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7AKE Eat. 7ORK $RINK Sleep. Repeat. Sound familiar? Do you spend your time at work daydreaming, doodling or trying to push the design capabilities of Word? If so then maybe you need to consider a career in graphic design. 3 months full-time or 1 year part-time The good news is that world class design education neednâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take forever. It should be well planned, continually adapted to the times and presented by passionate professionals. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what happens at Shillington College and we have the record to prove it. You will be taught by passionate professionals in a studio environment and graduate with an in-depth knowledge of design theory and the Adobe Creative Suite. Most importantly youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll leave with the studio skills and an outstanding portfolio to help you land your ďŹ rst role in this exciting industry where no two days are the same. Open Night Presentation This Friday, 27 June at 6pm Enrolling now for September 2012 L9 55 Swanston St, Melbourne 03 9663 8444 www.shillingtoncollege.com.au 3YDNEY s -ELBOURNE s "RISBANE s ,ONDON s -ANCHESTER s .EW 9ORK
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IN THIS ISSUE...
12
HOT TALK
16
TOURING
18
PATRICK WOLF
20
ARTS GUIDE, POLISSE
22
ART OF THE CITY, COMIC STRIP
24
OZ COMIC-CON
26
LOUNGE THEATRE
27
BURMESE DREAMING
30
THE AFGHAN WHIGS, EDDIE SPAGHETTI, THE DANDY WARHOLS
47
EVEN, ROCK FOR RECLINK KIM SALMON, BUSBY MAROU
48
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH, MIKE NOGA
SURES P. 56
THE DANDY WARHOLS P. 30
49
BEAT EATS
50
LATIN FEATURE
55
THE TEA PARTY, HOWLER
56
THE GOOD SHIP, PLAYWRITE, SURES
57
CORE/CRUNCH!
58
ALBUM OF THE WEEK, SINGLES, CHARTS
THIS WEEK IN 100%:
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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: Michelle Aquilina, Alexandra Duguid, Mairead Bilton-Gough GENERAL MANAGER: Patrick Carr SENIOR ADVERTISING/EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATOR: Ronnit Sternfein BEAT PRODUCTION MANAGER: Pat O’Neil GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Pat O’Neil, Rebecca Houlden, Gill Tucker, Mike Cusack COVER ART: Pat O’Neil 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 Jessica Riley (Indie Bands/Special Features) jessica@furstmedia.com.au CLASSIFIEDS: classifieds@beat.com.au GIG GUIDE SUBMISSIONS: now online at www.beat.com.au or bands email gigguide@beat.com.au ELECTRONIC EDITOR - BEAT ONLINE: Tyson Wray: tyson@beat.com.au
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ALBUMS
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MUSIC NEWS
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SENIOR CONTRIBUTORS: Christine Lan, Simone Ubaldi, 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 O’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 Sheaffe, Kelly Theobald, Andrew Tijs, Alistair Wallis, Etienne Waring, Dan Watt, Rod Whitfield, Katie Weiss, Tom Whitty, Cara Williams, Simon Williamson, Bronius Zumeris. © 2012 Furst Media Pty Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the consent of the copyright holder.
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- FREE SHIT YOUTH LAGOON After playing to sold out crowds in February and drawing huge crowds at SXSW, Youth Lagoon returns to our shores for Splendour in the Grass. Twenty-two year old Trevor Powers will visit The Corner on Sunday July 29 with guests Sures and Thrupence, and we have a double pass plus his CD to give away. CAMERAS Sydney indie crew Cameras are set for a massive East Coast tour of Australia throughout July to launch their debut record, In Your Room. They play The Workers Club on Saturday July 14, and we have a double pass as well as a copy of their 7” to give away. They also play Pure Pop Records on Sunday July 15. ROCK FOR RECLINK The Reclink Community Cup has been a staple on the music calendar for many Melburnians over the past 20 years. All artists have donated their time to perform at Rock For Reclink in support of Reclink Australia, and its mission to provide sport and arts activities to enhance the lives of people experiencing disadvantage in Australia. Set to be held at The Hi-Fi on Saturday June 30, Rock For Reclink features The Blackeyed Susans Trio, Dave Larkin Band, Davey Lane, Jess Ribeiro & The Bone Collectors, Kim Salmon, Leena, Matt Sonic & The High Times, and The Ronson Hangup. We have five double passes to give away BUSH DANCE The Hop is an annual fundraiser for Mittagundi and Wollangarra – two very special outdoor education centres in the High Country. Every year the staff make the trek to the big smoke where there’s a big bash for the urban punters to show their support, and this year heralds the return of the bush dance! You don’t need to know how to dance: the instruction forms part of the dance. It’s on at Fitzroy Town Hall on Friday July 29, and we have two double passes for you to win. Head to beat.com.au/freeshit for the cheapest ticket in town.
NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE The hugely energetic Melbourne electronic outfit are back with a new single and a tour. Since their ‘unearthing’ back in 2010, these lads have gone from strength to strength on the back of their frenetically paced live shows. Their new track, Pascal Cavalier, promises not to disappoint, and they’re putting it to the test with an east coast tour announced for mid-July. Catch Northeast Party House at The Corner Hotel on Friday July 13.
BIGSOUND Brisbane’s BIGSOUND music conference has just announced its 2012 venture has been extended to hold 120 artists who will all perform over two nights in 12 Fortitude Valley locations. New artist announcements include The Aston Shuffle, Closure In Moscow, Ball Park Music, Henry Wagons, Strange Talk, Emperors and South Australian satirists The Beards. BIGSOUND will also host daily music forums and discussions including a keynote presentation from Ben Lee, EMI Chairman Mark Poston as well as Jack White’s Third Man Records Managing Director Ben Swank, Spotify’s Rene Chambers and editor of CMJ Lisa Hresko. BIGSOUND takes place from Wednesday September 12 – Friday September 14 in Fortitude Valley. For the full lineup visit bigsound.org.au.
PLUTO JONZE Sydney-based laptop poster, Pluto Jonze is back with his new single, See What The Sun Sees. Growing up in a music inner-city household, Pluto Jonze had his mind blown early by the music of The Beatles, Beck, Bowie – obsessions he never grew out of. Having hit the scene running in 2011 with his debut EP, Pluto Jonze has not had any time to look back. A truly unique artist, he has become known for his genre-melting tunes and explosive live show, having shared the stage with the likes of Buck 65, The Jezabels, JInja Safari, Cub Scouts – to name a few. To celebrate the release of the warm, lush new single, Jonze hits the road next month, stopping in at The Workers Club on Friday July 13 with support from Fairchild Republic and Palindromes. Tickets are available from the Corner Box Office.
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Simple Minds and Devo, two generation-defining bands, are hitting the road together to perform a unique series of shows around the nation. In a career that has spanned 30 years, Simple Minds have sold more than 60 million albums worldwide since releasing their first hit single Love Song and gold album New Gold Dream. Devo quickly rose from cult status to the mainstream in the ‘80s with their pioneering brand of submersive new wave post-punk – and 30 years later show no signs of slowing down. Simple Minds and Devo alongside The Church play The Palais Theatre on Friday November 29 and A Day On The Green with support from Models at Rochford Wines, Yarra Valley on Saturday December 1. Tickets through Ticketmaster from Monday July 2.
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Stonnington’s ‘FReeZA Committee-Soundslike Productions’ has announced the headline acts for the annual Stonnington Heat of the FreeZA Push Start Battle of the Bands Competition for 2012, to be held at Malvern Town Hall, Friday July 6 at 6PM.The amazing mixture of funky indie rock pop of Saskwatch supported by Animaux will make you want to bust out your dancing shoes. These bands will be preceded by talented battle bands: Hot English, South East, Stereoking and Alice Blu, which promise a tight competition. The winner of the Stonnington heat will receive a generous $1,000 recording and mastering package from Birdland Studios, the opportunity to play at St Kilda Festival, as well as an upcoming Soundslike Productions event; and the chance to compete at the FReeZA Push Start Southern Regional final, with the grand final held at the annual all ages music festival, Push Over, in March 2012.
APOCALYPTICA Twenty years from inception, one of the biggest names in European metal is finally touring Australia. Combining classical nuance with brutal breakdowns, Finnish four-piece Apocalyptica are quintessential Eurock with a difference. They are metal, with cellists. With over four million album sales worldwide to date and a reputation for an incredible live show under their belt Apocalyptica make their first ever trip to Australia this August. Don’t miss these unique live performances. Apocalyptica hit The Hi-Fi on Saturday September 1.
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Robyn
JAMES MORRISON Husky-toned soul singer James Morrison is bringing his emotionally charged and love-torn vocals down under for three east coast shows as part of The Awakening World Tour. Morrison’s third studio album The Awakening delves deep into fatherhood and features UK songstress Jessie J, singer-songwriter Jason Mraz and born again pop starlet Nelly Furtado. This will be Morrison’s first run of Australian shows in more than five years and he will be supported by the sultry vocal talents of Gin Wigmore. James Morrison plays The Forum Theatre on Wednesday September 26.
PARKLIFE As you’re probably gleefully aware, the lineup for Parklife goes from strength to strength each and every year. So you’re most likely wondering how the day-long dance-oriented bash can follow up a year which saw the likes of Death From Above 1979, Nero, Lykke Li and heaps more. Fear not, the 2012 lineup is a freakin’ doozy. Taking over Sidney Myer Music Bowl this year will be The Presets, Passion Pit, Plan B, Nero (live), Justice (DJ set), Tame Impala, Robyn, Chairlift, Chiddy Bang, Wiley, Hermitude, Parachute Youth, Rusko, Benga (live), Citizens!, Charli XCX, St Lucia, DJ Fresh (live), Jack Beats (live), Modestep, Softwar, Alison Wonderland, Art Department, Lee Foss, Flume, Jacques Lu Cont, Labrinth, Rizzle Kicks and heaps, heaps more! Parklife hits Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Saturday October 6.
THE TEA PARTY Legendary Canadian-come-adopted-Australian reformed rockers The Tea Party have announced a second, intimate encore performance at The Hi-Fi on Sunday July 15, following their SaturdayJuly 14 gig at The Palais Theatre. Tickets are on sale 9am Monday July 2 from The Hi-Fi website or Moshtix.
HUGO RACE Hugo Race returns to Australia fresh from a European tour and announces a Melbourne performance at the Northcote Social Club on Sunday July 1 in support of his first album as a solo artist No But It’s True, released last week. Hugo will be showcasing tracks from No But It’s True and exploring the theme of love through interpreting covers from a maelstrom of music eras going back as far as the ‘50s, but including greats such as I’m On Fire which is reflective of Hugo’s love of primitive folk and blues songs from decades past. A founding member of Nick Cave’s Bad Seeds and the seminal Australian ‘80s cult band The Wreckery, Race has released 14 True Spirit albums and collaborated with artists from Sao Paolo to Rome, Berlin, London, Tucson, Brussels, Warsaw, Mali, Africa and beyond. Tickets from The Corner Hotel box office and venue website.
CHERRY POPPIN’ DADDIES MIKELANGELO Mikelangelo is heading off to the UK with the Famous Spiegeltent. where he’ll play upward of 40 shows during the Edinburgh Festival. There is a huge farewell show at The Regal Ballroom, happening on Friday July 20 featuring The Tin Star, St Clare and more. This will be the last Tin Star show for sometime as they will get down to recording their next album when Mikelangelo returns from Europe. As a taster, a free download of Tin Star’s single Walk The Waves will be released on July 1 on Bandcamp.
There’s a zoot suit riot goin’ down this Cup Eve, with Cherry Poppin’ Daddies returning to Australia to hit The Corner Hotel. After hitting Australia last year for a run of sold-out shows, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies are returning to remind us just who holds the title of kings of jumpin’ swing. Cherry Poppin’ Daddies hit The Corner on Monday November 5.
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Beat Magazine Page 13
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SARITAH Saritah and her band will be showcasing select new songs off the upcoming album Dig Deep at The Evelyn on Thursday June 28. Delivering a potent combination of feminine spirit, conscious lyrics and heartful melodies, Saritah brings a unique union of roots, reggae, soul, acoustic and dancehall. With supports including Simmer and Phoebe Jacobs, this will be her last Melbourne show before she returns to the northern hemisphere for festival appearances and showcases. Be there at 9pm.
CHILDREN COLLIDE After an epic single launch tour earlier in the year, demand for Children Collide’s monumental album launch tour is running hot. So much so, a second Melbourne show has just been announced. The band have also just released the third single from Monument, Praying For Sunshine. Support on both nights at The Corner comes from Dune Rats. Children Collide hit The Corner on Friday August 10 and Saturday August 11.
The Spoils
BEAST RECORDS FESTIVAL French label, Beast Records has been dedicated to releasing rock’n’roll bands from across the globe since 2003 with a special focus on Australian acts (including Beasts of Bourbon, Cosmic Psychos, Kill Devil Hills, Digger & The Pussycats, The Spoils, Gentle Ben & His Sensitive Side and more). To celebrate label head, Seb Blanchais’ second visit to our shores, some of Beast Records’ favourite Australian acts come together over three big nights across two venues for The Beast Records Festival Showcase, featuring rare live appearances from Six Ft. Hick and The Holy Soul, plus The Spoils’ first show for 2012. It takes place Friday July 20 and Saturday July 21 at The Retreat, plus Sunday July 22 at Yah Yah’s.
THE GANGSTER’S BALL SASKWATCH Melbourne’s nine-piece funk and soul collective Saskwatch ready their third 7” Your Love, the second single to be lifted from their upcoming full length Leave It All Behind. The funkadelic ensemble have enjoyed a wave of success in recent months playing Golden Plains and Falls Festivals, supporting rock’n’roll hall of famers Earth Wind and Fire on their recent Australian tour and jam packing Melbourne’s institutional Cherry Bar during their Soul In The Basement residency. Saskwatch will launch Your Love at Ding Dong on Friday July 20. Leave It All Behind is set for an August release.
THE JUNGLE GIANTS After hitting the road for more than two months, playing 30+ shows to sold out crowds supporting Boy & Bear, The Jungle Giants aren’t ready to slow down. They’ll be packing up the tour van and hitting the tarmac to celebrate the release of their forthcoming EP, She’s A Riot, causing a ruckus when they hit the Northcote Social Club on Friday August 10. Tickets are from the Corner Box Office or the venue website.
BROTHERS HAND MIRROR Brothers Hand Mirror are two dudes – HTMLflowers (Cougar Flashy) raps and Oscar Key Sung (Oscar + Martin) does the beats – who’ve been playing shows and giving away funny comics for a bit more than a year. Beats are made with tape loops and drums, raps are made with feelings and mouth – instead of singing about money or violence, they sing about day dreams, sunbursts and complicated emotions. Dancing is important to them. Head along and dance at the launch of the drawings and booklet to accompany their new free-to-download EP Our Will on Wednesday July 4 at Bar Open with Andras Fox and Greivis Vasquez. Free entry from 8pm.
Beat Magazine Page 14
All modern day Mobsters and Molls will be stepping back in time to a bygone era of three-piece suits and pill box hats when The Gangster’s Ball returns bigger and better than ever for its fifth year. A fully themed night of interactive and non-stop entertainment, The Gangsters’ Ball brings to life the fashion, style, humour and classic entertainment of the ‘30s and ‘40s. Featuring the biggest names in Australian cabaret, sideshow vaudeville, magic/illusion and big band swing, this is an event like no other and one not to be missed. This year’s headline acts include MC Comedian Dave Callan, Acrobatic Troupe ‘Circus Trick Tease’ and hypnotist Shane Hill. The Melbourne leg of The Gangster’s Ball takes place at The Forum Theatre on Saturday September 8. Tickets from Ticketmaster.
CAM BUTLER MAROON 5 Maroon 5 are rewarding eager fans by returning to Australia for a whirlwind tour with special guests Evermore and The Cab, taking to The Rod Laver Arena on Friday October 12 for a special and exclusive show. Since their last Australian tour the three time Grammy Award winning band have seen their popularity grow to new heights with their latest #1 single Payphone (featuring American rapper Wiz Khalifa) storming the airwaves and clubs. The song is the lead single from Maroon 5’s highly anticipated fourth album Overexposed (out June 22 through Universal) which promises to be the band’s strongest yet. Tickets are on sale at 9am Tuesday July 3 from Ticketek, with Frontier pre-sale starting at 12pm today.
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Cam Butler (Ron S. Peno & The Superstitions etc) plays a special screening of the five videos made for his breathtaking new album, Save My Soul, in Cinema 1 at ACMI on Thursday August 30. Cam commissioned four directors (hailing from Melbourne, Berlin and Kabul) to make a video for each track on the album. Cam will be playing solo electric guitar to accompany the videos and the album’s lush orchestral backing music. It kicks off at 7.45pm and entry is $15.
LADY ANTEBELLUM Grammy winning trio Lady Antebellum have responded to strong ticket numbers by adding a second and final show in Melbourne on Wednesday September 26 at The Palais after selling out their Tuesday September 25 gig at the same venue on their Own The Night 2012 world tour. Tickets for the second show are on sale at 9am Friday June 29. Details at livenation.com.au.
HOT TALK
DON WALKER The legendary Don Walker (Cold Chisel, Tex, Don & Charlie, Catfish) will be heading out on the road again to tour the country performing some old and new songs with his band The Suave Fucks. Tales and songs, some old, some new. He hits the Northcote Social Club on Thursday July 26 and The Caravan Club in Oakleigh on Friday July 27. Tickets on sale now from the venue and Oztix.
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CHOOK RACE Engine Three Seven
SHOWDOWN AT THE CORNER Friday August 3 sees the fourth installment of Showdown At The Corner, featuring ten of Melbourne’s best live acts rocking out across The Corner Hotel’s two stages. This year sees Byron Bay expats Engine Three Seven headline the event, breaking their six month hiatus and launching their new single. Other acts on the lineup are Bellusira, The Khyber Belt, Sub Atari Knives, Moroccan Kings, Fisker, One, Kettlespider, The Fighting and Hotel On Mayfair. Tickets just $16.50+ bf from The Corner Hotel on online at cornerhotel.com. Doors open 6.30pm with Hotel On Mayfair kicking off the night at 7pm. Check out showdownfestival.com for more info.
Chook Race are back! But they didn’t actually go away. Well, one did. She’s coming back as another is leaving but not before a ‘Homecoming and Going’ show at The Liberty Social on Friday July 6. Chook Race have built a solid reputation as one of the most dynamic guitar pop bands operating. Having supported the likes of Ty Segall, Sonny And The Sunsets and Kurt Vile, they have become one of the bands to watch in Melbourne’s insane music scene. But since launching their Mikey Young recorded debut 7” single back in March, the three-piece have been quiet on the gigging front with drummer Caz trekking though Europe. Rob is about to do the same. Matt just spends all his money on guitars and old car parts. Canberra’s kings of the capital Fighting League, delinquents Ausmuteants and Popolice join them to say sayonara before the Chooks close up shop for what looks to be the rest of 2012.
THE HELLO MORNING After spending most of the year on the road supporting big-name talent, The Hello Morning are returning home to officially launch their critically lauded debut album. The album has been receiving shit-hot reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone since its release, now Melbourne fans have the pleasure of hearing the record in the live setting. The launch follows on from The Hello Morning’s stint alongside Busby Marou on their national tour, (which hits The Corner Hotel this Thursday June 28). The Hello Morning hit Northcote Social Club on Friday August 3, with support from Immigrant Union.
ROCKWIZ Tickets to the massive three month RocKwiz – Some Kind Of Genius Tour went on sale last Thursday and the demand for tickets has been so huge that an extra show has been added. Fans can expect the unexpected when the RocKwiz team unleashes its unique brand of energetic musical magic at Festival Hall on Friday October 12 and Saturday October 13. Tickets on sale now from Ticketmaster.
Q&A UDAYS TIGER When’s the gig and with who? We play at The Tote on Saturday June 30 supporting Sugar Army. What inspires or has influenced your music the most? There wouldn’t be just one thing. We both like playing live and seeing great live bands like Damn Terran, High Tea or The Morrisons. They all have great stage presence. Seeing good bands inspires us to make our shows as frantic, energetic and interesting as we can with only two people.
I, A MAN A bunch of honest yet polished live shows gathered them a strong local following over the past year or so. Now, I, a Man are embarking on an intimate tour along the east coast celebrating the release of a new single, The Scenic Route, and their first music video. Word has it they’re soon to be in lockdown preparing for a debut album in 2013 so this might be one of our last chances to catch ‘em live for while. I, a Man, play Ding Dong on Saturday July 21, with a smaller acoustic set to follow at Pure Pop Records Sunday July 29, which will be free Terrible Truths
Why should everyone come and see your band? Because we are a couple of blokes who like to have a beer and watch bands and play music and doing these things with likeminded people is even better than by yourself. Define your genre in five words or less: Grunge, punk, noise. Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? Well hopefully they say we sound like a pretty good band… But sometimes people say things like, “Youse sounded like, fuckin’ sick”.
What part of making music excites you the most? Playing live has always been the most exciting part, then writing and recording are the next best thing. Describe the best gig you have ever played. We played a warehouse party on Halloween not long after we moved to Melbourne. Damn Terran, Clavians and Dozers played. It was messy and awesome.
What do you love about making music? Just that. The two best things would have to be writing and coming up with new music and then playing live. The live part especially because we try to be as energetic and exciting as we can be to watch and I think that makes us more enjoyable to listen to.
Do you have a pre-gig ritual? If so, what is it? We join hands in prayer and have some cordial.
What can a punter expect from your live show? That’s an easy one… Noise, smoke, strobe, loud and at the moment free T-Shirts and CDs (when we have them). What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? You can download our SINNERS EP here for free: soundcloud.com/udaystiger. It’s also available at Broken Glass Records in Collingwood.
If you could go on tour with any musician or band, who would it be? Nirvana, Shellac (or any Steve Albini associated act), Blood On The Wall.
Name an interview question you wish someone would ask you, and answer it. Would you like some money? …. Yes.
WOOLY BULLY 1ST ANNIVERSARY Celebrating one year of being open, North Melbourne’s absolute best record store/comic shop/café is combining with the Gas Gallery and The Gasometer to present a night of music and artists that love music and art. With artwork by Stephanie Hughes, Joanna Anderson and Oscar Perry, along with bangin’ tunes by Ausmuteants, Terrible Truths and supergroup Boomgates, it’s me to get in troubles with the neighbours this Thursday June 28.
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Beat Magazine Page 15
TOURING
WHO'S ON TOUR, WHERE AND WHEN
PROUDLY PRESENTS:
For all the latest touring news check out beat.com.au PENNYWISE The Palace August 26 PITBULL Rod Laver Arena August 27 THE ENGLISH BEAT Corner Hotel August 30 JOSE FELICIANO Palais Theatre August 31 THE BEACH BOYS Rod Laver Arena August 31 APOCALYPTICA The Hi-Fi September 1 AMERICA Hamer Hall September 6 PATRICK WOLF Forum Theatre September 11 INGRID MICHAELSON The Corner September 13 EARTH The Toff In Town September 12, Corner Hotel September 16 HANSON The Palace September 14, 18 RUFUS WAINWRIGHT Hamer Hall September 15 FUTURE ISLANDS Northcote Social Club September 19 WHEATUS Corner Hotel September 19 YELLOWCARD The Hi-Fi September 20, 21 MACY GRAY Hamer Hall September 23 LADY ANTEBELLUM September 25, 26 JAMES MORRISON Forum Theatre September 26 MARTIKA Trak Lounge September 28 RUSSIAN CIRCLES, EAGLE TWIN The Corner September 28 TIM & ERIC The Forum September 29 CANNIBAL CORPSE Billboard October 5 PARKLIFE Sidney Myer Music Bowl October 6 STEEL PANTHER Festival Hall October 7 JOE BONAMASSA Palais Theatre October 11 MAROON 5 Rod Laver Arena October 12 EVERCLEAR The Hi-Fi October 13 WEDNESDAY 13 The Espy October 27 THE BLACK KEYS Sidney Myer Music Bowl October 31 THE CHERRY POPPIN’ DADDIES The Corner Hotel November 5 HARVEST FESTIVAL Werribee Mansion November 11 COLDPLAY Etihad Stadium November 13 RADIOHEAD Rod Laver Arena November 16, 17 GEORGE MICHAEL Rod Laver Arena November 21 SIMPLE MINDS, DEVO Palais Theatre November 29, A Day On The Green - Rochford Wines December 1
INTERNATIONAL LIL’ BAND O’ GOLD The Regal Ballroom June 27, 28, The Espy June 29 LADY GAGA Rod Laver Arena June 27, 28, 30, July 1, 3 EDDIE SPAGHETTI Cherry Bar June 30 FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS The Plenary July 14 I AM GIANT The Workers Club July 5 GOATWHORE Corner Hotel July 6 RICK ASTLEY The Palace November 30, Chelsea Heights Hotel December 1 SIMONE FELICE The Corner Hotel July 11 KINGFISHA The Thornbury Theatre July 13 THE TEA PARTY The Palais Theatre July 14, The Hi-Fi July 15 CANCER BATS The Hi-Fi July 14 MELISSA ETHERIDGE The Plenary July 15 THE XX The Forum July 18 OF MONSTERS AND MEN The Corner Hotel July 20 BAND OF SKULLS The Corner Hotel July 22, 26 THE SHINS Festival Hall July 23 LANA DEL REY Palace Theatre July 23, 24 HOWLER, ZULU WINTER The Corner Hotel July 24 THE AFGHAN WHIGS The Hi-Fi July 25 FRIENDS Northcote Social Club July 25 MICHAEL KIWANUKA & BEN HOWARD The Corner Hotel July 25 JACK WHITE Festival Hall July 25 HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE The Espy July 26 FUN. The Hi-Fi July 27 METRIC Billboard July 27 MUDHONEY The Corner Hotel July 27 FATHER JOHN MISTY The Corner Hotel July 28 SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS Belongil Fields Byron Bay July 27 – 29 YOUTH LAGOON The Corner Hotel July 29 DJANGO DJANGO, CAST OF CHEERS The Corner Hotel July 31 MIIKE SNOW The Palace July 31 ELECTRIC GUEST Northcote Social Club August 1 SMASHING PUMPKINS Hisense Arena August 2 MARK GARDENER The Corner Hotel August 5 JINJA SAFARI, OPOSSOM, WHITE ARROWS The Hi-Fi August 10, 11 BILLY TALENT Billboard August 12 SLASH Hisense Arena August 26
NATIONAL BUSBY MAROU The Corner June 28 KIRIN J CALLINAN The Tote June 28 EMMA LOUISE Northcote Social Club June 28 WORLD’S END PRESS The Corner Hotel June 29 EVEN, THE FAUVES Regal Ballroom June 29
CAMERAS Purple Sneakers July 13, The Workers Club July 14, Pure Pop July 15 CHARGE GROUP The Tote June 29 SUGAR ARMY The Tote June 30 ROCK FOR RECLINK The Hi-Fi June 30 HUGO RACE Northcote Social Club July 1 BOB DYLAN TRIBUTE TOUR Palais Theatre July 5, 6 SURES Northcote Social Club July 5 KARNIVOOL The Hi-Fi July 5, 6, 7 THE NIGHT TERRORS The Toff In Town July 7 CROOKED SAINT The Evelyn July 7 THE RUBENS The Corner July 10, 12 THE PAPER KITES Northcote Social Club July 11, 12 NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE The Corner July 13 PLUTO JONZE The Workers Club July 13 VAN SHE The Hi-Fi July 13 CAMERAS Purple Sneakers July 13, The Workers Club July 14, Pure Pop July 15 BENJAMIN SKEPPER Toff In Town July 15 BERTIE BLACKMAN Corner Hotel July 17 LADYHAWKE Billboard July 17 SASKWATCH Ding Dong July 20 I, A MAN Ding Dong July 21 DON WALKER Northcote Social Club July 26, The Caravan Club July 27 THE HELLO MORNING The Northcote Social Club August 3 CHILDREN COLLIDE Corner Hotel August 10, 11
The Toff Stage and Carriage 2nd Flr Curtin House, 252 Swanston St, Melbourne, 3000 ~ 9639 8770 ~ www.thetoffintown.com THURS 28 JUNE
THURS 12 JULY
JAY BRANNAN (USA)
GEORGIA FAIR
with PATRICK JAMES SAT 30 JUNE
JIMMY HAWKE & THE ENDLESS PARTY
with BRAVE FACE & GOSTELERADIO MON 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 JULY
HAYDEN CALNIN with MANOR
TUES 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 JULY
STANDISH/CARLYON 3/7 - FABULOUS DIAMONDS & DJ PEOPLE WED 4 JULY
LAWRENCE ARABIA (NZ) THURS 5 JULY
CLUBFEET with I'LLS'
SAT 7 JULY
THE NIGHT TERRORS
with FORCES & ASH WEDNESDAY SUN 8 JULY
THE NYMPHS with MIKELANGELO & THE BLUEBOTTLES
EVERY WEEK MONDAY
IN THE CARRIAGE FROM 8PM
STIFF DRINKS
with DIRT FARMER & EMMA RUSSACK
with ROMAN WAFERS, MICHAEL OZONE AND MICHAEL KUCYK
SAT 14 JULY - FROM 8PM
FRASER A GORMAN with THE MURLOCS & COURTNEY BARNETT
WEDNESDAY IN THE CARRIAGE ROOM FROM 8PM
with NIGEL LAST
SAT 14 JULY - FROM 11PM
THDF 4th BIRTHDAY TRANNYTOPIA with STEPHEN ALLKINS & ANDEE FROST
THURSDAY IN THE STAGE ROOM FROM 11.30PM
LOVE STORY
with 1928 (STROBE) & guests IN THE CARRIAGE ROOM FROM 7PM
GOOD EVENING
BENJAMIN SKEPPER 18/7 HYFRYDOL 19/7 HAYLEY COUPER BAND 22/7 COMMUNION LAUNCH PARTY 28/7 THE VAUDEVILLE SMASH 29/7 DON MCGLASHAN (NZ) 5/8 THE JED ROWE BAND 9/8 SET SAIL 12/8 BUTTERFLY BOUCHER 15/8 OWEN CAMPBELL & MUSTERED COURAGE 18/8 POLO CLUB 25/8 HUNTING GROUNDS 5/9 RICKI-LEE 15/9 THE MEDICS 15/7
TUESDAY IN THE CARRIAGE ROOM FROM 8PM
with MIAMI HORROR & SAFARI
with DJ PEOPLE
IN THE CARRIAGE ROOM FROM 11PM
MIDNIGHT EXPRESS
with PREQUEL & EDD FISHER FRIDAY IN THE STAGE ROOM FROM 9PM
POPROCKS
with DR PHIL SMITH No brainers & guilty pleasures IN THE CARRIAGE ROOM FROM 8PM
with BISH & NHJ + GUESTS SATURDAY
IN THE STAGE ROOM FROM MIDNIGHT
THE HOUSE DE FROST with ANDEE FROST
IN THE CARRIAGE ROOM FROM 8PM
with J'NETT + GUESTS
SUNDAY FROM 4PM IN THE CARRIAGE ROOM - FREE ENTRY
THE SUNDAY SET
with ANDYBLACK & HAGGIS Theme: ANGELS & DEVILS THE LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
DR SKETCHY’S ANTI ART CLASS with SPECIAL GUEST
FOR MORE INFO GO TO WWW.THETOFFINTOWN.COM PRESALE TICKETS:
All presale tickets available through MOSHTIX: www.moshtix.com.au Ph 1300 GET TIX (438 849) or at all Moshtix outlets, including Polyester (Fitzroy & City)
Keep updated with the latest news, events & food at facebook.com/toffintown & facebook.com/choochoostoff
Thai dinner & supper 5pm til 3am on weeknights and 5am on the weekend www.choochoos.com.au
Beat Magazine Page 16
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES..... WWW.BEAT.COM.AU/TV
THE JUNGLE GIANTS Northcote Social Club August 12 KATE MILLER-HEIDKE Corner Hotel August 14, 15, 16 SNAKADAKTAL Corner Hotel August 17, 18 MIKELANGELO The Regal Ballroom July 2 1927, THE REMBRANDTS The Palms At Crown August 24 HILLTOP HOODS Festival Hall August 25 HUNTING GROUNDS Toff In Town August 25 LOON LAKE Northcote Social Club September 1 THE MEDICS Toff In Town September 15 JULIA STONE The Forum September 7 ILLY The Corner Hotel September 7, 8 THE GANGSTER’S BALL Forum Theatre September 8 XAVIER RUDD The Palace September 13 KATCHAFIRE Ferntree Gully Hotel September 20, The Forum Theatre September 21 ROCKWIZ Festival Hall October 12, 13 GOTYE Sidney Myer Music Bowl December 8
RUMOURS Justin Bieber, Carly Rae Jespen, Bat For Lashes, Cat Power, Sonny And The Sunsets, Linkin Park. = New Announcements = Beat Proudly Presents
DAINTY GROUP PRESENTS
ENCORE SHOW SUNDAY 15 JULY THE HI-FI
TICKETS ON SALE 9AM MON 2 JULY BOOK AT THEHIFI.COM.AU OR MOSHTIX.COM.AU OR PHONE 1300THEHIFI (1300 843 443)
T E A PA R T Y . C O M
facebook.com/theteapar tyofficial FOR AUSTRALIAN TOU R I N FO VIS IT DAI NTYG ROU P.COM
TEA PARTY - BEAT fullpage.indd 1
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Beat Magazine Page 25/6/12 10:49:00 AM17
PATRICK WOLF BY LACHLAN KANONIUK
Though a relative veteran of the music industry, Patrick Wolf is still a young man in most of the world’s eyes. 2012 marks the tenth anniversary of the UK singersongwriter’s recording career, and presents a resolute conclusion to a somewhat turbulent formative epoch. In many ways, Wolf is a survivor. At 28 years of age, Wolf has conquered the morbid construct that is the ’27 club’, all the while overcoming the follies of the oft-rabid British press. As it turns out, surviving is what Wolf does best. As a schoolboy, he spent a week in a coma after a freak coach accident. Throughout his teenage years, he was the victim of bullying. As Wolf explains, these trials only prepared him for the fickle, and at times vitriolic, nature of the beast they call the music industry. “When I was 12 I fell out of a coach on a motorway in Belgium with one other choirboy, and everything changed from then on. I survived this moment, then I survived a period of bullying. But at the end of the day it’s not just survival instincts, you just have to toughen up,” he muses. “If you want to do something original, or if you’re going to put yourself in a place of ridicule from those people, then it’s going to help you later on in life. Then if you’re experiencing it all throughout your 20s – trying to straddle some ground between the underground without compromising to the mainstream – you may as well be wearing a t-shirt saying ‘asking for it’. You have to realise you’re wearing that t-shirt and be proud of it. I have regrets, but they’re the things most people wouldn’t think I would be regretful for.” It’s a reflective age for Wolf, one that will be articulated by a stripped-back acoustic tour and a complementary full-length record. Though the bombast of the full live band performance won’t necessarily be present, Wolf’s trademark charisma is sure to be in full force. “I’m sure there would be, by the public’s perception, an element of histrionics on it in the way I sing. This whole thing is about this year being the ten-year anniversary of the release of my first EP. Back then I used to have no money and just go busking with an accordion on the bridges in London. I didn’t really have the idea that I would ever have a band, and I would just take whatever instruments I could carry to different places around England. Then I’d be invited to places overseas and I’d just bring a suitcase full of portable instruments. I guess this tour is quite cyclical, going back and readdressing the way I want to move forward in the future. The first ever show I did like this was actually in Sydney in 2007, when I couldn’t afford to bring the band over. So I booked a little show in Sydney and went back to how I started off communicating, which was no computers, no record company, nobody breathing down my neck. All the pressure’s off, it’s just me and 200 people a night. It gives me a chance to go through the back catalogue, of which there are five albums of work. I don’t have a setlist, I don’t think about it – it’s just a recital from the bottom of my heart. I talk about the stories of the songs, how they were made. I feel like I can bare my soul a lot more than I can with the regime of touring with a 19-piece crew and a six-piece band. It Beat Magazine Page 18
allows me to feel really connected to my music again. That’s not to say I don’t when I have the big rock’n’roll show. I find it to be more of an intimacy with my work before I even think about the audience. So I want to celebrate this ten-year anniversary by doing that.” As you would expect, the acoustic setting exacerbates some of the hidden aspects of the extensive Patrick Wolf back catalogue. It’s something that Wolf utilises without inhibition. “It’s really exposed the messages of the songs. Sometimes in production and packaging and with music videos, people are distracted by all these layers and can’t really hear what I actually do. That’s fine, it’s just that people can sometimes only take one piece of information at a time. Sometimes I’ve bombarded people with an extreme visual which sometimes contradicts the lyrical content of the song,” he reflects. “I’ve chosen to do that because I want to express the diversity of being a human being – you might feel one thing but look another way. For this [tour], I can literally recompose the song on the spot and focus on what I feel – whether it be something in the newspapers, a letter from a fan. I take requests from Twitter and Facebook and while we’re there. It’s about forgetting about the theatre of it, forgetting about rehearsals, and just becoming a vessel for the audience for two hours. It’s a bit like being possessed by past work and with what people want from you that night. Some messages really come to the forefront, and it’s just a time to forget about the rest of it.” Buoyed by a distinctly erudite perception of his career to date, Wolf offers metaphors of bereavement and graduation when reflecting on the narrative which lead to where he is today. “I think that I rationalise it by seeing it as my ‘training’ time. These are my stabilising years, I’ve managed to come out of those ten years with a few nervous breakdowns and a couple of bad habits. But I’ve managed to knock it all on the head and overcome public aggression,” Wolf explains. “I had a moment of egomania, a moment of manic depression, and I’ve gone through spats with journalists and pop stars – just making a fool of myself publicly. Then I get to 28 and all I want to do is just forget about all that stuff and just focus on my work – which is what I’m doing now, to re-hone my craft. At the end of the day, all of that stuff was written by me, I wrote that narrative. There were no
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
cowriters, no managers telling me what to do like there are with most pop stars. Every word of it was written by me. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I’ve left a bit of a destructive trail behind me and now’s my time to reassess that before I move on. I feel like I’ve been in university and now is my time to graduate and really take control of what I do and have a better understanding of the music industry and the world as a whole. I’m just starting. This album that is coming out with this tour is just me putting a gravestone on what has happened before. I can look at it and enjoy it, but I’m still forgetting the past and moving on into the future. Not that I suffered through any of that, I enjoyed every moment of it.” For an artist so accomplished, Wolf still projects an endearing self-deprecation – an attribute which he has managed to harness into a motivational asset. “I do have days where I have no motivation, but that doesn’t come from feeling like I haven’t achieved what I haven’t achieved, it comes from an overwhelming feeling that I haven’t achieved anything with my life and a crippling feeling that I’m sure everyone in the world feels no matter what they’re doing with their life. You have this driving ambition, and no matter how hard you flex that muscle of ambition, sometimes you just end up with disappointment,” he ponders. “I’m not talking about money, career or chart positions, I’m talking about artistically. That’s a wonderful feeling as well, because it gets you out of bed and into the world to keep on creating. I’m totally dissatisfied with everything in my life, but that’s something between me and my psychiatrist, I guess,” he laughs. “It’s something most people feel, and you just have to utilise this feeling to do greater things with your life. When I’ll be lying on my deathbed I’ll be saying ‘I still want to make that one more album, I still need to make something from the bottom of my heart’. I think life is about being dissatisfied and continuing, otherwise you’re dead in your heart.” As for his next album, Wolf reveals that it will be a revisionist retrospective of sorts, subverting the notion of the greatest hits package which often coincides with Wolf’s current career point. “It’s all recorded, I’ve got two days of vocals this weekend, then I’ve got mixing at the end of the month,” he explains. “It’s basically all back catalogue. It came from doing these acoustic shows, when I sat at the piano and forgot about what it sounded like on record or with a band, and thought about how it should sound in 2012. So new lyrics would come up, some of them retrospective or things I was too scared to say back at the time. Some lyrics feel wrong, like Hard Times I’ve sort of rewritten as I feel the message is screwed up with that song, promoting aggression rather than resolution. So I’m readdressing and rewriting the back catalogue. I’m not really choosing the most obvious songs for the record. I think it came from the notion that after ten years you do a greatest hits – I don’t have any hits,” Wolf smiles. “It’s kind of an invalid format now anyway, you can choose 12 tracks from your favourite artist on iTunes. So I thought it was better to readdress the back catalogue as sort of a songbook.”
