. He says he’s gained perception as he’s grown up, and through this role, of what it all means. “In a strange way, as a child, it didn’t really affect me very profoundly. I had this strange sensation of desensitisation to it, in a way. And it wasn’t until later in life that it started to affect me quite a lot. I started to realise the implications of it, as an event, and what it meant to me as a human. It’s strange – the sheer violence of it, and the sheer horror of it only struck me as I grew older. It was almost like I had this reverse process of sensitisation to the horror of it.” And the details are pretty gruesome. Reading reports, the
merciless madman seemed on a possessed rampage – the term ‘killing spree’ is accurate in this instance. Bryant wasn’t given a trial, so convinced were the authorities that recounting the events would be too distressing for those involved. But in this act of protection, Mackenzie notes a lot of Tasmanians didn’t experience a sense of retribution that perhaps they deserved. “We talk about things like moving on, and whether those things are actually really possible, or whether we deal with them in a sense that we incorporate them into who we are, and we just change and we grow or we don’t. I think there are people directly or indirectly affected by the Port Arthur tragedy who have very much got on with their lives, and left it behind. And I think there are people who are still at square one.” Marcus used his own experiences as fodder for the role, revisiting himself at age seven. As well as playing his own character he takes part in the chorus, supporting the other part of the story. His primary role, though, is playing a boy whose parents aren’t the best communicators, he said, and examines how information is revealed to him. “It’s a really difficult thing to do because a lot of your life blurs together between five and twelve so there aren’t many reference points to go off. I looked at what I was doing at school at the time, who I was friends with, and the key thing psychologically was what kind of things did I want when I was that age, what things did I need.” The biggest theatrical challenge in playing this role, though,
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could be simply that he isn’t a child. “Playing a young boy when you’re an adult requires a lot of suspension of disbelief on the part of the audience, so for me it’s been a real question of how to meet that halfway. We all know I’m not a kid here, but let’s try and put that behind us and get on with it. And at the same time I also want you to not have to worry about that because I want you to be comfortable in feeling that I am who I say I am.” It seems that despite the horrific events the play is foreshadowed by, the strength in survival is the most important part – grief and coming to terms. It shies away from the shooting, as such, and focuses on the living elements of the story. “I think Tom Holloway’s made a really deliberate choice to put it into a wider context. The play is about loss, about grief, all these heavy concepts, and I think he deliberately broadens the scope of that into aspects of life – how we deal with things that just happen. And also it’s what people are capable of doing.” In fact, we get a sense that Holloway has written the play as an invitation for us to grieve over the loss together. “There’s a real sense of community within the play, that the audience is part of this story and they’re a really crucial part in every story, moving on, and I guess that’s why Tom’s decided to make it a piece of theatre. So it can be dealt with in a communal sense. “ Beyond The Neck is on at Red Stitch Theatre from Friday March 16 until Saturday April 14.
‘Enthralling’ the new york times ACMI Federation Square Melbourne www.acmi.net.au/kentridge
The definitive career retrospective of the world-renowned artist and filmmaker
This exhibition is organised by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Norton Museum of Art.
William Kentridge, Drawing for the film Stereoscope, 1999 (detail); charcoal and pastel on paper, 120 x 160cm; The Museum of Modern Art, New York, gift of The Junior Associates of the Museum of Modern Art, with special contributions from Anonymous, Scott J. Lorinsky, Yasufumi Nakamura, and the Wider Foundation; © 2012 William Kentridge.
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Beat Magazine Page 25
With Tyson Wray. Got news, gossip, reviews, thoughts, tip-offs, complaints, hate mail? Email tyson@beat.com.au or send by ESP before Friday.
KAREN STANDKE
STEPHANIE ALEXANDER
The Jackman Gallery are getting ready to debut their next exhibition towards the end of this month; works by internationally-exhibited artist, Karen Standke. Throughout her career, Karen’s focus has been on landscapes and her work is a reflection of her attraction to and love of remote regions around the globe and her genuine desire to authentically represent the nature of each region and its context both personally and globally. With imagery and artistic skill impressive enough to keep her audience constantly captivated, Karen’s work will be displayed at the Jackman Gallery from Saturday March 24 – Saturday April 14. For more information, head to jackmangallery.com.au/exhibition.
Cooking fever – it’s a constantly growing obsession with adults and kids alike. Stephanie Alexander is a perfect example of this. Cook, restaurateur and food writer, Ms Alexander has spent the majority of her life dedicating her time and energy to the thing that she loves most – food. And now, her obsession can easily become yours as Ms Alexander presents her life as a food mastermind in her memoir, A Cook’s Life, which is set to be released later this month. Ms Alexander will hold a free talk and signing at Readings Hawthorn on Thursday March 29 at 6.30pm. For bookings, dial 9819 1917. Ms Alexander, in association with Dymocks, will also hold a Literary Dinner at Georges, Camberwell on Thursday April 19 at 6.30pm. Call 9882 0032 for booking details.
SYMPHONY OF LEGENDS
GET VOCAL The Melbourne singing community is buzzing about the biggest contemporary a cappella festival ever held in Australia! Get vocal features six days of feature concerts, showcases, workshops and more with over 400 singers and presenters involved. The festival runs from March 13-18 and includes concerts from The Idea Of North, Coco’s Lunch, Tripod, Joel Turner, Pot-Pourri, Fourtunate, Mal Webb and Suade. On Saturday and Sunday, the festival will play host to world-class workshops from Dr Jonathon Welch AM, Lindsay Field, Lisa Young, Tania de Jong AM, The Idea Of North, Mal Webb and Tripod. The workshops will cover everything a singer needs to know, from singing technique, performance skills, beatboxing, music business, arranging and much much more. The festival is presented by Australia’s contemporary a cappella singing association, Vocal Australia who create events, education and resources for a cappella singers. All details about the festival can be found at getvocalfestival.com - come on down and get vocal!
Ever had a good ol’ jig along to the Mario Bros theme song, or is that just me? More than 14 million Australians spend at least one hour per day playing online games and, come next month, the MSO is going to be putting on a special performance just for them. In Video Games Unplugged: Symphony of Legends, the MSO will play music from some of the greatest games ever made in a world premiere concert. The event will be hosted by gaming funny men Scott Kurtz, Kris Straub, and special guest Wil Wheaton. Video Games Unplugged: Symphony of Legends will be held at Plenary Hall of Thursday April 12. For tickets and more information, head to videogamesunplugged.com.au.
TOP ARTS 2012 The youth of today – such expansive minds they have. And this is the perfect way for us all to see what have been filling their thoughts. Now in its 18th year, Top Arts will display over 60 works by 54 students from government, Catholic and independent schools from across Victoria, with the exhibition highlighting the thoughts and talents of these young Victorians. Covering everything from traditional printmaking to drawings, photographs to three-dimensional works and everything in between, the exhibition is sure to thought-provoke and drop a few jaws. Top Arts 2012 will be on display at the Ian Potter Centre, NGV from March 22 – July 15.
THE HISTRIONIC Hell hath no fury like an actor ignored. Melbourne director Daniel Schlusser is getting ready to make his Malthouse Theatre debut with Thomas Bernhard’s rampaging satire, The Histrionic. Two stage legends, Billie Brown and Barry Otto, will present a doubleact as grotesquely fascinating as it is hilarious, as will their exceptional cast which includes the likes of Kelly Butler, Josh Price, Katherine Tonkin, Jennifer Vuletic and Edwina Wren. With its complexity and hilarity intact despite the director describing the adaptation of Bernhard’s text as “wrestling a very clever squid”, you know that you have to be in for something special. Schlusser’s production of The Histrionic will make its debut at Malthouse Theatre from April 2 – May 5. For more information, head to malthousetheatre.com.au.
FEMME FATALE After the success of the controversial exhibition by underworld celebrity Mark “Chopper” Read which gained prime time 6pm Melbourne news coverage, comes the new exhibition Femme Fatale at the Bordello by local Melbourne professional model, actress and artist, Nikita Ninotcha. A self-taught artist who mainly works with oil paints, Nikita has painted a series of works influenced by pop art crossed with comic art portraying the ever so deadly femme fatale, with the paintings portraying an exploration of a woman’s humorous cry for protection over herself and dignity. The paintings display strong, bold women who look out only for themselves. All the women independent, throw ya hands up at me – am I right? Feel empowered as you experience Nikita Ninotcha’s Femme Fatale at the Bordello which is now on at the seductive Cromwell Manor.
ANALOGUE DIGITAL You know those moments when you see how talented other people are and it makes you a little sad inside? Yeah, this is one of those moments. First Site Gallery’s upcoming exhibition, Analogue Digital, will showcase the talent and skills of RMIT students and recent graduates as they explore new digital technologies across a diverse range of mediums. From laser cutting and digital textile printing to electronic knitting and weaving, the exhibition highlights the many ways digital technologies can be integrated into traditional crafts and art-forms. Forming part of the 2012 L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival Cultural Program, Analogue Digital is an extraordinary opportunity to view artworks, clothing, textiles and accessories by over 50 students and recent graduates from a wide range of RMIT courses. Analogue Digital will be held at First Site Gallery from March 13 – 23.
SITE GUIDE 2012 Love a good flashmob? Don’t lie, we all do. Teens from different worlds are planning on taking over the city, with young people from all over Melbourne coming together to create three unique flashmobs to show Melburnians an unseen side of their city. St Martins Youth Arts Centre, artist group ‘one step at a time like this’, Noble Park English Language School and the City of Melbourne are thrilled to present Site Guide this April, and so are we. This site-specific cultural exchange dance project sees a diverse group of young people, some of whom are from refugee backgrounds, work together with professional artists to create original popup performances. Wanna get amongst it? Be in the CBD around midday on April 14. You won’t know where until it happens, but a fun surprise could just be the thing!
NEW JERUSALEM ACMI is pleased to announce the screening of Rick Alverson’s second film, New Jerusalem, as part of ACMI’s First Look program. The film portrays the immigrant experience portrayed through the engagements between returned serviceman and Irish immigrant, Sean, and optimistic and intense American, Ike. The film, like Alverson’s debut, aims to communicate the immigrant experience – yet also depicts the certainty of personal beliefs and religious ideology. New Jerusalem will screen at ACMI from Friday 13 to Monday 16.
Beat Magazine Page 26
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STEVE REICH Known as one of the quintessential fathers of minimalism, Steve Reich will be heading Down Under to make a rare and very special appearance in an intimate conversation and concert in association with the MSO and Melbourne Recital Centre. The concert will feature members of eighth blackbird performing seminal works: Drumming, Clapping Music, Different Trains and Vermont Counterpoint, making this a mustsee event. With much of the Metropolis New Music Festival featuring the music of Reich, he will join the festival as an authoritative and independent voice on the state of contemporary music. Experience the magic of Reich’s musical ability at Melbourne Recital Centre on Monday April 30, 8pm. For bookings, head to mso.com.au.
IMMANENCE LANDSCAPE Eight contemporary artists from Australia and Japan have gathered together to create Immanence Landscape, an exhibition incorporating various artistic disciplines from photography, drawing, installation and printmaking. Each of the eight artists share the common theme of portraying a particular landscape. Immanence Landscape will be showing at the Japan Foundation Gallery from Thursday March 29-April 30.
FIVE THEMES Charcoal drawings have never looked this good. Not even the one you did in primary school your mum framed and mounted about the mantlepiece can even compare to the stop-motion charcoal work of legend William Kentridge. ACMI is delighted to be exhibiting Five Themes, a collection of 60 pieces of work collated over the 30 years of Kentridge’s artistic career including animation, drawings, print to theatre models and sculptures. Five Themes is currently showing at ACMI.
LA LUCHA GLAMOUROSA Love burlesque? Check. Love wrestling? Check. Love Mexicans? Of course you do! Red Bennies spin-off, Big Bennies, along with co-producer of The Australian Burlesque Festival, Dolores Daiquiri, are getting ready to present a night of world class Mexican Wrestling Burlesque Action. Yeah, you heard us. Following a series of sell-out shows at Red Bennies, La Lucha Glamourosa returns to the Prince Bandroom – where it all began – for a no holds barred battle royale. Tassels will collide, tequila will get slammed and tail feathers will definitely get well and truly shaken as La Lucha Glamourosa makes its way to Prince Bandroom on Saturday March 31 from 8.30pm. For a night that you most definitely won’t forget, head to princebandroom. com.au for information and bookings.
MANIFESTATIONS OF NOW This April, Federation Square will present Manifestations of Now (MA NOW), an exhibition showcasing multidisciplinary artworks that inspire new perceptions of contemporary Australia. The exhibition will feature 18 contemporary Australian artists from diverse cultures and mediums including drawing, sculpture, video installation, photography and live performance. The exhibition aims to depict the kaleidoscope that is the Australian identity through various artworks. MA NOW will show from Saturday April 7- 27 at Fed Square in NGV Studio, No Vacancy Project Space, The Atrium, and Fed Square’s Big Screen.
HEARTLANDS REFUGEE FINE ART PRIZE Victorian art prize now open to talented refugee artists. Victorian refugee artists are encouraged to enter this year’s Heartlands Refugee Fine Art Prize, which includes a first prize of $5000 and a solo exhibition and artist in residency opportunity. The competition is open to any aspiring painting, drawing, photography or mixed media artist who portrays the hopes and expectations that brought them to Australia. The competition provides artists with the opportunity to portray untold stories that cannot be depicted through words or speech. Entries close Friday 20 April 2012. For more information call 03 9188 3681, visit multiculturalarts. com.au/heartlands
LIVE IN THE STUDIO ACMI’s monthly Live In The Studio television appreciation night will explore the evolving role of gay and lesbian icons on the small screen this April. The exhibition will portray the current role of the queer community in the film industry as well as what it holds for the future. Join SameSame’s Travis de Jonk and comedian Catherine Deveny as they exhibit some of the memorable gay television and film roles including those in Modern Family to Glee and Nurse Jackie. Join ACMI in revisiting the role of the queer community on Thursday April 26 at 7pm in Studio 1, ACMI.
COMEDY CALENDAR Email tyson@beat.com.au to join this list! WEDNESDAY Checkpoint Charlie Comedy, Eurotrash, CBD Felix Bar Comedy, Felix Bar, St Kilda The Comedy Gallery, Customs House Hotel, Williamstown Coopers Comedy Open Mic, Station 59, Richmond Death Star Canteen, Caz Reitop’s Dirty Secrets, Collingwood Rocket Clock (Second Wednesday of every month), Bella Union Bar, Carlton South
SOFTBELLY COMEDY THURSDAYS
CHECKPOINT CHARLIE COMEDY
Another huge Thursday night at Softbelly Comedy coming up with heaps of comics dropping in to warm up for the upcoming Melbourne Comedy Festival! Big names will be mixing with the best of the up-and-comers in another big show! It’s going to be another awesome night at Softbelly, 367 Little Bourke Street, in the city, this Thursday March 15 at 8.30pm, all for only $12! Get in early for a good seat!
Cheap piss and piss-cheap entry at Checkpoint Charlie Comedy, the city’s premier above-ground underground comedy room. Tonight, just two weeks out from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, room favourite Jonathan Schuster hosts a bunch of special guests under Charlie’s disco ball constellation trialling their festival material. Don’t miss this. So come fill yourself with cheap drinks and put your continence to the ultimate test from 7pm.
SOFTBELLY COMEDY SUNDAYS Every Sunday, Softbelly Comedy has an early evening special show where Adam Hills drops in to muck around and try out stuff for his show on the ABC, In Gordon Street Tonight! Plus we’ve always got heaps more awesome names, with the list this week including Tommy Little, Michael Chamberlin, Ronny Chieng and some special surprise guests! It’s the hottest ticket in town, so get down early, because it will sell out again! All at the early time of 6.30pm! It all happens at Softbelly, 367 Little Bourke St, in the city, this Sunday, March 18, at 6.30pm. It’s only $12!
DEATHSTAR COMEDY Deathstar Comedy is back this Wednesday with another great line up with MC Alasdair Tremblay Birchall! Also including Matt Harvey, Mathew Jones, Ryan Walker, Sean Bedlam, Cambo, Tommy Dassalo, Suren Jayemanne, CJ Cross, Andy Matthews, Karl Woodberry and Dilruk Jayasinha. Starts at 8.30pm, $5 entry down stairs at CR Dirty Secrets, Collingwood!
COMEDY AT SPLEEN
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival (March 28 to April 22) received a funding boost of $75,000 from the state government, to build on last year’s record crowd of 600,000. It already provided $1.7 million for the 2011/2 period. Research undertaken by the festival shows its attendance has jumped by 26% in five years and its ticket revenue up by 32% to $12.1 million. Louise Asher, minister for Tourism and Major Events said the festival is now “the nation’s largest ticketed cultural event and one of the biggest comedy festivals in the world. Major events like this one not only help put Melbourne on both a national and international stage, they make a significant contribution to growing Victoria’s $15.2 billion tourism industry and creating jobs.”
This week at Commedia Dell Parte welcomes Dilruk Jayasinha as he makes his MC debut. Joining Dil will be Pete Sharkey, Craig McLeod, Jonathan Schuster, Hayman Kent, Sean Ryan, Natalie B, Damian Breese and Beau Stegmann. Get in early to secure yourself a comfy couch and go into the draw for some great prizes from Punchline. The room runs on a ‘pay as you like’ basis, so come along and have a great laugh, then pay what you believe the show is worth on the way out. All profits will be shared with the comedians who performed on the night so if you enjoy the show chuck in a few sheckles and show your appreciation. Commedia Dell Parte runs every Thursday, 8.30pm at the George Lane Bar, St Kilda.
COMMEDIA DELL PARTE
Mondays have been amazing at Comedy At Spleen.. huge crowds, big guests.. in the last couple of weeks, we’ve had Pete Helliar, Glenn Robbins and more! And apart from that, we’ve always got the best in up-andcoming local Melbourne comedy! It’s the hottest room in town, and seriously, you need to get down super early just to get in the front door! So get in early to guarantee a seat. It’s this Monday, March 19, 41 Bourke St, in the city, at 8.30pm.
FELIX BAR COMEDY Another big Felix Bar Comedy coming up this Wednesday with the best of Melbourne coming down to fine-tune material coming up to the Melbourne Comedy Festival in a few weeks. You really never know what big names will drop in to try out some new.. Felix Bar is the place to be on a Wednesday night in St Kilda! It’s all happening Wednesday March 14 at 8.30pm for only $12, at 11 Fitzroy St, St Kilda.
THURSDAY The Big Hoo Haa (Improvised Comedy), Portland Hotel, CBD Softbelly Comedy, Softbelly Bar & Lounge, CBD Laugh Upstairs Live Comedy, Exford Hotel, CBD The Showcase, The Monastery, Richmond Willow Tales (Last Thursday of every month), Willow Bar, Northcote FRIDAY Last Laugh at The Comedy Club, Athenaeum Theatre, CBD SATURDAY Last Laugh at The Comedy Club, Athenaeum Theatre, CBD SUNDAY Political Asylum (Second Sunday of every month), The Brunswick Green, Brunswick Softbelly Comedy, Softbelly Bar & Lounge, CBD Sublime Sunday Comedy, ONtop Bar, Ormond MONDAY Comedy At Spleen, Spleen Bar, CBD Local Laughs, The Local Taphouse, St Kilda East The Shelf (currently in hibernation), Toff in Town, CBD TUESDAY Comed-oke (Open Mic), Melbourne International Backpackers, CBD Underground Comedy (First Tuesday of every month), Sotto e Sopra, CBD The Dan Open Mic Night, The Dan O’Connell Hotel, Carlton The Last Tuesday Society (Last Tuesday of Every Month), Various Locations
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Hoffman pioneered the use of humor, theater, and shock value to drive home his points, and in Revolution for the Hell of It he gives firsthand accounts of his legendary adventures, from the activism that led to the founding of the Youth International Party (or “Yippies!”) to the 1968 Democratic National Convention protests (“a Perfect Mess”) that resulted in his conviction as part of the Chicago Seven.
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BOOK OF LISTS - RUSS KICK ($24.95) In this book of surprising, subversive and suppressed facts, Russ Kick crams maximum info into minimum space. His latest offering delves into the murkier aspects of politics, current affairs, business, history, science, art and literature, sex, drugs, death and more. Despite such unusual subject mater, this book presents hard, substantiated facts with full references.
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Beat Magazine Page 27
KIM SALMON
BY SEAN GLEESON
Walking into the second week of a recent Kim Salmon month-long Sunday night residency at the Old Bar, I was uncertain of what would unfold in front of me. Word had gone around in the course of the week that the first night of the residency had not gone to plan. A joint venture between Salmon and fellow Beasts of Bourbon alumnus Spencer P. Jones, the idea was for each musician to play one solo set before joining each other onstage for the final hour of the evening. I didn’t go the first week, but I had it on good authority that Jones stopped the joint set to launch into an unwelcome soliloquy, in his Kiwi brogue, about the virtues of recreational drugs – and if anyone in the crowd had any on their person, would they be so kind as to pass them up to the front of the room, thank you very much. Whatever Chinese whispers went around in the previous seven days gave the audience the feel of NASCAR enthusiasts waiting for a car to flip the barrier on the 18th lap and crush to death a couple of innocents in the process. Will Kim or won’t Kim rip off Spencer’s head, bathe in the fountain of blood shooting from the neck artery, and spit the residue on the ground before launching into a cover of Baby on Fire? The anticipated decapitation did not occur, but noone left disappointed. Despite whatever real or imagined residual tension existed between the pair, despite whatever atmosphere of gossipy voyeurism in the crowd – the electric, shambolic grace Kim and Spencer displayed under the lights was a salient reminder of how they like to perform, sometimes disorderly, but always on their own terms.
“It got to be less chaotic over the two weeks following the first,” says Kim, “but just as we were slipping into the groove of the last show, we needed to come up with more stuff and were thrown back into oblivion again. Which was awesome!” After heading some of Australia’s influential exports and, collaborating with everyone from Jones to Mudhoney to David McComb in the last three decades, Salmon has never seemed more in his element than in the last couple of years. The solo work and smaller collaborations – notably his Precious Jules duo – in some of Fitzroy and Thornbury’s dingier venues are ideal for showcasing his equal parts intimate and aggressive onstage demeanour. Not that he draws a distinction between the here and now, and the way back when.
“The more I’ve done, the less it’s been a case of highlights and more that it feels like an amazing trip that only I have been on for the entirety. It’s been the trip it has partially because of the people, like Spencer, who’ve travelled with me for stretches. It’s also been a trip because of where I’ve chosen to navigate myself. Even teaching guitar has been something that I’ve got as much out of as any other thing I’ve done.” Salmon’s happened across his next gig while working his day job as at the National Union of Workers. The union made headlines last year for a picket in support of workers at the Baiada poultry plant in Laverton, where workers were earning about ten bucks an hour on temporary contracts, in appallingly unsafe conditions. “I was involved in the Baiada campaign recruiting bands for a fundraiser gig at Bella Union at Trades Hall,” says Kim. “It was Lincoln MacKinnon from Dead River Deeps, who I recruited for the Baiada fundraiser, who contacted me to return the favour!” That favour will be returned with Salmon’s appearance at the Clarkefield Festival, a charity gig organised by the Cambodian Kids Foundation, of which MacKinnon is an employee. All proceeds from the festival, to be held at a sprawling country pub just past Melbourne’s outskirts, will go towards building a new school in Kampong Thom Province which will cater for 1,000 students from surrounding areas. For Kim’s part, he’s just happy to take a trip into the countryside and share a bill with some of his favourite Melbourne acts. “Dead River Deeps, of course, St Jude – one of my guitar students is in them and he was a particularly inspiring student, with a lot of enthusiasm for songwriting and playing, so I’d be keen to hear what he does. All the acts, really, I’m keen to see and catch up with.”
KIM SALMON is playing the Clarkefield Festival, along with Nick Barker, Hope Addicts, Matt Green Band, Dead River Deeps, James McCann, Brother Johnstone, Saint Jude and Jeb Cardwell at The Clarkefield Coach and Horses Inn, 50 Station Street, on Sunday March 18 from 12pm. Tickets are $20 at the gate. All money raised on the day will go directly to building a new school for over 1,000 children in the Kampong Thom province of Cambodia.
CASH SAVAGE & THE LAST DRINKS
BY BEN MORRISON
An overcast afternoon at the Rainbow meant a relatively empty beer garden, so upon entering, the only sound that really dominated was Cash Savage’s big laugh, which, if you have seen her play, is reflective of her big voice. Fresh from her recent tour, Savage and the Last Drinks are getting ready to perform at the famous Spiegeltent while it is stopped in town – an annual event on the Melbourne musical calendar. “It holds a lot of prestige,” Savage says. “It’s exciting. We’re a big band, so it’s always good to have a stage that fits us all on.” The band ranges between six and ten members, ordinarily. “But we’ll be seven. We have a trumpet player for this one. We’ve never really had a trumpet player, but he just started coming along. We have always been happy to have him there, but over the last month he’s really sort of solidified his place in the band. He’s hittin’ it with the drums and it’s working really well, and we’ve had people yelling out ‘more trumpet!’ We have a pretty solid lineup now, and the players that stick around always seem to come up to me at some point and say that it’s the songs that you don’t play in the Last Drinks that count, and the trumpet player seems to understand that.” After chatting about tours and venues, with Savage enthusing over various parts of Australia and the bars and venues therein, eventually the conversation turned to Melbourne venues, particularly the smaller ones that have become such staples in the diet of live music around town. I commented to Savage that one difference between, say, the Old Bar and the
Spiegeltent would be the stage and sound, given the size of the band and amount of instruments used concurrently. “Ha! Yeah, we have a big sound, and I like to think that we sort of cover much of the soundscape, which you don’t have to do, but I think we do it and do it quite well. We love playing in places like The Old Bar and The Tote, really fucking love it. But the reality is, their [stages] just [aren’t] big enough for us. So it’s going to be great having a large enough stage and a sound system where we can mic everything up. We played at The Corner on Christmas Eve and had so much fun. For me, I like to stagger around a bit on the stage and perform, but with so many guys up there – I play a lot of gigs with the drum right up the back of my leg, and every time the cymbal crashes I have to do a little dance out of the way. Actually, sometimes we play with two drummers. We had two drummers playing on Wolf (November, 2010) so when we launched [it] we couldn’t decide if we’d play with one drummer or two, and we eventually thought, ‘Fuck it, we’ll record with both.’ On the subject of Wolf, I asked whether this gig would be a
JAMES WALSH
BY AL NEWSTEAD
For Starsailor fans, it’s been a long time between drinks. Last gracing our shores nearly a decade ago, the wait for the UK four-piece to return has looked indefinite ever since the group went on ‘official hiatus’ a few years ago. Luckily, fans will get the next best thing this March when frontman James Walsh brings his solo show Down Under. Still possessed of his genteel, vibrato-flecked voice that would thrill a choral master, and familiararity with an acoustic guitar, Walsh has formed a career as both a solo artist and a freelance songwriter since the band’s sabbatical of 2009. Calling from his home in Dublin, he laments the lack of a tour during the intervening years. “Obviously there was enough investment in us for the first tour, but then carrying a big crew around, the massive flight, it just always stood in the way of getting some subsequent visits in. It was always quite frustrating for me, hearing news that the album and Four To The Floor were really high in the charts. It had me itching to get over there and capitalise on that. I’m just glad that [it] can finally happen now.” Travelling a lot lighter these days with a guitar tech, his trusty acoustic and a laptop “with lots of interesting noises and drumbeats”, Walsh plans to deliver the tunes he’s been working on for his solo debut, but has no pretensions about avoiding his former band’s output in the live setting. He’s not above giving the Beat Magazine Page 28
audience what they want. “I think it’s particularly important, especially somewhere that Starsailor has a decent fanbase and for the first time in a long time, it would be rude of me not to play a few of the old songs.” His recent sets, from supporting Simple Minds on tour to playing larger festivals, have always sought to mix the familiar with the new; and as a lover of “Dylan, Van Morrison, Lennon, Springsteen – the classics” he is won’t to play the odd cover also. “The great thing about being solo is I can totally judge the audience and play to the crowd,” If the former frontman shoulders any burden carrying the torch of his previous catalogue’s popularity, you’d never know it, he’s struck a happy balance between working on his solo career and moonlighting as a songwriting ‘gun for hire.’ Enriching his own material
showcase of the album or if it would include new material. “We play so many gigs that you can’t just play Wolf all the time. You can’t just play the same 11 songs. I mean it is great; we go to new towns and we play to new people and they haven’t heard the songs before and there is something inspiring about that but when we’re playing Melbourne we try and keep it a bit fresher. We’ve got probably about eight songs written for the next album, so we’re not just going to sit on those songs. We’re putting about five or six new songs into the set.” Those who have seen Savage perform and have heard Wolf will be able to imagine her performing at the Spiegeltent easily, as it showcases a lot of local talent and encourages the dramatic within its intimate by seeking the challenge of writing with, and for, others “you’re under a lot of pressure when you’re working with different artists because you have such a short timeframe to work with and prove yourself as the guy they should be using. I think that’s informed my own material, it’s definitely getting more direct and to the point.” The likes of British soul-stress Beverley Knight and youthful poppet Eliza Doolittle have employed his services, and in the process he’s learned much from them. “They teach you different things. They also introduced me to new music. Eliza’s in her early 20s so she’s a lot more ‘up’ on things, like Odd Future and Frank Ocean.” Additionally, he’s also tried his hand at film soundtracks, lending his voice and penmanship to the UK indie flick Powder. “It’s been a great thing to be involved in. I think the hardest thing when you’re writing songs is searching for the lyrical inspiration, and if you’re given an inspiring script or visual to draw from. It takes you halfway through the process already.” Having since developed a taste for it, Walsh is now hungry for more. “Absolutely, if there’s any filmmakers in Australia who fancy paying for me to go out there and work on a project, I wouldn’t say no.” Notably, all this extra work has distracted from releasing his own solo album, aside from an EP (recorded in Norway with the Tromsø orchestra), he’s yet to release any new recorded material. “I’m in the fortunate position where I’m not relying on it. Hopefully one of these films or their soundtracks will take off or one of the big collaborations will be a big deal and I can capitalise on that. The last thing
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
and elaborate interior. For those who have not, Savage has a full and husky voice that reverberates with a tone that bounces off the walls, carried along by the blues, country, and honky-tonk of the Last Drinks. The Last Drinks are experienced performers collected from several other Melbourne outfits who collectively conjure the whiskey-saturated riffs and rhythms that roll Savage’s lyrical hollers around the room. The marriage of this performance to this venue is sure to be a memorable one. CASH SAVAGE & THE LAST DRINKS will perform at the Famous Spiegeltent on Monday March 19 from 7pm. Tickets are $25, available from spiegel.artscentremelbourne.com.au.
