CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 3
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 4
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
1SZMIW 'SQMGW %RMQI 2SZIPW 7GM ½ +EQIW ;VIWXPMRK 'SQTW *YR
*VIIQE %K]IQER
%PI\ERHIV 0YH[MK 1MGLEIP 6SSOIV
*MRR .SRIW
'V]WXEP 6IIH %RH WS QER] QSVI
1IPFSYVRI 7LS[KVSYRHW %TVMP [ [ [ W Y T E R S Z E G S Q E Y ts or e k c Ti e do h g h at rt throu o
*IEXYVMRKf 8LI %YWXVEPMER 8MQI^SRI 7YTERSZE 4MRFEPP 'LEQTMSRWLMT
%PP KYIWXW GSR½VQIH LIEPXL ERH SXLIV GSQQMXQIRXW TIRHMRK 1YWX FI EGGSQTERMIH F] E TE]MRK EHYPX
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 5
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 6
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
giveaway head to: beat.com.au/freeshit
WIN A 32” HD TV, BLU-RAY PLAYER & CARRIE ON BLU-RAY
WIN!
C
arrie, based on Stephen King's best selling novel, is one of the most wellknown horror stories of all time and is single-handedly responsible for making high school dances a thing of terror. Carrie White, a shy girl shunned by her schoolmates and sheltered by her deeply religious mother, unleashes telekinetic terror on her town after being pushed too far at her senior prom. This year Carrie has been reimagined and stars Chloë Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore. It's
available now on Blu-ray, with an exclusive, never seen before alternative ending, and DVD. But you can’t watch a horror film on Blu-ray without a Blu-ray player. And you can’t use a Blu-ray player without a TV. So the Beat wants to give you both. Yep, Furst Media has one Panasonic 32” HD LED TV and one Panasonic Blu-ray Player to give to one of our lucky readers, as well as ten copies of Carrie on Blu-ray for the runners-up.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
To enter, just scoot on over to beat.com. au/freeshit and tell us the first film you would watch on your TV and Blu-ray player.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 7
FRIDAY THE 4TH OF APRIL 9PM
ICE ON MERCURY (SA) WITH GUESTS:
X
QV
RW
%U
HO
SUDDEN STATE RIOT IN TOYTOWN FOLLOW NO RULES SATURDAY THE 5TH OF APRIL 9PM
)5,'$< $35,/ 30
CUERVO (SYD)
1$+8$7/ 6281' 6<67(0
WITH GUESTS
ROBOT CHILD LEOPARD SLUG OPTICAL SCREW
ZLFN +
SUNDAY THE 6TH OF APRIL MIDDAY WEDNESDAY THE 2ND OF APRIL 8PM
SCORCHERFEST FEATURING:
THE BRUNSWICK HOTELâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OPEN MIC WITH YOUR HOST BRODIE WHETHER YOU PLAY A COMEDIAN, POET, MUSICIAN OR DANCER, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE AT THE BRUNNY EVERY WEDNESDAY! REGISTER FROM 7PM ONWARDS TIMESLOT RAFFLE IS DRAWN OUT AT 7:30PM
GET IN EARLY TO ENSURE YOU GET A SPOT! $10 JUGS OF BOAGS DRAUGHT ALL NIGHT THURSDAY THE 3RD OF APRIL 8PM TILL 1AM $3 SCHOONERS OF BOAGS DRAUGHTâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;$5 BASIC SPIRITS
8PM THE GROVES
YOUNG EZY, BENNY BOI, AWOMADAH FIG, WILMA LA, SHANNEN HUNTER, BAREFOOT BISCUIT, JEMMA NICOLE, LE FAY, AMBER YOUNG, CALIFORNIAN COUSIN, A DAY OF STORMS, STEVENSONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ROCKET, ASTROTURF (ROCK GRUNGE) MONDAY THE 7TH OF APRIL 8PM
PASSIONATE TONGUES POETRY HOSTED BY MICHAEL REYNOLDS OPEN STAGE READINGS AND SPOKEN WORD WELCOME
$10 JUGS OF BOAGS DRAUGHT
THE BRAVES THE IVORY ELEPHANT KUNG FU IN TECHNICOLOUR
THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL DISCOVERY NIGHT GIVING CHANCES TO UP AND COMING LOCAL TALENT!
THIS WEEK: THE LYX, BRIDGITTE JESSOP, DAVID CRAFT
FRONT BAR â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 10:30PM
AUSTRALIAN KINGSWOOD FACTORY 9:30PM
MR LOB DJâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;7PM
6/,0 ',0( 7+( 35$,5,( .,1*6 /,.( +233(' 83 &2: )2/. 21 $ +21.<721. %(1'(5 30
7+( '$9,'621 %527+(56 7+26( $:$5' :,11,1* %527+(56 ,1
%/8(*5$66 $5( %$&. 3/$<,1* 7+( +(&. 287
2) $1<7+,1* :,7+ 675,1*6 )81 83%($7 $1'
681 $35,/ 30
7+( /,77/( 6,67(56
+$5021,(6 *$/25( )520 7+(6( &28175< )2/.67(56
140 SYDNEY RD, BRUNSWICK
Brunswick Hotel
FRI 4 APR MCALPINEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S FUSILIERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S
6$785'$< $35,/ 30
683(5/$7,9( %$17(5
TUESDAY THE 8TH OF APRIL 8PM
WITH GUESTS
352'8&(' %< 0(;,&$1 %251 $1' 0(/%2851( %$6(' )(51$1'2 3(5(= 1$+8$7/ 6281' 6<67(0u6 25,*,1$/ $1' 5(%(/ 6281' ,6 $ 32:(5)8/ $1' (1(5*< )8(//(' %/(1' 2) '8% 7(&+12 ',*,7$/ &80%,$ 0,;,1* $=7(. $1' 75$',7,21$/ 0(;,&$1 5+<7+06 :,7+ )8785( 7(&+12/2*<
www.brunswickhotel.net
SAT 5TH APR AUSTIN BUSCH
SUN 6TH APR DE LA CALLE
KINGSTON CROWN
NICE CREW
BEER GARDEN â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4PM
FRONT BAR -5PM
FRONT BAR â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9:30PM
DJ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3PM
OBLIVEUS DJ â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7PM
THE PENNY BLACK MARKETS ARE BACK! THIS SATURDAY 5TH OF APRIL FROM 9AM
TUE 8TH APR MOVIE NIGHT: ALMOST FAMOUS 8:30PM
SPECIALS: $4 PIZZAS MONDAY & TUESDAY ALL DAY, WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY 12PM TO 5PM WEDNESDAY: $12 STEAKS FROM 5PM THURSDAY: $12 BURGERS FROM 5PM
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 8
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
FEATURING MUSIC FROM HANSON’S BRAND NEW ALBUM, ANTHEM
TUESDAY AUGUST 5 BRISBANE TIVOLI THEATRE TICKETMASTER.COM.AU
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6 GOLD COAST COOLANGATTA HOTEL OZTIX.COM.AU
FRIDAY AUGUST 8 SYDNEY ENMORE THEATRE PREMIER.TICKETEK.COM.AU
SATURDAY AUGUST 9 MELBOURNE PALAIS THEATRE TICKETMASTER.COM.AU
TUESDAY AUGUST 12 ADELAIDE HQ OZTIX.COM.AU
FRIDAY AUGUST 15 FREMANTLE METROPOLIS OZTIX.COM.AU
ON SALE WEDNESDAY APRIL 9 ANTHEM
AVAILABLE AT ALL DIGITAL OUTLETS FROM APRIL 4
HANSON.NET XIIITOURING.COM CHUGGENTERTAINMENT.COM
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 9
Wednesday 2nd April
Simply Acoustic 7:00pm Wesley Anne Band Room $free
DAY
MON
WINE & O RO 9 $ .9
Thursday 3rd April
Austin Brady
9
6:00pm Free in the front bar folk /blues
Thursday 3rd April
Gian Slater Still Still Album Launch w/ Nathan Slater & Christopher Hale 8:00pm Wesley Anne Band Room, $15/$12
THE SP RTING CLUB
M
2 FORON- FRI AND 1 MAIN OF B $14 JUG S OAG S GY S AND BEFO PSY R E 6PM
Wed April 2
Trivia with Jay and Duane
Friday 4th April
at 8pm
Flying Engine Trio Thurs April 3
6:00pm Free in the Front Bar
Richie 1250 plays his favourite songs
Friday 4th April
Songwriters in the Sound 8:00pm Wesley Anne Band Room
Saturday 5th April
Fri April 4
TUES
A grain of Truth
$
1:00pm Wesley Anne Band Room $free
10
DJ Ratbag takes the trash out!
S
ER BURG
OR (BEEF MI) U O HAL
Saturday 5th April
Elbow Room Series 3:00pm Wesley Anne Band Room, $10
Saturday 5th April
Community Service
Sat April 5
DJ Mantooth keeps it old school
Special guests 7:30pm Wesley Anne Band Room, $20
Sun April 6
Darling James Duo
Sunday 6th April
play from 8pm
David Bramble Album Launch/Going to America Gig, Weeping Willows 2:00pm, $7
ITS A FOLK AFFAIR Enda Kenny, Michael Waugh and Zoe Fox 6:00pm Wesley Anne Band Room, $12/10
Monday 7th April
Wesley Anne’s Laugh
/LAJ mon - thu
8:00pm
3pm till late
Tuesday 8th April
Fri-sat noon till late
MELBOURNE MAGIC NIGHTS
sunday noon till 11pm
Wednesday 9th April
WED
14 OAGS FB O JUGS IDER ALL C D AN IGHT N $
5:00pm Wesley Anne Band Room $free
Simply Acoustic 7:00pm Wesley Anne Band Room $free
$14 jugs. And 2 for 1 selected mains, weekdays before 6pm and All day Monday. wesleyanne com au
27 WESTON ST, BRUNSWICK Tues - Fri 4pm till Late Sat & Sun 12pm till Late
EDINBURGH CASTLE E D I U GIG G
EC SPECIA LS MONDAYS Roo & Wine $1199 TUESDAYS Chilli Chewsday $10 WEDNESDAYS Burger Night $9 / $10 THURSDAYS Wings & Jug $20 FRIDAYS 2 for 1
WED FRI SAT 2 4 5 APR APR APR Melbourne Oliver The Ukulele Paterson Islands Kollective 6pm with Beginners’ Reckless DJ Class 6pm Pedale June & Automatic Mrs 8pm EverySmith’s where Trivia 8pm 8pm
SUN 6 APR DJ Dustin 5pm
TUES 8 APR Beyond the Bathroom Choir 7.30pm $10
Azlan ann sters Posters facebook.com/azlanposters
FOLLOW US: FACEBOOK.COM/EDCASTLEBRUNSWICK 681 SYDNEY ROAD BRUNSWICK VIC 3056
PH: 03 9386 7580
EMAIL: ECBOOKINGS@GMAIL.COM
WWW.EDINBURGHCASTLE.NET.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 10
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
ASK US AB DISC OUT OUR OUNT COMP S LIME FOR NTS!
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 11
IN THIS ISSUE
14
HOT TALK
18
TOURING
20
SAM SIMMONS
22
WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON,
24
ART OF THE CITY,
LEGO MOVIE
THE COMIC STRIP 26
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE
35
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH
36
DAN SULTAN, KAISER CHIEFS, SEUN KUTI AND THE EGYPT 80
DAN SULTAN page 36
37
KAISER CHIEFS page 36
CHANCE WATERS, DMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S, PETE ROCK
38
MEAT PUPPETS, DRUNK MUMS, JIMI GOODWIN
39
CORE/CRUNCH!
40
MUSIC NEWS
46
ALBUM OF THE WEEK, SINGLES, CHARTS
JIMI GOODWIN page 38 3 NEWTON STREET RICHMOND, VICTORIA 3121 Phone: (03) 9428 3600 Fax: (03) 9428 3611 email: info@beat.com.au www.beat.com.au BEAT MAGAZINE EMAIL ADDRESSES: (no large attachments please): Gig Guide: online at beat.com.au email gigguide@beat.com.au - itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free! Club Listings: online at beat.com.au email clubguide@beat.com.au - itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free! Music News Items: music@beat.com.au Artwork: art@beat.com.au Beat Classifieds 33c a word: classiďŹ eds@beat.com.au
DRUNK MUMS page 38
CHANCE WATERS page 37
PUBLISHER: Furst Media Pty Ltd. MUSIC EDITOR: Ali Hawken ARTS EDITOR / ASSOCIATE MUSIC EDITOR: Tyson Wray SIT-DOWN COMEDIAN: Nick Taras INTERNS: Mimi Velevska, Julian Douglas, Keats Mulligan, James Nicoli, Edgar Ivan, Katy Maximos MANAGING DIRECTOR, FURST MEDIA: Patrick Carr BEAT PRODUCTION MANAGER: Patrick Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Patrick Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, Gill Tucker, Ruby Furst COVER ART: Gill Tucker ADVERTISING: Ali Hawken (Music: Bands/Tours/Record Labels) ali@beat.com.au Ash Bartlett (Beats/Beat/Arts/Education/Ad Agency) ash@beat.com.au Aleksei Plinte (Backstage/ Musical Equipment) mixdown@beat.com.au Thom Parry (Hospitality/Bars) thom@beat.com.au Kris Furst (beat.com.au) kris@furstmedia.com.au Dan Watt (Indie Bands/Special Features) dan@beat.com.au CLASSIFIEDS: classiďŹ eds@beat.com.au GIG GUIDE SUBMISSIONS: now online at www.beat.com.au or bands email gigguide@beat.com.au
ELECTRONIC EDITOR - BEAT ONLINE: Tyson Wray: tyson@beat.com.au ACCOUNTANT: accountant@furstmedia.com.au OFFICE MANAGER: Lizzie Dynon: reception@furstmedia.com.au ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: Luke Forester: accounts@furstmedia.com.au RECEPTION: reception@furstmedia.com.au DISTRIBUTION: distribution@beat.com.au Free Every Wednesday to over 1,850 places including convenience stores, newsagents, ticket outlets, shopping centres, community youth & welfare outlets, clubs, hotels, venues, record, music and video shops, boutiques, retailers, bars, restaurants, cafes, bookstores, hairdressers, recording studios, cinemas, theatres, galleries, universities and colleges. Wanna get BEAT? Email distribution@beat.com.au DEADLINES Editorial Copy accepted no later than 5pm Thursday before publication for Club listings, Arts, Gig Guide etc. Advertising Copy accepted no later than 12pm Monday before publication. Print ready art by 2pm Monday. Deadlines are strictly adhered to.
47
ALBUMS
48
GIG GUIDE
52
BACKSTAGE, THE LOCAL
54
LIVE
Cassandra Kiely, Charles Newbury, Richard Sharman, Tony Proudfoot. SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR: Christie Eliezer SENIOR CONTRIBUTORS: Patrick Emery COLUMNISTS: Emily Kelly, Peter Hodgson, Lachlan Kanoniuk CONTRIBUTORS: Mitch Alexander, Siobhan Argent, Bella ArnottHoare, Thomas Bailey, Graham Blackley, Chris Bright, Joanne BrookďŹ eld, Avrille Bylock-Collard, Rose Callaghan, Kim Croxford, Dave Dawson, John Donaldson, Alexandra Duguid, Alasdair Duncan, Cam Ewart, Callum Fitzpatrick, Jack Franklin, Chris Girdler, Megan Hanson, Chris Harms, Andrew Hickey, Nick Hilton, Peter Hodgson, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Cassandra Kiely, Joshua Kloke, Nick Mason, Krystal Maynard, Miki McLay, Jeremy Millar, James Nicoli, Oliver Pelling, Matt Panag, Jack Parsons, Sasha Petrova, Liam Pieper, Steve Phillips, Zoe Radas, Adam Robertshaw, Joanna Robin, Leigh Salter, Side Man, Jeremy Sheaffe, Sisqo Taras, Kelly Theobald, Tamara Vogl, Dan Watt, Katie Weiss, Krissi Weiss, Rod WhitďŹ eld, Jen Wilson, Tyson Wray, Simone Ziada, Bronius Zumeris. Š 2013 Furst Media Pty Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the consent of the copyright holder.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Mary Boukouvalas, Ben Clement, Ben Gunzburg, Rebecca Houlden, Nick Irving, Anna Kanci,
%$< &,7< %855,72 63(&,$/
385&+$6( $ %855,72 $ 0(;,&$1 %((5 25 -$55,726 62'$ )25 $QG GRQ¡W IRUJHW RXU +DSS\ +RXU 6SHFLDO 'XULQJ SP EX\ D œ%XFNHW RI %HHUV¡ DQG JHW RXU IDPRXV 1DFKRV /RFRV IRU )5(( 6WUHHW WDFRV DUH DOVR RQO\ GXULQJ WKLV WLPH
&20( 9,6,7 86 $7 285 67 .,/'$ 25 +$:7+251 /2&$7,216 BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 12
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
Need identification in a hurry? Get an Australia Post Keypass identity card. Same-day service available at Level 6, 20 Queen Street, Melbourne. Come in with your completed application form, ID photo and correct documentation before 4pm on a weekday and your card will be processed on the same day.
Use your Keypass to*: • Enter 18+ venues • Purchase 18+ goods and services • Open a store or gym account Download a form from auspost.com.au/keypass
*
Australia Post has no control over where Keypass will be accepted. Keypass is not accepted in NSW or WA.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 13
HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au Allday
GROOVIN THE MOO With only a few weeks until Groovin’ the Moo kicks off, organisers have announced a slew of additional artists. Adelaide rapper Allday leads the charge, with Linsday ‘The Doctor’ McDougall, Jake Stone (Bluejuice), and Tommy Franklin rounding out the additions to the national tour. Groovin’ the Moo has also announced local acts for each leg of the tour.
JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN Joan As Police Woman has announced she will be returning to Australia this June. Joan has been restless ever since her last sold-out Australian tour in 2011, and the release of that year’s album The Deep Field. She’s starred in a BBC produced celebration of the music of Sandy Denny and appeared on Orchestral Variations V.01 by The Separate (aka producer/engineer Rob Kirwan), reimaging The Smiths’ The Night Has Opened My Eyes. She also returned to the studio to create her most recent LP, The Classic. Now she is bringing the new record to Australia for a string of shows. Catch Joan As Police Woman when she takes over the Melbourne Recital Centre on Friday June 27.
CHELA To celebrate the release of her Zero EP, Chela has announced she will be returning home for a string of tour dates beginning next month. Just a week ago Chela made her US debut at SXSW where she danced up a storm at showcases including IHEARTCOMIX, Aussie BBQ, The Green Room, Kitsuné and of course Vitalic Noise. This follows her second collaboration with Kitsuné on her Zero EP. The full EP features remixes from Keljet, Knuckle G, Nick Lynar, Sable and Clancy. Now Chela is returning to our shores for a seven-stop string of shows.
BEST OF BOTH SIDES
KARNIVOOL
Best Of Both Sides Festival will return to Melbourne this April. Hosted over five days, over three venues, the festival will see the best of Melbourne’s bands and DJs battle it out at each venue – Lucky Coq, The Penny Black, and Bimbo Deluxe. Feature artists include Melbourne Techno Collective (MTC), Psyde Projects, Davy Simony, Prairie Nischler, Henry Shanks, DJ extraordinaire Silversix, Spacey Space and DJ Ahab. RMIT Arts students will kick off the festival on the north side, The Penny Black and Bimbo Deluxe, with their visual spectacle Melbourne Music Video Festival. Best Of Both Sides Festival will be held at The Penny Black, Bimbo Deluxe and Lucky Coq from Thursday April 17 – Monday April 21. Tickets, including a full line-up, can be found through bestofbothsides.com.au.
Ahead of their Groovin’ The Moo appearances this April/ May, Perth titans Karnivool recently announced sideshows. Formed back in ‘97, the quintet ensnared our hearts with their prog-rock hits Set Fire to the Hive and All I Know in ‘09. Recently they released their third LP Asymmetry, which received two ARIA nominations – one for Best Hard Rock/ Heavy Metal Album and the other for Best Australian Live Act for their Asymmetry 2013 tour. Karnivool will breathe life into The Palace Theatre on Thursday May 1. Tickets are on sale through karnivool.com.au.
KIM CHURCHILL Singer songwriter and guitarist Kim Churchill has announced he will be hitting the road this May and June for a 16-date Australian tour. The run of dates will take in all capital cities and regional areas including Newcastle, Byron Bay, Gold Coast and Wagga Wagga. Currently touring Canada, the Australian dates see Kim returning home in support of his latest single Window to The Sky and his forthcoming fourth studio album Silence / Win, which is set to drop this May. Catch Kim Churchill when he plays Northcote Social Club on Friday May 23. Tickets go on sale Monday March 31 through Musicglue.
WWW.THEPUBLICBAR.COM.AU
238 VICTORIA ST, NORTH MELBOURNE
BEECHWORTH MUSIC FESTIVAL
OPEN TIL 7AM FRI/SAT
WEDNESDAY 2ND APRIL SCARLETT LASHES, POPOLICE, CURE MOTEL, OK SURE 8:30PM $8 THURSDAY 3RD APRIL ADRIAN WHYTE, ONE BIRD ONE STONE ADAM COAD 8:30PM $7 FRIDAY 4TH APRIL RIGHT MIND, SICK MACHINE, REMOVALIST, BOMBS ARE FALLING, MIDWIFE, XUPPERCUTX, CROOKED PATH 8:30PM $10 2AM SLOT: THE MORNING NIGHT FREE ENTRY SATURDAY 5TH APRIL RICE IS NICE RECORDS PRESENT: TERRIBLE TRUTHS, SUMMER FLAKE, CONSTANT MONGREL, ANGIE 8:30PM $10 2AM SLOT: HEADS OF CHARM FREE ENTRY SUNDAY 6TH APRIL COOPERS & SAILOR JERRY PRESENT: SUNDAY SCHOOL W/ OLD MATE (SA), GOLD CLASS (BONE/NTH WHEEL), VELCRO, BLACK VACATION 4PM FREE MONDAY 7TH APRIL CLOSED TUESDAY 8TH APRIL FACT HUNT TRIVA METALLICA SPECIAL 7:30PM FREE
The line up for the Beechworth Musical Festival 2014 has just been announced. Headlined by The Bennies, this day and night of music and free camping is taking place at Madman’s Gully Ampitheatre in the Mayday Hills in Beechworth on Saturday May 10. The line up also boasts D D Dumbo, Teeth & Tounge, Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk, Sun God Replica, My Left Boot, Batpiss, The Hounds Homebound, The Rubber Band, Benny Williams, Liv Cartledge plus more. Tickets and info via beechworthmusicfestival.com. Early bird tickets on sale now.
VIVID LIVE The second Vivid LIVE lineup has landed, with a fresh batch of artists and performers announced to join the likes of Pixies, Giorgio Moroder and the Australian Chamber Orchestra with The Presets at the 18-day festival beginning in late May. Lauryn Hill will make her first appearances in Australia, while the likes of St. Vincent, Anna Calvi and the effervescent James Vincent McMorrow will make their Sydney Opera House debuts. Jonti is set to pay tribute to The Avalanches’ iconic Since I Left You record, while Goodgod Small Club will host South Africa’s Penny Penny.
KITCHEN OPEN:
TUES - FRI 5PM - 9PM SAT - SUN 12PM - 9PM
WWW.MISSKATIESCRABSHACK.COM
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 14
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
$
THE PRICE IS RIGHT
$
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
VICTORIAN ROLLER DERBY LEAGUE BOUT #2
Tiny Ruins
I can’t skate for shit. It’s honestly really embarrassing. When I was six my friend Thomas had a birthday party at a skating rink and I was so scared of falling that I held on to the barrier the whole time. My dad was really ashamed of me and drove off before the end of the party. I haven’t seen him since :( Anyway, I saw that Whip It movie with Ellen Page and Drew Barrymore and I can confirm that roller derby is awesome. Get ready for some sweet Victorian Roller Derby League action at Darebin Community Sports Stadium, YMCA (it’s fun to stay at the…!) on Saturday April 12. Game 1 is Rock Mobsters vs Dead Ringer Rosies and Game 2 is Dolls of Hazzard vs Toxic Avengers. This will be unlike anything you’ve ever seen, and we have some double passes to give away. Dad, if you win tickets to this, can I pls come with you? I miss you :(
THE USED ‘The Used are, unfortunately, way past their useby date’ said no reviewer ever! lol! The band’s latest album, Imaginary Enemy, is out on Friday April 4 and it already has been receiving some glowing reviews. Imaginary Enemy is rumoured to be armed with Bert McCracken’s signature razor sharp vocals and his usual poignant lyrics. Last here for the Vans Warped Tour, we have some copies to give away.
ST VINCENT
THE MELBOURNE FOLK CLUB Having just sold out their launch show a month in advance, The Melbourne Folk Club are hosting a special pre-launch concert on April 14 from 7.30pm featuring acclaimed New Zealand act Tiny Ruins and special guests The Tiger and Me. The Melbourne Folk Club is Melbourne’s new go-to live music event having just announced an impressive April/May program featuring Jordie Lane, Liz Stringer, Grand Salvo, Marlon Williams, Mick Thomas, Melody Pool, Sweet Jean, Davey Lane, Davidson Brothers and The Little Stevies. This will be Tiny Ruins’ only Australian show previewing her new album Brightly Painted One, out on Spunk in Australia on May 2. Presented by Heartstop Music, Mountain Goat Brewery and Beat Magazine, The Melbourne Folk Club will run every Wednesday night at Bella Union in Carlton, presenting the finest local and touring folk acts in an intimate and attentive environment. Tickets and Membership from themelbournefolkclub.com.
Announced yesterday for Vivid LIVE, St. Vincent aka Annie Clark has locked in a Melbourne show. Clark recently released her self-titled fourth studio record which took out our Album of the Week, of which our reviewer stated, “Warbling strings drench throughout St Vincent, invoking memories, demented, of Disney scores, iconoclastic and nostalgic. Annie Clark ascends to the throne, more maleficent than princess fair, a ruler both wicked and wry.” Catch her at Howler on Thursday May 22.
Head to beat.com.au/freeshit to win.
FOX & FOWL
KING PARROT
HIGH ON FIRE
After smashing it at SXSW Festival this month, Melbourne heroes King Parrot will be returning to home turf this April. King Parrot have been stunning audiences for years with their unique brand of grind-thrash-punk chaos that makes circle pits look like organised chaos. Their recent debut LP Bite Your Head Off, which received the Best Heavy Album Award at last year’s The Age Newspaper Music Awards, as well as the Act of the Year at the Cherry Bar Jagermeister Awards, is a grisly 11-track album that has garnered them international attention. King Parrot will return to the Corner Hotel on Thursday May 8.
Doom metal legends, High On Fire, are returning to Australia this July. Birthed from the demise of stoner doom band Sleep, High On Fire originate from Oakland, California, where they have crafted masterpieces of metal. Intricate, riff-dedicated and outright brutal, High On Fire have produced six albums during their 16-year-long career, including Surrounded by Thieves (2002), Death Is This Communion (2007) and De Vermis Mysteriis (2012). High On Fire will play at The Hi-Fi on Saturday July 19. Tickets are through The Hi-Fi.
Canberra-come-Brisbane-based Fox & Fowl have just announced the release of their debut self-titled EP on MGM to be released April 18, and have also announced tour dates of the East Coast. With comparisons to The Jungle Giants, Vampire Weekend, Foals and Cloud Control, Fox & Fowl are headed for big things in 2014. Recorded at Airlock Studios in Brisbane by Yanto Browning (Art of Sleeping, The Medics, The Jungle Giants) Fox & Fowl quickly became local heroes in Canberra in 2011 after scoring a slot on the main stage of the Foreshore Music Festival, playing alongside Gotye, Boy & Bear and Gypsy & The Cat. The EP tour will bring the band to Black Night Crash on May 24 with Young Maverick as support. Tickets at the door, doors at 8pm.
LIKE US THEESPYSTKILDA
THE ESPLANADE HOTEL 11 THE ESPLANADE ST KILDA P. 9534 0211 WWW.ESPY.COM.AU
FOLLOW US @ESPYHOTEL
TICKETS VIA THEESPY.OZTIX.COM.AU
THU
03
BASEMENT {FREE!}
FRONT BAR {FREE!}
EVIL BEAVER(USA)
JAPAN MUSIC FESTIVAL
101A, KAIMOKUJISHO, APRIL JILL, SPARKY QUANO, DOORS 8.30PM FRI
04
FRONT BAR {FREE!}
05
LUNATICS ON POGOSTICKS KYLESA(USA)
I EXIST, BROOZER, CLAGG DOORS 9PM
FRONT BAR {FREE!}
GERSHWIN {$15+BF}
FLYYING COLOURS
A MAN,THE MORNING NIGHT APRIL I, THE HELLHOUNDS,PHIL PARA. DOORS 6PM SUN
06
DOORS 9PM
GERSHWIN
SPECIAL GUESTS APRIL + DOORS 9PM SAT
12FU, LIQUOR SNATCH, THE OUTFIT
GERSHWIN {FREE!}
ELECTRIC MARY
PALACE OF THE KING
BASEMENT {FREE!}
BOVEDA
LANKS, COLOUR WAVES BELOVED ELK, DEAR PLASTIC
BASEMENT {$15 PRE/$20 DOOR }
WAKEFIELD FEST ACOUSTIC & INDIE MUSIC
MASSIVE. DOORS 9PM
DALE RYDER BAND, GARY EASTWOOD EXPRESS
ROC LANDERS APRIL DJ FROM 5.30PM MONDAYS
‘MONDAYS COVERED’ FT. SIMON WRIGHT + GUESTS 7PM
THURS 10 APRIL J BOOG T-RHYTHM JESS I & RAS CRUCIAL 8:30PM, PRE $55+BF
RESIDENCIES {ALL FREE!}
TUESDAYS
‘BRIGHTSIDE’ BAYSIDE MUSO NITE 7.30PM
FRI 11 APRIL @PEACE (NZ) N’FA JONES +MORE 9PM / FREE!
WEDNESDAYS
SATURDAYS
‘COLLAGE’ UNSIGNED MUSO NITE 7.30PM
COMING UP THURS 17 APRIL SAT 19 APRIL SHIHAD (NZ) VILLAINY(NZ) MY ECHO PRE $28+BF
GLORYHAMMER LAGERSTEIN BANE OF WINTERSTORM AQUILUS / PRE $25+BF
PHIL PARA BAND FROM 6PM HELLHOUNDS FROM 9PM
SAT 19 APRIL DIAFRIX MIRACLE, COCOA NOIRE 9PM / FREE!
KITCHEN SPECIALS MON / 5PM PARMA NITE {FROM $14.50}
TUE / 5PM STEAK NITE {FROM $12.50}
WED / 5PM MEXICAN FEAST {FROM $3}
THU / 5PM BURGER NITE {FROM $12.50}
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
FRI & SAT / 10PM LATE SHIFT PIZZA
SUNDAYS
DALE RYDER BAND GARY EASTWOOD EXPRESS DJ ROC LANDERS 5.30PM
SUN 20 APRIL
COSMIC PSYCHOS BAD//DREEMS, THE PRETTY LITTLES, DRIFTER PRE $20+BF SAT & SUN / 8AM-5PM $10 ALL DAY BREAKY
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 15
HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
THE VAMPS ANNOUNCE DEBUT AUSTRALIA TOUR
THIS WEEK at The Hi-Fi
YouTube sensations The Vamps will touch Australian soil in promotion of their debut LP Meet The Vamps later this year. Originating from Birmingham, England, the quartet gained internet notoriety for their Top 40 covers. It earned them over 250,000 subscribers and 15 million online hits, a major label record deal later, and spots touring with The Wanted, McFly and Taylor Swift’s London leg of her RED tour. Recently they released their third original single Last Night which has further reinforced the pop-punk superstars' talent. The Vamps Meet The Vamps Australian tour will be happen later this year. Watch this space for dates. In the meantime, you can pre-order Meet The Vamps through iTunes now.
Kyle Kinane 26/3 – 6/4 COM FEST Ronny Chieng 27/3 – 20/4 COM FEST Paul Foot 27/3 – 20/4 COM FEST Luke McGregor 8/4– 20/4 COM FEST
PERFECT TRIPOD
JUST ANNOUNCED Wagons Sat 7 Jun High on Fire Sat 19 Jul Pelican Fri 25 Jul
STORY OF THE YEAR Following the announcement that they will reunite, Story of the Year have revealed that they will return Down Under to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their hugely popular album Page Avenue. The band will perform the album in its entirety, including hits Until the Day I Die, Anthem Of Our Dying Day and Sidewalks. Fans of the MTV-rock sensations can also expect to hear old favourites as well as a few surprises. Story of the Year will hit 170 Russell on Sunday June 29. Tickets go on sale Friday April 4 at 9am through Oztix.
COMING SOON
COM FEST
Music, Mirth & Mayhem Mon 7 Apr Morbid Angel Wed 23 Apr
The musical comedy supergroup that is Perfect Tripod (Eddie Perfect and Tripod) have added a fourth and final show, due to popular demand. The fab foursome return with a refreshed take on their acclaimed 2013 show Australian Songs at the Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne on Thursday April 3 – Sunday April 6. Combining comedy scene favourites Tripod with the vocal and arranging skills of showbiz powerhouse Eddie Perfect, Perfect Tripod have struck a chord with Australian audiences - bringing humour and heart to clever renditions of iconic Aussie tunes from artists including Gotye, Men at Work, Kylie Minogue, the Bee Gees to Silverchair, Cold Chisel, John Farnham and more. Back by popular demand where it all began a year ago at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse - Perfect Tripod Australian Songs 2014 promises more of their signature blend of heartfelt harmonies and highly-complex arrangements spread across all the familiar favourites plus some sublime new inclusions. All shows are 18+ and tickets are available via Ticketmaster.
HARDStraylia Thu 24 Apr HTRK Sat 26 Apr Toxic Holocaust & Skeletonwitch Sat 27 Apr Russian Circles Thu 1 May The Presets Fri 2 May SOLD OUT DRI Sat 3 May Perch Creek Family Jugband Sat 10 May Hits & Pits Round 3 feat. Strung Out + More Wed 14 May
MIDLAKE Texan pscyh-folk outfit Midlake have announced that they will return to our shores this May. The tour comes on the heels of the release of their fourth album, 2013’s Antiphon, and will mark the sextet’s first trip back to Australia since 2010. Catch Midlake at the Corner on Saturday May 24. Tickets are available through Handsome Tours.
MUSIC, MIRTH & MAYHEM
PELICAN
Henry Wagons, Peter Helliar, Shappi Khorsandi and Hannah Gadsby join the all-star cast of musicians and comedians in Mirabel Foundation’s Music, Mirth and Mayhem benefit concert, now in it’s 16th year. Now just one week before the event, Music, Mirth and Mayhem 16 announces an even bigger bill with the addition of local heroes joining MC Lawrence Mooney, Dave Hughes, Colin Hay, Greg Fleet, Vika & Linda Bull, Dave O’Neil, Josh Earl, Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier, all on stage at The Hi-Fi Bar on Monday April 7 for one night only. Doors at 7.30pm and tickets are $45 via Ticketmaster.
Illinois instrumental quartet Pelican will be returning to Australia this July in promotion fo their newest album Forever Becoming. Regarded as the genre hydra of the postmetal scene, Pelican are known for their unclassifiable sound that dances between post-hardcore, punk, metal, postrock, and metalcore. Forever Becoming sees the Des Plaines punks create a solid wall of percussive, nuanced guitar riffs and skeletal basslines, infused with a variety of captivating emotions. Pelican will take over The Hi-Fi on Friday July 25. Tickets are through Oztix.
(GRE) & Fleshgod Apocalypse (ITA) Fri 16 May
MORGAN EVANS Following the debut of his self-titled album at #1 on the ARIA Country Album Chart, Morgan Evans has announced a slew of new tour dates. The second single from the album, Like a Tornado, is set to be released on Monday April 14. The track comes on the heels of the release of lead single One Eye for An Eye, which just spent its second week at #1 on the Country Radio Chart. Morgan Evans will play Revolver Bandroom on Friday June 20. Tickets are available through the venue.
Hits & Pits Round 3 feat. Unwritten law + More Sat 17 May Kingswood Sat 24 May Gary Numan Fri 30 May Northlane Sat 31 May Sun 1 Jun U18s Coroner Thu 5 Jun Band of Skulls Tue 17 Jun
Tankard Sat 12 Jul
Crimson ProjeKCt (UK) Thu 26 Jun
Rebel Souljahz Fri 26 Sep
TIX + INFO THEHIFI.COM.AU
1300 THE HIFI
125 SWANSTON ST, MELBOURNE BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 16
ERYKAH BADU AFT ER PARTY The Queen of Soul, Erykah Badu has revealed that she will take the stage under her moniker DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown at her official Melbourne after party. Over the course of her 16-year career, Badu has played the roles of singer, songwriter, producer, director, actor, and now DJ. Joining her will be Cazeaux, OSLO, Jimmy Caution and Jackson Miles. Catch Erykah Badu as DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown at The Toff in Town on Tuesday April 15. Tickets go on sale from 12pm Thursday March 27 through Dashtickets.
DIVA DEMOLITION Two piece rock chicks Diva Demolition have just announced their latest single It’s a Bit Strange taken from their debut album Like It Too Much, coinciding with their ‘Strange’ Australian Tour. Having supported the biggest names including KISS, Motley Crue and Aerosmith, the two piece worked with producer Craig Portelis (Guns 'n' Roses, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Idol) for It’s a Bit Strange, which is now available on MGM/Spitfire Records via iTunes or divademolition.com. They play The Espy Front Bar on Sunday April 20. WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
SALMONELLA DUB SOUNDSYSTEM The formidable Salmonella Dub are stepping out as the Salmonella Dub Soundsystem for a string of shows. For 20 years New Zealand’s own Salmonella Dub have commanded concert halls and stadiums across the world, blending dub, rock, jazzy horns, drum and bass, electronica and reggae. Salmonella Dub Soundsystem is Salmonella Dub’s little brother, featuring the Salmonella Dub horn section and percussion with MC The Mighty Asterix on the mic and Andrew on the mix. Salmonella Dub Soundsystem will take over Rubix Funhouse on Saturday May 3 with Snareophobe feat. Dub Princess, SK and Titus 12.
HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
THE WHITE ALBUM The sold-out live rock phenomenon of 2009 The White Album Concert, 30 of the Beatles’ most breathtaking songs performed with a 17-piece rock orchestra makes its return to stage this July. The Beatles’ most challenging and stylistically varied collection of songs was taken apart and reassembled track by track by four singers at the peak of their powers — Tim Rogers, Josh Pyke, Chris Cheney and Phil Jamieson. The critically acclaimed encore performance hits the Arts Centre’s Hamer Hall on Tuesday July 15 and Wednesday July 16. Tickets via Ticketmaster and more info available via artscentremelbourne.com.au.
THE DECLINE Following the announcement of their new EP Can I Borrow A Feeling?, WA skate-punks The Decline have announced a national tour. Recently the Aussie quartet landed an afternoon slot at Soundwave Festival in Perth, following their nomination at the WAMis. Founded over eight years ago, and with a string of EPs and two albums, The Decline have supported punk heroes Descendents, So-Cal superband Implants, and Israeli punk-rockers Useless ID in the past. Known for their intense live shows, The Decline are not to miss. The Decline will perform at The Reverence Hotel on Thursday May 8. Tickets are through The Reverence, and new EP Can I Borrow A Feeling? will be released on Friday April 18 through Pee Records.
OLD MAN LUEDECKE Making a quick return to Australia after the success of last year's Austrlian tour with our own folk troubadour Jordie Lane, Old Man Luedecke has announced a 3pm show at The Flying Saucer Club on Saturday May 3. Touring his latest EP I Never Sang Before I Met You, the four-track EP features well-known Canadian artist Joel Plaskett (who also produced) on drums, bass, lead guitar and organ alongside Old Man Luedecke on banjo and vocals. Recorded in January this year at the New Scotland Yard studios in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, the EP is available now via iTunes. Bookings via flyingsaucerclub.com.au and more info at oldmanluedecke.ca.
COSMIC PSYCHOS
KEVIN MARK TRAIL
Cosmic Psychos have added an Easter Sunday Melbourne date to their string of shows in country Victoria this April. Already playing four shows in San Remo, Geelong, Ballarat and Castlemaine, Cosmic Psychos have announced they will now be kicking off their tour by playing a show in Melbourne. Supports on the night will be Bad Dreems, The Pretty Littles, and Drifter. This will be the Psychos last local shows before heading off to Europe. Cosmic Psychos will play The Espy with support from Bad Dreems, The Pretty Littles and Drifter on Sunday April 20.
Kevin Mark Trail will bring his blend of reggae, soul and electronica to Australia for the first time when he hits our shores this June. With three albums under his belt, including his most recent Hope Star, Trail is acclaimed for his vast song-writing abilities and distinctive vocal style. On his maiden trip down under, the Brit is expected to pull from his deep backlog of material, which includes collaborations with the likes of Nitin Sawhney, Estelle and Black Twang. Catch Kevin Mark Trail at Northcote Social Club on Sunday June 1. Tickets are available from the venue’s website.
XZIBIT Hip hop heavyweight Xzibit has announced he will be returning to our shores next month on a tour that will see him cover nine venues in two countries in just over a fortnight. This will be Xzibit’s first appearance in Australia in almost three years. He first came to public attention in the late ‘90s with his debut album At The Speed of Light (1996) and 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz (1998). In 2001 Xzibit released Restless, which featured club anthems X and Get Your Walk On, and was certified platinum in the US. In 2002, Xzibit followed this up with Man vs. Machine and 2004’s Weapons of Mass Destruction. Between 2004 and 2007 he was also the host of MTV’s Pimp My Ride series. In recent times, Xzibit is currently locked down in the studio at work on his comeback LP. Catch Xzibit at The Espy with special guests Young De and DJ Invisible on Thursday April 17. Tickets are available through the venue.
THE ASTON SHUFFLE The Aston Shuffle have announced a national tour in promotion of their newest LP Photographs. It’s been just over a month since the electronic duo returned to the live circuit, spurring the Instagram hashtag #tearitdown following an insane performance of Photographs single Tear It Down. Other singles Comfortable and No Place Like Home have established the boys are back in business, with a visceral album to boot. The Ashton Shuffle will tear down the Corner Hotel on Friday September 5. Tickets are through the Corner.
TINY RUINS KORA
2CELLOS Genre-breaking duo 2CELLOS have locked in a show at The Forum this May. Made up of Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser, the Croatian cellists rose to YouTube fame in 2011 with their version of Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal. Since then, the pair have travelled around the world, with a catalogue ranging from Bach to AC/DC. 2CELLOS released their second album, IN2ITION, produced by Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Kiss, Deep Purple) in 2013. 2CELLOS will hit The Forum on Friday May 16. Tickets go on sale Thursday March 27 through Ticketmaster.
