TO
TO
NIG
NIG
HT
HT
SATURDAY 21 & SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY MELBOURNE SHOWGROUNDS CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 3
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 4
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 5
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 6
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
PRESENTS
SCNDL
ED COLMAN / TATE STRAUSS / DJ ONTIME / matty g chloe wilson / micky-FLo/ Dean t
saturday feb 21 BOOK YOUR GUESTLISTS AT LEVEL3ATCROWN.COM.AU
To enhance the safety and welfare of all patrons, Crown enforces the following conditions of entry: Dress standards apply. Patrons must be over 18 and not prohibited from entering the Casino or the Crown Entertainment Complex for any reason. Patrons must submit their driver’s licence or other photo identification to be scanned upon entry. Management reserves all rights. Crown practises responsible service of alcohol. Personal information collected by Crown will be handled in accordance with Crown’s Privacy Policy, crownmelbourne.com.au/privacy-policy
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 7
THE GREAT BRITAIN HOTEL no apartments RICHMOND no reno's still the gb M MOONNDDAAYY
COMEDY UNDERGROUND
FREE POOL + $10 PIZZA & POT
TTUUEESSDDAAYY
TRIVIA + $10 PIZZA & POT
W WEEDDNNEESSDDAAYYSS
OPEN MIC
MONDAY MONDAY
TTUUES ESDDAY AY
W WEDNES EDNESDDAY AY
FREE POOL
FREE POOL
open m ic
$10 PIZZA & POT
$10 PIZZA & POT
THURSDAY THURSDAY
FFRID RIDAY AY
OLIVERS ARMY
JUMBO
SCALAMITY aturday Feb 7 5PM LANE
The THE LOVLIES
from
VIRTUE Open Mic
S.L.A.P
Show the boogie man what you’ve got ! JASPER’S DILEMMA 7pm free drink to encourage every then performer!
SUNDAY SESSIONS ack Alley e BlSESSIONS htribute TSUNDAY XMAS EVE EVE!SilvercHAir +calamity lane zz'n'boo
stlyja drunken o Tuesday 23rd DecemberfridAy M 6tH februAryOFFICER SOPHIE + more! LIVE BANDS + DJ’S FROM 8PM TIL LATE! PoaChers IAN MADDICK SnAp SHANE BAUER SLIM JEFFE RIEScOLD nathan varga from 4pm
TTHHUURRSSDDAAYY
COVERS ALL ALL ORIGINAL ORIGINAL MUSIC! MUSIC! 8PM
tiMe For a PoacHerS Party! cHeck
out tHiS raMbunctiouS Sextet oF rabblerS, Playing Hard-drinkin’ tuneS on banjo, Mandolin and uke.
FFRRIIDDAAYY
COCOA NOIR SESSIONS
7PM
SSAATTUURRDDAAYY
FORTRESS OF NARZOD TWISTED PISTOL 9PM
S.L.IKAE A.P
• SOPHIA WALTERS • POCKETS • + brendan forward Sunday Feb 8 3.30PMRAZOR • • MAJOR SAturdAy 7tH JAnuAry
sarah Carroll
& D E A T T A ELEJVg R E P SS guiTar S ED meThod
THE RAMBLING ROOTS, LITTLE THEATRE 7PM
extraordinaire PlayS a Solo SHow oF Her beautiFul tuneS.
Sunday Feb 8 5PM
jon von goeS FrontS tHe goodtiMe guitar MetHod, witH Mark Ferrie (rockwiz orkeStra), aSH davieS & dale lindrea. let tHe Hilarity enSue.
$15 JUGS GREAT BRITAIN DRAUGHT - $15 JUGS SANGRIA
44 44 77 CC HH UU RR CC HH SS TT ,, RR II CC HH M M OO NN DD PP HH .. 99 88 11 00 00 00 88 22 facebook.com/thegreatbritainhotel facebook.com/thegreatbritainhotel
P E& R A T E S E D DATELESS
Saturday 14th February Djs playing heart break classics live band from 10pm
STRAY LOVE
Food & Drink Specials all night
f o r m o r e i nf o a s k i n s t o r e-f a c e b o o k.c o m/th e b e a s t b u rge rs-i n s t a gr a m th e b e a s t b u rge rs-www.th e b-e a s t.c o m PH 9036 1456 | 80 LYGON ST BRUNSWICK EAST | THEB-EAST.COM
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 8
S AT URD AY
S AT URD AY WedneSdAyS
Saturday Feb 7 9PM
7:30 REGISTRATION 8PM KICK OFF
UNDERGROUND HOUND LIVING EARTH
BaR
step DJS CarTridgeUNDERGROUND tHurSdAy 5tH februAry till late from 8pm on Family em SiLVeRSTOMp Saturday 6th Dec
Hot diggity, tHoSe twangin’, Singin’ inbredS are back: SuzannaH eSPie, SaraH carroll, ruSty bertHer and greg Field.
SSUUNNDDAAYY
7:30pm registration 8pm kick off
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
SOUNDS L SiSTeRS DOLL RDAY 1ST N U T A S IS H T + path of destruction evol WAlkS K (uSA) ICKS OFF AT 8 voodoocain Wild violet Stacey-v
After Work HAppy Hour from 4pm:
$5 drinkS, Wed, tHurS, fri
2 LEVELS!
160 Hoddle St AbbotSford
WITH SPECIAL GUEST
ON SALE NOW
ALTJBAND.COM
FRONTIERTOURING.COM
NEW ALBUM THIS IS ALL YOURS OUT NOW
What’s on
at the Wonderland Spiegeltent
EUROGLIDERS
MARTY PUTZ
SATURDAY 7 MARCH
Putzinund Aro SATURDAY 21 MARCH
SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY
8:30PM LEHMO
APRIL SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
8:30PM
C FRANHRIS KLIN
Presents WONDERLAND SPIEGELTENT HARBOUR TOWN DOCKLANDS
Bookings www.wonderlandspiegeltent.com.au
LIVE MUSIC: Thursday February 5
ERECT presents #Melbourne Music
Nick Evangelou, Jane Sea, Grace King, Alexandra Pye 7.30pm Friday February 6
The Cliches +Melissa & Zac - 8PM Sunday February 8
Sunday Songwriters New Tides, Brett Franke, Acousticky Situation, Nick Evangelou, GK Stratton 5PM Thursday February 12
Nardia & Callum 8PM Friday February 13
Gary Eastwood 9PM
Saturday February 14
KOKO
Valentines Day Show 9PM Sunday February 15
Stibbo & Greenhatch 5pm
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 10
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
THU 5 FEB MUSICMAN MEGASTORE, BENDIGO
FRI 6 FEB THE LOFT, WARRNAMBOOL
SAT 7 FEB BAHA TACOS RYE
SUN 8 FEB LUCKY COQ PRAHRAN
MON 9 FEB OLD BAR FITZROY
THU 12 FEB THE ESPY FRONT BAR ST KILDA
FRI 13 FEB WESTERNPORT TAVERN, SAN REMO
SAT 14 FEB THE GREAT BRITAIN, RICHMOND
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 11
in this issue
12
hot talk
20
tourinG
22
jurrasic 5
24
art oF the citY: whats on, scotch + soda
26
art oF the citY: news the comic striP, calendar
27
Pixel mountain
30
G.love & the sPecial sauce, band oF skulls
31
the Fuck Fucks & dumb Punts page 34
shane jacobson & the melbourne ska orchestra
sarah bl asko page 32
32
kittY, daisY & lewis, sarah blasko
33
stePhen malkmus & the jicks, sPoon
34
the Fuck Fucks & dumb Punts, toniGht alive
35
core/crunch
36
music news
40
live
42
album oF the week, sinGles, charts
sPoon page 33
band oF skulls page 30
3 newton street richmond, victoria 3121 Phone: (03) 9428 3600 Fax: (03) 9428 3611 email: info@beat.com.au www.beat.com.au beat maGaZine email addresses: (no large attachments please): Gig Guide: online at beat.com.au email gigguide@beat.com.au - it’s free! club listings: online at beat.com.au email clubguide@beat.com.au - it’s free! music news items: music@beat.com.au artwork: art@beat.com.au beat classifieds 33c a word: classifieds@beat.com.au Publisher: Furst Media Pty Ltd. music editor: Cara Williams arts editor / associate music editor: Tyson Wray
WED
EVERY WEEK
THUR
sub editor / advertisinG & editorial coordinator: Soph Goulopoulos editorial assistants: Gemma Palmer, Cassie Hedger, Lauren Gill, Gloria Brancatisano, Kelsey Berry. PuZZle master: Thom Parry manaGinG director, Furst media: Patrick Carr beat Production manaGer: Michael Cusack GraPhic desiGners: Ruby Furst, Michael Cusack, Robert Smith. cover art: Michael Cusack advertisinG: Cara Williams (Music: Bands/Tours/Record Labels) cara@beat.com.au Aleksei Plinte (Backstage/Musical Equipment) mixdown@beat. com.au Thom Parry (Hospitality/Bars) thom@beat.com.au Soph Goulopoulos (Indie Bands/Beat Eats) soph@furstmedia.com.au classiFieds: classifieds@beat.com.au GiG Guide submissions: now online at www.beat.com.au or bands email gigguide@beat.com.au online editor - beat.com.au: Tyson Wray: tyson@beat.com.au
FRI
HAPPY PEOPLE
OTOLOGIC, DJ SUSAN, LEO (CANYONS), WINTERS AND JIMMY CAUTION
•—
SAT !
TRY $ 10 EN
SUN
BONEY SATURDAYS —•
BAKERT ST, BRIAN HENDRIE, MOOPIE RAW WAX TAKEOVER
FROM 5 AM
beat maGaZine PaGe 12
KATIE DROVER
44
GiG Guide
48
backstaGe/the local
50
industrial strenGth
contributinG PhotoGraPhers: Mary Boukouvalas, Ben Clement, Ben Gunzburg, Rebecca Houlden, Nick Irving, Anna Kanci, Cassandra Kiely, Charles Newbury, Richard Sharman, Tony Proudfoot, Ian Laidlaw, Laura May Grogan, Mark Stanjo, David Harris, Emily Day sPecial Projects editor: Christie Eliezer senior contributors: Patrick Emery columnists: Emily Kelly, Peter Hodgson, Lachlan Kanoniuk 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.
UPCOMING EVENTS / www.boney.net.au
HIP HOP KARAOKE NUMBER 4 WITH GET BU$Y and MAT CANT
NO MONEY, NO PROBLEMS
DOWN STAIRS
accountant: accountant@furstmedia.com.au oFFice manaGer: Lizzie Dynon: reception@furstmedia.com.au accounts receivable: Luke Forester: accounts@furstmedia.com.au recePtion: reception@furstmedia.com.au distribution: distribution@beat.com.au Free Every Wednesday to over 2000 places including convenience stores, newsagents, ticket outlets, shopping centres, community youth & welfare outlets, clubs, hotels, venues, record, music and video shops, boutiques, retailers, bars, restaurants, cafes, bookstores, hairdressers, recording studios, cinemas, theatres, galleries, universities and colleges. Wanna get BEAT? Email distribution@beat.com.au
THUR 5/02
with Max Factoid
~ FEAT MONTHLY TAKEOVERS FROM HIP HOP KARAOKE, CONDENSED MILK COLLECTIVE, WE BE QUEENS AND WAX MUSEUM RECORDS
albums
toniGht alive page 34
BONEY TRIVIA NIGHT
FREE ENTRY!
43
KITCHEN NOW
OPEN EAT IN & TAKEAWAY
FRI 6/02
FRI 13/ 02
FRI 20/ 02
WWW.BONEY.NET.AU
SPIN CLUB
with GARBAGE, OPTI-MUM- TRANS, ZOBS PLACE, FUNGLE CLUB, SUMMER and friends
KANGAROO SKULL
JAKE BLOOD, ELISABETH, ASSAD, CALE SEXTON and JAMAL AMIR
(03) 9663 8268
68 LT. CO LLINS
PONY CLUB
with GROUSE DJS, SALMON BARRELL, GEOFF O’CONNOR, DARREN SYLVESTER and LEI AND MAI GRYFFYDD
FRI 27/ 02
MISTY NIGHTS ‘STUDIO 5420’ with LIL HOTEP, SALMON BARREL and TORNADO WALLACE
watch interviews, chats & awkward silences... beat.com.au/tv
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 13
HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au
JOHNNY MARR
After postponing his summer tour due to family illness, Johnny Marr has revealed that he will return down under this winter. The former Smiths guitarist will now tour Australia and New Zealand in July, playing all of the originally scheduled dates except for Brisbane. Ticketholders who are able to attend the new dates will need to take no action, with their existing ticket remaining valid. Those who are unable to attend the new shows are asked to secure a refund from their original point of purchase before Friday February 6. Johnny Marr will now play The Forum Theatre on Wednesday July 22. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
LOWDOWN HOKUM ORCHESTRA
THE SMITH STREET BAND
Making their debut into the triple j’s Hottest 100 at #69 with much loved single Surrender, The Smith Street Band have followed up with the announcement of a third and final Melbourne show to their Get High, See Everyone tour. On their most expansive Australian tour to date, which includes 27 dates from Darwin to Tasmania, as well as regional cities and all ages shows, Melbourne will see the addition of another Hi-Fi show on Thursday, February 19 in what will serve as the band’s last Melbourne show before heading to North America and Europe. Tickets are available through the venue’s website.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 14
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
The Lowdown Hokum Orchestra and Burlesque Revue are bringing their blend of blues and jazz with burlesque to Wonderlands Spiegeltent, Docklands this Saturday February 7. LHO will deliver a wonderfully unique show, featuring some of the finest jazz and blues talent in the land, with diva Nichaud Fitzgibbon and blues master Doc White in the lead roles. Paul Williamson, Peter Howell, Tony Martin and Alex Black round out the band, with Mike Rudd appearing as a special guest on vocals and harmonica. The bump ‘n’ grind of the burlesque performers Miss Bettie Bombshell, Mimi Le Noire and Minnie Monroe give an edginess to the show and ties in perfectly with the theme. A hoochie coochie, saucy, musically driven romp of a show. For more information, visit wonderlandspiegeltent.com.au.
THE ESPLANADE HOTEL 11 THE ESPLANADE ST KILDA PHONE: (03) 9534 0211
TICKETS FROM OZTIX! THEESPY.OZTIX.COM.AU
VISIT OUR WEBSITE!
ESPY.COM.AU
THU
05 FEB FRI
06 FEB
SAT
07 FEB
FEB
B AS E M E N T FREE!
F R O N T B A R FREE!
THE FABRIC
BROOKLYN’S FINEST
VIBRAPHONIC ORKESTRA, KATTIMONI
LIKE US THEESPYSTKILDA
KALACOMA DEAR PLASTIC ONCE WERE WILD
FOLLOW US @ESPYHOTEL
BLOODHOUNDS ON MY TRAIL
F R O N T B A R FREE!
G E R S H W I N FREE!
THE QUARTERS
THE PARTY ANIMALS
PEOPLES PALACE
& SPECIAL GUESTS FROM 8.30PM
KILL DIRTY YOUTH, THE OUTSIDERS
G E R S H W I N $10 AT DOOR
F R O N T B A R FREE!
B AS E M E N T FREE!
WE ARE EXILE
ZUTROY HEMY & MARSHALL SOUTHBOUND SNAKE CHARMER B AS E M E N T FREE!
MASSIVE
JUKAI FOREST
THE NBC, OPTICAL SCREW
THE MERCY KILLS, PHIL PARA + MORE!
SWEET DECAY, NEEKO & JOSH. 9PM
TRAVIS MCCARTHY. FROM 9PM
PALACE OF THE KING
TRIUMPH OVER LOGIC, VHS DREAM
GYPSY BOOTS
ST KILDA FEST SUNDAY PARTY AT THE ESPY!
SUN
08
FOLLOW US @THEESPYGRAM
GERSHWIN
FRONT BAR
HOT DUB TIME MACHINE KIM CHURCHILL MIAMI HORROR DJ’S COCOA JACKSON LANE DJ MU-GEN RESIDENCIES ALL FREE!
M O N DAYS
MOSÉ + THE FMLY
& SPECIAL GUESTS FREE ENTRY - 7PM
B AS E M E N T FREE!
LLOYD SPIEGEL HIATUS KAIYOTE SILENT JAY + JACE XL THE HELLHOUNDS DJ’S WONDERCORE ISLAND PHIL PARA SEX ON TOAST, KIRKIS AINSLIE WILLS
T U E S DAYS
W E D N E S DAYS
BAYSIDE MUSO NITE 7.30PM
UNSIGNED MUSO NITE 7.30PM
‘BRIGHTSIDE’ ‘COLLAGE’
SAT U R DAYS
PHIL PARA
+ SPECIAL GUESTS FROM 6PM
S U N DAY S E SS I O N S W I T H
GEOFF ACHISON
AND HIS ALL STAR BAND EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT!
+ STAND & DELIVER 80’S TRIBUTE SHOW + SUPER SOUNDS MIXTAPE IN THE FRONT BAR - FROM 6PM
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 15
HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au facebook/thehifi
A$AP Ferg
twitter.com/hifi_melb instagram.com/thehifi
J U ST A N N O U N C E D
NICO GHOST
MON 23 FEB
MILLENCOLIN, THE VANDALS & THE INTERRUPTERS
GROOVIN THE MOO
TUE 24 FEB
NEW FOUND GLORY, BAYSIDE & THE WONDER YEARS WED 25 FEB
ALL TIME LOW, & FIREWORKS
Groovin The Moo is back for another year with an all-killer, no-filler bill. The 2015 incarnation of the festival will feature performances from A$AP Ferg, Ball Park Music, Broods, Carmada, Charli XCX, The Delta Riggs, DMA’s Flight Facilities, Hermitude, Hilltop Hoods, Hot Dub Time Machine, Meg Mac, Northlane, One Day, Peace, Peaches, The Preatures, RL Grime, San Cisco, Saskwatch, Sticky Fingers, Tkay Maidza, Wolfmother and You Me At Six with more to be announced. It all goes down on Saturday May 2 at The Bendigo Prince Of Wales Showground. Hit their website for more details.
MARLON WILLIAMS
FRI 20 MAR
NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE FRI 12 JUN
SLEEPMAKESWAVES THIS WEEK
New Zealand alt-country artist Marlon Williams will return to Australia in April in support of his new single Dark Child. The single will appear on Williams’ upcoming debut album, set for release on April 24. The tour follows a huge year for Williams, who has played sets at Meredith, Queenscliff, Bigsound and Mullumbimy Music Festival, as well as support slots for First Aid Kit and Justin Townes Earle. Catch Marlon Williams at The Gasometer Hotel on Thursday April 9. Tickets are available through Oztix.
Fresh from his appearance at Beyond The Valley, local hip hop artist Nico Ghost has announced a monthlong residency at Laundry Bar. The residency follows the release of Ghost’s debut single Coolin, produced by LA native GXNXVS. Born in South Africa and currently residing in Melbourne, Ghost states he is inspired by the “intergalactic tunes from Kid Cudi, storytelling of Snoop Dogg, and the smooth jams of Lionel Richie.” Nico Ghost will perform at Laundry Bar each Friday in February.
MOTOR CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL
Motor City Music Festival have revealed their live and local lineup, adding a stack of artists from the Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast area. The latest announcement features The Tiny Giants, The Stackshots, Famous Will, Revolution, Grasshopper, Brooklyn Blue, Underground, Flawed Peace, Cooper Lower, Fenn Wilson, Jack Wright, Luke Biscan and Tex Miller. Motor City Music Festival takes place from Friday March 6 to Sunday March 8 at the Geelong Showgrounds. Visit the festival website for tickets and more information.
WED 04 FEB
MAC DEMARCO SOLD OUT
THE ESPY ST KILDA FEST
The Espy has revealed the acts that will hit the stage for the last day of St Kilda Festival 2015. This year’s event will feature Hiatus Kaiyote, Hot Dub Time Machine, Kim Churchill, Miami Horror DJs, Kirkis, Ainslie Wills, Cocoa Jackson Lane, Silent Jay and Jace XL, Sex On Toast, DJ Mu-Gen, Wondercore Island DJs, Lloyd Spiegel, The Hellhounds and Phil Para. It all goes down on Sunday February 8 at The Espy. Visit the Espy website for more information.
THU 05 FEB
BEN FROST FRI 6 FEB
BEATS ANTIQUE SAT 07 FEB
LANEWAY AFTERPARTY FEAT. FUTURE ISLANDS CO M I N G S O O N THU 12 FEB
TUE 03 MAR
FRI 13 FEB
FRI 06 MAR
MODE SELEKTOR KUTSKI
SAT 14 FEB
NEON PARTY UV PAINT THU 19 FEB
SMITH STREET BAND FRI 20 FEB
TINASHE SAT 21 FEB
T-REK FEAT. MAD MITCH FRI 27 FEB
DELTRON 3030 SAT 28 FEB
BRING THE SWARM FEAT. SPOONBILL + MORE
NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE
Northeast Party House are giving one last victory lap to their debut album Any Given Weekend with the Double Darts Tour this autumn. Widely regarded as a Falls Festival highlight and off the back of a sold out Kick Ons tour last November, this tour will see them play 13 national shows, including two all-ages gigs and performances on the west coast. Sydney buzz band Food Court will be blasting their lo-fi garage rock as they support Northeast Party House on their biggest headline tour yet. Northeast Party House perform Friday March 20 at The Hi-Fi Bar, and Saturday April 25 at Northcote Social Club. Tickets available through Ticketscout.
SHARON VAN ETTEN PARQUET COURTS
SAT 07 MAR SUN 08 MAR
SETH SENTRY FRI 13 MAR
PSYCROPTIC & GOAT WHORE SAT 21 MAR
THE BEARDS WED 29 APR
B-BOY WORLD CHAMPIONS TOUR
2015 KYNETON MUSIC FESTIVAL
With less than a month left to go, the lineup for the 2015 Kyneton Music Festival has gotten even bigger. Immigrant Union, Brendan Welch, My Dynamite, Footy, Ali E, Jemma & The Clifton Hillbillies and Ally Spazzy’s Kiddyrock are the latest additions to the bill. They’ll join the likes of Little Bastard, Money For Rope, Laura Jean, Harmony, Liz Stringer, Archer and many more. The Kyneton Music Festival is set to go down from Friday February 20 to Saturday February 21 at the Mechanics Institute. More information and tickets are available from kynetonmusicfestival.com.au.
FRI 29 MAY
BABY ANIMALS & THE SUPER JESUS
TIX + INFO THEHIFI.COM.AU 125 SWANSTON ST, MELBOURNE
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 16
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au THE CONTROLLERS
Melbourne four-piece The Controllers have announced their east coast Animals tour, coinciding with the launch of their Animals EP. Enjoying the success of lead single Nina Fell In Love, The Controllers evoke the punk rock DIY aesthetic of hero’s Against Me! and Violent Soho. Joining them for the tour are Horror My Friend and Super Best Friends. The Controllers perform in Melbourne at The Workers Club on Saturday March 28. Tickets available through OzTix.
ÁSGIER
THE FELICE BROTHERS
The Felice Brothers are making a welcome return to Australia with a very special headline show this March. Touring on the back of the 2014 release Favorite Waitress, the band will also be playing around the country supporting Conor Oberst. Opening the night will be Lost Ragas. They play The Toff In Town on Sunday March 1. Tickets available through the venue.