PATRICK WOLF plays the Forum II on Tuesday September 11.
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Beat Magazine Page 19
THIS WEEK: ON SCREEN 11 years of age; that weird limbo between being a primary school kid and a high school teenager on the road to being an adult. I Am Eleven is a documentary that focuses on just this, with director Genevieve Bailey honing in on the lives of 15 different 11-year-olds from around the world, inquiring about the concerns and obsessions that that make up their lives, and the differences and similarities between the cultures these children span. However, thanks to Cinema Nova’s Meet The Filmmaker events, Bailey is also giving her audience an opportunity to ask questions about the film after the screening. The preview screening of I Am Eleven is happening at Cinema Nova on Sunday July 1, with tickets available from the Cinema Nova website.
ON STAGE Held on the first Monday of every month is Theatre Slam; a night of performances ‘slamming down their talent’ through one, two or three minute performances and monologues. The actors battle it out for the month’s title of Theatre Slam Champion, having to win over not only the judges but their audience too. The next Theatre Slam is Monday July 2, starting at 8pm at The Order of Melbourne. If you’re an actor and would like information on how to get involved, head to theatreslam.com.au. Tickets are $15 and are also available through the website.
ON DISPLAY Born in Russia in 1897 was artist Danila Vassilieff. In 1923, he and his wife emigrated to a sugar farm in Queensland. Thanks to a series of sexual exploits and tumultuous divorces Vassilieff has created a body of dark, colourful and emotive work, full of busy streetscapes and unflattering portraits. The Heidi Museum of Modern Art, along with curator Kendrah Morgan and collections manager Katarina Paseta, are presenting The Man Behind The Artist; a behind-thescenes tour of Vassilieff’s person keepsakes, such as his naturalisation papers, compelling letters, unseen photographs of his self-built home ‘Stonygrad’ in Warrandyte and good humoured, lively watercolours. The Man Behind The Artist is Saturday June 30, from 10.30am. Tickets are available from the Heidi website.
BEAT’S PICK OF THE WEEK: For most, the mentioning of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein conjures up images of a giant human/monster hybrid; green skin crudely sewn together, giant bolt protruding from the neck. However, thanks to Cinema Nova and the new season of London’s National Theatre, we all get to experience Frankenstein in a much different light; live and in HD. From Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle is his stage-rendering of the fictional classic, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC’s Sherlock) as Victor, and Johnny Lee Miller (Trainspotting) as his bewildered invention, Creature. The last screening of this enthralling production is at Cinema Nova on Thursday June 28. Head to the Cinema Nova website for tickets.
FREE SHIT SURVIVING PROGRESS As part of the Long Play program, ACMI are presenting the Australian premiere of Surviving Progress; a documentary set out to try and answer the question “How can we live within the real limits that our planet gives us?” From the creators of The Corporation and Executive Produced by Martin Scorsese, Surviving Progress was inspired by Ronald Wright’s best-selling book A Short History of Progress, and features the ideas of modern luminaries including geneticist David Suzuki, physicist Stephen Hawking, and former Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund Simon Johnson, and documenting a variety of thoughts deriving from a plethora of backgrounds. We have two double passes to give away.
Beat Magazine Page 20
POLISSE BY KIT O’CONNOR
By the time it opens in Australian cinemas, Polisse will have been cutting a swathe through the international cinema scene for over 12 months. An unflinchingly real drama set inside a Parisian Child Protection Unit, it swept up the Jury Prize at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, followed by 13 César nominations (the French Academy Awards) and prizes for editing and most promising actress. When it opened in France last October, up against juggernauts like The Help and The Adventures Of Tintin, it maintained top position at the box office for two weeks. At last count, it had made $20 million worldwide – not bad for a film with a budget of $7 million. Polisse is the result of a massive labour of love by 36-year-old French actress and director Maïwenn, who sought out an internship with one of the Paris Police Department’s Child Protection Units after seeing a TV documentary on their work – and subsequently channelled her experiences into the film, in which she also stars, as young photo-journalist Melissa, who is commissioned by the Police Department to do a ‘puff piece’ documenting the work of the CPU officers. “I didn’t want to judge the policemen [and] I didn’t want to judge the victims or the guilty people,” says Maïwenn says, adding “The cops were so on the edge and so fragile. They all had a personal reason to work there – a brother who had been a victim, or an uncle who had been a paedophile; I always knew that they were there for personal reasons, so that makes them also a victim.” While the visual style of the film is defined by the lofi hand-held aesthetics of news-crew or documentary footage, the narrative is finely wrought, interweaving Melissa’s story with those of several of the CPU officers, and handling difficult subject matter with as much levity as drama. “I really wanted to be as close as I could to the reality,” says Maïwenn, whose internship involved shadowing officers day and night, listening to their cases questioning them about their lives. “But also you have to [temper] that reality [with drama] – you can’t just be real. Otherwise I’d be making a documentary.” The film’s happiest moments – including a scene where the officers let off steam at the disco, and another
where a bus of children recently evacuated from a gypsy squat begin to dance – were unexpectedly the ones that Maïwenn had to fight hardest to keep in the film. Those around her felt they were too unrealistic, she recognised that they provided necessary relief for the audience. In another scene – one of the film’s most confronting (and yet irresistibly funny) – three officers question a teenage girl who admits to providing blowjobs to boys who stole her phone, unexpectedly erupt into giggles. “I was [working within the CPU] when this girl came in and said what she [had done] for her smart phone,” the director recalls. “I have to say, the cops were not laughing like in the movie, [but] because I was [working] with them and I knew their personalities – I could feel through their eyes and through their expression that they were laughing so much inside… I [realised] after two days [of] my internship [that] they really needed to have this black humour, otherwise it’s too hard; this is the best armour they had to push away the misery. After a few days I was already using the same jokes.” A former child actress who had two previous feature films as a director under her belt – both of which she also starred in – Maïwenn says juggling the two roles on Polisse was difficult, and admits that there were moments of tension between her and the cast. “It was hard to use a different energy as an actress, in the sense that when I was on the set I was the director and I needed to be the example for the crew and for
THE CINEMA OF GUY MADDIN
OZ COMIC-CON
LOUNGE THEATRE
Featuring as the subject of ACMI’s newest Focus On series is Guy Maddin; Canadian screenwriter, director and cinematographer and touted as “one of the leading lights of contemporary cinema”. Nocturnal Transmissions: The Cinema of Guy Maddin is a retrospective of Maddin’s work, including the Australian premier of his most recent work Keyhole and a special selection of double bills curated by Maddin, the highlight of these being Maddin’s pairing of Dracula – Pages from a Virgin’s Diary with the Brazilian classic This Night I Will Possess Your Corpse, a special Friday the 13th event! We have a couple of double passes to give away.
The very fun Oz Comic-Con is returning to Melbourne! Over two days, the quirky event will feature international and local film and TV stars such as legendary actor Sir Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier in X-Men, Captain JeanLuc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation) and comic icon Stan Lee (creator of Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Iron Man and everything awesome in this world). Aspiring comic creators will also be able to submit their work for professional review, with Scott Allie (Senior Managing Editor of Dark Horse Comics) in attendance scouting for new talent. There will also be comic book and anime artists, gaming demonstrations and cosplay competitions. Oz Comic-Con visits the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday June 30 and Sunday July 1. We have a weekend double pass to giveaway.
Get ready as Lounge Theatre will enjoy its exclusive world premiere at one of Melbourne’s most prestigious and well-known venues: The Butterfly Club. A bold and quirky new theatre concept, Lounge Theatre is performed within domestic environments and intimate venues to niche audiences of 20 to 40 people. Presented by Jimmy Flinders Productions, Lounge Theatre is an intimate, moving and highly engaging theatre experience. This instalment of Lounge Theatre tells the story of two friends renewing their acquaintance after a high-school reunion. Despite an awkward beginning, a casual conversation between the two will soon trigger moments of revealing truths far deeper than either person is prepared for. We have a double pass to giveaway. Head to beat.com.au/freeshit to win.
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the actors – I needed to always [be in] good humour, be positive – but my character is the opposite of that; she’s like a little cat on the sidelines, very shy and I said to myself this is a bad decision to have chosen to be this part.” Even with her substantial body of work and this latest film’s success, Maïwenn professes to still lack in confidence in her chosen career – something she ascribes to being an outsider from a young age. “Coming from a really poor family…and [being] one year younger than the others [at school] – I have this memory of always running around after things I didn’t have as a child: the ‘right’ jeans, the right shoes; I didn’t have a television, so I couldn’t be part of the discussion about those things.” At the age of 12 she dropped out of school and started taking her classes by correspondence. By the age of 16, she had dropped out of the education system altogether. “I feel like it is a handicap for me now, having missed out on that sense of structure – structure for the mind – that school teaches.” At the same time, she allows that being an outsider also contributed to her keen sense of observation. “And I had bad marks at school, I was always sitting at the back of the class,” she adds, laughing – “so maybe that helped!” Polisse is in cinemas from Thursday June 28.
SURVIVING PROGRESS From the makers of The Corporation and Executive Produced by Martin Scorsese comes a beautifully cinematic and striking examination of the ‘capitalist experiment’. “…Surviving Progress is a fine summary of a hot ugly mess.” The New York Times
Film Season > ACMI Cinemas Sunday 1 July - Sunday 15 July 2012 ACMI, Federation Square, Melbourne www.acmi.net.au/film
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Beat Magazine Page 21
THE COMIC STRIP CHECKPOINT CHARLIE COMEDY
With Tyson Wray. Got news, gossip, reviews, thoughts, tip-offs, complaints, hate mail? Email tyson@beat.com.au or send by ESP before Friday.
LOUNGE THEATRE Get ready as Lounge Theatre will enjoy its exclusive world premiere at one of Melbourne’s most prestigious and well-known venues: The Butterfly Club. A bold and quirky new theatre concept, Lounge Theatre is performed within domestic environments and intimate venues to niche audiences of 20 to 40 people. Presented by Jimmy Flinders roductions, Lounge Theatre is an intimate, moving and highly engaging theatre experience. This installment of Lounge Theatre tells the story of two friends renewing their acquaintances after a high-school reunion. Despite an awkward beginning, a casual conversation between the two will soon trigger moments of revealing truths far deeper than either person is prepared for. Lounge Theatre’s primary target audience is domestic environments on an ongoing basis; that is, people who want to see Lounge Theatre performed in their home because they consume arts on a regular or semi-regular basis and yearn for a new theatre experience. It’s on between Thursday July 5 and Sunday July 8 at The Butterfly Club. For further information, visit thebutterflyclub.com
AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING If you’re a fan of momentarily entering mystical parallel universes, then this is for you. ACCA is thrilled to announce a special performance of German artist Torsten Lauschmann’s At The Heart Of Everything A Row Of Holes. Carpets will fly, pianos will play and mice will merrymake. First commissioned by Creative Scotland, the performance comes to Melbourne as a special event to coincide with the 2012 Art Fair. Escape reality for a little bit and head to the National Theatre on Friday August 3 to experience Lauschmann’s At The Heart Of Everything A Row Of Holes.
IAN POTTER MOVING IMAGE COMMISSIONS Ever want to do something so bad, but never had the cashola to do so? If you’re a moving image artist then look no further. ACMI and the Ian Potter Cultural Trust will join forces in a partnership to create Australia’s most significant long term commissioning program. The Ian Potter Moving Image Commissions with ACMI is a ten-year commitment to the moving image works by mid-career Australian artists. Sitting at $100,000 each, the commissions will recognise and support Australian artists, providing platforms for artists’ career development. Full details will be announced late July.
RED HOT SHORTS Joining forces with Amnesty International, Red Hot Shorts are getting set to present a night of explosive short films on the reality of conflict and armed violence. Through award-winning short films, the audience will be taken to places that have been affected by the global arms trade. In one musically charged film, the effects of violence in Rio’s favelas will be brought to light through the eyes of popular rapper, MC Smith. The aim of the showcase? To remind us of the forces that restrict basic freedoms and to tell the stories of inspirational individuals. This explosive night of short films will be held at ACMI on July 20 and August 24, both at 7.30pm. Head to acmi.net.au to book.
CRISPIN GLOVER AND MUFF UNITE The theme at MUFF 13 (coming in late August) is Mavericks, and what better global maverick to kick off a pre-MUFF Special Event Screening than Mr. Crispin Glover? I mean, anyone in Back To The Future is a fucking legend in our eyes. Icono-clast, actor, director, media personality, intellectual, writer, artist – genius even. Crispin Glover is unique and is coming back to Melbourne in July 2012. Presented by the Melbourne Underground Film Festival and Palace Cinemas, he’s screening his latest self-directed films. They are an absolute must see live, as unlike most other films they won’t be available on DVD or on the internet. There will also be a Q&A and book signing at both shows, at the Westgarth Cinema in Northcote on Friday July 13 and Saturday July 14. More info at muff.com.au
MANNINGHAM MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL If you’ve always been one to attend festivals and thought about holding your own stall, then this is just the thing for you. Manningham City Council is seeking out individuals, organisations and businesses who are keen to participate in the 2012 Manningham Multicultural Festival. But don’t stress if you feel like it’s last minute, the festival isn’t until November, so you have plenty of time. Interested? All you need to do is head to manningham.vic.gov.au/events and fill out the application form. Easy.
Beat Magazine Page 22
EXPLORATION OF INFINITY WITHIN SMALL SPACES There’s no better inspiration than a bit of healthy competition. But why battle against each other when you can just join forces? At least that’s what these emerging artists undertaking their second year of Visual Arts are thinking. Exploring a range of ideas and concepts surrounding the infinite, orientation, and conceptual interpretations of space, these Australian Academy of Design students will use a variety of mediums, including illustration, installation, collage and video to explore a singular thread. Exploration of Infinity Within Small Spaces will run from Wednesday June 27 – Wednesday July 3 at Open Space Gallery.
HELICOPTER Helicopter puts the modern world under a microscope when two young men from opposite worlds collide; one born with a silver spoon in his mouth and another who grew up in war-torn Sudan. Commissioned by awardwinning playwright Angela Betzien, with the direction of Leticia Caceres, the dark satire of Helicopter allows you to examine the gulf between the first and third world in our very own backyard. Helicopter will head to MTC Theatre’s Lawler Studio from August 2-17. Book at mtc.com.au.
THIS IS A DOOR Remember when you were a kid and playing came so naturally? Even as adults, we still know how to play, but sometimes we just forget. For three days and nights our good friends at Theatre Works will be transformed into a public playground to celebrate the playfulness in us all. This Is A Door is a carnival of large-scale games shining a light on the performing arts community of Melbourne. A playful for the big kids, This Is A Door will make its mark at Theatre Works from July 27-29.
ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL Spreading its wings in 2012, The AICE Israeli Film Festival will take the best of Israeli cinema and firmly plant it across the country. Now in its ninth year, the festival will screen more films over more days than ever before, with an expanded program of some of the best Israeli films from the last twelve months. Diverse, complex, inspirational and turbulent, the films will hold a mirror up to Israeli society, exploring a plethora of stories from one of the most diverse and multi-racial countries in the world. The AICE Israeli Film Festival will make its mark on Palace Como and Brighton Bay from August 28 – September 9.
Cheap piss and piss-cheap entry at the city’s best above-ground underground comedy room. Tonight, Charlie has stacked the line-up with stars then sprinkled Aussie comedy legend Lawrence Mooney on top! Joining the Moon-man will be Michael Chamberlin, Jimmy James-Eaton, Ben Lomas, Tom Ward, Karl Woodberry and more! So come fill yourself with $6 drinks and put your continence to the ultimate test as Melbourne’s best comedians spit funnies into the business end of a loud stick. Check in 8pm tonight at Eurotrash Bar - $5 entry. Get down early for a seat.
FELIX BAR COMEDY Another great lineup this Wednesday including Tommy Little, Ronny Chieng, Tommy Dassalo, European Man, Brendan Maloney and more! Come down and check out the biggest night of comedy in St Kilda, every Wednesday night! It’s happening this Wednesday June 27 at 8.30pm for only $12, at Felix Bar, St Kilda.
COMMEDIA DELL PARTE This Thursday at Commedia Dell Parte we have an amazing line up to drive away those winter blues. Joining your MC Sean Ryan will be Mark Trenwith, Sean Bedlam, Matt Burton, Bart Freebairn, Alan Driscoll, Lauren Bok and your headliner Lawrence Mooney. 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. So if you enjoy the show chuck in a few sheckles and show your appreciation. Commedia Dell Parte runs every Thursday from 8.30pm at the George Lane Bar, St Kilda.
SOFTBELLY COMEDY Justin Hamilton, comedy festival favorite, headlines Softbelly Comedy this Thursday! In a packed lineup, we also have award-nominated Asher Treleaven, the red-hot Ronny Chieng, Mick Neven, Emily O’Loughlin and Tom Gaynor. It’s all happening at Softbelly, 367 Little Bourke Street in the city, this Thursday, June 28, 8.30pm, for only $12! Get in early for a good seat!
SUPER COMEDY CRAZY SHOW This Sunday gather everyone you’ve ever loved and bring them along to the Super Comedy Crazy Show, where mega host Matt Burton and super sound lord Silent Jay will transport you to another realm where stand up comedy meets a Japanese Game Show, takes it to the rail road and rides it all the way to heaven. Featuring stand up from Dave Callan, Geraldine Hickey, John Campbell and Alan Driscoll, this show will also include many prizes, special guests and a tiny straw milk dance. The Crazy will begin at 7:30pm on Sunday July 1, 303 on High St, Northcote and costs $5. Don’t wear your good pants because they may get dirty!
ALMOST WITH YOU It’s one of those entangled stories that almost everyone can relate to. Why does Lisa keep Dan a secret, even at the risk of losing Tom? A little more Offspring and a little less Bold & The Beautiful - Almost With You is a funny, deeply affecting story of love, loss and freedom set against a nostalgic backdrop of 80s post-punk. With a killer soundtrack spearheaded by The Church and Simple Minds, the play will make you laugh, scratch your noggin and may even reveal a side of yourself you never knew. Almost With You will head to La Mama from Wednesday July 4 – Sunday July 22. Tickets available from lamama.com.au.
SKATER Combining two of the most loved extracurricular activities - skateboarding and photography - Nikki Toole ramps up her skate culture photography exhibition at Geelong Gallery. Since 2009 Toole has been snapping skateboarders around the world. Her portraits front up against the textured backdrop of the urban decay or renewal. Gritty, raw, fun and all sorts of cool, Skater – Portraits by Nikki Toole will shred the walls of Geelong Gallery from June 30 – September 9.
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COMEDY AT SPLEEN Mondays at Spleen are always a full house and a great night! This week looks like another cracker with Brad Oakes hosting! Plus there’s Ronny Chieng, Michael Chamberlin, Matt Dyktynski, Ben Lomas, Jason English and heaps more! It’s this Monday July 2, 41 Bourke St, in the city, at 8.30pm. It may be free, but we appreciate a good gold coin donation at the door!
BLUE TILE LOUNGE COMEDY This week at Blue Tile Lounge we have Karl Woodberry, David Quirk, Corey White, Matt Burton, Dilruk Jayasinha, Cambo and no doubt a few surprise visitors. The amazing Ben Lomas will be your MC for the evening, guaranteeing consistent giggles. With $10 jugs of beer and assured laughs, it’s the perfect midweek break. Catch some of Australia’s rising stars for only $5, every Tuesday from 8.30pm.
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Beat Magazine Page 23
OZ COMIC-CON BY NICK TARAS
It’s March 21, 1970, a small group of comic book enthusiasts host a gathering in San Diego that attracts 145 other virgins. Forty-two years later and the San Diego Comic-Con has grown into a mammoth three-day event that sees over 120,000 comic book, film and pop culture fans participate in the largest convention in the Americas. Responding to Australia’s desire for its own version, DCA Enterprises have developed Oz Comic-Con and its inaugural visit to Adelaide in April attracted over 18,000 visitors. This weekend, Oz Comic-Con tours Melbourne, bringing with it an extraordinary collection of international and local superstars including comic book overlord Stan Lee (original creator of Spider-Man and other comic icons such as The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Iron Man and Thor) and legendary sci-fi actor Sir Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier in the X-Men movies as well as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation). Furthermore, the event boasts Mitch Peleggi (The X-Files, Sons of Anarchy), Sean Maher (Firefly, Serenity), Armin Shimerman (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones) and in a recent exciting announcement, three stars from The Hunger Games movie; Leven Rambin (Glimmer), Willow Shields (Primrose Everdeen) and Dayo Okeniyi (Thresh) among others. There will also be comic book and anime artists, gaming demonstrations and cosplay competitions (a quirky performance art in which participants wear costumes to reflect cultural ideas and concepts, often from Japanese pop fiction) and in an Australian first, aspiring comic creators will be able to submit their work for professional review with Scott Allie (Senior Managing Editor at Dark Horse Comics) in attendance at Oz Comic-Con Melbourne. Speaking to him from his home in Oregon, Allie highlights the particular qualities that he scouts for in a new talent. “It’s much easier with artists because you can literally see what you’re looking at immediately. With writers it’s harder, you’ve gotta invest more time to figure out if the work is really worth anything. One of the nice things about being in Dark Horse is there’s not really a house style and there’s certainly not a one subject matter that we publish, like if I was at one of the superhero companies, so really, I’m looking for something that catches my eye, that feels fresh and unique and really well developed. Over the years, there’s often artists that I’ll see at a show or online or through their direct submissions to me where there’s something really remarkable about the work and maybe they’re not quite ready yet, but you can see that gem of brilliance in their stuff. So you’re always looking for that, to connect with that and nurture it”. While there is more of an equilibrium in the editorial side of comic publishing, I ask Allie if he’s noticed a lack of female artists and writers working in the comic book industry.
LOUNGE THEATRE
“I’M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT CATCHES MY EYE, THAT FEELS FRESH AND UNIQUE AND REALLY WELL DEVELOPED.”
Presented by
JIMMY FLINDERS PRODUCTIONS RODUCTIONS It's late at night as two old d friends renew their acquaintance after a reunion.
8pm nightly Thursday 5th July - Sunday y 8th July 2012 Ticket Prices: Full $28, Concession $25, Groups (8 or more) $23
BOOK NOW!
“Oh yeah. Hugely. There’s a heavy tilt towards males in professional comic book artists and writers. And I think it’s kind of natural and I think it’s naturally coming into balance now. I think it’s natural that there’s an imbalance towards more male creators in the comic industry because the vast majority of the comics publishing has been geared towards men for such a long time. My son is seven-years-old and he really likes comics and he’s very excited about The Avengers movie and so I picked up a hardcover collection of the original Avengers comics by [Jack] Kirby and [Stan] Lee. And we’ve been reading it to him and it’s hilarious. The Avengers was very progressive; all the Marvel comics from the early days, there were always heroes in the books and so you get the Wasp in those early issues of The Avengers except all she’s there for is to talk about clothes and about how handsome Thor is and she’s mostly irritating her husband because she’s always just talking about clothes and boys. It’s no wonder that books written like that didn’t generate a bigger female audience. It did generate somewhat of a female audience, there’s always been female fans and I think that fact is much more recognised lately than in the old days. But yeah, in the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and the ‘90s, comics weren’t doing a whole lot to drag in female readers and if you’re not inspiring female readers, you’re not really gonna inspire female creators…since the ‘80s with the Hernandez brothers and lately with Alan Moore and Neil Gaiman, we’ve been seeing more material that appeals to a female audience…and it doesn’t have to be about heroines and any of the things people traditionally may have thought they needed to do to bring in a female audience. I think the way you connect with a large female audience is to not talk down to them by having Wasp only talk about her clothes. I think a lot of different things over the years has brought in a female audience and because of that we’re seeing a greater number of female creators.” One particular quality that Allie emphasises as crucial in comic book artists is originality and while imitation has its place, ultimately he’s looking for a talent that is daring enough to be unique. “I’m certainly not looking for someone who can do a really good imitation of Mike Mignola, for instance; I’ve worked with Mike for many, many years and over the years, on his different books, we’ve worked with a lot of artists who look kind of like his stuff – like Gabriel Bá – and then we’ve work with a lot of guys who look nothing like Mignola, but in all cases, there’s something about their work that really strikes us as high quality and really promising”.
www.jimmyflinders.com.au
Oz Comic-Con visits the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday June 30 and Sunday July 1. Tickets available from Ticketmaster.
The Butterfly Club b 204 Bank Street, South Melbourne (just near the South Melbourne town n hall)
BOOKINGS www.jimmyflinders.com.au om.au www.thebutterflyclub.com b.com
Raw. Truthful. Intimate.
Beat Magazine Page 24
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Beat Magazine Page 25
LOUNGE THEATRE BY KATE MCCARTEN
One of Melbourne’s newest production companies is opening up its heart in order to get as close as possible with our city’s insatiable theatre consumers. Jimmy Flinders Productions, founded earlier this year by director Marco Romero Rodriguez and playwright Sean McIntyre, is about to launch Lounge Theatre. This innovative theatre experiment will bring original, minimalistic theatre up close to their small audiences, with shows taking place in tiny bars, office spaces and even in the familiar comfort of your own lounge room. As the inaugural performances take place next week at the intimate Butterfly Club, this niche theatre concept will attempt to involve its audience in a very unique way. Hailing from Chile, Rodriguez returned to Melbourne towards the end of last year after living here briefly in his teens, eager to bring his South American theatre experiences to his one-time home. With experience in both theatre and film direction and production, as well as spending time on stage and in front of the camera, Rodriguez came to Melbourne itching to get straight into it and very quickly came across Sean McIntyre. For his part, Aussie native McIntyre has spent his fair share of time in the local theatre scene. Dabbling with on screen and stage acting, McIntyre’s true passion lies in scriptwriting and production. His most recent play A Kind of Destiny has seen success and acclaim on the local independent theatre circuit. After meeting Rodriguez seven months ago and immediately hitting it off, the pair quickly established the Jimmy Flinders production company. Artistically inspired by the life of its namesake Jimmy Flinders, an old Melburnian playwright and poet, the production company’s first project Lounge Theatre is bringing the micro-theatre concept that Rodriguez had experimented with in Spain and Chile to Australian audiences. Lounge Theatre is a relatively simple concept: a cast made up of two or three people, an audience about ten times that size, in a room only just big enough to fit everyone in. The idea is to bring the audience closer to the performance that they would usually be. “The setting is a lot more intimate than what people are used to,” says Rodriguez. “The audience will only be two or three metres away from the action, so it’s really close. [The actors] find it interesting to have that physical closeness to the audience and hopefully vice versa.” Although the idea sounds unusual, Rodriguez is apprehensive to call it experimental theatre. “It’s experimental in terms of location, but I wouldn’t say the script or the acting style or the direction is experimental.” The intimacy of Lounge Theatre isn’t just reliant on physical proximity, the venues where the performances are held have a homely feel, if not because the venue is literally in your home. Although the first few performances will be held in cosy theatres and bars, Lounge Theatre eventually hopes to expand into ever more intimate locations, from B&Bs to office board rooms and eventually. McIntyre says: “Our goal is to perform in people’s homes.”
“THE SETTING IS A LOT MORE INTIMATE THAN WHAT PEOPLE ARE USED TO,” SAYS RODRIGUEZ. “THE AUDIENCE WILL ONLY BE TWO OR THREE METRES AWAY FROM THE ACTION, SO IT’S REALLY CLOSE.” The idea of inviting some friends over for the evening to watch theatre from the comfort of your own couch is something that immediately appealed to McIntyre, however he was initially unaware that Rodriguez was expecting him to write two original scripts. “Marco thought it was worthwhile exploring the concept in Australia but obviously the cultural differences had to be addressed if it was going to be for Australian audiences and I suppose that’s where I came in,” explains McIntyre. “[Marco asked me], ‘How good a writer are you?’ and I thought we were going to be translating his existing scripts, to be honest. Pretty soon I realised I was going to be writing them from scratch.” Due to the need to keep the performance confined in a small space, extravagant showcases and overtly physical storytelling was out of the question. The performances needed to be minimalistic and close to really embody Lounge Theatre’s intentions. In order to keep the performances fresh, McIntyre decided to write two very separate full length scripts using the same premise: Michael and Paul and Renee and Laura. Fundamentally quite voyeuristic, both stories are essentially one-on-one conversations between two old classmates, who end up reacquainting at their respective school reunions. “The premise for both scripts is exactly the same; you’ve got two people who have just been to a high school reunion and the story starts where they’ve found themselves continuing to chat after the reunion finishes,” McIntyre explains. “Each of the characters is in a transitional period of life: relationship challenges, career challenges, family challenges. [The characters are] in a bit of denial and they’re not really dealing with these transitions and challenges very well.” The intimacy and relatable nature of the two conversations help to bring the performance even closer to its audience. Because the two shows are separate pieces, they will be performed at The Butterfly Club on alternating nights. Bringing theatre right up inside the comfort zone of audiences is just one concept Jimmy Flinders Productions will attempt to tackle. While the company endeavours to take Lounge Theatre as far into that zone as possible, eventually with a variety of different performances, McIntyre and Rodriguez already have plans to head into other facets of theatre and film in the future. Lounge Theatre is just the beginning, and a curious beginning it promises to be. Lounge Theatre premieres at The Butterfly Club from Thursday July 5 – Sunday July 8. Beat Magazine Page 26
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BURMESE DREAMING BY BRIGITTE TROBBIANI
“I like Trainspotting, Pulp Fiction, Quentin Tarentino films [where] sort of anything goes: ‘we can edit this scene this way, this scene a different way, this scene a different way’ and as long as it’s interesting and people find it interesting and you hang it together in a certain way, it can work as a film. I really like that,’” says Australian writer, award-winning photographer and acclaimed filmmaker, Timothy Syrota, who has just released his debut documentary, Burmese Dreaming (which premiered at the inaugural Emerge Film Festival earlier this month). “I like it, but it’s quite an artistic film... [a documentary] presented in an artistic way. For example it has a fully composed musical score which runs for the duration of the film, it’s a composed score. You don’t see that in documentaries in general, no matter what the subject is.” Syrota’s feature documentary, Burmese Dreaming, takes on similar artistic techniques to those applied in Danny Boyle and Quentin Tarentino classic films, depicting an “anything goes” mentality from the opening sequence to the closing credits. The film combines music, simple storytelling and imagery to portray the simple life of a Burmese refugee living on the Burma/Thai border. His respects are paid to such great directors as Tarentino and Boyle through Syrota’s alignment and arrangement of imagery, an original score and the often non-linear narrative. Based mainly upon the life of Say Say La, a refugee girl, and a collection of other collated stories, the film drifts between the young woman’s reality, dreams, daydreams and nightmares. The film begins with the nightmare experienced by a young Burmese woman who experiences the slaughtering of her father by mountain village soldiers in Southern Burma. She wakes up to discover she is at a refugee camp on the Burmese andThailand border. The film then takes on an artistic narrative, consisting of the perspective of the young woman who dreams to escape the life she now lives. Despite the film’s dream-like sequences and original score, Syrota, a former Melbourne University law student, found the difficulties of filming quite a reality. “The hardest parts were [taking] an obviously professional camera kit into a country which was dangerous.” Often comparing himself to other journalists in Burma, Syrota had difficulty coping with the potential risks of danger in recording footage. The media were not allowed in Burma at all during the time of the film’s production so extreme measures were met to distribute and create content for Burmese Dreaming. Much of the footage for Burmese Dreaming was shot in a number of restricted locations such as Central Burma (Rangoon, Mandalay and Pyay), Shan and Karen State in Eastern Burma. “If you were caught [filming] the authorities would do everything to strip you of any material that you had, get you out of the country. So, I filmed about seven weeks in Burma and then ended up running in with the authorities, having some tapes confiscated”. Following the confiscation of several tapes, Syrota (travelling on a British Passport) ended up in the British embassy CANNES FILM FESTIVAL and within hours, “was on a flight to Bangkok, confused throughout”. Upon being questioned by the embassy, Syrota’s motives were addressed.
“A POWERHOUSE OF EMOTIONAL JOLTS, freewheeling comedy and socially-minded storytelling. Like a whole season of ‘The Wire' packed into a single film." - THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
WINNER-JURY PRIZE
“THE FILM IS ABOUT THE SIMPLE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN ABSOLUTELY SCREWED COUNTRY, WHICH HAS A HORRIBLE DICTATORSHIP.” “They were like, ‘What do you think you’re doing? Do you know what you’re doing?’ You go, ‘Yep I’ve written and published a book on Burma, this is sort of my third or fourth trip into the country; I’m fully aware of what the situation is and it’s people like me who actually do this, that gets news to the rest of the world’”. Despite Syrota’s run-ins with the police, Burmese Dreaming is made up of film that was removed from the country by fellow backpackers. “By doing that, I had 16 hours taken out of the country. Again, that was the sort of thing you had to do back then. You don’t have to do that now.” Formal filming of Burmese Dreaming took place in 2001, officially mastered and complete in June 2010. Despite aiming to represent simple peoples lives in Burma, the footage collected by Timothy was deemed unacceptable by the Burmese military, leading to its confiscation and Syrota’s deportation from the country. “The film is about the simple lives of people in absolutely screwed country, which has a horrible dictatorship. But it really doesn’t focus on that, [it] probably focuses 20 per cent on the politics and how bad the politics were. But it’s more about just how people live within that framework and the imagery reflects that”. The Burmese military did not want any footage recorded and then taken out of the country. “I think they understood fully and how that reflected badly on how they handled the country by a military government.” Mr. Syrota positively reflects on his filming in Burma, regarding the greatest part of it engaging with the Burmese people. “They’re a beautiful people in their terms of their dignity, their commitment to democracy despite being in a country, which is the absolute opposite of that or was the absolute opposite of that.” Burmese Dreaming screens as part of the Emerge Film Festival which takes place from Tuesday July 3 - Thursday July 5 at the Treasury Theatre. Check out multiculturalarts.com.au for information.
a film by MAÏWENN
OPENS JUNE 28 at CINEMA NOVA, PALACE BRIGHTON BAY, PALACE COMO, KINO CINEMAS Strong sexual content
www.facebook.com/curiousfilm
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Beat Magazine Page 27
LOOK AROUND YOU. LOOK AT THE DESIGN OF A STREET SIGN, LOOK AT A POSTER. ART IS EVERYWHERE, AND BEAT WANTS TO FACILITATE ITS GROWTH. ART KNOWS NO BOUNDS. JUST LOOK AT OUR CITY’S LANEWAYS, SUCH AS CENTRE PLACE AND DEGRAVES STREET – THEY’VE BEEN TRANSFORMED FROM DIRTY NOTHINGNESS INTO MAJESTIC AND COLOURFUL WORKS OF ART, INJECTING VIBRANCY AND ENERGY INTO OUR CITY’S VEINS. IN MELBOURNE, THEATRE NO LONGER REQUIRES A THEATRETTE; A PIECE OF ART CAN BE SHOWCASED IN ANY SPACE, AND THIS PHILOSOPHY HAS INSPIRED OUR LATEST FEATURE – ARTSPACE. artSpace is a monthly section dedicated to art spaces around Melbourne, from galleries to cafes, from alleyway street art to photography, from courses to exhibitions – artSpace will have it all. Flick through these pages every month to find out hidden performance gems around our city. Welcome to a space where we recognise that all the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. Welcome to artSpace.