I want to do is rush it out, then see it disappear.” In the meantime, he’s content to travel the world, fulfilling commitments to the places he didn’t have an opportunity to visit as part of Starsailor, Walsh goes on to joke “If it’s a Saturday night where everyone wants to go for it, I can break out the ten minute version of Four To The Floor.” JAMES WALSH plays The Espy on Friday March 23 with support from Sarah McLeod. Tickets are available from Oztix.
FRANCOLIN BY PATRICK EMERY
“I’d like to say it was because I had a dream where I saw this bird, it was a Francolin, but that’s not true,” says Staffan Guinnane, singer, guitarist and principal songwriter for local indie pop band Francolin. Guinnane is explaining why the band took the name of a relatively unknown bird closely related to the pheasant. “Actually what happened was that I went to Wikipedia and got a list of the coolest sounding bird names, and I presented it to the band, and they liked Francolin, so that’s the name we went with”. Guinnane grew up in Sweden to a Swedish mother and an Australian father. “One of the things I remember most about Sweden is that the seasons are really distinct – in winter it’s all white, and in summer it’s all green and sunny, and in spring there’s blossom everywhere. But in Melbourne it’s like one thing, with variations,” Guinnane says. Despite growing up in Sweden Guinnane said he only felt ‘half Swedish’. Once he’d finished high school, Guinnane jumped on a plane and headed out to Australia, initially moving to his father’s home town of Newcastle before travelling south to the fertile music territory of Melbourne. Guinnane was already writing his own songs, and after playing a few tracks to some friends, was encouraged to form his own band. The newly minted Francolin was able to take
advantage of Guinnane’s already rich catalogue of original pop tracks. “All the songs are basically finished by the time I bring them into the band,” Guinnane says. “The members of the band add their own instrumentation, the lead guitar breaks, the trumpets and the bass lines. The songs might sound a bit different when we finish recording them, but they’re still the same songs that I had originally,” he says. Like so many legendary pop songwriters Guinnane thrives on writing a happy pop song based on a sad situation. “I really enjoy writing pop songs, and having lyrics that are sad is a really good contrast to the happy pop music,” Guinnane says. “I think that sad lyrics really bring out the happy music, and the happy music really brings out the sad lyrics.”
Guinnane admits that some of his lyrics are written from a close personal perspective, but others are a more abstract collage of characters and events. “The people in the songs are a mish-mash of people that I’ve met,” Guinnane says. “Only a few of the songs are really specific to me – most of it is just made up.” Guinnane tries to write regularly, but says his output has dropped off in recent times as he’s focused on getting the Francolin record finished. “I used to write songs every week, so I might try and get back to that,” he says. Last year Francolin travelled to Nick Huggins’ Pocket Full of Stones studio in Richmond to record the band’s debut album. “Nick’s got a studio set up on the ground floor of his parents’ four-story town house, with one whole wall covered with hay” Guinnane says. “We really liked working with Nick. He’s very enthusiastic – whatever he’s recording at the time is the best thing he’s heard,” Guinnane laughs. Guinnane is also balancing the release of a solo record, which he says is more about capturing a
moment than creating an album, as such. “I basically recorded the songs, made the cover and got it out,” Guinnane says. “The songs are just me with a guitar, and they’re more stripped back, though some of them have now become Francolin songs.” Guinnane says his career aspirations are modest, and hopefully achievable. “I guess my goal is to make lots of good albums, to keep everyone together while also allowing everyone to do their own thing, so they’re not just ‘part of the band’,” Guinnane says. “Other than that, my objectives are really just to make a modest income out of music. Just enough to have a little house.”
“I REALLY ENJOY WRITING POP SONGS, AND HAVING LYRICS THAT ARE SAD IS A REALLY GOOD CONTRAST TO THE HAPPY POP MUSIC”
FRANCOLIN launch their single Suddenly Painlessly as part of the Brunswick Music Festival on Saturday March 24 at Phoenix Public House. Tickets are on sale now via moshtix.com.au or phoenixpublichouse.com.au.
DROPBUNNY BY ZOË RADAS
The contrast between airy, eerie melodies and the thrash of bent guitars bring Melbourne metal rockers dropbunny up another level with their new album, IO. With the recent addition of three new members, the fresh-look seven-piece give it their all in lacing together sometimes disparate elements, which reflects their varied approach to the themes they’re trying to impart. “Music is only one way to communicate,” explains Xero, the well-spoken vocalist who contributes a lot of social commentary on the band’s blog. He believes that growing up, many people are “very restricted in the creativity that [they] are allowed or are willing to show,” and dropbunny is really “a celebration of doing things which are outside the norm.” With a children’s book (Lilly, released June last year) and a themed video game also strung in their cross-formatting bow, a concerted interest in social phenomena and psychology is apparent in the quotes and literature included amongst the band’s web material. In particular, Lilly’s message about police violence caused a small stir, with the Herald Sun and a daytime television program picking it up as an example of misspent youth angst. The reaction was “surprising but pretty cool,” says Xero. The moral tale was another attempt, like their music, to get people “out of their normal perceptual day-to-day systems.” Artwork for the book was created by Blackjack, vocalist and guitarist for the band, and copies are available for sale from dropbunny’s website. As well as words from prominent psychologists about creativity and the conformist systems forced upon young children, there are a number of phony bios hidden in the band’s site. Xero admits there’s a tongue-in-cheek aspect to parts of what dropbunny do, and mixing the “creative and ridiculous” is important; There’s a shared interest in “combining the ‘negative’ emotions that you have with metal, generally, with light-hearted stuff,” he says, “without taking the piss out of the darker side of things that you’re working on.” The four track preview for the new album showcases some technical proficiency, particularly
in the opening track Pentagonal Plywood Prison. Haunting operatic voices are met by a firm rhythm section, with Xero’s vocals in turn moving from a wheedling Brian Molko to violent, spat strength in the heavy sections. There is an accompanying video which depicts a young woman going through the monotony of a cube drone’s morning ritual, preparing for work. In one memorable shot she stares blandly into the camera as she stuffs a piece of toast down her gullet. The other stand-out track is Another Lost Kid, featuring tight, brash guitar and thumping drums meshed together with an artful result. Although they haven’t trained classically, dropbunny’s members all have experience playing different styles which adds to the “underlying narrative” of their songs, and the ability to mix their methods. An artery of metal still links all parts, and although they haven’t quite reached the zenith of their sound’s maturity, dropbunny’s enthusiastic and eclectic approach proclaims that they are not about to run out of steam. The band’s release will be a grand show with the boys accompanied by Death of Art, Hybrid Nightmare, Moth and BROOZER. The latter in particular Xero credits with creating “very, very unusual music,” and adds that it’s not often you get to play with a group of bands whom you all really admire. With the release date for dropbunny’s album initially scheduled for September of 2011, there should be a slew of fans attending to celebrate the long-awaited occasion. dropbunny launch their new album IO on Friday March 16 at the John Curtin Hotel, with discounted tickets available if attendees preregister on their site: dropbunny.com. DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
Beat Magazine Page 49
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP
with Christie Eliezer * Stuff for this column to be emailed to <celiezer@netspace.net.au> by Friday 5pm
AMP PRIZE: JEZABELS WIN, FRICKE IMPRESSES The Jezabels’ Prisoner won the 7th Australian Music Prize (AMP) $30,000 prize last Thursday. The band, away in the UK, sent a lengthy thank-you statement. Obviously aware of the dissension among the 40 judges as to how “safe” some of the albums on the shortlist were, they acknowledged that the difference of opinion came because of the importance (the judges placed) on “maintaining the ideals that the Prize has come to represent.” This year’s winner’s event, at the Basement, was a lunch-cum-debate among guests and a keynote address by Rolling Stone US senior writer David Fricke. Fricke, who was up until 4am that day filing a review of New Order’s gig at the Hordern, outlined his love for Australian music – gleefully recounting one gig where two bartenders got into a fistfight while X banged away onstage – and its global impact. Dan Rosen, chair of the PPCA which donated the prize, said of Fricke’s speech, “It was truly inspirational and left many in the room feeling a great sense of pride in our wonderful Australian artists and optimism for the future of our local industry.” The Jezabels play Festival Hall on Friday June 1.
RADIO REVENUE GROWS Metropolitan advertising for commercial radio grew in all cities except Sydney during February. All major cities showed a 1.19% increase on the same month a year earlier, to a total of $51.774 million, reported industry body Commercial Radio Australia. Sydney fell 1.8% to a total of $15.622 million. Brisbane grew 6.28% to $8.570 million; Adelaide by 5.14% to $5.011 million; Perth 1.25% to $7.158 million; Melbourne 0.36% to $15.412 million.
ST KILDA LIVE MUSIC UNDER THREAT AGAIN?
NEW SIGNINGS #2: GENERAL PANTS’ MAJOR LABEL GET MILDLIFE
Is the City of Port Phillip unfairly targeting live music venues? A group called The St Kilda Live Music Community says venues like Pure Pop Records, Lost For Words, The Lyrebird, Prince of Wales Hotel and The Vineyard have been hit with restrictions and/or fines of up to $1,200. In the latest incident, Bobby Valentine’s six year acoustic showcase on Sundays (3 – 6.30pm at a foreshore venue) was put on hold after a single complaint from a resident. The venue is trying to overturn the venue and bring back the arvo sessions. Community group founder and local resident Michelle Harrington said, “How can one lone resident in an area be running the show and depriving hundreds of their neighbours of the things they enjoy? So many people are putting their time, skills and energy into ensuring St Kilda has a wide range of live music opportunities for a diverse audience. I’d like to say we represent those who are sick of our voice being drowned out by a single complainer in most instances. We are in danger of losing our venues and want to understand how and why this is still occurring in a post-SLAM era, and how to stop the rot. We’d like to see people contact councillors and call for a public meeting on this issue, with all voices recognised.”
General Pants’ singles-only Major Label signed Melbourne electro-rock band Mildlife as its March release. Go to generalpants.com.au/The-Bubble.html to hear their Milk & Wool for free.
WILL ADELE CATCH UP WITH DIRE STRAITS? Adele’s 21 this week hit 31 weeks at the top of the ARIA chart. She has overtaken The Beatles’ 1967 album Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band which was on top for 30 weeks. 21 is now second longest running album ever in Australian chart history. It now looks set to tackle ARIA’s longest running, Dire Straits’ 1985 album Brothers In Arms with 34 weeks.
BEAT SITE LAUNCHES JOBS SECTION Wanna work in the music, arts and creative industries? The Beat website (beat.com.au) has launched a jobs section that Tyson Wray tells us is “strictly for Melbourne, strictly paid work and strictly awesome.” If you want to place a listing or be notified of jobs email tyson@beat.com.au.
NEW SIGNINGS #1: EMI LAND ASTON SHUFFLE EMI Music Australia signed Canberra duo The Aston Shuffle. They end their First Degrees tour through colleges this week, and start work on their next CD. Their debut Seventeen Past Midnight hit #1 on the iTunes Electro Chart.
MORDIALLOC
Two of the USA’s largest digital aggregators, The Orchard and IODA are merging, Billboard revealed— and Sony Music will be a strategic investor. Sony already owns 51% of IODA. Sources told Billboard that Sony will own 50% of the merged company, which will have revenues of US$130 million. There is no official confirmation on this news. It comes a week after US indie distributor Fontana was merged with another indie distributor INgrooves by Shamrock Capital which bought Fontana from Universal Music Group.
DOES MUSIC MAKE YOU RACIST? A new study by the University of Minnesota suggests that the music you listen to could make you racist. 138 white students were gathered and told to determine how college funds be distributed to African Americans, Latino Americans, Arab Americans and whites. They were played seven minutes of music. Those listening to ‘white power’ Skrewdriver and Bound For Glory wanted 40% of money to go to whites and the least to Arab Americans. Those dosed with Bruce Springsteen and The White Stripes wanted 35% of money for whites. Those who heard Akon and Fergie wanted it distributed equally. Heather LaMarre, assistant professor of journalism and mass communication at the university told the Daily Mirror: “Rock music is generally associated with white Americans, so we believe it cues white listeners to think about their positive association with their own in-group.” Associate professor Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick added music can influence our thoughts and actions more than we think, and “has the power to reinforce our positive biases toward our own group, and sometimes negative biases toward others.”
THINGS WE HEAR * Gotye’s video for Somebody That I Used to Know hit 100 million times on YouTube last Wednesday. The single is in the US Top 20, and stayed at #1 for a second week. When Coldplay appeared on Seven Network’s Sunrise to announce they were touring here in November, Chris Martin revealed he’d gone and bought his Making Mirrors and “I really liked it.” * When Rihanna hits Sydney next month for the Australian premiere of her first movie Battleship at Luna Park on April 10, will she also be persuaded to play at the opening of The Star’s new superclub The Marquee? Will it be Rihanna or Jennifer Hudson who will play Whitney Houston in a new biopic? * Sony paid an $8 million settlement to a group of musicians including Cheap Trick, the Allman Brothers Band and the Youngbloods ending a five-year dispute over digital music revenue. * Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell and his wife accidentally left $120,000 of jewelry in their room when they checked out of their hotel in Stone Mountain, near Atlanta. When they returned the stuff was missing.
BY THE BAY
GAGA HITS 20 MILLION TWITTERERS…
& MUSIC FESTIVAL
…RIHANNA GETS (DOWN)LOADED
Lady Gaga set a new record, of 20 million followers on Twitter. Justin Bieber has 18m, Katy Perry 15.7m, Shakira 15.5m and Rihanna 15.4m.
FINE FOOD, WINE
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1300 653 365
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Beat Magazine Page 50
ORCHARD, IODA MERGE; INVESTMENT FROM SONY MUSIC?
Rihanna is the most downloaded artist in history with 42.5 million downloads. She beat Black Eyed Peas (42.4m), Eminem (42.2m), Lady Gaga (42m), Taylor Swift (41.8m), Katy Perry (37.6m), Lil Wayne (36.7m), Beyonce (30.4m), Kanye West (30.2m) and Britney Spears (28.6m).
THIS SPORTING LIFE #1: ALSTON KOCH In a first for an Australian act, a music video had its world premiere at a sporting event. R&B singer Alston Koch, whose ode to Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan, Murali, made him a buzz name with international cricket circles, got an unprecedented marketing push for new single Soul Sounds (Sony/Lifestyle). At the Sri Lanka vs. Australia One Day International Final in Brisbane, Melbourne-based Koch sang the Lankan national anthem. At the behest of the Australian Cricket Board, the video of Soul Sounds made its world premiere to a global viewing audience of 1.8 billion, leading to an instant buzz. The track is from his new album Don’t Funk With Me.
THIS SPORTING LIFE #2: CHRIS DOHENY Geisha member Chris Doheny has a big following in sporting circles as the voice behind Nine Network’s The Footy Show theme song More Than A Game. Nine event producer Harvey Silver liked his new single, a cover of Foo Fighters’ Times Like These on which he played all the instruments. He asked Doheny to perform it at two events – The Weary Dunlop Luncheon at Crown, and the Melbourne Rebels Rugby Union match at AAMI Park. Doheny almost missed the Dunlop event: an accident on the Eastern Freeway meant traffic was banked up. It led to Doheny jumping out of the taxi, running up an embankment and leaping into another cab in a nearby street.
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LIFELINES Expecting: Ex 98 Degrees singer Nick Lachey and wife Vanessa Minnillo. Marrying?: Madonna’s toyboy, French dancer Brahim Zaibat, 24, has proposed to her but the singer, 53, is still thinking it over. Ill: John Mayer to “take an indefinite break from live performing” after his throat problems for which he had surgery last year returned. Injured: on the eve of their Oz tour, Taking Back Sunday singer Adam Lazzara’s leg was broken by a falling tree. They were recording in a rural part of Michigan. He went outside for a cigarette when it fell on him. Ill: Lene Nystrom was suffering from pneumonia when Aqua arrived in Australia after the long flight from Scandinavia. Arrested: Six members of Russian punk band Pussy Riot, for staging a protest against Russian PM Vladimir Putin’s dodgy election win. Charged with hooliganism, they face seven years in jail. Suing: former Kyuss guitarist Josh Homme and bassist Scott Reeder took action against singer John Garcia, bassist Nick Oliveri, and drummer Brant Bjork to stop them from playing under the Kyuss Lives! name. In Court: NSW rapper Matt White, who was sixth in last year’s Australia’s Got Talent, was in Dubbo Local Court to change his bail conditions while he faces assault charges in Port Macquarie. He can now go outside his town of Coonabarabran, to perform, do workshops, and negotiate a management deal with Newcastle’s Street Warriors and a contract with Black Money Records. Died: US guitarist Ronnie Montrose, 64, from cancer. Died: Jimmy Ellis, frontman of ‘70s US disco band The Trammps (Disco Inferno), 74, suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
BEARD CALLED TO THE BAR Thornbury-based music manager and former Sydney magazine editor Katherine Beard was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria as a solicitor. While working as a lawyer, she continues to advise musicians and artists.
TWO JOBS AT THE ESPY The Espy in St. Kilda has two roles going. They’re looking for a part time Venue Booker and a full time Publicist. Experience in necessary for both roles. Detailed job descriptions can be found at www.espy.com.au. Email your CV along with a covering letter to leanne@espy.com.au.
PORT FAIRY FOLK – 20TH SELL OUT IN A ROW The 33-year old Port Fairy Folk Festival notched up its 20th sell-out in a row on the weekend. The festival – with John Butler, Adam Cohen, Jeff Lang, Eagle & The Worm, Judy Collins and Clare Bowditch – got rid of its last ticket three days before. It drew over 15,000 pumping $4 million into the local economy, director Jamie McKew estimated. Danny Spooner got a Lifetime Achievement award for his 50 years as a performer and playing at every Port Fairy since 1977.
PPCA PATRON PROGRAM The PPCA (Phonographic Performance Company) launched the PPCA Patron Program to better educate artists, labels and businesses on the work it does in safeguarding the rights of artists. It tapped Clare Bowditch and Tim Levinson (Urthboy, The Herd) as patrons to spread the message.
FINALISTS FOR ART MUSIC AWARDS APRA and the Australian Music Centre announced the finalists for the Art Music Awards, held on Tuesday April 3 at the Playhouse Theatre. The ten categories cover contemporary art music, jazz and experimental music – including the new Excellence in Jazz. The rollcall includes Nigel Westlake, Peter Sculthorpe, Paul Stanhope and Andrea Keller. See apra-amcos.com.au/ and australianmusiccentre.com.au/.
AUSSIES PLAY FOR ARMED FORCES Comedian/actor Mick Molloy, Melbourne AC/DC tribute band Damnation and country music performer Chris E Thomas head to the Middle East to play to troops deployed there. The show was coordinated by Forces Entertainment. Damnation and Thomas played to troops in Solomon Islands last February.
BON CHAT, BON RAT, JOIN NICHE Bon Chat, Bon Rat joined Niche Productions agency for bookings. Russel Smith and Reece Cooper recently added a drummer to their live show, to add to their elements of IDM, dubstep and experimental electronic music. The band last week debuted its new single Dust Proud featuring Pepepiano.
NEGATORY DELAYS RECORDING Metal band Negatory has delayed its recording sessions after guitarist Nathan Haskell decided “My heart is not in it anymore” and resigned.
TOTEM LAUNCHES FACEBOOK WITH A COMP Totem Trance, the trance arm of Totem Industries – who toured Above & Beyond, Ferry Corsten, Aly & Fila and Giuseppe Ottaviani, and supply the trance factor for Creamfields and Stereosonic – are celebrating the launch of its Facebook page with a competition. Producers can remix Creamfields act W&W track Nowhere To Go. See facebook.com/totemtrance
BrUNSwICK
muSIC feStIvaL #24
14 –25 maRCH 2012 For the very best in folk, roots and world music
IN THE PHOENIX PUBLIC HOUSE
IN THE BRUNSWICK
ABIGAIL WASHBURN WITH KAI WELCH (US), CAT MOSER & CLINT DYLAN O’GRADEY
HAT FITZ & CARA ROBINSON GEORGE KAMIKAWA & NORIKO TADANO
NANO STERN & THE SINDICATO (CHILE)
TINPAN ORANGE THE STILLSONS
SHOOGLENIFTY (SCO) THE STRING CONTINGENT
PETER ROWAN BLUEGRASS BAND (US), BIG BUG TRIO
Wednesday 14 March, 9.30 pm
Thursday 15 March, 9.30 pm
Thursday 22 March, 9.30 pm
Friday 23 March, 9.30 pm
THE BAND WHO KNEW TOO MUCH FRANCOLIN ‘SINGLE LAUNCH’ THE BEARDED GYPSY BAND SCOTDRAKULA & YEO Friday 16 March, 9.30 pm
Saturday 24 March, 9.30 pm
JEFF LANG, SPOONFUL
TRUCKSTOP HONEYMOON (US) PERCH CREEK FAMILY JUG BAND
Saturday 17 March, 9.30 pm
THE LITTLE STEVIES IMMIGRANT UNION
Sunday 25 March, 8 pm
Online bookings & early discounts brunswickmusicfestival.com.au Phone bookings 03 9388 1460 Box office opens 1 February 12 – 6pm
Thursday 15 March, 8 pm
Friday 16 March, 8 pm
ARCHIE ROACH, LOU BENNETT Saturday 17 March, 8 pm
KRISTINA OLSEN, SARA TINDLEY Sunday 18 March, 8 pm
KRYSTLE WARREN, MARTA PACEK Sunday 25 March, 8 pm
BEN SOLLEE (US), BEN SALTER
Friday 16 March, 8.30 pm (in the Brunswick Mechanics Institute)
Sunday 18 March, 8 pm
Kai Welch and Abigail Washburn
TOWN HALL
Ben Sollee
Jeff Lang
Truckstop Honeymoon
The Little Stevies
Archie Roach
Krystle Warren
Presented by
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Beat Magazine Page 51
THE LITTLE STEVIES BY NICK MASON
Ahead of their Brunswick Festival appearance, there’s indications aplenty The Little Stevies are in for another big year. Of course, the release of their stunning sophomore album, Attention Shoppers, already ensured a gargantuan 2011 for the local heroes. “Canada was definitely a highlight. It was huge,” gushes Beth Stephen. “We spent two months over there... we basically drove from one side to the other and we did everything from festivals to smaller gigs to cafe gigs, supports... everything!” Incidentally, The Little Stevies’ adventures abroad inspired their most recent run of shows: a series of house concerts, held around the country. “In North America, house concerts are really popular and they’re a really big deal. When you go on tour, if you’ve got a night off in between shows or major cities, you see if there’s a house concert you can do.” “Basically we contacted our mailing lists - only really people who were real big fans of the band in the first place - and we asked who would like to host (the concerts),” Stephen explains. “We had an overwhelming response. It’s basically taken us everywhere and when we’ve gone interstate, we’ve stayed at their homes and it’s been a really lovely experience.” Stephen has plenty of praise for the concept. “It’s exactly like going to a gig at a venue, but you don’t have people spilling beer on you... you don’t have to stand or squeeze up to people you don’t know. You can sit on a couch, on a beanbag or on the lawn with your own food and drink. It’s just great.”
The Little Stevies have recently managed to channel their momentum into a series of fruitful sessions, casually budding brand new songs. “We’re just sort of demoing slowly. We’re doing it in a really relaxed way, actually. The last album we made we went over the LA, spent months doing that and that was pretty intensive. It was awesome, but a totally different experience to what we’re going to do this time,” Stephen explains. “We’re just going to make it really relaxed and sort of just do it ourselves – not have anybody else, any producers step in at the early stages. We’re going to do as much as we can... then we’ll ask for help!” The band continue to feel out their way forward, with no one direction set in stone as yet according to Stephen. “Sometimes you don’t have a lot of control over what comes out. At this stage, we’re just sort of writing the songs and demoing, so they could really turn out to be anything from what they sound like now.” Many have previously cited The Little Stevies’ expertise
“I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE MAYBE A BIT SCARED TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS A POP BAND”
XAVIER RUDD BY PETER HODGSON
It’s been quite a while since Xavier Rudd has released a solo album. His last release was 2010’s Koonyum Sun, credited to Xavier Rudd and Izintaba, and before that his most recent solo record is 2008’s Dark Shades Of Blue. Rudd recently returned to the studio to record a new batch of songs and an interesting theme to knit them together, the first taste of which is Follow The Sun, a fast-paced yet laid back meditation on the importance of stopping every once in a while to look around you and think about where you are, what has come before and what is to come. The album release is still a little way off, but in the meantime Rudd is heading out on tour to preview the new material in a more intimate vibe ahead of a much more grandiose live project later in the year. Follow The Sun was actually the last song Rudd recorded for the forthcoming album Spirit Bird, and the only track recorded in Australia. The rest was tracked in Ontario, north of Toronto in Canada, in a wooden cottage by a lake. “I met a guy at one of my shows who had a studio,” Rudd explains. “He showed me photos of it, and it was all wooden, and I thought it’d be a great space to record. But I didn’t think I ever would. It’s so out of the way, and usually when I record it’s time that I’ve stopped, and usually it’s somewhere on the coast so I can go surfing.” This time around Rudd decided to buck that trend, partially because he was recuperating from surgery to his lower back, so surfing was out of the question.
