BAND OF SKULLS
JAMES VINCENT McMORROW
2ND SHOW ADDED!
WITH SPECIAL GUEST
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THE CREASES & THE GROWL (ACOUSTIC)
T
THU 17 APRIL U DO
L SO
WED 16 APRIL WITH SPECIAL GUESTS
TUE 17 JUN THE HI-FI
TUE MAY 27 THE FORUM
PALACE THEATRE
HIMALAYAN OUT 28 MAR POST TROPICAL OUT NOW
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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 3
Wednesday 9th April
Simply Acoustic 7:00pm Wesley Anne Band Room, $free
Thursday 10th April
The Boys 6:00pm Free in the front bar
Thursday 10th April
DAY
MON
WINE & O RO 9 $ .9
9
Fly South David Carlin & Jane McArthur 7:30pm Wesley Anne Band Room, $5
THE SP RTING CLUB Trivia with Jay and Duane Prizes & cheap jugs!
Tin Man Trio 5:30pm Free in the front bar
From 8pm
Friday 11th April
Mikki Michelle Video Launch
Thurs April 10th
Melissa Main Band 8:00pm Wesley Anne Band Room, $10
Richie 1250 plays his golden tunes
Saturday 12th April
TJ Quinton Saturday 12th April
Rusty Pickers 6:00pm Free in the Front Bar
Saturday 12th April
Ben Riddle Workhorse
From 7pm
TUES $
10 RS E
BURG
OR (BEEF MI) U HALO
Fri April 11th
DJ Grace K of pbs fame parties with us after dark From 8pm
Sat April 12th
8:00pm Wesley Anne Band Room, $10
Roy Taig and Alex Hamilton with support from memebers of the Merri Creek Pickers play
Sunday 13th April
Trio Agogo 5:00pm Free in the front bar
from 8pm
Sunday 13th April
Little Earthquake Dave Parker from The Playbook and David Knight 8:00pm Wesley Anne Band Room
Sun April 13th
Wesley Anne’s Laugh
/LAJ mon - thu 3pm till late
Fri-sat noon till late sunday noon till 11pm
8:00pm
Tuesday 15th April
Darling James duo play their darling music
WED
4
1 OAGS F B LL O S G JU DER A I C AND IGHT N $
Monday 14th April
E 6PM
Wed April 9th
Friday 11th April
2:00pm wesley anne band room
M
2 FORON- FRI AND 1 MAIN OF B $14 JUG S OAG S GY S AND BEFO PSY R
from 8pm
NMIT Showcase The best of NMIT 7:00pm Wesley Anne Band Room, $free
Wednesday 16th April
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
ASK ABOU US DISC T OUR O COMP UNTS FO R LIME NTS!
Wed 9 April
6pm Melbourne Ukulele Kollective Beginners’ Class 8pm Mrs Smith’s Trivia Friday 11 April
6pm Oliver Paterson 8pm DJ Steely Ann Sat 12 April
9pm The Hungry Mile (NSW) EP Launch Sun 13 April
5pm King Lucho Tues 15 April
7.30pm Beyond the Bathroom Choir
Lunch specials $10 Burgers 12-4pm Monday - Thursday eat in or take away 2 For 1 Pub Meals Friday before 6pm $10 Jugs of midstrength Monday - Friday before 6pm
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 4
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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 5
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
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 6
Arts House, North Melbourne Town Hall Sat 12 & Sun 13 April Tickets on sale now $15–$25 artshouse.com.au
@artshousemelb
@artshouse
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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 7
1925
SATURDAY THE 12TH OF APRIL 9PM
VICTORIA HOTEL
WITH GUESTS
BAND ROOM 30
“LET’S GET FUNNY AT THE BRUNNY” FREE COMEDY WITH FEATURE PERFORMERS EVERY WEEK!
THURSDAY THE 10TH OF APRIL 8PM TILL 1AM
$10 JUGS OF BOAGS DRAUGHT ALL NIGHT
$3 SCHOONERS OF BOAGS DRAUGHT–$5 BASIC SPIRITS
VERA NIGHTS
TUESDAY THE 15TH OF APRIL 8PM
WITH GUESTS HALVETICA MIDNIGHT SOL THE GLARE
THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL DISCOVERY NIGHT GIVING CHANCES TO UP AND COMING LOCAL TALENT!
FRIDAY THE 11TH OF APRIL 9PM
THIS WEEK NINOX YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS JEROME KNAPPETT
THE RUM RUNNERS WITH GUESTS
AQUILIUS TRIGGER REFLEX REX
Brunswick Hotel
THU 10TH APRIL BEER GARDEN DJS :
THE REBIRTH OF COOL – JAZZY HIP HOP & LEFT FIELD BEATS WITH MR LOB + GUESTS
– FRI 11TH APRIL FLORALIE ESCANO FRONT BAR: 9:30PM
DJ – MR LOB
FRONT BAR: 9:30PM
DJ – HERBIE LAVENDER
3/$<,1* 621*6 )520 7+(,5 6(/) 7,7/(' '(%87 $/%80 7+,6 $/7 &28175< )285 3,(&( /(' %< 621*60,7+ /8.( 6,1&/$,5 +$6 1(9(5 6281'(' %(77(5 30
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5pm
PUBLIC BAR Free Pool
$12 Brunswick Bitter Jugs
FOX SPORTS FOX FOOTY
Mon - Wed 3 - 11pm Thu - Sat 12pm - 1Am Sunday 12 - 11pm
KITCHEN $12 Steak
$12 Vego/Vegan
$15 Parma & Pot
Mon - Thurs 5 - 9pm Fri - Sat 1 - 9:30pm Sunday 1 - 8:30pm Kids Eat Free With Every Main Meal
63221)8/
Monday To Friday Before 7pm
30
0(/%2851(u6 8/7,0$7( 3$57< %$1' 7+( 63221)8/ /$'6 $5( %$&. 3/$<,1* 7+(,5 &5$&. %5$1' 2) +,*+/< &+$5*(' ,1 $ 681'$< $592 .,1'$ :$< 5+<7+0 $1' %/8(6 52&.
www.brunswickhotel.net
SUN 13TH APRIL ZOE K FRONT BAR: 5PM
DJ - JAH SKUNK TUE 15TH 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
Rich Davies
9pm
681 $35,/
140 SYDNEY RD, BRUNSWICK
SAT 12TH APRIL ELLIOT THE BULL (NSW)
The Brides of Christ
30
MONDAY THE 14TH OF APRIL 8PM–FREE ENTRY!
6:30pm
Richie 1250 &
Everda y
$10 JUGS OF BOAGS DRAUGHT ALL NIGHT
Learn To Dance 30’s, 40’s & 50’s Style
6$7 $35,/
5$,6(' %< ($*/(6
5pm
Sebastian’s Rock n’ Roll Swing Dancing
Sun 13t h
REGISTER FROM 7PM ONWARDS. TIMESLOT RAFFLE IS DRAWN OUT AT 7:30PM, GET IN EARLY TO ENSURE YOU GET A SPOT!
SPIRAL ARM KIDS IN THE MALL SIREN BLACK
OLD TIMEY JAM SESSION (all welcome, bring your instrument join the jam)
Thursd ay
WITH GUESTS:
THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL’S OPEN MIC
Plague Doctor 9pm
Sunday
THE INVISIBLE DEARS
Fri 11th
WITH GUESTS MUSCLE MARY
7+(6( 0(/%2851( 6.$ 9(7(5$16 5(7851 72 7+( 81,21 67$*( )25 $ 5$8&286 1,*+7 2) 83/,)7,1* -$0$,&$1 '$1&( 086,& 5$: +21(67 $1' ,00(16(/< '$1&($%/( 7+( 6.$ 9(1'256 +$9( %((1 3(''/,1* 7+(,5 81,48( %5$1' 2) -$0$,&$1 0(/%2851( *5229(6 $5281' $8675$/,$ )25 29(5 $ '(&$'(
12th
SLACQUER
6:30pm
7:30pm
Sat
6.$ 9(1'256
6PM
SUNDAY THE 13TH OF APRIL 7PM
WEDNESDAY THE 9TH OF APRIL 7PM
TriFree via Entry Night Anna’s GoGo Academy
Tuesda y
)5,'$< $35,/
Wed 9t h
DEAR STALKER SUB ROSA CHARM EEVIE LA VOLPE
Thu 10 th
BRUNSWICK
Monday
ZLF
N +
SARAH’S DIRTY THIRTY BIRTHDAY BASH
Monda y
X
QV
RW
%U
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THE GARDEN OF EIDA
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FUNCTION ROOM AVAILABLE Undercover Beer Garden Bar & BBQ Area BACKPACKER ACCOMODATION $25 per night dorm $30 per night twin share
380 VICTORIA ST PHONE 9388 0830 vichotelbrunswick.com.au band bookings: bands@vichotelbrunswick.com.au
JARRAH RECORDS PRESENTS
AUSTRALIAN TOUR MAY 2014
TUESDAY 27 MAY 170 RUSSELL MELBOURNE
Tickets from venue | 170russell.com - 1300 724 867
w w w.t h e wa i f s . c o m
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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 9
MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA “Manchester Orchestra’s new album Cope is an unapologetically heavy 38 minutes of rock” FasterLouder
Voted #1 Band to Watch by Time Magazine at SXSW 2014 “Four part harmonies, uplifting and beautiful music, passionate delivery. Bloody stunning” Zan Rowe (triple j - SXSW 2014) Features the hit single Since Last Wednesday LONG AWAITED FOLLOW UP TO 2011’S “SIMPLE MATH”
FEATURES INCREDIBLE NEW SINGLE “TOP NOTCH”
FRIDAY
JULY 18
20 YE AR ANNIVERSARY TOUR 2 SETS SPANN
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 10
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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 11
IN THIS ISSUE
14
HOT TALK
18
TOURING
20
STEVE EARLE
22
WHAT’S ON, A SPACE OPERA
24
ART OF THE CITY, THE COMIC STRIP
25
AIM HIGH IN CREATION, FREEMA AGEYMAN
26
MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE
33
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH
34
JASON ISBELL, BLUESFEST 25TH ANNIVERSARY
THE BENNIES page 38
JASON ISBELL page 34
35
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE
36
YACHT CLUB DJS, DJ PREMIER, SASKWATCH
38
MONEY FOR ROPE, DON FERNANDO, THE BENNIES
39
CORE/CRUNCH!
40
MUSIC NEWS
46
ALBUM OF THE WEEK, SINGLES, CHARTS
YACHT CLUB DJS page 36
SASKWATCH page 36
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 - it’s free! Club Listings: online at beat.com.au email clubguide@beat.com.au - it’s free! Music News Items: music@beat.com.au Artwork: art@beat.com.au Beat Classifieds 33c a word: classifieds@beat.com.au
PUBLISHER: Furst Media Pty Ltd. MUSIC EDITOR: Ali Hawken ARTS EDITOR / ASSOCIATE MUSIC EDITOR: Tyson Wray HODOR: 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 O’Brien GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Patrick O’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: classifieds@beat.com.au GIG GUIDE SUBMISSIONS: now online at www.beat.com.au or bands email gigguide@beat.com.au
MON 14 APR
EVIL BEAVER (USA)
SOUL SAFARI
SCREEN SECT
THU 10 APR
LUNAIRE
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.
CHINESE HANDCUFFS APOLLO APPLES SPARROW & THE SPARK 8.30PM / FREE
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 Brookfield, 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 Whitfield, Jen Wilson, Tyson Wray, Simone Ziada, Bronius Zumeris. © 2014 Furst Media Pty Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the consent of the copyright holder.
99 SMITH STREET FITZROY 03 9419 4920 YAHYAHS.COM.AU BOOKINGS: MARY@BAROPEN.COM.AU
THU 10 APR
10PM / FREE
SAT 12 APR
7PM
9.00pm / FREE ENTRY / OPEN ‘TIL 3.00am
MANNY FOX
TUE 15 APR
(JOHN WATERS, 1977)
RANDOM AXE OF GRINDNESS, SEBATRON, SUNNY ALBEAU, THE SAHAMANATOR, ZUCH LATE TUNES: RICHIE 1250
10PM / FREE
MAKE IT UP CLUB
FRI 11 APR
SAT 12 APR 12.00 - 5.00pm / FREE ENTRY:
SUN 13 APR
7PM
EVIL BEAVER (USA)
ALONE WITH TIGER LADY OSCAR ARTY DEL RIO 7.30PM
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 12
52
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Mary Boukouvalas, Ben Clement, Ben Gunzburg, Rebecca Houlden, Nick Irving, Anna Kanci,
FILM CLUB “DESPERATE LIVING”
THE WILLIE WAGTAILS
GIG GUIDE
THU APRIL 17 CAMBODIAN SPACE PROJECT
FRI 11 APR
8.30PM / FREE
48
COMING UP
WED 9 APR
KINGSTON CROWN
ALBUMS
DJ PREMIER page 36
317 BRUNSWICK ST. FITZROY BAROPEN.COM.AU 03 9415 9601 BOOKINGS: FANTAPANTS@BAROPEN.COM.AU
SPEW’N’GUTS TEEN KONG
47
COMING UP THUR 17 APR (GOOD FRIDAY EVE): ECHO DRAMA, THE HIGH SOCIETY FRI 18 APR: CARAVANA SUN (SYD), CYCLO TIMIK
WOLFPACK LIQUOR SNATCH SEX GRIMES 9.00pm / FREE ENTRY / OPEN ‘TIL 5.00am
LATE TUNES: MOHAIR SLIM
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CRATE DIGGER RECORD FAIR LATER:
FRI APRIL 18 PLAGUE DOCTOR SAT APRIL 19 THE GRAND RAPIDS BAD VALLEY BRIEVE THU APRIL 24 (ANZAC DAY EVE) RAMSHACKLE ARMY THE WORKINGHORSE IRONS ROYAL CUT THROAT CO SARGE & THE NUKED FRI APRIL 25 THE JACKS THE FURROWS BROCKWAY LIGHTS THE SHOCKWAVES SAT APRIL 26 ANDRE WARHURST & THE RARE BYRD
BONE
THU MAY 1 GORSHA
9.00pm / FREE ENTRY / OPEN ‘TIL 5.00am
SAT MAY 3 THE STIFFYS
STATIONS WHITE WASH LATE TUNES: DR LUDWIG
FRI MAY 2 PLASTIC SPACEMAN
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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 13
HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
SOMETHING FOR KATE Something for Kate have announced they are planning to celebrate their 20th year with their biggest and most ambitious tours of the band’s career to date. As well as shows in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, the band are also preparing to reissue their entire back catalogue on vinyl, deluxe CD and iTunes, screen a short film tracing their 20-year evolution and release a book titled Paper Trail, which provides a visual history of the band’s career. The 20 Year Anniversary Tour in July/August is Something For Kate’s most ambitious series of performances to date, and the biggest events the band have staged. For the first time in their history, they will play two sets each night, covering all facets of their career: hits, B-sides, rarities and all points in between. Setting the tone for the evening at the beginning of every show will be a short film by Callum Preston tracing the band’s history from 1994 to the current day. At the conclusion of each show, the band will head to the merch desk to meet fans, and sign the accumulated memories of twenty years. Since 1994, when a young three-piece took to the stage of Melbourne’s Punters Club to play their first ever show the band have amassed over half a million album sales, played countless full-house tours and added multiple awards to their shelves, becoming one of this country’s most celebrated, fiercely loved and significant acts of the past two decades. Celebrate 20 years with SFK on Friday July 18 at Forum. Tickets go on sale Friday April 11 through somethingforkate.com.
EMERGE FESTIVAL 2014
KANYE WEST Kanye fans are going to have to wait a little longer before he returns to Australia. A statement from Live Nation, the promoters behind the tour, reads, “Due to unexpected timing requirements to finish his highly anticipated new studio album, scheduled for a 2014 release, Kanye West regretfully announces the postponement of his upcoming tour dates in Australia. The tour dates originally scheduled from May 2 to May 11, 2014 will now be played from September 5 to September 15, 2014. All tickets for the previously announced May show dates will be honoured for the new September dates without the need to exchange.” Kanye West will now hit Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday September 9 and Wednesday September 10. Visit Live Nation for more information.
From Africa to the Far East, from the traditional to the contemporary, from the emerging to the established, Emerge Festival 2014 is a colourful celebration of Victoria’s many rich refugee and emerging cultures. An initiative of Multicultural Arts Victoria, the Emerge Festival promotes diversity, social inclusion, respect and the breaking down of racism. Throughout the winter months of May and June, Emerge Festival will present a colourful array of visual art, dance, forums, ancient crafts, exotic foods and ceremonies, culminating in a huge street party in and around Fitzroy Town Hall. Emerge Festival commemorates the United Nations World Refugee Day and celebrates Refugee Week: Restoring Hope in Australia with a series of performances all around Melbourne from May 17 to June 22. Produced and presented by Multicultral Arts Victoria, Emerge Festival celebrates arts and culture in Victoria’s emerging and refugee communities and their contribution to Melbourne’s unique artistic landscape. Visit multiculturalarts.com.au for full line-up and program.
BAR WWW.THEPUBLICBAR.COM.AU
238 VICTORIA ST, NORTH MELBOURNE OPEN TIL 7AM FRI/SAT
WEDNESDAY 9TH APRIL GREG STEPS BAND, TAYLOR PROJECT, PHOEBE & SCHINA - 8PM $7 THURSDAY 10TH APRIL NEW ARCHER, FRAUDBAND, GRAM FRIDAY 8:30PM $7 FRIDAY 12TH APRIL POTATO CAKE PRESENTS: BOB LOG III, RATTLIN’ BONES BLACKWOOD, KITCHEN WITCH, THE VACANT SMILES - 8:30PM $15 HEELS ON DECKS DJ’S 2AM SLOT: THE ESCARGO GOS - FREE ENTRY SATURDAY 13TH APRIL THE VELVETS–LAUNCH, OLD FASHION (BRIS), THE UGLY KINGS, THE CHERRY DOLLS 8:30PM $10 DJ LEOPARD HEAD 2AM SLOT: THE SPASMS FREE ENTRY SUNDAY 14TH APRIL COOPERS & SAILOR JERRY PRESENT: SUNDAY SCHOOL A.D SKINNER, YOUNG LIBERALS. COOL SOUNDS, VOWEL MOVEMENT, MORE... 4PM FREE MONDAY 15TH APRIL KITCHEN OPEN 5PM–LATE TUESDAY 16TH APRIL FACT HUNT TRIVIA, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM SPECIAL 7:30PM FREE
KITCHEN OPEN:
TUES - FRI 5PM - 9PM SAT - SUN 12PM - 9PM
WWW.MISSKATIESCRABSHACK.COM
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 14
UPCOMING BANDS FRIDAY APRIL 11
LAMB BOULEVARD BERLIN POSTMARK MIDNIGHT JEALOUSY
CUT COPY Fresh off of their appearance at Golden Plains, Cut Copy have announced their first series of Australian headline dates since 2011. The band celebrated the release of 2013’s Free Your Mind with a world tour that saw them headline stages from Chile to Chicago. Touch Sensitive and Nile Delta will join Cut Copy at all three Australian shows.Catch ‘em on Friday May 9 at 170 Russell. Tickets go on sale Friday April 4 from the venue’s website.
SATURDAY, APRIL 12
ROSERVELT FALLEN ENDS THE REASONS WHY SUNDAY, APRIL 13 BOOGIE AND CHILL ON SUNDAY ARVO TO THE BEST BLUES ROCK WITH:
OUT OF THE BLUE FROM 4PM Available for private functions
After Work Happy Hour from 4PM, $5 drinks, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 160 HODDLE ST ABBOTSFORD 3067
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HARD-ONS Sydney’s Hard-Ons are turning 30, and to celebrate sticking it out for three decades the band are heading off around the country. To be precise, on Monday July 21 the legendary punk/pop/metal/psych-hybrid trio will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their inaugural public appearance. In 1984, on that day, the band of bare-chested teenage misfits climbed onto a pub stage for the first time. To celebrate this milestone, they will temporarily welcome back original member Keish de Silva - making this trio a four-piece as they tour the breadth of Australia for the first and last time in their career, playing entire sets consisting of only songs from their first incarnation pre-initial break up, voted on by their fans. Catch Hard-ons on Thursday June 12 at Karova Lounge Ballarat, Friday June 13 at The Wool Exchange Geelong, Saturday June 14 at Corner Hotel and Sunday June 15 at Bridge Hotel Castlemaine. Tickets are available through Oztix.
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ESC
The sons and daughters of Melbourne’s first wave of punks, Max, Bonnie, Milo, and Finne grew up on a healthy diet of Rowland S. Howard, Sonic Youth, and Les Rallizes Dénudés. Esc’s latest single Atomic Shadow was picked up by Rage as ‘Indie of the Week’ and was also featured on Mess+Noise, Poncho TV, and All I Do Is Listen. They will be releasing a remix of Atomic Shadow from Rat & Co, as well as a sweet personal mixtape. We have a double pass to give away to their gig at The Evelyn on Saturdya April 12 so you can enjoy the sounds of Premium Fantasy, Strangers From Now On, Shima and ESC.
NAI PALM
After winning crowds across the world throughout 2013 with her band Hiatus Kaiyote and collecting a Grammy Nomination for Best R&B Performance, Nai Palm performs a special one night solo performance amidst recording their sophomore album. Performing some new unreleased material, some re-imagined covers, and tracks from Hiatus Kaiyote’s acclaimed debut EP, Tawk Tomahawk, you can catch Nai Palm at the John Curtin Hotel on Friday April 11. We have a double pass to give away.
2014 RECLINK COMMUNITY CUP
Back for 2014, the Reclink Community Cup is the annual take-no-prisoners traditional clash between Triple R 102.7FM / PBS 106.7FM Megahertz and the Rockdogs, which will be fought out at Elsternwick Park on Sunday June 22. This year’s catch-phrase of ‘Such A Perfect Day’ is based on the legendary song by much loved icon Lou Reed who sadly passed away last year. The theme also pays homage to the fact that the event is much loved by sports loving, fun loving and music loving patrons alike and has been proudly grass roots from its very inception, annually promoting an all inclusive fun day out. From what started out as a humble AFL match amongst the music fraternity, it is today an event which last year saw over $100,000 raised and well over 10,000 attend. Very much part of the Melbourne music and sporting event calendar, the event will raise funds for Reclink Australia, who use sport and the arts to enhance the lives of people experiencing disadvantage and targets some of the community’s most vulnerable and isolated people. Tickets for adults are $10 and kids under 16 are $5. More info via communitycup.com.au.
VIOLENT SOHO Violent Soho have revealed that they will hit the road for their biggest national tour to date this July. The quartet’s latest release, Holy Ghost debuted at #6 on the ARIA charts and catapulted them even further onto the scene. Now in their tenth year as a band, they are signed to Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace! label and have toured the US with acts such as Built to Spill and Alice in Chains. The Smith Street Band will join Violent Soho on the upcoming tour. Violent Soho will hit The Hi-Fi on Saturday July 5. Tickets go on sale Friday April 4 from the band’s website.
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GRAVEYARD TRAIN
DUSTIN TEBBUTT
WHITE LUNG
Following the release of his latest single Bones, singersongwriter Dustin Tebbutt has announced a run of new tour dates. The tour will mark the first time that the Sydney-based singer/songwriter will be accompanied by his full band. Earlier this year, Tebbutt sold out shows in New York, London and Amsterdam on the heels of the release of his debut EP The Breach. Dustin Tebbutt will hit Northcote Social Club with special guests The Tambourine Girls on Friday May 16. Tickets are available from the venue’s website.
Vancouver’s White Lung will bring their infectious brand of punk to our shores when they tour Australia for the first time this June. The tour announcement comes ahead of the release of their third album, Deep Fantasy, which is set to hit stores in June. Newly formed supergroup Upset will join White Lung on the tour. White Lung will play The Tote on Saturday June 7 and a very special Queen’s birthday show at Howler on Monday June 9. Tickets go on sale Thursday April 10 from the venues’ websites.
Yeeaaaaaaaaah! It’s been way too long in-between drinks with the G-Train. Graveyard Train are back in action and have released the title track from new record Takes One To Know One, which is out on Friday May 2 on their own label Black Hat Racket. To celebrate they’ve locked in a huge national tour. Catch 'em at 170 Russell on Friday June 20. Tickets on sale now.
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THIS WEEK at The Hi-Fi Anjelah Johnson 26/3 – 6/4 COM FEST Ronny Chieng 27/3 – 20/4 COM FEST Paul Foot 27/3 – 20/4 COM FEST
COM FEST
Music, Mirth & Mayhem Mon 7 Apr Luke McGregor 8/4– 20/4
COM FEST
DAN SULTAN
JUST ANNOUNCED Violent Soho Sat 5 Jul SOLD OUT Sun 6 Jul SOLD OUT
COMING SOON Morbid Angel Wed 23 Apr HARDStraylia Thu 24 Apr HTRK Sat 26 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 (GRE) & Fleshgod Apocalypse (ITA) Fri 16 May 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 Wagons Sat 7 Jun Band of Skulls Tue 17 Jun Crimson ProjeKCt (UK) Thu 26 Jun Tankard Sat 12 Jul High on Fire Sat 19 Jul
Pelican Fri 25 Jul Rebel Souljahz Fri 26 Sep
TIX + INFO THEHIFI.COM.AU
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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 16
BRITISH INDIA British India have joined forces with Coopers Dark Ale to bring fans an intimate series of shows around the country on their Coopers After Dark tour. Having toured relentlessly since their inception over ten years ago, the band have loaded in via the darkest alleyways of the country’s dingiest pubs, and are not unaccustomed to the draw of the darkness. The band – who have nailed three ARIA Top 10 debuts, multiple ARIA and J Award nominations, five entries into the triple j Hottest 100 and the AIR Award for Best New Band over the course of their career, will travel to six captial cities for six shows this May/June for an exclusive group of tasteful beer connoisseurs and live music lovers. To attend their Thursday May 29 John Curtin show, Coopers fans need only purchase a six pack, carton or glass of the bold Dark Ale brew at their participating pub or bottle shop for the chance to instantly win four VIP tickets and take three friends along for a riotous night out. Head over to coopersafterdark.com.au for info on how to enter and win four VIP tickets to one of their exclusive shows.
EMMA RUSSACK New South Wales singer-songwriter Emma Russack will be heading down to Melbourne this month. Russack began her career on YouTube in 2007, where her covers of Neil Young and Joy Division received international attention. Since then, the down-to-earth artist has moved to Melbourne, released her debut LP Sounds of Change, and recorded and released her sophomore album, You Changed Me, an album that explores growth, development and complexity through husky tones, organic rhythms and rich melodies. Emma Russack will perform at Boney on Friday May 30. Tickets are available through Boney. You Change Me is out now.
NAI PALM Nai Palm has announced a one-night-only show at The John Curtin Hotel this week. More commonly known as the chief songwriter for Hiatus Kaiyote, who recently collected a Grammy Nomination for Best R&B Performance, Palm is known for her clever hooks and beats. The night will see the virtuoso perform unreleased material, some re-imagined covers and tracks from Hiatus Kaiyote’s Tawk Tomahawk EP. Clever Austin will be her support for the night. Nai Palm will hit up The John Curtin Hotel on Friday April 11. Tickets are available through The John Curtin Hotel.
THE SONGBIRDS Acclaimed harmony group The SongBirds will be arriving in Australia this month in promotion of their debut self-titled EP. Originating from L.A., The SongBirds have spent the past two years establishing themselves as aficionados of vintage fashion and 1920s/30s pop ballads past. Consisting of powerhouse soul diva Erica Canales, Latin Grammy winner Gaby Moreno and Dannielle Gaha DeAndrea, this trio is hard to ignore. The SongBirds will be playing at The Toff In Town on Tuesday April 29. Tickets are available through The Toff and The SongBirds is currently available through iTunes.
Having just announced the release of his new album, Blackbird, Dan Sultan has announced a mammoth run of shows on his Blackbird Tour. The Blackbird tour will see Sultan touring for close to two months, visiting every state in the country including capital cities and smaller, regional towns. Backed by a full band at all shows, Sultan will play The Forum on Thursday July 17 with supports Stonefield and Way Of The Eagle (DJ set). The past few months have seen the awardwinning Melbourne artist deliver smouldering live performances – both in support of Bruce Springsteen and on his own ‘Under Your Skin’ headline dates. Sultan’s new album is the culmination of many months of writing and recording, and sees powerhouse riffs met by crackling gospel interludes, old-school rock and roll jams, pure country tones, bare and aching ballads, harmonies, horns, banjos – even an Arabic scale or two. Blackbird is the simple journey of a man singing about love, desire and identity – an Australian musician coming into his own. In addition to releasing his third LP, Sultan is also giving back to the industry by way of his role as an ambassador for AMRAP (and their inaugural Community Radio ambassador no less) – and for Record Store Day Australia. Melbourne fans can catch him at Readings in St Kilda on Record Store Day on April 19. Blackbird is available now. Tickets for the Blackbird tour are on sale from Thursday April 10 via Ticketmaster.
60 SECONDS with OUR SOLACE
ROBIN HITCHCOCK To celebrate Bob Dylan’s 73rd birthday, Robyn Hitchcock has announced a full set of classic Bob Dylan songs at The Flying Saucer Club Melbourne on Friday May 30. In 2002 Robyn Hitchcock released Robyn Sings, an album comprised entirely of Bob Dylan songs. In 2008 Robyn Hitchcock toured Britain and America playing his classic 1984 album, I Often Dream Of Trains, in its entirety. In New York, director John Edginton captured the show for the film I Often Dream Of Trains in New York’. Robyn was chosen by Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel to perform I Often Dream Of Trains at the English All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in March 2012. Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the album, audiences will also finally get a chance to appreciate I Often Dream of Trains as a Northcote Social Club show has been announced Saturday May 31. Both of these shows will follow on from The Insects & Stars tour - Featuring Steve Kilbey (The Church) and Robyn Hitchcock (The Soft Boys) and Ave Mason (The Reels) in April/May.
MUDLARK Perth outfit Mudlark’s freshly pressed 12’ Zimdahl will receive its east coast baptism when they hit the road for a series of dates this May. The experimental duo are signed to Sydney record label Wood & Wire and have been featured on New Weird Australia. Mudlark will hit Bar 291 on Sunday May 18 and Boney on Thursday May 22.
Define your genre in five words or less: Passionate melodic hardcore. When and why did you start writing music? Arron: I started playing guitar when I was 14 and joined a band when I was 16. I was really into music and shows and trying to write the heaviest music I could, so I was stoked to be asked to be a part of a band. I never thought it would have taken me to where it has. We had this whole idea that we wanted to sound like Terror and Her Nightmare and honestly I think we did a pretty kick arse job at it; we were heavy as hell for 16-year-olds. I won’t go into the whole story but many years and many band members later Our Solace was born. Describe the best gig you’ve ever played: Mark: I think most of the boys would agree that the opportunity to support two bands that were a huge influence on us being Touché Amore and Make Do & Mend was amazing. The honour of playing with them, and then being able to watch artists we idolise was such a wonderful experience. What inspires or has influenced your music the most? Mark: Basically anything real. The everyday struggle for existence in a world that can very easily swallow you whole. Nothing is more infuriating than “artists”
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faking sincerity in what they do, writing songs (or having them written for them) that carry no heart and no message. I love that every single song we’ve written means the world to us and has its own story. How do you balance making and playing music with your other commitments? Alan: I don’t really have a life outside of the girlfriend, the band, work and watching wrestling (yeah I know) but there’s a certain point where you’ve got to prioritise otherwise your band suffers when someone isn’t putting in 100%. What’s your favourite song, and why? Arron: The last track on our album Death And What It Means To Live, entitled Her Name Was – this was a song that was created over a really long time and ended up being one of the, if not the most important songs I have written. The song was written and inspired by a very beautiful and important person, Bonnie Grace Howden, who passed away much too soon. This song will always be my favourite and will always go out to her. OUR SOLACE celebrate the launch of their debut full-length album Death and What It Means to Live at Playground Bar on Friday April 11.
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THE APE FEATURING TEX PERKINS Regarded as one of the best albums of 2013, The Ape returns with two special launch shows celebrating the release of their debut self-titled album on vinyl. Featuring Raul Sanchez (Magic Dirt) on guitar; Gus Agars (The Dark Horses) on drums and vocals, Pat Bourke on bass and piano; and Tex Perkins on vocals and guitar, The Ape play Cherry Bar on Friday May 9. Tickets are $25 + bf via cherrybar.com.au.
HELLO SATELLITES
NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE
Melbourne-based Hello Satellites have announced live shows to accompany the release their sophomore album 84000. Beginning as a solo project in her suburban shed before taking form as a studio collaboration with producer Nick Huggins and Joe Hammond, Hello Satellitesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sound has evolved, following some line-up additions, building on the subtle beauties of their debut to create 84000, a stunning and thoughtful sophomore album of unique folk music with pop sensibilities and layered instrumentation. Following recent gigs with Machine Translations and Sweet Jean, Hello Satellites will be playing full band shows to celebrate the launch of 84000 at the Kelvin Club on April 26 with Paddy Mann (Grand Salvo). Featuring singles Television Screens and Hollering Saints, 84000 is released on CD/Digital on April 11 through Two Bright Lakes/Remote Control and distributed nationally by Inertia. Tickets via kelvinclub.com.
Northeast Party House have announced their hotly anticipated debut album, Any Given Weekend, out May 16 through Stop Start. Since forming in 2010 (and being â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Unearthedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by triple j that same year for their song Dusk), Northeast Party House have built a cult following thanks to their electrifying live shows, and songs combining the heady exhilaration of dance music with pop hooks and rock backbone. The five piece have brought the party to stages ranging from the Falls and St Kilda Festivals to national support slots for acts such as Jungle Giants, Midnight Juggernauts and Ball Park Music. Their album of 10-track release is set to be Northeast Party Houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ode to partying â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the good, the bad and the ugly â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the band membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; gloriously shambolic ride into adulthood. Album opener The Haunted is already enjoying high rotation on triple j and produced by band members Sean Kenihan and Malcolm Besley, (Besley whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s clocked up production experience with the likes of Snakadaktal and The Holidays) the pair recorded most of the songs in their own home studios. They tour the country on their Any Given Weekend Australian tour, and hit the Corner Hotel on Saturday June 21. Tickets via Corner Box Office.
SUSY BLUE Divinely vintage vocals, honeyed harmonies and charming tales are what make up the forthcoming full-length release from Melbourneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Susy Blue, titled Nobodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Somebody. The release of Nobodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Somebody sees Susy Blue traverse the music landscape from the circus cabaret folk of previous releases, and venture towards a grittier and heavier sound. Diverse and ever evolving, producer Shane Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Mara (The Audreys, Tim Rogers, Paul Kelly) replaced banjo with electric guitars and added eclectic instrumentation from smashing glasses, Indian drums, Balinese gamelan to baritone sax, creating a fresh and bold Susy Blue sound. To celebrate the release of Nobodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Somebody, Susy has announced a small string of east coast dates in May including The Toff in Town on Sunday 18th May for a special matinee performance with the Twoks supporting.
SABLE Perthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sable has announced a string of national tour dates in support of his latest EP Feels So Good. Featuring the house-leaning Want U Girl and fizzying club appropriate Heights, the EP showcases his penchant for sunny, dizzying synth work. Catch Sable at Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Say on Friday May 9. Tickets are available at the door.
SCOTT RUSSO AND PHIL JAMIESON Unwritten Lawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Scott Russo and Grinspoon front man Phil Jamieson have announced A Champion Double Header tour for next month at Ding Dong Lounge. The two friends and formidable rock identities are coming together for an acoustic and stripped-back show in both Sydney and Melbourne. Scott Russo, front man for one of the most identifiable pop-punk bands of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;90s, Unwritten Law, will wear his heart on his sleeve and create an art of connecting with audiences through the feelings that we all share. Love, hate, loss and discovery are all themes you only need to be human to connect with. You only have to live in Australia to know the name Grinspoon; their songs are as much household names as the band themselves as is the man at the front, Phil Jamieson. After Grinspoon called an indefinite hiatus in 2013, Phil went out on his own, forging ahead with his solo career, a story still unfolding. They play Ding Dong Lounge on Tuesday May 13. Doors at 3pm. All shows are 18+. Tickets on sale now via Oztix.
THINGS OF STONE AND WOOD Things of Stone and Wood have announced the sellout of their first Northcote Social Club show and added a third to their 25th Anniversary reunion tour. Defining Melbourne in the early â&#x20AC;&#x2122;90s, today the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original lineup have announced the sellout of their first show and announced a matinee show on Sunday May 26 with special guests Gentle Persuasion. Off the back of their top 10 single Happy Birthday Helen, the band achieved national success, international tours, a gold album The Yearning and even a Late Show parody, kicking off a career that would place them as one of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most loved folk-rock bands. Their imaginative use of organic instruments set off an acoustic/folk movement that paved the way for the likes of John Butler, The Waifs and Angus & Julia Stone. Their live show has always been full of energy and passion and whilst theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve won many an industry award, including an ARIA and APRA Songwriter of the Year for singer/songwriter Greg Arnold, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on stage that demonstrates why theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re so loved. Touring for the first time since 1997 for a limited run of special shows, Things of Stone and Wood are touring once again in their original lineup, playing favorites from across their multi-decade career. International troubadour Carus Thompson will open, making this a folk-rock double bill not to miss. Visit thingsofstoneandwood.com for more info.
THE WAIFS
FREE YOUR MIND FESTIVAL
For the first time since 2011, The Waifs have announced they will be heading off on a national tour, this May. The past three years of living life in different countries, hemispheres and timezones has seen touring taking a bit of a backseat for The Waifs. Individually, Donna, Vikki and Josh have been busy travelling, relocating and nesting with family. This May finds the trio temporarily reunited on home soil, and ready to embark on a little tour around the country that will see them heading to Bunbury, Perth, Kununurra, Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney and Cairns. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be performing favourite tracks spanning their six-studio-album, 20year career plus a few new songs. Catch The Waifs on Tuesday May 27 when they play 170 Russell. Tickets go on sale Thursday April 10 through the venue.
Punk mini-fest Free Your Mind Festival have announced the full line-up for their 2014 festival. Joining Northlane, Veil Of Maya (USA), Volumes (USA) and Perth Neverbloom full-piece Make Them Suffer will be Thy Art is Murder. Known for their insane live shows, Thy Art is Murder captured national attention at Soundwave earlier this year for their unique take on the heavy genre. Their addition to Free Your Mind Festival will see Thy Art is Murder return to home following huge European and North American Tours. Free Your Mind Festival will hit The Hi-Fi on Sunday June 1 with local support I, Valiance. Tickets are available through Oztix.
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TOURING
WHO'S ON TOUR, WHERE AND WHEN
PROUDLY PRESENTS
For all the latest tour dates check out beat.com.au
INTERNATIONAL 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 THE SONGBIRDS The Toff April 29
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 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 SALMONELLA DUB SOUNDSYSTEM Rubix Funhouse May 3 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 KONE EXPRESS Bella Union 23 May 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 FREE YOUR MIND FESTIVAL The Hi-Fi June 1 KEVIN MARK TRAIL Northcote Social Club June 1 WHITE LUNG The Tote June 7 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 KANYE WEST Rod Laver Arena September 9, 10 ROBBIE WILLIAMS Rod Laver Arena September 16 JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE Etihad Stadium September 18 KATY PERRY Rod Laver Arena November 14, 15
NATIONAL ART VS SCIENCE Corner Hotel April 10 HUNTERS AND COLLECTORS Palais Theatre April 11 HOT DUB TIME MACHINE Northcote Social Club April 11 NAI PALM The John Curtin Hotel – 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 BRAITHWAITE 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 Curtin Hotel April 25 THE MURLOCS Howler April 25 HELLO SATELLITES Kelvin Club April 26 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 SABLE Can’t Say May 9 THE APE Cherry Bar May 9 CUT COPY 170 Russell May 9 ILUKA Grace Darling May 10 THE PERCH CREEK FAMILY JUGBAND The Hi-Fi May 10 SCOTT RUSSO AND PHIL JAMIESON Ding Dong Lounge May 13 HITS & PITS The Hi-Fi May 14, 17 RÜFÜS Palace Theatre May 15 DUSTIN TEBBUTT Northcote Social Club May 16 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 EMERGE FESTIVAL 2014 Various venues May 17 – June 22 MUDLARK Bar 291 May 18 SUSY BLUE The Toff In Town May 18 FRENTE The Playhouse May 22, 23
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MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD
Prince Bandroom APR
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APR
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MONEY FOR ROPE Howler
THE NAKED AND FAMOUS
170 Russell
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, 26 CHERRY ROCK Cherry Bar May 25 THE WAIFS 170 Russell May 27 DEAD LETTER CIRCUS Village Green May 29 BRITISH INDIA The John Curtain Hotel May 29 EMMA RUSSACK Boney May 30 TWIN HAUS The Tote May 30 ROBIN HITCHCOCK Northcote Social Club May 31 WAGONS The Hi-Fi June 7 HARD ONS The Corner Hotel June 14 JOELISTICS Workers Club June 14 SOMETHING FOR KATE The Forum July 18 GRAVEYARD TRAIN 170 Russell June 20 MORGAN EVANS Revolver June 20 NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE Corner Hotel June 21 2014 RECLINK COMMUNITY CUP Elsternwick Park June 22 KEITH URBAN Rod Laver Arena June 25 MELANIE SAFKA Melbourne Recital Centre June 26 THE PAPER KITES Athenaeum Theatre June 27 VIOLENT SOHO The Hi-Fi July 5 DAN SULTAN The Forum July 17 THE BEARDS 170 Russell July 18 THE ASTON SHUFFLE Corner Hotel September 5 TINA ARENA Palais Theatre September 17
RUMOURS JACK WHITE, CHUCK-A-NUNU’S NEW MOON, THE STRYPES = NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
PROUDLY PRESENTS
JAN
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DIZZEE RASCAL Palace Theatre
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STEVE EARLE By Lachlan Kanoniuk Singer-songwriter-storyteller-actor Steve Earle has been a mainstay within the contemporary folk canon, following the path trailblazed by the likes of Dylan in the early ‘60s. Much like his hero Townes Van Zandt, Earle endured a life of addiction, hindering his creative potential – most notably during a stint in jail and rehab in the early ‘90s. He survived, emerging into a fertile, multi-faceted stage of his career, authoring novels and appearing in acclaimed television series The Wire and Treme. Before his return to Bluesfest, this time bringing his band The Dukes, Steve looks back on his storied life of recovery, the cult of Townes Van Zandt, and future projects with The Wire showrunner David Simon. Steve is speaking from his New York apartment, having being based in the city for nearly nine years. “Well I was a Texan in Tennessee for 33 years,” he says on acclimatising to being a Texan in New York. “I left Texas when I was 19 and left for Nashville. You’re always a Texan, there’s no cure for that. I was part of a group of Texans in Tennessee, and we were very loud and proud of being from Texas. It became a part of my identity.” Life presents challenges, big and small, at any stage, but spending the past 19 years sober has enabled Steve to be better positioned to tackle such challenges. “Hopefully you get smarter as you get older,” he assesses. “It doesn’t always work out that way. I think I’m a lot smarter than I was. I’m 59, and I’m alive. That’s because I had to change the way I did things pretty radically. It’s been a long time – 19-and-ahalf years – since I made that change. That doesn’t mean I do everything perfect. I still have a hard time coexisting with people under the same roof. Kids I do fine with, adults I have trouble sharing a space with sometimes. “Overall, I seem to get more things done. I’ve done a lot of stuff over the past 19 years, writing a couple of books, working on another one now, writing this memoir. I’m hoping to finish it this summer and publish it next year. It didn’t feel like it was going to happen a month ago, but it feels like it’s going to happen now. If you’re a songwriter – and I am, it’s still my day job – you get spoiled by how quickly songs can come together. Sometimes they take a while, but it’s a matter of them sitting there waiting for you to finish them. “After I hang up on this phone call I’m gonna get to work because I have a plane on Monday to go to Hong Kong, just to hang out there for a day and eat wiggly things for the hell of it, on my way to Australia. That’s another thing, I have that luxury in my life where I can do things like that now. The first time I came to Australia I barely saw a fucking kangaroo. My touring this summer is based on lifestyle. I really wanted to bring the band to Australia because I haven’t done it in a while – and I’m excited about Cairns, I’ve never been north of Brisbane before. I’m gonna do one run with the band in Europe for festivals. But before that, I’m gonna go over with a guitar and mandolin and tour on trains, do some shows in London and make some money, then go to BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 20
Italy and make not that much money – nobody makes money there – but I’ll be in fuckin’ Italy. I’m not ready to let those territories out of my life.” The memoir will see Steve apply his deft prose talent, which has already produced his story-heavy discography, short story collection Doghouse Roses, novel I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive, and his annual New Year reflective poetry recited at St Marks. “It’s a literary memoir, not an autobiography, in three acts. It’s largely about mentors. I didn’t realise this when I started, but it’s about recovery. It doesn’t surprise me; it’s a big part of who I am. Being a person in recovery is a bigger part of me than being a person who took drugs, it’s been a long time now – almost as long as when I took drugs. “The first part’s about Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, the songwriters I was lucky enough to know when I was growing up. The second part is about two guys who happen to be first cousins who sorta had my back at the darkest point in my life, on the street and in jail. But not because they loved me, but because I was a commodity – they were drug dealers. But without them, I wouldn’t be here. “The third part is about my grandfather – my mother’s stepfather – who died in 1966 when I was 11-years-old. When I got clean, I got clean because I went to jail. I didn’t go voluntarily, I just decided I didn’t want to die. I had a minor moment of clarity, I just got a piece of the puzzle, and that piece was, ‘I don’t want to die’. I knew I was going to die. But at that point, it became apparent to me who all these guys sleeping on my grandfather’s couch were when I was growing up. “He started all the original 12-step programs in north-east Texas in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s. He got sober in New York City after World War II, which meant he knew [Alcoholics Anonymous co-founders] Bill W. and Dr. Bob. The book’s going to be called I Can’t Remember If We Said Goodbye,” he reveals. Steve has long been an active proselytiser of his friend and mentor Townes Van Zandt, as displayed in the 2009 covers album Townes. “I would talk about Townes to anybody who would listen. After I started making records and became semi-famous myself, I would talk about Townes constantly. Then I got outta jail and discovered that people like Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy, that generation of Americana musicians that came about while I was
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gone – they all knew Townes Van Zandt chapter and verse, and maybe I had something to do with that because those guys also have my records. “By the time I made my Townes record, there was an interest in it because of Townes, not me. Some people came to it because it was the next Steve Earle record, but there were people who hadn’t heard of me and came to it because they were Townes Van Zandt songs. Pancho And Lefty was the beginning of it. He was making what could have been a really great record if he was in better shape with the Two Dollar Pistols guys when he died. “I realised working on the book the other day, I just finished this mini-thesis within the whole thing that explains I belong to a cult, the cult of Townes Van Zandt. The word ‘cult’ gets misused, like ‘awesome’ and ‘genius’, that people don’t really know what they mean anymore. A cult is a belief system for a group of people who adhere to a belief based on the teachings of one person. Transcendental Meditation is a cult based around Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Tibetan Buddhism is a cult, Christianity is a cult, so is Islam. Certain sects of Judaism are. All those things are cults. But what we think of cults now is Jim Jones and the Kool-Aid. That’s a cult too, but that’s become the meaning of the word when it isn’t the meaning of the word. “Like ‘genius’ isn’t someone who is really smart, ‘genius’ is someone who does something so well that they basically create something that didn’t exist before. Bob Dylan is a genius. Jimi Hendrix was a genius. Charlie Parker was a genius. There’s a jillion other saxophone players and guitar players and songwriters that people have called ‘genius’ that aren’t. I don’t think Townes was a genius, he was a really great songwriter. The Beatles collectively are a genius, but I’m not sure that any of them are individually. The idea in the book is that I belong to a cult. Lucinda Williams belongs to it, Guy Clark belongs to it too. We directly picked up this thing that set us apart from Townes.” With the conclusion of Treme, one could assume that Steve is looking to David Simon’s next project for a possible outlet for his next thespian outing. “Treme is wrapped. The project I’m talking to David about now is the possibility of a musical based on Sparrow’s Point, which is a steel plant in Baltimore during World War II, with black and white culture coming together to make Baltimore what it is. There’ll be something to come along from David. But I’m keeping busy. I’ve just done some shows as a duo with Shawn Colvin; we may make a record together. My next record will be a blues record, basically, with The Dukes. First we’ll head to Australia, I can’t wait to get out there. Bluesfest is one of my favourite festivals in the world, Byron is one of my favourite towns in the world.”
STEVE EARLE & THE DUKES perform at the 25th Annual Byron Bay Bluesfest, taking place over the Easter long weekend, Thursday April 17 – Monday April 21 at Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm. They also perform at Deni Blues & Roots Festival running in Deniliquin from Saturday April 19 – Sunday April 20, and a sideshow at The Forum on Thursday April 24.
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THIS WEEK: ON SCREEN Friday on my Mind is back at ACMI this week. Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope are arguably one of the most inventive and successful writer/producer teams currently working in Australia. With their television comedy shows Stories from the Golf, Very Small Business, The Librarians and Upper Middle Bogan, they have led the way with offbeat television comedy that resonates with audiences. Their latest mockumentary, Little Lunch will hit screens soon and is set to rock the boat (and playground) yet again and in 2013, they teamed up to write, produce, and direct their first feature film, Now Add Honey starring Portia de Rossi. Join host Sue Maslin who will be discussing these recent projects with Robyn and Wayne as well as their creative processes and unique style of comedy. It happens at 5pm on Friday April 11, entry is free.
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 Jane Bodie (The Secret Life of Us, Moving Wallpaper) has returned with her newest stage play This Year’s Ashes at Red Stitch. Set against the backdrop of bustling Sydney, This Year’s Ashes details the story of Ellen and her vanity that Sydney will provide the shiny new life Melbourne never gave her. Directed by Tim Roseman and starring Daniel Frederiksen, Rosie Lockhart and Jeremy Stanford, This Year’s Ashes is currently being performed at Red Stitch Actors Theatre until Saturday April 19.
ON DISPL AY Off The Kerb will be celebrating its seventh 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.
PICK OF THE WEEK
Supanova Pop Culture Expo will return this weekend for a Pokémon and Adventure Time filled bill. Full of a ‘Mathematical!’ lineup — including Finn the Human, Jeremy Shada, Jake the Dog, John DiMaggio, and Princess Hynden Walch Bubblegum — Supanova will be full of rad opportunities to gain insight into your favourite shows, movies and comics, as well as purchase awesome paraphernalia. Highlight guests include: Pokémon voice actors Veronica Taylor (Ash Ketchum) and Eric Stuart (Brock and James), voice actor Neil Kaplan (Power Rangers, Transformers), Ser Lora Tyrell impersonator Finn Jones, Gethin Anthony (Renly Baratheon in Game of Thrones), Eoin Macken (Sir Gwaine from Merlin), Harry Potter royalty Jessie Cave (Lavender Brown), comic book legend Tom Taylor (Earth 2, Injustice: Gods Amongst Us), Sandman artist Jill Thompson, New York Times-bestselling author of The Dresden Files, Jim Butcher, and many more. Supanova will be held at Melbourne Showgrounds on Saturday April 12 and Sunday April 13.
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THE LEPIDOPTERS: A SPACE OPERA By Liza Dezfouli Imagine huge alien moths invading Indonesia in order to colonise Earth for the sole purpose of interspecies reproduction. With humans. The Lepidopters: A Space Opera, Part III does this in an event that wrestles attempts to describe it. Beat spoke to Danius Kesminas, founding ‘conceptualiser’ and musical performer of The Leptidopters, who calls it a ‘kulturnautic expedition’. “It’s hard to articulate,” he says. “It’s hard to encapsulate the synopsis without it leading to more questions.” To make a sci-fi-meets-alien-mothsmeets-Javanese-mysticism-visual/video/musical/ installation performance experience, take the following ingredients: one Sedulur Gamelan – a self-governing electrical piano contraption made of two interlocking wooden structures containing 56 different traditional Indonesian musical instruments (“it suggests an 18th century double grand piano,” explains Kesminas). The Gamelan plays itself, performing transcriptions of Indonesian, American and Australian experimental music and avant-garde sound-art of the 1970s and 1980s. Add the 40 strong Astra choir under the musical direction of John McCaughey; Punkasila, an Indonesian mystic art music punk band; world renowned classical pianist Michael Kieran Harvey; singer/dancer Rachel Saraswati and include projected illustrations and film by Yogyakarta artists Erwan ‘Iwank,’ Hersi Susanto and Terra Bajraghosa. Method: combine the above. “It seems inconceivable but it’s interesting how it goes together; we’ve done it twice already,” says Kesminas, who is a member of both Slave Pianos (a collective devoted to the exhibition, collection, analysis, recomposition and performance of sound work by visual artists) and Punkasila. “It happened at MONA FOMO and we performed it last month in Yogyakarta with an all-girl Gamelan ensemble. When you see it, there is some degree of coherence. There is a through-line – a narrative about the lepidopters.” So, why? “It’s the opportunity to bring
the two groups – Slave Pianos and Punkasila – together,” says Kesminas. “I’m a member of both. The whole project is very complicated: it’s a response to a commissioned science fiction text by Cologne-based American writer, Mark von Schlegell. He’d written about Slave Pianos about ten years ago when he was in Australia. It’s been my long-term intention to make a response to a text of his.” The Lepidopters: A Space Opera includes self-referential comics about Punkasila in the Lepidoptera story, created by the group and made into an animation. “It’s a cross cultural collaboration,” Kesminas continues. “With the artwork of the moth monsters, it’s amazing how the Indonesians gave shape to Mark’s vision.” What sort of effect will the performance have on audiences? “It’s a beautiful sensual assault,” answers Kesminas. “A rewarding disturbing experience, it’s a theatrical spectacular musical.” The Lepidopters isn’t actually the manifestation of one man’s spectacular acid trip; according to Kesminas, it’s collaboration on all levels. “These things have their own momentum,” he notes. “It’s evolved into mystic mysterious ways. It’s been an unpredictable expansive collaborative process. It’s far more interesting than anything you could envisage!” There are travels throughout time as well as genre; The Lepidopters blends history, culture and geography, including western music from the 17th century. The creative energy of Yogyakarta, Indonesia’s cultural centre and the home of Punkasila, is, according to Kesminas, a continually dynamic surprising influence. “Yogyakarta’s a perfect place to work, you can let stuff loose; it’s a crucible of creativity,” he says.
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“It’s the youth go-to place for doing stuff.” So what will audiences actually experience in The Lepidopters? “It’s an immersive experience,” answers Kesminas. “It’s a blend of high and low art. The logic of opera suggests a text, the idea of a libretto, with visuals and sound. With the space element you have the comic playful aspect. Some parts of it are very serious, not in a pretentious way, more in a thoughtful considered sense. Light displays illuminate secret codes. You hear electric space drums, a mic machine processing two singers’ voices, an animation by video artist, Terra. There are lots of Javanese references in the video,” Kesminas adds. “An MTC actor, Richard Piper narrates, giving the whole thing a narrative thread.” Punkasila is an Indonesian multi-faceted post-punk art band whose customised instruments are ‘justintonation’ tuned, giving them an unusual electronic sound matching the sounds of the Gamelan. Its line-up changes constantly; none of the founding members remain. The six musicians perform in silver space suits. Kesminas has travelled with Punkasila to the US and Cuba as well as touring Australia and Indonesia. “It’s not just a band,” he explains. “They do art work, paintings, sculptures, videos. When we toured to Havana they documented the visit via comics.” The multi-art-form concert draws on the work of Robert Smithson, including projections of his project proposals from throughout his career, to explore sonic landscapes and dystopian visions, Indonesian telepathy, ancient Javanese mysticism and art practices traditional and modern, as well as different genres of musical performance. What has Kesminas learnt about himself while putting together this epic performance? “How little I know!” is his answer. The Lepidopters: A Space Opera will run from Saturday April 12 to Sunday April 13 at Arts House.
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THE COMIC STRIP LOL COMEDY
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Daniel Townes
BELLEVILLE
LET’S GET IT ON, THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF MARVIN GAYE
Let’s Get It On, The Life and Music of Marvin Gaye will celebrate the Motown legend’s life when it runs this May. Featuring beloved songs like I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough and What’s Going On, the new stage show will explore Gaye’s humble beginnings, his troubled relationship with his father, the women in his life, his search for meaning and his generation-defining music. Catch Let’s Get It On, The Life and Music of Marvin Gaye at the Athenaeum Theatre from Tuesday May 13 to Sunday May 25.
INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF MELBOURNE
The Southern Hemisphere’s greatest annual celebration of Indian cinema, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, will return this May for 11 days of Bollywood madness. IFFM will open with the Australian premiere of Sholay 3D, a restoration of the 1975 spaghetti western classic that is cherished by Indian cinema lovers worldwide. Sholay 3D will be followed by a Q&A with Amitabh Bachchan (The Great Gatsby, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...), who stars in Sholay 3D. Program highlights include Bhaagh Milkha Bhaagh, a biopic about track and field sprinter Milkha Singh; Bollywood Romeo and Juliet adaption, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram Leela; Anumati, an evocative film about a husband’s attempt to save his dying wife; and Bollywood smash-hit, Dhoom 3. Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will run from Thursday May 1 – Sunday May 11 across Melbourne.
YOORALLATEE
Yooralla has joined forced with Father Bob Foundation and Dangerfield to give ten people the chance to have their t-shirt design sold in stores to help redefine how disability is perceived in society. Yooralla is calling all designers from across Australia and the globe to submit a design entry into the YoorallaTEE t-shirt design competition. It’s a team effort to change the face of disability in the community. YoorallaTEE will be run online via 99designs and in partnership with Yooralla, Dangerfield, and the Father Bob Maguire Foundation. Last year’s competition received over 1,800 designs from around the world, which is expected to be topped this year. The top ten finalists that create designs that best redefine disability will have their designs printed and sold on t-shirts in Dangerfield stores nationally and internationally online. Adding to the mix, the top ten finalists will also receive a share in $7,000 in cash and prizes. And it all goes back into the community - proceeds from the t-shirt sales will go towards disability organisation Yooralla and the Father Bob Maguire Foundation. Entries close Thursday April 24.
BUTCHER’S BOYS
The last event to be held within the historic Patterson’s Building on Smith St, before it is converted into residential, Butcher’s Boys will not only provide audiences with a thought provoking and innovative dance work, but a glimpse in one of our last grand buildings. The show is a new collaborative work created by director/performer Tony Yap and performers Brendan O’Connor and Jessie Lewis who have worked from memory to create a work that speaks to the connection between father and son. Through Butoh, Suzuki and improvisation they explore the psychological anatomy, hoping to lay bare the triggers of past hurt, moving through and becoming. The performance space becomes a body installation, where audiences are allowed the freedom to move, immersing them and in turn influencing the dance. Butcher’s Boys will be hosting three performances, opening on Thursday April 24 at Paterson Building.
EMERGE FESTIVAL
Celebrating arts and culture in Victoria’s emerging and refugee communities, Multicultural Arts Victoria have announced their program for the 2014 Emerge Festival. From Africa to the Far East, from the traditional to the contemporary, from the emerging to the established, Emerge Festival is a colourful celebration of Victoria’s many rich refugee and emerging cultures. An initiative of Multicultural Arts Victoria, the Emerge Festival promotes diversity, social inclusion, respect and the breaking down of racism. Throughout May and June, Emerge Festival will present a colorful array of visual art, dance, forums, ancient crafts, exotic foods and ceremonies, culminating in a huge street party in and around Fitzroy Town Hall. Emerge Festival commemorates the United Nations World Refugee Day and celebrates Refugee Week: Restoring Hope in Australia with a series of performances all around Melbourne. The festival opens on Saturday May 10 with Africa Day Celebrations and closes Friday June 20 with Inti Raymi, The Celebration of the Sun. The main event day will take place on Sunday June 15.
The Australian premiere of Belleville, the newest work from playwright Amy Herzog (4000 Miles), will be arriving at Red Stitch Actors Theatre this month. Directed by screenwriter and director Denny Lawrence (Loyal Woman, The Bill), Belleville illustrates the story of Abby and Zack, two people living in the most bohemian neighbourhood around. Here they discover each other, and the sinister secrets that teeter at the surface of their seemingly harmless neighbours. Featuring the talent of Paul Ashcroft (The Kitchen Sink, Herding Cats) and Christina O’Neill (Straight, The Motherf**ker with the Hat), Belleville will have you on the edge of your seat. Belleville will open at Red Stitch Theatre from Wednesday April 30 – Saturday May 31 with shows running from Wednesday – Saturday.
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival comes to LOL Comedy with bumper lineups all throughout April. This Thursday April 10 at the Provincial Hotel, it’s one of this country’s hottest prospects who’s performed all over the world and even overseas too – Daniel Townes. Then at the Hawthorn on Friday April 11 it’s the satirical knife-edge of observational and social wisdom that is the wonderbrain encased in the human known as Matt Elsbury. Next Tuesday, April 15 at the Local in Port Melbourne the MICF hits a crescendo of hilarity with a stellar lineup including Emily O’Loughlin, Marty Bright and Jenny Wynter. All tickets $10. Meal and dinner packages also available. Tickets from lolcomedy.com.au.
COMMEDIA DELL PARTE Commedia Dell Parte is running every Thursday during MICF with some great guests stopping in. This week David Boyle hosts a great lineup featuring Cameron James, Jarod Jekyll, Jason Chong, Beau Stegmann, Marty Bright and more. The room still runs on a ‘pay as you like’ basis, so come along and have a great laugh, then pay what you believe the show is worth on the way out. Commedia Dell Parte runs every Thursday from 8.30pm at the George Lane Bar, St Kilda.
MICF DAILY The Internet’s Own Boy The Story of Aaron Swartz
HUMAN RIGHTS ARTS & FILM FESTIVAL 1
The seventh Humans Rights Arts & Film Festival have announced their 2014 program of films, art and forums. Hosted over two weeks across Melbourne, the HRAFF will open with The Square, a documentary feature that takes audiences straight to the epicentre of the Egyptian Revolution. The film received a nomination at this year’s Oscars for the Best Documentary Feature. Festival program highlights include The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz, a programming prodigy and hacktivist who committed suicide fighting for the freedom of information in the digital age; Vietnam/ Australia: Voicing the Unspoken, an exhibition that features the work of Vietnamese natives and their harrowing experiences migrating to Australia as refugees. Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner Rich Hill will close the festival, followed by a Q&A with director Tracy Droz. The Human Rights Arts & Film Festival will run from Thursday May 8 – Thursday May 22 at ACMI Cinemas, Yarra Gallery, No Vacancy, The Dax Centre and the Bella Union. A full program can be found through hraff.org.au.
Have you been checking out our daily podcast on beat.com.au? Every day during the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Beat brings you the insiders guide to the 2014 festival, with interviews, news, promotions and more from everything happened at the Melbourne Town Hall and beyond. Out every day at lunchtime, MICF Daily will get you ready for a big night out at the festival. Check it out now!
THE CONSUL
This May, culture space fortyfivedownstairs will present the newest production from Gertrude Opera, The Consul. Heralded as “a nightmare thriller of an opera”, The Consul details the all-too-familiar story of a family in urgent need of a visa from an unseen and unheard consul. The Consul will feature set design from one of Australia’s most revered architects and theatre designers, Peter Corrigan, as well as the talent of Eugene Raggiom Linda Thompson, Katherine Day, Ian Cousins, Belinda Prakoff, and many more. Nightmarish and full of utter bureaucracy, The Consul will be performed at fortyfivedownstairs on Sunday May 18, Monday May 19, Wednesday May 21 and Friday May 23.
DREAMWORKS ANIMATION: THE EXHIBITION
THE GOBLIN BALL
The Goblin Ball will return to the Northcote Town Hall this June. Inspired by cult-classic Labyrinth (1986) starring David Bowie as the Goblin King, the night will recreate the narrative of the fairytale-inspired film in tabletop roleplaying style. Guests will be immersed in an evening of goblin mythology, archaic rituals and Viennese-inspired masquerades, as well as have the chance to create their own story by assisting four characters and helping the progressive of the last year’s story. If you prefer just to boogie in costume, then the Gods Inferno will take all your DJ requests that night. The Goblin Ball will happen on Saturday June 14.
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ACMI has announced that DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition will stay open until 9pm on Thursdays and will be complemented by a series of free talks. The talks will run most Thursday evenings over the course of the exhibition and will offer new insights into the show, taking audiences behind the scenes of the DreamWorks world. An Introduction to DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition will open up the program, providing a look at the three key areas of the exhibition; character, story and world. In addition to the talks, ACMI will celebrate animation on the first Thursday of each month with a party featuring a silent cinema, interactive games, music and a specially created street-food and drink menu. DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition’s first late night opening will take place on Thursday April 17 at ACMI.
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AIM HIGH IN CREATION! By Liza Dezfouli
Documentary maker Anna Broinowski was given a book by a friend. This book was the Dear Leader Kim Il Jong’s guide to film making: Manifesto: The Cinema and Directing. “I’d had no idea the Dear Leader was a cineaste,” says Broinowski. “I was blown away by how powerfully he used cinema to maintain the country. North Korea has no internet, it’s the last place on earth without advertising or reality TV. But people do go to the cinema.” The threat of coal seam gas drilling – fracking – in Sydney Park near her home made Broinowski determined to do something about it. “I thought a propaganda film would be a powerful way of protesting the coal seam gas mine,” she says. “Propaganda films are used to smash capitalism, advance socialism, challenge powers that are riding roughshod over local workers and citizens. I could talk to film makers in North Korea and ask them – how should I make this film?” Bronowski came to the world’s attention with her 2007 film Forbidden Lies, where she travelled to Jordan with writer Norma Khouri to explore the truth behind the tale of a young woman who, Khouri alleged, was murdered by her family for having a relationship with a westerner. The film garnered international and Australian awards. It took Broinowski two years to get into North Korea. “But I did it; I’m the only western film maker who’s had open access to the country.” The first visit was for the regime to satisfy itself that Bronowski was genuine. “I wasn’t pretending anything, not dissembling. I was literally getting advice from local film makers. I told them there were three things I liked about North Korean films – that a group of people can beat a powerful enemy, the use of music in film and the presence of strong female characters.” Broinowski was struck by the warmth and humour she encountered in North Korea. “It’s hard for the West to understand North Korea. We get told only one story,” she says. “I want to stress that I am not an apologist for
the regime; I went there as a film maker and I wanted to point my camera in a different direction. Along with my story there was a parallel story of the people I met, people who were born there, who had no choice, the regime wasn’t their fault. Who are the North Koreans? What do they love? What are their dreams, their hopes? They are not a race of brainwashed automatons en masse following their own leaders. It is amazing how people relate to each other over there. They gather in parks, to sing, to dance, to play chess, tell stories; it’s remarkable when you consider that one in five people is a spy for the regime. Their humour reminded me of Australian humour. They get drunk and tell anti-Soviet jokes; a coping mechanism I shouldn’t wonder.” Broinowski, who grew up in Japan, says that North Koreans are passionate, resilient, emotional and direct. “They are the Italians of Asia, the opposite of the Japanese who don’t say what they mean.” The film makers Broinowski met were conscious of how they are perceived by westerners as technologically backward. “They don’t have access to digital,” she notes. “They are still shooting on celluloid. They were secretly flattered that anyone could be bothered finding out about their work.” She soon found out how easy it is for westerners to underestimate the North Koreans. “We don’t live on the moon,” a leading film maker told her when she asked a group if they understood climate change. Bronowski says she really connected with the film makers she met but insists we keep in mind these people were the country’s elite. “They get apartments,
cars; they have access to western movies while they are studying at film school. A third of the country’s population isn’t getting enough to eat … But people seemed genuinely proud of the good things about their regime.” Aim High in Creation! she says, is a compassionate, humane film about two radically different worlds. In putting Aim High in Creation! together, Broinowski was acutely aware of the responsibility she had towards people who trusted her. “There are some scenes that didn’t end up in the film,” she notes. “To the detriment of the film. But as a doco maker you have to take into account that you are filming real people who have given you their trust. I had to consider the well-being of North Korean subjects – the regime would treat them harshly if they were perceived to be critical of it. With my last film, about a con woman, she was lying but she trusted me. Aim High in Creation! took that dilemma to a whole new dimension.”
Australia is seen as a lackey of the United States, a country that followed the Americans into war on Korea and divided the country. Broinowski relates a telling moment in a park where children who had been taught to loathe and fear westerners (one child even cried when she saw her) but were won over by Broinowski being silly and jumping about like a kangaroo. “Children are taught that blue-eyed pointy nosed people are invaders,” she notes. “They assumed I was American and came from a nation that bombed their country and killed their ancestors.” The kids ended up by taking Broinowski by the hand and showing her round the theme park. “We were best friends from then on. No matter how powerful the propaganda, you can’t repress a child’s natural impulse for joy and laughter.”
Appearing at conventions like Supanova is an unreal and amazing experience, says the actor. “I’ve done two conventions in the USA and two in the UK. This is my first in Australia. At first I was unaware – I didn’t know what it was about for the fans, how much it meant to people. After the first one I called my mum and said ‘I’ve just had nine hours of people telling me how much they love the show!’ They repeatedly say how much they love Doctor Who. It’s amazing and so soul-lifting – you don’t really have to do anything. There are massive numbers of fans. It becomes their life. In just two minutes of talk they make you feel so special, for just turning up.” It must feel like she’s baby Jesus in the manger with crowds coming up to adore her, then? “I would liken David Tennant to baby Jesus in the manger,” Agyeman says with a laugh. “He gets some pretty outrageous behaviour directed at him. He gets mobbed like rock stars. We were out somewhere with another actor and we were mobbed, we had to be
pushed, bundled and rolled up into a car; we’d gotten used to the public response to David but this other actor had never seen that reaction before. It is a bit rock star, a bit Hollywood; we don’t usually behave that way with actors in the UK. It has quite an impact.” Where does Agyeman want to end up in terms of her career? “I want to continue to play parts I find interesting. When it comes to acting, different actors have a different perspective. I want to do something that challenges me, something that really scares me, that pushes me a little bit; I’m that sort of actor. And I want to be a mum – I also love being challenged in other things. I love acting but there are other things in my life.”
Aim High In Creation! is currently playing at Cinema Nova.
FREEMA AGYEMAN By Liza Dezfouli Beat sourced the questions for Doctor Who legend Freema Agyeman via this writer’s teenage son putting out a Facebook call. On her first trip to Australia, Agyeman, who played Martha Jones, companion to David Tennant’s tenth doctor (between Billy Piper’s Rose and Catherine Tate’s Donna), will visit Melbourne for Supanova. Agyeman’s character also features in the spin-off series Torchwood as well as in an animated version short version of the Doctor Who, where she voices herself; hers is only the third character to cross over between the two shows. First up – how does Agyeman approach a role like Martha, who comes up against incredible things that people never really have to face? “That’s a very interesting question,” replies the UK actor. “That’s an actor’s question; whoever asked that has designs on an acting career themselves! I don’t have a diagnostic approach to any character I play. With Martha, the character was new to me, new to (executive producer and writer) Russell T. Davies, new to Doctor Who. You very much feel it out together; Russell had an idea of the character and we carved it out together with the director, Charlie Palmer, who’d ask me how I thought Martha would respond in this or that situation. But there comes a point as an actor where you have to relinquish some power to someone else while making the character as personal as you can. I respect the decisions of the writer and the director.” Agyeman left the series with the finale episode, Last of the Time Lords. In 2009, she returned briefly to the role of Martha for a cameo appearance near the end of David Tennant’s final story, The End of Time. Was Agyeman happy with the way Martha’s story played out, given that she was the one companion who walked away? “She walked away with her head held high,” Agyeman responds. “She decided not to put her family in jeopardy. From the beginning she was a
strong independent woman; Doctor Who comes across her when she’s settled, happy in her career, she’s not searching for escape or excitement, but she got lost somewhere along the way. The fact is that she is strong enough to leave.” Would Agyeman reprise the role of Martha, who suffered an unrequited attraction to the Doctor, if she were asked to come back? “I feel that, although I had a great time and I like her, Martha was left with further to go, with more room in terms of character development; there was so much that got stuck for her – she’s a bit lovelorn and forlorn. Perhaps, if there were an opportunity for more from her, without batting her eyelashes, I would do it.” What effect did playing Martha have on Agyeman’s career? “Doctor Who was a huge turning point in my career,” she answers. “I had worked for six years previously, I was kept busy but Doctor Who made me a household name; it was a massive promotion overnight. It was beyond a baptism of fire; it does change your life quite dramatically. It’s a whirlwind. My career accelerated so fast…obviously it has its pros and cons. It’s this huge media thing. It’s more than going to work and playing a part. I never felt it when I was in the eye of the storm. You’re in a bubble; when you’re working, the excitement is in the acting. The moment when I realised the scale of it came later; once I’d left.”
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Catch Freema Agyeman at Supanova which takes place from Saturday April 12 – Sunday April 13 at Melbourne Showgrounds.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 25
COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE 2014 JUSTIN HAMILTON
MAX & IVAN
It’s 2012: stuck in a rut, award-winning comedian Justin Hamilton decides to shake things up a bit. “I kind of got to the point where I didn’t want to be doing a festival show every year,” he recalls. “It was just a constant cycle and I was starting to feel claustrophobic...it was feeling like this was how things were going to be until I dropped dead.” Naturally, something needed to be done. “I called my manager and I said, ‘I’m going to break the cycle of doing a show ever year and tie off all the continuity that I’ve built up from Three Colours Hammo and The Killing Joke and all these recurring characters. I’m going to put this all to rest. I need to do something different next year.” Hamilton’s plan almost immediately backfired. “She called me three weeks later and said, ‘How would you like to go and perform in Afghanistan?’ I was like, ‘When I said I wanted something different, I was kind of thinking The Project’,” he laughs. A true cinephile, Hamilton likens his reaction to a scene from The Untouchables. “It was the first movie that I ever became obsessed with as a kid…and there’s a great moment where Kevin Costner’s trying to pitch to Sean Connery that they should team up to find Al Capone. Sean mutters to himself, ‘Well, the Lord hates a coward.’ That was kind of my first reaction!” On the advice of his friends, fellow comics Tom Gleeson and Lehmo, Hamilton made the trip to Afghanistan and performed for the troops. His time abroad ultimately inspired his new comedy festival show, Johnny Loves Mary Forever 1994. “It’s basically the story of what happened when I went to Afghanistan...and all the funny and terrible things that happened when I was away.” Lately, Hamilton has been blogging about each of his gigs
Max Olesker didn’t go to his high school re-union. He was invited, as was everyone else in his year level, via Facebook. As more and more people added long-lost friends to the online conversations, many memories came flooding back and Olesker got chatting with his university buddy Ivan Gonzalez. Olesker and Gonzalez are better known by their first names, performing as comedy double act Max & Ivan. “It felt like a wonderful world to explore so we played around with it for a while and then started writing it last year when we were in Melbourne,” says Olesker of their new show The Reunion. The pair made their Melbourne International Comedy Festival debut last year with their show, Max & Ivan Are Con Artists, earning them a nomination for the Barry Award, which was followed up with a nomination for the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award 2013. “It’s a narrative, multi-character piece in which we, between the two of us, play all the attendees of a ten year school reunion. So we play returning pupils, teachers, all of the friends, lovers, enemies, gatecrashers, a whole cast. There’s no costume changes, there’s no props, its all very theatrical but very quick-fire and funny,” says Olesker. “It’s just us sweating in front of you on stage,” deadpans Gonzalez. Last year’s show was a frenetic sketch comedy heist, but this show, says Gonzalez, “is kind of slightly slower in theme”. For Olesker, it’s telling a more relatable human story. At its core, The Reunion is about characters Brian and Jessica, meeting again after ten years apart. “It’s very funny but it’s got a heart. It’s essentially a love story. It’s a story of Brian who’s an awkward, slightly feeble unwell chap at school,” says Olesker. Adds Gonzalez, “you can’t help but love him. He’s just a deadnice guy but everything bad happens to him, but he just keeps his chin up and he’s got such a wonderful take on life.” And there’s Jessica, played by Olesker, who is “the prettiest girl in the year who was his friend at school who he longed for from afar but never quite had either the guts or the opportunity or
THE REUNION
JOHNNY LOVES MARY FOREVER 1994
with great detail, providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of stand-up comedy. He expected to celebrate the 20th anniversary his comedic debut during the festival, but it didn’t quite go to plan. “I thought I might find a little place, invite some friends, put some money on the bar and say, ‘All those idiotic dreams of stepping on stage for the first time have led to this!’ Anyway, my dear Mum emails me and says, ‘I forgot to tell you congratulations! It was your 20th anniversary on the 31st of March.’ I was like, ‘No it was the 19th of April!’ As always, Mum was right, so I missed it.” Hamilton has mixed thoughts regarding the milestone. “On the one side there’s that sense of, ‘Maybe I didn’t get quite to where I wanted to be,’ but on the other side, I’ve done lots of things that I would never have expected to do,” he muses. “I think it’s a balance that all creative people have trouble with, where you’re trying to enjoy what you do and feel happy about it but you have this restlessness of still wanting to achieve more. But to be honest, I’ve been having a great time at the festival. I’ve really enjoyed performing the show and the audiences have been great.” BY NICK MASON VENUE: VICTORIA HOTEL – ACACIA ROOM, 215 LT COLLINS ST, CBD DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 19 (EXCEPT MONDAY) TIMES: 9.45PM (SUNDAYS 8.45PM) TICKETS: $22-$28
DES BISHOP MADE IN CHINA
Imagine having to submit your comedy material for government approval ahead of performing. Forget the differences between men and women, the differences between cats and dogs, Des Bishop can tell you all about the differences between performing in China and the rest of the world. Bishop, who was born in America and raised in Ireland, has been calling China home for the past year. In Ireland, he’s racked up a few television documentary series: The Des Bishop Work Experience, which saw him attempting to survive for a month working minimum-wage jobs throughout Ireland; Joy in the Hood, where he went into impoverished neighbourhoods and mentored local people in stand-up comedy; and In the Name of the Fada, he learnt Gaelic so he could perform an entire stand-up routine in that language.
He’s been doing a similar thing in China. He moved there in February of last year with the aim to learn a third language, mastering enough Mandarin to perform stand up to a Chinese audience, with the whole lot being captured on camera for his next televisions series. “The original thing was to do a documentary, learn Chinese and try to do a gig, basically, just use that as a way to make a series about China, a funny series about what China is like nowadays,” says Bishop, wind blowing into his phone as he sits with “not enough sunblock on” under the sun on a beach in Melbourne’s Brighton. “But then I put so
MICHAEL WORKMAN
BY JOANNE BROOKFIELD VENUE: MELBOURNE TOWN HALL – POWDER ROOM, CNR SWANSTON & COLLINS ST, CBD DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 20 (EXCEPT MONDAY) TIMES: 8.30PM (SUNDAYS 7.30PM) TICKETS: $26-$33
grandparents basically go to set up their respective children). “I do some jokes about the marriage parks, because it’s a big deal to not be married in China. I’m 38 and not married, that’s outlandish to them,” he says. But, it’s China, and he can’t make jokes about the national news and you need permission first to perform other material. “No public performance is allowed to happen unless you apply for a performance permit, for every single performance that you do,” he says. But he’s in Melbourne right now, where he can say what he wants in Made In China. BY JOANNE BROOKFIELD VENUE: VICTORIA HOTEL - VIC’S BAR, 215 LT COLLINS ST, CBD DATE: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 20 (EXCEPT WEDNESDAY) TIMES: 7.15PM (SUNDAYS 6.15PM) TICKETS: $25-$32
PETER HELLIAR
TOTES GROUSEBALLS
WAR
Michael Workman is drinking whiskey on a rooftop bar in Swanston Street. So living the life of a comedian during festival? “Yeah, or not during festival, just anytime for a comedian, really,” he says down the phone. Workman is a week into his Melbourne International Comedy Festival run when he chats with Beat. Sydney, or more precisely Oxford Street – “one of the most magical streets in the world” – is usually home for Workman, but Melbourne comedy audiences have embraced his genredefying comedy, which inspires reviewers to pull out words like “saturnine” to describe him. In his first six months he had already won the national RAW Comedy competition and been flown to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to perform. His first solo show, Humans are Beautiful, won the Best Newcomer Award in 2011. The following year saw him saw him explore a less obvious choice for comedy - the cruelty of a totalitarian regimes inhumanity – in his show Mercy. Then last year, he received a Barry Award nomination for his dark show Ave Loretta, which was about music, art and the war against banality. He’s tackling a different war in this new show. “It’s an analogy and the war in the show is being covered by a reporter who is a drug addict and so his perception of the war and being in the middle of that battlefield is skewed by his own warped sense of reality, and that sense of reality is being projected to TVs onto the general public, who are all getting this warped sense of what the war is and what it means. So, clarifying that is the point of the show,” he says. Told in prose, with “big chunks of stand up in there”, Workman says he is “partly a narrator and I’m also partly in the show, so a lot of what I’m saying is about my life and what my life is like in the war and seeing the war second-hand,” he
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much time and effort into learning Chinese and once I started doing stand up suddenly I’m involved with this emerging stand up comedy scene that I don’t feel like leaving,” he says. So while his television series is currently in post production, Bishop is talking about his experiences on stage in Made in China. It’s his first Melbourne International Comedy Festival show in two years, with his last one being Des Bishop Likes To Bang. Unlike other years, he’s not touring Made In China around the country, he’s just in town for the festival and then back to Beijing. “I’m still doing Melbourne and Edinburgh and popping back to Ireland doing some shows every now and then but the rest of the time I’m in China trying to get better at Chinese and trying to do more Chinese stand up,” says Bishop, who plans on living there for another year. So what do the Chinese find funny? Bishop says the only thing he’s taken across from his English style is his rapping and beatboxing, but beyond that, he makes jokes about his Chinese name and the marriage parks (which is where parents and
the right set of circumstances to tell her how he felt,” he says. While The Reunion is keeping Max & Ivan busy at nights, performing in the Town Hall Powder Room, during the day the pair are busy preparing for their second show, The Wrestling, a one-off event next Monday. “I used to wrestle around the UK and Europe until I was about 18. I’ve long harboured this idea that comedians would take very naturally to this world,” says Olesker, who Gonzalez will proudly tell you, used to be Britain’s youngest professional wrestler, Max Voltage The Human Dynamo, when he was 14. “So we had this crazy idea to train up comedians to become wrestlers and it happened, I’m not sure how. But it did,” says Olesker. They’ve staged the show twice in Edinburgh previously, where it’s been quite the hit and now it’s Melbourne’s turn. Joining Max & Ivan in the wrestling ring will be comedians Lawrence Mooney, Sam Simmons, Ronny Chieng, Tommy Little, Matt Okine, Tegan Higginbotham, Des Bishop, Jason Byrne, David Quirk and Greg Fleet. “There are other professional wrestlers in the show, so it’s comedians fighting wrestlers, comedians fighting comedians, wrestlers fighting wrestlers, it’s the whole thing”.
says. It’s a more surreal and more fantastical show than his previous ones, he says. “It’s still extremely dark but it’s more of a exploration of why we’re here and what it means to be conscious rather than a misery-inspiring trip into the death of a young woman, which was last year,” he says, referring to Ave Loretta. “This is more of an introspective look at what it means to be human,” says Workman, who studied philosophy, English and theology in Perth. (“All of those things tie together quite nicely in performance”) For Workman, there wasn’t one event that inspired this show, but the culmination of many significant events. “It’s Snowden, it’s Manning, it’s Iraq, it’s September 11, it’s the Ukraine, it’s everything. It’s just the lies and the deception that have gotten so thick and sinister that somebody has to say things. Heaps of people are saying things and I’m really just contributing my own voice to a very strong movement for transparency in our leadership,” he says. BY JOANNE BROOKFIELD VENUE: MELBOURNE TOWN HALL – REGENT ROOM, CNR SWANSTON & COLLINS ST, CBD DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 20 (EXCEPT MONDAYS) TIMES: 9.45PM (SUNDAYS 8.45PM) TICKETS: $20-$25
If there was an award for most amusing festival poster image, Peter Helliar would be the eternal carry-over champ. Cast your mind back a whole 12months and you might remember him in an almost sepia-toned seventies homage, complete with skivvy, vinyl jacket and porn moustache. It’s the look on his face, though, that best takes the piss out of the earnestness of both the seventies and current hipsters. The year before, he had a ruffle-fronted baby blue shirt an d was perched in front of a debutante ball backdrop, grinning inanely like a socially awkward, yet dementedly optimistic virgin. Comically cringe-worthy stuff. For this year’s show, he’s borrowing an iconic look from the ‘80s. He’s wearing a Michael Jackson Thriller style black and red leather jacket with a blonde afro, or “a tight gentlemen’s perm”, as he describes it. “The haircut and my face has been compared to either Betty White or Doris Roberts from Everybody Loves Raymond, so it works on a number of levels,” he says on the phone from Princess Pictures, where he is currently in pre-production for the next season of his scripted comedy series It’s A Date, which screens on ABC1. Helliar “feels like the busiest I’ve ever been” having to manage his writing and directing duties for his own series with his recent promotion to full-time panellist on Ten’s The Project. These poster images have created something of a rod for his back. “I definitely felt a little bit of pressure this year,” he laughs. “A lot of comics pump up how good the posters are, and I’ve gotta stop, I’ve gotta change tack, because I have to take the pressure away!” he says, still laughing. Although Helliar jokes he may “bust out” some moonwalking (“but not moonwalking with any kind of subtext; in case I get bored of walking in a forward motion I might switch it up”) there will be no content in the show that relates to the character on his poster. “I do start to wonder how big a percentage of the audience will be disappointed when I just
walk out in civvies, just in jeans and a polo shirt. It’s funny because I’ve only ever done one theme show and everything else has just been an hour of stand up. I probably should just call it Peter Helliar Live but that’s boring and none of us really do that,” he says. Instead, this show is called Totes Grouseballs. What he will be talking about is things that have happened to him recently. Topics in this year’s show will include taking his wife to Paris for their ten year wedding anniversary, being annoyed with how often he gets told he looks tired and taking a photo of his dick. “I feel I’ve gone up a level,” he says of the quality of his three most recent shows. He’s been at this almost two decades now, acknowledging that has played its part but he believes it’s the honesty with which he now approaches his writing that has changed things. “I’m not looking outwards, I am looking at my own life, and that sometimes means you’re doing stuff about being a father and all those things which when you put in print can sound pretty mundane potentially, but it’s what’s happening in my life and the biggest thing in my life is being a dad and being married. At the moment, my job involves being on TV, so these are the things I end up talking about,” he says. BY JOANNE BROOKFIELD VENUE: THE COMEDY THEATRE, CNR EXHIBITION & LONSDALE ST, CBD DATES: APRIL 12 & 19 TIME: 6PM TICKETS: $37.50
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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 27
COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE 2014 ADRIENNE TRUSCOTT
ASKING FOR IT - A ONE-LADY RAPE ABOUT COMEDY STARRING HER PUSSY AND LITTLE ELSE! “I’m perfectly comfortable with it,” says Adrienne Truscott, referring to performing bottomless on stage in front of an audience. That’s not bottomless coffee bottomless; it’s no knickers bottomless; the stuff of nightmare for most women. Being naked from the waist down and knocking back gin and tonics on stage are Truscott’s ways of challenging the conservative ‘she’s asking for it’ concept traditionally associated with sexual assault; no matter how little she’s wearing or how drunk a woman may get, rape only happens when a rapist acts. Asking For It: A One-lady Rape About Comedy Starring Her Pussy and Little Else! is Truscott’s first solo show; usually she’s on stage as one half of the gloriously outrageous Wau Wau Sisters but for MICF 2014 it’s this one lady and her bits
doing the unthinkable – joking about rape. “I thought about it for a one year,” Truscott explains. “Could I find a way to use humour to talk about rape? Was it a great idea? Was it a terrible idea? The material was pouring out; the trick to pulling it off was to remember all the reasons people love comedy.” The challenge for Truscott in developing the show lay simply in figuring out how to forge the comedy. She’d already had the experience of making a joke about rape in front of a group of women, who laughed. This made her wonder if she could use humour to talk about rape. “There have been rape jokes made by shit male comedians,” she says. “There was a flurry of American and Australian comedians making rape jokes. I hadn’t done classic stand-up before, but the challenges in making the show are what any comic will say about any new show: pacing, timing; it’s not for the want of material to turn inside out and comment on. I knew if my show wasn’t funny it wasn’t going to work. My jokes had to be really edgy and funny.” Truscott says performing the show provides her with an ‘incredible joy’. “It’s a release; it’s a privilege to have a microphone – I’m not being asked to speak at a rally, I’m not being deeply political here, it’s genuinely light-hearted. I feel very strongly that it’s a stand-up show rather than feminist performance art. It’s not
a show by victims for victims. I’ve made it for myself and for other women,” Truscott continues. “I’m taking the piss out of stuff. When I hear women laughing, I think, ‘I’d better get the guys laughing too.’ I want the blokes at the show to laugh; I want everyone to laugh. To make that big a leap.” Events around the world last year added impetus to Truscott’s plans to create Asking for It. There was the tragedy of the gang rape in Delhi which galvanised the Indian public into protesting, and the fiasco of Laugh Factory’s host Daniel Tosh’s ill-advised joke and response to a woman heckler in New York which set people talking about who could and could not make jokes about rape. Much discussion ensued and many male comics defended Tosh’s right to joke about whatever he likes. It was time for a woman to speak up, then. “It led to people saying that women can never find a joke about rape funny and that there are some things you can never joke about – two statements I wholly disagree with,” Truscott observes. Making this show has led her to look at comedy in a more academic way than what she’s used to. “Structure, pacing - it’s a big balance.” But the comedy ultimately comes from who Truscott is as a human being: “I have this twisted sense of humour,” she says. “People say ‘oh Adrienne, not everything’s funny’.”
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NISH KUMAR IS A COMEDIAN
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BY LIZA DEZFOULI
UNTIL 19 APRIL
“Probably,” concedes Nish Kumar. The up-and-coming British comedian, is responding to a thought bubble I emailed him, postulating whether anyone would be silly enough to let the UK TV classic The Kumars At No. 42 influence their expectation of his act. “Some people are pretty stupid.” Kumar, seen previously with Tom Neenan as The Gentlemen of Leisure, is bringing his hit solo show Is A Comedian to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival after sell-out seasons in London and Edinburgh. Although not sure how the show would be received in Australia, the response has been good, a great relief to Kumar. “I’d never performed outside the UK before my first show here,” he tells me. “It would have been pretty embarrassing to come halfway around the world and find out I’m awful.” Performing solo has challenges distinct from his work with Neenan. “There are 50 per cent more words to learn, so it’s 50 per cent harder,” states Kumar. “The positive side is if I totally mess it up I won’t have let anyone down other than myself. That was a very serious answer. I’ll be more frivolous from now on.” Like many comedians whose career started in earnest as part of a group or partnership, Kumar believes that his collaborations with Neenan have been greatly beneficial to his growth as a performer. “He’s a terrific comedian,” says Kumar. “Being around him has definitely made me a better comic. If we had never worked together I would probably be doing exactly what I’m doing right now but much worse.” It’s not just the act of performing which is different when working solo; writing takes on a different edge too. “You always have the audience,” Kumar reflects. “I can’t really write just sat down churning out pages of text. I need to constantly drop in new material and add a little bit more to each routine as I go along. The audience at those nights end up being your writing partner. It also helps to have friends who are also comics who can give you feedback on your sets in the room.” Through our correspondence I remind Kumar that he’s been described as, among many other flattering terms, ‘ludicrously charming’ by professional reviewers. I wonder how a sixteen year old Nish Kumar might have reacted to that feedback, and Kumar tells me that “he’d be hoping Sarah Michelle Gellar would read that review and subsequently marry him.” Kumar, as it turns out, is still a huge fan of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer. “It’s a great show that,” he proclaims. “Some ropey special effects and late ‘90s sartorial disasters aside…still stands the test of time.” And his favourite episode? “There’s an episode called “School Hard” which manages to be funny, exciting, and a significant development of the story and the characters all at the same time. I love Buffy.” Is A Comedian is primarily a show about identity. Many ‘90s teenagers had their sense of identity influence by Buffy, and like so many others in his generation, Kumar also lists The Simpsons as a major cultural influence, one which he describes as “profound”. “I saw it when I was about six years old,” recounts Kumar. “So I have no idea what my personality or outlook would be like without it.” One gets the sense that through exploring the world of comedy outside the UK, Kumar is continuing to explore and reflect on his identity as a comedian. He seems to be enjoying the journey, but this great country, beyond Baz Luhrmann’s Australia, remains a bit of a mystery. “I didn’t see it,” adds Kumar. “But it had Nicole Kidman and Wolverine in it so I’m guessing it must have been a pretty good story about Australia. BY JOSH FERGEUS
ATHENAEUM THEATRE 27 MARCH - 20 APR BOOK NOW AT COMEDYFESTIVAL.COM.AU 28
VENUE: MELBOURNE TOWN HALL – POWDER ROOM, CNR SWANSTON & COLLINS ST, CBD DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 20 (EXCEPT MONDAY) TIMES: 9.45PM (SUNDAYS 8.45PM) TICKETS: $25.50-$33
BEAT’S COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY GRAVITY ESPRESSO
COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE 2014 DAMIEN POWER
JAMES ACASTER
KEIT
LAWNMOWER
James Acaster had decided how his life was to play out. He left school at 17 to be a drummer in an experimental jazz pop band and that was that. Future sorted. So how does a musician come to be making his Melbourne International Comedy Festival debut, arriving on the back of not one but two consecutive nominations for Best Comedy Show at the 2012 and 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festivals? Acaster has been doing stand up for six years now, but it was never his plan. “I had this whole future planned out of being a musician and releasing albums and having that as my life,” the 29-year-old South Londoner tells Beat in a Melbourne café. He’d dropped out of school and didn’t bother with university, deciding instead to throw himself into music but after six years (“we didn’t really get anywhere”) the band broke up. “Because I was the drummer, I couldn’t really go solo and then I couldn’t be bothered to form another band, because there’s a lot of motivating other people to do work and I didn’t really want to do that anymore,” he says. Acaster was at a loss as to what to do next with his life and comedy originally began as a means of keeping him occupied in the evenings “because I didn’t like feeling sorry for myself and sitting around going ‘oh, I’m not in a band anymore’” he recalls. Life as a full-time musician (and part-time kitchen hand, working 12 hours a week) had given him plenty of free time, which he liked to fill with various adrenaline based activities. “So I would try and fill my days with doing things like skydiving and weird little things like that and I thought I’d do a stand-up comedy gig, because I liked stand-up and [thought] I’ll do that just for fun, so I can always say that I did it,” he says. That first gig had gone well enough for him to undertake another couple, which is what gave the then 23-year-old the idea to dabble post-band, until he figured out what it was he really wanted to do with the rest of his life. He started gigging obsessively. “Obviously, the more you do something the better you get at it and once you get good, you start to enjoy it,” he says. For Acaster, he really started enjoying
performing once he realised it was more than just ‘go on and make them laugh’. He soon realised “there’s loads of different laughs you can get out of them and different emotions you can elicit and steer things in certain directions and I really started getting into it then, started focusing on getting better,” he says. Since then, in addition to the Best Comedy nominations (he was also nominated for Auckland Comedy Festival Best International Show Award in 2012), his comedy, which has been described as “an artfully crafted study in mild lunacy” has seen him appear on television shows such as Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Russell Howard’s Good News and Chris Addison’s Show and Tell, among many other TV appearances. His show for this year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Lawnmower, despite the title, isn’t about gardening. “I just like the word, I don’t speak about them,” he says, adding that it is a collection of his favourite material from his past three shows. BY JOANNE BROOKFIELD
VENUE: MELBOURNE TOWN HALL – CLOAK ROOM, CNR SWANSTON & COLLINS ST, CBD DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 20 (EXCEPT MONDAY) TIMES: 8.30PM (SUNDAYS 7.30PM) TICKETS: $25.50-$33
Comedian/writer/actor Damien Power is currently appearing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with his new show Keit, after being nominated as Best Newcomer during last year’s festival. “Getting nominated was fantastic,” asserts Power. “I was genuinely stoked. Unfortunately it makes very little difference to this year. The festival is so enormous it doesn’t really mean much. But definitely encouraging for me on a personal level.” It does seem as though the festival can be somewhat overwhelming, but Power is in good form, having spent March dazzling our friends up north with his latest show Keit – which means Kate in Estonian – at the Brisbane Comedy Festival. “Keit went down really well in Brisbane,” says Power. “A lot of laughs. The show has evolved since then into what I think is a great show.” Power has been active in comedy for a number of years, first emerging as a talent in the Legends of Laughter comedy competition on the Gold Coast. I ask him how he felt his comedy had changed over the years. “Well basically I’ve had a lot more stage time and done more writing,” Power tells me. “I try to focus more on original topics. Back then I was impersonating Tom Cruise and doing jokes that really weren’t about anything. Now I have more social and political commentary in my act and generally jokes with more weight.” Power writes, sometimes, on his Tumblr. Scrolling through his site you can glean some insight into thoughts about a wide range of topics including resisting the urge to get naked on stage, his family, drugs, graveyards, the Middle East, kids’ parties, and our cultural concept of ‘success’ (you’ll also see quite a fetching photo of the man himself in drag). There’s obviously no dearth of thoughts running through his head, but I ask Power how he channels the activity of his brain into writing a successful stand-up show. The answer is simple. “If I think of something funny I write it down,” he says. “And I try it out and then try to work out how to make it funnier and more original. Sometimes I write for a couple of hours a day just thinking of bits and ideas and working on existing
jokes. When I’m really trying to develop material I will force myself to write everyday. But often the best stuff just happens to you in real life or you see something and it just comes to you.” It certainly seems that Power’s efforts are not going unnoticed. In 2012, he was selected to perform in The Comedy Zone, a showcase of the best emerging comedians put together by the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Then, last year, the nomination as Best Newcomer, and a tap on the shoulder to support Jack Black’s band Tenacious D on the Australian leg of their tour. “A promoter saw my show last year and asked me to send YouTube clips to Tenacious D themselves,” recounts Power. “They approved me. I did spend time with them and they were very supportive and cool.” Black invited Power to do a bit between the final vocal solo and the guitar solo. “I got to do what I believe was the first ever ‘Comedy Solo’, which was basically coming out and trying to tell a joke. It obviously didn’t go very well but that was kind of funny in itself.” BY JOSH FERGEUS VENUE: MELBOURNE TOWN HALL - LUNCH ROOM, CNR SWANSTON & COLLINS ST, CBD DATES: CURRENTLY PLAYING UNTIL APRIL 20 (EXCEPT MONDAYS) TIMES: 9.45PM (SUNDAYS 8.45PM) TICKETS: $20-$25
REVIEWS FELICITY WARD THE ICEBERG
Sharp lines, goofy faces and a total willingness to go all-in for a joke making a boob of herself, Felicity Ward delivers a knockout show. From Australia’s lack of talent at singing at sports, and proficiency at sculpting watermelon helmets through to racism and relationships, Ward gives it her all and her all is hilarious. Sharp gags are counterpointed with wide-eyed innocence and the show rollicks along, the audience swept up in her infectious enthusiasm. The only misstep
MILES ALLEN
ONE MAN BREAKING BAD This show is only for the biggest Breaking Bad fans. If you haven’t seen the series in its entirety then a) you won’t know why this is funny and b) there are about a gazillion spoilers. Miles Allen became an Internet sensation last year with the viral YouTube clip Homeless Man Does Breaking Bad Impressions for Food. The video scored over 1.2 million views and while speculation arose that Allen isn’t really homeless, it didn’t stop him from running with the spotlight. And rightly so because Allen is good at what he does. His impressions aren’t just voices, he embodies the facial expressions and movements of each character – and he obviously has a lot of love for the show. Admitting it’s the same feeling parents have towards
is that she is shackled by a self-imposed adherence to the “festival show must have a theme” school of thought. Ward returns to her icebergs when she doesn’t need to, she has in fact iceberged herself by giving over 10 per cent of a set that is 90 per cent fantastic. The show is at its best when she is banging out her A+ material without forcing it to conform. Felicity Ward has talent, charm and gags to spare. Iceberg is a good-time show, the only reason not to see it is if you are a horrible person that hates being happy. BY JACK FRANKLIN Felicity Ward: The Iceberg is currently playing at ACMI - The Cube until April 20 (Melbourne Town Hall - Powder Room on Monday).
their children, Allen has a favourite in the lovable drug addict Jesse Pinkman. The entire show is narrated in Pinkman’s voice. His Heisenberg, Hank Schrader and Saul Goodman impressions are worthy but it’s his takes on Walt Junior, Skyler White and hitman Mike that are most impressive and get the most laughs. The man has done his homework. There aren’t many characters from across the five series that Allen doesn’t include, even down to support roles like Skinny Pete, Badger, Hector Salamanca, The Twins, Uncle Jack and Gus Fring. Allen uses these characters to re-enact the entire series in just over an hour. Ultimately the real appeal of this show isn’t the comedy factor but the subject in question. So many people consider Breaking Bad one of the greatest shows ever and this is a chance to relive the series in a fun new way. BY CHRIS BRIGHT Miles Allen: One Man Breaking Bad is currently playing at The Kelvin Club until April 19.
RONNY CHIENG CHIENG REACTION
‘RONNY’ looms behind him in gargantuan red letters. He repeatedly informs the crowd that he “went to an elite, top five law school”. He’s sold out The Hi-Fi – on a Wednesday. Ronny Chieng is hilariously confident and cocky, with every right to be. Best Newcomer in 2012, Chieng has developed into a blue-chip performer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. In terms of his ability to induce laughter, Chieng is, much like his law school, elite. With his sardonic, matter-of-fact delivery, Chieng dissects topics from sexism in Kanye West to customer service at Apple stores. His rant on male guilt is brilliantly acute and indicative of his extraordinary intelligence.
WOLF CREEK THE MUSICAL
It’s an intriguing title if ever you saw one: Wolf Creek The Musical. If that doesn’t pique your comedic curiosity, there may be something wrong with you. And so we sat in a small room in Trades Hall, slowly suffocating from the heat, and witnessing the musical mayhem of a story brought to song from the scenes of one of the country’s most notorious serial killers films. The plot was predictable for anyone who has seen the movie, and simple to catch onto for those who hadn’t (backpackers get lost in Aussie outback, crazed serial killer preys, etc). However, there was the small issue with clams. A random twist to the entertainment
Therein lies a minor issue I have with Chieng Reaction: I do feel like he’s holding back superb social commentary to make way for the more trivial tirades that made him successful. I don’t blame him, and this isn’t a criticism – quite the opposite – it’s a statement on Chieng’s limitless potential as a comedian. It is also seemingly very selfish of me – who am I to tell a comedian what he should talk about? – but I believe this is the next level for Chieng: he can easily make an audience laugh, but he’s also capable of stimulating an audience intellectually. It’s a challenge only the best can really consider. BY NICK TARAS Ronny Chieng: Chieng Reaction is currently playing at The Hi-Fi until April 20 (except Monday). His April 18 and April 19 shows have moved to Melbourne Town Hall - Main Hall.
which meant that, due to the apparent funding of a clam company, the seafood treats were integrated into the story every now and then. Especially interesting when the sound of a car trying to start equals “clam clam clam, clams clams”. A unique and wide-reaching plot easy to tackle for an amateur comedy crew which added flavour with casting such as a pre-pubescent looking Aussie guy as a desirable Greek man, another man as a desirable blonde backpacker, a tubby man waving red fabric as a kind of camp fire and of course, the crazy-eyed killer whose main mission was putting “heads on sticks”. Delightful. BY JEN WILSON Wolf Creek The Musical is currently playing at Trades Hall – The Old Council Chambers until April 20 (except Monday).
BEAT’S COMEDY FESTIVAL COVERAGE BROUGHT TO YOU BY GRAVITY ESPRESSO
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on tour
news tours club snaps + more
electronic + urban + club life
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 APRIL
DJ HYPE [UK] Sunday April 20, Brown Alley
bam bam
wo rd s / a ug u st u s we lby
HUXLEY [UK] Thursday April 24, Prince Bandroom MR. CARMACK [USA] Thursday April 24, Revolt Artspace 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
Collaboration has long been an integral component of hip hop music and culture. This is certainly true of Australia’s flourishing hip hop scene. Melbourne’s Bam Bam – AKA Joel Chamaa – is yet another young MC quickly generating a national audience, thanks to the singles Bags Packed (featuring Melbourne rapper Allday) and Feel Like I’m Alive (featuring Adelaide nu-R&B singer Tigerilla). “Rappers tend to stick together,” says Chamaa. “We’re still a new kind of thing to the mainstream market of Australia so we all need to help each other out. In the rock scene, or any other genre, I don’t know if people tend to work together as much as rappers like to work together.” These two radio-pervading singles appear on Bam Bam’s debut EP The Good Life, which sees release this week. Bam Bam first made a stir in early 2013 with the mixtapes Straight Outta Bedrock and Miwk Hawk, before Bags Packed surfaced online last June. The Good Life has evidently been in construction for some time, and Chamaa says he had specific goals for how to present himself on his first EP. “The writing part is the easy part for me. [The hard part has] been trying to find the right beats.
news
off the record
Tuesday May 6, Rod Laver Arena
w i t h
Thursday May 8, Palace Theatre UPCOMING
Catch Bam Bam at the Northcote Social Club on Saturday April 12. The Good Life is out now through Ten To Two Records. facebook.com/bambammusic
t yson
jung & dumb
Ol’ mate LA Pocock is returning to the fold with another instalment of Jung & Dumb. The theme this time around is ‘rocks’. Yeah, don’t ask why. Pocock slams it down on RRR each week and has provided the interstellar soundtrack at Golden Plains - he also plans to smooch the butts of anyone who comes down. Whadda deal. He’ll be joined by late-night aficionados Otologic and Misty Nights. Good tunes, good times, good party. Friday April 11 at the Mercat Basement. Rocks.
w ray
On the weekend I saw a dude with sideburns so bad I think he gave me a hernia.
ANDY STOTT [UK] Thursday May 22, Corner Hotel ARMIN VAN BUUREN [NED] Saturday June 7, Hisense Arena
miles bonny
GIRL UNIT [UK]
Neo-soul gentleman Miles Bonny will be playing at Howler this Friday. Known for his beats-infused work and wild imagination that combines soul, hip hop and electronica, Miles Bonny is responsible for recent tracks Ain’t No Sunshine, Junkyard Dog and Seas of Desire. Supported by Alta, Amin Payne, Cazeaux O.S.L.O, Able8, Coca Noire and Funk Bast*rd, Miles Bonny will be playing at Howler Bar on Friday April 11.
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, Ejeca, Miguel Campbell
Northeast Party House have announced a national tour in promotion of their debut LP, Any Given Weekend. Heralding from Melbourne themselves, the five-piece are known for the their dance-pop numbers with a solid rock backbone, including past notables Pascal Calavier, Stand Tall, Youth Allowance and Any Given Weekend’s opening track, The Haunted. Northeast Party House have supported The Jungle Giants and Ball Park Music in the past, as well as securing spots at Falls Festival and Peat’s Ridge Festival. Northeast Party House will play at the Corner Hotel on Saturday June 21. Any Given Weekend comes out on Friday May 16.
Fresh off of their appearance at Golden Plains, Cut Copy have announced their first series of Australian headline dates since 2011. The band celebrated the release of 2013’s Free Your Mind with a world tour that saw them headline stages from Chile to Chicago. Touch Sensitive and Nile Delta will join Cut Copy at all three Australian shows. Catch ‘em on Friday May 9 at 170 Russell.
andy stott
Dub techno pioneer Andy Stott will hit Melbourne later this year. The news follows Stott’s last-minute cancellation of his 2013 Australian tour, where he was set to perform at both Melbourne Music Week and Strawberry Fields. Catch him at the Corner Hotel on Thursday May 22.
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
northeast party house
cut copy
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diversity of its output. When readying The Good Life, Chamaa wasn’t daunted by the task of differentiating himself from his peers. “If every artist does what they do it’s going to be unique anyway,” he says. “I’m not trying to copy any other artist or do what other artists are doing. I tried to create something that I was really happy with and I felt translated me as an artist to the listener. I didn’t aim to create anything in particular, I just worked on it until I was like, ‘This is the ‘me’ that I want people to hear and this is what I want people’s first impression of me to be.’” So now, with the EP hitting shelves at last, can Chamaa safely say he met the criteria he explicitly set out to satisfy? “I’m totally stoked with it. This is by far the best stuff that I’ve ever done and it definitely represents me as an artist more accurately than anything I’ve ever released before. I actually just can’t wait for people to hear it.”
- head to beat.com.au for more
KANYE WEST [USA]
DIZZEE RASCAL [UK]
Because it is my first release I wanted to get it right and really sum me up as an artist. To do that you need to find the right music that accompanies what you want to do lyrically. For me it was trying to find the right producers to work with and locking down the right beats. I know what I’m looking for, but I just have to find it. So you just go from producer to producer until you find what it is exactly that you’re looking for.” The six-track EP features another special guest: fellow Melburnian rapper 360, who shows up on Day By Day. Melbourne is widely recognised for its history of churning out great rock bands, but this hasn’t prevented the emergence of a strong rap community. “Melbourne has a lot of awesome hip hop artists,” Chamaa says. “So it’s good to all feed off each other. Not all the time, but a lot of the time everyone wants to help each other out because we’re trying to achieve the same goal here. It’s a good scene to be a part of.” The frequent collaboration between local rappers could potentially have a homogenising effect on the music that’s produced. However, the fact the Aussie hip hop scene continues to thrive is due to the
mr. carmack
Hawaii’s Mr. Carmack will bring his genre-defying brand of instrumental hip hop to our shores this month. With featured spots of Soulection, Team Supreme and an official release on Mad Decent, Carmack has established himself as one of the most creative producers in the game since he was discovered by The Operatives last year. Supporting Mr. Carmack will be Aukouo, Ganz and Kiddo. Catch Mr. Carmack at Revolt Artspace on Thursday April 24.
bad news toilet
Each Monday, for the next three weeks, Bad News Toilet will be taking over the The Workers Club in style. Known for spinning 90s tracks that are nostaglic of our youths, Bad News Toilet will be joined with Garden Party on Monday April 14, Jimmy Junk Heart on Monday April 21 and Singles on Monday April 28.
electronic - urban - club life
alison wonderland
Never one to think inside the box, Alison Wonderland announces her most ambitious and original project to date – presenting the Wonderland Warehouse Project. Joined by shooting star Wave Racer and rising star Young Franco, the Sydney-based producer/DJ will turn a number of remarkable properties into temporary party temples as she embarks on a national tour of unique, secret warehouse spaces. The tour will see her heading to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and the Gold Coast on what will likely be her only tour of the capitals this year. Observing a growing wariness of the current generation of festive revellers, Alison has spent months personally scouring the country for spaces where she can throw the ultimate party. Amongst a climate of ever challenging ideals around the future of live music as we know it, Wonderland boldly aims to create temporary respite to the stale nightclub circuit. Much of the event is a surprise with transport from a central CBD meeting point to the secret location the only way of getting there. Alison Wonderland’s Wonderland Warehouse Project, with special guests Wave Racer and Young Franco, will take place at a secret location in Melbourne on Thursday May 22.
snaps
snaps
anyway
first floor
bimbos
workshop
yo! mafia
lucky coq
words / claire knight
Sneaker collector, vinyl freak and all-round music geek, Yo! Mafia is fresh from playing with A$AP Ferg and at the official Sydney Gay And Lesbian Mardi Gras Party, and is set to tear it up around Melbourne all of April, dropping her signature hip hop flavour all around town. For an event synonymous with Kylie Minogue pop anthems, a hip hop-centric act did seem like an interesting addition to the Mardi Gras lineup. “I can play Kylie!” counters the international party DJ, who has made a career of bending genres to appeal to a wider audience. “I’ve got a mad bootleg Missy Elliot, Pass That Dutch into Slow – it’s crazy.” Mafia’s enthusiasm is palpable. It is strikingly clear that this is someone who absolutely loves her job. She draws from an extensive background in ’90s hip hop, R&B and a love of current music. “I love Whitney, I love Mariah,” she says, citing her favourite ’90s gay icons. “I love all that shit and I’ll bang that out too. When I played at Meredith Music Festival in front of 15,000 people I was like, ‘You know what, fuck it – I’m gonna play some bangers and gay anthems,’ and they were going bananas! It translates. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you are; if you love music, you love music.” Contrary to rapper Macklemore’s belief (‘If I was gay, I would think hip hop hates me’) it seems as though now, more than ever, hip hop is finding its place within queer culture. “I know a lot of gay guys and girls are really into twerk music at the moment,” agrees Mafia. This fresh appreciation of the genre within the community has been spearheaded by acts such as Le1f, Mykki Blanco and Big Freedia –
the ‘Queen of Bounce’ with whom Yo! Mafia toured last year. “It was all gay audiences and I know they love that New Orleans bounce and twerk shit,” she says. Refusing to be pigeonholed, Mafia has never let her gender or sexuality influence her craft. “I made a point early on not to be a gay DJ,” she explains. “No-one ever knew I was a girl either, because my name is Mafia and I kind of dress like a boy. When I took that name I really wanted something that wasn’t gender specific. I didn’t want anyone to look at me and go, ‘Oh, that’s a chick DJ, she’s shit’ and have a preconceived notion.” Soon she will be playing alongside Australian dance legends The Presets and signing her first record deal. “It’s pretty exciting. There is a group of us that are coming onto this label,” she says, remaining tight-lipped about the finer details of the deal. “All I can say is that I’m really excited to release my first official mixtape. I have some incredible drops from some of my favourite MCs and international rappers.”
rubix funhouse
Yo! Mafia has gigs at Laundry Bar, Lounge, Eve, Strike QV, Fabrique, Trak, La Di Da, Seven (and The Logies!) all throughout April. Check her Facebook for exact dates and details. facebook.com/yoitsmafia
electronic - urban - club life
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club guide wednesday april 9 BLOW OUT - FEAT: GET BUSY + MAT CANT + SAMMY THE BULLET Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. CLONE OF THE DINNER SET - FEAT: MR SMITH Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. COQ ROQ - FEAT: MR MOONSHINE + AGENT 86 + MR THOM + JOYBOT + BLABERUNNER Lucky Coq, Windsor. 8:30pm. CURIOUS TALES - FEAT: DJ WHO + TIGERFUNK + TOM SHOWTIME + FLAGRANT Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:30pm.
thursday april 10 3181 THURSDAYS - FEAT: HANS DC + JOHN DOE + BUTTERS + GRANT CAMOV + JAMES STEETH VS SAM GUDGE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 6:00pm. CLUB COCO - FEAT: CC:DISCO + THIS IS DISCO Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. CQ SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. CQ SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. DINGERS THURSDAYS Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $5.00. DINNER SESSIONS - FEAT: SHUTTERSOUND Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 8:00pm. FREE RANGE FUNK - FEAT: EZRA + JAKE & NIKKI WHO + AGENT 86 + LEWIS CANCUT Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. GOOD EVENING Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. HOT DUB TIME MACHINE Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $17.00. LOVE STORY Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. MIDNIGHT EXPRESS - FEAT: PREQUEL + EDD FISHER Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm. RICHIE 1250 Sporting Club Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm. SNEAKY MAG LAUNCH PARTY - FEAT: OISIMA + ROLAND TINGS + POOLE + MARTIN KING + FASCINATOR + LUEN + HAND GAMES Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. SPARE GROOVE - FEAT: DANNY HOTEP + LA POCOCK + SALMON BARREL Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. 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. VARSITY - FEAT: KITI + FOOFARAW Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. XS DISCO Onesixone, Prahran. 9:00pm. $10.00.
friday april 11 DJ GRACE K Sporting Club Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. #MASHTAG - FEAT: MALPRACTICE + AGENT 86 + BENZO Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. @PEACE + N’FA JONES + MOSE + SENSIBLE J Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm.
BITCAT FRIDAY - FEAT: GREEN NOSE + GHOSTSOUL + RUFFLES + BRIZTRONIX Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. CAN’T SAY - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Platform One, Melbourne. 8:00pm. DJ DAVE GRAY Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8:00pm. EAT DRINK PLAY The Emerson, South Yarra. 9:00pm. $15.00. GET LIT - FEAT: D’FRO + HANS DC Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. HOT DUB TIME MACHINE Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $17.00. LOADSTAR + SAFIRE + FINNA + KAI + RAYNER + FENDI Brown Alley, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $20.00. LUCK TRUCK FRIDAYS Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. MADE IN MELBOURNE - FEAT: CHARDY + JAMIE VLAHOS + ZIGGY + HEY SAM + ORKESTRATED + MIKE METRO + KEESH + SLICE N DICE + SUNSHINE + FRAZER ADNAM + ZAC DEPETRO + SAMUAL JAMES + ZAC WATERS + JOHN DOE + AZMAC + BEN MORRIS + BENSON + COMBO + COURTNEY MILLS + DAMBRO + J-HEASY + HOLLY-J + JDG + JOHNY CANNIK + JUNGLE JIM + MATT WATKINS + MICKEY NOX + REECE LOW + RICH MORGAN + SCOTTY LEE + SOME BLONDE DJ + STAN GRAVS + T-WHITE + WHO KILLED MICKEY + ZOOLANDER 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $30.00. MIDNIGHT MASSACRE - FEAT: ANDEE FROST + LAILA + CHESTWIG + CLEVERHANDS New Guernica, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. PANORAMA FRIDAYS - FEAT: MATT RAD + MR GEORGE + ASH-LEE + PHATO A MANO Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. POPROCKS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. REVOLVER FRIDAYS - FEAT: MIKE CALLANDER + KATIE DROVER + SAFARI + ALEX THOMAS & WHO Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. RNB SUPERCLUB - FEAT: SHAGGZ + KEN WALKER + DEF ROK + PUPPET + TROY T + KRIS KOLZAN + KEVIN WATTS + LEE DAVIES + MARC THYSSEN Co., Southbank. 8:00pm. $20.00. THE DISCO Onesixone, Prahran. 9:00pm. $25.00.
INSIDE OUT VS THE MELBOURNE DEEPCAST New Guernica, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. MIKE GURRIERI + CLEVER AUSTIN + TIGERMOTH + CHUCOS SUAVES Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. MYSTERY TRAIN DJS Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8:00pm. ONESIXONE SATURDAYS Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm. $15.00. RESPECT Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 9:00pm. $20.00. SILHOUETTE - FEAT: ANDREW SLATTERY + MARCUS HOLDER + Q_SOUND + WALTER JUAN & ANDRE LE VOGUE Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. TEXTILE SATURDAYS Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. THE HOUSE DEFROST - FEAT: ANDEE FROST Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm. THE LATE SHOW - FEAT: RANSOM + DAVID SPACE + FLIP3K + ARKS + MS BUTT + PAZ + LEWIS CANCUT + MOONSHINE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. VAULT SATURDAYS - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Platform One, Melbourne. 8:00pm.
saturday april 12
monday apr 14
BAKER ST - FEAT: BRODIE + DJ BEN + BABY BJORN Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $10.00. DIMENSIONS FESTIVAL LAUNCH PARTY - FEAT: MIKE CALLANDER + KRIS BAHA + THE TORTOISE + EMMANUEL + LOVE HOTEL DISTRICT Brown Alley, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $25.00. ELECTRIC DREAMS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Co., Southbank. 8:00pm. $20.00. FAMILIAR STRANGERS The Emerson, South Yarra. 9:00pm. $15.00. FOX SATURDAYS - FEAT: DJ BLUESTAR Fox Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. HOT STEP - FEAT: ADAM ASKEW Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm.
snaps khokolat koated
sunday april 13 BE. @ CO. - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Co., Southbank. 10:00pm. BOP ART Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 4:00pm. OPEN DECKS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 8:00pm. PLEASURE PLANET 24 HOUR PARTY - FEAT: BEENAK + JUXPOSE + DJ KITI + WILL ELDER + KINDRED + KANGAROO SKULL + JAKE BLOOD Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 2:00am. $25.00. REVOLVER SUNDAYS - FEAT: BOOGS + SPACEY SPACE + RADIATOR & DANIEL WEBBER + REVILO-D & BRAIN FANTANA + SILVERSIX Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00am. SOUTH SIDE HUSTLE SUNDAYS - FEAT: ADAM ASKEW + PAUL BOOSHANK Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm. STARBAR SUNDAYS - FEAT: JASON SINGH + MORGAN + KEN WALKER + JONO EARLE Star Bar, South Melbourne. 9:00pm. $10.00. STRIPPED BACK SUNDAYS - FEAT: MITCH KURZ + MATTY D The Emerson, South Yarra. 12:00pm. $15.00.
be. at co.
BORED GAMES Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. MONDAY STRUGGLE - FEAT: TIGER FUNK Lucky Coq, Windsor. 6:00pm. STIFF DRINK Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
tuesday april 15 COSMIC PIZZA - FEAT: NHJ Lucky Coq, Windsor. 8:00pm. SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. TASTEMAKERS - FEAT: GHOST + KODIAK KID + ABLE 8 Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm.
faktory
urban club guide wednesday april 9 MELLOW-DIAS THUMP - FEAT: CAZEAUX O.S.L.O + GEEZY Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. WHOLE LOTTA RHYMES Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm.
thursday april 10 SWISH THURSDAYS - FEAT: REQUE Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.
friday april 11 FAKTORY FRIDAYS - FEAT: DAM-
3
ION DE SILVA + K DEE + DURMY Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. DUB FX + OPIUO 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $40.00. CRAK - FEAT: SCOTTY B + DJ AYNA + DJ MANIAK + DJ LOTUS + SCOTTY B + DANIELSAN + CHING ROCK Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $20.00. LATIN QUARTERS Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 10:00pm. $20.00. TYGA Palace Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $69.60.
saturday april 12 KHOKOLAT KOATED SATURDAYS - FEAT: DAMION DE SILVA + K DEE + DURMY + TIMOS Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. BAM BAM (EP LAUNCH) + SAVO Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $12.00. KOORIE PRIDE FESTIVAL - FEAT: YUNG WARRIORS + PHILLY + MAYLENE SLATER + BURNS Ray Bramham Gardens, 2:00pm.
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 Seymour yelled out, “We want to welcome to the stage two great gentlemen of Australian music!” Midnight Oil’s Peter Garrett and guitarist Jim Moginie joined them for The Saints’ Know Your Product. PG, in a striking black and white shirt, pulled out his trademark jerky steps.
and Mikelangelo. The day is dedicated to Ian Bird who passed some weeks ago, and was a big Basement Discs supporter. On Saturday April 19, Basement Discs support Indie Record Store Day with music trivia, giveaways and sets from Eagle & The Worm, Georgia Fields, Mike Rudd, Jen Cloher and more to be confirmed.
JAZZ PARTY AT THE CURTIN Every Monday in April, the John Curtin Hotel in Carlton holds a free Jazz Party. Held in the front bar, it will be an unrehearsed get-together of singers and players jamming together to see what comes up.
SETH SENTRY GOES GOLD Before hitting the stage at Sydney’s Manning Bar, Seth Sentry and his team were presented with gold plaques for the September 2012 album This Was Tomorrow selling 35,000 units. Rowan Robinson of No Dice Management said, “We couldn’t have asked for a better run with this record. This Was Tomorrow is a true independent release; we had a small budget, a core team and 11 great tracks, and I think this achievement proves that’s all you need sometimes.” Sentry is currently recording his next album, due mid-year.
FOLK CLUB SELLS OUT LAUNCH SHOW The new Melbourne Folk Club, which will run every Wednesday at Bella Union in Carlton, sold out its launch show a month in advance. It is now hosting a pre-launch show on Monday April 14 with New Zealand’s Tiny Ruins (her only Australian show previewing her May 2-due album Brightly Painted One) with The Tiger and Me. The club’s April/May schedule includes Jordie Lane, Liz Stringer, Grand Salvo, Marlon Williams, Mick Thomas, Melody Pool, Sweet Jean, Davey Lane, Davidson Brothers and The Little Stevies. The Folk Club is presented by Heartstop Music, Mountain Goat Brewery and Beat Magazine.
UNIFIED EXPANDS MANAGEMENT DIVISION Unified expanded its artist management division, by appointing brothers Aidan and Rhett McLaren who run six-year-old The Hills Are Alive festival in South Gippsland. The McLarens also bring Melbourne’s MC Remi to Unified’s management roster, joining Vance Joy, The Amity Affliction, Illy, Violent Soho and Northlane. The 22-year-old issues his album Raw x Infinity on June 6 through his own label House of Beige and to be distributed by Unified.
AUSTRALIA REMAINS RANKED #6 IN THE WORLD Australia is the sixth largest music market in the world, according to the IFPI’s 2014 Recording Industry In Numbers report. The United States remains the biggest, growing by 0.8% to total US$4.47 billion in 2013. It represents 30% of global trade revenues. Japan remained #2 despite dropping 16.7% to $3.01 billion. Germany climbed to #3 with a rise of 1.1% to $1.37 billion, switching places with the UK which was up 2.2% to $1.37 billion. France remained at #5 at $956 million (up 1.3%). Australia remained at #6 despite slipping by 8.4% to $430 million. The rest of the top 10 were Canada ($424 million, down 2.5%), Italy ($238 million, up 8.3%), Brazil ($228 million, down 1.7%) and South Korea ($211 million, up 9.7%), which enters the top 10 for the first time, after shoving out the Netherlands. In all, the global recorded music industry is valued at $15.0 billion, down 3.9% from its 2012 value of $15.6 billion.
ELEVEN INDIES GET FUNDED BY AUST. COUNCIL The Australia Council for the Arts has given money to eleven independent labels as part of its Recording Initiative. Chapter Music, Future Classic, Head Records, Hope Street Recordings, Mistletone Enterprises, Rice is Nice Records, Split Records, Stop Start, SugarRush, Two Bright Lakes and the Wantok Music Foundation share in over $400,000 of funding. Last year the initiative funded six labels including Spunk, Skinnyfish and Elefant Traks.
THINGS WE HEAR • The Stones’ new dates are Oct. 25 to Nov. 22. Frontier will announce exact dates soon. Meantime the Paris concert sold 75,000 tickets in under an hour. • Pharrell Williams’ Happy has gone six times platinum in Australia. • Towards the end of Hunters & Collectors’ Friday night show at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre, Mark
SYN NATION LAUNCHES
• Did Kanye West postpone his Oz visit because he’s “recording an album” or because rumours say he might be getting married in Paris in late May? • Wu-Tang Clan reportedly offered $5 million for their sole copy of their two-CD album The Wu – One Upon a Time in Shaolin, as part of their 20th anniversary. • Not all smooth sailing for Sheppard and their manager Michael Chugg on their US dates. Their flight to San Francisco was diverted to Oakland, and they had to catch a Greyhound bus to make the gig. • News that The Flaming Lips’ Dark Side of The Moon companion piece album has been revealed as an April Fool’s prank. • So too was NT News’ item, which aroused the ire of Darwin music fans, that the Northern Territory Government booked Nickelback for Bassinthegrass Festival, because NT Chief Minister Adam Giles is a fan of the band. • Phil Jamieson of Grinspoon told the Herald Sun that after they performed at the first White Album concerts, he, The Living End’s Chris Cheney, Josh Pyke and You Am I’s Tim Rogers got tattoos of a blackbird done, after one of the tracks on The Beatles double album. • Snow Patrol guitarist Johnny McDaid has moved in with Friends star Courteney Cox, sharing her Malibu mansion. • Soundwave’s Adelaide promoter El Dorado Music forfeited a $10,000 bond after the March 1 show in Bonython Park exceed the 110 decibel limit for 70% of the all-day show. Adelaide Council got six complaints. Councillor David Plumridge said shows will either be staged in new space set up in the western parklands away from houses, or the bond put up to $40,000. Festival founder AJ Maddah tweeted if this happens, no more Soundwave for Adelaide! • Canberra’s Peking Duk’s High went Top 10 in the ARIA Singles Chart and went gold. Last year two tracks topped the ARIA Club Chart. The Duk just finished US dates including SXSW and the Miami Winter Music Conference. • Papa vs Pretty have a competition where fans can play pool with them before the show on their April/ May tour with Ball Park Music behind their new single Million Different Ways, which was recorded at 123 beats per minute. • Taylor Swift moved into a $20 million apartment in the Tribeca section of New York City. • Summer Reese, head of California’s Pacifica Foundation Radio which runs five radio stations, didn’t take kindly to being sacked. She returned four days later to the offices, changed the locks and barricaded herself inside. • UK comedian Jason Manford kept his 800-strong audience 30 minutes due to traffic. So he bought them all a drink, at a cost of £3,500 (A$6300).
BASEMENT DISCS TURNING 20
To celebrate its 20th anniversary on Saturday April 12, Basement Discs throws a party with Charles Jenkins, Sweet Jean, Chris Wilson, Ian Collard’s 3 Kings, Tracy McNeil, Lisa Miller, Raised By Eagles
SYN Nation is a new digital radio channel with content produced and presented by young people from around Australia, starting with Byron Bay, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Warrnambool and Gippsland. SYN Nation is heard on digital radio in Melbourne and streams at syn.org.au. While SYN Media developed the channel, the service will be driven by young leaders from local community stations. They will receive mentoring from folks within the ABC and SBS, Triple R, PBS FM, Joy 94.9, 2RRR, RTR and 3ZZZ, the Community Broadcasting Association and Film, Television and Radio School.
SULTAN AMRAP AMBASSADOR Community radio’s Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (Amrap) has a new ambassador program, to recognise artists who are consistently supported by community radio. The first ambassador is Dan Sultan, whose latest single The Same Man has been ordered by 100 stations. Amrap manager Chris Johnson says Sultan has worked closely with community radio, “from big city broadcasters to regional and remote Indigenous broadcasters.”
BLANK TAPE SIGNINGS Blank Tape Music signed rapper Joelistics and band Little Dreamer, both from Melbourne, to its management division.
CANADIAN MUSICIANS HONOURED A number of Canadian artists with large fan bases in Australia have done well at the 43rd Juno Awards in Winnipeg. Serena Ryder won Artist of the Year, beating off Drake, Michael Bublé, Robin Thicke and Céline Dion in that category. Other wins were by Tegan and Sara (pop album), Arcade Fire (album of the year), Drake (rap album) and Bruno Mars (international album).
SHOWBIZ TICKETING IN ADMINISTRATION Australian premium ticketing company Showbiz has gone into voluntary administration while it restructures itself. All ticket sales are frozen, while the administrator has begun contacting customers regarding existing ticket purchases. You can email pkflawler@showbiz.com.au with any questions.
AMERICANA MUSIC ASSOCIATION SETS UP AUSSIE COMMITTEE The Nashville-based Americana Music Association set up an Australian advisory group to help Aussie acts. It comprises of artist manager Dan Biddle, Brian Taranto of merch firm Love Police, Rhythms editor Marty Jones, filmmaker Jeremy Dylan and CMAA President Dobe Newton. The AMA has showcased many Australian acts at its festival and just appointed Aussie expat Mark Moffatt as President. The group’s intention is “to create awareness of the genre in Australia, to foster opportunities for Australian artists in the US, and to create connections for US artists in Australia.”
SYDNEY CITY ENDORSES 57 PLAN TO SAVE LIVE MUSIC All 57 recommendations tabled by the Sydney Live Music Taskforce were endorsed by the City of Sydney’s Cultural & Community Committee. Labor Councillor and live music champion Linda Scott called this “a fantastic achievement in the journey to ensuring Sydney has a more musical future.” She was disappointed the Lord Mayor would not commit to a time frame for funding these. “Sydney’s live music scene is at a tipping point (and) the recommendations must all be funded and implemented urgently,” she said. She will push for the recommendations to be included in the Council’s 2014/2015 budget out in May and operational this financial year. Recommendations included a live music
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
LIFELINES Born: son for singer Regina Spektor with husband Jack Dishel. Marrying: Elton John and David Furnish, who have been in a civil partnership since 2005, plan to marry in England next month after a change in the law in England and Wales to allow same-sex weddings for the first time. Married: music theatre singer and actress Lucy Durack and choreographer Chris Horsey, in Perth on the weekend. Married: Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes and actress Sara Gilbert. In Court: one Svetlana Shusterman filed a restraining order against Incubus frontman Brandon Boyd, who she claims has been stalking her for years. He says he has no clue who she is. In Court: Adelaide singer-songwriter Jacob Brookes appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with disorderly behaviour and resisting police. It was over a February incident where he allegedly arrived so drunk at his own wedding from his buck’s turn the night before, that the minister called off the nuptials. His fiancée has told him there is no chance of reconciliation. In Court: Bill “Vasilis” Moshos, former manager of Newcastle’s Silk Hotel, fined almost $5,000 and banned from managing licensed premises for a year. The court was told that Silk had a list of infringements including 46 assaults in four years, nonoperational security cameras and serving underage drinkers. In Court: a US judge dismissed a $10 million lawsuit against Justin Bieber and Usher by Virginia songwriters Devin Copeland and Maerio Overton who claimed the duo’s Somebody To Love plagiarised parts of their song with the same title. The judge found no similarities in lyrics and style. In Court: Jamaican dancehall star Vybz Kartel sentenced to life imprisonment for murder of a man after an argument over two missing guns. Died: Godfather of Chicago House Frankie Knuckles at 59. Died: British 15-year-old, Triona Priestley, from cystic fibrosis minutes after Ed Sheeran called and sang her favourite song Little Bird. Died: Dave Gregg, guitarist with Canada hardcorists D.O.A, 54, heart attack. Died: George Duncan Jnr, 62, of a massive heart attack. He was the site manager of the legendary Sunbury festivals which drew 45,000 people between 1972 to 1975. Duncan’s father, George Sr., owned the 620-acre farm between Sunbury and Diggers Rest where the festivals were held.
liaison officer to cut red tape, grants to all-age show promoters, faster approval process for low-risk events, musicians included in affordable housing schemes and rehearsal rooms in Council space.
ELECTRONIC PRODUCER PHRANKS BIEBER CDs US electronic producer Paz hid copies of his own record From The Bottom Of My Heart To The Top Of Your Lungs in 5,000 cases of Justin Bieber’s Believe in major record stores in Los Angeles. He wanted to make the point indie musos found it difficult to get their records in Target and Best Buy.
SYDNEY FESTIVALS FUNDED To draw more tourists to Sydney and make it more of an events city, City of Sydney has funded three festivals. Sydney Fringe gets $450,000 over three years, VIVID Sydney $250,000 per annum in cash and value-in-kind for the same period, and the inaugural Walsh Bay Arts Festival in December pockets $30,000 in cash and $20,000 value-in-kind.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 33
JASON ISBELL By Augustus Welby
On Jason Isbell’s latest record Southeastern, the Alabama-native offers nuanced portraits of past lovers, sick friends and curious strangers. The album, the alt-country crooner’s fourth, also features a recurring subplot of a man coming to terms with living a life of sobriety. Isbell himself kicked the bottle shortly before recording Southeastern, but that doesn’t mean the record’s purely a document of his experiences. “The beautiful thing about songwriting as opposed to writing books is they’re not stocked on the shelf based on what’s true and what’s not,” Isbell says. “If you go into a bookstore you’re going to see fiction on one side and non-fiction on the other. That’s not the way it is in a record store. You don’t really have to worry about the amount of truth that is in a song. As long as it’s honest, it doesn’t necessarily have to be factual.” A number of artists with a long history of drug use (for example, Neil Young’s 40-years with marijuana or David Bowie’s 1970s cocaine eccentricity) have feared the effect that getting clean might have on their songwriting capacity. Isbell has been a heavy drinker for much of his 13-year professional career, but setting aside the poison didn’t stultify his fundamental creative drive. “The inspiration is the easy thing,” he says. “If you call yourself any kind of a writer and you don’t have anything to write about then you’re not a real writer at all. I think being sober probably gives me more tools with which to process emotions. At the root of it I’m
not really writing songs to change my environment, I’m writing them to change things that are more internal. So there’s always going to be something new to process.” Even if the songs aren’t exact recounts of experience, Isbell doesn’t exclude autobiographical detail. One track on Southeastern that will stick out for Australian listeners is New South Wales, which was in fact written during Isbell’s last trip Down Under. “I had a great time; I loved it,” he says. “I thought the people were really great. It was a pretty special time for me, but also personally I was dealing with some demons and I wasn’t always having fun. Usually in the daylight hours I wasn’t feeling too great. So I was trying to write a song kind of in the way that some of the songs that Waylon Jennings used to sing or Willie Nelson – some of those country-travellin’ songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s.” In addition to alcohol’s lingering fragrance, Southeastern also looks at difficult and oft-feared topics such as cancer and sexual abuse.
BLUESFEST 25TH ANNIVERSARY
“I did try to write things that frightened me a little bit,” says Isbell, “things that might not cast me in the best possible light. I tried not to look too cool and not to look too strong. If you’re writing songs just because they should exist, because you need them to exist and you’re not actually trying to sell anything to anybody, then you should make yourself uncomfortable sometimes.” Southeastern has been adoringly embraced by audiences and critics all over the world, which is a testament to Isbell’s knack for rendering tough personal experiences into poignant songs. However, the fact he’s now defiantly sober could potentially limit the emotionally stirring themes available to him in the future. “I don’t know if it’s necessary to go through that kind of struggle to be a good writer,” Isbell muses. “I think
if you’re not going to go through that struggle yourself you have to really be good at empathising with other people. For me, I think maybe it’s a combination of both. I put myself through hell sometimes but nowadays I try to focus on other people’s situations, other people’s problems, so I don’t have to deal with it on my own again.” JASON ISBELL performs at the 25th Annual Byron Bay Bluesfest, running from Thursday April 17 Monday April 21. He also plays Boogie at Bruzzy’s Farm from Friday April 18 Sunday April 20, and solo shows at the Northcote Social Club on Wednesday April 16 and Thursday April 17.
Seun Kuti
By Augustus Welby This Easter long weekend Bluesfest sparks up in Byron Bay for its 25th consecutive year. Beginning in 1990 as a single-day indoor event, the 2014 installment will sprawl out over five days and welcome more than 100 performers to the Tyagarah Tea Farm festival site. Expanding the festival certainly hasn’t diluted the calibre of the performing artists. Bluesfest continues to showcase acts from all over the globe, with this year’s crop including Dave Matthews Band, Joss Stone, Tim Rogers, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Cambodian Space Project and Buddy Guy. Given this impressive diversity, festival director Peter Noble is forgiven for his smug tone when speaking about the 25th anniversary. “I look at Bluesfest this year and go, ‘I’ve never booked a festival where you can get to the 18th or 19th line of the artists list and there’s still bloody great, well known artists,” he says. “So I’m pretty happy with it.” Over the last few decades, Bluesfest has reliably provided a mammoth list of artists from a collection of loosely associated genres. Noble’s task to recruit such a wide range of performers is made slightly easier by the affection many acts feel towards the festival. For instance, John Butler Trio, John Mayer and Steve Earle are just some of the artists returning for an encore Bluesfest performance this year. “[On Twitter] Charlie Musselwhite said we’re the
best [festival] in the world and he’s not the first guy to say that,” Noble exudes. “I think that’s because they realise we’re a real music festival. They get there and the dressing rooms are great, the restaurants backstage feed them really good food and they get on the stage and the production is great.” Although a number of performers come to Bluesfest every other year, Noble clarifies that he wouldn’t try to precisely repeat a lineup that’s formerly proven successful. “Some people go at the moment, ‘Gee, last year you had Iggy Pop and Santana and Paul Simon and Robert Plant – a lot the older legends and this year there’s not
as many.’ I certainly came out this year and targeted another audience that we probably hadn’t targeted so hard in the last four or five years: the Edward Sharpe/ Morcheeba/Jake Bugg kind of audience. I’ve always known that there’s younger people who don’t just want to see metal. [Bluesfest is] keeping that contemporary feel, and yet underneath it’s a bloody blues festival.” It makes sense to tinker with the programming in order to lure in a younger audience, but this is inevitably going to turn off some previous attendees. Nevertheless, it’s a risk Noble knows he has to take. “Some people will say some years, ‘Oh, it’s not as good’,” says Noble. “But that’s because they’re not feeling that their taste is being quite as catered to as it was on another year. Whereas, another part of the audience goes, ‘Wow it’s even more what I’m into.’ I just think you have to do that, you’ve got to keep slightly changing your event all the time, keeping it relevant, but really just keeping it interesting.”
At a time when so many Australian festivals are either struggling or no longer tenable, Bluesfest maintains enormous consumer interest. So what’s the essence of this unrivalled appeal? It could be the exclusive Tyagarah Tea Farm environment, the wholesome community atmosphere, the organic culinary options, or perhaps Byron’s summer heat in mid-autumn. “It’s pretty much an event where hopefully the vast majority of people are only there for the music,” Noble says. “That’s what it’s all about. There’s not an awful lot of other effects happening at Bluesfest. I realised a long time ago it’s a music festival, that’s all it is. It’s not about prettying the site up and all that. We put our money into musicians.” THE 25TH ANNUAL BYRON BAY BLUESFEST runs from Thursday April 17 – Monday April 21, and features a mammoth lineup including Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Jeff Beck and many, many more.
TOP SIX SOUL ALBUMS with SOUL SAFARI Melbourne’s own Soul Safari chat about their favourite soul albums of all time, on the verge of the release their own full length Live at Bar Open EP.
amazing and his music is timeless. I believe that this album is a piece of timeless art. (Nikko – guitarist)
D’Angelo – Voodoo My favourite album of all time would have to be D’Angelos second album Voodoo. When I first heard it I was 13 and it smacked the pop/rock out of me. I would listen to it and love the melodies, bobbing along and really just thinking I was cool. As I listen to the same album now at 21, I realise the level of musicianship and clarity in their playing. I’m sure I’ll appreciate it even more in another ten years. (Ben – bass)
Sam Cooke – Night Beat Released in 1963, this album is one of the great singer’s most intimate recordings, and also one of his last. A number of slow, blues-inflected grooves, the organ, piano and guitar manage to sit beautifully together with the bass and drums, while still allowing Cooke’s powerful and captivating voice to soar above it all. The album is a great introduction to Sam Cooke as there aren’t any weak moments, and the stripped back instrumentation really allows his vocal skills to shine through. (Tom – guitarist)
Stevie Wonder – Songs In The Key Of Life When I was asked to pick one of my favourite soul albums, it just came down to picking a Stevie Wonder album. So I chose Songs In The Key Of Life. I just think that Stevie is a genius. His songwriting is incredible, completely original, his singing is
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Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On For me it contains everything I want to hear in a soul cut. Soaring honest vocals, the right amount of loose groove, double tracked drums and a full orchestra backing! I mean it was
written in protest of the war in Vietnam but to me it proves how music from the soul is ageless and forever relevant. (Sam – drummer) Jill Scott – Experience As a lyricist, performer and poet, Jill Scott’s Experience album has everything. An album I can listen to and each time I hear it find something new and intricate that I have never heard before. The quality of her vocals and the use of voice like an instrument is mind blowing. It’s an album that
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constantly surprises me. The re-thinking of some of her hit songs and the variation to rhythms and the original ideas through this live performance mean that though I’ve had it for years and years it is new each time I hear it! (Lisa – singer) Get to SOUL SAFARI’s EP Launch at Bar Open on Friday April 11, 10pm, free entry. These guys love the music so much that everyone through the door gets a free copy!
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE By Augustus Welby Since arriving on the scene at the turn of the 21st century, Massachusetts metalcore outfit Killswitch Engage has possessed a startling amount of ferocious confidence. On last year’s Disarm the Descent, their sixth LP, the band sound even bolder than usual. The record notably reintroduces original vocalist Jesse Leach, who took the reins from Howard Jones in early 2012. Although Leach had been absent from the band for ten years, his return allowed Killswitch to turn a new leaf. “If you ask those guys, I’m sure if you even ask Howard, three or four years ago the band was not in a good place,” Leach says. “The energy wasn’t there, the vibes weren’t there. The last record they put out, nobody’s really stoked on it.” Indeed, title of the new album – Disarm the Descent – is not merely alliterative, it’s a mission statement. “It’s something that me and the bass player Mike [D’Antonio] talked about,” Leach says. “This sort of redemption – falling down and hitting rock bottom and just pulling yourself up to find redemption. That’s kind of what the whole record’s about.” Leach left Killswitch not long after releasing 2002’s metalcore paradigm, Alive or Just Breathing. The rest of the band pushed forward, quickly recruiting Jones and releasing three further albums (The End of Heartache in 2004, As Daylight Dies in 2006 and Killswitch Engage in 2009) before medical complications prompted Jones’ departure. While some fans certainly rejoiced upon Leach’s return, plenty of listeners would’ve only been acquainted with the Jonesled incarnation of the band. “When we were writing the record,” Leach says, “I tried to really focus on the task at hand and block out all the white noise of expectations or criticisms. I tried to focus on just putting out the best record I could without reading too much on outside influence and not making too much about being anywhere near the type of singer that Howard is. [I wanted] to put out a good record for the sake of putting a good record out. Once that was said and done there was definitely a part of me that was wondering what the reaction would be.” Meanwhile, there was speculation among the band’s older fans about how closely the new record would resemble Alive or Just Breathing – the last batch of songs this group worked on together. “I think it’s impossible to make another Alive or Just Breathing,” says Leach. “That album captured such a different time. Hopefully that’s what we did with this record, captured a moment in time.” When Leach left Killswitch Engage ten years ago, it wasn’t because he’d grown tired of the music or run into creative hostility with the other members. Rather, he was struggling to cope with the touring lifestyle and thus resolved he wasn’t suited to a career in music. However, he couldn’t stay away from music for too long. In the intervening years he’s assumed lead vocal duties in southern metal group Seemless, the more aggressive sounding The Empire Shall Fall and experimental metalcore duo Times of Grace (a collaboration with Killswitch guitarist/producer Adam Dutkiewicz). Still, music never became his chief vocation. “Prior to joining the band,” he explains, “I was working a regular job behind a bar, which I’ve always done – I work regular jobs, I’m a regular working class guy.” Given his past grievances, rejoining a full-time touring band was probably a daunting prospect. But Leach has learned to acknowledge the gig’s privileged nature. “[First single] In Due Time especially, it’s about my experience. [This is] almost like a second chance. All the struggle that I’ve gone through, all the pain and suffering that I put myself through, it all reveals itself.” Leach’s revitalised outlook rubbed off on the rest of the band, too. Even if it’s not always evident in the songs, genuine positivity underlined the Disarm the Descent recording sessions. “It was a pretty fun family atmosphere for all of us,” Leach explains. “Coming back into the band after being away for so long, and just being genuine friends on the basis of all that, it was exciting for us. It was a new lease on life for those guys and a total change of life for me.” The record’s gutsy vitality clearly reflects everyone’s in-studio enthusiasm. Leach notes that his close relationship with Dutkiewicz was hugely important for his harmonious re-entrance into the group. “He’s the guy that I need in the chair when I work; listening to what I have to say and helping me along here and there, correcting me or helping me refurbish or refine certain things. He’s sort of my creative/musical partner. He’s a soul brother of mine for sure.” Since dropping Disarm the Descent, the band’s touring program has been more expansive than ever, taking in Russia, South Africa and everywhere in between. They’re coming back to Australia this week and if anyone’s worried about Leach’s former distaste for touring besmirching his onstage attitude, well, they can rest easy. “I come out and I’m non-stop,” he boasts. “I run around like crazy. Between me and Adam it’s like an aerobics program out there. It’s definitely tough but I love it. I’ve fallen in love with it; it’s become a part of me. It’s not something I see that I’m going to stop doing anytime soon.” SEE
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KILLSWITCH ENGAGE play the Palace Theatre on Sunday April 13.
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YACHT CLUB DJS By Alexander Crowden
A chat with Yacht Club DJs often yields a broad range of topics. And speaking with one half of the Ballarat mash-up kings, Gaz Harrison, this occasion is no exception. From drinking out of shoes, switching between being a drinking and partying machine and being a social introvert, it’s all up for a discussion that’s as diverse as the content of one of their mixtapes. Yacht Club DJs have been starting parties, igniting shenanigans and are something of a cult act both here and overseas for several reasons. “We’ve done a lot, but I think we’ve still managed to maintain a kind of underground status, and I like that,” says Gaz. There are some drawbacks, however, that are associated with having a well known stage name yet its members being relatively unknown. Playing a sold out Karova Lounge, they walked onstage and were greeted with an angry and confused girl in the front row scream, “Are you fucking kidding me? That’s the dude that’s always sitting down the street having coffee. I paid $20 to see this?” Starting this Friday on the Gold Coast and hitting Melbourne’s Prince Bandroom the following week on Good Friday, live shows are on the way. The Oddity Number Five tour will see Yacht Club play some of their brand new mixtape of the same name live for the first time. In addition, fans will also get to hear some of the first ever fully original music created under the
Yacht Club name weaved into sets. Undertow is the band’s first single from their forthcoming EP that drops this Friday. Featuring Josh Haire from Gaz’s former band Them 9’s on vocals, the new track has no samples. However, it still sounds very much like a Yacht Club production, perhaps due to the fact that original production has already snuck into their mixtapes. “With Yacht Club, there’s always been a degree of original production in it – if we can’t find a drum beat, we’ll just produce one.” Melding live instruments with production equipment and programs produces results akin to The Avalanches, minus the samples. One of the main drawcards of Yacht Club is the diverse range of songs they play which others wouldn’t. They act as a vehicle to let people dance and get sweaty to music they may be too bashful to admit they actually like. Some of the songs contained in their mixes are considered guilty pleasures, which Gaz says is a “bunch of bullshit.”
“If you like it as a guilty pleasure then you genuinely like that music. I think after a while you work out it’s boring to only like one genre.” With a fresh tour about to start, so too will the famous antics of the pair. They are renowned for drinking bottles of spirits onstage, drinking out of shoes, swinging off rafters and then impressively backing it up night after night. The prudent question is how? “You definitely get into modes. You basically have a responsibility to people to be onstage. Touring kind of snaps you into gear.” Gaz claims the behaviour on the road is a perfect contrast to his life much of the time when he’s at home. “The rest of the time, I live in the country, I stay at home and try to stay fit, and only drink every couple of weeks. We generally work
so hard leading up to a tour that we treat touring like a big holiday where we can go play awesome shows.” Without touring, a heavy night of drinking will put Gaz out of action for days. “I got drunk on Australia Day and it took me three days to get over it.” Lastly, are there any surprises for the tour? “We built an actual proper stage, so we look a bit flashier, less like a ghetto house party,” Gaz laughs and sighs when he realises he’ll pick up this issue of Beat at his local pizza shop to read the article. “Oh no, the guys there will give me so much shit for saying we’re flashier.”
everybody with us to Australia, but that’s how loose the show can get.” The duo’s trip to Australia happens to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Nas’ Illmatic LP. Both men produced stand-out tracks for the album, which is still widely regarded as the best of its genre. “Once you make a classic, which Illmatic is, it never goes away,” Premier reflects. “For instance, right now, I’m playing The Chronic again, because it’s a classic. It will not die out, it will never get boring, you will always want to hear it. You’ll miss it if you don’t hear it for a while. “Same thing with Illmatic, every now and then I pop it back in. It’s like Paid In Full, it’s like Low End Theory, it’s like Raising Hell, it’s like Radio and Bigger And Deffer and Mama Said Knock You Out. It’s another one
you chalk up for the books.” All modesty aside, then, is DJ Premier the greatest hip hop producer of all time? “I mean, I think I am one of the greatest,” he says. “I don’t think I’m the greatest, even though you’re supposed to put yourself on the highest level of greatness. I admire other people who inspired me to do it, like James Brown, Prince, George Clinton, Rick Rubin, Dr Dre, Marley Marl, Howie Tee… you know, they’re my inspirations, because they did it before me. But I am confident that I am one of the greatest out there, because I strive to compete and destroy everybody else that’s out to be number one.”
sound he produced with those guys. We had been playing live for three years, that’s our audience base, and I guess for all of us with the first album, sometimes it felt like it might have taken away that live quality. So with Mikey, we wanted to experiment. “Playing that song, I first felt really uneasy trying to sing. It’s easy to be happy when playing in front of a bunch of people that have come along for a good time. The song is really dark, but it is also a song about being really strong and being able to stand up and say how you really felt. Liam [McGorry] writes all the songs, so it’s about his experience and feelings. So it can be hard to portray that while being genuine in how it comes across. That’s my biggest struggle – making sure the songs are genuine, that I’m not taking the piss out of anything.” Looking back on those nascent days at Cherry, Nkechi
feels a mix of pride and slight wistfulness. “From the band perspective, nothing’s really changed. We were playing Cherry every week for three years, so the challenge was to make sure we were getting better, that we didn’t have a shit week, thinking that people would get sick of coming to see us. But that wasn’t the case. We have played bigger venues, supported big acts, played overseas, played festivals we never imagined playing at this age. Looking back at Cherry, I love it for everything it’s done for us. I miss that Cherry was that big thing for us in the week. Playing that stage with those crowds.”
YACHT CLUB DJS play Prince Bandroom on Friday April 18 with REMI and Godwolf.
DJ PREMIER By Rohan Williams
DJ Premier might be the greatest producer in the history of hip hop. After emerging as one half of Gang Starr alongside the late emcee Guru, Premo quickly became known for epitomising the New York sound and for ‘speaking’ with his hands, scratching together lyrics from older tracks to construct new choruses. He’s produced classics for Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Big Daddy Kane, Mos Def, Fat Joe, Royce da 5’9”, Big L and dozens more. One of the only hip hop producers on Premo’s level is Pete Rock. First coming to prominence as one half of Pete Rock & CL Smooth (of ‘They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) fame), he lent his jazz-inflected style to classic records from the likes of Nas, Public Enemy, Big L, Common, Freddie Foxxx, Heavy D & The Boyz and Run DMC, and had a massive influence on Kanye West and J Dilla. Now, these two legends are coming together to launch the ‘Collusion’ series with co-op DJ sets across Australia. “Me and Pete have been doing this for two years,” Premier says. “We always do a different set. We just do all kinds of crazy things... We do karaoke. We get people up on stage who think they know the words to the record, and if they don’t, we kick them off the stage. We do a whole bunch of silly stuff.
“When we did it in New York in summer, it was amazing, because so many people came and we just said, ‘Yo, who wants to rock with us?’ Smoothe Da Hustler was there, so Pete put on Broken Language. Smoothe came up and rapped and the crowd went crazy. We were at the amphitheatre where they shot Wild Style and it was packed to the bone. I see Lil’ Fame at the back, so he comes up and I throw on Ante Up. All of a sudden, I see Sadat X, and he comes up and does Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down. I see Bumpy Knuckles, so I bring him on to do Shake The Room and Militia. Camp Lo comes on and does Luchini, and then Pete brings DMC on to do Down With The King. “That wasn’t scripted or rehearsed, that just happened because everybody was there while we were battling, going record-for-record. I know we can’t bring
DJ PREMIER & PETE ROCK play 170 Russell on Friday May 2.
SASKWATCH By Lachlan Kanoniuk
For a while there, explosive soul purveyors Saskwatch were something of a loosely kept secret amongst the Melbourne underground, with the nine-piece establishing themselves as lauded denizens of Thursday nights at Cherry Bar. The secret soon got out, seeing Saskwatch tear up stages and dancefloors at festivals across the globe. Following up from the debut Leave It All Behind, new album Nose Dive sees the outfit flex their honed musical acumen into stylistic grounds that extend beyond their rhythm ‘n’ blues core. “I think we’re trying to prove we’re not just a niche at the moment, that we are a credible, and incredible, band,” says vocalist Nkechi Anele. “That’s what we’re trying to do with this album. I guess what makes us different is that these are songs we’ve tried out for at least a year to live audiences – some of these songs were being played when the first album came out. It has taken a lot of work to make sure the stuff that’s different, songs you wouldn’t normally link with what Saskwatch is, still have merit, that they’re not just an idea outlined on the album. That’s been hard to make sure people take it seriously, that it’s not us trying to do somebody else’s genre badly.” Though exploring a variety of genres, the album retains a striking sonic cohesion. “We recorded with Lachlan Goold, also known as Magoo, who lives in BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 36
Queensland. We recorded at his place in a converted church an hour out of Brisbane. It’s the first time, apart from the single, that we’ve had a producer really work on an album with us, having a strong input in where we could take songs,” Nkechi states. “Recording in that space, being taken away from Melbourne, we were able to put that focus on the sonics of the album. Magoo has so much input into the sound, he’s one of the engineers that works on songs like he’s an instrumentalist, getting the best out of every song.” In between albums, Saskwatch teamed up with garage super-producer Mikey Young for the seven-inch I Get Lonely, creating a track with a loose, live atmosphere. “Mikey was another interesting experiment. We went that way because of Royal Headache and that live
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SASKWATCH’s Nose Dive is out this Friday April 11 via Northside Records. To celebrate, they play free in-store shows at Basement Discs at 12.45pm and Northside Records at 7pm on Tuesday April 15.
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DON FERNANDO
By Tom Valcanis
Don Fernando is an arse-shakin’ cocktail of stoner rock groove and deep ‘70s fuzz. Returning from a South American tour fit for a ravishing conquistador, frontman Andy Simpson hopes their homecoming at this year’s CherryRock Festival hears hordes of Aussie punters praising the ‘Don’. In the beginning, guitarist and vocalist Andy Simpson breathed life into Don Fernando. Forming in Wollongong, NSW in 2006, the band trucked down to Melbourne in ‘07. They quickly took root among cramped dives and rock haunts like Cherry Bar. “The members in the band were completely different to what they are now,” Simpson begins. “We’ve had bass players from Brisbane, drummers from Perth and the other guitarist is from Tassie.” Initially, the ‘Don’ was born to kick out lazy and equally damn heavy stoner jams. “I also decided to start a band where I’d kind of be the boss of it,” Simpson laughs. “I wanted to write most of the material with our main influences being Kyuss, Fu Manchu and Queens of the Stone Age,” Simpson notes. “We throw in a bit of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, too.”
Releasing one EP and two full lengths since, they caught the attention of locales both unusual and far afield. In November last year, Simpson and the band played a mountain of festival and club dates in South America, their “most successful tour so far,” Simpson gladly reports. “In terms of crowds it definitely was the best tour we’ve had. We got an opportunity to play to some bigger audiences. Somehow, probably through the power of the internet these days, we’ve developed a bit of a following over there. We had a profile we were relatively unaware of. Argentina and Brazil have a pretty strong underground stoner rock scene.” So, it went off without a hitch? “Oh, there were definitely a few hitches,” Simpson chuckles. “It’s so different over there, compared to
touring Europe. We just get off the plane, pick up a van with all our gear and backline and off we go for six weeks. In South America the distances were so vast we couldn’t do that. We’d fly from one gig to the next. The gear would be provided by the other bands. Amps here that cost $1,500 cost twice as much there. But the crowds were good and it was heaps of fun.” Returning to home soil slotted Don into supporting fellow stoner darlings Clutch on their Soundwave/ Earthrocker tour in February and Monster Magnet in Melbourne last Sunday night. The Don’s highly coveted gig was a March-long Wednesday residency at their beloved CherryBar. “Cherry Bar is definitely a spiritual home for us,” Simpson enthuses. “Our bass player is the manager there and it’s like a second home for all of us. “There’s something about CherryRock,” Simpson considers, having played CherryRock in 2012. “It’s got a certain vibe that I haven’t experienced at any other fes-
tival. It’s interesting chatting to the bands. We played when Fu Manchu played and they were stoked. It’s a small crowd compared to some of the other festivals. Everyone’s packed in the alley and just goes nuts!” The Don’s one goal, apart from kicking arse and rockin’ hard, is leaving a lasting impression on the Cherry Rock faithful and beyond. “We seem to be one of those bands that other bands know about,” Simpson observes. “We get a lot of respect from other bands, like Fu Manchu. I was surprised that they knew of us and been listening to our albums. I think as a band we just have to jump that fence into being more popular with the general public as opposed to dudes in other bands!” Here’s hoping. DON FERNANDO play CherryRock2014 in AC/ DC Lane on Sunday May 25.
MONEY FOR ROPE AND THE BOWERS By Patrick Emery Money For Rope and The Bowers are paid up members of the Mutual Admiration Society. Money For Rope loves The Bowers’ pop sensibility; The Bowers reckon Money For Rope are the real rock’n’roll deal. “Honestly, The Bowers are the best pop band that’s come out of Melbourne in a long time,” gushes Jules McKenzie, Money for Rope singer and guitarist. “We kept hearing these whispers around town for a while saying Money for Rope were going to be the best rock’n’roll band in town,” counters Liam Linley, guitarist and vocalist with The Bowers. “And then when I got to see them, I realised these guys were a gang, like brothers, and they play like that too. It’s like a full forward line of Tony Lockett, Jason Dunstall and Wayne Carey.” McKenzie reckons The Bowers is the band his musical gang is always in the mood to hear, whatever the occasion. “We’re all big fans of The Bowers, and we’re always saying whenever you wake, if you’re hanging out in the arvo or you want to party at night – it’s always Bowers time,” McKenzie says. “And every time it’s put on someone will say, ‘Fucking good call – great timing!’ It’s songwriting that’s uncommon in a lot of current bands – there’s something about the knack that’s been written into all these songs as fans of cool rock’n’roll
music. They do the pop music played thing, and it’s absolutely perfect for The Bowers, and that’s what people should be into.” Linley is no less effusive. “Their songwriting and music is what we in The Bowers love to listen to – good honest rock’n’roll. Money for Rope have the best hooks going around in town,” Linley says. “In many ways we feel thankful that we’ve got a gang with Money for Rope. And they write hits – they might not be hits, but they should be!” As if to consummate the bands’ mutual affection, Money for Rope and The Bowers have collaborated to put out a four-track 12” EP, which includes each band contributing a cover of one of the other’s songs: Money for Rope cover The Bowers’ Caught Your Smile, while The Bowers contribute what’s been described as an ‘upended’ version of Soup Bowl. The final product bears the simple, but appropriate title Split!, and will be released in time for Record Store Day on Saturday April 19. “The idea came from Phil [Gionfriddo, Bowers guitar-
ist] originally,” McKenzie says. “The original intention was to get both bands hanging out together in the studio for a day and do some songs.” “It’s a bit of an old tradition,” Linley adds. “Yeah, it’s a classic punk rock sort of thing,” McKenzie says. McKenzie is back in town briefly after venturing to the United States for Money for Rope’s first American tour. In a few weeks’ time, Money for Rope head back overseas to play a string of shows in Europe, including the legendary Glastonbury Festival. “I’ve got no idea who’s headlining, but all I know is that we’re playing on the John Peel stage, which is pretty cool,” McKenzie laughs. For The Bowers, the upcoming show at Howler with Money for Rope will be The Bowers’ first show in Mel-
bourne since August 2013. “We did a couple of recording sessions last year, one down at the beach, and one up at Gaz and Fi’s studio up in Nagambie,” Linley says. “So we’re hoping to get that together and put it out – and play some shows, which is a bit rare for us these days.” McKenzie is keen to make sure The Bowers’ return to the stage isn’t temporary. “It’s criminal that The Bowers aren’t more well known than they are,” he says. “When I watch The Bowers on stage it’s one of my moments of pure happiness.”
ethos, that kind of ties it all together for us. Two of the favourite bands between all of us is Sublime and The Clash, they’re both bands that combine a lot of styles.” The band recently came off tour in Australia, and after Beechworth Music Festival and the Polyester Books Benefit Show, they have some massive plans for the rest of 2014 and into next year, including new recordings and some major international touring. “Our last gig on the tour was March 16, then we’re going to do some more touring, and then aiming to record another album through the middle or the third quarter of the year,” he says. “Whether the album gets out this year or the start of next year I’m not sure, but that’s the
aim. We’re also going back to China, and we want to get back to America as well, but we don’t really know what we’re doing there, so we’ll see how we go.”
MONEY FOR ROPE and THE BOWERS play Howler on Thursday April 17. Split is out on Saturday April 19.
THE BENNIES
By Rod Whitfield
Beechworth is a small but well-known country town in Victoria’s North, famous for its bakery, the discovery of gold in the mid 1800s, and its connection with historic figures like Ned Kelly and Burke and Wills. It also holds a music festival every year in May, and 2014 sees a fantastic lineup of artists once again. One of the bands on the bill is crazy Melbourne-based genre-benders The Bennies, and the band’s vocalist Anty, speaking from his home, “listening to reggae music with [his] shirt off ”, tells us that he is very excited to be heading up towards the Victorian high country to be involved in the festival. “Super super pumped up!” he enthuses. “I love the bands we’re playing with, so I’m really excited for that reason.” If you haven’t experienced The Bennies before, you are in for a treat. They have been described as ‘genre-mashing’, fusing rock with punk, stoner, reggae, psychedelia and whatever else they can get their greedy musical hands on. But whatever label you want to lay on them, they are a band with no boundaries, as far as the musical styles they cover in their songs. More ‘genre-smashing’ than genre mashing, and Anty begrudgingly agrees. “Just depends which way you flip the coin I suppose,” he laughs. “We just try to change things up, challenge ourselves. It’s always interesting to find a new sound and see if we can work it in, we’ve all got short attention BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 38
spans, so it kinda comes from that. “With the genre thing, we get asked that a lot in interviews,” he goes on. “For a long time, that was a massive thing that people criticised us for. It was like, ‘They’re alright, but they can’t decide what genre they are’ and all this sort of stuff. Our attitude the whole time is, ‘If that’s your mindset, well you’re an idiot. If you need to be told what genre a band is before you can like it…I don’t really care what you think’. That’s our attitude anyway.” What it comes down to for the band members is just a hunger for new styles of music to listen to, be influenced by and bring into their own sound. “The common ground is a love of punk music and punk
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THE BENNIES will play the Polyester Books Benefit Show at The Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood on Tuesday April 15. Joining them will be The Lucy Wilson Band, Regrets and Apart From This. They also play Beechworth Music Festival on Saturday May 10, and in support of Kingswood at The Hi-Fi on Saturday May 24.
CORE
CRUNCH
PUNK, SKA, HARDCORE NEWS, REVIEWS & GOSSIP
By Emily Kelly: ek1984@gmail.com Bane have announced details of their fourth and final album Don’t Wait Up. It’s coming out through Equal Vision next month and will mark the final instalment in the Bane story. The band said, quite poetically, last week: “This is us with our jacket on, our hair is lean and we’re walking out the door and we look back an our loved ones and we’re like… don’t wait up…we’re going to be out late tonight”. Pre-orders are now available. More tour cancellations. This time from Toxic Holocaust and Skeletonwitch who are canning their run of shows, mere days before starting, due to illness. “Due to a serious prolonged ear infection suffered by Joel Grind of Toxic Holocaust, the Australia/New Zealand tour will not be happening in April. Joel has been recommended by his doctor not to fly until his condition is taken care of…Toxic Holocaust will be rescheduling their tour for November with another US band while Skeltonwitch will now be doing their own headline tour sometime later when the time permits in their busy schedule. No details yet on where or when refunds will be available. Closure In Moscow have announced a run of shows in support of their new album Pink Lemonade, which they’ll be releasing independently on Friday May 9. Catch them at The Evelyn on Saturday May 10 as the play a collection of old and new tracks. Funeral For A Friend have announced that they’re planning a split 7” with their mates in Boysetsfire in which they cover each other’s songs. Excellent independent label No Sleep Records will release the split, and I for one can’t wait to see Funeral For A Friend attempt to replicate even a fraction of the venom of Rookie. Some bands split up with much fanfare and final tours and special edition albums. Some bands like The Weakerthans continue as a band but cease tours and output and just make us all anxious and antsy. The Dangerous Summer recently posted “We are no longer a band.” The decision comes after vocalist AJ Perdomo became a father and decided to focus on being a rad dad. For now, the band suggest you “continue to listen and spread the love of The Dangerous Summer”. Peace out.
METAL, HEAVY ROCK. CLASSIC ROCK LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL GOOD SHIT
With Peter Hodgson: crunchcolumn@gmail.com
CORE GIG GUIDE WEDNESDAY APRIL 9: Empra, The Solicitors, Blackbird at Cherry Bar THURSDAY APRIL 10: Midnight Shifter, Stephen Black trio, Offspring of Convicts at The Reverence We Disappear, Divide and Conquer at Next FRIDAY APRIL 11: RVIVR, Outright, Masses, Disinterested at Wrangler Studios Jamie Hay, Darren Gibson, Tim Hampshire, Georgia Maq, Jess Locke at Bar 303 Maids at Bar 291 Bateman, Nola, Jack The Stripper, Party Vibes, Old Love at Reverence Hotel Divide and Conquer at EVs Youth Center Maniaxe, Hordes of the Black Cross, Diabolical Demon Director, Sarfaust and Deathripper at The Bendigo Brand New Eyes, Static Revenue at Bada Bing Frankston SATURDAY APRIL 12: RVIVR, Ouch My Face, Fear Like Us, Underwires at Reverence Hotel For Today, Prepared Like A Bride, To The Airship at Bang Maids at Old Bar For Today, Prepared Like A Bride, To The Airship at Bang When Giants Sleep, Divide and Conquer at Wrangler Studios Rort, People Problem, Shackles, Bloodrule, Caged Grave at The Bendigo Guards of May, Crash and Burn, Lung, Arakeye at The Reverence SUNDAY APRIL 13: Killswitch Engage, Kill Devil Hill at The Palace Maids at Cherry Bar For Today, Prepare Like A Bride, Void Of Vision, Proclaim, Hideaway at Arrow on Swanston Maybe Rave, Stand Atlantic at Lilydale Bridge Builders Bateman, Nola at Musicman Megastore, Bendigo
GLORYHAMMER HIT THE ESPY
UK Heroic Fantasy Power Metal band Gloryhammer will be touring Australia for the first time ever in just over two weeks time with special guests LagerStein. Gloryhammer is a new project formed by Christoper Bowes, the mastermind behind pirate-metal sensation Alestorm. They’re at The Espy on Saturday April 19, and The Barwon Club Hotel in Geelong on Monday April 21.
SKELETONWITCH/TOXIC HOLOCAUST TOUR POSTPONED
Ah this sucks. The Toxic Holocaust/Skeletonwitch tour planned for later this month has been postponed due to a severe medical condition affecting Joel from Toxic Holocaust. It’s a serious and prolonged ear infection, and doctors have advised him not to fly until it’s taken care of. He’ll likely need to undergo surgery to avoid any permanent damage to his hearing. Toxic Holocaust will be rescheduling their tour for November with another US band, whilst Skeletonwitch will now be doing their own headline tour sometime later when time permits in their busy schedule..
THE AUSSIE ALTERNATIVE PRESENTS
The Aussie Alternative is very proud to announce its next Melbourne live show. The Bendigo Hotel in Johnston St, Collingwood unleashes a very diverse and powerful lineup on Thursday April 10. Up-and-coming Queensland rock act Guards of May are heading off on tour to support their superb new single Arcadia, and they are doing their Melbourne single launch this night. Also on the lineup are three powerhouse local acts: conceptual rockers Crash and Burn, hot on the heels of releasing their stunning debut album Redesign; the highly entertaining High Side Driver, and new Melbourne rock act Lazarus Mode, who have just released their superb debut EP, the appropriately titled Ignite.
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SKID ROW & UGLY KID JOE
Don’t forget Ugly Kid Joe and Skid Row are touring in late April with the awesome Dead City Ruins, who are also serving as the support for the European tour. They’ll be at the Palace Theatre on Friday April 25. Tickets from Oztix or Ticketek.
CH-CH-CH-CHERRYROCK
Playing their first show in Australia in over twenty years Meat Puppets will headline CherryRock014 in AC/DC Lane this year on Sunday May 25. CherryRock014 Melbourne is the eighth CherryRock street rock ’n’ roll festival and will take place from noon till 9.30pm with 13 acts playing across two stages with no clashes. Other confirmed first-round acts include Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk, King of The North, Beastwars (NZ), Drunk Mums, Child, Bitter Sweet Kicks, The Harlots and Don Fernando. Tix available now from cherrybar.com.au for a short time only so be quick.
MUSIC VICTORIA RELEASE REGIONAL LIVE MUSIC CENSUS
Regional live music contributes $276.2 million to the state economy but needs a coordinated state-wide strategy and dedicated ‘one-stop shop’ office to help stimulate the regional touring circuit, according to Music Victoria’s Regional Live Music Census 2013. The report, compiled over the last six months by Music Victoria in collaboration with NMIT, RMIT, Box Hill Institute, Victoria University and JMC Academy, found that the 3.8 million patrons attended small venues and festival gigs in regional areas. 37% of venues reported an increase in patronage in the last 12 months, 17% reported a decrease and 46% estimated their patronage level as the same. “The report demonstrates the value of live music activity to the regional economy and its importance in job creation,” said author Dobe Newton. “Nevertheless, a significant number of operators are increasingly impacted by the regulatory system - just as are their counterparts in metro venues. A coordinated effort involving a wide range of stakeholders including regional artists and venues, industry and local government will help to ensure long-term health and growth.” The full report is available to download from the Music Victoria website:
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MUSIC NEWS
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WEDNESDAY APRIL 9 BEAUTIFUL BEASTS
Beautiful Beasts are a multi-genre powerhouse. A funky blend of indie pop/rock, folk and soul. Influences ranging from the freedom loving ‘60s to modern day alternative rock/soul. The dynamic, intimate and moody live shows have/are intriguing audiences all over Melbourne. Every song seems to flirt in and out of popular genres while maintaining a steady unique sound. While listening to the lyrics you will be transported within a beautiful bubble of painted emotion, to then have it popped by brutal honesty. There is something different about this bunch and we like it. Playing at the Grace Darling on April 9 with The Blue Hotel and The Divine Nexus. $11 on the door.
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.
BLUE HOTEL
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, who are currently awaiting the release of their debut EP. This evening is set to showcase the band's talents alongside their friends Beautiful Beasts and The Divine Fluxus in support.
LILITH LANE AND HER MANY WIVES
Originally from Melbourne, singer/songwriter/ musician Lilith Lane released her debut self-titled solo album in 2008 where she was nominated for Best Female artist in the Age EG awards, appeared on SBS television’s RocKwiz with Tim Finn, appeared as a guest songwriter at Melbourne Writers Festival and received airplay on Radio National, triple j, Triple R and PBS FM. She has played and recorded both internationally and in Australia on vocals, guitar, piano and keys with various artists including Black Pony Express, The Ukeladies, Four Hours Sleep, Horsestories, Angie Hart, The Devastations, Cam Butler and many more. She performs with guests each Wednesday night at The Old Bar for the paltry sum of $6.
RORY MCLEOD
Rory McLeod, the UK’s one-man Cockney soul band, poet and storyteller, who sings his own unique upbeat dance stories will be gracing the stage of the Yarra Hotel Abbotsford on Wednesday April 9. A modern travelling troubadour using tap shoes, acappella, harmonica, guitar, trombone, spoons, finger cymbals, bandorea, djembe and various percussion instruments, Rory is an amazing performer and not to be missed. Catch him at the Yarra from 8.30pm. Tickets through trybooking. com or at the door.
BRUNSWICK HOTEL OPEN MIC
Whether you play a comedian, poet, musician or dancer, you are welcome at the Brunny Every Wednesday for their Open Mic night. Register from 7pm onwards, the timeslot raffle is drawn out at 7.30pm. Get in early to ensure you get a spot! $10 Jugs of Boags Draught all night for those needing liquid courage.
THURSDAY APRIL 10 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
ANIMAUX
To kick off their 2014, Animaux has announced another one of their famous residencies at Melbourne’s Evelyn Hotel. 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 unprecedented 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. See them at the Evelyn every Thursday through April.
RANDOM AXE OF GRINDNESS
Sunny Albeau is old school keyboardist, DJ and band leader of future-funk act Random Axe Of Grindness. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Albeau has performed a blend of improvised beats, rare grooves and electro funk at festivals and clubs around the world. Albeau, who combines cutting-edge electro gadgetry with synth instruments like the Hammond Organ and other vintage keys straight out of the Roland Museum, will be performing at Yah Yahs on Thursday April 10. Featuring guest performances by Sebatron and other
THURS 17TH APRIL
(GOOD FRIDAY EVE) HOWLIN’ STEAM TRAIN + THE SCOUTS
wednesDAY 9th APRIL
MISS EILEEN & KING LEAR RESIDENCY + MERRI CREEK PICKERS FREE ENTRY, SHOWTIME 8:30PM
saturday 12th APRIL THE EARS + MIDNIGHT SCAVENGERS
**CD SINGLE LAUNCH**
+ SUZIE STAPLETON DUO
SUNDAY 13th APRIL TEK TEK ENSEMBLE
THURS 24TH APRIL (ANZAC DAY EVE) VULGARGRAD + ZAPOROZHETS
SAT 26TH APRIL
DALLAS CRANE *SINGLE LAUNCH* + CASH SAVAGE & THE LAST DRINKS
TUES 8th, 15th 22nd & 29th APRIL
LET’S GET TRIVICAL MUSIC THEMED TRIVIA HOSTED BY LAURA IMBRUGLIA
MATINEE RESIDENCY (2 X SETS)
TUESDAY 15th APRIL LET’S GET TRIVICAL
MUSIC THEMED TRIVIA FROM 8:30PM
THURSDAY 24th APRIL HOWLIN’ STEAM TRAIN +THE SCOUTS
(GOOD FRIDAY EVE) FREE ENTRY, 8:30PM
SATURDAY 26th APRIL DALLAS CRANE
**SINGLE LAUNCH** + CASH SAVAGE & THE LAST DRINKS
DOORS / DINNER 6:30PM | SHOWTIME 9PM
HAPPY HOUR $8 Pints Of Craft Beer 4pm-6pm Daily
KITCHEN HOURS
Tues-Thurs: 4:00pm-9:30pm Fri: 4:00pm-10:30pm Sat: 2:00pm-10:30pm Sun: 2:00pm-9:30pm
TICKETS
For ticket sales visit www.spottedmallard.com
314 SYDNEY RD BRUNSWICK
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RAOG collaborators, this promises to be a one-ofa-kind live electro show with the band playing and recording tracks from their forth coming debut EP. “Sunny Albeau has taken keyboard funk and soulful DJing to another level." Doors open at 7pm (live music starts 9pm), free entry.
KYLIE AULDIST & THE GLENROY ALLSTARS
Soul will be coming from the basement at Cherry Bar this Thursday April 10 with live soul from 10pm. DJs Vince Peach and Pierre Baroni late, $10 from 8pm till 5am.
MIDNIGHT SHIFTER
Jam-heavy four-piece funk rock band Midnight Shifter move freely in their sound, letting humour and fun inform them instead of genre restrictions. In the funk rock genre it’s hard not to draw Chili Peppers references — as if that were a bad thing — but with that being said, Midnight Shifter goes well above and beyond the expected, driven by pure, carnal energy and fearlessness towards experimentation with different sounds. They plan to release their frenetic, uncontrollable energy on stage at The Reverence Hotel, Thursday April 10. It’s going to be one unmissable show with supports from Stephen Black Trio and Offspring of Convicts.
ARRESTER
Arrester is a new band featuring Simon Connolly, Joe Foley and Jacqui Brannelly, formerly of Aleks and the Ramps and Pourparlour. Forming in mid-2013 when Simon realised he had a surplus of songs and no band to play them with, Arrester have recently begun hitting the stages of Melbourne’s finest venues. Sounding like a cross between Buffalo Tom and Wilco, Arrester’s sound is firmly and unashamedly rooted in the indie rock of the ‘90s. Joining them at The Retreat on Thursday April 10 will be Rich Davies and Band as well as the gorgeous folk-pop sounds of Oh Pep!.
MUSIC NEWS
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EVIL BEAVER
THE QUEEN’S HEAD
This Thursday April 10 at Old Bar, The Queen’s Head arise from their slumber and play their first Melbourne show in almost a year. If you like synthy stuff and beatsy stuff and bangin’ stuff then this could well be up your alley. Joining them are the orgasmic duo of Will Hindmarsh and Dave Graney in Wam&Daz — street poet synth ganstas — and Milkshake, featuring members of Bored Nothing. Entry is $8 with free high five on arrival.
THE GUARDS OF MAY
The Aussie Alternative has just announced its next Melbourne live show. They play the Bendigo Hotel unleashing a very diverse and powerful line-up on Thursday April 10. Up-and-coming Queensland rock act Guards of May are heading off on tour to support their superb new single Arcadia, and they are doing their Melbourne single launch this night. Also on the lineup are three powerhouse local acts: conceptual rockers Crash and Burn, hot on the heels of releasing their stunning debut album Redesign; the highly entertaining High Side Driver and new Melbourne rock act Lazarus Mode, who have just released their superb debut EP, the appropriately titled Ignite.
TEENAGE MOTHERS
Hold on to your heartache Fitzroy cause LA’s queens of sleaze punk Evil Beaver are coming back to Australia. Last seen on our shores touring with Peaches, Evil Beaver are a two-piece garage punk onslaught led by the powerhouse banshee that is Evil Evie on vocals and bass. DD on drums is unstoppable and always gives a top notch pounding and together they are very happy to be performing a free show at Yah Yahs on Friday April 11 for the Melbourne rock posse. Don’t miss the killer Evil Beaver live show that has taken the band all over the world with stellar support on the night from Melbourne punk juggernaut Wolfpack, female shredders Liquor Snatch and new local thrash scoundrels Sex Grimes. The good times are guaranteed and entry is free. Doors open at 7pm (live music starts from 9pm), late tunes by mohair slim.
MILES BONNY
As Sly & The Family Stone once sang – it’s a family affair. The Operatives have teamed up with fellow Melbourne music purveyors Condensed Milk to present Miles Bonny for an intimate gig at Howler April 11. Supports include Operatives and Condensed Milk Agent Amin Payne, who will be teaming up with Cazeaux O.S.L.O while Able 8 drops his infectious beats with soul singer Alex Vella-Horne. Mysterious ensemble Cocanoire will be performing as well as a very special guest from Singapore – Darker Than Wax cofounder and shining selector Funk Bast*rd. Tickets are $10 before 10pm at the door and then $15 afterwards.
LE BELLE
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 songwriting 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.
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.
RENEGADE 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 (LABOUR IN VAIN) VS ROCHESTER LIONS OLD BAR UNICORNS VS TOTE FC THE GOUGERS VS LOMOND BARRACUDAS
This Thursday April 10 ,Teenage Mothers play at the Liberty Social in Flinders Lane with sozzled friends New Gods. New Gods are bloody excellent at songwriting. You might know them from Little Red, Ground Components and other banging outfits. Teenage Mothers will play a noisydelic set previewing their forthcoming debut album, produced by Jim Sclavunos from The Bad Seeds and Grinderman. Plus the Spiritualized-meet-Big-Beat grandeur of Warmth Crashes In and the blistering punk of talented newcomers TV Orphans. Doors 9pm and it’s only ten bucks!
FRIDAY APRIL 11 SECRET TSUNAMI
After a truly overwhelming response to the release of their debut single at Rock The Bay festival this year, folk-rockers Secret Tsunami have announced a national tour to celebrate the release of their debut EP Summit. Support comes from Lebelle who are launching their debut single as well as Lucid Planet, The Rolling Perpetual Grove Show and a party set from The Simon Wright Band. See Secret Tsunami on Friday April 11 at The Evelyn.
DAN DANE DANNY
World-renowned physical comedian Daniel Oldaker, magician Dane Certificate and musician Danny Walsh are putting on another variety show at Dane Certificate’s Magic Theatre, this Friday April 11. Their first show was such a bizarre hit, they’ve decided to serve it up again, this time with extra bananas, tuna and corn, so you won’t want to miss this one! Doors 9pm, $10.
BATEMAN
Bateman will release their debut album Smut independently, and for free download. The album is a step up for the Melbourne group, taking a more intense turn than their 2012 debut EP with the 10 tracks that comprise the album making for a savage, urgent, and uncompromising release. To celebrate, Bateman will hit the road to support the release of Smut with Japanese hardcore band Nola. This will mark Nola’s first trip overseas and will make for a tour which is not to be missed. They play the Reverence Hotel on Friday April 11 with Jack the Stripper, Party Vibez and Old Love.
BLACK ACES
Black Aces will be having their Hellbound EP launch show this Friday Aprill 11 at Cherry Bar. Supports from Smoke Stack Rhino and Killshot. Tickets are $13 on the door from 8pm till 11.30pm.
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
THE RUM RUNNERS
For the first time in 1000 years, The Rum Runners will be storming the shores of the Brunswick Hotel in their first ever headlining gig. Also depleting the bar will be the epic presence that is Aquilus, the fast and fierce Trigger, and the bone-bending beats of Reflex Rex. Bands from 9pm.
243 Swanston St, CBD 03 9663 2916 Facebook.com/loungemelbourne @loungemelbourne Soundcloud.com/loungemelbourne
SEMINAL RATS
WEDNESDAY FROM 10PM
APR 9th
BLOW OUT Get Busy, Mat Cant & Sammy the Bullet
THURSDAY FROM 10PM
apr 10TH
CLUB COCO CC:DISCO!, This is Disco.
FRIDAY apr 11th
FROM 10PM
GET LIT D'fro, YO!MAFIA, Hans DC
S aT U R D A Y
$10 from midnight.
FROM 10PM
apr 12th
Brodie, DJ Ben, Baby Bjorn
APR 13th
$25 Entry
FROM
@PEACE AND THE PLUTONIAN NOISE SYMPHONY
2AM
Pleasure Planet 24 Hour Party Beenak, Juxpose, DJ Kiti, Chiara Kickdrum, Will Elder, Phaon, Kindred, SOT, Kangaroo Skull, Harold, Tuc, Jake Blood, PWD.
JACK ON FIRE
This weekend, get a double-dose of Jack on Fire. They play Friday April 11 at the Post Office Hotel from 9pm, free entry and two sets. Get about as oiled as a diesel train. Gonna set this town alight. Saturday night’s the night I like. Saturday night’s alright alright alright. Oh Oh Oh. Hot-blooded purveyors of swamp rock Jack On Fire performing two sets at The Sookie Lounge this Saturday night. Support from that wellbred genteel Joshua Seymour of Cherrywood. Free entry, 9pm.
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 four 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.
apr 15th
FROM 10PM
ta s t e m a k e r s Ghost, Kodiak Kid, Able 8
Potato Cake and The Public Bar present an intimate and sweaty evening...setting sail in an inflatable boat, on a sea of whiskey and rum with two flaming hot one-man bands, mates from Adelaide town, locals to guide the way, and DJs Heels on Decks spinning tunes ‘til the wee hours. Catch Bob Log III, Rattlin’ Bones Blackwood, Kitchen Witch (SA), and The Vacant Smiles at Public Bar on Friday April 11
Magic Hands are 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 GOGO GODESSES
243 Swanston St, CBD Facebook.com/gloriaswanstonskitchen @gloriaswanstonskitchen
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 42
SATURDAY APRIL 12
This Saturday April 12, Melbourne band Manny Fox will bring their joyous live set to Bar Open with The Willie Wagtails. Drums filled with locomotion and heat, steadfast bass, shimmering guitar and wailing horns combine with doo-wop backing vocals calling out catchy refrains as punters get to shaking. Featuring members from stellar bands: Sweets, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Papa Chango and Hello Satellites. Manny Fox spent 2013 wowing Victorian audiences and never fail to bring each dance floor to a frenzy with their R&B and Afrobeat inspired tunes. This year Manny Fox are gearing up to release their much anticipated debut 7”. The single, produced by Joe Hammond and accompanying film clip, produced by Brian Cohen at Umbershoot, will be released in July. Head down and shake your rump at Bar Open. Doors 10pm. Free entry.
RVIVR
RVIVR (USA) make their way to Australia for the first time ever. Energetic, queer, political, feel good, DIY pop punk at its best. It’s a much anticipated tour, right off the back of Erica Freas solo tour that happened in January. Featuring members of Latterman, Shorebirds, Hooky, Lightnin’ Around and more - for those of you keeping track. They play the Reverence Hotel on Saturday April 12 with supports from Ouch My Face, Fear Like Us and The Underwires. Tix are $15.
ESC
LOWER PLENTY
Lower Plenty will be playing their first show at the Yarra Hotel Abbotsford this Saturday night with special guests Moon Rituals and DJ Tilly. Lower Plenty’s transfixing LP Hard Rubbish was voted Album of the Year 2012 on Aussie indie bible Mess + Noise and was released worldwide back in April. Named after a Melbourne suburb, Lower Plenty are comprised of some of the city’s most talented musicians. The quartet of Daniel Twomey, Jensen Tjhung, Sarah Heyward and Al Montfort hail from various other bands such as Deaf Wish, Total Control, UV Race and The Focus. A departure from the harsher sounds of their other projects, Lower Plenty create beautifully melancholy, suburban-country music that’s made (and often performed) while sitting around the kitchen table. Catch them this Saturday night at the Yarra from 8.30pm. Free entry.
The sons and daughters of Melbourne’s first wave of punks, Max, Bonnie, Milo, and Finne grew up on a healthy diet of Rowland S. Howard, Sonic Youth, and Les Rallizes Dénudés. Esc’s latest single Atomic Shadow was picked up by Rage as ‘Indie of the Week’ and was also featured on Mess+Noise, Poncho TV, and All I Do Is Listen. They are about to record their debut album but need your help in the form of attendance on Saturday April 12. Esc will be raising funds for the recording and will be releasing a remix of Atomic Shadow from Rat & Co, as well as a sweet personal mix-tape. Come down and enjoy the sounds of Premium Fantasy, Strangers From Now On, Shima and ESC at the Evelyn Hotel.
THE SPASMS
The Spasms come out of their cave to splatter the Public Bar’s 2AM slot with garage punk psych this Saturday April 12. With a true DIY 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. Get psyched. This Saturday April 12 at Public Bar. Free Entry.
60 SECONDS with THE BON SCOTTS
BOB LOG III
MAGIC HANDS
t u e s d ay
Melbourne fuzz-rock exponents Pretty City are back with new single Piece Of The Puzzle. After a year of relentless touring and shows promoting the Heights EP, Pretty City wrote Piece Of The Puzzle in 20 minutes as a carefree, grungy after-party to the rock and roll adventure of 2013. Expect jangling guitar hooks, catchy vocals and a breezy psychedelic groove. The band take Piece Of The Puzzle on their largest tour yet, hitting regional centers and capital cities across three states. They celebrate this Friday April 11 at Ding Dong Lounge with supports from Sunbeam Sound Machine, My Piranha and Bloodhounds On My Trail.
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.
SOUL SAFARI
Baker St
s u n d ay MORNING
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.
PRETTY CITY
MANNY FOX
Two Titans of the Melbourne garage scene strut their stuff across The LuWow’s leopard skin bedecked stage for this month’s instalment of everybody’s fave teen sixties TV show Garage A GoGo. The go-go godesses will shake and shimmy in their cages and the DJs will spin foot-moving slabs of vintage garage vinyl. All this compared by Jumpin Josh and the bountiful Miss Barbara Blaze (Frat Shack, Wild Weekend). The Exotics stomp the stage with their throbbing, lusty, voodoo jungle rock'n'roll beat, and Midnight Woolfe need no introduction as Melbourne’s primo exponents of stripped-down Memphis garage. Garage a go-go, Friday April 11.
Having been a little while since your last release (2011’s We All Die At the Hands of C.G.I.), it’s great to hear the new single The Weekend Bends. Is there a new album on the way? Of course. We are currently recording and working on tracks for it. The tentative title is Modern Capitalism Gets Things Done. Listening to The Weekend Bends, it would seem a huge variety in instrumentation and particular emphasis on backing vocals have led to a fuller more rambunctious sound for you guys. Is this a sound you were consciously aiming for? Definitely. We are really aiming at capturing the energy of our live show more. We have so much fun onstage, and we don’t feel that previous releases ever captured that energy, so getting that feeling on tape is one of our main goals with this record. Is it something that we can expect of future releases? We have demoed about 25 tracks so far, and most of them have a big live feel. With seven musicians who all sing and shout we tend to lean that way naturally, but at the same time, we have a few really orchestral songs that are vying for contention. It really will come down to what makes the best record. Which is the most annoying/difficult instrument to tour with? Cellos just don’t pack down well. It used to be the harp,
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but we rarely take it on tour, being so fragile. It’s a bit of a Melbourne only treat now. And which band member…? No one really stands out. We all have our good and bad days, but most of the time it just sort of carries on from our live show. We all get along so well, and have an absolute ball on the road. Are you road testing new material? If so, how has it been received? We are trying out a couple of new songs. They have all gone down pretty well so far. We are finding we have favourites, so some of them get more stage time than others. We’ve also had a couple of lineup changes which has brought new ideas to old songs which have freshened them up and made them exciting and fun to play again. How do you guys like to unwind when you get away from music? I surf, drink whisky and eat Chinese food. When can we look forward to more new material from you guys? You can probably expect something from us in October/November. THE BON SCOTTS play The B.East on Saturday April 12.
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GAURDS OF MAY
Guards of May are back in Melbourne to celebrate the release of their new single Arcadia. They have seen the love for their previous single Numbers, which was added to rotation on Triple M’s playlist across the country and spun on triple j. In their first 2 years as a band, Guards completed a number of east-coast tours while sharing the stage with some of the cream of Australian rock; Grinspoon, Spiderbait, Helm, Strangers, Sydonia, and Dead Letter Circus to name a few. They continue to impress audiences with their mix of heavy progressive rock and melodic, dynamically interesting songs. They play the Reverence Hotel on Saturday of April 12.
JUKEBOX RACKET
Another great Loco Maloko team up between our favourite Frat Rockers - Jukebox Racket, laying down two sets of old time golden goodness and Julian Savage A.K.A. Screaming J, letting loose on the decks. Jukebox Racket could start a party at a funeral, these guys hamonise and bounce their way perfectly through steady sing-along retro party favourites. Screaming J has just moved over from old London town and has got them jumping all over town in places such as Madame Jo Jo’s, The Jazz Café, The Haggerston, Alibi Club, Hootenanny. See them let loose at LuWow on Saturday April 12.
THE VELVETS
Melbourne’s dirty blues-rockers The Velvets are launching their Cold Souls & Heartless Dolls EP at The Public Bar on Saturday April 12. Joining them on the night will be up-and-coming Melbourne rockers The Cherry Dolls, local legends Ugly Kings and Brisbane rock’n’roll stalwarts Old Fashion. With doors opening at 8.30pm, and a measly $10 entry, the night is gearing up to be full of rock’n’roll debauchery and mayhem.
CRATE DIGGER RECORD FAIR
Crate Digger Record Fair continues at Yah Yah’s with the second instalment for 2014 with on Saturday April 12. Doors open at midday and you can enjoy rifling through crate upon crate of records from a wide range of stallholders selling personal collections and special treats acquired specifically so that you can take them home to pop on the turntable in your best cardigan by the open fire place. As usual, sellers will have vinyl diamonds covering all genres, so there’s something for everyone. So whether you’re into Nick Cave, The Replacements, Metallica, Wanda Jackson, Clarence Carter or Dusty Springfield, everyone will find some shelf fillers at the record fair. Doors open at midday – so vinyl junkies, we’ll see you down at the Crate Digger Record Fair upstairs downstairs at Yah Yah’s on Saturday April 12, just before Easter and World Record Store Day the following week. Entry is free, 12pm til 5pm. (please note, Hello Sailor Vintage Fair is not happening on April 12).
CHEEK TO CHEEK: ASRC FUNDRAISER
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, Andrew 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 is Saturday best. Northcote Town Hall, doors open at 2pm Saturday April 12, tickets are $30 pre-sale and $40 at the door.
SKIPPING GIRL VINEGAR
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.
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 them at The Tote on Saturday April 12.
MEGAN WASHINGTON
Multiple ARIA awarding winning Megan Washington will play a special show at Howler this April, in support of her new single Who Are You. Recorded in London’s RAK Studios and Peter Gabriel’s New World and produced by Samuel Dixon, Who Are You, is definitely well worth the wait. Sold Out.
GLUEFOOT
Gluefoot is finally releasing their album at the Reverence Hotel on Sunday April 13 with a brilliant mix of alt country/ psych and experimental pop sounds. This one is not to be missed. He will be supported by Paul Trigg and David White. Show starts at 4pm and is free.
THE LONG STAND
Grazing on the same fertile musical pastures as such luminaries as The Jayhawks and Wilco, The Long Stand combine classic country songwriting with a form of southern rock to create a sound that’s equal parts measured and chaotic. Starting as a songwriting project, with a debut public outing on Triple R, The Long Stand have since gone on to expand the lineup and polish up a live show worthy of attention. They’ll be bringing said live show to the Drunken Poet this Saturday April 12 at 9pm.
LA BASTARD
Riotous Melbourne surf/soul/rockabilly band La Bastard bring their exhilarating live show to The Curtin on Saturday April 12 to launch their brand new 7” single! Recorded at Coloursound Studios. Promise Me/In Deep takes La Bastard in a new, ‘60s garage inspired direction. Side A Promise Me sees vocalist Anna Lienhop sharply trade lines with tremolopicked surf licks. Side B In Deep sees La Bastard get playful with ‘60s psych, delving into acoustic guitars, fuzzed-out guitar solos and cavernous vocal echo. And just for kicks, a shredding cover of Japanese surf quintet The Sharp Five’s 1966 single Golden Guitar is included as a bonus digital download with purchase of the 7” single. La Bastard are honoured to be joined for this event by the legendary Ron S Peno & The Superstitions (featuring former Died Pretty frontman Ron Peno and Cam Butler of Silver Ray), as well as killer swingin’ soul octet, The Eighty 88s.
HUE BLANES
Pound Records is over the moon to be releasing a 12" vinyl recording of the long awaited Hue Blanes’ debut Sad Songs Make Me Happy. A founding member of electro hip-hop outfit The Melodics, Mr Blanes was musical director on the Aboriginal comedy The New Black, and currently plays keys with The Harry James Angus Band. A virtuoso pianist with a musky, melancholic singing voice, Hue Blanes has been playing music since he was seven. He is a Melbourne institution, dug in deeper than a tick, and co-runs Jazz Party, a pop-up underground music dive, and plays keys for soul/funk legends The Bamboos. Hue wrote the album cycling between his home in Brunswick, and his mother’s house in Blackburn. In his own words, this album "captures uncertainty." This performance will be both a celebration of the new album and a glimpse into his new direction both as a composer and pianist. Head down on Sunday April 13 to Bennetts Lane. Doors at 8pm.
JACK HOWARD
Jack Howard is the only trumpet player in the ARIA Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has been described as “one of the great quiet achievers of Australian music.” He spent seventeen years as an integral member of Hunters and Collectors and he’s played with the likes of Midnight Oil, The Living End, You Am I, Violent Femmes, Pete Murray, Little Red, Crown Of Thorns and The Break. Most weekends, you’ll find Jack out there playing somehow, somewhere around Melbourne. With his band of Long Lost Brothers, he plays the Retreat Hotel Brunswick, Sunday April 13, with support from The Orginals. Free Entry.
JAMIE JAMES AND SALAD DAYS
Jamie James and her band Salad Days are releasing their new album Leaf Me Alone While I'm Dressing this coming Saturday at the deli section of Woolworths in Pakenham. Deciding to do something different from normal bands, they will try to address the overindulgence in cold meats and prawns this Christmas season and try and draw more people to salads. Supports from Elvis pParsley and Hoobastank. Entry is $8.99 per kilo.
WES CARRS BUFFALO TALES
With a ragged, soaring voice recalling Bon Iver, coupled with the rambling spirit and storytelling of Woody Guthrie, Buffalo Tales’ mastermind Wes Carr has a keen ear for the past, while simultaneously blazing his own trail. On their debut LP Roadtrip Confessions, Buffalo Tales spin universal tales of hard-bitten love, travel, and the eternal search for happiness and salvation. They’ll be launching the LP at Revolver Upstairs on Saturday April 12. Entry is $12 and doors open at 8.30pm.
JULY DAYS
July Days will be playing at Cherry Bar as part of the Photos tour this Saturday April 12 with Kid Zues & The Peeks. Doors open at 5pm, tickets are $13 from 8pm to 11pm and DJ Lucy Arundel will play until 5am.
THE BON SCOTTS
Melbourne new-folk act, The Bon Scotts will be taking the the B.East this Saturday April 12. Doors open at 8 and entry is free.
SUNDAY APRIL 13 MIDNIGHT WOOLF
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 lineup of the best garage, surf and punk our amazing little town can dish up for just $8.
TORA
Due to their well-received appearance at Falls Festival and after various requests from new attentive fans, Byron Bay five piece band Tora will be releasing their new single These Eyes in March and following it up with a tour in late March/April. Since the release of their debut EP in October, Tora have been blogged all over the web, reaching thousands of listeners and scoring airplay from KCRW, triple j Unearthed and ABC Radio. Tora’s music, with its three-part vocal harmonies, layered rhythms and pulsing sound scapes have had them compared to the likes of James Blake and Sohn.
SHIPWRECKING BOWLS
Great bands, cheap booze, sausage sizzle and lawn bowls. What better way to spend a laid back Sunday afternoon in April than listening to great rock’n’roll music and playing lawn bowls? Shipwrecking Bowls presents a fantastic lineup that includes Gorsha’s pole vaulting rock rhythms and kicking melodies, the surf inspired DIY punk of the Hondas, the psychedelic rock grooves of the Strange, Grand Prismatics’ noisy tones and explosive pop, Vicuna Coat’s cosmic and intoxicating odes to drinking beer, the absurdist post-space age punk rock of Rayon Moon, music for a generation obsessed with their retro futuristic dress sense and white goods made in the 60’s. Shipwrecking Bowls will go down on Sunday April 13 at Thornbury Bowls Club on Balantyne Street. Six bands, cheap drinks, $10 entry.
KEN STRINGFELLOW
After flooring all who attended the Big Star’s third tribute show for Sydney Festival in January and his subsequent solo shows with Chris Stamey and Skylar Gudasz, Ken Stringfellow is returning to Australia for two very intimate sideshows in Sydney & Melbourne. Ken Stringfellow is most widely known as a founding member of The Posies, as well as for his longstanding work in studio and on stage with REM, Big Star, and much more. Producer of acclaimed albums by Damien Jurado, the Long Winters, etc, Ken has also released four solo albums, all of which received high marks from Pitchfork, Mojo, and other indie gold standard media. His latest album Danzig in the Moonlight will be out to coincide with the tour. He’ll be stopping in Melbourne to play The Grace Darling on Sunday April 13. Tickets available through the venues website.
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LITTLE EARTHQUAKE
Having ridden the blog hype rollercoaster, Little Earthquake have immediately gotten back in the queue for a second whirl by releasing a video for their first single, Planets, ahead of their debut East Coast tour. Little Earthquake is the brainchild of siblings Matthew and Justin Hyland, keen students of indie pop, embracing rock, electronic and acoustic instruments to bring their quirky melodies to life. The brothers grew up in bands together at school before heading to the states where they toured as guest members of US indie rockers Lydia, crossing the country and getting a taste for the road. Returning to Australia in 2013, the brothers teamed up with producer Lachlan Mitchell (The Jezabels, Pnau) who took their songs to a new level, creating the basis of their forthcoming EP. They play The Worker’s Club on April 10 and the Wesley Anne on April 13. Planets is available as a free download from facebook. com/littleearthquakeband.
ROCK AND RUMMAGE MARKET
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.
STEPHEN CUMMINGS
Stephen Cummings will be heading to the Flying Saucer Club on Sunday April 13 for an intimate afternoon show accompanied by his long-time jam band, Socks and Sandals featuring Robert Goodge playing guitars and mandolin, Bill McDonald sharing vocal duties and playing bass and Clare Moore on drums and percussion, it will be an afternoon of bright lyrics and even brighter riffs. Doors open at 3pm.
ESSENDON RECORD AND CD FAIR
The Essendon Record and CD Fair is widely considered the best music only fair in Australia. There is always a waiting list of around 20 stallholders waiting for a spot. With around 700 visitors and 180 stallholders present it’s a day where people spend 2-6 hours browsing: it really is a good day for music
lovers since it is only held twice a year, people travel from all over Melbourne, regional Victoria and some fly from interstate. It’s all happening at The Ukrainian House, 3 Russell St Essendon from 9.30am – 5pm on Sunday April 13.
TIM CROSSEY AND CAL WALKER
If it were Slim Dusty that somehow wound up in the company of Keith Richards in the late ‘60s, the country influence in that era of Stones tunes would certainly have sounded different. It may have sounded somewhat like the sweet sounds being produced by Tim Crossey and Cal Walker in fact. Great songs, great playing and good times, that’s what these blokes deal in. Get down to the Drunken Poet this Sunday April 13 at 6.30pm to see for yourself.
MONDAY APRIL 14 TINY RUINS
Tiny Ruins will play one special Australian album preview show featuring tracks from the new album Brightly Painted One to be released on May 2 and will also play material from the celebrated 2010 release Some Were Meant for Sea and the 2013 EP Haunts and other gems. Tiny Ruins were last seen in Australia just after finishing the recordings for the new album in September 2013 playing a string of gorgeous and memorable shows with Calexico and a couple of festivals and headline performances. On route to Europe to open for Neil Finn, Tiny Ruins will be in Australia for 24 hours. She is performing one club show at the Bella Union on Monday, April 14 and two free 40 min radio performances shows on Tuesday April 15 Melbourne at RRR at 9.30am and later that day in Sydney at 2SER (Live At The Loft) at 5pm.
TIFT MERRITT
This Monday April 14, the sensational new bar and eatery Mesa Verde on the sixth floor of the iconic Curtin House will host a special evening of music and food with Tift Merritt. Mesa Verde will be serving a hand-picked selection of their excellent Mesa American menu as part of the ticket price. World class cocktails, the best tequila selection in town and full bar will be open throughout the evening to purchase drinks. Tift will perform two sets during the evening with pre and post show tunes hot off the decks with local legend Woody McDonald (3RRR) and Love Police DJs spinning the best of country soul classics new and old. Doors open at 7.30pm and tickets are available through lovepolice.com.au.
JAZZ PARTY
Jazz Party is a fluid event, swirling around venues. In April, Jazz Party disrupt the Curtin front bar. No stage, an upright piano, basic band structure, staggering musicians, unexpected guests, vocalists and horns. Unrehearsed, Jazz Party typifies a really early rock'n'roll attitude to jazz. Jazz Party has a basic structure, but who’s a part of it and how it happens on the night is very autonomous. Every Monday in April. Kicks off at 8pm. Free entry.
AINSLIE WILL
Using her voice as her sword, melodist Ainslie Wills cuts through musical terrain with an emotionally charged kind of brutality that is devastatingly honest - vulnerable yet powerful. Last year 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. 2010 saw the release of her second EP Somebody For Everyone. Wills has toured Australia, sharing the stage with the likes of Clare Bowditch, 360, Lianne La Havas (UK), Gossling, Missy Higgins, Hiatus Kaiyote, Husky, and Michael Kiwanuka. See her at The Retreat Hotel this Tuesday April 15.
60 SECONDS with PRETTY CITY
THE OLD BAR PRESENTS – I DO LIKE MONDAYS
The Old Bar presents 'I Do Like Mondays', a new weekly night working with local heard and unheard bands. Each Monday brings a different taste of all things electronic, lofi, experimental and punk. With guest DJs each week, $15 Coopers jugs all night and some sweet old school cartoons on the big screen from 6-8, your Monday 'shoot the whole day down' mentality is out the door.
What inspires or has influenced your music the most? We were really getting into the early ‘90s fizzy shoegaze bands in the beginning, like My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus and Mary Chain. But we’re a bit more pop than that. Three minutes or less are the songs we dig. Plus, now Hugh (songwriter) is going through a Cream phase so our newer stuff is a little more ‘60s riffy. Thus our latest single sits somewhere in between those two genres and kinda sounds like the Brian Jonestown Massacre and Dandy Warhols. Go figure! Which band would you most like to have a battle/showdown with? That band from Scott Pilgrem, Sex Bob-Omb! They have the fuzzy chops that would make a battle the most distorted and loud in history. Plus I reckon my girlfriend could take on Knives Chow. When are you releasing your new single? New single Piece Of The Puzzle is having its Melbourne launch at Ding Dong Lounge Friday April 11 with Sunbeam Sound Machine, My
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TUESDAY APRIL 15
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Piranha and Bloodhounds On My Trail. We’ve been on our biggest tour yet with eight shows in NSW, SA and VIC. Last few shows coming up, it’ll be good to smash our hometown at the end of it all! So, someone is walking past as you guys are playing, they then go get a beer and tell their friend about you. What do they say? “Man that guitarist has a great moustache. I wish I could grow a moustache like that. I bet he picks up lots of girls with that ‘stach. You know what they say, first you get the moustache, then you get the power, then you get the women.” If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it be and why? Hugh. He’s not quite in popular music yet, but as soon as he is I won’t have much time before his 27th birthday to make him a legend. I’d lose a friend but I’d be able to buy a t-shirt with him and Kurt Cobain on it. I think that would be worth it, don’t you? PRETTY CITY launch Piece Of The Puzzle at Ding Dong Lounge on Friday April 11.
MAP AND PLAYING TIMES
19.30 18.00 16.30 15.00 13.30 12.00 Time 22.30 21.00 19.30 18.00 16.30 14.45 13.15 12.00 Time 23.00 21.30 20.00 18.30 16.00 14.45 13.15 12.00
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (60 mins) Gregg Allman (90 mins) Aaron Neville (60 mins) Eric Bibb (45 mins) Steve Earle & the Dukes (60 mins) Rockwiz (2 hours)
DELTA
19.30 18.00 16.30 14.00
Clairy Browne & the Bangin' Rackettes (60 mins) Larry Graham & Graham Central Station (75 mins) The Wailers (75 mins) The Soul Rebels (60 mins) Public Opinion Afro Orchestra (60 mins) The Backsliders (60 mins) The Beards (60 mins) The Mastersons (60 mins)
Time 22.30 21.00 19.30 18.00 16.30 15.00 13.30 12.00
CAVANBAH
Time 22.30 21.00
The Magic Band (60 mins +) Grandmothers of Invention (60 mins) Allen Stone (60 mins) Dubmarine (60 mins) Coronet Blue (60 mins) Suzanne Vega (75 mins) Garland Jeffreys (60 mins) Seth Lakeman (45 mins)
JUKE JOINT
The Paladins (60 mins) Nikki Hill (60 mins) North Mississippi Allstars (60 mins) The Charlie Musselwhite Band (60 mins) ABC Coast FM National Broadcast Music Maker Foundation (60 mins) Hat Fitz & Cara (60 mins) Daniel Champagne (45 mins)
ON ROAD
BLUES BOULEVARD
PRODUCTI
19.30 18.00 16.30 15.00 13.30 12.00 Time 22.30 21.00 19.30 18.00 16.30 15.00 13.30 12.15
SUNSET CLUB
CAVANBAH DELTA MOJO FO
SOUTH
UNDARY
VOLLIES CAMPGROUND
SOUL
CAMPGROUND 6
CROSSROADS
TICKETS, BUS TICKETS, GUEST & SUNSET CLUB TICKET PICK UP
STRE
ET
GENERAL STORE
VIP
VIP BUSKERS STAGE
CROSSROADS
Jeff Beck (90 mins) Gregg Allman (90 mins) Govt Mule (90 mins) Aaron Neville (75 mins) Jimmie Vaughan (75 mins) The James Cotton Blues Band (60 mins) Lime Cordiale (45 mins)
JAMBAL AYA
Morcheeba (60 mins +) Larry Graham & Graham Central Station (60 mins) Playing For Change (60 mins) The Black Sorrows (60 mins) The Soul Rebels (60 mins) Rockwiz (2 hours)
DELTA
WAR (60 mins) Ozomatli (60 mins) North Mississippi Allstars (60 mins) Robben Ford (60 mins) Devon Allman (60 mins) KT Tunstall (60 mins) Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges (60 mins) Hat Fitz & Cara (60 mins)
Saskwatch (60 mins) Clairy Browne & the Bangin' Rackettes (60 mins) Grandmothers of Invention (60 mins) Nikki Hill (60 mins) The Beards (60 mins) Taste of Boomerang–Glenn Skuthorpe Chris Tamwoy, Troy Cassar Daley, Jannawi and ACPA Dancers Terrance Simien–Creole for Kids (60 mins)
COFFEE
ON
GL
IDI
BOULEV ARD
CAMPGROUND 7
SUNSET CLUB PARKING & MEET AND GREET
ROAD
Dave Matthews Band (150 mins) John Butler Trio (80 mins) Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (60 mins) Iron & Wine (60 mins) Devendra Banhart (75 mins) Kate Miller–Heidke (60 mins) Skunkhour (60 mins)
The Mojo Webb Band (60 mins) Music Maker Foundation (60 mins) The Backsliders (60 mins) The Paladins (60 mins) Eric Bibb (60 mins) Glenn Cardier (60 mins) Daniel Champagne (60 mins) Claire Anne Taylor (45 mins)
MASSAGE
BUSES
MOJO
CAVANBAH
OD
MOJO BE ER GARDEN
CAMPGROUNDERS ROAD
NOBLE WAY
MASSAGE
JUKE JOINT
CAMPING ENQUIRIES /CAMPING MANAGER
FESTIVAL ENTRY/EXIT
PARKING H
JUKE JOINT
CLOAKROOM
POLICE
BLUES
PACIFIC HIGHWAY
Time 22.30 21.00
KIDS ACTIVITIES
MERCHANDISE
MOJO
T
21.15
JAMBAL AYA
BREATHALYSER
CD SALES
D
ENTRY/EXIT SOUTH FESTIVAL
FOR BUSES, TAXIS, SUNSET CLUB PARKING & PARKING F-G-H NG
C
B LU
BLUESFEST
SATURDAY APRIL 19
Time 22.15 20.15 18.15 16.30 14.45 13.15 12.00
CHARITY STALL
FOR PARKING A-B-C-D-E
CAMPGROUND 3
EE
Time 23.00
Doobie Brothers (90 mins) Boz Scaggs (75 mins) Buddy Guy (75 mins) Joss Stone (75 mins) Beth Hart (60 mins) Trixie Whitley (60 mins) Dyson, Stringer and Cloher (60 mins)
OA
TR
Time 22.45 20.45 19.15 18.00 16.30 14.00
CROSSROADS
NR
SOUTH TO BYRON BAY, LENNOX HEAD, BALLINA
Time 21.30 19.40 18.10 16.40 14.55 13.25 12.00
DISABLED ACCESS
CAMPGROUND 4 TENT CITY
EET
DISABLED PARKING PARKING G
MARKET STALL
ENTRY/EXIT NORTH FESTIVAL
TICKETS, MEDIA & GUEST TICKET PICK UP
ROAD
ES
Time 21.45 20.00 18.15 16.30 15.00 13.30 12.00
TIO
R BY
JUKE JOINT
MOJO
ODUC
OT T WA Y
SOUTH BO
Garland Jeffreys (60 mins) Glenn Cardier (60 mins) Marshall O'Kell and the Pride (60 mins) Seth Lakeman (45 mins) Shaun Kirk (60 mins)
Jack Johnson (120 mins) Matt Corby (60 mins) Gary Clark Jr (75 mins) India.Arie (75 mins) Nahko & Medicine for the People (60 mins) Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (60 mins) Tijuana Cartel (60 mins)
TH PR
TAXIS & DROP OFF
Grandmothers of Invention (60 mins +) The Magic Band (60 mins) The Soul Rebels (60 mins) Skunkhour (60 mins) Dubmarine (60 mins)
FRIDAY APRIL 18 22.00 20.30 18.45 17.00 15.30 14.00 12.30
PARKING F
FOOD
CAMPGROUND 5 RAINBOW TIPIS
CAMPGROUND 8
GATE SOUTH ENTRY
DUCTION
SOUL STR
CAMPGROUND 9
NARRAC
WATER
ATM MACHINE
IDG
CAVANBAH
SOU
BAR
FIRST AID
BR
Allen Stone (60 mins +) Coronet Blue (60 mins) Suzanne Vega (75 mins) Trixie Whitley (60 mins) Genevieve Chadwick (60 mins)
ADMIN
CHAMPAGNE BAR
INFORMATION
UNDERCOVER SEATING
NORTH PRO
ADMIN
STAGED EVACUATION ASSEMBLY AREA
DELTA
CAMPGROUND 2
AD
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 (60 mins) Public Opinion Afro Orchestra (60 mins) Playing For Change (60 mins) Steve Earle & the Dukes (75 mins) Dyson, Stringer and Cloher (60 mins)
ENTRY GATE
ENTRY/EXIT NORTH FESTIVAL
CAMPGROUND 1
PARKING C
RO
JAMBAL AYA
NORTH
D
DISABLED PARKING
PARKING D
O B ACK H U S
Time 21.45 20.15 18.45 17.30 16.00
Buddy Guy (75 mins) Dr John & the Nite Trippers (75 mins) The Charlie Musselwhite Band (60 mins) The Black Sorrows (60 mins) Tijuana Cartel (60 mins)
NDARY ROA
PARKING B TICKETS, MEDIA & GUEST TICKET PICK UP
UE
Time 22.00 20.30 19.00 17.30 16.00
PARKING E
VEN
Time 22.15 20.45 19.00 17.30 16.00
CROSSROADS
EA
Time 22.15 20.45 19.15 17.30 16.00
PARKING A
ELIN
22.15 20.30 19.00 17.30 16.00
NORTH BOU
PIP
19.00 17.30 17.00 16.00
John Mayer (90 mins) Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros (75 mins) Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (60 mins) Beth Hart (60 mins) Arakwal Opening Ceremony Zane Carney (60 mins)
E
22.15 20.30
TOILETS
NORTH ICK TO BRUNSW HEADS, S, TWEED HEADT, GOLD COAS BRISBANE
CROSSROA DS FOOD HALL
THURSDAY APRIL 17 MOJO
N
JAMBALAYA MAPS 2014
SUNDAY APRIL 20 Time 22.30 20.45 19.15 17.45 16.15 14.45 13.15 12.00 Time 22.30 21.00 19.30 18.00 16.30 15.00 13.30 12.00 Time 22.30 21.00 19.15 17.45 16.15 14.00 Time 22.00 20.15 18.30 17.00 15.30 14.00 12.30 Time 22.30 21.00 19.30 18.00 16.30 15.00 13.30 12.00 Time 22.30 21.00 19.30 18.00 16.30 15.00 13.30 12.00
MOJO
Erykah Badu (90 mins) Morcheeba (75 mins) Iron & Wine (60 mins) Passenger (60 mins) Playing For Change (60 mins) Terrance Simien (60 mins) Foy Vance (60 mins) Kim Churchill (45 Mins)
CROSSROADS
Michael Franti & Spearhead (75 mins) Ozomatli (60 mins) Nahko & Medicine for the People (60 mins) Chali 2na (60 mins) WAR (60 mins) Cambodian Space Project (60 Mins) CW Stoneking (60 mins) Hat Fitz & Cara (60 mins)
MONDAY APRIL 21 Time 20.15 18.30 16.45 15.00 13.15 12.00 Time 21.00 19.15 17.30 15.45 14.00 12.30
JAMBAL AYA
Time 21.15 19.45 18.00 16.30 15.00 13.30 12.00
DELTA
Time 22.15 20.45 19.15 17.45 16.15 14.45 13.15 12.00
Govt Mule (90 mins) Sly & Robbie and the Taxi Gang (60 mins) Mystery Performance–Watch This Space (75 mins) John Williamson (60 mins) Kasey Chambers (60 mins) Rockwiz (2 hours)
Jimmie Vaughan (75 mins) Robben Ford (75 mins) The James Cotton Blues Band (75 mins) Booker T Jones (60 mins) Tim Rogers (60 mins) Valerie June (60 mins) Matthew Curry (60 mins)
CAVANBAH
Music Maker Foundation (60 mins +) The Magic Band (60 mins) Saidah Baba Talibah (60 mins) Watussi (60 mins) Taste of Boomerang–Glenn Skuthorpe Chris Tamwoy, Troy Cassar Daley, Jannawi and ACPA Dancers KT Tunstall (60 mins) The Beards (60 mins)
JUKE JOINT
Chain (60 mins) Eugene "Hideaway" Bridges (60 mins) Devon Allman (60 mins) Ray Beadle (60 mins) Joanne Shaw Taylor (60 mins) Candye Kane Band (60 mins) Nikki Hill (60 mins) Claude Hay (60 mins)
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Time 21.00 19.30 18.00 16.30 15.00 13.30 12.00
Time 22.15 20.45 19.15 17.45 16.15 15.00 13.30 12.00
MOJO
Dave Matthews Band (150 mins) Michael Franti & Spearhead (75 mins) Joss Stone (75 mins) India.Arie (75 mins) Devendra Banhart (75 mins) Kim Churchill (45 mins)
CROSSROADS
Elvis Costello & The Imposters (75 mins) Jake Bugg (75 mins) Foy Vance (75 mins) KC & The Sunshine Band (75 mins) WAR (75 mins) Shaun Kirk (60 mins)
JAMBAL AYA
Gary Clark Jr (75 mins) Booker T Jones (60 mins) Sly & Robbie and the Taxi Gang (75 mins) Ozomatli (60 mins) Chali 2na (60 mins) Matthew Curry (60 mins) Lime Cordiale (60 mins)
DELTA
Watussi (60 mins) Saskwatch (60 mins) Jason Isbell (60 mins) Cambodian Space Project (60 mins) Terrance Simien (60 mins) Saidah Baba Talibah (60 mins) Round Mountain Girls (60 mins) 2014 Busking Winner (45 mins)
CAVANBAH
Playing For Change (60 mins +) The Beards (60 mins) Chain (60 mins) Music Maker Foundation (60 mins) Tim Rogers (60 mins) Candye Kane Band (60 mins) Byron Area High Schools Showcase (60 mins)
JUKE JOINT
Ray Beadle (60 mins) The Mojo Webb Band (60 mins) Joanne Shaw Taylor (60 mins) CW Stoneking (60 mins) Valerie June (60 mins) Claude Hay (45 mins) Phil Manning (60 mins) Genevieve Chadwick (60 mins)
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 45
ALBUM OF THE WEEK Too Much Water In The Boat (Silver Stamp Records) %$5 %$1' 5220 %277/(6+23
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SWEET SYN 10
vocals) should have been made into a major Australian film in the glory days of Australian cinema in the ‘80s and Too Much Water In The Boat would have been a ‘70s LA classic if Chuck had lost the best years of his life to the hedonistic pleasures of the City of Angels. But he’s still here, and he’s still as good as ever. BY PATRICK EMERY
BEST TRACK: Across the Inland Sea IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LIKE THESE: VAN WALKER, THE VANDAS, MAD TURKS IN A WORD: Refined
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Disregard what it says below, Single Of The Week is actually me doing Mental As Anything’s Live It Up early in the AM at K-Box on the weekend.
CLOUD NOTHINGS
I’m Not Part Of Me (Carpark) In similar vein to power-anthem proponents Titus Andronicus, and to a lesser extent, Japandroids, Cloud Nothings are incredibly proficient at creating hooks that never feel cheap, nailing relatable and reliable shout-alongs that continue to escalate. Lacks the lyrical impact of the two previous mentioned acts, but there’s still some worth within the relative meaninglessness.
FIRST AID KIT
My Silver Lining (Columbia/Sony) Swedish duo First Aid Kit fill their lungs with rollicking folk bravado, fleshing out their ornate arrangements with lush string accompaniment that bolsters their stripped back ornate core into something more resplendent. New album Stag Gold out this June.
THE BEARDS
All The Bearded Ladies (Independent) When I first saw The Beards at Falls many years ago I thought, “Heh, songs about beards. Pretty funny!” Then I watched more than three songs and thought, “Holy smokes, that joke got old quick!” But here we are, years and albums on, with a cock-rock anthem that sounds like shit and a premise that should be confined to the lowest echelon of Comedy Festival rooms.
THE MURLOCS
Paranoid Joy (Flightless/Remote Control) Stripping back the vocal distortion for an uninhibited, tremulous turn, Murlocs frontman Ambrose KennySmith rewinds aeons to generate heartfelt R&B soul on the breezy Paranoid Joy. The dreamlike chorus is intoxicating and on-point.
JACK WHITE
High Ball Stepper (Third Man/XL) Jacky White returns from an uncharacteristic year of hibernation with an instrumental tease from upcoming solo LP number two, Lazaretto. It’s a pastiche of very Jacky White-like ideas, most of them hitting the spot, some meandering. The two-note guitar squeal is pretty fuckin’ obnoxious and kinda ruins the whole track. But it does rock hard when it hits its Bug Muff-coated stride.
360 FEAT. PEZ
Live It Up (EMI) Aiming for Avicii-scale acoustic soul-infused EDM, Tree-Siddy’s festival-bait anthem is riddled with weak, diluted YOLO bullshit, the kind of platitude that’s peddled as a scourge on local hip hop. Pez’s melodic flow outshines the top-billed star in the middle verse, and the generic hook isn’t exactly blight. I wanna say 360 is Australia’s Pitbull, but that wouldn’t be fair to Pitbull.
TOTEMS
’94 Fuck Em (Independent) Injecting his atmospheric production with a hefty dose of breakbeats, Kiwi production talent Totems takes things back to the titular year on ’94 Fuck Em (paraphrasing The Basedgod’s recent 05 Fuck Em mixtape), before paring down the frenetic beat for a trappy coda. It’s a dizzyingly great rave throwback from one of the most promising acts across the Tasman.
SINGLE OF THE WEEK
HOW TO DRESS WELL
Repeat Pleasure (EMI/Domino) Picking up where the exquisite & It Was U left off, Tom Krell returns with his best song yet, indulging vintage Prince impulses with an irresistible Erotic City pop on the beat. The big, goofy guitar solo over jungle toms somehow works, the song as a whole congealing disparate elements (the crisp acoustic chord one-two is heavenly) to forge something special.
ZZZ HYHO\QKRWHO FRP DX
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 46
1. Nose Dive SASKWATCH 2. Here And Nowhere Else CLOUD NOTHINGS 3. Ruins DEMI LOUISE 4. Hollering Saints HELLO SATELLITES 5. House Of Cards HOLY HOLY 6. Scrunchie REESEPUSHKIN 7. Hollow Visions EAGULLS 8. Sleep Sound JAMIE XX 9. Holes MALACHAI 10. Mercy MR. LITTLE JEANS
HEARTLANDS RECORDS 1. Self Titled LP CROSSES 2. Out Among The Stars LP JOHNNY CASH 3. Endless LP MOUNT SALEM 4. All You Can Eat LP STEEL PANTHER 5. 13 PIC DISC LP SUICIDAL TENDENCIES 6. Teeth Dreams LP THE HOLD STEADY 7. Ramblin’ Man LP HANK 111 8. Hydra LP WITHIN TEMPTATION 9. I Am The Last Of All LP CURRENT 93 10. Electric Tepee LP HAWKWIND
RECORD PARADISE TOP 10
For all the latest singles check out beat.com.au
(9(1,1* 6,1*/( /$81&+
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PBS TOP 10 1. A Long Way To The Beginning SEUN KUTI 2. Red Beans & Weiss CHUCK E. WEISS 3. BAJOU 4 BOOZOO 4. Self Titled THE DEATH RATTLES 5. River Mirrors INFINITY BROKE 6. Faya JOEL DRISCOLL & SEKOU KOUYATE 7. You Changed Me EMMA RUSSACK 8. Salad Days MAC DEMARCO 9. 84 000 HELLO SATELLITES 10. Con Queso THE JUNES COUNTRY
CHARLES JENKINS AND THE ZHIVAGOS
That Charles Jenkins is in possession of a dry, if somewhat dark sense of humour is evidenced by giving the surf instrumental that opens his new album the title The Prime Minister is Missing; that Charles Jenkins still possesses the razor sharp songwriting skills he’s exhibited for the past 30 years is borne out by the remainder of Too Much Water In The Boat. Too Much Water In The Boat thrives on an aquatic theme: rivers, inland seas, islands, boats, even (at a pinch) the Snowy Mountain hydro-electric scheme. On a musical level, there’s much to enjoy and celebrate on the album: The Whale Song is dirty rock’n’roll washed through with a wry pop sensibility, 7 Creeks (The Crossdresser Steve Hart) is Anglo-Celtic folk transplanted into the modern age (and who knows with what level of historical accuracy) and Sweet Mildura pays tribute to the city in which Jenkins grew up. Off the Tip of the Peloponnese is the sort of pop-rock track that, in an ideal world free of specious commercial imperatives, would be top of the charts; The Barrel Song is acoustic whimsy and a lesson for any aspiring songwriter. Christmas Island is haunting, a well-judged reminder of the oppressive conditions of that remote location to which this country has banished its moral responsibility; if Across the Inland Sea isn’t one of the best songs released this year, then someone has got it wrong. The Girl from the Flatlands could be a track lost from You Am I’s Hi-Fi Way, (Ain’t Enough Love) on the Snowy Mountains (featuring Suzannah Espie on
TOP TENS:
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
1. Dizzy Heights NEIL FINN 2. Eat Your Young BITTER SWEET KICKS 3. Grids TEETH AND TONGUE 4. Acoustic At The Ryman BAND OF HORSES 5. Tomorrows Hits THE MEN 6. Psychic 9-5 Club HTRK 7. Electric PET SHOP BOYS 8. Warpaint WARPAINT 9. Too Much Water In The Boat CHARLES JENKINS AND THE ZHIVAGOS 10. The Devil And The Deep SUN GOD REPLICA
COLLECTORS CORNER MISSING LINK TOP 10 1. Hammer Of The Witch LP/CD RINGWORM 2. Terrestrials LP/CD SUNN O)))/ULVER 3. The Grime And The Glow CD CHELSEA WOLFE 4. Derry Legend LP/CD THE AXEMEN 5. AM LP ARCTIC MONKEYS 6. In Brush Park CD T54 7. Catharsis reissue LP/CD YOB 8. Issue 4 SSEX Zine 9. Underneath The Rainbows LP/CD THE BLACK LIPS 10. The Zingers LP THE ZINGERS
BEAT’S TOP 10 SONGS IN TRIBUTE TO OUTGOING EDITOR ALI 1. Don’t Fight It THE PANICS 2. The Day You Went Away WENDY MATTHEWS 3. Mr Jones THE COUNTING CROWS 4. Now That I Know DEVENDRA BANHART 5. Ducks Fly Together THE SMITH STREET BAND 6. The Eagle and the Hawko JOHN DENVER 7. Perfect SIMPLE (PAGE) PLAN 8. Deadline BLUE OYSTER CULT 9. Mama’s Trippin’ BEN HARPER 10. Already Missing You PRINCE ROYCE & SELENA GOMEZ
ALBUMS
NEW MUSIC IN REVIEW THIS WEEK
For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews
DAN SULTAN
CERES
Blackbird (Liberation Music)
I Don’t Want To Be Anywhere But Here (Hobbledehoy)
After the success of Dan Sultan’s second album, Get Out While You Can, expectations for his third studio album Blackbird were extremely high, and they were delivered in spades. Named after the famous Nashville studio in which it was recorded, Blackbird showcases Sultan’s soulful and charismatic vocals, delivering an impressive array of Aussie rock tunes and heartfelt ballads. From the groovy rock beats of radio favourites and first two singles Under Your Skin and The Same Man to emotional ballads Nobody Knows and Gullible Few, Blackbird takes you on a memorable musical journey. Can’t Blame Me is another favourite which would be a good choice for a third single. Such is the strength of this album that most of the tracks would be well placed on radio. Some of the lyrics on Blackbird have a distinct Australian theme; this is particularly evident on Kimberley Calling, a track that leaves you wanting to explore the West Australian region. Dan Sultan has matured artistically and this is clearly evident on Blackbird. This album has delivered that classic rock and soul sound of his that we have come to know so well, which is one of the many reasons why Blackbird is so appealing. BEST TRACK: Kimberley Calling IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: HUNTERS AND COLLECTORS, JASON ISBELL BY ALI BIRNIE IN A WORD: Groovy
There’s something pretty special to music that’s equally as infectious and anthemic as it is affecting – which is precisely what Melbourne four-piece Ceres achieve on impassioned debut album I Don’t Want To Be Anywhere But Here. Wearing their influences proudly, on Syllables and Try To Keep You the band feels reminiscent of acts like Jimmy Eat World and The Get Up Kids while developing a distinct identity that sees a clear progression from last year’s Luck EP. Full to the brim with poppy hooks and alt-rock effervescence, tracks such as I Feel Fine, I Feel Sick and Barkly Garden Break Up Park are quite content to lull you into a false sense of positivity before delivering swift, crippling emotional gut-punches. As fists-raised zest turns quickly into yo-where-did-all-these-feelings-come-from-no-onesaid-anything-about-feelings-what-the-fuck, it becomes apparent that the band’s organic blend of boisterous punk leanings, impossibly catchy refrains and heart-on-sleeve sincerity BEST TRACK: I Feel Fine, I Feel Sick results in an strikingly authentic and impressive debut. IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: JIMMY EAT WORLD, TEXAS IS THE REASON, LUCA BRASI IN A WORD: Feelings BY BLAKE GALLAGHER
CARTHASY
The Gyre (Independent)
EMA
The Future’s Void (Matador) The cover of EMA’s latest album is another front-facing shot and once again her eyes are shielded, though not by her blonde fringe. On this occasion she wears an Oculus Rift, locked into her own virtual reality; it’s an image that echoes the themes explored in The Future’s Void. Musicians have long been exploring the pitfalls and pleasures of finding an audience for their soul-baring on follow-up albums, but only more recently has this reality been filtered through the ‘digital witness’ era. The strangeness of opening your soul to a world of faceless downloaders is detailed in 3Jane, a desolate space ballad that recalls the glassy-eyed grandeur of Julee Cruise. “Feel like I blew my soul out across the interwebs and streams,” she gasps, shrugging off people’s disassociation as a “modern disease.” The fear and uncertainty of exposure and fame is contrasted with the romantic embracing of another soul. This friction between alienating distance and passionate closeness comes to a head in the anxious final two minutes of the slow-burning Smoulder. Neuromancer doesn’t have to look too far into the future for its representation of a dystopian nightmare, with its narcissistic subject making a living from taking selfies. A dark disco inferno, it spirals away manically with its “I Will Survive!” call sounding more desperate than triumphant. Everything here sounds like an uphill battle, but that’s what makes the music of EMA so transfixing. BEST TRACK: Neuromancer IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: Is This Desire? PJ HARVEY, Third PORTISHEAD IN A WORD: Future-proof
BY CHRIS GIRDLER
THE STIFFYS
We Are Groovy Boys (Independent)
FUTURE ISLANDS
Singles (Remote Control/4AD) As music promotion shifts and readjusts to align with the internet age, a band’s crossover moment can come from a variety of sources other than a catchy lead single or an attentiongrabbing video clip. For Baltimore’s Future Islands, that moment was a YouTube clip of a live performance on Letterman. The song Seasons (Waiting On You) certainly has its pop smarts, but the most divisive factor of the band – Samuel T. Herring’s throaty, melodramatic vocal – has more of a chance to win people over when visually matched with its oddball maker in a live setting. Singles sounds like an effort to make the quintessential Future Islands album. Its title suggests that it’s modelled on a best-of compilation, and it is dutifully filled with immediate songs that benefit from tight song structures and a polished production, achieved successfully without losing the essence of the band. The refined musical templates are met with less extreme vocals from Herring, so much so that the death-metal rattle late in the album on Fall From Grace takes you by surprise. One of the key songs from the trio’s previous album (2011’s On The Water) was called Balance and this is exactly where that album trumps their latest; the slow-builds and shifting dynamics made it a more immersive, harmonised experience. Even so, Singles is a lush, forceful collection that’s brimming with a newfound confidence and optimism. BEST TRACK: Light House IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: When Hearts Go Broke HOTELS, Paul’s Tomb: A Triumph FROG EYES IN A WORD: Streamlined
BY CHRIS GIRDLER
THIS WEEK WED 9TH
THE TRIED W/ THE AVENUES END + SANG REAL THURS 10TH
GODS W/ DIAMONDS OF NEPTUNE + GUESTS FRI 11TH
NAI PALM (HIATUS KAIYOTE) W/ CLEVER AUSTIN SAT 12TH
LA BASTARD 7” LAUNCH
W/ RON S PENO AND THE SUPERSITIONS + THE EIGHTY 88’S SUN 13TH
KITCHEN HOURS
The Australian progressive/alternative rock scene continues to throw up a relentless stream of quality bands and releases, and this Perth outfit write another chapter in that scene’s now epic history. Drawing strong cues from their Western brethren Karnivool, Carthasy have made a very strong statement here. Heavy is a word that springs to mind when experiencing this record. Not in a brutal metal sense however, more in the overall tone/vibe of the package. The cover artwork is shrouded in a very deep blue colour and features a mysterious, shrouded face. Quite an enigmatic first impression. The guitar tones are sharp and cutting. The music is very melodic, but those melodies are still quite melancholy, and there is a dark undertone that is seemingly everpresent. Although there’s no lyric sheet, the words appear to deal with some pretty heavy subject matter. All that said, this ain’t music to slash your wrists to. The songs are strong and compelling, progressive to a point, without becoming too obscure or complex for the average rock fan. The production enhances the dark tone of the album, while still allowing the instruments to breathe. The grooves are fat and the musicianship tight. There is just a slight feeling that these guys are operating within themselves, that they have more to give. They are whetting the appetite here, and in many ways that’s what a debut album is all about. It’d be great to see them really ‘open up’ on their next release, let their songwriting imaginations run wild, and unleash their instrumental chops a shade more. BEST TRACK: Roche Let’s hope it happens. IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: KARNIVOOL, OCEANSIZE, FAIR TO MIDLAND IN A WORD: Deep BY ROD WHITFIELD
THE UNHOLY RACKET W/ THE SHIFTIES + ANNA CORDELL THE LET YOUR HAIR DOWN GIRLS FRONT BAR, FREE MON 14TH
JAZZ PARTY FREE IN THE FRONT BAR
Are The Stiffys a funny band? The Stiffys are not a joke band. You know that scene in Point Break when Johnny Utah is described as being ‘young, dumb and full of cum’? Well that descriptor could suitably be applied to We Are Groovy Boys. For a band that essentially started as a creative outlet for Jason Leigh outside of his more serious band The Dotcoms, The Stiffys have become a hugely in demand act on the live circuit. What makes this band so likeable are Leigh’s juicy baritone, his low-tuned guitar that appears to be run through a bass amp and a guitar amp and Adam Stagg’s visceral drumming (you know that scene in 24 Hour Party People when producer Martin Hannett instructs Joy Division drummer Stephen Morris to drum “faster, but slower”)? It is the energy and, suitably, the grooviness of We Are Groovy Boys that makes this release so likable. At the pinnacle of this likability scale is the song Boogie Boarding. This track opens with spacey drums, a thick bassline and Leigh chanting, “Boogie boarding, boogie boarding, boogie boarding” before he and Stagg do a bit of call and response of “Boogie, boogie” and then there’s the Mr-Bungle-reminiscent half-speed horns breakdown of “Boog-ie, boogie, boooogieee...” I cannot remember ever liking a rock track that’s only lyrics are also the song’s title. Opening track Champagne is much of the same balls-out ilk of the aforementioned song but then Give Me All Your Cocoa Pops seems like a bit of a hat tip to early horror rock like The Misfits. The final song, I’m Really Good At Sex Because I Am Always Doing It, is feel-good doo-wop that immediately elicits visions of a beach-bop scene from Gidget. We Are Groovy Boys is fun music done well with my only BEST TRACK: Boogie Boarding criticism that Leigh and Stagg almost seem afraid to let IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: Mr Bungle any of the songs get more serious in both length and lyrical MR BUNGLE, You’re A Woman, I’m A Machine DEATH content. FROM ABOVE 1979, Celebration Rock JAPANDROIDS IN A WORD: Hard (not to like) BY DENVER MAXX
WEEK AFTER WED 16TH
VIBAVIEL + GUESTS THURS 17TH LINCOLN LE FEVRE & THE INSIDERS W JEN BUXTON & THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE 5 + KISSING BOOTH FRI 18TH
POND + PETER BIBBY–SOLD OUT SAT 19TH NUN ‘RECORD LAUNCH’ W/ REPAIRS, SOMA COMA, PROLIFE + FREEJACK SUN 20TH
BED WETTIN BAD BOYS (SYD) W THE STEVENS, SOMA COMA + HOUR HOUSE THE LET YOUR HAIR DOWN GIRLS FREE IN THE FRONT BAR 5PM
ON SALE NOW 25/4 DELTA RIGGS 2/5 IVY ST ‘RECORD LAUNCH’ 9/5 ST JUDE 10/5 CERES 24/5 AMAYA LAUCIRICA ‘RECORD LAUNCH’ ALL TIX FROM WWW.JOHNCURTINHOTEL.COM
FRONT BAR
EVERY MONDAY IN APRIL:
JAZZ PARTY
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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 9 INDIE/ROCK/POP/METAL/ PUNK/COVERS COLLAGE - FEAT: CLEVELAND BLUES + DENNIS JACULLA + THE LOST FRIDAYS + MISSION BROWN Espy, St Kilda. 7:00pm. DON HILLMAN’S SECRET BEACH Clifton Hill Hotel, Clifton Hill. 8:30pm. EMPRA + THE SOLICITORS + BLACKBIRD + DJ MERMAID Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. EVIL BEAVER + SPEW’N’GUTS + TEEN KONG Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. GIRLS ON KEY Open Studio, Northcote. 7:30pm. $7.00. GREG STEPS BAND + TAYLOR PROJECT + PHOEBE & SCHINA Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:00pm. $7.00. HEXHAM VOX Kent St Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. LAZARUS MODE + THE TESLA THEORY + FREE BURN + NOTICE OF EVICTION Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. LILITH LANE & HER MANY WIVES + CAM BUTLER & HIS SHADOWS OF LOVE + JIMMY TAIT Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $6.00. MILKSHAKE + CLAWS & ORGANS + BARBITURATES Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $5.00. RORY MCLEOD Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm. $20.00. SAGAMORE + TOM MILEK + SLEEP DECADE Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $6.00. THE BLUE HOTEL + BEAUTIFUL BEASTS + THE DIVINE FLUXUS Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $11.00. THE GERMEIN SISTERS + BRYCE WASTNEY + LUKE INGLIS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $15.00. THE TRIED + THE AVENUES END + SANG REAL John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. WET LIPS & BAT HAZZARD + LOVERS OF THE BLACK BIRD Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $5.00.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/ WORLD MUSIC
CATHY MENEZES 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. 9:00pm. JULIEN WILSON ELECTRIC QUARTET 303, Northcote. 8:30pm. PANORAMA DO BRASIL Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $15.00. VIVE LA DIFFERENCE Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne. 7:30pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
BELL ST DELAYS - FEAT: BUFFALO TALES + SEAN MCMAHON Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. MELBOURNE UKULELE KOLLECTIVE BEGINNERS’ CLASS Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 6:00pm. MISS EILEEN & KING LEAR + MERRI CREEK PICKERS Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:30pm. OPEN MIC Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. OPEN MIC/JAM Musicland, Fawkner. 7:00pm. SIMPLY ACOUSTIC Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm. SIMPLY ACOUSTIC Wesley Anne, Northcote. 7:00pm. TOM MCGOWAN + MARK CAMPBELL Some Velvet Morning, Clifton Hill. 8:00pm. TOMORROWS DREAM Tago Mago, Thornbury. 8:00pm. WINE, WHISKEY WOMEN - FEAT: EMI DAY + LONI RAE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.
THURSDAY APR 10 INDIE/ROCK/POP/METAL/ PUNK/COVERS ANTHEA JEWEL SIDOROPOULOS + THE MOJO SISTAS Musicland, Fawkner. 8:00pm. $10.00. ART VS SCIENCE + KILTER Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $25.00. BEN SALTER Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm. DAN WATERS Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. GODS + DIAMONDS OF NEPTUNE John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. GUARDS OF MAY + CRASH AND BURN + HIGH SIDE DRIVER + LAZARUS MODE Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00. J BOOG + T-RHYTHM + JESSE I & RAS CRUCIAL + DJ PITT Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. $55.00. LITTLE EARTHQUAKE + CHASING GHOST + EVENING CAST + OWEN RABBIT Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $10.00. LIVE N COOKIN’ - FEAT: DARJEELINGS The B.east, Brunswick East. 7:00pm. LUNAIRE + CHINESE HANDCUFFS + APOLLO APPLES + SPARROW & THE SHARK Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. MERCIANS + LANKS + DAVID KNIGHT Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $5.00. MIDNIGHT SHIFTER Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $5.00. NEW ARCHER + FRAUDBAND + GRAM FRIDAY Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $7.00. NEXT - FEAT: NIRVANA COVER BAND + WE DISAPPEAR + DIVIDE & CONQUER Colonial Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. RANDOM AXE OF GRINDNESS - FEAT: SEBATRON + SUNNY ALBEAU + ZUCH Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. SARAH JEAN Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8:00pm. TELESCOPES + DD & THE DAMAGED GOODS + ARIELA JACOBS Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $12.00. THE ADAM ECKERSLEY BAND + PALACE OF THE KING Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:30pm. $10.00. THE NEW SAVAGES + DANVERS + BRANDON BERGIN + BEN HOOPER Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. THE QUEENS HEAD + WAM & DAZ + MILKSHAKE Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8.00.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 48
GIG OF THE WEEK!
TINSMOKE + HOLY LOTUS + MALLEE SONGS Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $12.00. TRIGGER + DEATHFLIGHT + ZERO NATURAL + LAMB BOULEVARD Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. VERA NIGHTS + HALVETICA + MIDNIGHT SOL + THE GLARE Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/ WORLD MUSIC
KAIN BORLASE TRIO La Niche Cafe, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. ALWAN Claypots, St Kilda. 9:00pm. ANNIE SMITH’S JAZZ PARTY - FEAT: THE TAYLOR SMITH QUINTET Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14.00. JACK PANTAZIS GROUP Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $15.00. JARABI 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. JOHN MONTESANTE QUINTET + YVETTE JOHANSSON The Commune, East Melbourne. 6:00pm. KYLIE AULDIST & THE GLENROY ALLSTARS + DJS VINCE PEACH + PIERRE BARONI Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00. THE LUKE HOWARD TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $15.00. THE OVEREASYS Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne. 6:30pm. YHAN LEAL & LUKE RHODES Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
ARRESTER + RICH DAVIES & THE DEVILS UNION + OH PEP! Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. BROOKE RUSSELL + PHILEMON Bar Nancy, Northcote. 7:30pm. FLY SOUTH + DAVID CARLIN & JANE MCARTHUR Wesley Anne, Northcote. 7:30pm. $5.00. GRASSHOLE Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 5:00pm. JOE CONROY + FRESER HENRY + TOBY KNOX Highlander, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. LIVE & LOCAL Tago Mago, Thornbury. 9:00pm. NICOLAS BASTIRAS + RYAN OLIVER Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm. THE BOYS Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm. TJ QUINTON + LITTLE WISE Some Velvet Morning, Clifton Hill. 8:00pm. VAN WALKER Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 8:00pm.
FRIDAY APR 11 INDIE/ROCK/POP/METAL/ PUNK/COVERS NAI PALM + CLEVER AUSTIN John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. BATEMAN + JACK THE STRIPPER + NOLA + PARTY VIBES + OLD LOVE Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 7:30pm. $12.00. BLACK ACES + SMOKE STACK RHINO + KILLSHOTT Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $13.00. CAPTAIN APPLES + SKYSCRAPER STAN + MANDY CONNELL Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $12.00. CARUS THOMPSON + JED ROWE Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 9:00pm. EINSTEINS TOYBOYS + CASSETTE Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10.00. EMPAT LIMA + THE SHABBAB + THE BEEGLES + DJ RACELESS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. EVIL BEAVER + WOLFPACK + LIQUOR SNATCH + SEX GRIMES Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. GARAGE-A-GOGO - FEAT: MIDNIGHT WOLF + THE EXOTICS + DJSBARBARA BLAZE & JUMPIN JOSH The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00. HUNTERS & COLLECTORS + THE PANICS Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:00pm. $77.00. IDLE FRET Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. JAMES REYNE + GALLIE Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:00pm. $36.00. KINGS & QUEENS - FEAT: A DAY OF STORMS + SHADOWS OF HYENAS + CHASING LANA + WAKING EDEN + COASTLINE + THE MAGGOT MEN + FREE BURN Espy, St Kilda. 7:00pm. LA DANSE MACABRE - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. MAGIC HANDS + TOTALLY MILD + WORNG Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $10.00. MANIAXE + HORDES OF THE BLACK CROSS + DIABOLICAL DEMON DIRECTOR + SARFAUST & DEATHRIPPER Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. OUR SOLACE + COLD GROUND + VICIOUS CYCLE + THE EVERCOLD Playground, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00. PAPER STREET CO. + BACK BACK FORWARD PUNCH + MICHELLE XEN + ALBERT SALT Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 9:00pm. $12.00. POTATO CAKE PRESENTS - FEAT: BOB LOG III + RATTLIN’ BONES BLACKWOOD + KITCHEN WITCH + THE VACANT SMILES Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $15.00. PRETTY CITY (SINGLE LAUNCH) + MY PIRANHA + SUNBEAM SOUND MACHINE + BLOODHOUNDS ON MY TRAIL Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.20. SIME NUGENT BAND + DJ BLOODNUT Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm. SKA VENDORS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. SOUL SAFARI + KINGSTON CROWN Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. SPACE JUNK + MAIDS + HEADS OF CHARM + LOOBS + THE SUNSET CLUB Bar 291, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $10.00. THE RUM RUNNERS + AQUILIUS + TRIGGER + REFLEX REX Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/ WORLD MUSIC
CHUCOS SUAVES Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. DEAN’S MARTINI & SHAKERS Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne. 7:30pm. DIANA CLARK + KERBEROS Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond.
ERYKAH BADU R&B/neo-soul singer-songwriter Erykah Badu is as talented as they come. The Platinum-selling artist is on her way to Melbourne on her quest to become so famous that Microsoft Word doesn’t put a red line under her first name. She plays the Palais Theatre on Tuesday April 15.
9:00pm. $20.00. GORDON WEBSTER & HETTY KATE Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $25.00. JAMIE HAY & LIAM WHITE + DARREN GIBSON + GEORGIA MAQ + TIM HAMPSHIRE + JESS LOCKE 303, Northcote. 7:00pm. $5.00. KELSEY JAMES & THE KAMIKAZE BEE Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $20.00. MARGIE LOU’S PIANO HOUR + ALYCE PLATT Claypots, St Kilda. 9:00pm. MARK JOZINOVIC Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $15.00. STEVE MAGNUSSON TRIO Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. TIN MAN TRIO Wesley Anne, Northcote. 5:30pm. ZELUS TRIO Famous Blue Raincoat, Kingsville South. 8:30pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
BLUE EYES CRY Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:30pm. FIGHTING FOO Kindred Studios, Yarraville. 8:00pm. $10.00. FLYING ENGINE STRINGBAND Railway Hotel (nth Fitzroy), Fitzroy North. 9:30pm. JACK ON FIRE Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm. JO JO SMITH (ALBUM LAUNCH) + LUCIE THORNE Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 8:00pm. $20.00. MARK FROM MOONSHIFTER Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 4:00pm. MIKELANGELO PLAYS CAVE-WAITS-COHEN Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. $15.00. MIKKI MICHELLE + MELISSA MAIN BAND Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00. NO STAIRWAY Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 9:00pm. $5.00. OLIVER PATERSON + DJ STEELY ANN Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 6:00pm. PLAGUE DOCTOR Victoria Hotel (brunswick), Brunswick. 9:00pm. RED LIGHT RIOT + DAMN THE TORPEDOES + DJ JOHNNY TWO DECKS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 10:00pm. RHYTHM KITCHEN Irish Times Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. SALLY SELTMANN (HEY DAYDREAMER TOUR) + WINTERCOATS Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $20.00. SECRET TSUNAMI (EP LAUNCH) + THE ROLLING PERPETUAL GROOVE SHOW + LUCID PLANET + LEBELLE: SINGLE LAUNCH Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00. SEEDY JEEZUS + SPENCER P JONES Tago Mago, Thornbury. 8:00pm. SPENCER P JONES Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:30pm. THE BUFFALO CLUB Town Hall Hotel (north Melbourne), North Melbourne. 10:00pm. THE MAGIC BAND + GRANDMOTHERS OF INVENTION Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $66.00. TILLEY + PLUM GREEN Some Velvet Morning, Clifton Hill. 8:00pm. TRACY HOGUE Open Studio, Northcote. 6:00pm. TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION - FEAT: DAN BOURKE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6:00pm.
Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $10.00. HOLY LOTUS + SACRED FLOWER UNION + BAYOU + CLIFF RICHARDS + ORLANDO FURIOUS + SHINEY JOE RYAN & THE SEARCH FOR FLAVOUR COUNTRY + LEAFY SUBURBS + CROTCH + THE CASUIST + SUMMERPLAN Irene’s Warehouse, 7:00pm. $10.00. HUNTERS & COLLECTORS + THE PANICS Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:00pm. $77.00. JACK ON FIRE + JOSHUA SEYMOUR Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 9:00pm. JUKEBOX JIVE - FEAT: THE JUKEBOX RACKETS The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00. JULY DAYS + JULY DAYS + DJ LUCY ARUNDEL + KID ZUES + THE PEEKS Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:00pm. $13.00. LA BASTARD + RON S PENO & THE SUPERSITIONS + THE EIGHTY 88’S John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. LOWER PLENTY + MOON RITUALS + DJ TILLY Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm. MAIDS + HALTEVER + AKTION UNIT + O LITTLEBLOOD + DJ OLD HANDS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. MANNY FOX + WILLIE WAGTAILS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. MEGAN WASHINGTON Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $33.00. MUSIC FOR BLANKETS + THE KEITHS! + DEAR PLASTIC + SLEEP DECADE + ATKINSON JONES Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $20.00. OLIVER PATERSON + 30/70 Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $8.00. PAUL WOSEEN Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 8:00pm. $15.00. RAW BRITT + MICKS MIX Musicland, Fawkner. 8:30pm. $20.00. RICHIE 1250 & THE BRIDES OF CHRIST Victoria Hotel (brunswick), Brunswick. 9:00pm. RVIVR + OUCH MY FACE + FEAR LIKE US + THE UNDERWIRES Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $15.00. SHACKLES + RORT + PEOPLE PROBLEM + BLOODRULE + CAGED GRAVE Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. SIENNA WILD (ALBUM LAUNCH) Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.20. SLACQUER + MUSCLE MARY Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 6:00pm. THE ESCARGO GOS Public Bar, North Melbourne. 2:00am. THE GARDEN OF EIDA + DEAR STALKER + SUB ROSA + CHARM + EEVIE LA VOLPE Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. THE HUNGRY MILE Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 9:00pm. THE INFANTS + PRETTY CITY + SEWERSIDE Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong. 8:00pm. THE LOST SOULS REVIEW - FEAT: JEANIE + AARON D’ARCY + OLIVIA PHYLAND + TONY JACKSON + TOJO WARRIOR + ROOSTAR + MICK TREMBATH 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00. THE WAY Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. WHEN GIANTS SLEEP + DIVIDE & CONQUER + EMECIA + HANDS OF HOPE + REVELATIONS + FAIL THE ABSTRACT Wrangler Studios, Footscray. 6:00pm. $12.00. YOUNG MAVERICK + REDSPENCER Toff In Town, Melbourne
SATURDAY APR 12 INDIE/ROCK/POP/METAL/ PUNK/COVERS ANDREW SHIFT Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 4:00pm. BACKWOOD CREATURES Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. BANG - FEAT: FOR TODAY + PREPARED LIKE A BRIDE + TO THE AIRSHIP Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. BEACHY BOYS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm. BEN RIDDLE Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00. BIRTHDAY BLUES BASH - FEAT: CARGO BLUES BAND Musicland, Fawkner. 8:00pm. BOB HARROW + STREETY + ALI E Old Bar, Fitzroy. 3:00pm. BON JOVI TRIBUTE + DEF REPPLICA + TO HELL & BACK Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. BONE + STATIONS + WHITE WASH Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. BUFFALO TALES + AMISTAT + SAM BRITTAIN + WALKER Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 9:00pm. $12.00. DAVID CRAFT + LAURA K CLARKE Some Velvet Morning, Clifton Hill. 8:00pm. ELLA HOOPER Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Southbank. 3:00pm. ESC + SHIMA + STRANGERS FROM NOW ON + PREMIUM FANTASY Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. GLASS TOWERS + THE TROTSKIS + ADAM ECKERSLY + THE HELLHOUNDS + PHIL PARA Espy, St Kilda. 6:00pm. GOODTIMES FOREVER - FEAT: BLACK SALOON COWBOYS + JACKY T + TOLLS + POISON FISH Bar 291, Brunswick. 8:00pm. GUARDS OF MAY + CRASH & BURN + LUNG + ARAKEYE
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
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
GIG GUIDE
WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK
For all the latest gigs check out beat.com.au Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/ WORLD MUSIC CLASSICAL PIANO Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne. 2:00pm. GOYIM + ELVIS IN THE HOUSE Claypots, St Kilda. 3:30pm. HEATHER STEWART SINGS BILLIE HOLIDAY Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $20.00. JOHN ANDERSON ELASTIC BAND Open Studio, Northcote. 5:00pm. LAURA & SUSIE Faroukâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Olive, Thornbury. 5:00pm. MARGIE LOU DYER & THE BOURBON STREET BAND Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $25.00. SEVEN DAVIS JR + JULIEN LOVE + HARVEY SUTHERLAND + FUNK BAST*RD Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. THE FUNKALLEROS Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. THE JOE RUBERTO TRIO WITH FEM BELLING Dizzyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $20.00. THE JULIE Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;HARA QUINTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $25.00.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
ALLEN STONE Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $55.00. CHARLES JENKINS & THE ZHIVAGOS + ROB SNARSKI Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:00pm. $18.00. HER & THEM Tago Mago, Thornbury. 9:00pm. NICK CHARLES Famous Blue Raincoat, Kingsville South. 8:30pm. $10.00. OLD TIME JAM SESSION Victoria Hotel (brunswick), Brunswick. 5:00pm. RAISED BY EAGLES Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. ROY TAIG & ALEX HAMILTON Sporting Club Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. RUSTY PICKERS Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm. SKIPPING GIRL VINEGAR Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $23.00. THE BAKERSFIELD GLEE CLUB Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. THE EARS + MIDNIGHT SCAVANGERS + SUZIE STAPLETON DUO Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 9:30pm. THE GROOVETONES Blarney Stone Irish Pub, Yarraville. 8:30pm. THE LONG STAND Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 9:00pm. THE Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;DOWDS Irish Times Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. THE STETSON FAMILY Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. THE WIKIMEN Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm. TJ QUINTON Wesley Anne, Northcote. 2:00pm. VIVA YOUTH FESTIVAL - FEAT: BARCELOS + MOSE & THE FMLY + THE PSYDE PROJECTS. Princes Gardens, Prahran.
11:00am. WAZ E JAMES BAND Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. WILD TURKEY + DJ ADALITA Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.
SUNDAY APR 13 INDIE/ROCK/POP/METAL/ PUNK/COVERS 80â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ON THE EDGE Sloaney Pony, Port Melbourne. 8:30pm. ACOUSTIC MATINEE Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 3:00pm. AL PARKINSONSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 90â&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COVER SONG PARTY Some Velvet Morning, Clifton Hill. 6:00pm. ALONE WITH TIGER + LADY OSCAR + ARTY DEL RIO Bar Open, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. ANGUS MCLEAN + TEENAGE LIBIDO Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00. BATTLE OF THE BANDS - FEAT: ISOLATION + CHASE THE ACE + SHEWOLF + THE FLEET + CHASER + WILD VIOLET + BLACK DIAMOND + THE F.I.B.Bâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S + THE BEAUTIFUL MONUMENT + THE STRANGERS IN TOWN Musicland, Fawkner. 8:00pm. $10.00. BUCK JR + DEMI LOUISE Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. GLUEFOOT + PAUL TRIGG + DAVID WHITE Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 3:00pm. $15.00. JULES BOULT & THE REDEEMERS Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 4:00pm. KEN STRINGFELLOW + THE WELLINGTONS Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 6:30pm. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE + KILL DEVIL HILL Palace Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $66.20. KING LUCHO Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 5:00pm. LARGE NUMBER 12S Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. LECURE Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. LITTLE EARTHQUAKE Wesley Anne, Northcote. 8:00pm. MAIDS + SEEDY JEEZUS + DARTS + DJ BOBBY LOU Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. MINIMUM WAGE - FEAT: SOMA COMA + DRIBBLE + PRAG Bar 291, Brunswick. 4:30pm. $10.00. MOUNTAIN GOAT BEERSOAKED SUNDAYS - FEAT: MIDNIGHT WOOLF + SPACE JUNK + LOOBS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8.00. NEKO PLANET + SISEN + GOTHIQUE PRINCE KEN + LELE + NOC V + MC MELODY DOLL Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $39.00. THE INVISIBLE DEARS + SPIRAL ARM + KIDS IN THE MALL + SIREN BLACK Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm. THE UNHOLY RACKET + THE SHIFTIES + ANNA CORDELL
KILLSWITCH ENGAGE 1999. What a year. The Matrix came out. Some other things happened (I think). And US metalcore band Killswitch Engage began their illustrious career. The band have sold over four million records in the States and their title track from The End of Heartache was nominated for a Grammy in 2005 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; six years after the release of The Matrix. Whoa. They play the Palace Theatre on Sunday April 13.
EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS Fun fact that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t true: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros lead vocalist Alex Ebert is the son of legendary film critic Roger Ebert. With a revolving lineup of up to 12 members, Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros reached worldwide fame (with the exception of one family in northern Siberia who refuse to listen to them) following the release of Home. They perform at the Palace Theatre on Tuesday April 15.
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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
ACCESS ALL AGES Wednesday April 9 With Ruth Mihelcic
There’s so much on this week, it’s been tricky enough keeping this column at word count. In light of that, we’ve jam packed it full of free events. Save your pocket money these holidays and check these out. Since we can’t all jet off to California for the Coachella Festival, we’re proud to present the first official Stream Sessions of the festival live at ACMI’s Studio One (Fed Square) this Sunday April 13 from 2-9pm. Performances will be streamed on the cinema screen, with acts like Muse, Queens of the Stone Age, Lorde, and Empire of the Sun. Did we mention it’s free?
HUNTERS & COLLECTORS According to their fan page, Aussie legends Hunters and Collectors have achieved “Over 1200 gigs. Over 1,000,000 albums sold. 19 hit singles and 16 hit albums.” (“IT’S OVER 9000” haha only true fans of decade-old viral YouTube clips will get this.) The band started in Melbourne in 1981, they were extolled for their originality and hard working attitude – brutally hitting the pub circuit. In 1998, one year before the release of The Matrix, the band dis…banded. However, good tidings were forecast and they reunited. Be a part of something special. Check out Hunters & Collectors with The Panics – one of Australia’s most treasured bands – at the Palais Theatre on Friday April 11 and Saturday April 12.
John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. THE VELVETS + OLD FASHION + THE UGLY KINGS + THE CHERRY DOLLS + DJ LEOPARD HEAD Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10.00. TORA (SINGLE LAUNCH) + ALTA + THE LOVELY DAYS Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. TRIO AGOGO Wesley Anne, Northcote. 5:00pm.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/ WORLD MUSIC
CHEAP FRILLS Farouk’s Olive, Thornbury. 5:00pm. EAMON & DUDI PROJECT Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. ELVIS IN THE HOUSE + DUO SEVERINI Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne. 1:00pm. HUE BLANES (ALBUM LAUNCH) Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $45.00. STANDING TALL Open Studio, Northcote. 4:30pm. THE DANIEL SUSNJAR BAND Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $32.00. VINCS & WAKELING Famous Blue Raincoat, Kingsville South. 3:00pm.
ALLEN STONE The man that describes himself as a ‘hippie with a soul’ (come to think of it, I can’t recall ever meeting a soulless hippie, but I digress...) Washington based Allen Stone returns to Melbourne off the back of his slot on the mammoth Bluesfest bill. His last visit to Australia was massive. He sold out his entire Australian tour and charmed audiences with his impeccable blend of spine tingling soul and riveting R&B. Be sure to catch him perform at The Corner Hotel on Saturday April 12.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK BANJO-B-QUE Mercat Cross, Melbourne. 1:00pm. CHILL OUT SUNDAY Tago Mago, Thornbury. 8:00pm. DARLING JAMES DUO Sporting Club Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm. JACK HOWARD + THE ORIGINALS + AMARILLO Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. JAMES REYNE + LESTER THE FIERCE Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 3:00pm. $33.00. KEIRON MCDONALD COMBO Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8:00pm. LINDSAY FIELD + SAM SEE + GLY MASON Royal Oak Hotel, Fitzroy North. 4:00pm. OPEN MIC NIGHT Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 7:00pm. RICH DAVIES Victoria Hotel (brunswick), Brunswick. 5:00pm. ROCK & RUMMAGE MARKET - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 2:00pm. SOUTHERN LIGHTNING + DJ MAX CRAWDADDY Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 2:00pm. SPENCER P JONES Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 4:00pm. SPOONFUL Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. STEPHEN CUMMINGS & SOCKS AND SANDALS Flying
Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 3:00pm. $20.00. SUNDAY JAMS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. THE HORNETS - FEAT: TTHE HORNETS Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 4:30pm. THE LET YOUR HAIR DOWN GIRLS John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 5:00pm. THE MARGIE LOU TRIO + GIL ASKEY Claypots, St Kilda. 3:30pm. THE TEK TEK ENSEMBLE Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 4:30pm. THOMAS HUGH + PUERTO RICO 303, Northcote. 3:00pm. TIM CROSSEY & CAL WALKER + BROOKE RUSSELL & THE MEAN REDS Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 4:00pm.
MONDAY APR 14 INDIE/ROCK/POP/METAL/ PUNK/COVERS CHERRY JAM Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. COOPERS PRESENTS SUNDAY SCHOOL - FEAT: A.D SKINNER + YOUNG LIBERALS Public Bar, North Melbourne. 4:00pm. MONDAY NIGHT MASS - FEAT: PRAG + MASSES + ANSIA + METER MEN Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 6:00pm. RVIVR - FEAT: DIPLOID + ELI CASH & BAND + RVIVR 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. THE SPASMS Public Bar, North Melbourne. 2:00am.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/ WORLD MUSIC
THE ANDREA KELLER TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $15.00.
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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 50
DEAR MONDAY - FEAT: AYLEEN + OLIVER FRIEND + STRAYTHREAD + TOMAS FITZGERALD Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm. PORT PHILLIP GILGAMESH READINGS Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne. 7:30pm.
TUESDAY APR 15 INDIE/ROCK/POP/METAL/ PUNK/COVERS EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS Palace Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $69.00. ERYKAH BADU + CAZEAUX OSLO + JIMMY CAUTION + JACKSON MYLES Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $25.00. KRAKEN RUM PRESENTS - FEAT: DESTRENDS + THE CHERRY DOLLS + JANITA KLEIN Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $6.00. POLYESTER BOOKS BENEFIT FUNDBLAZER - FEAT: THE BENNIES + APART FROM THIS + REGRETS + LUCY WILSON BAND Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $15.00. RUBY TUESDAY - FEAT: KYAARN + JIMMY JUNK HEART + OSCAR GALT Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00. SEXY/HEAVY + THE BALLS Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL DISCOVERY NIGHT - FEAT: NINOX + YOU & YOUR FRIENDS + JEROME KNAPPETT Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.
JAZZ/SOUL/FUNK/LATIN/ WORLD MUSIC
BIG BAND FREQUENCY Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14.00. ERYKAH BADU + HIATUS KAIYOTE Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:30pm. $99.90. HI-FI LOUNGE LIZARDS Claypots, St Kilda. 9:00pm. HOLLY NORMAN, AMARINA WATERS, BETH BROWN + HOLLY NORMAN + AMARINA WATERS + BETH BROWN Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. PETER BAYLOR’S ULTRAFOX Claypots Evening Star, South Melbourne. 7:30pm. SASKWATCH Basement Discs, Melbourne Cbd. 12:45pm. THE BEST OF NMIT Wesley Anne, Northcote. 7:00pm. THE TONY GOULD TRIO 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.
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Applications for our innovative and free songwriting mentoring program Push Songs close on Friday so jump onto our website and apply if you haven’t already. If you fancy oneon-one mentoring sessions with the likes of Mick Thomas (Wedding Parties Anything), Suzannah Espie, Jess Cornelius (Teeth and Tongue) and Davey Lane (You Am I) then get cracking. It’ll run during April/May/June at our Brunswick office and is open to AA from anywhere in Victoria. Lastly, the good folks over at Youth Central are giving away 10 Projecteos to 10 lucky young people! ‘What’s a Projecteo,’ we hear you ask, ‘some sort of typo? It’s a shmiggedy little mini-projector that you load up with your own Instagram photos. Too cute. To score one, get over to facebook.com/ youthcentralvic and comment on their comp post before it closes on Sunday. While you’re there, might as well check out the calendar of 146 Youth Week events happening around Victoria over the next few weeks. There’s a bunch of sweet opportunities (including volunteer roles) on our website too, a few good ones this month from St Kilda Film Festival, New Wave Festival, Music Victoria, Tone Deaf, APRA, etc. – thepush.com.au is where it’s at.
ALL AGES TIMETABLE WEDNESDAY APRIL 9 Youth Fair w/ Darcy Fox, Half the Sky, Lobes of Julia, Rockenspiele, Codix/R.E.A.L, and REMI, Victory Park, Traralgon, 11:30am - 6:30pm, Free, Joshua Oates on 5136 8300 or facebook.com/headspacecwg, AA Youth Fest w/ Yung Warriors, Jindi Worabak, FlyBz, Hemmings Park, Princes Hwy, Dandenong, 1-4pm, Free, facebook.com/cgdyouthservices, AA Monster Movie Double Film Screening, Boroondara Youth Resource Centre, Level 1, 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn, 7-10:30pm, Free, facebook.com/boroondarayouthservices, AA
THURSDAY APRIL 10 Music on the Deck w/ Tash Sultana, Newport Skate Park, Newport, 1-4pm, Free, Bennjamin Bevis on 0448 997 962, AA Industry Insights featuring Gary Pinto w/ bands and solo artists welcome, places must be booked, Kingston Youth Services, Shop 1137, Southland Shopping Centre, Cheltenham, 6-8pm, Free, Paul Corb on 1300 369 436 or fuseproductions@kingston.vic.gov.au, AA
SATURDAY APRIL 12 Rock ‘n’ Skate Festival, The Shed Indoor Skate Park, 65 Berwick Cranbourne, 10:30am - 5pm, Free, casey.vic.gov. au/youth, AA Epic Youth Festival, Stiggants Reserve, Stiggants St, Warrandyte, 12-5pm, Free, Lachlan Campbell on 9848 5400, AA Koorie Pride Youth Festival 2014, Ray Bramham Gardens, St Georges Rd, Preston, 2-6pm, Free, songlines.net.au, AA VIVA Youth Festival, Princes Gardens, Malvern Rd, Prahran, 11am-6pm, Free, stonnington.vic.gov.au, AA
SUNDAY APRIL 13 Stream Sessions: Coachella Live 2014, ACMI Studio One, Federation Square, Melbourne, 2-9pm, Free, thepush.com. au, AA For Today w/Prepared Like A Bride, Arrow On Swanston, 488 Swanston St, Melbourne, 6pm, $29.10, oztix.com.au, AA Skate, Scoot & BMX Comp w/ DJ Max McKay, Point Lonsdale Skate Park, Point Lonsdale Road, Point Lonsdale, 11am-4pm, Free, Louise Roberts on 5258 4816 or qmf.net. au, AA Twilight Outdoor Cinema featuring ‘Grown Up’s 2’ w/ Allday, Atkinson Park, Kerang. 4:30-9pm, Free, Narelle Fowler on 5451 0200, AA TROJAN w/ A Call To Anguish, The 3D’s, Junipers and Suburban Junkie, Karova, 15 Field St, Ballarat Central, 2-6pm, $5, youthservicesballarat.com.au, AA Freestyle Fever 10 w/ DJ Jumps and Hip Hip Break Battle, Auditorium, St Kilda Town Hall, Cnr Brighton Road and Carlisle Street, St Kilda, 12-5pm, Free, Martin Goffin on (03) 9209 6167, AA Cardinia Shire Youth Week Festival, PB Donald Reserve, John Street, Pakenham, 11am-4pm, Free, Emma Firth on 5945 4236, AA
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK AINSLIE WILLS + AMY ALEX Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. BETH HART Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $55.00. BEYOND THE BATHROOM CHOIR Edinburgh Castle, Brunswick. 7:30pm. FRESH INDUSTRY SHOWCASES Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. $15.00. SHELLEY SHORT + THE ABBOTSFORD THREE Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. WROK DOWN - FEAT: JOHN SWAN Musicland, Fawkner. 8:00pm. $5.00.
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PROFILE
BLACK PEARL STUDIOS
Black Pearl Sudios in the telemovie INXS: Never Tear Us Apart. Photo: Shine Australia
‘SEARCH FOR PEARLS’ SONGWRITING COMPETITION
Tell us about Black Pearl Studios. Years in the making and situated in the heart of Bayside, Black Pearl Studios are state of the art recording and production studios, designed by some of the best sound architects in the industry. As studio owner and sound engineer Yury Kogan lay out the studio plans, he wanted nothing less than the best and built the studios under the guidance of the best acousticians in the world. Coupled with an impressive collection of handcrafted and uniquely designed instruments, taking its place amongst hundreds of pieces of state of the art guitars, keyboards and musical instruments, the studio also consists of a hand-picked Yamaha C7 Auditorium Grand Piano, antique acoustics, organs and amps and a collection of guitars, keyboards and drums, available to performers at no extra charge. Engineers include studio owner Yury Kogan, Terry Hart, and world renowned Julian Mendalsohn, who has produced over 25 number one hits on the UK charts. Black Pearl Studios are worldclass facilities that recently featured in Channel Seven’s telemovie INXS: Never Tear Us Apart (as pictured). What is the ‘Search For Pearls’ competition all about? This year Black Pearl Studios in conjunction with the media and promotional services offered by KaZbAhMeDiA, are on a search for ‘pearls’ hidden among us. On the hunt for fresh Aussie talents and new sounds, we are hosting a music competition, promotions and awards night with judges and guests from the industry, for shortlisted contestants to listen to and network with. This event will be held during May with the date to be announced prior to the closing date for entries. Each shortlisted contestant/group will be required to perform their shortlisted track, nominated for the final heat and overall grand prize (valued at
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 52
$10,000+) in front of industry guests and the panel of judges attending the awards night party. Who should enter and why? The aim of the competition is to discover and promote new Australian music and relatively unknown bands/ performers of various musical genres. We are calling all artists, whether musicians, singers, songwriters, bands or solo artists. What are the categories to enter? 1. Under 18s [Group & Solo Entries] 2. Best Solo: Acoustic / Country / Pop / Rock / Jazz / Classical / Opera 3. Best Band: Rock / Metal / Indie Alternative 4. Best Modern Group: Pop / Dance / Modern Music 5. Modern Music solo/duo/trio: Hip hop / RnB / Electronic / DJ Production 6. Group Performance: Choir / Orchestra / Classical Duos & Groups How do you enter exactly and how many songs can you enter? To enter: Go to www.kazbahmedia.com, download entry form and T&Cs. Follow instructions and send the application + MP3 (or WAV) format via email to kazbahmediaoz@gmail.com. Postal applications with CD/DVD included sent to Black Pearl Studios. Multiple entries accepted. Does it cost any money to enter? There is a nominal fee to cover some of the expenses of running the competition: $10 per track or for multiple entries: $15.00 for two tracks or $20.00 to enter three tracks.
Who is judging the song writing competition? Timothy J Fry – The Australian Music Industry Awards (AMIA) & Steel Guitar Australia, Australian Songwriters Association representatives Jacques Mario Gentil (Songwriter of the Year 2013) and Karen Guyment (2010 winner) and renowned Jazz Performer, Composer, Music Teacher &and Department Head (Monash University), Mr Tony Gould. They will be accompanied by several established singer/songwriters, musicians other professionals from the music industry (to be announced over the coming week). What are some of the prizes on offer to the winners? Our major prize is valued at $10,000+ and includes studio sessions and recording, CD/EP production and promotional video of the experience, mastering by Crystal Mastering, two months’ artist promotions by KaZbahMeDiA, and a pair of Genelec speakers from our good friends and sponsors Studio Connections, valued at $1300. There are also prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place holders in each category!
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
When is the cut-off date for submissions? April 30 2014. Any events related to the ‘Search For Pearls Competition’ or industry nights coming up at Black Pearl Studios? The industry party and awards night, where our finalists will perform their shortlisted track will be held towards the end of May 2014 (Date TBC).
Location: 9/21 Capella Crescent Moorabbin Phone: (03) 9939 7209 Email: yury@blackpearlstudios.com.au Website: www.blackpearlstudios.com.au Brought to you with the support of Beat Magazine.
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LIVE
REPORTS FROM THE FRONT ROW
For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews DARKSIDE Palace Theatre, Friday April 4
Photo by Ben Clements
Nicholas Jaar is one of the most divisive names in contemporary electronic music. Since first breaking through the underground barriers in early-2011 with his debut full-length Space Is Only Noise, Jaar has been heralded as everything from one of the most forward-thinking modern day electronic pioneers to a formulated and unimaginative product of over-hype. Darkside, a project in which Jaar is joined by famed guitarist and tour mate Dave Harrington, first came to fruition in 2011 from a supposed bedroom-jam, which was then followed by a self-titled EP that year, and 2013’s debut album Psychic. With the stage shrouded in smoky darkness, the sold out Palace Theatre was illuminated by a circular rotating mirror beaming out white tunnels of light akin to a hypnotising tractor beam. Performing a mere half-dozen tracks throughout their 90-minute set, the duo drew out cuts from Psychic with ebbing improvisation, creating slow-building and overpowering ambient soundscapes. Harrington’s energetic guitar work (particularly on crowd-favourite Paper Trails) built meticulously composed and towering crescendos, while Jaar’s foggy vocals and delicate synth work commanded LOVED: Dat sub bass. the audience with a feather-light touch, seeing the unlikely aural alliance HATED: The realisation that this providing a thoroughly engaging and engulfing journey of the senses. would be my final gig at the Palace before they close their doors. BY TYSON WRAY DRANK: Tinnies.
JOHN BUTLER TRIO Palais Theatre, Wednesday April 2 There is something inexplicably earthy about John Butler. He’s not dirty, he’s natural. His movements are curiously measured and placed. He and his trio can stand about idly as a group of cotton-swaddled willows when not in song and you’ll learn just as much from their silence as you will from their strains. There’s an awful lot to hear, though. John promises to deal in an intense brand of guitar-led roots – that’s how he gets you to come out, see – but he also offers his audiences loads of sagacious chatter in between. Indeed we’re dealing with profound stuff from troubadour John now that he’s 15-odd years through his artistic passage. The existentially-minded Flesh & Blood is the trio’s most recent record, which is to say it’s the most recent record from the trio we saw at the Palais Wednesday night, who also happen to be part of the most recent version of the trio. Butler is, for obvious reasons, the only mainstay and has changed his trinity about three times now – but it doesn’t seem to matter. He chooses friendly-looking musicians technically better than him so as to concentrate solely on his part of their isosceles setup. No criticism from me here; it’s a smart way to not have to stress and he didn’t stress. So the three played Spring To Come, Blame It On Me, Cold Wind and Only One from Flesh & Blood fairly early on. I became chagrined when John embarked solo upon Ocean, his nine-bloody-minute-long-Philip-Glass-circularity guitar piece, because he always dives into it as if he’s doing everyone a righteous favour. All joy and gusto was lost on the crowd about five minutes through and besides a few dread-locked guys down in front who cried out and waved like Pentecostals after a series of concatenated Butler hammer-ons signalled the finish, most other punters teetered on their haunches like protestants, hands respectfully knotted behind backs. Ocean is a number for guitar geeks I suppose. Funky Tonight was funky as hell. John jiggled about like a giddy bluegrass savant and has a sincere half-smile that carried him through to Better Than. Zebra and another tune from F & B followed. The former gave every semi-initiated JB fan the chance to do the DA DA DA LOVED: The way Grant Gerathy patters da DA, da DA da DAS they came to do and the latter wrapped things up his hi-hat like a bloody speed-ball and can real tight. consistently stop on a dime. John Butler and his trio are singularly great to see because they are HATED: When Zebra came on, the wave of inebriated blokey philistines pushing comfortable with their craft in a way that looks enviably effortless. Humble toward the stage to sing at JB. I think he Butler’s been places, seen some shit, and I’ve now shared in some of it so I feel was a little distracted by it. pretty humbled. We Melburnians saw an organically structured, organically DRANK: A club soda which my girlfriend performed set of organic roots jams. picked up for me in a moment of utter confusion and distress after saying she’d BY NATHAN HEWITT love to go get drinks.
A$AP FERG The Corner Hotel, Wednesday April 2 Things were going great. Support DJ Mafia set the mood with trap staples – cuts including Pop That, N***as In Paris, Bugatti, Mercy (RL Grime x Salva mix) – all approaching their trend expiration date, but they felt perfect preceding the Trap Lord’s arrival. The sense of scope was immense, belying the relative confines of the venue as A$AP Ferg took centre stage, all-white outfit replete with gas mask. True spectacle, powerful showmanship, the call and response dynamic in overdrive, maintaining an aweinducing performance that felt like it could carry throughout the entirety of the set. Each song felt like an event. We threw our praying hands up for Persian Wine. The karaoke versions of A$AP Rocky’s Wild For The Night and Goldie got a pass, only just. The momentum hit an almost terminal lull with the invitation for stage invasion. The act is an intrinsic part to rap performances, but the timing (well before set close or encore) and demeanour didn’t sit right tonight. Shit, it was boring. About the time Ferg demanded all the white girls get off the stage, I took respite in the bathroom, where a backpacker geezer asked me if I had any “draw”, which I guess is British for weed? He took affront that I didn’t know what the fuck he was talking about, so I hightailed it back into the fray. The second half of the set was a looser affair, losing a little bit of the overwhelming impact of the first portion. He toyed with Schoolboy Q’s Man Of The Year beat with minimal success. The crowd belted out the opening Biggie homage on Work. A pair of young aspiring rappers were pulled from the crowd for a turn at freestyling, which didn’t go as horribly as it could have. Ferg then took his turn at freestyling, showing brief flashes of Migos flow towards the end, before setting us up for Shabba. It’s one of the most potent rap bangers of recent memory, and the crowd went suitably wild. We got the Bone Thugs-invoking Cocaine Castle in the encore. The hook isn’t as strong as the excellent, similarly crooned Hood Pope, which didn’t get an airing tonight for some indiscernible reason. Work received a seemingly spontaneous repeat performance, which was somewhat beguiling, but still managing to muster frenzy. Fergie retreated backstage to await those who shelled out the extra clams for a LOVED: Ferg’s initial shock and awe stage meet and greet as the DJ turned on a set of EDM bangers, instigating a pretty presence. intense mosh circle. Music is strange right now. HATED: No Hood Pope. DRANK: No Jesus juice. BY A$AP LACHY
KODALINE Prince Bandroom, Saturday April 5 Brisbane five-piece The Trouble With Templeton had opening honours tonight. Their hauntingly soulful take on indie-rock was perfectly placed to warm up the crowd. Even though most of the audience seemed unfamiliar with their work, the postsong responses were encouraging. Frontman Thomas Calder’s captivating presence and the way the band gelled together while still seeming to exist in their own little corner of the world showed off their growing experience. Packed with a youthful excitement and the vibe of a band that have been gracing stages for years, The Trouble With Templeton were a welcome opener. Emerging in a sea of blue lights and smoke, Kodaline took the stage to tremendous applause and wasted no time opening with After The Fall. This was quickly followed by One Day, spurring the room into the night’s first rousing singalong and Pray, from the band’s debut album. Not much for stage theatrics, vocalist Steve Garrigan finally broke the mid-song silence, albeit with a simple introduction and thank you. However, it wasn’t conversation that this crowd wanted, and with little interaction the Irish four-piece had the audience won over, every fan in the room lending their voices to every song. Love Like This saw interest rise as Garrigan brought out not only a harmonica but also a mandolin while Way Back When called the crowd into a group clapalong. Very quickly the ice seemed to melt and the band were able to inject a small amount of banter between each song, only increasing the adoration from the crowd. Kodaline continued to impress with their ability to reproduce their recorded sound live and the sheer passion that came with each song. Garrigan’s soaring vocals combined with the magic provided by guitarist Mark Prendergast, bassist Jason Boland and drummer Vinny May to create a spectacle that lasted from beginning to end. High Hopes was a clear crowd favourite, made obvious by the sea of phone cameras and passionate singing taking place on the floor. And while the set was full of moments much like this, it wasn’t until the encore that the band produced something truly breathtaking. After ear-splitting applause welcomed them back, the four-piece lined at the edge of the stage and worked to hush the crowd. Silencing the room was a feat in itself, and with nothing but an acoustic guitar and clicking fingers the band performed Sam Cooke’s Bring It On Home To Me, an acapella showing perfect LOVED: How great everything sounds for the small venue. As the night ended on the final notes of All I Want it was with an Irish accent. clear everyone would be hoping for a speedy Kodaline return. HATED: How quickly the night was over. DRANK: Post-show slurpies were a great BY GLORIA BRANCATISANO idea.
TWELVE FOOT NINJA 170 Russell, Friday April 4 TWEL It’s always fant fantastic to see a varied lineup at a rock or metal gig, or indeed any gig for that matter. You may not love every act on the bill, that tha being the case, but it may still open your mind to something new and different. God knows heavy rock and metal fans need nee that sometimes. Melbourne indie/alternative rock act Shadowgame opened proceedings this night. These guys are a sid side project for two of the guys from the heavier, more progressive Engine Three Seven. When you have musicians who are capable of playing quite technical/intricate material instead playing something slightly more simple and stripped back, it can often be a joy to behold for the sheer effortlessness of it. Next, for something completely different was the French electronic dj and metal artist The Algorithm. This ‘band’ consists of two guys, one DJ up the front and a metal drummer behind the kit. It’s a bizarre electro-metal crossover, all instrumental (apart from when Twelve Foot Ninja frontman Kin came up onstage for some impromptu vocals) and an absolute wall of technical industrial noise. The next artist onstage provided yet another sharp turn to the left. Dan Calabro, formerly of Australian progressive/alternative rock trailblazers The Grand Silent System, came on, alone, acoustic guitar in hand, and provided a night and day contrast to what came before him. He proclaimed himself to be the ‘sorbet’ in a degustation meal in a fancy restaurant. Whereas the sorbet cleanses the palette in between major courses in a degustation meal, Calabro cleansed the ears between the aural onslaught that preceded and followed his set, laying down some silky smooth acoustic soundscapes that chilled the packed crowd out for 30 or so minutes and made them hungry and ready for the next onslaught. And come the onslaught did, in the form of the genre-defying Melbourne five-piece Twelve Foot Ninja. Their progress from a quirky, although still highly powerful local alternative rock act playing small pubs and clubs around town to a band on the cusp of becoming a stadium rock outfit, both in terms of their profile and their sound/stage presentation is a joy to behold. Their sound and stage presence most definitely suits the bigger venue, and the band seemed to revel in this. They run the gamut of so many styles, from rock to metal to pop, reggae, funk, jazz and just about everything in between, and yet the overriding vibe is that of powerhouse rock, with a strong element of fun. The 900-odd capacity venue was close to full this night, and every one of the sweat-soaked patrons went home with a big fat smile on their face. LOVED: The variety HATED: Nothing BY ROD WHITFIELD DRANK: Nothing (totally skint!) MAGAZI BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 54
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