LATROBE COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN
LaTrobe College of Art & Design was established as an independent art college in 1995. Its philosophy has always been to equip students with the skills and knowledge to become outstanding practising artists and designers. Students graduate with a developed, individual art practice as well as a comprehensive understanding of the industry. Many have gone on to successful careers in art and design, continued on to higher study, winning significant prizes, opening successful galleries, holding sell out shows of their artwork, working in graphic design and working in film. The college is centrally located in the heart of the academic and gallery precinct of the city of Melbourne on LaTrobe Street between Queen and Elizabeth Streets. The Diploma of Visual Art course can be taken full-time over two years or equivalent part-time. The course suits beginners as well as those with experience. Students study both practical and theoretical subjects in studio, painting methods and techniques, sculpture, drawing, modernism and contemporary art history and theory, photography and digital imaging. Students are encouraged to pursue individual directions in their art whilst learning a range of both technical and theoretical
strategies. Through small class sizes, concentrated one-on-one teaching, exposure to leading artists and innovative artwork, students gain intensive individual nurturing enabling them to rapidly develop their creative potential and identify their own independent individual direction. All staff are recognised art practitioners and acknowledged teachers in art and design. Along with fully equipped digital and art studios the course is further enhanced with optional subject units in New York or to the Venice Biennale and exhibiting and gallery practice with the LaTrobe Street Gallery. Students are able to elect alternative units of study if they wish to strengthen learning outcomes in particular disciplines such as Photography or Graphic Design. The college has both full-time and part-time courses, with daytime, weekend and evening study available as well as single subject enrolment. There is optional entry in February or midyear at the end of July. Students who are considering continuing on to university can apply for direct entry into second year at many universities on completion of the Diploma of Visual Arts. New or inexperienced students are encouraged to apply. Applications are open to both year 12, non year 12 and mature applicants. All prospective students are asked to make an appointment with the Coordinator to discuss their application or interest. Applications for midyear July/August are directly to the college. Applications for February are through VTAC starting in August.
HEIDE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART
Address: 7 Templestowe Rd, Bulleen Website: heide.com.au Gallery Owner: Public gallery (not for profit organisation) When did Heide first open its doors? Heide Museum of Modern Art, or Heide as it is affectionately known, began life in 1935 as the Melbourne home of John and Sunday Reed and has evolved into one of Australia’s most important cultural institutions. The museum opened to the public on November 12 1981 and we have just celebrated our 30th anniversary which was an exciting milestone for us. Does the Heide lend itself to a certain type of art, and if so how? Heide is committed to offering an inspiring, educational and thought-provoking experience of modern and contemporary art, architecture and landscape. What have been some of your more memorable exhibitions? The Carol Jerrems exhibition in 2010 was a highlight
Do you have a support network or community of artists that work/move together? We have a team of nine staff working on the curation of exhibitions at Heide that includes five curators, assistants, a collections manager, an exhibitions manager and a registrar. They work closely with artists, lenders and various arts organisations as well as with other areas of the museum including development, marketing, commercial operations, education and programming and visitor services. But the biggest support network, and the one we are most appreciative of, is the volunteers. Without these guys, we wouldn’t be here today. What upcoming exhibitions do you have? We have two very exciting exhibitions scheduled for later this year. This first is Less is More: Minimalist & Post-Minimalist Art in Australia, opening August 3. Less is More explores the influence of the major international art movements, minimalism and post-minimalism on Australian art and artists. And In November we will present Louise Bourgeois at Heide, two exhibitions that include 21 key works by Bourgeois which have never before been seen in Australia, alongside a selection of works by Australian artists who have been influenced by her work.
Does The Incinerator Gallery lend itself to a certain type of art, and if so how? The spaces here lend themselves to all types of art. Essentially it’s an old industrial building which means it’s not purpose built but it was designed by Burley Griffin so it has a lot of style with great natural light.
Please call 9606 0933 or email info@latrobecollege.com.au for further information.
THE INCINERATOR GALLERY Address: 180 Holmes Road, Moonee Ponds Website: incineratorgallery.com Gallery Owner: The City of Moonee Valley When did The Incinerator Gallery first open its doors? The Incinerator Arts Complex began in 1984, but changed to The Incinerator Gallery in 2011 to focus on visual art and design.
ARTS HOUSE
Arts House’s principle aim is to nurture, support and stimulate cultural engagement. The company does this by presenting contemporary arts in programs encompassing performance, exhibitions, live art, installations, residencies and events. Arts House values works from artists in different stages of their careers, as well as engaging with their diverse audiences and communities, and are actively involved in creating an imaginative, equal and environmentally sustainable global society. Arts House 2012 Season Two is bursting with ideas, provocations and urgent calls to action; with playful seductions, intimate explorations and an invitation to embrace open dialogue about contemporary situations, issues and trends. The season opens with Metapraxis – a rare and unexpected array of new-music talent by Jon Rose, Atticus and guests which also features the hilarious and weird black comedy RRAMP – the Collector, the Archivist & the Electrocrat created by Christine Johnston, Lisa O’Neill
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for many and one of our most memorable. Up Close traced the significant legacy of Australian photographer Carol Jerrems and included an extensive display of Jerrems’ work alongside other photo based artists Larry Clark, Nan Goldwin and William Yang.
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What have been some of your more memorable exhibitions? Our most memorable exhibition has been our annual environmental sculpture prize for indoor and outdoor works. It has a $10,000 first prize, and every year, despite being themed on environmental issues, ends up being a comprehensive survey of contemporary sculptural practice. When curating an exhibition, how do you decided what work is appropriate for The Incinerator Gallery? We are always for looking for exhibitions that really connect with the viewer. The Incinerator Gallery is a unique building with an interesting history so we are always interested in works and exhibitions that reflect something of the industrial, the social or the environment. We love site specific works so we have a program called the Atrium Project where we hand over our atrium to different artists each month. What upcoming exhibitions do you have? Bilk On Tour, which a huge list of internationally recognised jewellery designers, metal smiths and glass artists, from Gallery Bilk in Canberra from September 15 - October 21 and Sensation and Fabrication works from Keith Wong, Kristin McIver, Andrew Gutteridge and Paul Yore. Exploring ideas around how we view machine made artwork from November 2 - December 2.
and Peter Nelson. Back to Back Theatre will present two works, including The Democratic Set (which invites local community groups to contribute to the filmmaking around democracy and equality), and the moral text Hell House – Provocation, Belief & Morality. The Black Lung Theatre and Whaling Firm have collaborated with East Timor companies Liurai Fo’er and Galaxy to create the enthralling Victorian premiere production of DOKU RAI (you, dead man, I don’t believe you). In September, Arts House North Melbourne Town Hall will transform into a cinema and host The Other Film Festival – including an evening in the festival club: The Other Club, where audiences can contribute lyrics that will be interpreted live by Rose Ertler’s songwriting musicians. Arts House 2012 Season Two features four world premieres, five Victorian premieres, two one-onone performances, three festivals, and eight international artists/companies. The season opens Thursday July 19. Check out artshouse.com.au for more information.
JUL - DEC 2012 Zoe Scoglio
Jon Rose, Atticus & Guests
Metapraxis
Shifting Ground
ARTS HOUSE, NORTH MELBOURNE TOWN HALL
ARTS HOUSE, MEAT MARKET
THU 19 – SAT 21 JULY
THU 19 – SUN 22 JULY
A rare and exciting array of newmusic talent, in a boldly subversive program for strings.
Human and rock merge and converge in a spellbinding performance installation.
BOOKINGS » ARTS HOU S E .COM . AU » 03 9322 3713
Arts House is a City of Melbourne contemporary arts initiative
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Beat Magazine Page 29
THE AFGHAN WHIGS BY THOMAS BAILEY
It’s only a couple of weeks into The Afghan Whigs’ reunion tour, and they’re already bringing the house down in Rome. The venerable Roman venue Ippodromo delle Capannelle has been damaged, and the Whigs still don’t know the name of its replacement. “There was an earthquake here,” explains Greg Dulli, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the legendary American rock band, from his hotel room in the Italian capital. “They had some damage, so the venue’s been moved. There’s just been a bunch of earthquakes in Italy for the last ten days!” Yep, The Afghan Whigs are back, and better than ever. Formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1986, The Whigs have been a constantly engaging presence in the American rock scene. With six albums under their belt (1992’s blisteringly awesome Congregation being this scribe’s favourite), they broke up rather amicably in 2001. When I mention to Dulli how happy I am that they’re finally back together and playing again, he sounds genuinely moved. “I’ll tell you what,” he says, “it’s been a really nice reaction from the people. I’ve been moved by the show of feelings – and I’ve had a real nice two weeks so far.” It’s been a little over a decade since the Whigs broke up in 2001. I tell Dulli that it seems to have been a pretty amicable breakup…but what brought it about in the first place? “Oh, we were just three guys – four at the time – and living in four different cities, and doing four different things at four different places in our lives,” he muses. “And three of us had been together for 15 years and we played 1,200 shows… it was just time to break it off. At that time, it just became a burden and a hassle. I’ve always said in my life, you can try to work through things, but when things become a hassle,
you just gotta walk off. It just wasn’t really fun anymore. We were scorched and had been…going, you know? So it was just time to walk away.” Dulli had already been engaged in a side-project for a couple of years before the Whigs broke things off, the collective The Twilight Singers. “It ended up being my creative outlet,” he explains. “Then I started working with [Screaming Trees member] Mark Lanegan [in side project The Gutter Twins] too.” But it was during a fateful (and rare) acoustic solo tour in 2010 that steered the events that would eventually culminate in a newly re-formed Whigs. Whilst playing in Cincinnati, he asked John Curley to join him on stage. “We did five or six Whigs songs together at the show,” Dulli remembers. “I was heading to Chicago the next night, and I asked him if he wanted to [come with me] – and it was the first time in ten years that we had played together, and it felt really good. “I mean, John’s married and has two kids, so that was another reason the band split up – you know, his wife didn’t want him running around on the road while they had little babies!” he laughs.
A year after those promising shows with Curley, Dulli hooked up with Whigs lead guitarist Rick McCollum during a day off of The Twilight Singers’ 2011 spring tour. By that time, the idea of reforming the group was officially germinating in Dulli’s head. “That was when I started to privately consider getting the band back together,” he recalls. “I’d written a lot of songs over the years, and those songs meant a lot to me; so to be able to sing them again for the first time in a long time – I think it awakened something in me. You put something aside, and sometimes you can just keep walking, you know? I had done a fine job of continuing on without those songs, but revisiting them on the acoustic tour, I found I had a great deal of affection still for that material!” November 2011 found the three musicians in New Orleans, where they convened for several days and rehearsed their classic material. They still had the magic, Dulli remembers. “As soon as we got into that room in November, and played, that was – you know, we talked about [getting back
together]. You can talk about something, but until you actually do it, and see how it works, and see how it sounds … frankly, I wanted to see if everybody could still play. That was the clincher: the playing!” And everybody played to satisfaction? “We could have played a gig that night,” Dulli says immediately. And the rest, they say, is history. Their reunion tour is galloping along at full speed (earthquake damaged venues aside), the chemistry is as strong as ever, and Dulli feels truly happy playing those songs that mean so much to so many people. I find during the course of our conversation that he’s genuinely excited, and his excitement is palpable and infectious. This will be The Afghan Whig’s first time playing Australia as well, so if you’re a fan, these shows should not be missed.
favourite country track. “I love Ween’s Piss Up A Road – that’s one song I wished I’d written!” Spaghetti laughs. And there’s also a celebration of Spaghetti’s favourite Australian band, AC/DC. “I did a cover of this obscure AC/DC track called Carry Me Home, a B-side,” Spaghetti says. “That song really works as a country song.” Johnny Cash demonstrated the causal link from country to gospel; Spaghetti doesn’t rule out releasing a gospel record, but does suggest it’s an event at very long odds. “I’m a devout agnostic, so it’s not something I’ve really thought about doing, but if the dollars are right, then you never know!” Spaghetti laughs. “But some friends of mine – Nashville Pussy – just put out a gospel record, so maybe I’ll do the same.” Spaghetti’s charitable side has been demonstrated in recent years when, alongside other musicians including Henry Rollins and Eddie Vedder, Spaghetti lent his support to the cause of the so-called West Memphis Three, three teenagers convicted of murdering a group of boy scouts over two decades ago. With the convicted trio challenging the voluntary nature of their confessions, and the
appearance of new DNA evidence, the trio were released last year under an Arkansas Supreme Court order – albeit without the convictions being overturned. Spaghetti is elated about the turn of events. “I had one of the guys over for dinner recently,” Spaghetti says. “It was incredibly good to help out, and it gives you hope in the power of possibility. You may be only one person, but you can tell another person, and another, and the next thing you know you’ve got a whole movement.” With a new Supersuckers record in the production line, Spaghetti is in Texas, where he’ll be opening tonight in front of the colourful, gun-toting Ted Nugent, a man whose staunchly conservative politics run counter to Spaghetti’s more liberal views. “I haven’t talked politics with Ted yet,” Spaghetti laughs. “But I’m waiting to tell him just how good I reckon Obama is!”
for This Machine carefully authored by novelist Richard Morgan. “I love books,” Taylor-Taylor says, simply. “For an entire grown man’s lifetime, so I’d imagine it’s pretty heavily influential. Also because I didn’t grow up being a songwriter, I inherited this job because people talked me into it, really. So there isn’t a history of being in high school and sitting and trying to imitate poets or songwriters; I was drawn into it in my twenties.” He pauses. “It’s hard to say even, I don’t even feel like I write my songs; I feel like I work with someone else – Miles Zuniga, David J, anyone I’ve ever worked with. It’s a great relief to have them both writing songs. I’m not a prolific songwriter. If I had to write all the songs on this record, it would have taken another two or three years, so. By myself, I have to wait for them to happen to me – I don’t sit down and write them. And then I’m really dealing with my subconscious – so I don’t know how literature, art and things [come out]. It comes out, it’s how I feel about certain situations, it’s something I can’t get off my mind, I need to work out emotionally for myself – that’s the part music plays in my life.” Harvest’s whirlwind run of dates in November will constitute
another chance to catch the unit in action in celebration of 2012’s mammoth release. This Machine’s music has received a solid workout already on tour, as he explains. “You have to re-approach it and it takes a bit,” he says. “We tried playing songs from it a couple of years ago – in Australia, actually – and that helped, we started to really focus on what parts of this are the thing. How to handle it, and get the most depth and emotional power and beauty out of it. It’s amazing, fits seamlessly with the rest of our songs. But we don’t know how many people there are gonna be fans of us, or give a shit about our new record. And at some level, you have to give the people there what they want. Godless. Bohemian Like You. You Were The Last High. We’ll just play a couple of songs from the latest record, just so we can go look, this is fucking amazing, it’s our new record – buy it.”
All hail the return of THE AFGHAN WHIGS on their triumphant reunion tour. In addition to playing the sold-out Splendour In The Grass, they’re also hitting up The Hi-Fi on Wednesday July 25.
EDDIE SPAGHETTI BY PATRICK EMERY
As a child growing up in Tucson, Arizona – the city where Jo-Jo from The Beatles’ Get Back famously left to score some Californian grass – Eddie Spaghetti was surrounded by country music; that is, when he was bombarded by The Cars, Blondie and the omnipresent Fleetwood Mac. By the time he was a teenager, Spaghetti was looking for something better. “When I was in high school, I started forming the opinions of a little shit,” Spaghetti laughs, “so I decided that I really hated country music.” Not long after, Spaghetti decided to head north-west to Seattle where his band, The Supersuckers, rode the crest of the grunge wave sweeping through the Pacific North-West at the time. While The Supersuckers played their music fast, loud and hard, Spaghetti’s opposition to country music was gradually eroding. “In the mid ‘80s I got a cassette tape of the Best Of The Best Of Merle Haggard,” Spaghetti recalls. “At that point the door opened, and from there I got into Willie Nelson, then Dwight Yoakam and Steve Earle’s first record.” Spaghetti became so enamoured of country music that The Supersuckers’ fourth album, Must’ve Been High, eschewed the band’s classic rock’n’roll attack in favour of a country bent. With a legion of fans expecting another high-octane rock’n’roll attack, it was a courageous career move. “I think we totally alienated our fans when that record first came out,” Spaghetti says. “We thought we’d buried our career with that record. But it’s gone on to become our most popular record.” Spaghetti has gone on to release three solo records – The Sauce, Old No.2 and Sundowner – each of which comprise a combination of original tracks and covers of classic and obscure country tracks (Dean Martin, Johnny Cash, Willie
Nelson, Steve Earle). “They all sound like they’re cut from the same cloth,” Spaghetti says, when I ask to identify the common thread in the tracks he’s covered. “The main criteria is that they’re fun to play, and that I can pull them off.” Spaghetti acknowledges that it’s sometimes tough to find the right emotional space to play a country track that’s laden with emotion. “I did Always On My Mind, and that was really hard to pull off,” Spaghetti says. “With sentiment, that’s not really somewhere I usually go.” Spaghetti has gone on to forge a deep friendship with Willie Nelson, playing alongside Nelson in the studio and on the road. “Willie taught me to just be yourself,” Spaghetti says. “If you’re comfortable with who you are, then that’s what matters. Willie’s just the coolest dude – he’s perfect.” It’s the depth of life experience – generally painful – that tends to come through in the great country music songs, presented in a simple, attractive format. “You have to have a melody, a simple chord progression,” Spaghetti says, “and you have to have words that people can relate to – stuff like drugs, murder, women and killing.” Surprisingly, Spaghetti nominates a faux country act – Ween – as composing his
EDDIE SPAGHETTI plays Cherry Bar on Saturday June 30 (two shows - afternoon and evening), supported by Tim Rogers.
THE DANDY WARHOLS BY MIKI MCLAY
A long time ago, we used to be friends, but we haven’t heard much from The Dandy Warhols camp in five years. With radio silence from the Dandy camp silent for those long years, interrupted only by a brief Australian tour last year, their latest release This Machine has been a long time coming. Icons within the rock scene for irreverent, nihilistic anthems such as Bohemian Like You, Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth and We Used To Be Friends, the Portland-based four-piece crew are taking to Australia again this year to join the lineup of the second ever Harvest Festival. We spoke to lead singer and guitarist Courtney Taylor-Taylor about writing the latest album, touring, and not being Kurt Cobain. This Machine is a decisive step into new territory for the group – more melancholic and stripped-back than a lot of their previous work. Some have declared it a radical change for the group, but Taylor-Taylor disagrees. “We always go into the studio needing to experiment with the sound we’re making,” he points out. “I don’t think it’s a darker record, like some have said – there are just less zingy moments to it, I guess. Certainly there’s nothing on this record darker than the song Sleep, you know, or Weeping Tree. I guess for anyone reading this, this will seem a darker record. I like The Who and a lot of ‘60s stuff, which is kind of zingy – which gets confused with being bright and cheerful, which it’s not. I mean, Not If You Were the Last Junkie on Earth is about my girlfriend of three and a half years basically becoming a junkie in one weekend and going down that path of becoming, basically, a crack ho. It’s not cheerful, it’s really cynical and historically, I think there’s been a lot of Beat Magazine Page 30
confusion around my band.” On the overarching sense of narrative present on This Machine, it’s all in the name. “Well, Woody Guthrie had a sticker that said, ‘This machine kills fascists’ on his guitar,” Taylor-Taylor says. “And I dunno, 13 years ago I put one on mine that said, ‘This machine’. It’s been there forever and it started feeling really appropriate for this record. Well, at first just because we’ve been together for so long, what a strange machine we are. As we went along living with it, it really just became: ‘What isn’t this machine?’ What on Earth does it not apply to? A sky? The stars? People have fucked up ideas. The army. I mean, it just applies to everything.” Citing writers like Friedrich Nietzsche and Kurt Vonnegut in cheeky references, Taylor-Taylor’s irreverence and sharp wit can be understood as being informed by literary influences – a tradition that continues today (which Keanu Reeves, of all people, gave him a hand with) as well as press notes
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THE DANDY WARHOLS play Harvest Festival on Sunday November 11 alongside Beck, Grizzly Bear and more. Tickets on sale this Thursday June 28. This Machine is out now on Beat Records/Inertia.
EVEN BY PATRICK EMERY
Up until recently, Wally Kempton, bass player for Even, manager, booking agent, tour manager and general rock’n’roll man-about-town, thought last year’s Christmas Even-Fauves show was the first time Even and The Fauves had shared the same bill. “But I read an interview with Coxy (Andrew Cox) last week that Even played on a Fauves album launch once, but I don’t remember that!” Kempton laughs. “I used to go and see The Fauves in the late 1980s at places like the Richmond Club. There wasn’t even a stage and the doctor would wear strange hats and plays lots of instruments – saxophone, trumpet. I loved ‘em from the outset – fuckin’ hilarious guys. Now he wears baseball caps and plays guitar,” Kempton laughs. It’s lunch time on a typically cold Melbourne day, and Kempton is perusing the menu of his favourite Japanese restaurant. The waitress is compelling us to choose the lunch option, but Kempton is resolute. “Can we have the ramen noodles as well?” Kempton requests. “And we’ll have the sashimi box too. That should keep us going.” The food arrives shortly after, and there’s a brief moment of regret when we realise how much food there is to be consumed. “Wow, look at that,” Kempton says with culinary admiration. “But we’ll fit it in. And how good is this miso?” This Friday night sees the Melbourne leg of the national Even-Fauves tour, which has so far visited Sydney and will head subsequently to Hobart, Perth and Adelaide. While The Fauves’ latest album, German Engine, was launched last year, Even’s most recent album, In Another Time, has only just appeared in shops. “It’s a good reason for The Fauves to get back out there. So in effect it’s a dual album tour,” Kempton says. Even and The Fauves will appear at The Regal Ballroom in Northcote, the first time Kempton has either patronised or performed at the iconic venue. The tour has been progressing well, with the bands sharing a very laissez-
faire attitude to logistics. “I’ll tell you how laid back this tour has been,” Kempton says. “I said to The Fauves, ‘Do you mind if we headline in Melbourne, ‘cause I want to go to the footy earlier in the night?’ So I’ll be racing from the G to the gig in time to play!” Kempton is coy on the prospect of special moments at The Regal Ballroom show. “I think Ash was going to ask a few extra musos to get up on stage,” he says. “Maybe the Wolfies (Wolfgramm Sisters), because they sang on the record, maybe Vika and Linda Bull, because they also sang on the record, maybe Bruce Haymes because he played on the record.” With Even guitarist and vocalist Ash Naylor likely to hit the road with the national upcoming Rockwiz tour, The Regal Ballroom gig will be the last opportunity to see Even until mid-August, when Even reconvenes for its annual Even Jukebox show. “We’ve had a lot of stuff on,” Kempton says, when asked to explain Even’s absence from the live scene. “Ash has been playing in other things, Matt [Cotter] has been teaching, and I’ve been tour managing for a lot of this year,” Kempton says.
The band’s irregular live appearances causes Kempton to describe Even – with a lavish dose of irony – as “the Crown Lager of music – it’s a special occasion, but it’s not”. August’s Even Jukebox is shaping up as another classic in this now annual event. “We’ve got something special planned for that show,” Kempton promises. “It’s something that Brett Chadwick will lose his shit over,” he says with a glint in his eye. “It’s actually the 40th anniversary of Ziggy Stardust, so we’re going to do the whole album. The thought of it fills me with excitement and scares the complete shit out of me,” Kempton laughs. On the recording front, Even’s back catalogue is also slated for re-release, this time on vinyl in its entirety. “Only one of the records was put out on vinyl first time around, so this time all of it will be on vinyl.” On Wednesday July 18 Kempton will appear with Even as the backing band for the Sacred Heart Mission Heart Of St Kilda benefit gig at The Palais in St Kilda. “That’s becoming another Even tradition – they keep asking us back,” Kempton says. “It’s a great lineup, and it’s a really good cause. We’re
opening the show with a couple of our own tunes, and then other artists, like Lanie Lane, Nick Barker, Normie Rowe will sing their songs and we’ll back them.” Other artists on the bill include Stonefield and Tim Rogers, with comedy interludes provided by Brian Nankervis, Cal Wilson, Fiona O’Loughlin, Lawrence Mooney, Raymond Crowe and Greg Champion. Sadly, Even won’t be backing Champion on some of his tunes, including There’s Always Johnny Worsfold Behind You. “Nah, he’s on his own there – but it would’ve been fun,” Kempton laughs.
originally on cassette in the mid ‘80s, featuring material going back to the original Perth Scientists days. “We didn’t put it out back then,” Salmon says, “aside from the fact that it was our performances and material it had nothing to do with us.” Spanish label Bang! Records, a long-time supporter of Australian music, suggested Salmon afford the compilation a proper release. “Juan from Bang! came up with the idea,” Salmon says. “It’s out there and people seem to like it for that reason alone so I figured we might as well get something from it by putting it out with our authorisation.” In May Salmon also hooked up with Ron Peno for a monthlong Darling Downs residency. While the initial suggestion was that the Darling Downs would only be playing The Old Bar residency, and the odd additional gig, the shows were so successful Salmon says a new record is in the early stages. “We have about ten new songs and are in the process of writing more,” he says.” We’re very much at the stage we were before we started playing back in 2004. We get together
every week, have a good old laugh and in the process end up with the odd new song.” This weekend Salmon will team up with artists including the Blackeyed Susans Trio, The Ronson Hangup and Matt Sonic And The High Times at The Hi-Fi for the Rock For Reclink fundraiser. “People who attend this event will be supporting a charity that helps homeless and underprivelged people,” Salmon says. “Given most of what people spend their money on tends to benefit overpriveleged people, it’s good when something comes along that can go towards redressing that imbalance.”
places in central Queensland and so we’re actually singing about home.” Their first single Biding My Time clearly resonated with other Australian artists because they just recently won an APRA for it in the blues and roots category. “We had absolutely no idea that we were even half a shoo-in for winning the award. I didn’t even go down for it,” Marou says. It was definitely a morale boost for the band before they kick off their national tour. Marou says audiences are in for a treat. “You’ll get songs from the album and new stuff we’re working on,” he says. “We’ll do an acoustic set where we
might pull a double bass out, and then we’ll obviously rock it out and do our more upbeat songs.” As for Marou’s famed finger-picking guitar skills? “I’ll try and do as many guitar tricks as possible during the shows,” he promises.
EVEN and The Fauves play The Regal Ballroom on Friday June 29 as part of The Northcote Theatre’s 100th Anniversary celebrations (now known as The Regal Ballroom). The HEART OF ST KILDA Concert featuring Even, Stonefield, Michael Paynter, Tim Rogers, Nick Barker, Lanie Lane, Normie Rowe and Rebecca Barnard and Billy Miller’s Singalong will be held at The Palais on Wednesday July 18.
KIM SALMON BY PATRICK EMERY
A few years ago Kim Salmon had the relative luxury of a day job in a record label warehouse. While the nine-to-five grind isn’t a routine the average artist yearns to embrace, for Salmon it did allow him to recalibrate the balance of his musical activities toward artistic exploration rather than economic certainty. “When I had a ‘real’ job a couple of years back, the projects I embarked upon were much more artistically driven,” Salmon says. “For instance Salmon [Salmon’s six guitar, two drum super rock group] was done for the hell of it and so was that Wall/Paper album and the live stuff I did with Candlesnuffer (Dave Brown from Bucket Rider). Even the last Surrealists album was driven that way but now I’m in a different phase,” he says. Salmon says his current musical activities reflect “more of a balancing act between artistic and fiscal concerns”. While that might suggest the need to occasionally sell-out to make ends meet, Salmon is enjoying the challenge of reverting to a full-time musician. “I actually like the independence you get when the thing you’re doing is sustaining itself as opposed to being patronised,” he says. So far this year Salmon has reunited with Spencer P. Jones, re-kindled the Darling Downs project with former Died Pretty singer Ronnie Peno, teamed up with Scientists drummer Leanne Chock in the Science Test project as well as playing various solo gigs backed by Mike Stranges on drums. “I actually move between multiple projects because that’s the way my career has evolved for me to be able to earn a living off it,” Salmon says. “I doubt that any one project would sustain a living over a long period but I can move from one thing to another while they can. It’s a bit like crop rotation,” he laughs. Salmon’s shows at The Old Bar with former Beasts Of
Bourbon colleague Spencer P. Jones began in a somewhat haphazard fashion, before finding a roughly hewn groove by the end of the February residency. The pairing of the duo was so successful, in fact, that it led to spots on the Dig It Up! bill in Sydney and Melbourne. “We never gave ourselves a chance to get totally familiar with the material, because our schedules didn’t seem to allow it,” Salmon says. “So it always seemed like we were making it up as we were going – that’s how it felt for me. Someone filmed it and gave me a DVD and I have to say I really liked it – I finally got what people were enjoying about the shows so much.” Salmon is open to offers to help the pair record some material. “If someone wants to make a recording happen for us that would be great – that’s a hint to any would-be patrons out there!” Salmon laughs. Later this year Salmon will team up again with former Scientists band mates Tony Thewlis, Boris Sudjovic and Leanne Chock to promote the release of the Scientists compilation Rubber Never Sleeps, a compilation distributed
KIM SALMON plays ROCK FOR RECLINK, taking place at The Hi-Fi this Saturday June 30, alongside The Blackeyed Susans Trio, Davey Lane, Dave Larkin, The Ronson Hangup, Jess Ribeiro & The Bone Collectors and more. Tickets are on sale now via Moshtix.
BUSBY MAROU BY CORAL HUCKSTEP
Anybody watching ABC’s Q&A a few weeks back would have seen Jeremy Marou looking flabbergasted when an audience member asked him the “weirdest question ever” about same sex marriage and polygamy. “I was obviously extremely nervous!” Marou says. “I knew there wasn’t going to be a topic that I was familiar with. I’m just used to talking about music and football.” So what motivated him to plunge into the unknown on live national television? “I was in the public service for about five years after I finished uni,” Marou says. “I actually became a bit of a nerd and used to watch Q&A all the time!” Despite feeling overwhelmed with nausea the day before, Marou said his “lovely” fellow panelists put him at ease backstage. “Barnaby Joyce hung out in our dressing room before and after the show and I think I talked to [Greens leader] Christine Milne more in the make-up room than I actually did onstage,” Marou says. The show focused on native titles, regional development and mining – something Torres Strait Islander Marou is familiar with having grown up in Queensland’s Rockhampton. “If I wasn’t working [as a musician] I’d be in mining. I’d be crazy not to!” Marou says.
But it’s unlikely Marou would ever be without music. “I don’t think you’ll find a Torres Strait Islander man who doesn’t play guitar,” he says. “I was always going to be a musician one way or another, whether I was working in the mines or being a full time muso. It wasn’t until probably a year-anda-half ago when I thought to myself, ‘Hang on, maybe I can be a full time musician and play guitar for a living and still be able to earn the same amount of money as those miners do anyway!’” Busby Marou released their self-titled debut album a year ago. It’s composed of soothing harmonies, rough strings, and a poetic outlook on their country backgrounds. They recently launched a double disc version with covers of Cyndi Lauper and The Lemonheads. Their blend of country, folk, blues and roots has led them to be branded as uniquely Australian, which Marou says is unintentional. “I don’t think we try to sound ‘Australian’. I think it comes from what we are singing about. Most of the songs are about
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BUSBY MAROU bring their I Still Don’t Believe tour to The Corner Hotel on Thursday June 28 with Leedah Cheetah (duo) and The Hello Morning.
Beat Magazine Page 47
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP
with Christie Eliezer * Stuff for this column to be emailed to <celiezer@netspace.net.au> by Friday 5pm THE CUP TIES! RAISES $70,000 For the second time in its history, the Reclink Community Cup was a tie. The Triple R 102.7FM / PBS 106.7FM Megahertz scored 4.11.35 while the Rockdogs notched up 5.5.35. The sun shone through over Elsternwick Park, 9,000 attended, and $70,000 was raised for Reclink’s sport and arts programs for Australia’s disadvantaged. Rockdogger Liam ‘Banjo’ O’Shannessy and Kate Boston Smith from Megahertz shared the Stephen Connelly Award for Best On Ground. Jon Von Goes performed the National Anthem before the bounce with a string quartet and brass section. Blue Ruin and guests Mick Harvey, Tim Rogers, JP Shilo and Wally Meanie blistered through the post match entertainment. SYN discoveries Drunk Mums opened the day alongside Bunny Monroe. Boomgates hit the stage at half time. It was all pretty radical.
GOTYE, BRUMBY HELP AARDVARK Gotye (Wally de Backer) and Monique Brumby are new Ambassadors for Aardvark aka All About Really Determined Very Amazing Rocking Kids. It connects 1425 year olds who are dealing with serious illnesses with recording artists and music therapists. Writing, recording and perform original material bolsters their confidence. See aardvarkworldwide.org.
$30,000 FUNDING FOR WORLD MUSIC EXPO… The Victorian Coalition Government has granted $30,000 to the 2012 Australasian World Music Expo (AWME) to support tourism marketing. Minister for Tourism and Major Events Louise Asher said AWME not only “reinforces Victoria’s international music credentials” but also “delivers economic benefits with industry delegates and music lovers staying in our hotels during a time of year when traditionally hotel room occupancy is not at full capacity.” AWME will host 300 local and overseas acts from November 15 to 18.
…AND $30,000 FOR WANGARATTA FESTIVAL OF JAZZ The state government will provide $30,000 funding to November’s Wangaratta Festival of Jazz through Tourism Victoria’s Events Program. It is for a marketing campaign that includes advertising in jazz magazines, a website upgrade, radio/ print promotion and a targeted PR campaign. Tourism and Major Events Minister Louise Asher explained that the festival was an important part of regional Victoria’s growing performing arts scene. “Every year the event provides an economic boost to the local community through tourist spending. It’s vital that we continue to work to raise the event’s national profile to attract more visitors from across Victoria and interstate.”
MADONNA TOUR RIDER LEAKED Madonna likes to travel with all the comforts, as evident by a leaked copy of her rider for her MDNA world tour – arriving here in January. She travels with 200 people including 30 bodyguards, a yoga instructor and a personal chef who only prepares vegan meals. Backstage, she demands promoters supply her with 20 international phone lines, remove all the venue’s furniture and replace them with those that she ships out and which have to be draped in a special fabric that smells like lilies and roses. There must be a dry-cleaning service at the venue and all flowers must be cut to a perfect six-inch stem.
UNFD SIGNS EURO DEAL Staple Group’s UNFD signed a distribution and service deal with UK company Essential (part of Cooking Vinyl) covering Europe and England. First out are Buried in Verona’s Notorious and House Vs Hurricane’s Crooked Teeth.
VENUES #5: NEW BOOKER FOR EDINBURGH CASTLE Damien Sutton has taken over as band booker at Edinburgh Castle from Dan Lewis. He is contacted at ecbookings@gmail.com.
VENUES #1: LIBERTY NOW CALLED REVERENCE HOTEL Plans by the former owners of the Arthouse, Melanie and Matthew Bodiam to return to programming bands with former Arthouse booker Adam Simpson, have had a hiccup. The original plan was to rename the Exchange on Footscray Road The Liberty. Now it will be called The Reverence Hotel. It’s currently closed for renovations but will open any day now. Bands will be in the 200-capacity front room soon, with a second larger (300-capacity) room expected to be running by early September. If you want to let them know you want to play there, email reverencehotel@gmail.com.
VENUES #2: BILLBOARD HOSTING PICTORIAL EXHIBITION Billboard The Venue (170 Russell St, city) is on Tuesday July 3, throwing an invite-only bash for clients, media, music industry taste makers and friends. The occasion is a pictorial exhibition covering the venue – back to 1965 when it did cabaret with go-go dancers as The Lido Theatre, then the Total Theatre in the late ‘70s to now – and the acts that played there. Walls will be covered with pix from Kane Hibberd, Caitlin Muscat and Brett Schewitz. Billboard is also unveiling its new bars and a new only-one-in-Oz Clair Bros PA.
VENUES #3: PALACE BUSINESS GOES ON, BUILDING FOR SALE The Palace club in the city released a statement regarding the impending sale of the building it occupies for an advertised $15 million. It was placed in the control of receivers Ferrier Hodgson after previous owner Jerry Pilarinos’ company Kefi Nominees went into administration in February. The club said; “In response to recent media articles, the landlord has decided to place the building on the market. The venue and its activities will continue as an operating business into the foreseeable future. As a matter of priority, the Palace will be working towards a lease extension with the new building owners if a sale eventuates.” Deadline for bids is July 27.