“It was pretty beautiful,” Rudd says. “Just having the lake to swim in and a place to be secluded and do gentle rehabilitation while I was recording was the idea. I love being in the scrub. I’ve spent enough time in cities on tour. So I did it, and it was groovy. And the studio sounded really cool.” The title of the album is particularly meaningful, given its unusual cast of backing singers: thirty species of Australian bird (plus one Canadian ring-in). Rudd hit upon the idea of incorporating the birds’ songs into the percussion and harmony of the record. At first he didn’t know if it was something he could actually pull off, but he needn’t have worried. “It was pretty bizarre how it started to work. Every bird
“MY LIVE SHOWS ARE ALWAYS PRETTY ENERGETIC”
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as pop music – a tag that sits comfortably with Stephen, despite an apparent angst surrounding the term. “I think a lot of people are maybe a bit scared to identify themselves as a pop band. The first thing you think of when you think pop is really sort of commercial, Lady Gaga sort of pop...which is not what pop is about, necessarily.” Their album Attention Shoppers concerns a wholehearted embrace of the band’s pop inclinations. “That was one of the things that we decided we wanted to do: make it really slick sounding and just make some really good pop songs... short, three minute pop songs.” The conversation turns to songwriting and Stephen confesses a strong autobiographical backbone exists within her own work. “For me, it’s all about myself! I find it really hard to write about other people’s experiences... which is a bit of a pain sometimes, because usually I have to be in quite an intense emotional state one way or the other to write something!” According to Stephen, vulnerability manifests in many forms for the humble songsmith. “I think in writing songs with anyone, you’ve just got to know them back to front. I’ve tried writing songs with other people
we put in just worked, in pitch and tempo. It was pretty interesting. I was doing this one track called Butterfly and I was out on the lake playing on a little flip drum, tapping my foot on the dock which had this really good bass response, and this little bird started singing back to me. I’d sing a line then it’d sing a line. That was the take that we used on the record, and you can hear that bird. It’s really interesting because it’s the only North American bird on the record. It just showed up and wanted to be a part of it. It was like ‘Too many Aussie birds, give me a go’.” And yet it’s Follow The Sun, the one non-Canadian recording, that has been released as the first taste of the new album. The song was written after Rudd returned to Australia, at a time when he found himself particularly aware of all of the native bird sounds around him. Rudd explains the spirit of the song; “I wrote that back down south, I guess reflecting on the massive amount of stuff that’s happening, that has been happening, on this old ancient land for so many years, a long time before our culture, and just how we don’t take any time to acknowledge that. And it just came from that whole understanding when I got home. I put the maggies in there at the start and the end because it’s such a common sound. I recorded that one in Byron Bay and it’s kinda different to the rest of the tracks on the record. I wanted it to have that feeling of gentle flowing water.” And so Rudd prepares to head out on the road to preview tracks from the new album as well as to revive a few old favourites. “My live shows are always pretty energetic,” he says. “There’s always that happening. There’s always the Yidaki and the tribal drums, and there’s a lot more of that on the record too. It’s the first solo record I’ve made in a long time, so there’s a lot of tribal beat stuff, the bird sounds, and later on in the year I’m going to do an audio visual tour, a visual show that goes with the new record. But this show I’ll
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before and it just really hasn’t worked as well as it does with Sibylla,” she reveals. “Writing a song is so embarrassing! Anything you come up with is totally exposing and embarrassing, in the first instance. To do it with someone who knows you absolutely 100% well and everything about you, it just makes it really easy.” That’s not to say Stephen shies away from experimentation entirely. Only last year, she declared a commitment to learning piano. Who could resist the temptation to check in on her progress? “It’s going well! I had a break over summer and I had to re-learn everything that I’d learned last year when I went back to it a couple of weeks ago. Learning an instrument or a language really works that part of your brain that hurts and apparently makes dementia and Alzheimer’s stay away... hopefully!” THE LITTLE STEVIES play the Phoenix Public House as part of the Brunswick Music Festival on Sunday March 18 with support from Immigrant Union. Tickets are $24 or $19 for concession and presales are available from Moshtix or phoenixpublichouse.com.
play a little bit of new stuff, a few of the new tracks and a bit of everything really. And new versions of old stuff, dusting some old stuff that I haven’t played in a long time.” XAVIER RUDD performs at The Hi-Fi on Tuesday March 20 (on sale now from thehifi.com.au) and the Forum Theatre on Wednesday March 21 (soldout).
ahab BY JOSHUA KLOKE
For the first five years of their existence, the Gavin Rossdale-led British rock act Bush had to be referred to in Canada as Bushx. This wasn’t simply an act of grunge tomfoolery meant to poke fun at the inhabitants of the Great White North. Instead, the name Bush was a matter of intellectual property, as Domenic Troiano led a Toronto-based jazzed-up rock outfit in the ‘70s called Bush and still retained rights in Canada to the name. Eventually, after a hefty donation from Rossdale and co. to a few Canadian charities, Troiano relented. Bush was now the sole proprietors of the name. It’s a story Callum Adamson knows all too well. As the guitarist/lead singer in the harmony-heavy folkers ahab, another London-based outfit, Adamson fronts a band that has also had some issues with the name of their band. Somewhere in the hills of Germany, funeral metal act AHAB is constructing their latest full-length, but Adamson remains confident that there won’t be too much confusion between the two. “That question has been asked more than ever lately. Maybe we’re getting more attention. People are googling us and they’re finding them. We’ve talked to them about it, and we agreed they’d use all uppercase and we’d use all lowercase records.” Crisis averted. Still, it’s tough to imagine the dudes in ahab getting that busted up about it. One spin of their 2011 EP, kmvt, reveals a band so in tune with each other that they present a remarkably progressive yet aesthetically relaxed ethos. Though it lacks aggressive tendencies, it’s no less poignant. Adamson insists that the key to their harmony-based tracks stems from how close the band is as people. “We’ve spent more time together as just four guys than any four guys ever should. The only time that guys spend more time together is when they’re in the army. It wouldn’t work if we didn’t get on so well. It’s become something beyond friends. We treat each other the way you would a family member; the language we use with each other is appalling,” he laughs. “We’re able to work so intuitively because we’re as close as we are, and it certainly helps with the harmonies.” ahab was originally the brainchild of Adamson and guitarist Dave Burn, who after releasing their 2009 EP a.h.a.b, were invited to play a residency at Tootsie’s Orchard Lounge in Nashville as part of the Country Music Awards. It was in Nashville that the band cut their teeth and got in touch with their Americana roots. Yet it was when the band recruited Seebs Llewellyn and Luke Price when ahab became who they are today. That, and a fortuitous run-in with the police in their native London.
“WE’RE ABLE TO WORK SO INTUITIVELY BECAUSE WE’RE AS CLOSE AS WE ARE.” “We sort of just went around each other’s houses to work on new material. Put songs together and see what we could do with the four of us instead of just he two of us, Dave and I. We were on Brick Lane one afternoon. We just started messing about, playing some songs. We were obviously drunk. All these people kept stopping, checking us out, and smiling. It felt like it was working. We ended up going to a party, playing some more. And we realised how much people just enjoyed us playing music, without all that big production. We grabbed a few guitars and did the same thing on Brick Lane again. We kept doing it, and the crowds kept getting bigger and bigger. We decided to film it and throw it on YouTube. So we did, and that’s when the right people saw us, and we’ve been on the road ever since.” “The smartest thing we actually did was to just film it,” continues Adamson. “It just so happened that the time we started filming was when the police showed up; they said to us, ‘You’ve got to stop playing, nobody can get through here.’” Subsequent releases later, the band have found their voice. Yet their relaxed, countrified groove isn’t exactly what outsiders normally hear coming out of London. When asked if he prefers the big city or if he’s a country boy at heart, Adamson defers to the greats before him. “When I was 11, I moved down to the States. I spent a few years there being exposed to country music. I loved it. Listening to the radio on car trips and such. Then you go to Top 40 stations, and I couldn’t stand it. I just went deeper into Americana and country. When we both moved into Hackney, London, we realised that every musician, when they hang out with each other, the first thing they do is put on a Neil Young record. Being a musician, you gravitate towards it because that’s where real song-craft is.” With an appreciation for quality songwriting in tow, the boys in ahab plan on continuing the good thing they’ve started. They’re not ones to let confusion with band names bog them down. In the spirit of true Americana, Adamson and ahab simply have to keep on truckin’. “For me I’m all about the next thing. I love playing live, I love being on the road. But the huge buzz that I get is when writing and recording new songs. It’s all about where we can take these songs in the future.” ahab hit up The Toff In Town on Thursday March 15 and the One Perfect Day music festival in Mossvale on Saturday March 17. DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
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BORIS BY BIRDIE
Splicing, dividing, subtracting... then adding, multiplying and generally cooking up one big mix of sounds is what Japanese experimentalists Boris do best. A case in point being all three of the band’s brand new albums – Attention Please, Heavy Rocks and New Album – each record intertwining with one another to create one of the most interesting trilogies in music of late. Just call it “extreme pop”, suggests drummer/vocalist Atsuo. “Attention Please and Heavy Rocks were originally born from one album,” he explains. “So we unified the two albums into one album again. I feel that ‘diffusion’ and ‘convergence’ is becoming the main theme for the releases. Then there is New Album and several of the songs from that one are also from Attention Please and Heavy Rocks, plus there are some new songs added in there.” Collaborating with producer Shinobu Narita – a man often described as intense and hyper-charged in his approach in the studio – Atsuo agrees that Narita was the best complementary choice for a band like Boris. “Because his work is so hyper. Basically, we gave him the recording data for Attention Please and Heavy Rocks and he worked on the re-arrangements based on them. His job was framing the music, the minute details of it, and then further placing it so that he can see the songs overall. He produces the sounds with a pluralistic vision, coming and going from those places. Shinobu conducted the arrangements using Ableton Live so we are using DAW [Digital Audio Workstation] software. At our live shows, we haven’t made
so many changes equipment-wise but it has been changing a lot in terms of recording. We used to use MTR [Multi-Track Recording] cassette tapes, because it is easy to get that analogue sound. The tapes have a unique compression and distortion. They sound good. I guess the special thing we are using would be the Tape Echo. When we are touring, we are limited in terms of how much equipment we can carry with us but Wata [guitarist, keyboardist] and Michio [touring guitarist] insist on using a Space Echo [Roland Re-201]... These are big and heavy but they always carry them.” Taking their band name from a song on The Melvins’ Bullhead and switching and shifting musically between sludge metal, noise rock, psychedelia, ambient and pop, Atsuo claims simply being Japanese usually influences Boris’ sonic direction. “It’s so difficult to simplify it because it is inspired by what we have all lived through and experienced in our lives,” he offers. “What we are influenced by is not only music but also literature, art, movies and so on. Not only those cultural things either, but I think also the structure of Japanese
society and being Japanese in general. Whatever the history of the band is, if people want to know about it, they will look it up themselves. It’s okay if you call us a strange Japanese rock band! When we make songs, we don’t care about genre at all. We don’t have any thoughts like, ‘Let’s do something with this genre and this genre’. If we do not draw inspiration from our own blood and muscles, from our own bodies, when we make sounds, then there is no persuasive power. The way we think is by not thinking at the time of creating. We think about it later. So at the time we’re making it, there is no meaning. I think if we were to follow something or someone else, that would be the end for us.”Well, let’s hope not. Coming up to their 16th year as a collective, Atsuo describes Boris as a band that never looks back, either. Besides, when you’ve got a bad memory as it is, you don’t have much of a choice, he jokingly adds...“I don’t look back at the past! I always use my memory for the stuff that’s happening right now. I lock my memories into the
music we’ve made or into the memories of all those people who have seen us play live, I don’t keep them inside my own body. We just started the band to have some fun and that still hasn’t changed even now. Performing has become a job for us, yes, but I think I’m having a happy life. I appreciate our listeners and the people who have always supported us. We are still recording at the moment but I think we can announce another release soon. We are going to have a tour in Australia and New Zealand and then do some live shows in Japan. We’re going to play at the All Tomorrow’s Parties Festival in the UK in December, too. Anyway, I’m leaving for rehearsal now. It’s been snowing a lot since this morning and I’ve been wondering how I’m going to be able to get to the studio...”
Clarke continues, noting the effect that those two records, and working with Albini in general has had on the band’s career. “I’m not sure if I could say that they changed the course of the band, because I don’t know what the alternative would’ve been. But they were very important to us discovering our sound. The key with Axes was that we recorded the album all in one take. All of us, in one room, together. We wanted to be able to capture our live sound. And it’s quite difficult to do that in a standard recording environment. That was a very important moment for us as a band, because we had a very strong vision of what we wanted as a band.” What followed was 2007’s No Shouts, No Calls. Electrelane chose to get as far away from Chicago as possible, entering Planet Roc Studios in Berlin to write and record No Shouts, No Calls. And in doing so, they wrote during the height of the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The band became fans of the beautiful game, going so far as to include clips from a local
match in the song Five. “We were in Berlin during the summertime,” says Clarke, with a noted enthusiasm. “It was beautiful, with matches being shown on big screens in beer gardens everywhere. It was just so lovely to be practicing and writing all day then head out afterwards, have a few beers, watch some matches. I think we just got hooked so easily. So much so that we scheduled our writing sessions around the matches.” Now ready to have a crack at their back catalogue during this tour, Clarke says that while there are no immediate plans for the band to record new material, they’re keen on just taking things one day at a time and enjoying the moment. “We do want to make another album. We’ve got to figure out things like timing, financing. There are hurdles, but I think we’re all excited to see where this goes.”
and a cover of one of his songs on the other side,” Johnson says. “We were playing this festival, and he was playing a solo set. His synthesiser broke just before the show, and he asked us to back him up for his set – so we had 10 minutes notice before we went on stage to play with him,” Johnson laughs. Wooden Shjips is a band born to thrive and evolve in a live environment, with the band’s song structures conducive to live exploration and expansion. “It’s fairly elastic,” Johnson muses. “One of the things about touring is that it can become very repetitive. There are lots of expectations that you’re dealing with. The promoters will want you to play a certain type of set, and the audience will have its own expectations about what it wants to hear,” he says. In deciding where a live show will go, Johnson says Wooden Shjips will size up where the audience is prepared to go. “We do stretch it out a fair amount, but it really depends on the audience. Sometimes they’re up for it, but other times all they want to do is just drink beer and get drunk,” Johnson says. Wooden Shjips is touring Australia at the same time as Crosby, Stills and Nash, whose classic track Wooden
Ships was the inspiration behind Wooden Shjips’ name (Johnson apparently added the ‘j’ in the hope of achieving a name that sounded Swedish). Johnson wasn’t aware of the serendipitous coincidence of tours, and is bemused at the prospect of meeting the legendary David Crosby. “We haven’t met him before,” Johnson laughs. “It’d be really great if he came along. I really love his solo record, If Only I Could Remember My Name. It’s really spacey.” Back on more immediate geographical and American cultural matters, and Johnson says he hopes to stay in Colorado a bit longer to immerse himself in the Rocky Mountains culture. “We’re about 10,000 feet up the mountains where we live,” he remarks. “There’s nothing around here, and it’s about a two hour drive into Boulder. I don’t think it’s something we’d do forever, but we’re enjoying the isolation at the moment.”
BORIS play the Corner Hotel on Saturday March 24 (soldout) and have announced a second show at the Northcote Social Club on Sunday March 25. Tickets are on sale now from the venue website.
ELECTRELANE BY JOSHUA KLOKE
There are sometimes questions in life that, while they may have been asked a thousand times before, still need to be asked. When it was announced that the thrilling and seminal post-rock act Electrelane were re-uniting after a hiatus in 2007 to play a short tour of Australia, the question on everyone’s mind was one that wasn’t exactly answered five years previous: what brought on the hiatus in the first place. “The band formed in 1998 and we went on hiatus in 2007. It’d been almost ten years of writing, recording and going on tour for long periods of time,” says guitarist Mia Clarke, reached from her home after a day spent in University classes. “And although it was very fun, very amazing and we all felt fortunate to be able to do what we did, eventually it started to take its toll. On our lives outside of the band, I mean. We didn’t have time to do anything else in our lives. We felt like we needed to take a step back and just concentrate on things that we’d always wanted to do that weren’t music related. And it felt very natural, like it was the right time. We thought it best to nip it in the bud and have an actual break.” With the large white elephant now shown the door, Clarke is ever more eager to discuss the conditions of what brought the band back together. “We weren’t approached by any promoters or anything. I think everyone just assumed we were done. But a few emails started being sent back and forth. We realised how much we missed playing together. We all simultaneously had six weeks off together in the summer, so we figured we should take advantage of that time. It’s pretty rare we all had time off together. So we got back in touch with some of the people we
used to work with, and things began to take shape after that.” Chemistry was easy to find between band members as well, notes Clarke. “It was better than it’d ever been, which was really lovely and surprising. I don’t know whether it was the break or the fact that we were older. The energy on stage was that much better because we were having so much fun. It felt more fulfilling than it had been, right before the break.” Without a new record to promote, Clarke says that the setlists for this tour will be largely comprised of the band’s back catalogue, including tracks from the band’s second and third full lengths, 2004’s The Power Out and 2005’s Axes. These albums mark an important time for Electrelane, as the band travelled to Chicago to work with famed producer Steve Albini. Noted for his hands-off approach, Clarke concedes that the band were forced to have a long hard look at each other while making the record, without having a producer that was ready to dictate the course of the record. “The responsibility was very much on our shoulders. We came in, and he recorded what he played. And that was it. We had to make sure that we were in a solid place before we even entered the studio.”
ELECTRELANE play the Corner Hotel on Friday March 23.
WOODEN SHJIPS BY PATRICK EMERY
Ripley Johnson, guitarist and creative force behind psychedelic drone band Wooden Shjips, is relaxing in his house just outside of Boulder, Colarado in the Rocky Mountains. Johnson and his girlfriend moved to the remote location after spending most of his adult life on the west coast. “I grew up in Connecticut, and I hated it,” Johnson says. “I didn’t like the culture, but then I went to Santa Cruz to go to school, and it felt like paradise – people walking around not wearing shoes, that sort of stuff.” Johnson is actutely aware of Boulder’s predominant claim to fame in the entertainment world: as the location for the ‘70s sitcom Mork and Mindy. “You can go to the actual house they used,” Johnson laughs. “I haven’t been there yet, but I really want to.” Johnson is bringing Wooden Shjips back to Australia for the second time, and a year after touring with his other main project, Moon Duo. “When I’m working on a particular project it is defined because I’m working with particular people,” Johnson says, by way of explaining what distinguishes a Moon Duo record from a Wooden Shjips record. “Everyone who’s playing has different input, but the songs are all my songs – although I may have different ideas about where a song is going sonically, if that makes sense,” Johnson says. For Wooden Shjips’ latest record, West, Johnson took his artistic inspiration from the mythology of the American West, a by-product of Johnson’s own travels across America. “There’s a loose concept behind it, but it’s not like a rock opera,” Johnson says. “I was moving from San Francisco to Colorado, it was like moving west to the old west. It got me thinking about my time in San Francisco, and the whole Beat Magazine Page 54
psychology of the west,” he says. Johnson isn’t a prolific writer as such, preferring to direct his songwriting activity toward particular projects. “I’m very project focused – I don’t write songs every day. While I don’t think I necessarily have a homogenous vision, the songs do tend to have a cohesion, because they’re all written around the same time and the same things tend to be going through my head,” Johnson says. At the heart of any Wooden Shjips track tends to be a regular beat that Johnson and his band mates explore and exploit. “I used to write starting with just a drum beat – I used to begin with the rhythms of the city as I went to work. I usually hear something in my head and go with that,” Johnson says. For West Johnson approached former Spaceman 3 member Sonic Boom to master the record. Johnson had met Sonic Boom previously at a festival in England. “We did a split 7”, which had an outtake of a Spaceman 3 track on one side,
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WOODEN SHJIPS play The Corner Hotel on Wednesday March 28 with very special guests. Tickets are on sale now through the venue. West is out now through Fuse Music.
LUCINDA WILLIAMS BY JAMES W. NICOLI
It’s always a slightly strange experience when you realise that the person you’re chatting to on the other end of the phone line is in a whole different time zone. When I reach folk/country singer-songwriter and three time Grammy award winner Lucinda Williams, it’s Friday morning in Melbourne but still only Thursday afternoon in the USA. Williams will be experiencing the time zone difference first hand when she touches down next month to take part in the massive Bluesfest festival as well as performing a number of her own side shows. Held in the picturesque surrounds of Byron Bay and over five big days, this year’s Bluesfest will feature the likes of Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Pogues, Earth Wind & Fire, and even a performance form legendary Aussie pub rockers Cold Chisel. It’s no wonder Williams is counting down the days until she touches down. “We arrive on March 29,” she informs me. “We’re going to have a little bit of downtime, just for a couple of days before we start. We’re really looking forward to it.” For this run of shows, Williams will be accompanied by her full band plus a few extra additions. “I’m bringing the band out. For this tour we have The Wallflowers guitarist Stuart Mathis coming out with us. So he’s real excited about that.” For someone whose career has spanned the best part of four decades, Williams is certainly no stranger to touring and performing in countless cities around the globe. And considering her first record came out in 1978 and the amount of songs she has written since then, it comes as no surprise that one of the biggest hurdles these days is trying to come up with a set list. “Well it’s challenging at times,” she laughs. “But you know, we try to mix it up as best as we can.” With the release of her last record, 2011’s Blessed, William’s songwriting moved in a more positive direction; a notable shift from a lot of her earlier work and one which was a direct result of her now very happy and stable personal life. “Yeah of course it’s
going to have an effect. What a lot of people were concerned about was they said, ‘Well now you’re happy now there’s nothing to write about.” Although her personal situation and the sort of things she writes about have changed in recent times, Williams is adamant that it hasn’t affected the quality of her musical output. “The thing about that is, you know how that is, if you’re married or whatever your personal life is doing, that doesn’t mean that you don’t feel bad sometimes,” she says. “It’s just like on Blessed. I had songs that were more about humanity and suffering and you know there’s [still] plenty of sorrow.” Just talking to Williams, it’s clear that no matter how long she has been performing or whatever her personal situation, it’s not going to stop her from making music. “Because people think that once you’re settled down you’re not going to be an artist anymore,” she says. “That does happen to some people, I’ve seen that happen to a lot of people but it didn’t happen with me and it never will happen. That’s what being an artist is about. I’m never going to stop writing no matter what’s going on. I’m still miserable!” she laughs. “I still have my bad days like everybody.” A testament to William’s career is the fact that she has won three Grammy awards as well as being nominated for countless others; even if the categories are at times a little bit confusing. “The Grammys, the
“I’M NEVER GOING TO STOP WRITING NO MATTER WHAT’S GOING ON.”
whole category thing is so…I’ve been nominated in country, rock, folk,” she muses. While we’re on the subject I can’t help but ask if the Grammys are sitting on a mantel piece on display in her home somewhere or if they’re just packed away, sitting in a box? “Yeah [they’re] in a bookcase downstairs in the office,” she says. “Actually one of them is missing and I don’t know what happened to it. It’s awful, we’ll just have to order another one,” she laughs. “I’ve looked and looked. The house we’re in, we moved in about three years ago. I had everything in storage, I got everything
out and unpacked it and then the Grammy is missing. I don’t know, I think someone took it out of storage or something I don’t know what happened to it, it’s probably sitting in a pawn shop somewhere!”
profile), Satriani has, arguably, veered closer to the mainstream, even achieving some surprising chart success with his ‘supergroup’ project Chickenfoot (featuring ex-Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar). When asked if he believes he has separated artistically from his mentor, Vai readily agrees... though, in his understanding, this separation occurred 30 years ago. “The thing is, I don’t think we’ve ever seen ourselves as going in a similar direction,” Vai says. “People group us together, because we both play guitar at a certain level, and both make instrumental records... but our records are so different. You couldn’t compare my first solo record, Flex-able, to anything Joe’s ever done, and you couldn’t compare Surfing With The Alien to anything I’ve ever done. In our minds, we’re worlds apart. “If there’s any element of our style where we find common ground - and it’s something that we learned together, in a sense – it’s our ability to listen to people when we’re playing with them. It’s when we’re just sitting and playing guitar together that our minds really ‘meld’.” While Vai and Satriani have had a chance to ‘mindmeld’ on almost every G3 tour since 1996, (Vai confirms he has never turned down one of Satriani’s invitations to participate) the ‘third G’ has been
consistently different, ensuring that each incarnation of the tour has had a slightly different flavour. Noteworthy G3 alumni include prog-rock icon Robert Fripp, metalman John Petrucci of Dream Theater, and neo-classical shred king Yngwie Malmsteen. By contrast, the guitar slinger joining Satch and Vai this year is probably more famous for not specialising in any particular genre. Indeed, Steve Lukather’s chameleonic approach to the instrument has made him quite possibly the most sought-after session guitarist of all time. “His notes seem to sneak around you…” Vai says of Lukather. “They crawl up the ankle of your pants, and before you know it they’re gnawing on your fingers,” he laughs. “Luke’s just a fun guy. An amazing guy. He’s very talented obviously, and to know him is really to love him. He’s just got this very funny personality, and loves the instrument. And you know, he’s one of those guys that wakes up in the morning and just practises... Still!”
LUCINDA WILLIAMS plays Bluesfest, taking place in Byron Bay between Thursday April 5 and Monday April 9. She also plays the Palais Theatre on Monday April 2.