ARCHIE ROACH For one night only, Saturday April 5, Campfire Corroboree is presenting an unforgettable evening of music entertainment featuring Archie Roach who is one of Australia’s best Indigenous internationally recognised musical talents. Archie Roach and his band join the fight against wildlife extinction and entertain guests in a live music setting like no other. Tickets include admission to the Sanctuary, then entry to the Flight Arena at dusk where the evening will begin with exclusive animal encounters and a smoking ceremony led by Murrindindi, Wurundjeri Elder, here on sacred Coranderrk land. After the Welcome to Country, Archie Roach and his band will take guests into the dreaming time under the Coranderrk night sky lit by the spirit of Indigenous ancestors with music to move everyone. He’s doing his Creation performance which, if you’ve seen it before, is incredibly personal and emotional. Tix via zoo.org.au. All Campfire Corroboree proceeds will help Zoos Victoria fight wildlife extinction.
Regarded as one of New Zealand’s most electric and sonically powerful live bands, Kora have announced they will be returning to Melbourne this Good Friday.With the 2012 release of their second album Light Years, Kora mapped a new constellation that warps between future-shocked funk, soul and r’n’b and has been self-dubbed ‘alien funk’. The five-piece have already built a steady following in Australia with over 15,000 records sold and now they prepare to return to Australia for the sixth time with a platinum selling EP (Volume, 2004), a double platinum debut album and Light Years quickly climbing from Gold status towards Platinum, all under their belt. Catch Kora when they play The Espy on Friday April 18.
SLIM JIM PHANTOM Rock royalty Slim Jim Phantom will be returning to Australia this June. Phantom has had his spin drumming in Phantom, Rock and Slick, The Swing Cats, Dead Men Walking and the Stray Cats, who pioneered the neo-rockabilly movement of the early ‘80s. His extensive collection of percussion genius has secured his iconic spot as an inspiration to many rockabilly drummers, and his peer respect from Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Robert Plant. Australian chaotic quartet, Fireballs, will join Phantom with their psychobilly rock on tour. You can catch Slim Jim Phantom at the Ding Dong Lounge on Thursday June 12. Tickets are through Oztix.
VELOCIRAPTOR
SCHOOLBOY Q
Brisbane’s Velociraptor have announced a string of tour dates to celebrate the launch of their latest single Ramona. The tour announcement comes on the heels of the news that the band has signed to Remote Control Records. Dot Dash/ Remote Control are set to release Velociraptor’s debut full length album later this year.
Schoolboy Q will bring his California swag to Melbourne when he hits Australia for a series of dates this June. Hailing from South Central Los Angeles, the rapper is one quarter of the region’s revered Black Hippy group. His latest release, Oxymoron, opened at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Joining him on the tour will be Isaiah Rashad. Catch Schoolboy Q at The Forum on Wednesday June 11. Tickets go on sale Friday March 28 on Ticketmaster.
TANYA BATT Melbourne’s own songstress Tanya Batt has just released her latest single Fools and has announced a tour along the East Coast. Employing a hauntingly beautiful voice and an extremely powerful delivery,Tanya Batt has developed a powerful presence in a small window of time, playing many sold-out shows, as well as enjoying radio play from triple j for single Atlas, which received rotation on over 35 stations Australia wide. Tanya Batt will be touring her intimate live show with a limited run of dates to celebrate the release of the first single from upcoming sophomore EP A Fool Once Wept. Dubbed “better than Florence & The Machine” by BBC Radio 1, tickets are on-sale now for her Saturday April 26 18+ only Workers Club show. Tickets also available at door.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Ahead of their sophomore album release, Tiny Ruins will be performing a one-night-only preview of their second LP Brightly Painted One. Held at the Bella Union, the night will showcase the illustrious song-writing of Tiny Ruins. Featuring opening track and single Met At The Museum, You In The Wintergardens, this performance will capture the evolution of the band and how exquisite their minimalistic sound is. Brightly Painted One is an album full of dreamy pop melodies, beguiling folk-blues and layered percussion that will enrapture anyone. Tiny Ruins will perform a preview of Bright Painted One at the Bella Union on Monday April 14. Tickets are available through The Melbourne Folk Club. Brightly Painted One will be released on Friday May 2.
RON POPE Frontier Touring have just announced multi-talented singersongwriter Ron Pope’s return to Australia for a full band tour. Bursting into the scene in 2005 after the release of his hugely successful breakthrough single A Drop In The Ocean which has since had well over 30 million views on YouTube and over 25 million streams on Spotify. Coming off the back of SXSW and a US Tour, fans will be treated to an afternoon under 18 show and an evening 18+ show at The Workers Club on Sunday June 8. Tickets are on sale on Monday April 7 via Oztix.
A CONCERT OF TOM WAITS SONGS The vaudevillian characters of Tom Waits music will come to life on stage in A Concert of Tom Waits Songs presented by Arts Centre Melbourne on Thursday April 24 and Saturday April 26 at 8pm at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Fairfax Studio. Performed by the acclaimed Stewart D’Arrietta with Australian musicians Ross Hannaford, Philip Rex and Danny Fischer, the show will take audiences on a rollicking journey through Waits’ legendary songs. Tickets are $45 and are available via artscentremelbourne.com.au. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 17
TOURING
WHO'S ON TOUR, WHERE AND WHEN
PROUDLY PRESENTS
For all the latest tour dates check out beat.com.au
INTERNATIONAL ROYAL HUNT Northcote Social Club April 2 GLASS ANIMALS Ding Dong Lounge April 2 THE FRATELLIS Prince Bandroom April 4 JAPANESE MUSIC FESTIVAL The Espy April 3 KODALINE Prince Bandroom April 5 MONSTER MAGNET 170 Russell April 6 TYGA Palace Theatre April 11 ALLEN STONE Corner Hotel April 12 KILLSWITCH ENGAGE Palace Theatre April 13 ERYKAH BADU Palais April 15 EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS Palace Theatre April 15 BETH HART Corner Hotel April 15 JASON ISBEL Northcote Social Club April 16, 17 BLUESFEST Byron Bay April 17 – 21 JIMMIE VAUGHAN Corner Hotel April 17 DEVENDRA BANHART Prince Bandroom April 17 HUNX AND HIS PUNX Copacabana April 17 INDIA.ARIE & JOSS STONE Palais Theatre April 17 MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD Prince Bandroom April 16 SEUN KUTI AND THE EGYPT 80 Melbourne Recital Centre April 16 JAKE BUGG Palace Theatre April 16,17 SAIDAH BABA TALIBAH Ding Dong Lounge April 16, 23 THE ALMOST Brown Alley April 17 ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE IMPOSTERS Hamer Hall April 17 SHIHAD Espy Hotel April 17 XZIBIT The Espy April 17 KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND Palace Theatre April 18 BOGGIE FESTIVAL Tallarook April 18 - 20 SETH LAKEMAN Thornbury Theatre April 19 THOMAS OLIVER The Toff In Town April 19 TRIXIE WHITLEY Northcote Social Club April 20 LINDA ORTEGA The Toff April 22 THE NAKED AND FAMOUS 170 Russell April 30 IRON AND WINE Forum Theatre April 22 JEFF BECK Hamer Hall April 22 THE WAILERS 170 Russell April 23 GREGG ALLMAN, GOV’T MULE Forum Theatre April 23 STEVE EARLE Forum Theatre April 24 LORDE Festival Hall April 24, 26 D.O.A The Evelyn April 24 SKID ROW, UGLY KID JOE Palace Theatre April 25 OZOMATLI Corner Hotel April 26 JOHN NEWMAN Palace Theatre April 29 HOLY FUCK Northcote Social Club April 30 RUSSIAN CIRCLES The Hi-Fi May 1 DISCLOSURE Forum Theatre May 1
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 18
D.R.I The Hi-Fi May 3 GROOVIN’ THE MOO Prince of Wales Showgrounds May 3 INSECTS & STARS (HITCHCOCK/KILBEY) Arts Centre Playhouse May 3 KANYE WEST Rod Laver Arena May 6, 7 DIZZEE RASCAL Palace Theatre May 8 ARCTIC MONKEYS Rod Laver Arena May 9 MISERY SIGNALS The Espy May 10 JONNY CRAIG Corner Hotel May 17 POISON IDEA The Bendigo Hotel May 17 2CELLOS The Forum May 16 MS. LAURYN HILL Palais Theatre May 21 ST VINCENT Howler May 22 MIDLAKE Corner May 24 JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW Forum Theatre May 27 WE ARE SCIENTISTS Corner Hotel May 28 BRANT BJORK Ding Dong May 29 GARY NUMAN The Hi-Fi May 30 GABRIELLE APLIN The Toff In Town May 31 ELLIE GOULDING Festival Hall May 31 KEVIN MARK TRAIL Northcote Social Club June 1 JAMES BLUNT The Plenary June 8 SCHOOLBOY Q The Forum June 11 SLIM JIM PHANTOM Ding Dong Lounge June 12 LA DISPUTE Corner Hotel June 12, 13, 14 BASTILLE Festival Hall June 15 BAND OF SKULLS The Hi-Fi June 17 THE VIBRATORS The Tote June 21 THE CRIMSON PROJEKCT The Hi-Fi June 26 LLOYD COLE Caravan Music Club June 26, Thornbury Theatre June 27 JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN Melbourne Recital Centre June 27 STORY OF THE YEAR 170 Russell June 29 ADOLESCENTS The Evelyn July 5 HIGH ON FIRE The Hi-Fi July 19 PELICAN The Hi-Fi July 25 ANDREW STRONG DOES THE COMMITMENTS Corner Hotel August 3 LADY GAGA Rod Laver Arena August 23 THE DANDY WARHOLS Corner Hotel August 26 BIFFY CLYRO Palais Theatre September 7 ROBBIE WILLIAMS Rod Laver Arena September 16 JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE Etihad Stadium September 18 KATY PERRY Rod Laver Arena November 14, 15
NATIONAL LOON LAKE Corner Hotel April 3 CAITLIN PARK The Toff In Town April 3 JIMBLAH Shebeen April 4 ELLA HOOPER Northcote Social Club April 4
THE JUNGLE GIANTS Corner Hotel April 4 – 5 YOUTH WEEK Ukranian Hall April 5 ARCHIE ROACH Campfire Corroboree April 5 RED INK Ding Dong April 5 ART VS SCIENCE Corner Hotel April 10 HUNTERS AND COLLECTORS Palais Theatre April 11 HOT DUB TIME MACHINE Northcote Social Club April 11 MEGAN WASHINGTON Howler April 12 BAM BAM Northcote Social Club April 12 NED COLLETTE The Tote April 12 VIVA YOUTH FESTIVAL Princes Gardens April 12 LITTLE EARTHQUAKE The Wesley Anne April 13 MONEY FOR ROPE/THE BOWERS Howler April 17 KORA The Espy April 18 YACHT CLUB DJS Prince Bandroom April 18 MORNING HARVEY Alia Arthouse April 18 SET THE RECORD Wrangler Studios April 19 OSCAR KEY SUNG Howler April 19 DARYL BREAITHWAITE The Espy April 20 COSMIC PSYCHOS The Espy April 20 CALLING ALL CARS Corner Hotel April 24 THE HELLO MORNING The Toff In Town April 24 THE DELTA RIGGS The John Curtain Hotel April 25 THE MURLOCS Howler April 25 CHANCE WATER Northcote Social Club April 26 HARMONY Howler April 26 KARNIVOOL Palace Theatre May 1 THE JEZEBELS Palais Theatre May 2 THUNDAMENTALS Corner Hotel May 2 STONEFIELD Prince Bandroom May 2 DALLAS FRASCA Ding Dong Lounge May 3 JIMMY TAIT The Toff In Town May 3 GARETH LIDDIARD Workers Club May 4, 11, 18, 25 MAJOR TOM & THE ATOMS Cherry Bar May 7, 14, 21, 28 HIATUS KAIYOTE Howler May 7, 14, 21, 28 KING PARROT Corner Hotel May 8 BONJAH The Corner May 9 ILUKA Grace Darling May 10 THE PERCH CREEK FAMILY JUGBAND The Hi-Fi May 10 HITS & PITS The Hi-Fi May 14, 17 RÜFÜS Palace Theatre May 15 BLISS N ESO Flemington Racecourse May 16 ED KUEPPER The Substation May 16 DZ DEATHRAYS Corner Hotel May 16 DRUNK MUMS The Tote May 17 FRENTE The Playhouse May 22, 23 ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI 170 Russell May 23 KIM CHURCHILL Northcote Social Club May 23 VANCE JOY The Forum May 23 DMA’S Shebeen May 23 FRENZAL RHOMB Corner Hotel May 23 KINGSWOOD The Hi-Fi May 24 THINGS OF STONE AND WOOD Northcote Social Club May 24, 25
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
The Jungle Giants
APR
05 APR
16
YOUTH WEEK Ukranian Hall April 5
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD Prince Bandroom
APR
30
THE NAKED AND FAMOUS 170 Russell
CHERRY ROCK Cherry Bar May 25 DEAD LETTER CIRCUS Village Green May 29 TWIN HAUS The Tote May 30 WAGONS The Hi-Fi June 7 JOELISTICS Workers Club June 14 MORGAN EVANS Revolver June 20 KEITH URBAN Rod Laver Arena June 25 MELANIE SAFKA Melbourne Recital Centre June 26 THE PAPER KITES Athenaeum Theatre June 27 THE BEARDS 170 Russell July 18 THE ASTON SHUFFLE Corner Hotel September 5 TINA ARENA Palais Theatre September 17
RUMOURS DAMON ALBARN, ROARING RUBY & THE TYPESETTERS = NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
) )ULGD\ $SULO WK $
'$5.6,'( ZLWK 029(0(17
2]WL[ FRP DX
3 3
)ULGD\ $SULO WK
7<*$
7LFNHWHN FRP DX
3 3
6XQGD\ $SULO WK
.,//6:,7&+ (1*$*( ZLWK .,// '(9,/ +,// 2]WL[ FRP DX 7LFNHWHN FRP DX
3 3
7XHVGD\ $SULO WK
(':$5' 6+$53( 7+( 0$*1(7,& =(526 7LFNHWHN FRP DX 3 3
:HGQHVGD\ $SULO WK
-$.( %8** 7LFNHWHN FRP DX
SEC SH OND OW !
3 3
7KXUVGD\ $SULO WK
-$.( %8** 3 3
SO L OU D T!
7KXUVGD\ $SULO WK
$50$'$ 1,*+7 3 3
SO L OU D T!
)ULGD\ $SULO WK
6.,' 52: 8*/< .,' -2( 2]WL[ FRP DX 7LFNHWHN FRP DX
3 3
7XHVGD\ $SULO WK
-2+1 1(:0$1 7LFNHWHN FRP DX 3 3
7KXUVGD\ 0D\ VW
.$51,922/ 2]WL[ FRP DX 3 3
7KXUVGD\ 0D\ WK
',==(( 5$6&$/ 7LFNHWPDVWHU FRP DX 3 3
7XHVGD\ 0D\ WK
5h)h6 7LFNHWHN FRP DX
TH SH IRD OW !
3 3
:HGQHVGD\ 0D\ WK
5h)h6 3 3
7KXUVGD\ 0D\ WK
5h)h6
SO L OU D T!
SO L OU D T!
3 3 %285.( 67 &,7< ::: 3$/$&( &20 $8 3 3
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 19
SAM SIMMONS By Liza Dezfouli
Sam Simmons is one of the most singular voices in comedy. His outlook on life, his way with words and his imaginative scope is unparalleled in its originality. He’s about to perform his new show, Death of a Sails-Man, at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. When Beat spoke to him, he was also about to have a newborn named after him. “I had the most amazing show the night before last,” he tells us. “A couple came to the show and she went into labour 15 minutes after the end of the show, and they had the baby yesterday, which was my birthday, and they are seriously considering naming their baby daughter Samantha.” Death of a Sails-Man has been described as one man having a nervous breakdown onstage. Against a prerecording of Simmons’ voice, a real time dialogue with himself leaps across various subjects such as dolphin sexuality, Vodafone, population growth, mental health and the story in song about a granny dying and ascending to space. These imaginative leaps are, unusually for Simmons, contained within a narrative – the story of a man marooned on a windsurfer swept out to sea. Simmons says he loves the show and reckons it’s his best yet. “It’s totally my favourite show. I’m in love with it. I absolutely adore it,” he says. “It’s about a guy who’s having a midlife crisis. I thought, ‘What is the most douche thing someone having a midlife crisis would do?’ and the idea of a windsurfer came to mind. I turned 37 yesterday and perhaps I’m having a bit of a midlife crisis myself.” Did Simmons get out on a windsurfer then as part of his preparation? “No, I didn’t go windsurfing. I faked it. What I do is definitely not grounded in reality.” Why does Simmons like this show so much? “Number one – it’s a pun,” he says proudly. (For those who mightn’t get it, the title is a pun on the name of a famous play by US playwright Arthur Miller called Death of a Sails-Man.) “I wrote most of this show wandering around LA. It’s a basic story,” continues Simmons. “There’s nothing snarky, nothing random about it. He dies at the end. You work that out pretty early in the show. It’s just what someone would go through if they were swept out to sea. You’d think about things like cannibalism. My stuff comes from a place of stupidity. It’s odd.” Simmons doesn’t tie things up neatly or resolve his stories with any heart-warming conclusions in his performances. “I hate shows with epiphanies,” he says. “I hate shows that are lectures. Or shows that want you to learn about yourself. Fuck that. It’s boring. I’m sick of leaving a show that’s too preachy. I don’t want lectures. We’ve got our own opinions and going to a show isn’t going to change that. Who do these people think they are?” He reckons there should be less worthiness and BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 20
more daftness in comedy. “There’s not enough silly. I’m hoping the tide is turning. We need more absurdity.” How much of Simmons’s work is scripted? “It’s not random,” he explains. “None of that. It’s scripted. There are a few moments I can ad lib if I want to but I’m not there just for laughs. I’d rather give you something.” Along with paper cut-outs, Death of a Sails-Man includes original music and song composed especially for the show. “It’s absurd,” says its maker, rather redundantly for anyone familiar with Simmons’ brand of comedy. ‘Weird’ is the word most often used to describe the man and his work. No-one is arguing with US show host Conan O’Brien who said to Simmons after he appeared on his show: ‘You’re a very weird man.’
“I HATE SHOWS WITH EPIPHANIES, I HATE SHOWS THAT ARE LECTURES. OR SHOWS THAT WANT YOU TO LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF. FUCK THAT. IT’S BORING. I’M SICK OF LEAVING A SHOW THAT’S TOO PREACHY... WE’VE GOT OUR OWN OPINIONS AND GOING TO A SHOW ISN’T GOING TO CHANGE THAT. WHO DO THESE PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE?” Simmons has relocated to Los Angeles and now spends half his time there and the rest in Sydney. What’s life like in LA? “It’s sensational,” he says. “I thought I’d hate the place. They are so enthusiastic there. I thought that would really annoy me but the people there, they’re not mean people. When they say they’re super happy to see you, here, we’re challenged and threatened by that sort of
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
thing. It’s very different. I’m not being anti-Australian here, I love being Australian, but it’s different. There isn’t that snarkiness in comedy rooms. They’re really receptive to what I do. I imagined having a secondary career in the UK; I thought I’d go well there but I never thought I’d be able to break the US scene. I’m really blessed to have a career in two places. I did not expect to have a career in the States.” There is a difference, albeit a small one, Simmons says, as to how his comedy is perceived here in comparison to the States or the UK. “In the States, I am really encouraged to do what I do. I think I’m like the Jimeoin of comedy there, with the exotic accent. There’s a small sense that I’m a bit too weird here, my stuff is threatening to Australian men. It’s seen as an effeminate thing.” Does he miss Melbourne? “I do but I don’t. I’m an Adelaide boy. Melbourne can be a bit up its own arsehole. I had ten years in Melbourne; I’ve had my time here. I had my heart broken in Melbourne. I love being in Melbourne for MICF; I love doing shows here but I love where I live in Sydney.” Simmons says he would always prefer to be confounded and challenged when it comes to experiencing comedy than to get a laugh out of a performance. When asked to name his favourites, John Cleese and Sean Micallef come to mind. “I love the rage in John Cleese,” he continues. “There are some great stand-ups in Australia. I love Tom Gleeson. I love him. He’s a master. He’s so measured and smart. He’s got the funny bones. He’s got delivery and timing and he’s just got his own thing. He’s like our Bill Cosby. His phrasing is sublime. I love him.” He is equally enthusiastic about Zoe Coombs Mars. “She is extraordinary; I love her. She’s unique; she shares a similar mind to me. She’s quite odd, got her own thing up there.” Being away for much of the year has given Simmons a perspective on mainstream Australian culture and media representation of urban life that he describes as ‘disgusting’. He gets particularly annoyed by what he sees on TV. “Where are the Tongans on Neighbours? You don’t see any Vietnamese on Home and Away. When is this going to change? It annoys me; it bores me. And Ernie Dingo is the only representative of indigenous Australia you see on commercial TV. It’s really sad.” Does Simmons have any advice for anyone wanting to emulate his sort of success? “Just do it. You’ve got to fail. Forget all these courses and classes – they might be an empowering thing if you do them as part of a work program or something but you can’t learn comedy. Get up there and fail and keep going. But if you haven’t got a funny bone, don’t do it. There are too many class smart-arses up there already.”
Sam Simmons: Death Of A Sails-Man is currently playing at The Famous Spiegeltent, Federation Square, until Sunday April 20 (except Mondays) at 8.30pm (Sundays 7.30pm) as part of the 2014 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 21
THIS WEEK: ON SCREEN This week Farewell My Queen, a biopic starring Diane Kruger (Inglorious Basterds, Troy) and Lea Seydoux (Blue Is The Warmest Colour), will play at ACMI. Farewell My Queen documents the story of Queen Marie Antoinette and her reader, Agathe-Sidonie Laborde, a woman who is deleteriously loyal to sa reine. Set against the backdrop of the rising revolution of 1789, Farewell sees Laborde, alongside lady-in-waiting Madame Campan, navigate her time to fulfill the Queen’s demands. Directed by Benoît Jacquot (À Tout de Suite, Deep in the Woods), Farewell My Queen is an extravagant affair of French history and costuming; a must-watch for all French enthusiasts. Farewell My Queen is currently playing at ACMI until Tuesday April 8.
With Tyson Wray. Got thoughts, news, gossip, complaints or cat photos? Email tyson@beat.com.au or send by carrier pigeon before Friday 12pm.
ON STAGE Melbourne Theatre Company opened Neighbourhood Watch last month, a production that saw the reunion of Australian theatre doyenne Robyn Nevin and acclaimed theatre director Simon Stone. After two weeks and praising reviews, Neighbourhood Watch will be closing in four weeks time. The show stars the revered Nevin as Ana, an 80-year-old Hungarian-Australian who forms an unlikely friendship with her young neighbour, Catherine; and illustrates a tale of loneliness, fear and indecision that can be overcome with some TLC. Neighbourhood Watch is currently playing at the Melbourne Theatre Company until Saturday April 26.
ON DISPL AY Off the Kerb Gallery is renowned for showcasing a fascinating array of artworks, and this week is no different. Their current exhibitions, Window Dressing by Mitch Vane, Forever Changing by Lorena Monslaves, and Fixed Order by Louisa Wang and Stuart Gillespie-Cook; will take you through the soul of humanity, whether it’s done by Vane’s sparse portraits of the human condition, or Monslaves exuberant mix of Chilean textiles and South African motifs. Meticulous, fascinating and full of insight into the complexity of introspection vs society (the world of action), Fixed Order will lead through the connectivity of life in black-and-white imagery. Window Dressing, Forever Changing and Fixed Order will be on exhibition at Off the Kerb Gallery until Friday April 4.
PICK OF THE WEEK
Second week of Melbourne International Comedy Festival kicked off this week; and as the comical event of Melbourne’s calendar, it’d been foolish not to go. Some of the many highlights this week include Australian funny woman Felicity Ward in her newest work The Iceberg, the return of New Zealand’s FanFiction Comedy presented by Wil Anderson, who has a show called Wiluminati this festival; Bryony Kimmings sexual catastrophe Sex Idiot, English one-liner king Milton Jones, Stephen K Amos in What Does the K Stand For?, Titty Bar Ha Ha, David Quirk’s Career, Suicide, our cover star Sam Simmons in Death of a Sails-Man, The Boy With Tape on his Face with More Tape, Nick Cody’s Here’s Trouble, Lawrence Mooney in Stupid Liar, Miles Allen’s One Man Breaking Bad, Kirsty Mac’s Feminazi and of course The Festival Club for all of your after hour needs. That’s only a smidge of what’s going on Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Check out beat.com.au for our ongoing coverage, including interviews, reviews and more.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 22
THE LEGO MOVIE By Tegan Jones In 1949, a small Danish toy company called LEGO – which translates to ‘play well’ – began producing little interconnecting bricks that would change the world of toys and create an empire that captured the hearts, minds and imaginations of children everywhere. Now, everybody’s favourite childhood toy is hitting the big screen...and it’s breathtaking. The LEGO Movie lands in Australia this month where the bulk of the filmmaking process took place. The story revolves around a construction worker named Emmet, who is so ordinary that nobody even seems to notice him. But due to a chance encounter and a case of mistaken identity, it becomes his job to save the LEGO universe. Luckily for fans, the universe consists of favourite LEGO settings filled with old and new objects and constructs. Despite the heartfelt storyline and the big names attached to the film, there have been doubts from cynics who have labelled it a giant advertisement. Co-Director of Animation, Chris McKay, says that this is by no means the case. “We had a choice to make a 90-minute toy commercial, or to make it about something more. I think because we decided to focus on making it about the charm of what the brick films were, the love of the experience of building and the experience of being a creative person, ultimately that’s what our movie is and why I think [it] works
FREE $HIT ULTIMATE SUPANOVA EXPERIENCE Supanova, Australia’s premier pop culture expo, is back for its 12th year showcasing sci-fi, fantasy, comic books, animé, manga, games and much more. This April, you’ll have the chance to meet Chewbacca, Mini-Me, Xena: Warrior Princess and many more. You can check out the entire lineup on their website at supanova.com.au/guests. We have a money-can’t-buy experience to give away to one very lucky reader. We
for different generations. It’s about that impulse that everyone has, whether you’re a kid or whether you’re an adult. Because when you’re sitting there building, especially when you’re building a bucket of bricks and you’re in front of people, you are vulnerable, you are exposed. Ultimately we all experience that, even on jobs, on dates, anything like that.” Watching the movie, it’s obvious that many of the people involved in the process are life-long fans of LEGO themselves. McKay admits “I was a kid who played with toys all through college...so for me to get to do this movie where I get to play with toys, I mean you can’t beat that!” Head of Animation, Rob Coleman had a similar confession, “I’ve played with LEGO as far back as I can remember. I even dabbled with little brick film ideas when I was a kid. In many ways it feels like it’s come full circle.” Considering the adult fans of LEGO involved in the film, it’s hardly surprising that it was made for both children and adults. Unlike many kids’ films
have an invite to the exclusive Supanova VIP party, which will be held at a secret location, where you can rub shoulders with all of the Supanova stars and meet all of your favourite celebrities in an amazing oneon-one experience. On top of that, you’ll also get a weekend double pass. Sound too good to be true? You better believe it. Get enterin’! Head to beat.com.au/freeshit to win.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
where a few jokes are thrown in for the parents, The LEGO Movie has truly catered for multiple generations. Will Arnett’s portrayal of Batman is hilarious, and there are also a myriad of subtle gags that those with keener eyes may pick up. “There are hundreds of easter eggs in this film. I would encourage people to look for little plastic pigs in the backs of scenes you may not expect to find a pig,” Coleman divulges. Chris McKay states, “I think it was always important to us to make a movie that was broad and had jokes for everybody. But again, I think it’s less about the jokes…and more about the universal, visceral, primal impulses that the movie at its heart is about. I think that to me was the most important thing. Fortunately, that’s something that appeals to a wide variety of people.” Coleman praises the crew for this duality between adult and kid enjoyment. “I think it starts with the script. These guys are very funny and I think their slant on life and the world comes across as verbal humour for the adults and then more situational or slapstick humour for the kids. I know they worked very hard at it with the writing and the editing of the film. Finding the right balance so adults and kids will come away with a fun experience...was very much in the DNA of the film and the script, and it started that way and just evolved more and more.” This larger-than-life film is visually stunning and so intricate that it took three years to produce. Audiences will feel like they’re looking at real LEGO pieces, which is exactly what the team wanted to achieve. “When we sat down we said ‘Wouldn’t it be neat if we made a movie in LEGO that if somebody had all the time and parts to be able to do it, could actually recreate all of that stuff.’ That was something that we always believed people would feel, even if you don’t explicitly see it. There were a handful of cheats in the movie at best. You literally could make almost everything in the movie,” says McKay. Some cheats were necessary though, particularly when it came to the mini figs, confesses Coleman. “[Directors] Lord and Miller told us they wanted to stay true to the hard plastic; no bending. When we first started animating we were like ‘What are we going to do, we can’t get a lot of motion out of these guys’.” Chris McKay’s background in stopmotion helped with this challenge and he suggested customizing the holes by making them bigger and adding plasticine so they could have motions such as shrugging and moving from side-to-side. Despite this, audiences will see the finished product definitely stays true to the spirit of LEGO. As McKay himself says, “Everything we did on this movie was made with love.” Rob Coleman agrees, “To engage with a little plastic character and feel for him, that starts with brilliant writing, then the staging choice to push in on our little hero, and then the subtlety of the performances. It all comes together and we have this emotional connection…and now we’re willing to go on a journey with this little guy; and it’s amazing.” The LEGO Movie is in cinemas on Thursday April 3 through Roadshow.
Xena: Warrior Princess
Image: Lara Merrington (MONA)
The Lepidopters: A Space Opera Slave Pianos, Punkasila and Astra A punk band, concert pianist, choir, pop-star soprano, noise machines, video installation, an automated gamelan and analogue electronic – don’t miss this renegade inter-planetary event!
/artshousemelbourne
Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall Sat 12 & Sun 13 April Tickets on sale now $15–$25 artshouse.com.au
@artshousemelb
@artshouse
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 23
THE COMIC STRIP CRAB L AB
For more arts news, reviews and interviews visit beat.com.au
Crab Lab was a packed house last week and tonight should be no exception with another huge lineup of Australia’s funniest and still only $5 during MICF. Tonight there’s Daniel Townes, Tien Tran, Daniel Connell, Genevieve Fricker, Henry Stone of Jaydos fame and much more. Doors at 7.30pm.
LOL COMEDY
THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
THE LEPIDOPTERS: A SPACE OPERA
An expedition defying the borders of visual arts and music, The Lepidopters: A Space Opera will come to Melbourne this month. The show will feature Slave Pianos with the 40-member Astra choir under the musical direction of John McCaughey, Yogyakarta mystic punk-art collective Punkasila, Indonesian singer/dancer Rachel Saraswati and virtuoso pianist Michael Kieran Harvey. The multi-art form concert draws on the work of Robert Smithson to explore sonic landscapes and dystopian visions, Indonesian telepathy and ancient Javanese mysticism. The Lepidopters: A Space Opera will run from Saturday April 12 to Sunday April 13 at Arts House.
FAITH CONNECTIONS
ACMI will screen renowned Indian director Pan Nalin’s new film Faith Connections as a special feature of its Autumn program. The 115-minute film tells the stories of a handful of residents at the 100 millionstong Hindi Kumbh Mela festival. An abandoned baby who is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, a mother who is searching for her child, and a group of Sadhus who have renounced the world are amongst the stories, while the film’s most gripping star is a young runaway who gallivants throughout the festival. Faith Connections will screen from Wednesday April 2 to Thursday April 24 at ACMI.
CREATURE
Off The Kerb have announced it will be celebrating its 7th birthday with their biggest group exhibition to date. The charity event, CREATurE, is curated by Dan Dealy and will feature 43 artists including Andrew Laba and Antonia Glavic. It explores the turning of reality into fantasy, surveying the artists’ inner thoughts and bringing their imagination to life. The event will be supporting beyondblue, a charity that focuses on changing attitudes, reducing stigma, and improving services for people with depression and anxiety throughout Australia. CREATurE will open on Friday April 11 at Off The Kerb Gallery.
FOR A WORLD IN NEED OF WILDNESS FERNRAISER
The Tarkine is one of the last wilderness areas left on Earth. Save the Tarkine is the only thing standing in the way of open cut mining developers by holding them up in court. This Fernraiser is to raise awareness and support for this Gondwanan relic in this most crucial of times. By acting now we can save this ancient and significant natural heritage area. Join them for an evening of art, dancing and awareness as they get together to Save the Tarkine! Featuring Elf Tranzporter, Carlos Paraga’s Cumbia Project, Sal Kimber, The Stray Hens, Echidna Love Train, Lucas Paine, plus an art auction of stunning fine Melbourne artists, Indigenous Tasmanian painting and exquisite photography captured in the Tarkine. For a World in Need of Wildness goes down on Friday April 4 at Bar 291, from 7pm until 3am. Entry by donation ($15 recommended) .
Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show is set to open in Melbourne this April. The show has had successful seasons in Brisbane and Perth, and is currently playing at The Festival Theatre in Adelaide throughout March. The Rocky Horror Show is a true classic and one of theatre’s most endearing and outrageously fun shows. It opened at London’s Royal Court Theatre on June 19, 1973, quickly developing a cult following, and was adapted into the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which has the longest-running release in film history. This iconic brand holds a unique place in theatre history, a show which has defied the decades and continued to grow in popularity. The Rocky Horror Show opens at the Comedy Theatre on Thursday April 24.
SWAN LAKE
Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake will be heading to Australia for a strictly limited season this October. The winner of over 30 international awards, sell-out seasons on the West End, Broadway and throughout the world, this groundbreaking reinvention of ballet’s most loved classic comes to Melbourne after a much-lauded revival season last year at London’s Sadler’s Wells – the same theatre where it exploded onto the theatre scene in 1995. This current production includes a number of changes made by director and choreographer Matthew Bourne, the most since the show opened on Broadway in 1998. It is perhaps best known for its menacing pack of male wild swans, which replaced the traditional fluttering female corps de ballet. Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake opens at the Regent Theatre on Thursday October 16.
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival comes to LOL Comedy with bumper lineups all through April. This Thursday April 3 at their free night at the College Lawn it’s the energy explosion that is indigenous comedy wonderbloke Kevin Kropinyeri. Previous winner of Deadly Funny, he’s a comedy whirlwind who’s not to be missed. On Thursday April 3 at the Provincial Hotel it’s the satirical knife edge of observational and social wisdom that is the wonderbrain encased in the human known as Matt Elsbury. At the Hawthorn on Friday April 4 it’s then one of Australia’s best exports who’s been smashing it in the UK for years – Mickey D. Next Tuesday April 8 at the Local in Port Melbourne the MICF rolls on at LOL with Matt Elsbury, and that same wonderbrain, and one of the best young comics in the country – Ciaran Lyons. Tickets from lolcomedy.com.au.
FIVE BOROUGHS COMEDY The best comedy room in Melbourne continues this Thursday, with more special guests from the comedy festival. Last week saw Tom Ballard, Ronny Chieng and more drop in, this week there’s international surprise guests confirmed. It’s set to be yet another cracker. It’s going to be an all-star, stellar lineup. It’s all happening this Thursday April 3 at 8.30pm, at Five Boroughs Comedy, 68 Hardware Lane (upstairs), all for only $12.
COMEDY AT SPLEEN Comedy At Spleen runs all the way through the comedy festival, don’t fret. The legendary comedy room will continue to have the very best local and interstate lineups every Monday, including surprise guest appearances from special festival guests. So make sure you get in early. It’s this Monday March 7, 41 Bourke St, in the city, at 8.30pm. It may be free, but they appreciate a good gold coin donation at the door.
YELLOW MOON
CRITICAL ANIMALS CALL FOR PROPOSITIONS
Creative research symposium Critical Animals, a part of This is Not Art, will take place in Newcastle, NSW in October 2014, and the Critical Animals team is now calling for proposals. This year the theme will be ‘Possible Futures’, so they’re looking forward and questioning where our creative endeavours may be in another ten year’s time. What does the future of your practice look like? They’re interested in utopias, dystopias and everything in between. If you have a project, work in progress, or an idea that doesn’t quite fit in to your regular research but you really want to put out into the world, head to criticalanimals.com and follow the links to download the the Call for Proposals Info Pack, get on your hoverboard and start writing.
The Melbourne Theatre Company has announced that Yellow Moon will be the latest show in its lineup of works for young adults. Directed by Leticia Caceres, Yellow Moon follows two young people as they come face to face with their troubles and the unexpected, making for a modern love story with a dark heart. Yellow Moon will run at the Southbank Theatre from Friday May 2 to Friday May 16 before touring regional Victorian secondary schools.
NEXT WAVE
THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES
A charity performance of the award winning play, The Vagina Monologues starring high flying Melbourne lawyers will take place in Melbourne this April. The cast includes former Health Services Commissioner, Beth Wilson, former Equal Opportunity Commissioner, Moira Rayner and Member of Parliament (Seat of Melbourne), Jennifer Kanis. 100% of ticket proceeds will go to charity – 90% to a program run by Centre Against Sexual Assault which goes into schools and works to prevent violence to women and 10% to the licensing body, Vday, and it’s campaign to raise awareness of the extent of violence to women. See The Vagina Monologues on Tuesday April 29 at RMIT’s Storey Hall.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 24
CHROMA
INTERPLAY
After impressing audiences in Sydney and Canberra, the Sydney Dance Company will bring Interplay to Melbourne late this April. A highlight of the company’s 45th anniversary program, the show features some of Australia’s finest dancers performing works from three internationally acclaimed contemporary choreographers. Interplay will run from Wednesday April 30 to Saturday May 10 at the Southbank Theatre.
Melbourne audiences will get the rare opportunity to witness The White Stripes at the ballet when The Australian Ballet performs Chroma this June. Bringing together works from three multi-awardwinning choreographers, the ballet is set to the tune of music by Mozart, Tchaikovsky and The White Stripes. Chroma is the brainchild of Wayne McGregor, who created the show in 2006 for The Royal Ballet. Chroma will run from Friday June 6 to Saturday June 14 at The Arts Centre.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
The endless possibilities of tomorrow are set to unfold in Melbourne from Wednesday April 16 – Sunday May 11 as part of Next Wave Festival 2014. A citywide, month-long celebration of cutting-edge arts and culture from around Australia and the globe, in 2014 Next Wave celebrates its 30th anniversary with a tightly curated selection of the most ambitious, risky and surprising new art, including performance, dance, visual art, sound art – and ideas impossible to categorise. Occurring every two years, Next Wave Festival 2014 spans 28 days and features the work of 239 artists. Next Wave will unveil an exciting and experimental season of never-before-seen art projects that have been created especially for the Festival and will enliven Melbourne’s theatres, galleries, laneways, beaches, rivers, the side of Trades Hall, gardens, private homes and bathrooms. Visit nextwave.org.au for more information.
BIG WEEK OF LAUGHS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; BOOK NOW!
ETS
MOUS PUPP
NATIVEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SON ALTER Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S MOST FA
THE WORL
HEN
WED-FRI $20 SATURDAY $20 COMEDY UP LATE COMEDY BONANZA Back by popular demand! The best and biggest comedy names at the Festival performing live in the Club for an ABC2 telly special.
The biggest names at the Festival line up to let it all hang loose. AFTER THE COMEDY Music from Champagne & Goat and keep on dancing with DJ Smithers.
6 COMEDIA
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sharp enough to burst balloonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
N
80 HENSOS! PUPPETS! N
Independent
[USA]
REGINALD
[USA]
SUN-HERALD
B FO OOK W R N NO EE EX W K! T
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Huge laughsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; HERALD SUN
SU END ND S AY !
PRINCESS THEATRE 8â&#x20AC;&#x201C;20 APR TIX FROM $49.90 TUE-SUN 7.30PM (EXCEPT SAT 12 APR 8.30PM)
[USA]
AUSTRALIAN SOLO SHOW DEBUT
Cabaret, musical comedy, circus and Euro trash shenaningans with Die Roten Punkte and DJ Andrew McClelland.
TIX AT THE
DOOR
DOORS OPEN 11.15PM (SUNDAYS 10.15PM)
ttle, mmy Li mmons, o T , n a v i I Max & Byrne, Sam S more! g n i r r a st loads , Jason Chieng , Matt Okine & y n n o R hop Des Bis
D. HUNTER
xt ne ! ns ek pe e O w
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Muppet show for grown upsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
SUNDAY $15 HAUS PARTY!
NI O N GH E TO NL Y
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS! COMEDY NEVER SLEEPS!
FORUM THEATRE 8â&#x20AC;&#x201C;20 APR TUE-SAT 9.15PM, SUN 8.15PM TIX FROM $26
IUSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;GEN THE TIMES MELBOURNE TOWN HALL MON 14 APR 8PM TIX FROM $33
[UK]
COMEDY & THEATRE SUPERSTAR
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Superbâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; GUARDIAN
[CAN]
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Kinane is like a comedy god to usâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; TIME OUT CHICAGO FROM 27 MAR TIX FROM $26
ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE & MELB TOWN HALL UNTIL 5 APR SEE WEBSITE FOR SHOW TIMES TIX FROM $30
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL UNTIL 20 APR TUE-SAT 7PM, SUN 6PM TIX FROM $28 [UK]
[ UK]
DIRECT FROM LONDON WITH HER BRAND NEW SHOW
Shappi
THE AGE
WE LAST EK !