THINGS WE HEAR * Take That are accused of avoiding tax through a music scheme set up to help young talent. The band’s Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and manager Jonathan Wild invested £26 million into a scheme which puts musicians and investors together. The tax boys claim it is a tax dodge and closed the loophole. Take That sniff they pay “significant” tax as it is. * For sale: Sydney’s Basement (owners want change of life), Brisbane’s Tivoli, (owners have new interests) and Adelaide’s live music venues Dublin and Holdfast hotels (owner in receivership). * Under new laws in Japan, those found with pirated music or movie files could face up to two years in prison and a fine of 2 million yen (A$24,811). * Has Adele music got healing powers? Doctors told the mother of a seven year old English girl who was in a coma after suffering a brain hemorrhage to come and say her final goodbye. In the hospital room, Adele’s Rolling In The Deep came on the radio and mum sang it to her. The kid began to smile and within two days was speaking and was able to get out of her hospital bed. * Molly Meldrum received a standing ovation when he appeared at the ASTRA awards to present Sports Fox with the channel of the year trophy. The Moll came onstage in an Egyptian chair carried by four burly slaves. “Just so you know these four are not part of my collection,’” he said. * The Grates scored a US deal with Vagrant Records, with their Dew Process/Universal album Secret Rituals released there on July 10. * Australian metal trio Kunvuk will be donating 50% of all profits from second album Consume Rapture to the ‘Save the Tasmanian Devil Program’.
MIKE NOGA BY KRISSI WEISS
Mike Noga has been present in the Australian music scene for a while now and is probably best known as the drummer for that little indie rock band that just keeps on giving (both in itself and via its many spin-off projects), The Drones. After the release of his second solo album last year, The Balladeer Hunter, Noga enjoyed a run of shows throughout Australia including support for Band Of Horses, Okkervil River, Paul Dempsey and Glenn Richards, Noga jetted off to the UK with virtually no plan and very little expectation. “I went over to the UK with no agenda whatsoever,” Noga says. “Nothing sends me to sleep quicker than a musician talking about moving to London, Berlin, New York to write their next album, and that certainly wasn’t the case with me. It was more a case of going on an extended holiday, perhaps playing some shows, and if the mood struck me, starting to write my next album. As it turns out, I ended up playing some great shows and writing a lot more than I expected. It’s always inspiring and refreshing to play to new faces. It’s easy to feel a bit like you’re becoming part of the wallpaper after so many years playing in Australia. It’s good to remind yourself that you’re still ‘new’ to many people out there. I fell in love with London too. It’s taken me years and years, Beat Magazine Page 48
but I finally succumbed. I also became obsessed with the history of that city and spent many of my days searching for the Roman ruins that are hidden throughout the city, as well as my endless quest to find London’s oldest pub. Basically I just walked around pretending I had the plague and swept chimneys for a living.” With a band as successful and seemingly harmonious as The Drones, I am compelled to ask Noga exactly what he gets out of his solo stuff that he doesn’t within The Drones and vice versa. Of course stepping out from behind the drums is an obvious conclusion but there is surely more to it than just that. “They’re two completely different worlds,” he says. “Obviously I don’t write the songs in The Drones so it’s nice
8th AUSTRALIAN MUSIC PRIZE STREAMLINES ENTRY Organisers of the 8th Australian Music Prize (AMP) have made changes. Unlike in previous years when entries did not open until September, albums are already being collected for consideration. The $55 fee has been dropped, hoping to entice more acts. This year there was a drama when some in the judging panel felt that the short list overlooked too many creative records. Getting music to AMP is streamlined via a new sponsorship deal with D-Star, which delivers tracks to AIR and major label distributors via its DMDS audio system. Those nominating a CD or consideration by judges but don’t have access to D-Star can post a CD (with contact details) to The 8th Amp/ DMDS, 60 Upper Deck, Jones Bay Wharf, Pirrama Road, Pyrmont NSW 2009.
MIPI CHANGES NAME TO MUSIC RIGHTS AUSTRALIA The Music Industry Piracy Investigation unit (MIPI) has changed its name to Music Rights Australia. The idea, says General Manager Vanessa Hutley is to stress its core values. “MIPI has always focused its efforts on the three core areas of advocacy, education and protection to highlight the valuable contribution that music labels and publishers make to the Australian economy through their investment in new and emerging talent.”
SENIOR DIGITAL POSITION AT MUSHROOM GROUP Mushroom Group is looking for someone to head its Digital Department. The Melbourne-based role of Digital Strategy Manager works with the Group’s many divisions including Ivy League, Liberation Music, Frontier Touring and I Oh You. You’ll develop and oversee digital strategies on commercial and promotional levels, execute digital marketing for about 30 albums and tours a year (and find new partners for these), recruit and manage a small team and handle budgets. Applicants should email sarah@themushroomgroup.com.au with their resume including all qualifications and previous experience.
ES GROUP COLLAPSES Staging and event firm ES Group has collapsed with debts of $6 million, amid claims of bad management and excessive wages. Founded in 1998, it provided staging for festivals as Good Vibrations, Future Music and Parklife as well as the ARIA awards and the Grand Prix. Last year it turned over between $11 million and $12 million. According to administrator Woodgate & Co has been in administration since April, with creditors including Crew on Call, Melrose Cranes, Mojo Barriers, the Tax Office and Opera Australia.
LIFELINES Born: daughter for Kings Of Leon’s Caleb Followill and model Lily Aldridge, their first. They got married last May. Split: Jessica Origliasso of the Veronicas says Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins has been downgraded from “boyfriend” to “friend”. Ill: Jack Osbourne, record producer and Adrenaline Junkie presenter, and son of Ozzy and Sharon, diagnosed with incurable multiple sclerosis at 26. He lost vision in his right eye, and was diagnosed three weeks after becoming a father to daughter Pearl with fiancée Lisa Stelly, 26. Injured: talent manager Glenn Wheatley lost part of his finger in a nasty dog attack in Sydney. He was taking his son Tim’s dog Danko for a walk when it was attacked by a pit bull terrier and Wheatley intervened to save the pooch. Charged: Rickey Charles Goodrich, 54, with 33 counts of theft. He used his position as chief financial officer for Pearl Jam’s management company Curtis Inc to bilk $380,000 from the band from 2006 until fired in Sept 2010. In Court: Public Enemy’s Flavour Flav escaped 180 days in jail by coming up with the $111,186 he owed in child support. Sued: Jay-Z over his 2010 part-memoir part-lyrics book Decoded, by Patrick White who claimed many phrases were nicked from his work which was stored in a laptop computer which was stolen the year before. Suing: The Black Keys take action against Pizza Hut and DIY store Home Depot for allegedly using songs without permission from their most recent album El Camino respectively, Gold On The Ceiling and Lonely Boy. Died: Tamworth guitarist and Hilltop Recording Studio owner, Gary Brown, 50s-something, after being diagnosed with cancer a few months ago. Died: Flying Pickets singer Brian Hibbard, 65, prostate cancer. They toured here a number of times after their 1983 success with Only You. Died: Hawkwind bassist John Harrison, 69, after a long battle with Huntington disease. His throbbing bass was an integral part of the British space-rockers’ sound. He later became a record producer in L.A. Died: Tim Mooney, drummer for American Music Club and Sun Kil Moon, 53, from a blood clot and a heart attack. Died: Welsh comic actor Victor Spinetti, who appeared in three Beatles movies, 82 from pancreatic cancer. Died: Gerry Bron, 79, producer, long time manager of Uriah Heep and founder of Bronze Records, which signed Motorhead, Colosseum and the Damned.
APPROVED: UNIVERSAL ACQUIRES EMI IN NZ Universal Music Group’s £1.9 billion (A$2.92 billion) acquisition of EMI Music was approved by the New Zealand Commerce Commission – the first country in the world to do so. The deal was approved despite fierce opposition from Warner Music and indie labels.
PUSH SONGS RETURNS Free songwriter’s program, Push Songs returns for the Winter edition, July 24 to August 29. Twelve applicants are chosen to take part in three, one-on-one, 90-minute songwriting workshops to develop their writing skills with Charles Jenkins as well as two guest writers including Adalita, Mark Seymour, Kim Salmon and Lisa Miller. See thepush.com.au, deadline July 9.
HARRY ANGUS JOINS ALBERTS STABLE The Cat Empire’s co-frontman Harry James Angus has signed with Sydney-based publisher to represent his current and future rights. The deal, for outside Australia and New Zealand, covers his work outside TCE, – Jackson Jackson, The Harry James Angus Band and his solo material.
MORE ACTS FOR WINTER BALL FUNDRAISER Charles Jenkins and The Zhivagos added more acts to the 4th Winter Ball at The Corner (Saturday July 21) to raise funds for its nominated charity for this year, Support Act Ltd. Anna Burley, Craig Pilkington of The Killjoys and Dougie Lee Robertson from Icecream Hands join the bill. to have an outlet for my own stuff. But I consider myself very lucky. I’m in a band that I love and I get to tinker away on my own thing when it’s downtime for the Drones. I’ve always been a songwriter since I was a kid. But technically drums are my forte, I guess. I just enjoy getting together with Gaz and Fiona and Dan and creating something together. And we’ve been doing it for so long now that it’s become second nature when you put the four of us in a room together we can read each other’s minds. But at the same time I absolutely love standing on a stage, alone, with just a guitar and playing my own stuff. So there you go – best of both worlds.” Noga has been quoted as saying recording an album is a little out-dated (well a part of him thinks that, anyway). I ask whether that is because, as a product, the album is becoming harder to sell or that the romanticism of the album as a collective story is a bit of bullshit? “Yeah, a part of me really believes that writing 12 songs, going into a studio, recording them, releasing them as an album, doing long lead promotion, then a tour, then a follow up tour, etcetera, is a little outdated and unnecessary,” he says. “But it’s such an ingrained process now – right across the board – that it’s hard to swim against that flow. I’m not sure what form my next batch of songs will take. Perhaps I’ll just release them one by one. If I’ve got three songs written then why not just get those three out there? Or maybe I’m being a stupid idiot and the ‘industry’ will punish me. Time will tell.” Art is a reflection of time and place, both of the artists and the world around them - Noga is no different. Like most musicians, his music undergoes sonic, melodic and thematic
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VENUES #4: LIVE MUSIC FOR BALLARAT’S CIVIC HALL? Ballarat could get a new live music venue. A draft report by consultants SGS Economics and Planning on what to do with the new Civic Hall on Mair Street suggested it be used as “a mid-size, indoor live music venue” as one of the options. It could cater from between 300 to 3,000 fans.
NEW INDIGENOUS RADIO STATION FOR MILDURA A new indigenous radio station Power 92 The People Station launched in Mildura (92.3) and Robinvale (89.9) this week. It is run by The Black Light Indigenous Corporation, under former music teacher Paul Davis and Mildura residents Harley Hughes and Dale Johnson who have worked on radio before. Hughes says that aside from providing a voice for Koori issues it wants the studio to hold hip hop classes and be a hang-out for local kids. It has a deal with National Indigenous Radio Service to provide news and current affairs.
evolution and his new music is taking yet another new form. “The new songs are shaping up to be a lot more dense than my previous stuff,” he says. “I’ve always gone for a pretty stripped back approach in the past. There’s bugger all over dubs on my last record, and zero electric guitar. But these songs are lending themselves to a more involved approach. I won’t be recording fifteen piano parts whilst sitting in a sand box, but there’ll be more going on.” MIKE NOGA will play at The Northcote Social Club with special guest Sweet Jean on Saturday June 30. The Ballader Hunter is out now.
A guide to eating out in Melbourne
NEWS BITES Snow Pony Now that we are well and truly freezing in the mornings it is always nice to find a warm cafe to pile into on a Saturday morning. Snow Pony in Kew is one of these great spots. Always being one who goes straight for any form of a big breakfast when trying to sooth the Sunday morning hangover i thought i would break character. A few of the best ham and cheese croissant i have ever had soon followed. Never thought i would be raving about a croissant but there you go. Get down there and try it for yourself. Snow Pony, 95 Whitehorse Road Balwyn VIC 3103
Bendigo Hotel, Fitzroy It’s the Bendigo Hotel, but not as you remember it. Same location (on Johnston Street, just down from The Tote) but with a new owner, new kitchen, new chef and new menu. The kitchen is now part of the franchise Il Gobbo, which some of you may have heard of before.
Kitcch Café Kitcch Café is a delightfully quaint café situated in the heart of Kensington. It’s the perfect place to relax and unwind in the calm ambience of the café. Offering a wide range of gluten free and vegetarian meals, the friendly staff can arrange to cater for any dietary requirements. Kitcch has also developed a reputation for offering the best all day breakfasts in Kensington, with delectable coffee and fresh juices to match. Pop in and try one of the homemade cakes and muffins - you won’t be disappointed! 512 Macaulay Road, Kensington.
On paper, the menu seems a little bizarre, mixing Mexican, Italian and American staples. But for before, during and after a big night on the piss, it’s perfect. With nothing over $15, it’s also great for a cheap feed. As my friend exclaimed when she received her meal: “Ten bucks for this massive burger and bloody chips – what a f$#king bargain!” And when you look even closer, the meals really are great value. The chips are all hand cut and tomato sauce comes with every side of chips, so you don’t have to feel guilty about making staff go back to the kitchen for it. Of all the burgers we tried, The Fully Sick WOG Burger was the biggest and tastiest – which I think is due to the addition of sun-dried tomatoes. The Bogan Burger was also worth its weight, topped with fresh pineapple, beetroot and herbed mayo. There’s a plain hotdog and two American-themed ones for the more adventurous types. The Chicago comes with mustard, sweet pickle relish, onion and tomato, while the New Yorker is packed with lightly fried onion, mustard, ketchup and cheese. Both looked and tasted like they were flown from their respective cities – all they needed was the baseball on TV. Heading south on the menu, we ventured to Mexico with a massive plate of nachos, cooked perfectly, and a spicy-bean burrito. The burrito bean mix wasn’t spicy at all, but for me that was a good thing. The massive burrito also came with rice, creamy guacamole, shredded lettuce, salsa, cheese and sour cream, and a salad on the side. I was also informed that all the veggies come fresh from Bacchus Marsh. And if you think all this seems too good to be true, just wait until you try it for yourself. I’m not going to give it away, but there is a secret to the food. Try it for yourself and see if you can spot it. Il Gobbo kitchen, located at The Bendigo Hotel, 125 Johnston St, Collingwood is open Tuesday-Friday from 6pm to 9pm, and Saturday/Sunday from 4pm to 9pm. Reach them on 9417 3415.
Pizza E Vino Pizza E Vino has won the hearts of Northcote locals, offering an extensive range of fine Italian pizzas and pastas using fresh, tasty ingredients. Whether you’re looking for an intimate meal with a loved one, or a catch up dinner with a group of friends, Pizza E Vino can offer you the perfect night out. The desert pizza’s are a must for any chocolate lover, and diners are welcome to BYO or to order to have their meals delivered to their home. Open till late, 6 days, 232 High Street, Northcote.
pizza e vino WOODFIRED P I Z Z A R E S TA U R A N T
Toney Le Pony A new cafe gem is popping up on Burwood Road in Hawthorn. After years of the area not changing a bit this new spot will serve as a cafe during the day and a lounge bar at night, once it is fully operational. Tony le Pony is a great new hybrid idea that will fit into the street perfectly, not only will it be serving some amazing boutique beers I have never seen before but it also boasts one of the best coffee’s going round. Pop in next time your in the area. Open Mon - Sat, 07:00am - 03:00pm Tony le Pony, 428 Burwood Road, Hawthorn, VIC 3122
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Beat Magazine Page 49
e t n a l e d “A LATIN SPECIAL " ! o g Ami Beat Magazine’s
HOLA AMIGOS
CRUZAO… LIKE MUSIC TO YOUR PALATE
Greetings and welcome to another installment of the much hyped Adelante Amigo. After having such a great response from the issue last month, we decided to branch out a bit and try and bring you, our latino inspired readers, some other facets of this thriving culture. We have something for our wine drinkers in the issue with Freixenet Wines letting us know all about their delicious sparkling wines, as well as a new method to make you irresistible to the opposite sex…tango.... Flick through our pages to yet again experience the fire of the latino culture! Also on this day we would like to dedicate this issue of Adelante Amigo to Carlos Delgado, the two times baseball all star who is celebrating his 40th birthday today!
EVERY MONDAY LA MILONGA DE LAS MARIPOSAS Open class 7:30PM - LATE BYO alcohol
INTRO CLASSES / ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS Monday 9 July, 6:30-7:30pm Tuesday 10 July, 7-8pm Thursday 12 July, 8-9pm
REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN! 10 week fundamental course Cost: $150 individual/$280 couple Full-time students with ID, Only $100 To book contact info@tangobutterfly.com.au or 0403 192 867
NEW TERM CLASSES START ON JULY 16
1543 High St, Glen Iris
www.tangobutterfly.com.au
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Eat Cruzao Food in Latin America varies from country to country and from town to town. Nevertheless, there are certain dishes that are shared across the cultures with their own variations of flavour and constitution. An example of this is the ‘sancocho’, a thick broth made with a variety of local vegetables and some kind of meat that can be beef, poultry, goat or fish. When two kinds of meat are used, it receives the name ‘Cruzao’ (crossed). In Venezuela this type of soup has been eaten since way before the XVIII century. Traditionally accompanied by an arepa (corn pocket), this plate is considered a full meal. Cruzao is eaten especially during the weekend and after big celebrations such as Christmas and New Year…can you guess why? Yes, it is said to help prevent and alleviate the effects of that extra mojito (or two) you knew you shouldn’t have had.
causes the rest of the band to drop their instruments and screams, “Hey! Estás cruzao!” (Hey, you are crossing over). Cruzao is also the middle size drum part of the Venezuelan culo’e puya drum set, typical of the Barlovento region of North-central Venezuela, which marks the downbeats of the rhythm. Also, El Cruzao - Joropo Oriental, is a marvelous composition by Venezuelan musician Ricardo Sandoval – who visited Melbourne himself last year... come on, go to YouTube and be impressed!
Listen Cruzao Close your eyes and listen…tác tác tác, tác tác… Can you feel the clave? The Clave is the rhythmic pattern that acts as backbone of most Latin rhythms including salsa, son, afro-cuban, rumba and more. It’s a pattern of two rhythmically opposed cells, which, in their response to each other produce the syncopated drive of the music. When a musician mistakenly inverts the position of the two cells, he
Head over to 365 Brunswick St, Fitzroy for an authentic Venezuelan experience through all your senses. Details of the menu and upcoming events – as well as online bookings - can be found on their website cruzao.com.au and joining their community on facebook.com/cruzaoarepabar or twitter.com/cruzaoarepabar
“Adelante Amigo!"
Enjoy Cruzao So where, you ask, can I experience all this sounds and flavours of Latin America? Yes, there is one place, and of course, its name is Cruzao Arepa Bar. It stands in the heart of Fitzroy’s Brunswick St with a broad offer of arepas and other traditional Venezuelan dishes and drinks… not to mention the best of Melbourne’s Latin bands on stage every day.
e t n a l e d A “ LATIN SPECIAL " ! o g Ami Beat Magazine’s
The Flaming Godzilla TANGO BUTTERFLY DANCE STUDIO Challenge at High Tech Burrito: Conquer the Monster! Up for a fiery challenge? Conquer High Tech Burrito’s Flaming Godzilla and win a t-shirt that will let everyone know you are not to be trifled with! From August 17 – September 6, come into High Tech Burrito and finish an entire Flaming Godzilla in ten minutes or less with no assistance to be declared a winner. At over three quarters of a kilo, the Flaming Godzilla is not for the faint of heart: steak and chicken, beans, Spanish rice, cheese, guacamole, lime sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and black olives in a grilled flour tortilla. Instead of using mild salsa, they add their own Habanero Nuclear Salsa, a massive amount of fresh cut jalapeños, and a dose of a secret (imported) hot sauce containing Ghost Pepper/Naga Jolokia. The Naga Jolokia was previously recognised by World Records as the hottest pepper in the world. Beware: Godzilla’s flame is back! They will be keeping track of your times – the three fastest times at the end of the contest will compete for the title of winner! The champion will win free burritos for a year and goodies from contest partners Emma & Toms Drinks, and USA Foods. Bring on the flames!
Everyone has felt that urge deep inside them to break out into dance; if it is in your lounge room or on a dimly lit dance floor as you are trying to seduce that person who has been giving you looks all night. Why scare them off with your mediocre performance, which makes you look like you’re doing a primal mating call, when you can learn how to do it all with grace and style at Tango Butterfly dance studios? With the authentic style of Tango coming all the way from the salons of Buenos Aires this is really the only way to learn how it’s done. Owner and teacher at the studio, Dana, has described tango as “not just a dance, a style of music or even a culture. It is an all encompassing sensation which binds you from the moment you take your first tango walk”. After hearing those words it becomes easy to understand Tango Butterfly’s motto – “Connect your body, focus your mind, release your soul”. Dana started in performance dance at the age of two and is still going dude to a lifetime of enthusiasm for music and dance. She has taught all over the country, from Canberra to Adelaide and had now settled in our lovely city to share her passion with
High Tech Burrito is located at 838 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn. Reach them on 9818 1482, hightechburrito.com.au and eat@hightechburrito.com.au
eat arepas, drink mojitos listen to
liveusic latin m
RY
FREE ENT
JULY WEDNESDAYS - from 8pm
Jazzures THURSDAYS - from 8pm
Cuban Rumba with Panga & special guests FRIDAYS - from 9pm
Oz Locos 13 African Intelligence & the Latin 20 El Wise Guy Connection The Kenny Lopez Piquete
27
SATURDAYS - from 9pm
Santiago Son SUNDAYS - from 7pm
Jose Nieto
Come down and join in the festivities with a night of Latin music and food when The Botanical, along with their friends at Corona, get all hot and steamy with their midwinter Mexican Beach Party. This will be one of the only occasions you can actually were a sombrero in a public forum and instead of getting strange looks from people in the street, the lovely people at The Botanical with give you a free shot of tequila for your efforts. The very nice decor of the venue will be transformed with the addition of plants, cacti, chillies and all things Mexican to take your mind off the Melbourne winter taking place outside and keep you feeling like you have just stumbled down to Playa del Carmen,.If the tequila wasn’t enough to get you excited about all of this, the food line-up
is something straight off the streets of Mexico City. Here is a sneak peek at whats on the menu: Snapper Ceviche with green chilli and tequila Prawns, red chilli, almond chipotle salsa Chicken Tortillas Crispy pork belly Ranchero sauce
bookings recommended
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Tango Butterfly Studios is located at 1543 High St, Glen Iris. For Bookings, contact Tango Butterfly at info@tangobutterfly.com.au, call 0403 192 867 or visit tangobutterfly.com.au
Mexican Beach Party Amigos!
06
you. Tango Butterfly have introduction classes starting on July 9 and a new term July 16 so there has never been a better time to venture out and try something new! With the introductory classes at only $10 a week it is much cheaper than trying to close a deal buy supplying someone with drinks all night. The introductory classes don’t require much from you rather than your physical being. You don’t need a partner or need to have any previous knowledge of routines, the motto here is that if you can walk, you can tango! Registrations are now open for these classes which are held on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. They are 10 week terms, so you will be grabbing people in the street and rejoicing in the passion of tango in no time!
“Adelante Amigo!"
Corn and cheese empanadas Beef chimichanga, smoky chocolate sauce Sweet corn ice cream and lemon chilli sorbet How much would this summer wonderland cost to be apart of you ask? Just $35 per person (included in the $35, entry, live entertainment, cocktail and Mexican street food). With specialty Latino bands kicking the night off at 7:30 followed by a DJ at 10:30 the festivities will continue long into the night. The Botanical is located at 169 Domain rd South Yarra, Vic, 3141
FREIXENET mus-ica
In the music scene, everything changed during the ‘70s with concerts never before staged in venues that had never seen people dancing in this new style...that was the first salsa explosion in the world. Who was behind this new style of playing, singing, dancing and living? It was Fania Records, founded in 1964 in the streets of New York, by the Italian-American Jerry Masucci and Johnny Pacheco, a composer from Dominican Republic. Fania was created with the aim of distributing salsa music around New York: Willie Colon, Ray Barretto and Joe Bataan were some of the first musicians to be recorded. The quick success of Fania’s music made it possible to spread salsa all over the world. As a result, the Fania All-Stars band was created; an amazing group formed by
the top artists that recorded under the Fania label. The first concert of Fania All-Stars was at The Red Garter (1968) and it was immortalized in a double album called Live at the Red Garter. That was the first step of a large walk of Fania All-Stars by countries such as Japan, Zaire, Puerto Rico and Panama.
Three memorable concerts were: August 24, 1973 at the Yankee Stadium before 63,000 spectators, Zaire in 1974 with James Brown, before 80,000 spectators to the music festival and the much expected heavy weight title fight between Muhammed Ali and George Foreman. For the third concert, again in the Yankee Stadium, Fania All-Stars included Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Ruben Blades, Ismael Miranda and Hector Lavoe, alongside Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri as special guests. The album of this concert, Live at Yankee Stadium, is the second of the 50 records of the list of recordings preserved in the United States National Recording Registry, which gives Fania All-Stars its historical and cultural relevance. All along the ‘70s New York was full of a Salsa feeling, leaving memories of Fania All-Star concerts embedded in its streets and people. Salsa and its exponents came to change the way we make music and dance to it all around the world and New York was its cradle. Living in New York was never the same after the Salsa Explosion. Watch and hear the music of the Fania at pinterest.com/cruzaoarepabar/fania
“What’s the secret of good wine? There isn’t one. The land and the vines give us their best, while we contribute all our skills of refinement, along with experience and ingenuity.” - José Ferrer Sala, Owner Freixenet (pronounced “fresh-eh-net”), best known for its “black bottle bubbly” Cordon Negro, is a family-owned company that grew from humble beginnings in rural Catalunya. While Freixenet may be the largest maker of traditional method sparkling wine, they still seem to be able to hit the nail on the head when it comes to quality. The company focuses solely on méthode champenoise wines, and is continually making improvements and new ranges of products to keep its loyal drinkers impressed and trying new things. Freixenet is undoubtedly the world’s most famous Cava – the Spanish sparkling wine made using the methode champenoise. But the main Australian export product that you can get your hands on is the Cordon Negro Brut. Cordon Negro Brut is Freixenet’s most popular sparkling, often referred to as the “Black Bottle Bubbly.” It is the number one selling sparkling wine in the world. Now for those of you who are sparkling wine experts, here are some technical points. The Cordon Negro Brut is crisp, clean and well balanced although the dosage is very dry, with the acidity being lower than most sparkling wines for a softer, smoother flavour. Cordon Negro is a blend of three white Spanish grape varieties called Parellada (40%), Macabeo (35%) and Xarel-lo (25%). Macabeo produces a light aromatic wine of medium-high acidity. Xarello yields a robust, high-acid wine and contributes power and depth. Parellada is the star of all sparkling blends. It has both beautiful demonstrative fruit and finesse. Freixenet produces only methode champenoise sparkling wines. The wine goes through two fermentations with the second fermentation taking place in the bottle. Cordon Negro Brut is then aged for up to 24 months in the 54kms of caves located at the Freixenet winery in Sant Sadurni d’Anoia just south of Barcelona. Cordon Negro is best enjoyed with seafood, and fresh salads, however it is a perfect accompaniment or aperitif to a variety of foods. When coming across that difficult decision, whether it be at lunch time or in the afternoon, where you find yourself walking the aisles of the bottle shop not knowing what to indulge in for the forthcoming session, think of the sparkling wine education that you have just received and go for the Freixenet’s Cordon Negro Brut. There is also a Piccolo sized bottle when you are planning on enjoying this beverage in short sharp bursts. For more information look up www.freixenet.com
“Adelante Amigo!"
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FITZROY’S LATIN MUSIC SCENE GETTING A BOOST
838 Glenferrie Road Hawthorn, Vic 3122 Ph: (03) 9818-1482 www.hightechburrito.com.au eat@hightechburrito.com.au
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As Fitzroy’s Latin Music scene continues to evolve and grow, yet another venue with old and new faces has popped up to push the music to a wider audience. For nearly a month, Fitzroy’s First Floor nightclub has been the scene for a weekly explosion of rich Salsa sounds that is gaining in popularity by word of mouth. Del Barrio, Melbourne’s all-star salsa band is leading the way every Thursday evening with two highly charged sets that brings hundreds of Latin music lovers to their feet, and onto the dance floor. The 11-piece band is led by singer and percussionist, Gualberto Casas, who has been a part of the Melbourne Latin music scene since 1984. Casas, 51, told us in an interview that he developed an interest in Latin music, and began singing and playing various instruments, including the Bass and Percussion, when he was 12 years old. That interest was fostered in large part by an aunt who had managed a small record shop in Lima, Peru, his home town. It was where he would help her out after school. It was also the shop where Casas was exposed to the music shaping new directions in
• Watch your order being cooked fresh by our cooks. • Salsas and sauces made fresh on the premises. • No added preservatives. • Low in fat and sodium, no lard, no MSG. • Glutten-free, vegetarian/vegan menu choices.
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Eric Williams
For Your Latin Fix Thursday
Saturday
Salsa Explosion in the Heart of Fitzroy Join the Salsa Explosion set to land in Fitzroy next Thursday May 31st at First Floor featuring a double bill of Melbournes best bands: Del Barrio and the Quarter Street Orchestra. Program includes a new approach to teaching Salsa that will connect your body to the authentic sensuality of the rhythm. For more info visit salsaexplosion.com.au . First Floor - 1/393 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy. Ph. (03) 9419 6380.
Banda Sin Frontera @ Cruzao Arepa Bar Eclectic performer Alejandro Espino Aldana and his troupe of musicians, Banda Sin Frontera, create a vibrant atmosphere with their dynamic performances of Mexican and Latin American music. Members include Alejandro Espino on guitar/voice, John Paul Pincheira on bass, Gustavo Moreno on drums, Andrew Darling and Shona Taylor on trumpet, Per Forsberg on Tuba. They are hitting Cruzao Arepa bar this Satuday at 9:00pm, 365 Brunswick Street Fitzroy VIC 3065, (03)9417 7871
Friday Fridays @ Copacabana! Melbournes premier latin venue. Combines the best in brazilian churrascaria cuisine, music, dancing, & entertainment including sensational latin american floor show, live band & dj. Tonight we have La Mezcla & DJ Mick Williams playing so Book now 94177099!!! Copacabana International (VIC) - 139 Smith St, Fitzroy.
Friday
...the better way to eat
Latin music, a sound he fell in love with. The Del Barrio band performs a sound most associate with New York Salsa. It is a sound influenced in large part by such notable musicians as Tito Puente, Ray Barretto, Celia Cruz, and bands such as The Orchestra Harlow, and Eddie Palmieri. In fact, Casas had a big hand in the welcoming parties for Palmieri in early May of this year. The legendary Latin-jazz pianist had performed to sold out crowds in Melbourne’s CBD. It was his first performance in Melbourne, and also his first Australian performance in over ten years. Fitzroy is perfect for Latin music growth, said Casas, who points out that many of Melbourne’s home grown musicians have evolved in recent years, and are serious students of Latin musical rhythms. The excitement generated by the recent Melbourne performance of Eddie Palmieri, Casas believes, can be carried over to the Thursday night Salsa Explosion at First Floor. So far, the excitement and enthusiasm found at the Brunswick St venue seems to bear that out.
Rodolfo Hechavarría “Panga” is Australia’s leading latin percussionist. Brought up at a musical home in Santiago de Cuba, Panga begun to play at a very early age and has since travelled the world, bringing his unique style of afro-cuban percussion to over 40 countries. Cruzao Arepa Bar proudly presents a very special opportunity to hear him play a range of traditional rhythms, along an all-star array of special guests, demonstrating that music can be made on any object as long as inspiration comes from the soul. Playing at 9:00pm @Cruzao Arepa Bar 365 Brunswick Street Fitzroy VIC 3065, (03)9417 7871
Saturday Casa De Latino Social Night (Vic) Dance the night away with hot latin sounds of Salsa, Bachata, Cha Cha and Tango. Run by dancers for dancers.Starts 9pm with FREE dance class then non stop dancing $15 entry. Latin Lover VIP $10. Level 1 - 432 Church Street, Richmond. www.casadelatino.com.au or call 0422 833 810
“Adelante Amigo!"
Saturday B Latin Every Saturday the Latin scene in Melbourne explodes at B Latin. Four DJs playing the hottest Latin tunes Reggaeton, Salsa, Bachata and Merengue. Dress to impress. Enjoy Super size cocktails, Massive dance floor, Hot dancers, VIP areas and table service. Til 5am Entry $15 or $12 with a Latinlover VIP Card. Contact Latinlover for a FREE VIP card. See B Latin under Clubs and Bars. Julian 0401 661 461 or Victor 0430 469 613 By the people who brought you Salsa Boat Cruises and Boricua nights. B Latin Club - 420 Londsdale Street, CBDMelbourne.
Sunday Destino Bar Latin Sundays nights Destino Latin Bar on busy Chapel Street, Sth Yarra, Windsor. Popular with locals looking to catch up with friends or celebrate an occasion. Sundays is BACHATA music nights. Watch couples dancing the sensual Dominican style dance of Bachata. Join in Bachata dance classes after 5pm. drinks at the bar and dancing all night to Latin Dj playing Bachata, Latin, Rnb and other popular club beats. Entry is free. Present you Latinlover VIP card at the bar and ask for Latinlover drinks specials. Destino Latin Bar - 125 Chapel Street, Windsor. Ph. 0409 558 709 after 3pm
THE TEA PARTY BY CHRISTIE ELIEZER
“We’re back for good! – and we’re never going away again!” Tea Party guitarist and singer Jeff Martin roared to the 17,000-strong crowd in Lockport last June. After a six year break – the split was so inimicable that they didn’t speak to each other during that time – Martin, drummer Jeff Burrows and bassist/keyboardist Stuart Chatwood came back together initially for a handful of testing-the-water shows in their homeland Canada. Kicking off with the killer riffing Writing’s On The Wall and the Eastern The Bazaar, it was immediately clear was that they still sounded as powerful and fresh as ever. They took tracks from each album, throwing in new instruments for some numbers. A theremin solo appeared on Walk To Me while the blues-rocker Turn The Lamp Down Low became an unplugged excursion with just acoustic guitars. On The River, they took it back to its roots with exclusively Middle Eastern instruments. By the end of the show – which included covers of Daniel Lanois’ The Messenger, The Stones’ Paint It Black and the Led Zeppelin-popularised In My Time Of Dying – Martin was hoarse, they put that much energy into their playing. The Canadian dates extended to 11 shows. In July they do their first tour in eight years in Australia (their second home where they toured 12 times, compared to 21 times in Canada) before festival dates in North America. Inevitably they’ll start work on a new album. But first, they say, they need to sit down and work through the issues which tore apart the three who met as kids in sleepy Wilson in Ontario, and were considered uncool at school because of the music they listened to and their fashion sense. “On our greatest records, we were musically as one. Just before Edges Of Twilight we listened, like, 600 times to the Crosby Sills Nash & Young record, so much so we can’t stand to listen to it again,” Martin laughs. “We could go into the studios and throw something out. But we want to make something timeless.” “We haven’t spoken for six years, we’re just getting used to getting on the same stage together and hanging out together. There’s a lot of things unsaid that needs to be said, and it’s important that we clear the air,” says Chatwood. “For something great to happen, we need to get
in touch with each other, and get in touch with the musical telepathy. It’s happening step by step, and it’s been wonderful so far. Great things will come to those who wait,” adds Burrows. The indications are that their solo musical journeys in the past six years could crystallise the Tea Party’s elements into the greatness of albums like Twilight and Transmission. During the break, Martin moved to Ireland and then to Australia where, in between fronting The Armada and Jeff Martin 777, he sharpened his skills as a producer working with Thousand Needles In Red and Eternal. Chatswood composed video game soundtracks, including eight of the Prince Of Persia series which sold 10 million and which saw him digging further into his interest in Eastern music, “especially Iranian folk sounds”. Burrows performed with Crash Karma and hosted a radio show. In a 2003 TV special called The Science Of Rock’n’Roll, psychologist Bill Thompson suggested that one reason why The Tea Party create such fanaticism among their following is “their fans love the fear in their music.” What did the band take that to mean? “A lot of people search for comfort in darkness. That’s what they find in our music. As a songwriter, I push myself to limits that most people can’t do. I’m fortunate to be able to do that. Psychologically I can go to those dark places and be able to come back and write those lyrics. When I’m writing a song like Temptation, I’ve lived it. I’m not spraying fables. Every single word I’ve fucking lived. So I can get up on that stage, night after night, and be believable because I was there. It’s that experience to the extreme and the unknown, where a lot of people can’t go, that’s what they search for, and find in, our music,” says Martin. Certainly when The Tea Party first arrived in Australia as unknowns in 1993, they quickly created
a following. Recalls Martin, “(Sydney promoter) Sam Righi really believed in us, and had this vision of breaking an unknown band. We were here for a month, he booked us for residencies in Sydney and Melbourne only. In the first week, we drew about 30 to the shows. The next week it jumped to 250, 300. By the end of the first visit, we were playing to 600 to 700. All in a month. Then triple j got on to us…” The rock press ran three page spreads and put them on their front covers. 1993’s Splendor Solis went gold, and subsequent tours saw The Edges of Twilight go platinum. Chatwood says, “At (the) Alternative Nation (festival), which Lou Reed was headlining, 8,000 people left his stage when we came on. We had played to passionate crowds in Canada and we had no idea
what to expect when we first came to Australia. But we found Australians went out all the time and had the same degree of passion about their music. We went to Germany right after Australia and found not everyone was passionate about us!” During the break, the band was so disgruntled about the rise in America of the rightwing party with the same name, that reports were they wanted to sell their domain name to the party for US$1 million. Did they ever get that money? “We don’t talk finances!” Burrows chuckles to the loud laughter of the others.
ever happened.’ I’m sort of kidding but I’m also not. It’s complicated. Band relationships are a very complicated thing.” The boys of Howler do agree on one thing, however: groupies are more trouble than they’re worth. “We try to stay away from that sort of thing entirely, because it never ends well. It always ends up awkward, so so awkward,” Jordan smiles. “Bad idea, every time.” With a debut album fresh on the shelves, feted performances at SXSW just behind them and American press following the British lead, Howler are young, hot and hip, well placed to enjoy the spoils of rock’n’roll success. But Jordan Gatesmith isn’t interested; he’s on a much more serious mission. “I want some day to have that one song that can resonate with a large group of people,” he enthuses. “I’m bored with the musical landscape. We’re definitely part of some weird hipster bullshit scene,
but I’d like to erase myself from it and be my own. I’m going to do a lot of studying of music, I’m going to do a lot of writing, and when something good hits – I know when something’s good and when it’s shit – I’ll know it’s really worthy. It’s almost like falling in love, you know. When you hear a song that’s so powerful and really resonates with you, it’s like you’re falling in love with that song. I want to make people feel that way.” This goes a long way towards explaining Jordan’s bad boy reputation; it is classic attention seeking behavior. Remember this, before you judge him too harshly: the snarky, grinning kid swinging from the microphone with a bottle of Jack in hand only wants your love.
THE TEA PARTY play the Palais Theatre on Saturday July 14 and an en-core show at The HiFi on Sunday July 15.
HOWLER BY SIMONE UBALDI
Howler’s rise is the product of NME hype, no doubt about it. Barely out of infancy, the Minneapolis garage rockers are riding a wave of success both fragile and phenomenal, which began when a freelance NME writer saw their EP launch in the United States last year. The writer sent a missive home about it, setting off a chain of events that saw Howler signed to Rough Trade and listed as #3 Best New Band of 2011 in NME, with lead singer Jordan Gatesmith named one of the 50 Coolest People of 2011. When asked why he chose to champion an obscure nascent indie band from Minnesota, the NME journalist said he was particularly impressed by Jordan’s stage presence. Their music was rough but full of potential. Jordan, on the other hand, was ready to explode. Since their catapult into the spotlight, he has become Howler’s main talking point. “He’s known for not giving a fuck and hating his hometown,” their publicist explains, comparing Jordan to Julian Casablancas, swinging from the microphone with a bottle of Jack in hand. The description, along with NME’s dubious ‘cool people’ credit, is designed to impress 12-year-old boys and would-be tween groupies. It’s not actually cool to act like a petulant dick – even 20-year-old Jordan Gatesmith knows that. “I’m not a cock,” he laughs. “I’m a decent human being, I swear. There’s nothing rock’n’roll about me. I can be a dick in interviews sometimes, but it only happens every once and a while and it’s mostly because I’m cranky or I didn’t get a nap that day or something like that. I had a great nap today. I slept for hours and I feel so nice.” Jordan’s not sure how he came to be known as a home-hater (he seems to have blocked out the Minnesota Public Radio interview where he joked that Minneapolis is where dreams go to die), but his reputation as a burgeoning enfant terrible is easy enough to trace. He’s not bad, he just struggles to take everything seriously. “I guess it’s good to have some sort of image,” he muses. “The Jordan being portrayed in live performances, in Howler, is actually completely different from who I really am. It’s actually kinda nice having two identities, I think. I can hide from my press identity and just be a little private with my own affairs.” So who is Jordan Gatesmith when he’s at home? “I love the faith, the homeless, I volunteer at youth
group, I volunteer at the humane society from time to time, I’m just a godly young man,” he says, utterly deadpan. If Jordan takes up a lot of the spotlight, it’s because Howler is Jordan’s creation, the product of many furtive, fertile years spent ignoring his high school teachers and forming dozens of failed high school bands. “I never really paid attention in class,” he says. “I’d just sit there and sing different melodies to myself, or think of different beats and put melodies and beats together in my head. These ideas were constantly flowing through my mind, and I needed to channel them; I needed people around to channel them with me. After school I’d find people who played an instrument and ask them to jam with me, and I started a lot of different groups with a lot of different people, just trying to find new people to play with, deconstructing bands, reconstructing bands, kicking people out, adding people. I was writing lots of music very quickly and I needed lots of people around to help me with it.” Ironically, his first successful project came from isolating himself, being more reflective and recording music alone. Jordan birthed Howler in the bedroom and then brought the other four members in to form the live band – this is why when he talks about songwriting, he only talks about himself. On stage, it’s a different story. The band members riff with each other like seasoned professionals, witty and goofy and having a great time in their own little self-amused fun bubble. Jordan seems to have found a very sympathetic crew to bring his music to life. “No,” he laughs, “I don’t like them at all. We got off this last tour and the consensus was that we were never going to talk to each other ever again. It was respectful. It was kind of like, ‘That was terrible and I hate you all. Let’s shake hands and forget this
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
HOWLER’s debut album America Give Up is out now on Rough Trade through Remote Control. They play their Splendour In The Grass sideshow at The Corner on Tuesday July 24 alongside Zulu Winter. Beat Magazine Page 55
THE GOOD SHIP
BY THOMAS BAILEY
If sea shanties, dark ballads, caustic music and raucous country are your thing, then by all means check out Brisbane eight-piece juggernaut The Good Ship. It’s been two years since they released their debut record Avast! Wretched Sea, and their follow-up LP, O’ Exquisite Corpse, with its standout singles Seven Seas and the fetchingly titled Powder Monkey is proving to be more of what one would expect from eight staggeringly talented musicians with a taste for unabashed musical mayhem. Drummer James Lees was on hand to chat with us about the new record, the advantages and disadvantages of having so many members in the group, their musical process and how awesome it was to work with legendary producer Neil Coombe. But first, Lees tells me about opening a box of the CDs. “Yeah, we just got a box of our finished product!” he gushes. “We had that nice moment of opening it, with the whole band there, and going, ‘Look what we made!’,” he laughs, which he does often during the course of our conversation. “It’s just that funny thing, you’ve been working on these songs, some of which are a year and a half old, and all of a sudden they’re on this tiny little thing you can hold in your hand that weighs next to nothing! “I’m extremely happy with [O’ Exquisite Corpse],” he continues, “and I’m very happy with the way it looks! We’re very fortunate in that we have – we have eight people in the band, so what this means is we have a wide range of skills across the band. Brett Harris, who’s one of the singers and plays the accordion and banjo, he’s also a very good graphic artist, and he’s responsible for all the photos, and that sort of thing. And our trumpet player [Kat Hooke] is a film producer by day, so this is where we get our film clips! So, yes, we are excited!” The Good Ship – also a tight ship, by the sound of it – has been in existence in one form or other for about three years.
“It’s one of those classic stories where someone’s side project becomes the primary focus,” Lees reveals. “[Singers] John Meyer and Daz Grey had their own bands, which were going quite well, and they thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny to sing some pirate songs together and put some funny clothes on?’ So they started doing it just as a duo, and it went from there and it got bigger – and in a lot of ways, the original feeling was that that pirate theme and the name as well was quite a strong thing early on, but the band has definitely diversified thematically and musically.” But not too much, I hazard? “There’s still a bit of a nautical feeling in the way we look and some of the music as well,” he reckons, “but a lot of it … we don’t want to be a novelty thing!” I mention to Lees that one of the most appealing aspects of their sound is how many influences course through the veins of their music. There’s a distinct cabaret feeling, as well as the aforementioned sea shanties, with liberal dashes of indierock and even some gypsy punk floating around! “There are eight of us,” Lees declares. “So there’s a massive amount of influences, and I think everybody has pretty sophisticated
musical tastes, and a lot of us have classical training, formal training, or no training, or just running about on the job, like me!” He laughs loudly at this. “As we keep working on the band, we keep finding out that the band really can be multigenre quite successfully as well – and we’ve got three writers in the band, too. So it provides us with three really different strands, so we get a lot of diversity. “And no shortage of material! There’s always a new song to learn, which can be a bit overwhelming at times! But that’s better than not having enough material,” he muses. Recorded in a mountain studio by Neil Coombe, who has previously worked with such bands as The Go-Betweens and DZ Deathrays, O’ Exquisite Corpse was a rather complicated beast to finish. “You have to pretend you’re recording two bands,” Lees explains, “because if you just record it all at once, it’ll be the musical equivalent of shaking a cutlery drawer. So we had to really take our time with deciding where we’re going to have things, and where we’re not. “So a lot of the finer stuff did get recorded in a variety of
places. Once we got all that done, we took the stuff to Neil – poor Neil! – and started to mix it all. And it was a relief. That’s how that little monster of an album came into being.” Is The Good Ship excited to be showcasing their babies on this album release tour? Definitely, declares Lees. “We’re first and foremost a live band, and we love playing. For me, this is one of the most fun bands I’ve ever been in, and it’s going to be a real party! So you can be assured of a good time. The material can be fairly abrasive, and lyrically quite filthy; so you’ll probably come away having had fun, but feeling slightly dirty!”
I was exposed to a lot of theatre and music. I did a bit of it professionally when I was a kid, and my tutor on set had an early electronic drum kit that he sat in our trailer to practice on. So from there I guess I caught some sort of bug.” Touring Australia, Asia and New Zealand with his parents in productions like Cats, Joseph & His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Les Miserables, White has certainly learned the importance of concise pitch and emotive melodic expression that etches its way into Playwrite’s music. Despite having all of the pieces required for musical success, that is not always a formula for immediate attention. White seems surprised as to how the band landed support slots with the likes of Wild Beasts but is also aware that their
connection with their audience is a pivotal reason as to why the band have managed to generate a buzz around their music. “We have had a bunch of really lovely reviews with our live shows,” he explains as a reason for their initial ripple in the scene. “We’re always wanting to explore different levels of performance with our music and I think that, for the most part, it’s been our energy and relationship with the audiences that they seem to keep coming back for.”
and I guess the idea is that with this album especially, it’s the next step for us.” As a result of the countless hours the band has spent on stage and on the road of late, the dynamics between the four members has come a long way from the days they were penning the songs for Stars. Now having been together for a decent amount of time, Sures have started to reap the benefits and this has led to a stronger belief in their song writing ability. “All these songs were written after we started getting attention from industry people and started going on tours,” says Jonas. “So when we started doing that we got confidence in our song writing to progress and to try new things so to have that confidence to write more of your own stuff and progress.”
For Sures, the end result has seen the band mature and develop their song writing craft, an important step as they prepare for the band’s next phase. “The new material is different; a different direction, maybe more of a progression,” says Jonas. “Yeah, progression is the right word I think.” Right now, the future for Sures couldn’t be any brighter. If 2011 seemed a big year for them, 2012 seems destined to be even bigger. “I think generally, we’re in that new band phase, just write as many songs as possible, play a few shows and just enjoy the whole ride I guess.”
Shiver me timbers! Come and join THE GOOD SHIP when they bring their special brand of musical mayhem to Northcote Social Club on Friday July 6. Opening acts are The Bon Scotts and The Stillsons. O’ Exquisite Corpse will be released in July 2012 through Autumn Recordings and MGM.
PLAYWRITE
BY KRISSI WEISS
A residency at The Worker’s Club in June of last year set Playwrite up for a quick trajectory and the destination, at this stage, is unknown. Support for the UK’s Wild Beasts as well as locals Alpine and Geoffrey O’Connor followed swiftly and with their melody-drenched ambient rock sound, Playwrite are producing some damn sweet music. With melody layered over melody the six members take Grizzly Bear-style ambience and contort it into their own sound earning themselves a double thumbs up for their harmonies. Primary songwriters, Jordan White and Patrick Holcombe have been refining their sound for a while, but as White explains, Playwrite came together quite quickly. “Yeah Pat and I met in high school,” White says when I ask if he and Holcombe have known each other for a while. “He was in Year 11 when I was in Year Seven. I guess that makes him somewhat of a loser? But we started playing music in my first week at school.” With Playwrite yet another band filled under indie rock, a term so broad it is becoming as useless as simply calling the band’s music “music”, I ask White what the term means to him and I suppose I get the answer I deserve. “I have no idea what it means,” he says. Indie no longer necessarily denotes independence, rock no longer means gritty guitars and the combined genre, like so many others, is tossed around flippantly. In fact it would seem that most genres, although a necessary evil when attempting to explain new music to an
audience, are becoming more and more obsolete and more divided by subsets. Playwrite are rock by way of their use of electric guitar and indie by the fact they are their current business model is fairly self-directed but it is a long way from describing their sound. Really pretty – yep, that’ll do. Six people in any project are hard to manage let alone the task of finding the six that work best together. I ask White how long it took them to solidify this lineup. “It was like a bad 21st birthday party,” he explains. “Where no one really knew anyone apart from me. But we had some punch and once everyone had shared their jokes about my backseat vomiting we were all pretty close.” White has certainly had an eclectic upbringing, heavily influenced by all things creative and would explain his urge to create from such a young age. “I studied drama and musical theatre for 18 years or so growing up,” he explains. “My family is pretty heavily built into that world, so it meant
PLAYWRITE will be at The Evelyn Hotel on Saturday June 30 with Tehachapi, Sleep Decade, Banoffee (Otouto) and The Townhouses. Single Borderlands is out now.
SURES
BY JAMES W NICOLI
Ivy League Records latest signing Sures have had the pleasure of playing alongside some pretty damn big names of late. Best Coast, Real Estate and Waaves are just some of the names that this young band from Sydney can add to their ever growing and impressive resume. Add to that a spot on the hip-as-hell Laneway Festival as well as an appearance at Boogie Fest and things begin to look even better. In line with a number of both international and local bands of late, Sures have been creating waves with their fuzzed out, reverb drenched, guitar surf pop. For Jonas, one-fourth of Sures, his band’s journey so far has been one that he has simply taken in his stride. “I guess we’ve been definitely enjoying [touring] because we’re still in that new band phase where like we’ve been enjoying everything,” he says. “Because it’s not like anything we’ve ever done in our lives so everything on tour has been amazing.” With the ink to the recent deal with Ivy League Records having now dried, the first port of call was to set an official release date for Sures debut EP, Stars. “We’re really excited about it,” says Jonas when asked about the new partnership. The deal with Ivy League Records has meant that the young band will finally get to release Stars into the world and Jonas and his band mates couldn’t be happier. “Just seeing [the EP] get released properly and to see how it does – and touring on it should be fun.” The tour he speaks of will see the Sydney locals travelling far and wide to all parts of the country. The Melbourne leg will see Sures stop in at The Northcote Social Club; a venue that the band has already had the pleasure of playing a couple Beat Magazine Page 56
of times previously. “Yeah we played with The Rubens,” remembers Jonas of their last visit. “We did a few shows there, it was cool.” Not only have all the touring and festival slots been a dream come true for a young group like Sures, it’s also helped them to hone their individual musicianship as well as their overall sound. “Yeah, none of us were that good of musicians before we starting gigging,” admits Jonas candidly. “So we kind of learnt everything, the musical side of it, just through playing shows over the last few months.” In between all the touring, the band hasn’t been idle. Instead they have been busily preparing for their next release. Already armed with a ton of new songs, the plan is to get back into the recording studio to track their debut album as soon as possible. “Even with our EP and everything to do with that, there has just been ongoing writing,” says Jonas. “So we weren’t like, ‘All right, now we’re going to start writing for an album,’ we’ve just always been writing a heap of songs
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
SURES play The Northcote Social Club on Thursday July 5. Stars EP is out now through Ivy League Records.
CORE
PUNK, SKA, HARDCORE NEWS, REVIEWS AND GOSSIP BY EMILY KELLY: EK1984@GMAIL.COM
DESCENDENTS Hey ya’ll. Did you hear that WHEATUS are touring?...Y’know. Wheatus. That band. That band that had that song. The dirtbag one? Imagine the burden that movie producer must feel, having created a beast by placing that moderately catchy pop tune in American Pie, the biggest blockbuster of the year. Look what they’ve done. They granted that two-bit band not only its immediate success and stardom, but kept them lingering in our collective consciousness for nigh on ten years, all with one okay song. On the plus-side this is most reassuring, friends. ATTENTION BANDS WITH QUESTIONABLE TALENT! You just need to pen one decent song and you’ll get to tour on the back of it for at least a decade. HUZZAH!
CRUNCH!
The rumours were true. Defeater are returning to Australia this September for the second time in about a year. This time they’re bringing Philly band Blacklisted with them for their first trip in about 5 years. Catch this killer combo at The Corner in Melbourne on September 27. An all ages show is scheduled for Friday September 28 at TLC Bayswater. Tickets on sale now. Euro metal band Apocalyptica have announced their first ever Australian tour. The crazy dudes who combine metal with cellos have sold millions of albums worldwide. You can catch them at Melbourne’s The Hi-Fi on Saturday September 1. Tickets are on sale this Friday. Underage Cartel fans can rest easy. The band have announced an all ages show at Lilydale showgrounds on Sunday September 16, presumably as part of a bigger festival? Time will tell.
Check out the video for House Vs Hurricane’s song, Get Wrecked. It’s from their forthcoming album Crooked Teeth, which is out on July 13 via UNFD/Warner. The video is on YouTube and it was filmed in NYC and Melbourne by Ben Clement.
Announcing a last minute tour seems to be a death knell for bands at the moment. Just as quickly as it appeared on our calendars, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones one-off Sydney show has been canned after the festival they were attending en route in Jakarta got boned. The band have promised to return and reschedule shows in the future. Destroy All Lines have announced a killer tour to kick off this August featuring Antagonist AD, Lionheart and Shinto Katana. All three acts have new material circulating so expect to hear plenty of new stuff when they hit Bang on Saturday August 11. You can also catch all ages gigs at Phoenix Youth center (Sunday August 12) and Musicman Megastore in Bendigo (Tuesday August 14).
CORE GIG GUIDE
Thursday June 28: Anchors, Cavalcade, Ten Paces, Tigers at Next Make Them Suffer, Signal The Firing Squad at Karova Lounge, Ballarat Hidden Venture, Damn The Maps, Damn The Torpedoes at Yah Yahs Jackson Firebird, River Of Snakes at The Retreat Ben David and The Banned, Wil Wagner, The Shadow League, Maricopa Wells at The Bendigo Hotel Friday June 29: The Bennies, The Gun Runners, Everything I Own Is Broken, Batpiss, Foxtrot at Gertrude’s Brown Couch Ceremony at Irene’s Warehouse Anchors, Apart From This, 10 Paces at North Haverbrook New Skinn, Branch Arterial at The HiFi Bar Take Your Own, Tired Minds, Free Worlds, Postal, Right Mind at IDGAFF, Collingwood Ignivomous, Destruktor, Thrall, Malichor at The Bendigo Saturday June 30: Ceremony, Extortion,Puerto Rico Flowers, Rort at The Bendigo Sugar Army, Udays Tiger, Dark Arts at The Tote Macabre at Corner Hotel Eddie Spaghetti, Tim Rogers, Fred Negro at Cherry Bar Ben David and The Banned, Wil Wagner, Lachlan Hicks at North Haverbrook (arvo) Make Them Suffer, Signal The Firing Squad at Band Sunday July 1: Macabre at The National, Geelong Make Them Suffer, Signal The Firing Squad, Brooklyn at Phoenix Youth Centre Michael Crafter, Outlines, Term Four, Jurassic Penguin, Postal, Wallow at The Bendigo
METAL, HEAVY ROCK, CLASSIC ROCK LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL GOOD SHIT WITH PETER HODGSON: CRUNCHCOLUMN@GMAIL.COM
GOJIRA: L’ENFANT SAUVAGE
QUEENSRYCHE: TATE’S OUT, TODD’S IN.
AFTERMATH ANNOUNCE NEW EP
Check out the brilliant new album by Gojira, L’Enfant Sauvage, out now via Roadrunner Records Australia. It’s seriously one of the best metal albums of the year.
So we last checked in on Queensryche a few weeks ago when four fifths of the band played two shows with Crimson Glory’s Todd La Torre on vocals under the name Rising West, performing a set of classic Queensryche tracks from the band’s metal days. And now it’s official: Geoff Tate is out of Queensryche and Todd La Torre is their new lead vocalist. The band plans to record new material, while Tate is releasing a solo album in October which he describes as hard rock with progressive elements. I’m sad to see an effective end to one of my favourite bands, but excited to see what both camps do next.
Sydney’s Aftermath has announced their second EP, Their Legacy, Your Burden. It features six teethkicking tracks, recorded with Shane Edwards at Electric Sun Studios in April 2012, and mixed and mastered at Melbourne’s Crystal Studios. The record features guest vocals by Harry Stephens of Bridges and Dave Naylor of Shinto Katana, and will be released on July 6.
ANDREW HAUG LAUNCHES ONLINE METAL RADIO CHANNEL
NEW HOUSE VS HURRICANE VIDEO
Make Do And Mend drummer Matt Carroll has lashed back at fans accusing the band of selling out by shifting from Paper and Plastick to Rise Records, saying “if only these kids knew that I struggle to pay my rent every month then they might redefine the world sellout”. MDAM released their new album Everything You Ever Loved last week.
Former The Racket host Andrew Haug is launching AndrewHaug.com, a 24/7 rock and metal radio venture. He says: “Well folks, I did mention I would continue spreading the message of our beloved Heavy Music! I am mega excited to be soon launching Australia’s first ever 24/7 dedicated Rock & Metal Online Radio Station! Cool huh? This new exciting venture will feature the freshest local and international rock / metal streaming 24/7; high quality audio & easy access; extensive music library of local and international acts; exclusive competitions; dedicated specials/programs; requests & tributes; you name it, we’ll have it covered. Or simply suggest it and we’ll try it out.” The launch date will be announced shortly.
METAL SURVEY I don’t have the full details to hand at press time, but a student is writing a university paper focusing on lyrics and their impact within modern styles of music. To participate, go to bit.ly/Mihqmt – it’s fun, and you get to listen to some kickarse tracks in various metal genres in the process.
ENTER THE MADHOUSE The Madhouse is a new metal night recently launched at Decca Bar, 95 Queen St. It kicks off at 10pm every Friday night and you’ll hear power metal, thrash, black metal, death metal, Aussie metal, European melodeath, djent, prog metal, classic metal and everything in between. Like it on Facebook at facebook.com/madhousemelbourne for discount entry and to go into the draw to win prizes. They’re on the interwebs at madhousemelbourne.com and on Twitter, @madhousemelb.
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CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 57
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
PBS TIPSHEET
BOBBY WOMACK
1. What The World Needs Now SUGARMAN THREE 2. Radio Salone SIERRA LEONE REFUGEE ALLSTARS 3. Here EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS 4. >->> BEAK 5. Sneaking Out After Midnight Mark Lockett/ Joel Frahm/Orlando Le Fleming 6. There’s No Leaving Now The Tallest Man On Earth 7. Small Faces Re-Issue small faces 8. Heartbox BLOCKBOY 9. Longtime Companion SONNY AND THE SUNSETS 10. Dakota Avenue SHERRY RICH
The Bravest Man In The Universe (XL Recordings/ Remote Control)
WEDNESDAY 27 JUNE
RESIDENCY - FINAL NIGHT
VAN MYER THE BON SCOTTS SINISTER MINISTER ENTRY $8, 8.30PM
THURSDAY 28 JUNE
SARITAH SIMMER PHOEBE JACOBS
ENTRY $15, 9PM $2.50 POTS, $5 VODKAS!
FRIDAY 29 JUNE EP LAUNCH
THE RED LIGHTS THE NEIGHBOURHOOD YOUTH THE CORSAIRS TULLY ON TULLY ENTRY $10 DOOR, 9.00PM
SATURDAY 30 JUNE
PLAYWRITE TEHACHAPI SLEEP DECADE BANOFFEE (1/2 OTOUTO) THE TOWNHOUSES ENTRY $10 DOOR, 8.30PM
SUNDAY 1 JULY
ALICE D
SLEEPY DREAMERS STONED MAGGOTS AMANITA ENTRY $6 DOOR, 8.30PM
MONDAY 2 JULY
RESIDENCY - OPENING NIGHT
ANIMAUX
THE NEIGHBOURHOOD YOUTH GRANSTON DISPLAY $8, 8.30PM $10 JUGS!
TUESDAY 3 JULY RESIDENCY
SIMON WRIGHT BAND BIG WORDS DJ BIG KAHUNA BURGER DONATION ENTRY, 9PM $10 JUGS!
COMING UP
TIX AVAILABLE THRU MOSHTIX: ANIMAUX (MON IN JULY) THE SIMON WRIGHT BAND (TUE IN JULY) ESTHER HOLT (WED IN JULY) THE PRIMARY – SINGLE LAUNCH (5 JULY) SEX ON TOAST (6 JULY) CROOKED SAINT – SINGLE LAUNCH (7 JULY) HIATUS KAIYOTE (12 JULY) HEROES FOR HIRE (13 JULY) FREESTATE-VIDEO/SINGLE LAUNCH (14 JULY) RHYS CRIMMIN & THE TOMS – ALBUM LAUNCH (15 JULY) HEAVY MAG LAUNCH PARTY (28 JULY)
Even during his ‘70s peak Bobby Womack was always an old soul, dispensing street wise wisdom. Now at 68-yearsold, and after beating his drug and alcohol demons, he has truly grown into his position as a voice of experience in a crazy world. While he is best known for his 1972 soul classic Across 110th Street, Womack avoids the comeback stigma and proves that he still plenty to offer today’s listeners. After working together on the epic Gorillaz effort Plastic Beach and touring together extensively, Womack chose to work with Damon Albarn and Richard Russell, head of XL Recordings, exclusively on what he calls his first real album since 1994’s Resurrection. Albarn and Russell play the Rick Rubin to Womack’s Johnny Cash on The Bravest Man In The Universe and the results are nothing short of stellar. Rather than pander to the soul legend and his legacy Albarn chose to challenge Womack’s weathered voice, stripping him bare and free of the lavish orchestrations he once favoured. This approach is evident from the moment the opening title track begins, as the singer works his magic over a minimalist production. You can sense a new energy from Womack with each track. Believe it or not, Lana Del Rey is a perfect foil for Womack on the beguiling Dayglo Reflection. It almost makes you overlook the circus that surrounds Miss Del Rey and focus on her enigmatic performance. Almost. Womack teams up with another songbird for the equally powerful duet Nothin’ Can Save Ya. Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara has a textured voice that perfectly complements Womack’s legendarily smoky timber. At points in each duet he allows his guests to take centre stage, which is either a sign of respect or a way of preserving his voice during the recording process. Standout cut Whatever Happened To The Times is an excellent synthesis of his bluesy crooning and the lo-fi soul beats his collaborators are laying down. The sound was curiously dubbed “electronic secular gospel” by the record label. While the partnership proves magical throughout the album there are a couple of times where the idea of taking Womack into new territory and out of his comfort zone falters. The
RESCUE SHIPS
City Life (Independent) This unassuming folk pop single has a breezy air and a surprising amount of piano accordion. The beautiful interplay between the female lead singer and the male backing vocalists, leading into the chorus, bathes you in warmth and happiness. Lovely.
YUNYU
Bluebeard (Bamboozle) Very sorry to have missed the Yunyu’s Melbourne show at Revolver last week – a performance that included six musicians, various fairytale characters and a VJ called MR Goat. The show and this single are part of a multimedia project Yunyu has created in which classic fairytales are reinvented in what seems to be an operatic synth rock mode. This single reimagines Bluebeard with extraordinary intensity, as a ratcheted-up rendition of the Monkey Magic theme with squirrelling electric guitars, led by Yunyu’s fierce and theatrical vocal performance.
up-tempo Love Is Gonna Lift You Up is perfectly catchy but affects the momentum somewhat and doesn’t quite mesh. The same could be said of Jubilee (Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around), which finds Womack returning more to his gospel roots over a rather ill-fitting glitchy beat. Overlooking these misguided experimentations tracks like the moving If There Wasn’t Something There and Stupid could rank among some of his best work. It sounds natural to hear the influential performer being paired with heavier hip hopstyle production. Coming in at just 11 tracks the album The Bravest Man In The Universe never outstays it’s welcome and moves along as effortlessly as Womack’s voice. If this is to be considered the big comeback of Bobby Womack it is a rousing and heartwarming success. ANDREW ‘HAZARD’ HICKEY Best Track: Whatever Happened To The Times If You Like These, You’ll Like This: I Don’t Know What the World Is Coming To BOBBY WOMACK, I’m New Here GIL SCOTT-HERON In A Word: Triumphant
all pop cultural sins. I heard it at a party a little while ago, shortly after Set Adrift On Memory Bliss by PM Dawn, and I was deeply excited. After a while it doesn’t matter if the song is any good, all that matters is that you know the lyrics.
ALEX WATTS & THE FOREIGN TONGUE
This Haunting (Astound Records) Co-written by Mick Thomas, This Haunting is a jaunty rock song sung from the perspective of an elderly woman who feels haunted by the ghost of her dead husband. The tune is rough and peppered with horns, a blaring and sloppy afternoon pub music sound that is incongruous with the narrative. Way too blokey and casual a tone for a song about poltergeists and mariticide.
I, A MAN
The Scenic Route (Independent) Melbourne quartet I, A Man release The Scenic Route ahead of their July tour. The song is deceptively simple, built around twin guitar riffs and a muted bass line, and Daniel Moss’ wandering, sometimes overly-earnest vocal. The texture builds as the song progresses, but the two-line hook remains spare and effective. Very solid songwriting.
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
PLAN B
Lost My Way (Warner) Plan B’s latest single is a ferocious mix of ‘70s soul, UK rap and Rage Against The Machine-style political punk grandstanding. It’s roughly assembled but visceral, the old soul refrain pitch-shifted against a new set of backing vocals, skittering cymbals, DJ Shadow-esque drops of piano and defiant rap that verges on hysteria.
Brendan’s Death Song (Warner) Lifted from the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ tenth studio album, this song is a tribute to Brendan Mullen, founder of a seminal LA punk club called The Masque. While it retains the deftly orchestrated funk style that has defined the Chili Peppers for 20 long years, Brendan’s Death Song is a very sweet tune featuring a collection of simple but affecting lyrics. You can tell they really cared about him.
BUSBY MAROU
KARISE EDEN
I Still Don’t Believe (Warner) How’s this for lyrics in the poorest possible taste: “When you walked in the room, my voicebox headed south / I swallowed all my silence and couldn’t help to think / Little did my girlfriend know you would be the reason we’d split.” They sneak this line in amongst the beige strumming of acoustic guitar and the Jack Johnson-esque relaxation mode songwriting – good old Thomas Busby singing about ditching his girlfriend because a hotter girl walked into the room. This is a love song, did I mention? Obviously it’s not about the exgirlfriend. She was just a convenient throwaway lyric. Mostly it’s about how much Tom pines after the hot chick, Abigail, who doesn’t love him back. Can’t think why.
LUPE FIASCO
Around My Way (Warner) I don’t have much to say about Around My Way, except that it briefly reminded me of Around The Way Girl by LL Cool J. Around The Way Girl is a perfect example of time forgiving Beat Magazine Page 58
SYN SWEET 16
SINGLES BY SIMONE You can’t impress everyone who makes an impression on you. That’s just the way it goes.
TOP TENS
You Won’t Let Me (Universal) Karise Eden, the winner of The Voice, attempts to upstage Adele with this self-flagellating torch song: “I don’t want to say goodbye, want to give it one more try / But you won’t let me, you won’t let me.” Jeebus. That is some miserable business right there, however beautifully performed. Much like Adele’s Someone Like You, her talent only makes it worse.
SINGLE OF THE WEEK THE FUMES
Dance In Costume (Independent) The Fumes are getting down with the devil in this deeply theatrical spoken-word dirty blues single. It’s about a son outgrowing his father and buying a snappy suit so he can dance with a girl named Nancy, according to the press notes, but the story is hard to make out. It’s all lost in sleaze and haze and the occasional bellow of a soapbox prophet – a song to make Elmore Leonard proud.
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1. Worship A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS 2. Balloon Head KITCHEN WIFE KNIFE 3. Wish I Was There GRIZZLY JIM LAWRIE 4. Cherry Lips LOON LAKE 5. LA SURES 6. Your Love SASKWATCH 7. Fine Shrine PURITY RING 8. Ruin CAT POWER 9. Dance For Your DIRTY PROJECTORS 10. Ghosts ELIZA HULL FT HAYDEN CALNIN
COLLECTOR’S CORNER MISSING LINK 1. Nationalism 7” STRAIGHTJACKET NATION 2. Freak Puke Cd MELVINS LITE 3. Off! LP/CD OFF! 4. Freedom At 21 7” JACK WHITE 5. Pp CD CLAIRE BIRCHALL 6 Idolize / Safe Flight 7” FORCES 7. Entreat Live LP THE CURE 8. The Giant CD AHAB 9. Harmonicraft LP TORCHE 10. Heavy Blanket LP HEAVY BLANKET
3RRR SOUNDSCAPE 1. >->> BEAK 2. All Aboard! TENNISCOATS 3. Oshin DIIV 4. The Face EP DISCLOSURE 5. Daily Impact HINT 6. Do Things DENT MAY 7. No But It’s True HUGO RACE 8. Rhythm And Repose GLEN HANSARD 9. Play Fats THE LIL’ BAND O’ GOLD 10. Mandhood MUSCLES
OFF THE HIP 1. Free Again LP ALEX CHILTON 2. Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions 2xLP VARIOUS 3. Message To The Young LP HOWLIN’ WOLF 4. Head On The Curb LP MUDHONEY 5. Wild And Inside LP EAT SKULL 6. Legendary R&B 2xLP VARIOUS 7. Legendary Exotica 2xLP VARIOUS 8. Sleeping Dogs Lie CD THE VICTIMS 9. BBC Session With LP THE REMAINS 10. Don’t Forget To Practice 9xCD SWINGIN’ NUTSACKS
THORNBURY RECORDS 1. Since I Left You LP The Avalanches 2. Aufheben LP BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE 3. Medicide Man LP THE BAMBOOS 4. Blunderbuss LP JACK WHITE 5. Heavy Blanket LP HEAVY BLANKET 6. Noctourniquet LP MARS VOTLA 7. Boys & Girls LP ALABAMA SHAKES 8. Bloom LP BEACH HOUSE 9. Super Treatment LP HEAVY CREAM 10. Vaya 10” AT THE DRIVE IN
WOOLY BULLY 1. Hard Rubbish LP LOWER PLENTY 2. Live 22/09/11 Tape WOOLLEN KITS 3. Painted Gold 7” TACO LEG 4. Mole House 7” MOLE HOUSE 5. Look Out 7” COBWEBBS 6. Premonitions 7” COPS 7. Playboys In The Bush LP THE PUDDLE 8. Everything Goes Wrong LP CONSTANT MONGREL 9. I Hit A Wall 7” MAD NANNA 10. The Journey Is Long LP VARIOUS
BEAT’S TOP TEN SONGS ABOUT WOLVES 1. Werewolf COCOROSIE 2. Hungry Like A Wolf DURAN DURAN 3. Wolf Like Me TV ON THE RADIO 4. Modern Love WOLD PARADE 5. What Would Wolves Do LES SAVY FAV 6. The Hungry Wolf X 7. Will The Wolf Survive LOS LOBOS 8. Wolf City AMON DUUL II 9. Talk About A Girl CHARIZMA & PEANUT BUTTER WOLF 10. Where the Wolf Bane Blooms NOMADS
ALBUMS
LIL’ BAND O’ GOLD
Lil’ Band O’ Gold Plays Fats (Dust Devil Music) FOR MORE REVIEWS GO TO
BEAT.COM.AU/REVIEWS
HEINZ RIEGLER
Survey #2 (One Thousand Dreams I Never Had) (A Guide To Saints) I vaguely remember the ‘90s, and in the ‘90s there was an otherwise promising quasi-rock outfit from Brisbane called Not From There. Fast-forward many years later, crossing continents and genres, their frontman Heinz Riegler has emerged with Survey #2; a collection of instrumentals recorded in the Austrian alps in the dead of a white winter. The story goes Riegler, who relocated to Austria some years ago now, snowed himself in to a house up in the hills for the purpose of inspiring these pieces of music. The results are beautiful, warm, resonant and succinct. There’s a distinct air of Krautrock throughout, from the retro synth sound of Georg (Vollmond 2) to the dreamy drone of Dissolve. Within that sentiment, Riegler also suggests the exquisite cool of Berlin trilogy-era Bowie, which as we know was in no small part the product of Brian Eno’s more ambient tendencies. And this may hint as to the depth and breadth of Riegler’s offering. Riegler regularly uses guitar tones and other effects to nuance Survey #2 and its slow burning vibe is only enhanced through these touches. No Colour, No Sound for example is a simple piece of music punctuated by piano, clarinet, and a haunting vocal shrill which may or may not be human, but is without question seemingly otherworldly. It’s the earthiness of Hood, A Silver Mt Zion, Eluvium and The Late Cord all rolled into one glorious ode. Occasionally pieces feel incidental and raw, but seldom under-realised. This as it turns out is some of the appeal of Survey #2; and with the sum of its parts it forms to create a lingering, timeless musical experience, Best Track: No Colour, No Sound one perhaps best taken in front of a bar heater. If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Copia ELUVIUM, Yes To Fear, Yes To Desire PANOPTIQUE ELECTRICAL, FENNESZ STEVE PHILLIPS In A Word: Enveloping
When Lil’ Band O’ Gold – the understated supergroup led by the silken voiced (and impeccably moustached) Warren Storm – hung out with the legendary Fats Domino, the stars began to align. Lil’ Band O’ Gold, a collective of talented musicians who’ve done enough in their musical lives to fill a compendium of rock’n’roll tales, found themselves in an impromptu jam with Fats on a bunch of the great man’s classic tunes. One thing led to another, and Lil’ Band O’ Gold Plays Fats was born. Released on local Dust Devil Music, and featuring contributions from Robert Plant, Ani DiFranco, Lucinda Williams, Jimmy Barnes and Tim Rogers, Lil’ Band O’ Gold Plays Fats is an album conceived, raised and played with a perfectly concocted mixture of nostalgia, empathy and passion for its subject. Warren Storm’s dirty soul-rock tones lead off on the stomping Blue Monday, Robert Plant’s effort on It Keeps Raining is surprisingly tender (if you consider the pummelling rock’n’roll barrage that was Led Zeppelin) while CC Adcock takes Let’s Talk It Over (Don’t Lie to Me) into the psychedelic edges of blues territory. Lucinda Williams and Ani DiFranco have a rockin’ good time on I’m Ready, while on Ain’t That A Shame, Jimmy Barnes finds the balance between soul and abrasive screeching he tried in vain to find on Soul Deep. Storm’s vocal take on Going Home captures that trudging blues simplicity characteristic to Domino’s most memorable tunes, What A Price (Grand Prix) – complete with false start – takes Fats by way of The Band and 4 Winds Blow is guaranteed to whip the crowd into a state of hip-shufflin’ happiness. Tim Rogers infuses I’m Walking with Jerry Lee Lewis rockabilly attitude; Robert Plant’s interpretation of I’ve Been Around is the sound of a man who’s found his lot in life, and he’s pretty damn pleased. Fats Domino is a legend in many parts of the rock’n’roll world; sadly, his appeal in Australia remains subordinate to other (predominantly white) ‘50s contemporaries. Lil’ Band O’ Gold Plays Fats does its best to remind the world Best Track: I’m Walking If You Like These, You’ll Like This: Rock’n’roll ‘50s style, and of both Fats Domino’s legacy, and Lil’ Band O’ Gold’s commitment. you’ll appreciate the original series of Happy Days In A Word: Fats
PATRICK EMERY
METRIC
Synthetica (Create-Control)
HERE WE GO MAGIC
A Different Ship (Secretly Canadian/Inertia) The historiography of magic would surely make a fascinating study. Centuries ago, an event that could not be explained by reference to religious texts or the limited rational understanding of the population at large could be classified as magic. Over time magic became a label synonymous with irreligious practice and axiomatically a danger to society. By the 19th century enlightenment had changed public discourse, and magic had morphed into a form of entertainment. A Different Ship is a magical record, in many senses of the term. It’s fascinating – the subtle lilting pop attraction of Hard To Be Close is almost insidious, in a Pied Piper sort of fashion. It’s unpredictable – would you expect the next step on the journey to be the scintillating Fat Boy Slim rock’n’soul electro-dance beats of Make Up Your Mind, or later the languorous Over The Ocean? It’s mesmerising – Alone But Moving catches you in its gaze and you’re off on a cloud, wafting over the mere mortals tied to the meaningless of the contemporary rat race. It’s enchanting – I Believe In Action would send Christopher Walken into frenzy with no end in sight. It’s thought provoking – Made To Be Old channels LA pop through a new wave filter on the tail end of a philosophical bender. It’s just what you want, and a little bit more – How Do I Know is the basic rock’n’roll cake with a killer post-West Coast icing. It’s almost spiritual – Miracle Of Mary is the Sand Pebbles stripped free of psychedelic indulgence. And above all, it’s amazing – after the concluding eight minute journey of A Different Ship, you know you’ve been on a trip only few bands can conjure up. This is a very special Best Track: Make Up Your Mind record. If You Like This, You’ll Like: Anything that’s appeared on Secretly Canadian, still one of the world’s great record labels PATRICK EMERY In A Word: Magic
Across the board, Synthetica presents a classic case of style over accessibility. As a result, Metric’s fifth studio album tends to frustrate more than anything, with little left to cling onto at the end of 40 feckless minutes. Beyond tense opener Artificial Nocturne, the album ignites via the savage swagger of Youth Without Youth, its chirpy electronica clashing with bouts of brazen indie rock bravado. It’s a delectable song – certainly as close as Synthetica comes to having a flagship track – marred only by the absence of a striking chorus. Slick rocker Speed The Collapse follows, the band’s urgency re-imagined. “Fate, don’t fail me now,” pleads Emily Haines, a gorgeous melodrama in full swing. Unfortunately, such is the extent of Synthetica’s splendours: the album sounds great, though it lacks those potent, allimportant moments that linger long beyond initial plays. Notably short on sharp hooks and stand-out tracks, Synthetica clings tight to its ability to shapeshift at will. An example arrives in cutesy detour Lost Kitten, the band exuding a simple, super-saccharine charm unlike any other evident throughout Synthetica. The band’s tendency to refresh and change tact proves somewhat redeeming, at least. Overall, though, Metric’s impact here is minimal at best, Synthetica requiring an abundance of patience. The album never stoops to pack any great punch and appears doomed to some level of obscurity as a result. A harsh verdict, Best Track: Lost Kitten If You Like These, You’ll Like This: The Five Ghosts STARS, though Synthetica is just one of those albums. You know the sort: it’s not bad, but it’s nowhere near brilliant. It’s Blitz! YEAH YEAH YEAHS In A Word: Difficult NICK MASON
HUNTING GROUNDS In Hindsight (Redcat Sounds)
SANTIGOLD
Master Of My Make Believe (Atlantic Records UK/Warner Music Australia) Four years since her debut album, Santigold is back with her second record and a slight name change. Master Of My Make Believe boasts her stylistic fusion of electronic, hip hop and reggae, laced with her idiosyncratically monochrome vocals. A relatively short album made of only 11 tracks, it is surprisingly diverse. Ranging from reverberating militaristic pings to full and bountiful reggaeinfluenced bops, Master Of My Make Believe lavishly displays Santigold’s ability to wield the timbres of sharp and static synthesisers with the fuller drum patterns of African inspired genres. The stand out track is Disparate Youth. With its escalating melody interrupted by metallic clashes, layered by the eerily ethereal canonization of soprano voices, it perfectly suits a song painting the desperate struggle of the yearning ambition synonymous with youth today. Go! follows in hot pursuit providing a more industrial and refined sound with its army-like reverberating beat. Also leaving a strong impression is reggae inspired, Pirate In The Water, with a chilled rhythm layered with static Best Track: Disparate Youth and disjointed notes. If You Like These, You’ll Like This: M.I.A, Spank Rock In A Word: Metallic TAMARA VOGL
- KITCHEN TACOS: $8.00 FOR 2 SLOW COOKED BEEF PULLED PORK SHOULDER WILD MUSHROOM - BUCKETS SALT & PEPPER CHICKEN WINGS $12 DRY RUBBED PORK RIBS $15 HAND CUT FRIES W AIOLI $7
Ballarat was once the hunting ground for those in search of great wealth and perhaps there’s truth to the rumour that in its soil lays the glimmer of more gold. Hunting Ground’s debut album In Hindsight, is perhaps a small nugget of gold. After a flurry of EP releases and a national radio win, they dug deep in Red Door Studios with producer Paul ‘Woody’ Annison (Children Collide / Black Cab) and polished up a collection of stones. There’s a lot of ideas being put together onto this record, some possess potential and maturity; the beautifully atmospheric title track as well as Clearly See with its array of keys and the infectious Mind Decays with its chorus: “The deep red sea, the windsheild glaze /Patterns align, your mind decays.” Others however, scream ‘battle of the bands winner’. Kill My Friends, Star Shards, Liquid Air and All Eyes lean heavily on chugging bass lines, rapid drumming and full-throat vocals. It evokes images of Leeds’ own The Music, which in festival fields will surely have young fans loosening their lower limbs in excitement. Hunting Grounds are certainly developing a signature sound on In Hindsight, the eclectic mixes of instruments and structure on Flaws and Mind Decays present a steadier flow and are far less forced without compromising on energy. They’ve nailed the atmospheric and spacey sounds that are generally built Best Track: Mind Decays upon synth and vocals and it’s here the band should lean. If You Like These, You’ll Like This: THE MUSIC, EMPIRE OF THE SUN JOHN DONALDSON In A Word: Tidy
WED 27TH
WED 4TH
TOWERS
KODO MOTIF EP LAUNCH W/ BLACKWATER RIFF AND PENY BOHAN
THURS 28TH MELTING POT ‘LIVE STOCK’ PRESENTS
THURS 5TH MELTING POTS ‘LIVE STOCK’ PRESENTS
W/ HONEY BADGERS AND DAVID O’ CONNOR
PERFECT STRANGERS
W/ UGLY KINGS AND CATHOUSE CANARY
ANNA SMYRK PLUS GUESTS FRI 13TH
- THURSDAY 280G GRAIN FED AGED ANGUS PORTERHOUSE STEAK $14
FRI 29TH
MUSHROOM GIANT W/ ADRIFT FOR DAYS (SYD) SPIDER GOAT CANYON AND ROUSSEMOFF
W/ WHIPPED CREAM CHARGERS, THE EUPHORIACS AND NIKO NIKO
THE XO EYES (ADL) PLUS GUESTS
- FRIDAY CHICKEN OR EGGPLANT PARMA $14/$12 PLUS OTHER CURTIN CLASSICS!!
SKINDEEP SECRET
ALKAN ZEYBEK & THE LESSERMEN SAT 30TH
W/ PYRENE, EMPIRE OF DIRT AND DEFYING THE NORM
SAT 14TH
- COMING SOON -
20/7 - OVER-REACTOR 21/7 - SCOTDRAKULAR 28/7 - VOLTERA EP LAUNCH 2/8 - ROSETTA (USA) & CITY OF SHIPS (USA) TIX THROUGH WWW.JOHNCURTINHOTEL.COM
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Beat Magazine Page 59
MUSIC NEWS
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8 BIT LOVE
DAMN THE MAPS
8 Bit Love have been tucked away for the last few months letting their creative juices flow into what will be their sophomore EP, In 3D. With some of the catchy dance tracks 8 Bit Love has become known for, In 3D also explores some new sounds and styles. This July, the band is returning to the pub scene with a residency at The Workers Club, featuring some new tracks and a lot of excitement to be back on stage. With a live show that can be described as a boisterous frenzy of cow-bell playing, screaming and dancing, The Workers Club and its inhabitants will be in for a treat every Tuesday night, kicking off this Tuesday July 3.
Their first album sent Damn The Maps touring all over Australia and New Zealand and they had massive success on TV here, NZ and in the US with five music videos and a documentary all in 18 months. Described as ‘Radiohead meets Tool meets something you can't put your finger on’, Damn The Maps are going in their own direction, doing it their own way and its paying off. Sharp, calculated drums, bass fuzz that’ll vibrate your gooch, melodic Floyd-esque guitars and ‘ever-anguished vocals sitting squarely in the middle. Joined by Raucous Melbourne four-piece stoner/ hard rock band The Hidden Venture and wild punk noise band Damn The Torpedoes, this should be a big, loud and beautiful night all in one. Get down to Yah Yah’s on Thursday June 28, with bands starting at 9pm and only $5 entry.
YEAH WEDNESDAY Cool sassy vocals, psychedelic guitar plus a Frankenstein’s monster of turntable and synth; electropop duo Yeah Wednesday carve a unique hybrid of nujazz to trip-hop, rock to blues. Armed with debut album Gravity Is Our Friend they perform at Yah Yah’s on Friday June 29. with The Rebelles – a mid-winter sizzler with some serious girl power.
SIMON WRIGHT BAND RIVER OF SNAKES OK feedback-fiends and fuzz-freaks, this is your last chance to catch River Of Snakes smash a hole in the barn at their Retreat Hotel residency. They’ve been ripping up sound systems up and down the east coast with Cock-Rockers Jackson Firebird and Mammoth Mammoth for the last month, but the tour is nearing its end. So on Thursday June 28, get your earplugs cleaned, your bad dress on and your cretin’s do out for a night of scuzz-punk-mayhem. Entry is free and bands start at 9pm.
WANDERING SPIRIT
THE AMY GANTER TRIO
Overture Bookings presents We’ve Been Expecting You – a showcase of some of Melbourne’s up-andcoming music acts including the fat jams of prog rockers, Wandering Spirit, the insatiable indie anthems of Halcyon Drive and the ear splitting madness of Dear Leader. This is not a show to say “no” to. Jot it down in your diary, stick a pin in your calendar or voice memo this shit on your iPhone. It’s Pony-time ladies and gentlemen, on Thursday June 28.
The Amy Ganter Trio is Amy Ganter, songwriter/ vocals/guitar, Jim Downey, Dobro and other guitars and Kent Parkstreet, flute/saxophone. Amy’s honest, passionate songs and sweet voice are at the heart of the act. Her unique sound hits home, takes the audience away with her on journeys of love, loss and whimsical joy. Jim and Kent are masters of their instruments, they create an atmosphere that allows the songs to shine. The meeting of the three talents of the Amy Ganter Trio is a rare musical experience, for the musicians and the audience. Playing this Sunday July 1 at The Grocery Bar.
DEUS EX Deus Ex is a new explosive melodic metal band based in Melbourne’s west, fusing European melody with American aggression. Influenced by bands such as Iron Maiden, Arch Enemy and Megadeth, Deus Ex’s twin guitar attack and roaring vocals are powerful while retaining a traditional aesthetic. Because they’ve been busy writing, rehearsing and recording their original demos, this will be their first gig, so get down and support this newest Australian metal act, the night of Thursday June 26 at 1am. Entry is free.
SUNDAY MUSO NIGHT
DEATH BY DANCE
STAG
After two years of constant shows, bleeding fingers and hoarse throats, gold coasters Death By Dance are set to greet audiences of the nether regions with their take on punk, grunge and permeated chaos. With a live show that will have you screaming for more, they fight against a scene that asks for unoriginality and contrived perfection. Death By Dance are the band who will force you to remember what music is supposed to be about. Death By Dance are playing at Pony on Saturday June 30 with Ceres, Scalar Fields, Drive By Epic and Those Wolves. Door open at 9pm. Come join the ruckus.
Tropical trouble in the crown town! Stag can often be found at their nearest carb-dispensary and beerscented watering hole in the Sunshine State. Having never previously been allowed to leave QLD, Stag now are coming to a watering hole uncomfortably close to you. Following the release of Get Used To It, Stag are leaving the Campbell State, and bringing their brand of carb-fuelled, banshee-funk to Melbourne town this Thursday June 28. Joined at Bar Open by some of their very close friends: Young Romatix, Baddd and Asps. Come join Brisbane’s least notorious band as they sink brews and sing about their lady problems. 9pm, free entry.
THE PRIMARY In their short time on the Melbourne scene The Primary have been making quite the impression with a dream pop sound that is challenging and lush all in the same breath. Fresh out of the recording studio, the band present to you two brand new buttkickin’ tracks-Recoil and Back Against The Wall. Playing alongside friends, Esc, The Kilniks, Howard and Staffan’s Songs (Francolin) at The Evelyn Hotel, The Primary are ready to once again put on a show complete with gut-busting energy, beautiful noise and a lot of black. It all happens Thursday July 5 at 8pm with a measly $2 entry and $2.50 pots of beer.
THE RED LIGHTS After a solid start to 2012, supporting names like Hunting Grounds, Set Sail and Drunk Mums, The Red Lights are ready to headline the launch shows of their debut EP Not In This Town. Embracing all the positive feedback from singles In A Daze & Dancing With Us, the boys are heading back to the beloved Evelyn for one of four EP launch shows across the East Coast! Supported by some unreal Melbourne acts including The Neighbourhood Youth, The Corsairs and Tully On Tully – this Friday night, June 29, will be one full of beer guzzling, antics and of course good music! Get on down at 8.30pm. Beat Magazine Page 60
Sunday Muso Night kicks off this Sunday July 1 at Bridie O’ Reilly’s on Chapel St. Hosted by Dylan Boyd, the event takes place every Sunday night from 8pm. It’s a regular open mic night, but with preference given to those who pre-register by emailing Dylan at bridiesmusonight@gmail.com. Bring your own instrument, PA is supplied. Performers will receive drink cards each week. Local talent, great vibe and great music – what more could you want?
Whether it’s a dimly lit room in a small Fitzroy bar, a packed house at Byron Bay’s Beach Hotel or on main stage at a weekend festival in Victoria’s countryside, Simon Wright never fails to fill the room with his presence. With an old beaten guitar, a charismatic stage persona and a song writing style that calls on the flavours of blues, funk, soul, hip hop, reggae and rock’n’roll, Simon is able to entertain all branches of today’s pop subcultures. He plays The Evelyn on Tuesdays in June with some of Melbourne’s freshest funk soul and hip hop acts.
VAN MYER Wednesdays in June sees the return of Van Myer to The Evelyn, a venue that has become something of an ancestral home for the five-piece Melbourne outfit. They’ll be bringing their own unique blend of high energy rock, with awesome local acts featured each week and maybe a new song or two. It all kicks off at The Ev, come early and come happy!
Melbourne’s premier pseudo-reggae band The Dub Captains welcome you to join them for yet another night of merriment at their home away from home Bar Open. The 13-piece party-band will be playing two sets of hits to kick-start the weekend with a night of up-tempo, danceable, reggae-ish fun. Doors open at 9pm and entry is free so get down early to claim a spot on the notoriously busy dance-floor which the ‘Captains command. 2012 has already been a big year for the band, promoting the release of their debut album Big Boomin’ Sci-Fi Unit, playing a stream of headline shows filled to capacity, a little radio play here and there, and some notable support slots including opening for reggae prince Ziggy Marley at his sold-out Bluesfest side-show. Come down and party with them to see what all the fuss is about first-hand this Friday June 29. Doors 10pm, free entry.
INCRYPT Incrypt are back in town to blast The Prague after recording the new anticipated EP Tribal Wars (release date July). This is metal that stands alone. Don’t miss this band with worldwide attention on Thursday June 28.
Jackson Firebird launch their new record Cock Rockin at The Retreat Hotel in Brunswick on Thursday June 28. It’s free entry, with special guests River Of Snakes and Mammoth Mammoth. Come on down and help the guys kick this little Cock Rocker into gear. Don’t miss the last residency gig for the month.
60 SECONDS WITH…
NOCEANS
VINOD PRASANNA & JAYA DAGBAR Soor Ananta is the first CD release for master sof Indian classical music, Vinod Prasanna and Jaya Dagbar. This CD launch showcases their amazing improvisation, soulful melodies and dynamic rhythms. Born into musical families, Vinod and Jay continue traditions of music that go back hundreds of years. This CD release presents beautiful original compositions that capture feelings of the moon and the night from one of the most ancient music systems in the world. They launch the album at Kindred Studios Frontspace (212a Whitehall St Yarraville) on Sunday July 15. Doors from 7pm.
ICONIC VIVISECT
THE DUB CAPTAINS
JACKSON FIREBIRD
Since early 2010, Iconic Vivisect have established themselves as one of the heaviest bands around with their combination of speed, crushing riffs and intense live performance. Before the release of their début full length, due out later this year through Inherited Suffering Records, they are bringing their brutal act to Pony to lead an evening of Melbourne extreme metal on Friday June 29. Joining the lineup are swampslam outfit The Seaford Monster, as well as mathcore band Cradle In The Crater, and speedthrash band Argurios. With more intensity than a cerebral aneurysm, be at Pony from 9pm on Friday June 29.
GERRY HALE’S BLUEGRASS SESSIONS That’s right folks! The first Monday night in every month bring yer banjo, mandolin, washboard, fiddle, flatmate and join in the oldtime bluegrass jam session at The Old Bar. Or just come down and watch as the Oldie gets transformed to a scene from an Appalachian mountainside. 8pm start this Monday July 2 and it’s always free.
PURPLE STRIPES Purple Stripes will be playing the cry baby session at The Old Bar on Sunday July 1. The Purple Stripes play fun, lyrical indie-pop for kids of all ages... 100, even. For this show the Purple Stripes will play as a two-piece with Kate Oliver on guitar and vocals and Laura MacFarlane on drums. As usual there will be a free BBQ and face painting for the kids. Entry is $5 for adults and $0 for under 15s and it all starts at 1pm.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? Noceans (pronounced ‘notions’), we both play synth and Danielle plays guitar. We’ve recently recruited Rupert who’s playing guitar on our later tracks. What do you think people will say you sound like? We seem to get the Beach House reference a lot. Excessive reverb, I don’t think there’s a track without it. It’s hard to describe what we think we sound like, but we take a lot of inspiration from Noah Lennox, Julee Cruise, Cocteau Twins and Health. What do you love about making music? It’s limitless. What do you hate about the music industry? That so much of it revolves around the Internet, although we do release most of our stuff digitally. It’s too convenient. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Anton Newcombe, although I don’t know if we’d show him any of our music, I just wanted to voice our idolatry for Anton. What can a punter expect from your live show? Absolutely no idea, our first gig in Melbourne is at Noise Bar on Saturday. We’ve pulled out of every gig we’ve been offered in the last year but there’s no way we’ll be missing out on this one. When are you playing live next and with who? We’re playing at the All-Ways Electric party at Noise Bar on Saturday June 30 with Super Magic Hats and Readable Graffiti! Doors are at 9pm. What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? Everything we release is free to download off of our Bandcamp, there’s an 11-track demo CD and two EP’s (Sunject, Iridescence). We’ll also have copies available at Noise Bar.
THE LOST SUNNIES
JURASSIC PENGUIN An interstate extravaganza! Bands from fucking everywhere, two tours ending together, with awesome locals = the perfect way to spend your otherwise miserable Sunday night. Jurassic Penguin are West Auckland hardcore. Michael Crafter is Sydney via Melbourne positive power violence. Postal is a Newcastle double vocal hardcore attack! Wallow is an emo-punk version of Modest Mouse from the Gold Coast. Term Four is doomy and melodic ripping Melbourne hardcore. Outlines are Melbourne emo/punk/hardcore of their own kind. Running order to be confirmed, but fuck winding down for the week ahead. Is work really your first preference in life, you sadcase? It’s time to party. Head down to The Bendigo Hotel for a sweaty night of blistering punk on Sunday July 1.
MONTRESOR After a brief hiatus, Montresor return to gigging to promote their self-funded debut album, Daybreak. Recorded in late 2011, Daybreak explores complex time signatures and lengthy jamming in a manner as reminiscent of King Crimson and Rush, as it is Alcest and Les Discrets. Montresor are playing at The Prague on Friday June 29, alongside punky altrockers Our Best Laid Plans, epic riffmasters Red Sky Burial, in support of heavy prog metallers HUSK, who will soon be crashing on your couch expecting full fridge privileges. Doors open at 8pm, with $10 entry, for a night to remember.
THE OLD BAR UNICORNS FUNDRAISER The mightiest mighty team there is: The Old Bar Unicorns! need to raise some funds to pay for all the streamers, ambo costs, smokes, party poppers, booze and lollies that are sacred to every game of pub footy. Come show some love to the team that loves you the most at The Old Bar on Sunday night. Right after the game that day you can see such great unicorn affiliated bands as Unicorn Unicorn & The Unicorn Unicorns, The Unicorn Unicorn Unicorns, Unicornslashunicorn, Unicorn One and Unicorn By Unicorns. Awards night, BBQ and a really shit raffle will all be available. Hooray. Sunday July 1, The Old Bar, 7pm and $10. Sweet.
Imagine being inside a submarine breaking in half, and experiencing the full sound of the torpedoes exploding on the ocean floor: that’s the sound of Lost Sunnies, the explosive new project from Rui Pereira (ex Drones). With Rui out front on guitar and vocals, and aided and abetted by Link McLennan (Meanies, Sun God Replica), Lost Sunnies will transport you to a higher sonic dimension. Come have your mind blown by Lost Sunnies on the final night of its Tote residency on Wednesday June 27, with supports from The Steins and Old Faithfulls.
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THE REVERENCE HOTEL After a slight name hiccup, previous Arthouse owners Mel and Matt Bodiam are gearing up to open The Reverence Hotel. Located at 28 Napier St on the river’s edge of Footscray, expect to see the pub’s front bar, band room and beergarden open this weekend. Stay tuned for the kitchen and 2nd larger band room launches coming soon! Band enquiries at reverencehotel@gmail.com
THE HOP – FITZROY BUSH DANCE FUNDRAISER The Hop is an annual fundraiser for Mittagundi and Wollangarra – two very special outdoor education centres in the High Country. Every year the staff make the trek to the big smoke for a big bash so urban punters like you can show your support. This year heralds the return of the Bush Dance at Fitzroy Town Hall on Friday June 29. You don’t need to know how to dance: the instruction forms part of the dance, so you don’t get your do-si-do mixed up with greet-andbow. But it’s not all partner swinging – Papa Chango, Suzy Blue, Velvet Cake Gypsies and Lia Avene will all put on shows that you can enjoy however you want. Put your $10 towards a good cause this Friday at 7pm. And there’s even free food! Visit mittagundi. org.au for more details.
BARB WATERS & THE MOTHERS OF PEARL
THE NIGHT TERRORS
STANDISH/CARLYON Chapter Music is excited to announce a new addition to its world-renowned stable of Australian pop auteurs. Standish/Carlyon is the new duo project for Conrad Standish and Tom Carlyon, both formerly of suave rock-noir outfit Devastations. Returning to Melbourne after a number of years based in London, the duo unveil their futurist dub pop with a Tuesday residency at the Toff In Town in July. Special guests include Fabulous Diamonds and DJ People. Tickets are $8 on the door, with a 7.30pm kick off.
Melbourne dark synth heavyweights The Night Terrors emerge from the depths of the studio to launch their brand new double A-side 12” Monster/Lasers For Eyes on OSCL Records. The 12” features remixes by Berlin Italo-disco legend Antoni Maiovvi (repaying the favour for the Night Terrors’ 2011 remix of his single Murderfunk) and Australian synth legend Ash Wednesday (The Metronomes, The Models, Einstürzende Neubauten). The Night Terrors launch their new 12” on Saturday July 7 at the Toff In Town, Melbourne, with support from local goth/EBM sensation Forces and a special improvised audiovisual set by Ash Wednesday.
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Barb Waters And The Mothers Of Pearl will play Sundays in July at The Retreat Hotel. Deftly supported by a host of great Melbourne bands, Barb And The Mothers will play tunes from Barb’s several albums, including those inspired by her country beginnings, to reveal the heart of one of Australia’s finest singer-songwriter. This Sunday’s support from Dan Waters & Band. 8.30pm, Free entry.
MIKELANGELO Mikelangelo will wrap up his residency at The Old Bar tonight performing Leonard Cohen’s late ‘60s flawed masterpiece Songs Of Love And Hate with Mustered Courage. This is an album that Mikelangelo has happily fallen asleep listening to over the years, thus has worked their strange magic on his dreams and become pivotal influences on his singing and his songwriting. Mustered Courage will perform their own set to open the night and will then will also join Mikelangelo in his set. Knowing the man of action, other guests are bound to pop up during the residency as well. The night kicks off at 8.30pm and is $7.
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Skindeep’s style is unique – mainly heavy rock with smooth clean vocals, but extends to faster punk, heavy breakdowns, metal riffs and killer screams. Beginning early 2008, they started writing material to find the sound that would be Skindeep Secret. The boys then hit Basin Studio to lay down their first single Scratching The Surface. Now that the five guys have written a strong set list, they are hitting the stages wherever they can to have some fun for all the hard work they have put in. They play The John Curtin Hotel this Saturday June 30.
HUGO & TREATS
CAMERAS Beat are proud to present the upcoming tour by molten-hot indie four-piece Cameras. Forming in 2008, Cameras have since gone on to take the world by storm. Last year saw the outfit support revered stalwarts Roxy Music on their Australian tour. Cameras went on to shine at festivals such as Vivid LIVE, Big Day Out, CMJ and heaps more. Living up to the buzz, the band dropped their debut LP In Your Room to international critical acclaim, and will hit the east coast this July to celebrate the album’s launch. In Your Room is out now through Speak N Spell/Inertia. Cameras perform at Can’t Say, Platform One on Friday July 13, The Workers Club on Saturday July 14 and Pure Pop Records on Sunday July 15.
THE AFROBIOTICS The Afrobiotics are a six-piece Melbourne based band that breathe new life into the sound of West Africa and bring a powerful message of resistance to the next generation of afro-beat. “Make your power a fire, so we can cook enough for all …” chants Mr Fantastic out front of The Afrobiotics as guitars weave layers of rhythm and the hypnotic bass and drums ready the dance floor for a rapid crossfire between the organ and horns. This is afro-beat medicine administered directly to your soul.Mr Fantastic (Lamine Sonko) is a Senegalese griot musician who has recently migrated to Australia. He is a ‘culture keeper’ bringing traditional Sabar music and dance forms to the band’s compositions as well as a first hand afro-beat authenticity. The songs flip in and out of traditional tongue, street pidgin chants and English verse regularly punctuated by impossible percussion. He plays Bar Open this Saturday June 30 from 10pm, free entry.
DOUBLE BLACK Double black are winding up their Wednesdays in June residency at Cherry this week with a bang. Special guests for this week are two-piece titans King Of The North. Free entry, cheap drinks, and Doubleblack makes Wednesdays better. Tonight at Cherry Bar.
BEN DAVID AND THE BANNED Tuneout Enterprises and Anchorhead bring Ben David And The Banned, The Shadow League, Maricopa Wells, Wil Wagner (The Smith St. Band) and Tim Hampshire to The Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood on Thursday June 28 for what shapes up to be a great night of genuine punk rock. With a good mix of acts purveying both traditional and acoustic punk sounds, this event is sure to entertain even the most prudent of punk fans as well as the punter who is looking for a great night out with some of the most solid and soulful tunes out there at the moment.
IGNIVOMOUS Contragenesis is a very ugly thing, tangled and unsettled, as well as suffocatingly heavy. As with much of the best extreme metal, its gurgling, snorting delivery masks a visceral artistry. It might well be one of the finest death metal albums of 2012. Dissonant and chaotic guitar textures whirr and whine, and like with the above-mentioned Immolation the slower tempos are not about groove, but rather about conjuring the imposing weight of a heaving electric sea. In celebration of the release of their new album, Ignivomous, along with Estruktor, Thrall and Malichor, will be playing Bendigo Hotel on Friday June 29.
READABLE GRAFFITI Readable Graffiti have been receiving insane amounts of love from triple j lately for their new single Feathers. These guys have torn up the stage at Groovin’ The Moo and have recently supported Grafton Primary, Aleks And The Ramps and British India, so you know you’re in for a treat. This will be Noceans first gig in Melbourne and they are definitely ones to watch with their fuzzy, reverb soaked ambient electro. Opening the night is Melbourne's own, Super Magic Hats, whose sound is largely likened to Caribou, Gold Panda and Flying Lotus. It’s all going down on Saturday June 30 from 9pm at Noise Bar, Brunswick. To top it all off, entry is $6 so you’ve really got no excuses.
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HAYDEN CALNIN Having recently finished touring with Gossling on her Intentional Living tour, Hayden Calnin will be getting straight back into it with a residency at The Toff every Monday in July. At only 22-years-old, singer/ songwriter/producer Hayden Calnin has begun to build a following for himself after garnering the attention of triple j and its listeners with comparisons to international acts such as Bon Iver and James Blake. His debut track Summer showcases mesmerising acappella vocals partnered with looping and layering techniques. Make sure you get a chance to catch Hayden Calnin’s captivating live performance during this month long residency. Support is from Manor, doors open at 7.30pm and tickets are only 7 bucks.
Hugo & Treats and Ghost Orkid play Bar Open four Sundays in a row. Hugo is a dedicated esoteric Rap exile from the UK, who was just recently invited back to his homeland by one Julian Assange. Assange had come across the online satirical current affairs show Rap News, which is hosted by Hugo himself and has garnered worldwide attention with six digit hits on YouTube. More closer to home Hugo & Treats are a feature in the North Side hip hop scene, known for their theatrical, comedic and spiritually uplifting shows. When a last minute cancellation forced four musicians to perform a completely improvised show, which floored the audience, Ghost Orkid was born. With an emphasis on groove and twisted beats, psychedelic guitar and processed/dubbed vocals, audiences are transported to the futuremusic realm that each oscillator, reversed loop and sample works to create. Come check ‘em all out at Bar Open for four Sundays in a row – with more guests to be announced. Every show is free too, from 7.30pm this Sunday July 1.
SHERRIFF Do you like love stories with a hint of destruction? Tales of terror? The legend of a lost soul? Sheriff are back ladies and gentlemen, and riding high off the back of their massive EP launch, Melbourne’s favourite southern-psychedelichorror-blues-rock band are releasing their latest single, Simon Young. Thumping drums, ravaging riffs, and the swagger of a band possessed are on show in Simon Young. Combined with Mike Foxall’s twisted, animated clip, the song drops like liquid chaos from Sheriff’s self-titled EP, the launch of which saw sweat raining from the roof of a packed-out Cherry Bar in April. For the launch of their animated film clip, Sheriff will be supported by powerhouse rock monsters King Of The North, psych-rockers My Left Boot and Collingwood’s own BATPISS. This lineup is set to blow the ceiling of The Tote on Friday July 6. What’s more, there’s free popcorn available for all! Check out the trailer at sherifftheband.com.au.
London born singer-songwriter Alison Ferrier will be performing from 4pm every Sunday in July in The Retreat Hotel front bar. She began her musical career in Melbourne playing acoustic guitar and fiddle with country duo The Wayward Fancies and then four-piece band The Hallrunners. She has recently released her debut solo album. Full of dreamily melodic waltzes, heartsick ballads and haunted blues, Sugar Baby is evocative of the timeless, romantic music of years gone by. She is joined by Tim Murphy on double bass and Matt Green on electric guitar and dobro. Also, it’s free.
VULTURES OF VENUS After tearing the roof of Yah Yah’s last Saturday Vultures Of Venus are taking their killer live show to The Penny Black on Friday June 29. Their live show is a spectacle that has to be seen with your own two peepers to be believed. After a long spiritual quest deep into the Australian desert the boys have returned men with a new refined sound that they can’t wait to share with you. Joining them on the night is futuristic psych-rock pioneers Go Go Sapien who have been riding high on the success of their recent release This Body Is Wrong For Us which included a full length film, drawing influence from the canon of classic sci-fi, schlock-horror B-movies and surrealist art films. Oh and by the way it’s also free entry, so resistance is futile.
ANIMAUX Make sure you’re down at the one and only Evelyn Hotel on all five Mondays (yes, five!) in July to dance away those winter blues with Animaux. With a month’s worth of shows boasting lineups featuring some of the hottest young talent in the country, let alone Melbourne, you’d be crazy to miss a single week. Starting this Monday July 2 at 8.30pm, they’ll be supported by The Neighbourhood Youth, Granston Display and DJ Thoma.
Q&A I AM GIANT What do you think a band has to do these days to succeed? Everything! All the usual stuff like writing constantly and rehearsing a lot, playing regularly. But you also need to know the industry side of it and how to promote yourselves. It’s such a competitive game to be in so you have to keep at it continuously, over a long period, and all the while you have to keep yourself afloat whilst also keeping your lineup together.
DC TUNES Music is integral to Ducale Coffee. An eclectic soundtrack of hip hop, metal, power pop and rock classics blasts about their headquarters all day every day as they do their thing producing coffee for Melbourne’s thriving café scene. Celebrating this is dc Tunes, kicking off with a series of monthly gigs hosted by Grumpy’s Green, a proud supporter of local music. For each gig, two or three artists will strut their stuff for a full set. Artists will be sourced by call-outs on Twitter, Facebook and from the venues catalogue. A full PR campaign will support each gig by way of radio, print media and social media all at the expense of dcT, all the artists need to do is turn up the night! Other dcT events are set to roll out as the stable of artists grows. dc Tunes kicks off Saturday June 30 at Grumpy’s Green, featuring King Of The North and The Art Of Later taking to the stage. Entry is free.
ALISON FERRIER
Do you have any record releases to date? What are they? Where can I get them? We have our debut album, The Horrifying Truth out now in Australia in most stores and on iTunes. It was actually recorded mostly in Melbourne with a very skilled producer /engineer in Forrester Savell.
Define your genre in five words or less: Song based alternative rock. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? I’ll say Pete Townshend from The Who. He was one of the first to implement distorted guitar power chords. I’d be like, ”Look what you’ve done!” I’d have to show him Smells Like Teen Spirit too while I was at it. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? Axl Rose. Team Slash all the way. I’m sure there’s a bunch of us out there who have been waiting 20 years now for Vince Neil to make good on his word. When’s the gig and with who? We are playing at The Workers club in Fitzroy on Thursday July 5 with a Melbourne band called Bellusira.
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Why should everyone come and see your band? Because we collectively work our arses off to be a great, tight, explosive live band. We spend ages working on our songs until we all feel they are the very best of us at that particular point in time. We write lyrics that are influenced by our lives, thoughts and feelings as opposed to just going for the hook factor.. I’d advocate checking us out because we could be that new band that you play over and over again, the soundtrack to this period of your life, with songs that give you goose-bumps.. all of us music lovers are searching for that.. And you have to check out new bands to find that. So I suggest you start with us this month because we are going to be around the corner from your house. If someone made a movie about your life, who would play you? I’d like to say a young Gary Oldman, or Val Kilmer but in reality it’s probably more like Phillip Seymour Hoffman. What makes a good musician? Record sales in excess of a million could be an indication… other than that I’d say instrumental competence, authenticity, expression and feel within your particular genre.
DESTINY’S GRANCHILD Your Destiny in Thornbury. Saturday June 30, the Thornbury Local will be host to some fresh faced talent by the name of Destiny’s Grandchild. The charming duo will serenade the bar with harmonised vocals and northside swagger. Seri Vida (solo) will support with some stripped back ballads and it all kicks off from 9:30pm for free.
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MANATARMS Playing the infamous 2am slot is one of the most promising acts of South America, Manatarms, who have temporarily relocated to Melbourne Australia. Already established as one of the best rock bands in their homeland of Chile with their ruthlessly catchy alternative rock, they’ve got plenty of runs on the board with major shows opening for bands such as Testament and Opeth. They will be appearing for free at Pony on Friday June 29. Don’t miss out and get down to see a hell of a show.
CLAIRE BIRCHALL It’s just another manic Monday. I wish it was.... Saturday June 30 at the Workers Club in Fitzroy! That’s where Claire Birchall will be launching her new solo album PP, which contains her fuzzed-out cover of the Prince-penned tune that has become a favourite on community radio stations in the last few weeks. The Paper Planes singer/songwriter/ guitarist has once more stepped into her solo shoes, over ten years since releasing her debut album Captain Captain back in 2001. Claire and her band of close friends will be joined at the Workers this Saturday night by Ali E, MSG, and Michael Plater. Doors 7.30pm, entry $8. CDs of PP will be available to purchase at the show.
SLOW CHASE Slow Chase will launch their brand new EP on Friday July 6 at Melbourne’s home of rock, Cherry Bar. Heavy on attitude and light on apologies, Slow Chase’sThe Blind Spot EP hits paydirt in all the right places. Since the release of first single You’ll Never See Me in mid 2011, anticipation has run white hot for the Melbourne rock band’s debut EP offering. The Blind Spot bristles with killer riffs, jackboot rhythms and swagger to burn with three tracks of raw, honest rock’n’roll delivered with snarl and vicious intent.
THE HAZELMAN BROTHERS
THE BROW HORN ORCHESTRA Multi-award winning Perth outfit The Brow Horn Orchestra are heading around the country to promote the release of their brand new EP Two Fires. The high-energy brass’n’beats five-piece play genre-defying, dance demanding pop music laced with an irrefutable electric energy, live electronics and a heavy platter of global sounds, a band that stops all in their path, young and old. Catch The Brow Horn Orchestra live at Prince Public Bar, St Kilda on Thursday June 28, at Westernport Hotel, San Remo on Friday June 29, and at Baha Tacos, Rye on Saturday June 30.”
The Hazelman Brothers are three brothers with three-part harmonies and intricate three-part guitar layering. This Saturday at the Grace Darling, they’re playing a rare full band show with Leon Tussie on drums and Dave Kean on bass. With evocative, conversational lyrics that hark back to the storytellers of old, they blend melancholy-folk and acoustic-pop with a healthy dose of weird time signatures. They’ll be joined by the climactic stringladen pop sounds of Hudson Arc – the brainchild of singer/composer/producer Gareth Hudson (The Hilltop Hoods, Amy Vee) collaborating with renowned string trio Ensemble Arc – Tadijana Ilicic (violin), Jamie Pollock (viola) and Rachel Pogson (cello). Plus bona fide troubadour Gabriel Lynch will make his highly anticipated return to Melbourne following the release of his new album and a tour of Asia. This Saturday June 30 at the Grace Darling from 9pm. $10 at the door.
JIMMY HAWKE & THE ENDLESS PARTY At once familiar and mysterious, Jimmy Hawk And The Endless Party is the sound of road trips, sunsets and romance – requited and otherwise. With a penchant for luscious melody and expressive lyricism; Hawk’s musical dreamscapes have endeared him to a steadily growing fan base and has seen him performed alongside favourites such as Cold War Kids, The Temper Trap, Little Red and The Shins. The new album Liberty Sunset Blue will be Hawk’s third album in three consecutive years and his second with The Endless Party. The band are excited to launch their new album on Saturday June 30 at The Toff, with special guests Gosteleradio and Brave Face. Tickets are $10+bf from Moshtix. Doors 8pm.
PAPA CHANGO SUZY BLUE THE SPONTANEOUS BUSH BAND VELVET CAKE GYPSIES LIA AVENE JUNE 29 FITZROY TOWN HALL $10 7:00-Midnight Food and Drink available Fundraiser for Wollangarra and Mittagundi, two very special outdoor education centres in the Victorian High Country. This year marks the return of the Bush Dance—kick your heels up and get into the country spirit, with special guest calling from Sal Kimber. www.wollangarra.org.au
www.mittagundi.org.au
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Beat Magazine Page 63
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KILAMAINE
PLAYWRITE
Kilamaine formed in August 2010. In their short time their vocalist Thorin has had to overcome cancer and other health issues. They haven’t let it hold them back with three shows in the Gershwin room, one in Canberra and playing various hot venues in Melbourne. Their debut album, In For The Kill, is due for release soon. Playing The Prague on Thursday June 28, this is the only chance to see the whole album performed live.
Fresh from the launch of their recent single Borderlands, Melbourne’s Playwrite are ready to hit The Evelyn stage once again with a stellar support cast headed up by Tehachapi. Barely one year in the making, Playwrite have gone from strength to strength since their Workers Club residency birth in June last year. They have supported the likes of Strange Beast (UK), Alpine and Geoffrey O’Connor and show no signs of slowing down. Catch their set this Saturday June 30 at The Ev, doors open at 8.30pm.
MELODY MOON
ALICE D
Melody Moon will launch her new EP, Carried Away, on Friday June 29, at The Wesley Anne in Northcote. After a successful year of touring and recording, this rising indie songstress is back with a unique lineup and enticing new sound, set to take Australian audiences by storm. Her Bjork-esque vocals and honest presence lends itself to daring cello lines, passionate harmonies, tinkles of ukulele and sweeping bursts of trumpet. Carried Away will be available on the night on CD, and special edition cassette tapes, and out digitally on iTunes. Support comes from Tane Emia-Moore, Frankie Andrew and Tom Francis. $7 entry.
Come down to The Evelyn on Sunday July 1 if you like mad tunes. Your favourite bunch of lovable misfits Alice D will be playing their hearts out on stage, shit’s gonna be electric. Vibrations so deep you can feel them in Jamaica. They’ll be joined by a bunch of mad chillers, including the likes of Stoned Maggots, the Sleepy Dreamers and Amanita. A lineup this good hasn’t been seen since Woodstock ‘69. 8.30pm.
ROCK FOR RECLINK An all-star stellar cast has been assembled for Rock For Reclink which is to be held on Saturday June 30 at The Hi-Fi to celebrate the Reclink Community Cup week, and features some of the best names on the scene. Performing on the evening at Rock For Reclink will be The Blackeyed Susans Trio, Dave Larkin Band, Davey Lane, Jess Ribeiro & The Bone Collectors, Kim Salmon, Leena, Matt Sonic & The High Times, and The Ronson Hangup. Tickets are $35+bf and available now via Moshtix.
THE UNIVERSAL
MATT SONIC & THE HIGH TIMES Matt Sonic & The High Times are Australia’s hottest psychedelic hard rock act. The only band in the world to be invited to play at the Big Day Out, Boogie! and Meredith Music Festivals last year. 2012 has seen the release of the incendiary This Love Electric album and a national tour with Fu Manchu that left venues needing to shave the fuzz from their speakers. Cuff is the Thor of the drumsticks. Megan is the red-headed siren of the bass. Who knows what Mikee is doing to those guitar pedals, but his hair sure does look nice. And they don’t call Matt Sonic “the Aura” for nothing… prepare for High Times! Matt Sonic & The High Times play at The Retreat Hotel this Friday June 29, support from The Wylde Oscars. 9:30pm, free.
Exploding onto the music scene like an indie Batman, The Universal composes music that pensioners have been caught referring to as a “racket’. Their music features jangly, angular guitars, driving beats and an energetic lead vocalist who sounds like he’s had too many coffees on the morning of recording and has developed a stutter as a result. The boys' new single Sexual Intellectual recently had its first debut on triple j and to celebrate, The Universal will be launching their single at OneSixOne with Number Station and Big Fun this Thursday June 28.
SUZIE STAPLETON After escaping part of Winter at Hothouse Studio, Suzie Stapleton is topping the month off with a special afternoon at The Retreat Hotel. This two-set performance is the last solo show before she heads off to Europe for some Summer loving including appearances at France’s Binic Folk Blues Festival (feat. Ty Segall, Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds, Dan Brodie), as well as shows in Spain, Germany and the UK. First taste of the new release is coming your way very soon. Suzie Stapleton will be performing two sets in The Retreat Hotel front bar this Saturday from 4pm to 6pm. Free.
60 SECONDS WITH…
RESCUE SHIPS
THE REBELLES Expect a hip shakin’, heart breakin’ night as The Rebelles bring their spectacular show back to Yah Yah’s on Friday June 29, with not one but two sets of girl group greatness. The Rebelles are extra psyched to welcome their two new-B’s to the stage: Binky and Betty Rebelle! Gear! Supporting them with their cool sassy vocals, psychedelic guitar, and a Frankenstein’s monster of turntable and synth, are electro-pop duo Yeah Wednesday. They’ll carve a unique hybrid of nujazz to trip-hop, rock to blues, and are armed with their debut album Gravity Is Our Friend. The night is sure to be a mid-winter sizzler with some serious girl power!
JAY BRANNAN Singer/songwriter Jay Brannan is a New Yorker by way of Texas, California, and several stops in between. He first made headlines as an actor in John Cameron Mitchell’s indie film sensation Shortbus, offering an international platform for his first fulllength musical release, entitled Goddamned, which made its debut as the No. 25 overall Top Album on iTunes. One Billboard-charting covers EP, three world tours, and a slew of YouTube videos later, Brannan brings us Rob Me Blind, his second full-length album of originals, produced by Grammy-winning producer David Kahne (Regina Spektor, Paul McCartney, The Bangles, Lana Del Rey, etc.) You can catch his live performance on Thursday June 28 with support from Patrick James, at The Toff In Town. Tickets are $44 + bf through Moshtix.
What do you love about making music? Getting to explain yourself whilst playing an instrument is pretty fucking rad. And there’s no real pressure on the audience. If they like it, cool! If not, all good. But they’d better like it... What do you hate about the music industry? Short term thinking. I mean, I get that it has come to this, but so much music is being ignored because of it. Like choosing the sweetest candy, purely because it gives you that instant buzz, while you may be ignoring those delicious veggies! (That’s my parents talking.) What’ve you got to sell CD-wise? We’ve got a brand spankin’ new single out called City Life. It’s pretty awesome, and the video is pretty cool too. Everybody likes the part where Elana gets a tennis ball to the face, and I still have trouble explaining to people that I’m actually acting like I’m sleeping on a park bench with a dick on my face. Describe the best gig you have ever played. I’ve played in my underwear a few times. And Elana has done gigs where we fill space by having her tell dirty jokes in a musical way. I’m beginning to think these may be our worst gigs too! Hard to tell. What’s the strangest place you’ve ever played a gig, or made a recording? We wrote a bunch of songs in the back of a campervan in New Zealand once, and we’re pretty sure that the guy who owned the park is a serial killer. He yelled way too much, had those crazy eyes, and I’m sure he had scratch marks all over his face. Maybe that part’s a lie... What advice would you give to bands that are new on the Melbourne music scene? I would say do what you do, and if you know it’s good, don’t worry about critics. They will always be there, and it’s not worth listening to them quite often. Also know who your friends are, and be friendly to them. Don’t take advantage of people, as one day it will bite you in the arse. When are you playing live/releasing your album/EP/ single/etc? We’ll be doing a gig at The Grace Darling on Smith St on Friday July 6. Everyone should come.
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Define your genre in five words or less: Intimate indie-folk Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? I usually get Julia Stone, Bjork or Sarah Blasko. Emotional vocals, interesting instruments and a hearty message tucked away in there somewhere. What inspires or has influenced your music the most? The forest. And despair; finding the little glimmer of hope within it, and turning it into a song. When are you releasing your EP? Friday June 29. We’re launching it (Carried Away EP) at the Wesley Anne that night. I’ll have my amazing new band of guitar, cello, trumpet, keys, ukulele, melodica, glockenspiel, double bass and drums. And there’ll be support from some of Melbourne’s finest folksters: Frankie Andrew, Tom Francis and Tane Emia-Moore. 8-11pm, come! Oh and my mum’s baking sweets. When, and why did you start writing music? I grew up in the Stoney Rises, 20 minutes out of town and had a lot of time on my hands. I was naturally a very
expressive kid and couldn’t do anything less than sing and write songs about life, the snakes and the boys at my primary school. It made me very happy... and it still does. If your music was a chocolate bar, which one would it be, and why? Oh it would be a block of bitterly-sweet Mayan Gold dark chocolate, with a twist of orange freshness. Mmm... chocolate. How do you balance making and playing music with your other commitments? Well I’m a bit of a free spirit, but I do have my own magical children’s entertainment business, Fairy Melody. So I fly into kids’ birthday parties and events mostly on the weekends and during the day, and still have plenty of time for singing and gigging with my music at night. It’s a pretty amazing life! Anything else to add? Yes come to the EP Launch on Friday, it’s going to be a wild night... dress oceanic!
THE BEARDED GYPSY BAND Originally thrown together in December 2007 for a school performance the band was then asked a couple of months later to play at the ‘08 Tour Down Under Stirling Street party which in turn led to an Adelaide Festival Fringe gig with Arts Excentrix in 2008. In 2008, while all three 3 boys were still at school, they managed to secure a regular spot at a hills Cafe which inspired them to start writing and rehearsing regularly.Two of the band members teach music and have also written and recorded their own individual full-length albums (while still at school). Though all were (and still are) clean shaven, and for reasons unknown, they named themselves The Bearded Gypsy Band. The boys play an eclectic mix of original tunes embracing Celtic, jazz, blues, gypsy and roots influences. They, along with Max Savage, play The Espy on Thursday July 5, free entry in the front bar.
KIRIN J CALLINAN Kirin J Callinan returns with the brand new 7” single W II W (Way To War). Taken from his forthcoming fulllength album, W II W launches at The Tote this Thursday June 28. W II W is a synesthetic joyride to the frontline – voice, guitar and other machines painting the sonic image of war. All napalm, machine guns and loneliness, choppers and tracer bullets; you could be running for your life or gasping for your last breath. It’s perverted, raw and fun- exactly like his passion live performance. He brings a full live band in tow for this one.
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Beat Magazine Page 65
GIG GUIDE TOM TUENA Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:00pm. WINE WHISKEY WOMEN - FEAT: ZIKORA + BETH CLEARY Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 11:56am.
WEDNESDAY 27 JUN ROCK/POP AERIALS + CHEET STREET + COTTON SIDEWLAK + JOE KINGS Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. DOUBLEBLACK + KING OF THE NORTH Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. LADY GAGA (BORN THIS WAY BALL) Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne. 8:00pm. STRUM-A-RAMA - FEAT: THE BIPOLAR BEARS + THE ALLROUNDERS + THE MYSTERIOUS FOURTH Espy, St Kilda. 7:00pm. THE LOST SUNNIES + LINK MCLENNANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S AMAZING JUKEBOX + THE OLD FAITHFULLS + THE STEINS Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $7. TIM COSTA - FEAT: DEMYSTIFYER + NICKY CRANE Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8:00pm. VAN MYER + SINISTER MINISTER + THE BON SCOTTS Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/WORLD MUSIC ADRIAN SHERRIFF BATA PROJECT + TIM PLEDGERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SANDWICH JESUS 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. BOB Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. BOPSTRETCH Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. CLAUDIA OSEGUEDA & OSCAR PONCELL Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. DIZZYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BIG BAND Dizzyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14. MUSIC WORKSHOP ARVP - FEAT: KAVISHA MAZZELLA + SIMON LEWIS St Kilda Bowling Club, St Kilda. 1:00pm. $5. ROCK OUT WEDNESDAY - FEAT: MAZY TRIP + CHRIS FRANGOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SOUND THEORY + CLEOPATRAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TATOO Gertrudes Brown Couch, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. THE GIANNI MARINUCCI NONET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $15.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK CHRIS RUSSELLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHICKEN WALK + ISAAC DE HEER Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. DAVEY LANE Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. HARRY MANX Rubyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lounge, Belgrave. 8:00pm. $45. JONNIE MURPHY Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. LILâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; BAND Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; GOLD The Regal Ballroom, Northcote. 8:00pm. MIKELANGELO + MUSTERED COURAGE Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. OPEN MIC Dancing Dog, Footscray. 7:00pm. OPEN MIC Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 7:00pm. OPEN MIC Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm. OPEN MIC Elwood Lounge, Elwood. 8:00pm. OPEN MIC & JAM NIGHT Grind N Groove, Healesville. 8:00pm. OPEN MIC & RECORDING NIGHT Musicland, Fawkner. 8:00pm. PLAY LIKE A GIRL - FEAT: VIKI MEALINGS Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm. RUNNING AWAY WITH THE CIRCUS Bebida, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
THURSDAY 28 JUN ROCK/POP 1AM LATE SHOW - FEAT: DEUS EX + DJ GEEK PIE Pony, Melbourne. 1:00am. 2AM LATE SHOW (MANATARMS) - FEAT: MANATARMS Pony, Melbourne. 2:00am. BEN DAVID & THE BANNED + MARICOPA WELLS + THE SHADOW LEAGUE + TIM HAMPSHIRE + WIL WAGNER Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. BIGMOUTH + THE MAE TRIO + THE VAUDEVILLE SMASH Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 8:00pm. $15. BUSBY MAROU (I STILL DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T BELIEVE TOUR) + LEADER CHEETAH + THE HELLO MORNING Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $20. CHANNEL SWITCHER (EP LAUNCH) + DJ AUDIXX + SUPERJUICE + THE LATONAS Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:30pm. $15. CHICKENSTONES (ALBUM LAUNCH) + JAMES MCCANN & THE NEW VINDICTIVES + MR ADRIAN
LILâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; BAND Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; GOLD Legendary Louisiana swamp pop/country/blues supergroup Lilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Band Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Gold are returning to our shores, the good things. The group, featuring some of the most inďŹ&#x201A;uential musicians to ever have emerged from Louisiana, bring with them their new musical oďŹ&#x20AC;ering â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Lilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Band Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Gold Play Fats. This record will feature cover versions of the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite Fats Domino songs with special guest vocalists Robert Plant, Lucinda Williams and Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very own Jimmy Barnes and Tim Rogers lending a hand. Lilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Band Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Gold play the Regal Ballroom in Melbourne on Wednesday June 27 and Thursday June 28, and the Gershwin Room on Friday June 29. Lilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Band Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Gold Play Fats is out now through Dust Devil Music\EMI Music. WHYTE Tago Mago, Thornbury. 8:30pm. DAGGERS MID FLIGHT + CARBS + TTTDC Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. DAMN THE MAPS + DAMN THE TORPEDOES + THE HIDDEN VENTURE Yah Yahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $5. JACKSON FIREBIRD + MAMMOTH MAMMOTH + RIVER OF SNAKES Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. JAY BRANNAN + PATRICK JAMES ToďŹ&#x20AC; In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $44. KINGSWOOD + DAMN TERRAN + MONEY FOR ROPE Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. KIRIN J CALLINAN + DCM MACHINE + KANGAROO SKUL + L FORCES DJS Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $15. LADY GAGA (BORN THIS WAY BALL) Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne. 8:00pm. MIKEY MADDEN Dexter Bar, Clifton Hill. 8:00pm. RED HYMNS + PSALM BEACH + SEE SAW + WILD DOG CREEK Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. RED LEADER + JANITA & THE JAGUARS + THE COMPLIMENTARY HEADSET + WILD CAT GENERAL STRIKE Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. RONE KAOS + INCRYPT + KEYS TO PERDITION + KILAMAINE The Prague, Thornbury. 8:00pm. $10. THE TWOKS + JIMMY DANIEL Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU + DEAR LEADER + HALCYON DRIVE + WANDERING SPIRIT Pony, Melbourne. 8:30pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
EMMA LOUISE Talk about a massive 12 months. Emma Louise has had a raft of sold out shows, international notoriety and an endless list of accolades owed to her intoxicating voice, an honest delivery and, of course, boundless coverage of her single Jungle. After being signed to Frenchkiss records, she now returns to home soil with a bout of intimate shows and a new single entitled Boy â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the first taste of her forthcoming debut album due in early 2013. She plays two shows this week at the Northcote Social Club on Thursday June 28 (sold-out) and Friday June 29.
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Beat Magazine Page 66
ACOUSTIC NIGHT 29th Apartment, St Kilda. 9:00pm. CHARLIE & SMYLES Bebida, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. DAVE GRANEY + EAST BRUNSWICK ALL GIRLS SCHOOL Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. EMMA LOUISE (THE SPARKS TOUR) + ARGENTINA + DADS Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $18. GATOR QUEEN & ABBIE CARDWELL + ABBIE CARDWELL + GATOR QUEEN Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 7:30pm. LILâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; BAND Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; GOLD The Regal Ballroom, Northcote. 8:00pm. MUSIKUNST - FEAT: IAN WADLEY + FLATHEAD Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 10:00pm. NICK MURPHY Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. OPEN MIC Acoustic Cafe, Collingwood. 6:30pm. OPEN MIC Arcadia Hotel, South Yarra. 7:00pm. OPEN MIC Bar Betty, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. OPEN MIC NIGHT Lyrebird Lounge, Ripponlea. 8:30pm. SARAH CHADWICK + IGOR + PETE & SAMAAN Longplay, Fitzroy North. 8:00pm. SARITAH + PHOEBE JACOBS + SIMMER Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $15. SIMON BRUCE Bar Nancy, Northcote. 8:00pm. THE DAIMON BRUNTON QUINTET Gertrudes Brown Couch, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. THE DROOLING MOUTHS OF MEMPHIS + GOYIM + THE WILD COMFORTS Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $7. THE NBC + ALANA PORTER + LUCKY Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. TIARYN + DAN ROLLS + JOHNNY PAV Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. TIM CANNON Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/WORLD MUSIC AMY TANKARD & ANDREW ARNOLD Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. HARRY MANX + YESHE REINERS Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $42. JUDY BLUE + THE MOON PROJECT Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:00pm. LIVE UNDERGROUND JAZZ - FEAT: MICHAEL GRIFFIN QUINTET Bluestone Downstairs, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00am.
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
LIVE UNDERGROUND JAZZ - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS - SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS Bluestone Downstairs, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. RBS LIVE - FEAT: THE BROW HORN ORCHESTRA + THE RELATIVES Red Bennies, South Yarra. 7:00pm. $20. SALSA EXPLOSION - FEAT: DEL BARRIO Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. SASKWATCH Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $10. SASKWATCH Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10. SCHRODERINI MEETS JULES - FEAT: JULIEN WILSON + KEN SCHRODER Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. SLEEPING BAG 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10. SMOKIN SAM & SYNERGY BLUE + THE JUSTIN YAP BAND Musicland, Fawkner. 8:30pm. $10. SYZYGY Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. THE RED BOOTS Dizzyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14. TIM WILLIS & THE END (KEEP YOUR CHIN UP LAUNCH) Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. WES Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. YOUNG ROMANTIX + ASPS + BADD + STAG Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.
FRIDAY 29 JUN ROCK/POP CHARGE GROUP + EAST BRUNSWICK ALL GIRLKS CHOIR + JOE MCKEE Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. EMMA LOUISE (THE SPARKS TOUR) + ARGENTINA + DADS Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $15. EVEN + THE FAUVES The Regal Ballroom, Northcote. 8:00pm. FUNDRAISER FOR JENNY WONGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUITAR FEAT: THE MURDERBALLS Rubyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lounge, Belgrave. 8:00pm. $10. HEY GERONIMO (CARBON AFFAIR TOUR) + MARCH OF THE REAL FLY + PRIVATE LIFE Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $10. ICONIC VIVISECT + ARGURIOS + CRADLE IN THE CRATER + THE SEAFORD MONSTER Pony, Melbourne. 9:00pm. IGNIVOMOUS (CONTRAGENESIS LAUNCH) + DESTRUKTOR + MALICHOR + THRALL Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $15. JUKE JOINT JUMP - FEAT: BENNY & THE FLY BY NIGHTERS + CHRIS RUSSELLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHICKEN WALK + THREE KINGS Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $18. KINGSWOOD + DAMN TERRAN + MONEY FOR ROPE Workers Club, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. LILâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; BAND Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; GOLD Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $50. MATT SONIC & THE HIGH TIMES + DJ SHAKY MEMORIAL + THE WYLDE OSCARS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm. MINDSET + OUR SOLACE + STRICKLAND + SURRENDER Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. NEW SKINN & BRANCH ARTERIAL The Hi-ďŹ , Melbourne. 7:30pm. $10. PARTYBAGS LAUNCH PARTY - FEAT: THE MCQUEENS + YOUNG MAVERICK Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:30pm. $12. RIFF FIST + MASTER BETA + MOTH + SYSTEM OF VENUS Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. SORDID ORDEAL + DALE DIXON + PLASTIC SPACEMEN + STATE OF SILENCE 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. THE BENNIES + BATPISS + EVERYTHING I OWN IS BROKEN + FOXTROT + THE GUN RUNNERS Gertrudes Brown Couch, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5. THE DUB CAPTAINS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. THE GOOD CHINA + ALEX WATTS & THE FOREIGN TONGUE + THE BOX ROCKETS Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $13.
THE GROOVETONES Attitudes, Williamstown. 8:30pm. THE MEAN TIMES + THE SAVAGES Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. THE MEAN TIMES + THE SAVAGES + THE MEAN TIMES + THE SAVAGES Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 8:53pm. THE MORRISONS + THE WORST + WOLF PACK Cornish Arms, Brunswick. 8:00pm. THE REBELLES + YEAH WEDNESDAY Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. THE RED LIGHTS (NOT IN THIS TOWN LAUNCH) + THE CORSAIRS + THE NEIGHBORHOOD YOUTH + TULLY ON TULLY Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. THESE HANDS + BALLADS + DJ SEEDY REED + LANDER CONFIGURATIONS + THE NEST ITSELF Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. VICTOR PENDER Cape Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. WORLD’S END PRESS + BEN BROWNING + DJ ROMAN WAFERS + ROMY Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $12.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK 3CR’S BURNING VINYL BENEFIT LIVE BROADCAST - FEAT: LAURA IMBRUGLIA Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. ALFRED HARUA + FOX ROAD Bar Betty, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. CAT CANTERI Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm. DAN LETHERBRIDGE Basement Discs, Melbourne Cbd. 12:45pm. ILDIKO + LAURA SMOCK Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 9:00pm. KEVIN BORICH + DAN ROLLS Palais, Hepburn Springs. 8:30pm. $35. MELODY MOON (CARRIED AWAY LAUNCH) + FRANKIE ANDREW + TANE EMIA-MOORE + TOM FRANCIS Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. NICO FORTE & JOHN LILLIS Balaclava Hotel, Balaclava. 8:00pm. PHEASANT PLUCKERS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm. RARE CHILD The Hammy, Melbourne. 8:00pm. ROCKET TO MEMPHIS + HILL-BILLY JACK + MOHAIR SLIM DJ Luwow, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $10. TAKE YOUR OWN + FREE WORLD + RIGHT MIND + TIRED MINDS Idgaff Bar & Venue, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. THE DAVEY SIMONY BAND + AL PARKINSON + BAYCHIMO Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8:30pm. THE RECHORDS Gem Bar, Collingwood. 9:30pm. TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSIONS - FEAT: DAN BOURKE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6:00pm. VULTURES OF VENUS + GO GO SAPIEN Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm.
KIRIN J CALLINAN Kirin J Callinan is set to launch his brand new 7” single, W II W (Way To War), in Melbourne this week. Taken from his forthcoming full-length album, W II W launches with an amazing gif-laden video by acclaimed director Kris Moyes. Fucken love me some gifs, so get around it! Performing with a full live band, Kirin J Callinan will play The Tote this Thursday June 28, supported by DCM, Machine, Forces DJs, Juggernauts DJs and Kangaroo Skull playing a late night set. Limited tickets are still available from siberiarecords.com. This will be Jam. Packed. Don’t forget to ick up a signed photo, okay?
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/WORLD MUSIC 8 FOOT FELIX + LUCAS MICHAILIDIS Open Studio, Northcote. 7:00pm. CARMEN HENDRICKS + DJ ARLEN DE SILVA Prince Maximillian, Prahran. 8:30pm. DAIMON BRUNTON QUINTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $20. DEAD KINGS QUARTET Elwood Lounge, Elwood. 9:00pm. JOE CHINDAMO Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $20. RODOLFO HECHAVARRÃA Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. THE BROW HORN ORCHESTRA Westernport Hotel, San Remo. 8:00pm. THE GROOVE SHARKS Musicland, Fawkner. 8:00pm. $10. THE JAMES SHERLOCK TRIO Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. ULTRAFOX Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $25.
SATURDAY 30 JUN ROCK/POP 2AM LATE SHOW - FEAT: BRAZILLIONAIRES Pony, Melbourne. 2:00am. ADDICTION - FEAT: SUSTAINER ENGINE + RICH YEAH Ruby’s Lounge, Belgrave. 8:00pm. $10. ALLY OOP & THE HOOPSTERS + BRETARTO FRASSIERI Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm. BANG - FEAT: MAKE THEM SUFFER + BORIS THE BLADE + BROOKLYN + SIGNAL THE FIRING SQUAD Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. BELLUSIRA + CLOUD CITY + FISKER + FREESTATE + LORDS OF THIS WORLD + RISE ELECTRIC + VERONA LIGHTS Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $15. BROOKLYN’S FINEST + DJ BAD LOVE + THE COMMUNISTS + THE SWEET Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:30pm. $10. CEREMONY + EXTORTION + PUERTO RICO FLOWERS + RORT Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $25.
Q&A MONTRESOR 74 JOHNSTON ST FITZROY 9417 4155
www.theoldbar.com.au OPEN EVERY NIGHT 12PM - 3AM FREE WI FI
wednesday 27th June
MIKELANGELO PLAYS COHEN MUSTERED COURAGE
What inspires or has influenced your music the most? The whole progressive rock period of the ‘70s is the obvious genesis (pun intended) for our music but that’s just the basis for it. Playing in a alt-rock band certainly did rub off as well, so there’s a bit of a’ 90s guitar vibe in there too. And then the Alcest worship, of course. The song Helios/Flight To The Moon is me unabashedly getting my Alcest on, without the Elvish vocals. What do you love about making music? The never-ending quest to create and recreate that always too fleeting feeling of near-ecstasy when you play those perfect notes with the perfect accompaniment. In simpler terms, as John “Hannibal” Smith from the A-Team would’ve said if he was in a band, “I love it when my band comes together”. What do you hate about the music industry? The fact that as an instrumental (strike one) progressive rock (strike two) band, I’ll never be able to get far enough in the industry to hate it as much as the people who are in it do. What can a punter expect from your live show? Some crazy jams, the greatest drummer in the world, one barefoot guitarist and occasionally there are a few surprises as well. Last gig we played at The Gasometer Hotel we were joined by the guitarist from The Pachyderms and played a second set consisting of only Frank Zappa songs. It was frickin’ awesome! We’ve also been known to cover The Smiths in our own weird, vaguely proggy way. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Conveniently a lot of my musical heroes are still alive. I’d
say Frank Zappa but he would absolutely tear my music to pieces (as he did most people’s) so...Robert Fripp of King Crimson. To fulfill this questions quota, I’d travel back to the 1973-4 Fripp-Wetton-Cross-Bruford lineup – one of my favourite periods of the band. I feel like even if he didn’t like my stuff he’d be really polite about it and appreciate the effort and lengths of which I went in order to show him the music, particularly given he’s still alive at the present time. If your music was a chocolate bar, which one would it be, and why? Some sort of delicious, multi-textured treat that’s epic in scope. So one of those giant Toblerone bars. 7. What makes you happiest about what you’re doing? The fact that I can get an album under my belt before I turn 21, the fact I’ve got a group of people willing to play the music I’ve written regardless of how insane it ends up being, and the fact that two artists I really enjoy (Phideaux from the band of the same name and Lars from the band Wobbler) have both sent encouraging messages about my music. It’s awesome. Do you have any record releases to date? What are they? Where can I get them? Sure do! Daybreak is our self-funded debut album, recorded at Head Gap Studios in Preston. You can grab it from our bandcamp (montresor.bandcamp.com) or from Polyester Records, Smoke Dreams and Collector’s Corner – all record stores around Melbourne. MONTRESOR play The Prague this Friday June 29 supporting HUSK alongside Our Best Laid Plans and Red Sky.
8:30PM $7
thursday 28th June
NED COLLETTE & WIREWALKER DAVE GRANEY EAST BRUNSWICK ALL GIRLS CHOIR
8:30PM $7
friday 29th June
THESE HANDS
LANDER CONFIGURATIONS (NSW) THE NEST ITSELF, BALLADS DJ SEEDY
8:30PM $10
3CR’S BURNING VINYL LIVE BROADCAST LAURA IMBRUGLIA, ALYSIA MANCEAU 2PM FREE
saturday 30th June
TAPE/OFF (QLD)
KIDS OF ZOO, BATPISS DJ SHITSHAKE
8:30PM $10
sunday 1st July
OLD BAR UNICORNS FUNDRAISER: UNICORN UNICORN & THE UNICORN UNICORNS, THE UNICORN UNICORN UNICORNS, UNICORNSLASHUNICORN, UNICORN ONE, UNICORN BY UNICORNS 7PM $10 DJ UNICORN MILK
CRY BABY SESSIONS THE PURPLE STRIPES
1PM FREE
monday 2nd July GUITAR GALLERY PRESENTS:
UNCLE BILL AND JAM SESSION
8PM FREE
tuesday 3rd July TIM MOLLOY OPENING:
‘BESTIARY’
JESS RIBEIRO & THE BONE COLLECTORS SUNNY THE MAGOSOPHER EUGENE HOLCOMBE 8PM FREE
band bookings: bandbookings@theoldbar.com.au
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 67
Kim Salmon
ROCK FOR RECLINK The Reclink Community Cup is an entrenched institution on the music and events calendar for many Melbournians over the past 20 years. This weekend, a bunch of artist have donated their time to perform at Rock For Reclink in support of Reclink Australia, and its mission to provide sport and arts activities to enhance the lives of people experiencing disadvantage in Australia. To celebrate the Reclink Community Cup week – which ended in a dramatic draw over the weekend – an all-star stellar cast has been assembled for Rock For Reclink. Set to be held at The Hi-Fi on Saturday June 30, Rock For Reclink features some of the best names on the scene, including The Blackeyed Susans Trio, Dave Larkin Band, Davey Lane, Jess Ribeiro & The Bone Collectors, Kim Salmon, Leena, Matt Sonic & The High Times, and The Ronson Hangup. Tickets are $35+bf and available now via Moshtix. CLAMPDOWN Rochester Castle Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. COLD IRONS BOUND + THEM PEOPLE Tago Mago, Thornbury. 9:00pm. DAVE’S FEST - FEAT: SIGNAL X + GRANSTON DISPLAY + RADICAL SLUDGE + RAVEN VS CROW Espy, St Kilda. 12:28pm. $10. DC TUNES - FEAT: KING OF THE NORTH + THE ART OF LATER Grumpy’s Green, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. DEATH BY DANCE + CERES + DRIVE BY EPIC + SCALAR FIELDS + THOSE WOLVES Pony, Melbourne. 9:00pm. HEY GERONIMO (CARBON AFFAIR TOUR) + MARCH OF REAL FLY + PHIL PARA + PRIVATE LIFE + THEM SWOOPS Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. HIDING WITH BEARS + FIERCE MILD + SHANE DIORIO BAND + TEMPLE Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. HIGH VOLTAGE FESTIVAL 2012 - FEAT: BLOOD DUSTER + CAPTAIN CLEANOFF + EARTH + HOBBS’ ANGEL OF DEATH + MACABRE + DEPRESSION + DESECRATOR + KING PARROT + MANIAC + MERCYFUL FATED Corner Hotel, Richmond. 5:00pm. $30. HUMPBACK CHAMELEON Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. IGOR + AUTOPORTRAITS + JESS LOCKE Cornish Arms, Brunswick. 8:00pm. JACKET OFF Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 9:30pm. JAMES MCCANN & THE NEW VINDICTIVES + CHICKEN STONE + DJ SHAKY MEMORIAL Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 3:30pm. JIMMY HAWK & THE ENDLESS PARTY (LIBERTY SUNSET BLUE LAUNCH) + BRAVE FACE + GOSTELERADIO Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10. JURASSIC PENGUIN + KOLKKOUS AA + MICHAEL CRAFTER + OLD SKIN + WALLOW Black Goat Warehouse, North Coburg. 8:00pm. KEVIN BORICH EXPRESS Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $22. LADY GAGA (BORN THIS WAY BALL) Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne. 8:00pm. LOS DOMINADOS & THE D-GRADES Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 8:55pm. MIKE NOGA + SWEET JEAN Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $12. MIKE PIPES Idgaff Bar & Venue, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. PLAYWRITE + BANOFFEE + SLEEP DECADE + TEHACHAPI + THE TOWNHOUSES Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. READABLE GRAFFITI + NOCEANS + SUPER MAGIC
Beat Magazine Page 68
HATS Noise Bar, Brunswick. 9:00pm. $6. ROADS TO RANDSOME + AVALERION + DEAD SEPTEMBER + FOUNDATIONS FALL + IN A MEMORY Musicland, Fawkner. 6:00pm. $12. ROCK FOR RECLINK - FEAT: THE BLACKEYED SUSANS + DAVE LARKIN BAND + DAVEY LANE + JESS RIBEIRO & THE BONE COLLECTORS + KIM SALMON + LEENA + MATT SONIC & THE HIGH TIMES + THE RONSON HANGUP The Hi-fi, Melbourne. 7:00pm. $35. SHANE FAHEY + A CLOAKROOM ASSEMBLY + COOPER BOWMAN + JUSTIN FULLER Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. SLICK 46 + 12FU Lyrebird Lounge, Ripponlea. 9:00pm. SUGAR ARMY + DARK ARTS + UDAYS TIGER Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. TAPE/OFF + BATPISS + DJ SHITSHAKE + KIDS OF ZOO Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10. TERRY MCARTHY SPECIAL Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. THE AFROBIOTICS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. THE FUTURAS + BEN ROGERS INSTRUMENTAL ASYLUM Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne. 6:00pm. THE HAZELMAN BROTHERS + GABRIEL LYNCH + HUDSON ARC Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $10. TINY MIGRANTS + BAD ACHES + ROSS DE CHENE HURRICANS Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9:30pm. $5. VICTOR PENDER Cape Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. WINTERCOATS + A COLOURFUL STORM + ALBATROSS + FLASH FOREST + WOOSHIE Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK 64 FALCON Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne. 10:00pm. ACOUSTIC REVIEW - FEAT: KURTIS GENTLE + DAN ROLLS + EALEY & TYERS Chandelier Room, Moorabbin. 8:00pm. $10. ACOUSTIC REVIEW AT THE CHANDELIER ROOM - FEAT: KURTIS GENTLE + DAN ROLLS + EALEY & TYERS Chandelier Room, Moorabbin. 8:00am. $10. AJAK KWAI & THE LETTER STRING QUARTET + LAMINE SONKO Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 4:00pm. BARRY MORGAN The Regal Ballroom, Northcote. 8:00pm. BREAKING HART BENTON Pure Pop Courtyard, St Kilda. 4:00pm.