STEVE VAI BY JESSE SHROCK
With a pedigree of artistic influences that might seem unusual, or even diametrically opposed in certain aspects, Steve Vai is one artist who has truly forged a path all his own. A student of fellow guitar luminary Joe Satriani, Vai got his baptism of fire as a wide-eyed teenager in Frank Zappa’s touring band, gained fame as a hired gun for high-profile stadium rock bands (David Lee Roth Band, Whitesnake among others), and embarked on a solo career that has seen him develop an increasingly mature and sophisticated approach to production and arrangement, culminating in orchestral composition. Though aware that he dwells on the cultural fringes, Vai is grateful to have a cult following who have remained loyal throughout his artistic evolution. “Within my audience, there’s people who are interested in various aspects,” he explains. “Some are just into the guitar playing, and they don’t want to hear any distractions from that. Others prefer the tasteful stuff and don’t like the wanky guitar. Some people like the stuff with really eclectic production, and some like the esoteric nature of the rich compositional pieces. But the great thing is, those people’s interests seem to spill over into the other areas enough that they keep following what I’m doing.” While Vai’s orchestral experiments began as a means of enhancing his own work, he has now become so respected as a composer that he is being commissioned by the orchestras themselves to pen works for them. His most recent composition, The Middle Of Everywhere, was performed in November by the North Netherlands orchestra to a reception that Vai describes as “frighteningly positive”. “They were so impressed with it that I’ve been asked to provide orchestral pieces for two more years. Considering that these guys get three scores on their desk a week, and they play one new one a year, that is an extraordinary compliment. But also very time consuming!” he laughs. “At the moment, contemporary classical music is dying. The thing is, every kind of noise has been made, but most of it is unlistenable. Audiences are very small for contemporary stuff, and even audiences for the established classical stuff are dwindling. The orchestra needs a revitalisation, and they’re looking
for new composers that are going to bring people in. I like the idea that I could do that; that I have the goods to create interesting, entertaining stuff within the orchestral format. But I still love the guitar and I’m always going to be doing that, too.” If Vai has an Achilles heel as an artist, it is in the apparent difficulty he finds in keeping things simple; a difficulty that revealed itself yet again as he set down to work on his forthcoming solo album. “I started out wanting to make a very straightforward record,” Vai explains. “Just stripped-down guitar stuff, kind of like Alien Love Secrets. But I just couldn’t stick to that plan!” he laughs ruefully. “I just kept hearing more parts in my head, and all these pieces of music that seemed to have more to them. So maybe I’ll do a stripped down record soon, but this one’s pretty dense. It’s a little too early for me to name it, but I’m hoping to make it the next instalment of the Real Illusions trilogy.” Vai will soon join Joe Satriani in Australia for G3 2012, a semi-regular tour in which three respected guitarists play individual sets, before jamming together. Compared to his own touring and recording projects, Vai regards G3 as “a great way to just cruise”, and describes his enduring friendship with Satriani (in typically esoteric fashion) as “a confirmation of my belief in Karma, and the laws of attraction, and that life is really a magical journey”. Despite their tight-knit relationship, it could be observed that the career paths of Vai and Satriani, who historically share a common fan base, have never been more different. While Vai has spent the last decade aggressively pushing the envelope, (possibly at the expense of some of his commercial
“I LIKE THE IDEA THAT I COULD DO THAT; THAT I HAVE THE GOODS TO CREATE INTERESTING, ENTERTAINING STUFF WITHIN THE ORCHESTRAL FORMAT.”
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
G3: Satriani, Vai and Lukather play The Palais Theatre on Saturday March 31 (soldout) and Sunday April 1, as well as Bluesfest Music Festival taking place in Byron Bay between Thursday April 5 and Monday April 9.
Beat Magazine Page 55
DEPRESSION BY PATRICK EMERY
There was a time when punters could dance frenetically without fear of bouncers grabbing them by the collar and physically ejecting them from the premises. Known colloquially as slam dancing, it was often pervaded by a strong sense of community that seemed counter to its superficially violent style: you’d bounce off another punter, hit the ground, and ten people (usually guys) would reach down and pick you up. “I remember a time we were playing the John Barleycorn in Collingwood, and the crowd was slamming, and the bouncers thought they were punching on,” recalls Smeer, guitarist with Melbourne punk-cum-hardcore band Depression. “We were like, nah, they’re dancing!” he laughs. Smeer formed Depression in the early ‘80s, having already played in the odd local band. “We played our first band at the Seaview Ballroom, and we didn’t even have a drummer. We actually sounded pretty good – a lot of people said we shouldn’t get a drummer!”, Smeer laughs. With the members of the band all sporting mohawks and the odd tattoo – a relative rarity at the time, in comparison to the ubiquitous body art of modern times – Depression was a striking sight. “The guy who was booking the Ballroom at the time, Graeme Richmond, he didn’t give a shit what anyone looked like, and that was great. A lot of punk bands got their start down there – it was really an integral part of the Melbourne punk scene,” Smeer says. Depression subsequently scored a residency at the John Barleycorn Hotel in Collingwood, where over a six-month period the band built up a strong and loyal following. One of the punters who enjoyed the band’s loud, confrontational and exuberant style was Phil MacDougall. MacDougall was contemplating starting his own record label, Reactor Records, and approached Depression to be the first band
released on the label. “Phil came up to us one night after we’d got a bit of a following,” Smeer recalls. “We’d had a few people say they wanted us to put out a record, but we just thought they were all full of shit. But Phil rang us up again, and we went with him because he was the only guy who actually came through with the money.” It was around this time that Depression managed to score a support gig with the Dead Kennedys on the band’s now legendary 1983 Australian tour. “I used to go a lot into Missing Link at the time when it was owned by Nigel Rennard, and he was heavily involved in the tour, so we got the gig through him,” Smeer says. Dead Kennedy’s lead singer Jello Biafra liked Depression so much that he included a Depression song on his Welcome to 1984 compilation. “Jello was pretty intense,” Smeer says. “To tell you the truth, I was a bit overwhelmed. I actually ran into him again a few years later, and ended up taking him for a drive in my muscle car. He’s still a really intense, full-on guy, really into politics.” Depression released a single on Reactor Records followed
60 SECONDS WITH … SMRTS So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? SMRTS. I am Predrag Delibasich, one of the three guitarists. What do you think people will say you sound like? World music dying at the hands of garage rock. What do you love about making music? Being able to do it with friends.
If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Mitar Subotic-Suba – an amazing music producer from Serbia, who sadly passed away in a fire in his apartment in Brazil. His album Sao Paulo Confessions is one of my all time favourites and working with him would have been an amazing experience. What can a punter expect from your live show? Strong beats and heart-breaking, yet uplifting melodies.
by a full-length album. The band’s lead singer, Spike, was gradually losing interest in the band in favour of body building activities. “Spike got heaps into body building and lost energy for the band, so I ended up taking over the singer with the band, and we released a couple more records after that,” Smeer says. Consistent with many overseas punk bands, Depression’s music included a heavy slice of social and political commentary, from social conformism to the Cold War to the narrow-minded attitudes of the mainstream music industry. “I’d been listening to the Sex Pistols, then we got into Crass, and they’re really political. We were writing to punk bands overseas, and they’d be telling us about the anarchy scene, which a lot of punk bands were into at the time,” Smeer says. “I think the songs we were writing at the time were a really good way of getting rid of the angst we were feeling at society and the system.” By the late ‘80s Depression had found itself victim to the oldest industry trick in the book – lack of payment for services rendered. “I just got really disillusioned when we put out a couple of records, and we didn’t get paid for them,” Smeer says. “I ended up going to see solicitors to try and get our money back, but they were only interested in keeping it going so they could keep getting money off you. So I ended up giving up music for six years,” Smeer says. When Smeer did pick up a guitar, it was invariably accompanied by a spray of abuse toward the music industry that he’d once been part of. Eventually Smeer took a step back and realised what he’d enjoyed about music – the excitement of playing on stage. “I call it my one hour of glory!” Smeer laughs. Smeer returned to live music, playing in a series of bands. “I just kept playing louder and louder and putting more distortion into it,” he says. The idea for reforming Depression came from Bomber (aka Adam), who was playing drums in one of Smeer’s bands. Smeer enlisted Spike to assume vocal duties again, and Depression was reborn. “We’re gonna keep it going as we long as we enjoy it,” What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? Our new album Have Friends And Visit Them At Night on vinyl and digital download, our debut album Sun Sets On A New Tomorrow on CD. When’s the gig and with who? Saturday March 17 at Noise Bar with Vodnik, Semuta and Pioneers of Good Science. Doors open at 8pm. Anything else to add? This will be our last show on this tour and we are catching a plane back to Perth at the ungodly hour of 6am. So, come over and party with us.
What do you hate about the music industry? The industry bit.
Beat Magazine Page 56
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
Smeer says. “I keep saying I’m gonna rock until I drop, as long as I can keep getting my rocks off on stage!” he laughs. DEPRESSION plays at the Bendigo Hotel this Saturday March 17 with special guests Bloody Hammer, Counter Attack and Hailgun.
CORE
PUNK, SKA, HARDCORE NEWS, REVIEWS AND GOSSIP BY EMILY KELLY: EK1984@GMAIL.COM
There’s something to be said for bands that just get under your skin and stay there. Have you ever noticed DESCENDENTS how some of the bands that you were obsessed about when you were 15 still ignite great joy when you hear them again ten years later? What is it about bands that we loved around that impressionable age sticking with us despite everything else we fancied then (I’m looking at you pink studded belts, Bacardi Breezers and peroxide hair) being painfully fucking passé now? Seeing Strung Out play during Soundwave week, I got a tingle down the spine and desire to throw myself into the pit that I haven’t gotten in eons. I saw a billion bands that week, many of which have probably surpassed Strung Out in the talent stakes, but Strung Out totally slayed me.
Fresh off a national spot on the Soundwave bill, Tonight Alive have announced a small run of East Coast dates before heading over to the US to jump on the Warped Tour wagon. The band will arrive at Ballarat’s Karova Lounge on May 18, then do two Corner Hotel shows on May 19 and 20 (the latter will be underage), and they’re bringing some rather bizarre tour supports in The Dangerous Summer and Totally Unicorn. Can’t wait to see Tonight Alive fans cop an earful of Totally Unicorn. Sydney’s Resist The Thought have been in the US recording their newest Sovereignty with Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying but they’re quick to return to our shores to kick out some national jams. See them at Bang on April 21, then Phoenix Youth Center on April 22.
CRUNCH!
Is anyone else busting their goddamn guts to see Murder By Death finally? I am gagging to finally tick this band off my bucket band list, and now even more so considering some very deec supports will be joining the festivities. Melbourne’s show at The Evelyn will feature Cash Savage and the Last Drinks, Jamie Hay and Between The Wars, and the show in Geelong on the 18 has Cash Savage, Japan For and The Smith Street Band on board. Tops.
Thursday March 15: Apart From This, Up and Atom, Grants Pants, Backyard Surgeons, Tim Hampshire at The Bendigo Last Call, Degenerates, Bombs Are Falling at The Gasometer Upstairs Built On Secrets, Celadore, A Sleepless Winter at Next The Getaway Plan, Gatherer at The Village Green Hotel, Mulgrave Friday March 16: Bateman, Viking Frontier, Cavalcade Stockades at The Bendigo The Getaway Plan, Gatherer at Ferntree Gully Hotel Saturday March 17: Depression, Bloody Hammer, Counter Attack, Hailgun at The Bendigo This Town, A Forest, The Rosetta Stone, Surrender at Bang The Getaway Plan, Gatherer at Pier Live, Frankston
METAL, HEAVY ROCK, CLASSIC ROCK
Heaven The Axe (fronted by Phoebe Pinnock) play a headline show at The Espy on Saturday March 31 with Don Fernanado, The Deep End, King of The North and Dead Star Renegade. They’re currently promoting their debut release Sex, Chugs & Rock ‘N’ Roll.
Pennywise release All Or Nothing on April 27 via Epitaph. It’s their first release with new singer Zoli Téglás (Ignite), who stepped in following the departure of longtime vocalist Jim Lindberg. I spoke to guitarist Fletcher Dragge for Beat’s sister publication Mixdown the other day (look for the interview in the April issue) and he said the recording sessions were not without their dramas and arguments, but that things are way more amiable than they were when Jim was around. And the album kicks arse – very energetic and aggressive, with killer melodies which lodged themselves in my cranium immediately and haven’t let up since.
UK band Young Guns will back up their appearance at Counter Revolutions by returning to our shores with Closure In Moscow this May. Catch them at The Hi-Fi on May 30.
CORE GIG GUIDE
LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL GOOD SHIT WITH PETER HODGSON: CRUNCHCOLUMN@GMAIL.COM
GIG ALERT: HEAVEN THE AXE
PENNYWISE ANNOUNCE FIRST POSTJIM ALBUM
Backyard Surgeons are gearing up for a trip to China this April but in the meantime have dropped their new album Destined For Descent. It’s available on the band’s bandcamp for however much you want to pay. Don’t be a shit bloke, throw them some coin so they can cover ‘tour costs and beer’.
GIG ALERT: ARCH ENEMY
Arch Enemy are touring Australia soon in support of last year’s Khaos Legions album, and the band just announced the departure (again) of guitarist Christopher Amott. His replacement is Nick Cordle from Arsis. This tour will be your last chance to see the band for a while, as Michael Amott told me the other day: “2013 is going to be a year off for Arch Enemy mostly. We’ll probably put out a new album in 2014. So I don’t know, maybe 2015 we’ll be back, if metal is still around at that point!” Arch Enemy play on Tuesday May 1 at Billboard The Venue with Teramaze & Elysian.
BERZERKERFOX RELEASE EP
Aussie death metallers BerzerkerfoX released their New World Murder EP this week through Norway’s Ovis Records. It starts with an ominous acoustic intro before Inviare De Vedas kicks in, and doesn’t let up. Seriously. It fucking doesn’t let up. Killer guitar work – it’s hard to make harmonies that sound foreboding and dark instead of pretty and skippy, edge-of-insanity vocals, ridiculous blast beats, punchy production – it’s four tracks of deathy death of the deathiest variety.
GIG ALERT: UNHOLY BLACK FRIDAY When I was a kid we used to observe Good Friday by getting fish’n’chips instead of eating meat. Then we got lazy and the occasional battered sav or dim sim would slip through. Then after a few years all bets were off. You can observe Good Friday on Friday April 6 in similarly blasphemous fashion at the Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood with Unholy Good Friday, featuring Hobbs Angel Of Death, Nothing Sacred, Desecrator, Harlott, Malakyte and Blackened. Malakyte is a Brisbane thrash/speed metal band and this is their first interstate trip. Go along and give them a warm welcome.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
KUNVUK CALL LIMP BIZKIT OUT
So get this: the other day Limp Bizkit announced that they’re working on, and I quote, the “heaviest, most crazy metal record of all time.” Well Sydneybased metallers KUNVUK aren’t gonna let them get away with such an absurd statement. “The audacity of a band like Limp Bizkit to make such an absurd statement is almost incomprehensible,” they said. “It’s the same as if Nickelback were to come out and say that they are relevant to the progression of rock. Or if Marilyn Manson were to come out and say he wasn’t an overweight, passed-his-use-by-date middle-aged drag queen. Usually we wouldn’t give this kind of scum a second thought but Durst has a way of giving grown men hives. Trying to step into the domain of crazy metal? Well I guess you pinched a nerve in me boy.” The band says they’re currently working on their new album and will hand Durst his arse at this endeavour.
FEEDBACK Got news? Unpopular opinions? Need dating advice? Email crunchcolumn@gmail.com
Beat Magazine Page 57
MUSIC NEWS
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CLARKEFIELD MUSIC FESTIVAL The first annual Clarkefield Music Festival will see some of Australia’s finest musicians join forces for a common cause, as they raise money to help assist children and their families living in poverty in Cambodia. All money raised on the day will go directly to building a new school for over one thousand children in the Kampong Thom province of Cambodia. The Festival will feature renowned musicians Kim Salmon, Nick Barker, Hope Addicts, Dead River Deeps, James McCann, Brother Johnstone, Saint Jude and Jeb Cardwell. Set on a vast grassy green lawn, surrounded by paddocks, trees, old wagons and the beautiful old bluestone buildings of The Clarkefield Hotel (Coach and Horses Inn, 1857), it’s the most surreal and ideal place to lay down a rug, sip a cold beer and enjoy some of the finest music the country has to offer. The Clarkefield Festival is happening on Sunday March 18 with tickets just $20 and available at the door. For more information head to clarkefieldmusicfestival.com.
CHERRY ROCK 2012
DIVORCED Divorced play their first show since releasing their debut album Seperation Anxiety in April 2011. Featuring members of Scott and Charlene's Wedding, Beaches, Zond and The Spazzy's, they will be playing only a handful of shows in Australia in 2012 before heading to the US. They will be supported by Jack Mannix band (Circle Pit) and A Gender – Romy Hoffman's new all-girl punk band. Both baaangin’ bands. This Saturday March 17 at The Grace Darling.
CARNIVAL OF SUBURBIA
BITTER SWEET KICKS
Emerging out of the so-called cultural ‘wastelands’ of the south back in March 2010, Carnival Of Suburbia has risen like a flower in the desert to firmly establish itself as an iconic annual event in celebration of Melbourne’s suburban soul and culture. The world class program of events includes the legend of the New York folk scene, Judy Collins on Thursday March 15, and on Saturday March 17 founding member of both The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers and widely recognised originator of American country rock, Chris Hillman, performing alongside Californian banjo player and guitarist Herb Pedersen. Carnival Of Suburbia is currently taking place until Sunday March 18 at the Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh.
Bitter Sweet Kicks are a band spawned from the dirty sunshine gutter of St. Kilda and they have been working hard around Melbourne’s most well known pubs and venues ever since. The Kick’s energetic live shows are renowned for leaving the stage covered in blood, sweat and broken glass after they bash their way through a solid set of chaotic rock’n’roll. Raw, splintering riffs, catchy as hell bass lines, belting drums and howling vocals come together in a mixture of ‘proto punk’ and old school bluesy rock to create a uniquely powerful sound that can only be described as real. The Bitter Sweet Kicks will be playing Thursdays at Yah Yah’s in March with special guests each week, this Thursday March 15 with Sweet Teens and Foxtrot.
Californian stoner rock giants Fu Manchu have been announced as the headliners of the sixth annual Cherry Rock. Also adding to the festivities are Black Cobra, Matt Sonic & The High Times, Bitter Sweet Kicks, Vice Grip Pussies, My Dynamite, The Ramshackle Army and Valentiine with more soon to be announced. The sixth Cherry Rock takes place at Cherry Bar and in AC/DC Lane on Sunday April 29. Tickets on sale now.
CHRIS RUSSELL’S CHICKEN WALK For two and a half years, Chicken Walk was just Chris, playing solo and electric. Doing this meant he could travel light and cheap, making a bigger name for himself in Mississippi than he did in Melbourne. Chris was joined by Dean Muller on drums in December 2011 to create a two-piece that sounds like a full band. With Dean, the Chicken Walk sound fills the room with hypnotic boogie that aims to bypass the mind and head straight for your ass. Endless, droning, head nodding blues, North Mississippi Hill Country style. Before he heads off for his annual pilgrimage to Mississippi, Chris plays four special Saturday afternoons in the front bar of The Tote Hotel for free in March. Some shows will be solo, some will be duo, some will have special guests. You’ll have to come each week to find out.
COLD HARBOUR Cold Harbour are pleased to be returning to the Lyrebird Lounge on Friday March 16. They’ll be playing selections from their back catalogue and showcasing some new numbers destined for the studio later in the year. Also appearing on the night is the wonderful Crystal Thomas whose debut album will be released shortly. The Lyrebird Lounge is at 61 Glen Eira Road Ripponlea. Head down early for a feed, a drink and some great tunes.
MILFORD ACADEMY Make sure you get along to Smith St’s finest live music venue Yah Yah’s on Friday March 16 for the launch of Milford Academy’s new EP, A Letter From Me To You And I. Joining in support will be the wonderful sounds of Stockades, The Sweets and Super Magic Hats. $8, doors 9pm.
JAMES WALSH In what guarantees to be a series of incredible shows Sarah McLeod will now join James Walsh, frontman of critically acclaimed UK Band Starsailor on his upcoming March tour of Australia. Sarah has been one busy woman over the last few years, and is currently focusing on her rock band Screaming Bikini. After touring extensively with The Superjesus for so long she decided she wanted to try some different projects. She has been all round the world five times over writing songs for lots of different artists and in the process gaining international chart success. Both Sarah McLeod and James Walsh play The Espy on Friday March 23. Tickets are only $30+bf, available from Oztix.
WEEKENDER - ST PATRICK’S DAY Weekender goes green with Kiss my Blarney Stones: their Saint Patricks day mini special featuring Ash, Two Door Cinema Club, The Thrills, My Bloody Valentine, Undertones, Pogues, Cranberries, U2 and more, plus live The Coincidents and Running Range (featuring members of The Kits). DJs Steve (not Irish but close enough) Wide and Kieran (is actually Irish) O’sullivan playing new and vintage indie over two floors. Yah Yah’s, Saturday March 17 from 9pm.
WHITE VEINS
SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND
FRI 16 MARCH
CASH SAVAGE & THE LAST DRINKS
ROUND 1 @ 7PM
BRONNIE COULL THE SEA WILL DECIDE ROESY $5.00 ENTRY ROUND 2 @ 9PM JOHN FLEMING (SCARED WEIRD LITTLE GUYS) SEAMUS ANTHONY CARLY RAE 123 SMITH ST, FITZROY
OPEN MIC MONDAYS @
BERTHA BROWN FROM 7.30 – 11PM
TO GUARANTEE A SPOT, EMAIL US AT OPENMIC@MELTINGPOTONLINE.COM
MONTH OF MARCH HOSTED BY SHANE WALTERS
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Beat Magazine Page 58
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Not many things in life are free these days but you know what is? This gig. It’s a bunching together of some of the best/noisiest bands in Melbourne. They also happen to be some of the most unique bands in Melbourne too. Lunaire are an amazing threepiece shoegaze outfit, BAADDD are a funky female noisepop duo, Lousy With Mines is a crazy heavy solo drum artist, White Veins are a thrashed out punk metal band and Drongo are a psychopathic grindcore group. If you want to see a show and you don’t have any money, this is the one, this Sunday March 18 at Yah Yah’s.
Steamrolling into 2012 on the back of regional tours, capital city showstoppers and the pick of the summer festivals, the Cash Savage bandwagon rolls back into Melbourne to play their first headlining show of the new year at the Famous Spiegeltent. Says Savage: “It’s pretty fucking awesome to be involved in such an internationally revered institution as the Spiegeltent, especially one that so heartily supports performance, creativity and live music in so many different places.” Word. Cash Savage And The Last Drinks will perform live at the famous Spiegeltent on Monday March 19 from 7pm. Tickets are $25 and are available from spiegel.artscentremelbourne.com.au.
FRIGG Prepare yourself for a feast of fiddles. The band Frigg is at the crest of this new wave, full of fresh ideas and taking the next leap forward for Finnish fiddle music. Frigg are regarded as one of Scandinavia’s leading folk acts and are bringing their brand of Nordic flavoured roots to Thornbury Theatre tonight. Get set for an onslaught of five fiddles, double bass, bagpipes and mandolin and some of the best music from the darker side of the globe. Supported by two of Melbourne’s most respected and loved violin based acts The Twoks and Oh Pep, this is set to be one of the most fantastic nights of fiddling Melbourne has ever witnessed. Tickets are $14+bf presale, $20 at the door if available and $54 for dinner and a show.
DARK GLOBES Dark Globes are a psychedelic band based in Melbourne whose music is laced with the groove of the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. They have been kicking for almost a year now and have already created a bit of attention playing wild reverb drenched freakout gigs regularly around Melbourne. Having already self recorded a seven track EP, they are just in the midst of finishing off a new release. Dark Globes take influence from bands such as The Doors, Tame Impala and Pink Floyd. The play Sunday March 18 at Bar Open.
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THE BLUEBOTTLES LAST LEAVES Introducing Last Leaves: a new band consisting of three Lucksmiths members – Marty Donald, Mark Monnone and Louis Richter – and Noah Symons of Great Earthquake fame. Writing and rehearsing in the Dandenong Ranges, the group has found their sound coming together effortlessly and unhurriedly: at once warm and dynamic, then at times complex rhythms woven together by intriguing guitar and bass melodies. After a two year hiatus, Marty Donald’s songwriting pen hasn’t run dry of vibrant imagery and despondent wit. Come celebrate the debut performances of Last Leaves next Thursday March 22 at the Workers Club with Laura Imbruglia, and Saturday March 24 at the Empress with The Zebras.
EZEKIEL OX Ezekiel Ox has new batch of songs that he wants to share, and the Wesley Anne in Northcote have been kind enough to invite him to play three Saturdays in March. Zeke will be singing his songs of life, death and redemption between 5-7pm on Saturday March 10, 17 and 24. Tickets are $15, and these shows are sure to be raw and powerful. Joining him will be the stellar Casey Dean (March 17) and Peter Glennon (March 10 and 24).
RAPSKALLION Electric troubadours, Rapskallion, shall be swashbuckling to the stage at Bar Open this St. Patricks day, with their heady concoction of rabblerousing revelry, reckless riffing, and rhapsodic romanticism, for a hootin’ little howdown. Returning from their recent roisterous East Coast tour, the Skallions are raring to deliver their rollicking, Dantesque collection of vaudevillian rock n’roll sonnets, guaranteed to intoxicate, arouse, and inspire joie de vivre. Grab your partner by the hitches and get your fine self in and up at Bar Open this Saturday March 17.
In the autumn of 2011 Michael Hubbard (lead guitar) enlisted the help of friends Richard Bradbeer (bass), Jim Laurie (drums) and his little brother Joe Hubbard (rhythm guitar/keys) to bring to life a vision he’d had for a long time, a rockin’ guitar based, instrumental group inspired by the Pre-Beatles rock music of the ‘60s. No strangers to the Melbourne music scene, The Bluebottles is comprised of members of Eagle And The Worm, Downhills Home and The Greasers to name a few. Get yourself to The Old Bar every Wednesday in March to catch The Bluebottle's shows and see what all the fuss is about. 8pm, free entry.
LOVE CONNECTION Love Connection re-emerge from the record-making wilderness to play two special album preview shows at Bar Open, Thursday March 15 and Friday March 16. In their first headline shows since returning from NYC in October, Love Connection undertake two shows back-to-back at Bar Open, playing tracks from their new album Euphoria as well as tracks you already know and love plus some brand new tunes. Thursday night features Love Connection, labelmates Pageants, and Angel Eyes, and Friday features Bum Creek, and the excellent Crumbs. Doors from 9pm and both shows are free.
DECREPIT SUN Decrepit Sun are an Australian heavy metal band from Gisborne, Victoria. They’ve played shows with many of Australia’s finest including Earth, Frankenbok, Superheist, Synthetic Breed and 5 Star Prison Cell. The five members attribute their sound to genres of death, thrash and groove metal. They play the Brunswick Hotel this Friday March 16.
LAKES Lakes aka Sean Bailey unleashes his 12th release, Crossed With Leaves 7” at The Tote on Friday March 16. Released by Queens, NY record label Quemada, Lakes’ new 7” takes yet another turn into an already diverse discography of bleak punk and industrial tinged dark folk. Lakes will be in full band mode, joined by-Lee Parker (Tear Gas, East Link) and Simon Taylor (TAX, Collapsed Toilet Vietnam). Supports from Dead Boomers, Forces and Nun. $10 entry, doors from 8.30pm.
FALLOE Fresh from their explosive performance at the St. Kilda Festival, Falloe have just announced their longawaited album launch at The John Curtin Hotel on Saturday March 24. The self-titled album includes their stunning single Science Of The Heart, which features an accompanying film clip that was directed by Natasha Pincus, the creator of the much lauded clip for Gotye’s song Somebody That I Used To Know.
OVER-REACTOR Melbourne’s Over-Reactor are coming back to play their first headline shows since supporting Karnivool and Floating Me last year. The best part is they’ll be debuting six songs from their new album Mouth Of The Ghetto, including the new single. Catch them with Brisbane’s Epidemic...Over, this weekend at the Espy Front Bar (free entry) on the Friday March 16 and then Pony Bar on Saturday 17 for anyone who likes to stay up late on a Saturday night. No bullshit, just good music from the edge.