Icelandic crooner Ásgeir will join alt-j for their Australian tour in May. This will be alt-j’s biggest tour of Australia to date, after two intimate shows late last year and a number of festival appearances. Ásgeir has also spent his fair share of time in Australia these past 12 months, playing at Splendour In The Grass, Falls Festival and Southbound. It goes down on Sunday May 10 at Rod Laver Arena. Tickets are available through Ticketek.
IRON REAGAN
American hardcore outfit Iron Reagan will return to Australia this April. Comprised of members of Municipal Waste, Cannabis Corpse and Darkest Hour, the five-piece will hit our shores on the back of their Tyranny of Will LP, which was released to widespread praise back in October. Catch ‘em at The Tote on Saturday April 11. Tickets through the venue.
WINTERBOURNE
Folk rock duo Winterbourne have announced their first ever headline tour, the All But The Sun tour. Having previously toured nationally with Patrick James and Little May, the All But The Sun tour will be supporting the release of Steady My Bones, the latest single taken from the duo’s beaming debut EP All But The Sun. Winterbourne perform in Melbourne Saturday March 14 at Wrangler, with a later show the same night at Shebeen Bandroom. Tickets available through respective venues.
GREAT AUSTRALIAN BEER FESTIVAL
The third annual Great Australian Beer Festival will feature an entertainment lineup of music from around the world alongside comedy, cabaret and a touch of vaudeville. The festival is set to feature rhythms of the Caribbean, Australia’s hottest bluegrass bands, a touch of country, indie and Celtic folk, jazz, funk, plus a dose of soul. Australia’s biggest alfresco craft beer and cider garden will host Nicky Bomba and Friends, Pierce Brothers, The Davidson Brothers, The Go Set and The Pheasant Pluckers. The highly theatrical and quirky quartet of Spyndrift will bring their cabaret, while the all-girl 25-piece big band Sweethearts will also perform their fusion of styles based around classic soul. And that’s only the beginning. The 2015 Great Australian Beer Festival is being held at Geelong Racecourse on Saturday February 21. Tickets, the full lineup and more information is available through the festival’s website.
BAD MANNERS
UK ska royalty Bad Manners are hitting Australian shores for a nationwide tour over this May and June. Playing for over 30 years at this point, Bad Manners are set to return with their boundless energy and bouncy ska sounds, playing their hits Lip Up Fatty, Walking In The Sunshine and Can Can. They perform in Melbourne on Thursday June 4 at The Corner Hotel. Tickets available through the venue.
Q&A
Beat’s Artist Profile with
Swamp Moth
Define your genre in five words or less: Super rare ‘70s riff rock. So, someone is walking past as you guys are playing, they then go get a beer and tell their friend about you... what do they say? My face just got torn off by these charismatic dudes playing the best rock songs I’ve never heard and the rest of my life is now an anti-climax How long have you been gigging and writing? We’ve been ruling stages since June 2012 all around town and out of town honing our blistering craft and feeding our chronic addiction to the finest beers known to humanity. What has been your favourite gig you’ve played to date? It’s a toss-up between the Sheriff album launch at The Tote and a debauched mess of a show at The Eastern in sunny Ballarat. Which band would you most like to have a battle/showdown with? Banchee, or Bolder Damn, or Leaf Hound, or Captain Beyond. What inspires or has influenced your music the most? Every hard rock band from the early ‘70s that wasn’t Purple, Sabbath or Zeppelin that needed their forgotten magnificence resurrected live on stage. What do you think a band has to do these days to succeed? Play loud, a lot and commit to it. Do you have any record releases to date? What? Where can I get it? We have a mighty EP available for free at swampmoth.bandcamp.com. Why should everyone come and see your band? The catchiest, toughest, juiciest riffs of yore played with a massive Hammond, wailing guitar, pummelling drums and a crazy frontman. SWAMP MOTH are playing at The Brunswick Hotel this Friday February 6. CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 17
HOT TALK
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au All Time Low
Falling in Reverse
Godsmack
FALLING IN REVERSE AND ESCAPE THE FATE
ALL TIME LOW AND FIREWORKS
All Time Low will team up with Fireworks for the latest shows in the ever-growing list of Sidewaves. The pop-punk outfits will play shows in Sydney and Melbourne during their time Down Under for Soundwave. All Time Low will release their sixth album Future Hearts in April, while Fireworks’ latest effort Oh, Common Life was released in March last year. Head on down to The Hi-Fi on Wednesday February 25 to catch All Time Low and Fireworks. Get tickets through The Hi-Fi website.
GODSMACK AND PAPA ROACH
The Sidewaves keep on pilin’ on in. This time around we have Godsmack, who recently had the Mayor of Boston declare August 6 ‘as Godsmack Day’ in honour of their 20 million album sales and two decades of killer tunes. They’ll be joined by nu-metal mainstays Papa Roach. It goes down on Tuesday February 24 at The Forum. Tickets through Ticketmaster. Papa Roach
Fireworks
Las Vegas locals Falling in Reverse and Escape the Fate will join forces for two intimate Sidewaves in Sydney and Melbourne. Falling in Reverse and Escape the Fate have been touring extensively together in recent years, taking their Bury The Hatchet tour across North America in 2014. The two bands will also be joined by post-hardcore outfit The Color Morale, who will also be venturing around the country with the bands for Soundwave. Falling In Reverse will release their third album Just Like You on Friday February 20. Catch Falling in Reverse and Escape the Fate on Wednesday February 25 at 170 Russell. Tickets through Oztix. Escape the Fate
ON SALE NOW
TICKETS & INFO AT BLUESFESTTOURING.COM.AU FULL BLUESFEST LINE-UP AT BLUESFEST.COM.AU
ALSO TOURING
: ALABAMA SHAKES : ANGELIQUE KIDJO : BETH HART : DISPATCH
PRESENTS
DJOBA’ ‘DJOBI BAILA ME’ ‘BAMBOLÉO ‘ ’
25TH
FEATURING
NICOLAS REYES & TONINO BALIARDO
ANNIVERSARY WORLD TOUR! THE PALAIS THE PALAIS FRI 10FRI APRIL 10 APRIL
IS ONE THING YOU “DOIFINTHERE THIS LIFE: SEE MICHAEL FRANTI SCENESTR ”
ULUMBARRA THEATRE BENDIGO - WED 1 APR SOULSHINE FESTIVAL @FESTIVAL FESTIVAL HALL - THU 2 APRIL W/ SOJA, TREVOR HALL
WAITED SEVEN YEARS FOR A GIG THIS GOOD, AND WE’D “DOWEIT AGAIN ... THE PERFECT GIG. TIMEOUT ”
WWWWW WAS ABOUT AS LIVE AND ELECTRIFYING A PERFORMANCE AS I HAVE EVER BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WITNESS, A WILD AND JOYOUS GROOVE MIASMA THAT STILL SOUNDS LIKE A DISPATCH FROM THE FUTURE.
“
TELEGRAPH UK
170 RUSSELL FRI 3 APRIL BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 18
” FESTIVAL HALL WED 1 APRIL WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
HOT TALK
Q&A
THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au Millencolin
MILLENCOLIN, THE VANDALS & THE INTERRUPTERS
Already announced for Soundwave, Millencolin, The Vandals and The Interrupters have revealed that they will also play a Melbourne sideshow. Swedes Millencolin will return to our shores with their huge catalogue of classic albums and fan favourites. They’ll be joined by Californian punk veterans The Vandals and ska-punk four-piece The Interrupters. Catch ‘em on Monday February 23 at The Hi-Fi. Tickets through the venue. New Found Glory
THE WAIFS
The Waifs hit the road again with tastes from their recently recorded forthcoming album. Having finished a string of dates at the end of 2014, Vikki, Donna, Josh, Ben and Dave have seized their geographical togetherness to do what they love the most: write and play music. The band will be taking off on a run of intimate shows including the Mornington Peninsula, Bendigo, and Thornbury. They’ll hit The Thornbury Theatre on Tuesday, April 1. Tickets are available through the venue.
SARAH MCLEOD & MICK SKELTON
NEW FOUND GLORY, BAYSIDE & THE WONDER YEARS
Soundwave have locked in another huge Sidewave. Headlined by New Found Glory following the release of their eighth studio album Resurrection, they’ll be joined by Queens punk rockers Bayside and Philadelphia sextet The Wonder Years. Catch ‘em on Tuesday February 24 at The Hi-Fi.
After a handful of successful shows in NSW over the past couple of months, Sarah McLeod and Mick Skelton will extend their run into Victoria and Tasmania through both February and March. Knocking out a selection of Sarah’s solo and Superjesus songs, some covers and a few new songs from an upcoming new release, it’s hard not to be in awe of the on-stage chemistry between the vivacious Superjesus singer/ guitarist and powerhouse drummer Skelton. Throw in some humorous banter to boot and you’re in for quite a treat. Catch them at The Toff in Town on February 19, tickets are available through the venue’s website.
Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival Beat took some time out to chat with Kesh Manton, who’s working on the Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival in 2015. Tell us a little about the Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival. How many years has it been running for, and what artists have you got on the bill this year? Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival has been running for three years and we’re planning for an even better festival for 2015. The Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival takes over the streets of the Ballarat CBD for four days and celebrates all things rockabilly; the music, the fashion, the vibe, the cars, the beer, the dancing, the fabulousness. A number of venues within Lydiard St will host fabulous bands during the event. Our all-Australian lineup features bands from across Australia including The Detonators, Atomic Hi-Tones, No Brakes, Ezra Lee and The Havoc Band, The Lincolns and mountains more. The festival isn’t your stock-standard music event. What other attractions will be featured at the
festival during the four days? The schedule is huge, and the Ballarat CBD will be filled with classic cars, trade stalls, live music, an all-day dancefloor, markets, fashion, a poodle parade and kids activities. Many of the festival goers will be dressed up in their rockabilly fashions, so watch out for them in Lydiard St too. Why should we head down to the Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival and check it out? This is a great opportunity for people young and old to get into the spirit of the rockabilly era and experience it firsthand. It’s all about fun. THE BALLARAT BEAT ROCKABILLY FESTIVAL is taking place in Ballarat from Thursday February 12 to Sunday February 15. Street festivities are free, while Lydiard St venues are ticketed – tickets are available through Ticketmaster. Both single day and festival passes are available.
EAT
JAKE SHIMABUKURO : JJ GREY & MOFRO : JOHN MAYALL : KEB’ MO’ : MAVIS STAPLES : SERENA RYDER EX- BLACK CROWES
GLOBAL SUPERSTAR “REGGAE’S FIRSTROLLING ” STONE
ROCK VIBE THAT’S AT “ONCEA VINTAGE QUIRKY, TRIPPY, SOULFUL AND DOWNRIGHT MAGNETIC. ” US ROLLING STONE
2 TONE SKA LEGENDS
...ENIGMATIC “SINGER,
#45 OF THE UK TELEGRAPH’S 100 ALL TIME BEST GLASTONBURY PERFORMANCES EVER
CAPTIVATING PERFORMANCE.
”
LOCAL BOZO
THE CORNER WED 8 APRIL
- AS “THETIMELESS LIKES OF CAT STEVENS, VAN MORRISON AND BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
THE CORNER, FRI 10 APR BARWON HEADS HOTEL SAT 11 APR
THE CORNER SAT 4 APRIL
GENIUS PLAYER COMPLETELY “LENNY ” “BLOWN KRAVITZ AWAY ” JEFF BECK
PLUS SPECIAL GUEST
”
THE ORIGINAL LINE-UP RETURN FOR THEIR
20TH
ANNIVERSARY TOUR!
THE CORNER THU 2 APRIL
EVERY BRASS BLAST AND CHICKEN “SCRATCH COULD COME STRAIGHT OFF A 1968 STAX RECORDS RELEASE ” ROLLING STONE TOP 50 BEST ALBUMS OF 2011
THORNBURY THEATRE SAT 4 APRIL
TOURING SONGS BY THE BLASTERS & THEIR FIRST ALBUM TOGETHER AFTER 30 YEARS; COMMON GROUND THE SONGS OF BIG BILL BROONZY.
BRADLEY IS A CLASSIC SHOWMAN. HE SELLS EVERY KEZIAH “SYLLABLE, DROPPING TO HIS KNEES, OUTSTRETCHING HIS ARMS, SHAKING HIS HIPS. AND THAT VOICE, BOTH PLEADING JONES AND PLAINTIVE, ANGUISHED AND EXTRAORDINARY” .”
PETER VINCENT, SMH
LOS ANGELES TIMES SXSW REVIEW
THE PALAIS SUN 5 APRIL
THE CORNER SUN 5 APRIL
THE CORNER WED 1 APRIL
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB THU 9 APRIL BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 19
TOURING
WHO'S ON TOUR, WHERE AND WHEN
For all the latest tour dates check out beat.com.au
THURSDAY 5TH FEB LUCKY MOORE (FREE) FRONT BAR SATURDAY 7TH FEB SAVE THE REEF IN ASSOCIATION WITH GET UP! AUSTRALIA GUEST SPEAKERS, STALLS AND MUSIC FEATURING:
VIMANNA HEFTY OUTPUT INTERPULSE JEKYLL HARRY BLOTTER ILLUME NIKKI SIG VS EMERSON FREYA ANACREON XEN OCHREN PSILOSQUAD RHYTHM NECTAR TEKDIFFEYE XENOSCAPES ANCIENT ARCHITECT DOORS 2PM $15 ENTRY. KIDS FREE
SUNDAY 8TH FEB IN CAHOOTS THANKYOU CITY (DJ SET) BRAD DANIELS MUSKA DARIUS BASSIRAY RADIATOR $5 PIZZA AND PINTS B/W 2PM - 6PM FREE ENTRY.
COMING UP 14/2 5 MILE SNIPER (ALBUM LAUNCH) COLD IRONS BOUND 19/2 BEN CARTER 21/2 BUNKER 28/2 OUTFIELD
RAILWAY HOTEL BRUNSWICK
291 ALBERT STREET, BRUNSWICK 3056 VICTORIA AUSTRALIA 03 9380 8888 RAILWAYHOTELBRUNSWICK.COM.AU BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 20
INTERNATIONAL THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM Prince Of Wales February 4 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 MAHALIA BARNES & JOE BONAMASSA Prince Bandroom February 5 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 STEFFI AND VIRGINIA Venue TBA February 7 LANEWAY FESTIVAL Footscray Community Arts Centre February 7 STING AND PAUL SIMON A Day on the Green February 7, Rod Laver Arena February 10 FAIRFIELD SUMMER SERIES Fairfield Ampitheatre February 8, 15, 22 SARAH MCLAUGHLAN Melbourne Recital Centre February 9 SPOON The Forum February 11 J MASCIS Melbourne Recital Centre February 13 LUNICE Howler February 14 GENIUS OF TIME Venue TBA February 14 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 SLATES Old Bar February 18, Public Bar February 19 TINASHE The Hi-Fi February 20 ROXETTE Rod Laver Arena February 20, Rochford Wines Yarra Valley February 21 GREAT AUSTRALIAN BEER FESTIVAL Geelong Racecourse February 21 PETER HOOK AND THE LIGHT Corner Hotel February 21 SOUNDWAVE FESTIVAL Flemington Racecourse February 21, 22 HINDS John Curtin Hotel February 22 THE EAGLES Rod Laver Arena February 22, Hanging Rock Macedon February 28 CIARA Alumbra February 22 MILLENCOLIN The Hi-Fi February 23 THE SMASHING PUMPKINS Festival Hall February 23 NEW FOUND GLORY The Hi-Fi February 24 GODSMACK AND PAPA ROACH The Forum February 24 SOUNDGARDEN Festival Hall February 24 INCUBUS The Forum February 24 LAMB OF GOD 170 Russell February 24 FALLING IN REVERSE AND ESCAPE THE FATE 170 Russell February 25 ALL TIME LOW The Hi-Fi February 25 REAL ESTATE Corner Hotel February 25 THE COURTNEYS John Curtin Hotel February 26 CAMP CASUAL Gippsland, Victoria February 27 – March 1 DRAKE Rod Laver Arena February 27 STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS Melbourne Zoo February 27 DELTRON 3030 The Hi-Fi February 27 FREDDIE GIBBS Corner Hotel February 28 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 RUTH MOODY Bell Union Trades Hall March 4, Caravan Club March 5 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 PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING Northcote Social Club March 10 OBLIVIANS The Tote March 11, 12, 13 LOS STRAITJACKETS & BIG SANDY LuWOW March 12 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 JESSIE J Margaret Court Arena March 17 TONY JOE WHITE Thornbury Theatre March 18 KELE Corner Hotel March 18 BOBBY BROWN The Forum March 19 BONOBO Prince Bandroom March 19 HORRORSHOW Ormond Hall March 20
SMALLTOWN Secret warehouse location TBA March 21 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 THE WATERBOYS Recital Centre March 27 MASTODON Festival Hall March 27 THE HILLS ARE ALIVE The Farm March 27 – 29 EMERY Northcote Social Club March 29 YELLE Corner Hotel 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 DISPATCH Palais Theatre March 31, Prince Bandroom April 7 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 MARLON WILLIAMS Gasometer Hotel April 9 DAVE & PHIL ALVIN Northcote Social Club April 9 DONAVON FRANKENREITER Corner Hotel April 10 NORMA JEAN Evelyn Hotel April 10 THE GIPSY KINGS Palais Theatre April 10 IRON REAGAN The Tote April 11 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 GROOVIN THE MOO Bendigo Prince Of Wales Showground May 2 ACE FREHLEY The Forum May 2 PALOMA FAITH Palais Theatre May 5 ANASTACIA Palais Theatre May 7 SILVERSTEIN 170 Russell May 8 SUFFOCATION & DECAPITATED Corner Hotel May 9 ALT-J Rod Laver Arena May 10 NICKELBACK Rod Laver Arena May 15 BAD MANNERS Corner Hotel June 4 AGAINST ME! Corner Hotel June 6 YELLOWCARD Margaret Court Arena July 11 JOHNNY MARR The Forum July 22 NEIL DIAMOND Rod Laver Arena October 27 AUDRA MCDONALD Hamer Hall October 31 TAYLOR SWIFT AAMI Park December 11
NATIONAL ST KILDA FESTIVAL Various Venues, St Kilda February 4 – February 8 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 NICO GHOST Laundry Bar February 6, 13, 20, 27 LOWDOWN HOKUM ORCHESTRA Wonderlands Spiegeltent, Docklands February 7 SUN GOD REPLICA The Tote February 7 SUMMER SOUNDS Various venues, Hobsons Bay Febraury 7 – 28 GUY PEARCE & DARREN MIDDLETON Thornbury Theatre February 7 THE ESPY ST KILDA FEST The Espy February 8 CLARE BOWDITCH Flying Saucer Club February 8, 15, 22 NGV SUMMER SUNDAYS February 8, 15, 22 THE FUCK FUCKS Prince Of Wales February 8 LEPERS & CROOKS Lucky Coq February 8, Old Bar February 9, Great Britain Hotel February 14 THE TELEVISION ADDICTS Reverence Hotel February 12 COLLARBONES Hugs & Kisses February 12 INFECTED MUSHROOM RMH February 12 THE NECKS Melbourne Recital Centre February 12 KIM CHURCHILL Corner Hotel February 13 THE BIRTH OF BLACK SABBATH CELEBRATED Yarraville Club February 13 RIVERBOATS MUSIC FESTIVAL Echuca-Moama February 13 – 15 MEGAN WASHINGTON 170 Russell February 13 MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Sidney Myer Music Bowl February 14, 18, 21 JAM AT THE DAM Invermay February 14 CARUS THOMPSON Northcote Social Club February 15 THE SMITH STREET BAND The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine February 18, The Hi-Fi February 19
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
PROUDLY PRESENTS
FEB
20-21
KYNETON MUSIC FESTIVAL
Kyneton Mechanics Institute
MAR
6, 9
CLOWNS Bendigo Hotel
SARAH MCLEOD & MICK SKELTON The Toff In Town February 19 LITTLE BASTARD Northcote Social Club February 19 LIME CORDIALE Northcote Social Club February 20 KYNETON MUSIC FESTIVAL Kyneton Mechanics Institute February 20 – 21 GREAT AUSTRALIAN BEER FESTIVAL Geelong Racecourse February 21 ANGUS AND JULIA STONE Margaret Court Arena February 27 DZ DEATHRAYS Northcote Social Club February 27, 28 HOW YA GARN? YEAH NOT BAD John Curtin Hotel February 28 BETWEEN THE BAYS FESTIVAL Penbank School, Moorooduc February 28 THE FELICE BROTHERS The Toff In Town March 1 RUTH MOODY Bella Union March 4, Caravan Club March 5 MOTOR CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL Geelong Showgrounds March 6 – 8 PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL Port Fairy, Victoria March 6–9 CLOWNS Bendigo Hotel March 6, 9 (AA) CHERRYROCK015 featuring Red Fang, Beastwars, Child and more, AC/DC Lane Sunday May 10 VANCE JOY Palais Theatre March 12, 13 PSYCROPTIC Hi-Fi Bar March 13, Wrangler Studios March 21 KINGSWOOD The Forum March 13 BENNY WALKER Melbourne Zoo March 13 WINTERBOURNE Wrangler Studios March 14 (U18), Shebeen Bandroom March 14 LUCA BRASI Northcote Social Club March 14, Wrangler Studios March 15 KYLIE MINOGUE Rod Laver Arena March 18 NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE Hi-Fi Bar March 20, Northcote Social Club April 25 CLIENT LIASON 170 Russell March 20 XAVIER RUDD The Forum March 21 THE BEARDS Hi-Fi Bar March 21 HELLIONS Reverence Hotel March 21, Phoenix Youth Centre March 22 ROCK THE BAY The Espy March 21 WHOLE LOTTA LOVE Palais Theatre March 21 THE BENNIES Northcote Social Club March 21, Wrangler Studios March 22 LISA MITCHELL Howler March 27 THE CONTROLLERS The Worker Club March 28 PENINSULA PICNIC Mornington Racecource March 29 THE WAIFS Thornbury Theatre April 1 ROLLING GREEN FESTIVAL Rochford Wines Yarra Valley April 5 IRON RAEGAN The Tote April 11 AUGIE MARCH Melbourne Recital Centre April 15 DARREN HANLON Corner Hotel April 17 JORDIE LANE The Toff In Town April 18, 19 THUNDAMENTALS Corner Hotel April 24 THE GETAWAY PLAN Corner Hotel May 22 SHE WHO ROCKS TOUR Hi-Fi Bar May 29 TITLE FIGHT Corner Hotel June 26 DARREN COGGAN The Palms July 3
RUMOURS: MOTLEY CRUE & ALICE COOPER, PASSION PIT, GORILLAZ = NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS
SATURDAY 21 FEB gabf.com.au ST
G E E LO N G RAC ECO U R S E
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 21
JURASSIC 5 ST RI K I N G G O L D A T B LU E S F E ST By Augustus Welby
Despite its ability to sell in large quantities, mainstream pop music typically earns a lowly rating from the critics. Its endeavour is to ingratiate listeners, rather than provide a challenging and thought-provoking listening experience. But perhaps this issue isn’t as serious as it’s often made out to be ± c ritical opinions are somewhat arbitrary anyhow. And while many artists’ careers are defined by their commercial fortunes, others have different priorities in mind.