SUGAR ARMY Sugar Army’s Hooks For Hands Australian tour is just around the corner, and the crew have recently announced local supports. Joining Sugar Army at The Tote will be garage/punk duo Udays Tiger and Ballarat’s finest four-piece rockers Dark Arts. Sugar Army have also revealed details of a limited edition Hooks For Hands artwork print which is available exclusively at both shows (only 500 printed). In true fairgame style, everyone with a ticket is entitled to their very own piece of the Sugars. Sugar Army play The Tote on Saturday June 30. Tickets via Oztix. BREAKING HEART BENTON Wesley Anne, Northcote. 7:00pm. BRUNSWICK BLUES SHOOTERS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm. CALLEE + TUKO Bar Betty, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. CHRIS RUSSELL’S CHICKEN WALK Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. EDDIE SPAGHETTI + TIM ROGERS Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 1:00pm. $40. EDDIE SPAGHETTI + FRED NEGRO + TIM ROGERS Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $40. JANINE MARSHALL Elwood Lounge, Elwood. 4:00pm. MIDNIGHT BOSOM + STELLA ANGELICO Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 9:00pm. NORTHCOTE TOWN HALL WINTER ARTISANS’ MARKETS - FEAT: CORAL LEE AND THE SILVER SCREAM Northcote Town Hall, Northcote. 12:00pm. NORTHCOTE TOWN HALL’S WINTER ARTISANS’ MARKETS - FEAT: THE EMMA WALL BAND Northcote Town Hall, Northcote. 12:00pm. PAN + INNER MEET ME + WINTERNATIONALE Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5. PAPER CRANE FARWELL - FEAT: DAN LETHBRIDGE & THE CAMPAIGNERS + AL PARKINSON + FRANKIE ANDREW + KATE WALKER Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. ROCKET TO MEMPHIS + DJ BARBARA BLAZE + DJ JUMPIN JOSH + ZELIA ROSE SWAMP BURLESQUE Luwow, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $10. SAM LAWRENCE + CAFE POET Open Studio, Northcote. 5:00pm. SATURDAY NIGHT ACOUSTIC REVUE Chandelier Room, Moorabbin. 8:00pm. $10. SUZIE STAPLETON Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 4:00pm. THE BLACKEYED SUSANS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. THE CLAIRE BIRCHALL BAND + ALI E + MICHAEL PLATER + THE MIA SCHOEN GROUP Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. THE PERFECTIONS Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm. TRACY MCNNEIL Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 9:00pm. WILD TURKEY Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. YARRA VALLEY FM LIVE MUSIC EVENT Grind N Groove, Healesville. 8:00pm.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/WORLD MUSIC BANDA SIN FRONTERA Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. BIG BENNIES - FEAT: COVER GIRLS + DJ WOZ +
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
VINCE PEACH Red Bennies, South Yarra. 7:00pm. $25. DARIUS MENDOZA Prince Maximillian, Prahran. 8:30pm. GOYIM Bebida, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. JULIO & THE STEVIES Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. KESHIE + MUNRO MALANO Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. LIANA PERILLO Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 10:00pm. THE BOXING TOSRADOS + BASSICK INSTINCT + DEAD SALESMEN DUO Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $10. THE BROW HORN ORCHESTRA Baha Tacos & Tapas Bar, Rye. 8:00pm. THE RITA SATCH BAND Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $25. TOM VINCENT & JULIE O’HARA QUARTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $20. TRACY BARTRAM Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $20. VARDOS + BARONESS OF INVERNESS Open Studio, Northcote. 7:30pm. $8.
SUNDAY 1 JUL ROCK/POP ALICE D + AMANITA + SLEEPY DREAMERS + STONED MAGOTS Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $6. CHILDREN OVERBOARD + HOWARD + THE NEW SAVAGES Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. DAMO SUZUKI & NIKO NIKO + THE KUMIKO SEX BAND + THE PAUL KIDNEY EXPERIENCE Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. HUGO & THE TREATS + GHOST ORKID Bar Open, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. HUGO RACE (ALBUM TOUR) + LEAK & THE WAR WICK TRAGEDY Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 1:30pm. $15. JURASSIC PENGUIN + MICHAEL CRAFTER + OUTLINES + POSTAL + TERM FOUR + WALLOW Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm. $10. KING PARROT National Hotel, Geelong. 8:00pm. LADY GAGA (BORN THIS WAY BALL) Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne. 8:00pm. SARAH CHADWICK + CONCRETE LIFE + IGOR + PIONEERS OF GOOD SCIENCE Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. STEVE MAGNUSSON & THE JAMES SHERLOCK
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Beat Magazine Page 69
60 SECONDS WITH...
DANCING HEALS
+ BEAT PRESENT... whatson@thepush.com.au
ACCESS ALL AGES Wednesday June 27, 2012 With Ruth Mihelcic
Define your genre in five words or less: Spooling, dreamy, Cali-flavoured pop.
Our debut album Into The Night is out now through MGM, available digitally and at shows.
Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? They say Teenage Fanclub, Band of Horses, Airbourne Toxic Event…
Describe the best gig you have ever played. Club Moscow in Los Angeles, our first US show to an 18+ crowd on a hot summer night VS BOOGIE! Festival 2012.
What do you love about making music? The endless creativity and escapism from the everyday things that consume us. When’s the gig and with who? Album launch at Cherry Bar – Friday July 13 – with Planet Love Sound and The Corsairs. Do you have any record releases to date? What are they? Where can I get them?
SOLO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 1:28pm. $15. STEVE MAGNUSSON & THE JAMES SHERLOCK SOLO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:00pm. $15. SWAMP MOTH + HOLY TRASH Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. TEKNIA + MEDICINE + SPACE KEYS Idgaff Bar & Venue, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. THE SHARDS + FLASH FORREST Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. VIRTUE + MIDNIGHT DRIVE + SOUTHSIDE REBELS Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ALISON FERRIER Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 4:00pm. BACKWOOD CREATURES Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. BARB WATERS & THE MOTHERS OF PEARL + DAN WATERS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm. CHRIS MOLNAR’S BLUES CASTS Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $10. CHRIS RUSSELL’S CHICKEN WALK + DEAN MULLER Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 2:00pm. CRYBABY SESSIONS - FEAT: THE PURPLE STRIPES Old Bar, Fitzroy. 1:00pm. $5. EMMY BRYCE + KELLY BRUER + LAURA K CLARKE Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 3:30pm. $10. GALLIE Elwood Lounge, Elwood. 6:30pm. INSCRIBE - FEAT: ELIZA HULL Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 4:00pm. JACOB S HARRIS & THE DISAPPOINTMENTS Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne. 6:00pm. JIMI HOCKING The Bay, Mordialloc. 4:00pm. JVG GUITAR METHOD + MARTY KELLY & AUBURY MAHER Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 5:30pm. KEL DAY + HAVANA LAKE Bar Nancy, Northcote. 6:00pm. KEVIN BORICH Musicland, Fawkner. 2:00pm. MADDY SERONG Carringbush Hotel, Abbotsford. 4:00pm. MASTER GUN FIGHTERS + GRIZZLY JIM LAWRIE Penny Black, Brunswick. 5:08pm. MICHAEL SPIBY Bay Hotel, Mornington. 3:00pm. NIGEL SWIFTE Wesley Anne, Northcote. 7:30pm.
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Where would you like to be in five years? Four albums in and still going… If you could go on tour with any musician or band, who would it be? Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers because it would mean we’d get to travel overseas since he never comes to Australia to play! How do you balance making and playing music with your other commitments? Luckily we all work in the same bar…
OLD BAR UNICORNS FUNDRAISER Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $10. OPEN MIC Chandelier Room, Moorabbin. 4:30pm. OPEN MIC Bar Betty, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. RUSTED Lyrebird Lounge, Ripponlea. 7:00pm. SAMARA CULLEN + TERESA DIXON Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. SHANNON BOURNE + THE HEATHER STEWART TRIO Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6:30pm. SINGER SONGWRITER SESSIONS - FEAT: MARC VAZQUEZ + ROSIE HADEN Chandelier Room, Moorabbin. 4:00am. SINGER SONGWRITER SESSIONS - FEAT: MARC VAZQUEZ + ROSIE HADEN Chandelier Room, Moorabbin. 4:00pm. THE DAN DINNEN TRIO Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 4:00pm. THE PATRON SAINTS Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/WORLD MUSIC JOSE NIETO Cruzao Arepa Bar, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. LO-RES + MOU TRIO Open Studio, Northcote. 4:30pm.
MONDAY 2 JUL ROCK/POP ANIMAUX + DJ THOMA + GRANSTON DISPLAY + THE NEIGHBOURHOOD YOUTH Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. CHERRY JAM Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:30pm. HAYDEN CALNIN + MANOR Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $7. MONDAY NIGHT MASS - FEAT: SHANE FAHEY + A CLOAKROOM ASSEMBLY + NUN + YOUNG ROMANTIX Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 6:00pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK MEGAN LUSCOMBE Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 8:30pm. SECRET MONDAY ACOUSTIC SHOW Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. THE MONDAY DRFIT Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 8:00pm. BANDS & PROMOTERS WANTED. Any style for Collingwood venue. First gigs welcome, live CD recording available. Contact Jane after 12pm on 0425 796 828. BANDS WANTED. Iddy Biddy Bar St Kilda is looking for funk bands/groups, from solo artists to 3 piece bands. Friday to Tuesday nights available. Contact Keith on 9525 3320 or email iddy@ iddybiddy.com.au
MUSICIANS WANTED
BANDS WANTED for artist showcase in the Espy Gershwin room. A great step towards bigger shows. Contact mark@gunnmusic.com.au
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.
MALE/FEMALE VOCALISTS with harmony ability for 60s-80s cover band. Ph: 9282 3221. Mon–Fri 9-5pm, please leave message if unanswered.
Beat Magazine Page 70
Push Freeza Summits start next week, so if you have any interest in building a career in the music industry or getting some practical advice from established artists like House Vs Hurricane or Mantra, you’d do good to come along. You can get more info and register at our website thepush.com.au. As the second last week before school holidays, there’s so much on this weekend in the way of underage dance parties (check them all out below). In other news, Lady Gaga has landed and you can pretty much pay whatever you want to go check her out, with some of her ticketing deals costing as much as $450. That’s a lot of pocket money, and more reason to check out the local talent playing in your area this weekend!
EDDIE SPAGHETTI All round wildcard Eddie Spaghetti from The Supersuckers – who now has released three solo albums – is set to is bringing his long awaited solo show to Australia this weekend. Spaghetti grew up in Tucson, Arizona, and later worked in a bridal shop in Flushing, Queens, when his girlfriend kicked him out in one of those crushing scenes. So, as a kid, he turned to heavy metal, then punk rock, to block out the noise and that’s how his band, The Supersuckers, was born. Spaghetti will boil your balls at Cherry Bar this Saturday June 30, playing two shows (arvo and evening) along with Tim Rogers. Wildcard bitches! YYYYEEEEEE– HAAAAA! UNCLE BILL & BLUEGRASS JAM Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/WORLD MUSIC BENNETTS LANE BIG BAND Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15. LEBOWSKIS 303, Northcote. 9:00pm. $8. THE JULIARD JAZZ SEXTET Bennetts Lane Jazz Club ,
TUESDAY 3 JUL ROCK/POP JUDY BLUE + ALI BARTER BAND + JON S WILLIAMS + THE TIMBERS Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. LADY GAGA (BORN THIS WAY BALL) Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne. 8:00pm. MELBOURNE ROCK SCHOOL Chandelier Room, Moorabbin. 10:00am. PATRON SAINTS Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. STANDISH & CARLYON + FABULOUS DIAMONDS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $8. THE LIMELIGHT Order Of Melbourne, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $10.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK 8 BIT LOVE + HARTS Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. JEB CARDWELL Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. JESS RIBIERO & THE BONE COLLECTORS + EUGENE HOLCOMBE + SUNNY THE MAGOSOPHER Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. JOEL MUSTON Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 8:30pm. KLUB MUK 303, Northcote. 7:30pm. OPEN MIC Empress Hotel, North Fitzroy. 7:30pm. SHANE FAHE + MICHAEL TEE + SASHA MARGOLIS + ZAC KEILLER Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/WORLD MUSIC MELBOURNE JAZZ COPERATIVE Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne. 1:35pm. $15.
SERVICES 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. THINK MOVING SUCKS? Call Little Red Trucks! Moving Melbourne everyday. Call 9380 6444 or head to www.littleredtrucks.com.au
EMPLOYMENT FLAUNT IT. Internationally acclaimed producer of profeminist 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.
SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
ALL AGES TIMETABLE Wednesday June 27 Bi-Polar Bears w/ The Mysterious Fourth, The Allrounders, MN Choir, Kelly Auty, and Heidi Everett, Basement level, Esplanade Hotel, 11 Esplanade Upper, St Kilda, 7pm, $2, The Espy on (03) 9534 0211, AA Thursday June 28 Lady Gaga w/ special guests, Rod Laver Arena, Olympic Boulevard (Formerly Swan Street), Melbourne, 7:30pm, $79.90 - $450, ticketek.com.au or 132 849, AA Hip Hop Dance Lessons & Vocal Training w/ Rhiannon’s Performing Arts, Broadford Youth Centre, Broadford, 4:30pm – 6:30pm, Free, Buffy Leadbeater on 5734 6313, AA Friday June 29 Ceremony w/ Extortion, White Walls and Straightjacket Nation, Irene’s Warehouse, 5 Pitt St, Brunswick, resistrecords.com, AA School Break Pool Party w/ DJ, Hamilton Indoor Leisure & Aquatic Centre, 83-93 Shakespeare Street, Hamilton, 5pm – 8pm, Free, Briana Picken on (03) 5551 8549, U18 Thriller w/ Silverset DJ’s and Quiksound DJs, Mount Waverley Community Centre, 47 Miller Cresent, Mount Waverley, 6:30pm – 10:30pm, $12, Siobhan on 9518 3900, AA Clubstep Dubstep Underage Party w/ DJ Josh E, DJ Nicky B, DJ Azza and Illusive, Wyndham Youth Resource Centre, 86 Derrimut Rd, Hoppers Crossing, 7pm – 11pm, $10, Jamie Cooke on 8734 1355, U18 Expulsion Underage w/ Samuel James, Brendan Walker and CK, Rockbank Community Hall, Leakes Rd, Rockbank, 7pm – midnight, $20 - $25, U18 Macleod YMCA All Ability Dance Party, 157 Wungan Street, 7pm – 9:30pm, $8.50, Matt Halden on 9459 9022, AA ‘Check-In’ Underage Dance Party w/ PartyOz Entertainment, Galvin Hall, Woodland St, Wodonga, 7pm – 11pm, $5 presale or $8 door, Adam Hollis on (02) 6022 9704, U18 Lady Gaga w/ special guests, Rod Laver Arena, Olympic Boulevard (Formerly Swan Street), Melbourne, 7:30pm, $79.90 - $450, ticketek.com.au or 132 849, AA Kevin Borich, The Palais, 111 Main Rd, Hepburn Springs, 8:30pm, $40, The Palais on (03) 5348 4849, AA Saturday June 30 Lady Gaga w/ special guests, Rod Laver Arena, Olympic Boulevard (Formerly Swan Street), Melbourne, 7:30pm, $79.90 - $450, ticketek.com.au or 132 849, AA Sunday July 1 Make Them Suffer w/ Signal The Firing Squad and Brooklyn, Phoenix Youth Centre, 72 Buckley Street, Footscray, 6pm, Phoenix Youth Centre on (03) 9091 4700, AA One Night Stand & Friends Underage Dance Party, Wah Wah Lounge, 185 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, 5pm – 10pm, $20 - $25, underage.com.au, U18 Tuesday July 3 Make Them Suffer w/ Signal The Firing Squad and Brooklyn, Musicman Megastore, 363 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo, AA Push FReeZA Summit 2012 – Ballarat, Mechanics Institute, 117 Sturt Street, Ballarat, 10am – 3pm, Free, The Push on (03) 9380 1277, AA The Naughty Corner w/ DJ’s Reece Low, Will Sparks and MC Rok-e, Wah Wah Lounge, 185 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, 5pm – 10pm, $25 $30, underage.com.au, U18
GS T GI TS A L AL VEN GB ! E E & THE FRE E AR
FRIDAY JUNE 29TH
SATURDAY 30/6, 6PM THE FUTURAS & BEN ROGERS INSTRUMENTAL ASYLUM 64 FALCON, 10PM
SUNDAY 1/7, 6PM
JACOB S. HARRIS & THE DISAPPOINTMENTS SATURDAY 7/7, 10PM
SCARLET GUNN SATURDAY 14/7, 10PM
THEE WYLDE OSCARS SATURDAY 21/7, 9PM
THE RECHORDS SATURDAY JUN 30
TH
THE MERCURIALS
FREE ENTRY ALWAYS!
TOWN HALL HOTEL 33 ERROL STREET, NORTH MELBOURNE (03) 9328 1983 FOR BAND BOOKINGS PLEASE CONTACT MILES: TOWNIEBANDS@GMAIL.COM
JUNE RESIDENCY ACOUSTIC SHOW FROM 8.30PM
THURS 28 JUNE
VINTAGE CINEMA 8:30PM
TUNES BY DUKE TEDESCO
SATURDAY JUNE 30 TERRY MCCARTHY SPECIAL
SUNDAY JUL 1ST
SUNDAY JUN 1ST BACKWOOD CREATURES
STELLA ANGELICO + MIDNIGHT BOSOM
2 SETS FROM 5 PM
SUN 1 JULY
MONDAY JUNE 2ND
TERESA DIXON + SAMARA CULLEN
WARREN EARL & THE ATOMIC ROCKERS
GREASY HAWAIIANS SUNDAY 22/7, 6PM
THURSDAY JUNE 28TH NICK MURPHY & FRIENDS
GREAT BRITAIN HOTEL
TH
ALBUM LAUNCH SHOW 2 SETS FROM 5PM
2 SETS
SECRET MONDAY ACOUSTIC SHOW
FROM 8.30 PM WITH GUEST MUSOS RD
289 WELLINGTON ST COLLINGWOOD 94195170 WWW.THEGEMBAR.COM.AU
TUESDAY JULY 3 JEB CARDWELL
(BACKWOODS CREATURES) JULY RESIDENCY ACOUSTIC FROM 8.30PM
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SAT 30 JUN
9PM
8PM
WEEKLY ASSORTMENTS MonDAYS
FREE POOL ALL NIGHT $10 PIZZA & POT
TueSDAYS
MRS SMITH’S TRIVIA $10 PIZZA & POT 9PM
WEDNESDAYS
OPEN MIC NIGHT 9PM
447 CHURCH ST RICHMOND 9429 5066 www.greatbritainhotel.com.au
• • • • • WEDNESDAY • • • • •
COMEDY TRIVIA QUIZ MEISTER Wed. June 27th:
FROM 8PM. GREAT PRIZES & GIVEAWAYS.
wine, whiskey, women
8pm: Beth Cleary 9pm: Zikora Thurs. June 28th:
8pm: Tim Cannon & friends Fri. June 29th:
• • • • • THURSDAY • • • • •
UNI NIGHT
DERBY THURSDYS
CHECK OUT DERBY THURSDAYS ON FACEBOOK.
6-8pm: Trad Irish Music Sesh with Dan Bourke & friends Sat. June 30th:
9pm: Tracy McNeil Sun. July 1st:
4pm: Heather Stewart Trio 6:30pm: Shannon Bourne (solo) Tues. July 3rd:
8pm: Weekly Trivia
“All Shows Always Free”
• • • • • SATURDAY • • • • •
SHE BAR
EVERY 2ND SATURDAY PRESENTS SHEBAR AN ALL GIRL NIGHT 9PM
• • • • • SUNDAY • • • • •
BBQ
STARTS 5PM TILL LATE
The Drunken Poet, 65 Peel Street (directly opposite Queen Vic Market), Phone: 03 9348 9797. www.thedrunkenpoet.com.au SUBMIT YOUR GIGS TO GIGGUIDE@BEAT.COM.AU
Beat Magazine Page 71
BACKSTAGE
COURSE PROFILE
QANTM
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THE PLACE FOR MUSICIANS
for more information or ad bookings call Aleksei on 9428 3600 • • • •
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to keep abreast of the latest developments in both game production and new technologies.
With what goal in mind was this course established? This course helps position students ahead of the pack when it comes to a career, ensuring students excel in the competitive and commercial environment that is the Gaming Industry. Students will compliment design theory with extensive practical work in the areas of art, scripting, testing, prototyping and serious game development.
What are some of the industry opportunities available to Qantm students? As with all Qantm courses it’s not all about the theory – there are plenty of practical projects for students to dive into plus insider knowledge, tips and advice from visiting industry experts. Qantm also maintains an international job placement/ internship program.
What learning modules does this course offer? The key areas of study include: games concept design, games strategy, the psychology of game play, script writing, character development, 3D design and animation and game level design as well as highly necessary critical and analytical skills associated with skills in communications design, project management, business and copyright law. What sets this course apart from other institutions offering similar courses? Aside from access to the latest gear and technology, Qantm offers students real opportunities with guest lecturers including key players in the Gaming industry. Qantm have also designed the course
Which Qantm campus is this course located? This course is offered at the Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth campuses, Qantm students can also relocate to any of the associated campuses internationally as can be seen via the Qantm website. Duration of the course? 24 months full time. Upcoming Open Days? Saturday 1st September 2012, 11am – 3pm.
Phone: (03) 8632 3450 Web: www.melbourne.qantm.com
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ZOLA JESUS, LIGHT ASYLUM Toff In Town, Saturday June 2
LIVE MODULAR PARTY: TOM VEK, KINDNESS, JONATHON BOULET Hi-Fi Bar, Thursday May 24 “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants,” said Isaac Newton when referring to claims he was the most influential scientist of his time. The reason that I am opening this review with that quote is that Sydney based label Modular is regarded as Australia’s coolest label, and it is many a musical giant who they reside upon the shoulders of. Tonight’s Modular showcase rested upon a giant of the past – Tom Vek, a giant of the future – Kindness, and a homegrown prince destined for big things – Jonathon Boulet. Sydneysider Jonathon Boulet was first on stage. His brand of hyper melodic ‘grunge’ created a wall of sound that seemed to stun the mostly chin-stroker crowd, industry and ‘scene’ types who had rocked up for Kindness. Boulet debuted many tracks from his upcoming album We Keep The Beat, Found The Sound, See The Need, Start The Heart (out now) with You’re An Animal being the proudest announcement of his new guitar-heavy direction. In between Boulet and Kindness, guest DJs Architecture In Helsinki played a suitably ironic pop set that lifted the mood of the now almost full venue; then the lanky, awkward yet strangely beautiful and graceful Adam Bainbridge – Kindness – walked onto the stage. Regarded as the buzz act of this year’s South By South West music conference, the UK’s Kindness did not let down Melbourne audiences. Opening with the song Cyan from this year’s World You Need A Change Of Mind the Bainbridge and his band then moved into their delicious cover of The Replacements Swinging Party. The sexual
ambiguity of this song’s lyrics seem like they were written for the androgynous frontman – “If bein’ wrong’s a crime, I’m serving forever / If bein’ strong’s your kind, then I need help here with this feather.” One criticism of Kindness’ set aired by one of the more aware members of crowd was that the 40-minute set consisted of too many covers – four in total. But, when Bainbridge interacted with a soul vocalist, they captured a beautiful sonic segment with their marriage of disco, soul, post-punk and the very now chillwave. Tom Vek’s set was dichotomous to say the least. The recently-turned-31 Vek has embraced a sharp Mad Menesque aesthetic and his on stage demeanor was on the professional side of boring. Flanked by a drummer and guitarist the live sound of hits CC (You Set The Fire In Me), Nothing But Green Lights and newish single Aroused bounced around the room with the utmost sonic accuracy. But the fact it was able to bounce so freely around the room was a comment on how the crowd had almost halved since Kindness had finished. Thank you Modular for bringing so many hip and edgy artists to my ears. Keep up the good work. DAN WATT LOVED: Kindness’ sexy aura. HATED: The staying power of the crowd (or lack thereof). DRANK: Other people’s beer.
Photos by Zo Gay
THE BAMBOOS Corner Hotel, Saturday June 16 To celebrate the release of their fifth long player Medicine Man, Melbourne soulsters The Bamboos played a soldout Saturday night launch party at The Corner Hotel in Richmond. So much buzz was created around this show that they had to add a second Melbourne date the following night to accommodate the many Melbournians eager to see the band kick off their Australia-wide Medicine Man tour. In support were local electro-pop darlings AXOLOTL whose blend of urban basslines, glitchy beats, experimental keys and angelic vocals courtesy of Ella Thompson provided an interesting contrast to the organic and classic soul sounds that were to follow courtesy of The Bamboos. Ella herself is a pleasure to watch as well as hear; her extravagant stage apparel and quiet confidence giving her an understated star quality. AXOLOTL fans certainly got plenty of bang for their buck, as no sooner had she finished playing with her main band she was back on stage singing for The Bamboos. She’s one of the many guest artists who lent their vocal talents for the recording of Medicine Man, including the title track itself. She’s backed up by the ‘main’ vocalist Kylie Auldi, who has one of those perfect soul voices: Rich, powerful and oh-so-sensual. The Bamboos is the brainchild of guitarist Lance Ferguson, who, as well as expertly crafting a heap of irresistibly danceable songs, has surrounded himself with some stellar musicians. That’s not even including
the guests he’s brought along tonight. The nine-piece band is unbelievably tight, and the sound engineers did an excellent job of mixing all the elements perfectly. The brass is bright, the drums heavy, the guitars are chunky and the vocals soar. They sound stunning. The celebratory, party atmosphere is heightened as throughout the set the guest vocalists make an appearance. Bobby Flynn did some expert crooning in his distinctive falsetto over the lusciously poppy Midnight, then the effortlessly sexy Megan Washington graced the stage to sing King Of The Rodeo and Eliza. Unfortunately Tim Rogers couldn’t be there to sing I Got Burned but Kylie sang it anyway – it’s too good a song not to play live. The biggest cheer came when superstar Daniel Merriweather came out to sing lead single I Never, which actually was a bit of an anticlimax. Being one of the more morose songs it seemed to kill the vibe created by the rousing soul and dirty funk displayed previously. A sublime version of Keep Me In Mind closed the set perfectly, leaving the audience grinning in the knowledge they just witnessed something special.
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then going on to perform full songs perched aloft on a stage monitor. Zola Jesus’s eclectic back catalogue was threaded together in a coherent manner, managing a stark dynamic between intense instrumentation and Danilova’s majestic vocals. Light Asylum ruled in the compact setting, Zola Jesus, however, deserved a more theatrical environment. LACHLAN KANONIUK LOVED: Light Asylum busting out Dark Allies was mindblowing. HATED: Forces being on too early, which tempted me to write about missing a support act for the first time ever. Also I think this was the first time this year I went more than a fortnight without seeing Forces. I really like Forces. DRANK: Whiskey.
TRIAL KENNEDY Corner Hotel, Saturday June 23 It was the last time. And you know what it’s like for the last time. Tears and fears and all the rest… But this time there was a lot of love, too. A lot of love for a band that has done the hard slug for over a decade on the Australian rock scene, who have made some darned fine tunes we can all sing along to and who are – at the end of it all – some really nice guys. In what would become an epic set for Trial Kennedy, the sold-out crowd swelled before they took the stage and waited with baited breath to see the last glimpse of the heroes they followed for so many years. Support band, My Echo, prefaced their appearance with a heartfelt, “It’s an honour to play tonight with Trial Kennedy, they are a great example of what Australian music is all about.” The set opened with Sunday Warning, instantly prompting the first of many sing-a-longs and just as many crowd-surfers. It was like Frenzal Rhomb at Homebake ’98 all over again. One wonders if the avid crowd-surfer did in fact have a TK tattoo on his arm or just an obsession with pointing to his bicep when frontman Tim Morrison happened to glance his way. The band genuinely seemed happy at the reception, with guitarist Stacey Gray saying, “Thanks for doing this for us,” and Morrison adding, “We’re gonna play as long as we’re physically able .” And that they did. 19 songs in total, the band pumped out the tunes, Morrison’s voice stretched to capacity, and the crowd loved every moment. All the favourites were there, like Best Of Tomorrow, Strange Behaviour and The Great Escape,
pleasing “all the people that were there with us from the start,” in Gray’s words. Colour Day Tours saw additional drums from My Echo, while original bassist Aaron Malcolmson joined his mates for his last two songs Tuesday Shoes and Warning. By the end of the set, the whole cohort was up there, every single musician from the evening’s festivities. There was definitely something poignant about this gig. Yes, they’re breaking up and that’s sad but it wouldn’t be quite so sad if they weren’t still such good buddies. A loving peck on the cheek nearing the end of the gig showed more than enough manlove to ensure this break-up was not one of “creative differences” – these guys had done the hard yards, and they were giving it up while they still had the choice. Trial Kennedy have some great songs, Morrison is a fantastic frontman and there is no denying Gray, drummer Shaun Gionis and newer member Richie Buxton are talented musicians. It is just a sad fact that in this musical climate, a prog-rock outfit budding with this much get-up-and-go still slips through the cracks. When Australia finally wakes up, they’re gonna kick themselves for not believing in Trial Kennedy. JEN WILSON LOVED: Feeling like more than just a fan. HATED: That we will never see them play together again! DRANK: Beer.
THIS EPIC TOUR:
KINGSWOOD VS MONEY FOR ROPE VS DAMN TERRAN
ADAM ROBERTSHAW LOVED: That The Bamboos brought the funk. HATED: The lack of room get ones funk on. DRANK: Carlton Draught.
MONEY FOR ROPE ASK KINGSWOOD:
AMON TOBIN Palace Theatre, Tuesday June 5 Ever since the introduction of Daft Punk’s famed pyramid light scheme in 2006, the contemporary electronic performance has been redefined and reinvented with the ideology of creating an enhanced multi-sensory experience. Whether it be Étienne de Crécy’s ‘The Cube’, Deadmau5’s ‘Rubiks Cube’ or even Skrillex’s ‘Monster’ shows, the emphasis has been placed upon creating a visual spectacular more profound than the lasers and strobes of ‘90s warehouse raves through harnessing the rapidly escalating advancements in technology and sky-rocketing production values (arguably compounded due to the ever-growing global mass-marketing of EDM). However, it could be argued that few contemporary live interpretations ever reached an aural, visual and intellectual symbiosis. ISAM, the brainchild of the Brazilian electronic luminary, is the live accompaniment of Tobin’s seventh studio album (Invented Sounds Applied To Music), and was created with the intention to literally immerse him within the aural and visual presentation of the album. An aweinspiring physical structure of cubic symmetries, ISAM is a revolutionary product of audiovisual synthesis through the implementation of advanced video-mapping technology. As Tobin’s 90 minute extravaganza began, the rumbling of the overbearing sub-bass sent warnings to the soldout Palace crowd that this experience was intended to be sensorial whilst confronting. Beginning with ISAM’s opening track Journeyman, Tobin moved fluently through further singular tracks (Kitty Kat, Goto 10, Lost & Found), whilst occasionally dabbling within his previous works before concluding with the ghostly Horsefish from his
It was the logical conclusion to the night. Closing out her encore, Nika Roza Danilova bounded across the Toff stage like an entrapped beast – pinballing from wall to wall without a falter in that incredible voice. The Toff In Town was too small for Zola Jesus tonight. New York duo Light Asylum were relentless, stunning the packed Toff into submission. Euphorically loud, vocalist Shannon Funchess and Bruno Coviello provided an astounding display of harrowing synthpop, with Funchess’ incredible voice providing a captivating symbiosis with the machinegun assault of synth beats. In comparison, the night’s headliner was relatively quiet. Stretching beyond purely synthesised instrumentation, Zola Jesus’ live band setting didn’t quite pack the punch of Light Asylum – the intimate surrounds inhibiting the band’s propensity to soar. There were stages throughout the performance where Danilova disappeared underneath the hedge of frontline crowd members,
2007 album The Foley Room. Musically – the show was seamless, if not at times slightly overbearing. Anyone immersed with Tobin’s expansive back-catalogue is wellversed in his penchant for compositional dexterity and chameleonic progression, shifting from his signature ethereal soundscapes to bass-heavy undertows and intricate electronica. However, the star of the show was indisputably the visuals. Sonic journeys into galaxies far beyond transformed into waves of oscillation before descending into the fiery pits of a demonic hell, whilst the cubes themselves would deform and dissolve before disintegrating and rebuilding – ever so rarely exposing Tobin in the heart of the structure – a solemn reminder that human innovations where the fundamental core of the seemingly supernatural spectacular. At times the over-complexities of the aural and visual elements discernibly detracted from one another, and indeed – with the level viral hype of shows akin to ISAM – preconceived expectations are rarely exceeded, but Tobin’s multimedia masterpiece will undoubtedly be regaled as one of the definitive works of contemporary sonic performances – and forever etched into the memory of those whom witnessed it. TYSON WRAY LOVED: Lachlan (Lechlan [Lachlun {Landmonster}]) supplying me with earplugs partway into the show. HATED: That girl who stole my scarf from Hell’s Kitchen. DRANK: The elixir of the melted minds surrounding me.
1. If there was a god, which member in your band would he replace? Firstly, you never know – we could be super religious, in which case we would be offended by your question. Maybe the B side to our single Yeah Go Die is called Oh Wait, He’s Alive. (It’s also on our Easter Miracle EP, with guest vocals from ‘the’ Chad Kroeger). You also assume that this god... sorry it’s ‘God’ actually, is a male. Maybe God is a sweet babe who gave us all life? In this case she would also play drums so she would have toned arms, which is everyone’s favourite. She would replace Justin, who would remain a part of the group as a lights/merch guy, in turn replacing cousin Jimmy, who would then get back on the heroin for two years until he finds God...... So, just to be clear, it would be Justin. 2. Two cars are travelling in opposite directions at approx 100kmh, how many beers will Money For Rope steal from your rider? Being in the epic tour wagon travelling at 100kmph and realising that our rider was raided the night before, we wave down the car heading in the opposite direction and say “Hey, you guys want some cheap musical equipment? It was once used by Money For Rope.”
KINGSWOOD ASK DAMN TERRAN: 1. Do you have to be depressed to write a sad song? Do you have to be in love to write a love song? Is a song better if it actually happened to you? Like Rebels, where did you write it, and what is it about? Good question. If you can empathise with people and have a good imagination then I’m sure you can write authentic songs about love, depression, or whatever. As for whether songs are better if they actually happen, I kinda hope it’s
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not necessary. The prospect that some of Frank Zappa’s tunes are based on real events is disturbing – Why Does It Hurt When I Pee and Dynamo Hum are good examples. Our latest single Rebels was born out of frustration with mainstream climate change campaigning in Australia. The most influential and well-resourced environment groups were willing to ‘say yes’ to whatever the government was offering, despite the yawning gulf between what was on the table and what is needed to address climate change. The band collaborated on the lyrics based on that critique. 2. Do you think there will ever be a boy born that can swim faster than a shark? If humans perfect and embrace genetic engineering then it’s a possibility.
DAMN TERRAN ASK MONEY FOR ROPE: 1. Tell me about Misery Lane. Who’s been breakin’ your hearts? Everyone’s been breaking our hearts. I go down the street, I’m like, “200 grams of honey leg ham thanks.” She says, “Sorry hun, not today.” I go, “How ‘bout the chicken breast?” She’s like, “Sorry hun, not today. Any thigh?” “Sorry luv, deli’s closed.” I go back tomorrow. 2. Word on the street is that you guys have an album in the works... Give us every little detail! You have your ear to the ground. Look out! There’s a bus coming! But yeah, I think it’ll be coming out independently this September. KINGSWOOD, MONEY FOR ROPE and DAMN TERRAN take This Epic Tour to The Workers Club for two explosive rock-filled nights this Thursday June 28 and Friday June 29. Get amongst it.