KIRA PURU & THE BRUISE Having spent 2011 touring solidly, Newcastle/Sydney outfit Kira Puru & The Bruise are hitting the road once more for their When All Your Love Is Not Enough 7” single tour. Their sullen, sweaty and spine-tingling brand of rock has earned them a throng of dedicated fans Australia-wide as well as industry accolades. Don’t miss Kira Puru & The Bruise as they unfurl their ode to modern sadness in Melbourne on Friday March 30 at The Tote Hotel with supports from Black Water Fever. Doors open 8.30pm, Entry is $10.
LILY AND KING Lily and King are a lovely acoustic mess from Melbourne, Australia. Their aim is to use all of their limbs for making music at the one time, and to find more junk to hit. Their music is joyful, beautiful and a bit dirty and wicked too. Catch them at The Gem this Sunday March 18.
DAYDREAM ARCADE In less than 18 months since first establishing themselves, Daydream Arcade have knocked up some of Melbourne’s most iconic music venues and festivals, including Moomba, and the Darebin Community and Kite Festival. Daydream Arcade are also stoked to be performing at Push Over in March, for the Push Start’s Battle of the Bands grand final. Plus, the band is about to kick off a residency every Wednesday night in March, at the iconic Evelyn Hotel in Fitzroy. Boasting an infectious energy and catchy tunes, these four weeks are not to be missed.
THE SIDETRACKED FIASCO Sydney-based funk-core band The SideTracked Fiasco have recently released their second EP entitled Enter The Motivational Sasquatch. The title of the EP is a reference to the band’s unofficial mascot The Motivational Saskwatch, a delusional Bigfoot named Catboggie Sed who can often be sighted getting busy on the dance floor at STF shows. The SideTracked Fiascos’ sound has been compared to the likes of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against The Machine, Faith No More, System Of A Down and Mammal to name a few. To celebrate the release, the band are hitting venues along the East Coast of Australia and Melburnians can catch them at the Brunswick Hotel on Friday April 20.
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Beat Magazine Page 59
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Slap Gravity Records and Revolver Upstairs proudly present electronic funk specialists Planet Jumper. Launching their 12” EP called, Leave This Place Behind, Planet Jumper are set to bring their sticky, hyper percussive brand of dance music, and set the front room of Revolver into overdrive on Saturday March 17. Support on the night comes from The Volatile Ram, Circuit Bent and DJ ADM.
RED BENNIES LIVE Launching Thursday March 15, the Melbourne music scene has a new home at Melbourne’s temple to the fringe arts, Red Bennies. Live music has always had a presence there since the venue opened in South Yarra two years ago. Showcasing names like Fitz & The Tantrums, Lanie Lane, Pete Murray, Cookin’ On 3 Burners and the Harry James Angus Band, Red Bennies now has a dedicated program of back to back bands on Thursdays for RB’s Live, encouraging a whole new generation of talent with profile and employment opportunities. The official launch this Thursday features Money For Rope, The Harlots, The Pierce Brothers and Van Myer. Thursday March 22 will feature live music, paint and video with Tehachpi, Planet Love Sound and Ben Wright Smith.
THE EASTERN Newmarket Music is excited to announce that the hardest working folks in showbiz, The Eastern (NZ) will be returning to our shores for a phenomenal round of shows that will also coincide with the Australian launch of their new release Hope & Wire. Thursday March 22 will see The Eastern kick off their Aussie tour at the beloved Retreat Hotel in Brunswick. Support from Cherrywood. 9pm start, free.
NEIGHBOURHOOD YOUTH
BEN SOLLEE
Following a short stint in the studio last year, Brunswick-based indie collective Neighbourhood Youth emerged with their debut single Home and took to the local scene with a pulsating live show. Garnering attention for driving rhythmic build ups and soaring vocal hooks, the band are now set to close out a string of summer shows, with the release of new single Stone. A dreamy, stadium-sized tune, complete with bruised vocals and subtle guitar work; the band will launch the track on Thursday March 15 at The Workers Club. Support on the night from Private Life and The Red Lights. Doors 8pm, $10 entry.
This genre-bending cellist and vocalist is known for his percussive playing style, genre hopping songwriting, wide appeal and political activism. His music incorporates banjo, guitar, percussion, and unusual cello techniques to create a mix of folk, bluegrass, jazz and R&B. Ben Sollee seeks to intertwine his music with art and life. The theme of inclusions is large, humanistic and universal- how relationships influence us all- whether intentional or not. Ben Sollee plays tonight with special guest Piers Twomey at The Toff in Town, from 8pm. Tickets are $35+bf, via Moshtix.
MARGINS Melbourne instrumental four-piece Margins are set to release their album, Divide on Friday March 16 through Casadeldisco Records. Having honed their live performances accompanying an eclectic range of projected films; from Jess Franco to Return of the Jedi, Margins embrace subtlety and restraint as their modus operandi continue to enact a spacious and sublime style of instrumentation. There is also new territory to be explored, including maidenly haunting vocals from Jess Cornelius (Teeth and Tongue), drums and percussion by Dan McKay (The Nation Blue), swirling lap steel by Chris Rainier and keys reduced to hypnotic wash from the deftly understated Matt Bailey. See Margins launch their new album Divide on Friday March 30 at Polyester Records and Friday April 13 at The Old Bar, Melbourne.
WATERLINE The guys from Waterline have been around...and around! If you went to a lot of Melbourne gigs in the ‘80s and ‘90s then chances are you saw at least one of them doing a support for Do Re Mi, the Runners or Paul Kelly. It’s been a while coming, but Waterline will release their debut CD entitled Your Town on Friday March 16 at Bella Union Bar, Trades Hall, Carlton, with special guests Hugh McDonald (Redgum) and Paul Reid. Entry $10.
VINAL RIOT Vinal Riot will be dropping in for the 1am late show at Pony on Thursday March 15. The four-piece, grunge/ Seattle scene influenced band have released an EP consisting of four tracks, that is free at shows. More recently they are working on an album, recorded entirely by themselves, which is soon to be released. Come down to the Pony this Thursday, and experience some raw rock in the wee hours with Vinal Riot from 1am. Free.
RADIO MONASH With an illustrious history behind the station that extends all the way back to 1965, entirely studentoperated community radio station Radio Monash has developed a fearsome reputation for inspiring and cultivating a passion for the music industry among the generation’s brightest young minds, and trust us, they breed ‘em right. Join Melbourne’s most dedicated team of new-generation party animals and connoisseurs of fresh new music as the crew behind Radio Monash kick off their 2012 in inimitable style, with a bevy of the city’s finest up-and-coming bands including Animaux, The Good China, Young Maverick and Hot English. The Radio Monash Launch Party lands at the Northcote Social Club on Thursday March 15. Tickets are a mere $12+bf or $15 on the door. Beat Magazine Page 60
AHAB Following the release of Ahab’s debut CD a.h.a.b in 2009, the band has recently successfully wrapped up 2011 with an 18 show sell-out UK tour. The band have a recently recorded EP kmvt, and you can catch them at The Toff in Town this Thursday March 15. Tickets are on sale now from Moshtix, $35+bf. Doors open from 8pm.
CALADONIA Come experience the brand new breed of grunge bands, each with their own twist. First up are Red Rhino combining all elements from the ‘90s which made it how we know of it – think Nirvana and Nine Inch Nails in a blender. Now pour it out into a jug and sip it. What does it taste like? Grungetronic, dirty synthesisers with great melodies. Home Made is what you’d get if a hyper-sphere from the fourth dimension popped out of your refrigerator and began playing guitar. Yikes. And headlining the night is Caladonia, a band who’ve introduced flavours to their music previously ignored by many other bands. Catch them all at Pony this Thursday March 15, doors 8.30pm.
CARACTACUS With flannelettes back in fashion and a deluge of reunion tours it’s pretty clear that the ‘90s are the new ‘80s. Enter Caractacus, emerging from their Y2K bunker clutching a CD case full of Alice in Chains, Primus, and Soundgarden and looking around for the nearest Sizzler. Having missed the boat on the new wave of angst rock, they stuck to their guns and started pumping out the fattest grooves conceivable. To celebrate the launch of their debut EP Secret Spices they’re getting together with Meet Me In Cognito, Sentia and Easy Please for a big night of shenanigans at Pony on Friday March 16 from 9pm.
BATEMAN Mixed by Joby J. Ford of the Bronx, recorded by them and loved by you, Bateman are unleashing their disgustingly brutal debut EP Ultra Violence and even your grandmother is gonna love it. Head to the Bendigo Hotel on Friday March 16 and bear witness to the spectacle of Anti-Social Party Metal before they head over for their second tour of Nova Scotia and first ever Northern European/Russian leg of of their Ultra Violence World Tour. Needless to say – but you’re welcome! Awesome local supports including the rocking Viking Frontier, Cavalcade and Stockades.
THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLER I Won’t Stay Too Long is the next single from The Fearless Vampire Killer’s impressive debut LP, Batmania. This barefaced song encompasses the vibe of the ‘70s as much as it does the sound. The retro surf rock tune is essentially about one night standsbeing young and having flings with people just for the sake of it, as nothing really matters because we’re in our youth and we have all the time in the world to destroy our relationships and start new ones. It’s the mentality of thinking you're invincible really. Staying true to the sound that we have come to know and love, I Won’t Stay Too Long is layered with musical texture that barrels through to a powerful finish, highlighting how TFVK are beginning to make a name for themselves internationally. See TFVK play at The Toff in Town, alongside special guests, at 8pm this Saturday March 17. Tickets are $12 on the door.
DEJA Atrophy is the first single from the Melbourne band DEJA’s anticipated debut album. Created in the band’s home studio and mixed by renowned producer Scott Horscroft, the song takes its cues from the forefront of electric/pop music from around the globe. A haunting marriage of dark vocals and growling bass lines over a galloping beat, Atrophy explores the themes of fear, death and loss. With the help of filmaker Josh Harris, the band has also created a music video that expresses the idea of ultimate optimism in the face of the unknown. DEJA will be celebrating the release of the single's film clip with the help of good friends Smoking Toddlers and Yuko Nishiyama at The Toff Band Room on Sunday March 18. Doors open from 7.30pm and tickets are available via Moshtix- $10+bf.
Late Friday night, local two-piece The Scholars will keep the music going with a special one hour set of their unique uproar of a sound. With songs about love, hate, the weather, alcohol, blue dresses, memory loss and a tap dancing cover song, The Scholars’ wide musical variety will keep punters guessing just what on earth will they think of next, this Friday March 16 in the 2am late slot at Pony.
LITTLEFOOT
FORAMEN
At the front of the ‘90s grunge/indie rock pack in Melbourne is Littlefoot, and Pony are stoked to have them playing their very first 2am late show this Saturday March 17. The occasion also marks the launch of their debut Kill Yr Face EP, so all you creeps living in the past get down to Pony at 2am and check out the new old sounds of Littlefoot. And grab an EP while you’re at it.
Six-foot front woman Emily Lubitz twirls her flaming red hair out across a complex and original musical creation, in which virtuoso instrumental performances and pulsating rhythms merge to form a wholly unique sound. Imagine Edith Piaf in the body of Mrs Jessica Rabbit, wandering through a landscape of suburban fairy tales and electric static clouds. Guitarist Jesse Lubitz thumps up dust from the floor of the stage, the drums rumble, and the organ whirrs, and up over the top of everything floats the prodigal Alex Burkoy’s achingly sad violin. Since their early days as Australian folk darlings, brother- and-sister duo Tinpan Orange has evolved into a dizzyingly original musical force. They play the Phoenix Public House with The Stillsons as part of the Brunswick Music Festival on Thursday March 15. Tickets are $24 or $19 for concession from Moshtix.
ROMY BRADBEER We’re Making You Uncomfortable explores the human form philosophically and transcendentally. Romy Bradbeer explores the human figure and psyche with particular regard to fragmentation and distortion in an abstract and literal sense while drawing on the practices of Eastern philosophies and movement as well as the Freudian concept of the abject. Romy astutely addresses the fine line between the public and private body, psychologically and physically. We’re Making You Uncomfortable will be showing from Tuesday March 20 through to Thursday March 29 at The Old Bar, Johnson Street, Fitzroy. Opening night will feature a stripped back set from local alternative/folk artist Michael Shaun, whose lyrically intense & rhythmically gripping sounds will take you to higher places. Exhibition opens from 7pm, with music from 8pm. Free entry.
CHELSEA DRUGSTORE Chelsea Drugstore will bring their special brand of rock with a blues edge to the Victoria Hotel this Saturday March 17. A few covers from some of their main influences (Neil Young, The Stones and The Band) will also be thrown into the mix. Two sets from 10pm. Don’t miss this one. It’s free .
THE BONNIE DOONS Drunken country blues for your Friday night shenanigans. If you have ever had a beer in bed you’ll understand what this music is all about. If you haven’t, by the end of this show you’ll probably want to. See you at the Vic Hotel on Friday March 16 from 10pm, free.
THE PERCH TREE FAMILY JUGBAND Psychologists have diagnosed them as pathological liars, genealogists have labeled them as inbred, and critics have, well, criticised them, but The Perch Creek Family Jugband just won’t quit. Featuring Australia’s top one-legged saw player, Who magazine’s most handsome jug player, and more (equally notable) siblings than you can count, The Perch Creek Family Jugband sing and dance their unique blend of original and traditional repertoire, roving from bluegrass, oldtime jazz, and country blues to whatever else they may just happen to fancy. They headline The Old Bar on Saturday night, along with support from Grumpy Neighbour, who bring their contemporary old time fauxlk’n’roll back for another big night of rollicking true stories and some not so true. Also supporting is Eaten By Dogs and Guy Kable. This Saturday March 17, doors open at 8.30pm, $10 entry.
THE SCHOLARS
TINPAN ORANGE
Foramen (Jon Chappel) has a Tuesday night residency every week this March. The guy who used to be in Mclusky is gonna be playing his guitar for the amusement of onlookers. Support is Palm Springs this Tuesday March 27. Located in the front bar of The Tote with free entry, doors open from 8pm
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SHAUN KIRK Pinned as “the real thing” (John Carver - PBS FM), Shaun has been captivating audiences across the country with his charming style of boogie blues and soul. With a bevy of new material, Shaun’s first fulllength album, Thank You for Giving Me the Blues sees the 23-year-old troubadour take a leap in musical maturity. Shaun’s innovative arrangements of old blues standards by the likes of Willie Dixon and Bo Diddley show his inclination to take the genre to places it hasn’t been. Shaun is bringing his ‘one man show’ to Ruby’s in Belgrave on Friday March 16, surrounded by a stomp box, tambourine, high hat, cymbal, kick and snare drum. Shaun’s flair for playing six percussive sounds with his feet, whilst delivering quality guitar and bluesharmonica performances, is undeniably impressive.
BLACKWATER
SUB ATARI KNIVES After their killer set at this year’s Rock The Bay Festival, three-piece hard-edged/electro act Sub Atari Knives (feat. members of Mammal, MM9 and K-Oscillate) headline The Evelyn on Friday March 23. These guys are a band to watch in 2012, bringing a fresh sound to the Melbourne live music scene. Support comes from I Am Duckeye (feat. members of Sydonia), Fisker and a special guest to be announced. Doors 8pm.
HOWLIN’ STEAM TRAIN Howlin’ Steam Train are gearing up for a massive month in March. The lads have been sharpening up their live show and they’ll be unleashing an onslaught of rocking boogie music every Sunday night in March at The Old Bar. With great supports each week this residency is shaping up to be a cracker! Catch them this Sunday March 18, $5 entry. Supports include The Bearded Gypsy Band, Lexi Derock & The Sugarfoot Blues Brigade and DJ Lovepuff.
STAND UP CAMBODIA BENEFIT Fitzroy’s Disability Sport & Recreation have partnered with not for profit group Stand Up Cambodia, to bring sport and recreation opportunities to women with disabilities in Cambodia. Playing Cambodia, the benefit gig is proudly supported by The Cambodian Space Project, a band created by the idea of bridging cultures and exploring new musical frontiers. The CSP plays a mix of ‘60s Cambodian Rock with Khmer Surin dance grooves, hints of the blues, French gypsy accordion music and acid rock with reggae. It’s a heavy dose but no one leaves without dancing. Supports include Burl Ives, Ruth Lindsay and Sean Wheelan & The Interim Lovers. BBQ by gold coin donation, this Thursday March 15 at The Tote. Doors open from 7.30pm, entry $15.
Formed in 2010, Blackwater’s music is defined by dynamic hard hitting structures whilst blending powerful progressive overtones, to not only portray the ominous feel of dark metal, but the impact of its speed and power. Blackwater will showcase tracks from their upcoming debut EP at The Prague. Supporting acts are from the self-proclaimed sick metal band Bullnecked, Adelaide’s metal and funk fusion The Fak, the aggressive and thought provoking orchestrations from Overthrone, and also Amoured Earth’s hard-hitting riffs and thumping grooves. This Friday March 16, $12 entry. Doors from 8pm.
MUSIC NEWS
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SMRTS Much loved Perth instrumental band SMRTS are bringing their acclaimed live show to Melbourne in March to promote their new LP Have Friends and Visit Them at Night (Heartless Robot). The SMRT'S live performance is an immersive experience – the threepronged guitar attack and duelling drums amplify their ‘hero music for villains’ to a level that induces equally spontaneous outpourings of joy and tears. High Tea are a jet engine that uses only propellant mass for forming its high speed propulsive jet. High Tea are reaction engines and obtain thrust in accordance with Newton’s third law. Duck Duck Chop (DDC) are a pair of large solid rockets used by NASA Space Shuttles during the first two minutes of powered flight. Together they provided about 83% of liftoff thrust for the Space Shuttle. They are located on either side of the rusty or orange-colored external propellant tank. Each member of DDC produces 80% more liftoff thrust than one F-1 engine, the most powerful single-chamber liquid-fueled rocket engine ever flown — five of which powered the first stage of the Saturn V “Moon Rocket”. Catch all these guys at Bar Open tonight for free. SMRTS also play the Noise Bar in Brunswick on Saturday March 17 with locals Vodnik (live Improv), Semuta (psychedelic treats) and Pioneers of Good Science (a noise rock duo). The night is set to go off. 8pm. $10 entry.
LUAU COWBOYS Rockabilly is on its way to the Victoria Hotel, and this Sunday March 18 the onslaught begins with the Hawaiian inspired Luau Cowboys. Tom Forsell will front his experienced band for an afternoon of swingin’, groovin’ tunes from 5pm onward. Free entry.
NANO STERN Chilean folk artist Nano Stern returns to the Brunswick Music Festival for the second year in a row. Named “one of the most in-demand international artists on the domestic festival scene” by Rhythms Mag, Nano Stern has brought Australian audiences to their feet from his first visit as a solo artist in 2008. Nano Stern and the Sindicato perform as part of the Brunswick Music Festival at the Brunswick Town Fall on Thursday March 15 at 8pm. Tickets available at the door.
A NIGHT AT THE CROSSROADS
KWEER DIRTY DISCOTHEQUE
An assembly of some of the finest blues musicians from Sydney and Melbourne pay homage to legendary Mississippi Delta bluesman Robert Johnson. Like it or not, Robert Johnson’s contribution to modern music is undeniably large. He has influenced almost every musician in modern music directly and indirectly. The myth that Robert made a deal at the crossroads was never denied or admitted but his mysterious death at the age of 27 was the start of club that took some of the biggest names in music. Robert Johnson lived fast and died young leaving a musical legacy that shaped the face of modern music. Then tribute night to Johnson (featuring Dom Turner, Jeff Lang, Ian Collard and more) takes place at the Caravan Club in Oakleigh as part of the Carnival Or Suburbia on Friday March 16.
KRACKLE Kweer Dirty Discotheque is a new seasonal party for party people at Noise Bar, Brunswick. The debut event will get you down and dirty on the dance floor with disco deviants Celebrities Anonymous, =DJ*MY-T-JAXX* and SO 1963. With fabulous entertaining intervals provided by delicious drag shows from Chloe Cooper and Xavier Faze. Doors will open at 9pm and won’t close until the party stops. If you’re dancing, DJs will be spinning Hip-Hop, Mash-ups, Retro, Dirty Electro and House until your dancing shoes wear out. Get down for what will be the last party of the summer and the first party of the rest of your life. This Friday March 16 at Noise Bar in Brunswick, $10 entry.
SALTAR HYPE PRESENTS...
I
THE KHY BER IBELT
SUBATARI KNIVES
Thursday March 22nd – The Corner Hotel, Richmond with Cold Heart & Sweet Jean www.cornerhotel.com (ph 03 9427 9198 between 10am-8pm Mon-Sat)
Saturday March 24th – Meeniyan Hall, Meeniyan www.lyrebirdartscouncil.com.au (ph 03 5664 9239)
Sunday March 25th – Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh www.caravanmusic.com.au
Classy Americana drawing on the influences of honky-tonk, rock ‘n roll, rockabilly, western swing, alt-country, blues and sixties rock and pop. Eilen Jewell is one act you should not miss!
ARTILAH I AM DUCKEYE
FISKER FRIDAY 23 MARCH EVELYN HOTEL
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Beat Magazine Page 61
MUSIC NEWS
GOODBYEMOTEL YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
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60 SECONDS WITH… THNKR So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? The band is called THNKR. We are Sean and Jono, and we play vocals/guitar/keys and bass/vocals respectively. Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? Maybe, a black Paul Simon mixed with some LCD Soundsystem. What do you love about making music? It’s a far more effective and subtle way of communication than talking. What do you hate about the music industry? That Tom Waits hasn’t come to Australia in so long. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? We wouldn’t fit in the DeLorian. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? Everyone has a place in the grand spectrum of sound. What can a punter expect from your live show?
THNKR The electronically infused alt-rock collective, THNKR, wind up their final Residency Show at The Toff next Monday March 19 with The Neighbourhood Youth and Midsummer Tribe. Off the back of the release of their single The Thief, and sold out shows including the hipster charged Can’t Say at Miss Libertines, and supporting New Navy at the Northcote Social Club, THNKR are ready to sign off their residency in style and would love your attendance and dancing shoes.
ELECTRIC SMILE BAND Since recording her debut EP with Regurgitator’s Ben Ely, Emma Stuart’s new project Wall of Mirrors is ready to hit the stage. Minimal yet magical, these songs are formed around a bed of simple textures; Emma’s vocals are engaging and familiar, yet idiosyncratic. Also fresh on the scene is Fitzroy Pool favourites Rohypnotise. Expect dreamy, ethereal songs with a stonking beat or two. Oh, and did I mention Jon Benge plays in this band? Ladies, cover your drinks, it’s Rohypnotise! Finally the anonymous Electric Smile Band will round up the evening. No one has any idea who plays in this band. No one. So how do they rate against their other camouflaged counterparts? Let’s just say they are better than Slipknot but not quite as good as KISS and greater than or equal to TISM. They all look forward to gazing upon your features at said concert performance, Thursday March 15 at the Grace Darling.
CHERRY BAR Another massive week of music at the Cherry Bar. Kicking off tonight are Bunny Moore, the arsekicking rock girl band made up of the babes from Cherry, what’s not to love? Thursday night sees The Funkadelic Side with guests Yuka & the Rev Gerry-O, with DJS Vince Peach and Pierre Baroni, for the small price of $10, bargain. Friday March 16, get your weekend started with a Psychobilly Nightwhere we’ll see The Vampires, from QLD, alongside Working Horse Irons and Road Rats. Saturday March 17 the goods continue this St. Patrick’s Day weekend with Valentiine, Dukes of Deliciousness and Seedy Jezus. Both shows are $13 at the door. The Cherry Bar presents a big night of rotgut’n’roll this St. Patrick’s Day Weekend with Sydney gaelic-punks The Rumjacks with support from The Tearaways.
THE BAND WHO KNEW TOO MUCH The Band Who Knew Too Much is a bona-fide foolproof floor-packing band. For over a decade they have branded their sound around the world; a highly energetic act that is at home singing on the festival stage, busking unplugged on the city streets, or anything in between! They are a genuine north of the river band, Northcote legends in fact, fronted by the energy sapping Dave Evans. They play the Phoenix Public House with The Bearded Gypsy Band this Friday March 16. Tickets are $24 or $19 for consession from Moshtix.
Beat Magazine Page 62
Goodbyemotel return from living in New York for the past six months, writing and recording their new album with producer Kevin Killen (U2, Peter Gabriel). While based in NYC they played a residency at the amazing Rockwood Music Hall and toured their latest EP Wish Your Way around the US, picking up college radio play and showcasing at US industry events such as CMJ and MMC. To celebrate their return to Melbourne, they’re throwing a home coming show on Friday March 23 at Yah Yah’s. Be amongst the first to hear songs from their new album. Joining the lineup will be rockers Innerspace, plus other special guests including Ash Naylor (Even) DJing.
PUGSLEY BUZZARD
Surprises, a lot of instruments, energy, and some goosebumps. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? Nothing yet, we’ll have a release of some description available soon… When’s the gig and with who? It’s our final Residency at the Toff in Town, on Monday March 19, with The Neighbourhood Youth and Midsummer Tribe. Anything else to add? These Hands Never Killed Rock ‘n’ roll.
ABIGAIL WASHBURN AND KAI WELCH If American old-time music is about taking earlier, simpler ways of life and music making as one’s model, Abigail Washburn has proven herself to be a bracing revelation to that tradition. She – a singing, songwriting, Illinois-born, Nashville-based claw hammer banjo player – is every bit as interested in the present and the future as she is in the past. Of Washburn’s classic songwriting and old-time storytelling aesthetic with collaborator Kai Welch’s indie rock influence & classical training, resulting in a collection of beautifully enigmatic songs. They play the Phoenix Public House tonight as part of the Brunswick Music Festival. Tickets are $36 and concession are $24. Doors open 9am, tickets from Moshtix.
IN-BED WITH JOHN AND YOKO FOR 2012 To commemorate the first of John and Yoko’s two Bed-In’s at the Amsterdam Hilton, March 25 to March 31 in 1969, JOY 94.9’s Friday Drive Team- David and Sue will recreate the famous In Bed with John and Yoko, and stage a three hour show in bed on Friday March 30 from 4pm till 7pm. This is to bring awareness to the plight of marriage equality in Australia. The JOY studios will be open to the public and everyone is invited to be part of this movement, just as John and Yoko invited the world to be part of their BedIn. Gold coin donation on entry plus David and Sue will auction time on the bed with them throughout the broadcast with all proceedings going to JOY 94.9. Following the event there will be a prize draw for one lucky JOY member.
MUSHROOM HORSE A warped, psychedelic rock sound was captured on location at a farm in NSW last year and released as a debut album. This year, the Horse are focusing on distilling the essence of a dark country organic trip. Catch a whiff on Thursday March 15 at the Retreat Brunswick stable with fellow equine rockers, Pony Face. Free entry and bands from 9pm.
BEN SALTER It has been a big 12 months for Ben Salter. After releasing his debut album; the singer-songwriter from The Gin Club, Giants of Science and The Wilson Pickers (as well as numerous other acts), toured the country with Paul Dempsey and Busby Marou, appeared on Rockwiz filming a stunning duet with girl of the moment, Kimbra and won Most Popular Male in the Queensland Music Awards. Into 2012, things just keep getting better and better for Salter, with a solo co-headline tour with a notable Australian frontman yet to be announced as well as touring to the UK and Europe. Salter will be playing every Sunday in March on The Retreat Hotel’s brand new beer garden stage. Two sets from 4pm. Free.