Los Angeles hip hop sextet Jurassic 5 originally split up in 2007. They left behind four records, all of which gathered fervent interest from listeners across the globe. The group’s commercial success actually kept growing as their years together went on, but they never ascended to chart-conquering superstardom. Ahead of Jurassic 5’s forthcoming Australian return, one of the group’s four MCs, Chali 2na, tells Beat that dominating the mainstream was never their chief priority. “I always felt like you don’t choose the people who like you, they choose you,” he says. “So if we’re popular, we’re popular. If we not, then we’re not. If we have a platinum record, it’s because that’s what’s meant to happen and people like us like that. If we don’t, we don’t.” Looking back now, Jurassic 5 are responsible for a classy body of work. Each of the group’s vocalists has a uniquely distinctive flow, but in a manner akin to Beastie Boys or Wu-Tang Clan, they weave together with fortifying effect. On top of this, having in their rank two of the craftiest and smoothest DJs in the biz gives the recorded output even greater distinction. “I don’t want to make bubblegum music, where they take the wrapper off, chew out the flavour, when the flavour’s gone, they ready for the new song,” says 2na. “It has no real nutritional value. It doesn’t mean anything to the body as a whole; it’s just something to pass the time. I don’t want to be that. I want to be something that lasts.” Speaking of making it last, in 2013 J5 regrouped for a tour celebrating their 20th anniversary. They’ve since toured the globe many times over, proving their music still resounds with longtime fans and appeals to stacks of previously uninitiated listeners. Additionally, last year the reunited Jurassic 5 dropped a brand new single, The Way We Do It. The track ± which prominently samples The White Stripes’ My Doorbell ± illustrates that the six-piece hasn’t lost the knack for making tough, intelligent and feel-good music. It’s now nearly a year on from the release of The Way We Do It, and despite J5’s ongoing live commitments, no more new material has surfaced. “Something’s going to happen, we just don’t know exactly what,” says 2na. “I can’t really speak for whether or not we’re going to record. Maybe we want to keep it a secret [from] the journalists for a second. You never know.” While 2na equivocates his way around talk of fresh recordings, he doesn’t hesitate to elaborate on the BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 22
group’s broader agenda: “We want to make the brand grow,” he says. “So whatever it takes to make the brand which is Jurassic 5 [grow] ± not just the music, but the whole thing of it all. At this particular moment we’re having fun trying to give the fans what we do best, which is the show.” This mission sends the group back to Australia in April for what will be 2na’s second Bluesfest appearance in a row. J5’s reunion campaign began at Coachella and they’ve subsequently made a habit of showing up at stacks of the world’s biggest music festivals. While festival gigs frustrate certain artists due to potential crowd indifference, J5 value this opportunity to spread their gospel.
“I DON’T WANT TO MAkE BUBBlEGUM MUSIC, WHERE THEy TAkE THE WRAPPER Off, CHEW OUT THE flAvOUR, WHEN THE flAvOUR’S GONE, THEy READy fOR THE NEW SONG. IT HAS NO REAl NUTRITIONAl vAlUE.” “We’ve always been about touring the world and performing and trying to bring our brand of music, from a live perspective, to our fans and to new, prospective fans,” 2na says. “Speaking of prospective fans, there are people who haven’t seen us before, but maybe have heard about us ± maybe they haven’t heard about us ± but once they see us, they want to know more about us. What better place could that take place but at one of these humongous festivals? “From the festivals in England and America, to the festivals down there like the Byron Bay situation, these places breed opportunities for us to present our show to new potential fans, whether they be young or old. It’s most important for us to continue to pop up at these major events. Meeting the people at these new shows, new fans that have stumbled on our music and
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
appreciate it from a different perspective ± it’s beautiful to be able to still mean just as much to those people as we did to the fans that were there from the start.” As we already acknowledged, punching out skyscraping hits wasn’t what built Jurassic 5’s global profile. Rather, they always looked to create music that would defy the limitations of context. The fact that plenty of new listeners have enthusiastically latched onto J5 in the last couple of years further emphasises the enduring quality of the group’s releases. Even though this is what the band aimed to achieve from the get-go, 2na is somewhat incredulous that the music has stood the test of time. “I’m always amazed at that,” he says. “I’m happy that we had the foresight to think, ‘OK, let’s try to make music that can transcend time, that can be as good 20 years, 30 years down the line.’ You have to think about people like Earth, Wind & Fire or Stevie Wonder; all these different artists that we consider great nowadays, whose music has the same effect, if not more so, to what it did when it first was created and was first pushed out to the public. I want to make that kind of music.” When Jurassic 5 broke up in 2007, the members embarked on a number of separate projects. Notably, 2na kicked off a solo career, which has given rise to the Fish Outta Water LP and two instalments in the Against The Current EP series, while Cut Chemist enacted a fruitful collaboration with DJ Shadow, with whom he still regularly tours. In spite of these (and a variety of other) endeavours, getting back together wasn’t a major struggle. “We have never stabbed each other in the heart while we were asleep or stolen money from each other,” 2na says. “Ain’t nobody slept with nobody’s wives. We’re a pretty functional group of people. It’s love. It ain’t never anything that can’t be resolved with a civilised conversation. We ain’t no dudes who try to front like we the most perfect people, but we not sitting up here trying to act like our lives is a shamble. God has blessed us. I feel like we’re definitely grateful for the opportunities that have been presented to us everyday.” JURASSIC 5 are hitting Festival Hall on Wednesday April 1. They’re also playing Bluesfest from Thursday April 2 to Monday April 6 alongside The Black Keys, Zac Brown Band, Alabama Shakes, Train, Rodrigo y Gabriela and many more.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU 1503 Warner_NEW_HIGH_A3.indd 1
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 23 22/01/15 8:13 AM
This Week:
With Tyson Wray. Got thoughts, news, gossip, complaints or cat photos? Email tyson@beat.com.au or send by carrier pigeon before Friday 12pm.
Kath & Kim’s Jane Turner and Puberty Blues star Brenna Harding are set to star in April De Angelis’ frank and funny family drama Jumpy. Turner returns to Melbourne Theatre Company as Hilary ± a modern woman who is struggling to come to terms with turning 50 as she deals with the trials of her 15-year-old daughter Tilly (Harding). Joining Turner and Harding and rounding out the cast will be Marina Prior, Caroline Brazier, David Tredinnick, Laurence Boxhall, John Lloyd Fillingham, Tariro Mavondo and Dylan Watson. Jumpy will run from Thursday February 6 to Saturday March 14 at Southbank Theatre.
McGuffin says no-one else is doing anything similar to Scotch + Soda. The performance, which includes acrobatics, tricks, group based acts, group bikes and a teeterboard, is designed to take place on a very small stage. “We try to fit it on onto the smallest stage possible,” say McGuffin. A teeterboard is just what it sounds like. “You bounce up and down like a seesaw. We’ve got ladders, boxes, trapeze, bottle walking, acrobatics, handstands and fights. And a bird act with my three budgies. It’s a tight squeeze to get everyone ± there are 11 of us - on stage. We are constantly developing new ways of using circus.” Have there been any raised eyebrows regarding her use of live animals? “I’ve only had one person, in Sydney, who told me I shouldn’t be using the birds; they were determined to have the budgies taken off the stage. They’re our family pets, they’re not highly trained. I have a relationship with the budgies. It’s not like I’ve got them on any special diet or making them do crazy tricks or anything. It’s really just about play - it comes down to something quite sweet and beautiful. It’s a really magical moment.”
Red Stitch will open up this year’s season with the Australian premiere of Dennis Kelly’s The Ritual Slaughter of Gorge Mastromas. The production follows Gorge, a young man who ranks near the top of the bottom half and is made an unexpected offer. From the ‘70s through to the ‘90s, the play details Gorge’s journey from innocence to greed as he invents the three golden rules for success. The Ritual Slaughter of Gorge Mastromas is written by playwright Dennis Kelly, who is best known for his musical Matilda. The Australian premiere of the play will feature Red Stitch ensemble members Dion Mills, Olga Makeeva, Richard Cawthorne and Jordan Frase-Trumble, alongside special guest actor Elizabeth Nabben. The Ritual Slaughter of Gorge Mastromas will run from Thursday February 6 to Saturday March 7. It’s your last chance to catch a screening of Beautiful Noise, a tribute to the short-lived but hugely influential scene that was shoegaze. Evolving from the hypnotic and moody sounds of bands like Joy Division and The Cure, the shoegaze scene developed and eventually evolved into the monstrous Brit pop movement, epitomised by Blur and Oasis. Shoegaze took the mood of the post-punk sounds and the layer-upon-layer approach of psychedelia to create a fusion of guitars, synth and heavy beats. For a decade straddling the 1980s and 1990s, and primarily centred in the UK, the period produced a range of outstanding records and musicians with the sound remaining fresh and inspiring today. Records such as The Jesus and Mary Chain’s Psychocandy, Ride’s Nowhere and My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless defining the time. Beautiful Noise is screening at ACMI until Sunday February 8.
PICK OF THE WEEK
Sour Times is an experience like no other at the SummerSalt Outdoor Arts festival. Adventurers on this interactive experience will take an irreverent journey through the Southbank precinct, using a unique smartphone application with the newest location aware technology, which interacts with a street-art adorned path. Participants will attempt to follow the misadventures of one of three different characters (Simon the Seagull, Brenda and Järrréd) as they retrace their steps taken on an evening of misperceptions and mix ups that they’d rather forget. Digital traces of the characters’ previous night will combine with real world clues in a multi-sensory, multi-dimensional, multi-grouse trip through an augmented reality, both real and digital. Like a messier version of the likes of Dude, Where’s My Car participants will discover fragments of audio, animation and text, intercept phone calls and watch animated reconstructions of run-ins their ‘suspects’ had the night before via their mobiles. These digital elements will be complemented by real world clues in the form of posters, stencils, to custom-designed garbage on the footpath. Head to summersaltfestival.com.au for more information and to download the app.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 24
Scotch + Soda By Liza Dezfouli Scotch + Soda is a show where circus meets music, meets family, meets friends and even meets pets. And the audience gets to meet all of them and feel part of the whole shebang. When Beat speaks to Company 2 creator/director/performer Chelsea McGuffin about this unique form of mayhem featuring in the SummerSalt Outdoor Arts Festival, she’s between rehearsals, which include attempts to train the family dog (“a lovely rescued dog”) to be part of the show. “We’re getting ready to come to Melbourne. This show will be the first time we have our dog on stage.” Company 2 combines with musicians Ben Walsh and jazz virtuoso Matt Ottington playing with The Crusty Suitcase Band to produce something McGuffin says looks and sounds like ‘gypsy junk.’ “It’s slowly evolved; it’s become much more complex and theatrical. Basically it’s a fun friendly vibe. The Crusty Suitcase Band has a particular look and sound with basses horns trombones and tubas. Our aesthetic is vintage, older carnies era. We work with junkshop stuff you’d find in an old suitcase, gypsy junk with wooden things as props. Our costumes are made from curtains we found at the op shop. Our sound is a junkyard drum kit, falling apart. We’re creating the mood of a spit and sawdust whisky joint.” Musically, the score reflect the antics of the performers in a way that the symbiosis between music and movement is central, a reflection of how the show has actually come together. “It really is talent we know thrown together; the show’s got this feeling of people who know each other well,” says McGuffin. “We’ve
known The Crusty Suitcase Band for a couple of years. My partner, who’s in the show, and I, we always go to see them at Woodford. We put an application for Woodford, funded it ± we got friends, family, pets involved and that’s how Scotch + Soda became a thing.” However, things are not quite as random as it might sound. “There are narratives,” says McGuffin. “It’s written and scripted now. The stories have grown from our actual friendships. It’s led by the music. We were already mucking around with dance. There are so many of us and we grow it from there. The characters have journeys to go on and interactions along the way. But it’s not like an A leading to B leading to C and D type of narrative. Everybody’s got different journeys. And the audience members get to join in. You get feel like you’re inside a gypsy jazz party. Everyone can sing and dance along ± be part of the party. We want you to walk out feeling like you’ve run away to the circus. The more people sing and dance along, the better it will be. You’ve got to have fun!”
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
“The stories have grown from our actual friendships. It’s led by the music. We were already mucking around with dance. There are so many of us and we grow it from there. The characters have journeys to go on and interactions along the way.” Who does McGuffin like to see when she has time to go to the circus herself ? “I love to see a mixture of all sorts, from Cirque de Soleil to Acrobat.” The eclectic and unpredictable nature of the musical aspect really appeals to McGuffin, it’s how she likes things to be and is inevitably the way her shows go anyhow. “One of the great things about working with Ben Walsh is that he is always improvising. There’s a new instrument every day. You can never tie Ben down to anything. He’s always twisting and playing and adjusting and experimenting. It’s exciting. He’ll play all sorts of bizarre things, if he can bang on it he will. He’ll call the music and make changes, right on the night if he can see something developing so it’s really live and happening.” The big challenge is the fact that everything’s handmade so to speak. “We do it all ourselves, the backdrops, the costumes, developing the acts, we’re producing it all ourselves, we do all the marketing.” Scotch + Soda will take place as part of the SummerSalt Outdoor Arts Festival at the Dodds St Stage, Festival Hub from Wednesday February 11 - Sunday February 15.
S N PE O
WHAT RHYMES WITH CARS AND GIRLS
IN 2 KS EE W
by Aidan Fennessy music and lyrics by Tim Rogers
Performed with a live band led by Tim Rogers 13 February – 28 March Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio MTC is a department of the University of Melbourne
Book now mtc.com.au/rhymes 8688 0800 Music by Tim Rogers performed by special arrangement with Mushroom Music
Sophie Ross & Johnny Carr
BLAK CABARET Malthouse Theatre & SummerSalt Festival present
Concept & Creative Producer / Jason Tamiru Staging / Matthew Lutton Text / Nakkiah Lui
A glittering night of music and comedy under the stars.
10 – 22 FEBRuARy BOOK NOW
malthousetheatre.com.au
Supported by VicHealth Arts About Us
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 25
tHE COMIC StRIP DAVID LIEBE HARt
For more arts news, reviews and interviews visit beat.com.au
Supanova Pop Culture Expo
OVERWORLD
Organisers of the Supanova Pop Culture Expo have sprinkled in another helping of special guests for this year’s affair. Guests include Aussie actress Georgina Haig and UK actor Sean Maguire of the fairytale TV series, Once Upon a Time, Scottish actor James Cosmo of Game of Thrones and Ryan Hurst of Sons of Anarchy. They’ll join already announced personalities George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Charisma Carpenter and many more. The Supanova Pop Culture Expo will go down on Saturday April 11 and Sunday April 12 at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Tickets go on sale through Moshtix in March.
Arts House
Arts House have revealed the first part of their 2015 season, which features 13 productions, eight world premieres, three Melbourne premieres, a huge Dance Massive program, seven conversations, forums and artist Q&As and much more. “We start 2015 and our next decade with the explosive next chapter of Dance Massive featuring over 80 artists in nine shows including seven world premieres,” said the Creative Producer of Arts House. Some highlights of the Dance Massive program include Rawcus’ focus on cataloguing the array of diverse bodies, Vicki Van Hout’s creation of new choreographic language exploring the oldest living culture on the planet, Phillip Adams’ investigation into queerness and the return of Rebecca Jensen and Sarah Aiken’s OVERWORLD which premiered last year at Next Wave. Some other highlights include post’s controversial Oedipus Schmoedipus; two works developed through Arts House’s CultureLAB: a Melbourne premiere from Tamara Saulwick (Endings) and a world premiere from Kate Neal (Semaphore); and another of the picks of last year’s Next Wave Festival, Matthias Schack-Arnott’s Fluvial. Through support from the Australia Council Early Career Residency initiative, Arts House Season 1, 2015 will also feature Bek Berger’s finely curated Supper Clubs that will enliven conversations and industry practice including the first discussion on Debriefing and rethinking after the Australian Theatre Forum on Tuesday February 10. Head to artshouse.com.au for more information
The Orchid The Famous Spiegeltent & The Crow The Famous Spiegeltent is returning to its Melbourne home on the forecourt of Arts Centre Melbourne for 2015. Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Spiegeltent International Director David Bates will present the iconic venue with a packed program of events. Melbourne Comedy Festival Director, Susan Provan said: “We are very grateful to Arts Centre Melbourne for enthusiastically making available the forecourt space for The Famous Spiegeltent, and supporting the transformation of the Arts Centre into a dynamic Comedy Festival hub. For the first time ever, we have programmed comedy shows on every main stage of Arts Centre Melbourne and The Famous Spiegeltent serves as a sparkling welcome on St Kilda Rd.” The festival kicks off on Wednesday March 25.
United Dance Organisation Championships Calling all street dancers. Melbourne will play host to Australia’s first ever United Dance Organisation Championships this May. UDO Australia is the newest member of the global street dance brand out of the UK, the largest street dance organisation in Europe, with a membership of over 30,000. May’s UDO Championship event will give street dancers the chance to represent Australia at the largest street dance competition in the world, the UDO World Street Dance Championships in the UK. UDO Australia will also kick off fundraising activities with an Indie GoGo campaign on Monday April 20, with proceeds going to the winners that qualify to represent Australia at the UDO World Championships. The UDO Australia Championships will be held on Saturday May 30 at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
Button Eye Productions will present the premiere of The Orchid & The Crow next month- a tragi-comedy about faith, sex, identity, ritual and Lance Armstrong. The solo performance follows playwright Daniel Tobias’ real life experience and features original songs from the award-winning writers of Die Roten Punkte. At 29, a Jewish-born Tobias is an atheist and single, living the life of a bohemian artist in Carlton. Appalled with his lifestyle choices, God makes an example of him and strikes him with stage three testicular cancer. As he prepares for his upcoming treatment, he finds salvation in testicular cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, who has recently fallen from grace. Find out what happens next when The Orchid & The Crow comes to Malthouse Theatre, Tower Theatre from Friday February 13 to Sunday February 22.
Punktured Foxtel channel Aurora are screening the radical new TV series Punktured, an insiders look at the day-today business at Punktured Body Piercing studios. Shot in Melbourne, the series exposes the piercers, punks, emos, goths, rockers and all types of people, from all walks of life, who want to modify their body through the ancient art of body piercing. “You would actually be surprised at the different clientele we have here at Punktured,” says Corrie Nicholson, a body piercer with 14 years experience, or ‘The Boss Lady’ as she is depicted in the series. As well as the more visible piercings of ears, eyebrows, necks and noses, the Punktured series delves deeper into body piercing, including nipples and nudie-bits, all caught on camera. The show is definitely not for the fainthearted. The series is a first for Australian television and may cause some controversy with its full-frontal nudity, showing scenes of a female client receiving three genital piercings. Punktured screens on Aurora Tuesday nights at 8.30pm.
Transitions Film Festival The Transitions Film Festival has unveiled yet another huge program of cutting edge documentaries for its 2015 incarnation. The festival kicks off of Friday February 13 with an open air screening of Inside Out: The People’s Art Project at Testing Grounds and will run until the first week of March. This year’s program includes a series of Projector Bike shorts being screened onto walls across Melbourne, a free open air screening of Within Reach at Carlton’s Argyle Square and free films on the big screen at Federation Square. Cinema Nova will also screen a jam-packed program, including 11 national premieres and four Australian documentary premieres including Black Ice, Yes Men Are Revolting, Merchants of Doubt and many more. Transitions will also play host to a slew of special guests, including filmmakers Laura Nix, Heidi Douglas, Peter Charles Downey and Amy Brown as well as artists and activists Steven Bygrave, Amanda McKenzie, John Wiseman and David Hood. Transitions Film Festival runs from Friday February 13 to Friday March 6.
Cartoon Network legend David Liebe Hart has revealed a run of Australian tour dates to celebrate the release of his upcoming album, Astronaut. Known for his role on Tim & Eric Awesome Show Great Job!, he’ll return down under with a show of songs, comedy, video and ventriloquism. He’ll be joined by his puppets and backing musician Jonah Mociun to perform electronic renditions of old favourites and new songs from his 2014/15 albums, as well as stand-up comedy and even an exercise routine. After the show, fans will have the chance to meet the man himself and purchase custom-made drawings. He’’ll hit The Evelyn Hotel on Sunday March 22.
PORtLAND HOtEL COMEDY This Thursday Irish-born funnyman Dave Callan headlines Portland Hotel Comedy. You’ve seen him on Rove, Good Game, Good News Week and heard him all over triple j, but on Thursday, he brings his dancing shoes to The Portland. Plus they’ve got Bart Freebairn and a heap of surprise guests. In the last month, their special guests have included Wil Anderson, Ronny Chieng, Dave Thornton and Dave O’Neil, so you know it’ll be good. It’s all happening this Thursday February 5 at 8.30pm, at The Portland Hotel, 127 Russell Street (upstairs), CBD, all for only $12.
PUBLIC BAR COMEDY With every show sold out so far, Public Bar Comedy is on fire Saturday afternoons. This Saturday looks to be another ripper with Dirty Laundry Live’s Lawrence Mooney set to kill along with Utopia’s Celia Pacquola, Geraldine Hickey, Xavier Michelides and a special guest or two tuning up for the Comedy Festival (last weekend Dave Thornton dropped in and destroyed). It kicks off at 4pm and wraps around 6pm making it a perfect start to your Saturday night.
COMEDY At SPLEEN Your Monday comedy needs are more than met by Comedy At Spleen this week. Another huge crowd will see Sydney’s Ray Badran host the big show, introducing acts like Lawrence Mooney, Aunty Donna, Nick Sun, Michael Williams, Blake Freeman and more. It’s this Monday February 9, at 41 Bourke Street, CBD, at 8.30pm. It’s free to get in, but they appreciate a good gold coin donation at the door.
Coming Up Movies Under The Stars Movies Under the Stars at Yarra’s Edge, Docklands, will returned for its second year, showcasing free blockbuster movies throughout February and March. There will also be exclusive selected preview screenings of Made in Melbourne short films prior to each feature film.To make the most of its waterfront location, moviegoers will be able to enjoy a free return ferry service departing from Federation Square each night. It all kicks off on Thursday February 26 with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, other highlights include Skyfall and Frozen. The first 100 people to arrive will also receive a free beanbag. Indulge in cuisine from a number of food trucks onsite, or nearby restaurants. Alternatively, grab your picnic rug, snacks, friends and family, and enjoy a night under the stars.
Flickerfest Celebrating 24 years of short film excellence Flickerfest remains Australia’s leading short film festival. This year Flickerfest brings its ‘Short Films Licensed To Thrill’ to 50 different venues around the country, screening in every state and territory. On Wednesday February 28 the festival will come to Melbourne to shine a spotlight on local filmmakers with a special Made in Melbourne programme, at The Kino Cinemas, 45 Collins Street. Some other highlights include the thrillingly scary Waterborne, the very funny time travel film I’m You, Dickhead and intimately engaging Rabbit plus many more. Flickerfest in Melbourne will kick off with the screening of Made in Melbourne shorts and will be followed by an after-party with delicious food from misschu and drinks from Little Creatures, Crystal Head Vodka, Rosnay Wines and Phoenix Organic Juices. Head to palacecinemas.com.au/cinemas/kino for more information.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Ludovico Einaudi
Friday February 13 - Saturday February 14 Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall
MSO: A Musical Valentine Saturday February 14 Sidney Myer Music Bowl
What Rhymes With Cars and Girls Thursday February 19 - Saturday March 28 Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio
Fashion On Film
Saturday February 21 - Sunday March 8 ACMI
Depth of Field
Friday March 6 - Saturday March 14 Malthouse Theatre
Dance Massive
Tuesday March 10 -Sunday March 22 Various Venues
The Australian Ballet: Giselle Friday March 13 - Monday March 23 Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre
Melbourne International Comedy Festival
Wednesday March 25 - Sunday April 29 Various Venues
The Golden Age of China: Qianlong Emperor
Friday March 27 - Sunday June 21 National Gallery of Victoria
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 26
For more arts news, reviews and interviews visit beat.com.au
Pixel Mountain By Liza Dezfouli “The outdoor arts festival had dried up in Australia,” says David Clarkson, founder and director of Stalker Theatre, whose new work Pixel Mountain features in this year’s inaugural SummerSalt Outdoor Arts Festival. “We’ve been touring since way back, the late ‘70s and ‘80s, in the days of the Spoleto Festival. But we’ve been struggling in Australia, our works were being presented in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. SummerSalt has reinvigorated interest in the outdoor festival, in traditional outdoor theatre.” Pixel Mountain has been created in collaboration with artists from Korea; in brief, it’s a performance involving dance, aerial performance, interactive digital projection and architecture. “Pixel Mountain marries architecture, humanity and digital technology, we
cover those three grounds,” explains Clarkson. “We use 3D image, audio technology, and aerial interactive projection, and perform on iconic buildings.” Stalker Theatre has long been creating its distinctive style of innovative and interactive physical performance. Pixel
Mountain expresses notions about human beings and the technological environment in a 30-minute work where interactive 3D image responds to movements of aerialists performing on the side of a building. Pixel Mountain was first performed in 2013 at Korea’s Gwacheon Festival and at the Hi Seoul Festival. “At the High Seoul Festival we performed on the side of the Seoul Museum of Art,” continues Clarkson. “In Melbourne we’ll be performing it on a structure made of shipping containers. It looks at where we are in terms of relationship, at virtual space and the politics of space, of society occupying virtual space and virtual worlds. These are indicators of our future. Where we are humankind, with industrialisation, increasingly the body becomes less and less important and the human soul, humanity is lost. Pixel Mountain is a reflection on all our futures. We look at South Korea as an interesting example of modernity ± it’s rapidly gone from the bottom to the top of OECD list. Korean society employs the highest use of technology and is now experiencing the markers of modernity ± suicide, social alienation, workaholism, industrialisation. There’s been such a rapid change, it’s been so fast, yet they still have a ‘traditional mountain village people’ mentality. The sense of community is one of the beauties of Seoul. It’s one of the world’s biggest cities, leaders in modern technology, yet there are feeling of connection and community. You see it in fact, always around food, for example, which is always shared. People eat together as a group. They work together in a practical sense, there’s a connection with each other.” In terms of a cultural exchange, as an Australian-Korean collaboration Pixel Mountain satisfies Clarkson’s ideas of hitting true notes when it comes to artistic understanding. “With work across other cultures we wish to have a resonance with local artists. Pixel Mountain is an interesting kind of critique of Korean culture; aiming to develop both the Australian and the Korean art form. Our biggest benchmark is expressed in comments from our Korean Assistant Director ( JiHyun Lee) who says, ‘you really understand the Korean aesthetic, the Korean way of working.’ We set up a collaboration which was open artistically. One element of Korean culture is included in the work, around the idea of ritual female suicide. There’s a moment in the work where we look at that darkness. Korea has
one of the highest OECD ratings but the widest gap is between male and female income. It has been a tradition in Korea where women, when they had no voice to express oppression or concerns, would express that by taking their own lives and two of the Korean dancers wanted to have that aspect included; it’s the darkest aspect of the performance but they wanted that in the show. It’s hidden by the poetical nature of the show but we’re able to get those elements in the work.” Westerners may make the mistake of assuming that arts practice in newly industrialised cultures is dominated by tradition but this isn’t the case. “Korea is outward looking in developing its own artistic practice; it’s not scared to look to the world, to collaborate, to push the boundaries and experiment with form. It’s definitely part of the excitement of exchange.” Clarkson notes that although Pixel Mountain is a charged political work, it delivers its message through pure visual and physical poetry. “The work isn’t didactic; it’s a poetical work of movement which reflects on social markers in a visual physical form. I like my work to be popular but not necessarily populist. It’s a fairly intuitive, anti-narrative in a sense; it’s understood as a visceral response to the work. Over the last several years I’ve worked on developing a visual aesthetic around technology and physicality.” One challenge for Clarkson in presenting Pixel Mountain was in finding a performance space; there just wasn’t a suitable wall in the vicinity. “We are adapting it to the site; we’re building one out of shipping containers.” This means that the performers can’t rehearse in [on] the space but it’s a problem that is happily addressed by technology the team is already using, something punters will also get to enjoy after the performance. “We will create a 3D map of the container. At the end of show we make a play space for the audience to get up on stage and play with interaction ± s omething we haven’t done before.”
Pixel Mountain will take place as part of the SummerSalt Outdoor Arts Festival at the Dodds St Stage, Festival Hub from Wednesday February 18 Saturday February 21.
24th INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
FLiCKER FEST 2015
SHORT FILMS LICENSED TO THRILL!
WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 6.15PM
MADE IN MELBOURNE AWARD-WINNING SHORTS –
–
SCREENING + AFTER PARTY
KINO CINEMAS 45 COLLINS PLACE, MELBOURNE
–
TICKETS: $25/$20
–
ONE NIGHT ONLY
@flickerfest
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
@flickerfest
#flickerfest2015
Photography: Mark Rogers
FLICKERFEST.COM.AU/TOUR /flickerfest
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 27
UPCOMING
FEBRUARY
on tour CARIBOU [USA] Thursday February 5, The Forum VIC MENSA [USA] Thursday February 5, Corner Hotel MR SCRUFF [UK] Friday February 6, 170 Russell DJ EZ [UK] Friday February 6, New Guernica STEFFI [GER] Saturday February 7, TBA LEE BURRIDGE [GER], MATTHEW DEKAY [NED] Saturday February 7, Caulfield Racecourse KOLOMBO [BEL] Sunday February 8, Prince Bandroom MODESELEKTOR [GER] Thursday February 12, The Hi-Fi CARL COX [UK] Friday February 13, Trak Lounge LUNICE [CAN] Saturday February 14, Howler MADGA [USA] Saturday February 14, The Liberty Social GENIUS OF TIME [SWE] Saturday February 14, TBA 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 CIARA [USA] Sunday February 22, Alumbra DELTRON 3030 [USA] Friday February 27, The Hi-Fi DRAKE [USA] Friday February 27, Rod Laver Arena THEO PARRISH [USA] Saturday February 28, Revolt Artspace FREDDIE GIBBS [USA] Saturday February 28, Corner Hotel 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 SHACKLETON [UK] Friday March 14, The Mercat FOREST SWORDS [UK] Saturday March 15, Howler KELE [UK] Wednesday March 18, Corner Hotel BONOBO [UK] Thursday March 19, Prince Bandroom JURASSIC 5 [USA] Wednesday April 1, Festival Hall
tour rumours
Juan Atkins, Hieroglyphic Being, Vatican Shadow, Container, The Bug, Evian Christ, Motor City Drum Ensemble
28
news tours club snaps + more
electronic + urban + club life
mr scruff wo rd s / zo e k i lb o u rn
With a prodigious 15-year career behind him, Andy Carthy’s music still eludes easy categorisation: breaks that span funk, soul, hip hop, and everything lumped under the hopelessly broad labels ‘avant-garde’ and ‘roots’. Mr Scruff (apropos his scratchy freehand artwork and Mancunian Louis C.K. look) is bringing his mammoth music collection to Melbourne. Andy Carthy, as cartoonist, drew one of his super-cute sketches to announce his Australian tour: a potato-shaped Mr Scruff tells the nation he’s been ‘record shopping’. “It’s something that’s always been in the back of my mind, but I’ve got a family now,” he explains. “If I come to Australia, I’ve got to come for at least three weeks. I think it was just the stars aligning, the magic combination of some really good gigs and plenty of time to relax and meet up with friends, explore, that sort of thing. It was too good an opportunity to miss – playing outdoors in great weather is not really something you can take for granted in the UK.” Carthy certainly knows how to pace himself. It’s the DJ, producer
news
and vinyl enthusiast’s first Australian visit in seven years; 2014’s Friendly Bacteria was his first album in six. Hooked into classic Scruff breaks, Rhodes, and soul samples, the album explored completely original composition and sample-building far more than in Carthy’s previous work. “I’ve always used synths, I suppose, but every album I’ve moved away from sampling,” he says. “A lot of it comes from all these record labels who are like, ‘We don’t get out of bed unless we have all the writing’. After a few of those, where you’re really pleased with a tune and you can’t release it due to mostly major labels being quite stubborn about what they expect from the use of the sample, I just go, ‘I can do it on my own, then’. I can still record and create, I can even write a tune – a couple of times I’ve done an entire tune and then sampled a tiny little bit of it to build something else. It’s all playful. “Depending on how you set up the mics on your real instruments, you can really develop your own sound, and then, depending on
-
head to b eat .co m . a u fo r m o re
off the record w i t h
t yson
w ray
Nothing quite reaffirms my life choices quite like walking past a bro in a bucket hat standing outside waiting for Club X to open.
kele
Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke will return to our shores for a solo tour this March on the heels of his second album, Trick. With releases on labels like Damian Lazurus’ Crosstown Rebels and Berlin Studio’s !K7, Kele has continued to turn out a steady stream of of dancefloor ready tracks since going solo in late 2013. He’ll take his live show to both capital and regional Australia, kicking off in Brisbane before making his way down the coast and over to Perth. Kele will play The Corner on Wednesday March 18.
thundamentals
Thundamentals have announced a national tour to celebrate the one-year anniversary of their critically acclaimed album, So We Can Remember. Featuring singles like Smiles Don’t Lie, Something I Said and Missing You, the album was the only 2014 record nominated for a j Award, Carlton Dry Independent Music Award, ARIA Award, FBi SMAC Award and the Australian Music Prize. Its success saw them hit the road for appearances at Falls Festival, Groovin the Moo, a sold out headline tour and a national tour with the legendary Hilltop Hoods, playing to over 50,000 people in locations around Australia. They’ll play at The Corner on Friday April
nico ghost
Fresh from his appearance at Beyond The Valley, local hip hop artist Nico Ghost has announced a month-long residency at Laundry Bar. The residency follows the release of Ghost’s debut single Coolin, produced by LA-native GXNXVS. Born in South Africa and currently residing in Melbourne, Ghost states he is inspired by the “intergalactic tunes from Kid Cudi, storytelling of Snoop Dogg, and the smooth jams of Lionel Richie.” Nico Ghost will perform at Laundry Bar each Friday in February.
electronic - urban - club life
compression and how you treat the sounds, it’s still about having fun with objects and making them sound as odd as possible. Kind of twisting reality, which is a big thing for me. I try to get it half-robotic, half-human, and through that tension you can really give a tune an edge, which I’m always striving for.” For Carthy, much of that human side comes from sampling existing esoteric records, as in early hit and Moondog reimagining Get A Move On. “One of the things I like about sampling is the same as DJing,” he says. “You’re restricted by using what’s already a finished piece of music. I like to have something that’s difficult to manipulate or get the different sounds out. It gives you something to push against. When you’re using limited equipment or samples, the way you chop it up to make it your own – that’s quite character-building.” Now more than ever, Carthy the producer has had to build not just drum loops but entire songs, extensively working with guest instrumentalists and vocalists on Friendly Bacteria. One standout example of his human-robot synthesis is floor-melter What, an astonishing arrangement of raw register-breaking sax into a tight mesh of loops, underpinned by the album’s trademark synth bass. “The guy who played sax on that – a guy called Jim Nye – he’s a proper mad character,” Carthy says. “He’s only got a tiny little sax, but he makes it sound like a whale. It’s enormous. It was quite nice to have that combination of something quite fat and electronic and this really rude, obnoxious sax over the top that just kind of elbows its way into the tune. I love that energy that comes out, and you can definitely see that when you play it – it’s quite fiery, quite elemental. Although Carthy’s musical method is all about exploration and surprise – “I’ll bring in people I’ve never met before, friends of friends, and we’ll do three or four tunes in a day,” – he’s self-described as “fussy” when it comes to equipment. He’s risking a heap of vinyl on the plane to Australia, but he’ll spend days transferring boxes more into high quality, 24-bit WAV files. He’s also bring his custom EQ and mixer set to ensure it all works smoothly. “I find that when it sounds better, you can get away with playing a lot more weird and wonderful music as well,” he says. “That goes for any DJ – if it sounds good, there’s a really clear line of communication and people get it straight away. If it sounds a bit rubbish, it’s almost a little abrasive and pushes you away, whereas a good sound kind of pulls you in and gives you a cuddle.” He’s beyond comfortable with his very individual set-up, but Scruff’s schtick is the absence of schtick – he’s constantly moving boundaries, defying his own and his audience’s expectations while delivering consistently excellent sets. “The main thing is, as a DJ and as an artist – probably more so as a DJ – I’ve got myself in a position where people expect me to play anything and everything, which is great,” he says. “I don’t feel hemmed in by previous creations, and I’m really careful to push what I’m comfortable playing with every gig. You’ve got to push yourself at every opportunity so you’re not rolling your eyes going, ‘Oh, no, this just feels really constricting’. With the music, I never know what’s going to happen, that’s half the fun. That’s all the fun, really.”
Catch Mr Scruff at 170 Russell on Friday February 6.
club guide wednesday feb 4
snaps anyway
curious tales - feat: dj who + tigerfunk + tom showtime + flagrant Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. revolver wednesdays - feat: dan san Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm.
thursday feb 5
3181 thursdays - feat: hans dc with get bu$y + jesse young + who & sam gudge Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 6:00pm. cq sessions Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. flanagans thursdays - feat: dj ontime + colonel Pier Live, Frankston. 8:00pm. summer nights Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 4:30pm. the ritz - feat: ken walker + ando + joshua gilliland Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 10:00pm. $20.00. varsity - feat: kiti + foofaraw Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. xs disco - feat: various artists Onesixone, Prahran. 8:00pm.
friday feb 6
circus sundays
#mashtag - feat: malpractice + agent 86 + benzo + andre le vogue + silverfox + ahab + ollie Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. a state of trance Hisense Arena, Melbourne. 8:00pm. can’t say Platform One, Melbourne. 9:00pm. cocoa noir sessions Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. cq fridays Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. earth radio - feat: jnr ross + ethan taylor + andronius + jekyll + subsonic + josh lynch Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. 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. 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. mr scruff 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $45.90. 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. pony club - feat: salmon barrel + geoff o’connor + darren sylvester + lei & mai gryffydd Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $10.00. poprocks Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. reminisce classic house 2015 - feat: john course Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 9:00pm. $34.70. revolver fridays - feat: mike callander + katie drover + lewie day + aram & who Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. sleazy listening - feat: arks + richard kelly + hysteric + k.hoop Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 5:00pm. sutherland & white - feat: harvey sutherland + dan white + dawn again + raw wax djs The Mercat, Melbourne. 10:00pm. $5.00. take it to the bridge dj night Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. the emerson club fridays The Emerson, South Yarra. 3:00pm. therapy fridays - feat: stevie minx + matty g + apax + chris mac Level 3 @ Crown, Southbank. 8:00pm. $20.00.
saturday feb 7
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 dancing - feat: get busy + mafia + mat cant Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. big red bus - feat: jigsaw + merkaba + kalya scintilla + krusty + contrail dreams + jonny blaze My Aeon, Brunswick. 10:00pm. $10.00. cushion saturdays Cushion, St Kilda. 9:00pm. electric dreams Co., Southbank. 8:00pm. $20.00. familiar strangers The Emerson, South Yarra. 10:00pm. $20.00. garden beats - feat: 12 tones The Fitzroy Beer Garden, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. hot step - feat: adam askew + grayskull + keltec + myles mac + peter baker + rev. thorn + sam mcewin + shane copal + tom evans Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. latin quarter special edition Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 8:00pm. midnight run Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 11:30pm. $7.00. my nu leng + ransom + mat cant + get bu$y + david space + flip3k Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 11:00pm. pelvis - feat: dj pelvis The Mercat, Melbourne. 10:00pm. platform one saturday nights Platform One, Melbourne. 9:00pm. psyberspace - feat: dirge + autopsy + sim3 Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. 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. suck music - feat: doakes + natalie + nostaljack & bambino + nick coleman Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 1:00am. 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. therapy Level 3 @ Crown, Southbank. 9:00pm. $20.00. tramp saturdays Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. trance saturdays - feat: ben naughton Manhattan Lounge, St Kilda. 10:00pm. tunes by joey elbows Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8:00pm. yolanda be cool sugar man tour + benson + mike metro + sunshine Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 9:00pm. $28.60.
hip hop karaoke–feat: get busy + mat cant Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $5.00. no money no problems Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm.
friday feb 6
bright lights, big city–feat: dj rcee + kahlua + dj shook + dj angel jay Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. cl750 rebels + ciecmate + bigfoot
bop art - feat: hawaii + who + tigerfunk + matt radovich + lewis cancut Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. down the rabbit hole - feat: nigel last Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. 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. revolver sundays - feat: boogs + spacey space + t-rek + radiator Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. spitroast sundays Cushion, St Kilda. 10:00pm. summer series - feat: patrick topping Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:00pm. the sunday set - feat: dj andyblack & haggis Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm. tomorrow never comes - feat: kolombo Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 1:30pm. $28.60. wax on wax off Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm. 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.
tuesday feb 10
oasis Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. see you next tuesday Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.
faktory t + straitjacket symphony + mini coop + big dip + theory + braidz Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $20.00. rhythm nation saturdays–feat: dj big saad + dj kahlua & andy pala Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00.
saturday feb 7
sunday feb 8
electronic - urban - club life
be. at co.
monday feb 9
Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $20.00. faktory fridays–feat: damion de silva + k dee + durmy Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. friday night rhythm–feat: dj andre le vogue The Fitzroy Beer Garden, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.
khokolat koated saturdays–feat: damion de silva + k dee + durmy + timos Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. nje & the essence + zanda elwood + big
khokolat koated
sunday feb 8
urban club guide thursday feb 5
snaps
be. sundays Co., Southbank. 10:00pm. $15.00.
29
G. LOVE & THE SPECIAL SAUCE
By Meg Crawford
G. Love & The Special Sauce have brought ear joy to the world with their flavour of blues, groove and funk since ’93. Naturally, in the space of 20-plus years, a shitload of things have happened – they’ve released 13 albums (not counting the compilations), and played with innumerable greats, including Merry Clayton (yep, the Merry Clayton who sang with Mick on Gimme Shelter) and Dr John. They’ve also had a few lineup changes, although 2014 marked the end of that cycle with Jimi Prescott’s (bassist) return to the fold. Things start on an inauspicious note – G.’s first word was a loud, “Ow,” but he’s no wuss and the rest of the interview crackles with mirth and good yarns. Let’s start with this one – it’s kinda’ timely given that Fat Tuesday is around the corner and talk of Dr John’s almost inevitable when you’re thinking of music and New Orleans. G., the lucky bastard, got to play with him on his third studio album. “I’ve been such a huge fan of Dr John since I was a kid,” G. recollects. “My mum had a small record collection… One of the records was Dr John’s famous record, In the Right Place. That record had a big impact on my whole vocal delivery, especially the stuff that Dr John would sing about. It was street – he used a lot of slang in his lyrics and street talk, which I really related to as a kid. So, when I started writing songs, I had a lot of that same kind of flavour in my songwriting.” Naturally, playing with Dr John was pretty damn exciting. “He came in for a day – it was funny, because we were recording so many tunes and in the end we got him to play on 11 songs that day. We might have cut two or three live and we had him overdub on nine other tunes,” he says. “His wife or his girlfriend was with him and she was getting so pissed off, because we were paying him ‘x’ amount of dollars and he was having a good time with it and he was ready to play on anything, but his wife was like, ‘Goddamnit,’ and when I’d leave the room, she’d tell the engineer, ‘Tell that skinny mother fucker I know what he’s doing. We’re getting the fuck out of here.’ Mac [Malcolm John “Mac” Rebennack, better known as Dr John] didn’t know and I’d be like, ‘Mac, you wanna do one more?’ and he’d be like, ‘Let’s do another one’.”
Of Prescott’s prodigal son’s return, G.’s stoked – we’re also quite tickled with his analogy between relationships and the band: “We had hit a wall creatively and socially five or six years ago,” he admits. “We needed to take a little break, which we did, but when we went in to make the record we decided to give Jim a call. He came into the studio and he was so great – his energy was great, the mix was great and we had a great time. “You could really see that chemistry; it’s something that bands have, just like people have in their romantic relationships. There’s always a reason that you chose someone in particular to marry – you might have had a different girlfriend who was hotter, or richer, but you choose the other one to marry because you have ‘something’ together. [It’s the] same thing with musicians. You could get a different player, say a sharper dressed player, but maybe you have a certain thing with these other people – Jim, Jeff [Clemens, on drums] and I have that. It’s hard to put a finger on it, but the minute Jeff came back in the studio it was like, ‘Oh, there we go’.” Going back to the ’93 start, G.’s a little blown away that time’s elapsed so quickly: “Looking back, it does seem like quite a long time ago, but at the same time, it went by so quick,” he reflects. “If you break it down, so much has happened in that time and we’ve had so many different chapters of our career and our journeys, even if you break it down by your romantic relationships, it starts to feel like a pretty long time. I always feel like time, especially with music, seems to drift by, but then you blink your eyes and it’s 20 years later. Music – well, it’s like anything, if you do what you love, you feel like a kid forever.” Best career advice we’ve ever heard.
BAND OF SKULLS
G.’s looking forward to heading back for Bluesfest. “There’s always those moments there where you are like, ‘Holy shit, look who I’m hangin’ with back stage,” he chortles. As for the specifics of his plans, he’s already figured it out: “I know I’m gonna’ surf and I know I’m gonna’ play music, so I know I’m gonna’ have a damn good time,” he notes. “I love Australia. I love everything from the beer, the food, the coastal living, the surfing and I love the fact that Australian people have really embraced our type of music – roots music – more so than anywhere else in the world. The women are
beautiful, the land is beautiful and Road Warrior [Mad Max II] is one of my favourite movies. You know how you daydream about random stuff ? I was thinking about that last night; how the hell did they film all that shit?”
lot has been achieved by the band in that time, but perhaps one of the more overlooked aspects is the fact that they’ve never changed their lineup. While many bands come and go, Band of Skulls have remained a sole constant. Richardson narrows it down to an ability to see true friendship over everything else. “We were a bit of a gang back in school,” she says with a laugh. “We were mates, and we ended up playing music together. It was never meant to be anything beyond that – we had no greater hopes of becoming famous or anything like that. We wanted to play music and make records – sometimes, you don’t think about what could happen from there. It doesn’t factor in. So
I suppose that core friendship has been what kept the band together all this time. It helps you to deal with the knocks, the blows, the bad times, the good times. It’s what makes you stronger as a band.”
G. LOVE & THE SPECIAL SAUCE play Bluesfest on Thursday April 2 and Friday April 3. Their Bluesfest sideshow is at the Thornbury Theatre on Saturday April 4.
By David James Young
From humble college beginnings to all-encompassing world tours, Bristol’s Band of Skulls can truly count themselves as the little band that could. 2014 saw the alt-rockleaning trio head back into the studio to record their third studio album, Himalayan. It’s an album that scales the kind of peaks suggested by its literally-mountainous title – an album the band feel is their strongest work to date. “We wrote and recorded it in London over our summer,” says Emma Richardson, the band’s bassist and co-lead vocalist. “We worked with Nick Launay, which was really cool as we hadn’t worked with him in the producer role before. When we were making it, it was all a matter of pushing ourselves – bettering ourselves. We wanted to bring something out that we were all proud of, but it actually came out better than we could have ever hoped.” Band of Skulls – completed by guitarist Russell Marsden and drummer Matt Hayward – have developed a method within their collective madness when it comes to writing new material. It was never more prevalent than during the creation of Himalayan – as Richardson explains, it was a matter of breaking down the elements of the band and rebuilding from there. “It all comes together piece by piece, really,” she says. “We all write individually and have a bunch of ideas, then we’ll get our demos together and go from there. We see what works together – it’s like we’re assembling a puzzle or something. You can’t see the full picture until you get it all in the right order. It’s an interesting balance between some kind of competition and some kind of democracy. We want to always better ourselves and compete, in a way, with one another; but it’s always for the greater good. A better song always comes out of it.” The band’s tour in support of Himalayan will bring them back to Australia yet again, less than a year since their last run of dates. As well as playing as a part of the gargantuan Bluesfest lineup, the band will play a few headlining shows in between dates, opening for the festival’s headliners, The Black Keys. If you haven’t caught the band on this album cycle yet, expect to hear BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 30
a substantial amount of Himalayan – although it may not be the exact same set of tracks from it every night. “I think we’ve played three quarters of the record live on tour,” explains Richardson. “We more or less tag them in and out – give some an airing, give some a break. The record is still relatively new to us, so we don’t want to grow tired of it too quickly. It’s almost our duty as a band to try and keep it as exciting as possible. I remember we were playing a few shows a couple of weeks after we’d finished recording. We were playing a couple of the new songs, and even then it felt like they were already changing. I think that’s a part of the natural progression of writing songs. We like to play around with our creations – there are some songs that have managed to change every night. We’ll mix that in, typically, with as many of our old songs that we can fit within an hour and a half. We want it to fly by so fast that people do a double take – the kind of show where they’ll turn to their mates and ask, ‘What just happened?’ ” Despite the often layered nature of their songs, the band have never employed another guitarist – or any studio, session or touring members, for that matter. The band put a great importance on what you hear being exactly what you get. “There’s something there when the three of us play together,” says Richardson. “It’s an unsaid thing, in a lot of ways. We feed off one another when we’re playing. You can’t describe it – you instinctively know what’s going to happen next, or who in the band is going to make the next move. There’s a trust there. We may start out playing the songs as we know them, but we don’t ever want to be limited by that.” 2015 will mark the 11th year of Band of Skulls. A
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
BAND OF SKULLS are playing Bluesfest on Friday April 3 and Rolling Green on Sunday April 5 in the Yarra Valley. Their sideshow is happening at The Corner Hotel on Tuesday April 7. Himalayan is out through Electric Blues Recordings / [PIAS] Australia.
SHANE JACOBSON
AND THE MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA By Soph Goulopoulos
The problem many actors have when finding fame with such a distinctive character is they might find it hard to distance themselves from that role in the future. I don’t know about you, but Daniel Radcliffe will always be Harry Potter and Jared Leto will always be Edward Cullen (wait, was he in that movie? Fuck, who cares?). Shane Jacobson might still be known to most people as Kenny: the all-Australian, Portaloo providing every man with a speech impediment, but in the lead-up to his one-off show with Nicky Bomba and the Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Beat discovers he’s anything but a one-trick pony.
Jacobson began his performing life on the stage, so it makes sense that he would return to it. After the success of Kenny, which he also co-wrote the screenplay for with his brother Clayton (who directed the film), Jacobson featured in the production of Guys and Dolls alongside Lisa McCune, Marina Prior and Magda Szubanski for which he won a Helpmann Award for Best Male in a Supporting Role, and the critically-acclaimed The Drowsy Chaperone, in which he performed with Geoffrey Rush and Rhonda Burchmore. Like many actors who pursue a career on screen, however, Jacobson firmly believes work on the stage is returning to a more grassroots level. “Working in film is like visiting a nice palace but [stage is] the place where [I] feel most at home,” he says. “The feedback is instantaneous. And I know that sounds cliché, but the thing about something being cliché means that it’s proven to be right over and over again.” He won a handful of awards for Kenny, including an AFI Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role; Film Critics Circle of Australia awards for Best Actor in a Lead Role and Best Screenplay; and an Inside Film Award for Best Feature Film and Best Script, to name but a few, and while he certainly has no qualms in listing his awards (who wouldn’t when you’re that accomplished?) he’s still incredibly humble. “I’m very proud,” he says. “The AFI Award is not a public vote, it was voted by my peers. Same with the Helpmann Award. I want to put the word humble with a sprinkling of shock.” Surely it must be difficult to juggle between his many creative outlets? No, he says, it’s simply a matter of when he gets sick of one thing, he dedicates time to the others. “When people ask me ‘What do I choose?’ I have chosen: I choose all of them,” he laughs. “It’s like choosing between beer, wine and cheese: I want them all… [But] that’s exactly why we’ve decided to do this show; it’s time to get back on the stage.”
N
T X E
W
E
! K E
FEEL & TRIPLE R PRESENT
“WE CAN GUARANTEE A BIG NIGHT OUT. IT’S LIKE GOING TO A CIRCUS BUT ALL THE ANIMALS ARE DRUNK AND THE AUDIENCE ARE ALLOWED TO LET OFF FIREWORKS.”
And so we come to how he and Bomba got together. It seems like an unlikely and, for some people, a somewhat puzzling collaboration, but Jacobson says the pair have known each other for quite some time and they share a passion for big band music and rambunctious onstage antics. “[Big band music] is the stuff that used to ignite audiences in Vegas,” he says, and that’s exactly what they’re trying to emulate. In the days where crooners used to captivate those Vegas crowds, music was almost only a small part of what was a thrilling extravaganza of performance: it was big, loud, dazzling and unashamedly showy. The show was in preliminary planning stages late last year, so it hasn’t taken long for their ideas to come into fruition. Rehearsals sound like controlled chaos, and Jacobson says they have to constantly apologise for having too much fun. So what can audiences expect from this one-off performance? It seems the duo have had a bit of a case of the Corey Worthington’s: the show has kept getting bigger and bigger to the point where it’s almost out of control (in the best way possible). In true Nicky Bomba style, there will be upwards of 30 people – mainly musicians and dancers – sharing the stage. In regards to how the show is going to go down on the night, Jacobson admits it’s been a little difficult to explain to various interested parties. His mum and her friends understand what he does but don’t understand what ska is, and others understand the Melbourne Ska Orchestra but can’t quite get their heads around how he’s going to fit in. “[Some] people say, ‘Really, you?’ The truth is, I do get that for some people, it’s a little leap of faith. But the easiest thing I can say, is think big orchestra, think Vegas, think Ray Charles, think James Brown, and think comedy,” he explains. “We can guarantee a big night out. It’s like going to a circus but all the animals are drunk and the audience are allowed to let off fireworks.” Enjoy the madness of SHANE JACOBSON AND THE MELBOURNE SKA ORCHESTRA at The Palms at Crown on Friday February 6. Tickets are available through Ticketek.
WED. 11TH FEBRUARY > FORUM SPECIAL GUESTS
DEEP SEA ARCADE
TICKETS ON SALE NOW FROM TICKETMASTER.COM.AU PH:1300 111 011 & ALL TICKETMASTER OUTLETS D O U B L E J ’ S T O P 5 0 A L B U M S O F 2 0 1 4 - # 3 : S P O O N ‘ T H E Y WA N T MY S O U L’ OUT NOW THROUGH SPUNK FEELPRESENTS.COM > SPOONTHEBAND.COM WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES..... WWW.BEAT.COM.AU/TV
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 31
KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS By Garry Westmore
In a day and age where for some, using analog technology is a kind of status symbol, we’re pretty sure you can’t beat Kitty, Daisy and Lewis, the English trio of siblings who still record on tape. On their upcoming third album, the aptly-named Kitty, Daisy & Lewis The Third, they’ve doubled their recording capability. “We used a 16 track recorder instead of an eight track,” says Kitty, the youngest of the Durham siblings. “We wanted to up our game and get more channels, and I think for this record, we all knew that we could put together a bigger sound, a bigger production. We wanted to add more stuff, like a string section. If we had just eight channels, we would have run out.” As a result, the trio’s third outing is a notably fuller sounding record, with strings and horns in abundance, yet subtly placed behind the chief instruments. The band’s taught musicianship and songwriting sees them traverse familiar genres like country (Whiskey, Bitchin’) R&B (Feeling of Wonder), (Good Looking Woman) and less trodden fields of reggae on the thoroughly enjoyable Turkish (and this is coming from a guy who hates reggae). “When we did the overdubs, we had in mind what we were going to do, but then we came up with some new parts, which in a way, transferred some of the tracks, writing new bits in.” Though their producer Mick Jones (of The Clash fame) has been producing since the early ‘80s, the old recording gear took some getting used to: “I think he was a bit blown away because today, he’s used to working with computers, that’s what he knows, and obviously when you’re working like we do, you can’t add in bit later on a computer, you have to get it right, get all the overdubs right. He got used to that quite quickly, we were like, ‘No you can’t go on a laptop afterwards’.” There’s something endearing rather than snobbish about how they go about recording, an approach probably influenced by them growing up in a musical household where instruments and records were always being played. One can almost imagine the Durham household operating in a manner opposite to that movie cliché; the stern parents dismayed at the rock’n’roll records brought home by their rebellious teen.
“We grew up playing music, a lot of it was rock’n’roll. My mum she was always well into music. She never did it professionally but she was in a band when she was younger, but she’s got a pretty big collection of loads of different kinds of music, so we were always just listening to everything at home.” Hence, even as early as their teenage years, they’ve been performing together; their early success raised questions early on as to what to do about their schooling. “By the time it got to me [graduating secondary school] the band had reached a stage where it was like, ‘We may as well carry on with this, it seems to be going well’.” Going well is an understatement if ever there was one, as two days after finishing her exams, they were off to do a tour of the US with Coldplay. “We were thrown in the deep end,” she exclaims, “but it was really incredible. Obviously being at school we weren’t able to tour, it was just gigs on the weekend. But now it’s a full time job, which is great because we all love doing it.” In the years since their first album, it does feel like the trio are coming into their own a little bit, as, when they started out, they were pigeonholed somewhat and defined by a ‘40’s retro aesthetic that dominated their album design and marketing material - all pinned up hair, wartime dresses and black and white photos. Nowadays though, they seem much freer to be who they are and not necessarily prescribe themselves to a particular look. “The whole retro thing, it was weird, we play all kinds of music and it was a little frustrating people latched on to one kind of aspect of that. With this album, we didn’t say, ‘We’ll do this, or do that,’ or, ‘we’ll go in that direction,’ everything just happened and unfolded as we went along. I think the music and songwriting came first… It’s us writing about shit we’ve been through. We’ve all grown up.” Though it’s been a while between albums with their last
record Smoking in Heaven coming out in 2011, Durham insists their time was spent effectively in making sure they got it right, rehearsing for five months before heading into the studio to produce the 12 tracks for the record (they had 13 but Jones was superstitious about having 13 tracks). “It’s special to us,” Durham says. “We haven’t released anything for a long time.” Nor have they toured Australia for some time. “At some
point we’re going to come back and do some more gigs, it’s just finding some time to do it. I can’t wait. I love playing in Australia, it’s brilliant.”
what is meaningful to me,” she ponders, “and you hope that it resonates with other people… it’s not something that you consciously try and do; you consciously try to be honest, but you don’t consciously try and relate, necessarily. I always find it really amazing ± a flattering thing ± that people can connect to songs. It’s lovely that people can take their own meaning from songs, and I think that there’s often been a little bit of room to interpret with some of my stuff,” she laughs. “It was
an outpouring of where I was at that point. I suppose that’s what all of my albums have been.”
KITTY DAISY AND LEWIS’ third album, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis The Third is out now through Shock.
SARAH BLASKO
By Christine Lan
Not Yet ± the poignant closer to Sarah Blasko’s fourth album, I Awake ± carries the gentle insistence that she won’t give in to her fears. Earlier last year, Blasko endured a testing time that led to a change in trajectory. “Sometimes it’s very frightening,” admits Blasko, “and you think, ‘Well, maybe this is it, maybe I don’t have anything else.’ I really thought that I couldn’t write, so I had to just totally shake it up. “The last couple of albums I wrote on my own in a room where I was playing simply on a piano,” says the Sydney-born singer/songwriter. “It wasn’t working for me this time; I was coming up with certain kinds of songs, but not really the kinds of songs I wanted to write. But then I thought, ‘I’m going to write a whole lot of songs with people I know and see what comes of that, and get away from the piano and just focus on the melody and the lyrics.’ I’ve found that this is the best way to write this album, so it’s been a matter of getting out of my old ways. I think [you’ve] got to keep looking for a different path.” Besides performing a Zoo Twilights concert and headlining the Riverboats Music Festival (“There’s always something nice about performing in the outdoors at night ± there’s always something dramatic about that.”), Blasko is currently working on her new album, which she expects to complete by April or May. “This one’s pretty different in feel so far,” she muses. “It’s a pretty ‘up’ album, I think. I Awake was very dark, but I think this is going to be a lighter affair. I’ve consciously tried to pare things down a bit for this record and try to keep it simpler, but there might still be an element of strings because I can’t deny that I love them. But I don’t think it’ll be anything near the scale of what I did on the last record. I’ve been writing more on keyboards again, on synths, which I haven’t done for years. I think As Day Follows Night and I Awake were real explorations of just acoustic instruments, and I think we did find ourselves going into more of a technological,” she pauses. “It’s not like it’s electronic music or anything like that,” she says with a laugh. “It’s breaking the palette of the last album. It’ll be the first time I’ve actually made an album here, which is really bizarre.” Over the past year, Blasko has written the musical BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 32
scores for two films. She recently completed the score for Brendan Cowell’s Ruben Guthrie ± a film about a high-flying advertising agency director’s battle with alcohol addiction ± which was first released as a play. Blasko and Cowell have discussed collaborations since working together on Bell Shakespeare’s Hamlet in 2008. Blasko also wrote the score for a 12-minute film by Australian artist and winner of the Archibald Prize in 2008 and 2013, Del Kathryn Barton. The short film is based on Barton’s book of artworks inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Nightingale and the Rose. “It’s been a year of trying new things,” she says. Blasko believes that Seeker, Lover, Keeper ± the supergroup comprising herself, Holly Throsby and Sally Seltmann ± will release more music in the future: “We’ve mentioned it to each other over email in the last little while. I think that will maybe be in another couple of years.” She brings a celestial air to melancholy introspection, but even as one of the country’s most respected, successful and admired artists, Blasko views her greatest achievement as “probably just continuing to move along,” even if her previous album was her most challenging work to date: “I do think that the last record, for me, probably represented a fulfilment of a dream in some way. It was in my mind for such a long time that one day I wanted to play with an orchestra and to find myself doing it, I really had an out-ofbody experience, to be honest,” she laughs. “I’m not really someone who necessarily has specific goals, but that was something I had in mind at that point in my career. So that was probably the greatest achievement ± it was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. “I don’t know if I’d necessarily say it was my most creative period ± I think it’s one of those things that ebbs and flows. But I do feel more focused now, creatively. I always feel like I’m looking forward to the next thing and trying to get better.” Blasko remains mystified by the way in which listeners connect to songs: “I’ve always decided to speak about
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
SARAH BLASKO performs on Friday February 6 at Zoo Twilights with special guests Luluc, A Day On The Green at Mt Dundeen Estate in Geelong on Saturday February 7, and headlines the Riverboats Music Festival in EchucaMoama, which runs from Friday February 13 to Sunday February 15. I Awake is out through Dew Process.
STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS By Augustus Welby
Pavement fans rarely have just a casual interest in the band. Rather, the fervour of the band’s fanbase verges on religious devotion. It’s interesting to note that Pavement’s music can just as easily incite shrugs of indifference from certain listeners. The ‘90s indie poster boys (a poster pulled from a limited edition zine, of course) made five LPs before calling it a day in 1999. It’s a damn fine catalogue, but their output can hardly be described as sensational. What makes Pavement so compelling is that, for a bunch of total oddballs, they sound completely selfassured. The kernel of the band’s charm is frontman and chief songwriter Stephen Malkmus, who’s full of witticisms, but shows no desire to put his intellect towards anything that mothers of the world would deem sensible. It’s been 15 years since Pavement split up, but Malkmus has never stopped making music. Following the release of an eponymous LP in 2001, he teamed up with The Jicks, with whom he’s now put out five LPs. These days, Malkmus is a father of two, in his 40s, but his worldview remains as crooked as ever. “The most ‘dad’ songs I made were like Major Leagues, with Pavement,” he says. “That was fine though, it was what it was. But my heart is in the weird and I can’t do those kinds of lyrics with a straight face, so it always comes out this way.” Malkmus & The Jicks’ latest release, Wig Out At Jagbags, celebrated its first birthday last month. The 12-song LP finds Malkmus in fine form, chortling amusing refrains such as “I’ve been tripping my face off since breakfast/ Taking in this windswept afternoon… Onward ye Christian sailors/ You smooth-talking jackoff jailors” atop beds of unhurried instrumentation. Wig Out At Jagbags and its predecessor, Mirror Traffic, feature the most contained compositions Malkmus has delivered in over a decade. Though, there’s a bit more going on than meets the eye, he explains. “[The songs on those two albums] have un-traditional
SPOON
song structures, but I try to make it so you don’t notice. It’s kind of secretly weird. I try to make it flow smoothly, to make it seem sort of effortless, and the band is great at that. I’m worried, I like those two albums a lot, but sometimes they’re too smooth or they glide past you.” Given that he’s a lifelong weirdo, it makes sense for Malkmus to be concerned about slipping into convention. However, even if his recent output is relatively relaxed, he’s still seeking ways to fuck with the form. “At this point, there’s certain kinds of rock songs or moves that are a little tired-feeling to me, even if they’re loud and they rock,” he says. “Sometimes I’ll want to hit that feeling because some of those things, they’re not necessarily tired, they’re universal. I’m trying to think, ‘How can I still hold a guitar and not feel like it’s kind of quaint?’ So I try to make my way around it and mix it up with the balance of the instruments and voices.” Since the release of 2003’s Pig Lib, The Jicks lineup has undergone a couple of alterations. Despite this, it’s not a revolving door situation. Malkmus is certainly the creative leader, but he values his relationship with the band. “I think that’s better for me to work with people,” he says. “It’s too alone to be by yourself, and it’s not that fun. Everyone’s collaborating, even when they’re solo. Like Panda Bear released a cool new record, but he’s got Sonic Boom on it and whoever engineered it. It’s probably basically a band, in a certain way.” Everything Malkmus has done since Pavement
carries forward the distinct strain of artistry he gave birth to in the early ‘90s. The first trio of Jicks records ± Pig Lib, Face the Truth and Real Emotional Trash ± feature some meandering and occasionally explosive instrumentation, but his curious perspective still conducts the action. This continuous thread suggests Malkmus dictates how the Jicks behave. However, that’s not quite true. “My band, and most bands, they want to get loud and tear the roof of things,” he says. “Sometimes I’m a little more restrained. It’s good for me to play it to them and see if it’s too restrained or to see, ‘Am I an old man or something? Is this dad music? Is it weird enough?’ “It might be interesting if we switched our instruments around a couple of times,” he adds. “I could see that happening ± ‘Why I don’t I drum on this one? You play bass.’ But that can also be a bad idea. Some people can probably do it, like Jonny Greenwood, he can do
everything. But there’s very few of those people that can actually do that. Stevie Wonder and Jonny Greenwood. I’d pay to see that.” Super band fantasies aside, later this month, Malkmus & The Jicks head back to Australia. While they’re here, they’ll take part in the Melbourne Zoo Twilights series. Stephen Malkmus performing at a zoo, could it be any more perfect? Well, he has some minor scruples. “You’re welcome to bring your family to see us, that’s fine,” he says. “We have nice songs and stuff, but we’re also kind of unruly at times and there’s profanity. I don’t need to cuss, but I might. So watch out.”
that batch of them that I feel really, really solid about ± like, ‘I know that’s a solid song.’ And that’s hard enough without trying to make a grand statement.” Evidently, Daniel’s primary objective is to write quality tunes. Though, he doesn’t pretend to be completely disinterested in how the Spoon fanbase reacts: “I’m trying to make something that I feel good about,” he says, “but then once it’s done, shit yeah I want people to like it. But I have no control over it. I’d rather make it myself, put it out there and hopefully it captures somebody’s imagination and somebody likes it.” It’s safe to say that with They Want My Soul, he’s
accomplished this task. The band have spent the last nine months on the road and this week they’ll kick off an Australian tour. By the looks of things, the enthusiasm recovered while making They Want My Soul remains in effect. “These songs are fun to play live,” Daniel says. “I love touring. Touring is the easy part for me. You don’t have to think to hard. It’s just pure fun.”
STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS are performing at Zoo Twilights at Melbourne Zoo with Twerps on Friday February 27. Wig Out At Jagbags is out through Spunk Records.
By Augustus Welby
Twelve months ago, Spoon fans had plenty of reasons to worry about the band’s future. After 20 years together ± and a decade-long stretch of near-flawless releases ± the Austin foursome broke apart to pursue a range of separate projects. Most notably, frontman and songwriter Britt Daniel teamed up with Dan Boeckner (of Wolf Parade and Handsome Furs fame) to create Divine Fits. Not only did the group’s debut LP, 2012’s A Thing Called Divine Fits, prove Daniel could make excellent records without Spoon, but witnessing Divine Fits live, it was clear he relished this new project. Meanwhile, Daniel’s longtime Spoon sideman, drummer Jim Eno, comfortably settled into the role of record producer, working with the likes of !!! and The Preatures. Thankfully, all doomsday speculation was put to bed when Spoon ± now a five-piece ± dropped the new single Rent I Pay last June. Then came album number eight, They Want My Soul in August, which showcased the band back at peak strength. “I made it my thing, when we got back together this time: I don’t want to do anything that’s not fun, I don’t want to do anything that’s not creative,” Daniel says. “That frame of mind was the biggest aim in putting the band back together. It’s worked well. I like the way the record turned out a lot.” Whenever the members of an established band start messing about with side projects, it’s met with more than a touch of scrutiny. Selfishly, fans would prefer musicians to stay focused on that which we’ve come to love and depend upon. This reaction neglects the liberating potential that comes from experimenting with a novel arrangement. For instance, while Divine Fits seemed like a distraction at first, the band’s debut LP was undeniably a collection of bristling rock songs. On top of this, Daniel’s time with Divine Fits reignited his enthusiasm for playing with Spoon. “The very end of [Spoon’s seventh album] Transference, I could tell that everybody wasn’t as excited,” he says. “We toured too long on that record. It didn’t want to be toured as long as we did. If anything, playing with Divine Fits just made me more eager to work with the Spoon guys again. Because I had so much fun with Divine Fits, I saw how great it was to play with people where everyone was excited about it.” Over the course of their career, Spoon have earned a reputation as critical darlings. Essentially, this
stems from the fact that every release from 2001’s Girls Can Tell onwards has received lofty praise from contemporary music commentators. It only takes a quick browse through 2014 best-of lists to recognise They Want My Soul has secured the band’s impressive standing. Critical opinions are somewhat arbitrary, but garnering unanimous praise is still a mighty achievement. Despite this, Daniel pays no mind to what’s written about the band: “That makes you crazy, reading that stuff,” he says. “The best way for a musician or a songwriter to develop is to go down your own path. When you read those reviews, whether they’re positive or negative, they do get into your brain and make you think about the way you’re writing songs. Whether it’s someone saying that, ‘He does this part well,’ [or] ‘He does this part shit.’ I don’t need that kind of conflicting information. I’d rather just figure it out for myself.” Of course, what’s of greater significance than a star rating is the music itself. They Want My Soul is distinguished by a muscular sonic quality (thanks to the input of producers Dave Fridmann and Joe Chiccarelli) and a slew of Daniel’s most immediate and concise compositions. It’s interesting to note that the record’s predecessor, 2010’s Transference, was rather murky and experimental. Although there’s a marked contrast between the two, Daniel wasn’t monitoring how these new songs would correspond to the band’s earlier work. “All I’m trying to do is just come up with songs that I like,” he says. “Writing songs is such a process, and you go through so many that you discard or are not going to be useful, so all I’m doing is… I want to find
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES..... WWW.BEAT.COM.AU/TV
SPOON are playing The Forum with Deep Sea Arcade on Wednesday February 11. They Want My Soul is out through Spunk Records Australia. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 33
THE FUCK FUCKS AND DUMB PUNTS
By Keats Mulligan
Melbourne is widely considered a city divided by music. The rivalry between the north and the south is unavoidable. The assumption that the north is more forward thinking than the south is a key reason that, today, the lion’s share of Melbourne’s live music venues exist within the northern areas. However, long before the north earned its reputation as being the heartland of live music, St Kilda was widely considered to be the breeding ground for most of Melbourne’s best music. It was the epicentre of punk and rock’n’roll, and it boasted the city’s strongest and most popular music venues. Many of those venues still exist, some of them are gone, but the impact they’ve had on Melbourne’s music culture is undeniable. St Kilda Festival is a celebration of the suburb’s indelible mark on the city. Beat spoke with two southern-based musicians about the area, the festival and Melbourne’s music scene. Fred Negro, frontman of the ever-controversial band The Fuck Fucks has spent the better part of 35 years playing around St Kilda and has always stood in support of the region, while Jim Gallagher of Dumb Punts and WOD is a relatively new resident. Both chose to live on the south, both are avid supporters of the south, and while they’re separated in age by a quarter of a decade, they both share a very similar perspective on music. “A lot of venues are closing down because of a lot of cunts [are] moving in next door and complaining about noise,” Negro remarks. “When I first started with my first band The Editions back in 1979, every pub was a venue and I was doing all the cartoons and advertising for every venue. It’s all changed now; there are hardly any venues because of noise complaints.” Negro’s astutely aware of the downturn in St Kilda. Still, he remains steadfast in nurturing what’s left of the music culture in the area. Gallagher, on the other hand, doesn’t have a life of playing rock’n’roll in St Kilda that ties him to the area. So we ask him where he normally plays. “Definitely south side” he says, without a moment’s hesitation. “I’ve been in Melbourne for about three years, and I reckon there’s a handful of standout bands that come through, seemingly out of nowhere, smash shows, get picked up and turn into something like Ausmuteants or The UV Race and kill it. The rest are good, but they don’t have that thing that pushes them to the next level.” Gallagher’s perspective on music
in Melbourne is much the same as his perspective on music in the south of Melbourne. The key issues and factors are the same, just on a smaller scale. “There’s a massive electro scene here at the moment, and that’s where everyone’s attention is at, but that doesn’t mean good rock shit and punk shit isn’t getting written. It’s still getting played, you’ve just got to look a little harder to find it.” Gallagher doesn’t necessarily subscribe to the notion of a huge north vs. south divide. He doesn’t even think that people from either side of Melbourne are having the most profound effect on the music coming out of this city. “I think that Geelong is responsible for it mainly,” he says. “Ausmuteants and Orb – I think Orb are probably the best band in the country.” The blatant dismissal of the divide from Gallagher is heartening. Negro agrees with him too, and sitting here across from them, it’s hard to argue with their appraisal of music in Melbourne. So if it’s not to do with where you play and who you play with, what is it that you have to do to make it as a band in Melbourne? “Just not being a cockhead,” Gallagher says. “People want to like a band. There’s so much of, ‘You’ve got to be the coolest cat,’ with stern faces and it’s like, ‘Well my songs are so good that you have to just sit here and listen.’ Fuck that, man. It’s a Saturday night; people want to have a good time. If you’re in a band and people are in a room watching, you have the opportunity to turn it on its head and make it a great night, or you
can make it awkward.” Negro interrupts Gallagher: “By being too serious,” he exclaims. “It’s called the entertainment industry for a reason, because it’s meant to be bloody entertaining.” They both nod. While the differences between Negro and Gallagher are vast, due to age and growing up in completely different musical climates, they don’t seem to be divided on the issue of rock’n’roll. They both maintain a genuine affection for it. It’s exactly that enthusiasm and good nature that these two plan to bring to their performance at St Kilda Festival. When we ask Negro
what advice he’d give to someone about how to make their band work, he tells us: “Do everything yourself, try and entertain people and care about it. Care about the people that come to your shows. Just care about your audience and make a racket; if you’re gonna make a racket, make a real racket.
actually quite nice, no one’s rushing us. Our team has said, ‘We want you guys to take your time.’ “It’s important that we get every element right, and make sure we outdo everything we’ve done in the past. I feel confident in the sounds that we’ve been developing
in the new songs.”
Watt’s On presents THE FUCK FUCKS and THE DUMB PUNTS at St Kilda Festival on Sunday February 8 at The Prince of Wales. This is a free show.
TONIGHT ALIVE
By Rod Whitf ield
There’s a plethora of Australian rock acts branching out and flying the flag for Aussie music internationally, and Sydney based pop-punk outfit Tonight Alive are one of them. They’re soon to jet off on their second tour of Japan, and bubbly frontwoman Jenna McDougall, speaking from her home in Sydney, is raring to go. “I’m very excited about it,” she enthuses. “This time we have a full week there, so between the shows we’ll be able to travel around, sightsee and be tourists, as well as be on the job. “It’s another world there, and we’re looking forward to taking it all in.” McDougall is expecting the hype to be even more amplified this time around: “It was pretty cool the first time,” she recalls. “I didn’t realise how we had fans there, except for Internet exposure. You know that when you’re not signed to a label, and you’re not being promoted, and you’ve never toured there before, the fans you do have there have sought you out. They might have just given you a chance, listened to your music, liked it, bought it and come to the shows.” The difference between Aussie and Japanese rock fans became immediately apparent to her and the band during their live set. “We had a lot of people singing along to the words of the first EP,” she remembers. “But when you finish the song, they’re silent and they’re waiting to hear you speak. It’s a really cool sense of respect; they also want to know what you have to say.” On top of their Japanese jaunt, the band have the very exciting prospect of being on the Soundwave bill for the second time. “We’re in the middle of writing an album,” she reveals, “and all these shows are pumping us up so much. The last time we played there was three years ago, around the same time as we did Japan. We were quite burnt-out at the time: we’d been on the road for three months straight leading up to Soundwave, and at the BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 34
time there were a lot of things happening internally within our team that were rocking the boat. I don’t think we really got to enjoy our first time on Soundwave. “But since then, we’ve done a lot of things, and we’ve experienced a lot, and we’ve changed. We’re going to bring a different show to Soundwave this year.” McDougall urges even fans of heavier music to come and check their band out at the festival, as she feels it may not be what they are anticipate from a female fronted pop-punk act. “People tend to have a pre-conception of what a female fronted rock band will be like, how it’s going to sound, what kind of performance it’s going to be. I think that our aim is always to break those boundaries and surprise people. “When we were growing up as a band, we were raised in a metal scene. Pop-punk didn’t exist in our local scene yet. We were listening to American bands playing this music, but no one was doing it in Australia, so the bands and the frontmen that I was looking up to were from metal and hardcore bands. Naturally, our performance is more heavy and aggressive in style.” The band’s last album The Other Side, their second fulllength release, came out in September 2013. It garnered much critical and fan acclaim, and was a commercial success. It’s certainly now time for a follow-up, and McDougall tells us that writing is well underway for their third LP. However, they’re taking the time they need to make sure it’s a step up from album number two. “We’ve always been on a bit of a two-year cycle,” she states. “Every two years we have to put out an album, and we’re about to go in and make our third one. It’s
DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION
TONIGHT ALIVE play Melbourne Soundwave on Saturday February 21 at the Melbourne Showgrounds. The Other Side is out via Sony.
CORE
PUNK, SKA, HARDCORE NEWS, REVIEWS & GOSSIP
By Emily Kelly: ek1984@gmail.com Blink 182 successfully shattered the dreams of many last week when they indulged in a very public feud with one another about the future of their band. The spat peaked when Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker had a lengthy discussion with Rolling Stone about how Tom DeLonge was no longer committed to the band, how all correspondence with him was via his manager, and how he’d been a nightmare to deal with for the last couple of years. DeLonge rebutted via Facebook saying he had no idea what they were talking about. Essentially, DeLonge is no longer in Blink 182. It was awkward, public and shitty, and has ruined so many people’s perception of Blink as the ultimate bro band. They always came across as mates who found solace and joy in one another’s disgraceful sense of humour and sharp music tastes. Now it just smacks of sad old mates sorting through the disintegration of their friendship in public. This happens, inevitably. It seems to be the road most bands are destined to trudge down eventually, but it’s particularly disheartening with Blink. We can see our own friendships going down the same path: music no longer being the bond that it used to be. Time is a cruel mistress. Fin. The Sidewaves keep rolling out, the many, many Christmas mornings are all coming at once. Melbourne will miss out on a Fall Out Boy, Twin Atlantic, Emily’s Army Sidewave, but we do get a crack at All Time Low and Fireworks, who join forces to play The Hi-Fi in Melbourne on Wednesday February 25. Godsmack, Papa Roach and Nonpoint will play at The Forum on Tuesday February 24 for one huge 18+ gig. Falling In Reverse will also bring the screaming hordes to 170 Russell on Wednesday February 25, but that one’s 18+ too, so if you see some sad teenagers traversing the streets of Melbourne that night, you’ll know what’s up. Millencolin, The Vandals and new Hellcat band The Interrupters will join forces for Sidewaves and for a couple of huge acts they’re playing pretty little venues. See the three at The Hi-Fi Bar on Monday February 23. This will probs sell out, hey. Napalm Death, Carcass, Extortion, OH MY. This killer lineup is the stuff dreams (or nightmares?) are made of and it’s coming to Melbourne’s Hi-Fi on Sunday April 19. This is pretty great. You’re gonna’ want to get one of those tickets that are on sale right now. Kentucky’s finest Emarosa will tour the country in June with thanks to Taperjean Music. Queensland’s Awaken I Am will provide support when they play Wrangler Studios in Melbourne on Monday June 8. Nice and little. Good times. One of Australia’s finest local exports sleepmakeswaves will tour the country on their biggest headlining run to date. The Great Northern tour celebrates the release of their new single and that means they’ll hit no less than 55 cities across 22 countries from now until June. Yerp. Ouch. Their worldwide run arrives in Melbourne at The Hi-Fi Bar on Friday June 12. Wonderful stuff.
CRUNCH
METAL, HEAVY ROCK. CLASSIC ROCK LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL GOOD SHIT
With Peter Hodgson: crunchcolumn@gmail.com
CORE GIG GUIDE Wednesday February 4: The Gaslight Anthem, Chris Farren at Prince Of Wales Thursday February 5: Party Vibez, Those Things!, Brittle Bones, Oh Pacific at The Old bar The Television Addicts, Sun God Replica, Deep Heat at The Reverence Friday February 6: Initials, Purity, Silver Lining, The World At A Glance, Shut Up Jackson at The Public Bar Oslow, Sleep Decade, Searhorse Divorce, Stockades, Chores at The Reverence Red Beard, God Wolf, Brittle Bones at The Reverence Kingswood at Chelsea Heights Hotel Saturday February 7: Purity, Silver Lining, Surrender, The Evercold, Disasters, Sheltered, The Great City at The Reverence Hotel Harm’s Way, Legions, Born Free, Time Crisis at The Bendigo Kingswood at Village Green, Mulgrave Antagonist AD, Left For Wolves, False Prophet at Bang CJ Ramone, Secret 7, Wolfpack, Dixon Cider at The Reverence Sunday February 15: The Ramshackle Army, Young Saviours, Jim Duggan at The Reverence Credit where it’s due, Groovin The Moo have really been upping the ante of late and have become one of the best Australian festivals on offer. Their bill this year is as diverse as ever and includes DMAs, Northlane, Sticky Fingers, Wolfmother and You Me At Six. As usual, Bendigo’s Prince Of Wales showground will host the Victorian leg on Saturday May 2. Ska giants Bad Manners will return to Australia this June to bring their devilish party steez to the masses. Metropolis Touring will deliver the band to The Corner Hotel on Wednesday June 3. Get yo skank on. I for one am not familiar with Weekend Nachos, but I sure do approve of their name. The Chicago-based grind/hardcore outfit will come to our country in June with Cursed Earth from Perth. See them at The Bendigo Hotel on Thursday June 11. Tickets are up for grabs now.
PERIPHERY HITS THE CHARTS
Congratulations to Periphery for landing at Number 22 and 25 respectively on the ARIA album charts for their new records Juggernaut: Alpha and Juggernaut: Omega. Hopefully we’ll see them in Australia sometime soon, right?
THE CONTROLLERS EAST COAST TOUR
The Controllers’ new EP Animals is out Friday March 20 and to celebrate they’re taking their live show up the east coast through March and April, joined by local mates Horror My Friend and Super Best Friends. Opening with the punchy lead single Nina Feel In Love, Animals is the follow-up to their debut EP and offers a mix of punk-rock riffs and melodic choruses. Inspired by artist like Violent Soho, Against Me! and The Audition, the Melbourne-based four-piece have been playing together in some form or another since their early school years. Taking out their first ever battle of the bands comp in Year 7 under the name Happy Accidents (lovingly known as Nappy Accidents), they decided on a name change to The Controllers before their first official release. Catch them at The Workers Club on Saturday March 28.
YNGWIE DATES RESCHEDULED
The king of shred Mr Yngwie J. Malmsteen has rescheduled his Australian tour. The dates will now be in June (although the Hobart show has been cancelled). Previously purchased tickets remain valid for new dates. Yngwie has been blowing minds across the globe with his incredible guitar skills and showmanship for over 35 years and in June 2015, Yngwie and his band will be returning to Australia and New Zealand for the first time in a decade (aside from Yngwie’s guitar clinic tour with Thump Music a couple of years ago) to strike awe into the legions of guitar fans. You can catch him at 170 Russell on Wednesday June 10.
THE SMITH STREET BAND
The Smith Street Band have just launched the video for their new single Get High, See No One. Shot at the band’s home in Footscray, the video is the work of the band’s drummer Chris Cowburn, Tim O’Keefe (Violent Soho, Remi, DZ Deathrays), Andy Johnson and Callum Preston who worked on the video for the first single from the album, Surrender, which appeared at #69 on triple j’s Hottest 100. Due to popular demand, The Smith Street Band also announce that a third and final Melbourne show has been added to the Get High, See Everyone tour. On their most expansive Australian tour to date, which includes 27 dates from Darwin to Tasmania, as well as regional cities and all ages shows, Melbourne will see the addition of another Hi-Fi show on Thursday February 19 in what will serve as the band’s last Melbourne show until later in the year. After wrapping up the Australian tour dates The Smith Street Band will head to North America and Europe, returning to Belgium’s Groezrock festival as well as taking part in the Pirate Satellite touring festival across Germany in May.
WHAT’S ON AT THE BENDIGO?
Cemetery Urn was formed in 2006 by Andrew Gillon (Abominator, Bestial Warlust) and Damon Bloodstorm (Corpse Molestation/Bestial Warlust, Abominator, Kutabare). The band was primarily created to conjure Death Metal that was later to be labelled “Barbaric Australian Death Metal.” Matt ‘Skitz’ Sanders (Damaged, Sadistic Execution, Destroyer 666), was recruited to command the drums. They play this Friday February 6 at The Bendigo with Winter Deluge (New Zealand), AK-11 and Sarfaust. Then Chicago wrecking ball Harm’s Way are set to take to stages Australia-wide in February, with national support from Sydney’s Legions. This absolute force will tear through The Bendigo this Saturday February 7 with a plethora of local talent. This awesome one up features Born Free, Queensland’s Time Crisis and Church bolstering this already formidable combo. Get down early.
RED FANG HEADLINE CHERRYROCK015 IN AC/DC LANE
Oh hells yeah. Cherry Bar are bringing out their favourite band in the world to mark the triumphant return of CherryRock. From Portland, Oregon to AC/DC Lane, stoner rock icons Red Fang will headline the 9th annual CherryRock Street rock’n’roll festival in AC/DC Lane Melbourne on Sunday May 10. It had been feared that the new 108 Flinders Street residential development and Pastuso restaurant at the foot of AC/DC Lane may have spelt the end to the plucky street rock festival, especially after Cherry Bar’s annual November event CherryFest was cancelled last year. Cherry Bar owner and booker James Young explains: “The new residents can just suck it up, but we did have concerns with Pastuso because they are a very popular Peruvian restaurant open seven days and nights a week. Thankfully David Parker and the guys are really good guys and we came to an ingenious solution. They host their annual staff party on Sunday 10 May and Cherry gives them all free tickets to come to CherryRock015. Bang. Deal done. Turn everything up.” As usual, there will be two stages with 13 acts and no clashes. In addition to the monster coup of confirming CherryRock015 will also feature the volcanic sounds of Beastwars (NZ), the girl geetar power of HITS (Brisbane), Child (Cherry Awards 2014 Act of the Year), the hirsute decibels of Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene, The Simpsons-inspired doom rock duo Dr. Colossus, tenth birthday celebrations from My Left Boot and the cut-off denim shorts with ‘tude of Los Hombres Del Diablo (Sydney) in a lineup that obviously oozes the heavy stoner rock genre that Melbourne has grown (literally, on faces, heads and backs) to love, nurture and produce. The action kicks off at midday on Sunday May 10. Early bird tickets are $74 plus booking fee from cherrybar.com.au
THE VANDALS
By Dan Watt
The Vandals, the veteran punk band from Orange County, California, have been releasing music since 1980. Their discography boasts a whopping 11 studio albums; the most recent being 2004’s Hollywood Potato Chip (a title that stems from a euphemism for a semen stain on a casting couch). From surfing punk blogs and social media, it’s clear that fans of The Vandals are frothing with anticipation for the band’s approaching Soundwave and Sidewave appearances. It’s reassuring to hear that Australian audiences hold a special place in the band’s heart too, because us Aussie’s don’t take ourselves too seriously compared to our American counterparts. According to The Vandals’ guitarist Warren Fitzgerald, the premise of his band is to awaken fellow Americans who are stupefied by their own importance. “That’s the whole point,” he says. “And it’s not just Americans, but also punk rock bands. Why take things so seriously? You’re in a punk band. Come on guys, lighten up. “I love Gang Of Four because they were interesting musically, there’s a subtle wit to that band,” Fitzgerald says. “They were taking themselves seriously in making music, but doing it with their own voice as opposed to, ‘We got to sell to be a popular band right now, it’s really important that people like us otherwise no one will ever have sex with me’.” It’s The Vandals’ commitment to punk ideals that allowed the band to withstand a rocky first eight years in existence, from 1980 to 1988, enduring multiple
lineup changes. This was also due to the strength of the punk scene around Huntington Beach, Orange County, California. As well as being the birthplace to a kickarse music scene, Orange County is also one of the most bourgeoisie parts of California. Fitzgerald has amusingly comes to terms with how gentrified his home county is. “I didn’t realise how conservative Orange County was until Facebook came around and all these arseholes I went to high school with are Born Again Christians who are super conservative and I’m like, ‘What? You were a heroin addict when I knew you.’ I was oblivious to it when I grew up because I felt like weirdo, but I thought I’d feel like a weirdo anywhere.” Fitzgerald is supremely busy outside of the band, taking on the role of head of The Vandals’ Kung-Fu Records
and Kung-Fu films. This record label released what many regard as The Vandals’ breakthrough record – Fear Of A Punk Planet – and the label was partly responsible for launching the career of pop punk act The Ataris. As Fitzgerald explains, the fact The Vandals have pursuits outside of the band is what’s allowed them to last so long. “Part of the way we manage to stay together and do what we do is that if you’re taking it too seriously, trying to be professional, then what fuck are
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
you doing in a punk rock band? We always treat it like our joke – the day we have a band meeting is the day we’re breaking up, because we’re having band meetings.” THE VANDALS are playing Soundwave alongside Slipknot, Faith No More, Marilyn Manson, Lagwagon, Fucked Up and many more on Saturday February 21 and Sunday February 22 at Melbourne Showgrounds. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 35
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4
JEFF LANG PUGSLEY BUZZARD
Pugsley Buzzard continues to dazzle audiences far and wide with his deep funky grooves, rollicking boogie, blazing stride and dark hoodoo blues. With a voice that can make ladies sigh and grown men cry, his performances are guaranteed to booglarize and get ya jumpin’. Having just returned from a hugely successful summer festival tour in Europe and the USA in celebration of his latest album Chasin’ Aces,. Pugsley performs solo this Wednesday February 4, and commences a residency with his backing band on Friday February 6, both at Ruby’s Music Room beginning at 8.30pm. Entry is $20.
Get down to the Melbourne Folk Club on Wednesday, February 4 for a triple headliner featuring ARIA nominated singer/songwriter Jeff Lang, who has been described by Rolling Stone Magazine as ‘Australia’s best roots-music artisan’. Also gracing the stage will be Sydney-based artist Julia Jacklin, and APRA award winner Matt Langley. Doors open at 7.30pm, entry is $25 or $23 for members of the venue.
the next week and signed him. Since then, he’s released three EPs, had his BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge performance trend Number #1 on Twitter, saw his second EP enter the iTunes Top Ten and its 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. James Bay will take over Northcote Social Club on Wednesday February 4. THURSDAY FEBRUARY 5
AIMEE VOLKOFSKY & THE MOLOTOVS
Aimee Volkofsky & The Molotovs are taking over Yah Yah’s every Thursday night this February. Hailing from Bourke, Broken Hill, Bendigo, Melbourne and Newborough, Aimee Volkofsky & the Molotovs sing tales of murder and magic and cannibal love. Support comes from El Montez and Modesty. Music kicks off from 8.30pm to 11pm, and Cherry DJ till 3am. Free fucking entry.
DR CRASK & HIS SWINGIN’ ELIXER
Whatever ails you, a dose of Dr Crask and his Swingin’ Elixir is guaranteed to get you on your feet. Playing swing tunes predominantly of the ‘30s and ‘40s, the Swingin’ Elixir kicks out the dancing tunes with Lindy Hop in mind. The good doctor and co perform at The Spotted Mallard this Thursday February 5 from 8.30pm. Free entry.
MANDY CONNELL
Singer/songwriter Mandy Connell of the Stray Hens has locked in a solo performance at The Spotted Mallard this Wednesday February 4. Known for her vivid lyricism and stage presence, her contemporary ballads will command your full attention. She will be supported on the night by Tom Ciccone. Music starts from 8.30pm, with free entry.
KASHMERE CLUB
Melbourne indie rockers Kashmere Club have locked in a residency at the fabled Cherry Bar stage, playing every Wednesday throughout February. Support this week comes from The Strange and Six Shooter, with DJ Mermaid playing it out ‘till 3am. Doors open 6pm with $5 entry. Music from 8.30pm.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 36
JAMES BAY
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 main stay 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 GODLESS TOUR
Two of Queensland’s heaviest up-andcoming bands, A Night In Texas and Tomb Of Doom, are joining forces to take on the east coast of Australia this February and March. Coming to The Bendigo this Thursday, the Godless Tour will showcase a myriad of blast beats, breakdowns, death stomps and head banging blended finely with an abundance of blasphemy. Joining ‘em are rad locals Athena’s Wake, Hollow World and Uncle Geezer. $10 entry, doors from 8pm.
TAMMY HAIDER
MELODY POOL
Melody Pool is a young artist with an old soul. Her debut album, The Hurting Scene, sends the listener time-traveling to coffee houses in the late '60s, with songs reminiscent of early Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne. After releasing her debut album independently, Melody went on to sign with Mushroom Music Publishing & Liberation Music who rereleased The Hurting Scene in July 2013. She’s playing at The Post Office Hotel on Thursday February 5 from 9.30pm.
Shabbab and Sooky La La, this show is guaranteed to leave you rockin’ into next week. Music starts from 8.30pm, with free entry.
WORM CROWN
Melbourne noise rockers Worm Crown are hitting up The Retreat Hotel this Thursday February 5, beginning their east coast tour in celebration of debut single Pacific Trip. Fuelled by driving drum and bass lines, come see Worm Crown as they perform their take on high energy rock with a unique sonic twist. With support from The
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
Melbourne’s sweet vanguard of lady singer/songwriters join forces to play The Grace Darling on Thursday February 5. Headlining is Tammy Haider, freshly returned from Berlin with an ‘unofficial’ launch of her EP Genuine Feeling. Joining her in support are Emma Russack in a rare solo performance playing songs off her excellent new album You Changed Me, and Mia Schoen, Melbourne’s own pop icon, playing songs from her forthcoming solo album. Doors open at 8.30pm and tickets will be available on the door for $7.
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au BYO VINYL NIGHT
Melbourne Record Club are giving audiences a chance to show their skills at Melbourne Record Club presents BYO Vinyl Night every Thursday night in Feb at The Bodega, 315 Victoria St West Melbourne. Known for their vinyl only DJs, The Bodega invites you to come and show your skills on the decks, bring along your favourite records. Don’t stress if you’re a first timer or out of practice, we’re happy to show you the ropes. Get down to the Bodega Bar on any Thursday night throughout February. Doors open at 7pm.
ANGRY SEAS
Local punk-rockers Angry Seas will shake the walls of The Reverence Hotel on Thursday February 5 supported by The Post. If you want to dive into the action come down from 8.30pm. $5 on the door.
TWIN BEASTS
EVOL WALKS
Australian five-piece Evol Walks are bringing their raw, ballsy guitar riffs back to Yah Yah’s this Friday February 6. Still reeling from their recent single Buzzed, Evol Walks are classic rock defined, drawing from the likes of AC/ DC, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Support on the night comes from Black Aces and Shut Up And Choke Me. Entry is $13, doors from 8pm.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6
RED BEARD
After tracking their sophomore EP at Evergreen Studios with Troy Brady (formerly of The Amity Affliction), synth-rockers Red Beard have announced a much-anticipated run of tour dates to celebrate the release of their new single Closer. Since the release of their debut EP Enigma, the lads from the sticks have written a fairy tale of success, building an extremely loyal following with their highoctane live shows and endearing nature. Catch them this Friday February 6 at The Reverence Hotel. Red Beard will be supported by God Wolf & Brittle Bones with doors at 8.30pm. Entry is $12.
Twin Beasts have gone from playing small regional shows and recording in bedrooms to playing national festivals and recording with some of Australia’s most-esteemed producers. They’ve made a name for themselves with their hyperenergetic live shows and boisterous, romping music, intertwining intelligent, conceptual songwriting with big hooks, hilarity and spectacle. Twin Beasts play at The Gasometer Hotel as part of the Collingwood Open series on Friday 6 February with special guests Eaten by Dogs and Sagamore. Tickets are $10+bf or $14 on the door. Doors are at 7pm.
BARE BACK TITTY SQUAD
Live mash-up artists Bare Back Titty Squad bare all this Friday February 6, headlining a huge night on the Cherry Bar stage. Set to showcase their take on popular music across all genres, Bare Back Titty Squad will be supported on the night by local bands The Black Alleys and Dead Set Ledger. Doors open 8pm, with tickets $13 available at the door.
THE EIGHTY 88S
THE SUGARCANES
The Sugarcanes are at it again. They are teaming up with Melbourne six-piece Up Up Away to bring you more sweet soul, funk and R&B inspired rock’n’roll than you can poke a stick at. It’s all happening this Friday at The B.East at 9pm and it’s free. BYO stick.
Take one part sleazy winks to old school rock’n’roll. Three parts dirty soul and four parts big band party rhythms combined with a solid groove and shake mother fucker shake. It’ll get your lips quivering, your heart thumping, your knees knocking and all of your naughty bits rumbling. The Eighty 88s are rockin’ The Post Office Hotel casbah on Friday February 6 from 9.30pm. Get there.
ALWAYS GREENER
AU.RA
Pop-rock duo Au.Ra have announced a series of intimate album preview shows before they head back to the UK later this month. They have called on Julian Sudek (World Champion/FLRL) on drums and Jack Freeman ( Jagwar Ma) on bass to fill out the atmospheric soundscapes on Jane’s Lament. With the limited time the duo have together, this is also the only time to catch Jane’s Lament live for some time before they head overseas for extensive recording and touring. Local legends Hollow Everdaze and Truly Holy will be supporting. It all goes down Friday, February 6 at The Grace Darling Hotel from 8.30pm.
CEMETERY URN
Cemetery Urn have locked in another show at The Bendigo this Friday February 6. Formed in 2006, the band was primarily created to conjure death metal that was later to be labelled “barbaric Australian death metal.” Support on the night comes from Winter Deluge (NZ), AK-11 and Sarfaust. Doors open 8pm, with $15 entry.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
Always Greener is a live music event catering to lovers of brain-bending, blues-based alternative rock genres like psychedelic, stoner, desert, blues and vintage rock. This year, Always Greener will hold its inaugural show at The Brunswick Hotel on Friday February 6. With its chilled out atmosphere, spacious outdoor area and intimate stage setup, the scene is set for an evening of groove from six of Melbourne’s finest established and up-and-coming rock acts. Co-headliners My Dynamite and Siren Black will round off a night primed by The Instincts, A Gazzillion Angry Mexicans, Spiral Arm, and Swamp Moth, with a DJ spinning alt-rock classics well into the wee hours. Music kicks off at 5pm, entry is free.
THE TARANTINOS
The Kraken Stomp series returns to The LuWow in 2015 for every Friday in February. This year plays host to some of Melbourne’s finest bands, Kraken girls to entangle you in the tentacles of Kraken Rum, The Kraken Diver, and of course, Kraken Cocktails. Friday February 6 catch The Tarantinos playing a double set for opening night. $5 on the door from 8.30pm. Dress to impress.
VINCE PEACH
Every Friday night throughout February PBS legends Vince Peach, Jack Sparrow and Joel Hamlin will be DJ’ing in the Front Bar of The Rev from 8.30pm till midnight. You’re in for a real treat and best of all it’s free. Get down to The Reverence Hotel for a delicious meal and even more delicious cold beverages and soak up the last warm nights of summer.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 37
MUSIC NEWS
YOUR COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL GUIDE
For all the latest news check out beat.com.au RHYTHMIK
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7
GUY PEARCE & DARREN MIDDLETON
Guy Pearce and Darren Middleton have announced they’re teaming up for a run of joint shows this month. Known for his roles in Neighbours, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Iron Man 3, Pearce just launched his music career with the release of his debut album, Broken Bones, last month, while Middleton is still enjoying the success of his 2013 solo LP, Translations. The pair will share the stage on their upcoming tour, performing songs from each other’s repertoire with a full backing band. Catch ‘em at The Thornbury Theatre on Saturday February 7.
HARM’S WAY
Chicago wrecking ball Harm’s Way are set to hit the stage Australia wide all throughout February, with a Melbourne show locked in this Saturday February 7. With national support from Sydney act Legions, this absolute force will tear through The Bendigo Hotel with a plethora of local talent, including Born Free, Time Crisis (QLD) and Church bolstering this already formidable combo. Tickets are $20, doors from 8pm.
NONG ON
The team behind the Camp Nong New Year's festival are keeping the fire burning in 2015 with a oneoff party - Nong On, at The Gasometer this Saturday February 7. Featuring scuzz-garage rockers Walter TV, coming off the recent success of their American tour with Mac DeMarco leading the trio. Support comes in the form of Sydney-siders You Beauty and locals Ocean Party. Tickets are $23+BF from OzTix, or on the door if available.
Friends of the Earth Melbourne and Arthouse are proud to present a party with a purpose to save our Great Barrier Reef. Joining them will be the crème de la crème of Melbourne bands, DJs, producers, performers and dancers including: Rhythmik, Moodmachine, Cactus Channel, Uone, Kodiak Kid, Muska, Gunnar Guess (Germany) & Sekkt. They'll be transforming The Gasometer into an underwater Atlantis of tropical delights. The day festival on Sunday February 8 will be open air and open house. See you all under the sea. Doors are from 3pm with tickets at $15+bf.
ATLAS
Melbourne indie-pop quartet Atlas bring their sweet uplifting melancholy to The Retreat Hotel, this Saturday February 7. Emily Burton’s heartbreaking voice delivers Ben Howlett’s subtle and precise songwriting, drenched in harmony and sadness, backed with the soulful playing of Marlee J. Dalton and Nathan Mackinnon. This group delve into the deepest of Australian songwriting tradition, playing your heartstrings like an orchestra. Start your Saturday with a gentle loving hug, two sets from 5pm.
JUKE BOX RACKET
Juke Box Racket are a three-piece ‘50s and ‘60s rock’n’roll band putting their own stamp on the classics. With all the energy and enthusiasm from the heydays of The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and so much more. Don’t miss them when they take over the LuWow this Saturday February 7. SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8
TOGETHERAPART
Local electro dream pop band Togetherapart will be bringing their mix of trademark beats, dirty synths, shimmering guitars, and dreamy vocals to The Brunswick Hotel this Sunday February 8, supported by the analogue tech-tronic sounds of Supreme Overlord, and the sci-fi acid rock of Oolluu. The night begins at 8pm. Free entry.
MONDAY FEBRUARY 9
HUNTLY
Following Huntly’s year of lush supporting roles alongside the likes of Oscar Key Sung, Andras Fox and Japanese Wallpaper, the affectionate threesome have been working hard over the summer to bring listeners their own brand of emotional rave, luxury analogue and live transparent digitus. Every Monday in February, Huntly will be hitting the stage with their residency at The Evelyn Hotel sporting new material, special guests, and support from VIP members of the Melbourne music community. Come once, come multiple, set your dials to Monday nights for a sad sex dance party with some fresh pals. Doors open at 7.30pm, entry is $5 at the door.
WATUSSI
GRETTA ZILLER
Gretta Ziller stands upon the shoulders of country giants. With vocals that range from sweet folk to gritty blues, the descriptions of alt-country, roots and Americana can’t properly define her. Behind the recent success of her debut EP Hell’s Half Acre, Gretta Ziller has locked in a free gig for this Sunday February 8 at The Retreat Hotel. Music starts at 5pm.
THE BLACKEYED SUSANS
The Blackeyed Susans are a band with style; both musically and sartorially. They formed during 1989 in Perth as a holiday band for members of The Triffids, Chad’s Tree and Martha’s Vineyard. They’ve existed for two decades (on and off ) with a floating lineup featuring members of The Cruel Sea, The Dirty Three, The Jackson Code, Augie March, The Bad Seeds, Kim Salmon, The Drones and more. Over this time, they’ve been based in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne and have recorded in London and toured throughout the US and Canada. You can catch this awesome band at The Post Office Hotel on the last three Sundays in February (that’s starting February 8) from 4.30pm.
Sydney-based Afro-Latin rock and roots outfit Watussi will be playing at Bar 303 this Monday, February 9 in order to celebrate their new single Agua! As part of the release, the band will be offering two Watussi style live jam sessions in Melbourne and Sydney featuring the remix DJs plus screening of the official music video. It’ll all begin at 7.30pm and roll onto 11pm. Be there.
MUSIC THEATRE OPEN MIC WITH MD TONY TOPPI
It’s all Rodgers and Hammerstein and Andrew Lloyd Webber at Ruby’s every Monday night from 7pm in Musical Theatre open mic night. Join MD Tony Toppi on Ruby’s iconic Steinway D Grand. He has the songbooks, but why not bring yours too? All darlings welcome. Every Monday 7pm-10pm. $10 entry with Facebook like, $15 without. TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10
ANDREW FERRELL THE PIANO WIZARD
The home-grown piano wizard, Andrew Ferrell is bringing some boogie-woogie magic to Ruby’s Music Room this Sunday eve. Ferrell is a stalwart of Australia’s jazz and blues festival scene, surprising and exciting his audiences, only playing the music that appeals to him. Come down on Sunday February 8 for another eclectic piano performance on Ruby’s Steinway. Performance from 7pm. $10 entry when you check in on Facebook, $15 without.
THE BEARDED GYPSY BAND
Inspired by the likes of Andrew Bird, Django Reinhardt and folk music from around the planet, The Bearded Gypsy Band play an eclectic mix of tearaway original tunes with Celtic, jazz, blues, roots and gypsy influences. They exhibit masterful performance and original composition skills as they play with a musical authority and clarity seemingly beyond their years. The Bearded Gypsy Band performs at The Spotted Mallard every Sunday afternoon in February from 5pm, free entry.
HUGO RACE & THE TRUE SPIRIT
The True Spirit is a loose, freewheeling fraternity of like-minded spirits with a shared love of psychedelic rock and roots music. Their irreverent experimentalism has fleshed out Hugo Race’s music onstage and in studio for over 20 years. Catch them at The Post Office Hotel on Saturday February 8 from 9.30pm.
THE HUNTED CROWS
The Hunted Crows could easily be mistaken for a 20-piece bassoon ensemble. But they’re not. They’re a two-piece straight outta Melbourne featuring heavy sweet riffs, groovin’ beats and catchy vocals to boot. The Hunted Crows will bring their musical stylings every damn Tuesday in February to the Cherry Bar, bringing a few special guests to support, along with DJ Mermaid playing it out till 5am. Doors open 6pm. Free entry.
BEAR KICKS
Having been raised in the ‘90s, Bear Kicks were brought up being fed a smorgasbord of genres, classic rock and pop-hits, grunge, metal and fuzzy indie sounds. Pulled apart and put back together, the sum of all these parts equals a punchy pub-rock sound, sprinkling snappy toe-tappers between heavy rock and post-punk jams. Avoiding any shoe-gazing clichés or over-the-top rock antics, the fellas put on a tight, crisp show, giving other bands an important lesson; just write great songs and the rest will take care of itself. Support on the night comes from Eleven and The Lawnton Bowls Club. Check out all three bands at The Brunswick Hotel this Tuesday, February 10 from 8pm. Entry is free.
THE RAINBOW HOTEL'S
BEER OF THE WEEK Kooinda IPA The first of the Kooinda beers. A traditional American Pale Ale brewed using three specialty malts and two varieties of citrusy, fruity, resinous hops. It is beautifully balanced with an enticing hop aroma and a biscuit, caramel finish provided by the specialty crystal malts. Pouring darker than you may expect, the large malt bill adds a generous sweetness for the hops to not only attack and intensify. Starting sweet and biscuity on the tongue, this Pale Ale finishes with a good fruity aroma and bitter, drying finish, which leaves your mouth desperate for more.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 38
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
THE ANTLERS SAT 14 FEBRUARY 8PM
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS LANKS
Brooklyn’s epic indie rock trio returns touring their critically acclaimed new album Familiars. After their celebrated appearance at Laneway Festival 2011 the guys bring their absorbing and slow-burning alternative rock style to the Centre. Don’t miss your chance to see their songs new and old brought to life. ‘They’re riveting – intensely mesmerizing and memorable.’
TICKETS $50
PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT PARTNER
MORE INFO & TICKETS: 9699 3333 / MELBOURNERECITAL.COM.AU CNR SOUTHBANK BLVD & STURT ST, SOUTHBANK Transaction fees may apply to bookings
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 39
LIVE
REPORTS FROM THE FRONT ROW
For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews RAINBOW SERPENT FESTIVAL 2015 Lexton, Thursday January 22 to Monday January 26 Photo by Courtney Sparklepants
Photo by Courtney Sparklepants
“Dugga dugga dugga dugga.” It’s 5.45am on Sunday morning at the main stage and Laughing Buddha is behind the decks, pumping out relentless psytrance. The sun’s yet to break through the night, leaving hyperactive laser beams to illuminate a sea of dusted faces, grinning with delight. The crowd, which has thinned out due to a frigid rain shower, stomps and moves their arms wildly, like a flock of psytrance pterodactyls. “I fucking love psy so much,” yells a guy in the front centre dressed as a pirate. Welcome to Rainbow Serpent. Now in its 18th year, Rainbow has become an institution. People plan their year around it, promising friends met along the way that they’ll cross paths again in January. This year’s edition was no different, selling out weeks in advance for the first time ever. Boasting some of the finest names in psy, techno, house, glitch, you name it, it’s become the marquee event of the doof season. Ineffability will always be an issue when talking about a festival like Rainbow, but 2015 also came with plenty of huge moments that will come to define this year’s incarnation. While many arrived on Thursday to secure a spot and warm up at the theme camp parties, the tunes didn’t kick off until Friday afternoon with a healthy offering of dubbed out techno and house from Melbourne’s Louis McCoy at the Sunset Stage. Later on in the night, progressive psy took over the larger Market Stage, which was decorated this year with a dragon head in place of last year’s phoenix. Interpulse ushered in the evening with a chugging hour, while Symbolic took over later on, starting off with their Zen Mechanic collaboration Psychological Effects, igniting huge clouds of stomp induced dust. While Friday was for settling in, Saturday was for exploring the magical Rainbow grounds, full of hidden gems straight out of a psychedelic haze. One of the most prominent structures were two giant wooden swans positioned near the rainbow arch, greeting festival goers as they made their way to the stages. Aside from the regular offerings of top-notch food and market stalls, there were also a number of stunning art installations, including a “trash palace” decorated with old tinnies that made for the perfect spot to laze around and a ball pit that appropriately harkened back to the childhood joy that Rainbow generates. To top it all off, once the sun set, a man dressed in a bee onesie made his way over to a small structure to “pollinate” the video projectors, casting footage of a blossoming flowers onto the walls. Back at the stages, Lee Burridge proved to be the champion of Saturday daytime, delivering a hypnotic two and a half hours of melodic tech-house. The dreamy Fur Die Liebe and Lost In A Moment captivated dancers as they swayed back and forth, with the slowly setting sun providing an idyllic backdrop. While it was easy to get caught up on the dancefloor, the main stage’s Saturday night opening ceremony provided solace and a time for reflection. With uplifting speeches that encouraged the crowd to look beyond themselves and “be the raindrop that has fallen in the dry riverbed,” as well as Aboriginal dances and a moment of silence, the ceremony was a grounding experience that brought the focus back to the heart of the festival. Following glitchy sets from Spoonbill and Opiuo, the main stage gave way to The Riddler, who took the baton for the first leg of the psytrance marathon. The stage, which is opened for just 24 hours, flaunted multicolored sails, a massive Funktion One rig, eye-popping lasers and an LED screen. From a distance, it was a spectacle on its own, as lasers danced in time to the driving bass-lines with the stars and the night sky. Christopher Lawrence took the reins next, delivering a charging set that made for the perfect transition into the
mind-bending sounds of Electric Universe. His entire set was unyielding, with hit, The Prayer coming through near the end for a spine tingling moment. The UK’s Laughing Buddha finished up the night shift with pounding Goainfluenced trance, while Treavor Moontribe proceed to welcome the daybreak with a strong helping of “dugga dugga.” Sunday morning’s rain shower sent many back to their campsites, clearing out the crowd, but by 7.30am, the masses had made the pilgrimage back to the main stage, settling in for a full day of full on stomps. Later on, the Market Stage played host to a super bill of techno and house, started off by German duo, Superflu. Their two-hour set surpassed expectations, weaving in tracks like Dennis Ferrer and Jerome Sydnham’s Timbuktu and originals like Fibi Maybe and Ooooooh. Next up was Petar Dundov, the Croatian producer whose name had been on more Rainbow attendees lips than Rivet tinnies. Over the course of his two-and-a-half-hour slot, he played both a live and DJ set, giving new meaning to the term “musical journey.” His live portion was lush, with multilayered soundscapes playing off of the lights that engulfed the surrounding trees, while his DJ set continued with these vibes, making for one of the most stunning performances of the festival. As if Sunday couldn’t get any bigger, Marcel Dettmann brought Berlin to the bush for a thumping two and a half hours of his finest selections. To be expected, Dettmann delivered, captaining a techno expedition, traversing songs like Underground Resistance’s Transition, Phuture’s Your Only Friends and Cosmetic’s Black Leather Gloves, which added an unexpected, but welcome poppier touch. In what would’ve been one of the most difficult acts to follow, Melbourne’s Dean Benson took the decks, keeping the Market Stage pumping with tracks from the likes of Len Faki and Reeko. As with the other nights, the mercury plummeted on Monday morning, with winter temperatures frosting the grounds and sending many retreating back to the warmness of their tents. But those who endured the chilly morning were treated to an equally chilling set from Melbourne glitch producer, Whitebear. Starting off with his own Auric Sight, he made his way through originals and remixes, capped off by the haunting The Beast Within. And then it was time for Mad Monday. With only hours left of Rainbow 2015, it was only natural that goon bags replaced beers, Speedos became pants, dance moves bordered on maniacal and the tunes pushed even harder. As 11.30am approached, masses of people emerged from their campgrounds, flooding the Market Stage for a commanding set from duo Son Kite. As the day moved on, Solid Snake and Pole Folder kept the energy up, with 16 Bit Lolitas closing the stage with a lighthearted set of fan favourites like New Order’s Blue Monday and Pachanga Boys’ Time. The legend of the Rainbow Serpent says the mythical creature is the giver of life. With that in mind, it makes sense that it should be the namesake of an event that breathes such vitality into so many people. Whether it be the quality of the music, the magic of the grounds or the uniqueness of its attendees, Rainbow Serpent consistently proves to create the most vivid display of life on the Australian festival scene. LOVED: Marcel, Marcel, Marcel. HATED: Freezing at night. LAUREN GILL DRANK: Lukewarm goon.
JAMES REYNE PL AYS AUSTRALIAN CRAWL Melbourne Zoo Twilights, Friday January 30 I arrive at Melbourne Zoo slightly tardy, as I often did when I worked retail in the Melbourne Zoo gift store, entering the grounds as James Reyne and band kicked off their set, the delightfully beefy PA booming across families nestled on picnic rugs, parents nursing craft beer cans, lions periodically rumbling out of frame. I’m briefly nostalgic, wistful for my old workplace, having finished here almost two years ago to the day. Australian Crawl disbanded in 1986, six years after forming, and one year before I was born, their back catalogue permeating into the national cultural conscience. Brilliant songs, perhaps burdened in some sense, at some stage, by FM rock radio ubiquity, ripe for newfound appreciation in an era where cultural cringe is, thankfully, subsided. Reyne looks fit and has a strange, reluctant affectation for these songs, regaling the audience with Shut Down, most definitely one of Australian Crawl’s weaker hits but by no means terrible, with a preface of genuine selfdeprecation; a sentiment echoed (“This is a crappy song, ladies and gentlemen”) before a solo piano rendition of Hoochie Gucci Fiorucci Mama. When stripped to its core, away from its garish power ballad sheen, it’s a solid composition despite its silly title. It’s a deftly crafted greatest hits set, steadily gaining momentum, Reyne introducing Downhearted with acoustic guitar, full band gradually building. His voice is in fine form, the pub rock grunt of yore now more dextrous, feathering a higher register akin to Neil Young at times. The iconic bass and groggy kick drum intro to Reckless is delivered sans banter, the eerie classic, one of Australia’s best, resonating across a sky strewn with visible stars, unimpeded by light pollution. The emotional impact of the song is hard to transpose live, here relayed dutifully. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 40
“This is a Guns N Roses cover,” Reyne bemuses. “It may or may not have inspired Guns N Roses, we’ll never know,” before Unpublished Critics, some in the audience compounding the songs similarities with Gunners’ Sweet Child O Mine sing-a-longs, which overstayed its novelty by a chorus or two. As the 9.30pm curfew approached, the greatest hits got greater, Things Don’t Seem, an outright corker, suffixed by some Thin Lizzy’s Boys Are Back In Town guitar harmonies, into Boys Light Up closing the main portion of the set (funnily enough, video screens declaring The Zoo as a no-smoking venue before the encore, in case anyone actually felt compelled to light up), with the band quickly dashing back on stage for Daughters Of The Northern Coast. These songs may be perceived as naff to some degree, but they’re important songs, here performed by a loud rock band through a loud PA in an idyllic setting. My relationship with these songs is ill-defined, resting in my subconscious, only paying appreciation in recent years, maybe tokenistic of a cautious patriotism, maybe just a realisation that these are great rock songs, plain and simple. LACHLAN KANONIUK
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
LOVED: Classics on classics on classics. HATED: Failing to land prime viewing real estate. DRANK: N/A.
LIVE
REPORTS FROM THE FRONT ROW
For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews BERNARD FANNING AND LITTLE MAY Melbourne Zoo Twilights, Saturday January 31 Photo by Anna Kanci
HOLIDAY FOR CAMBODIA The Espy, Saturday January 31 At a fraction past 4.00pm, the belly of The Espy’s Gershwin Room had already swelled with punters thrashing to the aptly-named Metalstorm. A tight pocket of heads banging and fists pumping marked a solid start to a benefit gig with a heart of gold. With a lineup boasting some of Melbourne’s finest heavy acts, Holiday For Cambodia – a pun on the Dead Kennedy’s classic Holiday In Cambodia – was organised to support one man and his battle with cancer: 34-year old St Kilda local and heavy music fanatic Cam Ward (proceeds went towards his treatment and a well-deserved holiday, hence the name). A distinct feeling of companionship lingered through the crowd with friends, bands, and complete strangers alike all getting behind the cause. Wielding sledgehammer grooves that could level skyscrapers, Jack The Stripper’s late afternoon set confirmed they’re one of the most frenetic live bands getting around. Vocalist Luke Frizon stalked the stage like a man possessed, hurling himself into the crowd one minute and howling into the mic the next. Keeping pace, Join The Amish channelled old school Testament into thrash gems about Centrelink; Crowned Kings delivered no-nonsense, straight-up hardcore brutality; while Sydney’s Glass Ocean managed to achieve the seemingly impossible by subduing a metal-hungry crowd with some gently melodic prog. If you were a fan of local metal overlords Faux Defeated, Picture The End, Synthesist, or The Abandonment and you missed this gig, maybe stop reading this review because a) they all reformed for one night only and b) it was fucking glorious. They all killed it. Especially headliners The Abandonment, who summon sonic terror from monstrously detuned eight-stringed beasts. Both brutal and bittersweet, it’s a shame these guys didn’t stick around longer. Though for all the bands that have called it a day on the bill, there’s fresh talent like Anchors and OTT glam rockers Electrik Dynamite ready to fill shoes (check these guys out – they’re the most fun you’ll have this side of Steel Panther). If anything, Holiday For Cambodia proved that if you peel back the rough exterior of punk, metal, and hardcore, LOVED: Great bands supporting a great cause. you’re left with fans that care equally about the wellbeing HATED: The drunk, bearded fool throwing himself of those involved in the scene, as well as the music itself. around during Anchors. JACK PILVEN
DRANK: Underneath those devil-spawn antler chandeliers in The Gershwin Room.
oes ine D
rint Not P
Die L
Once upon a time there was a band called Powderfinger. All their fans from the ‘90s grew up and they had a shitload of children. Then on Saturday, those families all converged on a grassy patch at Melbourne Zoo in front of a stage with big speakers to see Bernard Fanning (ex-Powderfinger frontman) hammer out a selection of his solo stuff. The End. You would be forgiven for thinking that you had unwittingly bought tickets for a Wiggles concert in an outdoor maternity ward if you came along to this gig. The fear of tripping over or stepping on a very small human in the dark was rife. If the support act is supposed to warm the crowd, then Little May needed to turn up the heat a tad. The sweet, young trio from Sydney delivered the somewhat distracted audience some beautifully wispy folk music, something akin to Swedish duo, First Aid Kit. Softly strummed guitars accompanied honest and strong vocals and minimal percussion. They have a few catchy tunes if this genre is your bag. Next was the man himself, Bernard Fanning. To open, it was just him and his guitar; acoustically serenading everyone with a brand new tune; Picking a Puzzle,, set to be on the new album due out in the next couple of months. Fanning’s secret crush on country music isn’t so secret anymore, with all his new stuff featuring that certain yeehaw twang. Together with his band, The Palominos, he played a mix of well-loved tunes from Tea & Sympathy and Departures.. Fanning does have one of those voices that is instantly recognisable and it visibly does something to people. The pockets of swaying women throughout the crowd became putty in his hands when he busted out Not Finished Just Yet. Huge grey clouds loomed overhead for most of the main event before the heavens finally opened up and drenched the fans. That’s when Fanning decided his hit, Wish You Well would be appropriate so we could all let our hair down and dance in the rain. After seeing everyone up off the sodden ground, even he admitted, “Wow, I should have played that one a lot earlier.” A few rowdy hecklers baited him with requests for Powderfinger songs of course, but he waited right until two songs from the end to satiate the fans with a piano and vocals only rendition of Waiting for the Sun. It went down an absolute treat too; there was not one rear end still on a picnic rug. Apart from the overpriced crèche thing, the gig had a really great atmosphere, especially towards the end. Melbourne Zoo did a sterling job at playing host; the set-up was organised meticulously and the sound system and staging were perfect. Bernard Fanning, on behalf of many couples in the crowd, thank you for the trip down LOVED: Bernard’s honest and beautiful political memory lane. A lot of people totally got laid on account rant halfway through the show where Tony Abbot of ‘old times’ on Saturday night. Well done. et al copped it big time. STEPH MARKS
HATED: There was no secret Powderfinger reunion. DRANK: Not enough.
THE CLEAN The Corner Hotel, Thursday January 22 The Clean are a band I’ve idolised for a while now. My girlfriend introduced me to them about four or five years ago and to me, they just made sense. They sat so perfectly between the steady beat bands of the post punk/new wave era and the familiar droning sound that typified ‘90s alternative rock. If your music informs the likes of Sonic Youth and Yo La Tengo, you’re probably going to find fans that ordinarily wouldn’t have sought you out. People who have purposefully gone through the anthology after hearing that those acts owe so much to The Clean. That connection alone, between them and those 90’s luminaries, is enough to build big hopes when you go to see them live. Perhaps that’s why I was so disappointed when I first saw them at Golden Plains a few years back. I hoped it would be different this time. Ausmuteants were the first act of the night on a rather diverse bill. They definitely have grown. A fifth member has crawled out of whichever toxic cavity the rest of that ill conceived and thoughtless band spilled out of. With two synths on stage now, Ausmuteants are even more abrasive and less intelligible than they were before. It’s not a very comfortable set to watch. They might be the best punk band in Australia. Following Ausmuteants were Lower Plenty, one of the 27 bands Al Montfort contributes to. Everyone was very impressed at how many chords he knew and at how (for the most part) they didn’t sound like UV Race. The band’s also comprised of members of Deaf Wish and The Focus, so it’s something of a local super group. They’ve taken Australiana a step further and stripped the amplified guitars from the sound entirely. It’s a very sombre and slow moving set with peaks and troughs that are carefully placed. Songwriting that looks back at people like Paul Kelly and says ‘punk dudes can play cowboy chords too.’ Though their set finished early, I wasn’t upset, it gave me an opportunity to run into the front bar and get a look at the halftime score of Australia’s quarter final match in the
Asia Cup (thanks for the memories, Timmy Cahill). When The Clean took the stage immediately I feared I’d be disappointed. Or the horrific dancing that was occurring next to me (before any music was even playing) would ruin my night. Constant shoving is tolerable, but an infrequent elbow to the ribs is really frustrating. I could feel the sweat on his elbows, sometimes there was so much that they’d slip right off me like a cyclist on tram tracks in the rain. But no amount of sweat or Brylcreem could ruin my night. From the very start, while they were rather sloppy, The Clean held the attention and the imagination of the entire crowd. It wasn’t a rowdy affair, but the applause at the conclusion of each song was evidence that the crowd was really on their side, and aside from a couple of predictable jokes about Australia that you hear all too often come from the mouths of jealous Kiwis, it seemed like they were pretty thrilled with the level of support they were getting. Each track moved for at least double the amount of time it did on the record. The deep droning guitars weren’t quite as thick or big as the sounds of any of those ‘90s bands they informed which is why they seem so unique. There’s something very grassroots about them; they’re necessarily suited to big stages. They fit on The Corner stage well. Australia won that night and I didn’t get a parking ticket. LOVED: The subtle digs at Australia. KEATS MULLIGAN
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
HATED: The scheduling of Australia’s must-win elimination final at the Asia Cup. DRANK: Drove.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 41
THIS WEEK AT
SATURDAY 7TH FEBR UARY
MOSÉ + THE FMLY MAIN BAR 9:30PM
+ DJ’S TIL LATE SUNDAY 8TH FEBR UARY MAIN BAR 5PM
THE
ENGINE ROOM + DJ’S TIL LATE
MONDAY 9TH FEBR UARY
ALBUM OF THE WEEK BJÖRK
Vulnicura (POD/Inertia)
Vulnicura abruptly hit the digital shelves last week; a rush release sparked by yet another early album leak. Hopefully it caps off a bad run for Björk – her new album documents the last gasps of her long-term relationship with artist Matthew Barney and it’s not an easy ride. But it’s also an invigorating return to form, shaking out the unfocused excess of her past three albums and returning to her more established template of soaring strings anchored by throbbing, amorphic beats. As the open wound on the cover art suggests, this is a very personal record. Musically, it has much in common with 2001’s Vespertine, but replaces that album’s sensual discovery of a new love with a stoic, analytical breakdown of a difficult breakup. The nine songs are in three parts: prior to the break-up, the months following and an undated final trio that closes the album somewhat open-endedly. The opening song, Stonemilker, is the most accessible, and would sound at home on 1997’s Homogenic. The warning bells of a communication breakdown are ringing loudly, even at this early stage, with Björk describing the interaction between her and Barney as “like milking a stone.” She takes a studied, anthropological approach to try to make sense of the emotional disconnect and compartmentalise the breakdown in an effort to “find our mutual coordinates.”
$10 LONGNECKS SINGLES $4 PIZZA & FREE POOL + FREE WORKSHOPS – Call venue for details
TUESDAY 10TH FEBR UARY
FREE MOVIE NIGHT:
BORAT Screening in the beer garden at 8:30pm
WEEKLY FOOD SPECIALS
$4 PIZZAS
Monday - Thursday ALL DAY & NIGHT, Friday 12pm to 5pm
$12 STEAKS $12 BURGERS Wednesday: from 5pm
Thursday: from 5pm (meat + vego optn)
ALWAYS FREE ENTRY INSIDE & OUTSIDE
420 SYDNEY RD, BRUNSWICK (03) 9380 8667, INFO@THEPENNYBLACK.COM FACEBOOK.COM/THEPENNYBLACK.420SYDNEYROAD @THEPENNYBLACK THE_PENNYBLACK
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 42
THE VERONICAS
Cruel (Sony) This is a kinda’ passable Teenage Dream-era Katy Perry rip with a dose of Duran Duran guitar delay for some reason. It doesn’t quite bang quite enough to be a certified banger tho.
SHLOHMO
Buried (True Panther/Remote Control) Can’t hold it against Shlohmo that pretty much every Melbourne singer-producer from 2012-2014 (optimistically crossing my fingers it ain’t happening in 2015) wanted to be Shlohmo. Regardless, Buried is a world away from his Jeremih-fronted sensual slow jams, coming across like a fucked up ‘80s soundtrack, sprawling and daring in its resolve.
THE MOUNTAIN GOATS
The Legend Of Chavo Guerrero (Remote Control) John Darnielle has seemed to have entered a ‘fuck it, why not’ stage of his career, following up last year’s release of acclaimed novel Wolf In The White Van with a new Mountain Goats LP Beat The Champ – a concept record pertaining to professional wrestling. And we’re the better for it. There’s a Jonathon Richman via GoBetweens charm on The Legend Of Chavo Guerrero, breezy and endearing, intriguing in its literate dissection of wrestling, a meditation of a childish id that never dies. I love it.
Time CHOOK RACE
2.
The Third KITTY DAISY AND LEWIS
3.
Woman to Woman ESME PATTERSON
4.
Moonlight HANNI EL KHATIB
5.
Vulnicura BJÖRK
6.
No Cities To Love SLEATER-KINNY
7.
Self-titled Antique PLASTIK
8.
The Money HUSBAND
9.
Sweet Spots SUGAR FED LEOPARDS
10.
Psychotropic LOS TONES
Coma Divine LP BOX SET PORCUPINE TREE
Lionsong grasps at hope with the chorus “Maybe he will come out of this loving me,” and documents the intimacy of “our last time together” in the bittersweet stock take, History Of Touches. The tenminute Black Milk is the eye of the storm, a bleak autopsy with an accusatory tone. From here, Björk is less accommodating with form and melody, but the results are no less compelling – closer Quicksand is a particularly effective interplay between Björk’s unmistakable vocal, cascading strings and collaborator Arca’s twisting, thudding beats. Vulnicura is heavy but liberating, and it’s easily one of her best.
2.
Range Anxiety LP THE TWERPS
3.
Gone Girl LP TRENT REZNOR / A. ROSS
4.
Fly By Night LP RUSH
5.
Apex Predator LP NAPALM DEATH
6.
Meets The Grim Reaper LP PANDA BEAR
7.
BY LACHLAN
DJ PAYPAL
I’m Ready (LuckyMe) Ooooooh yassss. DJ Paypal hyperactively tickles the hipbones on I’m Ready, building grooves on grooves until you’re soaked ‘n’ sweaty. Kinda’ feels like a handful of killer songs smooshed into one, bounding disco into tasty house into funked up bass lines. Taken from upcoming full-length Buy Now.
RAE SREMMURD
No Type (Universal) For some reason, Rae Sremmurd’s supreme 2014 hit just landed in my inbox from Universal Australia so I dunno, are we gonna get a tour? A Splendour spot? Support slot on a supersized stadium tour? Anyway, if you haven’t already sung along to this killer hook at least a hundred times already, you’re fucking up.
KT SPIT
Come Thru (Independent) Building a spectral ambience, Kt Spit is darkly cool on Come Thru, carving deep sub bass and spitting icy bars, moving at a pace both hypnotic and rapid, hard-hitting beats creeping underneath an enticing haze. Catch Kt Spit on a killer bill alongside Simona Kapitolina, Felicity Yang and more at The Gaso, Saturday February 21.
We Have the Facts LP DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE
8.
Milking The Stars LP MONSTER
9.
Silence Yourself LP SAVAGES
10.
Volume One LP SLEEP
MAGNET
CHRIS GIRDLER
RECORD PARADISE TOP TEN 1.
Man It Feels Like Space Again POND
2.
Range Anxiety TWERPS
3.
About Time CHOOK RACE
4.
The Merri Soul Sessions PAUL KELLY
5.
Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes THOM
6.
Modern Blues THE WATERBOYS
7.
Girls In Peace Time Want To Dance
8.
Moonlight HANNI EL KHATIB
9.
Computer Controlled Acoustic
YORKE
BELLE AND SEBASTAIN
Instruments Pt 2 APHEX TWIN 10.
I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss SINEAD O’CONNOR
COLLECTORS CORNER MISSING LINK RECORDS 1.
Ozma/Bullhead 2LP MELVINS
2.
Punk USA: The Rise And Fall of Lookout Records book KEVIN PRESTED
3.
Henge Beat LP TOTAL CONTROL
4.
Donuts LP J DILLA
5.
Eggnog/Lice-All 2LP MELVINS
6.
Filth LP reissue SWANS
7.
2010 Demo LP PALLBEARER
8.
Tales LP PEEP TEMPEL
9.
Earache Peel Sessions LP NAPALM DEATH
10.
Content Nausea LP/CD PARQUET COURTS
BEAT’S TOP TEN SONGS ABOUT DINOSAURS
Aerial Love (EMI) Guy Sebastian’s Elevator Love > Daniel Johns’ Aerial Love.
Blessings (Remix) (GOOD/Def Jam) Look, Big Sean sucks, and has shown no signs of not sucking, even on last year’s I Don’t Fuck With You, which is a highly listenable song despite the fact it’s a Big Sean song. Now here comes Blessings, a quickfire remix release featuring a Yeezy verse, and it’s the first recorded instance of Big Sean being not terrible, standing tall beside the A-list guest verses from Drizzy and Ye. The hook is hook-y in the right measure. This re-evaluation of Big Sean leads me to believe I might just be able to appreciate the always terrible Vince Vaughn in True Detective season two. Oh god.
1.
1.
DANIEL JOHNS
BIG SEAN FEAT. DRAKE AND KANYE WEST
PBS TOP TEN
HEARTLAND RECORDS TOP TEN
For all the latest singles check out beat.com.au Pleased to announce the timely release of my mash-up mixtape 808s & Aha Shake Heartbreaks. Early buzz indicates it’s “the biggest piece of shit ever created.”
TOP TENS:
1.
SINGLE OF THE WEEK COURTNEY BARNETT
Pedestrian At Best (Milk/Remote Control) On the first taste of upcoming debut LP Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit, Court unleashes on a rock‘n’roll belter, a touch of Peter Finch in Network, screaming missives from the window, sane as hell and not gonna take it anymore. It’s an admonishment of the folly of buzz, an excursion on the measure of success, cresting a barrage of square power chord blasts. It takes Barnett’s established penchant for wicked verbosity while consolidating shit-hot rock‘n’roll chops. Get around it.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
Puff, the Magic Dragon PETER PAUL AND MARY
2.
The Dinosaur Song JOHNNY CASH
3.
T-Rex ASH
4.
On My Dinosaur MERER MORTALS
5.
Crocodile Rock ELTON JOHN
6.
Godzilla Pimpin’ WHIPP-LASH
7.
Tyrannosaurus Rap MARTERIA
8.
Pterodactyl Girlfriend TREASURE
9.
Brontosaurus THE MOVE
10.
Velociraptor Gang TOM MORRELL
MAMMAL
ALBUMS PAUL KELLY
New music in review this week - For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews
ZUN ZUN EGUI
Paul Kelly Presents The Merri Soul Sessions
(Epitaph)
([PIAS]/Bella Union)
(Gawdaggie)
Perhaps one of the more underrated traits of Paul Kelly as a songwriter has been his ability to convey a story through a voice or perspective that differs from his own. This trait is explored to new depths in The Merri Soul Sessions, which was sparked out of a desire to re-record a classic Kelly track, Sweet Guy, with long-time collaborator and friend, Vika Bull. It serves as a highlight of what the record has to offer, but the most rewarding aspect of the LP as a whole is that, on account of its versatile approach both sonically and vocally, each listener will take away their own standout performance. Bull can still stop listeners in their tracks well into her 50s, as displayed on the intense slow-dance of What You Want, while younger collaborators prove they can hold their own ± see the smoky-barroom beauty of Kira Puru on I Don’t Know What I’d Do, or Dan Sultan’s Motown-esque turn on Don’t Let a Good Thing Go. The record’s experimental nature means not everything will stick. What does, however, indicates that Kelly’s still adamant about keeping things interesting; refusing to slide into easy listening without a fight. DAVID JAMES YOUNG
THE SIDEKICKS
Runners in The Nerved World
Shackles’ Gift
As you might expect from a Bristol band founded by Mauritian and Japanese musicians, there’s an all-embracing eclecticism to Zun Zun Egui. Recorded with Andrew Hung (Fuck Buttons), Shackles’ Gift is a percussive, primal collection, and an assured surge forward from 2011’s promising debut, Katang. This is the kind of band that can only really fit into the ‘difficult to categorise’ category. While shorter and more immediate songs like Africa Tree and Ruby ride along on a buzzing energy of yelping vocals, funk-fuelled guitars and African percussion, the longer tracks benefit from looser, slower rhythms and more tempered vocals. The sensual, heaving Soul Scratch is built on the foundations of the Mauritian genre of seggae: a fusion of reggae and traditional sega music. The shuddering funk of I Want You To Know gradually emerges from the shadows to a call-and-response climax. Also chalking up over six minutes, closer City Thunder sees frontman Kushal Gaya pull back a bit on the vocal front and laments “Sometimes I worry I left my country” over a dreamy bed of dubbed-out instrumentation. Set within the band’s constantly shifting rhythms, this yearning from an adopted home to a birthplace (where the music gets much of its roots) sums up the band’s diverse and invigorating appeal.
This album is the first The Sidekicks have released since their signing to the wellknown label, Epitaph. For a band who’ve been around since the late ‘90s, they’ve managed to stay away from mainstream success. Which is surprising; their laid-back indie-punk sound would have made them a perfect candidate for a one-hit wonder in the early 2000s. They sound like the lovechild of The Shins and Fastball. It’s not a lack of talent keeping them from mainstream success; there just isn’t enough ‘unique’ about them to really separate them from the crowd. Nerved World is good, the majority of the songs are fine, a couple are better, but none are bad. