Beat Magazine #1454 by Furst Media

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Hotel

SATURDAY 3RD OF JANUARY

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WEDNESDAY 24TH OF DECEMBER FROM 7PM

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Whether you play a comedian, poet, musician or dancer, you are welcome here at the brunny every wednesday! Register from 6pm onwards timeslot raffle is drawn out at 6:30pm. Get in early to ensure you get a spot!

A FREE POT OF BOAGS IF YOU PERFORM!

$10 JUGS OF BOAGS DRAUGHT (For Those Needing Liquid Courage...) DJ HOOPS HOOPER TILL 5AM

THURSDAY 25TH OF DECEMBER

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BaR Merry ChristMas to all! Saturday dec 27 5PM

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Saturday dec 20 9PM

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& the PRaiRie Kings hOPPed uP cOw fOlk On a hOnkytOnk bender.

thank you to all the bands who've done their thing on the Boogie Man's stage, thank you for the support from all the crowds of enthusiastic music supporters.

Thank you all for helping To keep live music live! SAturdAy 27 deCember

POST-XMAS PARTY Sunday dec 28 3.30PM

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“auStralia’S Own blueS diva” (SMh) – gutSy, SOulful, JOPlin-Sequel blueS.

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.COM.AU BOURNE L E M G IN H T Y R E EV E ONLINE & MOBIL

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AUSTRALIA’S HOME OF LIVE MUSIC SINCE 1878 11 THE E S P LA N A DE ST. KI LDA - 18 + V EN UE ON LY

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AND HIS ALL STAR BAND - FREE ENTRY SHOW! EVERY SUNDAY IN THE FRONT BAR! FROM 6PM

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Transit_NYE_Week_1.pdf

7/11/14

2:21 PM

CMY

THE GREAT BRITAIN HOTEL no apartments RICHMOND no reno's still the gb THURSDAY THURSDAY 25 25 DEC DEC

OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY 5-9PM WEDNESDAY WEDNESDAY 31ST 31ST DEC DEC

NYE

SATURDAY SATURDAY 26 26 DEC DEC

SATURDAY SATURDAY 3RD 3RD JAN JAN

ANDY PHILLIPS &

EVA MCGOWAN

THE CADILLAC WALK

DIDDY REYES TWO BLUE DOGS

from 9pm

featuring:

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DJ DANGER + DJ WRONGHEAD

FREE ENTRY! OPEN UNTIL 3AM! $6 SAILOR JERRY’S + DELICIOUS GOON-BAG SANGRIA

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facebook.com/thegreatbritainhotel facebook.com/thegreatbritainhotel WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV

IN THIS ISSUE

HOT TALK

TOURING

NYE SPECIAL

WHATS ON, SETTING SUN FILM FESTIVAL

GL ASS ANIMALS page 36

GODSMACK page 44

ART OF THE CITY

REBELUTION

GLASS ANIMALS

SLOW CLUB

IVAN OOZE

ANGEL OLSEN

WYE OAK

MATT ANDERSEN

BEAT WRITER’S WRAP

GODSMACK, ANGELS & AIRWAVES

CORE/CRUNCH, FIREWORKS

ICEAGE

MUSIC NEWS

LIVE

ALBUM OF THE WEEK, SINGLES, CHARTS

ANGEL OLSEN page 39

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GIG GUIDE

BACKSTAGE/THE LOCAL

INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH

BEAT TV/WATT’S ON PRESENTER: Dan Watt CONTRIBUTORS: Kelsey Berry, Graham Blackley, Gloria Brancatisano, Chris Bright, Joanne Brookfield, Avrille BylockCollard, Meg Crawford, Alexander Crowden, Jules Douglas, Alexandra Duguid, Alasdair Duncan, Cam Ewart, Callum Fitzpatrick, Jack Franklin, Emma Gawd, Lauren Gill, Chris Girdler, Joe Hansen, Chris Harms, Andrew Hickey, Nick Hilton, Peter Hodgson, Lachlan Kanoniuk, Cassandra Kiely, Billy Killing, Joshua Kloke, Jody Macgregor, Wayne Marshall, Nick Mason, Denver Maxx, Krystal Maynard, Paul McBride, Miki Mclay, Rhys McRae, James Nicoli, Adam Norris, Jack Parsons, Sasha Petrova, Liam Pieper, Zoe Radas, Leigh Salter, Sisqo Taras, Kelly Theobald, Tamara Vogl, Dan Watt, Krissi Weiss, Augustus Welby, Garry Westmore, Rod Whitfield, Jen Wilson, Tyson Wray, David James Young, Simone Ziada, Bronius Zumeris. 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. © 2014 Furst Media Pty Ltd. No part may be reproduced without the consent of the copyright holder.

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THUR

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ALBUMS

SLOW CLUB page 37

RL Y

IVAN OOZE page 38

EAT IN & TAKEAWAY

WWW.BONEY.NET.AU

featuring JOW NEPTUNE and THE ROLLING BLACKOUTS

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HIP HOP KARAOKE NUMBER 4 Presented by BURN IN TIME

OUTSIDE THE ACADEMY, SLEEP//LESS, ROMEO MOON, THE WEEKEND PEOPLE & ENOLA FALL

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 19

HOT TALK

THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS

For all the latest news check out beat.com.au Tex Perkins

Kylie Auldist

PRINCE BANDROOM AUSTRALIA DAY CONCERT

What better way to celebrate Australia Day than by firing up the barbie and listening to some homegrown live music? The Prince will play host to all that and more when it hosts a special one-off event next month. Tex Perkins & The Ape, British India, Harts, The Cherry Dolls and a secret special guest are all set to perform. In true Aussie style, there will also be a BBQ on the balcony before the music begins. It all goes down at the Prince Bandroom on Monday January 26. Tickets are available at princebandroom.com.au.

TONY JOE WHITE

SUN KIL MOON

Sun Kil Moon, aka Mark Kozelek, will hit Australian shores next March. The tour follows the release of his sixth studio record Benji. Catch him on Saturday March 21 at the Athenaeum Theatre.

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 20

The Swamp Fox, Tony Joe White will return to our shores for an extensive national tour next year. The 18-date tour will see him play shows across regional and capital Australia, including appearances at Boogie Festival, Forth Valley Blues Festival, Blenheim Festival and Bluesfest. With a career spanning six decades, White has over 20 albums under his belt, including 2013’s Hoodoo. He’ll play at the Thornbury Theatre on Wednesday March 18. Tickets available from lovepolice.com.au.

THE OCEAN

SUNSET SOUNDS

The City of Stonnington has revealed the program for its 2015 edition of Sunset Sounds. The free concert series will take over Stonnington’s parks and gardens across January. Sunset Sounds will kick off on Sunday January 4 with soul singer Kylie Auldist and funk band The Glenroy Allstars. The Pearly Shells Swing Orchestra and Hetty Kate will play at Malvern’s Central Park on Sunday January 11 and the series will come to a close with singer-songwriter Joe Creighton performing Into the Mystic - the Music of Van Morrison on Sunday January 18. Even more, food trucks will be on hand at all three events to serve up delicious eats. For more information about Sunset Sounds, visit stonnington. vic.gov.au.

This is massive news. Germany’s premier post-metal act The Ocean are returning to Australia in April 2015. The Ocean will be playing their highly acclaimed record Pelagial in full for the very first time in Australia. Pelagial was one of 2013’s most critically-acclaimed releases internationally. The past two years have seen The Ocean touring the globe relentlessly with the likes of Opeth, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Between The Buried And Me, The Black Dahlia Murder and many more. They come to Melbourne on Saturday April 18 at The Evelyn Hotel, and tickets are available through the venue.

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EMERY

Seattle’s Emery will embark on their first Australian headline tour in four years next March. The post-hardcore outfit will tour in support of their forthcoming LP, You Were Never Alone. Fans can expect to hear a mix of tracks from the new album and their more recent, heavier tracks. They’ll play Northcote Social Club on Sunday March 29. Tickets are on sale at oztix.com.

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FREE SHIT SEU JORGE

For all the latest news check out beat.com.au The Smashing Pumpkins

THE BENNIES

Local legends The Bennies will hit the road again in March for a whirlwind national tour. The tour will follow the band’s appearances at Golden Plains and Soundwave next year, which come off the back of a huge year of touring in 2014. Joining the band on the road will be Melbourne rockers Foxtrot. Catch The Bennies on Saturday March 21 at Northcote Social Club and Sunday March 22 at Wrangler Studios for an all ages show. Visit thebennies.com.au for tickets.

SOUNDWAVE

Soundwave have unleashed a huge third announcement of bands that will join their 2015 incarnation. Joining the likes of Soundgarden, Marilyn Manson, Slipknot and Slash are The Smashing Pumpkins, Steel Panther, Millencolin, Falling In Reverse, Exodus, The Vandals, Rival Sons, King Parrot and Raglans. Soundwave 2015 will take place in Melbourne on Saturday February 21 and Sunday February 22 at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Midnight Juggernauts

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT

Canadians and Americans often take offence when you get their accents confused. American-Canadian singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright is probably pretty chill about the whole thing because he has a dual citizenship to both countries. Rufus Wainwright is playing an all ages show at the Palais Theatre Wednesday March 4. For your chance to win a double pass and a copy of the Vibrate: The Best Of Rufus Wainwright CD jump over to head to beat.com.au/freeshit.

FIRST AID KIT

BEYOND THE VALLEY

They’ve already smashed their ticket sales, and now Beyond The Valley have announced the ability for punters to buy tickets for the NYE day of the festival only. The day will feature performances from the likes of Tourist, Golden Features, Rufus, Midnight Juggernauts, Mo, Bakermat, Allday, Oneday, Husky, Slow Magic, Bag Raiders, Hwls, Kant, Motez and more. One day tickets are available now. Head to their website for more details.

In 1958, a rhinoceros was a candidate in the city council elections in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She won by a landslide. Sadly the election officials nullified all her ballots and a new election was held. Among other great things to come out of Brazil is singer/songwriter Seu Jorge. His warm husky baritone is instantly recognisable, but nonetheless flexible enough for samba, reggae, pop, electronic and other influences that find their way into his music. Seu Jorge is bringing his vibrant Latin American music straight from the heart of Rio de Janeiro to Australia for his debut visit this January. For your chance to win a double pass to his show at the Forum on January 13, head to beat.com.au/freeshit.

CITIZEN

Pop punk rockers Citizen will hit Melbourne next year for their debut Australian tour. The band’s debut album Youth was released last year, following the release of their debut EP Young States in 2011. The tour will see them visit Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Catch Citizen on Monday April 20 at the Reverence Hotel. Underage fans can see the band on Tuesday April 21 at the same venue. Visit The Reverence Hotel website for tickets.

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Summer is the season of many backyard parties and plenty of glass in your feet. If you’re smart you’ll keep a first aid kit handy. If you don’t have one, we’ve got something even better. The Swedish duo First Aid Kit are sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg, whose vocal harmonies and woodsy, folkinfluenced songwriting take influence from the likes of Fleet Foxes and Joanna Newsom. Their latest album Stay Gold is sure to mend any wounds you have or at least make you feel a little better about it. Hit us up at beat.com.au/freeshit to win a copy. First Aid Kit are playing the Palais Theatre on Friday March 6.

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 21

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For all the latest news check out beat.com.au REMI

facebook/thehifi twitter.com/hifi_melb

Q&A

instagram.com/thehifi

J U ST A N N O U N C E D

WED 29 APR | NEW DATE

B-BOY WORLD CHAMPIONS TOUR CO M I N G S O O N

DALLAS CRANE

Australian rock’n’roll mainstays Dallas Crane have announced a national run of shows this January, as a live preview of the band’s long-awaited long player due out in 2015. They’ll be joined by those sexy lords of stoner rock, Child. Dallas Crane and Child will take over The Corner Hotel on Sunday January 25.

WED 31 DEC

NYE FUNK THE DARKNESS LEPERS & CROOKS

MON 5 JAN

COLD WAR KIDS

JAMES BAY

TUE 6 JAN

THE BLACK LIPS

THU 08 JAN

TYCHO

SAT 10 JAN

GLASS ANIMALS SUN 11 JAN 2ND SHOW

GLASS ANIMALS

THU 15 JAN

WED 04 FEB

MAC DEMARCO SOLD OUT

THU 05 FEB

BEN FROST FRI 6 FEB

MARDUK

SHAKE THE DUST FEAT. DESERT DWELLERS + MORE

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 22

Lanie Lane

NGV SUMMER SUNDAYS

The National Gallery of Victoria have partnered up with Mushroom to deliver a series of free mini festivals throughout February. Each Sunday in February, the gallery will host Summer Sundays, featuring some of Mushrooms best artists, including Lanie Lane, Husky, Alpine, The Creases, World’s End Press, Melody Pool, Slum Sociable and Kagu. The series will also feature artwork from Mambo as well as food and drinks from Huxtaburger and local microbreweries. Summer Sundays will take place on Sunday February 1, 8, 15 and 22 at the National Gallery of Victoria. For the full program and more information, visit the NGV website.

Disco Puppets

Name/Band: Disco Puppets. Define your genre in five words or less: “The Thundersaurus cometh,” watch me. 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? “Nuthin’ like a couple tinnies an’ some Disco Pupps maht.” How long have you been gigging and writing? About 1.5 sun cycles. What has been your favourite gig you’ve played to date? Definitely when we played Thunderdome, although all of us entered and all of us left, the crowd still had a reasonably good time. I don’t know how the sequel’s gonna play out though. What inspires or has influenced your music the most? A higher power, from deep within the hidden forests of outback Australia. What do you think a band has to do these days to succeed? Let go of all negative vibes and channel your soul. The rest of the world will catch on sooner or later. Do you have any record releases to date? What? Where can I get it? We’ve got some super cool DIY CDs that you can get off us at gigs for a donation to the band, or just hop onto BandCamp. Why should everyone come and see your band? Because life begins at the end of your comfort zone. DISCO PUPPETS are launching their new single at The Brunswick Hotel on Friday January 2.

SUMMER SOUNDS

FRI 20 FEB FRI 27 FEB

MAC DEMARCO

DZ Deathrays

NEON PARTY UV PAINT

SUN 25 JAN

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE

The Hills Are Alive will return bigger and better than ever next year - and they have revealed their lineup for their 2015 incarnation. In what will be their seventh year, for the first time ever the event will also span over two evenings. The 2015 festival will include performances from the likes of REMI, SAFIA, Pierce Brothers, Asta, Luca Brasi, Little Bastard, Harts, Jen Cloher, LUCIANBLOMKAMP, Grace, Baro, Spookyland, Marlon Williams, Timberwolf, Kirkis, The Lulu Raes, The Pretty Littles, Spender, Fortunes, The Scrimshaw Four, Lanks, Real Slinger’s A-to-Z of Music and Manchoir, with more to be announced soon. The Hills Are Alive 2015 will take place at The Farm from Friday March 27 to Sunday March 29.

GHOSTFACE KILLAH

Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah has surprised Melburnians with a special Christmas treat, announcing an intimate show at Laundry Bar on Boxing Day. Also on the bill is DJ Rectangle – with a surprise appearance from some special guests also on the cards. Ghostface Killah is currently playing a handful of sideshows around Australia following his performance at Meredith Music Festival last weekend. Head on down to Laundry Bar on Friday December 26 to catch Ghostface Killah. Tickets are available through Oztix.

SAT 14 FEB

TINASHE

CATFISH & THE BOTTLEMAN

James Bay has announced he'll be heading to Australia for the first time, to play shows in Melbourne and Sydney this February. The UK troubadour had become a mainstay on Brighton’s open mic scene, continuing to impress on London stages before one of his performances was filmed and uploaded to Youtube by an audience member. It caught the attention of Republic Records, who flew Bay out to New York the next week and signed him. Since then he has released three EPs, had his BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge performance trend #1 on Twitter, saw his second EP enter the iTunes Top 10 and it’s title track hit #1 on the real time Shazam worldwide chart and had his most recent EP debut at #1 on the UK iTunes chart last month. James Bay will take over Northcote Social Club on Wednesday February 4. Tickets are on sale now through the venue.

Following their highly successful recent 30-date RAW Tour across the country, one of the hardest working rock bands in Australia – Lepers & Crooks are heading out on the road once again – this time on a very ambitious 50+ date (25,000 km) tour of the country, to support their newly released Her Kiss EP. The groundbreaking and innovative video for the title track, features amazing manga art by renowned Japanese artist, Eldo Yoshimizu. Catch the Melbourne leg of the tour, Sunday February 8 at Lucky Coq and Monday February 9 at The Old Bar and Saturday February 14 at The Great Britain Hotel.

MODE SELEKTOR

KERSER

Beat’s Artist Profile with

NYE AT THE ESPY

Still looking for somewhere to ring in 2015? The Espy have you covered. Architecture in Helsinki, Kingswood, Adalita, DZ Deathrays, The Griswolds, Money For Rope, Mighty Duke & The Lords, Maids, Empra, Harts, Pretty City, Tequila Mockingbyrd, Them Bruins, The Sand Dollars and Claws & Organs are all set to help welcome in 2015. It goes down at The Espy on Wednesday December 31. Tickets are available from the venue.

Hobsons Bay’s backyard music festival Summer Sounds has unveiled the program for its 2015 season. Returning for its ninth year, the series hosts an afternoon of free entertainment at Commonwealth Reserve in Williamstown and Logan Reserve in Altona. Summer Sounds will begin with Kylie Auldist & the Glenroy Allstars and Nikita Azzopardi on Saturday February 7, while Ms Murphy, Chris Wilson and Alyson Murray will take the stage on Saturday February 21. The Pierce Brothers, Gena Rose Bruce and Robbie Bundle are set to play on Saturday February 14, and the series will come to a close with Liz Stringer Band, Suzannah Espie & The Last Word and Midnight Hunting Crew on Saturday February 28. The music kicks off at 2pm. Guests are encouraged to bring a rug and a picnic. For more information about Summer Sounds, visit www. hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au.

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THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM

The Gaslight Anthem have just announced a very special shows to take place in Melbourne in early 2015. For the first time ever, Australian fans will have the absolute honour of selecting their very own setlist. Fans can request their favourite tracks from the stellar back catalogue – Sink or Swim, The ’59 Sound, American Slang and Handwritten. Fucking sweet, right? Don’t miss hand selecting The Gaslight Anthem’s setlist when they play the Prince Of Wales in Melbourne on Wednesday February 4. For more information on the voting process please head to www.facebook. com/soundwavetouring.

HOT TALK

THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS

For all the latest news check out beat.com.au

Q&A

Jordie Lane

APES

SUNSET SERIES

The Sunset Series will return to Fitzroy Gardens this summer, featuring live music, dance workshops, food trucks and family friendly entertainment. Hosted by the City of Melbourne, the free annual event is set to kick off on Saturday January 10 with Melbourne four piece APES, Beautiful Beasts, Dash and Echo Drama. On Sunday January 11, Melbourne Salsa Dancing will get everyone moving with a workshop as the sun goes down. The next weekend, Madre Monte, Passerine, The Tiger and Me and Dan Flynn and The State of Things will take over the stage, before the series comes to a close on Sunday January 18 with another dance workshop, hosted by Rhythm and Spice Bollywood Dancing. The Sunset Series will take place at Stage Lawn in Fitzroy Gardens. For more information, head over to melbourne.vic.gov/whatson.

AFENGINN

A WEEKEND OF TROPICAL EXCESS

Winners of four Danish Music Awards for Best World Music Composer of the Year (2014), Best World Album of the Year and Contemporary Folk Artist, Afenginn made their first appearance in Australia in early 2014, holding audiences of all ages in the palms of their hands, receiving standing ovations wherever they went. Inquisitive, playful and imaginative, Afenginn takes an anarchic approach to music. Formed in Copenhagen, Afenginn has built up a worldwide reputation for their virtuosity and dynamic live shows, always fuelled by great joy, crossing borders and pushing limits. They perform in Melbourne at the Sooki Lounge Thursday January 15, and The John Curtin Hotel on Friday January 16. Tickets are available through respective venues.

The LuWow will celebrate the start of the New Year with a weekend of live music and tropical treats. A Weekend of Tropical Excess will see the bar taken over by live music on Friday January 2 and Saturday January 3. Friday night will see DJ Fes Puskas spin Jamaican ska, reggae and rocksteady records and Dek Drum hit the stage with his Latin percussion show. On the Saturday, DJ Jumpin Josh will bring tropical retro dance tunes to the bar along with live Congo extraordinaire Hannes Lackman. A Weekend of Tropical Excess will take place at the LuWow in Fitzroy on Friday January 2 and Saturday January 3. For more information, visit theluwow.com.

MELBOURNE FOLK CLUB SUMMER SEASON

Following a huge inaugural year, the Melbourne Folk Club has revealed the lineup for its 2015 summer season. The program features 29 acts from Australia, USA, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. Grammy nominee Kim Richey, ARIA Award winner Jeff Lang and Shane Howard and JUNO Award winners David Francey and Ruth Moody are amongst some of the highlights, while The Mae Trio, Jordie Lane, All Our Exes Live In Texas and Laura Jean represent a sampling of the homegrown talent. The Melbourne Folk Club launched in April and has since featured over 90 acts playing to 3,500 people, including Don Walker, Mia Dyson, Husky Jen Cloher and Shane Nicholson. The 2015 summer season runs from Wednesday January 7 to Wednesday March 25. For tickets and full program, visit themelbournefolkclub.com.

Chris Russell talks

New Year’s Eve In The West Fest

So, what’s going on out west this New Year’s Eve? The New Year’s Eve Fest in The West at the Yarraville Club with Graveyard Train and headliners, Wagons. Chicken Walk will be playing songs off our just recorded album. Tell us about your wildest New Year’s Eve experience. Gentlemen never kiss and tell. Suffice to say it involved baby oil, hedge clippers, a Datsun 180B and a sensual couch called Harry. Also, angel’s tears. Everyone has a New Year’s resolution. What’s yours? To be more like St. Francis of Assisi i.e.

to always wear a brown bath robe and be surrounded by animals. There’s a mountain of New Years Eve parties happening in Melbourne. Why should we hit up the Yarraville? Are you for real? Wagons and the amazing Graveyard Train. The booze is cheap and there’s plenty of it. The Yarraville Club is awesome, as is the musical Batman to my Robin: Diamond Dave Folley. NEW YEAR’S EVE IN THE WEST goes down at The Yarraville Club on New Year’s Eve. Tickets are available from $49+BF.

IT’S ROCK‘N’ROLL BABY FILM — acmi.net.au

Four great music films at ACMI

Super Duper Alice Cooper 27 Dec – 9 Jan

Jimi: All Is By My Side 27 Dec – 13 Jan M

Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon 27 Dec – 13 Jan M

CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU

Beautiful Noise Unclassified 18+

31 Jan – 8 Feb

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 23

TOURING

WHO'S ON TOUR, WHERE AND WHEN

For all the latest tour dates check out beat.com.au

INTERNATIONAL GHOSTFACE KILLAH Laundry Bar December 26 PHAROAHE MONCH The Espy December 26 TONSTARTSSBANDHT The Tote December 26 SALT N PEPA The Forum December 27 FALLS MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL Various locations December 28 – January 2 BIG FREEDIA Howler December 30 BEYOND THE VALLEY Phillip Island Circuit December 30 – January 1 SADAR BAHAR The Toff In Town December 31 GREG WILSON Little & Olver December 31 DERRICK CARTER New Guernica January 1 VIOLENT FEMMES MONA January 1 PENINSULA SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL Various Venues, Mornington Peninsula January 1 – 11 A WEEKEND OF TROPICAL EXCESS LuWow January 2, 3 GRANDMASTER FLASH The Espy January 3 DANNY BROWN Corner Hotel January 4 COLD WAR KIDS The Hi-Fi January 5 THE TEMPER TRAP 170 Russell January 5 THE BLACK LIPS The Hi-Fi January 6 MILKY CHANCE 170 Russell January 6 MELBOURNE FOLK CLUB SUMMER SEASON Melbourne Folk Club January 7 – March 25 JOHN SMITH Bella Union January 7 SBTRKT The Forum January 7 GEORGE EZRA Corner Hotel January 7 ASGEIR The Forum January 9 MATT ANDERSON Flying Saucer Club January 10, Thornbury Theatre January 11 WYE OAK Gasometer Hotel January 10 GLASS ANIMALS The Hi-Fi January 10 SPOON The Forum January 11 PIKNIC ELECTRONIK Old Melbourne Gaol January 11 THE GROWLERS Corner Hotel January 14 TIM HECKER Howler January 14 MARDUK AND INQUISITION Northcote Social Club January 14, The Hi-Fi January 16 MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL Bennets Lane January 15 – 29 AFENGINN Sooki Lounge January 15, John Curtin January 16 SLOW CLUB Northcote Social Club January 15 JESUS JONES Corner Hotel January 15 2CELLOS Palais Theatre January 15 THE 1975 Festival Hall January 15 FRIKSTAILERS NGV January 16 NELLY Sidney Myer Music Bowl January 16 THE COATHANGERS January 16 EVERYTIME I DIE Corner Hotel January 16 OUTFIELD Railway Hotel January 17 XYLOURIS WHITE Howler January 17 OMAR SOULEYMAN Corner Hotel January 19 SWANS Corner Hotel January 20 CAMILLIE O’SULLIVAN Melbourne Arts Center January 20 – 24 THE CLEAN Corner Hotel January 22 ICEAGE Ding Dong Lounge January 23 FAT FREDDY’S DROP Palais Theatre January 23 TRUCKFIGHTERS Cherry Bar January 23, Yah Yah’s January 24 JAMIE T The Forum January 24 SUGAR MOUNTAIN January 24 THE KOOKS Sidney Myer Music Bowl January 24 SHONEN KNIFE Ding Dong Lounge January 25 ZA! Ding Dong Lounge January 25 CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN The Hi-Fi January 25 NAS The Forum January 25 MEWITHOUTYOU 170 Russell January 25 ODESZA Howler January 25 FKA TWIGS 170 Russell January 28 RUSTIE Howler January 29 LYKKE LI Forum Theatre January 29 PERFECT PUSSY Corner Hotel January 29 SOHN Corner Hotel January 30 EYEHATEGOD The Hi-Fi January 30 JOHNNY MARR The Forum January 31 CHIODOS Corner Hotel January 31 BELLE & SEBASTIAN Palais Theatre February 1 LITTLE DRAGON 170 Russell February 2 THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM The Forum February 3, Prince Of Wales February 4 RAURY Howler February 3 JAMES BAY Northcote Social Club February 4 ANGEL OLSEN Howler February 4 MAC DEMARCO The Hi-Fi February 4 JUNGLE 170 Russell February 4 HIGHASAKITE Corner Hotel February 4 CONNAN MOCKASIN Howler February 5 VIC MENSA Corner Hotel February 5 BENJAMIN BOOKER Northcote Social Club February 5 CARIBOU The Forum February 5 SUZI QUATRO Melbourne Arts Centre February 5, 6, 7 RATKING Ding Dong Lounge February 6 LANEWAY FESTIVAL Footscray Community Arts Centre February 7 STING AND PAUL SIMON A Day on the Green February 7, Rod Laver Arena February 10 SARAH MCLAUGHLAN Melbourne Recital Centre February 9 J MASCIS Melbourne Recital Centre February 13 THE ANTLERS Melbourne Recital Centre February 14 LAMB The Forum February 14 CJ RAMONE Reverance Hotel February 14, Bendigo Hotel February 15 DANIEL ROSSEN Northcote Social Club February 15 PERFUME GENIUS Corner Hotel February 15 G-EAZY Howler February 16 LINDSEY STIRLING Forum Theatre February 17 TINASHE The Hi-Fi February 20 ROXETTE Rod Laver Arena February 20, Rochford Wines Yarra Valley February 21 PETER HOOK AND THE LIGHT Corner Hotel February 21 SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL Flemington Racecourse February 21, 22

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 24

THE EAGLES Rod Laver Arena February 22, Hanging Rock Macedon February 28 SOUNDGARDEN Festival Hall February 24 REAL ESTATE Corner Hotel February 25 DRAKE Rod Laver Arena February 27 STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS Melbourne Zoo February 27 DELTRON 3030 The Hi-Fi February 27 FOO FIGHTERS Etihad Stadium February 28 BRUNSWICK MUSIC FESTIVAL Various Venues, Brunswick March 1 – 15 MOGWAI Hamer Hall March 1 SHARON VAN ETTEN The Hi-Fi March 3 SHOVELS & ROPE AND SHAKEY GRAVES Corner Hotel March 4 SINEAD O’CONNOR Hamer Hall March 4 RUFUS WAINWRIGHT Palais Theatre March 4 GRUFF RHYS Northcote Social Club March 5 TECH N9NE The Hi-Fi March 6 NENEH CHERRY Hamer Hall March 6 FIRST AID KIT Palais Theatre March 6 PARQUET COURTS The Hi-Fi March 6 MAITREYA FESTIVAL Sea Lake, Victoria March 6 – 9 WOMADELAIDE Botanic Park, Adelaide March 6 – 9 SINEAD O CONNOR Port Fairy Folk Festival March 6 – 9 GRAVEYARD Ding Dong Lounge March 7 WAYNE ‘THE TRAIN’ HANCOCK Ding Dong Lounge March 6, Caravan Club March 7 MACY GRAY Palais Theatre March 7 THE POP GROUP Corner Hotel March 7 FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL Flemington Racecourse March 8 65DAYSOFSTATIC Northcote Social Club March 8, 9 GOODLIFE Flemington Racecourse March 9 OBLIVIANS The Tote March 11, 12, 13 BALKAN BEAT BOX Prince Bandroom March 12 ADAM COHEN Caravan Club March 13, The Toff In Town March 14 MAE Corner Hotel March 14 FOREST SWORDS Howler March 14 HTRK Shadow Electric March 15 TONY JOE WHITE Thornbury Theatre March 18 BOBBY BROWN The Forum March 19 SUN KIL MOON Athenaeum Theatre March 21 URIAH HEEP Shoppingtown Hotel March 21, Chelsea Heights March 22 BILLY IDOL Margaret Court Arena March 24, A Day On The Green March 21 MASTODON Festival Hall March 27 THE HILLS ARE ALIVE The Farm March 27 – 29 EMERY Northcote Social Club March 29 SWITCHFOOT 170 Russell March 31 BEN HOWARD Margaret Court Arena March 31 KEB’ MO’ Melbourne Recital Centre March 31 CHARLES BRADLEY Corner Hotel April 1 JURASSIC 5 Festival Hall April 1 PAOLO NUTINI Palais Theatre April 1 SERENA RYDER Northcote Social Club April 2 MICHAEL FRANTI Festival Hall April 2 BETH HART Melbourne Recital Centre April 2 BOOGIE 9 Bruzzy’s Farm, Tallarook April 3 – 7 REBELUTION Corner Hotel April 3 GEORGE CLINTON & PARLIAMENT FUNKADELIC 170 Russell April 3 BAND OF SKULLS Bluesfest, Byron Bay April 3, Rochford Wines April 5, Corner Hotel April 7 COUNTING CROWS Palais Theatre April 4 G. LOVE AND SPECIAL SAUCE Thornbury Theatre April 4 THE CHRIS ROBINSON BROTHERHOOD Corner Hotel April 4 THE BLACK KEYS Rolling Green April 5, Margaret Court Arena April 7 TROMBONE SHORTY AND ORLEANS AVENUE Corner Hotel April 6 RODRIGO Y GABRIELA Palais Theatre April 7 POKEY LAFARGE Caravan Club April 8, Corner Hotel April 9 GARY CLARK JR. 170 Russell April 8 JIMMY CLIFF Corner Hotel April 8 DAVE & PHIL ALVIN Northcote Social Club April 9 NORMA JEAN Evelyn Hotel April 10 THE GIPSY KINGS Palais Theatre April 10 FRANK TURNER Corner Hotel April 12 ARCHITECTS 170 Russell April 12 ATILLA Arrow On Swanston April 15 (AA), Corner Hotel April 16 (18+) THE DICKIES The Evelyn April 16 THE OCEAN The Evelyn April 18 CITIZEN Reverence Hotel April 20, 21 (AA) DEMI LOVATO Margaret Court Arena April 24 SAM SMITH Margaret Court Arena April 30 PALOMA FAITH Palais Theatre May 5 ANASTACIA Palais Theatre May 7 SUFFOCATION & DECAPITATED Corner Hotel May 9 ALT-J Rod Laver Arena May 10 NICKELBACK Rod Laver Arena May 15 YELLOWCARD Margaret Court Arena July 11 NEIL DIAMOND Rod Laver Arena October 27 AUDRA MCDONALD Hamer Hall October 31 TAYLOR SWIFT AAMI Park December 11

NATIONAL THE MAVIS’S John Curtin Hotel December 27 SUPER DUPER ALICE COOPER ACMI December 27 – January 9 MONEY FOR ROPE NYE on the Hill December 30, The Espy December 31, Cherry Bar January 16, 17 NYE AT THE ESPY The Espy December 31 FIREBALLS Bendigo Hotel December 31 NEW YEARS EVE IN THE WEST FEST Yarraville Live, December 31 FRENCH FEST, FRENCH ISLAND MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL, French Island December 30- January 1 NEW YEARS EVIE Tallarook, Victoria December 31 – January 2 ILLY The Espy January 1 SUNSET SOUNDS Various venues, Stonnington January 4 – 18

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PROUDLY PRESENTS

Wagons DEC

NYE IN THE WEST FEST Yarraville Live

APR

THE OCEAN The Evelyn

SUNDAY SUMMER SESSIONS Beach Shack Sorrento, featuring HOWQUA and Tom Dockray, January 4 TIM MCMILLAN Ding Dong Lounge January 9 JANE TYRRELL The Forum January 9 SEA LEGS Shebeen January 9 SUNSET SERIES Fitzroy Gardens January 10 – 18 GROUNDSWELL MUSIC FESTIVAL Lake Tyers Beach, East Gippsland January 10 SUMMER OF SOUL Mossvale Park January 10 UNIFY FESTIVAL South Gippsland January 10 – 11 SEX ON TOAST Shadow Electric January 11 LUNATICS ON POGOSTICKS Shebeen January 17 STEP The Toff In Town January 21 SUMMERSALT FESTIVAL Melbourne Arts Precinct January 23 – Februrary 21 ART OF SLEEPING Northcote Social Club January 23 ALI BARTER Workers Club January 24 BEECHWORTH MUSIC FESTIVAL Madman’s Gully Amphitheatre, Beechworth January 24 BALLARAT BEER FESTIVAL City Oval, Ballarat January 24 DALLAS CRANE Corner Hotel January 25 TEETH & TONGUE Gasometer Hotel January 25 FRENZAL RHOMB The Loft January 22, Karova Lounge January 23, Barwon Heads Hotel January 24, Reverence Hotel January 25 CALIGULA’S HORSE The Evelyn Hotel, January 25 PRINCE BANDROOM AUSTRALIA DAY CONCERT Prince Bandroom January 26 ST KILDA FESTIVAL Various Venues, St Kilda January 31 – February 8 BENNY WALKER St Kilda Festival January 31, Melbourne Zoo March 13 THE SMITH STREET BAND The Hi-Fi January 31, Northcote Social Club February 1 (U18) CLARE BOWDITCH Flying Saucer Club February 1, 8, 15, 22 NGV SUMMER SUNDAYS February 1, 8, 15, 22 BEN FROST The Hi-Fi February 5 THE VANNS Sandbar, Mildura February 5, Gordon Hotel, Portland Febraury 7, Hotel Warnambool February 8, The Espy February 12, Saloon Bar, Traralgon February 27 SUMMER SOUNDS Various venues, Hobsons Bay Febraury 7 – 28 GUY PEARCE & DARREN MIDDLETON Thornbury Theatre February 7 RIVERBOATS MUSIC FESTIVAL, Echuca-Moama February 13 – 15 KIM CHURCHILL Corner Hotel January 15 INFECTED MUSHROOM RMH February 12 THE NECKS Melbourne Recital Centre February 12 MEGAN WASHINGTON 170 Russell February 13 LITTLE BASTARD Northcote Social Club February 19 LIME CORDIALE Northcote Social Club February 20 KYNETON MUSIC FESTIVAL Kyneton Mechanics Institute February 20 – 21 ANGUS AND JULIA STONE Margaret Court Arena February 27 DZ DEATHRAYS Northcote Social Club February 27, 28 BETWEEN THE BAYS FESTIVAL Penbank School, Moorooduc February 28 RUTH MOODY Bella Union March 4, Caravan Club March 5 PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL Port Fairy, Victoria March 6–9 CLOWNS Bendigo Hotel March 6, 9 (AA) VANCE JOY Palais Theatre March 12, 13 KINGSWOOD The Forum March 13 LUCA BRASI Northcote Social Club March 14, Wrangler Studios March 15 KYLIE MINOGUE Rod Laver Arena March 18 WHOLE LOTTA LOVE Palais Theatre March 21 THE BENNIES Northcote Social Club March 21, Wrangler Studios March 22 LISA MITCHELL Howler March 27 PENINSULA PICNIC Mornington Racecource March 29 ROLLING GREEN FESTIVAL Rochford Wines Yarra Valley April 5 AUGIE MARCH Melbourne Recital Centre April 15 THE GETAWAY PLAN Corner Hotel May 22 DARREN COGGAN The Palms July 3

RUMOURS ANI DIFRANCO, WEEZER, 7 SECONDS = NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

the CITY OF STONNINGTON presents

where live music meets the sunset this summer THREE FREE CONCERTS

KYLIE AULDIST AND THE GLENROY ALLSTARS Sunday 4 January 6pm

Media supporter:

THE PEARLY SHELLS SWING ORCHESTRA FEATURING HETTY KATE

INTO THE MYSTIC: THE MUSIC OF VAN MORRISON PERFORMED BY JOE CREIGHTON

Sunday 11 January 6pm

Sunday 18 January 6pm

For more information visit www.stonnington.vic.gov.au/sunsetsounds What’s On Stonnington

@WhatStonnington

@whats_on_stonnington

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 25

BEAT’S GUIDE TO

NYE

THE ESPY

The Espy continue their trend of putting on one of the most epic New Year’s bashes in history with some of the finest bands in the land: a St Kilda sunset, a beer in band, an epic vibe and that countdown to that New Year’s smooch, what could be better? It’s a long-running tradition. Check this out: Architecture in Helsinki, KINGSWOOD, DZ Deathrays, Adalita, The Griswolds, Money for Rope, Magic Bones, Mighty Duke and The Lords, Maids, EMPRA, Harts, Pretty City, Tequila Mockingbyrd, Them Bruins, The Sand Dollars, Claws & Organs. Tickets will be the best $72.95 you’ve ever spent, from oztix, whooo.

NYE IN THE WEST FEST

Two of Australia’s most prolific bands, Wagons and Graveyard Train are joining forces for New Years this year. With both bands recently ending multiple tours across the globe, each are celebrating their latest albums Acid Rain and Sugar Cane (Wagons) and Takes One to Know One (Graveyard Train). Both outfits are in prime musical fitness and looking to cap off the year with a big band in the vibrant locale of Melbourne’s inner west. Wagons and Graveyard Train will ensure your low expectations of New Years are blasted out the window and all your resolutions immediately broken. This night sees a true meeting of minds and combining of enormous Melbourne musical forces. It all goes down from 6pm at The Yarraville Club, 135 Stephenson St Yarraville. Tickets are from $49 through the venue.

Wanna welcome the New Year in the comfort of one of the best beer gardens to ever grace Sydney Road? Place your bets on The Retreat Hotel as the place to kick it this December 31, and join your comrades in an evening of depravity at everyone’s favourite watering hole on the north side. New Year’s Eve will get cracking ultra early at The Retreat, with DJ social services manning the beer garden decks from 3pm. Then, one the sun begins to set and bar tabs begin to rise, join Rattlin Bones Blackwood and The Drunken Poachers as they slay The Retreat stage. Afterwards, The Retreat’s favourite DJs will tear the dancefloor a new one, when DJ Jeff Leppard and Macgregor take over the main room with a special video DJ set til 3am. Wanna know the best part? The whole affair is free. Flippin’ free! Get yourself down there and party on.

THE BENDIGO HOTEL

Fireballs will be joined by sharpie band City Sharps and the new project from the Manic Pistoleros rhythm section, Trauma Boys alongside young psychobilly outfit, Run the Reds. Everyone play ball and dresses like their favourite monster. It’ll be a bit metal, a bit psychobilly. “Chaos in Collingwood,” says Fury. “We’re still working on new material with some sort of release planned for 2015. We might change direction, we might not, either way, you’ll know it’s us.” Sounds mighty promising. Tickets are available through OzTix.

Psychedelic-blues-stoner rock offspring, Child headline a monster New Year’s Eve at Yah Yah’s. Joining them are My Left Boot: the dirty, fuzz-ridden, psych rock masters; Elbrus, who will turn up the stoner doom notch to 11; and Willow Darling, who let you relive the golden years of the ‘60s/‘70s Laurel Canyon folk rock scene. Doors are at 6pm and tickets are available through the venue’s website. Yah Yah’s is located at 99 Little Smith St, Collingwood.

Beyond the Valley will be presenting the highest quality of music, with acts ranging in genres from indie rock, alternative, hip hop, electronica and indie dance. They’ve endeavoured to tailor each experience, from the boutique beer barns and chic cocktail caverns, to the worldclass offerings of their Lux Camp. This is really a music festival like no other, with a huge lineup, including Allday, Bag Raiders, Midnight Juggernauts, Dillon Francis, Husky, Pond, The Preatures and Willow Beats, just to name a few. BTV will be providing the ultimate food and drink experience: think award-winning, have-to-line-up-for-eight-hours-to-geta-table-type operators, from the greatest, stickiest BBQ ribs to the tastiest tacos. It’s frankly quite baffling there are still tickets available ± two and three-day passes are on sale now, with the early settler option open to existing two-day tickets holders.

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 26

MS COLLINS

Join Ms Collins, Jacques Reymond, Paul Wilson (Icebergs), Daniel Wilson (Huxtable) and Riccardo Momesso (Valentino) for a night of luxury, fireworks, music, fashion, food, art and the unexpected in a night hosted by Ms Collins’ Number One fashionista, Henry Roth. Ms Collins will take you on a journey of culinary and liquid experiences from France ( Jacques Reymond), to Mexico (Paul Wilson), America (Daniel Wilson) and Italy (Riccardo Momesso). Immerse yourself in each global corner of the world with complimentary roving canapés and cocktails by award winning bar tender, David Debattista. There’ll be music in The Main Bar, The Ballroom and The Champagne Bar from Melbourne’s best house DJs Mark John, Jacob Malmo, Greg Sara, Simon Digby, Winston Wolf and more. $70 +BF ground ticket includes internationally-themed cocktails and complimentary canapés by Ms Collins world class chefs, 7pm to 12am. Tickets are available from GoldenTix.

CHERRY BAR

Spend New Year’s Eve at a bar that really needs no introduction, but we’re gonna give you one anyway. Founded in 1999, the immortal and acclaimed Cherry Bar is turning it up for their acclaimed-ier New Years Eve, kicking off at 5pm until the wee small hours of the morning, 5am to be precise. Join DJs Bobby Lou Hellacopter and rock DJ Paul Miles for undeniable good times, because have you ever had a bad night at Cherry? We didn’t think so. It’s pretty much the greatest rock’n’roll venue to have ever existed, ever. $13 on the door. Get on down, soul brothas and sistas. AC/DC lane, CBD.

YOUNG AND JACKSON

YAH YAH’S

BEYOND THE VALLEY

Three nightclubs, seven stages, 40 DJs including headliner and Grammy Award winner Paul van Dyk via Clubcast will be making the gargantuan lineup at Crown this New Years. Don’t miss Melbourne’s biggest NYE nightclub party when level three transforms to Party Into the Future. Van Dyk will be streaming live via Clubcast to deliver a global New Year’s Eve party. Connecting DJs and fans around the world, van Dyk will broadcast to thousands gathered in venues creating the first NYE experience of its kind. Plus, an awesome mix of commercial dance, Melbourne bounce, EDM, deep house and R&B; this will be a night to remember. Second release: $50.00 (ends NYE at 8.00pm). On the Door: $60.00. Get your tickets now through Ticketek.

THE RETREAT

FALLS FESTIVAL

Falls: a culmination of music and arts that descends on the picturesque site at Lorne with a lineup that never fails to disappoint year to year. If you’re lucky enough to have secured a ticket, consider yourself the envy of every other person in the country, especially now that Falls has expanded to Byron Bay. This year, catch Alt-J, Ásgeir, SBTRKT, Vance Joy (fresh off his appearance on Conan), Jamie XX, The Presets, Salt N Pepa, Cold War Kids, Milky Chance, La Roux, John Butler Trio, Glass Animals, The Black Lips, Spiderbait, George Ezra, The Temper Trap and many, many more. There are still tickets available for Marion Bay in Tassie, so push it real good and get yoself a ticket.

PAUL VAN DYK

SOUL-A-GO-GO

The most soulalicious NYE you’ve ever been to is taking place at The Corner Hotel. It’s the original nonstop party shop dance-off in Melbourne, delivering the very best in soul and funk 45s, kicking off at 9pm until 3am. PBS soul and funk aficionados Vince Peach, Miss Goldie, DJ Manchild, Matt McFetridge, Andrew Young, Zack Rampage, Jack Sparrow, with a very special live performance from Women of Soul featuring Chelsea Wilson, Christina Arnold and Florelie. Tickets will no doubt sell out (did a little rhyme), so be sure to head to The Corner Box Office on 1300 724 867 or www.cornerhotel.com. $30+BF for PBS Members and $35+BF for future members ;)

DEFECTED IN THE HOUSE NYD

Join International DJs Oliver Dollar, Franky Rizardo, Sonny Fodera and Crazy P for Melbourne’s hottest New Years Day 2015 event. Supported by Simon Digby, Steve Bleas, APAP, Evan Telia, Roba Sama, Joe Mattei, Robanthony, Sarlece, Denn Francisco, Henrique Santos, Get Defected this New Years Day in the Docklands is going to be epic. Defected In The House events bring some of the world’s biggest DJs to clubbers around the globe, with regular events at London’s Ministry of Sound, Singapore’s Zouk and Jakarta’s Dragon Fly. Defected in the House also held a residency at Pacha in Ibiza throughout the European summer for eight years so you know you’re in good hands. Tickets are available from Moshtix for $70+BF. Party on, Waynes.

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Melbourne’s most iconic pub, Young and Jackson, is set to bring in the New Year with entertainment across all three levels of the hotel until 3am. With a range of food and beverage packages, they have something to suit everybody. Special bar offer: Entry to VIP Level, five tapas, five drink cards for $110. Restaurant Offer: Entry to VIP Level, five course degustation menu, full table service, five drink cards. Young and Jackson is situated on the corner of Swanston and Flinders streets in the CBD (like we need to tell you where it is). Bookings are essential and can be made by calling 9650 3884.

NEW YEAR’S BEATS

If you were forced to choose the ultimate genre to bust it out to when catapulting into 2015, what genre would you settle on? If hip hop is your choosing, The Prince Of Wales is hosting New Year’s Beats; the biggest hip hop gathering seen on this side of town this New Year’s Eve. The New Year’s Beats team have pulled together a fucking killer list of acts to bring in your 2015. The Funkoars, Briggs, Vents, Joelistics, K21, Daily Meds and Mathas will all smash the stage and make this a New Year’s Eve you won’t be forgetting. It all goes down at the Prince Bandroom in St Kilda on Wednesday December 31 (duh).

FRENCH ISLAND MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL

The organiser’s idea was to create an affordable, safe party on New Year’s Eve, away from all the chaos but surrounded by good company, good vibes and amazing talent. On the Mornington Peninsula, you

can’t get much more secluded and serene than French Island and the vibes do not get much better than this. It’s a three-day festival running from Tuesday December 30 until New Year’s Day. It’s BYO (no glass), not-for-profit and made by the people, for the people. On the lineup is Mark Pritchard, JPS (The Operatives), Tim McMillan, Tash Sultana, Mortisville and many more. Second release tickets are available for $132+BF and will be available on the gate for $170+BF.

DING DONG LOUNGE

Ding, ding, ding! Jackpot. The crew at Ding Dong are throwing a party for New Year’s with, quite frankly, one of the most appropriate acts for the evening, Northeast Party House. Fresh from selling out four consecutive nights in September, Northeast Party House have teamed up with our mates at ToneDeaf and Black Night Crash to hold the ultimate New Year’s box social. Supported by Singles and a host of superstar DJs, Ding Dong will be the place for anybody looking to start 2015 with a bang, then the ultimate hangover. It kicks off at 8pm until 4am with tickets available now through Eventbrite for $30.

THE PIER GEELONG

The Pier Geelong offers uninterrupted bay views stretching from Rippleside to Point Wilson and the Geelong city skyline. It provides a large impressive area catering for small events to up to 800 guests seated or 1000 guests’ cocktail style. The venue also housed City Quarter Bar a trendy lounge bar on Level One. With loft ceilings, three decks, comfortable lounges, fireplace, gourmet pizzas and world inspired tapas, CQ is perfect for hosting engagements, birthday parties, hen’s high teas or pre or post event drinks. Also housed within this iconic building is Baveras Brasserie, a relaxed fine dining restaurant, offering an extensive menu leaving you feeling satisfied and content in an exciting atmosphere. This unique venue rings in the New Year with Melbourne EDM veterans Grant Smillie, Andy Murphy, Mike Metro, Leswire, Kids Table and more. Sounds like a dream, right? Head to OzTix for tix.

BIMBO’S NORTH SIDE NO FRILLS NYE

Bimbo’s are hosting an amazing New Year’s Eve bash this year. What better way to welcome the New Year than with them? $4 pizza, drink specials and our favourite DJ’s will have you fed, watered and dancing the night away. And we will throw in a free BBQ just to sweeten the deal. DJ’s will include 99 Problemz, Matt Rad, Ezra Tigerfunk and Henry Who Wilson. As usual there will be no cover charge. Bimbo’s will continue to be always fun, always free. They’re looking forward to seeing all your shiny happy faces. Bimbo Deluxe is located on the corner of Brunswick and Rose streets in Fitzroy. Get on down.

WATT’S ON PRESENTS: NYE WITH MAXI, MO LOUIE AND THE DYE

New Year’s Eve is about two things: awesomeness and megaradawesomeness. With this in mind, Watt’s On thought; ‘How can we truly encapsulate the essence of Awesomeness and Megaradawesomeness, bottle it, then put it on a stage? With one stage in particular at Prince of Wales.’ Watt’s On has Maxi is really only now hitting her stops, with her enthralling mix of soul and mellow electronica. This siren of sex appeal will be playing a very special 11:30pm to 12:30am set and this will one to remember. Mo Louie is a captivating Melbourne-based artist Monique Sesto who merges a melange of soulful styles to create an enthralling pop/jazz experience that is as tasteful and it is enlivening. With The DYE in the house, shit is well and truly going to get real, and there are more acts to be announced. This will be the best New Year’s party in town for the music, the fact it’s FREE and you can sit on Fitzroy St and literally inhale the atmosphere of St Kilda on New Year’s Eve.

THE HI-FI

Get funkay in the shadows at The Hi-Fi’s NYE bash, Funk the Darkness. Taking place at one of Melbourne’s premier live music venues, how can you go wrong, really? Opening at 10pm, tickets are $35.50 including booking fee. The Hi-Fi is at 125 Swanston St, CBD.

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 27

THIS WEEK: ON SCREEN

With Tyson Wray. Got thoughts, news, gossip, complaints or cat photos? Email tyson@beat.com.au or send by carrier pigeon before Friday 12pm. Bourozikas was impressed by the calibre of the films she received last year. “We get good films. We got good reviews. The festival attracted so much talent. Last year’s winning film – Tofu Man – was made on a mobile phone. The director won the audience choice, and has gone onto do really well in other festivals; Tofu Man made the St Kilda Film Festival’s Top 100. And it’s gone overseas. A few of the student films did really well. Some were finalists in other festivals, such as Tropfest.” Who judges the films? “I’m not involved in the judging,” says Bourozikos. “We have a panel. Some of the judges long-list and some short-list, they grade the films out of ten in terms of production values, story, and so on.” One thing that surprised Bourozikas last year was the number of animated films that were entered. “The animation Second Chance has also done really well,” she continues. This year the animation section is an open one and Bourozikas expects to receive even more animations. “This area is full of film makers. Many are seasoned film makers rather than emerging.”

ACMI will present Ana Lily Amirpour’s featurelength debut A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night this week. A tale of love, loneliness and family ties, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is set in the fictitious locale of Bad City, a stunningly crafted black-and-white world riddled with random events and flawed people. The film premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and has been dubbed the first Iranian vampire western. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night will screen at ACMI from Saturday December 27 to Monday January 26.

ON STAGE The Tiger Who Came To Tea will open in Melbourne next week. Based on Judith Kerr’s best-selling book, the stunning stage adaptation of the classic tale is adapted by David Wood, deemed the UK’s ‘the national children’s dramatist’ and the undisputed leading writer and director of plays and musicals for children. It’s coming to Melbourne direct from a sell-out season in London’s West End, where it broke box office records. It opens at the Arts Centre Melbourne on Friday January 2.

ON DISPL AY If for whatever reason you still haven’t gone to check out The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier, this time of year is perfect to do it. The exhibition celebrates the unconventional and playfully irreverent designs of Jean Paul Gaultier, feature more than 140 superbly crafted garments in addition to photographs, sketches, stage costumes, excerpts from runway shows, film, television, concerts and dance performances. It’s on display at the National Gallery of Victoria.

PICK OF THE WEEK

It’s motherfucking Christmas time. Drink, be merry, give gifts, eat too much, avoid Carols By Candelight at any cost, cook a goddamn turducken - and if you’re an uncle, don’t try to crack on to your nephew’s girlfriend at the dinner table. Stay safe over the silly season and I’ll see you fine folk in 2015.

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 28

SETTING SUN FILM FESTIVAL By Liza Dezfouli

Melbourne’s West was waiting for its own film festival. After living in the area for about 14 years, Anna Bourozikas decided one was needed and so she set out to make it happen. Last year saw the inaugural Setting Sun Short Film Festival, which screened 45 films over four days, mostly at Yarraville’s much-loved Sun Theatre. The second festival will take place in April 2015 and the call for entries closes at the end of January. “The Setting Sun’s a film maker’s festival, a strong, local, artistic festival,” says Bourozikas. “The inner West has changed so much over the last 15 years, there are more cafes and artists and galleries and there’s the Footscray Film School in the area, so the time is right.” Bourozikas is keen to emphasise the Setting Sun Film Festival is not just for ‘westie’ film makers, although the west is its focus. There is a special category for film makers from the area or who have shot their films in the west, and there’s another category for film makers from other areas who have made their films elsewhere. Two things make the Setting Sun Film Festival unique – one being the fact that all entries get a screening. “Our aim is to promote and help film makers,” notes Bourozikas. “We know how much work goes into short films. If you enter the Sunnies, you get a screening. Even if you don’t get into the official program at the Sun Theatre, you will get a screening, which is great for a film maker’s CV. Last year we screened pretty much all the films, the Best of the Rest in an outside session in a pop-up park. We’re doing it again this year but inside; Kindred Studio has donated their Bar of Bengal

to host the Best of the Rest screening. The night will include bands as well as an MC.” Not only that; all festival entrants gets one year’s membership with festival sponsor Open Channel. Another great thing about entering the Setting Sun Film Festival is the fact that it costs only $40 to enter, bringing the possibility of taking home some surprising prizes. Winners in various categories will receive such valuable goodies such as a year’s subscription to Screen Hub and audio support from Backlot Studios as well as a piece of artwork from a well-known local paste-up artist, Baby Gorilla. The winners’ trophies were created by local artist Jos van Hulsen. “He’s an industrial sculptor who made our four trophies; they’re palm trees,” explains Bourozikas. “They reference the big beautiful old palm trees along the Maribyrnong, such a beautiful river.”

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Bourozikas had definite ideas about the aesthetic to the festival promotional material; the black and white look references the sixties with a light-hearted northern soul sensibility. The posters and trailer were shot in Kindred Studio’s White Room. “I just love that space. The model is a go-go dancer, just right for the look we were trying to achieve. She completely looked like she stepped off the set of Barbarella.” Besides the Sun Theatre and Kindred Studio, the Setting Sun Film Festival has received support from various local businesses, including the Seddon Community Bank. “They gave us $5,000 seeding, which covered initial start-up costs,” says Bourozikas. “The Sun Theatre came on board almost immediately. Open Channel are on board. And Backlot Studios. We have support from some local real estate agents.” 2015 sees Bourozikas moving into an office to work. “Last I worked from home – this year I share an office with The Big West Festival. It’s an all-women office. They’re lovely people. They give me advice when I need it.” What is Bourozikas’s vision for the future of The Setting Sun Festival? “I’d like to build it up to be wellregarded festival. You can only just try – one step at a time. Our ultimate goal is to develop a good festival. It would be good to make a little bit of a living out of it one day.” What does Bourozikos like in a film? ”I love sci fi. I loved Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, such an original take on a love story. Great acting. A unique angle. Good drama. Good comedy. I like a good story. An unusual story; it’s all about story.” The 2015 Setting Sun Short Film Festival is set to take place from Thursday April 16 to Sunday April 19, 2015. To enter, visit Settingsunshortfilmfestival.com.au.

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 29

For more arts news, reviews and interviews visit beat.com.au

PABLO FRANCISCO

MY PET, MY LOVE

Rob Gaetano’s one-man show, My Pet, My Love is coming to Melbourne next month. Written following the death of Gaetano’s grandmother, My Pet My Love, is the story of an elderly gay couple whose relationship is affected when one develops dementia and the other becomes the carer. It also follows a child who discovers death when his pet fish dies and a 30-something man who deals with his own fears of growing old. My Pet, My Love will run at La Mama Courthouse from Wednesday January 21 to Sunday January 25.

Comedian Pablo Francisco has announced he’ll return to Australia for the fourth time next April. Francisco is known for his pop culture-centred stand-up show, including spot on impressions of celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jackie Chan, Jerry Springer and many more. His upcoming tour will see him hit Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. He’ll hit the Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse Theatre on Saturday April 18.

COBURG DRIVE-IN FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL

Back for another year, the Food Truck Festival will see some of Melbourne’s favourite food trucks roll into the Coburg Drive-In during January and February. During the festival, moviegoers will have the chance to dine on some of the best food truck offerings in Melbourne as they watch the latest summer releases, including American Sniper, Big Hero 6, Taken 3 and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. The Coburg Drive-In Food Truck Festival will run from Wednesday January 7 to Thursday February 19.

AFFLUENZA

COUPLES

Married bliss or hit and miss? Four vastly different married couples descend on the peaceful country setting of the Paradise Valley Couples Retreat, for a weekend of relationship therapy. Sharing their stories and situations, and revealing their true selves, events unfold to explore their relationships warts and all, giving the audience a fly-onthe-wall glimpse into the character’s private worlds. Based on real life events, the production explores the themes of marriage, commitment and love, as the couples interact and reveal their issues, resulting in some touching moments, many comical situations and surprising revelations. Couples will be performed at La Mama on Friday January 30 and Saturday January 31.

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 30

Will Hannagan will return from New York to our shores to debut his new cabaret show, Affluenza, next month. The show is an interview style parody that stars Hannigan as a drug-addled club kid on the road to redemption. In one tell-all interview, Hannigan is questioned about fame, abuse, scandal and salvation, all set to the tune of an all-new original score. Affluenza runs from Thursday January 22 through Sunday February 8 at The Butterfly Club.

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STOP KISS

Boutique Theatre will commence their 2015 season with the premiere of Stop Kiss next month. Written by Diana Son, the play narrates the aftermath of a kiss between two straight women and the gay-bashing that follows. Stop Kiss places the attack at the centre of the story that serves as both an indictment of hatred, but also a study of the perils that come with living life fully. Stop Kiss will run from Thursday January 22 to Saturday February 7 at Mechanics Institute in Brunswick.

UPCOMING

JANUARY

DECEMBER

on tour PHARAOHE MONCH [USA] Friday December 26, The Espy GHOSTFACE KILLAH [USA] Friday December 26, Laundry Bar BADBADNOTGOOD [USA] Saturday December 27, Laundry Bar SALT N PEPA [USA] Saturday December 27, The Forum ANDY C [UK] Sunday December 28, Brown Alley FALLS FESTIVAL: TODD TERJE [NOR], TENSNAKE [GER], TYCHO [USA] + MORE Monday December 29 - Thursday January 1, Byron Bay BEYOND THE VALLEY: CLAPTONE [GER], ALUNAGEORGE [UK] + MORE Tuesday December 30 - Thursday January 1, Phillip Island Circuit BIG FREEDIA [USA] Tuesday December 30, Howler SADAR BAHAR [USA] Wednesday December 31, The Toff In Town GREG WILSON [UK] Wednesday December 31, Little& Olver DJ ALFREDO [ARG], MAXMILLION DUNBAR [USA], PENDER STREET STEPPERS [CAN], SCOTT FRASER [SCO] Thursday January 1, TBA ABOVE & BEYOND [UK] Thursday January 1, Sidney Myer Music Bowl DERRICK CARTER [USA] Thursday January 1, New Guernica LET THEM EAT CAKE: CARL CRAIG [USA], TODD TERJE [NOR], CASHMERE CAT [NOR] + MORE Thursday January 1, Werribee Mansion OLIVER $ [GER], CRAZY P [UK] Thursday January 1, Shed 14 RIVA STARR [ITA] Thursday January 1, Carousel GRANDMASTER FLASH [USA] Saturday January 3, The Espy DANNY BROWN [USA] Sunday January 4, Corner Hotel SBTRKT [UK] Wednesday January 7, The Forum TYCHO [USA] Thursday January 8, The Hi-Fi JOEY BADA$$ [USA], RUN THE JEWELS [USA] Thursday January 8, The Forum OMAR S [USA], DANIEL AVERY [UK] Friday January 9, Brown Alley SPACE DIMENSION CONTROLLER [UK] Sunday January 11, Lounge OLIVER SCHORIES [GER] Sunday January 11, Old Melbourne Gaol TIM HECKER [CAN] Wednesday January 14, Howler NELLY [USA] Friday January 16, Sidney Myer Music Bowl MISTER SATURDAY NIGHT [USA] Saturday January 17, TBA NICO STOJAN [GER] Sunday January 18, Old Melbourne Gaol OMAR SOULEYMAN [SYR] Monday January 19, Corner Hotel TENSNAKE [GER] Friday January 23, Royal Melbourne Hotel RAINBOW SERPENT: MARCEL DETTMANN [GER], LEE BURRIDGE [UK], PETAR DUNDOV [CRO] + MORE Friday January 23 - Monday January 26, Lexton SUGAR MOUNTAIN: SOUL CLAP [USA], ANTHONY NAPLES [USA] + MORE Saturday January 24, VCA (Victorian College of the Arts) NAS [USA] Sunday January 25, The Forum SASSE [GER] Sunday January 25, Old Melbourne Gaol ODESZA [USA] Sunday January 25, Howler RUSTIE [UK] Thursday January 29, Howler SOHN [UK] Friday January 30, Corner Hotel FLYING LOTUS [USA] Friday January 30, 170 Russell LEON VYNEHALL [UK] Sunday February 1, Lounge FINNEBASSEN [NOR] Sunday February 1, Revolver Upstairs RAURY [USA] Tuesday February 3, Howler CARIBOU [USA] Thursday February 5, The Forum VIC MENSA [USA] Thursday February 5, Corner Hotel MR SCRUFF [UK] Friday February 6, 170 Russell MODESELEKTOR [GER] Thursday February 12, The Hi-Fi MADGA [USA] Saturday February 14, The Liberty Social G-EAZY [USA] Monday February 16, Howler MOODYMANN [USA], DJ TENNIS [ITA] Friday February 20, Brown Alley TINASHE [USA] Friday February 20, The Hi-Fi DETROIT SWINDLE [NED] Sunday February 22, Revolver Upstairs DELTRON 3030 [USA] Friday February 27, The Hi-Fi DRAKE [USA] Friday February 27, Rod Laver Arena THEO PARRISH [USA] Friday February 28, Revolt Artspace TECH N9NE [USA] Friday March 6, The Hi-Fi GOLDEN PLAINS: THEO PARRISH [USA], DJ SHADOW & CUT CHEMIST [USA] + MORE Saturday March 7 - Monday March 9, Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre TAMA SUMO [GER] Sunday March 8, Lounge FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL: DRAKE [USA], THE PRODIGY [USA] + MORE Sunday Match 9, Flemington Racecourse FOREST SWORDS [UK] Saturday March 15, Howler JURASSIC 5 [USA] Wednesday April 1, Festival Hall

tour rumours

Steffi, Virginia, Juan Atkins, Hieroglyphic Being, Vatican Shadow, Shackleton, Container, The Bug, Evian Christ, Motor City Drum Ensemble, Netsky

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electronic + urban + club life

dj sneak

wo rd s / a ug u st u s we lby

When it comes to assessing musical merit, there’s no clear-cut value system stipulating what’s good and what’s bad. Of course taste is real – what you like is what you like – but there are no absolutes. Still, this hypothesis won’t stop people asserting the superiority of artists they love and adore. At times, we’ll even risk friendships for the sake of defending our favourite music. Similarly, we tend to be offended by artists that exhibit an apparent disregard for the parameters of good taste. Puerto Rican born, American producer DJ Sneak describes himself as a ‘House Music Gangster’. Sneak was raised in Chicago, which is where he started DJing and producing in the early ‘90s. He went on to become a prominent figure in the second wave of Chicago house music, and his allegiance to the genre stands firm to this day. “While everybody else does their mega pop star crap and whatever, I know eventually everybody comes back to house music at the end of the day,” he says. As well as running the I’m A House Gangster merch brand and record label, Sneak spotlights other artists on his podcast The Budcast, and is known for hosting decadent BBQs all over the world. On top of this, Sneak has never stopped touring or making tunes. In the last couple of years he’s released a consistent stream of singles, via labels such as Exploited, Plant 74 and Magnetic Recordings.

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“I’ve always stayed busy,” he says. “I’ve been able to balance my career between production and remixing and releasing albums from time to time, and then the other half is just doing the gigs. I wasn’t going to lay down and fade away with a bunch of other people who left the industry because they couldn’t keep up with these mega companies who were promoting these big pop star DJs. But to stay relevant, you have to make music. If you don’t have any music, you don’t have a voice.” Sneak’s latest work dodges the zeitgeist recommendation to include ridiculous drop sections and speaker tearing bass frequencies. Meanwhile, it’s not as though he’s sustained a career by repeating himself. Sneak might faithfully hew to the house music aesthetic, but he makes ongoing effort to evolve his artistry. “Even when the cycles in trendy music change, I’ve always stayed DJ Sneak and I’ve always stayed in my style,” he says. “Even when the music was different, I focused on things that made people remember what kind of music I play. So it’s never been that I’ve been on the way out and I just find my way back. My career’s been [going in] a steady, forward direction. I’ve always known where I’m going and where my journey is going to take me.” Speaking of “big pop star DJs”, a quick scan through DJ Mag’s hyped Top 100 DJ’s poll reveals a number of artists

Catch DJ Sneak at Let Them Eat Cake on New Year’s Day, Thursday January 1, at Werribee Mansion.

- head to beat .com.au for more

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off the record w i t h

who haven’t released much in the way of original music. For instance, in 2013 and 2014 the list was topped by EDM star Hardwell, who’s yet to deliver a full-length album. The young Dutchman has a huge following, sure, but it’s all centred on his massive outdoor concerts. Sneak can’t help but express concern about the merits of such big name DJs. “Back in the day it meant the most to have good records and have good tunes and then keep going from there,” he says. “These days there’s entertainers who are in the industry of electronic music who are not really DJs. They’re just entertainers who are just going to be on Facebook and on RA and all these random hype machines that make them what they are. But in terms of music, they don’t release anything.” This criticism isn’t just directed at youngsters, mind you. “There’s a lot of people from 20 years ago – DJs who are these mega pop stars now – who made records, but made records ten to 15 years ago. They haven’t done one solid track to carry on their legacy. It’s just all press and marketing and promotion and all that stuff that’s become part of the business now.” Sneak’s pronounced gripes with the state of electronic music notwithstanding, there’s reason to believe house music is returning to the spotlight. Even if it hasn’t achieved the ubiquity of Dutch EDM and American dubstep, house has certainly returned to mainstream consciousness. A chief indication of this is the massive mainstream success enjoyed by UK duo Disclosure, who work with a pop-centric house music palette. “It’s just the cycle of music and it just continues flipping over,” Sneak says. “It always reboots with original house music, Chicago-style house music. A lot of people now who were into other trends have found themselves back to deep house. For example Detroit Swindle: two Dutch guys who, instead of going the more commercial way like everybody else in Holland, they decided to go deep house and stay true to the deep house sound. They found their own way.” Yes, it’s no secret that DJ Sneak believes house music is the pinnacle of purity, and he observes the turning tides with a touch of fatalism. “It’s what I end up calling a seven year cycle. The seven year cycle of shit music already went by. We’re fortunate for that. It usually starts back again with house and underground house.”

t yson

w ray

2014 definition of depression: a Facebook announcement of engagement receiving a measly 12 likes.

outfield The Operatives have announced their latest espionage mission, Outfield, bringing together a host of electronic artists from around the globe this January. Outfield will combine everything from the radical underground UK movements to Detroit’s breakneck training tempos to Los Angeles’ soulful sonic twists and of course, Melbourne’s own elite. Leading the way is London’s Om Unit and longserving electronic innovator Mark Pritchard. Joining the two heavy weights will be Tasmanian Akouo as well as live sets from Amin Payne, Cocoa Noire and Winters, alongside Operatives representatives and close allies A13, Dexter, Edd Fisher, FREEKWENCY, Jellyfish, Nam, Sean Deans and Typhonic. Brendan Harwood will be providing visuals throughout the day. Outfield will take over The Railway Hotel on Saturday January 17.

darude A Sandstorm is coming. Darude, producer of the unquestionable greatest track of all time, has just been announced as a new addition to the 2015 Future Music Festival bill. He’ll join the likes of Drake, Avicii and The Prodigy. Future Music Festival goes down on Sunday March 8 Flemington Racecourse.

ghostface killah Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah has surprised Melburnians with a special Christmas treat, announcing an intimate show at Laundry Bar on Boxing Day. Also on the bill is DJ Rectangle – with a surprise appearance from some special guests also on the cards. Ghostface Killah is currently playing a handful of sideshows around Australia following his performance at Meredith Music Festival last weekend. Head on down to Laundry Bar on Friday December 26 to catch Ghostface Killah.

Psytrance giants Infected Mushroom are coming to town early next year. The Israeli duo will make the trip down under on the heels of their Friends on Mushrooms Vol. 3 EP, which was released in June. Known for their huge live show, they’ll perform nine dates on their Australian tour, hitting venues from Perth to Cairns. They’ll hit RMH the Venue on Thursday February 12.

piknic électronik After announcing that they were taking over the Old Melbourne Gaol from next January, Piknic Électronik have announced their first program. The weekly party series, Punchy Sunday, will take place every Sunday afternoon from January 11. They promised a weekly roster of international and local DJs and their first program has definitely delivered. Hamburg’s Oliver Schories will be kicking things off, while other names announces include Berlin house DJ Nico Stojan, Sasse, Uone, Jacob Malmo, Javi Sampol, Tom Evans, TheCamiloS, Matt Radovich, Hans DC, The Phantom Sun, Liam Waller, Phil K as well as a few special guests. Piknic Électronik began in Montreal in 2003 and has since grown to launch its first season in Barcelona in 2012, and now finally to Australia. The Piknic Électronik formula aims to present quality electronic music acts in beautiful and welcome settings. Piknic Électronik will be taking over the Old Melbourne Gaol on Sundays from January 11.

electronic - urban - club life

gi veaway

greg wilson UK disco legend Greg Wilson will bring in 2015 when he headlines Warehaus’ New Year’s party this December. Wilson is set to play an exclusive four hour disco-inspired set. He’ll be joined by an assortment of Melbourne’s best local disco and house DJs including CC: DISCO!, Edd Fisher and more. It all goes down at Little & Olver in Fitzroy on Wednesday December 31. We have a double pass to give away. Head to beat.com.au/freeshit to enter.

Ranjit Nijjer

Grant Smillie

snaps

circus sundays

party profile: technoir’s 10th annual christmas party When is it? Thursday December 25 (Christmas night). Where is it? Lounge. Who’s playing? Dee Dee, Simon Slieker, Tronikelesch Live, Ranjit Nijjer, Quale, Adrian Bell, PWD, Chiara Kickdrum. What sort of shit will they be playing? Techno of all shapes and colours . What’s the crowd going to be like? An eclectic blend of old and new, all ready to really cut loose. What will we remember in the AM? The quality and intensity of both the music and vibe. What’s the wallet damage? Free before midnight, $15 after 12am. Give us one final reason why we should party here. This is the 10th consecutive year this party has run, we must be doing something right. Plus who doesn’t want techno at Christmas?

party profile: new year on the pier When is it? New Year’s Eve. Where is it? The Pier, Geelong. Who’s playing? Grant Smillie, Andy Murphy, Mike Metro, Lesware and Kids Table. What sort of shit will they be playing? They’ll be rockin’ the decks with the top music they’ve become so well known for, join us NYE and see for yourself. What’s the crowd going to be like? 20-30-somethings who like some of the best DJs getting around at the moment. What will we remember in the AM? Massive crowd, amazing location under NYE fireworks (virtually floating on the water at the end of a Pier) and top music at a great price. What’s the wallet damage? Only $99 earlybird before Christmas and $110 after (still so cheap). Give us one final reason why we should party here. Only place to be in Geelong to bring in the New Year - great value, amazing location, best entertainment - be there.

electronic - urban - club life

spoonbill words / aug ustus welby After launching his Spoonbill project a decade ago, Jim Moynihan dropped three LPs in quick succession. The playful, beat-driven sound collages introduced by the 2005 debut Megafauna were further explored on 2007’s Nestegg. Then on 2009’s Zoomorphic, Moynihan illustrated a growing interest in deep, bassy grooves, while upholding his trademark joviality. We’re now on the cusp of 2015 and a fourth Spoonbill LP is yet to arrive. That said, the project hasn’t been inactive in recent years – there’s been three EPs since Zoomorphic, all of which flaunt a ballsy bottom end. But herein lies the issue: has Moynihan lost interest in weaving together field recordings and found sounds to form stimulating longplaying releases? Has this decade’s mad pace pushed him towards quick fixes and bangers? Beats gave him a call to find out exactly what’s going on. “I’ve built a studio and a house in St Andrews, about an hour north east of Melbourne, over the last two years,” Moynihan says. “So the album that I wanted to put out a couple of years ago has been postponed a bit. [The house is] 97 per cent done so now I’m locking back into production and working on finishing my new album.” The entire Spoonbill project is a perceptibly meticulous undertaking. Sounds of nature and grabs of conversation communicate with blipping electronics and live

instrumentation to form gleefully absurd dance music. It might come across as rather whimsical, but reaching such a level of listenability clearly requires several thousand hours of work. “My music usually has a lot going on and doesn’t just sit on a groove,” Moynihan says. “There’s a bit of problem solving to make it sound cohesive when it’s made out of hundreds and hundreds of snippets of different sounds.” Moynihan’s studio engineering technique doesn’t sound too far removed from the detailed procedure of designing and building a house. His training in industrial design was also a major help when applying himself to the house’s construction. “[Industrial design] is about problem solving and conceptualising ideas and thinking through the processes and coming up with solutions.” However, while it’s easy to draw a parallel between these two separate forms of construction, when it comes to initiating new Spoonbill tunes, there’s no master plan. Rather, Moynihan prefers wading freely through the sonic swamp, gathering sticks, reeds and anything else that takes his fancy. “I just express myself without trying to conceive how my music’s going to fit into any specific scene,” he says. “The prerequisite is to make music that is stimulating me at that point in time. I’m trying to express myself through my tools

big freedia words / aug ustus welby

New Orleans is a city of many distinctions. It’s a place populated by strong personalities that refuse to conform. It’s home to Cajun and Creole cuisine, po’ boys, gumbo, red beans and rice, and beignets. It’s a place that knows how to party – the city’s annual Mardi Gras makes our own version seem modest. New Orleans has also given birth to some of the most significant music of the last 100 years. It started with traditional jazz and such legendary artists as Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong. Then came the early rock’n’rollers, like Fats Domino, and gurus of funk The Meters. More recently, a uniquely New Orleanian hip hop offshoot emerged: bounce music. Originating in the early ’80s, bounce tracks typically feature highly energetic beats and an emphasis on chanted vocal refrains. And, as with just about everything from New Orleans, bounce is as much a culture unto itself as it is a product of culture. While bounce has had a fervent underground following since its inception, it stayed largely unrecognised outside of New Orleans for the first couple of decades. In recent years, however, popularity has skyrocketed. And there’s no bigger bounce music celebrity than Big Freedia. “I’m very humbled about it,” says Freedia, who also goes by the name Freddie Ross. “It definitely did surprise me,

how people gravitated to the culture of bounce music and to my music. I am very appreciative of all the people all around the world that have taken time out to even just listen to bounce music.” Bounce music is inextricably attached to an especially physical style of dance. These days, the backheavy dance craze, twerking, is something of garish cliche. But twerking is actually another New Orleans original and a key component of bounce music culture. Big Freedia heads our way in a couple of weeks for the Falls Festivals and a run of club gigs. A dance class, hosted by Big Freedia herself, will precede each of these shows – including at Oxford Art Factory on Friday January 2. “There’s a dance workshop,” Ross says, “to make people more aware of the style of dancing that I do and for some people to be able to participate with me when I call people up onstage. That’s why I want to teach them how to shake their asses a little bit before we actually do it.” Big Freedia’s music is laden with in-your-face hip hop beats and almost-aggressive chanting, but it’s all rooted in a sense of community. While Ross is now a global star, he doesn’t ignore the importance of the audience. “That’s something I have to do, to connect with my fans and to let them know that I appreciate them and I love them. They are what keeps me going; the energy from them is

and make a personal expression, like any artist. Sometimes I’ll want to produce something that evokes this feeling or this sort of energy. But it’s not often that I’ll know how it’s going to end up being.” With the house and studio just about finished, Moynihan confirms the long awaited follow up to Zoomorphic will arrive in the early months of 2015. Now, the burning question is whether this record will harness the clubby squelch of Spoonbill’s three recent EPs or take an alternate route? “I really want to put out a nice cinematic listening album,” he says. “Although I’m making more punchy, dancefloor-heavy, gnarlier party music than I ever have, I’m also making a lot more cinematic listening music. It’s still beats-y, but it’s not trying to be hectic or party music.” Along with completing the aforementioned EPs, Spoonbill has kept performing live over the last few years. Earlier this year he appeared at a bunch of European summer festivals, and in late 2013 he did a run of shows through India and Israel. Throughout the last decade, Moynihan’s become rather adept at entertaining festival crowds, which ended up influencing his production choices. “You can’t help but enjoy seeing the crowd lose their shit to a certain track,” he says. “I suppose that becomes ingrained in you when you’re writing stuff. You don’t think about it, but when you see the crowd enjoy a certain track and it’s got a heavy funky twisted drop in it, it’s a great feeling.” More than anything, it was convenience that prompted Moynihan to issue three back-to-back EPs, and he’s now ready to return the focus to Spoonbill full time. However, the luxury of time doesn’t mean the more immediate crowdpleasing side of the project’s personality will cease to exist. “The new record will be more chill,” he says, “then some of the heavy dancefloor stuff I’ll probably release separately on EPs. It still retains the Spoonbill attitude towards music, but tougher and heavier.” Spoonbill’s Australian live return will take place at the Rainbow Serpent festival in late January. The continual growth of his recorded repertoire means his live sets will be more versatile than ever before. “My main set will feature a lot of stuff that’s unreleased,” Moynihan says. “Some of it will be on this new album but a lot of it won’t be. Saturday night, main stage, everyone wants to get freaky and dance their arse off and have a good time. But banger after banger, that can be tiresome. I think a really great electronic producer that’s providing an amazing show has some dynamics and changes tempos and styles and vibes. That’s what stimulates me and that’s what I like to do.”

snaps anyway

Catch Spoonbill at the 2015 Rainbow Serpent which will take place from Friday January 23 - Monday January 26 in Lexton.

what keeps the Freedia show going and what makes it the Freedia show.” Even before meeting the star, it’s easy to feel like you know Big Freedia on a personal level. This is largely due to the reality TV series Big Freedia: Queen Of Bounce –the third season of which will air on Fuse TV early next year. Queen Of Bounce looks closely into Ross’ day-to-day life, which consists of studio time, touring and interactions with fans and loved ones. These days, Ross’ life itself has essentially become a form of entertainment, but there are certain things he keeps to himself. “I definitely don’t give it all away. I definitely hold back. There’s a lot that the cameras don’t see. Most of the time they miss the really interesting and the really deep stuff. I still have total privacy in the bedroom and using restrooms and all of that. There’s still a whole lot of privacy, definitely, with this recording process.” The distractions associated with living in the public eye haven’t impinged on Ross’ commitment to making music. He’s been a prominent bounce performer since the late 90s, but Big Freedia’s first official LP Just Be Free didn’t come out until this June. It’s a collection of exceptionally positive and vigorously energetic bounce tracks, including Turn Da Beat Up, Explode and N.O. Bounce. It also features a touch of EDM production, which shows Big Freedia won’t be confined to just one style. “I am opening up to collaborating with different artists and producers,” says Ross, “so I’m taking my music to all different types of levels. We’re trying to change it, to keep making it roll and to keeping making me cross over to all types of genres of music. You’ll definitely be hearing some new and exciting things from me. “It’s pretty natural that I’d develop the sound,” he adds, “because I’m open to all sounds and styles of music. You might hear anything coming from me, don’t be surprised. My style of music definitely comes with a lot of dancing, but there definitely will be some songs – I’m more than sure – that I make that are not directly leaning to just dancing.” New Orleans is a city of inimitable originals and Big Freedia is certainly one of them. This quality seems inherently true of all the city’s natives, but maintaining such dazzling originality requires constant effort. “I need to be productive at all times and be in the right frame of mind at all times, no matter what I do, musically,” Ross says. “You know, that comes with the territory. I have to keep pushing.”

ms collins

Big Freedia will perform at the 2014/2015 incarnations of Falls Festival, which will take place in Lorne from Sunday December 28 - Thursday January 1, Marion Bay from Monday December 29 - Thursday January 1 and Byron Bay from Monday December 30 - Friday January 2. She’ll also hit Howler on Tuesday December 30.

electronic - urban - club life

club guide wednesday dec 24 BEENAK + JANDI Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. BOOTY WORK Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. CHRISTMAS EVE - FEAT: DJ SKIDATTLE Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8:30pm. CURIOUS TALES - FEAT: DJ WHO + TIGERFUNK + TOM SHOWTIME + FLAGRANT Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. EXPAT CHRISTMAS The Emerson, South Yarra. 5:00pm. THE DANCE MISSION DNB CHRISTMAS PARTY - FEAT: UTAH JAZZ + RAPID ACQUISITION + NOCEUR + A FOREIGN OBJEKT + SPRINKLES + JMC + BREAKFAST + LIGHT FORCE Workshop, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm. thursday dec 25 CHRISTMAS KANDY 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $35.00. CQ SESSIONS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. FLANAGAN’S XMAS NIGHT - FEAT: DJ LUCKY Pier Live, Frankston. 9:00pm. MYKONOSXPERIENCE WORLD TOUR 2014 - FEAT: DJ ARGIE + SASA + DJ TERRY Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 10:00pm. $35.00. TIMMUS - FEAT: JADE MAY + LICA + SCOTTYT + PAUL ORION B2B MIMM + DJ FRENZIE + DJ RANSOM Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $15.00. VARSITY - FEAT: KITI + FOOFARAW Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. XS DISCO - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm. friday dec 26 #EATDRINKPLAY - FEAT: ANDY MURPHY + MGMC + DJ JORJ + CAM WOODARD The Emerson, South Yarra. 10:00pm. $20.00. #MASHTAG - FEAT: MALPRACTICE + AGENT 86 + BENZO + ANDRE LE VOGUE + SILVERFOX + AHAB + OLLIE Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. BREAD & BUTTER FRIDAYS Cushion, St Kilda. 8:00pm. BRODIE + DAWN AGAIN + LYDDY Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. CAN’T SAY Platform One, Melbourne. 9:00pm. CQ FRIDAYS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. FABULOUS FRIDAYS Co., Southbank. 8:00pm. FAKE TITS - FEAT: BOOGS + SPACEY SPACE + SUNSHINE + SAMMY LA MARCA + BUTTERS + ADAM BARTAS + JUNGLE JIM Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $15.00. FRIDAY NIGHT @ THE CARLTON Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. FRIDAYS @ ONESIXONE - FEAT: JEN TUTTY + LUKE MCD + LEWIE DAY + PREQUEL + KATIE DROVER + MITCH KURZ + MIC NEWMAN + TOM EVANS + JOEL ALPHA + LIAM WALLER + AARON TROTTMAN + NICK JONES + JESSE YOUNG + ANDRAS FOX + JAC OSCAR WILKINS Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm. LA DANSE MACABRE Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. LUCK TRUCK FRIDAYS DOWNSTAIRS Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. MOKUMO - FEAT: NORTH POLLARD + MOKUMO Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. NO NAME NATH + MAARS + SAM MCEWIN Penny Black, Brunswick. 7:00pm. OMG FRIDAYS Seven Nightclub, South Melbourne. 10:00pm. $20.00. PANORAMA FRIDAYS UPSTAIRS - FEAT: PHATO A MANO + MR.GEORGE + MATT RADD + ASH-LEE Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. POPROCKS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. REVOLVER FRIDAYS - FEAT: MIKE CALLANDER + LEWIE DAY + KATIE DROVER + DEEN ARIFF & WHO Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. THERAPY FRIDAYS - FEAT: MATTY G + FRAZER ADNSM + MATT WATKINS + JEBU + CHRIS MAC Level 3 @ Crown, Southbank. 8:00pm. $20.00. TRENDYFRIENDS #UNBOXINGDAYPARTY - FEAT: DJ TRANTER + BABY + JD MAR + SPOOK Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 11:30pm.

saturday dec 27 ELECTRIC DREAMS Co., Southbank. 8:00pm. $20.00. FLAGRANT + D’FRO + MATT RAD Penny Black, Brunswick. 7:00pm. ANYWAY - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Bottom End, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. AUDIOPORN SATURDAYS - FEAT: DR. ZOK + JAMES WARE + GREG SARA + JACOB MALMO + TOM EVANS + ROWIE Onesixone, Prahran. 9:00pm. $15.00. BIG MOUTH SATURDAYS - FEAT: DJ ROWIE + ANDYCAN + NACKERS Big Mouth, St Kilda. 9:00pm. BONEY SATURDAYS - FEAT: MPL + TUC + BRODIE + SAM HILTON Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm. C GRADE - FEAT: TORNADO WALLACE + OTOLOGIC The Mercat, Melbourne. 10:00pm. CUSHION SATURDAYS Cushion, St Kilda. 9:00pm. ENDLESS NIGHTS + CC DISCO + LAIKA + BERT MACKLIN Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. FAMILIAR STRANGERS The Emerson, South Yarra. 10:00pm. $20.00. FLAGRANT XMAS - FEAT: MATT CANT + FRAKSHA + MISS BONITA + GEEZY + DIEM Grumpy’s Green, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. GARDEN BEATS - FEAT: DJ MARCUS HOLDER + AARON ARTHUR + DUNCAN FUNK The Fitzroy Beer Garden, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DJ? - FEAT: RAUL SANCHEZ Howler, Brunswick. 3:00pm. HOT STEP - FEAT: ADAM ASKEW + GRAYSKULL + KELTEC + MYLES MAC + PETER BAKER + REV. THORN + SAM MCEWIN + SHANE COPAL + TOM EVANS Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. MI CASA - FEAT: DANNI B + SILVERSIX + DAMON WALSH + LUCCA TAN Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 1:00am. MIDNIGHT RUN Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 11:30pm. $7.00. PLEASUREKRAFT Brown Alley, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $30.00. ROSE Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 8:00pm. SATURDAY MORNING - FEAT: SUNSHINE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00am. SEVEN SATURDAY DISCOTHEQUE Seven Nightclub, South Melbourne. 10:00pm. $20.00. SHACK SHAKERS - FEAT: KNAVE KNIXX + LADY BLADES + DJ MOHAIR SLIM + THE CRYPT KICKER Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 7:30pm. $5.00. TEXTILE SATURDAYS - FEAT: KODIAK KID + D’FRO + JENS BEAMIN Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. THE HOUSE DEFROST - FEAT: ANDY FROST Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm. $35.00. THE LATE SHOW - FEAT: RANSOM + MAT CANT + GET BU$Y + SAMMY THE BULLET. Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. THERAPY Level 3 @ Crown, Southbank. 9:00pm. $20.00. TRAMP SATURDAYS Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. UNSTABLE SOUNDS - FEAT: PSPIRALIFE + AMUSING THE FREAK + XENOSCAPES + JEKYLL + AZRIN + DANNI B + HARRY BLOTTER + WORLDS KALEID Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. VAULT SATURDAYS Platform One, Melbourne. 9:00pm. WILL SPARKS + APAX & SUNSHINE Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 9:00pm. $28.60. sunday dec 28 BOP ART - FEAT: HAWAII + WHO + TIGERFUNK + MATT RADOVICH + LEWIS CANCUT Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. EARLY MORNING CREW - FEAT: HOOPS + BRAD SASSMAN + JOSH PAOLA + JESSE YOUNG + OLLIE HOLMES + DEAN SPANOS Onesixone, Prahran. 1:00am. EASY NOW - FEAT: AGENT 86 + TOM SHOWTIME + DJ MAARS Penny Black, Brunswick. 5:00pm. ENCORE - FEAT: DAN SLATER + ADAM LOVE The Emerson, South Yarra. 9:00pm.

JUNGLE - FEAT: HANDS DOWN + ZAC DEPETRO + PETE LASKIS + TRAVLOS + JOHN DOE Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00am. $15.00. LOOSE JOINTS + WOZ + MIDNIGHT + TENDERNESS + GRANT CAMOV Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. OPEN DECKS Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 7:00pm. RECOVERY SESSION - FEAT: INKA Grumpy’s Green, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. REVOLVER SUNDAYS - FEAT: BOOGS + SPACEY SPACE + T-REK + RADIATOR & DAMON WALSH + SILVERSIX Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. SPITROAST SUNDAYS Cushion, St Kilda. 10:00pm. THE SUNDAY SET - FEAT: DJ ANDYBLACK & HAGGIS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm. TRIBE 2014 - FEAT: ANDY C + GROOVERIDER + THE FUNKHUNTERS Brown Alley, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $65.00. WAX ON WAX OFF Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm. monday dec 29 CALL IT IN - FEAT: JAMES TOM & DYLAN MICHEL Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. MONDAY STRUGGLE - FEAT: TIGER FUNK Lucky Coq, Windsor. 6:00pm. NEW YEARS EVE EVE EVE PARTY - FEAT: SPACEY SPACE + 2DOTZERO + HEY SAM + LUKE VECCHIO + CALICO JACK Pawn & Co, South Yarra. 8:00pm. tuesday dec 30 CUSHION TUESDAYS Cushion, St Kilda. 8:00pm. DJ SKIDATTLE Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8:30pm. SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. TRAMP TUESDAYS Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. wednesday dec 31 CROSSING THE WHITE LINE Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. CURIOUS TALES - FEAT: DJ WHO + TIGERFUNK + TOM SHOWTIME + FLAGRANT Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. GREG WILSON Little & Olver, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. LOVE NYE 2015 - FEAT: PAUL VAN DYK STREAMING LIVE Level 3 @ Crown, Southbank. 8:00pm. $60.00. NEW YEARS EVE - FEAT: RAINBOW CONNECTION DJS + OSCAR O’BRYAN Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. NEW YEARS EVE @ THE EMERSON FEAT: JAM EXPRESS + SOULMATIC + JAM XPRESS + LUKE MCD + AGENT 86 + APAX + TOM EVANS + GREG SARA + CAM WOODARD The Emerson, South Yarra. 10:00am. NEW YEARS EVE @ THE PIER HOTEL - FEAT: DJ SCOTTY Pier Live, Frankston. 8:00pm. NO FILLS NYE Lucky Coq, Windsor. 8:00pm. NYE @ KHOKOLAT - FEAT: DAMON DE SILVA + DURMY + YATHS + NATHANIEL + NU FLO + KINGI Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. NYE @ ONESIXONE - FEAT: JONH MORALES + WAHL + ANYO + EDDIE MAC + CHRIS NG + CAM RUN + SANDRO + BUTCH LE BUTCH + GIO GARCIA Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm. NYE PARTY @ THE FISH - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Catfish, Fitzroy. 3:00pm. PACHA IBIZA - FEAT: MARLO Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 8:00pm. $35.00. SADAR BAHAR + JIMMY JAMES + J’NETT + ANDEE FROST Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $40.00. thursday jan 1 CQ SESSIONS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. GOOD EVENING Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm.

LET THEM EAT CAKE - FEAT: TODD TERJE + GOLDIE + AXEL BOWMAN + MR CARMACK + MIDLAND + BEN PEARCE + BOB MOSES + CARL CRAIG + FATIMA & ALEXANDER NUT + CASHMERE CAT + HUDSON MOHAWKE Werribee Park & Mansion, Werribee. 12:00pm. $160.00. LOVE STORY - FEAT: TRANTER + SLEEVES + MEGAWUOTI + SUPREMES + MICKEY P Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 11:30pm. MIDNIGHT EXPRESS - FEAT: PREQUEL + EDD FISHER Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm. ROCK CITY - FEAT: DJ WAYNE G Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 8:30pm. $35.00. STYLE ON THE OUTSIDE - FEAT: KANT + BRAD SASSMAN + JACOB MALMO + JACOB MALMO VS. JACK LOVE + COLIN MCMILLAN + JULES JAY + VOOKA VS. JUSTIN NG + JAY RAMON + ROWIE + AGENT 86 + JASON SERINI & HOOPS Circa, St Kilda. 12:00pm. $96.90. VARSITY - FEAT: KITI + FOOFARAW Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. XS DISCO - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm. friday jan 2 #EATDRINKPLAY - FEAT: ANDY MURPHY + MGMC + DJ JORJ + CAM WOODARD The Emerson, South Yarra. 10:00pm. $20.00. #MASHTAG - FEAT: MALPRACTICE + AGENT 86 + BENZO + ANDRE LE VOGUE + SILVERFOX + AHAB + OLLIE Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. BREAD & BUTTER FRIDAYS Cushion, St Kilda. 8:00pm. CAN’T SAY Platform One, Melbourne. 9:00pm. CHRISTIAN VANCE + MIKE CALLANDER + CRAIG WHITNEY + JACOB MALMO + OK SURE + BRIAN FANTANA + SUNSHINE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 10:00pm. CQ FRIDAYS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. DJ NIGHT - FEAT: CHRIS JEPHCOTT Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:00pm. DJ WOODY + SHOWTIME QUINTET + BILLY HOYLE + DJ LOTUS Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. FABULOUS FRIDAYS Co., Southbank. 8:00pm. FAKE TITS - FEAT: BOOGS + SPACEY SPACE + SUNSHINE + SAMMY LA MARCA + BUTTERS + ADAM BARTAS + JUNGLE JIM Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $15.00. FEZ PUSKAS DJ The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. FRIDAYS @ ONESIXONE - FEAT: JEN TUTTY + LUKE MCD + LEWIE DAY + PREQUEL + KATIE DROVER + MITCH KURZ + MIC NEWMAN + TOM EVANS + JOEL ALPHA + LIAM WALLER + AARON TROTTMAN + NICK JONES + JESSE YOUNG + ANDRAS FOX + JAC OSCAR WILKINS Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm. LUCK TRUCK FRIDAYS DOWNSTAIRS Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. OMG FRIDAYS Seven Nightclub, South Melbourne. 10:00pm. $20.00. PANORAMA FRIDAYS UPSTAIRS - FEAT: PHATO A MANO + MR.GEORGE + MATT RADD + ASH-LEE Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. POPROCKS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. RECOVERY SESSION - FEAT: INKA Grumpy’s Green, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. SKISM + ZAYLER + RA + THE EGGMAN + SPRINKLES + MEEZY + SECRET NINE + WILKO + DIRTY GYPSY Liberty Social, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $25.00. THERAPY FRIDAYS Level 3 @ Crown, Southbank. 8:00pm. $20.00. saturday jan 3 ELECTRIC DREAMS Co., Southbank. 8:00pm. $20.00. ANYWAY - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Bottom End, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. ARACHNOPHOBIA - FEAT: DIRTY HIPPY + REFLECTION + TRIPINSTUMBLE + IMPERFECT CIRCLE + OZONE La Di Da, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. AUDIOPORN SATURDAYS - FEAT: DR. ZOK + JAMES WARE + GREG SARA + JACOB MALMO + TOM EVANS + ROWIE Onesixone, Prahran. 9:00pm. $15.00.

BIG MOUTH SATURDAYS - FEAT: DJ ROWIE + ANDYCAN + NACKERS Big Mouth, St Kilda. 9:00pm. CAPTAIN MOONLITE John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:30pm. $5.00. CUSHION SATURDAYS Cushion, St Kilda. 9:00pm. DELTA HEAVY - FEAT: RENE LAVICE La Di Da, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $20.00. DOC SCOTT Grumpy’s Green, Fitzroy. 2:00pm. FAMILIAR STRANGERS The Emerson, South Yarra. 10:00pm. $20.00. GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DJ? - FEAT: DAN KELLY Howler, Brunswick. 3:00pm. HOT STEP - FEAT: ADAM ASKEW + GRAYSKULL + KELTEC + MYLES MAC + PETER BAKER + REV. THORN + SAM MCEWIN + SHANE COPAL + TOM EVANS Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. JUMPIN JOSH DJ The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. MIDNIGHT RUN Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 11:30pm. $7.00. ROSE Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 8:00pm. SEVEN SATURDAY DISCOTHEQUE Seven Nightclub, South Melbourne. 10:00pm. $20.00. SPACE IBIZA 25TH ANNIVERSARY Level 3 @ Crown, Southbank. 8:00pm. $25.00. TEXTILE SATURDAYS - FEAT: KODIAK KID + D’FRO + JENS BEAMIN Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. THE HOUSE DEFROST - FEAT: ANDY FROST Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm. $35.00. THE LATE SHOW - FEAT: PREQUEL + PAZ + MOONSHINE + LA POCOCK + BOOGS + RANSOM + MAT CANT + GET BU$Y + SAMMY THE BULLET Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 10:00pm. THERAPY Level 3 @ Crown, Southbank. 9:00pm. $20.00. TRAMP SATURDAYS Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. VAULT SATURDAYS Platform One, Melbourne. 9:00pm.

MVP - FEAT: DJS ARKS + LOW-KEY + THADDEUS DOE Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

thursday dec 25

NORTHSIDE SPACE FUNKERS - FEAT: HYPERFOKUS + KODIAK KID Penny Black, Brunswick. 7:00pm.

friday dec 26

ALEX & THE LASHLIES VS BAD FAMILY - FEAT: ALEX & THE LASHLIES & BAD FAMILY + JOE NEPTUNE & THE ROLLING BLACKOUTS Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $10.00. BLAZIN BEATS- ROUND 1 - FEAT: DJ RELLIK + SAM PAUL + DIKTION ONE Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $15.00. BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY - FEAT: DJ RCEE + KAHLUA + DJ SHOOK + DJ ANGEL JAY Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. BUMP FRIDAYS - FEAT: DJ KAHLUA Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00. FAKTORY FRIDAYS - FEAT: DAMION DE SILVA + K

khokolat koated

sunday jan 4 BOP ART - FEAT: HAWAII + WHO + TIGERFUNK + MATT RADOVICH + LEWIS CANCUT Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. EARLY MORNING CREW - FEAT: HOOPS + BRAD SASSMAN + JOSH PAOLA + JESSE YOUNG + OLLIE HOLMES + DEAN SPANOS Onesixone, Prahran. 1:00am. ENCORE - FEAT: DAN SLATER + ADAM LOVE The Emerson, South Yarra. 9:00pm. JUNGLE - FEAT: HANDS DOWN + ZAC DEPETRO + PETE LASKIS + TRAVLOS + JOHN DOE Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00am. $15.00. RECOVERY SESSION - FEAT: INKA Grumpy’s Green, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. REVOLVER SUNDAYS - FEAT: BOOGS + SPACEY SPACE + T-REK + RADIATOR Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. SPITROAST SUNDAYS Cushion, St Kilda. 10:00pm. SUMMER SERIES #7 - FEAT: CLAPTONE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:00pm. WAX ON WAX OFF Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm.

be. at co.

monday jan 5 MONDAY STRUGGLE - FEAT: TIGER FUNK Lucky Coq, Windsor. 6:00pm. tuesday jan 6 CUSHION TUESDAYS Cushion, St Kilda. 8:00pm. SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. TRAMP TUESDAYS Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

faktory

urban club guide wednesday dec 24

snaps

DEE + DURMY Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. FRIDAY NIGHT RHYTHM - FEAT: DJ ANDRE LE VOGUE + TOM SHOWTIME The Fitzroy Beer Garden, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. PARTY & BULLSHIT - FEAT: JUZZY B + KAYZ Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. PHAROAHE MONCH + TOTAL ECLIPSE + FLU & DISCOURSE + ELOQUOR + DJ PREQUEL Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm.

saturday dec 27

BADBADNOTGOOD Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. BIG DANCING Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. KHOKOLAT KOATED SATURDAYS - FEAT: DAMION DE SILVA + K DEE + DURMY + TIMOS Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. RHYTHM NATION SATURDAYS - FEAT: DJ BIG SAAD + DJ KAHLUA & ANDY PALA Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00.

sunday dec 28

BE. SUNDAYS Co., Southbank. 10:00pm. $15.00.

tuesday dec 30

LOTEK + FLORELIE ESCANO + RAS JAHKNOW + KWASI & LUCAS MILLER Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $15.00.

thursday jan 1

HIP HOP IN THE BASEMENT - FEAT: MINICOOP + KRYPTIC + HUCCI LUV + CLUE EMCEE Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. ILLY + IVAN OOZE + PEEZO + BAYSIDERS + JOHNNY POLHE Espy, St Kilda. 8:30pm. $40.20.

friday jan 2

BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY - FEAT: DJ RCEE + KAHLUA + DJ SHOOK + DJ ANGEL JAY Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. BUMP FRIDAYS - FEAT: DJ KAHLUA Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00. FAKTORY FRIDAYS - FEAT: DAMION DE SILVA + K DEE + DURMY Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. KRAFTY KUTS & MC DYNAMITE Brown Alley, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

electronic - urban - club life

RASHAAN AHMAD + CHARLIE BUSKET + SCATTER SCATTER SOUND SYSTEM Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm.

saturday jan 3

GRANDMASTER FLASH + PSYDE PROJECTS + MISTRESS OF CEREMONY Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. $45.00. KHOKOLAT KOATED SATURDAYS - FEAT: DAMION DE SILVA + K DEE + DURMY + TIMOS Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. RHYTHM NATION SATURDAYS - FEAT: DJ BIG SAAD + DJ KAHLUA & ANDY PALA Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00.

sunday jan 4

BE. SUNDAYS Co., Southbank. 10:00pm. $15.00. DANNY BROWN + HOOD PASS DJS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $50.90.

monday jan 5

DANNY BROWN + HOOD PASS DJS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $50.90.

REBELUTION

By Meg Crawford

When your mum names you after Bob Marley, things could go one of two ways: you could go down the path of deep rebellion and listen exclusively to shit pop or you could grow up to be in a reggae band. As part of Californian four-piece outfit Rebelution, Marley D. Williams chose the latter. There was a nifty element of luck in Rebelution’s origins; Williams and Eric Rachmany, one of the other founding members, were both at college in Isla Vista. “I didn’t know Eric before that,” Williams recalls. “It was one of those things were fate came through. I was walking by an office and I heard Morgan Heritage. At that time I didn’t know a lot of people who knew about Morgan Heritage, so right away I walked in there and I was like, ‘Who are you and how do you know about this?’ Sure enough, Eric said that it was one of his favourites and it was one of mine too and now we’re actually friends with Morgan Heritage.” In fact, the band haven’t just become mates with some of reggae’s greats, they’ve gone on to support them (they’ll be supporting Jimmy Cliff in Sydney next year) and they’ve recorded with others – for instance, Errol Brown, the dude who used to sound engineer for Bob Marley and The Wailers, has worked with them on the road and on a number of albums, including this year’s release Count Me In. That’s a coup in and of itself – how did they come to be working with Brown? “We were bouncing around between sound managers,” Williams explains. “All of these other sound engineers had their priority bands, because we were still coming up, and they had commitments to them. But eventually Errol fell in love with the music. We were always just so thankful that he’d even do some shows with us and then he did an album with us. It just clicked. One of the things Errol always says is that he enjoys seeing how much the youth embrace our music. I think that reminds him of the past and when he saw how much the youth embraced Bob Marley’s music, not that we’re on the same level as Bob Marley.” The early days for the band were fun but they were also Hard Yakka, what with setting up in backyards and in the street. “You’re talking to the right guy about that,” Williams chuckles. “I used to have a pickup truck and we’d build our own stages. We’d have our system and drums in the back of the truck and we had our own little light show. Actually, it wasn’t too much of a light show; it was more frames with coloured bulbs.

“WE’RE NOT PLAYING MUSIC TO BE EXACTLY LIKE JAMAICAN ROOTS MUSIC. WE HAVE UNDERTONES OF IT AND SOME SONGS SOUND MORE SIMILAR TO IT, BUT WE HAVE OTHER SONGS THAT ARE DEFINITELY INSPIRED BY CALIFORNIAN ROCK’N’ROLL OR HIP-HOP.”

“It was all done in this really condensed college community next to University California in Santa Barbara. Every other week we’d do a show and drive over to someone’s back yard. It really helped with getting our name out I think, because everyone went to school and would graduate – every year there’d be a class graduating and they’d leave and go tell other cities about us.” Things are considerably more sophisticated these days and there’s a lots more responsibility that comes with it. “It feels like in the last ten years I lived enough lifetimes for a lot of people,” Williams laughs. “It’s amazing to look back, but it’s almost like there’s not even enough time to look back to reflect, because it’s always going so fast and there’s always a new show or another decision to make, because besides music it’s a business too. I look back and it was all so simple and fun. It’s still a lot of fun, but it’s a different kind of fun now. There’s a lot of people involved in our operation – there’s a lot of lives involved and a lot of people who depend on us to put on good shows. You’ve got to always be on point.” While sitting firmly within the reggae tradition, the band are fully aware of the fact they don’t fit into the customary mould – they’re not from Jamaica for one and none of them sport dreadlocks. “We became popular in a funny era of reggae music,” reflects Williams. “Funny not in a bad or good way, just different. As everyone knows, reggae roots came from Jamaica and reggae roots is still from Jamaica, but it seems that a new genre came onto the scene, a US reggae movement – there’s even a festival called Roots. We’re not playing music to be exactly like Jamaican roots music. We have undertones of it and some songs sound more similar to it, but we have other songs that are definitely inspired by Californian rock’n’roll or hiphop – the things we grew up listening to. “More traditional people who listen to reggae don’t see us as trying to copy or mimic something we didn’t grow up in, but see us as just using something that inspires us. It’s music for everybody. Its one love and unity. We’re just trying to put our own spin on the music and make people happy and inspired. If people don’t like that, that’s their own problem.” REBELUTION are playing their Bluesfest sideshow at The Corner Hotel on Friday April 3 and Bluesfest Monday April 6. Count Me In is out through 87 Music / Rebelution LLC. WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES..... WWW.BEAT.COM.AU/TV

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 35

GLASS ANIMALS

By Augustus Welby

Buzz bands are a dime a dozen. There are enough active journalists, bloggers, radio DJs, festival promoters and playlisters to push new acts into the spotlight every day of the week. But hype means nothing if it’s not backed up by quality output. The problem is an intoxicating whiff of success threatens to interfere with crucial moments in an artist’s development. Since forming in 2012, UK four-piece Glass Animals have endured hefty amounts of hype. Led by songwriter and vocalist Dave Bayley, the Oxfordshire natives have done a remarkable job at ignoring any overblown promises of glory and success. First of all, before the band was a full-fledged project, Bayley uploaded a couple of bedroom demos to the Internet, which had soon garnered interest from several labels. Instead of immediately signing on the dotted line, Bayley took the songs down so the band members could peacefully complete their respective university degrees. After securing those bachelors certificates, the quartet got stuck into cultivating its sound. Not long after they’d got the ball rolling, UK production maestro Paul Epworth showed up at one of their shows. Epworth’s known for producing records by Bloc Party, Coldplay and Primal Scream, as well as co-writing major hits with Florence and the Machine and Adele. Glass Animals did end up signing to Epworth’s Wolf Tone label, but they chose not to enlist his help in the studio. Instead, Bayley retained his position in the producer’s chair. Still, Glass Animals hadn’t dodged the hype monster just yet. Released in late 2013, the band’s debut EP, Psylla caught the gaze of media personnel and keen Googlers the world over. In fact, so forceful was the surge of fascination, the band managed to sell out its April Australian tour before even releasing an album. That album wasn’t far off, however. Released in June, Zaba not only traverses the terrain of trip hop, down

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tempo R&B and indie pop, but it’s clear the band had no interest in cashing in on the mountains of hype. “We never really had any goals, in terms of if it would succeed commercially,” Bayley says. “We wanted to have fun in the studio; that was our only goal. It’s really nice that it’s been keeping us busy and taking us overseas. For us, it’s an added bonus, but it was never the intention. We just wanted to make a record that was interesting to ourselves musically ± just music that we’d enjoy playing. “It means we really enjoy playing it live,” he continues. “We have a really good time on stage and I think that’s really important. If you stop having fun making your music then you should probably stop altogether.” Playing live is exactly what the band’s be doing for the majority of 2014. Now Zaba isn’t the product of four guys jamming with a couple of mics switched on, rather it’s an intricately layered studio undertaking. Instead of trying to precisely reenact the recordings on stage however, Glass Animals prefer to reinterpret the songs, depending on what the atmosphere recommends. “If the crowd seem really up for dancing and it’s a late night show, and everyone’s taken some ecstasy or something, we’ll extend sections of the songs, like all the groove sections,” Bayley says. “[We] bring up the bass and bring up the drums and have a big dance party. Whereas if it’s an early show and the crowd just want to sit back and watch something, then we can make a kind of down tempo relaxed ambient set. We keep it all very

malleable and we change it up from night to night. It can be a pretty different show one night from the next.” Most of the time, gig-goers prefer it when a live performance closely resembles a band’s recorded work. This is understandable, as it’s recordings that grabbed their interest in the first place. But it’s important to remember performing and recording are fundamentally different pursuits. “I’m really happy distinguishing the studio from the stage,” Bayley says. “There are a lot of bands who just go out and play the same exact thing to a backing track and a click track every single night. They might as well be pushing play on a record. That’s not what a live show is about for us. [We like] to pick and choose different things every night that we think are important and will react well with the crowd that night. “You have to be careful,” he notes. “You have to make sure it’s recognisable and you have to make sure the sonics are similar and people can still have the basic things to latch onto. It’s a tricky game sometimes, but

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it’s fun.” Following up April’s two-show jaunt Down Under, Glass Animals will head back next week for the Falls Festivals and sideshows. After spending the last eight months on the road, Bayley’s confident the live show has advanced in leaps and bounds. “They were early shows, we had to present the songs to people in a very digestible format,” he recalls. “Whereas now, people who come to the shows tend to know the record and we know the songs really well and we can read crowds a bit better. The best live shows happen when everyone in the room is on the same level and interacting together. You need that spontaneity for a good show to be able to happen.” Catch GLASS ANIMALS at Falls Festival over New Years and The Hi-Fi on Saturday January 10 and Sunday January 11. Zaba is out now through Wolf Tone.

SLOW CLUB

By Jacob Mills

There’s something about a Northern English accent that plucks the heart strings of anyone who hears it. It tells tales of verdant green fields, unpasteurised milk, and that one documentary about their insane rates of heroin addiction. But from his London apartment, the cheerful voice of Charles Watson, of Sheffield’s Slow Club, spelt out the history of a band with particularly fond memories of old-country charm. “Where I grew up, I was about a 45 minute walk from the nearest bus stop and an hour from the nearest town,” he says “My overriding memory as a teenager was walking to the bus stop and listening to music. It’s a serene feeling that you only really have the privilege of having when you live so far away from a major town.” In fact, a simple walk is Watson’s tried and tested artistic panacea. “Getting outside and clearing your head is amazing,” he says. “Lately I’ve developed the ability to be able to detach myself from music and do something like paint or other repetitive tasks that are just an alternative to writing songs. With anything you always hit a wall, but getting outside and clearing your head is simple and it works so well.” Clear air is a consistent string on Slow Club’s newest album, Complete Surrender. The sound is stripped back and leaves you with a feeling like you’re wandering through the album, absorbing the music through your skin. “We had no idea about the direction or texture of the sound before we started recording. We wanted to simplify things and make the album sparser,” says Watson. “I’m the kind of person who gets distracted by the possibilities of what you can do with a song, what you can add to make it bigger. “The difference between this album and the last is that we’ve done this one in a home studio with a bunch of collaborators. We’ve brought in a range of different musicians and have the knowledge now of when to stop and go, ‘Okay, this song is finished’.” Collaborative recording is an oft-used technique in music, since home recording equipment has become more readily accessible and available to anybody with a little cash and a little knowhow. For Slow Club, it yielded results. “Collaborative recording is a very different recording process. Rebecca [Taylor] plays drums and some keys and I play guitar, piano, keyboard etc. The last record we had Rebecca on all the drums and me on all the guitars and keys,” Watson explains. “To be able to bring in a bunch of different musicians completely changed the way that the album was constructed. You can hear the difference in the drumming for example. Avon, who we brought in to lay down some drum licks, had a more technical and cadent style of drumming which sounds different to Rebecca’s less rehearsed but more natural sounding style.” Writing as a two-piece can have its limitations. The most obvious being that two people trying to create a sound comparable to four of five musicians takes a lot of finesse with a lot more work, something that isn’t lost in Slow Club’s process. “Rebecca and I write separately a lot since we’re not always in the same town,” says Watson. “If I feel like I’ve been couped up for a while, Rebecca could be having a much better day on her end. Distance allows us to express ourselves clearly as two different musicians, which I think is great because it means our sound stays active rather than us finding a middle ground between our two styles. Being a two-piece does have its stresses though. The best thing about a collaborative album is that we were able to split the workload across far more musicians.” According to Watson, collaboration is just an extension of the sense of community present in a small country environment. Sheffield is notable for producing Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and one sixth of Iron Maiden, and it’s no wonder the music scene is alive and strong. “London is considered to be England’s cultural centre, and there really is so much to do. But I find that in a way there is so much to do that no one really does anything,” he admits. “The great thing about those northern towns like Sheffield is that you start out as a band and you know all of these people that come to your shows. I haven’t seen that in London yet.” Fortunately for Watson, Slow Club has taken him across the world, from playing shows throughout Europe to repeat trips throughout the US, not to mention coming up on his third romp through the great southland. “We can’t wait to come back to Australia in January. Last time we were in Melbourne we got completely blown away by the response. We didn’t really have high expectations for our music to have travelled so far, but the turnout was amazing. I feel like we’re lucky that we even get to come to Australia. Although the accent is as close as you can get to British so we feel fairly at home,” he says. “The last time we came down we played a show in Adelaide and were surprised at how laid back it is for a major city. Especially when someone said that South Australia has the greatest number of serial killers per 100km in the world.” If that isn’t the most punk rock statistic going around then I’ve lost hope.

SLOW CLUB will play the Northcote Social Club on Thursday January 15. Complete Surrender is out now on Caroline Australia. WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES..... WWW.BEAT.COM.AU/TV

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IVAN OOZE

By Rei Barker

Ivan Ooze has come a long way recently, with the Melbourne rapper ditching the persona and gutter rap±s tyle of AZ, and settling into a heavy-hitting, more accessible style that’s “more [him and] less trying to be someone [he’s] not.” Beat spoke to Ooze, aka Ben Townsend, days after his tour with Ice Cube and Cypress Hill, while he was on his lunch break from the toy shop where he works when not being a rapper. Townsend came up with a heavy freestyle persona, embracing the Non Phixion/Necro-style of hardcore rap, but evolved his style and started to develop his own. The transformation is picking up traction, having gathered kudos from making the music he wants to make. He says he “just started doing videos and shit and putting it on the internet,” and that’s how he got noticed. His style has definitely retained a battle rap punchline sensibility and assertive flow, but has a positivity and hook/ chorus-driven structure. “I was chilling at my friend’s house in Ringwood one day and we were riffing back and forth and I just decided that writing songs about negative shit was really affecting my mood,” he says. “[I] made a conscious decision to make music that was a bit more positive.” While we unfortunately don’t have access to his pre-Ivan Ooze work, his assertions ring true in his tracks. On and On, the lead single from his tongue-in-cheek debut EP, Ringwood Rich deals with gritty-ish subject matter, but in a stoic, brief, and rather Australian way. It has a definite “good vibe” feel to it without being contrived or losing that rap swagger attitude that you want from an MC. Townsend’s moving from strength to strength, and it’s interesting to examine someone who’s gotten noticed quickly, and subsequently started to play bigger shows. He’s just cracked the triple j market, which he says is a gratifying step for him: “It definitely helps a lot in this country and feels good to have that crew pay attention to what I’m doing.” Townsend hasn’t always found live performances easy; by his own admission, he’s had problems with anxiety: “One of the Cube shows, I was backstage just freaking the fuck out, having a full on anxiety attack,” he admits. “I was sweating and thought I was going to pass out. Eventually I just walked on stage and it was one of the best shows I’ve ever done [because] I had all those thoughts and energy running through my head. [It was] very therapeutic and empowering for me.” The battle of balancing the lifestyle of a performer or someone who’s creatively vulnerable with personal anxiety is admirable, and seeing that inherently act as a cathartic process says a lot about Townsend’s drive, capacity to accept challenges and step up to the rapper life. It’s great to see a rapper be real about mental health and personal issues without seeming like they’re jumping on the buzzword bandwagon to appeal to different markets.

“I WAS CHIllING AT My frIEND’S HOUSE IN rINGWOOD ONE DAy AND WE WErE rIffING BACk AND fOrTH AND I jUST DECIDED THAT WrITING SONGS ABOUT NEGATIVE SHIT WAS rEAlly AffECTING My MOOD, [I] MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO MAkE MUSIC THAT WAS A BIT MOrE POSITIVE.” Growing up, Townsend had a somewhat atypical experience, describing his perspective on how to find purpose in life: “When I was about 17, shit just got real out in Ringwood. Hanging out with your mates and there’s drugs, violence, that kind of thing,” he says. “It’s pretty easy to just smoke weed and do fuck all, but I really wanted to get away from that and do something good for myself. It all got a bit hectic for me. “There [were] a few months there when I decided to step back that I just shut the shutters and stayed in my room, didn’t see anyone,” he confesses. “But that’s what I had to do to deal with it in my own way. That’s how I deal. A while ago I had a coffee and it just made my heart pound. I had to do something about it but I just rapped my whole album beginning to end a few times and then eventually just fell asleep. I don’t even wanna go the prescription drugs route. I’ve seen a lot of friends fuck up on that stuff and I just wanna deal with shit in my own way.” Beyond The Valley is the next chance to catch Townsend live, where he’ll be sharing a stage with such stars as Banoffee, Danny Brown, Peking Duk and “going off my dick, being really intoxicated and having a great time. “I’ve got a hypeman and a lot of exciting shit planned,” he says. “I can’t say too much but it’s going to be wild.”

Catch IVAN OOZE at Beyond The Valley over New Year’s and at his first headline show at Shebeen on Friday January 30. Ringwood Rich is out now. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 38

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ANGEL OLSEN

By Augustus Welby

Without question, ‘I’ is the most-used word on Angel Olsen’s third LP, Burn Your Fire For No Witness. The North Carolina-based songwriter’s 2014 release looks deep within to explore romantic longing and assess human vulnerability. Throughout, a defiant Olsen refuses to let these themes overwhelm, instead supplying the listener with affecting solace. Interestingly, the recording of Burn Your Fire For No Witness saw Olsen open up to outsiders like never before. It’s the first record she’s made with an established backing band in tow. On top of this, studio wizard John Congleton ± who’s overseen records from Swans, St Vincent, Cloud Nothings and Xiu Xiu this year alone ± h andled production duties. Olsen’s previous release, 2012’s Half Way Home, also features backing instrumentation, but it’s a largely peripheral feature. Burn, on the other hand, contains tracks such as Forgiven/Forgotten and Stars, where electric guitars are used to emphasise the singer’s piercing emotional insights. The input of her band members ± guitarist Stewart Bronaugh and drummer Josh Jaeger from Chicago’s Lionlimb ± is integral, but Olsen was still calling the shots. “As far as writing and recording [goes], I write everything,” she says. “I’m definitely a control freak… but I’ll get stuck on some stuff and will be like, ‘I don’t know how we should learn to play this. Something isn’t happening here.’ I’m open to suggestions.” Olsen’s songwriting voice is truly her own, which positions Burn as one of the year’s finest releases. Despite this singularity, she and the band form an almost intrinsic union. It’s thus surprising to learn that, prior to making the record, Olsen was only loosely acquainted with the musicians. “I had met Stewart on the street,” she says. “It was in passing, through a friend, and I thought, ‘That kid’s kind of dirty.’ He was in some weird mood and seemed like he hadn’t slept. I didn’t really know him very well until I started working with him and then I was like, ‘This guy’s a genius.’ “Joshua… we worked at the same café in Chicago. We weren’t friends even then, but when I stopped working there he contacted me and was like, ‘I like your record a lot, do you need anyone to play drums for you? I’m in

a band with this guy Stewart, but I’m sure he’d be into playing with you too.’ In a couple of weeks, I met up with him and we started working on stuff. It was like he immediately knew what I was trying to get at, with my sound. I feel really lucky with the way that worked out.” Early next year, Olsen and band ± which has now grown to include bass player Emily Elhaj ± head our way for the Laneway festival tour. Since releasing the record in February, the quartet’s spent the majority of their time travelling back and forth through the US and Europe. Before launching her solo career, Olsen was a touring vocalist in Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s band, so she’s no stranger to life on the road. However, this year’s touring run has been more intense than anything she’s experienced in the past. “When it all slows down it’s going to be like, ‘I have to do something with my time,’ because I’ve just been busy,” she says. “The most shocking thing is going from working on the road and getting home and just being totally open, like, ‘I’m not planning for a big show tonight, what am I going to do?’” Much of Olsen’s songwriting comes from a place of introspection. Tracks such as album opener Unfuck the World take an incisive look at the inevitability of social conflict. With this in mind, it’s fair to presume spending the year living in tight quarters with her band mates has been a challenging experience. She admits it took some time to adapt. “It’s a pretty intense thing to do with your time. You’re basically living in a van and your tour people are your roommates. But to be able to make something really cool at the end of the day together is so satisfying. I feel like I’m with a very good group of people who are all super intelligent and aware and love music and love playing it just as much as I do.” While Olsen hangs onto ultimate authority, feeling comfortable in the company of her sidekicks, it

encourages her to let the four-piece dynamic influence the way the songs rollout onstage. “Sometimes I think it’s nice to have a different person’s perspective,” she says. “You don’t necessarily want to do the same as the album. I like for things to be on the fly. It’s nice when certain songs sound solid and they don’t change too much, but I think it’s interesting when you can hear a different version of something. “It’s not like every time I’m performing, I’m re-living the same exact event that created the writing,” she adds. “It doesn’t work the same way you build a house. There are certain structures that hold a house together and

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when you try to break down that house you can see all those structures. But when you write a song and you try to go through the song, there are things there that you didn’t know were there, or there are things there that you definitely put in there. Then over time, over years, it changes.” ANGEL OLSEN plays St Jerome’s Laneway Festival 2015 on Saturday February 7. She’s also playing a sideshow at Howler on Wednesday February 4. Burn Your Fire For No Witness is out through Jagjaguwar.

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WYE OAK

By Augustus Welby

Baltimore future folk outfit Wye Oak is made up of just two people: vocalist Jenn Wasner and drummer Andy Stack, but you’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise. On Wye Oak’s latest two records, Civilian from 2011 and this year’s Shriek, the band’s limited personnel doesn’t stop them from incorporating deft guitar and bass lines, striking lead vocals, prancing synths and wily drumbeats. It’s true, the studio setting allows them do some overdubbing, but when it comes to performing, the duo goes to extreme lengths to reproduce all of the sounds live on stage. “We don’t using backing tracks,” Wasner says. “However, we do use pre-recorded material, but it’s all chopped up into parts and samples that we ourselves are triggering. It’s sort of like we’re playing the song like an instrument, which is really difficult to do. People may assume that you’re playing along to tracks, but if we were to drop dead on stage, the song would not be going,” he laughs. With four celebrated albums under their belts, and a continually expanding global following, Wasner and Stack will finally make the trip to Australia for January’s Sydney Festival. Throughout its eightyear existence, the band’s never been far away from a stage. The obligation to tour incessantly is actually what motivated them to make live performance so demanding. “I wanted to develop something that was challenging enough that it wouldn’t get boring,” Wasner says. “Or it would take a lot longer for it to get boring, but not so challenging that we couldn’t do it. Andy and I are both triggering things on samplers; he arranges his keyboard stuff so that he’s playing multiple parts with his five different fingers of his left hand… while also playing drums. “There’s a high potential for complete and total meltdown, which is the downside to performing music this way. No matter how many times we do it, it’s still very, very difficult.” The duo’s disinclination to take the easy way out is reflected by the evolutionary progression of their four studio LPs. After the pleasing atmospheres of 2009’s The Knot, Civilian was an assertive showcase of Wasner’s exceptional guitar abilities. Meanwhile, for the creation

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of Shriek, Wasner put her guitar aside and picked up an electric bass. The result is a comparatively stripped back record, heavy on angular rhythms and icy synths. “I knew I wanted to create this more minimal style of pop music,” she says. “Instead of just throwing the kitchen sink at the recording, take time and try to create something where every part had its place and there was no more than needed to be there. “I don’t think we fully achieved that in the way I envisioned,” she adds, “but that’s the fun of a lot of these ideas. Conceptually you go in with a certain thing in mind and then you get to find out what it’s actually going to turn into. And I like what it turned into.” Over the last decade, Wye Oak’s hometown of Baltimore has bred a stack of similarly unique innovators. The likes of Animal Collective, Dan Deacon, Beach House, Lower Dens and Future Islands are just some that spring to mind. The calibre of artists that continue to emerge from Baltimore suggests the city is a musician’s paradise. Wasner makes no attempt to correct this impression. “It’s a really close-knit community of people and we all support each other,” she says, “It’s a really inspiring place to be making music, because you’re just surrounded by all these brilliant hard-working people who are really excited about making things happen.”

Catch WYE OAK at The Gasometer on Saturday January 10. Shriek is out through Merge Records.

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MATT ANDERSEN

By Augustus Welby

It’s long been known Canada’s Matt Andersen possesses a wealth of natural talent. Since emerging from the Canadian east coast over a decade ago, Andersen’s been wowing audiences with his excellent blues guitar chops and sensual lead vocals. This February, Andersen released his fourth solo LP Weightless, which illustrated his songwriting versatility more emphatically than anything prior. In the early days of his career, Andersen gathered plenty of attention for performing covers, including a version of Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine that has more than a million views on YouTube. Despite the video’s lingering imprint, he’s been focused on original material for the last half a dozen years, gradually honing his creative identity. On Weightless, Andersen visits various stylistic ports: there’s the reggae-tinged opener I Lost My Way, anthemic gospel number My Last Day, country slow burner So Easy and upright soul ditty, Weightless. “The more you write the better it gets,” he says. “Sometimes going with first instincts is a good way to go, but you should also be open to changing things. For me it works best, I learned, if I have an idea for a song but don’t limit myself to just that idea. If it happens to take a complete right turn half way through then I follow that.” While Andersen commonly takes the stage alone, an extended cast of musicians helped assemble Weightless. Picking up where 2011’s Coal Mining Blues left off, the record features elaborate full band backing, including vocal choirs and additional guitar work from Neko Case’s sideman Paul Rigby. Andersen wasn’t the record’s lone creative force either. Rather, each track was co-written with one of several established Canadian songwriters, such as Joel Plaskett, David Myles and Tom Wilson. “I don’t have a lot of time to write because I’m on the road so much,” Andersen says. “I’m writing three or four songs in a short period of time, but I find if I do that too much I kind of start to rip myself off a little bit. I start to sound too much like myself, so I wanted

to avoid that. “I definitely thought two heads are better than one when it comes to songwriting,” he adds. “So I picked some of my favourite writers and just hooked up with them. We didn’t try to focus on what the songs were going to sound like ± just wrote the best songs we could.” Andersen’s nothing if not a seasoned traveller. He customarily plays around 200 gigs a year and he’ll sneak in another Australian visit before the year is out. 2014 has been an especially busy year for the travelling crooner and the hard work’s starting to pay off. “It was January 7th when we first started touring,” he says. “I’ve probably had about four or five weeks off in total. It’s been a lot of travelling, a lot of new places. The size of the crowds I’m playing to [has grown], especially in Canada. The last time I played Toronto it was probably about 900 people and the show we had this time was 2300. So I’ve seen a lot of growth and a lot more attention. It’s definitely been my biggest year to date. “For the last ten years or so [I’ve been] playing as much as I can, travelling as much as I can and doing a lot of live shows. It’s a very grass roots way of doing it, but it’s definitely worked in my favour. I don’t have any overnight fans. All the people have been with me for years. It feels really good.” MATT ANDERSEN is playing Woodford Folk over New Years, Flying Saucer Club on Saturday January 10, and The Thornbury Theatre on Sunday January 11. Weightless is out through Stubbyfingers Inc.

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 41

BEAT’S WRITER’S WRAP Our comprehensive guide to the best music of 2014 is also a magic eye*

Tyson Wray SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Ambient/electronic

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: 1. Easy Listening KETTENKARUSSELL

2. Auftakt MURA OKA 3. Moodymann MOODYMANN 4. American Intelligence THEO PARRISH 5. Torus VRIL 6. Drop The Vowels MILLIE & ANDREA 7. Odd Movements ACHTERBAHN D’AMOUR 8. The Periodic Table REAGENZ 9. Music for the Uninvited LEON VYNEHALL 10. Faith In Strangers ANDY STOTT Honourable Mentions: Vermont VERMONT, Decay EFDEMIN, Punish, Honey VESSEL, After Forever JOEY ANDERSON, Let’s Cry And Do Pushups At The Same Time TORN HAWK, Atomos A WINGED VICTORY FOR THE SULLEN, Black Metal DEAN BLUNT

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Torus XXXII VRIL 2. Of Course KETTENKARUSSELL 3. 1 Year AUSTIN CESEAR 4. Nuits Sonores FLOATING POINTS 5. Ganzfeld OBJEKT Honourable Mentions: 50 Cent DEAN BLUNT, Lyk You Use 2 MOODYMANN, Love Songs DJ DODGER STADIUM, Butterflies LEON VYNEHALL

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014:

That Cara Williams became a techno-convert (this statement is entirely fictitious - ed.)

LOWLIGHT OF 2014:

A tearful goodbye to the office Kirks-bird.

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

‘Gronk’ becomes a regular staple in Aussie vernacular.

DaviD James young SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Whatever the kids are dancing to down at the blue-light.

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

1. Divide and Exit SLEAFORD MODS 2. Keep You PIANOS BECOME THE TEETH 3. I Forget Where We Were BEN HOWARD 4. Benji SUN KIL MOON 5. The Physical World DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 6. When Friends Die in Accidents PINCH HITTER 7. Rooms of the House LA DISPUTE 8. S W I M DIE! DIE! DIE! 9. 1000 Forms of Fear SIA 10. Get Hurt THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM Honourable Mentions: This is Cave Music MOON HOOCH, Dead YOUNG FATHERS, Here and Nowhere Else CLOUD NOTHINGS, Jersey Flegg YOU BEAUTY

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Seasons (Waiting on You) FUTURE ISLANDS 2. Tied Up in Nottz SLEAFORD MODS 3. I Need a Woman HOCKEY DAD 4. Water Fountain TUNE-YARDS 5. Happy Idiot TV ON THE RADIO Honourable Mentions: I’m Not Part of Me CLOUD NOTHINGS, Blue on Blue OSLOW, Brill Bruisers THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS, Burden YOKE

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014:

Touching Matt Berninger’s arse when he crowdsurfed.

LOWLIGHT OF 2014: Grand jury verdicts.

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

John Farnham and Olivia Newton-John will perform Run the Jewels 2 in its entirety during their coheadlining tour.

Bronius Zumeris

SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Nondescript

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

1. Augustines AUGUSTINES 2. Games of the XXI Olympiad BLACK CAB 3. Popular Problems LEONARD COHEN 4. Meteorites ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN 5. High Life ENO + HYDE 6. The Man Upstairs ROBYN HITCHCOCK 7. Six Strings That Drew Blood ROLAND S. HOWARD 8. The Return Of The Mailorder Bridegroom ED KUEPPER 9. After The End MERCHANDISE 10. Too Bright PERFUME GENIUS Honourable Mentions: Bluegrass Files BLUEGRASS FILES, Flesh And Machine DANIEL LANOIS, Seek Warmer Climes LOWER, Fade YO LA TENGO

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Nothing To Lose But Your Head AUGUSTINES BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 42

2. Come On Back This Way JACK LADDER 3. Queen PERFUME GENIUS 4. Had To Hear REAL ESTATE 5. Fuckers SAVAGES Honourable Mentions: Slow Train STREETS OF LAREDO, Rollercoaster BLEACHERS, Who Needs You THE ORWELLS

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014:

Nine straight for the Tigers. So no more, Mr Ninth Guy.

LOWLIGHT OF 2014:

Political despots masquerading as leaders increasingly playing chess with the human race.

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

The Fall are asked to perform at the AFL Grand Final.

AlexAnder Crowden SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Alternative/Indie

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: 1. Sea of Approval ANDY BULL

2. Hold My Home COLD WAR KIDS 3. The Balcony CATFISH AND THE BOTTLEMEN 4. Built on Glass CHET FAKER 5. Be Impressive THE GRISWOLDS 6. Ghost Stories COLDPLAY 7. 48:13 KASABIAN 8. Sonic Highways FOO FIGHTERS 9. Luminous THE HORRORS 10. Himalayan BAND OF SKULLS Honourable Mentions: Education, Education, Education & War KAISER CHIEFS, Lost In The Dream THE WAR ON DRUGS, Supermodel FOSTER THE PEOPLE, Too Much Information MAXIMO PARK

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Seasons (Waiting On You) FUTURE ISLANDS 2. Wear Purple at My Funeral PLUTO JONZE 3. Wrong Direction BRITISH INDIA 4. To Me CHET FAKER 5. Beware the Dog THE GRISWOLDS Honourable Mentions: Gotta Get Away THE BLACK KEYS, Mother & Father BROODS, Yellow Flicker Beat LORDE, Talk Too Much ANDY BULL

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014:

Traveling Europe and still being able to listen to new music releases because we are now living in the future.

2. Too Bright PERFUME GENIUS 3. Lost in the Dream THE WAR ON DRUGS 4. Say Yes To Love PERFECT PUSSY 5. Playmates JACK LADDER AND THE DREAMLANDERS 6. Grassed Inn BLANK REALM 7. Everyday Robots DAMON ALBARN 8. Typical System TOTAL CONTROL 9. Ryan Adams RYAN ADAMS 10. The Best of Times MY SAD CAPTAINS Honourable Mentions: Slo Light DAVIDGE, Oddments KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD, So It Goes RATKING

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Carol THE PEEP TEMPEL 2. Instant Disassembly PARQUET COURTS 3. Red Eyes THE WAR ON DRUGS 4. Love Me Like I’m Not Made of Stone LYKKE LI 5. Definitive History AUGIE MARCH Honourable Mentions: Do You SPOON, Come On Back This Way JACK LADDER, First Love Song LAURA JEAN

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014: Nick Cave at The Plenary.

LOWLIGHT OF 2014: Mark Kozelek.

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

Emailing people sandwiches becomes real life.

PaTriCK emery SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Garage/Psychedelic

TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: 1. Hikkimori HITS

2. I’m in Your Mind Fuzz King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard 3. Games of the XXI Olympiad BLACK CAB 4. This Machine Kills Artists BUZZ OSBORNE 5. Legalise Everything FROWNING CLOUDS 6. Takes One to Know One GRAVEYARD TRAIN 7. Welcome to Parrott Eyes KIDS OF ZOO 8. True West KIM AND LEANNE 9. The Redeemer THURSTON MOORE 10. Waiting on the Last Minute LIVINGSTONE DAISES Honourable mentions: Tales THE PEEP TEMPEL, YaYa Brouhaha MESA COSA, Psychotropic LOS TONES

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

Missing Jimmy Eat World’s tour playing my favourite album Futures in full during to not being in the country.

1. Ordinary Man, LOS TONES 2. Supermadchen, BLACK CAB 3. Cellophane, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard 4. Big Fish, PEEP TEMPEL 5. Flesh War, TOTAL CONTROL

Harry Styles to leave One Direction and teenage girls outpouring of emotion to literally #BreakTheInternet.

HITS and Bittersweet Kicks at Cherry, followed by Slow Grind Fever at the Tote.

LOWLIGHT OF 2014:

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

ali Birnie SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Country/Folk/Blues

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: 1. Shine On SARAH MCLACHLAN

2. Stay Gold FIRST AID KIT 3. Blackbird DAN SULTAN 4. Southeastern JASON ISBELL 5. Nobody Ever Leaves TRACY MCNEIL 6. Blind Bet COOKIN’ ON 3 BURNERS 7. Katie Noonan’s Songs That Made Me VARIOUS ARTISTS 8. Bittersweet KASEY CHAMBERS 9. Remedy OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW 10. Angus & Julia Stone ANGUS & JULIA STONE Honourable Mentions: I Hope You’ll Be Very Unhappy Without Me CHELSEA WILSON, Havens Dumb AUGIE MARCH

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Chandelier SIA 2. My Silver Lining FIRST AID KIT 3. In Her Shoes SARAH MCLACHLAN 4. Definitive History AUGIE MARCH 5. Begin Again MEGAN WASHINGTON Honourable Mentions: Sweet Amarillo OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW, Grabbed Me By The Heart THE ACFIELDS

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014:

Richmond making the finals for the second year in a row.

LOWLIGHT OF 2014:

Getting the flu three times.

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

Fremantle to win their first premiership.

augusTus WelBy SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Geriatric Boogie

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

1. Burn Your Fire For No Witness ANGEL OLSEN

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014: LOWLIGHT OF 2014:

Musically, nothing; socially and politically, too much.

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

Even performing Rumours in its entirety with Christine Perfect on guest vocals.

Chris BrighT SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:

*no it is not.

Dan Watt aka Denver Maxx SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Shenmue

TOP FIVE ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: 1. Dead Young Fathers

2. Dole Cheques & Cabanas MIGHTY BOYS 3. Our Love CARIBOU 4. Badilac Together PANGEA 5. Beats In Space 15th Anniversary Mix TIM SWEENEY

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Get Up YOUNG FATHERS 2. Hippy Shakes MIGHTY BOYS 3. Nanganator DRUNK MUMS 4. Chiller DUMB PUNTS 5. Can’t Do Without You (Extended Mix) CARIBOU

TOP FIVE GIGS:

MEAT PUPPETS at Cherry Rock DUMB PUNTS at Boney ROLAND TINGS at Boney CITIZEN at Prince Of Wales KIRIN J CALLINAN at Paradise Music Festival

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014:

Getting to interview Guy Pearce. I felt like it was a scene from Animal Kingdom and I was J and he was Detective Senior Sergeant Leckie.

LOWLIGHT OF 2014:

Venues continuing to struggle with noise complaints.

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

The Andrew’s Government will pass radical new laws requiring people who live within 1km of a live music venue to sleep with ear muffs on.

emily Kelly SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Stuff your brother calls ‘hipster music’, your mum calls ‘noise’ and your dad pretends to ‘get’.

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

1. Transgender Dysphoria Blues AGAINST ME! 2. M.I. MASKED INTRUDER 3. Tales THE PEEP TEMPEL 4. You’re Gonna Miss It All MODERN BASEBALL 5. No Coast BRAID 6. I Don’t Wanna Be Anywhere But Here CERES 7. Rooms Of The House LA DISPUTE 8. The Physical World DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 9. By A Thread LUCA BRASI 10. Pup PUP Honourable Mentions: Here And Nowhere Else CLOUD NOTHINGS, Avalanche OUTRIGHT

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. White Flag ECCA VANDAL 2. Anaconda NICKI MINAJ 3. Shake It Off TAYLOR SWIFT 4. Uptown Funk MARK RONSON 5. Turn Down For What DJ SNAKE AND LIL JON Honourable Mentions: Chandelier SIA, Flawless BEYONCE, Close Your Eyes and Count To Fuck RUN THE JEWELS,

Chris girDler

Funk soul brother.

SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

Gregorian chant

1. Jungle JUNGLE

2. Royal Blood ROYAL BLOOD 3. My Krazy Life YG 4. ...And Then You Shoot Your Cousin THE ROOTS 5. Ultraviolence LANA DEL REY 6. Oxymoron SCHOOLBOY Q 7. Run the Jewels 2 RUN THE JEWELS 8. Piñata FREDDIE GIBBS & MADLIB 9. Walking Under Stars HILLTOP HOODS 10. Alvvays ALVVAYS Honourable Mentions: Wonder Where We Land SBTRKT, Blue Planet Eyes THE PREATURES, I’m In Your Mind Fuzz KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Busy Earnin’ JUNGLE 2. Figure It Out ROYAL BLOOD 3. Left Hand Free ALT-J 4. West Coast LANA DEL REY 5. Won’t Let You Down HILLTOP HOODS Honourable Mentions: Uptown Funk MARK RONSON FT. BRUNO MARS, I Just Wanna Party YG, Break The Bank SCHOOLBOY Q, Never THE ROOTS, Where You Been THE PERCH STREET FAMILY JUGBAND

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014:

Finally seeing The Rolling Stones live. That’s how it’s done.

LOWLIGHT OF 2014:

Nicki Minaj’s Anaconda. Pop music’s lowest point yet.

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

The iPhone 7 comes with U2’s latest album preinstalled, along with Bono’s mobile number so you can personally tell him to go fuck himself.

WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

1. Burn Your Fire For No Witness ANGEL OLSEN 2. Angel PURE X 3. Stay Gold FIRST AID KIT 4. Are We There SHARON VAN ETTEN 5. St Vincent ST VINCENT 6. Run The Jewels 2 RUN THE JEWELS 7. Lost In The Dream THE WAR ON DRUGS 8. Present Tense WILD BEASTS 9. Our Love CARIBOU 10. Too Bright PERFUME GENIUS Honourable Mentions: Atlas REAL ESTATE, Luminous THE HORRORS, Singles FUTURE ISLANDS, From Scotland With Love KING CREOSOTE

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Do It Again ROYKSOPP & ROBYN 2. Queen PERFUME GENIUS 3. Digital Witness ST VINCENT 4. My Spirit Is Broken CHAMPS 5. Wanderlust WILD BEASTS Honourable Mentions: Leaving No Traces HIGHASAKITE, The Party Is You TEETH & TONGUE, Seasons (Waiting On You) FUTURE ISLANDS, Sweet Marie TWIN BEASTS

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014: St Vincent at Howler.

LOWLIGHT OF 2014: Selfie sticks.

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

Hashtags get too long-winded to fit on Twitter.

GLORIA BRANCATISANO SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Punk/Hardcore

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

1. Lost Forever//Lost Together ARCHITECTS 2. Die Knowing COMEBACK KID 3. Rooms Of The House LA DISPUTE 4. Let The Ocean Take Me THE AMITY AFFLICTION 5. Maybe This Place Is The Same and We’re Just Changing REAL FRIENDS 6. Dear Youth THE GHOST INSIDE 7. Keep You PIANOS BECOME THE TEETH 8. You’re Gonna Miss It All MODERN BASEBALL 9. Wishful Thinking NECK DEEP 10. Engulfed In Flames SUCH GOLD Honourable Mentions: From Parts Unknown EVERY TIME I DIE, Mend, Move On TROPHY EYES, Disgusting BEARTOOTH, Restoring Force OF MICE & MEN,

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Naysayer ARCHITECTS 2. Young and Bright BREAK EVEN 3. I Miss You PERSPECTIVES 4. I Don’t Love You Anymore REAL FRIENDS 5. Drown BRING ME THE HORIZON Honourable Mentions: Pittsburgh THE AMITY AFFLICTION, Tread Lightly FOUR YEAR STRONG, Leave You In The Dark STATE CHAMPS

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

A capella punk bands will become a thing that people love for five minutes and hate for the every moment after that.

KELSEY BERRY SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Indie rock

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: 1. Lost In The Dream THE WAR ON DRUGS

2. They Want My Soul SPOON 3. Royal Blood ROYAL BLOOD 4. Chinese Fountain THE GROWLERS 5. Zaba GLASS ANIMALS 6. I’m In Your Mind Fuzz KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD 7. Land Of Pleasure STICKY FINGERS 8. This Is All Yours ALT-J 9. Client Liaison EP CLIENT LIAISON 10. Sonic Highways FOO FIGHTERS Honourable Mentions: LP1 FKA TWIGS, Silence/Win KIM CHURCHILL, Seeds TV ON THE RADIO, Here And Nowhere Else CLOUD NOTHINGS

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

Having to take ‘student’ out of all my About Me sections.

1. Seasons (Waiting On You) FUTURE ISLANDS 2. Gina Works At Hearts DZ DEATHRAYS 3. Lazaretto JACK WHITE 4. Two Weeks FKA TWIGS 5. The Singer TY SEGALL Honourable Mentions: After The Crack Up AUGIE MARCH, Sweatpants CHILDISH GAMBINO, Pickles From The Jar COURTNEY BARNETT, Feed The Rhythm CLIENT LIAISON

Chocolate rain!

Interviewing my first band.

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014: Beards, so many beards.

LOWLIGHT OF 2014:

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2014:

JOE HANSEN SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Punk Rock

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

1. They Don’t Have To Believe PUNCH

2. Deep Fantasy WHITE LUNG 3. Rips EX HEX 4. Never Hungover Again JOYCE MANOR 5. Mental Hygiene INTERNAL ROT 6. Manslaughter BODY COUNT 7. Vendetta NIGHT FEVER 8. If Anything GREYS 9. Peel Me Like A Egg HARD-ONS 10. Split Tape MICHAEL CRAFTER/UNCLE GEEZER Honourable Mentions: Edifice TANNED CHRIST, War Psalms MORNING GLORY, Work It Out BLOODS, Boss Lady BAD COP BAD COP

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Bury Our Friends SLEATER-KINNEY 2. Carol THE PEEP TEMPEL 3. Talk Shit, Get Shot BODY COUNT 4. Darth Vader Presents HARD-ONS 5. Killer Bangs HONEYBLOOD Honourable Mentions: Lipton Witch SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE, Unconditional Love AGAINST ME!, People Forget ANTEMASQUE, Knights Forever THE BENNIES

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014:

The Peep Tempel introducing us to the dramatic saga of Carol and Trevor

LOWLIGHT OF 2013:

28 Days overheating the PA at Gingerfest and the subsequent fire and evacuation. If only the PA was ice cold and sold from a supermarket that keeps its prices down.

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2014:

Nu-metal will resume its reign of terror after a 13 year absence from the limelight. Stock tip: invest in wallet chains and seven-string guitars.

KRYSTAL MAYNARD SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Garage, punk, lo-fi, rock‘n’roll

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: 1. Typical System TOTAL CONTROL

2. Manipulator TY SEGALL 3. Some Songs BORED NOTHING 4. Ploughing Into the Field of Love ICEAGE 5. Sunbathing Animal PARQUET COURTS 6. ScotDrakula SCOTDRAKULA 7. We Are Nots NOTS 8. Carpetbombing HARMONY 9. Content Nausea PARKAY QUARTS 10.Your Town MERE WOMEN

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Flesh War TOTAL CONTROL 2. Carol PEEP TEMPEL 3. Evoke The Sleep NUN 4. Sunbathing Animal PARQUET COURTS 5. Gina EASTLINK

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014:

Thee Nodes upstairs at the Tote.

LOWLIGHT OF 2014:

Missing out on seeing 6ft Hick at the Tote in Oct. I GO TO EVERY SHOW DAMMIT.

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014: LOWLIGHT OF 2014:

Getting kicked out of the MCG and banned for 24 hours (they do not like tinnies).

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

Lionel Richie will headline the final night of Splendour In The Grass 2015.

LACHLAN KANONIUK SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: I’m all about huge tunes and living the rock‘n’roll lifestyle.

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: 1. Rock Or Bust AC/DC

2. Country Pantry GUY & MARCUS BLACKMAN EXPERIMENTATION PROJECT 3. Aldous Harding ALDOUS HARDING 4. St Vincent ST VINCENT 5. A U R O R A BEN FROST 6. The Sleeper CAITLIN PARK 7. LP1 FKA TWIGS 8. Laura Jean LAURA JEAN 9. Typical System TOTAL CONTROL 10. 1989 TAYLOR SWIFT Honourable Mentions: The Worry SEEKAE, Ex Nihilo GUERRE, Rich Gang: The Tour Part 1 RICH GANG, Dogging LOW LIFE, The End Of Puppies VARIOUS ARTISTS, Mullum Mullum EASTLINK, Black Messiah D’ANGELO, The Dream Is Over TOTEMS

TOP FIVE GIGS OF THE YEAR:

1. The Clean @ Camp A Low Hum 2. Drake, Usher, 50 Cent, Lauryn Hill @ OVO Fest 3. Yeezus @ Rod Laver Arena 4 Royal Headache @ The Tote 5. Total Control @ Hugs & Kisses Honourable Mentions: St Vincent @ Sydney Opera House, Tim Hecker @ Metro, FKA Twigs @ Webster Hall, Alex Cameron @ NSC, Avicii @ Melbourne Showgrounds

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014:

Discovering the joy of eating meals in the bath. LOWLIGHT OF 2014: Everything in 2014 fucking sucked, let’s face it.

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

Bob Murphy raising the Cup on that one day in September October.

PETER HODGSON SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Rock/Metal

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: 1. .5 The Grey Chapter SLIPKNOT

2. Z2 Devin Townsend Project 3. The Satanist BEHEMOTH 4. Citadel NE OBLIVISCARIS 5. Killer Be Killed KILLER BE KILLED 6. The Mediator Between Head and Hands Must Be the Heart SEPULTURA 7. Inferno MARTY FRIEDMAN 8. War Eternal ARCH ENEMY 9. FVEY SHIHAD 10. Catacombs of the Black Vatican ZAKK WYLDE’S BLACK LABEL SOCIETY Honourable Mentions: Everything Will Be Alright In The End WEEZER, Clear PERIPHERY, Lullaby and... The Ceaseless Roar ROBERT PLANT

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

If you’re listening to singles in this genre, you’re

metalling wrong.

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014:

When Ziltoid made Herman do his little trick. And finding out I had an ancestor who fought in the Charge of the Light Brigade and therefore Iron Maiden’s The Trooper is about him.

LOWLIGHT OF 2014:

Dimebag Darrell still dead. Sad realisation that Robert Plant isn’t my real dad.

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

Dave Mustaine and David Ellefson form a band with James Hatfield and Lars Ulrich called Dethlika.

MEG CRAWFORD SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC:

Rockabilly, psychobilly, country, cow punk

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

1. Band of Brothers WILLY NELSON 2. Out Among The Stars JOHNNY CASH 3. Get The Hell SUPERSUCKERS 4. Takes One To Know One GRAVEYARD TRAIN 5. Tribal IMELDA MAY 6. Acid Rain and Sugar Cain WAGONS 7. Rockabilly Riot All Original BRIAN SETZER 8. Live At The Olympia VINCE TAYLOR AND THE PLAYBOYS 9. Blue Smoke DOLLY PARTON (seriously, this is excellent) 10. Old Time Sing Song Man ARCHER (outside my genre, but one of the year’s best hands down) Honourable Mention: Rev REVEREND HORTON HEAT

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. The Wall WILLIE NELSON 2. Bossy J.D. MCPHERSON 3. Shake ‘Em On Down EDDIE CLENDENING 4. My Dark Past A MAN CALLED STU 5. White Mariachi PUTA MADRE BROTHERS Honourable Mentions: The Forgotten THE OUTFIT, Every Other Birthday CHERRYWOOD

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014:

Greazefest hitting Melbourne for the first time.

LOWLIGHT OF 2014:

All of The Ramones are now deceased.

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2014:

The ReChords smash the shit out of their Pledge crowd funding campaign for their live album, which means that I get my Christmas present.

ROD WHITFIELD SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Heavy/prog/rock/metal

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

1. Z2 DEVIN TOWNSEND 2. V VOYAGER 3. The Joy of Motion ANIMALS AS LEADERS 4. Reality Kicks SYDONIA 5. The Amanuensis MONUMENTS 6. No Sleep VOLUMES 7. Love of Cartography sleepmakeswaves 8. Guiding Lights SKYHARBOR 9. Casualties of Cool DEVIN TOWNSEND 10. Simulacra OPUS OF A MACHINE Honourable Mentions: Citadel NE OBLIVISCARIS, Telescapes FULL CODE, Titan SEPTICFLESH, Clear PERIPHERY, Hindsight THE OCCUPANTS, Summit SECRET TSUNAMI

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Hyperventilating VOYAGER 2. Erased VOLUMES 3. Deathray DEVIN TOWNSEND 4. I, The Creator MONUMENTS 5. Something Like Avalanches sleepmakeswaves

HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR: Yet another Hawthorn flag.

LOWLIGHT OF THE YEAR:

Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party.

5. Chandelier SIA Honourable Mentions: Flawless (Remix) BEYONCE ft. NICKI MINAJ, Blank Space TAYLOR SWIFT, Never Catch Me FLYING LOTUS ft. KENDRICK LAMAR, Man of The Year SCHOOLBOY Q, Benz Friendz FUTURE ft. ANDRE 3000

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014:

Seeing D’Angelo live...twice.

LOWLIGHT OF 2013:

Working for $8.40 p/h at Disney World (UnHappiest Place on Earth)

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

Lauryn Hill tops D’Angelo with a comeback after sixteen years, using material written from her tax evasion related stint in jail and home confinement.

SOPH GOULOPOULOS SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: REVERB.

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

Whatever Pitchfork says. Honourable Mentions: A Heavy Metal Christmas SARUMAN, Atomos A WINGED VICTORY FOR THE SULLEN.

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Match 185 JAMES MURPHY 2. Feed the Rhythm CLIENT LIAISON 3. Red Eyes THE WAR ON DRUGS 4. The Thing I Done CW STONEKING 5. Two Weeks FKA TWIGS Honourable Mentions: Cellophane KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD, Takin’ Over SEX ON TOAST.

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014:

$15 worth of ham at Meredith.

LOWLIGHT OF 2014:

Getting sucked into The Bachelor and asking, “What is my life?”

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

Vladimir Putin to win Russia’s ‘Man of the Year’ for the 16th time in a row.

THE SIDEMAN SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Electronica

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: 1. Xen ARCA

2. It’s Album Time TODD TERJE 3. Moon SNOWBIRD 4. Commune GOAT 5. I’m In Your Mind Fuzz KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD 6. Ibibio Sound Machine IBIBIO SOUND MACHINE 7. Too Bright PERFUME GENIUS 8. Tomorrow Was The Golden Age BING & RUTH 9. Manipulator TY SEGALL 10. Meshes Of Voice JENNY HVAL & SUSANNA Honourable Mentions: Atomos A WINGED VICTORY FOR THE SULLEN, All Love’s Legal PLANNINGTOROCK, Toujours SABINA, Angels & Devils THE BUG

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Missing Reward MT ROYAL 2. Way Out Weather STEVE GUNN 3. Queen PERFUME GENIUS 4. Anything You Want THEE SILVER MT ZION 5. On the Regular SHAMIR Honourable Mentions: Flying Golem WAND, Aurora Northern Quartet LONE, Keep In The Dark TEMPLES, Out Of The Dark MR TWIN SISTER

HIGHLIGHT OF 2014:

Seeing Ty Segall in concert.

LOWLIGHT OF 2014:

Chocolate addiction (Whittaker’s).

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

will finally see AC/DC live in Melbourne.

A WILD PREDICTION FOR 2015:

A double-dissolution election, seeing Abbott and his party of morons out on their arses.

TAMARA VOGL SPECIALISED GENRE OF MUSIC: Neo-soul/hip hop

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

1. Black Messiah D’ANGELO AND THE VANGUARD 2. 2014 Forest Hills Drive J. COLE 3. LP1 FKA Twigs 4. Lese Majesty SHABAZZ PALACES 5. 1989 TAYLOR SWIFT 6. Oxymoron SCHOOLBOY Q 7. You’re Dead! FLYING LOTUS 8. Lost In The Dream THE WAR ON DRUGS 9. In The Orbit of Ra SUN RA & HIS ARKESTRA 10. My Krazy Life YG Honourable Mentions: Testimony AUGUST ALSINA, The Pinkprint NICKI MINAJ, Souled Out JHENE AIKO,

TOP FIVE SINGLES OF THE YEAR:

1. Ain’t That Easy D’ANGELO 2. Be Free J. COLE 3. Two Weeks FKA TWIGS 4. Studio SCHOOLBOY Q

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FOR THE FULL RUNDOWN OF WRITER’S WRAP-UPS, HEAD TO BEAT.COM.AU BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 43

GODSMACK

By Peter Hodgson

Even in a post-Spotify world where physical music sales are down across the board, Godsmack still sell a buttload of albums to everyone, from hardcore Godsmack fans to casual metal fans. Their listenership’s spread through all sorts of demographics, but the one thing they have in common is they respond to the finely-honed balance between crunchy guitars, aggressive vocals and an undeniable rhythmic groove. This groove is driven by Shannon Larkin, a powerhouse drummer who started his career with Ugly Kid Joe. Ugly Kid Joe is back but Godsmack have never gone away: their latest album, 1000hp, was released in August to critical acclaim. The band is also part of Soundwave 2015, something Larkin is particularly looking forward to for many reasons, including the chance for a little downtime in between shows. “In America we play five or six nights a week and we’re in a tour bus, and in Australia we’ll be flying between every gig and staying in hotels,” he says. “It’ll be a cool experience, especially for Godsmack because we’ve never played there, although I did do the Big Day Out with my last band, Amen, so I got a little taste of what it’s like to tour that way. It’s not even like work, man. It’s like a vacation. And Down Under in the summer? It’ll be awesome.” 1000hp is a particularly strong release for the band, with an energetic-yet-relaxed vibe and big, crunchy sonics. And in typical Godsmack fashion, it took quite a while for it to come to life. We’re not talking Metallica’s seven years between records, but it’s getting up there. “If you look at our history we usually take three to four years between records and people always ask, ‘Why so long?’ ” Larkin says. “We’ll tour for up to two years all around the world and then take six to eight months off just to get out of each others’ faces for a while so that when we get back together we’re still hungry and excited and so we don’t burn out. That’s why it takes so long between records for us. And we’re lucky to be able to afford that luxury.” But this time around, the band adopted a different strategy: whereas previously they would go to a different city to do the record, this time they found a warehouse and converted it into a combined recording studio, rehearsal space and storage facility and kitted it out with the band’s old stage backdrops and memorabilia.

“We really Godsmacked the place out and made it really comfortable. So we wrote the record in this place and we also had Dave Fortman, the producer, come in and set up the recording studio part. So for the first time in our lives we were able to write and record in the same spot. There was no apprehension when the red light went on. We sat there for months writing these songs, so when it was time to record them I was in the exact same spot where we wrote them. And I think we got the most natural recording that we could,” explains Larkin. “If I look back at past records there’s always something where I say, ‘Oh man, I wish I would have played this differently.’ Or, playing live if I’ve got a fill or a move that I put into a song that came after being so comfortable with the music that I was allowed to take the leash off, well this time, by the time we wrote and started recording there was no leash on us. Everybody reacts enough with the music and the environment we were recording in to be able to really play from the heart.” Aside from playing for bands like Ugly Kid Joe, Amen, Snot and Godsmack (and some work with Stone Sour), Larkin has the distinction of having played one show as the drummer of Black Sabbath, when then-Sabbathdrummer Mike Bordin had to miss a show due to Faith No More commitments. “That was the highlight of my life, probably,” he exclaims. “One of the first albums I ever heard was a Black Sabbath album, and like 30

years later I got to play a show with them. Robert Trujillo, who’s Metallica’s bass player, at the time he was with Ozzy and I’d met him when he played with Suicidal Tendencies. I was in Ugly Kid Joe and he was really impressed with our singer, Whitfield. Next thing you know, he’s playing with Ozzy and they had to do a make-up show and I was in the right place at the right time.” But he almost didn’t make it. “I’d never ridden on a private jet before. I get on and it’s Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ozzy, Joe Holmes and Robert Trujillo. And I’m sitting there with my headphones on, we take off and start flying towards Columbus and all of a sudden it gets really hot. I take

my headphones off and Ozzy gets up and goes, ‘It’s fucking hot here, man,’ and smoke starts pouring out of the air conditioning. Then the plane starts to tilt and teeter, and it’s turning around and the captain comes on and says, ‘We have an electrical problem. We’re turning this plane around.’ Everybody’s looking out the window going, ‘Holy fuck,’ and I’m looking out the window going ‘Fuck it. If this plane is going down, I’m a legend. I’m the drummer for Black Sabbath’.”

shooting for something that is career-defining for all of us working on it.” Despite there seemingly being just DeLonge and Rubin serving as the figureheads of the band, it’s been revealed that the other two members – guitarist David Kennedy and bassist Eddie Breckenridge – both remain in the fold. According to DeLonge, it’s simply a matter of everyone knowing their role in the grand scheme of things. “Everyone would be doing different things in the band,” he says. “Matt [Wachter, former bassist] would

be the guy to upload our music onto the computer, getting all these segues going; David would be building stuff for the live show, set pieces and things like that; I’d be arranging or recording. It’s no different now. We’re just starting to talk about how everything is going to come to life onstage. That’s the most exciting part.”

GODSMACK play Soundwave on Saturday February 21 and Sunday February 22 at the Melbourne Showgrounds.

ANGELS & AIRWAVES

By David James Young

Of all the people you would expect to grow out of Tom DeLonge – high school kids, skatepunk diehards, ‘90s nostalgics – you may well never have picked DeLonge himself to be at the top of the list. The musician, entrepreneur and Blink 182 dick joke connoisseur has made some major changes when it comes to his ‘other’ band, Angels & Airwaves – and it’s the sign of not only a new beginning for that band, but for himself as well. “Previously, I’ve just written all of the Angels & Airwaves stuff on my own,” he begins. “The other band members have always played on the record, but it always came down to what I was writing, directing, producing, engineering.” He trails off momentarily, perhaps getting caught in a moment in his own private universe. “At the same time, I was sick of myself and bored of myself. Growing up in a punk rock band, we were always suspicious of anyone that could play their instruments well. That’s not what we were trying to do – we were trying to rebel against that sort of thing. I knew that it was time for Angels & Airwaves to do something new. It felt time to catch people off guard.” Pulling this off meant DeLonge had to include someone else in his creative process for the first time in the band’s history. In this case, it came in the form of Ilan Rubin, the prodigious drummer and multiinstrumentalist who has played with the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Paramore and Lostprophets. Rubin joined the band in 2011, following the departure of original drummer Atom Willard, but had yet to play on an actual AVA record until now. According to DeLonge, his presence has made the world of difference. “Ilan is a master of a handful of instruments,” he says. “He’s infinitely better than me at guitar, he’s one of the best drummers I’ve ever seen and he plays the piano in the most beautiful way. I think where my strength lies in our relationship is having a direction when it comes to melody and being able to put a song together. I think that’s why it works for us – in a lot of ways, we’re complete polar opposites, but after a year or so of playing with one another we kind of worked into the other’s mindset. What you’re hearing is still Angels & Airwaves, but what we’ve made here is quite the left turn for us.” The end result is the fifth album under the Angels BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 44

& Airwaves name, entitled The Dream Walker. As DeLonge himself alludes to, it’s the sound of a band redefining exactly what it can be – adventurous, thrilling, and at points, so crazy it just might work. The album centres itself conceptually around a new character, Poet Anderson, who also appears in the accompanying animated short – imaginatively titled Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker. Despite all this pointing further to DeLonge’s disconnect from himself, he indicates Poet isn’t entirely a new invention. “There’s a lot of me in the character,” he says. “A lot of the music is assigned culturally on this record – it’s reflective of the kind of tribe that the character would be a part of. There’s songs about analogue and transistor radios, there’s songs about sleep paralysis – it all stands up on its own, and it all reflects my vision for the character. I make sure it goes into everything. You’d be amazed at the amount of conversations I’ve had with the artists, describing what Poet’s clothes would look like.” It doesn’t just stop there: in addition to The Dream Walker and Poet, a novel is being penned with DeLonge as its co-writer. Of course, accompaniments are not a new thing for Angels & Airwaves – see their films Start The Machine and Love for proof of this. With that said, it’s worth noting that listening to the album alone or just seeing the film doesn’t mean you’re missing out on something only the other can explain. “The goal of Angels & Airwaves is that all the things that we’re doing can live on their own,” says DeLonge. “If you end up liking it all enough, though, you definitely do get absorbed into this world that we’ve created. That goes for everyone that’s been a part of what we do. The animators we work with are unreal, the person writing the novel is a best-selling author, the person writing the screenplay is a veteran of coming-of-age stories. We’re

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ANGELS & AIRWAVES’ The Dream Walker is out now through To The Stars.

CORE

PUNK, SKA, HARDCORE NEWS, REVIEWS & GOSSIP

By Emily Kelly: ek1984@gmail.com

CRUNCH

METAL, HEAVY ROCK. CLASSIC ROCK LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL GOOD SHIT

With Peter Hodgson: crunchcolumn@gmail.com

CORE GIG GUIDE

Here’s a fairly comprehensive list of albums that slayed me this year. It must be said there’s been dozens of FRIDAY DECEMBER 26: fantastic releases this year but these ones never once Blueline Medic, Away From Now, Daysworth left my Spotify playlists, much to the dismay of just Fighting, Laura Palmer at The Reverence about everyone near and dear to me. SUNDAY DECEMBER 28: 1. Transgender Dysphoria Blues AGAINST ME! Wil Wagner, Lucy Wilson, Ziggy Britten at The This band still have an almost flawless catalogue. You’d Reverence think all the dramas of the past 24 months may have TUESDAY DECEMBER 30: detracted from the band’s cohesiveness and vision but The Resignators, Admiral Ackbar’s Dishonourable they only made for more compelling listening. Discharge at Cherry Bar 2. M.I. MASKED INTRUDER WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 31: It’s such a shame this band have produced two Front End Loader, The Hawaiian Islands, High impeccable pop punk albums and yet so few people are Tension, Grenadiers, Lincoln L e Fevre, Maricopa familiar with them. They should be doing headlining Wells at Reverence Hotel tours of Australia by now. If you’re ever blue and in an unshakable funk, please consider playing this one start real, and littered with thoughtful Aus punk jams that to finish. Its unabashed ridiculousness and glittering will make your heart ache. vocal harmonies can revive even the darkest soul. 10. Pup PUP 3. Tales THE PEEP TEMPEL Did anyone see this band coming? I sure as shit didn’t. Comfortably the best Aussie release of the year, this album has personality by the bucketload without ever This debut snuck up on me via Side One Dummy and kicked me square in the dick. This is progressive losing that signature Aussie drawl, and without ever party pop punk, delivered by some seriously amicable becoming trite or overcooked. Canadians. More please. 4. You’re Gonna Miss It All MODERN BASEBALL And now, the news... Though the lyrics can grate a little at times (especially if you’re over 30 and done with the kind of teenage The Bennies are hitting the road with Foxtrot on their Party Whirlwind tour. They’ll touring the country drama that is thoroughly documented here), Modern pretty comprehensively and playing one of their biggest Baseball have casually released one of the best vaguely rooms for a headlining show to date. See them at folk punk LPs of the last decade. Northcote Social Club on Saturday March 21 or if you 5. No Coast BRAID I knew nothing of Braid before No Coast raised its prefer the all-ages vibes then go to Wrangler Studios in West Footscray on Sunday March 22. Tickets can be pretty little head earlier this year, but I sure am glad I’ve purchased now at www.thebennies.com.au. discovered their first album in 16 years. Contextually, I can’t place it amongst their other releases but No Coast Frank Turner has announced a second Corner Hotel shows that these old hands can do mid-tempo alt rock show after his first on Sunday April 12 sold out. You more thoughtfully than any of their younger peers. can now see sir and the Sleeping Souls smash out some troubadour goodness on Sunday March 15 at 6. I Don’t Wanna Be Anywhere But Here CERES The surprise hit of the year was also the feel good The Corner. Be quick though. hit of the year. Melbourne’s Ceres explored their ‘90s Mineral tickets for their much anticipated Australian influences and came up trumps. This album is riddled shows have been moving fast and as a result, their with hooks but they’re all delivered so unassumingly Tuesday February 24 performance at The Reverence that instead of sounding like bona fide stadium-filling has sold out. Make sure you see them on Wednesday alt-rock revivalists they sound like accidental heroes. February 25 with Texas Is The Reason frontman 7. Rooms Of The House LA DISPUTE Garrett Klahn (performing TITR classics of course) This release is really nothing but thoroughly fucking and Brisbane legends Arrows. masterful. Though incredibly wordy and at times Soundwave have added more bands to their bill for totally overwhelming, it’s a genuinely gorgeous release 2015 and this is reportedly the final list of additions. from these punk rock wunderkinds. And their live They saved some good stuff for last. In February, you performance at The Corner Hotel this year? Easily the can see The Smashing Pumpkins, Steel Panther, year’s best. Falling In Reverse, Exodus, The Vandals, Rival Sons, 8. The Physical World DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 King Parrot and Raglans tearing up the Showgrounds If you’re in the mood for clocking up some speeding on Saturday February 21 and Sunday February 22. fines this summer, jam this one on and let your right Tickets are on sale now. foot down. MAN these guys totally delivered in the Remember The Matches? They’re touring the country face of insane expectations. What a fucking relentless, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their breakthrough brain-tingling banger. debut album E Von Dhal Killed The Locals. They’re 9. By A Thread LUCA BRASI going to have Have/Hold and New Travellers on Unpretentious. That’s gotta’ be the key word when hand to open their Saturday January 17 Corner Hotel describing Luca Brasi. This one wasn’t nearly as much show too. Good stocking-stuffer for those pop punk raucous, tits-out-fun as their previous LP but it was tragics out there.

FIREWORKS

METAL AT THE BENDIGO

The Bendigo Hotel continues to be your home away from home for all your metal needs this festive season, with a killer lineup on Boxing Day: Jack The Stripper, Metal Storm, Join The Amish, Atomic Death Squad and The Fck Ups! Entry is free and it kicks off from 8pm.

THE OCEAN RETURNS

Germany’s premier post-metal act The Ocean are returning to Australia in April 2015. They’ll be playing their highly acclaimed record Pelagial in full for the very first time in Australia. Pelagial was one of 2013’s most critically-acclaimed releases internationally. It’s a progressive and ambitious musical odyssey, written, recorded, mixed and to-be-performed-live as a single 53-minute piece of music, mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Orphaned Land) at Fascination Street Studios in Örebrö, Sweden. The past few years have seen The Ocean touring the globe relentlessly with the likes of Opeth, Devin Townsend Project, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Between The Buried And Me, Red Fang, The Black Dahlia Murder and many more. Their unforgettable live show has taken them to the furthest regions of the planet, from Siberia, Russia, USA, Hong Kong, Mexico, China, India and everywhere in between. Catch The Ocean at The Evelyn Hotel on Saturday April 18. Tickets on sale Monday December 29 at 10am AEDT via wildthingpresents.com, Oztix, and the venues.

KING PARROT & JESSE LEACH

Eureka Rebellion Trading and Bowery Magazine are proud to present King Parrot and Jesse Leach from Killswitch Engage (guest DJ) at The Gasometer Hotel on Saturday January 24 with special guests Dead City Ruins and Acid Vain. This is King Parrot’s last Melbourne show before they record their new album. They’ll be fresh off their Punk Rock But Kinda Not North American tour. After supporting some of the world’s best metal acts like Obituary, Testament, Kvelertak and Carcass and drawing praise from the likes of Phil Anselmo and Chuck Billy, it’s easy to see why they’re making a name for themselves. They’ve solidified themselves at the top of the heap of extreme bands in Australia after scoring spot on the 2014 Soundwave lineup, winning The Age Newspaper – Best Heavy Album Award and The Cherry Bar/ Jägermeister Act of the Year award in 2013. Tickets from Oztix.

MARK STEINER GETS IT ON WITH AUSTRALIA

Norwegian musical troubadour Mark Steiner has had a ongoing love affair with Australia since 2008 when he first visited fulfilling a self-promise after hearing the music of Rowland S. Howard when he was a teen growing up in New York in the ‘80s. In what will be his fourth trip from the longest reach of the globe, all the way from his hometown of Oslo to Melbourne, he’s very excited to be returning down under again. A purveyor of melancholic lounge-noir compositions, Steiner’s commanding voice and dark, sinewy rhythms of electric guitar are the epitome of a booze-soaked evening in a dirty clandestine bar and an ashtray full of pain. His new album Saudade features 13 tracks performed in collaboration with over 15 performers from all over the world including the likes of Mick Harvey. Catch him at The Bridge Hotel Castlemaine with support from Rosie Westbrook, $10 entry, doors 8.30pm; Friday January 9 at The Eastern Hotel Ballarat with support from Matt Malone, $10 entry, doors 8.30pm; Sunday January 11 at The Grande Hotel Daylesford (arvo gig). Free Entry, two sets from 2.30pm; Wednesday January 14 at Bar Open with support from Tex Napalm & Penny Ikinger, $10 Entry, doors 8pm and Friday January 16 at Tago Mago, Thornbury with support from Ben Salter & Henry Hugo, $10 Entry, doors 8pm.

THE DIAMOND BLOW

Beside the Bay Of Tallinn stands Linnahall, a colossal pyramid shaped concert hall built for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Inside this decaying mass of limestone, steel and concrete can be found many dimly-lit tunnels lined with rows of closed doors. Through one of these doors is a tiny mirrored dressing room, it’s here in this abandoned futurist temple that former Australian and now Estonian resident The Diamond Blow resides. This is his first tour in Australia and outside Eastern Europe where he regularly performs in the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Catch him at The Bridge Hotel Castlemaine on Friday January 9. Supports Aaron Moar (go check him out, he’s very talented and super nice) and Plethora. $6 Entry. Doors 8.30pm.

NEW SOULFLY ALBUM INFLUENCED BY AUSSIE BANDS

Speaking of King Parrot, I recently interviewed the mighty Max Cavalera about Killer Be Killed’s addition to Soundwave and he happened to mention he’d just begun writing the next Soulfly album on the very day of the interview, and that a few bands he’s been listening to lately are influencing his writing: King Parrot and Psycroptic. Pretty awesome endorsement of Aussie metal right there.

By David James Young

2014 has seen Fireworks shaking with winds of change. A door closed for the Detroit band with the departure of long-time drummer Tymm Rengers, who played on every release up to and including their third studio album from the year’s first quarter, Oh, Common Life. “Tymm had things in his life that were just too pressing in order for him to continue on with the band – work and family commitments, mostly,” explains guitarist Chris Mojan. “He did the record with us, and then our friend Teddy [Roberts] came in on drums in order for us to tour. He’s still a close friend of ours – he actually still comes out to shows and sees us play when we do gigs back home.” Still, when a door closes a window opens. In this case, the window was Adam Mercer, a touring guitarist and keyboardist with the band who was brought in as a full-time member prior to the recording of Common Life, expanding Fireworks out to a sextet. “Adam’s been with us for about three years now – he actually did Soundwave with us the last time we were out in Australia,” says Mojan. “That was a pretty smooth transition into becoming a fully-fledged member of the band. When we did [2011 album] Gospel, we played a bunch of organ parts and third guitar parts. Adam was a close friend that had those talents and could help pull them off live, so it just made sense.” Although three guitars is often seen as one of rock’s greater indulgences – up there with having two drummers – Mojan insists the somewhat unusual

method is how the band has learned to operate. He claims it’s the factor of adding in something a little extra that lifts the songs from good to great. “We’ve actually always written that way,” he says. “Dave [Mackinder], our singer, is usually the guy that gets a lot of the riffs and the ideas for the songs started. When we’re writing, it’s usually Dave with a guitar on him, with me as well and probably Adam. Gospel was the first record that we decided that we shouldn’t just pick and choose the guitar parts that we play live. When Adam came in, it meant that we were finally able to play all of the parts together.” February will see the band return as a part of the Soundwave festivities, marking almost exactly three years since their previous run with the festival in 2012. Prior to that, the band toured in 2010 through both supporting dates for heavyweights New Found Glory and a string of their own shows that serve as a far cry from where they find themselves now. “It was really cool to see that side of touring in Australia,” says Mojan. “We were touring around in a van, playing small halls and community centres. The next time we came, we were doing Soundwave, which is obviously such a different experience. It’s definitely grown for us,

and we’re really grateful for that.” Soundwave will also allow Mojan and the rest of the band to come full circle with some of their oldest tour mates: “The Wonder Years are on the tour, and we’re great friends with those guys – we’ve known them probably about seven years,” he adds. “It’s always fun to be in that kind of setting. Soundwave is the kind of festival that takes such great care of its bands, and it’s remarkable that we get to do

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it with a band that we’ve done the real down-and-dirty kind of tours with back home.” Catch FIREWORKS at Soundwave from Saturday February 21 and Sunday February 22 at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Oh, Common Life is out now via Triple Crown Records. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 45

ICEAGE

By Dan Watt

Iceage are not a likeable band and Beat’s 15 minute interview with the band’s guitarist Johan Wieth was not particularly enjoyable, but that’s the point: Iceage’s music is not there to be liked; it’s to be ingested roughly and dwelled upon intimately. Iceage consists of four Danish lads in their very early 20s. They released their first album, New Brigade, in 2011 and it was a cacophonous punk record that’s noisiness belied a rich splendour reminiscent of early Boys Next Door. From here, Iceage were signed to US mega-indie Matador Records (Interpol, Darkside, Savages, Kurt Vile) and they released the album You’re Nothing while not steering too far away from the band’s punk roots, it began to demonstrate depth and texture particularly on the tracks Burning Hand and Wounded Hearts. However, it was this year’s Plowing Into The Field Of Love that saw Iceage’s restrain their youthful punk exuberance, push the vocals forward in the mix and allow the songs to take on a brooding, yet more digestible, post-punk aesthetic (a humorous note on the clarity of the vocals on Plowing Into The Field Of Love was vocalist Elias Rønnenfelt admitting to Pitchfork earlier this year that one of the reasons the vocals/lyrics are more prominent is that “I’m just better at English now”). Beat caught up with Wieth ahead of Iceage’s Sugar Mountain festival appearance. He begins by discussing the music Rønnenfelt, bassist Jakob Pless, drummer Dan Nielsen rallied around as teenagers forming a band. “We all started getting into punk when we were quite young, around 12 or something, and hardcore as well. But we never set out to make a punk band or make a hardcore band. I’ve heard people say that we were a ‘post-hardcore whatever something band,’ but I think that is completely false,” says Wieth, matter-of-factly. However he makes an admission that slightly placates his staunchness against the hardcore label: “But I did grow up listening to hardcore music for sure – we all did but it is not the main influence of our music at all.” The two lead singles from this year’s Plowing Into The Field Of Love, The Lord’s Favourite and Against The Moon, are musical triumphs that ostensibly, and according to almost every review of the album, pays

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homage to Melbourne acts Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, and Dirty Three, but there’s also a distinct modernist construction, particularly in Against The Moon, that seems to take queues from post-dubstep act, Weeknd. Wieth tackles this topic by discussing Nick Cave’s influence on his band: “I don’t think any songs or any feeling on the album is inspired by Nick Cave. A lot of people have put that on us and said that about the record,” explains Wieth. Again, however, as seems to be his way, he lightens up on this hardline of Nick Cave not influencing the band at all: “I will listen to a Nick Cave record, [but] personally I like Roland S. Howard a lot, lot more than I ever liked Nick Cave. You will find some records that we all have of his but he was never an influence of the music that we make nor the new record,” he says. When pushed on his penchant for Roland S. Howard, Wieth goes into more detail on why he likes the famous Melbourne musician; recently Port Phillip Council approved for a laneway in St Kilda to named after Howard. “In every sense of the way, [it’s] not just the way he plays guitar, but his whole being is an [influence on me],” he states. It’s clear Iceage is a band that takes their music very seriously. It’s a credit to their commitment to musicianship that the band has become so widely revered. However, there’s one aspect of their international renown Wieth doesn’t really dig, and that’s being added to international mega-festivals that are essentially targeted at mass audiences, but Australian festival crowds are pale in comparison to the hundreds and thousands of punters that attend European and American festivals. “I don’t think I have any particularly memorable festival experiences because personally I am not too fond of playing festivals,” he confesses. “I had a very memorable festival experience in Mexico, not because of the show, but just because it was quite beautiful to be in Mexico,” he says. “[But] festivals are like going to a shopping mall, they’re like

window shopping and I never thought they were a good forum for music. It is a place where people go to get drunk and act like idiots.” However, he changes his tone and concludes: “Some festivals are, of course, different… We are very excited to come to Melbourne to play Sugar Mountain festival and we will certainly not be toning it down.”

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ICEAGE are playing Sugar Mountain at the VCA on Saturday January 24 along with Dan Deacon, Body/ Head, Nas, Swans and many more. Iceage is also doing a solo show at Ding Dong on Friday January 23. Plowing Into the Field of Love is out through Matador.

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SMOKE STACK RHINO

Each Wednesday in December, The Cherry Bar has been bringing back bands that brought down the house for their Best of 2014 Residency series. For Christmas Eve, Wednesday December 24, Smoke Stack Rhino return to the Cherry stage to bring their alternative blues rock to the masses. Joining them will be Major Tom & The Atoms. $5 entry, doors from 6pm.

quiet bevo with your beer-soaked pals and the drunk uncle no one wants at their fancy Christmas lunch. We all know that bloke. There’s no bands, no door fee, just good company, merriment and occasional gin tears.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 25

TULLY ON TULLY

With one final show at The Gasometer left of their December residency, Tully on Tully are joined by Frida and DX Heaven for a huge Christmas Eve celebration. Get down early and ring in Christmas at the Gaso on Wednesday December 24. Tickets are cheaper than Santa’s stocking, $8+BF from Oztix, or $10 at the door. Doors from 8pm.

JAZZ PARTY PRESENTS: A TWIN PEAKS XMAS

THE BLACK SHEEP

The Black Sheep are brining their holiday cheer to the front bar of The Retreat Hotel this Christmas Eve. The inimitable Chris Wilson has been described as a “gospel cyber punk, singing and playing harp with such venom and power it’s impossible to ignore him.” Alison Ferrier offers an original mix of country, folk and blues. Her debut album Sugar Baby has been described as containing “mighty and tender, harrowing and beautiful songs, superbly performed.” It kicks off 7.30pm at The Retreat Hotel, Wednesday December 24.

After a tremendous year for Jazz Party running stages at Dark MoFo, Mullum Festival & Melbourne International Jazz Party, as well as a swathe of packed out residencies at Boney, Hugs&Kisses and The Grace Darling, Jazz Party are returning to their spiritual home for 2014 The John Curtin Hotel, for a very special once only event: A Twin Peaks Xmas. Find what lies in Dr Jacoby’s Coconut, what did the log see that night? Who is the one armed man? All these Lynchian mysterious will be revealed, in song. Featuring a stellar cohort of artists, including Mojo Juju, Daniel Merriweather Loretta Miller, Simone Page Jones, Kira Puru and more, this’ll be a night not to be missed. School uniforms are permitted, kilts, casual or formal attire, or come wrapped in plastic. It all kicks off at 8pm, and tickets are $15 or $18 on the door.

TECHNOIR CHRISTMAS PARTY

AN ORPHAN XMAS AT THE OLD BAR Are you destined to spend this Xmas alone? That’s cool. We’ve all been there before. And for some remarkable reason, we always seem to congregate to The Old Bar during times of need. The bar staff there clearly understand our plight. So much so, they’re gonna open their doors for us this Christmas, so you can enjoy a

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Christmas is coming, so is Technoir’s Annual Christmas Party. This event marks the Technoir crew taking over Lounge for the tenth consecutive year and this time, they’re thinking big. Resident artists Dee Dee, Simon Slieker, Tronikelesch and Ranjit Nijjer will be returning once again alongside a selection of some of the finest ‘newer’ Techno talent in Melbourne. Long time friend of Technoir, Qualé, will be returning once more while Adrian Bell, PWD and Chiara Kickdrum will all be making their debut. Whether you’re trying to forget about Christmas, or trying to keep the celebration going, join Technoir for the perfect way to finish off the day. Free entry before midnight, $15 after.

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Q&A

60 Seconds With…

Destrends

So then, what’s the band name and what do you ‘do’ in the band? Hi, I’m Matt Savage and I am the lead singer and bassist from Melbourne three-piece, Destrends. What do you reckon people will say you sound like? In some sense our music isn’t intentional in trying to belong to a certain sound or genre but more a case of playing what comes to us, what we believe sounds good and then letting it naturally evolve from there. People often comment our sound is reminiscent of ‘80s post-punk, although we’re a lot less melancholy and more hard-hitting. If you could travel back in time and show one of your musical heroes your stuff, who would it be and why? Everybody tells me I look like Roland S. Howard. I would have loved to have met him. At least we could finally compare and see who is the better looking one. If you could assassinate one person or band from popular music, who would it and why? This one’s easy. Lee Kernaghan for sure. I grew up in country NSW (Deniliquin) and hence was subjected to Mr Kernaghan’s live show around 17 times. I’m still dealing with the trauma to this day. What can a punter expect from your live show? We’re a no bullshit kind of band and we keep things relatively raw. I would say our live show is animated, engaging and unique. DESTRENDS are playing at The Brunswick Hotel this Saturday December 27.

JAMES BROWN XMAS PARTY

December 25 is not just Christmas Day – for the true believers, this day marks the eighth anniversary of the passing of the Godfather of Soul – James Brown (May 3, 1933 – Dec. 25, 2006). Carrying on with their tradition of honouring JB, The Espy once again presents “A Night To Remember James Brown”. The annual Christmas service will feature live sets from DJ Frenzie, DJ Ransom, Mitch Power & The Soul Assassins and DJ Idem. Get ready to be consumed by the power of funk and soul music. Get up offa your thing from 9pm onwards to shake your moneymaker – like a sex machine. Entry is free – get down.

SOUL SACRIFICE If you missed their performance in September, not to worry because Melbourne’s one and only Santana tribute band is back on Friday December 26 for another top notch show at the Flying Saucer Club. Soul Sacrifice pay genuine tribute to the great music of Santana, focusing on the classic period of the ‘60s and ‘70s with a splash of later stuff. Covering Latin rock, Latin soul, jazz and rock genres, there will be plenty of dancing when you hear the infectious grooves and rhythms of such classics as Black Magic Woman, Evil Ways, Oye Como Va and Smooth to name a few. Get in quick. Tickets go from $18+BF, $20 at the door.

REVOLVER FRIDAYS

Helmed by Mike Callander and Lewie Day (aka Tornado Wallace) Revolver Fridays kicks the weekend into gear with a healthy weekly dose of house and techno in the Revolver back bar from 10pm until 7am. With DJ Who providing the warm-up dinner soundtrack from 7pm, rotating crews in the front bar from 1am and Sunshine from 7am Saturday morning. Free entry until 11pm.

ELEPHANT EGO

With the four-piece having been announced for the inaugural Beyond The Valley lineup, Elephant Ego’s stocks have risen astronomically. And while this notoriety has resulted in every Tom, Dick and Vanessa checking them out, it’s the quality of Zak, Will, Alex and Ted’s music that has led to the hushed tones with that the ‘Ego are discussed. That is why their Boxing Day show at Prince Of Wales Public Bar will be so special. Not only can you exchange unwanted Christmas presents in return for a stylish EE t-shirt, but one will also experience a young band on the cusp of their first major festival appearance. The night kicks off at 8:30pm with EE hitting the Prince of Wales Public Bar stage around 10:45. Get there. SATURDAY DECEMBER 27

THE AMY WINEHOUSE SHOW

The always amazing and incredibly talented Amy Winehouse Show returns to Ding Dong for one final performance of 2014. Originally put together as a one-off show for the first anniversary of Amy’s tragic demise, The Amy Winehouse Show, aka Atlanta and the Little Big Band, left audiences wanting more, leading to the demand of more performances on a regular basis. The Little Big band consists of some of Melbourne’s best musicians including Matt Dwyer, Steve Hadley, Stephen Morrison, Peter MitchellBustamento and Matt Poynter. Always a fun night, get ready to sing your heart out to Amy Winehouse’s greatest hits. Get your presale tickets for $15+BF from Oztix. Doors open 9.00pm.

PIERCE BROTHERS

After a massive break out year that included multiple sold out shows across Australia, a Top 20 ARIA EP, #1 AIR chart and recently announced as main support for Dan Sultan’s national tour, Melbourne’s favourite duo Pierce Brothers are delighted to announce a one-off Boxing Day Bash extravaganza at the venue where it all started for them – Ding Dong Lounge. This is a special opportunity for fans to see an intimate show before the guys spend most of 2015 abroad. Pierce Brothers will by joined by two supports in order to bring you a whole night of amazing music, Brooke Taylor and Oliver Friend. Tickets on sale now for $22+BF from Oztix. Doors open 9.00pm Tonstartssbandht

JIMI: ALL IS BY MY SIDE

THE MAVIS’S

Original members of The Mavis’s; Matt, Beki and Nik are reforming for a one-off rock synth pop show in Melbourne at the John Curtin. Revisiting songs from their albums Venus Returning, Rapture, and more, which consistently appeared in triple j Hottest 100s and album charts throughout the ‘90s. Special guest on the night is Caroline Kennedy McCracken (ex Deadstar)’s new musical project Caroline No. It’s all going down on Saturday December 27 at the John Curtin. Tickets are available now for $15+BF.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 26 Jack The Stripper

ACMI will screen the Jimi Hendrix biopic, Jimi: All Is By My Side, this summer. Starring Outkast’s Andre 3000 as Hendrix, the film details the guitarist’s milestone year in the United Kingdom three years prior to his death. Under the direction of John Ridley, Oscar-winning screenwriter of 12 Years a Slave, the film takes the audience from the lounge rooms to the recording studios of the London hipster scene. Jimi: All Is By My Side was screened at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival and South by Southwest before its UK release in August. Jimi: All Is By My Side will screen at ACMI from Saturday December 27 to Tuesday January 13.

BOXING DAY BLOWOUT AT THE TOTE

BOXING DAY BRAWL

Come down to The Bendigo and forget Christmas ever happened with an onslaught of rockin’ thrash and metal, showcasing some of Melbourne’s finest. Featuring Jack The Stripper, Metal Storm, Join The Amish, Atomic Death Squad & The Fck Ups! The Boxing Day Brawl starts 8pm Friday December 26. Entry is free.

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Bone Soup and The Tote bring you Boxing Day BBQ Blowout, starring a mind-meltingly brilliant collection of bands, in the form of Tonstartssbandht (USA), Mangelwurzel, Baptism of Uzi and Premium Fantasy. Couple these killer bands with bucketloads of snags, (vego and meat), fritters, bread, smiles and of course, beer (sadly, the beer isn’t free, but it is delicious, and so is the human drinking it). Shake off the family blues, get ready to dance and have the best boxing day bash in Melbourne, maybe in the whole world. Doors open at 6pm, BBQ kicks off at 7pm. $20 on the door.

BLUELINE MEDIC

Everyone needs a reason to break off from their Christmas commitments and rush down to the pub for a great gig. We care about you here at The Reverence Hotel so we’ve got you an out. Blueline Medic, Away From Now, Daysworth Fighting & Laura Palmer are here for you too. Come down on Boxing Day, Friday December 26. Doors at 8pm, $15 entry.

SHACK SHAKERS 6

KYUSS TRIBUTE

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Kyuss’ Welcome to Sky Valley, Chappy (My Left Boot) and Matt Sonic & The High Times will be performing the album in it’s entirety at the Cherry Bar on Saturday December 27. Supporting them will be Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene. Tickets are $25 from the venue, doors open 8pm.

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The Shack Shaker DJs Knave Knixx and Lady Blades bring you another wild night of dancefloor action. These two are set to make your hips shake and your booty quake with their kitsch and mix of swing, surf, rock’n’roll, jungle oggie boogie, hipshackers, mambo madness and stompin’ rhythm & blues. It’s all happening at The Spotted Mallard, Saturday December 27. $5 entry from 7.30pm.

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THE LATE SHOW

THE CLAREMONT STREET SINGERS

The Claremont Street Singers are an enchanting threepiece hailing from Melbourne town. On Saturday December 27, these three beauties bring to The Retreat Hotel their original tunes which meld many a genre creating their own unique sound. Come and enjoy lush harmonies, tales of disbelief, musical hilarity and more. Supported by Melbourne legends Jody + The Joy Riders, this will be an afternoon of music not to be missed. The show starts 5pm, entry is free.

The Late Show every Saturday night at Revolver Upstairs goes over two rooms from 10pm until 7am. Expect anything and everything across genres and tempos from soul to footwork, from afro to techno, from soca to house, from boogie to bounce. The back bar takes it easy in the dining hours and gather momentum from 10pm, with the front room going from midnight with upfront club. Residents include Ransom, Mat Cant, Paz, Lewis Cancut, Booshank and guests plus Boogs from 7am Sunday. Free entry ‘till 11pm. SUNDAY DECEMBER 28 Photo by Ian Laidlaw

OUTSIDE THE ACADEMY

Melbourne producer Outside The Academy utilises glitchy beats, loops and samples to create a semielectronic and raw live sound. Drawing on influences like Radiohead and LCD Soundsystem, OTA is an indie-fusion performance artist rolling solo. After tackling the circuit in Queensland and New South Wales, Outside The Academy is returning home to celebrate and conclude his east coast tour at The Grace Darling, with special guests Nonagon and Pensive Penguin. Doors at 6.30pm, $10 cover charge. MONDAY DECEMBER 29

THE MUTUAL APPRECIATION SOCIETY

Got a couple of weeks off and looking to celebrate New Years early? Every Monday at The Retreat Hotel, two established artists are randomly thrown together to play a setful of duets, preceded by a solo set from each. It’s free entry and a chance to see the cream of the Melbourne scene in one-off, one-of-akind performances. Kicks off from 7.30pm Sunday December 29 in The Retreat front bar.

WIL WAGNER

WILD TURKEY

Melbourne trio Wild Turkey have been playing their own brand of rockabilly and psychobilly throughout, Australia and in the USA for over 25 years. The bands raunchy guitar-based fast driving sound has made them regular performers at bike and hotrod events as well as blues and rockabilly festivals. Featuring John Marsden on lead guitar and vocals, Guy Lawson on double bass and Kirk Syrett on drums, the band have earned the reputation of being one of Melbourne’s hardest working bands with the thousands of wild live shows they have played. They hit The Retreat Hotel Saturday December 27 from 8pm, free entry.

Wil Wagner is back for another residency this December to wrap up a huge year for The Smith Street Band who have toured Australia, Europe and the US a few times over in the past 12 months. Their latest release, Throw Me In The River has received massive radio airplay and found its way into the Top 20 in the Aria charts. Come along to The Reverence, Sunday December 28 to see Wagner play his heartfelt, poetic and frantic punk songs along with some of his mates. It’s free entry, doors from 3pm.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 30

BJ MORRISZONKLE

THE GLORIOUS NORTH

TOGETHERAPART

Togetherapart will be bringing their experimental electro-dreampop to The Retreat on Saturday December 27 with a free entry show. They bring with them an original set combining elements of shoegaze, triphop, lofi, electronica, pop, and industrial, fused together by the band’s trademark beats, dirty synths, shimmering guitars, and dreamy vocals. Togetherapart hit the stage at 10:30pm.

A lonely bar. Jay Mascis holds on tight to Dwight Yoakam. Ben Kweller muses tunefully about girls’n’shit in the background. You, fueled by the sublime mix of alcohol and proximity, bootscoot your way into the whiskey-stained heart of that someone special. When you wake up, you’re alone except for the ghost of Hank Williams, grinning like death from the foot of your bed, strumming the sweetest tune you’ve ever heard. Sound good? It’s called “slacker country” and it’s brought to you by The Glorious North. Mosey on down to The Retreat Hotel’s front bar Sunday 28 December and catch The Glorious North in action. It goes down from 5pm.

The one man mad-man band BJ Morriszonkle has been playing free shows every bloody Tuesday night in December at The Retreat Hotel and you can catch him for the last time this yea this Tuesday December 30. That’s community service, folks. After spending the second half of the year locked in a carport studio recording a stack of new shit, he’ll drive you bonkers and tickle you pink with very special music and very special guests. December is full of demented cartoon, fake metal, dumb clown, flea circus, exploding bi-polar nonsense music in Brunswick. Music will be from 8.30pm, free entry.

THE RESIGNATORS

December’s Saucy Summer Sessions at Cherry Bar continue with their final night of 2014, welcoming The Resignators onto the stage. Born from the death of local bands and named after an RX Bandit’s album, The Resignators bring their psycho-ska antics to the Cherry stage on Tuesday December 30. With free entry, this is a gig you can’t miss. Live music from 8.30pm.

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THURSDAY JANUARY 1

CHRIS WILSON

AUSSIE BOYS & MATES

Chris Wilson has been an essential part of blues and rock music in Australia since taking the stage with The Sole Twisters 20 years ago. Stints with Harum Scarum and Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls followed, and the end of the ‘80s saw Wilson as one of our finest vocalists, harmonica players and songwriters, fronting the superb Crown of Thorns. Chris has appeared at every major Australian festival and his performances, filled as they are with his own brand of sensuality and the dynamic power that leaves his audiences so satisfied, are always a highlight. He performs a free entry show on Saturday January 3 at The Drunken Poet, music from 9pm.

Ready to kick-start your New Year's or at least delay that hangover? Then get down to Whole Lotta Love to catch some classic Aussie ‘80s style rock from Aussie Boys & Mates. Their catchy guitar, comical lyrics and vibrant drum beats are sure to do the job. It kicks off from 8pm. Free entry.

THE HARVEY CARTEL

DING DONG NYE WITH NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE

RETREAT NYE WITH RATTLIN BONES BLACKWOOD AND THE DRUNKEN POACHERS New Year's Eve gets going early at The Retreat, with DJ Social Services manning the beer garden decks from 3pm. Two Retreat favourites fire up in the front bar in the early evening – Rattlin Bones Blackwood, and the triumphant return of The Drunken Poachers. Then DJ Jeff Leppard and Macgregor take over the main room with a special DJ set til 3am. With free entry and music from 3pm onwards, this’ll be a New Year's Eve to remember.

Fresh from selling out four consecutive nights in Melbourne in September, Northeast Party House have teamed up with Tone Deaf and Black Night Crash to hold the ultimate New Years Eve party at Ding Dong. Supported by Singles, and a host of superstar DJs including the boys from Black Night Crash, Ding Dong will be the place to be for anybody looking to start 2015 with a bang, and then the ultimate hangover. Early bird tickets on sale now for $27+BF. Doors open at 8pm.

NYE AT THE GASOMETER

Bid 2014 a friendly catch-ya-the-fuck-later and welcome in the New Year at The Gasometer, where DJs Rainbow Connection and Oscar O’Bryan (Two Bright Lakes DJs) will deliver a smorgasbord of delectable tunes to whet your appetite. It’s free entry all night, and there’ll be early-bird drink specials between 9pm and 11pm and slushies galore. The famous retractable roof will be open to see in the New Year, too. How romantic.

Drawing from such bad-assery as razor blades, guns, and the desert, The Harvey Cartel provide a slick, moody soundtrack of hot blues, R&B and rock’n’roll. Fronted by the unquestionably talented vocalist Esther Stephens, The Harvey Cartel punch through a jukebox of river crossings, desert back roads and sketchy plane rides to deliver the goods that make you wanna jump, boogie and strut. Catch them at The B.East Thursday January 1. Doors from 5.30pm. BYO hangover.

SUNDAY JANUARY 4

FRIDAY JANUARY 2

CHRISTIAN VANCE

Thick As Thieves & Revolver Fridays join forces once again covering both rooms across the whole venue. The front room will feature live performances from some of Australia’s finest electronic exports, Christian Vance, Mike Callander & Craig McWhinney. With Christian now located in Berlin this is a rare opportunity to see the three of them back together under the one roof. Meanwhile the back bar will feature a stellar line-up as we have come to be expect from Thick As Thieves artist showcases. It all goes down at Revolver from 10pm, Friday January 2.

DJ FEZ PUSKAS

The LuWow reopens after its festive break to a weekend of tropical treats and summer sounds. DJ Fez Puskas plays his great Jamaican Ska, reggae, rocksteady records with Dek Drum and his live Latin percussion show. Friday January 2 at The LuWow. Free entry.

SATAN’S CHEERLEADERS

YAH YAH’S NYE WITH CHILD

Come celebrate New Years Eve at Yah Yah’s with headliners Child. Drawing influence from an ever growing, ever evolving sonic palette, you will find Child’s roots tightly entwined in and around the blues whilst taking a heavier and more visceral approach. Joining them on the night will be My Left Boot, Broken Needles, Willow Darling and Elbrus. Tickets are $15 from yahyahs.com.au. Graveyard Train

Satan’s Cheerleaders are launching their new album The New Adventures of Satan’s Cheerleaders at Bar Open on January 2 joined by Lake Minnetonka, Citrus Jam and Malcura. You’ve got two whole days to recover from NYE so get down to Bar Open and lead some cheers and drink some beers. $10 entry, bands from 9pm. SATURDAY JANUARY 3

GUZZLER

Kick start the New Year with some ear breakin’, eye shakin’, earth movin’ tunes as Guzzler release their long-awaited, self-titled album. Accompanying them will be some of the greatest live bands on the circuit, The Bengal Tigers and North & Vendetta. Saturday January 3, 8pm at The Bendigo, the first gig of 2015 on everyone’s rock’n’roll calendar.

DJ JUMPIN JOSH

The holidays aren’t over yet. Kick on that summer vibe with DJ Jumpin Josh playing tropical retro dance tunes from his huge collection of Brazil Mabo, Calypso Cha Cha, Latino disco and Boogaloo. Also kicking up a storm is Hannes Lackman, live Congo extraordinaire. Get down to The LuWow, Saturday January 3 and party on. Free entry.

PUGSLEY BUZZARD Pugsley Buzzard has been delighting audiences far and wide from the smoky jazz cellars of Berlin to New Orleans French Quarter, playing up to 200 shows per year at bars, clubs and festivals around the globe. Buzzard has a rich mesmerising voice that can make the ladies sigh and grown men cry and accompanies himself with dazzling boogie and blazing stride style piano. Pugsley Buzzard joins us at the Drunken Poet Sunday January 4 from 4pm. Entry is free. MONDAY JANUARY 5

THE DOODADS

Monday January 5 at The Yarra Hotel, The Doodads will entertain with hits of yore. The Doodads are Davey Lane, Gus Agars, Phil Gionfriddio and Joel Silbersher. Basically, The Doodads is Chromenips, except there’s less of them, they’re not as loud or fancily dressed and they are covering completely different songs. Free entry from 8pm. TUESDAY JANUARY 6

NYE IN THE WEST FEST

Wagons and Graveyard Train have been announced as the headliners for the inaugural NYE In The West Fest. The show comes at the end of a big year for the bands, who recently finished up multiple tours across the globe and released new albums Acid Rain and Sugar Cane and Takes One To Know One respectively. They’ll be joined by swamp rockers Chris Russell’s Chicken Walk and more. It goes down on Saturday December 31 at The Yarraville Club. Tickets are available through the venue.

SOUL-A-GO-GO

Bid a fond farewell to 2014 and welcome the New Year at The Corner Hotel for a massive Soul-A-GoGo – Melbourne’s biggest and best soul and funk party. With PBS soul and funk aficionados Vince Peach (Soul Time), Miss Goldie (Boss Action), DJ Manchild (The Breakdown), Matt McFetridge ( Jungle Fever) Andrew Young, Zack Rampage, Jack Sparrow and a very special live performance from Chelsea Wilson, Christina Arnold and Florelie Escano, it’s going to be massive. 9pm-3am December 31 at the Corner Hotel. Tickets available at www.170russell.com. $30+BF for PBS members and $35+BF for future members. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 50

MIDNIGHT ALIBI

Get down to Yah Yah’s for the first Saturday of 2015. Midnight Alibi are ready to play you some good old dirty rock all the way from Albury, Wodonga. Joining them will be Australian Kingswood Factory and special guests. Doors 6pm, $13 from 8pm and $7 from 12am with Yah Yah’s DJs upstairs and downstairs till 5am.

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JESSICA PRATT

California singer/songwriter Jessica Pratt delivers dreamy, introspective folk tinged with melancholy. Pratt’s music is both gently powerful and inviting; she can disarm and mesmerise with just her eerie voice and a delicately plucked guitar. Joining her for a night

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of memorable female vocals will be English singer/ songwriter Olivia Chaney ahead of her debut release on the esteemed Nonesuch Records and Melbourne artist Emily Ulman. Tuesday January 6 at The Toff In Town. Tickets available through the venue.

Get down to The Grace Darling Basement this on Friday January 16 and let a bunch of hot guitar wielding vamps and champs lure you in like mermaids and smash you on the proverbial rock(s). This killer lineup features the likes of Dawn Of The Jackal, The General, Claws and Organs and The Loveless who will be sneeringly dismissing you with their caterwauling female vocals, unrelenting wall of noise and grungy style catchy melodies about love gone wrong. Doors from 9pm, tickets are $10.

AIMEE VOLKOFSKY & THE MOLOTOVS

Aimee Volkofsky & the Molotovs sing tales of murder and magic and cannibal love. Spending her formative years in desert landscapes, surrounded by ghost stories and harsh lives, Aimee has written a collection of haunting and terrifying songs, brought to fiery life by her band of Molotovs; Mark Blanch on drums and Simon Coyle on electric guitar. They will be playing at Cherry Bar every Tuesday in January with special guests. Catch them Tuesday January 6 from 7pm with Luna Deville, El Montez & Maddie Duke. Free Entry.

Q&A

LOOKING FORWARD

JANUARY THE MEAN TIMES

After successfully launching their debut mini-album, You’ve Got the Wrong Guys in late November, The Mean Times are in full promotion mode, this time choosing to rock this fair city right where it does its business – The Central Business District. The Mean Times will kick off the New Year by bringing their quirky every-man rock tunes to the Toff on Thursday January 8, playing all the songs from their new release and heaps more. Along for the ride will be the left-of-centre grunge pop of Dear Stalker and twopiece garage rockers From Oslo. Tickets are $10 on the door.

BORED NOTHING

Bored Nothing has announced that his upcoming launch shows for his new album Some Songs will be farewell shows. Fergus Miller, the Melbourne-based music brains behind Bored Nothing, has announced that he’s retiring his indie pop project. Miller recently released second album Some Songs, the follow-up to 2012’s self-titled Bored Nothing debut, with the track We Lied landing on the triple j hit list while the record received widespread critical praise. Don't miss your last chance to catch Bored Nothing at the Northcote Social Club with Major Leagues and Mining Boom, Saturday January 10. Tickets through the venue.

DR. COLOSSUS

Melbourne-based ‘Simpsons doom rock’ duo Dr. Colossus are playing their first show for 2015 (and first headline slot ever) at Yah Yah’s on Friday January 9. The event will herald the official release of their debut EP IV with an extremely limited run of cassette tapes available to punters. After dropping their IV EP online in 2014 the duo have received a staggering response for their debut effort which draws its musical influences from Black Sabbath, Sleep and Kyuss and cleverly aligns them with lyrics based on Springfield’s tales of monorails, unrequited valentines and dental plans. Tickets are $13. Woohoo. Vince Peach

Top Five Influential Albums with

HOWQUA

ALANNA EILEEN

Having recently returned from a tour of the UK, Melbourne-based singer/songwriter Alanna Eileen is set to launch her debut EP. Produced by Mark Myers (The Middle East), it delivers introspective, lyric-driven songs with a gothic edge, combining pure vocals with intricate fingerpicking. Inspired by a tradition epitomised by artists like Nick Drake, Alanna’s delicate brand of folk has won her many fans. She will be touring the east coast throughout February in support of this release. Catch her Sunday January 18 at The Toff In Town with Lara Travis and Noah Earp. Tickets are $10 on the door.

RETREAT SUNDAYS SUMMER OF SOUL

The Retreat and Collingwood Draft are combining to bring you – The Retreat Sundays Summer Of Soul. It all kicks off with DJs Manchild & Vince Peach in Brunswick’s favourite beer garden. As the sun slips from the sky, Melbourne’s soul siren Kylie Auldist & The Glenroy Allstars will take to the main stage. There’ll also be a smoking BBQ and Collingwood Draft giveaways. Free entry from 2pm onwards.

Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago When I first heard this album in 2008, it challenged my ears and I felt confused about how it made me feel. It kept drawing me back in to listen again. Each listen gets better and I’ve absolutely fallen in love with it. Ben Smith Acoustic... Ben Smith is a Melbourne-based singer/songwriter I met years ago when I was working behind a bar. At this point, I’d only just started fiddling around on a guitar. I dug his original tunes, and then he gave me a copy of this acoustic album. I went home with a mate and we lay down on the floor and listened end to end. Pearl Jam Ten Every song on this album is a cracker. More recently after receiving numerous comparisons to Eddie Vedder, I now look back and realise Ten was quite influential on my own music. The Doors Best Of It’s a little cheeky putting a ‘Best Of ’ in this list, but I couldn’t help myself. I love the conviction behind Jim Morrison’s delivery of each track. I connect with how he sings with such dreaminess, then can scream and give it 110 per cent. Jeff Buckley Grace This album is an absolute gem. I love how much you can feel the emotion in every track. Another artist who I would have loved to see live. Catch HOWQUA play at the awesome new Sunday Summer Sessions at Beach Shack Sorrento on Sunday January 4 with Tom Dockray.

ALI BARTER

Melbourne singer/songwriter Ali Barter is playing two headline shows to kick off 2015. Barter released her new EP, Community, earlier this month and has been touring non stop with a residency at Boney and supporting Husky on their national tour. Catch Ali Barter at The Workers Club in Melbourne Saturday January 24. Tickets available through the venue.

MATT ANDERSEN

Canadian blues guitarist and singer/songwriter Matt Andersen is playing a run of headline shows alongside his appearance at Woodford Folk Festival. He’ll return to Australia with his new album, Weightless, which was released earlier this year. Andersen’s six-date tour will see him play Woodford Folk Festival over New Year’s before he makes his way down the east coast. He’ll be joined by Frank Sultana. Catch Matt Andersen at the Flying Saucer Club on Saturday January 10 and the Thornbury Theatre on Sunday January 11.

LEWES

SLOW CLUB

UK duo Slow Club will hit our shores this January in support of their new album, Complete Surrender. The LP marks the pair’s third studio release, veering away from their initial “anti-folk” categorisation and drawing on Motown and ‘70s pop influences. They’ll play at the Northcote Social Club on Thursday January 15. Tickets are available from the venue’s website.

Hailing from Australia and England, Lewes are a collective of six residing in Hobart, Tasmania. Lewes continually prove their worth both live and in the studio with an arsenal of passionate shows, tours and debut EP, Equinox. Following up from Lewes’ sets at Taste Festival, Tasmania and Falls Music and Arts Festival Marion Bay over the 14/15 New Year - The Equinox Tour will make its way to Melbourne at The Toff in Town on January 14 with local guests JP Kiipsbringer and Residual. Tickets are $8+BF or $10 on the door.

CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU

LORD

One of Australia’s biggest heavy melodic bands Lord, are heading down to Melbourne for Australia Day weekend to headline a massive show. The lads have spent much of 2014 focusing on the 25th anniversary of their previous incarnation, Dungeon, including a massive box set release of re-recordings. Rounding out a killer lineup are Melbourne thrashers Desecrator, Envenomed, Party Vibez and Toxicon. It all goes down Saturday January 24 at the Reverence Hotel. Doors open at 7.30pm, entry is $15 at the door. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 51

live

rePorts From the Front row

For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews a verY FanG it! christmas The Tote, Thursday December 18 Like all successfully orchestrated nights at The Tote, I ended the evening hogtied with my own t-shirt while a very drunk, grown man shot party-poppers at me then passed out fully clothed. But let’s start from the beginning. A Very Fang It! Christmas, brought to you by the PBS show of the same name, was an evening of relentlessly loud bad-arse rock’n’roll. It was a hazy, sweaty, happy night and a great way to officially welcome the silly season. I rolled into The Tote fashionably yet unprofessionally late, and missed the said-to-be out of control set by local punkers The FckUps, so I helped myself to some Tote-BBQ-hash browns to quell my guilt. Soon enough the stage was commandeered by SCUL HAZZARDs, the London/Melbourne Noise-Rock trio who almost brought the hash browns back out with the sheer power of their bass guitar. Each member held true to the genre with a serious amount of noise coming from each instrument, combining with killer melodies and mesmerisingly long hair to put on an awesome show. Next up were local rockers Mesa Cosa who blasted onto the stage in a shower of fraudulent currency they’d printed themselves, and threw at the crowd whenever they weren’t seriously rocking out ± which wasn’t very often. The set was tight, energetic and extremely loud. Always a good time, they screamed, shredded and Spanished their hearts out in a sweaty attack on the senses. By this point in the night I was sucked into the thrashing mosh pit. Sun God Replica hit the stage and absolutely blew me away. They weren’t quite as loud as the previous bands, maybe only five or six times louder than is necessary and absolutely nailed their set, in my extremely boozy opinion. Last but obviously not least, according to the screaming drunken fans were The Peep Tempel. I can’t really say much except that I consider myself lucky I survived the maelstrom of extremely excited boys in that crowd. And the band fed those animals. They really rocked out. I managed to eject myself from the pit after I watched a dear friend face-plant in an attempt to claw his way on stage. I opted out. It was a great night. And a Very Fang It! Christmas indeed. Jake mcGovern

t Y seGall The Corner Hotel, Monday December 15 Photo by Emily Day

loved: A bassist’s hair that quivers in time to the lurching rhythms. hated: Sweaty, baboon-like men. drank: Not in a car park. Nope.

beat christmas Part Y The Car Park, Friday December 19 Writing about our own Christmas party seems strangely narcissistic, but there’s a distinction between narcissism and knowing how goddamn sexy you are, right? Similarly, binge drinking isn’t the same thing as simply drinking as much complimentary Budweiser as possible. Myself and Tobias Priddle arrived bang on 6pm to get started on the latter. Along with Bud, there were dangerously delicious fruit drinks, purportedly containing vodka, which reminded me of the lip-gloss worn by my seventh grade girlfriend. Not a bad reminder, necessarily. More interestingly, perhaps, GL made their way onto the flatbed truck stage. The two-piece make a lot of cool machine dream electro dance. And, as I remarked to Tobias upon cracking open Bud number four, vocalist Ella Thomson sure has some pipes on her. Up next were Drunk Mums, who know a thing or two about drinking all the free booze at the party. They popped on stage holding pretty Airline guitars and a bundle of nitrous oxidised rock’n’roll tunes. Along with being a splattering of glorious fun, the set encouraged everyone to accelerate the free beer consumption rate. By now, roughly 700 people were rammed into the office car park, supping on Christmas cheer and trying not to talk about work too much. I’m not quite sure actually, as I was more interested in quoting Kyle MacLachlan’s character from Blue Velvet (not a Bud drinker) and gearing up for Sex On Toast. If you’re inclined to evaluate your own musical prowess against that of others, this local 12-piece certainly induces feelings of ineptitude. Their yacht rock tunes were played too perfectly to be sexy. But they didn’t miss the mark when it came to cheesiness, which matched the toasted Barry sandwich I’d stuffed down in between Bud eight and nine. The best gigs are like roaring parties, where everyone’s a potential friend and hassles are refused entry at the door. But there aren’t too many Christmas parties that resemble filthy rock’n’roll shows. The Beat Xmas Car Park Party, however, shoved its way up the list of the year’s most furious nights of entertainment. Now, Beat, how about that pay rise? auGustus welbY

loved: Writing about music, n shit. hated: Flying to Sydney at 8am the next morning. drank: Budweiser, King of Beers.

orsome welles The Worker’s Club, Friday December 12 It was a highly distinctive, left-of-centre collection of heavy rock acts gracing The Worker’s with its presence this evening. The diversity inherent in the Aussie alt/progressive scene continued to amaze and beguile those with the open mindedness and foresight to experience it on a regular basis, and this night only further enhanced that reputation. Openers Full Code were a formerly-Kiwi, now Melbourne-based experimental rock act. Their album, Telescapes, is among my favourite releases for 2014, and the live performance was a pretty studio-enhanced affair. Yet somehow they were able to make it work beautifully in a live setting. Translated to the stage, the music lost only the most subtle nuances, and this was made up for by the understated enthusiasm of their delivery. Their music is full of dark beauty, it’s weird, wild and wonderful, and their execution of it, live, was happily imperfect. An attention grabbing opening for the already steadily building crowd. Melbourne-based masters of astral space core Alithia have been around for a decade, and their music’s a strange melting pot of styles, only enhanced by their delivery of it in the live arena. Their sound is strange, psychedelic and sexy all at once, with strong percussive elements, and their live show lurched from the chaotic to the serene, and everything in between, in the blink of an eye. All up, Alithia live was quite spellbinding, and well worth checking out if you haven’t already. And if you have, do it again. Troldhaugen. The only band on the night’s bill I was unfamiliar with going in, and they turned out to be yet further evidence of the need to be open minded regarding discovering new bands. They are a truly unique, almost zany concoction of elements. These guys have the ‘throw everything including the kitchen sink’ approach to making music and putting on a live show, and it pretty much all worked a treat. At times, they put out a sound that could be considered bombastic orchestral metal (with heavy use of backing tracks), but they regularly went off the beaten track and headed into very left-of-centre territory, covering jazz, pop, ABBA covers and even almost vaudevillian moments. They even went ‘dub-step’ for a thankfully brief moment. It was a mind-bending experience, but a very entertaining one, and one that wouldn’t fail to put a smile on your face. While they certainly have their own quirks and strangeness, headliners Orsome Welles put on what was by far the closest thing to a straight up-and-down rock show for the entire evening, which was actually quite refreshing after the eccentricities that went on before them. Armed with a massive sound and some impressive theatrics for such a small venue, these guys came out and projected the energy, vibe and self confidence of a big headliner, and the ‘packed to the back’ crowd was enthralled. The launch of their debut EP Erth News Bulletin was an unmitigated success. rod whitField

beat maGaZine PaGe 52

loved: The diversity of the lineup, and the fact that a lot of people showed up to see it. hated: Can’t think of one damn thing. drank: Too many Coopers.

After seeing Ty Segall at his second Melbourne show at The Corner on a balmy summer’s night, I realised although it was the accessibility of his more psychedelic-pop numbers like The Keepers and The Singer, Segall’s roots lie in punk rock and metal, most notably Black Sabbath, whose song Paranoid received a double-play in the encore ± the first version was as true to the original as possible but the second version was Segall’s psyched-out interpretation. Segall’s set elicited its first crowd-surfer three songs in with his cover of psychedelic blues rock band The Groundhogs’ Rich Man, Poor Man. As is the way with most punk rock acts, it seems this final Melbourne show, at the end of a four-gig run that started in Perth, Meredith and the first Corner show, the band was tight and in tune as opposed to fatigued and listless. With Segall on the far right of stage, the imposing shaggy-haired Mikal Cronin took centre stage with the similarly shaggy-haired guitarist Charles Moothart on the left. At the back centre was the incredible, barefoot rock drummer Emily Epstein, who looks as though she has been ripped straight of the set of The Runaways or local band Drunk Mums whose male guitarist Dean Whitby she shares a distinct similarity. Don’t get me wrong, they’re both very attractive individuals. Ty Segall’s performance was compelling, heavy and damn loved: Fuzz’s version of Rich Man, Poor Man. electric with the audience, many of who foreseeably hated: Short people thinking because they can’t may’ve been seeing him for the third time in three days, see, it’s cool to rudely push in front of me without were left baying for more as the band exited stage right. even an ‘excuse me.’ Hey shorty, it’s not your birthday. dan watt

drank: Coke Zero, because I am trying to lose weight.

twerPs John Curtin Bandroom, Thursday December 18 The Curtin was nice, cozy and packed-out for Twerps’ last Melbourne gig for a little while. Everything was easy and floated along. People inched forward as the band kicked about on stage waiting for an absent member. Instruments were balanced and the band sounded real good ± nothing was overcrowded or noisy. There was a lot of space for the rolling melodies and dreamscape guitars. Twerps are one of those bands that make the incredibly difficult look cinch, like a good footy player or skater. You see it and it looks natural and easy, then you try and it’s all clunk and grazed knees. The jangly pop was as infectious as ever and the new lineup played well and seemed settled. I’d seen them before at a festival and while it was still great, it was scrappy as hell. This time around however, everyone played tight and the songs stuck together. Back To You got the crowd shufflin’ and was a treat after Dreamin; A couple of mid set masterpieces just thrown in. Marty [Frawley] cracked funnies between songs and shot smiles all round the room. It was a nice juju ± there was no pretense. They closed the set with Who Are You which was a treat loved: Back To You. and a fitting finale. hated: Nuthin. Jack Parsons

watch interviews, chats & awkward silences... beat.com.au/tv

drank: fullys, m8.

beat maGaZine PaGe 52

LIVE

REPORTS FROM THE FRONT ROW

For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews GHOSTFACE KILL AH The Espy, Friday December 19

NICK CAVE The Plenary, Tuesday December 16 Photo by Ian Laidlaw

Photo by Mark Stanjo

Space was becoming confined at The Espy as support acts LGeez and Greeley did a thorough job of rallying a noticeably diverse and cripplingly attractive audience and heightened the buzz for one of the world’s finest MCs. There was no mistaking it, Ghostface Killah, aka Dennis Coles, was there representing the Wu-Tang Clan, and oh Lordy did he do it well. As Coles spat out such blasts from the past as Be Easy and that opening verse from Bring Da Rukus, he had the crowd squealing like piggies. His immaculate performance at last week’s Meredith Music Festival clearly made an impact, with many familiar faces back for a second viewing. This lead to a memorable moment as ‘that bloke from Meredith who GFK kicked off stage for forgetting the words’ raged to the front and, finally seizing his glory, absolutely smashed Method Man’s rap in Protect Ya Neck along with Paralympian Dylan Alcott. The venue was entirely crammed and everyone was throwing a ‘W’ high in the sky with gay abandon apart from my aggressively average plus one, who was attempting to dislodge a pair of cycling shorts with dignity while getting down to Love Don’t Live Here Anymore and Gravel Pit amid a vibrating sea of ecstatic fans. It was all very energetic considering the overwhelming smell of herbs emanating from the shady corners. In an unexpected move, Ghostface ushered all the blonde beauties up onto the stage, hastily trampling any ounce of respectability into dust as he shamelessly repped his new album, 36 Seasons with recent tune The Battlefield. 2.30am appeared and many could be found crawling on hands and knees in a gin-whore-haze attempting to locate the entire contents of bags between people’s feet. Ghostface delivered a final round of outstanding tunes, LOVED: Meeting an accountant and a sex worker the combination of which made people’s eyes bleed with in the ladies. happiness and a minor seismic shift to occur in the St HATED: That the latter only has to work two days Kilda area. a week to support herself. ROSEMARY ANSTEAD

DRANK: Ginny with a few voddys.

A large chunk of Nick Cave’s catalogue supports a prognosis of sex-obsessed necromania. However, this performance at The Plenary was a reminder Nick Cave’s artistry is vast and multi-faceted, and thus can’t be contained in a convenient caption. First of all there’s Nick Cave the exemplary live performer. Even though this homecoming run has been billed as a solo tour, current Bad Seeds personnel Warren Ellis, Thomas Wydler, Martyn P. Casey and Barry Adamson joined Cave on stage. As with Bad Seeds gigs, these four musicians were integral parts of the play, none more so than Cave’s trusted offsider, Ellis. But it was undeniably Nick’s show. It’s always Nick’s show. The solo billing was justified by the inclusion of several withdrawn, piano-led numbers. Evil Nick made the odd appearance ± Red Right Hand came early and the bark of From Her To Eternity was as fierce as ever ± but he wasn’t on a total rampage. Instead, the focus was on Cave’s lecherous literary balladry. Two songs in, Cave sat alone behind a grand piano to perform The Weeping Song.. This occurred again with The Ship Song and Into My Arms.. Cave’s enduring appeal has a lot to do with his ineffably captivating storytelling, which makes melody an incidental concern. But these tender moments brought home the extent of his heartbreaking melodic capacity. Later, God Is In The House and Breathless sent in flickers of optimism, while Mermaids and Jack the Ripper highlighted Cave’s macabre humour. The peaks came when Cave and co. took dynamics for a walk. Push The Sky Away standout Higgs Boson Blues is possibly the greatest instance of Dylanistic surrealism since Dylan’s own mid-‘60s heyday. The song’s ridiculous narrative starts by recalling a drive to Geneva, which leads to an encounter with Robert Johnson and the devil at the crosswords. Unaccountably, the action shifts to a hellish Memphis hotel, only to end up in the Amazon where Hannah Montana is dancing the African Savannah. As this hallucination unfurled, the band complemented with a maddening slow build, ebbing and flowing, before finally coming to a hush. The room now practically silent, Cave singled out an audience member and queried, “Can you hear my heartbeat?” whispering, “Boom, boom, boom.” The set’s closing number Jubilee Street was an even more forceful expedition through dynamics, riding to a manic climax that had Cave convulsing while he ironically shrieked, “Look at me now.” Interestingly, good humour was in effect throughout the two and half hour performance. Cave might have an air of mystifying superiority, but he was more than willing to communicate directly with the audience. At one point he autographed a woman’s thigh tattoo, which featured his own likeness. Later, after messing up the opening verse in Babe, You Turn Me On, he admitted the idea of a post-show cigarette distracted him. These little touches hardly subdued the audience’s awe. Rather, it reminded us this was our experience, and the man on stage was here to stir up our fears and physicality, our desires and our affections. LOVED: Warren Ellis: guitar god. AUGUSTUS WELBY

HATED: The alarming onset of emotions. DRANK: Brother, my cup is empty.

CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 53

ALBUM OF THE YEAR THE WAR ON DRUGS

THURSDAY 25 DECEMBER

WEEKLY TRIVIA

PRIZES & GIVEAWAYS! STARTS AT 8PM. CONTACT THE VENUE FOR TABLE BOOKINGS!

IN THE BEER GARDEN

NORTHSIDE SPACE FUNKERS

FEAT. HYPERFOKUS & KODIAK KID, HIP-HOP, FUNK, TRIP-HOP, ELECTRO SOUL & SWINGING JAZZ. PLAYING INSIDE & OUT FROM 7PM FRIDAY 26 DECEMBER MAIN BAR

DJS

7PM SAM MCEWIN 9PM NO NAME NAT 11PM MAARS SATURDAY 27 DECEMBER MAIN BAR

DJ’S

7PM MATT RAD 9PM D’FRO 11PM FLAGRANT SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER MAIN BAR

SIDESHOW BRIDES 5PM

ROYAL BEER GARDEN

AFTERNOONS ON THE GREEN

LIVE MUSIC IN THE BEER GARDEN

EASY NOW - SUNDAY REGGAE BEATS

FEAT. AGENT 86, TOM SHOWTIME, DJ MAARS & CIDER SPECIALS. 5PM MONDAY 29 DECEMBER

FREE POOL FREECALL WORKSHOPS VENUE FOR DETAILS. $10 LONGNECKS & $4 PIZZA.

TUESDAY 30 DECEMBER

FREE MOVIE NIGHT LABYRINTH – 8:30PM WEEKLY FOOD SPECIALS $4 PIZZAS MONDAY - THURSDAY ALL DAY & NIGHT, FRIDAY 12PM TO 5PM WEDNESDAY: $12 STEAKS FROM 5PM THURSDAY: $12 BURGERS FROM 5PM (MEAT + VEGO OPTION)

Lost In The Dream Lost In The Dream, the fourth release from Philadelphian four-piece The War On Drugs, is an odyssey of reverbsoaked Americana laced with electronic tones and underpinned by a subtle but inescapable sense of sorrow. The American folk influences are so pertinent here they’re almost tangible. It sounds like a Bob Dylan record acquainted with a modern electrified ambience and weighed down with a very heavy grief. Lost In The Dream moves away from the band’s previous two releases Future Weather and Slave Ambient in many respects. Adam Granduciel had seemingly opted to employ a fuller synth-centred sound with a staggering vocal track in his previous work. The same basic musical elements and tones are still here and it’s still unmistakably the work of The War On Drugs, but it just feels a little more vacant and a little more bleak. That’s not to suggest that this record isn’t as triumphant as those that preceded it. Quite the opposite. For all the inner turmoil referenced, the pace and sound is quite varied and brilliantly produced. Opening track Under The Pressure is a great introduction to the album and sums up the record pretty well as a whole. While sonically it feels at points buoyant and affable, it’s quickly overwhelmed by an ascension of colliding electronic sounds that displace you entirely. It’s easy to mistake frantic for jovial at points in this record. There’s simply so much sonically to absorb on this record that it’s hard to appropriately summarise it so quickly. It’s manic at points, extremely sombre at others and somehow

RECORD PARADISE TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR 1. Six Strings That Drew Blood ROWLAND S HOWARD 2. Lost in The Dream THE WAR ON DRUGS 3. Our Love CARIBOU 4. Sunbathing Animal PARQUET COURTS 5. Push the Sky Away NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS 6. I’m In Your Mind Fuzz KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD 7. Lp1 FKA TWIGS

strangely darker than previous releases. It’s not a record that’s easily comprehended, it certainly warrants a long listen. BY KEATS MULLIGAN BEST TRACK: Suffering. IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LIKE THESE: KURT VILE, THE HANDSOME FAMILY, BOB DYLAN (obviously). IN A WORD: Suffering.

8. Playmates JACK LADDER AND THE DREAMLANDERS 9. pom pom ARIEL PINK 10. Manipulator TY SEGALL

SYN SWEET TEN OF THE YEAR 1. Kobe YEO 2. Hold It Down JONATHAN BOULET 3. I Want U ALISON WONDERLAND

TOP TEN SINGLES OF THE YEAR BY LACHLAN

4. We Lied BORED NOTHING 5. Boogie Boarding THE STIFFYS 6. U-Huh TKAY MAIDZA 7. Ramona VELOCIRAPTOR

For all the latest singles check out beat.com.au Honourable mentionz to Drizzy, Caribou, Drunk Mums, Bobby Shmurda, Twigs, The Stevens. Thanks for tuning in folks, Lachlan will return next year in Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser. Hooroo!

SIA

Chandelier (Monkey Puzzle/RCA) In retrospect, it was a long time coming, but Sia has gone above and beyond in making a case for her standing as one of Australia’s greatest ever popsmiths, penning tracks for superstars including Riri and Queen Bey. Chandelier is retained for Sia alone, which is for the best, considering few vocalists worldwide could stick the landing on the godlike cry of the chorus’s stunning inflections.

TKAY MAIDZA

Switch Lanes (Dew Process) An apt title for an emerging artist consistently flashing stylistic dexterity, Switch Lanes showcases Adelaide MC Tkay Maidza’s formidable flow and capability to sing a hook, compounded by production from Gold Coast’s Paces. All in all, world class in the truest sense, solidifying Tkay’s candidacy as our first breakthrough international rap talent.

JACK LADDER & THE DREAMLANDERS FEAT. SHARON VAN ETTEN

Come On Back This Way (Inertia) I’m guessing Jack Ladder likes the way his voice sounds when he says the word “piss.” He sings it on Hurtsville’s standout Dumb Love ± “overtaking in the pissing rain”. It’s a good syllabic fit for his cadence. Anyway, I’m getting distracted. By piss. Come On Back This Way is triumphant, almost silly, jaunt, a soundtrack for a credits roll with an abrupt, ironic, but satisfying film that doesn’t exist.

LAURA JEAN

Don’t Marry The One You Love (Chapter) Laura Jean bounds along with cheery aplomb on Don’t Marry The One You Love, a plucky bass groove and grinning brushes on the snare. It’s all a smokescreen, of course, the song title isn’t an instance of down-and-out whiskey-soaked country balladry, but a sincere heed, a darkly missive guided by levity.

COLLARBONES

Turning (Two Bright Lakes/Remote Control) You can listen to Turning over a hundred times (I heartily recommend doing so) and it still doesn’t sound any less insane, a dizzying wet dream of race throwback grinding with subterranean sub-bass. It’s the future, it’s primordial. It’s a gosh dang good time. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 54

TOP TENS:

8. Head Down THE OCEAN PARTY

THE HARPOONS

Unforgettable (Two Bright Lakes/Remote Control) An air of understatement breezes through the opening of Unforgettable, creeping with Burial fizz, guiding in Bec Rigby’s powerhouse vocals sans percussion. Then, bam. The crisp beat snaps in, the bridge, a hook unto itself, sideswipes, and the chorus elevates to another level yet again. Magic. The track’s performance, imbued by backing vocalists, did what it says on the tin.

TWERPS

Back To You (Chapter) The feel-great chorus of Back To You, one of the finest guitar-pop moments in 2014, invokes, and encapsulates, a potent sense of community ± it’s easy to picture a montage of ol’-timey family units flicking on the wireless, eyes filled with glee, as singer Marty soars with, “And it allllllll, keeps comin’ back to you”. It’s a release; arm in arm, that connection is all that matters, when it comes down to it.

ALDOUS HARDING

9. Inanimate Sensation DEATH GRIPS 10. Close Your Eyes (And Count To Fuck) THE RUN THE JEWELS

COLLECTOR’S CORNER MISSING LINK TOP TEN OF THE YEAR 1. Six Strings That Drew Blood 4LP box ROWLAND S. HOWARD 2. Christmas Spirit 1” JOEY RAMONE 3. The Motherload pic disc 12” MASTODON 4. Time To Die 2LP ELECTRIC WIZARD 5. This Album Kills Artists LP KING BUZZO 6. Issue #14 (with DEAD/RABBITS split flexi)

No Peace (Spunk) The closing track on Aldous Harding’s stunning selftitled full-length is immediate in its rawness, alluding to a howling despair, all while constrained itself within a harrowing minimalism. Tension and heartbreak delivered in the most efficient manner.

UNBELIEVABLY BAD zine

ILOVEMAKKONEN FEAT. DRAKE

CLAN

Tuesday (OVO Sound) Emboldened by a Drake feature on the remix, Makonnen’s woozy ode to gettin’ lit on a weekday captured something special, a definitive and idiosyncratic sentiment that feels perfect in 2014, Makonnen’s wavering voice making for a gentle earworm. Cute, but undeniable. I honestly can’t remember the last Tuesday I haven’t listened to Tuesday, and I can’t see that stopping anytime soon.

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

LONTALIUS

Light Shines Through Dust (Independent) In which Kiwi virtuoso Eddie Johnston steps up with a touch of aural polish on his largely homespun, endearing and emotive solo project Lontalius for something truly spectacular, each line delivered like a reflexive mallet to the heartstrings. Devastating in its beauty, Johnston exhibits mastery in his craft, deft and measured, utilising sparseness as a tool, a benevolent weapon, even, of melancholy.

WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV

7. Unchain the Wolves LP DESTROYER 666 8. Millions Of Dead Children 7” M.D.C. 9. C.R.E.A.M. shaped pic EP WU TANG

10. I’m In Your Mind Fuzz CD KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZARD

BEAT’S TOP TEN SONGS TO HAVE A NYE SMOOCH TO 1. Sandstorm DARUDE 2. Sandstorm DARUDE 3. Sandstorm DARUDE 4. Sandstorm DARUDE 5. Sandstorm DARUDE 6. Sandstorm DARUDE 7. Sandstorm DARUDE 8. Sandstorm DARUDE 9. Sandstorm DARUDE 10. Sandstorm DARUDE

ALBUMS

NEW MUSIC IN REVIEW THIS WEEK

For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews

PAUL KIDNEY EXPERIENCE

Acousma (Independent) Sometimes you have a dream and shit gets really weird. There are images that could be people, or they might be animals. The furniture is made of rubber, and the walls are dripping like a Jackson Pollock painting. The aural atmosphere is thick with strange sounds, screeching noises, a barely discernible discourse of confusion and exploration, a distant drum beat that seems to be keeping time, but maybe it’s just compounding your confused psychological state. There are colours in the air, but you can’t see them, only hear them and almost touch them. It’s like that acid trip you did back in the day when your senses opened up and you saw religious images that were amazing, but then you worried that you’d reached a higher plane of consciousness but you weren’t ready for it, and, oh no, were you ever going to return to normality. Like that moment when you fall out of the lysergic experience, you wake up and everything’s sort of normal, but why is normal so good anyway? Why can’t stuff just be weird and people enjoy it? Who said straight was right? And then there’s Paul Kidney Experience’s album, Acousma. This isn’t an album of songs in the conventional sense. It’s the freakish dream, the trip that sends you into a different realm of cognitive experience, the mind shattering event that causes you to realise that nothing should ever be as it seems. The sound shimmers, the beats bend, the moment envelopes your brain and treats it to a kaleidoscopic experience that Timothy O’Leary always wanted us to understand was there if we were brave enough to see BEST TRACK: Baryon. it. You don’t listen to Paul Kidney Experience, you absorb IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LIKE THESE: it. And if you survive it, you’re in a better place. Weird, psychedelic shit. IN A WORD: Acid. PATRICK EMERY

PIANOS BECOME THE TEETH

Keep You (Epitaph) Pianos Become The Teeth sound surprisingly calm. There’s little trace of their former-day fury. Singer Kyle Durfey actually sings. The rest of Pianos play unplugged most of the time. They’re often in hushed repose, kindred with brokenhearted singer/songwriters more so than obliterating punk rockers. Dissonant opener Ripple Water Shine’s jangled guitar and Durfey’s introverted vocals make the strongest case for the band’s dramatic change. April and its washed-out scenes of isolation and confronting honesty seal the deal. Standout Repine’s melodies dance darkly, smoking out an anthem for hard luck cases. Anxious indie rock and lazy Americana marry neatly (Late Lives, Enamor Me) and they aren’t averse to going completely minimal (Traces) Say Nothing is a singular throwback to their old ways, sounding massively dramatic in comparison. Here and there Durfey drops in the odd cliché. At times his darkly veiled reminiscences veer into bland, rain-soaked staring out of bedroom windows. What unfolds is no less quietly devastating. Durfey and band want pathos; don’t have to work too hard in getting it. Instead of hitting you square in the gut, those quiet bedroom moments dissolve into you like summer rain. Those expecting explosions of fire and fury; don’t. These tracks unfurl like letters addressed to lost lovers, long gone friends and a litany of disappointments. Setting them apart is that they’re signed, “For you, BEST TRACK: Repine. sincerely.” IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: LUCA BRASI, TOUCHE AMORE, DEFEATER. TOM VALCANIS IN A WORD: Sombre.

UPTOWN ACE

1850 (High Kick) Unashamedly aligning themselves with a familiar-if-not-slightly-aged rock’n’roll sound, Uptown Ace have come forth with their debut album, 1850. With polished songs and near-flawless production, 1850 has all the pieces to become an album with substance, but ends up hindering itself by sticking unadventurously close to its rock’n’roll roots. The album boasts a full, robust sound for a three-piece band, and from start to finish, there never feels like there’s any dwindling moments, unnecessary silences or bad mixes in the production. The songs flow seamlessly from chorus to verse, the hooks have a certain thump to give that desired hard rock sound and overall it stays incredibly true to its genre. However, the album tries to be a little too rock’n’roll for its own good. The vocalist opts to use the classic rock music whine. Combine this with the addition of a lot of jarring forced rhymes, and the vocals quickly become repetitive and draining. However, the most frustrating part of 1850 is the songs are riddled with moments of intrigue – brilliant drum lead ups, bass solos or moody guitar sections – which then lead up to nothing and jump back to the chorus leaving the listener with a ‘was that it?’ moment. The guitar solos never seem to break the pace of the song either, and the whole album seems to be screaming for dynamic BEST TRACK: Forlorn. sections in order to break a monotonous structural IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: YOU AM similarity between every song. I, AC/DC. IN A WORD: Niche. THOMAS BRAND

WE WERE EVERGREEN

Towards (Spunk) We Were Evergreen have a clean-cut sound that begs to be messed up, just a bit. There are 15 songs on debut album Towards and a few too many of them bash their melodies on your head for three minutes and then switch off. The songs are catchy, but somehow just don’t stick. Though the handsome trio hail from Paris, their sound has much in common with other poptronica bands of their adopted home, London – imagine a twee Metronomy with a dash of Hot Chip. It’s all very pleasant and boasts sparkling production, but there are tantalising hints that they have more to offer. You savour the oncoming ambience of the untitled intro, or the way Antlers cleverly morphs from a reggae Vampire Weekend to a more freeform instrumental in its final minutes. There was a gradual build-up to this album after the release of several EPs, and the long-awaited end result sounds a little polished and over thought. But they’re BEST TRACK: False Start. definitely a band to put in the ‘what will they do IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: STILL next?’ basket. FLYIN’, HOT CHIP, THE WHITEST BOY ALIVE, METRONOMY. CHRIS GIRDLER IN A WORD: Clean-cut.

THE SCULLAMOOKS

The New Mythology (Slice Records) Question: what is a ScullaMook? Answer: it’s a rave-dwelling creature that only comes out at night to feast on the elation of sweaty trance addicts. Only two exist in the vicinity of Melbourne, but when they’re placed together, this elusive species cultivate a strand of psytrance that sounds like it’s been syphoned through a black hole and magically fused into the little plastic discs that bear the title, The New Mythology. Things get trippy on here – real trippy. Snippets of LSDinspired meanderings preface heaving slabs of electronica that bubble beneath the surface before disappearing into the abyss again. Otherworldly beeps, blips, and bursts of noise rain down and sizzle over throbbing bass grooves. Each track is accompanied by its BPM, with most whizzing by around the 130 to 140 mark. It’s all a little disorientating – but that’s the desired effect. The ScullaMooks want to warp your perception of reality without the use of mind-altering substances. Instead, they rely on improvisation, experimentation and mixing ideas together like watercolour to create mind-fucking soundscapes, from the eerie interstellar haze of Earthrise to the bongo-happy Mook Runs The Mushroom Down. Proceedings have an organic feel too with each track slowly contorting into the next. If you’re a frequent visitor to Earthcore, Rainbow Serpent Festival or any outdoor techno fest, you’re going to be lapping up what The ScullaMooks are laying down without a second thought. But if you’re yet to dip your toes into the psytrance side of things, best approach this one with caution and/or an open mind (otherwise BEST TRACK: Psysm Part II. it’ll spin you out completely). IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: SHPONGLE, INFECTED MUSHROOM, OPIOU. IN A WORD: Mindblending.

JACK PILVEN

WU-TANG CLAN

A Better Tomorrow (Warner) With the media speaking of disharmony between members of the seminal hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan in the build up to the release of their sixth studio album, A Better Tomorrow, it unfortunately comes as little shock the album leaves something to be desired for fans and newcomers alike. Rather than having their signature crisp interplay between cleverly placed beats and criminally inspired and powerfully personable raps, A Better Tomorrow is instead plagued by overproduction on RZA’s part, with questionable choices being riddled throughout the album. This becomes apparent straight from the get-go, with opener Ruckus In B Minor losing all energy near the end of the track, leaving Raekwon to rap in a hookless section, as if he were performing solo to an empty amphitheatre. The album continues with production choices that take emphasis off the rapping by making songs go for too long simply for the sake of it, throwing too much bass into the mix or even using Nathaniel’s airy R&B style vocals, which often snuff out any fire the songs might have had entirely. That said, there’s still some emphasised rap delivery in many tracks, Hold The Heater being a standout with its modest production and biting delivery that highlights the group’s strengths. However, the awkward production still makes it so there are very few songs on the album that are catchy enough to warrant a re-listen. Sadly, A Better Tomorrow comes off as an awkward attempt to try and stay modern in a genre that has overtaken these once pioneers, the irony being the ‘better BEST TRACK: Hold The Heater. tomorrow’ rap already came and passed as it evolved IF YOU LIKE THESE, YOU’LL LIKE THIS: RUN in Wu-Tang’s absence. THE JEWELS, A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, GHOSTFACE KILLAH, ADRIAN YOUNGE. THOMAS BRAND IN A WORD: Jarring.

CRAFTED

NATURALLY

FOR SUMMER

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 55

GIG GUIDE

WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK

For all the latest gigs check out beat.com.au

WEDNESDAY DEC 24 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••A TWIN PEAKS XMAS - FEAT: MOJO JUJU

+ DANIEL MERRIWEATHER + KIRA PURU + SIMONE PAGE JONES + LORETTA MILLER John

Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. $15.00.

••BEN LAGUDA + TRAGIC EARTH + BOMB Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. ••BLUES CHRISTMAS EVE - FEAT: MR BLACK &

BLUES + JESSE VALCH + PAULIE BIGNELL & THE THORNBURY TWO + JUSTIN YAP BAND

Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. ••CLAWS & ORGANS + BURNING ROACHES Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00. ••COQ ROQ WEDNESDAYS - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm. ••OLD BAR’S ANNUAL GODDAMN GOODTIME

XMAS EVE CRAPTACULAR - FEAT: HOARSE + GENERAL MEN + COSMIC KAHUNA Old Bar,

Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $10.00.

••ORPHAN X-MAS EVE - FEAT:

TONSTARTSSBANDHT + PETER BIBBY + JAALA + ROGUE WAVS + GOOD MORNING Gasometer

Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $15.00.

••SMOKE STACK RHINO + MAJOR TOM & THE

ATOMS + DJ MERMAID Cherry Bar, Melbourne

Cbd. 9:00pm.

••TULLY ON TULLY + DXHEAVEN + FRIDA

Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $8.00. JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••BIG EASY SOUL SESSIONS Carlton Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

••BOPSTRETCH Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

••GARAGE A TROIS Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.

••WEDNESDAY MAKE UP TRIO Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $15.00.

Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.

••PIERCE BROTHERS + APES + TSUGNARLY +

THE MARY GOLDSMITHS Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $22.00. ••POW POW KIDS + SEWERCIDE + DUMB PUNTS + BONNIE DOOM Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $10.00. ••SOUL SACRIFICE (THE MUSIC OF SANTANA) Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:40pm. $20.00. ••TONSTARTSSBANDHT + MANGELWURZEL + BAPTISM OF UZI + PREMIUM FANTASY Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. ••WATT’S ON - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:30pm. ••WORLD WILD + VILLAINETTES + HONEY

BADGERS + DOMINIC BRYNE & JOHNNY GALVATRON Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC

ANGELICO + LOVE BOMBS Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm.

••NOISY WHISPERS + JOHNNY DANGER + SKOLL

& HATI + SARAH EIDA Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ••ANDY GRANT DUO European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. ••BOXING DAY BLUES - FEAT: GEOFF ACHINSON

+ CHRIS WILSON Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $22.00.

••JULZ EVANS Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 10:00pm. ••MY ECHO + THE SAND DOLLARS + I AM THE

RIOT + DJ LUCY ARUNDEL Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $13.00.

••SPENCER P JONES Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:30pm.

SATURDAY DEC 27

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ••DAN BOURKE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.

••BRITTLE BONES + OH PACIFIC + PIGTAILS

••THE BLACK SHEEP + DJ SHAKEY MEMORIAL +

DJ FEE FEE Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. ••THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL’S OPEN MIC Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm.

THURSDAY DEC 25

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••FREE RANGE FUNK - FEAT: JAKE JUDD +

TIGERFUNK + LEWIS CANCUT Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm. ••JAMES BROWN XMAS SHOW - FEAT: MITCH

POWER & THE SOUL ASSASINS + DJ FRENZIE + DJ RANSOM Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. ••KARATE BOOGALOO + DJ MANCHILD + CHRIS GILL John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. ••RUBY’S CHRISTMAS LUNCH FOR MUSICIANS AND FRIENDS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 12:00pm.

FRIDAY DEC 26

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••...BECAUSE FUCK CHRISTMAS - FEAT:

ONE + SIDELINES Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $20.00.

+ TWIN THROATS Public Bar, North Melbourne.

8:30pm. $10.00. ••BRONSON + WEDDING KNIVES + JIMMY POLLOCK Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm.

••CROSSBONE CARNIVAL + HEMY & MARSHALL

+ SOUTHBOUND SNAKE CHARMERS + KRISTY JINX Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. ••DESTRENDS + JAMES MALONEY & THE MAD DOG HARRISONS + SUGAR GHOULS + JANITA KLEIN Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. ••KRAKATAU + CHILD + WILLOW DARLING Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00.

••KYUSS TRIBUTE - FEAT: MATT SONIC & THE

HIGH TIMES + FUCK THE FITZROY DOOM SCENE Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $25.00. ••LAZYBONES + MICHAEL YULE Workers Club,

Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00. ••MIDNIGHT ALIBI Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $13.00. ••POST-XMAS PARTY - FEAT: ALLNIGHT BARS

+ SUNSLAVE + AGENTS OF ROCK + DIRTY ROOMERS + JOSH NOVAK Mr Boogie Man Bar,

••ROADHOUSE ROMEOS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.

••BLUELINE MEDIC + AWAY FROM NOW +

••STRICKLAND + CAVALCADE + THE UNION

DAYSWORTH FIGHTING + LAURA PALMER

Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $15.00. ••BOXING DAY BRAWL - FEAT: JACK THE

STRIPPER + METAL STORM + JOIN THE AMISH + ATOMIC DEATH SQUAD + THE FCK UPS Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.

••CHERRY BOMB European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. ••CHRIS WILSON Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 5:30pm.

••GODWOLF Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $12.25.

••KILL DIRTY YOUTH + THE BURNING ROACHES

+ DUMB & BORED + DJ JAMES BARBER

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 56

It’s almost Falls time and that means a lot of dirty, sweaty festival goers will be heading home in the New Year to hopefully wash their clothes and hang ‘em up to dry. Cold War Kids are kickin’ on after Falls and hitting up the country for some headline shows ahead of the release of their fifth album, Hold My Home. You can catch them squeaky clean at The Hi-Fi in Melbourne, Monday January 5 with Spookyland.

••THE PARTY ANIMALS + SERPENTINE + PHIL

PARA Espy, St Kilda. 6:00pm. ••TOGETHERAPART + WILD TURKEY + DJ SHAKY MEMORIAL Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••BUTTERED LOAF Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm. ••DOUBLE STANDARDS (CARIBBEAN SPECIAL)

Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $15.00.

••GOOD MUSIC - FEAT: ETHAN MCLAREN Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:00pm. ••MONDO KAIN Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm.

••STEVIE & THE SLEEPERS + JAMES GOWAN

BAND + DJ MR. EEZAL Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 9:00pm.

••THE AMY WINEHOUSE SHOW - FEAT: ATLANTA

& THE LITTLE BIG BAND Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $17.35.

••WILBUR WILDE QUARTET Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

••YANNICK WALET Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ••ROBYN HITCHCOCK + EMMA SWIFT Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm. $20.00. ••ACTION SAM European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. ••ANDY PHILLIPS & THE CADILLAC WALK +

DIDDY REYES + TWO BLUE DOGS Great Britain

Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. ••BIG FAT SKANK Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm. ••HARRY HOOKEY - FEAT: THE HARRY HOOKEY BAND Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:30pm. ••MADDIE DUKE + CARL RUSSO Old Bar, Fitzroy. 3:00pm. ••SLIM DIME & THE PRAIRIE KINGS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. ••SOUTHBOUND SNAKE CHARMERS + COTANGENT + D.R MALONE Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. ••THE CLAREMONT STREET + JODY GALVIN + DJ JACINTA PARSONS Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. ••ZOE RYAN Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 10:00pm.

SUNDAY DEC 28

Abbottsford. 8:00pm.

ADMIRAL ACKBAR’S DISHONOURABLE DISCHARGE + SHADOW LEAGUE + TZATZIKI PARTY + COMMONLY INSANE + JOE GUITON + DAMIEN GIBSON Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ••BEN LAGUDA + VIRTUE + DR MALONE Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm.

COLD WAR KIDS

••CHRIS RUSSELL’S CHICKEN WALK + STELLA

••BANG - FEAT: CLOSURE IN MOSCOW + ADMIT

••OPEN MIC Thornbury Local, Thornbury. 8:00pm.

GIG OF THE WEEK!

••SALT N PEPA + CDB Forum Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. ••SPERMAIDS + HOARSE + PLYERS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00.

PACIFIC + ZACHARY BRITT + LASER BRAINS

Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $5.00. ••THE BASICS + GUN BARREL STRAIGHTS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $25.00. ••THE CHANTOOZIES Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:40pm. $33.00. ••THE DROP BEARS + PET BAND + DELLACOMA

RIO + THE ROLLING PERPETUAL GROOVE SHOW + NATHAN SEEKTS + THE DEAD CITY LIGHTS Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $15.00. ••THE MAVIS’S + CAROLINE NO + DJ KITI John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:30pm. $12.00.

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••ASRC BENEFIT GIG - FEAT: WAYWARD BREED

+ I HEART CUSACK + JEMMA & THE CLIFTON HILLBILLIES + FEE BROWN + SCRUB WRENS + SIB + SEAN MCMAHON + EMINE + DAMON SMITH + DANE TUCQUET Old Bar, Fitzroy. 2:00pm.

$10.00.

••BADASS BOOGIE - FEAT: STACKHOUSE +

LITTLE HOUSE GODZ + LEFT DIMENSION Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 8:00pm.

••CRAZY BILL’S POOL SUPPLIES + GLACIERS

Public Bar, North Melbourne. 4:00pm.

••FALLS FESTIVAL - FEAT: BIG FREEDIA + MILKY

CHANCE + THE BLACK LIPS + EMPIRE OF THE SUN & MORE Falls Festival Site (lorne), 12:00pm. ••GRIM RHYTHM + WEEDY GONZALEZ + CHURCH Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm. $6.00.

WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV

••GUZZLER Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. ••HOSPITAL + RIVERS OF JANUARY + THE

ESSENTIALS + JOEL KOSTER Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.

••MATT BORG TRIO + THE SPOKESPEOPLE +

SIMON WRIGHT BAND 303, Northcote. 7:00pm. $5.00.

••MONSTERS OF THE DIRTY SOUTH + THREE

QUARTER BEAST + ART POPE + SWEET DECAY Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.

••NONAGON + OUTSIDE THE ACADEMY +

PENSIVE PENGUIN Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 6:30pm. $10.00.

••OOLLUU + BATTLESICK + STEVE WILLIAMS +

THE EASTMENT RENEGADE Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.20. ••ROCKABILLY SUNDAYS - FEAT: HEELS ON DECKS DJ Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 4:00pm. ••SIDESHOW BRIDES Penny Black, Brunswick. 5:00pm. ••WIL WAGNER + LUCY WILSON + ZIGGY BRITTEN Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 3:00pm. ••YOU’RE LOOKIN’ AT COUNTRY - FEAT: EMMA SWIFT + LAURA IMBRUGLIA + ALEX LASHLIE TRIO Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm. $15.00.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••BRAZILIAN JAZZ - FEAT: TAMIL ROGEON +

DOUG DE VRIES + AL KERR The Everleigh, Fitzroy. 9:30pm. ••JAZZ HAPPY HOUR - FEAT: CONNIE LANSBERG QUARTET Mardo’s, Port Melbourne. 2:00pm. ••JAZZHEAD SUNDAYS Lady Grange, St Kilda. 3:00pm. ••SUMMER OF SOUL - FEAT: KYLIE AULDIST & THE GLENROY ALL STARS + DJ VINCE PEACH Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.

••THE BOYS Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.

••THE HAMMOND RE-EXAMINED FUNKY JAZZ

ENSEMBLE + MARK LOCKETT Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ••BANJO-B-QUE - FEAT: CRAIG WOODWARD The Mercat, Melbourne. 12:30pm. ••BRODERICK SMITH Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 4:30pm.

••BUDDHA IN A CHOCOLATE BOX Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 5:00pm. ••CHALOUCHE Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 5:30pm.

••CHRIS WILSON + DJ MAX CRAWDADDY Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 2:00pm. $5.00. ••COLLARD GREENS & GRAVY Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.

••EASY SUNDAYS Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 6:30pm. $5.00. ••GREG DODD & THE HOODOO MEN Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 4:00pm. ••KEN MAHER, AL WRIGHT & TONY

HARGREAVES + KEN MAHER + AL WRIGHT & TONY HARGREAVES Lomond Hotel, Brunswick

East. 9:00pm.

••KERRI SIMPSON Union Hotel, Brunswick. 3:30pm. ••MATT GLASS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 3:00pm.

••OPEN MIC Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 7:00pm.

••RYAN GAY Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 5:00pm.

••SMALL TOWN ROMANCE Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. ••SPENCER P JONES Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 4:00pm.

••STOMPING NICK - FEAT: DAN DINNEN Catfish, Fitzroy. 5:00pm.

••SUNDAY SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS

Lucky Coq, Windsor. 4:00pm.

••SUNDAY SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS

Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 2:00pm.

••THE GLORIOUS NORTH Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.

MONDAY DEC 29

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••CHERRY JAM Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. ••MUNDANE MONDAYS - FEAT: NAUSEA +

MICHAEL CERATOPS + NIGHT WALKS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00. ••TJ ROSENTHAL + JIMMY HAWK Public Bar, North Melbourne. 7:00pm. JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••PAUL WILLIAMSON’S HAMMOND COMBO

Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $10.00. ••RUBY’S LIVE JAZZ AFTER DARK - FEAT: PIANO TÉ Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $10.00. ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ••A SPECIAL MONDAY NIGHT MAKE IT UP CLUB

- FEAT: TONSTARTSSBANDHT + SHARRYN KOPPENS + LLARA GOODALL + NISSA PISSA + YUKA MIKAYAMA + BUM CREEK Bar Open,

TONSTARTSSBANDHT

Do you ever read something and pronounce it a certain way, then hear how it’s actually pronounced and it kind of shakes your world? Kind of like Ginny and Hermione from Harry Potter. You’ve probably seen their name floating around posters, mags or online at some point and perhaps wondered; how the fuck do you pronounce that? Tonstartssbandht (pronounced tahn-starts-bandit), the Florida-raised and currently Brooklyn-based brothers, have released an alarmingly unwieldy pile of music over the past few years and you can catch them live at The Tote this Friday December 26. ••OPEN MIC Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:00pm.

WEDNESDAY 31 DEC

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••DEAD CITY RUINS + TWO HEADED DOG + CLUB

CRAIN + DJ DANGER + DJ WRONGHEAD Great

Britain Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm.

••BILLY MILLER & THE LOVE BROTHERS Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:40pm. $35.00.

••BLACK SORROWS + GALLIE Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $52.00. ••CHILD + MY LEFT BOOT + WILLOW DARLING +

Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

ELBRUS Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. $15.00. ••COQ ROQ WEDNESDAYS - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS

AMARINA WATERS + BEN FRANZ + SEAN MACHAON + JEMMA ROWLANDS Retreat Hotel,

••EINSTEIN TOYBOYS Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $30.00.

••THE MUTUAL APPRECIATION SOCIETY - FEAT:

Brunswick. 7:30pm.

TUESDAY DEC 30

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••BEYOND THE VALLEY - FEAT: DANNY BROWN +

HUSKY + HERMITUDE + PEKING DUCK + NINA LAS VEGAS & MORE Phillip Island Circuit, 8:00pm.

$314.87.

••BIG FREEDIA & HER DIVAS ASS-TRALIA TOUR

+ HTML FLOWERS + GROUSE PARTE DJS + YO! MAFIA Howler, Brunswick. 6:30pm. $45.00. ••CHEAP KRAKEN RUM NIGHT - FEAT: JASMIN KASET + JIMMY CLINKERFIELD + GARETH ED LINDSAY Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $8.00. ••JAKUBI Westernport Hotel, San Remo. 8:00pm. ••THE RESIGNATORS + AADD Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••RUBY’S LIVE JAZZ AFTER DARK - FEAT:

DEXTER’S ASIAN CONNECTION Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $15.00.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ••BJ MORRISZONKLE + PORK CHOP PARTY

Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.

••IRISH SESSIONS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8:00pm.

GRANDMASTER FLASH

As the first DJ to manipulate vinyl with his hands, Grandmaster Flash is the man behind the Quick Mix Theory as well as iconic party tunes like Freedom and You Know What Time It Is. Get re-schooled in hip hop when Grandmaster Flash brings his freakishly fast abilities and spin to The Espy on Saturday January 3.

Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm.

••FIREBALLS + CITY SHARPS + TRAUMA BOYS

+ RUN THE REDS Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $22.45.

••FRONT END LOADER + HIGH TENSION +

10:00pm.

••SPECTRUM TRIO Eltham Hotel, Eltham. 9:30pm. ••THE BEACHY BOYS - FEAT: KEN MAHER + AL

WRIGHT & TONY HARGREAVES Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:00pm.

••WEEKENDER RAZZMATAZZ Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••FUNK THE DARKNESS The Hi-fi, Melbourne Cbd. 10:20pm. $35.50. ••NEW YEARS EVE IN THE WEST FEST - FEAT:

WAGONS + GRAVEYARD TRAIN + CHRIS RUSSELL’S CHICKEN WALK + RAISED BY EAGLES Yarraville Club, Yarraville. 7:00pm. ••NEW YEAR’S EVE PRE-FIREWORKS SPECIAL Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $15.00.

••SOUL A-GO-GO NEW YEARS EVE - FEAT: PBS

DJ’D VINCE PEACH + MISS GOLDIE + DJ MANCHILD + DJS MATT MCFETERIDGE + ANDREW YOUNG + ZACK RAMPAGE + JACK

HAWAIIAN ISLANDS + GRENADIERS + LINCOLN LE FEVRE + MARICOPA WELLS Reverence Hotel,

Footscray. 7:00pm. $25.00.

••NEW YEAR’S BEATS - FEAT: FUNKOARS +

BRIGGS + VENTS + JOELISITCS + K21 + DAILY MEDS & MATHAS Prince Bandroom, St Kilda.

6:00pm. $44.90.

••NEW YEARS EVE @ CHERRY - FEAT: DJ PAUL

MILES + DJ BOBBY LOU Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:00pm. $13.00. ••NYE PARTY - FEAT: NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $27.00. ••NYE PARTY - FEAT: FATS WAH WAH Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8:00pm. $10.00. ••NYE PARTY AT THE ESPY - FEAT: ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI + KINGSWOOD + DZ DEATHRAYS + ADALITA + THE GRISWOLDS + MONEY FOR ROPE + MIGHTY DUKE & THE LORDS + MAGIC BONES + HARTS + MAIDS + EMPRA + PRETTY CITY + TEQUILA MOCKINGBYRD + THEM BRUINS + CLAWS & ORGANS Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $66.00. ••RATS $5 NIGHT Colonial Hotel, Melbourne Cbd.

THE BLACK LIPS

Wanna catch some of the finest rock’n’roll the Dirty South has to offer? Atlanta’s beloved sons, The Black Lips are hitting up Falls and Southbound over the New Year and if that doesn’t sound like a big enough dose of smoke, blood and beer mist, then don’t miss them when they play the Hi-Fi in Melbourne, Tuesday January 6. CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 57

GIG GUIDE

WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK

For all the latest gigs check out beat.com.au ••FREIDA LA BJORN + PUGSLEY BUZZARD

SOARROW + WOMEN OF SOUL Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $30.00.

Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 4:00pm.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK

••JEMMA & THE CLIFTON HILLBILLIES + DAN

••HOODOO MAYHEM + ZOE K Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 3:00pm.

••RONIT GRANOT Wesley Anne, Northcote. 5:00pm.

PARSONS Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm.

••SUNDAY SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS

••JIMI HOCKING’S BLUES MACHINE Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.

Lucky Coq, Windsor. 4:00pm.

••SUNDAY SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS

••THE BAND WHO KNEW TOO MUCH Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 5:00pm.

Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 2:00pm.

••THE DRUNKEN POACHERS + RATTLIN

••THE HORNETS + DJ MAX CRAWDADDY Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 2:00pm. $5.00.

BONES BLACKWOOD + DJ JEFF LEPPARD + MACGREGOR + DJ SOCIAL SERVICES Retreat

••TYRE SWANS Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 3:00pm.

MONDAY JAN 5

Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.

THURSDAY JAN 1

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••AUSSIE BOY & MATES + MARK GARDENER

Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. ••DERRICK CARTER New Guernica, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $55.00. ••THE HARVEY CARTEL The B.east, Brunswick East. 9:00pm.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••FREE RANGE FUNK - FEAT: JAKE JUDD +

TIGERFUNK + LEWIS CANCUT Lucky Coq,

Windsor. 7:00pm.

••RUBY’S LIVE JAZZ AFTER DARK Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $15.00.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ••THE DRUNKEN POACHERS Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6:00pm.

FRIDAY JAN 2

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••SATAN’S CHEERLEADERS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.

••SCRUB WRENS Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm.

••BAHKA & LA MAUVAISE REPUTATION Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $17.00. ••BLACK NIGHT CRASH Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 11:30pm.

••CHERRY BOMB European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. ••CHRIS WILSON Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 5:30pm.

••DEAD CITY RUINS + WOLFPACK + PARTY

VIBEZ + DJ ADALITA Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.

••KING EVIL Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10.00. ••LOS ROMANTICOS Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm.

••LOTUS COURT + MIDNIGHT SHIFTER + QUEEN

ANNE’S REVENGE Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd.

8:00pm. $13.00.

••MUTTON + KRETCH + MUSCLE MARY + THE

FKUPS 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $8.00. ••PRYMAL + VOODOOCAIN + I AM MINE + VISION STREET Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. ••THE BRAVES + BIG VOLCANO + DISCO PUPPETS + HOLYOAKE + DANGER DJ Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm.

••TREMORS Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm.

WANTED BANDS/ACTS WANTED for Espy Shows. Shoot an email through to mark@gunnmusic.com.au for more details WANTED: Coal in my stocking. Regards, Gina Rinehart. SERVICES SOUNDPARK REHEARSALS NORTHCOTE. From $50. Great rooms/p.a’s. Parking/Storage/Hire. Phone Andrew 0425 706 382. Soundparkstudios.com.au MISCELLANEOUS This year I’m going to make a New Years Irresolution. Or not. Maybe. Whatever. Pie…

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 58

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••CHERRY JAM Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm.

MILKY CHANCE

As you might guess, the music that plays at a children’s stationary store is not suited to a lot of people’s tastes. Thankfully, in between the three covers of David Bowie’s Heroes sung by artists from the Disney Channel and not David Bowie himself, there is one song that is actually very damn catchy. It’s Milky Chance’s Stolen Dance and you can hear it live when they play their first ever Australian headline sideshows alongside their appearance at Falls, Field Day and Southbound. Milky Chance are playing a sold out show at 170 Russell, Tuesday January 6. ••WATT’S ON - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:30pm.

••ZEVON & THE WEREWOLVES OF MELBOURNE

+ LUCY & THE DIAMONDS + ALEISTER JAMES & THE SONS OF JIM Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.

$13.00.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••RUBY’S LIVE JAZZ AFTER DARK Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $15.00. ••SOUL CONTENTION Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ••ANDY GRANT DUO European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. ••DAMON SMITH PLAYS PIANNA Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm. ••LETTER B Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.

••SPENCER P JONES Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:30pm.

••TANK DILEMMA Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm.

SATURDAY JAN 3

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••A NIGHT OF METAL IN AC/DC LANE - FEAT:

VARIOUS ARTISTS Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd.

8:00pm. $13.00. ••ALSO DRAGONS + THE DIRTY SOUTH + YOU & YOUR FRIENDS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. ••BANG - FEAT: THY ART IS MURDER + SHALLOW GRAVE + LOVE ALONE Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $20.00. ••DIRT RIVER RADIO + VOIX D’OR + PHIL PARA + AC/DC SHE Espy, St Kilda. 6:00pm. ••FIST VS FIRE Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. ••GUZZLER + THE BENGAL TIGERS + NORTH & VENDETTA Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. ••JASIA + UNDERGROUND HOUND + TOM

DOCKRAY + DJ MISS GOLDIE + DJ XANDER

Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. ••MIDNIGHT ALIBI + AUSTRALIAN KINGSWOOD FACTORY Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $13.00. ••PASSERINE + HAYLEY COOPER Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. $5.00. ••POISON FISH + PEG BUCKET + THREE QUARTER BEAST + BRICKS Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. ••SOCIETY OF BEGGARS + BLOODHOUNDS ON MY TRAIL + BATTLESICK Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00. ••SOUNDS LIKE A PARTY Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. ••SYLVAN ESSO + WAFIA + DJ ANTHONY CAREW Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $39.00. ••THE SHAKES + MIDDLEMARCH + SAN SAKAAR + THE SCOTTY CANDLISH BAND 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $5.00. ••THE UNDERHANDED + A BASKET OF MAMMOTHS + MALADAPTOR Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10.00. ••THRASHER JYNX + NMA + THE INSTINCTS +

••COLD WAR KIDS The Hi-fi, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $63.80. ••THE TEMPER TRAP + MANSIONAIR +

CHARLOTTE OC 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $50.00.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC

EDITH LANE Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. ••TOGETHERAPART + SUPREME OVERLORD + DARK POOLS + NOTHINGE + ABRE OJOS

••RUBY’S LIVE JAZZ AFTER DARK - FEAT: PIANO

Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $10.00. ••TROPHY EYES + WORTHWHILE + AMBLESIDE + STUCK BELOW + THE GREAT CITY Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 7:30pm. $20.00. ••UP UP AWAY + BIG WORDS Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $5.00.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••DOUBLE STANDARDS (CARIBBEAN SPECIAL)

Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $15.00. ••GOOD MUSIC - FEAT: ETHAN MCLAREN Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:00pm. ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ••ACTION SAM European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. ••ALISON FERRIER BAND Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. ••CHRIS WILSON Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 9:00pm. ••DR RIC’S DISHONOURABLE DISCHARGE

Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.

••ENTROPY QUARTET Wesley Anne, Northcote. 6:00pm.

••NATHAN SEECKTS + ANDREW STIFT + NATHAN

BRAILEY Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. ••THE HORNETS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. ••THREE KINGS Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. SUNDAY JAN 4 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••8FOOT FELIX + DJ BLUNDERBUSS Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 5:00pm.

••BONE SHAKERS Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm.

••DILLON FRANCIS + GRANDTHEFT 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $42.50.

TÉ Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $10.00.

••THE DOODADS Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm.

••THE MUTUAL APPRECIATION SOCIETY - FEAT:

LISA CARUSO + AYLEEN O’HANLON Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.

TUESDAY JAN 6

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••AIMEE VOLKOFSKY & THE MOLOTOVS + LUNA

DEVILLE + EL MONTEZ + MADDIE DUKE Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm.

••BLACK LIPS The Hi-fi, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $51.50.

••JULIAN CASABLANCAS & THE VOIDZ Forum Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $86.70. ••MILKY CHANCE 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

••THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL DISCOVERY NIGHT

- FEAT: DANNY & THE DESPERADOS Brunswick

Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••RUBY’S LIVE JAZZ AFTER DARK - FEAT:

DEXTER’S ASIAN CONNECTION Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $15.00.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ••DAMON SMITH + JED RICHET Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.

••GEORGE EZRA + EVES BEHAVIOUR Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. ••JESSICA PRATT + OLIVIA CHANEY + EMILY

ULMAN Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $27.50.

••OPEN MIC Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:00pm.

••EZRA LEE & THE HAVOC BAND Clare Castle Hotel, Port Melbourne. 8:00pm. ••ROCKABILLY SUNDAYS - FEAT: HEELS ON

DECKS DJ Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 4:00pm.

••THE COMMONLY INSANE Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 6:00pm.

••VIRTUE + THE DROPBEARS + SARAH BAXTER

BAND + SOUTHSIDE REBEL WITH DAN HALL Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 7:00pm.

••ZENITH EMPIRE Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 6:00pm.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••30/70 Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00.

••THE GIN CLUB TWO Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 4:30pm.

ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK ••BEC GORING & THE ELWOOD WINTERS + DJ

TRAFFIC JAM Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.

••DAVIDSON BROTHERS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.

••FLASH COMPANY Union Hotel, Brunswick. 3:30pm.

WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV

BIG FREEDIA

Big Freedia, the undisputed Queen Diva and New Orleans ambassador of bounce, is heading over to ASS-tralia to teach us wannabes how to move. Forget the steps you learnt from Queen B’s Single Ladies video because MC Big Freedia and her powerhouse dance posse ‘The Divas’ are bringin’ their one-of-a-kind, speedy, bass heavy beats to you and before each show – giving you a demonstration of bouncing from the Queen herself and some interactive Q&A. Get down to Howler on Tuesday December 30.

Thurs 25th

MERRY CHRISTMAS Friday 26th @ 9.30pm

TO YOUSE ALL! Saturday 27th @ 9.30 pm

FRIDAY 26TH DECEMBER

BOXING DAY CRICKET ON THE BIG SCREEN DRINK SPECIALS BBQ ON THE ROOFTOP FROM 5PM

SATURDAY 3RD JANUARY

‘NEW YEARS RECOVERY’

THREE KINGS FROM 5PM

DOUGY & WESTON BBQ ON THE ROOF TOP EVERY FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY ALL SUMMER LONG...

BIG FAT SKANK

(Chunky hunky grooves)

Sunday 28th @ 5.30pm

CHALOUCHE (Oh, so Frenchy)

@ 9.00 pm

Wed 24th December

Christmas Eve with Marty Kelly

8pm:

25th-31st December

KEN MAHER, AL WRIGHT & TONY HARGREAVES (Rootsy acousticians)

Tuesday 30th @ 8.00pm

IRISH SESSION

(Dreamin’ of a white Christmas)

Wednesday 31st @ 9.00pm

THE BEACHY BOYS NYE! (Surf, sun & sandwiches)

ALL GIGS ARE FREE

EXCELLENT RESTAURANT AND BAR MEALS

LOMOND HOTEL 225 NICHOLSON STREET BRUNSWICK EAST, VIC 3057 9380 1752

closed thu 1st january

6pm:

NEW YEARS DAY!

The Drunken Poachers Sat 3rd january

9pm:

Chris Wilson Sun 4th january

Pugsley Buzzard 6.30pm: Freida la Bjorn 4pm:

Tues 6th january

8pm:

Weekly Trivia

The Drunken Poet, 65 Peel Street (directly opposite Queen Vic Market), Phone: 03 9348 9797. www.thedrunkenpoet.com.au

BURGERS-BOOZE-BANDS

E VE R Y T U E A S D AY R O C K A N D P O P C U LT U R E T R I V I A

DECEMBER 24-26

h o s t e d by J e s s M c G u i r e & G e o r g e H

CLOSED

- T A B L E B O O K I N G S T R O N G LY R E C O M M E N D E D -

SATURDAY 27TH DECEMBER

E VE R Y WE D N E S D AY

with Matt Cant, Fraksha, Miss Bonita, Geezy, DieM anD More

Basket of Wings for $10

FLAGRANT XMAS

IT’S A WING THING

- S o u t h e r n s t y l e f r i e d s t i c ky c h i c k e n w i n g s -

SUNDAY 28TH DECEMBER

T H U R S D AY 1 8 T H D E C E M B E R

$10 juGs oF DrauGht & CiDer.

DJ Richard Buck

DECEMBER 29 - jANUARY 1

F R I D AY 1 9 T H D E C E M B E R

RECOvERy SESSiON Beats By inka

CLOSED

Friday 2ND JANUARY

RECOvERy SESSiON

THE BEAST XMAS PARTY

T H E S T I F F YS + SWA M P F U N K D J S - FOOD AND DRINK SPECIALS ALL NIGHT -

$12 juGs oF DrauGht & CiDer.

S A T U R D AY 2 0 T H D E C E M B E R

Saturday 3RD JANUARY

J U K E B OX R A C K E T + PBS DJS

only australian show, 2pM start. liMiteD CapaCity. Free entry

S U N D AY B L O O DY S U N D AY

SUNDAY 4TH JANUARY

4 S T Y L E S O F B L O O DY M A R YS A L L D AY

$12 juGs oF DrauGht & CiDer.

O P E N 7 d ays a we e k 11AM TIL LATE

DOC SCOTT (UK)

RECOvERy SESSiON a l l F r e e e n t ry

GruMpy hour $6 pints anD $5 BasiCs Tues-Fri from 4-7pm.125 Smith Street, Fitzroy.

www.GruMpysGreen.CoM.au CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU

D J T O P H E AV Y

facebook.com/thebeastburgers i n s t a g r a m T H E B E A S T B U R G E R S - w w w. t h e b - e a s t. c o m PH 9036 1456 | 80 LYGON ST BRUNSWICK EAST

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 59

BACKSTAGE For more information or ad bookings call Aleksei on 9428 3600

COURSE PROFILE

SONGWRITER, MUSIC PERFORMANCE DEGREE AT COLLARTS

Photo of student Julia Webster

Location: Collarts Music, Audio, Management College 55 Brady St, South Melbourne. When and why was the Songwriter course established? The Songwriter stream is part of the Collarts Bachelor Degree in Music Performance. Music students can complete their music degree as a songwriter (there is also the option to complete the degree as an instrumentalist or vocalist). Students learn the crucial elements of song structure, melody, chord progression, lyric writing, as well as recording and production skills and processes.

What are the main methods for teaching/learning of this course? Our student musicians learn songwriting and arranging through their master classes with ARIAaward-winning teachers. Students develop their own original repertoires and record their songs with our audio technology students and producers in our worldclass recording studios. Learning also involves lectures and workshops, which include in-class and offsite performances throughout the two-year degree. Who are some of the teachers and what is their experience in writing and composing music? Five-time ARIA-award winner, Jesse Hooper takes

the first year of songwriting. Well known as part of the bands Killing Heidi, and The Verses, Jesse is also an APRA Songwriter of the Year winner. The second year of the degree is led by Ryan Ritchie, who has won the International Songwriting Contest twice, and has produced and written for musicians such as Kimbra, Paris Wells, Brous, and is the founder of 35-piece orchestral band, The Raah Project. What facilities will be available for students partaking in the songwriting course? Learning takes places at Collarts’ warehouse-style campus based in South Melbourne. Creativity, energy and passion fill the space, where music students perform

weekly in the 120-seat auditorium, have full access to top-notch recording studios and post-production rooms, can jam and rehearse in multiple practice rooms or can relax in the college’s innovation hub. Point of difference (mention industry ties and links, opportunities students have for placements, use of gear etc)? Collarts is passionate about providing students with the tools and skills necessary to create and drive careers in the music industry. By the end of their degree, songwriter students develop original songs, recordings and artistic content that is needed to launch their artistic profiles and to activate their live performance careers. Students are provided with opportunities to enhance their practical and performance skills and learn at a campus that works like a boutique music industry. Our musicians work closely with audio engineers, live sound technicians, artist and event managers and are exposed to numerous industry experts and mentors, allowing them to network, gain exposure and integrate into the Australian music scene. Teaching staff include ARIA-award winners, touring and sessional musicians, professional live sound and recording technicians, artist managers and managers who work on some of Australia’s best-known music events. Collarts students gain exposure and exclusive backstage work experience through the college’s partnerships with St Jeromes’ Laneway Festival, Association of Artist Managers (AAM) and Face The Music. Payment options: Collarts students have access to the Federal Government FEE-HELP program (HECS equivalent). Upfront payment is also available for local or international students. Upcoming Open Day: Check out our innovative and dynamic music and audio space at our Open Day on Saturday January 17, from 10am to 3pm. Full details are available at www. collarts.edu.au PHONE: 1300 818 777 WEBSITE: COLLARTS.EDU.AU EMAIL: INFO@COLLARTS.EDU.AU

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals. We made you a missing lyrics based crossword type thing. All taken from Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You

ACROSS

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 60

DOWN

WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV

BACKSTAGE For more information or ad bookings call Aleksei on 9428 3600

v s

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Huge Selection – All major Brands

Comprehensive PA systems delivered, set up and operated with crew. Compact, easy, sound systems you can pickup and assemble yourself.Components such as microphones, speakers and effects are also available separately. Lights also available. For details phone Mark Barry on 03 9889 1999 or 0419 993 966

www.bssound.com.au bssound@bigpond.com

Rehearsal & Recording Studios Large Rooms $70 Medium Rooms $60 ANY NIGHT! Large Rooms $60 Medium Rooms $50 EVERY DAY!

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FOR MORE INFORMATION OR AD BOOKINGS CALL ALEKSEI ON 9428 3600

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AUSTRALIA’S ONLY NATIONAL MUSIC STREET PRESS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE AND FREE DISTRIBUTION. DESIGNED, WRITTEN AND CREATED FOR MUSICIANS AND LOVERS OF MUSIC.

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M A D E

• INTERVIEWS WITH THE WORLD’S BIGGEST ARTISTS AND HOME GROWN HEROES • FEATURES ON THE MUSIC INDUSTRY • PRODUCT NEWS AND GEAR REVIEWS • EDUCATION COLUMNS • STUDIO Q&A’S • AWESOME MONTHLY GIVEAWAYS + HEAPS MORE

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INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH

MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP

With Christie Eliezer * Stuff for this column to be emailed to <celiezer@netspace.net.au> by Friday 5pm

APRA AWARDS HELD EARLIER

Next year’s APRA awards have been moved to Tuesday March 24 at Carriageworks. They’re usually held in June but too many past winners were touring the Northern Hemisphere with summer festivals to attend. In 2015, Robert Conley takes over as Musical Director. Conley has worked with the likes of Destiny’s Child, Christina Aguilera, Carlos Santana, Justin Timberlake, Celine Dion and Darren Hayes. Another change for 2015 is the addition of two new sponsors: NXTGIG, as well as The X Studio where the after-party is held. Voting for Song of the Year ends Monday January 12, www.apraamcos.com.au.

MINISTRY OF SOUND GETS OWN TV SHOW

Kilda Festival, Brunswick Music Festival, Motor City Music Festival and Echuca Blues.

TODAY NETWORK BECOMES TODAY’S HIT NETWORK

Southern Cross Austereo rebranded its Today Network as Today’s Hit Network. In an internal memo to staff, Director of Metro Operations Guy Dobson said: “Expect great new shows, a new music format and a new ethos in everything we do that will give our listeners and our clients the best content and winning ideas. It’s a fresh new look to compliment the exceptional content we’re excited to roll out in 2015.” The network includes 2DayFM in Sydney, FoxFM in Melbourne, B105 in Brisbane, and 92.9 in Perth.

Ministry of Sound gets its own branded TV show on MTV Dance, hosted by EDM artist Timmy Trumpet. Ministry of Sound broadcasts every Saturday at 7.30 pm from Saturday January 10, looking at 20 dance tracks. But there’ll be a one-off show on New Year’s Eve looking back at 2014’s biggest toe-tappers.

LIVE NATION OWNS BIG DAY OUT

PERTH’S LIFE IS NOISE TO OPEN MELBOURNE OFFICE

* Which regional festival might be facing a fine from authorities for allowing drug use and for keeping the lights dim so cops couldn’t nab the takers?

Perth-based event sand tour promoter, PR and management company Life Is Noise plans to open a Melbourne office in 2015. This comes in the wake of the departure this month of its operation manager, Rachel Davison, who turned the company into a national touring firm. Managing Director Dave Cutbush says as a result, “We are looking to restructure our operations with more of a focus on the important music markets of Melbourne and Sydney. In addition to this we will be opening up a Melbourne office in 2015.”

America’s Live Nation Entertainment is now an owner of Big Day Out after it took a major stake in Texasbased C3 Presents. See our website for details.

THINGS WE HEAR

* Which muso, who slept in, rushed to his cousin’s wedding and had his car impounded as a result? * AC/DC took all of 60 minutes to sell out all 72,500 tickets for their Saturday July 4 show at London’s Wembley Stadium. * The Amity Affliction sold out all 70 shows on their UK tour repeating the performance of their last British run. In August, the Australian tour sold out all its five dates, while their first headlining run in midSeptember of North America sold out 12 of 30 shows and seven of 17 dates in Europe * The dude AC/DC’s Phil Rudd was accused of hiring to kill two people says the drummer offered him $250,000 and the pick of any car from his $9 million collection to become his bodyguard. * A new UK-made app KipstR is a wristband which can tell if you doze off while watching TV, and then automatically records the rest of the show.

GRINSPOON’S DAVERN OPENS OWN MUSIC STORE

During Grinspoon’s indefinite hiatus, guitarist Pat Davern and partner Katya Shiel opened a shop in NSW, Bangalow Music and Books. It stocks stringed instruments, accessories, vinyl and books: “It’s always been a dream of mine to own a guitar shop,” said Davern, who’ll also give guitar lessons.

HAPPY WAS MOST PLAYED ON AUSSIE RADIO

Pharrell Williams’ Happy was most played track on Australian radio this year with 18,872 spins, with Sheppard’s Geronimo in second place with 18,015 plays. Airplay monitoring firm AirCheck revealed that the others in the Top Ten were Sia’s Chandelier (16,739), Nico & Vinz’s Am I Wrong (16,545), Clean Bandit’s Rather Be (15,618), 5 Seconds Of Summer’s She Looks So Perfect (15,441), Milky Chance’s Stolen Dance (14,779), Sam Smith’s Stay With Me (14,689), American Authors’ Best Day Of My Life (14,602) and finally Sara Bareilles’ Brave (14,498).

KATY’S PRISM HITS 5 X PLATINUM

Following her tour, Katy Perry’s Prism album has gone five x platinum in Oz, outselling Teenage Dream. Roar is now 11 x platinum, beating Firework at nine x platinum. Dark Horse is five x platinum. New single This Is How We Do is platinum; the video has 190 million views. During the 23-date Australian tour, which sold 350,000 tickets (promoter Paul Dainty told Billboard), Perry broke the record at Allphones Arena for biggest ticket sales (89,500) on a concert run – previously set by One Direction in October 2013.

VANCE JOY ALBUM IS GOLD

Vance Joy’s Dream Your Life has gone gold while in America, Riptide is in the Top 40. Of others, G.R.L.’s Ugly Heart is four x platinum, George Eza’s Budapest three x platinum, while Wham’s Last Christmas and Calvin Harris’ Outside picked up their first platinum. AronChup’s I’m An Albatraoz is gold.

MUSIC VICTORIA PANELS

Music Victoria is involved with Leaps & Bounds festival in City of Yarra next July. There’ll be workshops and skill development programs for musicians and music businesses in 2015, including panels at the St BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 62

* Pink Floyd’s Dave Gilmour joined Bombay Bicycle Club to perform Wish You Were Here at the last ever gig at London’s Earls Court Arena. * Nick Cave fans are a motley lot which include Timothy Entwisle, CEO of the Royal Botanical Gardens. Apparently Cave’s Lime Tree Arbour from The Boatman’s Call is about the Weeping Lime (aka the Tilia Petiolaris) and not the citrus. As a result, Cave is the first in a new scheme of cultural figures to have a tree planted in his honour at the Gardens. Laughing Boy even turned up and watered his plant during the ceremony on the weekend. * For her 25th birthday, Taylor Swift got the best gift: her musical hero, the legendary Aretha Franklin serenading Happy Birthday to her at the Billboard Women in Music Awards in New York.

MAJOR TALKBACK RADIO NETWORKS MERGING

By the time you read this, talkback radio networks Fairfax Media (3AW) and John Singleton’s Macquarie Radio (2GB) may have merged in a $200 million deal. They began talking a year ago, but those collapsed leading to both sides hurling insults at each other. But the pow-wowing began after weak earnings for both. Fairfax Media’s gross earnings fell 26 per cent to $13.9 million on revenues six per cent lower at $104 million. Macquarie Radio fell 27 per cent to $10.4 million.

GRAMMY HONOURS

Given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday February 7 in Los Angeles are George Harrison, Buddy Guy, The Bee Gees, country duo The Louvin Brothers, hard bop saxophonist Wayne Shorter, French composer Pierre Boulez and Texas Tejano musician Flaceo Jiménez.

BATTLE HEATS UP FOR ROCK’N’ROLL HALL OF FAME

The battle is on between major venues to house the Australian Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame, for which the State Government promised $10 million to set up. The British venue operator, which wants to buy the Palace Theatre in the City, sees the HOF as an occupant of the refurbished place, along with Music Victoria, music and technology firms, a nightclub and a broadcasting studio. Now the Herald Sun says the Palais Theatre in St Kilda is also vying for it. Port Phillip Mayor Amanda Stevens told the paper, “We think it would make a lot of sense for it to be at The Palais. There’s a huge amount of musical history in St Kilda and we’d be really keen to secure the extra funding.”

PIERCE BROS SET FOR CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK

Melbourne’s Pierce Brothers are the latest to be added to showcase at Canadian Music Week, Friday May 1 to Sunday May 10 in Toronto, appearing before 2,000 executives. They are the 28th Australian act to be picked. Other Melbourne/Vic acts also heading there are Kingswood, Sydonia, APES, Bonjah, Banoffee, Demi Louise, Hamish Anderson, I AM THE RIOT, Immigrant Union, King George, Olivers Army and The Resignators. Others from around the country include The Beautiful Girls, Dune Rats, Caitlin Harnett, The Love Junkies, Julia Why and Lili Kendall, When the Pierce Bros played Lowlands Festival in Netherlands to an over-capacity tent of 10,000 and outselling everyone in the merch tent, including QOTSA, Royal Blood and London Grammar. After their Big Sound showcase a few months ago in Brisbane, they were signed to a worldwide deal with Mushroom Publishing and sold-out two shows at The Corner.

GOOD WORKS #1: SUPPORT ACT CHRISTMAS APPEAL

Donations to Support Act’s Christmas Appeal will ensure those who used its services get a supermarket gift card for food, essentials and even a present. Individuals get a $50 voucher, families $100. Give supportact.org.au/donate/ or post a cheque to Support Act, PO Box 805, Potts Point NSW 1335.

* Four of Kiss’ original road crew (1974-6) have written a tell-all book on their early years, titled Out On the Streets: The True Tales of Life on the Road With the Hottest Band in the Land...KISS. It covers wrestling with thieves, bullet ridden vehicles, arrests, sexual encounters and abject poverty.

HAPPY AS LARRY LAUNCHES

Happy as Larry Music Publishing is the new name for Larrikin Music Publishing, with Music Sales Group covering it for Australia and NZ. The company was launched at the Oxford Arts Factory in Sydney, with sets from Eric Bogle, William Barton and Jasia. Happy As Larry is looking to invest in writers from Australia, NZ and other APRA territories, especially those engaged in writing a genre suitable for film, TV and ads.

Born: son, Byron Jax to Australian guitarist Nathan Cavaleri and wife Amy. Born: son Sebastian last month to The Audreys’ Taasha Coates and Todd Bennett, graphic designer and Dirty York bassist, their second child. Born: son Evander to rapper Example and Aussie model Erin McNaught. Injured: a 28-year old employee needed surgery after being hit in the arm with a machete during an armed robbery at a NSW mid-north coast club. In Court: R&B singer Chris Brown and his bodyguard who in September pleaded guilty to assault after punching a man in Washington this year when he tried to get his photo taken, were given suspended jail sentences. Arrested: at Port Macquarie’s Festival of The Sun festival, nine for jumping the fence, 14 for drugs, 13 for under-age drinking and 13 for bad behavior. In Court: US rapper Young Jeezy cleared of gun charges following his arrest after his set with Wiz Khalifa in Atlanta. It turned out the AK-47 assault rifle he was caught with had been legally purchased by his security team. Suing: Hungarian folk singer Mitsou claims her 1994 recording of traditional Roma folk song Bajba, Bajba Pelem was “digitally manipulated without her permission” and used by Beyonce for her Drunk In Love hit. Died: Sydney community radio presenter Bob Spence (founder of Good Morning Country in 2000), passed at 86. Died: US country singer Dawn Sears, of Vince Gill’s band and The Time Jumpers. 53, from cancer. Died: Neil Reshen, 75, ex-manager to Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, 75, complications of Alzheimer’s. He helped create the “Outlaw” sound. Died: Rock Scully, legendary manager of the Grateful Dead (1965 to 1985), from lung cancer. He co-wrote a book on his time with them. Died: US country songwriter Larry Henley, 77, best known for writing Wind Beneath My Wings. Died: John Fry, who ran Memphis’ Ardent Studio, where Isaac Hayes, Sam and Dave, Led Zeppelin and James Taylor recorded. Died: American hip hop producer Larry Smith, 63, after a stroke a few years ago. He produced Run DMC’s early recordings. Died: Gary Lane, who played bass on The Standells’ 1966 garage-rock classic, Dirty Water, 76, after an 18-month battle with lung cancer.

MILLER WINDING UP BORED NOTHING

SAM SMITH HITS 1M SALES IN US, UK

Sam Smith, all but unknown last year, saw his debut album In The Lonely Hour, hit one million sales in America. 24 hours later, it hit that mark in the UK as well. Tracks downloaded from the album total 2.48 million and streamed 97 million times, with the videos viewed 48 million times. Smith is the only artist to have a million-seller-album on both sides of the Atlantic in 2014. Ed Sheeran did it in the UK, Taylor Swift and Frozen sold one million in the US.

LIFELINES

GOOD WORKS #2: MUSIC INSTRUMENTS FOR REFUGEES

Sydney volunteer music teacher Philip Feinstein, who’s been holding Music For Refugees classes for children and adults inside immigration detention centres since 2009, is expanding its reach. He’s growing the program to other detention centres including Manus Island, Christmas Island and Nauru. He needs musical instruments that are not being used any more, with drop-off points around the country listed at musicforrefugees.org.

50,000 FOR FUTURE MUSIC ASIA?

Future Music Festival Asia expects its move from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore (March 13, 14) will swell the audience rise 50,000. The bill includes Avicii, The Prodigy, Nero, Afrojack, Fatboy Slim, Example and Knife Party.

WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV

Melbourne multi-instrumentalist Fergus Miller is winding up his Bored Nothing project, with a farewell show Melbourne at The Northcote Social Club on Saturday January 10. The albums Bored Nothing and Some Songs, got triple j and community radio play, and stellar global reviews which led to tours of North America, UK and Europe. He said, “It’s been fun. We’ve drank a lot of beer, [were] banned from a prominent Melbourne venue, and had shows where even some of the band-members didn’t show up.”

ROB POTTS REAPPOINTED TO AMERICAN BOARD

Sydney country music promoter Rob Potts, CEO of Rob Potts Entertainment Edge, was reappointed to the US Country Music Association (CMA) board for his 13th consecutive year. The only Australian-based member on the board, Potts has been pushing for opportunities for Aussie acts in the US. With Chugg Entertainment he built up a country music touring circuit for US acts.