Prepare to be booglarised by one of Australia`s finest consummate artists. Pugsley Buzzard has performed all over the world from the smoky jazz cellars of Berlin to downtown New Orleans the womb of the blues. Pugsley has dazzled and delighted audiences far wide with his unique blend of dark hoodoo blues, good time rollicking boogie and blazing stride style piano playing in conjunction with his huge mesmerizing voice that can make the ladies sigh and grown men cry. A recipe for loads of fun. Appearing at the Retreat Hotel, on Thursday March 29. Entry is free, folks.
THE WEEKEND PEOPLE The Weekend People bring their violently percussive, alt-country-tinged sounds to The Great Britain for four free headline shows, Thursdays in March. They’ll be unveiling some never before played material from their forthcoming EP, currently being recorded. Joining them will be folk-pop quintet, Into The Woods, longtime friends and tour-buddies Matt Collyer and the Company, the ever-popular Melbourne troub Tim Reid (with Emma Heeney), and restless soul James Hazeldon with some of his Gentlemen Callers making an appearance at The Great Britain Hotel. See them this Thursday March 15. Doors from 8pm with free entry.
DROPBUNNY Metal/experimental seven-piece Dropbunny, will launch their highly-anticipated second album, IO, on Friday March 16, at the John Curtin Hotel in Carlton. Death of Art will also be launching the video to their track Anti-Valentine, and will be joined by Hybrid Nightmares, BROOZER and Moth. This will be an awesome night of some of the most innovative and intense Melbourne alternative/metal on the scene. Doors open 8pm, first band starts at 8.15pm.
ZOOPHYTE Emerging from Melbourne’s Eastern suburbs in 2004, Zoophyte are a high-octane four piece rock band, with a reputation as a fantastic live act. It’s been a busy twelve months for Zoophyte, taking an indefinite hiatus to explore and redevelop their sound, and results could not be more exciting. Catch them this Saturday March 17 at the Evelyn, doors open from 9pm. Tickets $12+bf, available through Moshtix.
EL MOTH AND THE TURBO ROADS BIDET MATE On Saturday March 17, you can expect loose dancing, easy drinking and big tunes as the band throw down their celebratory set of soul-punk, new-wave, toetapping rock in customary style. Support of Bidet Mate on the night is being kept secret so make sure you get in early for the big reveal. It’s sure to be another great show at The Great Britain Hotel with free entry and doors opening from 9pm.
ALEX LASHLIE Richmond’s Great Britain Hotel sees singer/ songwriter Alex Lashlie present songs from his forthcoming album. With an ambiguous storytelling style, his lyrics and vocal melodies have a maturity and richness well beyond his years. Jeff May provides support on the night with stories of loss and salvation wrapped up in unique melodies. Catch them on Sunday March 18. 7pm, free entry.
DAYDREAM ARCADE With influences from Two Door Cinema Club, Cut Copy and Jackson Jackson, Daydream Arcade’s super catchy riffs, lyrics and beats are the ultimate sounds to get crazy with. They play a Wednesday night residency throughout March. Tonight, support comes from Pretty Strangers and Brightly, and next Wednesday March 21 we’ll see support from The Kilniks and Poco la Pax. The Evelyn from 8.30pm. For both shows – tickets $7+bf, available through Moshtix.
El Moth has been playin’ around and about Melbourne town since around 2009. Anywhere from parks and gardens, backyards and warehouses, pubs and clubs, street parties and festivals. El Moth has surely pissed someone in your neighbourhood off before and will most likely do it again someday. The band got tired of the police shutting them down when they’d only just started playing so figured that they can legally make a shitload of noise without worrying about being arrested. So far it’s going well and their funky reggae rocky jammy tunes should get you moving- go check them out. They’re playing Tuesday March 20 at The Evelyn. Supported by Ghost Orchid, doors from 9pm.
THREE PHASE OPENING PARTY Three Phase Music Studios have been busy over the past year constructing a brand new bunch of rehearsal studios in Brunswick. To mark the official opening, a huge opening party is happening this Saturday, March 17, 8:00pm at the new Three Phase Rehearsal Studios – 8 Tinning Street Brunswick. Playing live will be The Hawaiian Islands, The Perfections, High Tea, and Drifter, with late DJ sets by Jay Stride and Mantooth. It’s a truly mixed bill with some party punk, funk/soul, art rock, and some good ole stoner and garage punk/ rock thrown in for good measure. The party is open to anyone who’s interested in checking out the new space and seeing some great bands. It’s BYO and just a gold coin donation entry.
ROSENCRANTS Sitting somewhere between the sounds of Josh Homme and ‘60s garage, Rosencrants are planning a big night at the Evelyn to celebrate the completion of a solid stint of recording. It will be Rosencrants’ first headline show of 2012 after a string of slots around Brunswick. Included in the price of entry is an advance digital copy of one of their newly recorded tracks. Supporting are Homeowner, Black Crow Kings and Rosencrants’ favourite party boys Chop Squad. Get along this Thursday March 15. Doors from 8.30pm.
FRANCOLIN Suddenly Painlessly is the first single from Francolin’s debut album Won’t Let You Down recorded and producedby Nick Huggins (Oscar + Martin, Kid Sam, The Harpoons). In 2011, Francolin built a reputation for joyous live shows, a disarming dose of charm and quality lyricism. After a sold out farewell during examseason and the invigorating reception at their return for the recent St Kilda Festival, Francolin are now ready to bring the manifold magic of their music from Melbourne and out into the world. Born by wideeyed ‘80s guitar pop, slow motion Mardi Gras and the M*A*S*H-theme Suddenly Painlessly tumbles out the gate like a grinning locomotive. The words are an ode to the myriad ills of self-doubt but also a rallying cry to the escape trick which cures them all.
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THE BEARDED GYPSY BAND Following rave performances at the Illawarra Folk Festival (NSW) and WOMAD, The Bearded Gypsy Band are in Melbourne performing at some different venues this week. Catch them at The Espy on Thursday March 15, at the Brunswick Music Festival (Phoenix Public House) on Friday March 16, at Baha Taco Joint on Saturday March 17, and at the Old Bar on Sunday March 18. Inspired by the likes of Django Reinhardt, Paprika Balkanicus, Andrew Bird and folk music from around the planet, The Bearded Gypsy Band’s eclectic mix of pulsing gypsy tunes will leave you exhilarated and hungry for more.
PURPLE EMERALD
JEFF LANG Jeff Lang is one of Melbourne’s roots music heroes. His solo recording magnificent way, back in old Brunswick career began in 1994 and his latest album Carried in Mind is his 14th release as a solo artist. Over the years he has honed his art, his songwriting, his licks, his production nous and his performance craft until these days he can go with the best of them. And like all good artists he just keeps getting better. He’s a fabulous role model for young artists, an example of how hard work and dedication can in the end bring that elusive ‘overnight success’. He is joined by Melbourne soul, blues and roots specialists Spoonful at the Phoenix Public House as part of the Brunswick Music Festival this Saturday March 17, tickets are $26 or $21 for concession from Moshtix.
VELOCIRAPTOR Velociraptor like to make party, so much so that they formed a band/gang so large, so loose, and so fun that instant party making was guaranteed wherever they showed up. Originally a trio formed by vocalist/ primary songwriter Jeremy Neale and his bros Simon Ridley and Shane Parsons of DZ Deathrays infamy, the band quickly grew (in number, if not reputation) as DZ Deathrays touring commitments saw them away on the road more often. The band has since grown to a revolving cast of 12 Ultimate Party Dogs and embarked on a number of national tours where a surprising number of people actually showed up. You can catch them on their upcoming headline shows in March and again in April as main support for DZ Deathrays. Tickets are $10/$15 for this Saturday March 17 at The Tote, with support from Harmony and Drunk Mums. Doors from 8.30pm.
Northcote punters have inherited a precious gem. After 16 years of trade on Flinders Lane, Melbourne, The Purple Emerald Lounge Bar has relocated, opening its doors to the wonders of High Street, Northcote – and it hasn’t changed a bit. This iconic gem was a long time favourite for Melbourne’s CBD 20-somethings. Renowned for its live funk and soulfuelled entertainment and quirky vintage decor, Purple Emerald has stuck to its roots, keeping to the rustic charm that earned this little treasure it’s iconic status as Melbourne’s hidden gem. Closed only on Wednesdays, Purple Emerald trades every other afternoon as a cafe bar before it makes a transition into the funky nightspot it is renowned for. European and Asian infused Tapas is available, along with unique cocktail creations, a wonderful array of local beers and ciders, plus a selection of coffee and tea. A huge sundeck to the rear of the venue is already proving to be quite popular and Sunday afternoons are all about this great sunny space! Live soulful beats and an all day BBQ make the Sun-deck Sessions on Sundays a breath of fresh air. Live acid jazz and funk/soul inspired entertainment is on every Thursday night, as well as on Friday and Saturday nights til the wee hours of the morning in support of all the local musos in the neighbourhood. It’s located at 349 High St, Northcote.
HOWL AT THE MOON Continuing to bring their visceral strum and drang to Melbourne’s live venues, Howl At The Moon take to the Northcote Social Club stage on Saturday March 24 to launch their highly anticipated debut album Squalls. Showcasing the breadth of the band’s musical largesse, the album is an at times turbulent journey over emotional high seas. From the sonic violence of first single Let The Mainsheet Down My Love to the more reflective tone of second offering Just A Kid like its name suggests, Squalls is unrelenting and enveloping. Tickets available now from the Northcote Social Club website.
UNDER THE SUBURBAN SKIES An affectionate, whimsical exploration of suburban life featuring the songs, poems and meanderings of Reg Mombassa & Peter O’Doherty from Dog Trumpet, Dave Graney, Lisa Miller, Mark Ferrie, Brian Nankervis and more. This Friday March 16 at the Oakleigh Bowling Club as part of Carnival Of Suburbia.
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VALENTIINE Valentiine pop their cherry on Saturday March 17 when they team up with Seedy Jezus and the Dukes of Deliciousness for a night of down-right dirty Melbourne rock’n’roll at Cherry Bar. The girls are making the most of their time this year having just been a feature artist for the National SLAM Day, finalising recording for a new single to drop in coming months and have just been selected for Melbourne’s own Cherry Rock in April. Rumour has it that these lovely ladies are being courted by some nice boys who want to play with them in the UK right now so there may be some overseas action on the cards. So get along and enjoy these dirty rockin’ gals with the rest of us on Saturday March 17 at Cherry Bar.
PIETA BROWN AND THE SAWDUST BOYS To celebrate the Australian release of her stunning new album Mercury, US folk poet-songwriter Pieta Brown is returning for an Australian tour in March with her trio and special guest and friend Lucie Thorne. Pieta Brown (US) and Lucie Thorne (AUS) are possibly two of the most intriguing, talented and quietly enduring songwriters of their generation and respective homelands. They play the Caravan Club tonight as part of the Carnival Of Suburbia.
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MJ HALLORAN AND THE SINNERS MJ Halloran & The Sinners are performing a March residency at Grumpy’s Green (125 Smith St. Fitzroy) with a killer favourite band each week. This Sunday March 18, they are supported by Poison Oak: take three parts Jacknives, stir in one part Jack on Fire = BANG! Dirty slide guitar, upright bass and with a hint of that ole high’n’lonesome country twang; Poison Oak traverse the murky backwater swamplands of blues and rock’n’roll. Free entry with fine food and great music from 6.30pm.
Beat Magazine Page 63
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
SYN SWEET 16
THE SHINS
1. Outlands DEEP SEA ARCADE 2. Ex-Lives EVERY TIME I DIE 3. Myth BEACH HOUSE 4. Be A Body GRIMES 5. Shame THE CAIROS 6. Rescue Me GEMMA RAY 7. Only Sun PEAK TWINS 8. You Me Bullets Love BOMBAY ROYALE 9. Animal BRISCOE 10. Idle Heart BEAR IN HEAVEN
Port Of Morrow (Sony)
WEDNESDAY 14 MARCH RESIDENCY
DAYDREAM ARCADE PRETTY STRANGERS BRIGHTLY ENTRY $7, 8.30PM
THURSDAY 15 MARCH
CHOP SQUAD
ROSENCRANTS (SINGLE LAUNCH) HOMEOWNER BLACK CROW KINGS ENTRY $4, 8.30PM $2.50 POTS, $5 VODKAS!
FRIDAY 16 MARCH DARK ARTS
SPECIAL GUESTS ENTRY $10 DOOR, 9PM SATURDAY 17 MARCH ROOFTOP EP LAUNCH
CITIZEN SEX DIAMOND THE PEEP TEMPEL ENTRY $10, 9PM
SINGLE LAUNCH
ZOOPHYTE MY DYNAMITE TOM TUENA
ENTRY $15 DOOR, $12 PRESALE THRU MOSHTIX, 9PM
SUNDAY 18 MARCH
PALLET TOWN CHILIAD BLAZING ENFIELDS ENTRY $8, 8.30PM
MONDAY 19 MARCH MINI RESIDENCY
SIMON WRIGHT BAND THE HIGH SOCIETY MUNRO MELANO TRIO FREE ENTRY, 9PM $10 JUGS!
Five years and a Grammy award later and the epitomical indie-rock group, The Shins, are back with a fresh LP and renewed gusto for life. An encouraging release from the Portland via Albuquerque-based project, following 2007’s highly acclaimed Wincing The Night Away and subsequent extended hiatus, The Shins have endured a few dramatic modifications to their musical make-up to produce a highly evolved and warm retrospective in the form of Port Of Morrow. In the interim leading up to their fifth endeavour, The Shins have more accurately morphed into front-man James Mercer taking the helm as primary songwriter, vocalist, guitarist, percussionist (and occasional glockenspiel player) in an ever-transposing lineup, that has now seen the full metamorphosis of band to solo project over the course of their recording career. Recorded mostly in Portland and Los Angeles throughout 2011, Port Of Morrow hints at a mandatory evolution of sound in its production and themes, but not so much as to greatly change The Shins trademark characteristics. With a little help from producer Greg Kurstin on keys and bass on certain tracks, what has materialised is a mature and diverse collection of stunning and heartfelt melodies that don’t fail to appeal. With baited breath, the glittering intro to opening track, The Rifle’s Spiral, is an immediate welcome home to familiar Shins territory. With the inclusion of some spaced-out, almost psychedelic synth effects beneath the climatic chorus of the track, there lies the familiar boasting vocals of Mercer warming one to the new era of the band. It’s a confident opener that seamlessly transitions into the instant radio favourite, Simple Song, which falls nothing short of their signature sound, thanks to a cheerful execution of lyrics from verse to chorus. Five songs deep and tracks like It’s Only Life and September are early indicators of the diversity embedded in the album throughout; the soaring warmth in the upbeat openers turn into slower, more subtle numbers that feel somewhat reflective and thoughtful in their context. Lyrics such as ‘I’ve been down that road before / It doesn’t have to be so dark and lonesome’ are not only telling of Mercer’s developing wisdom, but also accentuate a positivity carried throughout the album’s duration. The second half of the album’s ten track breadth is as equally contemplative as the first, with bursts of reverb on Mercer’s vocals, as well as playful guitar pedal effects making for a dreamy Californian vibe
Disclaimer: As Simone is over at SXSW having the time of her life whilst we’re currently sitting in the office nursing the 11th hour of our ultimate Golden Plains hangovers, our Arts and Associate Music Editor Tyson Wray is filling in for her. Tyson is very cynical and is famed around these parts for not liking ‘guitar music’ but he is very knowledgeable.
LOST ANIMAL
GHOST ORCHID ENTRY BY DONATION, 9PM $10 JUGS!
COMING UP:
TIM HART
FRINGE FESTIVAL FORUM FREE ENTRY, 5:30PM
RESIDENCY
EL MOTH & THE TURBO RADS
TIX AVAILABLE THRU MOSHTIX
EL MOTH & THE TURBO RADS (TUES IN MAR) DAYDREAM ARCADE (WED IN MAR) THE CALL UP – ALBUM LAUNCH (22 MAR) SALTAR HYPE PRESENTS: SUB ATARI KNIVES (23 MAR) TWELVE FOOT NINJA/JERRICO (24 MAR) SIGNALS IN SILENCE (29 MAR) VOLTERA (30 MAR) THE CACTUS CHANNEL – 7” LAUNCH (31 MAR) SCOTDRAKULA (MON IN APR) JOHN PATRICK & THE KEEPERS - EP LAUNCH (5 APR) MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL PRESENTS: ONE POLITICALLY INCORRECT EVENING (29, 30, 31 MAR, 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15 APR) MURDER BY DEATH (USA) (17 MAY) SELLING FAST
Architects Boy & Bear front man Tim Hart offers an upbeat and buoyant acoustic number reminiscent of early Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson minus the crippling cocaine addiction. However, simplistic and one-dimensional lyricism underpinned an excessively pensive vibe place this in the ‘tracks only useful for 16-year-old guys to try and serenade their girlfriend into giving it up for the first time’ pile.
SHADY LANE
Dumb Hope (Rice Is Nice) Sydney four-piece channel the current popularity atmospheric pop and surf-rock on their latest number. Tender and placid, sometimes edging toward dull, Dumb Hope is the ideal soundtrack for an early morning train through the southern suburbs.
DESTROY SHE SAID
Squirter (Independent) Ah yes. The fabled myth of female ejaculation. The most self-effacing subject for a song, no? Imagine Airbourneesque vocals singing “Well she liked it hard and she liked it rough / Had a thumb in her arse, she was giving it up,” over generic and undemanding riffs. Yeah, nah.
Beat Magazine Page 64
THORNBURY RECORDS
reflective of the album’s geographical birthplace. Gentle strumming continues to set a chilled-out, yet upbeat tone to the album, with Mercer’s soaring choruses as soothing as ever. The music, with licks of piano and guitar riffs used generously throughout the album, play only second to Mercer’s far-ranging vocal ability, while his lyrics become the focal point of tracks like No Way Down and Fall Of 82. Themes of love and family become inherently clear; while lines like ‘Getting used to the dust in your lungs’ again makes references to Mercer’s apparent realisation of fleeting youth. A highlight comes in the form of title track, Port Of Morrow, with Mercer hitting falsetto range to bring the album to a close. The combination of swooning synth with its layered, reverbed vocals fades out leaving you with an unquestionable desire to listen to the album in its entirety all over again. Each track is distinctly it’s own, yet Port Of Morrow seems to perfectly glide from one chorus to the next. While mellow at times, Mercer has created an engaging release of hi-fi indie tunes that is both varied and familiar, and perfect to live life to. TEGAN BUTLER
Best Track: The Rifle’s Spiral If You Like These, You’ll Like This: DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE, FLEET FOXES, BAND OF HORSES, MODEST MOUSE In A Word: Mercer-ful
SINGLES BY TYSON
Lose The Baby (Sensory Projects) With the recent international success of local acts Twerps, Husky and Chet Faker it’s mind-boggling that Jarrod Quarrell is yet to make a mark overseas. Quarrell, formerly of St Helens, is arguably one of Melbourne’s finest contemporary artists. Lose The Baby is a gentle, lush track and the unambiguous standout of our 2011 Album of the Year Ex Tropical. Over gentle keys Quarrell croons that “I’m gonna’ gather all of my strength and really drag you under.” He’s not lying.
TUESDAY 20 MARCH
TOP TENS
Place this one in the ‘tracks only useful for serenading the 46-year-old you just met on the Epping nightrider to give you a handjob in the back seat’ pile.
JEREMY NEALE
Winter Was The Time (Independent) The lead singer of Brisbane 12-piece Velociraptor returns with another brash and brazen output of ‘60s psychedelic scuzz-pop. Lo-fi melodies are blasted furiously underneath aching vocals which seamlessly drift away in little over two minutes in a livid, enraged but ultimately forgettable release.
MICHAEL KIWANUKA
Home Again (Polydor Records) Ugandan born and British based soul-folk superstar Michael Kiwanuka presents an unassuming acoustic release reminiscent of Otis Redding. Gentle harmonies waft delicately beneath Kiwanuka’s wispy vocals. More refreshing than the first shower after Golden Plains which I’m still really fucking looking forward to.
THE ALL AMERICAN REJECTS
Beekeeper’s Daughter (Interscope) In keeping with the theme of alliteration, the All American’s have produced what is definitively an aural abomination. 14-year-old girls who think they’re cryptic and alternative by posting a Facebook status in French about the 17-year-old dude they made out with on the gutter outside a house party the night before will love it, though
1. Toward The Low Sun LP DIRTY THREE 2. Blues Funeral LP MARK LANEGAN 3. Love Interruption 7” JACK WHITE 4. El Camino LP BLACK KEYS 5. Remixes 12” WOODEN SHJIPS 6. Full House Head LP ENDLESS BOOGIE 7. So Many Things LP EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING 8. Twerps LP TWERPS 9. Soul Time! SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS 10. New Album LP BORIS
OFF THE HIP 1. Persecution Blues DVD THE TOTE 2. Brat Farrar CD BRAT FARRAR 3. Kids Of Zoo LP KIDS OF ZOO 4. Boom LP THE SONICS 5. Young, Gifted and Brown CD JOE BATAAN 6. In Cold Blood 2xLP JOHNNY THUNDERS 7. Debut CD/EP THE MURLOCS 8. Meat is Murder LP THE SMITHS 9. I Know You Fine LP THE GORIES 10. Let’s Go Eat The Factory LP GBV
COLLECTOR’S CORNER & MISSING LINK 1. Toward The Sun CD/LP DIRTY THREE 2. Henge Beat CD/LP TOTAL CONTROL 3. 5 Tracks 7” LEPROSY 4. All Night Long 7” THE FROWNING CLOWNS 5. Its A Long Way To Meximotown CD PUTA MADRE BROTHERS 6. Utilitarian CD/LP NAPALM DEATH 7.A Flash Flood Od Colour CD/LP Enter Shakiri 8. Dash/Anticlockwise CD SISSY SPACEK 9. Autoluminescent: Rowland S. Howard DVD 10. 12 Short Films, Let England Shake DVD P.J. HARVEY
WOOLY BULLY 1. Live at Surf City 7” VOM 2. Esoteric Lore LP GG KING 3. 500 Portraits Book TONY MILLIONAIRE 4. Atlanta Demos Tape VARIOUS 5. It’s Happening Tape STRAIGHT ARROWS 6. Cereal 7” LOOSE GRIP 7. Being Born Is Goin’ Blind Book SAM WALLMAN 8. DR503/The Sun Stabbed EP LP DEAD C 9. High Rize Horizon 7” REPAIRS 10. Woollen Kits LP WOOLLEN KITS
PBS TIPSHEET 1. Black Sands Remixed BONOBO 2. Having A Beard Is The New Not Having a Beard THE BEARDS 3. You Me Bullets Love THE BOMBAY ROYALE 4. Music Makes The World Go Round A SELECTION OF RARE GROOVES MIXED BY JUMPS 5. Near Death Experience HARRY HOWARD AND THE NDE 6. Harmony, Melody and Style VARIOUS ARTISTS 7. After Laughter Comes Tears WENDY RENE 8. Listen Whitey! VARIOUS ARTISTS 9. Young Man Old Man HOODLUM SHOUTS 10. Ain’t Ain’t Ain’t TIM FITE
BEAT’S TOP TEN SONGS ABOUT THE SOUL
SINGLE OF THE WEEK GALAPAGOOSE
One Who Can’t Move (Two Bright Lakes) At the forefront of Melbourne’s burgeoning scene of electronic producers, Galapagoose’s first single from his upcoming debut Commitments combines dreamy synths, temperate piano keys and choppy vocal samples. The sort of track that freezes you in time with downtempo rhythms and nebulous swirls of ecstasy.
FOR MORE REVIEWS GO TO BEATTV.COM.AU/REVIEWS
1. Impossible Soul SUFJAN STEVENS 2. Me Myself And I DE LA SOUL 3. Sweet Soul Music ARTHUR CONLEY 4. 93 ‘Til Infinity SOULS OF MISCHIEF 5. Soul Man SAM & DAVE 6. All About Soul BILLY JOEL 7. Soul To Squeeze RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS 8. Soul SONGS: OHIA 9. Soul Kitchen THE DOORS 10. Hey Soul Sister TRAIN – No wait, just kidding, this song really sucks
ALBUMS
CHAIRLIFT
Something (Sony) FOR MORE REVIEWS GO TO
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LAMBCHOP Mr M (Spunk)
Four years has been the biggest gap between Lambchop albums, but when Kurt Wagner’s gruff, gentle vocal cuts in with the lyric ‘Don’t know what the fuck they talk about’ on the new album’s opening song If Not I’ll Just Die, it’s as if they’d never been away. And just like that particular lyric, Wagner hasn’t paid any mind to what has been happening outside his bubble and dishes up some classic Lambchop on Mr M. Although Wagner’s vocal delivery is the most distinctive thing about the band’s sound, the strength of Lambchop is giving the voice due space and breaking it up with instrumental breaks, in this case billowing, Disney-like strings. If it sounds a little like someone else pulling the strings while keeping Wagner at the core, there’s a reason for this: Wagner had pulled away from music-making to focus on the visual arts, but was approached by producer/band member Mark Nevin, who pitched a ‘psycho-Sinatra’ concept that deviated from Lambchop’s tried and true method of production. While the end result doesn’t sound dramatically different to past albums, Mr M has a freshness and directness that sets it level with the band’s best work. Wagner has never sounded better and the string arrangements are Best Track: Mr Met If You Like This, You’ll Like These: Falling Down A Mountain gorgeous. It’s also a classic case of absence making the heart grow fonder. THE TINDERSTICKS, Around The Well IRON & WINE In A Word: Stately
From Colorado via Brooklyn, New York is electronic pop duet Chairlift, and their newly released second album Something. Combining the sugar-sweetness of their debut album with some darker synthesised sounds, on initial listen Something can feel a little bland. However, on every multiple listen each song reveals a trait or quirk that makes it that bit more recognisable and attractive. Opening track Sidewalk Safari sums up the album; though the surrounds initially appear a little grey and pedestrian, there is a lot more going on than first assumed. Wrong Opinion sounds almost The Knife-esque with the dark stabbing of a drum machine and synthesised chimes. Take It Out On Me is a smooth ‘80s-influenced pop song, Caroline Polachek’s vocals are silky and demure. Met Before, the most current single from the album, is reminiscent of the Shangri-Las, had they a penchant for corny synthesiser melodies; a refreshing mix of eras. Frigid Spring takes a different turn; creating a picture involving a gentle breeze and flowers blowing, Polachek’s beautiful voice is soft, floating alongside a basic strum of guitar and bubbly keyboard melody. The approaching-sinister appeal of the first few songs returns to see the album’s end with Guilty As Charged. Polachek’s voice takes on a more sultry appeal; “Go on and punish me” she hisses out, as the booming of brash synthesiser punches through. Something is definitely not a taxing listen. It is a release that does not hold much weight and could even be accused of being forgettable. However, its subtle mood changes and Polachek’s flawless voice create an easy listening and enjoyable set of songs. To those who happen across the Best Track: Take It Out On Me album, enjoy. If You Like This, You’ll Like These: THE HUMAN LEAGUE In A Word: Undemanding ALEXANDRA DUGUID
CHRIS GIRDLER
THE MAGNETIC FIELDS
DR DOG
Love At The Bottom Of The Sea (Domino)
Be The Void (Anti) Patrons and lovers of literature will wax lyrical about the vivid imagery and emotive prose of the classics, the way in which the interplay between characters and events elicits a powerful emotional response in the heart and mind of the reader. It’s for this reason that, when confronted with a temporal or emotional void, people will reach for a book. In the same way, there’s something indefinably uplifting about a Dr Dog record. The melodies, the harmonies, the sense of excitement and happiness that makes you realise that music is genuinely good for the soul. And so it is again with Dr Dog’s latest record, Be The Void. Lonesome is the kind of track that makes you yearn for the romantic musical pleasures of a front porch and a bunch of good ol’ boys; That Old Black Hole and Over Here, Over There yank you onto the dance floor to shake your ass off. These Days is out on the highway, wind in your hair, with ne’er a care in the world; How Long Must I Wait is David Sylvian on a journey from Nashville to Los Angeles, making hay while the sun tries to break through. Get Away treads in the well-worn path of the Californian singer-songwriter making beauty from emotional disparity, Do The Trick is Talking Heads doing a residency at the Troubadour, Vampire is rife for passionate embrace in a swelling moment of tenderness and Heavy Light is the Beach Boys with a shot of southern charm and spark. Big Girl is laden with the brilliance of The Band, spliced with some Exile-quality Keef riffs, Warrior Man marries The Kinks’ oddball English humour with Kubrickian psychedelic space rock and comes out swinging and Turning the Century is back on the porch, channelling the oft-overlooked importance of George Harrison. Be The Void isn’t going to alleviate the increasing Best Track: Over There, Over Here prevalence of psychological disruption in modern If You Like This, You’ll Like These: THE BAND, DRIVE BY society. But it’s surely a step in the right direction. TRUCKERS In A Word: Uplifting PATRICK EMERY
DEEP SEA ARCADE Outlands (Ivy League)
On the strength of Outlands, it would be extremely tempting to label the Sydney five-piece a ‘beat combo,’ the lingering influence of the ‘60s on their sound almost deems the tag suitable. Lead single Girls could easily soundtrack the summer of love, with its meaty chord changes, kaleidoscopic production and even some ‘sha la la las.’ By the group’s own admission it was originally conceived by “jamming on a guitar riff that was essentially Wild Thing backwards.” It’s a good metaphor for Outlands in general: a skewed, modern perspective on the otherwise naive sound of rock ‘n’ roll in its early infancy. Occupying a time when scuzzy distortion was the most out there sound to the popular ear and just around the corner, the wave of psychedelia was waiting to hit. Opening with stabs of fuzzy, discordant guitar twang on the title track, to the haunting Airbulance that closes it – the album is anchored by some darker undertones, but buoyed by their almost-naive melodies and vigour. For every track with the tie-dyed vibrancy of the handclap-heavy Steam, there’s a cut like Ride – cruising on its slow and steady metric groove, while slow-motion plucks of guitar yawn with noir pessimism. Singer Nic McKenzie’s needling vocals cut through the claustrophobic smears, ensuring it’s never enveloped by the psychedelic haze lingering at the edges. This battle between the moods recalls The Doors’ acid-blues or The Kinks at their most trippy, but there’s other stylistic nods too. Fan favourite Lonely In Your Arms channels stinging surf-rock while the fairground pump organ of If The Devil Won’t Take You recalls The Strangler’s Golden Brown. Most remarkably, the dreamy Mellotron string parts of Together evoke Magical Mystery-era Beatles (no easy feat). In fact, the songwriting core of Deep Sea Arcade is childhood friends Nic McKenzie and bassist Nick Weaver. It would be foolish to compare them to Lennon-McCartney at this stage, but there’s a synergy and focus in their channelling of beat Best Track: Girls pop and kaleidoscopic rock, and Outlands’ 40 minutes If You Like This, You’ll Like These: Odessey and Oracle is positively dripping with retro panache. THE ZOMBIES, Dye It Blonde THE SMITH WESTERNS, Strange Days THE DOORS AL NEWSTEAD In A Word: Groovy man, groovy
FANFARLO
Rooms Filled With Light (Canvas Back/Atlantic) The shuffle even closer to The Arcade Fire on Replicate, the opening song of Fanfarlo’s new album Rooms Filled With Light, hints that this will be their Black Mirror. A darker, deeper follow-up to a more organic, acoustic debut. The London-based five-piece add a bit of prog-rock and synth-pop (and steel drums!) to the baroque sound they established on 2009’s Reservoir; and while it’s not quite as immediate and warm as their debut, it’s more substantial and rewarding. There’s a tight, bullet-like precision to the 12 songs on their second album, which just stops short of being overproduced. From the joyous ‘80s binge of Deconstruction and the woozy high of Shiny Things to the softly swooping ballads Bones and A Flood from its darker second half, the album achieves an epic feel without pinning you against the wall heavy-handedly. Nor does it get carried away with album length, successfully breaking things up with a short string-laden instrumental (Everything Turns) at its midway point and then fading out with the 38-second closer Everything Resolves. Sure to please Fanfarlo fans and newcomers Best track: Lenslife If You Like This, You’ll Like These: March of the Zapotec/ alike, Rooms Filled with Light is a boost without the Holland BEIRUT, Black Mirror THE ARCADE FIRE, Fear Of bombast. Music TALKING HEADS CHRIS GIRDLER In A Word: Illuminating
Love At The Bottom Of The Sea is a return to the Domino label for The Magnetic Fields after a trio of synthesizer-free albums, but it’s a few good songs short of a return to form. Love is the theme once again and all the gang are back, ensuring there are snatches of 69 Love Songs’ greatness. The best songs pitch neurotic, staid lyrics and vocals against popping, fizzing electro to great effect. God Wants Us To Wait is like a sister song to I Thought I Was Your Boyfriend, its sleazy disco trappings grating gleefully against a robotically moral lyric. Andrew In Drag is a typically subversive ode to unrequited love with a one-off drag show as the setting. The Machine In Your Hand is an industrial-meets-twee plea to be someone’s iPod, while I’ve Run Away To Join The Fairies pushes the rejected protagonist to leave reality altogether. Stephin Merritt has gone for a less-is-more approach on this recording, with all songs clocking in at just over the twominute mark. Sadly, this highlights much of the material as novelty, as some tracks wrap up simply because the lyrical gag has been exhausted (or well after it has been exhausted, as is the case with the groan-inducing I‘d Go Anywhere With Hugh). There’s more than enough room for fun, queer electro-pop and it’s great to see Merritt’s humour back with a vengeance. But Love At The Bottom Of The Sea lacks the heart that he used to effortlessly weave into his songs and, aside from the odd giggle, it doesn’t much of an emotive Best Track: Andrew In Drag response. If You Like This, You’ll Like These: Eternal Youth FUTURE A+ for the funny song titles, B- for the songs themselves. BIBLE HEROES In A Word: Novelty CHRIS GIRDLER
LAST DINOSAURS
In A Million Years (Dew Process/Universal) Releasing their debut full-length album is Brisbane four-piece and ‘Unearthed’ darlings, Last Dinosaurs. Titled In A Million Years, the pop quarter have created an album with a much more experienced sound. However, this is to their detriment, the effects of such a growth-spurt leaving the songs feeling a little uninspired. Debut single Zoom opens the album; a catchy and enthusiastic guitar pop song about wanting to be with caring for/complaining about a girl. This combination of song and story is reoccurring, several times over. Time And Place feels crisp with a simple circulating guitar melody, however upon surviving the boring trek to Honolulu, it does not sound that refreshing at all. The maturity in the sound quality of the album may leave it uninspired, although it is the irritating immaturity of the lyrical content that makes In A Million Years even harder to listen to. Despite the four band members being median age of 20, every tune is a love-letter penned by a 15-year-old boy. The boys’ musicianship has come a long way; their lyrics however, not so much. Satellites provides a brief interlude of ocean sounds and background chatter before returning to the same old formulae with Weekend, no more than a few cute guitar riffs whirling in and out of one another. Each individual song is cute and catchy; an enjoyable three or so minutes that is pleasant to sit through while waiting for what is up next. However, as an album, In A Million Best Track: Time And Place Years is plain and unexciting. It plays out on this plateau If You Like This, You’ll Like These: Channel 7’s hit of perky rock music with no substance. television show Home and Away In A Word: Tedious ALEXANDRA DUGUID
THE OCEAN PARTY
The Sun Rolled Off The Hills (Independent) It’s not every band that can put support for both the mannered indie of Oh Mercy as well as maverick lothario Dave Graney on their CV, or for that matter, get the seal of approval from the latter. The Ocean Party, five lads originally from Wagga Wagga now relocated to Northcote, have done just that, and they must be chuffed with Graney likening them to “early Orange Juice.” While we’re making comparisons, it’s worth mentioning peers like Twerps and Dick Diver. The Sun Rolled Off The Hills is yet another debut of lo-fi, melodious indie, filled with neat, clean guitars, gentle melodious hooks and some wry lyrics. You could vaguely lump them into the Flying Nun Records/Dunedin sound revival that’s happening, except that they’ve substituted the typically melancholic streak with that of a lazy, summery vibe and never shy of making a few local references (Northcote Station and Shepparton, take a bow). A track like Deadbeat, in both title and smoothly choppy guitars, does a good job of mapping out the laconic, idle territory The Ocean Party traverse. Featuring Lachlan Denton’s relaxed singing style, forceful doesn’t seem to be a setting he’s familiar with, but his woozy charm matches that of the music. His voice lounging across Curtis Wakeling’s ringing guitars, while restrained piano, plaintive bass and Simon Lam’s minimalist but essential drumming drape the background. Cuts like The Dogs, The Farm, and especially the 103 seconds of Stepped, demonstrate a band with a get in-get out attitude. Not one of their gently lolling hooks is wasted or overstays its welcome, in fact, it might take a couple of spins before you can work past their breezy atmosphere to realise the strength of these tunes. Shakin’ Like A Leaf would make The Shins’ fans blush, while Every House sounds like The Go-Betweens doing Born To Run-lite. It takes much more than a handful of chords, some reverb and a written reference Best Track: Deadbeat from Dave Graney to achieve that, and they make it If You Like This, You’ll Like These: Twerps TWERPS, New sound easy, the cheeky buggers. Start Again DICK DIVER, Bonfires On The Heath THE CLIENTELE AL NEWSTEAD In A Word: Laconic
FOR MORE ALBUM NEWS AND REVIEWS GO TO WWW.BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 65
GIG GUIDE WEDNESDAY 14 MAR ROCK/POP 10CC + STONE Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 8pm. BUNNY MONROE + DIRTY YORK + UPTOWN ACES Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. CHAPELIER FOU + SASKWATCH + QUA Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:30pm. $12. DAYDREAM ARCADE + PRETTY STRANGERS + ROSIE & GEORGE Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $7. HIGH TEA + SMRTS + DUCK DUCK CHOP Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8pm. JOE MCKEE Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8pm. $6. ST VINCENT The Hi-Fi, Melbourne. 7:30pm. $45. THE BLUEBOTTLES + THE MURLOCS + BAD VISION Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. THE PHILISTINES + HOMEOWNER + BONNIE DOONS Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 7pm. $4. THE WEATHERMEN + SIRENS Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ABIGAIL WASHBURN & KAI WELCH + CAT MOSER + CLINT DYLAN O’GRADEY Phoenix Public House, Brunswick. 9pm. $32. BEN SOLLEE + PIERS TWOMEY Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $35. CELIA CHURCH Bebida, Fitzroy. 8pm. FIRST AID KIT + THE HARPOONS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8pm. FRIGG + THE TWOKS + OH PEP Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:30pm. $14. HARRY HOOKEY BAND Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:30pm. HELEN CAT Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. $5. ISAAC DE HEER Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. JULES SHELDON + WHR EWING Kent St Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. KID GARRET Willow Bar, Northcote. 8pm. KRYSTLE WARREN Basement Discs, Melbourne CBD. 12:45pm.
Dead River Deeps
OPEN MIC Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8pm OPEN MIC Dancing Dog, Footscray. 7pm. OPEN MIC Grind N Groove, Healesville. 8pm. OPEN MIC Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 8pm. PIETA BROWN & THE SAWDUST BOYS + LUCIE THORNE Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8pm. $30. TWO JACKS & A JILL + BEN & ASH BLAKENEY Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. WINE WHISKEY WOMEN - FEAT: ALYSIA MANCEAU + RUTH LINDSEY Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8pm.
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC BARO BANDA + UNDERBELLY Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8pm. $18. BRECKER MECCA Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 9pm. $15. DIZZY’S BIG BAND Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8pm. GERMAN SILVA + JOSE ANTONIO RODRGUEZ Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. JUDY COLLINS The Famous Spiegel Tent, Melbourne. 8pm. JULIEN WILSON QUARTET + BEN CARR TRIO 303, Northcote. 8pm. $5. ONCE TWICE AWAY Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8pm. PUGSLEY BUZZARD Grumpy’s Green, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. THE MARC HANNAFORD TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15.
THURSDAY 15 MAR ROCK/POP 1AM LATE SHOW - FEAT: VINAL RIOT Pony, Melbourne. 1am. AHAB + LACHLAN BRYAN Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $35. APART FROM THIS + UP & ATOM + GRANTS PANTS + BACKYARD SURGEONS + TIM HAMPSHIRE Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. $10.
CLARKEFIELD MUSIC FESTIVAL This weekend, a bunch of Melbourne music elite are gathering, getting out some instruments and giving it their all for a good cause. The first annual Clarkefield Music Festival is taking place on Sunday March 18 from 12pm to help raise money for go directly to building a new school for over 1,000 children in the Kampong Thom province of Cambodia. Set on a vast grassy green lawn, surrounded by paddocks, trees, old wagons and the beautiful old bluestone buildings of The Clarkefield Hotel (Coach and Horses Inn, 1857), it’s the most surreal and ideal place to lay down a rug, sip a cold beer and enjoy some of the finest music the country has to offer, including Kim Salmon, Dead River Deeps, Nick Barker, Hope Addicts and heaps more. AQUA Palace Theatre, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. BIG SANDY & THE FLY-RITE BOYS + PAT CAPOCCI + THE STARLINERS + DJ DINGO Luwow, Fitzroy. 8pm. BLAKE SCOTT + MON KERR Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8pm. BOMBS ARE FALLING + LAST CALL + DEGENERATES Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. BRUTUS (ALBUM LAUNCH) Cornish Arms, Brunswick. 8pm. $12. CALADONIA + HOME MADE + RED RHINO Pony, Melbourne. 8:30pm. CROOKED SAINT Baha Tacos & Tapas Bar, Rye. 8pm. DAMAGE Spenserslive, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $15. ELECTRIC SMILE BAND + ROHYPNOTISE + WALL OF MIRRORS Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 12pm. $10. LOVE CONNECTION + PAGEANTS + ANGEL EYES Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9pm. MICHAEL PAYNTER + BONNIE ANDERSON Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8pm. $15. MUNRO MELANO + THE SKIES Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 9pm. MUSHROOM HORSE + PONY FACE Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm. OUR BEST LAID PLANS + MYSTIC FLARE + MAMA’S REJECTS + IN YOUR HANDS Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm. RADIO MONASH LAUNCH PARTY - FEAT: ANIMAUX + THE GOOD CHINA + YOUNG MAVERICK + HOT ENGLISH Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $12.
RB’S LIVE - FEAT: MONEY FOR ROPE + THE HARLOTS + VAN MYER + THE PIERCE BROTHERS Red Bennies, South Yarra. 7pm. $10. ROSENCRANTS + FLOUNDER + AMANITA Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $4. SKIPPY’S BRAIN + GRIEF PARADE + THE SPACES Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8. SNAKADAKTAL + ELIZABETH ROSE + THE UNIVERSAL The Bended Elbow, Geelong. 8pm. STAND UP CAMBODIA BENEFIT - FEAT: BURL IVES + CAMBODIAN SPACE PROJECT + RUTH LINDSAY + SEAN WHEELAN & THE INTERIM LOVERS Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 7:30pm. $15. THE BEARDED GYPSY BAND + EATEN BY DOGS Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. THE BEARDS (ALBUM LAUNCH) + BARBARION + THE STIFFYS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $15. THE BITTER SWEET KICKS + SWEET TEENS + FOXTROT Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 9pm. THE NEIGHBOURHOOD YOUTH (SINGLE LAUNCH) Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8pm. $10. WOLF VS FIRE + WAVERLEY + WE DISAPPEAR + COOPER STREET The Prague, Thornbury. 8pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK AUSTIN BRADY Bebida, Fitzroy. 8pm. BEN SALTER Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. CHRIS ASAAD Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6pm. DUKSEY & THE HAZARDS Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:30pm. FUNKADELIC SIDE Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $10. HOWARD + CHAMPAGNE REGGAE + SECRETIVE GEORGE Gertrudes Brown Couch, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $4. MAJOR TOM & THE ATOMS Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. MICHELLE HINES + JESSICA ISGRO TRIO Willow Bar, Northcote. 8pm. MUSTERED COURAGE Bertha Brown, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. OPEN MIC Acoustic Cafe, Collingwood. 7:30pm. OPEN MIC Arcadia Hotel, South Yarra. 8pm. RUBY’S SHOWCASE Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 7pm. SAM COPE & THE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS 303, Northcote. 8pm. $10. SARAH JEAN + CITRUS JAM + BIG SEAL & THE SLIPPERY FEW Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8pm. SEAN KERSHAW & NEW JACK RAMBLERS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8:30pm. THE BO JENKINS BAND + SMOKIN’ SAM’S BLUES BAND Musicland, Fawkner. 8pm. $10. THE WEEKEND PEOPLE + TIM REID Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 8pm. TINPAN ORANGE + THE STILLSONS Phoenix Public House, Brunswick. 9pm. $24. TROY CASSAR-DALEY + HARMONY JAMES Commercial Hotel, South Morang. 10:18am.
JAZZ/ WORLD MUSIC
LENNY KRAVITZ Rock fans of this fine city, unite. Rock icon Lenny Kravitz will be joined by The Cranberries and Wolfmother, both giants in their respective genres, to perform two massive After Race concerts this weekend to coincide with the F1. It’s Saturday March 17 and Sunday March 18 at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
Beat Magazine Page 66
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
ARACHNIDS Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8pm. $14. BEN SOLLEE Basement Discs, Melbourne CBD. 12:45pm. BYZANTINE BLUE Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. CLAUDIA OSEGUEDA & OSCAR PONCELL Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. JOE CHINDAMO TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15.
VALENTIINE These gals are going places â&#x20AC;&#x201C; apparently even to the UK soon to tour with some yet-to-be-revealed nice lads. Before then, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re popping their Cherry on Saturday March 17 (returning later in the year to join the Cherry Rock lineup) and performing for the first time at the famed rockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;roll late night hot spot with Seedy Jezus and the Dukes Of Deliciousness. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going down in AC/DC lane.
CHARLES BRADLEY If you went to Golden Plains you can stop reading here because you certainly donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need convincing to go to this gig. If you didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t, you should almost certainly go and see the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Screaming Eagle of Soulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; do what he does best which is scream and make soul music and kill other birds with his strong beak, broad wings and direct, fast flight. Two truths, one lie. Head along to The Corner Hotel this Sunday March 18 to find out which is which. JOHNETTE NAPOLITANO The Arts Centre, Melbourne. 7pm. JUDY COLLINS + DANIEL CHAMPAGNE Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8pm. $78. MATT DWYER TRIO Laika Cocktail Lounge, St Kilda. 8pm. ROSALINE YUEN + EMMY BRYCE + MICHAEL MEEKING Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8pm. $8. SHABOOM Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 9pm. THE SCOTT TINKLER QUARTET Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8pm.
FRIDAY 16 MAR ROCK/POP 2AM LATE SHOW - FEAT: THE SCHOLARS + DJ WHITE RABBIT Pony, Melbourne. 2am. A NIGHT AT THE CROSSROADS - FEAT: JEFF LANG + DOM TURNER + IAN COLLARD + SUZANNAH ESPIE Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8pm. $30. BATEMAN + VIKING FRONTIER + CAVALCADE + STOCKADES Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. $10. BLACKWATER + BULLNECKED + THE FAK + OVERTHRONE + ARMOURED EARTH The Prague, Thornbury. 8pm. $12. CARACTACUS (EP LAUNCH) + MEET ME IN COGNITO + SENTIA + EASY PLEASE Pony, Melbourne. 9pm. DECREPIT SUN (ALBUM LAUNCH) + STRICT VINCENT + HYBRID NIGHTMARES Brunswick
ST VINCENT Recent Beat cover star St Vincent brings her blossoming brand of strange mercy to the Hi-Fi. The former backing vocalist for Sufjan Stevens and the Polyphonic Spree has certainly found her own voice on her latest LP and we certainly look forward to hearing it tonight.
Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm. DIRTY THREE + LOST ANIMAL + LAURA JEAN Palace Theatre, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. DROPBUNNY + DEATH OF ART + HOUSE OF THUMBS + MOTH John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8pm. ENNIS TOLA (FILM CLIP LAUNCH) + ANNA SALEN + SHADOWQUEEN + LORDS OF THIS WORLD + STEEPLE JACK Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. $12. HARMONIC GENERATOR + THE POOR Wheelers Hill Hotel, Wheelers Hill. 8pm. HIRS + USELESS CHILDREN + SHIT WEATHER + HEX ON THE BEACH + HEADLESS DEATH Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. INNER MEET ME Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne. 10pm. INTERNATIONAL EXILES + ROUGE FONCE + THE ART OF LATER Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm. KRACKLE KWEER DIRTY DISCOTHEQUE Noise Bar, Brunswick. 9pm. $10. LAKES (7â&#x20AC;? LAUNCH) + DEAD BOOMERS + FORCES + NUN Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $10. LIEUTENANT JAM + RACHEL BY THE STREAM + ADAM EATON + BRICKS Gertrudes Brown Couch, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5. LILY & KING Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8pm. LOVE CONNECTION + BUM CREEK + CRUMBS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9pm. METAL MASSACRE - FEAT: STORM THE SKY + THIS FIASCO + EMERSON + DEAD SEPTEMBER + CAITLYN CAN WAIT + BLACK MAYDAY Musicland, Fawkner. 6pm. $12. MILFORD ACADEMY + STOCKADES + THE SWEETS + SUPER MAGIC HATS Yah Yahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Fitzroy. 9pm. $8. NO ZEBRA + YOUR LOCAL HERO + GATEWAY TO THE SKY Cornish Arms, Brunswick. 8pm. OPIUO (BUTTERSNAP SLAP LIVE TOUR) + SUN:MONX (ALBUM LAUNCH) + RUSS LIQUID + JPS The Hi-Fi, Melbourne. 9pm. $30. OVER-REACTOR + EPIDEMIC OVER + CAVE OF SWALLOWS (EP LAUNCH) + APACHE MEDICINE MAN Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. SMRTS + THE BONNIWELLS Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8pm. SNAKADAKTAL + ELIZABETH ROSE + CITY CALM DOWN Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. THE BEARDS (ALBUM LAUNCH) + BARBARION + THE STIFFYS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. THE GETAWAY PLAN + SUMMERSET AVENUE + AURAL WINDOW Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 8pm. $27. THE KREMLINGS + GOONBAG COLOSTOMY + URUK-HIGH Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. THE PEEP TEMPEL + UDAYS TIGER + DJ MANTOOTH Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm. THE SAVAGES + DJ BARBARA BLAZE + DJ JIM DANDY Luwow, Fitzroy. 8pm. THE SUNDAY CHAIRS + ROOM 11 + RAY FINN + FIELD TRIP Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7pm. $15. THE SWEET + ATTACK OF THE MANNEQUINS Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 9:45pm. THE VAMPERS + WORKING HORSE IRONS + ROAD RATS Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $13. WATERLINE + PAUL REID + HUGH MCDONALD Bella Union Bar (Trades Hall), Carlton South. 8pm. $10. WICKED CITY + KRETCH + FUCKFACE + BATPISS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK AJAK KWAI BAND Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East.
9:30pm. CHRONIK + SOUL MINISTRY Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9pm. DJUMBA + MORTISVILLE 303, Northcote. 8pm. $5. GALLANT TREES + VICUNA COATS + CARLY FERN + TANE EMIA-MOORE + SINCE WE KISSED Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8pm. KERRI SIMPSONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ALWAYS FOR PLEASURE ALLSTARS Way Out West Roots Music Club, Williamstown. 8pm. $20. LITTLE WISE + MICHA Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 9:30pm. LUCY WISE & THE Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;GOLLIES + JOHN FLANAGAN & THE BEGIN AGAINS Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 8pm. $18. PEAR & THE AWKWARD ORCHESTRA Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6pm. SHAUN KIRK + JEN KNIGHT & THE CAVALIERS + TOM RULE Rubyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lounge, Belgrave. 8pm. $15. SPOONFUL Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9pm. THE BAND WHO KNEW TOO MUCH + THE BEARDED GYPSY BAND Phoenix Public House, Brunswick. 9pm. $24.
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Beat Magazine Page 67
60 SECONDS WITH… THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? We’re called The Fearless Vampire Killers and I play the bass, sing some harmonies and am in charge of band morale on tour. What do you reckon people will say you sound like? Four dudes who are pretty well versed in The Beatles back catalogue having a ball strumming guitars and hitting drums. What do you love about making music? Hearing a sound in your head and then making it come to fruition in front of an audience via the instrumentation at hand. When it makes people dance, that’s the best.
XAVIER RUDD Australian surf/roots musician Xavier Rudd seems to have the right idea about life, don’t ya think? From what I understand, it’s enjoy nature, be kind, be socially aware and follow the sun. All sounds good to us. His Follow The Sun tour hits the Hi-Fi on Tuesday March 20 and The Forum Theatre on Wednesday March 21 (sold out).
THE BONNIE DOONS Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 10pm. THE CARTWHEELS Pascoe Vale RSL, Pascoe Vale. 8pm. $8. TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSIONS - FEAT: DAN BOURKE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6pm. UNDER SUBURBAN SKIES - FEAT: DOG TRUMPET + DAVE GRANEY + LISA MILLER + STEPHEN CUMMINGS + MARK FERRIE + BRIAN NANKERVIS Oakleigh Bowling Club, Oakleigh. 8pm. $22.
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC BANDA SIN FRONTERAS Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 9pm. CARRIE LAKIN & THE ALEXANDER NETTELBACK TRIO Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 9:30pm. $20. EIGHT FOOT FELIX Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. $5. FRANKIE WANTS OUT Red Bennies, South Yarra. 10pm. HETTY KATE Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9pm. $20. JAMES SHERLOCK HAMMOND TRIO Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8pm. JOHNETTE NAPOLITANO The Arts Centre, Melbourne. 7pm. SUNNY KOLL Prince Maximillian, Prahran. 8:30pm. THE REBECCA MENDOZA QUARTET Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $25.
SATURDAY 17 MAR ROCK/POP 2AM LATE SHOW - FEAT: LITTLE FOOT (EP LAUNCH) Pony, Melbourne. 2am. ADDICTION - FEAT: THE GROVES + GECKO THEORY + HANDS LIKE OURS Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 8pm. $10. CHRIS HILLMAN & HERB PEDERSEN + BRENT PARLANE Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8pm. $52. CHRIS RUSSELL’S CHICKEN WALK Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 5pm.
Beat Magazine Page 68
What do you hate about the music industry? People in bands that take themselves too seriously. Playing music is a privilege, it’s not your right, lighten up. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Igor Stravinsky. I’d like to give him an electric guitar and see what he would compose for it, I’m sure whatever he came up with would be seriously brutal.
CIARAN & THE RATABAGS + COSMIC TONIC Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:30pm. CLAMPDOWN Rochester Castle Hotel, Fitzroy. 9pm. COCO PHONICS + LIBERTY PDE Idgaff Bar & Venue, Abbotsford. 8:30pm. CORAL LEE & THE SILVER SCREAM Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm. COVERS NIGHT - FEAT: DAY OF THE EAGLE + DUBLE TALKING DADDIES + FREELOADER Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10. DEPRESSION + BLOODY HAMMER + COUNTER ATTACK + HAILGUN Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. $15. DIVE INTO RUINS + THE MURDER RATS + DIRTY ELVIS + ROBOT MUGABE The Prague, Thornbury. 8pm. DIVORCED + JACKMANNIX + A GENDER Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9pm. $7. GHASTLY SPATS (EP LAUNCH) + THE ZINGERS + ASPS + ORANJ PUNJABI Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. GHOSTS + THE NEST ITSELF + THEY MOVE LIKE WOLVES Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm. HIDING WITH BEARS + KURTIS GENTLE + EMMA HALES Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 5pm. JACK DARIOL + TANYA GEORGE Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8pm. JAMES MCCANN & THE NEW VINDICTIVES Tago Mago, Thornbury. 9pm. JUDGE PINO & THE RULING CLASS Luwow, Fitzroy. 8pm. KILL EM ALL + THUNDERSTRUCK + FOOVANA Espy, St Kilda. 8pm. $20. KING OF THE NORTH + STOMP BOX + THE ANTOINETTES Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm. MAITREYA RECONNEXION - FEAT: EAT STATIC + LAUGHING BUDDHA + ESP The Hi-Fi, Melbourne. 10pm. $30. OCEANS + CITY WALLS AUTUMN FALLS (ALBUM LAUNCH) + MUNRO John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8pm. OLD HANDS Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8pm. OVER-REACTOR + EPIDEMIC OVER + THE FAK + APACHE MEDICINE MAN Pony, Melbourne. 9pm. RAPSKALLION Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10pm. SHANNON NOLL (A MILLION SUNS TOUR)
If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it be and why? Jason Derulo. I don’t necessarily want him dead, I just want him to stop singing his own name, it’s really annoying. I already know it’s you, Mr Derulo. I can tell by how rubbish the song is.
stores, online and at shows and a 7” double A side vinyl that is only available at gigs.
What can a punter expect from your live show? On this tour we’ll be breaking up our set with handy tips on recycling that you can put in place at home. Our guitarist, Al, is currently preparing a very detailed power point presentation on what is and isn’t recyclable.
Anything else to add? The space saving front wheel drive layout of the Mini allowed 80% of the area of the car’s floorplan to be used for passengers and luggage. They don’t make them like that anymore.
When’s the gig and with who? We’re playing The Toff in Town on Saturday March 17 with Major Tom and the Atoms and Wolfy and the Bat Cubs.
What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? We’ve got our new LP Batmania that is available in all good Hallam Hotel, Hallam. 8pm. SMRTS + VODNIK + SEMUTA + PIONEERS OF GOOD SCIENCE Noise Bar, Brunswick. 8pm. $10. SNAKADAKTAL + ELIZABETH ROSE + TEHACHAPI Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $12. THE GETAWAY PLAN + GATHERER + WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS + EARL Pier Live, Frankston. 7:30pm. $27. THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS + THE PERFECTIONS + HIGH TEA + DRIFTER Three Phase Studios, Brunswick. 8pm. THE IN THE OUT + THE MURLOCS + MOONDOG’S GYPSY BLUES BAND + GEORGE HYDE & JOSHUA SEYMOUR + DJ PHIL GIONFRIDDO Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 4pm. THE PERCH CREEK FAMILY JUG BAND + EATEN BY DOGS + GRUMPY NEIGHBOUR + GUY KABLE Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. THE SWEET Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 8pm. $52. VALENTIINE + DUKES OF DELICIOUSNESS + SEEDY JEZUS Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $13. VELOCIRAPTOR + HARMONY + DRUNK MUMS Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $10. WEEKENDER - FEAT: THE COINCIDENTS + RUNNING RANGE + DJ STEVE WIDE + DJ KIERAN O’SULLIVAN Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 9pm. $10. ZOOPHYTE (SINGLE LAUNCH) Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 9pm. $12.
CHRIS HILLLMAN + HERB PEDERSEN Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8pm. $52. DAMIEN HOWARD BAND Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm. JEFF LANG + SPOONFUL Phoenix Public House, Brunswick. 9pm. $26. LIGHTS ON AT HEATHROW + LUBBOCK LIGHTS + ELIOT WOOD Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8:30pm. LOT 56 + WILDE & THE WOOLFE Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 9:30pm. LOUISE Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5pm. MELODY MOON Bebida, Fitzroy. 8pm. THE HOLLANDS + NICOLETTE FORTE + TWYCE DAILEY The Chandelier Room, Moorabin. 8pm. WOOLWORTHS BLUES SINGERS Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 4pm.
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC AVALANCHA Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 9pm. HETTY KATE Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne CBD. 9:30pm. $25. JOHNETTE NAPOLITANO The Arts Centre, Melbourne. 7pm. JONO FRANCISCO Prince Maximillian, Prahran. 8:30pm. SLEEPING BAG + JEREMY WOOLHOUSE TRIO Open Studio, Northcote. 4:30pm. THE JULIA MESSENGER BAND Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. TRACY BARTRAM BAND Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9pm. $20.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK BIDET MATE + CASSINI Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 9pm. BIZET’S CARMEN - FEAT: THE SOUTH OF THE RIVER GOSPEL CHOIR Oakleigh Bowling Club, Oakleigh. 8pm. $18. BRIEFCASE FULL OF BLUES Palais, Hepburn Springs. 8:30pm. $25. CELEBRATE ST PAT’S - FEAT: SAOIRSE & ADHARC The Famous Spiegel Tent, Melbourne. 2pm. CHELSEA DRUGSTORE Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm. CHRIS CAVILL BAND Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9pm.
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
SUNDAY 18 MAR ROCK/POP BEN SALTER Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 4pm. BEWARE! BLACK HOLES + THE GREASY HAWAIIANS Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 5pm. $5. DARK GLOBES Bar Open, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. DEJA + YUKO NISHIYAMA + SMOKING TODDLERS Toff In Town, Melbourne CBD. 7:30pm. $10. EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE HANDLERS Tago Mago,
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Beat Magazine Page 69
Animaux
RADIO MONASH LAUNCH PARTY DIRTY THREE That new album, huh? The legendary D3 are touring on the back of Toward The Low Sun, their first album since 2005’s Cinder. They play The Palace on Friday March 16, the One Perfect Day Festival in Mossvale on Saturday March 17 and the Theatre Royale in Castlemaine on Sunday March 18, and I bet all three band members won’t be the only ones making an effort to attend all three shows. Thornbury. 4pm. HOLLOW EVERDAZE + MESSED UP + BIG FACE & THE BOOGIE WOOGIE BOOGIE BOARD BOYS + MINING ROOM + CARP Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $10. HOWLIN’ STEAM TRAIN + THE BEARDED GYPSY BAND + LEXI DEROCK & THE SUGARFOOT BLUES BRIGADE Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. $5. LOVE LIKE HATE + THE DIVINE FLUXES + THE ANOUSHKA Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9pm. OH SISTER Penny Black, Brunswick. 5pm. POPOLICE + COOL DRINKS + TURVEY PARK + MR SPEAKER Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8pm. SNAKADAKTAL + ELIZABETH ROSE Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8pm. TAKE YOUR OWN + AVERICE + TRUST & FALL + ALL WE NEED Cornish Arms, Brunswick. 8pm. THE PROCESS (SINGLE LAUNCH) + KIRIN J CALLINAN + YOUNG ROMANTIX + MACHINE + DAMIAN SKIPPER Montsalvat, Eltham. 5pm. $15. THE RUMJACKS + THE TEARAWAYS Cherry Bar, Melbourne CBD. 8pm. $15. TIANI O’NEIL + GREG MITCHELL TRIO + SOUNDS OF MIDNIGHT Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 5pm. WARREN EARL & THE ATOMIC ROCKERS Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8pm. WHITE VEINS + BAAD + LOUSY WITH MINES + LUNAIRE + DRONGO Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 7pm. WINTER PALACE Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne. 6pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ALEX LASHLIE + JEFF MAY Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 7pm. CHARLES BRADLEY & HIS EXTRAORDINAIRES + THE CACTUS CHANNEL + DJ SLIM CHARLES Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $49. CHARLES JENKINS Carringbush Hotel, Abbotsford. 4pm. CILLA JANE (MATINEE SHOW) + D ROGERS Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 1:30pm. $10. DAN ROLLS + MIGUEL & ASH Bar Nancy, Northcote. 6pm. DANNY WALSH BANNED + NICK MURPHEY + LONESOME Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 4pm. DAREBIN SONGWRITERS GUILD 303, Northcote. 3:30pm. EUGENE BRIDGES Way Out West Roots Music Club, Williamstown. 2pm. $20. GO WITH THE FLOW FUNDRAISER - FEAT: MELODY MOON + ZINNIA BLUE + JAYNE WEST Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 3pm. JAM NIGHT Musicland, Fawkner. 7pm. JIMI HOCKING’S BLUES MACHINE Young & Jackson Hotel, Melbourne. 3pm. JODY GALVIN & THE TENDER HEARTS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5pm. LANEWAY FUNK BROTHERS + THE MARABOU PROJECT + BAD BOYS BATUCADA Espy, St Kilda. 8pm.
Radio Monash is pretty damn neat. It’s an exclusively student-operated and funded online radio station that has developed a fearsome reputation for inspiring and cultivating a passion for the music industry among the generation’s brightest young minds. Help ‘em kick on at their 2012 launch party, featuring a bevy of bevy of the city’s finest up-and-coming bands including Animaux, The Good China, Young Maverick and Hot English. It’s at the Northcote Social Club on Thursday March 15 and it’s just $15 on the door, all going toward keeping this worthy institution alive. LUAU COWBOYS Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 5pm. MARTA PACEK + ALANNA & ALICIA EAGAM + CHRIS ASSAD Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8pm. MILANO EXPRESS Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 7:30pm. NICK CHARLES & BLUE STRINGS + MARTY KELLY & AUBURY MAHER Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8pm. OPA 303, Northcote. 8pm. $5. PHIL PARA The Bay, Mordialloc. 2:20pm. RORY ELLIS Mentone Hotel, Mentone. 3pm. SAMMY OWEN BLUES BAND Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 4pm. SEAN KERSHAW Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5pm. SINGER SONGWRITER SHOWCASE - FEAT: REBELQUIN + MADDISON WILSON The Chandelier Room, Moorabin. 4pm. THE LARGE NUMBER 12s Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 8pm. THE LITTLE STEVIES + IMMIGRANT UNION Phoenix Public House, Brunswick. 8pm. $24. TIM SCANLON + GAMHNA NA GEALA Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 3pm.
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC JOSE NIETO Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 7pm. SOL NATION + CULTURE CREW + KUTCHA EDWARDS + PETER ROTUMAH + MONICA WEIGHTMAN + JAMES HENRY Fairfield Park, Fairfield. 12:30pm. THE MARC HANNAFORD TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. YURODIVYE + MOU QUARTET Open Studio, Northcote. 4:30pm.
MONDAY 19 MAR
Our All Ages column is having a short break this week as they’ve been officially Pushed Over by Push Over festival. Same place next week, though. See you there. Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $45. MONDAY NIGHT MASS - FEAT: THE BONNIWELLS + HIEROPHANTS + HOMEOWNER Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 6pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK CASH SAVAGE & THE LAST DRINKS The Famous Spiegel Tent, Melbourne. 7pm. $25. MUSTERED COURAGE + WILEY RED FOX Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. RAIJA + EMMA BURNSIDE + VLAD BADOV Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 8:30pm.
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC ALLAN BROWNE’S NIHILIST QUARTET Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. LEBOWSKIS - FEAT: THE END 303, Northcote. 9pm. $8.
TUESDAY 20 MAR ROCK/POP AMBIENCE WITH ATTITUDE - FEAT: DOG EAR FAD Gallery, Melbourne CBD. 8:30pm. BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB + I, A MAN Forum Theatre, Melbourne. 8pm. $45. BRUNSWICK DISCOVERY - FEAT: THE QUOLLS + SUMMON THE BIRDS Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8pm. EL MOTH & THE TURBO RADS + GHOST ORCHID Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 9pm. FLORENCE & THE MACHINE Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne. 8pm. HELEN PERRIS + ANGE STELLA Butterfly Club, South Melbourne. 8pm. $22.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ACOUSTIC SESSIONS 303, Northcote. 8pm. ALISON FERRIER Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. GUY KABLE Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. MICHAEL SHAUN + SAMM BEULKE + LITTLE PAPER HOUSES Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8pm. OPEN MIC Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 7:30pm.
ROCK/POP
JAZZ/WORLD MUSIC
BROTHERS HAND MIRROR Workers Club, Fitzroy. 6pm. DURAN DURAN Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne. 8pm. MICHAEL ROTHER + DIETER MOEBIUS & HANS LAMPE + BAPTISM OF UZI + NEW WAR Corner
BRECKER MECCA Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8pm. $14. THE FERMANIS TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. XAVIER RUDD The Hi-Fi, Melbourne. 7:30pm. $55.
CLASSIFIEDS
DRUM TUITION. Jazz, Rock, Hip-Hop (and more). Beginners welcome! All ages. Brunswick West. Contact John on 0437 873 488/john.milton@gmail.com **
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MUSICIANS WANTED
SERVICES LIVE SOUND ENGINEER Melbourne metro/inner city suburbs. Reasonable rates, per set or full night. Call Niki 0401 641904 or email niki.bateman@gmail.com. * MAN WITH A VAN. Best value movers in Melbourne. Now with trucks!!!! Equip with 1 or 2 experienced men, trolleys and removal blankets. Available 7 days. Check out www.manwithavan.com.au or call us on 9417 3443.
BANDS & PROMOTERS WANTED. Any style for Collingwood venue. First gigs welcome, live CD recording available. Contact Jane after 12pm on 0425 796 828.
SOUNDPARK RECORDING/REHEARSALS. Large 5 room recording studio, loads of vintage gear/instruments. Hire without engineer $450 day, or with $650. Rehearsals from $50. Phone Andrew 0425 706 382.
ACOUSTIC ACTS WANTED for Bar Betty in Smith Street, Fitzroy. Paid Gig. Please phone Sandra or Michelle on 9417 3937. Bar Betty - 129 Smith Street, Fitzroy.
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EMPLOYMENT
TUITION ASHLEY DAVIES DRUM LESSONS. Developing musicianly drumming. Using technique as a means to bring out the best in your drumming. Free half hour introductory lesson. Upstairs at Greville Records. 0415 118 390 or asho179@optusnet.com.au www. ashleydaviesmusicanddrums.com DRUM LESSONS AVAILABLE for students who wish to learn. For enquiries phone Paul 8786 3421.
Beat Magazine Page 70
ALL AGES
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
FLAUNT IT. Internationally acclaimed producer of pro-feminist erotica looking for confident, adult women to smash the stereotypes and earn good money ($500 and up). Don’t overlook this til you’ve found out more about it. Rebecca 9495 6555 or www.feck.com. LOOKING FOR AMATEUR COMEDIANS to perform at Bar Betty - 129 Smith Street, Fitzroy Ph: 9417 3937
GS T GI TS A L AL VEN GB ! E E & THE FRE E AR
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ST PATRICK’S DAY Sun. Mar. 18th:
THE DAY AFTER THAT WAS PADDY’S DAY!
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BON IVER
LIVE KISSTROYER
Meredith many moons ago, the live incarnation of Bon Iver was surprisingly a fully-realised affair. The twin drumkit setup was fully utilised for set opener Perth, with the thunderous drumline pounding as Justin led the charge dressed like Mark Zuckerberg. The a capella breakdown of Skinny Love in fact made many in the crowd breakdown, and made many more lift up their boots. I can’t imagine anyone’s half-arsed veneer of mainstream-led backlash withstanding the dude sitting there and pouring his heart out. Even the album-closing steamer Beth/Rest went down a treat. At the tail end of the set, I turned around to notice that my primo position for Ariel Pink meant I was front and centre for the biggest act of the night, which made for a somewhat tedious dash for the loo. So many people. I placed to provisos on whether or not I would enjoy Kisstroyer. First up, they simply had to open with Detroit Rock City. Secondly, faux-Gene had to nail that track’s bass licks. Turns out the tribute act scored top marks in both regards. There’s artistry in imitation, and to these ears and eyes the only philosophical distinction between these guys and the real deal is that Golden Plains can actually afford to book Kisstroyer. Despite the absence of God Gave Rock And Roll To You II, my boot remained aloft for most of the set – and I don’t even think I was being ironic. Shit, even the banter was pitch-perfect. Goddamn, Seekae were something else. For some reason I had in my mind that the band were shunted with a daytime slot, which doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. I was relieved to find out that they were in fact hitting the stage in the early AM, which makes perfect sense. Everything off +Dome was golden and suited the festival environment perfectly. Probably one of the most consistently satisfying bands this country has to offer at this point in time. There was a lot happening onstage for This Thing, but not a lot which grabbed my attention. I kicked it at Inspiration Point until I realised that it was cold as fuck all of a sudden. Really, really cold. Also, Silence Wedge was changed to Silence Is Golden for some reason. I wish there was more to say about that. New addition to the Amphitheatre landscape Eric’s Terrace is a classy establishment, almost a little too classy – though if I saw myself rock up in my hungover state, I would probably deny me entry due to having no shoes. But once I was decked out with footwear, the staff were lovely and the tucker was actually top notch. The raised
MY FRIEND THE CHOCOLATE CAKE Saturday 3 February, The Famous Spiegeltent My Friend The Chocolate Cake, the tertiary graduates rebel rockers, strode the stage in their finest garb, befitting such an august venue. It is not often that you can say that you played exactly the same venue in five different nations but that is exactly what The Chocolate Cake have done. Bridie’s observation was not lost on the bursting at the seams who reverentially enjoyed the banter. Of course it was likely that the vast majority of the seated throng would take great pride in ditching their school blazer during their Grammar days and donned leather jackets emblazoned with The Exploited. Unfortunately it was not Wattie’s lager louts who were identified with, but workers in daddy’s factory. Like The Clash sang “I got my motorcycle jacket/ But l’m walking all the time.” These likely types now probably read Pilger with the gravitas of swearing allegiance with the marginalised and stridently support individualism whilst confusing Debord for some exotic imported flooring. But there was no songs from under the floorboards as The Chocolate Cake kept to their originals during a streamlined hour long set. With the precision that comes from decades of live performance, they ran through both old and new. The reflective The Centre Cannot Hold, Sirens, The Lighthouse Keeper through the uptempo A Beat Magazine Page 74
CHIC
CHARLES BRADLEY
GOLDEN PLAINS SIXXX, March 10-12, Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre The picturesque drive down the final stretch toward the Supernatural Amphitheatre was made a little more golden this year, with a horizonless ocean of sunflowers rising to face the day as a line of earlybirds made their bid for Bush Camp settlement. It was like a metaphor or some shit. Being a slightly-later-than-earlybird, we managed to score one of the final remaining Bus Camp plots – no bush, but still no hills to hamper the climb back home. As for discourse on the weather, it was perfect throughout. Moving on. Boys from the nearby ‘Rat Hunting Grounds got things off to a grinding start, with their facsimile of Beastie Boys Sabotage piquing familiarity and little else. They were definitely pretty white. Even after a solid half-year of touring both internationally and at home, Total Control still can’t quite manage to pull it off in the live setting. Previous sets (especially Melbourne Laneway) have been marred by technical bullshit, but everything seemed to be functioning fine this arvo. The mix was dominated by snaredrum, which plays against the band’s strengths. Still, Retiree was an absolute cracker. The distinctive guitar tone generated by Mikey Young’s Fender Squire did instigate some discussion afterward, with everyone involved agreeing that Eddy Current Suppression Ring headlining Meredith 2012 would be the greatest thing ever. Make it happen people. The Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti live show is a notoriously temperamental one. I thought they were great when they were last in town for Laneway, and I grimaced when watching the livestream of Ariel’s Coachella ‘meltdown’. Scheduling them in a primetime slot seemed like a risky move, but by god did it pay off. Not sure exactly what elements conspired to make it such an auspicious set, but the ostensibly superfluous efforts of champion Melburnian Shags Chamberlain on tambourine really took things to the next level. Fright Night (Nevermore) and Beverly Kills were fucking great – and Ariel’s heavily made-up face emanated sheer joy under his sweet manbangs. Oh and it turns out that Round And Round was pretty much made for night-time at the Supernatural Amphitheatre. Magic. In the past year, Justin Vernon has performed alongside Kanye West in front of 40,000 people at Coachella, sold what constitutes as a shitload of records in this climate, snagged some Grammys and sold out Myer Music Bowl. Pretty decent headliner for what you’d call a boutique festival. Unlike the premature ascension of MGMT at
BONNY 'PRINCE' BILLY
Midwife’s Tale, I’ve Got A Plan to the completely gorgeous 25 Stations they pulsed with aplomb. As with the expected quality of the musicianship, so to was Bridie in form, keeping the wry cynicism flowing. Likening The Chocolate Cake to Duran Duran as a band who lives for the image whilst having a merchandise stall decked out with tea towels was priceless. Their stab at Hillsong, Pentecostal Girl, also featured the confession that Bridie played friend in a Status Quo covers band “because l had the hots for his sister.” Observations of arcane Oz rock reference points, Lee Simon, Sherbet, Molly, were tongue in cheek gems. Well advanced in their career, live performances becoming rarer, catch My Friend The Chocolate Cake, before they become crumbs for the memory.
BRONIUS ZUMERIS LOVED: The wit. HATED: Surly ushers. DRANK: Water. What else can you drink here with dignity.
Photos by Nick Irving
deck did make you feel as though you were rising above the often madcap scenes below, and provided a more comforting respite than that of the caged Flamingo Bar. One minor gripe though – this year’s 18-plus wristband didn’t feature a select lyric as per tradition. I would have been happy with “These are the good times”, but oh well. Harmony released one of the records of the year in 2011, and have gone on to rule many of the cosier bars in ol’ Melbourne town. But Sunday morning at Meredith, with a festival-sized PA, the band vehemently obliterated my mind. Seriously. From the first cacophonous breakdown until the final harmonic sign-off, my goosebumps levels were outta control. Probably the best sounding act of the whole weekend. This was the set Lost Animal was born to play. The core duo of Jarrod Quarrell and man of the hour Shags Chamberlain (seriously, world’s greatest dude) was fleshed out with live percussion and Kirin J Callinan on guitar. The question was raised – is Callinan the greatest guitarist in Australia in the moment? His flourishes on tracks from Beat’s Album Of 2011 Ex Tropical really elevated the set to a higher level. Kirin soared, Shags plucked away, and Jarrod crooned through a corker of a set. Will Oldham, aka Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, is a little bit naughty. He assumed the role of weatherman as he declared “it’s a good day to take acid and have sex.” What followed was a fairly breezy set of brilliant country-tinged ballads. You could probably waste a lot of paper listing which tracks didn’t make the setlist, but what was on there was pretty solid. Sunday somehow turned into a celebration of the crusty old rock dog. Endless Boogie scored top marks for rock’n’roll stonerdom, as well as immaculate follicle care. Celibate Rifles were gritty and great. Urge Overkill were serviceable, but their take on Girl You’ll Be A Woman Soon somehow managed to be the biggest dud in their repertoire. On my way to catch Roots Manuva, the main strip into the arena was cordoned off to allow a minibus through. Much like a five-year-old waving at a firetruck, I emphatically waved as Black Lips made their way backstage, and the sentiment was reciprocated by all four bandmates. Lovely fellows. Though sporting a fairly decent backing band, it wasn’t really worth waiting around to witness the fitness for Roots Manuva.
My heart stopped as soon as Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires took the stage. It didn’t start beating again until the one and only Mr Bradley finished having his way with it an hour later. Seeing the man in action is something I’ll hold onto for a very long time, his cries of “I love you” and “Without you, there’s no me,” resonating just as powerfully as his incredible singing voice. His cover of Heart Of Gold was a surefire boot-earner. I’ve never experienced music this heartfelt. I love you Charles Bradley. Turns out a fairly pedestrian Black Lips set is still a pretty fucking great set. Scenes were no way near as wild as when they took to The Tote many years ago, or in the week prior for that matter, but without the GG Allin-esque gimmicks they still stand as a pearler of a rock’n’roll band. Boogying down to Bad Kids is always damn good fun. There really wasn’t any chance of Chic Featuring Nile Rodgers being anything short of goddamn amazing. Nile led the charge with an endearing mix of arrogance and appreciation, stating that the band are pissed off it took so long for Australia to bring them over, but they “don’t get mad, they get funky.” And get funky is indeed what they did. Chic’s own hits were impressive enough, but Nile busted out a string of tracks that he laid his Midas touch upon over the years – Original Sin, Like A Virgin, Let’s Dance, I mean, goddamn. Then of course we were told to freak out during Le Freak. Everyone obliged. All too soon, the 90 minute set closed with Good Times, which resulted in a bizarre but amazing stage invasion. Seeing Kirin J Callinan pulling shapes amongst a gaggle of gnomes was also great in its own way. Wind back to sunset, the final night – a slow round of applause spreads forth throughout the gathering at Inspiration Point. “They just got engaged!” was the word rising from the picturesque valley. Above all else, Meredith/ Golden Plains remains meaningful to so many on so many levels. These are the good times. BY LACHLAN KANONIUK
LOVED: Ariel Pink plus Shags, Charles Bradley, Harmony, everything and everyone. HATED: Inadvertently smuggling a few kilos of Meredithian dirt back home and into my shower via my nasal cavity. DRANK: Boags due to Melbourne cans’ newfound priciness – seriously, $50 a slab, what the shit?
SYSTEM OF A DOWN Wednesday February 29, Rod Laver Arena After half a decade’s hiatus, System of a Down were in town for the fifth consecutive year of the Soundwave Festival in Melbourne. Dillinger Escape Plan opened the night and proved why five years after Ire Works and two years since Option Paralysis, they’re still an explosive force in mathcore to be reckoned with and still infectiously wired. Puciato, their vocalist who 11 years ago joined the band in an almost cinematic fashion similar to that of the film Rockstar with Marky Mark, spearheaded a sonic assault that left DEP’s mark and set the pace for System of a Down’s ferocious opening with Prison Song. Speaking of rockstars and shortly after DEP, System of a Down looked thrilled to be on stage although not so switched on at the beginning partly because of the horrible sound of the venue. That is until Science – when they started unwinding and showcasing just how tight of a band they really are. By the time they rocked out Aerials, they reminded their fans why back in 2005 they were nominated by Kerang! for the Best Band On The Planet award. Inviting legendary Slipknot drummer Joey Jordison to join them for a song while John Dolmayan crowdsurfed had everyone in the arena headbanging like it was 2003 and they had just released Steal this Album! Odadjian was as usual a machine and Daron Malakian with his Kirk Hammett wannabe stylistic choices sounded surprisingly on the ball despite his admittedly
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lyrical writing of an already strung out from alcohol and drug abuse 14-year-old on the recovery path with guitar dexterity skills that never made it past playing the chromatic scale drills on the 1st string of a bouzouki. Dolmayan is still one of the meanest metal drummers around, balancing Serj Tankian’s operatic performance; operatic not only in terms of his mannerisms but mainly because of his vocal range, downright freakish flow that makes him borderline impossible to emulate and outright inspiring to listen to live as if you’re listening to the freaking CD. The hardcore/metal scene surely ‘represented’ Melbourne well, with Tankian being genuinely amazed that the crowd knew every word of Toxicity as well as Soil, but sadly that wasn’t repaid with at least an encore of Streamline. To rephrase SOAD, ‘the bottom line is rocking, nobody gives a fuck’ about how long it took them to get back on the swing of being a band again, but they’re back, and watch out. NASH PETROPOULOS LOVED: Stadium-wide frenzy during Sugar. HATED: The unacceptably bad sound and lack of encore. DRANK: Ice-cold Cooper’s.