VICTORIA HOTEL UNTIL 6 APR WED-SAT 9.45PM, SUN 8.45PM TIX FROM $28
ED LIMITSON SEA
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sublime, original and brilliantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
The best from Stateside
Khorsandi â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Thrillingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; EVENING STANDARD
â&#x2DC;&#x2026; DAVE HILL â&#x2DC;&#x2026; SEATON SMITH â&#x2DC;&#x2026; â&#x2DC;&#x2026; BROOKE VAN POPPELEN â&#x2DC;&#x2026; DAVE MERHEJE â&#x2DC;&#x2026; WIL SYLVINCE â&#x2DC;&#x2026; GREG BEHRENDT â&#x2DC;&#x2026; APARNA NANCHERLA
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL UNTIL 13 APR SEE WEBSITE FOR SHOW TIMES TIX FROM $28
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL UNTIL 20 APR TUE-SAT 9.45PM, SUN 8.45PM TIX FROM $28
The Independent
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Thoughtful, edgy, observantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
BARRY AWARD NOMINEE 2011 & 2012
Herald Sun
THE HI-FI UNTIL 20 APR TIX FROM $28 TUE-SAT 8.15PM, SUN 7.15PM [ UK]
d hip-hop â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Truly inspdir-eupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; TIME OUT and stan [UK]
[UK] AS SEEN ON
Russell Howardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Good News, The Inbetweeners & Derek. VICTORIA HOTEL UNTIL 20 APR TUE-SAT 8.15PM, SUN 7.15PM TIX FROM $27.50
[
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Utterly magnificentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
THE GUARDIAN
HERALD SUN
[ UK]
[UK]
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
NISH
THE GUARDIAN
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Comedy goldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; CHORTLE
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL UNTIL 20 APR TUE-SAT 8.30PM, SUN 7.30PM TIX FROM $28
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL UNTIL 20 APR TUE-SAT 9.45PM, SUN 8.45PM TIX FROM $28
ADRIENNE TRUSCOTTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S
[ UK]
AUSTRALIAN DEBUT
ASKING FOR IT
JOHN KEARNS SIGHT GAGS FOR PERVERTS
FORUM THEATRE UNTIL 20 APR TUE-SAT 9PM, SUN 8PM TIX FROM $28.50 Strictly over 18s audience only
[UK]
KUMAR
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;FULL MEGA-WATT CHARISMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
IRL ]
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL UNTIL 20 APR TUE-SAT 8.15PM, SUN 7.15PM TIX FROM $28
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL UNTIL 20 APR TUE-SAT 8.30PM, SUN 7.30PM TIX FROM $28
AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE
David
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;THE ANTICIPATION IS AS DELIGHTFUL AS THE EVENTUAL PUNCHLINEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;
THE REUNION
[USA]
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL UNTIL 20 APR TUE-SAT 9.45PM, SUN 8.45PM TIX FROM $28 [ UK]
BEST NEWCOMER
LATE night
gimp fight
FOSTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S EDINBURGH COMEDY AWARD NOMINEE 2012
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Imaginative and cheekily subversive comedy...â&#x20AC;&#x2122;
A One-Lady Rape About Comedy Starring Her Pussy & Little Else!
WINNER FOSTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BEST NEWCOMER EDINBURGH FRINGE 2013
[UK]
The Guardian
PORTLAND HOTEL UNTIL 20 APR TUE-SAT 9.45PM, SUN 8.45PM TIX FROM $30
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL UNTIL 20 APR TUE-SAT 8.30PM, SUN 7.30PM TIX FROM $28
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL UNTIL 20 APR TUE-SAT 7.15PM, SUN 6.15PM TIX FROM $28
ANJELAH JOHNSON
S EN Y! OP ESDA TU
AUSTRALIAN DEBUT OF INTERNET SENSATION
MADTVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bon Qui Qui & Nail Salon THE HI-FI UNTIL 6 APR TIX FROM $28 WED-SAT 9.45PM, SUN 8.45PM
[UK]
MU SU ST F ND INI AY SH !
VICTORIA HOTEL 8â&#x20AC;&#x201C;20 APR TIX FROM $26Â TUE-SAT 9.45PM, SUN 8.45PM
TU OPE ES NS DA Y!
[ USA]
[ USA]
TRADES HALL UNTIL 20 APR TUE-SAT 9.45PM, SUN 8.45PM TIX FROM $28
BOOK NOW! comedyfestival.com.au
â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a genius, plain and simpleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; TIME OUT
WILD. UNTAMED. NEW TALENT.
ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE 8â&#x20AC;&#x201C;20 APR TUE-SAT 9.15PM, SUN 8.15PM TIX FROM $27.50
TRADES HALL UNTIL 20 APR TUE-SAT 8.15PM, SUN 7.15PM TIX FROM $19.50
1300 660 013
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 25
COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE 2014 JOE LYCETT
DOC BROWN
IF JOE LYCETT THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE PUT A RING ON IT
OF MIC AND MEN “I’m not a shock jock. Not at all. I’m not Jim Jefferies. It’s easy to say ‘rapper turned comedian but there’s more going in my shows than first appears.” So says Doc Brown who enjoys phenomenal success in, well, whatever he feels like doing. Brown is performing Of Mic and Men for MICF this year. “It’s a challenging show,” he says. “I’m unapologetic about how I view the way we treat each other. There’s so much cynicism around the world at the moment, especially in the UK.” The show, Brown says is about who he is. “I ask questions about myself: I am unafraid, what the hell, but I never put myself above the audience. I ask them questions about who they are. There’s something for everyone in it. There’s weight behind everything I say. This is what people tell me”, he adds. “It’s not a review of myself. I talk about homophobia and that always quietens the room – a straight guy talking about homophobia. They listen. ” Brown’s ten year background in rap (he spent 18 months on tour with DJ megastar Mark Ronson and lived the rockiest of rock god lifestyles before burning out) affords him plenty of comic material. He has a go at the homophobia and misogyny prevalent in so much rap performance and in the culture. “I say, ‘hey, why are you still giving us that?’ It’s about human beings, it’s about respect, equal rights for all human beings,” he says. “They say to me, ‘oh you’re batting for the other team, for the gays, for the chicks now’. I say there’s only one team.” Brown can’t understand why feminism is a dirty word. “Equality for women is men’s fight too. If you can’t see that you’re an idiot. If you’re a black dude and you’re not getting called names it doesn’t mean everything’s cool now. There’s always another victim.” So, when Brown was rapping himself, how did he deal with the sorts of things he now rails against? “I did that thing cowards do when you are new at school, when you’re new in the playground and
SARA PASCOE VS THE TRUTH
Objective reality is up for grabs. Sarah Pascoe, the ‘always clever and occasionally exquisite’ UK comedian isn’t convinced by the nature of things as they are presented to us. Her MICF show, Sarah Pascoe vs The Truth, is about is an exploration of, alongside other topics, the fact that she can’t imagine being dead, can’t fathom not being conscious. Pascoe’s been thinking about such matters since she was very young. “I used to keep three diaries at once,” she says. “Now most of it goes into stand-up. It’s about separation versus universality, about our individual world view. It’s not preachy or moralistic. The routines are me musing about things…” What wouldn’t Pascoe joke about? “There are some words you can’t say; I’m not saying I don’t think people should say these things, other
another kid’s being bullied; you stay quiet cos you don’t want to be that kid. I’ve looked at things in my story; I hinted at things in my songs but I could have done more. Stand up gives you the chance to do that.” Years after leaving rap behind Brown started working in television via a lucky break courtesy of a friend who wanted his script checked for a kind of racial authenticity. “I was the only black man he knew,” Brown recalls. “I appreciated his honesty. I started working on scripts with Lenny Henry and worked on a whole series then I had an idea for children’s TV series – it got made and it was massive and won a BAFTA.” Of Mic and Men Brown says, is head and shoulders above anything else he’s done in live comedy. “It’s the culmination of all my experiences. The past few years have been a mental roller coaster. I never had the opportunity to go deeper into stand up because of working in television. I was bored with the material from my past shows; I’m not doing that old crap again. This is what’s going on now. Rawness propelled me; I’m really connecting with people. I talk about proper grown up stuff.” BY LIZA DEZFOULI VENUE: VICTORIA HOTEL – BANQUET ROOM, 215 LT COLLINS ST, CBD DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 20 (EXCEPT MONDAYS) TICKETS: $27-$35 TIMES: 8.15PM (SUNDAYS 7.15PM)
people do it really well, but there are certain words that elicit a personal response.” Such as? “’Cancer,” she says. “People in the audience would have had some experience of cancer. They have a visceral reaction – they’ve been at someone’s bedside and they get a visual. If you’re going to talk about cancer, your joke better be bloody good.” Pascoe is sure not to denigrate women’s appearances in her routines. Or anybody’s. “You’re supposed to start a show being derogatory about your own appearance to make everyone else feel comfortable, but you’re still putting women down,” she notes. “You’re contributing to something ugly.” There’s an art to comedy, Pascoe says, and avoiding a certain stance is part of that art. “There are some tired tropes that have been done many times –‘I’m single, I can’t get a bloke’ ‘this is what’s wrong with me’– it’s lazy, well-trodden material.” You might, if you wanted to be unkind, perhaps say that it’s all very well for her – Pascoe is exceedingly pretty, slender and blonde. Is she being disingenuous here? “I’m on the right side of it,” she
BY JOSH FERGEUS VENUE: MELBOURNE TOWN HALL – CLOAK ROOM, CNR SWANSTON & COLLINS ST, CBD DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 20 (EXCEPT MONDAYS) TICKETS: $25.50-$33 TIMES: 7.15PM (SUNDAYS 6.15PM)
need. Watching the boys after their shows – their bodies are pumped up and they think women should be queuing up to sleep with them. And often they are.” BY LIZA DEZFOULI VENUE: MELBOURNE TOWN HALL – OLD MET SHOP, CNR SWANSTON & COLLINS ST, CBD DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 20 (EXCEPT MONDAYS) TIMES: 8.30PM (SUNDAYS 7.30PM) TICKETS: $25.50-$33
FOOL’S GOLD
MUSIC FOR GOATS
26
answers. “It doesn’t matter; beauty can be a prison, anyway, if you rely on your looks as a young woman. The most gorgeous girls are insecure. I’m on the right side of it but I’m not going to present the wrong image, I’m not going to come out in a mac and no make-up saying ‘please don’t think that I think I’m pretty,’ because that’s wrong, too. I shouldn’t be ashamed of how I look.” Pascoe reckons life just gets better after 30 “Everything calms down a bit. You stop worrying so much about what boys think of you.” Performing comedy can create a life of extremes, she reckons. “Adrenaline’s an addictive drug. Every gig is scary, new material is scary. But it keeps you liking your job. But once you’ve played the big rooms, been on television, you can plateau. People can get unhappy. Human beings are tribal: for one hour you’re the alpha in the room. But once you leave that room you’re back in real life. Queuing up to buy things, waiting at a train station; there’s a cognitive dissonance. Boys are so pumped after the show and that can translate into a certain
It - adheres to the pattern of pun titles littering his stand-up history. “Beyonce is a close personal friend and I won’t speak about our relationship any further,” states Lycett. Going on to add that the title is just a “convenient” pun. “There are other pun titles I like. Such as That’s The Way Uh-Huh Uh-Huh Joe Lycett and Drop It Lycett Hot. My final show will be called I Don’t Lycett Anymore.” The UK comedian states that although he had “never even heard of Australia until you mentioned it just now”, he’s a fan of what we’ve done with the place. “I think there is some fantastic architecture and I love coffee, which you do well. I have also learnt some of your works like ‘dinking’. It seems ridiculous to have a word for the act of getting a lift on a bicycle as I have literally never seen anyone do that in my life and imagine it would be a niche and ineffective method of transport.” Local fans of British television may have seen some of Lycett’s many appearances on Celebrity Juice, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, or the ever-popular Never Mind The Buzzcocks, which for the uninitiated is a bit like Australia’s own Spicks And Specks. “I was on it with Nancy Dell’olio who is a ludicrous woman at the best of times,” recounts Lycett. “I really enjoyed myself on it and people were very kind to me about it afterwards, so that’s nice.”
FRANK WOODLEY
ANTHONY MORGAN It’s been over 15 years since Anthony Morgan announced his retirement from comedy. Exhausted by the pressure of performance, and stumbling through a fog of alcohol and chemical enhancements, Morgan took his leave of Melbourne and moved to Tasmania, setting up residence two hours outside of Hobart. Morgan made a comeback of sorts in 2007, playing his first live comedy shows at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in just under a decade. But despite returning to performance – which includes shows at this year’s comedy festival – Morgan prefers the solitude and tranquillity of his adopted home. “We have a notionally organic existence down here,” Morgan says of the lifestyle he and his artist partner share in Tasmania. “We’re not crazy about it – we’re just too cheap to buy pesticides, and we’re certainly not vegetarian or anything. The bloke across the road does a bit of killing in his spare time, so we get meat from him.” Morgan says the remoteness of his life in the best thing about his current location. “I need a bit more room – I need to able to shout at the radio without then having to interact with the neighbours. I didn’t have a dog in Melbourne before I left ‘cause I couldn’t see any freedom for it, but we’ve got dogs now.” In fact, Morgan is so enamoured with where he is that he struggles to identify a negative aspect. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. There are dickheads here, I suppose – by dickheads, I mean people who disagree with me. But I have no regrets about coming here.” Morgan’s comedy performances over the past 15 years have been sporadic at best; Morgan admits to occasionally missing comedy performance, though his busy schedule of domestic activities means that he doesn’t have a lot of time to ponder the performing life he’s left behind. “Every now and again I think about it, but most nights when I stop to think about
In 2009 Joe Lycett won a student comedy competition. Since then he has won a swag of other awards, and is being described as one of the strongest emerging talents on today’s comedy scene. When I asked Lycett if he thought he would have made it big as a comedian without the boost from that early win, he gave an emphatic yes. “At age four I leant over to my mother one afternoon and said to her, ‘Mother, I will perform at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in 2014. In 2018 I will take over as prime minister of the United Kingdom. In 2024, I will rule the earth. Mark my words mother.’” So far, one out of three ain’t bad. Recalling the competition, Lycett tells me that he “felt a range of emotions including lust, hunger, delight and unease. In all honesty I think I was probably just nervous a bit. Comedy competitions are a strange thing - if you do well in them it’s good for your career, but if you do badly in them it’s almost irrelevant. Funny people will generally succeed so it’s a nice thing to have but ultimately means nothing.” “Most if not all of the other competitors are dead and I can’t remember them or how they died,” says Lycett. “That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.” He believes that, competition or not, there’s always the same pressure exuding from an audience to be funny. “They don’t really care if you’ve won an award. Try getting an award out when you haven’t said anything funny for an hour and telling the audience they’re wrong. It adds pressure from reviewers and industry types as sometimes they come along hoping to disprove the hype. But without the awards they probably wouldn’t show up so I should be grateful.” Lycett’s show at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival – If Joe Lycett Then You Should Have Put A Ring On
it I’m so tired I just fall asleep because I’ve been so busy,” Morgan deadpans. “That’s pretty well been my life for the past 15 years – working and then falling asleep.” This year’s comedy festival sees Morgan return to the mainland for a rare series of performances. Morgan has never been one to overcook his routine – the typical Morgan show rests on a simple formula of Morgan’s deadpan observations on the world around him, and his sincere, and usually blunt criticisms of the people and events that cross his path. “This year it’s just me ranting – it’s me attempting to talk to the public, again,” Morgan laughs. “We haven’t got a television here, but we have got a radio, so I know what you’ve all been up to. So I’m fairly well aware of what’s been going on. And I think it’s about time someone offered an outside perspective on it.” Now past 50, Morgan is as passionate as ever, but he acknowledges he has mellowed slightly. “There are a number of what I consider crimes – and still do – that I used to rail against, but which I don’t anymore. I just keep myself busy, and don’t let that stuff give me a heart attack.” BY PATRICK EMERY VENUE: TRADES HALL – THE MEETING ROOM, CNR LYGON & VICTORIA ST, CARLTON DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 20 (EXCEPT MONDAYS) TIMES: 8.15PM (SUNDAYS 7.15PM) TICKETS: $22-$28
If you’re at all familiar with Frank Woodley, you’ll know he’s an exceptionally gifted physical comedian with energy to burn. These days, in playing the part of Australian comedy’s best-known jester, it’s recipe for success. Once upon a time, though, it meant something entirely different. “I do remember my Mum telling me that, in grade one, she was called into the classroom. The teacher started sobbing and said, ‘He doesn’t seem to understand that I’m in control!’” As the youngest of seven children, Woodley found plenty of inspiration to play up, if only to stand out. “I think a lot of my comedy has been forged in the furnace of being the underdog to my older brother. It’s classic sibling rivalry,” muses Woodley. “I do think that possibly my comic perspective has come out of the fact that, when I was a kid, I couldn’t compete with (my brother) in any practical sense... I was always going to be stupider and weaker and less capable. So I do wonder if, at that point, I kind of realised in some way that I had to make being a failure work for me. But you never know - you can’t see your own eyeballs, as nobody says.” When Australia’s beloved comedy duo Lano & Woodley called time after 20 great years, Woodley was forced to find his feet as a solo performer. “It took me about six months to a year to work it out. I’d spent the last twenty years being, in a sense, a force of anarchy in our act. I could just follow any impulse of impetus that interested me and, in a sense, sabotage Col’s efforts to put on a show. Whenever that got too out of control, he would just abuse me and pull me into line.” “I definitely found that, for the first six months, I would kind of go off on these weird tangents but I wouldn’t really know how to control them. It was far too erratic and inconsistent,” Woodley recalls. “Slowly I realised that, in a peculiar way, I kind of had to fulfil that ‘responsible adult’ function as well as being the child on stage. I had to work out a way to oscillate between
the two and that did take quite a while, I must admit.” Woodley has since settled into a successful solo career. He presents a hilarious new show, Fool’s Gold, at this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival. “It’s pretty much classic stand-up, in that it’s a whole lot of disparate comic ideas that have been cobbled together into a magnificent tapestry of nonsense,” he explains. “I just do my own poster quotes now. They’re not quite as convincing if you look and they’re all quotes from me. ‘5 stars - Frank Woodley’ doesn’t quite carry the same sort of weight.” As Woodley edges ever-nearer to a “ridiculous” milestone - three decades in comedy - he continues to enjoys his craft as much as ever. “The amazing thing about comedy is that it’s actually impossible to rest on your laurels. If there isn’t that tension, that energy and freshness in the moment, the audience just won’t laugh...so you’ve got to find a way to keep it alive for yourself or it just doesn’t happen,” he says. “It’s kind of wonderful and frustrating at the same time. I’m still as nervous now when I’m doing new material as I was over 20 years ago. That’s a great thing but it means that it’s still kind of terrifying. It certainly keeps the whole thing fresh.” BY NICK MASON VENUE: MELBOURNE TOWN HALL – LOWER TOWN HALL, CNR SWANSTON & COLLINS ST, CBD DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING APRIL 20 (EXCEPT MONDAYS) TIMES: 8.20PM (SUNDAYS 7.20PM) TICKETS: $28-$39.50
BEAT’S COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY GRAVITY ESPRESSO
COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE 2014 JIMMY JAMES EATON & JASON GEARY: SKETCH-AGGEDON
Some people have all the fun. Beat spoke to Sketch-aggedon’s Jimmy James Eaton and Jason Geary, who performed their new show for this year’s MICF for the first time last Wednesday. “We set the bar high with our show, Sketchual Healing, last year,” says Geary. “We wanted to up the stakes this year,” adds
SARAH KENDALL TOUCHDOWN
Eaton. “We’ve put in some wild contemporary dancing, some very physical impro action, a John Travolta impersonation – we’re absolutely exhausted by the end of the show. Jason has three years of dance training but me, I’ve only done nightclub boogie training. We’ll let the people be the judge of our dance routines.” Given the success of Sketchual Healing, which was nominated for the best comedy in the New Zealand Fringe Festival, the two had high expectations of themselves for 2014’s show. “We’ve just come off a tour of New Zealand,” explains Eaton. “We didn’t have time to try it out in front of an audience before opening night.” Which doesn’t seem to have mattered. “We got big laughs,” adds Geary. “We’re really happy with it.” Eaton and Geary have a long history of performing together. “We’re a machine!” says Eaton. How do they create the sketches in the first place? “We do a lot of impro together,” he answers. “When we both laugh, we put it in the show. If the audience doesn’t laugh, well, we’re having fun.” With Sketchageddon, the two performers tread a delicate balance between allowing themselves the freedom to ad lib while still keeping things on track, since there is a storyline to it all, something to do with the end of the world. “It turned out to be about families,” says Geary. “The stories are small and intimate but
they are all going around the apocalypse. Some of them are sketches we’ve done elsewhere.” “It all ties together,” adds Eaton. “The challenge is trying to balance the core of the sketch with the need to push the story through,” explains Geary. “We don’t want to get stuck in exposition land.” How do they prevent that from happening? “Part of it is discipline,” he answers. “You can let it go down different paths but not give yourself enough rope to hang yourself with. We know our story’s strong; we can ad lib and if it gets a laugh on the night we can sneak it into the show.” This happens more often than not – both performers say they deliver a different show each night. “By the end of the season it’s five minutes longer than opening night,” notes Geary. Eaton reckons Sketch-ageddon feels a bit like Shaun of the Dead but a point of difference is that it brings fifteen or so sketches together in what is eventually recognisable as a narrative. “We innocently wrap it up,” says Eaton. There are 36 sound cues in a fifteen minute show as well as voice-over characters, comprising what Geary describes as very elaborate sound plots. “We wanted to have that element. It’s a rich show in terms of that stuff,” he adds. Who do they get excited about in the world of improv comedy? The both say The Pajama Men, and name The Umbilical Brothers and Lano and Woodley as favourites. “But
you’ve got to find your own voice, says Geary. Is there anything they wouldn’t use as comic material? “Things that we don’t find funny,” Eaton says. “Sexist, racist stuff. If you don’t believe it, it won’t work. That’s Buddhist comedy. And we’re both bald too – we look like dodgy monks.” BY LIZA DEZFOULI VENUE: THE IMPERIAL HOTEL, CNR BOURKE & SPRING ST, CBD DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 20 (EXCEPT MONDAYS) TIME: 8PM TICKETS: $15-$25
TOM CANADA
STADE
UK
CARL UK
DONNELLY
“Truly ru y hys hysterical… y ri A flair ir for sharply p y observational humour and superb humo a nd d a sup perbb delivery” FEST MAGAZINE
USA
BOB DOWNE
High school is an experience we all go through but it can differ wildly. Some peak there, for others, it is like being trapped in a chrysalis built of awkwardness and embarrassment and they won’t spread their wings until later in life. Stand up comedian Sarah Kendall remembers her time at high school with mixed emotion. “I wasn’t a loner, I was very social but I was very highly strung,” she recalls. Although Kendall grew up in Australia, and began her stand up career here, she has spent the better part of her career performing in the UK. Kendall was last in Melbourne for the 2012 Comedy Festival, returning after an eight year absence with her show Persona. It marked a return to stand up, as she had taken a couple years off to have her first baby. She was absent at last year’s festival because she’d just had her second but she’s back this year with her most personal show yet. No, it’s not about childbirth, babies or parenting. Called Touchdown, it’s an autobiographical tale about a couple of key events that took place during her own adolescence. “It’s about the first time I fell in love and the first time I had a massive bust up with my best friend and I think the first time I really genuinely had a kick in the teeth,” she says. “This particular year for me was a very emotional time in my life.” Kendall is known for thoughtful, intelligent stand up but doesn’t usually talk with such candour on stage about personal emotional experiences, in the past she’s always tackled broader issues. The show, which is one long story, is set in 1992. It’s an engaging narrative, expertly balancing adolescent obsession with profanity against her adult insights looking back, creating a show that has a winning mix of both vulgarity and vulnerability. There are moving moments woven throughout the mirth and at its core, great humanity and compassion. Kendall is a comedian who wants this world to be a better place and uses her place on the stage to subtly implore us all to be kinder, while also having the performance chops to deliver a polished, well- written comedy show that delivers the laughs. This is adult comedy in the most sophisticated sense. Touchdown, she says, was a pleasure to write. “I certainly found that I look back a lot more than I used to, creatively,” she says. “I find writing anything about my teenage years, I love writing about it or I love doing material about it and I love discussing it on stage because I think it is a really fertile period of life. It’s really nice being an adult and being able to explore all those very raw emotions because everything is so intense during that stage in life. You basically have school and home, there’s no other arena - no professional arena, there’s no independence – it’s just home and school and it’s a real pressure cooker and I find that I love exploring that,” she says. Kendall says this one of the easiest shows she’s written. “I found writing it, it just came. When you start putting together a show, you’re constantly sifting, doing material and trying to figure out what the show is about and it’s almost like I hit the rails with this. Once I started talking about this, the material just felt like it was pouring out of me,” she says. It’s a true story, she says. “I’ll put it this way, anyone who was there would be able to figure out who the people were…but no one is going to sue me! It’s as true as I can be without getting in trouble”.
KAI HUMPHRIES
FORUM THEATRE 8 APR – 20 APR R
28 MAR- 20 APRIL ATHENAEUM THEATRE
R
UDE!
JIMMY McGHIE UK
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
CANADA NADA
★FLYING HAMSTERS★
★ABNOR
MAL INVE
MELBOURNE TOWN HALL
27 MARCH – 20 APRIL
NTIONS★
PLOSIONS★ ★MINOR EX ★MASSIVE MARSHM ALLOW FIGHTS★
UK
BY JOANNE BROOKFIELD VENUE: MELBOURNE TOWN HALL – THE OLD MET SHOP, CNR SWANSTON & COLLINS ST, CBD DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 20 (EXCEPT MONDAYS) TIMES: 7.15PM (SUNDAYS 6.15PM) TICKETS: $22-$28
ATHENAEUM THEATRE 27 MARCH - 20 APR BOOK NOW AT COMEDYFESTIVAL.COM.AU
BEAT’S COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY GRAVITY ESPRESSO
27
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 28
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 29
COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE 2014 CELEBRITY THEATRESPORTS
TOM BALLARD
UNAUSTRALIAN(ISH) Any regular listener during Tom Ballard’s four year stint cohosting triple j breakfast would be well acquainted with the young comedian’s political persuasion. Essentially, as he puts it, Ballard’s never hidden that he’s “a lefty fag”. Unsurprisingly, politics are a recurring feature in Ballard’s stand-up routines. This year’s MICF show, UnAustralian(ish), is no exception, but it’s not as pointed as you might expect. “It’s mainly about a family holiday I went on in 1995 with my family,” he explains. “We drove half way around Australia like Burke & Wills, except with a car and less dysentery. So I’ve got a family slideshow, I’ve got diaries my brother and I kept on the trip.” This description might have you wondering what informs the show’s curious title. Well, there’s a little more to UnAustralian(ish) than a nostalgic look into Ballard’s childhood. “I tell you the story of what went down there and then along the way I go off on little tangents about what I reckon it means to be Australian and what I think is great about this country and what I think maybe we still need to work on.” Figuring out what qualifies something as distinctly ‘Australian’ is quite a blurry task. Ballard agrees that picking out definitive Australian-isms will inevitably produce a narrow or biased conception. “I talk about it in the show – we’ve produced Clive James and Germaine Greer and Peter Singer and Patrick White and Barry Humphries; all these incredibly intelligent people. We’ve also given the world Shannon Noll and Kevin Bloody Wilson. Just something like that made me think, ‘How can we possibly define our national identity when that’s the scope of what you’re dealing with culturally?’” Ballard’s also attuned to the fact that, when it comes to ideological matters, attempts to superimpose inherent
THOMAS JASPERS GOD, SAVE THE QUEEN
At 27, Melbourne comedian Thomas Jaspers realises many of his interests are not typical of a guy his age. A self-diagnosed early mid-life crisis has recently bought to the surface his inner ‘little old lady’ - and she has a royal appointment of the highest order. In his new show for the MICF – God, Save The Queen – Jaspers flexes his stiff upper lip and indulges his peculiar obsession with the world’s most iconic little old lady and her renowned dysfunctional family. “I think the royal family were the first celebrities, as in how we see celebrity today, but also the Queen is a mum and grandma as well as being a fashion icon for lovers of pastel everywhere.” Jaspers admits the two main prompts for his latest show, were the world’s least risqué tattoo and the realisation he just loved
meaning into the notion ‘Australian’ can have wayward ramifications. “[There’s] this idea that there are ‘Australian values’, as if we’re the only ones that care about mateship or freedom and fairness. I think it’s much more healthy to think of those as universal values. Nationalism is just ‘us’ and ‘them’, ‘us’ and ‘them’ all the time. It makes every problem ever worse. I mean, look at the way we’re treating asylum seekers – that fear of the ‘other’ – these strange people with weird names, different religions and different languages.” It’s one thing to get on his political high-horse and disparage government policy for the sake of a few laughs, but will this actually make a concrete impact? Well, Ballard is acting on the imperative to assist hopeful new Australian arrivals. “At the end of the show I’m asking for collections for Welcome To Australia,” he says, “which is a charity that helps out asylum seekers and immigrants. That feels really nice, to have actual practical good come out of doing a stand-up show. I’d feel guilty if I was just banging on about how shit we are to asylum seekers and not actually doing anything about it.” BY AUGUSTUS WELBY VENUE: MELBOURNE TOWN HALL – COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CNR SWANSTON & COLLINS ST, CBD DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 20 (EXCEPT MONDAYS) TIMES: 8.30PM (SUNDAYS 7.30PM) TICKETS: $22-$28
little old ladies. “When I was growing up, my parents worked in a nursing home and I spent a lot of time with old ladies, and I know it’s really uncool but, I actually loved talking to them and hearing their war stories.” “And also as part of my ‘gay mid-life crisis’ I decided to get a tattoo of the Queen and because everybody keeps asking me why I got that, I decided to write a show expanding on my obsession.” Jaspers, despite his clean-cut appearance and ‘kind to old ladies’ policy, has the heart of a gutter-crawling drag queen. His hilarious drag characterisation of entertainer, Rhonda Burchmore (Ne. Rhonda Butchmore) as a sloppy drunk is widely known among fans – no less than by Rhonda herself. In cross-dressing mode, Jaspers swills beer, belches and staggers about reflecting the much suspected behind closeddoors behaviour of the late Queen mum. “I’m a big fan of the Queen mum – she was the biggest faghag in Britain for employing only gay men to work for her.” He laughs, “There is a lot of material for comedy within the
royal family, but this (show) isn’t some anti-monarchy rant. Of course I talk about the sort of failings of Prince Phillip, whose main role seems to be to just walk two paces behind the Queen, making him the most pussy-whipped man in the world. But it’s mostly just an affectionate but honest look at the good and bad sides of the royals from a queen’s perspective.” But Thom’s affection for the Queen extends beyond regular fandom, he reveals. Not that she would have remotely suspected during their brief encounter on her 2012 visit to Melbourne - “It was like a religious experience” - but he had already long been planning for her majesty’s eventual passing. “Since I was about 10, I’ve had a separate savings account that’s got about two grand in it specifically for when she dies so I can fly straight to England and attend the funeral.” He adds, “I even have a clause in my work contract for my day job that states if the Queen dies I automatically get two weeks off for bereavement-leave!” BY LEIGH SALTER
only thing harmed is your sense of dignity.” Improvisation is a good antidote to the poison of self-consciousness so prevalent in the world of social media, Fletcher thinks. “Everyone’s commenting, no-one’s taking action.” Fletcher reckons there is lack of sense of humour in right wing forces, if the last question time in parliament when Bronwyn Bishop told people off for laughing was anything to go by. “It speaks of a lack of flexibility in minds,” he notes. 2014’s Celebrity Theatresports has attracted two young stars of Neighbours, James Mason and Calem Mack. Fletcher has a list of performers he loves to have on the show but not everyone is available at the right time. “Julia Zemiro, Kevin Harrington… he’s one of our best character actors but he’s underemployed. He says ‘yes’ immediately. Artists should be seen as heroes.” Fletcher dons many performing hats - he’s as, actor, improviser, director, writer and Master of Ceremonies. “I’ve been very busy over the last 15 years, working in community theatre as well as with the luminaries. “I produce theatre that may not have big names involved.” He reckons performance keeps him young. Has he any advice for an aspiring performer? “Only the same thing everyone will tell you,” he says. “Find your passion. Follow your bliss. Get out there and try things. BY LIZA DEZFOULI VENUE: THE NATIONAL THEATRE, BARKLY ST, ST KILDA DATE: APRIL 19 TIME: 7.30PM TICKETS: $20-$35
VENUE: THE PORTLAND HOTEL – GOLD ROOM, CNR RUSSELL & LT COLLINS ST, CBD DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 19 (THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS & SATURDAY) TIME: 11PM TICKETS: $18-$20
XAVIER TOBY
DAVE CALLAN
‘MINING’ MY OWN BUSINESS
A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION No matter how privileged your profession is, sooner or later the initial sparkle will begin to fade. After more than a decade in the stand-up game, Dave Callan grew a little tired of telling jokes for an hour every night. So in response he developed the show A Little Less Conversation, which essentially involves the bearded Irish ex-pat performing choreographed dance routines next to three female professionals. “The joke is that I have to nail it,” he says. “All these routines, I’m doing them properly but obviously because of the way my body is I’m a bit unco anyway. Today [in rehearsals] we were doing a bit of Britney, Oops I Did It Again, and some Rihanna with umbrellas. I would prefer to get it right and nail it but sometimes there’s a bit of leeway there, just because I’m a big unco dude.” The fact he’s not simply flailing around while the experts hold it together indicates Callan wants the show to be more than an exercise in buffoonery. However, it takes a little more than the physical effort to make a 50-minute show consistently amusing. “I think audiences hit a bit of fatigue if you do too much dance,” he says. “So you do a bit of talking and then you hit them with more dance and then just when they’ve just got accustomed to the fact that you’re dancing and they’re going, ‘Oh yeah, I see what’s going on,’ then you stop and you engage with them on a stand-up level again.” A Little Less Conversation is structured as a demonstrative journey through the history of dance and the interwoven stand-up segments are designed to add further insight to the narrative. “I talk about iconic dances through time,” Callan says. “I talk about The Twist. I talk about Michael Jackson doing the moonwalk for the first time and segue into talking about why he has to grab his dick so much. You’ve got to sneak dick jokes
30
Theatre Renaissance man Russell Fletcher isn’t afraid of exposing himself to ridicule by getting on stage in Celebrity Theatresports, the improvisation show where characters, story and plot are all up for grabs. “I’ve had a lifetime of it,” he says. Fletcher performs in as well as hosting Celebrity Theatresports, the annual improvisation event on the last Saturday of MICF. “It’s a small privilege,’ he says of hosting the Celebrity Theatresports, “being in amongst the ridiculous and the ridicule.” The hardest thing about putting the show together is not the random and unpredictable nature of improvisation (Fletcher says that as a performer he loves being terrified) but rather it’s in persuading other people to perform. “I keep coming back to improv,” he says. “But getting celebrities to commit to it is a challenge. So many of my actor friends would be fantastic in Theatresports but people are terrified.” Fletcher wishes more talent would push themselves, as one of the joys in Theatresports is seeing people realise just what they are capable of. “I love to see artists surprise themselves,” he says. “That light bulb moment of seeing what’s possible when they’ve pulled something out of themselves they didn’t know that they had. It’s that saying: ‘a brilliant mind in panic is a wonderful thing to see.’” The nature of improvisation makes singular demands on a performer, notes Fletcher. “There is no take two. You use your whole body; when it fails you have to be a good sport about losing your dignity in front of 800 people. Everyone should be made to do it!” Once you lose the fear of making an arse of yourself on stage, Fletcher says, anything is possible. “Improvisation is a muscle. It does require training.” Having a sense of humour is the most important thing in forging a strong sense of self, Fletcher reckons. “What is the worst thing about failing?” he asks. “You come on stage, you suck; you smile. No child has died, no animal has been harmed. The
in, so it’s great to have a theme that will allow you to do that.” Moving from stand-up comedy to live dance is obviously an ambitious leap, especially when you’re charging people money to see it. The stand-up veteran’s nonchalant transition may have something to do with his genuine desire to dance. “I don’t drink so a dancefloor is kind of like my intoxicant for an evening,” Callan says. “It’s just really good getting out there and being silly. I love silly dancing, I don’t like to take it too seriously. You have to feel like you’re not being judged when you’re dancing. I think it’s important to accept anybody doing any moves on the dancefloor as long as it’s not hurting or being intrusive onto anybody else.” Now, it’s one thing to goof around in a club environment but, as noted, Callan’s show isn’t a modest display. In fact, the choreographed routines demand a high level of fitness. “There are times where I’ve almost passed out on stage doing this show,” he says. “There’s pole dancing in it and nothing changes your body as quickly as pole dancing. It’s incredible because it’s cardio and it’s strength building at the same time and it works on your core. All three are being hit straight away.” BY AUGUSTUS WELBY VENUE: TRADES HALL – NEW BALLROOM, CNR LYGON & VICTORIA ST, CARLTON DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 20 (EXCEPT MONDAYS) TIMES: 7PM (SUNDAYS 6PM) TICKETS: $15-$23.50
What’s so funny about mining? Comedian Xavier Toby reckons stories about what happened to him during his six months in a fly-in-fly-out admin job at an undisclosed location in Western Australia are good for a laugh. “It’s a fish out of water story,” he says, of his MICF show, ‘Mining’ My Own Business. “The show’s about what life is really like on a mining site.” Toby insists that he’s not judging the mining industry or patronising anyone he met out west but reckons many of the lols come from him spending time with people from very different backgrounds. “The humour is in anecdotes about the drinking and the smoking, the safety procedures. ‘Mining’ My Own Business is a story,” he continues. “With a narrative structure. It’s got a beginning, a middle and an end.” What took this remarkably modest comedian to work at a mining site in the first instance? “To restart a stalled comedy career,” Toby answers. “I was making a living in Australia out of comedy then I went to Edinburgh. People came to my show but things went very wrong, they were out of control and I lost a lot of money.” Isn’t there comedy in that story or is it just not a bit funny? “It’s too self-referential,” Toby answers. “I don’t like talking about myself too much. I don’t find myself that interesting. The fly-in fly-out experience is a better premise for a show than a comedian who’s lost money. What actually happened in Edinburgh is not that exciting. The people I met at the mine, they were working hard to support their families, to put their kids through school. Their lives in some ways have more validity than a comedian’s.” Toby wants to reach as many people with his work as a performer and a writer. “People come to this show who might not be engaged with the arts. Sometimes it’s the first show they’ve been to.” The first challenge is simply to make it funny. “Comedy is a job – my job is to make people laugh,” Toby reckons. “If you make someone laugh they are going to
listen to the next thing you say. It’s a tacit agreement. It’s a terrible feeling in a room when no-one laughs. When you’re on stage, they are either going to laugh or they’re not, and you quickly find out if people aren’t laughing. And it’s so extremely rewarding when they do laugh. People who work at mining sites themselves are responding well to the show; I’m getting fantastic feedback from people who do that sort of work.” Toby’s aware of the controversy surrounding the industry. “I’m not saying it’s right or wrong,” he says. “I’m not there to pass judgement. The fly-in-fly-out workers are referred to as ‘cashed up bogans,” he continues. “But everyone in Australia is a little bit bogan. People are a lot more varied than we think; everyone’s a little bit hipster, too. The sometime journalist has also penned a book with the same name as his show about his experiences, published by the University of Western Australia. “It’s in a particular style, a comedic style,” Toby explains. “Comedic writing is different from writing for performance. It’s important to me not to sound like I think I’m better or worse than anyone else. I didn’t want to sound condescending. I’m getting nice feedback; people say it’s funny. Most refreshingly, a tradesman told me he hadn’t read a book since year ten but he liked mine.” BY LIZA DEZFOULI VENUE: PORTLAND HOTEL – PORTLAND ROOM, CNR RUSSELL & LT COLLINS ST, CBD DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 20 (EXCEPT MONDAYS) TIMES: 6PM (SUNDAYS 5PM) TICKETS: $15-$20
BEAT’S COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY GRAVITY ESPRESSO
COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE 2014 REVIEWS THE STEVENSON EXPERIENCE WOMB MATES
Two 24-year-old males in a room with a microphone each and women on the brain might sound like a recipe for disaster. But although there is a recipe in this show, The Stevenson Experience is anything but disastrous. The musical element of Womb Mates is loosely defined and you don’t have to be a musical comedy fan to find identical twins Benjamin and James very entertaining. Unlike some musical acts, this show segues from song to joke without feeling contrived. These boys are seamless - from rapping to joking, from improvising to playing the crowd and then straight into the next song. The humour is a little juvenile – their jokes about women are as deep as the paddling pool these boys
EDGE! Edge! appears to have some very clear objectives in mind. One is to make you so insanely uncomfortable you want to melt into the furnishings. The other is to make your testicles (or lady plums) shrivel to molecular proportions as the topic of child sexualisation literally takes centre stage under the thin veil of satirical mimicry. Miley Cyrus apparently has the market cornered on transitioning from pre-teen pop princess to post-tween sex poppet. So thank goodness the protagonist of Edge! is still only an 11-year-old mildly talented YouTube hit named Stella (Isabel Angus). Her mother, via the wonders of Bluetooth, stage mothers her to death via mobile phone while her daughter dutifully devotes her stage time to sexing it up and executing the most wellknown formula for young female stardom. Stella’s mute, much-older assistant (Rachel Davis)
STEPHEN K AMOS WHAT DOES THE K STAND FOR?
Stephen K Amos is all class and shoulders the weight of being an MICF headliner with effortless professional ease. Having toured Australia extensively over the last several years he has picked up plenty to laugh about in Australia and tailors his jokes accordingly. From the great banana price hike of 2006 to our current ‘Putinesque’ leadership, Amos knows his Aussie references. This attention to detail pays dividends when he is ‘gifted by the comedy gods’ a mullet-wearing Frankston resident in the front row. Amos is a mainstay of the UK comedy scene, so his crowd control and heckle banter is expected to be top notch. On this night, the standard was high and he was always left with the last laugh. Personally I would have liked to have seen him tested a little more as he was never really stretched to fish into his bag of witticisms for a throwback sting.
JEFF GREEN
ALL GUNS BLAZING Jeff Green’s a stalwart and guaranteed good for a laugh. He’s a kind comic, you feel safe in his hands. He jokes about ordinary things like the weather in Melbourne and jibes latecomers with references to what’s gone before but he’s careful not to make anyone feel uncomfortable. His humour is based around exaggeration and an oldfashioned rudeness and sharing his personality. These days he makes jokes about kids and the questions they ask and things like wondering how much pre-family man drugtaking he should confess to. Green is still funny, even when talking about tired topics like life in the suburbs. He uses imagery to create vivid mental pictures and comes out with some surprising similes. He’s particularly funny about bad drunken sex – ‘like playing snooker with a rope’ – and about having to ‘fold it in’. He recently performed
didn’t have as kids. But a show about identical twins is bound to hark back to childhood in some way – and anyhow, there’s nothing wrong with juvenile if it keeps you laughing. The show’s climax was well-played and unexpected, though there were a few slow moments at the end that could do with an edit to make sure Womb Mates ends on a high note. Otherwise, the brothers are well practised and have some amusing gimmicks to get the crowd involved. Younger, newer acts often seem to work too hard for the laughs. Not so with Womb Mates: the Stevenson twins might be youngsters but these boys make comedy look easy. This is a good show to catch early in the night - easy-going, plenty of laughs and leaves you hungry for more. BY SUZANNAH MACBETH The Stevenson Experience: Womb Mates is currently playing at the Melbourne Town Hall – Lunch Room until April 20 (except Mondays).
plays soft foil at key points, effectively breaking up the more hard-hitting skits. But the main comedic success here lies in the satire. Child sexualisation in the media has been bemoaned since time eternal, but here it feels fresh simply because of the uncomfortable extremes to which the satire has been taken. It’s relentless, pushing on past most barriers of good taste but doing it with a consciousness that prevents it from becoming tackier than necessary. That said, Edge! doesn’t have high-quality production values and the themes can sometimes feel a little too thickly laid. Still, it’s a strong debut show that clearly demonstrates Angus’ and Davis’ canny comedic sensibilities and a sensitivity for issues that are both current and pervasive.
HEADLINERS Should I mention that I just came from a performance that was very average? Not just your run of the mill average – mediocre to the point that it could have been a performance art piece that symbolized man’s eternal struggle dangling over the precipice of being entertained. So that happened, and it’s likely to pepper my view of tonight’s cadre of US comedians falling under the Headliners banner, but in which direction? Could my standards be lowered to the point where everything above average is brilliant, or will these acts get some paint flecks from the broad brush of middling comedy? Bit of both, as it turns out. Opener Brooke Van Poppele never really attracts more than a polite chuckle from her 20 minutes, and in desperation she leans heavily on the overused repertoire of international travelers ie jetlag and weather. And yikes Brooke, at least try to let a punch line land before pushing out your own tiny giggle and careening into the next joke. The most common phrase of the night was “*grnkh* so, ummmm…”. Sometimes I feel bad when I laugh at a puerile comedian more than I do for one that keeps it above the waist. But other times, like tonight, I just chuckle when a person on a stage says ‘butthole’ a lot. It was the latter’s case for Dave Hill tonight, whose delusional laconic lothario persona has been done by performers countless times before, but there’s still some more laughs to be wrung out of it. Seaton Smith’s highly kinetic set was possibly the most entertaining of
Seaton Smith
the night, and the one that had the audience most divided. I wonder if those two things are related? His fantastical observations are again not suitable for a Disney audience, but he laughs with his whole body and you can’t help but get pulled in. From that high energy level, Jen Kirkman seems to intentionally underperform. She’s not that type of physical comedian, so instead she turns inward for the most confessional set of the night. A divorce and widening gaps between her and married friends are played for laughs, of course, but Kirkman does the most off the cuff work of the set and doesn’t seem to be going from a setlist like those before her. A night like this in another country is an opportunity to hone your set for bigger US audiences, but if you’re going to make the trip you could at least come semi-prepared. BY MITCH ALEXANDER Headliners is currently playing at the Melbourne Town Hall – Lower Town Hall until April 20 (except Mondays).
BY SIOBHAN ARGENT Edge! is currently playing at the The Tuxedo Cat until April 8.
While it could be possible to pigeonhole Amos as a black/british/gay/older comedian – he doesn’t fit any of these categories. Uniquely, he presents themes of diversity, death, religion and other topics normally swept under the carpet. This is actually somewhat confronting when you’re after a switch-the-brain-off kind of night but when it’s delivered with such charm, it’s hard to find disagreeable. Plus, Amos drops enough f-bombs, sex jokes and impersonations of Adelaidians to keep everyone laughing merrily. Amos has a big and well-deserved following in Australia who drink in heartily his likable merry persona and witty observations. He’s unlikely to offend, unlikely to die on stage and unlikely to leave you giggle-less. See him on a date, have a ladies’ night with your netball team or go by yourself if you’ve got pasty skin and no friends. Stephen K Amos is the real deal and delivers the goods. BY JUSTIN WATTS Stephen K Amos: What Does The K Stand For? is currently playing at the Athenaeum Theatre until April 20 (except Mondays).
to Australian troops in East Timor, travelling next to a well-known muso who he mistook for one of the catering team; I would like to hear more about that. Green is skilled at holding the stage, he commands attention and creates an atmosphere which doesn’t encourage heckling. You have to like him. However, he makes a mistake in indulging himself by performing a rap song he wrote about his cat Silky and also a poem to conclude the show, both of which are pretty awful. Neither form is his forte and these elements detract from the humour in the rest of the show. Also when Green veers into politics you feel he does so to give himself some heft because the jokes here are undeveloped and very ‘lite’; he’s much funnier when he sticks to the personal stories. BY LIZA DEZFOULI Jeff Green: All Guns Blazing is currently playing at the Forum Downstairs (Melbourne Town Hall - Supper Room on Mondays) until April 7 (extra show on April 14).
BEAT’S COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY GRAVITY ESPRESSO
31
UPCOMING
APRIL
on tour A$AP FERG [USA] Wednesday April 2, Corner Hotel DARKSIDE [USA] Friday April 4, Palace Theatre MOSCA [UK] Friday April 4, Brown Alley NICK WARREN [UK] Friday April 4, Victoria Star TYGA [USA] Friday April 11, Palace Theatre SEVEN DAVIS JR [USA] Saturday April 12, Boney YOUNG MARCO [NED] Thursday April 17, Mercat Basement XZIBIT [USA] Thursday April 17, The Espy SHIT ROBOT [USA] Saturday April 19, New Guernica DJ HYPE [UK] Sunday April 20, Brown Alley HUXLEY [UK] Thursday April 24, Prince Bandroom NEW YORK TRANSITY AUTHORITY [UK] Saturday April 26, Revolver Upstairs PRINS THOMAS [NOR] Saturday April 26, Abbotsford Convent JOHN NEWMAN [UK] Tuesday April 29, Palace Theatre HOLY FUCK [CAN] Wednesday April 30, Northcote Social Club ACTION BRONSON [USA] Thursday May 1, Corner Hotel SALMONELLA DUB SOUNDSYSTEM [NZ] Saturday May 3, Rubix Funhouse KANYE WEST [USA] Tuesday May 6, Rod Laver Arena DIZZEE RASCAL [UK] Thursday May 8, Palace Theatre ARMIN VAN BUUREN [NED] Saturday June 7, Hisense Arena GIRL UNIT [UK] Saturday July 12, Revolver Upstairs SOULFEST: D’ANGELO, [USA], MAXWELL [USA], MOS DEF [USA] + MORE Sunday October 19, Yarra Park EARTHCORE: RAJA RAM [UK], JOHN ‘00’ FLEMING [UK] + MORE Thursday November 27 - Monday December 1, Pyalong, Victoria
tour rumours L-Vis 1990, Bok Bok, Phuture, Lexx, Andy Stott
contact Editor: Tyson Wray / tyson@beat.com.au Production: Patrick O’Brien / art@beat.com.au Advertising: Ash Bartlett - (03) 8414 9710 / ash@beat.com.au Thom Parry - (03) 8414 8719 / thom@beat.com.au Ali Hawken - (03) 8414 9711 / ali@beat.com.au Kris Furst - (03) 8414 9703 / kris@furstmedia.com.au Patrick Carr - (03) 8414 9751 / patrick@furstmedia.com.au Dan Watt - (03) 8414 9712 / dan@furstmedia.com.au Contributors: Alasdair Duncan, Andrew Hickey, Annabel Maclean, Chloe Papas, Dan Watt, Jo Campbell, Kish Lal, Lachlan Kanonuik, Leigh Salter, Miki McLay, Morgan Richards, Nick Taras, Nina Bertok, Richie Meldrum, RK, Rose Callaghan, Ryan Butler, Simon Hampson, Tamara Vogl Deadlines: Editorial: Friday 2pm Advertising: Monday 12pm Publisher: Furst Media - 3 Newton Street, Richmond (03) 9428 3600 | beat.com.au
2
news tours club snaps + more
electronic + urban + club life
vengeance wo rd s / t roy m u t to n
With acid for blood and rave in his veins, Sydney’s Vengeance is bringing his hyper-electrified take on EDM to Melbourne. “Rave, because fucking shut up and rave.” They’re stern words from Sydney producer/DJ Vengeance, but when it comes to the genres he dabbles in (see: destroys) he’s not messing around. We find Vengeance making these bold proclamations midway through his Acid For Blood tour, slamming its way around the darkest clubs in the country for a pumped-up series of shows featuring the Sydney-sider’s patented brand of all out aural assault. “I actually feel like the rave gods have smiled upon us this whole tour. All the shows have been busy and the people have been awesome, which is pretty
news
Catch Vengeance at 170 Russell on Saturday April 12. facebook.com/vengeanceforever
- head to beat.com.au for more
best of both sides
off the record w i t h
much all you need to have a killer time.” Vengeance is no stranger to the club circuit with four years of high profile club and festival shows behind him, along with a heap of international remix work, it’s been in his blood for a long time. “I loved dance music when I was young sproutling in the ‘90s, and I mean way too young to even understand clubbing, DJs, mixing, producing, drugs, whatever. I was just a little kid who loved dance music.” Citing the likes of Nick Skitz and the Wild FM/Ministry Of Sound compilations as a driving force in those early days, you’re now likely to find his originals and extensive remix catalogue in record bags owned by Chuckie, Porter Robinson, Nick Thayer and Plump DJs,
to name a few. Prolific as he may be, the process is by no means an easy one. “I sit down; have a panic attack for 72 hours straight and if I’m lucky, I’ll have a track at the end of the ordeal…I like to focus on one key sound/riff/loop and build the entire track around that sound as if the whole song is just a pedestal for the delivery of that initial, inspiring sound. The same works with remixes except it’s a lot easier because you get to pull apart the track and choose the inspiring sound or element you want to focus on, rather than create it.” The current tour is focused around his latest mixtape, Acid For Blood, an intense and diverse selection of sounds ranging from acid-rave, electro, EDM, trap, dubstep and more – all providing a snapshot of what to expect at his shows. “I like to play my sets super high energy. The only major differences is I mix my mixtapes much faster, to battle that short attention span syndrome the internet has given everyone (myself included). The mix is eight months old now, so people can expect a whole heap more fresher shit than that.” Being such a fixture in clubland for the past few years, who better to ask about the current state of affairs on the dancefloors of our nation, especially given the government interference in his home city of late? “To me, you can go all night sober, drunk or drugged out of your mind and as long you’re having a good time, enjoying the music and not posing any threat to anyone (yourself included) then the rave is strong with you! A vast majority of clubbers have this mindset, and that’s why my high energy rave sets have worked all over during this tour. It’s not a testament to my own talent, but to how well-adjusted all the clubbers and patrons are.”
t yson
w ray
On the weekend I was thinking of Futurama and asked the bartender for a “sham-paggen”. Girl looked at me as if I was a leper.
sampology
After touring North America, Europe, and Canada, Sampology will return to Australia for a string of DJ tour dates this Autumn. The tour will see Sampology select from some of his favourite house, hip hop, soul, and progressive tunes, as well as some of his own remixes, edits and unreleased originals It also coincides with his new remix of Crooked Colours’ In Your Bones. Sampology will hit Revolt Artspace on Sunday June 8.
soulfest
Australia’s first ever neo-soul, jazz and hip hop festival has revealed a blockbuster lineup for their inaugural edition. The lineup features Maxwell, D’Angelo, Common, Aloe Blacc, Mos Def, Anthony Hamilton, Angie Stone, Musiq Soulchild, Leela James, Nathaniel, Ms Murphy, Miracle and DJ Trey with local acts for each city still to be announced. The Melbourne edition of Soulfest goes down on Sunday October 19 at Yarra Park (MCG Precinct).
Melbourne’s favourite week-long free festival will return this April. Hosted over five days, over three venues, the festival will see the best of Melbourne’s bands and DJs battle it out at each venue Lucky Coq and Bimbo Deluxe, and for the first time ever, The Penny Black. Feature artists include Melbourne Techno Collective (MTC), The Psyde Projects, Davy Simony, Prairie Nischler, Henry Shanks,Silversix, Spacey Space and DJ Ahab. RMIT Arts students will kick off the festival on the north side, at The Penny Black and Bimbo Deluxe, with their visual spectacle Melbourne Music Video Festival. There will also be free buses running between the venues. Best Of Both Sides Festival will be held at The Penny Black, Bimbo Deluxe and Lucky Coq from Thursday April 17 – Monday April 21.
xzibit
Hip hop heavyweight Xzibit has announced he will be returning to our shores next month on a tour that will see him cover nine venues in two countries in just over a fortnight. This will be Xzibit’s first appearance in Australia in almost three years. He first came to public attention in the late ‘90s with his debut album At The Speed of Light (1996) and 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz (1998). In 2001 Xzibit released Restless, which featured club anthems X and Get Your Walk On, and was certified platinum in the US. In 2002, Xzibit followed this up with Man vs. Machine and 2004’s Weapons of Mass Destruction. Between 2004 and 2007 he was also the host of MTV’s Pimp My Ride series. In recent times, Xzibit is currently locked down in the studio at work on his comeback LP. Catch Xzibit at The Espy with special guests Young De and DJ Invisible on Thursday April 17.
solaires
the aston shuffle
The Aston Shuffle have announced a national tour in promotion of their newest LP Photographs. It’s been just over a month since the electronic duo returned to the live circuit, spurring the Instagram hashtag #tearitdown following an insane performance of Photographs single Tear It Down. Other singles Comfortable and No Place Like Home have established the boys are back in business, with a visceral album to boot. The Ashton Shuffle will tear down the Corner Hotel on Friday September 5.
Melbourne producer Solaires is back with a fresh EP; Contact featuring seven tracks of synth jams. Not quite fitting any one subgenre, Solaires takes you on a journey from smooth, cinematic dance floor sounds to emotional soundscapes. The boys at Untzz Twelve Inch came on board for remixing duties, drawing on their immense experience behind the decks to reimagine two tracks; Strange Encounters and Ever-Present. Solaires’ Contact is online now on iTunes, Bandcamp, Spotify and all the usual suspects. Untzz Twelve Inchs remixes with be released on Record Store Day (Saturday April 19) on 12” vinyl.
electronic - urban - club life
COLOURS fourcolours
Every now again, we run across something really fresh, something completely left of field. By all accounts, from what we know, Fourcolours by Realityworks, is looking to be one of those game changers. We had a quick chat with Peter Suwara, the event director, who has in the past presented many shows including the Yellow Sunshine festival, Bliss, regular spectaculars at Royal Melbourne Hotel and the Annual Eureka Mile High Masquerade, just to name a few. We can expect a handpicked selection of international artists, including a world premier show of a prominent psychedelic duo from France and California, uplifting trance from an artist in Brazil and earthy, intelligent techno, all pretty exciting. The music performance will be weaved together with live performance, visionary arts and installations, all really cool shit. Peter has hinted at a limited capacity event which will be planned over a six month period, with a real empahasis on detail, interactive experience and showcase of Melbourne arts culture. Tickets will go on sale on Thursday May 8, where you will have the choice of one of four tickets, each coloured specifically to go with a particular energy. The four elements, Crimson, Citrine, Viridian and Azure, each communicate a certain set of ideas and energy. Depending on which colour you choose, your experience of the event will be slightly different. We won’t say too much as we don’t want to spoil the surprises in store. The Fourcolours concept will take elements from theatre restaurants, underground techno rave culture, fine arts, technology and has subtle influences from a new industry, gamification. Peters outlook on the event captured a passion for the extravagant and fun. “It’s always been about putting on a fantastic show, but this time we are taking it further, a deeply curated spectacular. Especially interesting in our world today of social media and deep, multifaceted interconnectedness is how we can entertain and engage the audience. It’s about finding a space, filling it all kinds of madness-inducing cool stuff and wigging people out, I think it’s time that Melbourne raised the bar and we got people excited about something new.” Fourcolours premiers in October, stay tuned for more exclusive info via Beats.
snaps
50 JOhnson st, Fitzroy laundrybar.com.au
bimbos
Thursday 3rd 1(,*+%285+22' +,3 +23
66 +817 ),7=< -81(%8**,( %281&( */,'(
&NAA %JPNU
Friday 4th
dj sliink
Downstairs
3$57< ; %8//6+,7
wo rd s / rk
first floor
rubix funhouse
Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not easy to describe the Jersey club movement â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll let Sliink do the talking â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but rest assured itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music to dance and groove to, no doubt. Lucky then, he opens with this: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been working on a lot of new music,â&#x20AC;? the New Jersey based DJ and producer says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been giving my family a lot of time also. But I just got back from Miami a few hours ago on a quick business trip with Dell/Alienware, my new sponsor.â&#x20AC;? Rightly so though, DJ Sliink pays homage to his younger brother DJ Sliim, who in many ways was his inspiration. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was always a basketball kind of guy; I thought I wanted to do that for life until I found a love for music. I would always come in after practice and my brother would be making â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Jersey clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; music.â&#x20AC;? Indeed, he tells the story of how in NJ, the Jersey club scene was always a culture and a feel good type of music. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We got the torch passed down from Baltimore to DJ Tameil. And as I got deeper into the genre I fell in love with it and started to do my research and wanted to pay homage to the OGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. I started producing back in late 2006 and since then I have been perfecting my craft and pushing the sound. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s such a beautiful thing to see people dance to what I grew up on in NJ!â&#x20AC;? Studio wise, Sliink claims heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been pretty busy working not only on his own stuff but also working on polishing up the productions of others, partly because he wants to see the genre succeed as a whole, but also because he enjoys working with others, taking their inspiration and working with original music. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I get to do different things with all of this; I want to get back to my earlier vocal stuff for example. I really want to get back to that more ghetto style of music. Original music drives crowds insane.â&#x20AC;? Going on to describe his sound as unique, he tries to define it in terms of a raw club style. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I travel the world, I get different inspirations. I felt it was crazy when I got introduced to EDM. I think Diplo was one of my first tastes of EDM. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always liked his work ethic and his ability to place a record.â&#x20AC;? In time too, Sliink admits he has developed his own style, whether
it be experimental, Jersey or electronic. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Truthfully, I have to say that I just do whatever I feel. I think a lot of people care too much of what others would think. I always want to be open to maturity and development.â&#x20AC;? To that end, Sliink describes the scene in his home state as mature and cultural and still on the up. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My friends and I do something called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Threadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; which is more of a mature underground scene, something we really lack in NJ. New Jersey still loves Jersey club music to the fullest. The rest of the USA always responded great to it as well, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fresh sound to them and just fun music. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much about the culture that the rest of the world might not get. In years to come, I will always shine a light on it and hope that they really get into it more. I feel like itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in the top five genres but it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really make it to these big festivals - yet. I really salute the people outside of Jersey and around the world that are producing it. I love the sound and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re keeping the genre pushing.â&#x20AC;? Finally, Sliink conveys his excitement about what is going to be his first trip to Australia. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m super-excited,â&#x20AC;? he explains. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure they heard a bunch of Jersey club music â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but now the king is coming down! They can look forward to hearing some raw sounds and I will expose the crowd in ways that I got exposed. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always had a hip-hop background so I play Jersey club, hiphop, even R&B when Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m feeling it. You learn to be open-minded as a DJ and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always learnt to entertain my crowd. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t play too much of one thing. I always move through a few genres in my sets; I might even play some trance type songs once in a while!â&#x20AC;? Represent.
+,3 +23 51%
'-Ă?6 $1*(/-$<< -8==< % .$< =
8.30-3 &NAA %JPNU
upstairs
'- 6/,,1. 1-
6833257(' %< 52%,+866/,1 '((5 720'(5621 $1' ',57< 6287+ -2( 0$' '(&(17
10-3 7,&.(76 $9$,/$%/( )520 ::: /$81'5<%$5 &20 $8
%JPNU
Saturday 5th downstairs
%,* '$1&,1* 3233,1 %277/(6 %(/ $,5 /;,; &/8% )5(( ,6 %(77(5 /$55,( 0$7 &$17 0$),$
DJ Sliink will hit Laundry Bar on Friday April 4. facebook.com/officialdjsliink
8:30 - 3 &NAA %JPNU
Upstairs
%2<:2/) 35(6(176 %$=22.$
lucky coq
3((=2 *5,)),1 %5$,1 )5(('6 62)$.,1* '- 6(7
10 - 1 &NAA AJPNU
Friday 11th Downstairs
3$57< ; %8//6+,7 '-Ă?6 $1*(/-$<< -8==< % .$< = +,3 +23 51%
08:30 - 03:00 &NAA AJPNU
Upstairs
workshop
&5$.
)($7 '- $<1$ 0(/ '- 0$1,$. 6<' '- /2786 0(/ 6&277< % 6<' &+,1* 52&. 1< 7+( $5621,676 '$1,(/6$1 0(/
9 - LATE
Saturday 12th downstairs
%,* '$1&,1* 3233,1 %277/(6 %(/ $,5 /;,; &/8% )5(( ,6 %(77(5 /$55,( *(7 %86< 6+$17$1 :$1&+$1 ,&+,%$1 6<'
anyway
8:30 - 3 &NAA AJPNU
Upstairs
1(;7 &523 +,3 +23 6+2:&$6(
0$;,0,//,$1 62/(; %,/%2 6:$**,16 '(; -2+11< 75$6+ 0,1, &223 21( 0,.( ,//223,1$77, 6((.$
KJ @KKN
electronic - urban - club life
3
club guide wednesday april 2
THE DINNER SET - FEAT: REX & CHRIS GILL Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. $0.00.
thursday april 3
3181 THURSDAYS - FEAT: HANS DC & BROTHER FOX + JOHN DOE + BUTTERS + GRANT CAMOV + JAMES STEETH VS SAM GUDGE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 6:00pm. $0.00. CQ SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. CQ SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. DINNER SESSIONS - FEAT: SHUTTERSOUND Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 9:00pm. GOOD EVENING Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $0.00. LOVE STORY Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $0.00. MIDNIGHT EXPRESS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm. $0.00. SHAKE SOME ACTION - FEAT: STREETPARTY + SAMARITAN + POLYAVALANCHE Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm. $8.00. SPARE GROOVE + DANNY HOTEP + LA POCOCK + SALMON BARREL Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $0.00. THE RITZ - FEAT: KEN WALKER + ANDO + JOSHUA GILLILAND + LUCILLE CROFT + HARRY ROWSTHORN + EDDY D + JAMES ROSS + JESSE PERKINS + MATT HANNA + ALEX YASKI + JACK HOWELL + TIM LIGHT + JARREN RYAN + TOM BEDFORD Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 8:00pm. $10.00. TIGER FUNK LIVE - FEAT: DJ MOONSHINE Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.
friday april 4
CAN’T SAY - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Platform One, Melbourne. 8:00pm. $0.00. CASSIUS SELECT/SCISSOR LOCK (RECORD LAUNCH) + CASSIUS SELECT + SCISSOR LOCK + BABA X + ANGEL EYES Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $0.00. CLUB ESC #2 - FEAT: STRICT FACE + FLETCH + CLUB ESC DJS Boney,
Melbourne Cbd. 11:45pm. $5.00. DARKSIDE + MOVEMENT Palace Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $61.75. DJ PEDALE Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $0.00. FRIDAYS @ ONESIXONE - FEAT: LUKE MCD + KATIE DROVER + MITCH KURZ + JEN TUTTY + LEWIE DAY PREQUEL + MIC NEWMAN Onesixone, Prahran. 9:00pm. $0.00. IN (SESSIONS) - FEAT: BUCK ROGERS + MELTDOWN + CTOAFN + DEEP ELEMENT B2B RUBIX + EN + ZEROL + MC HARZEE Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $0.00. LA DANSE MACABRE - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $0.00. MOSCA Brown Alley, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $20.00. POPROCKS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $0.00. REVOLVER FRIDAYS - FEAT: MIKE CALLANDER + KATIE DROVER + SAFARI + ALEX THOMAS & WHO Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. $0.00. RNB SUPERCLUB - FEAT: FAYDEE + SHAGGZ + KEN WALKER + DEF ROK + PUPPET + TROY T + KRIS KOLZAN + KEVIN WATTS + LEE DAVIES + MARC THYSSEN Co., Southbank. 9:30pm. $20.00.
saturday april 5
A HUSTLERS’ CONVENTION FEAT: DJ WHISKEY HOUSTON + DJ SUGAR PLUMP FAIRIES Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00. AUDIOPORN SATURDAYS - FEAT: ROWIE + DR. ZOK + JAMES WARE + CHINA + HOOPS Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm. $15.00. BIG RED BUS - FEAT: IMPERFECT CIRCLE + JIGSAW + CACOPHONY + PHOTO 5 + RYNO + ANDYCAN + RANDOM DUDE My Aeon, Brunswick. 10:00pm. $10.00. ELECTRIC DREAMS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Co., Southbank. 8:00pm. $20.00. FOX SATURDAYS - FEAT: DJ BLUESTAR Fox Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $0.00. HELMUT + ALESSANDRO S + HELMET RESIDENTS Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $0.00. RESPECT - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS
Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 9:00pm. $15.00. SUCKMUSIC - FEAT: NICK COLEMAN + DOAKES + LUCILLE CROFT + REECE HART + PETE LASKIS Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 1:00am. $0.00. SUNSHINE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00am. $0.00. THE HOUSE DEFROST - FEAT: ANDEE FROST Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm. $0.00. THE LATE SHOW - FEAT: RANSOM + SAMMY THE BULLET + GET BUSY + MAT CANT + PAZ + LEWIS CANCUT + PREQUEL + BABY GOGGLES & BOOGS Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. $0.00. VAULT SATURDAYS - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Platform One, Melbourne. 8:00pm. $0.00.
A$AP FERG + MAFIA Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $55.00. MELLOW-DIAS THUMP + CAZEAUX O.S.L.O + GEEZY Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $0.00. WHOLE LOTTA RHYMES’ FEAT: DJ DAILY Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 7:30pm. $0.00.
thursday april 3
SS HUNT + FITZY + S.S. HUNT + JUNEBUGGIE + BOUNCE N GLIDE Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:30pm. $0.00.
4
SWISH THURSDAYS - FEAT: REQUE Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $0.00.
friday april 4
FAKTORY FRIDAYS - FEAT: DAMION DE SILVA + K DEE + DURMY Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $0.00. DUB FX + OPIUO 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $40.00.
saturday april 5
KHOKOLAT KOATED SATURDAYS - FEAT: DAMION DE SILVA + K DEE + DURMY + TIMOS Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $0.00.
khokolat koated
sunday april 6
BE. @ CO. - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Co., Southbank. 10:00pm. $0.00. DJ DUSTIN Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $0.00. DOWNTOWN LOCAL #5 - FEAT: PEACE PIPE + LAILA + DAVE SMILEY + TIG Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm. $0.00. NICE CREW Penny Black, Brunswick. 3:00pm. $0.00. OPEN DECKS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 8:00pm. REVOLVER SUNDAYS - FEAT: BOOGS + SPACEY SPACE + RADIATOR & DANIEL WEBBER + REVILO-D & BRAIN FANTANA + SILVERSIX Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00am. $0.00. STARBAR SUNDAYS - FEAT: JASON SINGH + MORGAN + KEN WALKER + JONO EARLE Star Bar, South Melbourne. 9:00pm. $10.00.
be. at co.
monday april 7
STIFF DRINK Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $0.00.
urban club guide wednesday april 2
snaps
faktory ESKAPISM MANAZ ILL - FEAT: GRINNY & BIG T + FEVAPRES + THE HONEYCOMB HIDEOUT + ILLUMINATE + NEKTA & BAILER Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. SHIFTEE 90S RAP PARTY - FEAT: AUX-1 + JELLYFISH + THADDEUS DOE + PHONEY STARKS + LOW-KEY Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 11:45pm. $0.00.
monday april 7
DUB FX + OPIUO Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $40.00.
electronic - urban - club life
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH
MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP
With Christie Eliezer * Stuff for this column to be emailed to <celiezer@netspace.net.au> by Friday 5pm reported increase of attendance in the last 12 months. 17% reported a decrease. 46% estimated it stayed at the same level.
EMINEM HITS ANOTHER 2 MILLION MARK IN THE U.S.
IT’S GOT THAT SWING Melbourne DJ/producer Joel Fletcher and NZ hip hop star Savage picked up plaques for triple platinum sales of their hit single Swing. It reached #2 on the ARIA singles chart and #1 on the ARIA Dance and Australian Artist chart. Swing is about to be released in the US, UK and European territories.
THE PALACE TO CLOSE ITS DOORS Palace Theatre in the city is to close its doors on Saturday May 31. Building owner Jinshan Investments wants to demolish it and told the venue’s operators to vacate. This comes despite a high profile campaign to save the 1912 three-storey building, with a crucial meeting next month regarding its heritage listing. The only way to save the building is for the State Government to mandatorily buy it ( Jinshan paid $13 million for it in mid2012), and reinstate the venue’s operators to continue running it. The Palace Theatre gets 450,000 patrons a year. More details at Industrial Strength Online at beat.com.au.
GASOMETER SET FOR RELAUNCH Some weeks ago Beat broke the news that the Gasometer in Collingwood had come under new management. It can now be revealed that the new owners are Clinton Fisher (The Retreat, Brunswick) and Daniel Caneva and Shan Vanderwert (Post Office Hotel, Coburg) and that the relaunch is set for Thursday April 24. The Gaso closed abruptly last November after going into administration.
TWO DAYS LEFT FOR MUSIC VICTORIA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE There are two days left to become a Music Victoria member. Its membership drive wraps on Friday April 4 as it moves to get more clout as it uses the November election to get more promises for the music sector. Last week it issued a white paper with 19 recommendations “to take us forward and fulfilling the potential of the music industry,” CEO Patrick Donovan said. Music Victoria will on Friday launch its Regional Report at the Karova Lounge in Ballarat, at a function to be attended by John Wardle of Sydney’s Live Music Office and local politicians Sharon Knight and David O’Brien (the latter, a muso, will play). Donovan told Beat, “I’m very glad to have both sides of politics there, because this is a non-partisan priority. The regional circuit is struggling. We need to have a coordinated effort to fix it.” Music Victoria has recommended the set up of a Regional Live Music Office to coordinate tours, venue and festival specs and economies of scale. The Regional Report will show that 3.9 million people attended festivals and venues in regional Victoria. They spent $61 million on tickets: $36 million for small venues, and $25 million for festivals. While festivals are thriving, not so venues, especially in winter. 37% of venues
Eminem’s current The Marshall Mathers LP 2 has hit the 2 million mark in the U.S. All his other albums also sold 2 million each, with The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show selling over 10 million each. Billboard reported that only he and Backstreet Boys have had two 10-million sellers since the ‘90s. Em has now sold a total of 44.91 million albums. That puts him at #6 on the best-selling album artists list. Garth Brooks tops that list with 69.52 million, followed by The Beatles (65.55 million) and Metallica at three (54.26 million). Mariah Carey (54.24 million) and Celine Dion (52.21 million) follow. Billboard also mentioned that all but one Eminem have topped the US charts. The exception was his 1999 debut The Slim Shady LP which made it up to #2.
NEW CATEGORY FOR THE SEED The 2014 Seed Fund is back for its tenth year, with the Management Workshop for 25 rising managers returning after a hiatus last year. A new category It’s All About The Song provides $3500 towards producer and studio costs for a young act to cut a single. Money For Managers gives $5000 towards a weekly wage and assistant’s fee while setting up a tour or album campaign. Initiatives include Bush Bands Business ($5000 for mentors) and Song Cycles Inbound is to take urban music pros into remote Indigenous festivals to discover talent. Applications close Monday May 5. Full details at theseedfund.org.
THINGS WE HEAR • Lollapalooza 2014 will include 10 Aussie acts: John Buter Trio, The Temper Trap, Jagwar Ma, Vance Joy, Courtney Barnett, Cut Copy, Flume and expatriates Iggy Azalea and DJ Anna Lunoe. • Will the Def Leppard/Kiss pairing up for US shows make it to Australia? • Damon Albarn told the New Zealand Herald that Blur pulled out of Big Day Out because it was going to be their last gig, and they wanted it to be special, “They [the organisers] weren’t being straight with me about things, which they needed to be, and at that point I became disillusioned,” he said. • Five Seconds of Summer’s seven theatre shows through Live Nation for April/May have sold out. Their Perfect EP has gone platinum. • Dandy Warhols sold out their tour in 90 minutes, and added more shows. • It’s not P. Diddy or Diddy, or Doo Wah Diddy any more. Diddy Sean Combs is back to Puff Daddy after ten years. • The new Speakers video for former Taxiride member Jason Singh was filmed in Brisbane, at a mansion once owned by the late Christopher Skase. • Blues-roots act Blake Saban 3 have changed their name to The Urban Chiefs while they record their next album with producer Russel Pilling.
• Broken Bells (aka The Shins’ James Mercer and producer Danger Mouse) are funding $1 from each ticket of upcoming US dates to go to the B612 Foundation’s Sentinel mission. It’s backing a telescope which will from 2018 search for asteroids that are flying dangerously close to the earth. • Neil Young bought 20,000 copies of his 1978 Comes A Time album “to use as roofing” because he was not happy with its audio quality. • MIA’s middle finger action during the 2012 Super Bowl show with Madonna has seen her hit with a $16 million fine from the National Football League.
ANDREW ORVIS QUEENSCLIFF MUSIC
TO
HEAD
Andrew Orvis is the new Festival Director of the Queenscliff Music Festival. He replaces Michael Currucan, who has moved to a different role overseas. Orvis said, “Having grown up in Queenscliff I’m extremely passionate about our event, the music we present, and the town we do it in.” He attended every festival for 17 years. In 2009 he joined the team as Artistic Program Coordinator and more recently was its Operations Manager. Early bird tickets for the 18th installment (November 28-30) are on sale at qmf.net.au
MASSIVE GET ‘CLASSIC ROCK’ PROMO Melbourne hard rock band Massive’s album Full Throttle is getting a full push through the worldwide hard rock community. The April edition of UK’s Classic Rock magazine is giving away a free covermount CD. “Classic Rock is one of the few music mags that all of us in Massive read on a religious basis,” singer Brad Marr said. The band recently signed an o/s deal with Earache Records.
FEED HER TO THE SHARKS SCORE GLOBAL DEAL Melbourne “modern, melodic, metalcore” merchants Feed Her To The Sharks signed a global deal with Chicago-based punk label Victory. Its roster includes 1997, A Day To Remember, Bury Your Dead, Funeral For A Friend and Silverstein. The band said, “Victory is already home to many of our idols, and to say we are part of this is truly an honour.”
LAUNDRY BAR LAUNCHES SHOWCASE THURSDAYS Laundry Bar, with Sailor Jerry, is presenting band showcases upstairs on a Thursday night for their ‘Thursdays Live at Laundry’ series. If you are interested in playing, email bookings@laundrybar.com.au. Laundry Bar has been breaking its apparent hip hop mould and is experimenting with different genres and internationals over the past few months, including garage with DJ E-Z, Jersey Club with Trippy Turtle, DJ Hoodboi and this week’s DJ Sliink, dancehall with Gappy Ranks and trap with DJ Snake. Bookings are run through their new office on Brunswick St, bookings@laundrybar.com.au.
ANTO MACARONI TAKES OVER THE BRIDGE Anto Macaroni (ex-Old Bar, Wesley Anne) is the new band booker at the Bridge Hotel in Castlemaine (21 Walker St). It hosts shows Thursdays to Sundays, and this month has Spencer P Jones, King Gizzard And the Lizard Wizard, Mikelangelo, Adrian Edmondson and Mojo Juju at its 120-capacity room.
LIFELINES Injured: Tiësto had to cancel a sold-out show in San Diego after he knocked himself out bumping his head on a giant flat-screen before the show. He was taken to hospital and diagnosed with a concussion. Hospitalised: DJ Avicii must have his gall bladder removed. He pulled out of playing the Winter Music Conference in Miami after being rushed to hospital with abdominal pain. Expecting: Christina Aguilera told fans during a show in Malaysia last Friday she is expecting a girl. In Court: the man accused of assaulting a bus driver on the Gold Coast after an argument about change, was sound engineer Jean-Adelphe Lasm, 20. In Court: VMG Salsoul, a New York-based disco and funk record label, is trying to sue Moby alleging he used improper samples on his 1992 songs Next Is the E and Thousand from the 22 year old song Let No Man Put Asunder by Philadelphia girl group First Choice. Four months ago, the label lost a similar case against Madonna and Vogue. In Court: the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that ISPs can legally block pirate sites. It was during a case brought by Constantin Film and Wega after Austrian ISP UPC Telekabel Wien failed to block access to kin. to, the largest pirate site in German-speaking Europe with 4 million daily users. In Court: NSW police are investigating death threats by a female against Skip Film Productions Sydney director Noel Sadler after he made allegations in The Sunday Territorian newspaper on March 16 that Dene Broadbelt (also with surnames Mussilon and Morgan) – organiser of inaugural nation-wide spring regional festival Infinity – had a trail of unpaid bills. In Court: a Superior Court judge in Los Angeles upheld a ruling that the LAPD’s firing of an officer who leaked a photo of Rihanna after she was attacked by Chris Brown in 2009 was justified.
Macaroni is at bridgebandbookings@gmail.com.
DALLAS FRASCA FUNDING TARGET
HITS
CROWD
Three-piece Dallas Frasca successfully raised almost $22,000 in a crowd-funding campaign (donors included John Butler) which allows them to record their third album Love Army with Lindsay Gravina at Birdland Studios in Prahran and release it mid-year. A new single Lizard Boy is out early “as it is so relevant about our current political climate, this song is a voice for the People,” Frasca said. The trio does a 10-date national tour April and May.
THE CACTUS CHANNEL By Keats Mulligan ‘Neo soul’ isn’t the most accessible vein of music to approach as a musician. The diversity of instruments, the swing and the sheer weight of the music makes for an intimidatingly complex sound to try and replicate. To think that ten high school students in suburban Melbourne each possessed a mutual fascination with soul and the remarkable level of musicianship required to play it boggles the mind. It really was a bizarrely serendipitous occurrence that spawned Melbourne’s The Cactus Channel. Most school kids don’t form successful bands, and if they do, they’re usually inspired by contemporary influences or your traditional rock’n’roll hall of famers. They aren’t often soul bands. Being a working musician requires sensibility and the ability to compromise. Essentially, contrary to popular opinion, being in a band requires maturity. Especially in a band with ten members, the necessity for those traits is amplified significantly. The Cactus Channel first experienced broad exposure through triple j Unearthed High as teenagers still studying at high school. Guitarist David Thor reflects on that fondly, but still with some confusion. “I haven’t been paying much attention to it recently, but I was surprised that we got picked and put into the top five when that happened. Just being a purely instrumental band, I was kind of surprised and proud of triple j to do that as well. We had a lot of a push as well because we were all high school
students and that was a bit of a novelty at the time. We don’t have much to do with them anymore but I’m sure at the time, when we were in the top five, that definitely got us on the radar nationally.” Now all in their early twenties, The Cactus Channel have established themselves as one of Melbourne’s more appreciated and beloved soul groups. Still only young, they’ve adopted a rather loose approach to their song structure and are constantly evolving and adapting their sound within a genre that’s constantly redefining itself. “I guess it’s just being introduced to different musical concepts and different styles. We were young with the first album, and now we’re more mature in a number of different ways,” says David, reflecting on the band’s progression within the context of Melbourne’s soul scene. “When we started, The Bamboos were more on the funk/soul
scene, but now they’ve taken a more pop path, and I guess Saskwatch has kind of done that as well. But I think when Hiatus Kaiyote came on the scene it opened up this whole new neo soul…Now I think more bands are emulating that a little bit. People are grasping onto it really well I think.” The proof is in the pudding really. The Cactus Channel’s success is illustrated through their achievements. “Personally with us, we look up to Menehan Street Band and Charles Bradley and we’ve supported Charles Bradley twice now, about two years ago, once in Melbourne and once in Sydney. That’s amazing for us, playing with musicians that we all look up to.” The Cactus Channel don’t have any immediate plans to put out another full length record. Right now, shifting notions of what constitutes modern soul music are creating an interesting environment for the band to work within, the band is embracing that and the opportunities that come with it. “At the moment we have a secret collaboration we’re working
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
on that will be released as a single later in the year. We’re kind of thinking a little bit differently now and thinking about doing songs with more vocalists.” The game is changing for The Cactus Channel. There’s no real point in being prolific any more. They’re an established group now and instead of constantly putting out releases and taking steps in their collective career, they’re settling down and making sure when they do put something out, they put it out with purpose and with conviction. It seems they’re more concerned with really producing records that they adore and working on projects that interest and fascinate them as admirers and also as practitioners of the music. At this point, there’s a lot to like about The Cactus Channel. THE CACTUS CHANNEL play Warehouse Spectacular at Second Story on Saturday April 5. Tickets available at secondstory.com.au
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 35
DAN SULTAN By Dan Watt After flirting with success and widespread appeal for over a decade, Australian rock singer and guitarist Dan Sultan has arrived. His latest album Blackbird is slickly produced yet energetic, sexy and fun with the execution seemingly effortless. This album screams accessibility while still remaining deeply credible and creative. To a casual observer this may seem obvious when you combine Sultan’s movie-star good-looks, James Dean like swagger and blues drenched rock’n’roll vocals. However, belying this strut is over 14 years of hardgigging that began proper in 2000 at an open mic night in Melbourne suburb Williamstown, a performance that led to a friendship with fellow guitarist and songwriter Scott Wilson – a union that led to Sultan’s debut album, Homemade Biscuits (2006). Sultan’s third album Blackbird is a tantalising, energetic and fun release, with three songs from the album (due out Friday April 4) seemingly representing the aforementioned adjectives: The Same Man, Under Your Skin, Waiting On The End Of The Phone. Your correspondent caught up with Sultan in person to discuss Blackbird and also the sticky subject of his Aboriginality being continually brought up in the media (the irony of this subject’s inclusion in this story is addressed). Sultan opens the conversation account by addressing the key textures of his new album.
“I think fun is the big one, energetic as well. Feels like the most energetic record that I have made. Every record that you have made feels like practice for the one you are about to make or the one that you are making at the time – you’re all ways wanting to go further with stuff.” Debut single from the album, The Same Man, is a rollicking and rolling tune that pairs confessional lyrics with the inexorable bravado of the music. A particularly memorable aspect of the song is a hummed pre-chorus that may remind some of a Navaho Indian chant. “When I first started the song it was just the chant and it was a lot slower, and sounded a bit Chinese. I was in a writing session and I decided to speed it up a bit and the song took shape from there. “The song’s meaning is that ‘this relationship is finished because you’ve changed’; I [the protagonist] haven’t changed but maybe that’s the problem. Maybe ‘he’ needed to pull his head in,” explains Sultan. So is this ‘he’, the protagonist, Sultan? “From time to time,” is Sultan’s
casual and slightly comedic dismissal for this question. “But with the banjo and the chanting it is pretty fun as well on the ears but it has heavy content,” concludes Sultan on The Same Man. As established above, Blackbird is a sassy release and a very different creature from Sultan’s album of 2010, the double ARIA winning Get Out While You Can. This album also won him Male Artist of the Year and Best Single Release of the Year for Letter at the Deadly Awards – an annual awards ceremony that celebrates musicians of an Aboriginal heritage. Sultan’s mother was Aboriginal and his father Irish and Sultan has always embraced his ethnicity especially that to Australia’s first people, however, during this interview he takes issue with his Aboriginality being brought-up.
“Over the last few years I have been wanting to avoid this,” Sultan softly dismisses of the subject. He now elaborates on not wanting to discuss his Aboriginal heritage. “Just because I find, I’ll tell you why, I just won’t say ‘no’, I don’t want to be a dickhead about it. Archie Roach said it best in an interview a few years ago when he said, ‘No one asks Paul Kelly about where he’s from?’” states Sultan with plain yet slightly bored tone – bored with the subject matter. But not one to hate the player, instead the game Sultan mollifies by saying, “I know it’s coming from a place that is genuine but at the same time as Aboriginal artists, we find it hard to just be allowed to be artists.”
The Voice, where he sits alongside Kylie Minogue, Tom Jones, and will.i.am. Not everyone was sure that was a great idea, but Wilson convinced them, explaining it would get them back in the attention of the mainstream audience they’ve always wanted. Right from the start the Kaiser Chiefs have been a pop band with their eyes on the charts, one who would perhaps have been more at home in the ‘90s where they could have tussled with Oasis and Blur for a space on the front of the NME. Instead, they’ve lacked competition, going straight to the Mercury Prize shortlist with their first album. “When you’ve done it and you’ve had hit records and
played lots of gigs and been given lots of awards, lots of praise, maybe you lose that hunger a little bit. I’m sure I didn’t mean to, but I think we all did a little bit. I think we regained it, suddenly we had something to prove again – that we could do it without Nick. “And also I think because it’s our fifth album, we’ve done it for 10 years, a lot of bands fall by the wayside and I think we suddenly realised we had to step up and we had to prove that we still were the best band around.”
single, IMF, is a prime example of Seun’s perception of reality. The title is a nod to Fela’s 1979 protest number ITT, which deemed the multi-national ITT Corporation the “International Thief-Thief ”. IMF channels that song’s overt political venom, renaming the International Monetary Fund the “International Mother Fucker” and accusing the organisation of causing widespread “pain, tears and suffering.” Helping out on this angered protest is rapper M-1, of New York political hip hop duo Dead Prez. Seun, who grew up listening to hip hop, explains how the partnership unfurled. “I read somewhere that he said he’d like to work with me so I hit him up on Twitter. We worked together on a live show before we worked together on the record. We did a show in London, did a show in Paris. I was about to wrap up the album and I thought like, ‘Yo!’ and he just jumped on it. I was glad he was happy to do it.” In fact, while the title of the new album may imply Seun believes humans to be a long way from innocence
and peaceful co-operation, that’s not what he’s looking to emphasise. “I actually believe the African continent, it’s a beginning for us. Africa now, I believe this generation is more educated. I believe it’s the beginning of a new kind of understanding.” One thing’s for sure, on A Long Way to the Beginning Seun proves himself capable of making radical songwriting statements, which are likely to inspire people of all races. Seun and Egypt 80 come to Australia this month for Bluesfest and despite now possessing a considerable repertoire of his own, Fela’s songs are still a major setlist feature. “I don’t think that’s ever going to stop.”
Blackbird is out on Friday April 4 on Liberation.
KAISER CHIEFS By Jody Macgregor As it turns out, the Kaiser Chiefs weren’t big fans of their last couple of albums. “Maybe the last couple of records we haven’t delivered the goods,” admits their bass player, Simon Rix. “I think there’s some good songs but I don’t know if they’re the best albums, so I felt like we had something to prove.” Another reason to feel they’ve got something to prove is the loss of their drummer and founding member, Nick Hodgson. For most bands that wouldn’t be such a big deal: find a new drummer, put out a press release, make a Spinal Tap joke and move on. But Hodgson wasn’t just their drummer, he was their principal songwriter – the one who often came up with the ideas before passing them on to frontman Ricky Wilson and the rest of the band to finish off. “He was actually the person who was the linking between all the components of the band, you know? He left, so that was an important thing,” Rix says with understatement. “But I think now in hindsight it was a great shake-up. Something really big happened and it was like, ‘Wow, OK, what’re we gonna do?’ It was an opportunity I think for us to start again, like a clean slate, to do something different and push things in a different direction. I think also with the jeopardy that was caused by Nick leaving, it re-ignited our hunger.”
That new start has resulted in their fifth album, Education, Education, Education & War. War is an apt description – several of these songs sound like battle cries, calls to arms. “We’re at our best when we’re a little bit angry,” says Rix, “and we’re also saying something about society and life, modern life, that’s when we are at our best – when we’ve got something to get off our chests.” After Hodgson announced his departure there were several awkward months where they still had shows to play before they could get on with this new beginning. “I think it’s easy if you fire someone, but because he went very amicably there’s lots of contracts and various things that had to be sorted out. We were just waiting around really because the four of us wanted to get on with getting on but we had a little bit of waiting around to do, so that was frustrating and a couple of us did some other things in the meantime.” Those other things include Ricky Wilson’s surprising move of signing on as a judge on the UK version of
KAISER CHIEFS’ new record, Education, Education, Education & War, is out now via Liberator Music.
SEUN KUTI & EGYPT 80 By Augustus Welby You’ll often hear musicians humbly note that they’re not trying to change the world. Then, of course, there’s those who unashamedly endeavour to bring about significant change with their songs and performances. Nigerian musician Seun Kuti is following in the hefty footsteps of his late father – Afrobeat pioneer and human rights activist, Fela Kuti. Throughout his life, Fela fiercely challenged Nigeria’s military dictatorship and opposed African adoption of European cultural customs. Fela died in 1997 and it wasn’t long until Seun started to front his father’s surviving band, Egypt 80. The 31-year-old is now an established artist in his own right and Fela’s political urgency certainly lives on in his work. “I discuss everything I believe,” says Seun. “Because I am from Africa, I talk about our complications.” A career in music was scarcely ever in doubt for Seun, who was already singing onstage with his father by the age of nine. “I used to come on the road with my dad when I was a baby,” he reveals. Being immersed in music from such a young age, Seun quickly developed a thirst to prove himself creatively. However, facing initial criticism for trying to replace Fela, he approached the performer-to-songwriter transition rather seriously. It actually wasn’t until 2008 that Seun unveiled his debut LP, Many Things. The music’s sax-centric Afrobeat core immediately recalls Fela’s clasBEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 36
sic oeuvre, but Seun’s never tried to emulate his father. “I love Afrobeat music, that’s why I make Afrobeat,” he explains. “For me, when I want to write a song it’s got to come purely from within me, from my mind, from my ability. Music should be your own expression and your own language, your own voice and your own mindset – your own aura.” It’s been full-steam ahead since his assertive debut. In 2011 came the groove-heavy and sharp-tongued sophomore release, From Africa With Fury: Rise, which featured production from studio-great Brian Eno. Seun and Egypt 80 are currently touring the world in support of their freshly-released third LP, A Long Way to the Beginning. “So far it’s been quite successful,” he says of the tour. “It is our strongest show ever.” Indeed, this third LP finds Seun confidently presenting his unique artistic identity. The record’s startling lead
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
SEUN KUTI & EGYPT 80 play the Melbourne Recital Centre on Wednesday April 16. They also perform at the 25th Annual Byron Bay Bluesfest, running from Thursday April 17 – Monday April 21.
CHANCE WATERS By Augustus Welby After releasing a moderately successful album under the name Phatchance, in 2012 Sydney MC Chance Waters reverted to his birth name two years ago and has since unfurled a consistent flow of upbeat, radio-supported singles. Waters has certainly seized upon the revised stylistic permissions of Australian hip hop music. “Right now in Australia there’s so many different kinds of hip hop music coming out and being popularised where you can really do anything,” he says. “You can take it [in] whatever production direction you want. It provides a more interesting challenge when you’re deciding what kind of production to actually roll with because the options are really unlimited.” Switching to his real name didn’t signal Waters would be going it alone. The nice-guy rapper’s massively popular 2012 album Infinity was made in close collaboration with Adelaide producer One Above (aka Andrew Burford). “He really is responsible for almost all of the music,” Waters says. “Generally speaking I prefer to write lyrics to a piece of music [rather] than vice versa.” One Above’s not the only outside party contributing to Waters’ growing profile. The re-branded Chance Waters got his first major breakthrough with the single Maybe Tomorrow, featuring Lillian Blue. This was followed by another radio-storming tune, Young & Dumb, which featured Bertie Blackman. “There’s a lot of people involved in every single song,”
Waters says, “whether or not they’re full features. I like to work with BVs, particularly female BVs and sometimes choir parts. So, often I’ll have a lot of different people come in and stand in front of a microphone.” The success of Infinity got the attention of heavyweights Island/Universal who’ve now struck up a deal with Waters’ pre-existing indie label I Forget, Sorry! Joining a major label hasn’t halted the flow of new music and in the last six months tracks with Patience Grace (Looking For Something) and The Griswolds (Bonnie) both glided onto the airwaves. Waters is evidently thrilled about getting to work with a number of his talented contemporaries. “When you look at somebody like Patience, she has just so much musical experience,” he says. “She’s full of interesting stories and she’s obviously been around the block for ages and really worked very hard in an independent faculty to build a career. It’s very nice getting to know those people and learning things from them. In most cases they’re a lot cooler than me so it’s just nice hanging out with them.”
A few weeks ago Waters dropped yet another infectious track, the calmly delivered protest number The Ticket Inspector. These three recent singles are lifted from a forthcoming record, due for release later this year. Many artists decline to speak candidly about their chief influences, but Waters has no scruples acknowledging where he looked for inspiration when working on the new album. “Mark Ronson – his production is definitely an influence on both Andrew and I. I think you can probably hear that on the record. Unfortunately it all happened a bit late to really influence the record much, but I really like what Ryan Lewis has been doing for Macklemore. I think Andrew and I always loved that style of production and it’s executed really well on that record. It sets
a standard for the quality of what we’d like to be doing. The frequency of Waters’ releases over the past two years shows he’s comfortable co-operating with the current singles-oriented industry. Still, he does greatly believe in the album format. “Single songs are going to have a larger impact now than records, but that doesn’t devalue the worth of making a really great album. At the end of the day when people are listening to a whole record they’re going to get connected to you as an artist and [get] to know you as an artist a lot more than when they’re just listening to single songs.”
in Newtown I used to spend lots of my Friday nights [getting] pissed and [would] just record something. [Tommy] had written some lyrics and he was like, ‘Man, can I put some vocals down for this track?’ He put a vocal down and he’d never heard his voice back before. He was like, ‘Wow, I actually sound like that?’ That really got him into singing and it kind of flourished from there.” The fact this occurred three years before broadcasting any music underlines the trio’s initial desire to spontaneously give birth to songs, rather than contrive an identity. However, after coming to terms with the idea it was a band, Took did have some stylistic intentions. “The goal for me was always to do noisy guitars with
big melodies. I wanted fuckin’ loud-as-shit guitars, heaps of delay, heaps of reverb and catchy hooks.” DMA’s will conduct a mini EP tour this May, and Took admits they’re eager to seize upon the position they’ve swiftly launched to, but the essential purpose remains firm. “To be honest I just want to keep bettering the songs,” he says. “I get pretty down on myself when I’m not writing songs that I’m feeling completely attached to, so that’s always the focus for me. I’ll just try not to get too excited about anything and get back to the fundamentals, which is songwriting.”
in technology. “I’m not,” he says, laughing. “I’ve basically joined the clan of all new digital equipment. I still collect vinyl and I still use vinyl, but when I’m DJing parties and performing shows, it’s Serato.” “Now it’s just my laptop that I carry around the world with me to DJ [which] cuts out…the hassle of carrying records everywhere; I actually can’t believe I used to do that.” While the style and methods may have changed, Rock acknowledges individuality is the key, whatever gear is being used. “Everyone has a different feel on how they approach using equipment and making music,” he says. “Me for instance, I was always used to the natural way – using equipment in the ‘90s that was available, like the
Akai 950 sampler, or the SP1200 or the TR808 drum machine. But today has so many different sounds and different equipment that I actually love. I actually go to South by Southwest to see what’s really out there, to go to a Yamaha Panel, or…somewhere where they’re talking about something new that’s gonna hit the market, you know? “Everyone has a different feel for one another. With that said, I stay tuned to what’s going on around me, and I just add my Pete Rock to whatever I’m doing.” Long may it continue.
CHANCE WATERS plays Howler on Saturday April 5.
DMA’S
By Augustus Welby
A rock’n’roll band’s growing up process typically involves getting well-acquainted with the live stage, subsequently piquing people’s interest and developing the songcraft in the meantime. Earlier this year, feverish buzz about Sydney three-piece DMA’s started to spread online. Yet, this was all before the trio had ever set foot on one of their hometown’s dimly lit stages. “We’ve been in bands before and we’ve slogged it out playing the early morning World Bars [Kings Cross] and all those kinds of little gigs around Sydney and we just didn’t want to do that anymore,” explains guitarist and producer Johnny Took. “We thought that most of our energy should be focused on the songs. The way I think about it, it all revolves around the tunes. If there isn’t good songs coming out then there’s nothing, really.” Judging by the group’s immediate impact, this studious creative preparation has paid off. Thanks to the hearton-your-sleeve melodic appeal of first single Delete, a fair chunk of hype quickly hit DMA’s. In fact, even before the band’s public launch, the track was enough to seal a deal with selective indie label I OH YOU. “We were writing for a few years before we released anything or played a gig,” Took says. “Two years ago I had a goal that I didn’t want to play any gigs and just wanted to focus on the tunes and keep writing music. I wanted to have over 100 songs and I wanted to do all the… not the ‘hard work’, because you never stop writ-
ing, but to give yourself a bit of a leg-up.” Took is joined in DMA’s by vocalist Tommy O’Dell and guitarist Matt Mason, all of whom have been active in the Sydney music scene for the past half-decade. Took and O’Dell first came together (playing bass and drums, respectively) in Sydney foursome Underlights, which is where the seed for the pair’s songwriting collaboration was planted. “The first time I realised Tommy could sing was when we were in an Underlights rehearsal. Tommy was asking about the drum part and he was like, ‘Oh you know in the chorus where it goes…’ He started singing the part and I was just standing there in the rehearsal room going, ‘Fuck, this guy’s voice is crazy’.” Even though Took (who was working on a folky solo side-project at the time) recognised that O’Dell was more than just a sticksman, he didn’t immediately suggest they write together. Rather, the partnership transpired without much planning. “About three years ago when I moved into my place
DMA’S play Shebeen on Friday May 23. Their selftitled debut EP is out now via I OH YOU.
PETE ROCK
By Tim McNamara
Despite having a discography as long and impressive as the list of artists singing his praises, hip hop legend Pete Rock’s recipe for success is relatively simple. “Just be passionate, never give up, and love what you do,” he says from his hometown New York. “You’ll prosper from those three things alone.” Ahead of his and fellow luminary DJ Premier’s Australian tour – the first in the Collusion concert series revolving around collaborative artist performances – Rock is in evergreen form, rattling off current projects at breakneck speed. In addition to the forthcoming third installment in his acclaimed Soul Survivor album series, there’s an EP with Brooklyn rappers Skyzoo and Torae in the works, ongoing collaboration with De La Soul on their new album, work with emerging Harlem rapper Smoke DZA, a “couple of movie things” as well as a “big surprise” on the horizon. “I just feel like people like myself have to keep ourselves connected to what’s going on out there,” he says of his many ongoing projects. “I’m very passionate. I love music, I love making music. I love hip hop, I love making hip hop. I keep my ear to the ground.” It’s that ear that has seen Rock rise, and remain, at the top of the global hip hop heap for over 20 years. After getting his break supporting Marley Marl in the mix on WBLS as a fresh-faced 16-year-old, Rock went
onto pioneer the injection of jazz, funk and soul into hip hop. Linking with fellow New York rapper CL Smooth in the early ‘90s, Rock released two timeless albums featuring singles like They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) while garnering a reputation as one of, if not the most talented producer in the game. Want proof ? How about 11 albums – including last year’s 80 Blocks From Tiffany’s Part II – from which Rock has generated sales approaching 30 million units. In the studio, meanwhile, he’s produced for and remixed everyone from The Notorious B.I.G. and TLC to Mick Jagger, Madonna and Lady Gaga. In 2011, he picked up a Grammy for his contribution to Kanye West’s masterpiece album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and followed it up by producing tracks for West and Jay-Z’s Watch The Throne LP. While the way youngsters are making, marketing and playing music differs greatly to how it was done ‘back in the day’, Rock, an active social media user, is forthright when asked how he’s affected by rapid changes
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES..... WWW.BEAT.COM.AU/TV
PETE ROCK and DJ Premier will hit up 170 Russell on Friday May 2.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 37
DRUNK MUMS By Denver Maxx Drunk Mums are not actually mums, but they do drink. They have a song doing the rounds at the moment called Plastic. It is a simple and catchy rock’n’roll song that has the effect on the listener, even after only the first listen, where they will be singing the chorus of ‘You are a piece of plastic’ somewhat involuntarily, yet joyfully, over and over again. Beat interviewed the band late last week the in private garden of Melbourne’s Rooftop Bar to discuss Plastic and this week’s gig at Prince Of Wales Public Bar plus their first Australian tour starting in May. Gathered around the dimly lit wooden table was bass player Adam Ritchie, guitarist Jake Doyle, drummer Jonny Badlove and guitarist Dean Whitby (all three axe players share lead vocal duties with Badlove and absent tambourine player Isaac Forsyth on backing vocals). Suitably, there are beers in front of the four Drunk Mums. “We all helped make the clip but I was the one who had the main idea for the clip. It was filmed in an abandoned student village that had previously been a detention centre in the ’60s or something,” explains Ritchie in reference to Plastic’s film clip. The film clip consists of shared shots between the band playing at various spots throughout the spooky gumtree-littered village and images of a large plastic bag floating around the derelict site. The image of the peacefully floating plastic bag, by the sheer rareness of the scene, has reminded some viewers of the famous
sequence from 1999 film American Beauty. “It wasn’t trying to be like that scene,” says Ritchie laughing. Whitby now jumps in, “It wasn’t until we got there that we saw that bit of plastic cruising around and decided to use it.” “The actual idea is that the plastic is contagious and the shots of it floating about represent its spread,” concludes Ritchie Since releasing the Eventual Ghost EP in 2011 Drunk Mums have been on a steady trajectory to the top of Melbourne’s pub rock scene, with their debut self-titled album very well received and then this tenure as a ‘force to be reckoned with’ was confirmed when in 2013 Cherry Bar owner and booker James Young took on managing the band. Being somewhat of a deeper thinker (or just total wanker) your correspondent read into the title chorus of Plastic as a comment on the fake (plastic) people trying to align themselves (and have sex) with the band now that they’re in demand. Ritchie quickly dismisses this allegory, although, “I
don’t mind people thinking that but [the song] is actually about getting really drunk and hearing a song on a stereo. But then I actually found the source turned out to be the inside of a musical birthday card, just this little piece of plastic playing the tune to happy birthday.” With the barebones of a song in mind, Ritchie took Plastic to the rest of the band and they arranged parts around this. Doyle explains that the first guitar part he put to the song wasn’t good enough for Ritchie. “The first guitar part I came up with, Adam said it was too wussy, so the second version of it I made it tougher.” So how did Doyle make the guitar line tougher? “No effects just...” Doyle pauses and Whitby jumps in with, “It’s all about the face!” Doyle agrees, “Yeah, the face, the stance and the amount of muscle you put into the strum.” All four members laugh. Finally, on the topic of Plastic’s construction, Badlove
describes what inspired his drumming for the track. “It’s real simple banger drums, nothing too complicated, I just fucken went along with the rest of song,” concludes Badlove. He is now quizzed by Whitby as to what face he put on to first nail the song. “Awww, I was pretty blank face when I was trying to nail the song!” he says with a straight-face before realising the comedic timing of the answer and bursts into laughter.
love of music since I was seven years old. Up until when Doves went on a break in 2010, I’d never had time to question it. That’s healthy, you have to take stock and go, ‘Right – is this you?’” Well, judging by the finished product, Goodwin’s love of music was resoundingly confirmed. Aside from the odd vocal guest (including old pal Guy Garvey from Elbow), Goodwin plays everything on the record himself. Taking responsibility for all of the instrumentation sounds like a heavy task, but there’s a practical reasoning behind it. “When I first started this project, I was going to get in lots of different collaborators, because I’d been used to collaborating with people forever. I enjoy being part of a unit, but I realised if I was going to wait around for
everyone that might want to work with me, I’d be still waiting now. You’ve just got to get on with it.” Odludek is evidence that, operating alone, Goodwin seized the opportunity to go wherever his instincts pointed. However, launching into this next career chapter, he’s not comfortable with the tag ‘solo artist’. “The whole thing to me is called Odludek. It’s a band even. It might be a band of one right now, but it’s a band. I have to look at it like that, because that’s all I’m used to. My fucking name, it sounds like some blues thing. You know: ‘Jimi Goodwin Band’. Odludek, treat it like a new artist. In my naivety, that’s what it is.”
on pills, also at Cris’ house. Perversely, Cris’ descent into drug hell over the preceding decade had coincided with an increase in Meat Puppets’ popularity and commercial success. Having been largely a cult act until the early ‘90s, in 1993 Kurt Cobain invited the Kirkwood brothers to join Nirvana onstage to play a few Meat Puppets tracks at Nirvana’s now legendary MTV Unplugged session. “After that we started doing bigger tours and we got videos on MTV. You start getting more money and you start thinking there’s something to that, but there’s not – you can’t do much with it,” Kirkwood says. “For me I don’t think it was making anything easier except to raise my kids. But I don’t think it was that good for Cris.” By the late ‘90s, Cris’ narcotic troubles had effectively caused Meat Puppets to go into long-term hiatus. In 2003 Cris’ life reached rock bottom when he was arrested after attacking a security guard at a downtown post office. Sentenced to jail, Cris quit drugs and straightened out. Curt is matter of fact about his broth-
er’s problems, and his eventual recovery – though that was an attitude that was born out of necessity, and not indifference. “I had had to learn to distance myself from Cris’ situation because if you’re too sentimental, then a junkie can just feed on that,” Kirkwood says. “But he was still my brother, and his life was going haywire.” Meat Puppets – minus Bolstrom, who preferred to stay with his settled professional and domestic life – reconvened in 2006. Meat Puppets have gone onto to release four albums in the past six years, including 2013’s Rat Farm – an album that Kirkwood has described as “full blown folk music”. “To me, folk music is just really simple peasant music – it’s cryptic, ridiculous simple music,” Kirkwood says.
DRUNK MUMS are playing Watt’s On Presents at Prince Of Wales Public Bar this Friday April 4. Joining them will be The Mighty Boys and Pete Barry. The band are also playing The Tote on Saturday May 17, CherryRock014 in AC/DC Lane on Sunday May 25, as well as some regional dates. Plastic is available now at DrunkMums.Bandcamp.com
JIMI GOODWIN
By Augustus Welby
There comes a point when songwriters stop listening to music for pleasure and start to view it as a research activity. Dissecting particular chord sequences or the way melodies interweave can provide creative inspiration and direction. Jimi Goodwin, lead vocalist of Manchester alt-indie trio Doves, launches his debut solo effort Odludek this week. The ten-song release is an unpredictable genre-shifter and Goodwin’s not afraid to admit why. “The record is all the things that I’d want to hear in someone’s record,” he says. “It’s a tribute to all the things that I admire, from Duke Ellington to hip hop to Steely Dan – loads of music.” Indeed, right from the blurting distorted opener Terracotta Wonder to the fiendish cabaret of Man V Dingo and the perky acoustics of Panic Tree, Goodwin declines to pledge allegiance to just one influence. “I’ve always loved sampling culture; it’s an artform for me. I’ve always loved the re-invention and the inspiration you can get from [the] 100-odd years of recorded music. You can juxtapose a weird fiddle from a ‘30s folk track with a bassline from a ‘70s James Brown [song].” Perhaps such irreverent genre-mashing sounds like a recipe for compositional congestion, but Doves fans will be pleased by the consistent presence of Goodwin’s plaintive vocals. Still, the Mancunian songwriter did try to ignore the precedent of his much loved career history.
“This is my life,” he says. “I’m not bothered about what I did, it’s about what I want to do now. [I wanted] to be open to all the things that I love in other people’s records and that eccentricity that I love in records. I’m not Bowie doing Ziggy; I wish I could be that fucking maverick and completely change my outfit and become this [identity]. But weirdly, in a fantasy world, I’m trying on a new suit and who knows where it will go?” Doves most recent release is 2009’s Kingdom of Rust, so Odludek does come after a reasonably prolonged interval. Although the record shows no signs of apprehension, Goodwin inevitably felt some uncertainty about moving on without his trusted Doves counterparts, Andy and Jez Williams. “Before I started making it,” he explains, “[I thought], ‘Where next?’ I’ve just been in a band for my whole adult life – where do I go then? Do I even want to do music? Am I any good at it? I’d never questioned my
JIMI GOODWIN’s Odludek is out now via Heavenly Recordings/[PIAS] Australia.
MEAT PUPPETS
By Patrick Emery
Curt Kirkwood, guitarist and songwriter with Meat Puppets, has witnessed enough excess and tragedy to inspire a thousand twisted country songs. But despite the troubled, roller-coaster path of Meat Puppets – drug addiction, commercial success, death and jail – Kirkwood claims he’s not interested in exploring his life’s colourful musical and familial events in his songs. “I’ve always tried to avoid involving my feelings in my songs – that’s part of my approach,” Kirkwood says. “I’ve always seen lyrics as a bit more abstract. There’s no satire, it’s not allegorical if I can help it. I just want to find something that works.” The Kirkwood brothers started playing together in their teenage years. By 1978, Cris had swapped his banjo for a bass, and the pair had immersed themselves in the hardcore punk aesthetic that would characterise Meat Puppets’ initial performances and recordings. By the time Meat Puppets recorded Meat Puppets – still regarded as the band’s seminal recording – the Kirkwood brothers and drummer, high school friend Derek Bolstrom, had made a quantum leap from hardcore, blending the band’s punk origins with a twisted chemical country inflection that would subsequently be described as ‘cow punk’. “We were never a straight hardcore band; we were always a bit too idiosyncratic for the straight up hardcore crowd. We played with bands like Black Flag, Dead Kennedys and Suicidal Tendencies, and the crowd would just hate us – they’d leave,” Kirkwood says. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 38
“When we started playing slow, the crowd would just run away – which was good, because we didn’t get as much spit on us.” Like many of its contemporaries, Meat Puppets indulged the chemical excesses of the rock’n’roll lifestyle: the Kirkwood brothers moved on from weed and booze to coke, ecstasy, LSD and eventually heroin. “I don’t know if drugs helped the creative process,” Kirkwood muses, “but they were certainly an influence on the music that we were creating at the time…But when I hear that music it sounds pretty crazy, so we must have been pretty messed up.” While Curt Kirkwood quit heroin relatively early on, Cris Kirkwood fell deeper and deeper into a narcotic funk. By the mid-‘90s Cris was a full-blown junkie, rarely leaving his house except to buy drugs. Cris’s wife, French Canadian writer Michelle Tardiff, was an equally enthusiastic participant in Cris’ dysfunctional narcotic existence. In 1998, Tardiff – after a string of arrests and unsuccessful stints in drug rehabilitation clinics – died from an overdose at the couple’s home. Not long after, a friend of Cris’ overdosed deliberately
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
MEAT PUPPETS play CherryRock014 in AC/DC Lane on Sunday May 25 alongside Redcoats, Beastwars and many more.
CRUNCH
METAL, HEAVY ROCK. CLASSIC ROCK LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL GOOD SHIT
With Peter Hodgson: crunchcolumn@gmail.com
By Emily Kelly: ek1984@gmail.com Ladies and gentlemen, I need to discuss your new favourite band, Melbourne four-piece Ceres, and more importantly, their new album I Don’t Want To Be Anywhere But Here that’s coming out this week. How a fresh and completely unknown band from Melbourne sprung from the starting blocks and managed to muster a debut so crisp, inspired and consistent (all killer, no filler) is slightly gobsmacking. Ceres embrace the music world’s revived appetite for ‘90s alt rock and instead of following the fuzzed out grungy shoe-gaze angle, grab the genre’s most endearing pop elements by the balls and head off confidently in their own direction.
Gwar
RIP DAVE BROCKIE As we were going to print last week news was confirmed that Dave Brockie (i.e. Gwar’s Oderus Urungus) had passed away aged 50. This is a huge loss for the metal community – Dave was known as one of those ridiculously nice guys who had time for anyone who cared to say hello, and underneath all the bloody mayhem of a Gwar concert there was still a message in there, buried amongst the alien-intestines and luminous jizz. That message, at least as I see it, was “Everything’s ridiculous, so think for yourself.” The annual Gwar-B-Q will still be held this year in Richmond, Virginia in Dave’s memory. “On behalf of Dave Brockie’s family, Slave Pit Inc. and GWAR, we would like to thank all the loyal fans worldwide for the outpouring of love and support shown to us over the past few days,” said the band’s manager, Jack Flanagan. “Knowing that we have such amazing family, friends and fans is truly helping us all get through this tough time.”
PELICAN TO TOUR After a short hiatus and armed with their first studio album in four years, 2013’s Forever Becoming, US postmetal torchbearers Pelican are set to make a thundering return to Australian shores this July for a set of spectacular musical journeys that will leave their fans in awe. Known for serving up walls of sound comprised of “percussive repetition, overtone basslines, and nuanced guitar riffing” (Allmusic), there is no better place to witness such grandeur than in a live setting. Pelican’s Australian fans are in for some magic as the iconic instrumentalists masterfully translate the “wide variety of musical emotions and atmospheres” (Metal Injection) of their records into intricate and brutally astonishing masterpieces packed with pure emotion and heaviness and executed with infectious levels of energy. They’ll be at The Hi-Fi on Friday July 25. Tickets are $45 plus booking fee, on sale April 3 from metropolistouring.com
CORE
PUNK, SKA, HARDCORE NEWS, REVIEWS & GOSSIP
KYLESA AT THE ESPY If you missed the wonderful Kylesa last week, fear not! They return for a show at the Espy’s Gershwin Room on Friday April 4 with I Exist, Broozer and Clagg. Tickets from trybooking.com/ECOB and doors open at 7.30pm.
NEW ZAKK ON THE WAY The new album by Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society, Catacombs of the Black Vatican, is out on Friday April 11 and it’s definitely a must-have. This is probably the most complete, perfect, all-killer-no-filler album Zakk has made, with post-Sabbath traditional metal, a few very Alice In Chains-esque moments (both the heavier stuff and things like Jar Of Flies) and some Allman Brothers-ish mellow moments, all filtered through Zakk’s personality and style, and of course his insane guitar technique. I had a chat with the man last night and he promises that this album “will solve world hunger and win us the Nobel Peace Prize.”
All of these songs belong on the soundtrack to your favourite, B-grade rom coms of the ‘90s. They belong on the mixtape you keep in a shoebox under your bed, and permanently jammed in a rusted out boom box. Ultimately, they belong on some of the country’s biggest stages, and with any luck, they’ll absolutely get there in years to come. I would also like to recommend the debut self-titled album from a smashing young Toronto four-piece called Pup. Their new one is out next week via Side One Dummy and I just caught them at SXSW alongside OFF! and Black Lips. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up. Story Of The Year are returning to our shores to celebrate the ten year anniversary of their Page Avenue album, which was hugely popular in its day. They’re going to perform the album in full when they arrive, along with a selection of other hits. The band – who admittedly have an awesome live show – will hit Melbs on Sunday June 29 at 170 Russell thanks to Soundwave touring. Tickets go on sale this Friday, Quality Melbourne band Feed Her To The Sharks have made a very interesting decision to join the Victory Records family. “Victory is already home to many of our idols, and to say we are a part of this is truly an honour” they posted. The Gaslight Anthem’s Brian Fallon will guest on the new Every Time I Die album, due for release later this year. The jury’s out on just how his croony smooth
CORE GIG GUIDE WEDNESDAY APRIL 2:
Glass Animals at Ding Dong Lounge Empra, Mercians, Andrew Swift at Cherry Bar Mara at La Trobe Uni Bar THURSDAY APRIL 3: For Our Hero, The Spitting Swallows, False Economy at Next FRIDAY APRIL 4: Hug therapist, Release The Hounds, Darts, Del Lago, Maricopa Wells at The Reverence Kylesa, I Exist, Broozer, Clagg at The Espy Twelve Foot Ninja, The Alogorithm at 170 Russell The Fratellis, Jenny Broke The Window at Prince Of Wales Thorns, Downside, Imprisoned, Born Free at The Bendigo SATURDAY APRIL 5: Twelve Foot Ninja, The Alogrithm at Pier Hotel, Frankston Bad Vision, Graft Vs Host, Have/Hold, McBain, Pete Hansford Band, Anthony Young Band, Jess Locke at the John Curtin Hotel Midnight Caller, Angry Mule, Band Noir, Paracones, Weedsweeper at The Bendigo Psycroptic, I Valiance, Direblaze at Bang SUNDAY APRIL 6: Monster Magnet, King Of The North, Matt Sonic and the High Times , Don Fernando at 170 Russell Kissing Booth, Luke Shields, Tim Maxwell at The Reverence Hotel vocals will fit into a raging ETID composition. In a recent tweet, hinting at his involvement he hashtagged #heartcore.
ROYAL HUNT TOUR CANCELLED Sadly Royal Hunt’s first ever Australian tour has been cancelled. We received this message from Rockstar Productions: “At the 11th hour a critical impasse culminated between the parties involved with the Royal Hunt tour. This irreconcilable impasse made the tour and the shows itself untenable, as such, the tour is cancelled. We are disappointed in light of these events all the while remaining steadfast in the fact that we did everything to try and make the tour happen. We advise all ticket holders to return their purchased tickets from the place of purchase for a full refund.”
JASON BECKER PERPETUAL BURN KING PARROT RETURN! King Parrot will return to Australian soil after what has so far been a hugely successful debut North American tour. They’ve been stunning audiences nationwide with their brand of grind-thrash-punk chaos and scored top three accolades at SXSW festival in Texas from one of the US’ leading websites, Metal Injection. Their unique and explosive live show and humour is building them a reputation internationally as one of the most entertaining acts in extreme metal. Before they take a break to write new material and undertake further international touring, the band will visit the major cities of mainland Australia to pay respects to their loyal fans and share the stage with some of their favourite bands. Catch them at the Corner Hotel on Thursday May 8 with Origin, AMDBL and Eternal Rest. They’ll also be at Next on Thursday May 29 (supports TBA) and at The Loft in Warrnambool with Hadal Maw and Spaulding on Friday May 30.
AUDEMIA AT CHERRY BAR Check out the excellent grunge-influenced heavy rockers Audemia at Cherry Bar on Friday April 4. They have a great EP called The One which you can pick up at audemia.bandcamp.com or on CD.
Here’s one for my fellow guitar nerds. Seymour Duncan began developing a signature guitar pickup with Jason Becker (Cacophony, David Lee Roth) back in the early ‘90s, but Jason’s battle with the degenerative condition ALS left him in a wheelchair unable to move or speak. But Jason can still communicate and compose music using an eye movement system devised by his dad. Last year Jason asked Seymour Duncan if they could finish work on the pickup. So with Jason’s ears and the hands of Michael Lee Firkins and Mike Bemesderfer, the Perpetual Burn ‘HumBucker’ is now a reality. In terms of tone and output it’s midway between Seymour Duncan’s ’59 and JB models. “I would say the final tone sounds like me, only way better,” Jason says.
TOXIC HOLOCAUST & SKELETONWITCH Toxic Holocaust and Skeletonwitch begin a pretty damn respectable run of New Zealand and Australian dates in April (eleven dates in total, which is pretty cool to see given that many overseas bands only hit Sydney and Melbourne). They’re playing Melbourne twice: at the Gershwin Room at The Espy on Sunday April 20, and at The Hi-Fi on Sunday April 27 to wrap up the tour. Tickets are only $35 – seriously – from oztix.com.au. CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 39
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
WEDNESDAY MAR 2 BELL ST DELAYS
Bell St Delays are accomplished Melbourne singersongwriters Tracy McNeil and Luke Sinclair. This husband and wife duo deliver gorgeous harmonies riding on beautifully crafted pop-hooks, with influences steeped heavily in ‘70s rock and alt-country. With raw talent and tender hearts, Bell St Delays offer the dark and the light, the lion and the lamb and all that is good about songwriting. Catch them every Wednesday in April in the Retreat Hotel front bar with a special guest each week, including: Van Walker, Sean McMahon, Dan Parsons, Dan Waters and Liz Stringer.
N’FA JONES
N’fa Jones is gearing up for the release of his latest LP Black +White Noise, a heavily collaborative record journeying through the dark and light soundscapes of hip-hop, future beats, soul, and roots. It’s dropping on Friday April 4 but if you just can’t wait that long, get down to Ferdy Durke on Tattersalls Lane on Wednesday April 2 for a listening party kicking off from 9PM. Black + White Noise will be spinning, N’fa will be talking through each track, and there will be good vibes aplenty. Free entry.
SALLY ROBBINS AND SCOTT BOYD
The freshest offering to the Revolver Bandroom and Colonel Tan’s is the new The Acoustic Sessions dining experience. Here you can pull up a seat at a table in the front room, or a couch if you prefer, and enjoy some relaxed tunes from an array of Melbourne and Australia’s finest acoustic artist’s week in, week out, all whilst enjoying the large number of choices from the Colonel Tan’s Thai Restaurant menu. This week we have former Australian Idol Top 25 contestant Sally Robbins joining us, with past acoustic session visitor Scott Boyd coming back for a second taste of a night he fell in love with. Doors at 6.30pm on Wednesday
April 2 with entertainment starting at 7pm. Free entry, full Colonel Tan's menu available.
MERRI CREEK PICKERS
Merri Creek Pickers exemplify rhythm and Blues songwriting inspired by lives forged above The Esplanade, small towns across Australia and Melbourne’s rocking house parties. The Merri Creek Pickers create music for dancing, energized by two lead vocalists, dancing bass lines, two drummers and the harmony of guitars. Don’t miss them this Wednesday April 2 at The Spotted Mallard. Entry is free.
Bandroom which will feature three of Melbourne and Australia’s top up-and-coming and established acts hitting the stage with resident DJ Miss Flip keeping you occupied between sets. This week welcomes Melbourne young blues rockers, The Hollow Hounds, headlining on Thursday April 3. Doors at 8.30pm, $5 at the door.
ZONE OUT
Zone out along with Cool Drinks and Jealous Husband who will be playing an outdoor beer garden show at The Pinnacle in Fitzroy on Thursday April 3.
PORCO DIO
Head on down to The Bendigo Hotel this Wednesday April 2 to catch Porco Dio. Witness the fruits on Melbourne’s swollen loins blossom on stage with noise and alcohol. Along with Tomb Hanx - three dark boys living in a dark house making dark music and Claws & Organs, playing raw, aggressive songs which had barely formed in their heads to make it a night not to miss out. Kitchen will be open. Happy hour $5.50 pints $6.50 basics too.
THURSDAY MAR 3 MR RUCKMAN
Three emerging hip hop acts take over the Retreat Hotel in Brunswick on Thursday April 3 from 9pm. Mr Ruckman: A syllable-twisting, rhyme-scheme junkie in the process of a rise to prominence, 30/70: a 4 piece instrumental hip hop band based in Melbourne, and electronic music from Nick Wellsteed-Green performing under the new moniker, Breed. Free Entry.
THE HOLLOW HOUNDS
This year, the Bandroom at Revolver is going through a re-invention. As part of this, they welcome the addition of Revolver Drums Presents ‘Plugged In Thursdays’ proudly supported by Yurbuds Earphones and Grafete Studios. The weekly live music offering from the Revolver
Rabble Rouser, a fellow psychedelic band with incredible versatility to their songwriting, Spiral Arm kick off a string of April dates on Thursday April 3 at the Reverence hotel front bar.
FAYEBLAIS
Faye Blais is a Canadian indie-folk artist based in Toronto. She has released four studio albums over the past 8 years, consistently touring between Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Taiwan. She has been detailed as “continuing the thread started by Joni, picked up by Ani and fashioned by Feist," and now you can find Fay at The Thornbury Theatre this Thursday April 3. Doors open at 7.30pm and entry is $12 on the door.
PURPLE DENTISTS
LOON LAKE
2013 was a huge year for Loon Lake. The band toured relentlessly, claimed the #29 spot in triple j’s Hottest 100 with their storming single Cherry Lips, released their debut album Gloamer and launched it to sold out audiences across Australia. Having already blown away audiences at New Year on the Hill and at Big Day Out nationally, 2014 promises to be an even bigger year for Loon Lake as they embark on their Good Times tour and Groovin’ The Moo nationally. The tour will see them stopping off at The Corner Hotel on Thursday April 3. Tickets available through loonlake.com.au.
HIDEOUS TOWNS
Hideous Towns are coming off the back of their first release Joy. The dream pop single has created some buzz, featuring on international blogs including ‘Sounds Better With Reverb'. Therefore, this will be the official launch. The Primary have been making quite the impression with their noisy, minimalist and dissonant post-punk sound. Since then, the trio of bassist Gemma Louise Helms, singer/guitarist Jules Sheldon, and drummer Will Lovett have only grown, building up buzz all around Melbourne for their intense live shows and love of the nasty, dark and atmospheric side of music. Mad dogs Luna Ghost have been kicking it for a little while, gaining some hype for their power psyche single The Sea. The band has recently featured on the latest Psyche Ward mix. Doors 8.30pm, free entry.
The Purple Dentists return to The Spotted Mallard this Thursday for another star-studded evening, joined again by special guest Ciaran Fletcher on banjo. Fletch sat in with The Purple Dentists in March and together they blew the roof off The Spotted Mallard. If this isn’t enough the mighty Bad Penguins will take the opportunity to launch their new CD.
GIAN SLATER
Acclaimed singer Gian Slater’s prodigious musical output ranges from electronica, pop and jazz to her acclaimed 18-piece vocal ensemble Invenio. For this very special gig, Slater launches her most intimate and personal project to date featuring her brother Nathan Slater and partner Christopher Hale. Their album Still Still is a subtle, powerful and deeply emotional suite of songs, setting Slater’s pure, distinctive voice alongside intricately arranged guitars. With arresting honesty and deep craft, Slater’s music is playful, compelling and sublime. At The Wesley Anne, 250 High Street, Northcote Hill 3070. Doors at 8pm, $15/$12.\
LILITH LANE & HER MANY WIVES
Lilith Lane and her new Australian band featuring Richard Andrew on guitar (Registered Nurse, Underground Lovers), Adam Afiff on bass (Roller One), Simon Edwards on drums (Silver City Highway) kick off week one of her April residency at The Old Bar on Thursday April 3.
SPIRAL ARM
Since their debut in September 2013, Spiral Arm have established themselves as one of Melbourne’s most talented psychedelic groups. The band’s distinct, reverberating grooves and ability to seamlessly bring listeners from melodic, psych soundscapes to the raw energy of their riffs has seen them become a fixture in Melbourne’s live music scene. With support from
ANIMAUX
To kick off their 2014, Animaux (pronounced an-ee-mo) are having another one of their famous residencies at The Evelyn. Animaux had a massive 2013, being handpicked to open for the Cat Empire on four occasions, playing three month-long headline residencies at the Evelyn Hotel to an unprecedentedly packed band room every week and just generally blowing audiences away. Now the ‘Maux think it’s time to come back to their favourite venue for yet another month’s worth of killer shows. Continuing the party for the second month in a row Animaux have invited Coach Bombay and Lachie Duthie to join them!
RENEGRADE PUB FOOTBALL LEAGUE
ALL GAMES HELD AT AG GILLON OVAL, BRUNSWICK WEST. ROUND 1 - APRIL 13. FIRST GAME STARTS AT 11.30AM. THE NORTH MELBOURNE TOWN HALL EASYBEATS VS BAR OPEN BATS THE PAIN (L ABOUR IN VAIN) VS ROCHESTER LIONS OLD BAR UNICORNS VS TOTE FC THE EAST BRUNSWICK EYE GOUGERS VS LOMOND BARRACUDAS
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 40
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
FRIDAY MAR 4
THE HOODANGERS
Not many bands can boast 20 years still playing on the same street without having kicked the shit out of each other, but The Hoodangers can, which they may do at Bar Open this Friday April 4. Local gigs are rarer nowadays as members perform with other groups (Gotye, CW Stoneking, Flap!), in addition to rising early in order to assist raising their selfish offspring. But every few months they reach for baby wipes and wash off the spew and stool to raise the roof to the faithful. The band have been regulars at Bar Open for 12 years and their highly energetic & bizarre music has been variously categorised as urban acoustic funk and trad jazz punk! With 5 albums and 250,000 kilometres touring under their belts, now is the time to catch this unique band on their home patch. Doors at 10pm. Free entry.
DRUNK MUMS
Watt’s On Presents and Drunk Mums kick off Month Of The Prince. Month of The Prince is an opportunity for Prince Of Wales to celebrate success since it was redesigned to celebrate its grungy punk rock past. On Friday April 4 they are showcasing Melbourne future pub rock legends in Drunk Mums and The Mighty Boys. Drunk Mums are the real deal: four young dudes who respect where Aussie Rock came from with a sound that references legends like Radio Birdman and Powder Monkeys white also bringing a new cool to this sonic aesthetic with punk rhythms and psychedelic breakdowns. With the band’s latest single Plastic currently topping most credible indie play list it serves as a tantalising entrée to an album due out later this year. Music starts at 8.40pm with Pete Barry performing a solo rock set, The Mighty Boys will stumble on stage about 10pm and Drunk Mums about 11pm. Free entry.
VELUDO
There is a revolution coming and emerging Aussie rock band Veludo is at the forefront when it comes to spreading the word. Their debut self-titled EP, already making waves with big, layered, anthemic sounds, is being launched at the Evelyn Hotel. They are joined on the night by The Hiding, Grim Fawkner and Tin Alley.
rock’n’rollers Captives are back on the road this April to release a new single from their forth-coming EP, and they are promising to rain a shit storm of blood and destruction on the ears of the masses. This one is a gig for fans of Motorhead, The Bronx and Clutch. Also appearing are the two piece ball tearing Swhat, Adelaide punks Dead Joe and local rock heavyweights Drifter. Doors 8.30pm and entry $10. 18+ Event.
HUG THERAPIST
Coming off the release of their too-hot-to-handle EP Tearjerker, Melbourne punk heroes Hug Therapist are hitting the roads of Australia’s east coast for a string of shows. Hug Therapist will be joined at the Reverence Hotel on Friday April 4 by Brisbane DIY heroes Release the Hounds, indie rockers Darts, punk favourites Del Lago and heartmelters Maricopa Wells.
JIMBLAH
THE FRATELLIS
The Fratellis have been creating heart-swelling, lungbursting anthems since 2006. With a short hiatus in 2009, the lads are now back and in career best form with their new album We Need Medicine. Three cheers for what’s likely to be the best comeback of the year. The Fratellis will be touring Australia this April and if their recent shows are anything to go by, we’re in for one hell of a time. Playing Prince Bandroom Friday April 4, tickets are available through the venue’s website.
CAPTIVES
After a productive first year for a group stamping their mark on the national rock scene, Tassie forest horror
The buzz on Jimblah is getting louder with each month that passes since his acclaimed album Phoenix dropped. Considered by critics as one of the most important and powerful albums of 2013, it was recognised by being shortlisted for the prestigious Australian Music Prize. In the short space of a year Jimblah has emerged from the Adelaide Hills to a growing and dedicated fanbase and glowing endorsements from Australian music royalty. He joined Paul Kelly to record a cover of Hunters & Collectors’ classic True Tears of Joy performed with Yothu Yindi at the National Indigenous Music Awards and toured nationally with the allconquering Horrorshow. Most recently Jimblah joined Archie Roach, Horrorshow, Thelma Plum and more at the Apology Concert at Melbourne’s Myer Music Bowl. With all of this in mind, Jimblah is celebrating with album launch in Melbourne on Friday April 4 with Pataphysics and Yung Philly at Shebeen.
THORNS
After nearly a two year wait since their self-titled EP, Melbourne’s Thorns are happy to be back and to announce their debut album From Tears To Glory. An album filled with 11 soul-crushing tracks that not only
show the bands love of all things heavy, but truly show a new dynamic and skill for song-writing that hasn’t been seen before on previous records. This show on Friday at The Bendigo will see the band hit the stage along with Newcastle crew Downside, Melbourne satan & HM2 worshippers Imprisoned and the absolute psycho style of Born Free. Expect the band to play a brand new set featuring songs from their soon to be released album. The album was recorded and produced in Melbourne at Three Phase Studios and YourSpace Studios by Sam Johnson and Lloyd Carroll and was then later shipped over to California for mixing and mastering at ‘The Pit’ by Taylor Young (Twitching Tongues, Xibalba, Rotting Out).
JACK COLWELL & THE OWLS
Jack Colwell & The Owls recently released the highly anticipated new single Far From View. To celebrate the release, he’s teamed up with Ella Hooper (Spicks & Specks, Killing Heidi) to launch the single in Melbourne. Inspired by the sounds and loneliness of Twin Peaks, Far From View takes its listeners on a journey of heartache, interpreted with wailing strings, subtle melodies, intricate harmonies, and amplified by its ethereal female chorus. He plays the Northcote Social Club on Friday April 4.Tickets $20 + bf from northcotesocialclub.com
THE OLIVER PATERSON BEAT PROJECT
The Oliver Paterson Beat Project will bring their unique brand of futuristic hip-hop to the Edinburgh Castle, Sydney Rd Brunswick every Friday in April. A master of guitar, groove and electronics, Oliver Paterson wows audiences worldwide with his ingenious use of guitar pedals to create sounds normally associated with expensive computer programs and DJ equipment. This breakthrough new production method, performed in a live context, will leave hip-hop heads, beat junkies, jazz cats and music lovers alike reeling. This Friday April 4. Music starts at 6pm and its Free
THE POST OFFICE HOTEL THURSDAY 3/4
229-231 SYDNEY RD, COBURG
FRIDAY 4/4
8pm
SATURDAY 5/4
9.30pm
SUNDAY 6/4
9.30pm
4.30pm
SUGAR FED L E O PA R D S
TRACY MCNEIL T H E I M P O SS I B L E NO GOODS & FRAUDBAND
A M AYA L A U C I R I C A 1 0 / 4 VA N WA L K E R 12/4 THE WIKIMEN
NOW POURING
11/4 JACK ON FIRE 13/4 THE HORNETS
COBURG LAGER
PUB - DINING HALL - CAFE - BEER GARDEN - EVERYDAY PH. 9386 5300 WEB. thepostofficehotel.com.au/gig-calendar Facebook.com/ThePostOfficeHoteL Twit. @poh3058 Insta. @poh3058 CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 41
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
DJ KATMANDUDE
METAL OBSESSION
Born in Forest Gate, East London in the late 1960s to parents who were both mods in the swinging ‘60’s, his dad was a next door neighbour and close friend of Steve Marriott of the Small Faces. DJ Katmandude aka Wayne Northern grew up to a soundtrack of classic mod ‘60s tunes including Tamla Motown, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks, The Downliners Sect. He has been DJing with original vinyl at various London clubs, bars, private parties, corporate events and festivals for the last 20 years, specialising mainly in 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s ska, northern soul, jump blues and Two-Tone. He’ll be appearing exclusively at The LuWow this Friday April 4 and Saturday April 5.
Last year saw Australian metal website MetalObsession.net turn five years old with The Amenta headlining their first party. As last year was a raging success, they’ve decided to do it all again on Saturday April 5 at the Reverence Hotel featuring melo-death masters Be’lakor headlining one stage, with Sydney sludge-rockers Lo! headlining the other. The rest of the line up features orchestral doom band Rise of Avernus, insane tech-grinders A Million Dead Birds Laughing, the raw energy of Jack The Stripper, melo-doom band Myridian, slow motion power duo Agonhymn, thrashers In Malice’s Wake & Septerrus, stoner doom band Watchtower, death metallers Orchestrating The Damned and grinders Stoning.
THE MORRISONS
MULTIPLE MAN
Brisbane’s’ dark princes of neu-goth post everything hit the road to launch their cathartic and probably cataclysmic new 7” single. Guilt Culture is backed by Boiling Down and it’s music to watch the world fall apart to: a synth-punk augmented maelstrom of paranoia and tormented machine gun rhythms. Songs that know they are going nowhere fast, windows down, headlights off and tape player turned up really loud. Multiple Man will be launching the new single Friday April 4 at Boney with Vacuum and also Monday April 7 at The Northcote Social Club with School Damage.
Melbourne-based five-piece The Morrisons are best described as an attack band. Think short, sharp punk rock blows with all tracks under the two-and-a-half minute mark on their debut full length release Hard Hoarse. Or as Dom Alessio from triple j so succinctly said, “Frenetic, loose and skuzzy. Very Cool.” Live they put on a show with no mucking around, energetic frenzied attack is their modus operandi, a fact that is clearly evident from the first harrowing, hardhitting chords delivered on the album. Join them as they launch Hard Hoarse at The Old Bar on Saturday April 5. Entry is $10, doors at 8pm.
SATURDAY MAR 5
Get ready for the first instalment of Bashment session, which includes an all-star line-up of local and international finest curators in the genre with DJs, MCs and dancers. Bashment session will showcase music that dancehall influenced or has been influenced by, from reggae, rub-a-dub, rocksteady, to ragga-hip hop or even hardcore dancehall music. From Jamaica to Fiji passing by the French Caribbean Island, Bashment Session promotes unity, peace, irie vybz and underground music. Featuring DJ’s Jesse I, Sista Itations, Sista Sara, DJ Maars, Kid Militan, DJ Sam and MC/Singers Apprentice, SK Simeon, Akimera, Quashani Bahd and special guests Jungle City Crew. Everyone welcome and the event starts at 7pm so make sure you get own early to grab $5 Sailor Jerry punch, and catch all the acts. Free entry.
THE BURNT LETTERS
The Burnt Letters release their debut EP on April 5 and to celebrate, they bring the party to the Retreat Hotel in Brunswick and end in a meandering, raucous after-party nearby. Along the way you’ll be serenaded by The Acfields, get your faces blown off by Reflex Rex, and witness Burnt letters hurl their new EP into the world backed by a cracking band of fine Melbourne musos. The show at the Retreat Hotel is free and entry to the after-party is $5 or free with a purchase of the EP.
THE TROUBLE WITH TEMPLETON
The Trouble With Templeton are excited to announce an exclusive farewell show before heading off to the UK and Europe to celebrate the release of their album Rookie through seminal indie label Bella Union. In celebration of their latest single Soldiers, The Trouble with Templeton are heading out on tour with a string of support shows through April with Irish band Kodaline, culminating in a farewell headline show announced today at the iconic Old Museum in their hometown Brisbane. They play the Prince Ballroom on Saturday April 5 with supports Kodaline.
BASHMENT SESSION
TESSELA (UK)
&
KOWTON (UK)
Manchild (The Breakdown), Pierre Baroni (Soulgroove 66), Chelsea Wilson ( Jazz Got Soul) and special guest Andrew Young. As always, it’s $10 entry for PBS members and $15 for non-members. All the action kicks off at 9pm, and the party keeps rockin’ right through to 3am. Soul-A-Go-Go is on Saturday April 5 at Shebeen, 36 Manchester Lane.
WAREHOUSE SPECTACULAR
Second Story art and event warehouse has reached its first anniversary, and is celebrating with a huge Warehouse Spectacular on Saturday April 5. It’s going to be a cacophony of bands, DJs, fashion, art, performance, dance, theatre, projections, and art installations. Featuring the Cactus Channel, the Grand Rapids and all-girl marching band the Red Brigade on the main stage, it promises to be one helluva knees-up. More info at secondstory.com.au
CHANCE WATERS
Chance Waters is hitting the road for the ‘A Transit Officer Beat Up My Brother So I Wrote A Funny Song About Him’ tour in support of his upcoming single The Ticket Inspector. The Ticket Inspector will be the latest taste from Chance Waters’ forthcoming album, due out in 2014 on Island Records. The single follows recent triple j favourite Bonnie (feat. The Griswolds) and is an infectious, snarky tune capturing Chance’s trademark sarcastic wit and combining elements of pop and hip hop with a dash of doo wop and dub. Chance Waters plays Howler, Saturday April 5, tickets via Ticketscout.
ELECTRIC MARY
The Stray Hens will be launching their much anticipated debut album at the Yarra Hotel in Abbotsford this Saturday April 5. The ABC’s Derek Guille will be MCing on the night and there will be support from Enda Kenny and Jane Mcarthur with DJ Okeh spinning 78rpms late into the night. The launch is sure to be a flurry of foot stomping, knee bopping, merry making and feather-rufflin’, so come on down and scratch the dirt with The Stray Hens and celebrate their new release. Free entry, kitchen is open. Doors 8.30pm.
Fourteen months have passed since riff rockers Electric Mary have donned any stage. Original drummer, Venom, opted to leave the band after ten years, followed by a four month lay off to lead singer, Rusty, due to vocal problems. “We were writing away but nothing was clicking so we all kind of headed in our own direction” - Pete Robinson (guitarist). “A few months down the track we called a meeting between the rest of the members and decided that we should go on with a new line-up. We played with some great drummers but it wasn’t until Davey Porter stepped up that we realised this could still work. We had the drummer, now we needed the songs, we busted our asses in the studio to come up with something that we could proudly call Electric Mary.” Now they head to the Espy to showcase some songs from their forthcoming release, with a little help from their friends Palace Of The King and Massive on Saturday April 5. Tickets available from the Espy’s website.
SOUL-A-GO-GO
MEMORIA
THE STRAY HENS
Melbourne’s biggest soul and funk party is back, with a great new home in the heart of the city. The first Soul-A-Go-Go at Shebeen was a success in the new digs featuring all the favourite PBS DJs . Kicking off April’s Soul-A-Go-Go are Vince Peach (Soul Time), Miss Goldie (Boss Action), DJ
This Saturday April 5 marks the 20th Anniversary since the passing of Kurt Cobain, and in honour of the legend himself, Tago Mago will be hosting a tribute show, playing the acoustic music of Nirvana. Doors open 8pm, $5 entry.
60 SECONDS with THE GRAND RAPIDS
Saturday April 5th
David Space Mexicali Tony Black PWD Moonshine
From 10pm
$25
$20
On the door
Presale
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 42
Define your genre in five words or less: Drone rock from the future. Bearing the terrible clichéd nature of this question, what do you reckon people will say you sound like? Drone rock from the past. What do you love about making music? Really dig the whole process of songwriting. From wherever the idea or melody comes from, then structuring, arranging and jamming it out and seeing what the other dudes bring to the mix, then going into the studio and seeing it take on another life. Do you have any record releases to date? What are they? Where can I get them? We released a bunch of singles last year (now unavailable) off our debut album, Great Shakes, which came out on local label Psyche Ward in October last year. This is available to download from thegrandrapids666.bandcamp.com or on 12” vinyl which can be ordered at thegrandrapids.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
bigcartel.com. When are you doing your thing next? We have two shows this week – Thursday at the Grace Darling supporting The Morning Night from Perth, then Saturday night we are playing at Second Story Studio’s first birthday warehouse party in Collingwood which will be pretty out there if you get my drift. Should be a pretty fine night indeed. Where would you like to be in five years? The future. Do you have a pre-gig ritual? If so, what is it? Trying not to get drunk. As much as it makes us far wittier & attractive to the opposite sex it actually inhibits our ability to be able to play properly. Although occasionally it leads to a bit of random kit smashing which is a bit of good clean fun. How do you stop your pre-gig jitters? Get drunk.
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
SUNDAY MAR 6 MIA DYSON
Mia Dyson is preparing for another landmark year starting with the premiere this morning of her new single When We’re Older on US industry bible Billboard and announcing two special album preview shows for fans this April. When We’re Older follows on from where 2012’s critically-acclaimed, ARIA-nominated The Moment Left Off, and gives fans the first indication of what to expect from her new album, slated for release this June. Mia will be launching the single at The Toff in Town on April 5. Tickets available through thetoffintown.com.
RED INK
Melbourne indie-pop outfit Red Ink have returned home from Europe armed with a self-titled album and their most infectious pop melody to date in the form of single Going Insane. To celebrate the arrival back on our shores, the four-piece will play to their loyal fans in their home city. Tinged with a cathartic undercurrent and brought to life by the yearning vocals of John Jakubenko, the dancefloor-ready track Going Insane is a mighty return for the band who spent the better part of 2013 playing to sold-out venues across Europe. They’ll be launching the new single at Ding Dong Lounge April 5.
and extraordinary good humour. The concert will be an afternoon of great music and good vibes, with all money raised going directly to Fleur.
CROOKSHANK
Crookshank is a modern brass ensemble, with a sound that is closer to alternative rock than a brass band. With influences from Bjork, Massive Attack, and Alt-J, this performance sees the introduction of keys and bass guitar. Their band members hail from some of the best music institutions: Fabian Acuna (trumpet) and Jesse McVeity (tuba), from the Victorian College of the Arts; Louisa Trewartha (trumpet), Kara Hahn (horn), Matthew McGeachin (trombone), and Kaylie Melville (percussion), from the Australian National Academy of Music. “For our second performance we will play all new music," says founding member, Louisa Trewartha. “Since we have multi-instrumentalists in the group there is much to be explored in the way of colour. We are not a brass band or a rock band. We play music that we enjoy and that will entertain the audience.” They’ll be joined at Bar Open by Carl Harvoe Trio and Curtis Reardon. Doors 7.30pm.
VELVET ARCHERS
Out on the road on the ANZAC Assault Tour, Frankenbok tour with 8 Foot Sativa (NZ) and Truth Corroded (SA) and play Cherry Bar on Saturday April 5. Doors from 5pm, tickets $13 from 8pm to 11pm. DJ Mermaid till 5am for $10.
Velvet Archers are a three piece folk band hailing from Melbourne’s East. This foot stompin’ trio will have your ears tingling with joy one minute then working up at dance sweat the next. Set to embark on a national tour, they will play their last show in Melbourne for a few months at the Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood along with friends Charlotte Barker and Che Steer. Velvet Archers will be playing tracks from their EP as well as some old favourites with a possible new song or two!
THE REBELLES
DAVID BRAMBLE
FRANKENBOK
The Rebelles wrap up their series of Double Dates at Brunswick’s Spotted Mallard on Saturday April 5 with one more spectacular, not-to-be-missed show featuring Sugar Fed Leopards and Mikelangelo. $5 entry from 8.30pm.
David Bramble made an album. If it was a boat he would probably call it Infernal Scratchings and it would have sails but would mostly run on an old diesel engine. Like a boat he is going to launch it this album and he is also heading off to America two days later. It’s all a bit exciting really, the album's got some country, some sweet duets, some rock and blues, weird stuff and Wurlitzer and lumberjack choir. He’s got a band together for the launch so it’s gonna be something. He’ll be supported by the Weeping Willows, a great country duet. Andrew Wrigglesworth and Laura Coates; a couple of old souls, steeped in bluegrass tradition and draped in gothic Americana imagery. They regale their audience with stories of sunshine and romance, God and The Devil, murder and decay. Head down to The Wesley Anne from 3pm, entry $7.
THE YARRA HOTEL ABBOTSFORD TURNS ONE
RIVER OF SNAKES
If you like your rock'n’roll loud, dumb and proud, then River of Snakes have hooked you up for just the night. Re-charged with the recent addition of a new drummer in the form of Ben Wrecker, River of Snakes return to Smith Street to serve out a healthy slice of fuzz-soaked fudge cake! They will be joined by the unholy Levitating Churches, the rat-bag-distortion-army that is Drifter and the wild unbridled Rock-passion of Spacejunk! Head down to Yah-Yah’s on Saturday April 5 at 8pm.
CAMPFIRE CORROBOREE
For one night only, Saturday night April 5, Campfire Corroboree proudly presents an unforgettable evening of music entertainment featuring Archie Roach who is one of Australia’s best Indigenous internationally recognised musical talents. Archie Roach and his band join the fight against wildlife extinction and entertain guests in a live music setting like no other. Tickets include admission to the Sanctuary, then entry to the Flight Arena at dusk where the evening will begin with exclusive animal encounters and a smoking ceremony led by Murrindindi, Wurundjeri Elder, here on sacred Coranderrk land. After the Welcome to Country, Archie Roach and his band will take guests into the dreaming time under the Coranderrk night sky lit by the spirit of Indigenous ancestors with music to move everyone. He’s doing his Creation performance which, if you’ve seen it before, is incredibly personal and emotional. Tix via zoo.org.au. All Campfire Corroboree proceeds will help Zoos Victoria fight wildlife extinction.
FLEUR KAY FUNDRAISER
Fleur is a vibrant young woman who was recently diagnosed with a brain tumour. She is a wife, and a mum with two young children. She is our friend. So we’re having a FKFF concert on Sunday April 6 at The Evelyn to show we care, and to raise some money for her treatment which she is facing with determination, grace
The Yarra Hotel is celebrating its first birthday this Sunday April 6, with a huge line-up of some of this year’s pub favourites. Come down and catch The Doodads (featuring Joel Silbersher, Davey Lane & co), Amarillo, Jemma & Her Fine Young Ambitious Men, Skyscraper Stan & the Commission Flats, Marlon Williams & the Abbotsford 3 and Cookie Baker. Bands kick off around 2pm, it’s free to get in and there will be a sausage sizzle in the beer garden. Happy Birthday Yarra!
SONGS FOR SOUTH SUDAN
Sunday April 6 Jali Buba Kuyateh, Kevin Kropinyeri, Melbourne Mass Gospel Choir, Ajak Kwai and Friends. Entry is $20 but further donations are encouraged.
SKYCHA
Melbourne electro jazz-soul band Skycha are headlining a debut show at the Toff in Town to preview original material from their soon-to-be-released record. The group features jazz soulstress Chantal Mitvalsky along with internationally renowned producer/pianist Aaron Choulai, backed by some of Melbourne’s musical elite. Since meeting at VCA, Chantal and Aaron have built their foundations in the jazz world while pushing boundaries by blending acoustic sounds with alternative and electronic textures. The music is expansive and intimate, raw and soulful, with echoes of flickering electronics that makes for a distinct and alluring style. Skycha will be performing at the Toff in Town on April 6 with special guest support on the night from the hardhitting hammond organ trio Cookin on 3 Burners. Tickets are available now through thetoffintown.com
SUNBEAM SOUND MACHINE
After releasing their debut double EP to critical acclaim and cutting their teeth as a live outfit in the closing months of 2013, Melbourne dream-pop outfit Sunbeam Sound Machine will be performing at Liberty Social with Australian garage stalwarts Bloods, Bored Nothing and Scotdrakula. It’s an Easter Sunday show not to be missed.
MONDAY MAR 7 MUSIC, MIRTH & MAYHEM
Now in it’s 16th year, the Mirabel Foundation’s Music, Mirth and Mayhem benefit concert, will celebrate it’s Sweet 16th Birthday with a stellar line-up of musicians and comedians. On Monday April 7 at The Hi Fi Bar, this Melbourne International Comedy Festival highlight will feature comedians and musicians hitting the stage for one night only, including: MC Lawrence Mooney, Dave Hughes, Colin Hay, Greg Fleet, Vika & Linda Bull, Dave O’Neil, Deborah Conway and Josh Earl…just to name a few. The Mirabel Foundation cares for children orphaned or abandoned due to parental drug use. Every year, Music, Mirth & Mayhem sells out so get your tickets early to ensure you don’t miss out. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
CHERRY JAM
Ever wanted to perform on the infamous Cherry Bar stage? Well now every Monday night, you can! Cherry Jam is pretty simple: Cherry supplies the backline and our soundie, and you play and jam. Open from 6pm, Monday April 7, at Cherry Bar. Free entry.
TUESDAY MAR 8
ICE ON MERCURY
Ice On Mercury will be having their single launch with Sudden State and Voodoocain at Cherry Bar on Sunday April 6. Doors 7pm. Bands play till 11pm then DJ Bobby Lou till 2am. Free entry.
LAMARAMA
Melbourne’s roaring psychedelic funksters Lamarama have some new and exciting changes brewing in 2014. The arrival of new bass playing babe-machine Kat Adés, and the welcoming back of beloved old (emphasis on the old) sax man Than Poynter, has given the band a refreshing kick in the dangleberries. Also officially welcomed to the family is Kelly O’Donohue who has been tearing up the trumpet in Than’s absence and who can no longer escape the firm clutches of this hairy seven-piece. See them at The Evelyn on Sunday April 6.
TEK TEK ENSEMBLE
After returning from trekking across Europe together with 6 people and an orchestra of instruments, Tek Tek Ensemble returns to the Spotted Mallard this Sunday April 6 from 4.30pm until 7.30pm. They will be sporting a new album that fills all your dancing requirements.
AINSLIE WILLS
Using her voice as her sword, melodist Ainslie Wills cuts through musical terrain with an emotionally charged kind of brutality that is devastatingly honest - she is vulnerable yet powerful. 2013 saw the independent release of Ainslie’s debut album You go your way, I’ll go mine to critical acclaim with Rolling Stone deeming it “a beguiling debut,” as well as it being added to the Australian Music prize coveted long list of albums for 2013. Graduating from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2005 Wills started recording her compositions in the bedroom of her Carlton granny flat and in 2007 was ‘unearthed’ by triple j. Catch her at The Retreat Hotel on Tuesday April 8.
60 SECONDS with SHAKY STILLS
THE SPASMS
The Spasms play garage-punk-psych and are the brainchild of the terrible three - Kit Atkinson (The Kits), Pete Hansford and John Davis. With a true D.I.Y mindset, their debut album We Better Operate was released as a free download to all, and it has since gained extensive airplay across Europe and the US, with reviews championing the band as successors to The Cramps, The Gories and The Gun Club. The Spasms join Midnight Woolf on Sunday April 6 for the first of their April Sunday Old Bar residencies.
MIDNIGHT WOOLF - APRIL SUNDAY RESIDENCY
Ok rock'n’roll addicts, Midnight Woolf have got a solid month of killer shows for you to get your dance-drinkfuzz-drenched-reverb-soaked fix. They will be playing every Sunday in April at the fabulous Old Bar. Yep, that’s every Sunday night with a new and fantastic line-up of the best garage, surf and punk our amazing little town can dish up. For just $8, it kicks off this Sunday April 6, with The Spasms and Ohms. Good times guaranteed.
KISSING BOOTH
Sunday the April 6 sees another amazing sunny arvo acoustic session at the Reverence Hotel. Kissing Booth are playing an acoustic set with good friends Luke Shields (Have/Hold) and Tim Maxwell (Apart From This). Everything kicks of at 4pm so get down to enjoy some icy cold beers and good food with mates!
Define your genre in five words or less: Altcountry R&B. When’s the gig and with who? This Friday April 4 from 8pm at Some Velvet Morning in Clifton Hill, Shaky Stills will play along with special guest Kane Baker. Do you have any record releases to date? What are they? Where can I get them? Yeah, I’ve released two under my solo project Patrick Carr called You And Me and Nightlife On Mars, plus our new Shaky Stills record, Cold Hands Warm Heart, available on iTunes plus at our gigs. Tell us about the last song you wrote: I wrote a song last Friday night after a few whiskeys at home; it hasn’t got a name as yet, maybe I’ll run with Hotel Café. Anyhow, I thought it would be a good idea to put it out to the world via a phone cast on my facebook - eh, why not? I don’t want
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
to be too precious with my music; I just write them how I hear it, I might play it at this Friday’s gig depending on the room. The song is about how you can tell a lot about people by their actions and what they choose to share. What’s your favourite song, and why? Currently California Stars by Billy Bragg & Wilco; it just sits right – it’s the same chords around and around with a great melody and hooks to sing along to. Where would you like to be in five years? Right here, doing what I do in Melbourne. How do you balance making and playing music with your other commitments? You’ve just got to be true to yourself and make time for your music. It’s a busy world and we’re all time poor just trying to get ahead and if you make time for your music then it helps with all you do.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 43
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
UP UP AWAY
Following up the release of their debut EP Good Advice, Up Up Away are proud to announce they will be bringing their smooth neo-soul and explosive funk to the Evelyn Hotel, every single Tuesday in April. Joining them on the opening night, April 2, to this month long party is Karate Boogaloo and Mayfair Kytes.
SEXY/HEAVY
Sludge’n’roll four piece Sexy/Heavy kick off their Cherry residency this week. They bring good pals Underhanded and Sierra Leone as support for their first Tuesdays residency this April at Cherry Bar. Doors 6pm, Free entry, live music from 9pm to 11pm and Cherry DJ till 3am.
RUBY TUESDAYS
After last week’s nearly twice-oversold show, Ruby Tuesday is keeping the good times rolling on Tuesday April 8 at The Workers Club and this week you can catch Zoë Ryan & the Dandy Lion, The Girl Fridas and Jess Porter! Presented by The AU Review, The 59th Sound and SYN, Ruby Tuesday is the place to be on a Tuesday night.
LOOKING FORWARD
age old idea, an oldie but a goodie, of doing a split EP where a new song from each band and a cover of each other is recorded (last year) and released (for Record Store Day), and now it’s about to be launched (next month). Earlier last year the two bands headed into Newmarket Studios in North Melbourne to bash out a few tunes and came away some ripper new tracks and a couple of amazing renditions of each others tunes. Money For Rope did a very soulful version of The Bowers’ Caught Your Smile whilst The Bowers totally reinvented Money For Rope’s Soup Bowl and Melbourne born/Brisbane based artist Keith Burt has done a wonderful piece of art especially for the cover that is simply stunning.With the imaginative title of Split, the four track EP will be released on 12” vinyl only with a digital download code included with distribution from Inertia. This will be a rare appearance for 2014 in Melbourne by Money For Rope as they are currently touring in the US, including appearances at SxSW and straight after this Howler show the boys head to the UK and Europe and will be there for some time doing Liverpool Sound City, The Great Escape and many a European summer festival. Come along and wish the boys luck. Easter Thursday April 17 at Howler. Doors 8pm, entry $15 + bf via h-w-l-r.com.
ARPIL
MONEY FOR ROPE AND THE BOWERS
Prominent members of the mutual appreciation society, The Bowers and Money For Rope have reignited an
BAR UPCOMING BANDS:
Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota The Slow Death are a notorious punk rock super group of sorts boasting illumni from such bands as The Ergs, Dillinger Four and The Soviettes. . Fronted by the inimitable Jesse Swan Thorson the band has carved out a name for themselves in the US underground with hard touring, hard partying and high quality punk rock records. The Slow Death are heading to Australia for the first time this April straight off the back of a US tour with Off With Their Heads with who they share a similar sound. Sing along punk rock that is equal parts pissed off and piss taking come out and experience The Slow Death in this whiskey soaked party of epic proportions. Joining them on Saturday April 26 is Laura Palmer, Tigers, Foxtrot, and Battle Taco.
BLUE HOTEL
COSMIC PSYCHOS
Due to unpopular demand, Cosmic Psychos have added an Espy Gershwin Room show on Sunday April 20 (Easter Sunday) to their run of April shows around country Victoria. All venues have been warned in advance and will have extra beer fridges bought in to accommodate both the band and their rabid fans. Supports on the night will be from Bad Dreems, The Pretty Littles, and Drifter. This will be the Psychos last local shows before heading off to Europe.
drew McLelland, Mikelangelo and St Clare, Geraldine Quinn, Randy, Em Rusciano, Yon (Tripod) and The Glittery Tapping Wonderland Dancers plus more to be announced. The bar will be open, and light food served. Dress code for guests Saturday best. All money raised goes direct to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Saturday April 12. Tickets available through comedyfestival.com.au.
PEACE AND THE PLUTONIAN NOISE SYMPHONY
Hailing from NZ and the Young Gifted & Broke collective which also features the likes of Home Brew and Team Dynamite, Peace bring their brand new album to Melbourne with an exclusive show at The Espy in St.Kilda. Catch Peace and the Plutonian Noise Symphony on Friday April 11 at The Espy. Free Entry.
The Blue Hotel play the Grace Darling Hotel on Wednesday April 9. Fronted by Ally Said’s distinctive vocal delivery and emotive lyrical approach, the band have been causing ripples in the Melbourne live scene as well as exciting a few industry figures. Currently awaiting the release of their debut E.P. this evening is set to showcase the bands talents alongside friends Beautiful Beasts and The Divine Fluxus in support.
ROCK AND MARKET
RAT & CO
Holding a reputation as one of Melbourne’s best live exports, in 2013 Rat & Co toured with Chet Faker on his first headline tour across Europe and supported Gold Panda (UK), HTRK and Snakadaktal. Their first offering in 2014 is Vocal Insanity – a fusion of pitcheddown samples, house beats and underground hip-hop. This is the first track from their forthcoming second album Binary due for release in May. Rat & Co launch Vocal Insanity at the Shebeen Bandroom, Melbourne on the April 10 with Speed Painters and Planète
THE SLOW DEATH
RUMMAGE
After the success of Popboomerang Records first pop fair and garage styled day at the Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford, they have decided to do it all again on Sunday April 13. The Rock and Rummage Market will feature a cool outdoor vinly/cd sale/clothes sale and a trio of choice pop bands late afternoon in the band room. Entry is free and bands playing are Freya Josephine Hollick, Nick Batterham and The Solicitors - save the date and your pennies.
CHEEK TO CHEEK
Join some of Melbourne’s favourite performers and musically swayed comedians as they re-imagine the classic and legendary songs of Fred Astaire. It will be a fine romance as we dance cheek to cheek for this one off afternoon fundraiser delight, in the charming setting of the Northcote Town Hall. Guests include Scott Brennan, Die Roten Punkte, Scott Edgar, An-
SOUL SAFARI
After hugely successful shows at The St Kilda Festival, The Australian Blues festival, Wangarratta Jazz Festival and Beers By The Bay Festival, Melbourne neo soul/funk Band Soul Safari have announced the release of their Live @ BarOpen. Including 4 video clips and a full length live EP, the series is dedicated to keeping the summer vibe alive and inviting fans to enjoy part of what has been a stellar year for Soul Safari. They are giving away the Live Ep for free on the night. The first 150 people through the door get a hard copy the rest get a free digital download instead; so everyone through the door gets a free copy! You can catch the guys live for the official launch of the Live @ BarOpen EP on Friday April 11 at Bar Open.
FIVE FUN FACTS with THE MORRISONS
FRIDAY APRIL 4 MAGIC HANDS
RA RA
Magic Hands, a dream pop duo inspired by traditional music cultures, modern electronic music and 1970s psychedelia. They are preparing to release their debut album Let Me Hold You While You Fail and the first installment of the album is the single Tone, a woozy folk song informed by the aesthetic of modern pop music. To celebrate the release of Tone, Magic Hands will be bringing their LED lights and projections to the Grace Darling on Friday April 11, supported by Totally Mild and Worng.
THE VELVET LIPS AARON JAMES SATURDAY, APRIL 5
RIVER SNAKE SUNDAY, APRIL 6
RA PETE KING STAG THE TURNOVERS Available for private functions
After Work Happy Hour from 4PM, $5 drinks, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 160 HODDLE ST ABBOTSFORD 3067 BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 44
1. Pete has an allergy to alliteration – It causes him to vomit vigorously into a vessel of venomous vipers. He’d back up that fact but he’s currently indisposed (munting into a large pit of snakes). He also thought it would be funny to name the band The Morrisons and pretend we were a family band. It wasn’t that funny and ended up causing a lot of confusing interview questions such as, “Do you find it difficult getting along with each other in rehearsals, being siblings?” 2. Lizzie actually won the Coolest Person in the World Award in 2009. That was, of course, before she met Pete and Nick, joined The Morrisons and realised she’d need to learn how to play all the instruments in the world or let her housemates tattoo a bear on her back to compete with those dudes. She’s now a self confessed dork - she’d back that up but she’s currently consumed by an intense game of Mario Kart Wii with Nick’s girlfriend. 3. Nick started The Morrisons through a World of Warcraft chat room after his account was hacked and all his money was stolen. He intended it to be heavier than Cannibal Corpse with cement boots on but it ended up being more punky and fun. He still thinks it sounds good and I’m pretty
sure he likes the band but he’ll never leave Pete alone with his gold again. 4. Nath is agoraphobic. He hasn’t left the house in more than ten years, he just sits on his couch watching re-runs of the Golden Girls while he cleans his miniature pet pig with a dust buster. He attends all gigs and rehearsals via Skype or sometimes as a hologram if a particularly good episode is on. He’d back that up but he’s currently got 24 monitors hooked up so he can perform in 23 different bands all at once while keeping a close eye on Betty White. 5. Justin’s right foot ages backwards, just like Benjamin Button. You can’t really tell at the moment, but it was pretty noticeable when he was a baby with arthritis and bunions. When he’s old it’ll be all cute and chubby with cute babysmelling skin, but it’ll still be gross ‘cause he’ll be like 85. What would happen if Benjamin Button lived to 100 but aged to negative 10? That movie didn’t make sense. Justin’s pretty good at cutting hair, too. THE MORRISONS play The Old Bar on Saturday April 5.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
JOJO SMITH
Jojo played her first gig in New Zealand at 10, now after four decades of touring, this Victorian-based soulful, pocket rocket is celebrating her amazing career with a new CD - Standing in the Lovelight ; launching at the iconic Thornbury Theatre with her group of legendary Aussie musos. Catch the launch on Friday April 11. Doors open at 8.30pm.
CITY CITY CITY
Ten years ago, Melbourne’s City City City released their instrumental debut album Dawn And The Blue Light District on Sensory Projects. This was followed the next year by The Perimeter Motor Show on Remote Control. Founded in 2000 by Ned Collette as a “sort of mildly dictatorial free-jazz outfit”, the band went through many incarnations before settling into its final more motorik inspired double drummer lineup. Although they never officially split, after a world record eighteen date tour of New Zealand culminating in a Palmerston North venue called The Stomach, it did not feel like there was much left to achieve. As it stands, City City City haven’t played an Australian show since a blistering Friday night dusk set at Meredith way back in 2005 but you can see the at The Tote on Saturday April 12
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
SEMINAL RATS
epic album. Hear songs such as Sympathy for the Devil, Street Fighting Man, Stray Cat Blues, and more, the list goes on and on. Don’t miss duo Taylor and Brown opening the night with an acoustic set of overlooked Stones gems at The Flying Saucer Club.
Seminal Rats are one of the longest standing rock bands this country has produced, formed in 1984 they are still blasting out high energy rock 30 years later. Friday April 11 sees them at The Tote celebrating 30 Times Around The Sun with old buddies Powerline Sneakers, Fortress of Narzod and Alcatrash the best way that they know how, by blasting out some selections from their forthcoming album and some golden oldies from their extensive back catalogue. It’s only fitting that this happens at the Tote, scene of many a legendary gig in the past and the last stage that Mick Weber ever played on.
CHILD
PETER CUPPLES BAND
Resurrect your livers and worship at the temple of the Tote this Easter Sunday as Von Grimm Records proudly presents Easter Sunday At The Tote Fresh from their Cherry Bar residency, Melbourne’s bluesrock prodigies, Child, headline a massive day of booze, blues and bbq’s with support from bands from both sides of the Nullabor. Child will perform with Animistic, Bayou, Agonhymn, Broozer, Watchtower, Horsehunter, and Yanomamo. The nourishment doesn’t stop there. Worried about having to wait for leftovers from Easter lunch? Have a snag on Von Grimm Records whilst listening to the sermons of doom; definitely a tastier option than the body of Christ.
LE BELLE
A MAN CALLED STU
BEGGARS BANQUET
A Man Called Stu aka Stu Arkoff, former frontman of cult-icons Zombie Ghost Train, returns to the live music world with a new band. It’s a welcome return for the darkly charismatic singer and his new ‘Swampytonk’ sound : surf-swamp meets classic 50’s country and honky-tonk. Stu’s influential style has seen his music featured in movies, documentaries and TV shows including the hit American southern vampire series True Blood. A Man Called Stu has a killer live sound featuring local music royalty Roy ‘Big Daddy’ Payne (Don Walker, The Whiteliners) on pedal steel, Jordan C. Thomas on double bass and Danny Heifetz (Mr Bungle, Link Wray) on drums. See him perform at The Tote Hotel on Saturday April 26.
Melbourne four-piece Le Belle have just announced their first single When You Wake Up to be officially released from their upcoming long-awaited debut album. The band have been labouring tirelessly with Australian super producer Forrester Savell over the past year and a half to capture their passionate and powerful sound. The album is in parts both impassioned and epic, and restrained and understated, creating a rich weaving of classic song writing and modern progressive tones. You can catch them play The Evelyn on Friday April 11 as they celebrate their single launch. More info via facebook.com/LeBellemusic. The Rolling Stones may have postponed their Australian tour but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on seeing their songs live. Like the saying goes, better late than never, especially when it comes to celebrating milestones. In a belated commemoration of the 45th anniversary of The Rolling Stones’ 1968 classic album Beggars Banquet, a one-off all-star local band are coming together to perform the record, track-by-track at the Flying Saucer Club on Easter Saturday April 19 at 8pm. Carl Treasure, Simon Aarons, Ben Curnow, Ryan Brown, Bruce Haymes and Hamonica Rob, as well as guest vocalists Pat Carmody, Dave Bowers and Talei Wolfgramm are banding together to belt out this
The Cupples boys have two entirely different voices, but share a great love for the soul classics; Jimmy with his powerful versions of Wilson Picket and Otis Redding songs, and Peter with his smooth interpretations of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. Peter is noted for fronting the 70’s soul band Stylus; the only all white band to ever record for Motown. Out of the 4 albums recorded with them, Motown released 2 internationally. Jimmy, a legend in the Melbourne rock scene, has been developing his craft for several decades. Looking to challenge himself further, Jimmy entered the TV show, The Voice, powering into contention with his version of Wolf Mother’s Woman. Jimmy’s fan base grew further into the international scene, leading to a recent tour in the U.S. This show will be a journey through the greatest and most influential time in soul music history. Don’t miss Peter Cupples, Jimmy Cupples and their accompanying band, as they perform at the Flying Saucer Club for one night only on April 26 at The Flying Saucer Club.
THE GERMEIN SISTERS
Adelaide’s finest, The Germein Sisters will play the Toff in Town Wednesday April 9. Earlier this month Georgia Germein’s song How Can I Close My Eyes was placed in the top three of the prestigious John Lennon International Songwriting Competition. Judges in the competition include songwriters and performers such as Tom Waits, Imagine Dragons and Keane. Joining them on the tour is New Zealand singer/songwriter Bryce Wastney who has achieved extensive international radio play following his signing to US record label Musik and Film.
TIFT MERRIT
Spoon) and features a guest appearance by Andrew Bird as well as performances by Marc Ribot, Rob Burger, John Convertino (Calexico), Eric Heywood and Merritt’s long-time collaborator Jay Brown. Tift Merritt makes her live debut in Australia this April as a guest of Jason Isbell as well as her own festival dates. You can find her at The Northcote Social club on both April 16 and 17 as well as at Boogie Festival on April 18.
HOLIDAYS ON ICE
Holidays on Ice will release their third album The Luxury of Waster Space on March 31 with live dates kicking off in April. The new release is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the modern aversion to emptiness. See Holidays On Ice launch the new album in Melbourne at Open Studio in Northcote on Sunday April 20.
D.O.A
D.O.A, Canada’s pioneers of punk hardcore and recent inductees into the Canadian Independent Music Hall of Fame are bidding farewell to the world after a 30-plus year career with a tour encompassing Europe, North America, the UK and our very own sunburnt soil.The last chance to catch the highly influential punk group live will be this coming April as the band hang up their collective hat on what has been an outstanding contribution to punk, hardcore and the broader musical landscape. Catch ‘em for the last time on Thursday April 24 at the Evelyn with supports Clowns, No Idea and Dixon Cider. Tickets on sale now and available from thedrunkpromoter.com.
SKIPPING GIRL VINEGAR
Travelling Alone was recorded in Brooklyn with Tucker Martine (The Decemberists, My Morning Jacket,
Fresh from the studio, Skipping Girl Vinegar will premiere new tracks towards their anticipated, forthcoming third album at the Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh on Saturday April 12. In recent months, they have been recording with legendary Nashville producer Brad Jones ( Josh Rouse, Missy Higgins), indie wiz-kid Nick Huggins (Kid Sam, Whitley) and Caleb James (Yves Klein Blue). Door 8pm with Special Guest.
‘A RELENTLESS NIGERIAN FUNK-FEST.’ THE AUSTRALIAN
SEUN KUTI & EGYPT 80 Son of Afrobeat founder Fela Kuti, Seun Kuti and his father’s 16-piece funk-fuelled orchestra Egypt 80 perform one electrifying live show that celebrates the spirit and sounds of Africa through infectious rhythms and powerful messages.
WED 16 APRIL 8PM / TICKETS $63 BOOK NOW MELBOURNERECITAL.COM.AU 03 9699 3333 (Mon-Fri) CNR SOUTHBANK BLVD & STURT ST, SOUTHBANK Transaction fees may apply
PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT PARTNER
Transaction fees may apply
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 45
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
2. The Dragonfly PAPA CHANGO ENTER
Grids (Dot Dash/Remote Control)
7+856'$< $35,/ 5(6,'(1&<
$1,0$8;
&2$&+ %20%$< /$&+,( '87+,( )5,'$< $35,/ (3 /$81&+
9(/8'2
7+( +,',1* 7,1 $//(< *5,0 )$:.1(5 6$785'$< $35,/
$&2/<7(
1(: 75$9(//(56 6($77/( /$=$586 02'( 681'$< $35,/
Not only is Grids the best Teeth & Tongue recording from Jess Cornelius, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the album that best shows her range. One moment sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lurching seductively from her piano like Tori Amos (Good Man), the next sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strapping on a guitar for a cathartic Adalitatype rocker (More Than This) or evoking the restrained hysteria of early Kate Bush (I Feel Good). This is all packed into the first 15 minutes, as is the revelatory single Newborn, which works so well despite it being such an atypical composition for both Cornelius and guest vocalist Laura Jean. There are a variety of styles and tempos spread across the album, but the sum of these parts is a very consistent and cohesive work. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a therapeutic slant to the lyrics â&#x20AC;&#x201C; so youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d expect the style-hopping songs to leap about in accordance with wild mood swings â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but throughout thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a constant grounding acceptance of not always being on top of the world and letting the lows wash over you until your next high hits. Newborn is caught in the glow of a spiritual awakening, but uncertainty is exposed in the self-reflective verses and the following track acknowledges that this state of bliss is momentary: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sometimes, but not that oftenâ&#x20AC;Ś for one small moment in time, I feel good.â&#x20AC;? Reminders that we shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take for granted that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re living in the First World and be satisfied with what we have crop up in uptempo, guitar-driven tracks More Than This and Easy Living. A minor criticism of these two tracks is that they both have rather abrupt fade-outs, occurring at a point where it feels as if the songs have more to give. What doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t show through in the final album is the protracted studio time; instead, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a freshness and straightforwardness to the
3. Beauty And Sorrow FREYA JOSEPHINE HOLLICK 4. Himalayan BAND OF SKULLS 5. Small Town Heroes HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF 6. Tin Star LINDI ORTEGA 7. Underneath the Rainbow BLACK LIPS 8. A Dotted Line NICKEL CREEK 9. Sunnyboys SUNNYBOYS 10. Pilgrim LILITH LANE
production that is in keeping with the stoic lyricism and the more layered approach never weighs down the compositions. Grids explores issues such as self-growth, acceptance and mutual understanding. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s far from coming across as a wishy-washy self-help guide, though; Cornelius is sounding assured, playful and ready to take on the world. CHRIS GIRDLER BEST TRACK: Family Home IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;LL LIKE THESE: The Haunted Man BAT FOR LASHES, Let England Shake PJ HARVEY IN A WORD: Centered
)/(85 .$< ),*+7,1* )81'5$,6(5
//2<' 63,(*(/ 686< %/8( 7+( .(,7+6
SINGLES
BY LACHLAN
For all the latest singles check out beat.com.au Tony Abbott is a good Prime Minister haha April Fools ;) #gotcha #auspol #thechaser
021'$< $35,/
TODD TERJE FEAT. BRYAN FERRY
7+( '$5-((/,1*6 %,''/(:22' 7+( )$%5,& 78(6'$< $35,/ 5(6,'(1&<
83 83 $:$< /$'< 26&$5 -81*/( &522.6 :('1(6'$< $35,/ ´6+$'< /$1(¾
12$+ ($53 %$1' /$81&+
/$1.6 .,' :2/)
&20,1* 83
7L[ DYDLODEOH WKUX 2]WL[ $QLPDX[ ² 7KXUVGD\V LQ $SULO 6HFUHW 7VXQDPL ² (3 /DXQFK $SU
(VF ² $OEXP )XQGUDLVHU $SU
5HFRUG 6WRUH 'D\ IW &ODJ )XOO 8JO\ /DXQFKHV $SU
'2$ ² &$1 $SU
.RR\HK $SU
/RUG ² WK $QQLYHUVDU\ 0D\ )LQQWUROO ² ),1 -XQH
7KH $GROHVFHQWV ² 86$ -XO\
%DVHPHQW ² 8. -XO 6HOOLQJ )DVW
%5816:,&. 675((7 ),7=52< Â&#x2021; 0(/%2851( Â&#x2021; ZZZ HYHO\QKRWHO FRP DX
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 46
1. Ventura JAMAICA 2. Nightvision HAWAII94 3. Just What Is It APOLLO AND THE SUN 4. Hatches COIN BANKS 5. Lost On Me ARC ISIS 6. King And Cross ASGEIR 7. Smoulder EMA 8. Crash On The Highway HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF 9. Theme From Becky KATE TEMPEST 10. Mess On A Mission LIARS
1. All Day Venus ADALITA 2. Dizzy Heights NEIL FINN 3. Eat Your Young BITTER SWEET KICKS 4. The Man Comes Around JOHNNY CASH
3853/( 786.6 6216 2) 5,&2
5(6,'(1&< ² 23(1,1* 1,*+7
SWEET SYN 10
RECORD PARADISE TOP 10
(9(1,1* 6+2:
/$0$5$0$
PBS TOP 10 1. Four Hours Sleep FOUR HOURS SLEEP
TEETH & TONGUE
%$5Â&#x2021;%$1' 5220Â&#x2021;%277/(6+23
TOP TENS:
Johnny And Mary (Olsen/Kobalt) This is everything a cover should be, and more. A world away from Todd Terjeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dancefloor-dominating disco staples, the track sees Bryan Ferry take on his late, great contemporary Robert Palmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vocal duties to achieve something serene, heartfelt, and respectful to the original. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s blissful in its own right, also brandishing Terjeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s knack as a canny musical curator, acting as conduit to Palmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fucking great original version. Taken from Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Album Time, out this week.
THE NAKED AND FAMOUS
5. The Devil And The Deep SUN GOD REPLICA
JAMIE XX
Sleep Sound (Young Turks/Remote Control) Taken from a double A-side by The xx beatmaker, Sleep Sound is a sub-bass-heavy groove with more than a few bright moments. Pleasant enough, but not exactly forward thinking amongst the current crop of producers to emerge since Jamieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s excellent Gil Scot Heron Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re New Here rework.
VELOCIRAPTOR
Ramona (Dot Dash/Remote Control) Post-Libertines Britrock with a good deal oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; spitshine, Ramona is a nice serving of boogy-worthy guitar from Brisbane infinity-piece Velociraptor. The abundance of style makes up for lack of substance, linking a chain of breezy, finger-snapping hooks into a pleasant rock jaunt.
THE BLACK KEYS
8. Salad Days MAC DEMARCO 9. Grids TEETH AND TONGUE 10. Lost In A Dream WAR ON DRUGS
COLLECTORS CORNER MISSING LINK TOP 10 1. Terrestrials LP/CD SUNN O)))/ULVER 2. Wolverine Blues LP ENTOMBED 3. Underneath The Rainbow LP/CD BLACK
4. As The Shadows Rise 12â&#x20AC;?+CD EMPEROR 5. Corrupt Fucking System LP/CD DOOM 6. Horde Mentality 7â&#x20AC;? MASSES 7. Guilt Culture/Boiling Down 7â&#x20AC;? MULTIPLE MAN 8. Memorial LP/CD RUSSIAN CIRCLES 9. Live At Rockpalast 10â&#x20AC;?/CD BLUES PILLS 10. Havittajat 7â&#x20AC;? HAVITTAJAT
WET
Fever (Nonesuch) The one thing The Black Keys had to do with their new album was not let Danger Mouse produce it. Fever is the first taste from The Black Keysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new album Turn Blue, produced by, fuck, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Danger Mouse isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it? Dammit. Fever sounds like it wrote itself, failing to conjure up anything resembling a good time. Lonely Boy was trash, but at least you could get down to it. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not blindly railing against the Danger MouseKeys team-up, Everlasting Light is top shelf, but the duo now seems stuck in the same creative stagnancy they suffered just prior to Danger Mouse taking over the panels.
7. Atlas REAL ESTATE
LIPS
What We Want (Universal) Funny how The Naked And Famous are neither. Has anyone made that joke yet? But yeah, they seemed to have had a rough Year Of Our Lorde 2013, their latest album sideswiped in the alt-pop stakes when released in the same window as their compatriot. It probably wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have mattered either way. What We Want is a featherweight anthem, as if Angus & Julia Stone penned an arena-sized banger. This doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bang, the electro elements of The Naked And Famousâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; breakthrough diluted into insignificance, leaving very little in the way of something to hold on to. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re The Best (Dew Process) New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wet approach a few enticing ideas on Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re The Best, the octave-doubled vocoder and swaying guitar licks coming together tidily. Things get a bit weak in the xx-biting sparse breakdown, the restrained melodies overstaying their welcome past the midway point.
6. Now + 4eva ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI
BEATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TOP 10 SONGS THAT MAKES A LAUGH SINGLE OF THE WEEK
CLIENT LIAISON
Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Desire (Independent) Pretty sure Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m running out of ways to describe the brilliance of Client Liaison. The Melbourne two-piece have been teetering on the brink of greatness for a while now, their potential energy undiminished as they face what I hope is a breakthrough year. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve said it once, maybe twice, before â&#x20AC;&#x201C; weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking at our next Savage Garden here, people. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Desire is flawless rave revival, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beat blessed with irresistible snap then a gospel hook that puts Marky Markâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Good Vibrations to shame. Oh, and this is a B-side by the way. Everyone else step up.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
1. Gayfish KANYE WEST/SOUTH PARK 2. Canyonero THE SIMPSONS 3. Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS 4. Jizz In My Pants THE LONELY ISLAND 5. Stonehenge YLVIS 6. Stonehenge SPINAL TAP 7. Shaddap You Face JOE DOLCE 8. Anything From EUROVISION 9. Trapped In The Drive-Thru WEIRD AL YANKOVIC 10. (Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll Never Be An) Old Man River TISM
ALBUMS
NEW MUSIC IN REVIEW THIS WEEK
For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews
LE1F
ERNEST ELLIS
Hey (Terrible Records)
Cold Desire (Spunk Records) There’s a haunting brutal honesty about the title Cold Desire; the third long player from Sydney’s Ernest Ellis. From time to time you hear an album and the immense quality of what you’re listening to makes you feel like the relatively low profile of the artist who created it can’t possibly be correct. Surely someone who could put together such a carefully crafted album of such personal yet cold winter anthems must be selling out venues and giving Vance Joy some competition on the ARIA charts. Clearly this isn’t the case with Ernest Ellis, as mainstream success has somehow eluded him and his five-man band. And that in itself is a travesty based on this album alone, even without taking into account his back catalogue. As mentioned before, this album matches its title, as it feels desperately intimate. However, it acts as a catharsis to the basic human desires and urges, be they right or wrong. The album cover, which features Ellis on a hotel balcony, potentially somewhere foreign, connects to this idea, in what looks like the morning after this idea of cold desire is sated. From the glorious Clean Machine, the subdued Black Wire I to Way Down, a song that just prior to the album’s halfway mark, proves again the quality that is present throughout this release. The most catchy song, and that term should be used lightly with Ellis’ music, is the gratifying Inside Outside. BEST TRACK: Way Down Ellis has created a one of the best and most original IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: Australian albums in a long time. MORRISEY, BECK, FOALS IN A WORD: Serendipitous ALEXANDER CROWDEN
I’m simply too far removed from the hip hop scene to conclusively state that being an openly gay rapper is taboo, but to the best of my knowledge, gay rappers are still a distant minority. That was Le1f ’s appeal when he rose to prominence following the release of his 2012 mixtape Dark York, but another two mixtapes and two EPs later, Le1f ’s proven that he’s more than just a passing fancy. His latest EP, Hey, is his first release through Terrible Records and clearly the game has changed for Le1f. This is a considered and calculated release consisting of a mere five tracks where his previous mix tapes were often full length. Hey is really the first Le1f release that sounds and feels like it’s been put out on a label. This is a record that flows incredibly well. There is consistency in the production, the half swallowed, sunken and delayed bass tones are interchangeably coupled with short and sharp piercing percussion elements and also rather spooky atmospheric sonic movements that build and release perfectly as though the beat is almost breathing. What makes this EP what it is though is Le1f ’s rapping himself. Love him or loathe him, he has some undeniable skill. When you hear his effortless “water off a duck’s back” inflection for the first time you probably don’t expect that he can rap with the speed and tenacity that he is capable of. Particularly in Buzz he shows us what he’s capable of – an aggressive slow moving club bruiser with a BEST TRACK: Wut (obviously) kick that sounds less like a drum and more like cops IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: ZEBRA at the front door of a meth lab. KATZ, BOODY It’s only five tracks but it packs in swagger for days. IN A WORD: Camp KEATS MULLIGAN
THE WAR ON DRUGS
Lost In The Dream (Secretly Canadian)
JESS HOLLAND
Whole Lot To Say (WJO Distribution) If you haven’t yet discovered Jess Holland’s music, now would be the perfect time to do so with the release of her second solo album, Whole Lot To Say. With a style that nicely combines country, rock and blues, this album is an easy listen that will please many. Whole Lot To Say starts off with the catchy country vibe of Ain’t Quittin’ This Run. The combination of acoustic guitar and mandolin works a treat on this track. First single Fine Lines should quickly become a radio favourite, with its infectious melody and lyrics. The following track Wasn’t Alone has a pleasant country-pop feel with good harmonies. Holland showcases her versatility on country rock tunes Diggin’ Up Bones and Devil Called Love. Acoustic ballad This Ol’ Guitar closes out the album smoothly. Holland possesses powerful vocals with a songwriting ability to match. Whole Lot To Say represents significant artistic growth from Holland’s debut solo album, Introducing… Jess Holland. A great album from start to finish which only gets better the more you listen, and should gain Jess Holland many BEST TRACK: Fine Lines new fans in the process. IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: JASMINE RAE ALI BIRNIE IN A WORD: Catchy
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Lost In The Dream, the fourth release from Philadelphian four-piece The War On Drugs, is an odyssey of reverb-soaked Americana laced with electronic tones and underpinned by a subtle but inescapable sense of sorrow. The American folk influences are so pertinent here they’re almost tangible. It sounds like a Bob Dylan record acquainted with a modern electrified ambience and weighed down with a very heavy grief. Lost In The Dream moves away from the band’s previous two releases Future Weather and Slave Ambient in many respects. Adam Granduciel had seemingly opted to employ a fuller synth-centred sound with a staggering vocal track in his previous work. The same basic musical elements and tones are still here and it’s still unmistakably the work of The War On Drugs, but it just feels a little more vacant and a little more bleak. That’s not to suggest that this record isn’t as triumphant as those that preceded it. Quite the opposite. For all the inner turmoil referenced, the pace and sound is quite varied and brilliantly produced. Opening track Under The Pressure is a great introduction to the album and sums up the record pretty well as a whole. While sonically it feels at points buoyant and affable, it’s quickly overwhelmed by an ascension of colliding electronic sounds that displace you entirely. It’s easy to mistake frantic for jovial at points in this record. There’s simply so much sonically to absorb on this record that it’s hard to appropriately summarise it so quickly. It’s manic at points, extremely sombre at others BEST TRACK: Suffering and somehow strangely darker than previous releases. IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: KURT It’s not a record that’s easily comprehended, it certainly VILE, THE HANDSOME FAMILY, BOB warrants a long listen. DYLAN (obviously) IN A WORD: Suffering KEATS MULLIGAN
Greenwich Village in the ‘60s (Festival/Warner) Greenwich Village in the ‘60s provides a long overdue compilation of this defining musical era. There are the obvious names: Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, and plenty of the frequently overlooked would-be icons of the time such as Richard Farina and Mimi Farina (nee Baez), Ramblin’ Jack Elliot and Phil Ochs. There are the tragic geniuses (Tim Hardin, Karen Dalton and Tim Buckley), the misunderstood eccentrics (Fred Neil), the original folk archivists ( John Jacob Niles) and a host of other artists whose stars burnt warmly, if not forever (including Dave Van Ronk, whose career partly inspired Inside Llewellyn Davis). The lyrics are earnest, almost condescendingly so; the music blends Celtic folk melodies with a dirty urban realism. The highlights come thick and fast: Dave Van Ronk’s Hang Me, Oh Hang Me is gospel for the peacenik generation; Tim Buckley’s haunting, impassioned vocals in Aren’t You the Girl take you to another world. The latent relationship between folk and blues can be seen in Mississippi John Hurt’s Make Me A Pallet on Your Floor and Ramblin’ Jack Elliot’s Raving Gambler. Pete Seeger’s Turn! Turn! Turn! (subsequently covered by The Byrds, who, arguably more so than Dylan, provided the bridge from folk to rock’n’roll) is the natural end to the first disc; Judy Collin’s Farewell draws the curtain to the second. This, even more so than the exploited sixties, is when music really BEST TRACK: Dave Van Ronk’s Hang Me, Oh Hang Me mattered to society. IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: THE BYRDS, CROSBY STILLS AND NASH, CAT PATRICK EMERY STEVENS IN A WORD: Folk
THIS WEEK THURSDAY 3RD APRIL
THE FABRIC SINGLE LAUNCH W/ ECHO DRAMA + KARATE BOOGALOO + DJ HANK AZARIA (THE CACTUS CHANNEL) FRIDAY 4TH APRIL
BAD FAMILY ALBUM LAUNCH W/ CONTRAST + SEE SAW SATURDAY 5 APRIL
BAD VISION + GRAFT VS HOST (REUNION SHOW!) + HAVE/ HOLD + MCBAIN + PETE HANSFORD BAND + ANTHONY YOUNG BAND + JESS LOCKE SUNDAY 6TH APRIL
KITCHEN HOURS
THE LET YOUR HAIR DOWN GIRLS - FREE IN THE FRONT BAR FROM 5PM MONDAY 7TH APRIL
JAZZ PARTY - FREE IN THE FRONT BAR FROM 8PM
SYDONIA
Reality Kicks (Independent) It’s been a long time in between drinks for this Melbourne band. Seven to eight years in fact, since their debut album, Given to Destroyers. Is the follow-up worth the seemingly interminable wait? This is a band that refuses to be easily categorised, too heavy to be put in with the alternative rock thing, too melodic to be considered strictly metal. And that continues on Reality Kicks. There are many moments that rip the flesh from your bones, moments of percussive thunder, moments of soaring, dramatic, exhilarating rock, but also some real introspection, ambience and beauty. These are things that have always been a part of the Sydonia sound. This album shows a band that barely seem to have skipped a beat in seven years, but have grown and expanded at the same time. Reality Kicks displays a band covering much musical territory, but doing so in a very focused and highly skilled manner. A band that hasn’t lost sight of their direction and goals, despite such a long wait and all the life’s events that no doubt occurred during that time. The songs are strong. Nuclear strength in fact, with barely a weak link amongst the 13 on offer here. There is extreme anger (Elbow), moody ambience (Nobodies), acoustic ear candy (title track) and plenty more. There is also musicianship of the highest order and production that is neither too slick nor too raw. BEST TRACK: Sinner Is it worth the wait? The answer is a very resounding yes. IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: COG, KORN, This album proves that Sydonia still kick arse. HELM IN A WORD: Huge ROB WHITFIELD
WEEK AFTER WED 9TH APRIL
THE TRIED + AVENUES END + SANG REAL FRIDAY 11TH APRIL
NAI PALM (HIATUS KAIYOTE) W/ CLEVER AUSTIN - ON SALE NOW SATURDAY 12TH APRIL
LA BASTARD SINGLE LAUNCH W/ RON S PENO & THE SUPERSTITIONS + THE EIGHTY 88S SUNDAY 13TH APRIL
THE LET YOUR HAIR DOWN GIRLS - FREE IN THE FRONT BAR FROM 5PM SUNDAY 13TH APRIL
THE SHIFTIES + THE UNHOLY RACKET + ANNA CORDELL UPSTAIRS FROM 8PM
ON SALE NOW FRIDAY 11 APRIL - NAI PALM (HIATUS KAIYOTE) SATURDAY 12 APRIL - LA BASTARD 7’ LAUNCH THURSDAY 17 APRIL - GOOD FRIDAY EVE - LINCOLN LE FEVRE & THE INSIDERS FRIDAY 18 APRIL - POND - SOLD OUT SATURDAY 19 APRIL - NUN ALBUM LAUNCH SUNDAY 20 APRIL - BED WETTIN’ BAD BOYS - BOOGIE SIDESHOW FRIDAY 25 APRIL - THE DELTA RIGGS FRIDAY 2 MAY - IVY ST ALBUM LAUNCH SATURDAY 24 MAY - AMAYA LAUCIRICA ALBUM LAUNCH
ALL TIX FROM WWW.JOHNCURTINHOTEL.COM
FRONT BAR
EVERY MONDAY IN APRIL:
JAZZ PARTY
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
EVERY SUNDAY
THE LET YOUR HAIR DOWN GIRLS BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 47
GIG GUIDE
WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK
For all the latest gigs check out beat.com.au
WEDNESDAY APR 2 JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/ WORLD MUSIC JULIEN WILSON ELECTRIC QUARTET 303, Northcote. 8:30pm. $0.00. BOPSTRETCH Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $0.00. CRAIG SMITH (BESIDE MYSELF LAUNCH) Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $15.00. DIZZY’S BIG BAND Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14.00. HAMMOND JAZZ CLUB + MR ANDREW SWANN Claypots, St Kilda. 10:00pm. IMOGEN PEMBERTON Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. $0.00. THE MICHAEL TORTONI TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $15.00. VIVE LA DIFFERENCE Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne. 8:30pm.
INDIE/ROCK/POP/METAL/ PUNK/COVERS
BELL ST DELAYS + VAN WALKER Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. $0.00. COLLAGE - FEAT: MAYFAIR KYTES + HAZY & CO + MISSION BROWN + REGIN LE FAYE + SONS OF JERICO Espy, St Kilda. 7:00pm. $0.00. EMPRA + MERICANS + ANDREW SWIFT + DJ MERMAID Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $0.00. GLASFROSCH + SQUAREHEAD + MILESCOSMO + GAMER Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $0.00. GLASS ANIMALS Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $43.45. JOHN BUTLER TRIO + EMMA LOUISE Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:00pm. $67.86. LILITH LANE & HER MANY WIVES + TRANSKY + THE NEW SAVAGE Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $6.00. MILKSHAKE + BORED NOTHING + SNOWY NAZDAQ Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $5.00. PORCO DIO + TOMB HANX + CLAWS & ORGANS Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $5.00. ROYAL HUNT + VANISHING POINT + AVARIN Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:00pm. $54.50. SAGAMORE + PHOEBE & SCHINA + BODY CORPORATE Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $6.00. SCARLETT LASHES + POPOLICE + CURE MOTEL + OK SURE Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $8.00. TOMORROWS DREAM + DJ BOLLOCKS Tago Mago, Thornbury. 8:00pm. $0.00.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
MERRI CREEK PICKERS Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $0.00. OPEN MIC Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $0.00. OPEN MIC/JAM Musicland, Fawkner. 7:00pm. $0.00. SIMPLY ACOUSTIC Wesley Anne, Northcote. 7:00pm. $0.00. SINGALONG SOCIETY - FEAT: REBECCA BARNARD & BILLY MILLER Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 7:00pm. $15.00. THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS - FEAT: SALLY ROBBINS + SCOTT BOYD Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 6:30pm. $0.00. UKULELE KOLLECTIVE BEGINNER’S CLASS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 6:00pm. $0.00. WINE WHISKEY WOMEN - FEAT: 4TRESS + KATE MULQUEEN Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm. $0.00.
THURSDAY APR 3 INDIE/ROCK/POP/METAL/ PUNK/COVERS ADRIAN WHYTE + ONE BIRD ONE STONE + ADAM COAD Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $7.00. ANTHEA JEWEL SIDOROPOULOS + THE MOJO SISTAS Musicland, Fawkner. 8:00pm. $15.00. CAITLIN PARK + THE PHONCURVES + ALYX DENNISON Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $8.00. EVIL BEAVER + 12FU + LIQUOR SNATCH + THE OUTFIT Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. $0.00. FANTIS ATLANTIS + BJ MORRISZONKLE + IO Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8.00. HIDEOUS TOWNS (SINGLE LAUNCH) + THE PRIMARY + LUNA GHOST Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $0.00. JAPAN MUSIC FESTIVAL - FEAT: JILL + 101A + KAIMOKUJISHO + SPARKY QUANO Espy, St Kilda. 8:30pm. $0.00. LOON LAKE (THE GOOD TIMES TOUR) + PRIVATE LIFE + JEREMY NEALE Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $15.00. MIDNIGHT CALLER - FEAT: THE CURSE + LIME WORKS + MICKY 2 & KARL VON B + MIDNIGHT CALLER Tago Mago, Thornbury. 8:30pm. $0.00. MODERN ASTRONOMERS + SNARK + HALF BREED HEROES + MOJO PIN Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $5.00.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 48
MR RUCKMAN + BREED + 30/70 Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. $0.00. NEXT - FEAT: FOR OUR HERO + THE SPITTING SWALLOWS + FALSE ECONOMY Colonial Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $20.00. PAPA CHANGO (EP LAUNCH) + BAT HAZZARD + CUMBIA COSMONAUTS SOUNDSYSTEM Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $15.00. PLUGGED IN THURSDAYS - FEAT: THE HOLLOW HOUNDS Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:30pm. $5.00. PURPLE DENTISTS + BAD PENGUINS PENGUINS Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 6:30pm. $12.00. SPIRAL ARM + RABBLE ROUSER Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $5.00. SUB ROSA + RECKLESS JUNE Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $0.00. SUGAR FED LEOPARDS Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 8:00pm. $0.00. THE FABRIC (COLD SHOULDER LAUNCH) + ECHO DRAMA + KARATE BOOGALOO + CACTUS CHANNEL John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:30pm. $8.00. THE MORNING NIGHT + THE GRAND RAPIDS + THE LOST FRIDAYS + JUKAI FOREST Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $8.00. THE QUARTERS + MICHAEL GAMBINO + THE DIVINE FLUXUS Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00. THE SCOUTS + MIGHTIEST OF GUNS + JUNK HORSES Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8.00. VAN & CAL WALKER Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. $10.00.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/ WORLD MUSIC
ALWAN Claypots, St Kilda. 10:00pm. JOE RUBERTO TRIO Rising Sun Hotel, South Melbourne. 6:30pm. $0.00. JOHN MONTESANTE QUINTET + TAMARA KULDIN The Commune, East Melbourne. 6:00pm. $0.00. LOS HERMANOS DEL FUTURO 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00. MAINSTREET Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14.00. RAINEE LYLESON (AN EVENING WITH JONI MITCHELL) Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $20.00. RED HOT RHYTHMAKERS + JOSH DUFFEE + ANDY SCHUMM Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:30pm. $23.00. THE KNIGHTS OF DJAMELOT Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. $0.00. THE LAGERPHONES Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $0.00. THE MICHAEL TORTONI TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $15.00. THE OVEREASYS Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne. 7:30pm. $0.00. THE SWEETHEARTS + DJ VINCE PEACH + PIERRE BARONI Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
AUSTIN BRADY Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm. $0.00. FAYE BLAIS Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:30pm. $13.30. GIAN SLATER + NATHAN SLATER + CHRISTOPHER HALE Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $15.00. GREG STEPS + ANNA CORDELL Bar Nancy, Northcote. 7:30pm. $0.00. PRINCE THURSDAYS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:00pm. $0.00. RICHIE 1250 Sporting Club Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $0.00. STEELS RANGE (ALBUM LAUNCH) Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8:30pm. $0.00. THE GROVES + THE BRAVES + THE IVORY ELEPHANT + KUNG FU IN TECHNICOLOUR Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $0.00. VAN & CAL WALKER Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. $10.00. VOGL + RACHEL CLARKE + BRI MACKENZIE Highlander, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $0.00.
FRIDAY APR 4 JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/ WORLD MUSIC CLUB CALI - FEAT: QUARTER STREET ORQUESTA Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 9:30pm. $19.95. DEAN’S MARTINI & SHAKERS Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne. 8:30pm. DIANA JOWSEY Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $20.00. GRAND WAZOO Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:30pm. $20.00. MARGIE LOU’S PIANO HOUR + ALYCE PLATT Claypots, St Kilda. 10:00pm. REBECCA & THE ROMANTICS Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $20.00. SUKARO GYPSY JAZZ BAND Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $20.00. THE NEXUS PROJECT Famous Blue Raincoat, Kingsville
GIG OF THE WEEK!
THE FRATELLIS Scottish trio The Fratellis will be crossing the equator this month to play a one-off show at the Prince Bandroom. Formed back in 2006, The Fratelli brothers ( John, Barry and Mince) have entertained us with rock’n’roll hits such as Chelsea Dagger, Henrietta and Mistress Mabel. This tour will celebrate their third album, We Need Medicine, released last year—a successful comeback following their four year hiatus from 2009–2013, and an LP full of raucous rifts, engaging melodies and sporadic moments of genius. The Fratellis’ We Need Medicine tour will be held at the Prince Bandroom on Friday April 4.
South. 8:30pm. $0.00. THE PUTBACKS Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $0.00. TINPAN ORANGE Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $25.00.
INDIE/ROCK/POP/METAL/ PUNK/COVERS
ABSOLUTELY LIVE (THE DOORS TRIBUTE SHOW) Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:00pm. $25.00. BAD FAMILY John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:30pm. $10.00. BOVEDA - FEAT: LANKS + COLOUR WAVES + BELOVED ELK + DEAR PLASTIC Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. $0.00. CAPTIVES + DRIFTER + DEAD JOE + SWHAT + DJ JUKE JOINT Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. CUNTZ Victoria Hotel (brunswick), Brunswick. 9:00pm. $0.00. EINSTEIN TOYBOYS + BRONNIE GORDON & BELLATRIX Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10.00. ELLA HOOPER (SINGLE LAUNCH) + GENA ROSE BRUCE + JACK COLWELL & THE OWLS Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $20.00. FRIDAY NIGHT RIDDIMS - FEAT: NAHUATL SOUND SYSTEM Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. $0.00. GETTIN’ LOOSE FOR THE LOST + HONEY BADGERS + THE PRETTY LITTLES + EMPRA + HOSS Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $15.00. GREENSTOCK - FEAT: OEDIPUS REX Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $5.00. HEAVY JUDY - FEAT: LITTLE FOOT + THE GENERAL + DJ SHAKY MEMORIAL Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 10:00pm. $0.00. HUG THERAPIST + RELEASE THE HOUNDS + DARTS + DEL LAGO + MARICOPA WELL Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 7:30pm. $10.00. ICE ON MERCURY + RIOT IN TOYTOWN + FOLLOW NO RULES Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. $0.00. ITS SKA TIME! - FEAT: MENAGE A SKA + KUJO KINGS + DJ KATMAN DUDE The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00. KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD + CHRIS RUSSELS CHICKEN WALK Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. $15.00. KYLESA + I EXIST + BROOZER + CLAGG Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. $0.00. LUNATICS ON POGOSTICKS + OH PACIFIC + OUTLINES Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. $0.00. MCALPINE’S FUSILER’S + AUSTRALIAN KINGSWOOD FACTORY + MR LOB Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm. $0.00. REIKA + THE ROLLERCANES + HALYCON DRIVE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:00pm. $8.00. RIGHT MIND + SICK MACHINE + REMOVALIST + BOMBS ARE FALLING + MIDWIFE + XUPPERCUTX + CROOKED PATH Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10.00. SAVE THE TARKINE FUNDRAISER - FEAT: SAL KIMBER + ELF TRANZPORTER + LUCAS PAINE + THE STRAY HENS + ECHIDNA LOVE TRAIN Bar 291, Brunswick. 7:00pm. TEMPLE + AUDEMIA + SMOKE STACK RHINO + DJ MAX CRAWDADDY Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $13.00. THE CHERRY DOLLS (SINGLE LAUNCH) + YOUNG HYSTERIA Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.20. THE DEATH RATTLES + THE BITTER SWEETHEARTS + THE ROLLING BLACKOUTS Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $12.00. THE FRATELLIS Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $56.75. THE HOODANGERS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. $0.00. THE JUNGLE GIANTS + MILLIONS + SHORTSTRAW Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $29.95. THE MORNING NIGHT Public Bar, North Melbourne. 2:00am. $0.00. THE SKA VENDORS + DJ’S MOHAIR SLIM Kindred Studios, Yarraville. 8:00pm. $10.00. THE SOLICITORS + THE MEAN TIMES Yah Yah’s, Fit-
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
zroy. 7:00pm. $0.00. THORNS (LP LAUNCH) + DOWNSIDE + IMPRISONED + BORN FREE + AGGRESSOR Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00. TWELVE FOOT NINJA + THE ALGORITHM 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $25.00. VELUDO (EP LAUNCH) + THE HIDING + NEON CITY + GRIM FAWKNER Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $15.00. VENUS RISING - FEAT: FIRE & DESIRE + VENUS RISING Tago Mago, Thornbury. 8:00pm. $0.00. WATT’S ON - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:00pm. $0.00.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
FATS WAH WAH + THE SUBB MICHALSKI TRIO Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $15.00. AARON JAMES BAND + THE VELVET LIPS + RA RA Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. $0.00. AL JAMES BLUES ASSEMBLY Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. $0.00. BIG SEAL & THE SLIPPERY FEW 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $0.00. COMMUNITY KEG PROJECT - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS St Kilda Branch, St Kilda. 6:00pm. $0.00. DJ RATBAG Sporting Club Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $0.00. EARTHSHIP AUSTRALIA FUNDRAISER - FEAT: I/O + BROOKE TAYLOR + ADAM HICKMAN + DANIEL HEAPS + TIMMY MOORES + DJ ARI Bar 291, Brunswick. 7:00pm. FLYING ENGINE STRINGBAND Railway Hotel (nth Fitzroy), Fitzroy North. 9:30pm. $0.00. FLYING ENGINE TRIO Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm. GREG DODD & THE TAILDRAGGERS + MARISA QUIGLEY Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $0.00. LUCAS MICHAILIDIS Open Studio, Northcote. 6:00pm. $0.00. NEIL MURRAY (ALBUM LAUNCH) + YIRRMAL Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $28.00. OLIVER PATERSON Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 6:00pm. $0.00. SIOBHAN CORCORAN + IMOGEN PEMBERON Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:30pm. $0.00. SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $0.00. SPENCER P JONES Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:30pm. $0.00. THE BEAN PROJECT + STUART KOHINGA & JOHN CROSBIE Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 9:00pm. $2.00. THE RECHORDS The Famous Spiegeltent, Cbd. 11:00pm. $0.00. TRACY MCNEIL Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm. $0.00. TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSC SESSION - FEAT: DAN BOURKE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6:00pm. $0.00.
SATURDAY APR 5 INDIE/ROCK/POP/METAL/ PUNK/COVERS ROCKIN SOUL GALS - FEAT: LIZZY & THE NIGHT OWLS + SONYTA & THE INCINERATORS The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00. BAD VISION + GRAFT VS HOST + HAVE/HOLD + PETE HANSFORD BAND + ANTHONY YOUNG + MC BAIN + JESS LOCKE John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:30pm. $6.00. BANG - FEAT: PSYCROPTIC + I VALIANCE + DIREBLAZE Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $20.00. BE’LAKOR + LO! + RISE OF AVERNUS + A MILLION DEAD BIRDS LAUGHING + MYRIDIAN + IN MALICE’S WAKE + STONING + JACK THE STRIPPER + AGONHYMN + WATCHTOWER + SEPTERRUS + ORCHESTRATING THE DAMNED Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 6:00pm. $20.00. BIG SMOKE + GRIZZLY JIM LAWRIE + LESTER THE
GIG GUIDE
WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK
The Jungle Giants
For all the latest gigs check out beat.com.au 8:30pm. $10.00. THE BURNT LETTERS + THE ACFIELDS + DJ XANDER Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $0.00. THE JUNGLE GIANTS + TKAY MAIDZA + SHORTSTRAW Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $29.95. THE MORRISONS (HARD HOARSE LAUNCH) + LA BASTARD + UDAYS TIGER + MY PIRANHA + HEADS OF CHARM Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00. THE REBELLES + SUGAR FED LEOPARDS + MIKELANGELO Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:30pm. $5.00. THE RED LIGHTS + THE GOOD SPORTS + THE NEW POLLUTION + JIMMY JUNK HEART Playground, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00. THE SEVEN UPS + TANKT Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. $0.00. THE TESKEY BROTHERS + DIVIDE AND DISSOLVE + FIFTH FRIEND + THE GEE SEAS Bar 291, Brunswick. 8:00pm. THE TIGER & ME + ANDREW NOLTE & HIS ORCHESTRA + APPLE IDA Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $18.00. THE UNION PACIFIC + DEL LAGO + ANGRY SEAS + ALL WE NEED + THE SAVAGES + GLADSTONE 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $8.00. TWELVE FOOT NINJA + THE ALGORITHM Pier Live, Frankston. 8:00pm. $30.95. WAKEFIELD - FEAT: THE SCOWLING OWL + THE ANTICKS + CORNER SHOP KIDS + ALLISON TUREK + PRETZEL & BEAN + ALEXANDRA PYE + MICHAEL HICKLING + RA PETE + TOM STEVENSON + MEL & BRENDAN Espy, St Kilda. 4:00pm. $0.00. WENDY RULE Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. $20.00.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/ WORLD MUSIC
CHUCOS SUAVES Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. $0.00. CLASSICAL PIANO Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne. 3:00pm. CRAIG SCHNEIDER TRIO Dizzyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $20.00. DĂ&#x2030;BORRAH â&#x20AC;&#x153;MOOGYâ&#x20AC;? MORGAN (MUSIQUE ET CHOCOLAT) Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $20.00.
G
GLASS ANIMALS Oxfordshire-based quartet Glass Animals will bring their trip hop and psychedelic indie pop sounds to Australia when they tour the country for the first time this month. Forging a connection between artwork and music, Glass Animals have crafted a sound that bounds playfully through their sparse, lofty soundscapes, garnering comparisons to Alt-J and Purity Ring. Glass Animals hit Ding Dong Lounge this Wednesday April 2. EMMA GILMARTIN QUARTET Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $0.00. FUNK DOWNSTAIRS - FEAT: DJ MANCHILD Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:00pm. $0.00. GOYIM + ELVIS IN THE HOUSE Claypots, St Kilda. 4:30pm. GREENS DAIRY ANGEL ENSEMBLE Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. $0.00. KAIRO + OUSMANE SONKO Bar 291, Brunswick. 8:00pm. KAIRO + OUSMANE SONKO Bar 291, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $0.00. NICHAUD FITZGIBBON QUARTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $20.00. SOUNDS OF SILENT Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:00pm. $18.00. SUN RAI Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $30.00.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
AUSTIN BUSCH Penny Black, Brunswick. 4:00pm. $0.00. COLD HEART Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. $0.00. DJ MANTOOTH Sporting Club Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $0.00. ELBOW ROOM SERIES Wesley Anne, Northcote. 3:00pm. $10.00. FIREBIRD TRIO + JAY MCLEAN & THE GIANTS Lucky 13 Garage, Moorabbin. 8:30pm. $15.00.
A.DANCE H G G AL RA . L E
SESSION
TY
Bashment
YOUTH WEEK 2014 An event that is run by young people and for young people, Youth Week Live Music will feature the talent of The Chiefs, Lunatics on Pogosticks, Allday, Brisbane favourites The Jungle Giants, and many more local talents as well. Youth Week Live Music will be held on Saturday April 5 at the Ukrainian Centre in Essendon. IAN COLLARD Thunder Road Brewery, Brunswick. 3:00pm. $0.00. JAMES MCCANNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S OTHER BAND Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 9:00pm. $0.00. LEAH FLANAGAN (SINGLE LAUNCH) + SIDESHOW BRIDES Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:00pm. $18.00. MOONEE VALLEY DRIFTERS Victoria Hotel (brunswick), Brunswick. 9:30pm. $0.00. OLD TIMEY JAM SESSIONS Victoria Hotel (brunswick), Brunswick. 5:00pm. $0.00. RIVER SNAKE Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. $0.00. SLIM DIME & THE PRAIRIE KINGS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. $0.00. STRUM REBELLION Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $0.00. TEX PERKINS + CHARLIE OWEN + DAVEY LANE Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $30.00. THE DAVIDSON BROTHERS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. $0.00. THE IMPOSSIBLE NO GOODS Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm. $0.00. THE ISLANDS + RECKLESS JUNE & AUTOMATIC EVERYWHERE Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 9:30pm. $0.00. THE TESKEY BROTHERS + FIFTH FRIEND + DIVIDE AND DISSOLVE + THE GEE SEAS Bar 291, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $0.00.
-2+16721 67 ),7=52<
R PA
A
REG
FIERCE Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $10.00. CANYON Famous Blue Raincoat, Kingsville South. 8:30pm. $10.00. CHANCE WATERS + BRENDAN MACLEAN Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $15.00. CLUB TWOK - FEAT: THE TWOKS + SEX ON TOAST + SUGAR FED LEOPARDS + BETTER THAN THE WIZARDS Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 11:00pm. $0.00. CUERVO + ROBOT CHILD + LEOPARD SLUG + OPTICAL SCREW Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. $0.00. ELECTRIC MARY + PALACE OF THE KING + MASSIVE Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. $15.00. ELIZABAND - FEAT: VELCRO + MARK NELSON + ELIZABAND Dane CertiďŹ cateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Magic Tricks, Gags & Theatre, Brunswick. 9:00pm. $10.00. FLYYING COLOURS + I A MAN + THE MORNING NIGHT + THE HELLHOUNDS + PHIL PARA Espy, St Kilda. 6:00pm. $0.00. FRANKENBOK + FOOT SATIVA + TRUTH CORRODED + DJ MERMAID Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $13.00. HEADS OF CHARM Public Bar, North Melbourne. 2:00am. $0.00. KINGSTON CROWN + DJ OBLIVEUS Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm. $0.00. KODALINE + THE TROUBLE WITH TEMPLETON Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $60.00. KURT COBAINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 20TH ANNIVERSARY - FEAT: MEMORIA + ACOUSTIC FOXX + PARMY DHILLON Tago Mago, Thornbury. 8:30pm. $0.00. MIA DYSON + JEP & DEP Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $30.00. MIDNIGHT CALLER + ANGRY MULE + BAND NOIR + PARACONES + WEEDSWEEPER Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $0.00. RED INK (ALBUM LAUNCH) + DEJA & FIELDS Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $14.30. RIVER OF SNAKES + LEVITATING CHURCHES + DRIFTER + SPACEJUNK Yah Yahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $10.00. SIMONA KAPITOLINA + PROPERTY + MOLLUSC + GERYON Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $10.00. TERRIBLE TRUTHS + SUMMER FLAKE + CONSTANT MONGREL + ANGIE Public Bar, North Melbourne.
ZZZ WKHROGEDU FRP DX
23(1 30 $0 021 )5, 30 $0 6$7 681 )5(( :, ),
:('1(6'$< 1' $35,/
/,/,7+ /$1( +(5 0$1< :,9(6 75$16.< 7+( 1(: 6$9$*(
30
7+856'$< 5' $35,/
)$17,6 $7/$17,6
SATURDAY 5TH APRIL
%- 0255,6=21./( ,2
30
)5,'$< 7+ $35,/
&$37,9(6 7$6
7PM TILL L AT E
'5,)7(5 '($' -2( 6:+$7 '- -8.( -2,17 3%6
JESSE I
(CHANT DOWN SOUND)
SISTA ITATION (PRESSURE DROP) SISTA SARA (MASH IT UP)
E FRE Y R ENT
KID MILITAN' (LLBC) DJ MAARS (UK) DJ SAM
SK SIMEON . APPRENTICE QUASHANI BAHD . JUNGLE CITY CREW
30
6$785'$< 7+ $35,/
7+( 0255,6216²/$81&+
8'$<6 7,*(5 +($'6 2) &+$50 /$ %$67$5' 0< 3,5$1+$ 30 '- 2/' +$1'6 $592 *,*
%2% +$552: ,00,*5$17 81,21
0$7 +$552: %$'*( '(021 3$5$'(
30 )5((
681'$< 7+ $35,/
02817$,1 *2$7 %((562$.(' 681'$<6 0,'1,*+7 :22/) 2+06 7+( 63$606
30
021'$< 7+ $35,/
œ, '2 /,.( 021'$<6¡
(/(&75,& 6($ 63,'(5 35(0,80 )$17$6< '- 3$8/ 6$785 6,021 *$5'$0 75-$(8 30 2/' %$5 72216 30² 30 )5((
78(6'$< 7+ $35,/
f o r m o r e i nf o a s k i n s t o r e - f a c e b o o k . c o m / t h e b e a s t b u rge r s -i n s t a gr a m th e b e a s t b u rge rs-www.th e b-e a s t.c o m PH 9036 1456 | 80 LYGON ST BRUNSWICK EAST | THEB-EAST.COM
.5$.(1 580 &+($3 580 1,*+76 $ *$=,//,21 $1*5< 0(;,&$16 7+( %/$&. $//(<6 $ &+((.< *5,1 30
EDQG ERRNLQJV EDQGERRNLQJV#WKHROGEDU FRP DX
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 49
GIG GUIDE
WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK
THE PUSH
+ BEAT PRESENT... whatson@thepush.com.au
For all the latest gigs check out beat.com.au
SUNDAY APR 6 INDIE/ROCK/POP/METAL/ PUNK/COVERS DALE RYDER BAND + GARY EASTWOOD EXPRESS + DJ ROC LANDERS Espy, St Kilda. 5:00pm. $0.00. JAZZ VOCAL SESSIONS 303, Northcote. 2:30pm. $0.00. SLEEPING BAG 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $5.00. 80’S ON THE EDGE Sloaney Pony, Port Melbourne. 8:30pm. BACKWOOD CREATURES Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. $0.00. CHILL OUT SUNDAY - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Tago Mago, Thornbury. 8:00pm. $0.00. CROOKSHANK + CARL HARVOE TRIO + CURTIS REARDON Bar Open, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $0.00. ICE ON MERCURY + SUDDEN STATE + VOODOOCAIN + DJ BOBBY LOU Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $0.00. JAPAN MUSIC FESTIVAL - FEAT: SPARKY QUANO + JILL + 101A + LUCY’S CROWN Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 6:00pm. $0.00. KISSING BOOTH + LUKE SHIELDS + TIM MAXWELL Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 4:00pm. $0.00. MINIMUM WAGE + SPITEHOUSE + SHAKING HELL Bar 291, Brunswick. 4:30pm. MONSTER MAGNET 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $65.00. MOUNTAIN GOAT BEERSOAKED SUNDAYS - FEAT: MIDNIGHT WOOLF + OHMS + THE SPASMS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8.00. OLIVER MANN + NED COLLETTE Victoria Hotel (brunswick), Brunswick. 5:00pm. $0.00. SCORCHERFEST - FEAT: YOUNG EZY + BENNY BOI + AWOMADAH FIG + WILMA LA + SHANNEN HUNTER + BAREFOOT BISCUIT + JEMMA NICOLE + LE FAY + AMBER YOUNG + CALIFORNIAN COUSIN + A DAY OF STORMS + STEVENSON’S ROCKET + ASTROTURF Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 12:00pm. $0.00. SEAN SIMMONS + BRETT MARSHALL Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 2:30pm. $0.00. SUNDAY SCHOOL + TBC Public Bar, North Melbourne.
TUESDAY
LOCALS NIGHT FREE POOL CHEAP JUGS HOUSE WINE SPINNING VINYL WEDNESDAY
TOMORROWS DREAM
POST-PUNK, NEW WAVE, GOTHIC AND MORE
DJ BOLLOCKS SPINNING VINYL 8PM
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/ WORLD MUSIC
ALTIJA Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. $0.00. BRUNSWICK GREEN CONCERT SERIES #2 - FEAT: THE HUGELY QUIET ASSEMBLAGE + MARK SHEPHERD SOLO BASS Brunswick Green, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $0.00. CHRISTOPHER YOUNG QUARTET Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $18.00. ELVIS IN THE HOUSE + DUO SEVERINI Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne. 1:00pm. LAMARAMA + PURPLE TUSKS + SOMS OF RICO Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $4.00. MINIMUM WAGE - FEAT: SHAKING HELL + SPITEHOUSE Bar 291, Brunswick. 4:30pm. $0.00. SKYCHA + COOKIN’ ON THREE BURNERS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $10.00. SONGS FOR SOUTH SUDAN FUNDRAISER - FEAT: AJAK KWAI + KUTCHA EDWARDS + MELBOURNE MASS GOSPEL CHOIR + KEVIN KROPINYERI + JALI BUBA Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 1:30pm. $20.00. SUN RAI Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $25.00. VINCS & WAKELING Famous Blue Raincoat, Kingsville South. 3:00pm. $0.00.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
AMAYA LAUCIRICA Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 4:30pm. $0.00. DARLING JAMES DUO Sporting Club Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $0.00. DAVID BRAMBLE + WEEPING WILLOWS Wesley Anne, Northcote. 2:00pm. $7.00. DE LA CALLE Penny Black, Brunswick. 5:00pm. $0.00. FLEUR KAY FUNDRAISER - FEAT: LLOYD SPIEGEL + SUSY BLUE + THE KEITHS Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 2:00pm. $25.00. GRACELAND - FEAT: JAMES AVENT + OLD WORLD SPARROW + PATRICK WILSON + MARK GARDNER + CHRIS PICKERING Dawson St Warehouse, Brunswick. 4:00pm. $0.00. HAY GRINGO Royal Oak Hotel, Fitzroy North. 4:00pm. $0.00. IT’S A FOLK AFFAIR - FEAT: ENDA KENNY + MICHAEL WAUGH + ZOE FOX Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm. $12.00. JULES BOULT & THE REDEEMERS Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 4:00pm. $0.00. LEAH FLANAGAN (SINGLE LAUNCH) + SIDESHOW BRIDES Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:00pm. $12.00. LUCAS MICHAILIDIS - FEAT: LUCUS MICHAILIDIS Open Studio, Northcote. 5:30pm. $0.00. MARISA QUIGLEY + THE ALAN LADDS Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 4:00pm. $0.00. MOUNTAIN & SWAMP MUSIC DAY - FEAT: THE ‘JOHNNY CAN’T DANCE’ CAJUN BAND Testing Grounds, Melbourne. 1:00pm. $0.00. OPEN MIC/JAM Rose Hotel (williamstown), Williamstown. 3:00pm. $0.00. SUNDAY JAMS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $0.00. TEK TEK ENSEMBLE Spotted Mallard, Brunswick.
THURSDAY
MIDNIGHT CALLER
THE CURSE LIME WORKS MICKY 2 AND KARL VON B 8:30PM FRIDAY
VENUS RISING
FIRE AND DESIRE 8 SEPARATE ACTS CELEBRATING THE FEMALE CREATIVE 8PM SATURDAY
KURT COBAIN’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY MEMORIA ACOUSTIC FOXX PARMY DHILLON 8:30PM SUNDAY
RECOVERY SUNDAY VICHUNA COAT PLYMOTH REVERENDS 4PM
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 50
ACCESS ALL AGES
4:00pm. $0.00. THE HAPPIEST DECADE MUSIC FESTIVAL - FEAT: STRAYLOVE + BACKWOOD CREATURES + LARGE NUMBER 12’S + FIIG + ADRIAN WHYTE Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 1:00pm. $20.00. THE LET YOUR HAIR DOWN GIRLS John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 4:00pm. $0.00. VELVET ARCHERS + CHARLOTTE BARKER + CHE STEER Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 6:30pm. $0.00.
MUSICIANS WANTED BANDS/ACTS WANTED for Espy Shows. Shoot an email through to mark@gunnmusic.com.au for more details SOLO MUSICIANS, DUO’S, BANDS WANTED to play at Acoustics Anonymous Thursday Nights at The 86. Starting with open mic from 7pm and live band sets from 9pm. Open Mic - just rock up from 6pm, gig spots email drink@the86.com.au with bio, pics and sound demo. SERVICES Songs wanted, all genres, broadcast quality. JetStream your music sales into China. Email Gavin@ addpowermusic.com for starter pack/info. TUITION SONGWRITING CLASSES starting next month by Australian Songwriter Of The Year 2013 Award winner Jacques M. Gentil. Learn how to make your songs marketable, get published & generate income. Affordable. 0417 585 767/ Admin@Magesongs.Com. magesongs.com
Wednesday April 2 With Ruth Mihelcic
JAPANESE MUSIC FESTIVAL The inaugural Japanese Music Festival will be coming in hot to Melbourne with four of Japan’s most revered J-pop, J-rock and J-alt bands. Festival promoter Sonny King is working tightly with Japanese companies both in Australia and Japan to ensure fans get the real deal Japanese music concert experience. This year’s lineup features Jill, 101A, Kaimokujisho and Sparky Quano. It all goes down for free on Thursday April 3 at the Espy. 4:30pm. $0.00. THE LITTLE SISTERS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. $0.00. THE MARGIE LOU TRIO + GIL ASKEY Claypots, St Kilda. 3:30pm. THE TURNOVERS + KING STAG + RA PETE Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. $0.00. THREE KINGS + DJ MAX CRAWDADDY Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 3:00pm. $5.00. ZYDECO JUMP Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 3:00pm. $15.00.
MONDAY APR 7 INDIE/ROCK/POP/METAL/ PUNK/COVERS ‘I DO LIKE MONDAYS’ - FEAT: ELECTRIC SEA SPIDER + PREMIUM FANTASY + DJ PAUL SATUR + SIMON GARDAM Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $6.00. DEAR MONDAY - FEAT: IRIS + DAVID CRAFT + HOLLOW DRUMS + TIM NEILSON Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm. $0.00. MONDAY NIGHT MASS - FEAT: MULTIPLE MAN + RITES WILD + GENTLEMEN + DEAD BOOMERS + SCHOOL DAMAGE Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 6:00pm. $0.00.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/ WORLD MUSIC
BENNETTS LANE BIG BAND Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $18.00.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
PORT PHILLIP GILGAMESH READINGS Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne. 7:30pm. SONGWRITERS COLLECTIVE - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $0.00.
TUESDAY APR 8 JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/ WORLD MUSIC NEW IMPROMPTU QUARTET 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $0.00. HI-FI LOUNGE LIZARDS Claypots, St Kilda. 9:00pm. JAZZ IN THE ATTIC - FEAT: OLA & THE JAZZ CATS Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $0.00. MIKE’S RETRO FIVE Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. $0.00. PETER BAYLOR’S ULTRAFOX Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne. 7:30pm. TANK Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $18.00. VCA SCHOOL OF MUSIC SMALL ENSEMBLE RECITALS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $10.00.
INDIE/ROCK/POP/METAL/ PUNK/COVERS
FACT HUNT TRIVIA + METALLICA SPECIAL Public Bar, North Melbourne. 7:30pm. $0.00. KRAKEN RUM CHEAP RUM NIGHTS - FEAT: A GAZILLION ANGRY MEXICANS + THE BLACK ALLEYS + A CHEEKY GRIN Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $6.00. RUBY TUESDAY - FEAT: ZOE RYAN & THE DANDY LION + THE GIRL FRIDAS + JESS PORTER Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00. ST LUCIA + THE GRISWOLDS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $42.00. THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL DISCOVERY NIGHT - FEAT: THE LYX + BRIDGITTE JESSOP + DAVID CRAFT Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $0.00.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
AINSLIE WILLS + OSCAR LUSH Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. $0.00. BEYOND THE BATHROOM CHOIR Edinburgh Castle,
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
While you’re busy wrapping up Term 1 and getting ready to celebrate two weeks of not having to wake up and go to school each morning, the rest of us are gearing up to celebrate YOU! National Youth Week kicks off in a few days, and it’s pretty much 10 straight days of rad events held all over the country. In fact in our state alone there are no less than 146 events happening from now until early May to celebrate the awesomeness of young people. Oh yes, 146 events. Everything from gigs, festivals, markets, movie nights, art exhibitions, skate comps, author meet-and-greets, dinners, surfing parades, boxing tournaments, info nights, camps, forums, hip hop events, dance parties, scavenger hunts, writing comps, theatre, play station playoffs, rock climbing…. these are happening all around Victoria. Since my space here is rather limited and I can’t list them all in the gig guide below, you’ll have to check out the Youth Week calendar at youthcentral.vic.gov. au to see what’s happening in your local area. The best part is most events are FREE. Speaking of free stuff, we’ve just announced the latest round of Push Songs where songwriters can get free mentoring sessions with well-known and established musos. This time we’ve got Mick Thomas (Wedding Parties Anything), Suzannah Espie, Jess Cornelius (Teeth and Tongue) and Davey Lane (You Am I) coming in to our Brunswick office during April/May/June. The program is for anyone of any age, from anywhere in Vic. All you have to do is jump onto thepush.com.au and register. Applications close Friday April 11. ALL AGES TIMETABLE WEDNESDAY APRIL 2 ProjectXDreme, Gallery@Craigieburn, 75-95 Central Park Ave, Craigieburn, 6-7:30pm, Free, hume.vic.gov.au, AA FRIDAY APRIL 4 Fringe Fest w/ Storm the Sky, Elegist, Void of Vision, Exposures, Danger! Earthquake!, Heathercross, and Stuck Below, Cranbourne Public Hall, Cnr South Gippsland Hwy & Clarendon Street, 6-11pm, $10 with a pass or $12 without, casey.vic.gov.au/youth, AA Backyard DJ, Oxygen Youth Centre - 4-8 Gaffney St, Coburg, 4-7pm, Free, facebook.com/oxygencoburg, U18 North Geelong SHINES - A Celebration of the Arts, North Geelong SC - Separation St, North Geelong, 9am1:30pm, Free, ngsc.vic.edu.au, AA SATURDAY APRIL 5 Battle of the Boards – Wyndham Vale w/ No! Not the Bees, Admit One, Michael Worthy, skate demo performances, and skate/BMX/scooter comp, Presidents Park Skate Park, McGrath Road, Wyndham Vale, 12-5pm, Free, Jamie Cooke on 8734 1355, AA SEL Skate Park Series w/ DJs and skate competition, Elsternwick Skate Park - Bent Road, North Brighton, 114pm, Free, (03) 9599 4622 / facebook.com/baysidefreeza, AA Cypher Culture, New Quay Piazza, Docklands Drv, Docklands, 12-4pm, Free, culturalinfusion.org.au, AA Beatz on the Streetz, Melton Amphitheatre, 323 High St, Melton, 1-5pm, Free, melton.vic.gov.au, AA The Same Sex Formal, St Kilda Town Hall, Cnr Carlisle & Brighton Rd, St Kilda, 5-10pm, $40, minus18.org.au, U18 MONDAY APRIL 7 Hip Hop Holiday - Freestyle Breakdancing, St Kilda PCYC - 179 Inkerman St, St Kilda, 12-5pm, Free, Martin Goffin on 9209 6167, AA Green Foot Flicks Youth Film Festival, Village Cinema Knox, 435 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna, 6:30-9pm, $5, knox. vic.gov.au/greenfoot, AA TUESDAY APRIL 8 Youth Week Event w/ Balter Vada, Mark Phillips, Social Commontree – Bastian Kill Joy, Emjay and music by Mr Eezal, Burnill B, Michael Charles, and RawLab Entertainment various artists, Lilydale Show Grounds, Market Street, Lilydale, 2-7pm, Free, uych.vic.edu.au, AA Spectacle, Artherton Gardens Housing Estate, Napier St, Fitzroy, 10am-3:30pm, Free, facebook.com/ yarrayouthservices, AA Brunswick. 7:30pm. $10.00. FRESH INDUSTRY SHOWCASES Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. $15.00. KRIS KRISTOFFERSON Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:30pm. $98.00. SCHOOL HOLIDAY WORKSHOP FOR TEENAGE MUSICIANS - FEAT: PAUL ANDREWS + NICOLETTE FORTE + NICHOLS + BRUCE CORRIN Chandelier Room, Moorabbin. 10:00am.
KITCHEN SPECIALS SAT 5TH
&2/' +($57 5 TO 7 PM
MONDAY $13 BURGERS TUESDAY BBQ NIGHT WEDNESDAY $15 STEAKS
SUN 6TH
FULL VEGAN MENU
%$&.:22' &5($785(6
FRI 4 APR
JEB CARDWELL, GRANT CUMMERFORD & TIM BURNHAM ROCK THE JOINT FROM 5 TO 7 PM
&20,1* 83 $7 7+( /$%285 RON S PENO & THE SUPERSTITIONS WAZ E JAMES LARGE NUMBER 12’S LISA MILLER TRIO
PASSERINE
SAT 5 APR
DR MALONE
SIME NUGENT
SUN 6 APR
)22' $7 7+( /$%285
SIMPLY ACOUSTIC
“UNCLE DOUGY’S BBQ” ON THE ROOFTOP 5 TO 9PM FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
ALL SHOWS ARE FREE! FUNCTION ROOM AVAILABLE. KITCHEN OPEN EVERY EVENING
163A SYDNEY ROAD, BRUNSWICK 3056 WWW.CORNISHARMS.COM.AU 9380 8383 BOOKINGS/ENQUIRIES: CORNISHARMSBANDBOOKER@GMAIL.COM
;IH RH %TVMP
·;MRI ;LMWOI] ;SQIR¸ TQ /EXI 1YPUYIIR TQ 8VIWW 8LY VH %TVMP
TQ 3TIR 1MG 4SIXV] 7XSV]XIPPMRK 7SRK *VM XL %TVMP
TQ 8VEHMXMSREP -VMWL 1YWG 7IWWMSR [MXL (ER &SYVOI *VMIRHW TQ -QSKIR 4IQFIVSR TQ 7MSFLER 'SVGSVER 7EX XL %TVMP
TQ .EQIW 1G'ERR¸W 3XLIV &ERH 7YR XL %TVMP
TQ 8LI %PER 0EHHW TQ 1EVMWE 5YMKPI] 8YIW XL %TVMP
TQ ;IIOP] 8VMZME 8LI (VYROIR 4SIX 4IIP 7XVIIX
HMVIGXP] STTSWMXI 5YIIR :MG 1EVOIX 4LSRI [[[ XLIHVYROIRTSIX GSQ EY
300 BRUNSWICK ST, FITZROY , A P R 05 S AT URDAY
THE GOOD SPORTS (BRIS) EAST COAST TOUR W/ the red lights the new pollution jimmy junk heart DOORS 8.00pm, $10 f r iday, a p
75,9,$ 1,*+7 R O CK A N D P O P C U LT U R E
E V E RY T U E S D A Y T r i v i a s t a rt s a t 8 p m
r 11
Table bookings essential
OUR SOLACE
ALBUM LAUNCH W/ COLD GROUND, VICIOUS CYCLE, THE EVERCOLD DOORS 8.00PM, $10 A P R 12 S AT URDAY,
LONELY HUNTER
MONTHLY CRAFT MARKET DIY, CRAFT, ART, DESIGN DOORS MIDDAY - FREE ENTRY
It’s a
7PM
WI NngG Th i
$10
a bas basket et of 6
every wednesday
<
! C O M IN G U P
LIVE N’ COOKIN
18/4 -20/4 EASTER WEEKEND
SESSIONs
PLAYGROUND WILL BE CLOSED EASTER WEEKEND
26/4 - THE SPINDRIFT SAGA
27/4 -ANZAC GIG - JOSH DURNO JAY WAYS, MATT GLASS
DINNER AND BANDS FROM 7PM
3RD APRIL
better than the wizards, JEN KNIGHT AND THE CAVALIERS, DAVID KNIGHT
E V E RY T H U RS D AY THE KARMENS + BASTION
for more info ask instore f a c e b o o k . c o m / t h e b e a s t b u rg e r s i n s t a gr a m T H E B E A S T B U RG E R S - w w w . t h e b - e a s t . c o m P H 9 0 3 6 1 4 5 6 | 8 0 LYG O N ST B R U N S W I C K E A ST | T H E B - E A ST. CO M
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 51
BACKSTAGE
THE PLACE FOR MUSICIANS
For more information or ad bookings call Aleksei on 9428 3600
PROFILE
INK UNDONE
Tell us about Ink Undone and the service you provide people with tattoos and body art? We opened at Suite 2, 84 Church Street, Richmond in 2013 with the ambition to be the best tattoo removal clinic in Australia. We wanted premises that were easily accessible by public transport and also had free parking for our clients. Our treatment room incorporates the latest in laser safety and equipment and is fully compliant with all the applicable Australian Standards. All our staff have undergone training in laser safety, laser operations and tattoo removal. We have male and female clinicians and offer evening and weekend appointments in addition to our regular clinic hours. How do you remove the tattoo exactly? A very short duration laser pulse (six nano seconds) is delivered to the tattooed area. This explodes the ink particles and allows the body’s lymphatic system to naturally carry it away. Different colour inks respond to different laser wavelengths, so we have two stateof-the-art Q-Switched lasers. Our Ruby laser is the perfect way to treat green tattoos. How long does it take to remove a tattoo? Each session takes about 15 minutes. Complete removal usually takes from six to ten treatments, which we recommend to be six weeks apart. Is the process painful and how would it rate against having an actual tattoo done in comparison? Most people compare the sensation to being flicked with a rubber band. It’s probably about the same as getting the tattoo, but much quicker! We use an air cooling machine which blows super-chilled air over the area before, during and after treatment and our clients report that it makes the process much more comfortable.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 52
When can you start noticing the difference and the “ink undone” so to speak? It varies greatly. Some people notice a change almost immediately, but generally there will be a visible six to eight weeks. Will the tattoo be completely gone after the treatment? Complete removal is definitely possible. Some colours can be resistant, though; yellow and white in particular. Can I just get part of a tattoo removed accurately and keep the rest? Certainly. Many of our clients just want to modify their work. Areas can be masked from treatment. Will I be able to safely tattoo over the area of skin where my previous tattoo was? No problem. Just allow a couple of weeks after treatment. How much does it cost per session? It really depends on the tattoo. For something simple it can be as little as $90. We offer a free consultation where we can discuss all aspects of the treatment with no obligation.
Location: 2/84 Church St, Richmond Phone: 9429 1607 Email: info@inkundone.com.au Website: www.inkundone.com.au
Before treatment
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
After four sessions
BACKSTAGE
THE PLACE FOR MUSICIANS
For more information or ad bookings call Aleksei on 9428 3600
v s
a
s
Vintage, New & Second Hand Amps, Effects Pedals & Rigs
Huge Selection â&#x20AC;&#x201C; All major Brands
$%%276)25' 0,187(6 )520 0(/%2851( &%' '$< 1,*+7 5(+($56$/ )520 678',26 :,7+ 67$7( 2) 7+( $57 3$u6 $1' 92&$/ &2035(66,21 6,=(6 )520 60$// 72 6783,'/< /$5*( :,7+ ',5(&7 52//,1* $&&(66 VWRUDJH DQG EDFNOLQH DYDLODEOH 3K LQIR#ODQHZD\VWXGLRV FRP 5HDU RI %ORRPEXUJ 6W $EERWVIRUG
Brand new 2000 watt HK Audio powered speakers, ProFX12 Mackie desks and XBUU :BNBIB QPXFSFE GPMECBDLT JO FWFSZ SPPN .BSDI t JEFOUJDBM N2 SPPNT t "JS DPO BOE WFOUJMBUJPO JO FW 4UPSBHF GBDJMJUJFT "DPVTUJD "JS DPO BOE WFOUJMBUJPO JO FWFSZ SPPN t "NQ BOE ESVNLJU IJSF t 4UPSBHF GBDJMJUJFT t "DPVTUJD FOHJOFFS EFT )JSF BWBJMBCMF FOHJOFFS EFTJHOFE TPVOEQSPPÃ¥OH t &YUFSOBM 1" )JSF BWBJMBCMF
Guitars and Amps wanted Top CA$H Paid 18 Duffy St Burwood PH: (03) 903 88101, M: 0417 000 397 Email: hydrastudios@bigpond.com www.hydrastudios.com.au
Expert Guitar & Amp Repairs Mods & Restoration Fast Turnaround Affordable Rates Technicians on site 1131 Burke Rd KEW 3101 Phone: 03 9817 7000 www.eastgatemusic.com.au
THIS SPACE COULD BE YOURS!
CONTACT ALEKSEI ON 9428 3600 OR MIXDOWN@BEAT.COM.AU
M A D E
PA HIRE Comprehensive PA systems delivered, set up and operated with crew. Compact, easy, sound systems you can pickup and assemble yourself.Components such as microphones, speakers and effects are also available separately. Lights also available. For details phone Mark Barry on 03 9889 1999 or 0419 993 966
www.bssound.com.au bssound@bigpond.com
AUSTRALIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ONLY NATIONAL MUSIC STREET PRESS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE AND FREE DISTRIBUTION. DESIGNED, WRITTEN AND CREATED FOR MUSICIANS AND LOVERS OF MUSIC.
B Y
M U S I C I A N S
F O R
M U S I C I A N S
ISSUE 236
DEC 2013
FREE MIXDOWNMAG.COM.AU INTERVIEWED: ZEBRAHEAD LETLIVE NILE RODGERS KURT VILE THE GROWL FRIGHTENED RABBIT AUTRE NE VEUT INSANE CLOWN POSSE PEZ
GIVEAWAY NEW MATON NE N SRS70 SSR R SEMIACOUSTIC GUITAR
MEGADETH
THE CRIMSON PROJEKCT
PERIPHERY
SALE ON NOW!
VIEW FULL CATALOGUE AND PARTICIAPTING DEALERS AT YAMAHABACKSTAGE.COM.AU A MASSIVE SUMMER MUSIC PACK VALUED AT OVER $1,300 RRP, YOU CHOOSE YOUR SOUND FOR SUMMER
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK TO ENTER
facebook.com/yamahabackstagepass
â&#x20AC;¢ INTERVIEWS WITH THE WORLDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BIGGEST ARTISTS AND HOME GROWN HEROES. â&#x20AC;¢ FEATURES ON THE MUSIC INDUSTRY â&#x20AC;¢ PRODUCT NEWS AND GEAR REVIEWS â&#x20AC;¢ STUDIO Q&Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S â&#x20AC;¢ AWESOME MONTHLY GIVEAWAYS
FEBRUARY 2014 ISSUE DEADLINE AND STREET DATES
TATTOO REMOVAL 2/84 CHURCH ST â&#x20AC;¢ RICHMOND 3121 â&#x20AC;¢ PH 9429 1607 WWW.INKUNDONE.COM.AU
STREET AND ONLINE DATE: FEBRUARY 5 AD BOOKING DEADLINE: JANUARY 24 EDITORIAL DEADLINE: JANUARY 27 ARTWORK DEADLINE: JANUARY 29 For more information on Mixdown Magazine contact: Aleksei on (03) 9428 3600 or email Mixdown@beat.com.au
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 53
LIVE
REPORTS FROM THE FRONT ROW
For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews UNDERGROUND LOVERS The Toff In Town, Saturday March 22 The red velvet curtains swished open at the Toff, and it took a moment to recognise the diminutive bespectacled gentleman standing stage-centre in front of the one and only Underground Lovers on the first of two gigs celebrating the 25 years they’ve been in existence. Why, it was none other than Greens MP and local hero Adam Bandt, and he was chuffed to be introducing a band that has left such an indelible mark on the local indie rock scene. Who could blame him? We were here this evening to listen to a set-list comprised of their works from 1989-1993 – and the excitement of the crowd was palpable. Vincent Giarrusso bounded onstage and the Lovers wasted no time kicking off into their early days with a bang – Nice GI from their 1991 Nice EP, an amazing mixture of fuzzy post-punk and jangly guitar pop. Smiles were spreading wildly and the dancing was immediate. There was no going back; we were hooked. The early gems from the Lovers’ back catalogue came thick and lovingly crafted, explaining to any doubters how these stalwarts of intelligent and catchy pop have always been one of the most intriguing bands in Melbourne’s long and storied musical history. Their first two LPs, the 1990 self-titled debut and 1992’s Leaves Me Blind, were well-represented; early nuggets such as Get To Notice, Corn, Get It On, and the awe-inspiring Promenade figured big, writ large with intelligent synths, steady drum work provided by the brilliant Richard Andrew, delightful hooks and melodies, and a sublime sense of fun and humour underlying every note. Get Off On It was absolutely majestic in its power, sounding somehow like a post-modern Doors number. A pretty improvisational take on Ladies Choice allowed Pip Nihill to show off her guitar chops. “This is an old one,” Giarrusso said before the encore as they rippled into Ascend Up. They closed the show with Ripe, rife with feedback and squawk and squall – and it was absolutely incredible. But what struck me most about the evening was the camaraderie and chemistry inherent in the band themselves. Playing up there on that stage was a band with history, and the smiles LOVED: How Nihill’s massive mane on their faces as they delivered up their “early stuff ” reminded on of a of hair kept hanging in front of her face group of friends just hanging out and having fun as they played some whilst playing music. And what music it was. HATED: Not being able to attend If you were curious, Bandt’s not so much a dancer as he is a headSunday’s show bobber. But he head-bobbed like a champion. Ace. DRANK: Cider and bubbles, to keep BY THOMAS BAILEY
it classy
SEX ON TOAST Northcote Social Club, Friday March 28 Sex on Toast launched their debut album at the Northcote Social Club on Friday night to a sold-out room. We arrived as The Cactus Channel were doing their thing. The instrumental soul/funk million-piece have been playing around for some time now, delivering fat, tight originals and tongue-in-cheek covers to full rooms. After a short interlude and some sass from a bartender, the lights dimmed and a projector screen lowered in front of the closed curtains. The crowd fell silent as the sexy, funky grooves with synth laden melody started to pipe through the PA, complete with requisite slick, funny film clip for Hold My Love. Then the curtain lifted and the show began. And what a show from the aptly named nine-man powerhouse. This tour-de-force draws influences from R&B, pop, funk, soul, a little hint of boy band, and even some good old fashioned rock’n’roll. They nail each harmony and pull it all off with undeniable polished style and unbridled charisma. Sex on Toast riff with each other so well onstage that it’s almost confusing; they pull off this organic choreography that makes you get on up and move, before stopping to marvel at the seamless callouts, throwbacks, roll calls, and each separate instance of getting the audience involved and feeling good. This, coupled with energetic, infectious dancing is conducive- bordering on forceful-to an almost indescribable atmosphere. They exploded out of the speakers for the whole show: top to bottom, floor to ceiling. I’d feel comfortable saying that Sex on Toast are one band you need to go and see right now. LOVED: Most things Damn good fun. HATED: Sassy Bar Chick getting all up in my shit BY REI BARKER DRANK: Beer
THE SCIENTISTS Howler, Saturday March 29 When the Pixies came down to perform their classic album Doolittle from start to finish a few years ago, as good as the band were in a technical sense, it was all too evident they’d re-learned the record note-for-note. They generated all the same guitar sounds and even precisely mimicked the record’s imperfections. The result was a band sounding exactly like their earlier selves, but lacking the unpredictable edge that made the original material so legendary and enduring. Any band regrouping far removed from the circumstances and motivation that contributed to their unique appeal obviously faces a tough task. However, tonight at Howler, The Scientists refused to suffer from such a malady. This is the 35th anniversary of the band’s original Perth pub-scene lineup. Curiously enough, this foursome (vocalist/guitarist Kim Salmon, drummer James Baker, guitarist Roddy Radalj and bassist Boris Sujdovic) actually weren’t all still in the band by the time the setlist material was recorded. The songs performed ended up on the band’s 1980 self-titled Pink Album (and the preceding singles), but the mature-age dudes played everything as if bloody excited about what they’d just thrown together in the garage. There was no sterile reprisal of the glory` days of yore. Even a decidedly filthy Sympathy For The Devil cover came dripping with youthful spontaneity. The band launched into everything with a “well-here-goes!” attitude. Admittedly, at times this made for head-tilting moments of questionable looseness. But that’s simply an element of why this show was so exhilarating. When it worked, The Scientists, onstage here at Howler, sounded like Australia’s freshest and most important punk band. That claim shouldn’t be read as divisive or definitive, it’s more a reflection on the shaking energy flung forth from the stage when they kicked LOVED: Support acts Drunk Mums and into the hook-heavy Frantic Romantic, the gnarled Beatles-meets-The Bitter Sweet Kicks Cramps She Said She Loves Me and the rock’n’roll throwback Shadows HATED: Not joining a Perth punk band of the Night. in the ‘70s DRANK: Enough to get pissed on BY AUGUSTUS WELBY another planet
KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD The Tote, Thursday March 27 An eyebrow raising band name, wicked comic book artwork, an unrivalled rate of productivity and a bold amount of personnel. Yep, even in the abstract there’s a ‘phenomenal’ aspect to King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. The band’s five sold out shows in Melbourne this week (tonight was #2) are a testament to the effects of that phenomenon, with some punters proudly boasting about securing tickets for each show. For those uninitiated, King Gizzard is a seven-strong garage-rock beast: four guitar/bass players, three lead vocalists, two drummers and a consistent harmonica warble. Stepping back for a second, it’s essentially seven bemused dudes who dress like they don’t know what day it is and make a hell of a lot of noise. But once introduced to the King Gizzard phenomenon you can’t help but thirst to be part of it, to join the movement. Being part of it isn’t necessarily about uncovering biographical details and knowing exactly what it is. No – it’s about the sensation. King Gizzard won’t display their mission statement, chiefly because they’d see no point in making one. They aren’t trying to uphold rock star mystique, they’re just getting kicks out of continually surprising themselves. And in doing so, they supply their fascinated following with similar kicking excitement. Walking into the full-house Tote, any specific expectations ought to have been discarded at the door. King Gizzard’s recorded output contains a wealth of memorable material, but the likelihood of a best-of set was always slim. What we got was a large amount of unreleased material and regular extended hypnotic jams (generally rooted in one chord progression and a repeated melodic motif ). This provided a welcome depiction of the fearless, hungry musicians responsible for three of the best Australian rock records of recent years. Accordingly, the sweaty onlookers more than willingly let the band direct them right into their psychedelic universe. Now, it’s not ground-breaking songwriting, nor were the instrumental departures utterly captivating, but there’s simply no one saying it quite like they do. It should be noted that, although it’s almost a sure thing for King Gizzard to sell out five straight nights in Melbourne, this star power doesn’t quite apply to the nation’s other major cities. They are in a class of their own, but they wouldn’t suit being the biggest band in the country. The best features of tonight’s show rely upon the permission to be weird and unbounded; something that poster-boy status mightn’t allow for. That said, there wasn’t a complete absence of ‘hits’. Towards the end of the frenzied set, ‘60s garage sing-along Willoughby’s Beach showered the room in glee. This segued into the show’s closing statement: the feverish, who-thehell-knows-how-long-it-lasts Head On/Pill. The two-part epic from LOVED: Seeing this at The Tote last year’s Float Along – Fill Your Lungs took the entire room into its HATED: Not going to the other four psychedlic orbit and certified everyone as members of the movement. shows DRANK: MB, duh BY AUGUSTUS WELBY
SUNNYBOYS Forum Theatre, Friday March 21 Full circle but better – that was life with The Sunnyboys at the Forum. Full circle for the band, for Jeremy, and a reunion for the four us. re Thre ree months on from buying tickets, anticipation was high, and stomachs churned. Was Jeremy gonna be ok? Would the band be tight? Were we really too old for this? Any angst vanished in moments in one of Melbourne’s most atmospheric venues. Fittingly, the boys chose a support band with Sydney roots (from the ‘80s Died Pretty) in Ron S. Peno & The Superstitions. The first half of the set seemed like background music as we settled ourselves in with t-shirts and beers, but towards the end of the set, the band ramped it up with a superb sound, energising us to take our rightful places by the stage. It wasn’t long lo before some fab early footage of the guys surfing and performing screened onstage. Upbeat voiceovers explai explained “fun” as the band’s early motivator. Here Comes The Sun queued in to set the scene – just right. The Beatles we were our first favourite band, and early Sunnyboys looked to us like Beatles in a Hard Day’s Night – stove pipes, pointy toed boots, and mop tops (combined with surfy attitude Australian-style) – Harrison’s optimistic anthem was a perfectly beautiful way to kick off the Sunnyboys. The boys arrived on stage to rapturous applause and kicked straight into As I Walk, a song they’ve used in recent shows to settle themselves in; poignant lyrics from Jeremy straight up, with the chorus refrain “when there’s no one else to lean upon but me” (from Wildcat ‘89). But it was clear on Friday that Jeremy has found in his wingmen Peter, Richard and Bil, someone else to lean upon, as they gently encouraged their lead man. The audience grinned from ear to ear, sang along to every song, pogo dancing as we were enveloped by a bevvie of guitars like some kind of wall of sound. It’s hard to pick one highlight from another, as the whole night seemed to deliver pure highlights. All our favs were covered, including Alone With You, Happy Man, Love to Rule, You Need a Friend, the gut-wrenching Let You Go, and Peter’s The Stooge. But if I had to choose one, it would be in the encore, after a change of guitars when Jeremy put his down, and the band ripped into The Seeker – the first time the band had played it in 20 years. There was freedom in it for him, unencumbered, and in the bosom of his band he air-guitared alongside Richard. It was always about the music, and more recently the pain and understanding we’ve gained LOVED: The encore performance of The from the doco, The Sunnyboy, about love, about celebrating life, and Seeker. the whole cohesive story that was the Sunnyboys. HATED: Not much at all. DRANK: This and that. KATE RING BEAT MAGAZINE PA PAGE 54
WATCH ATCH INTERVIE INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV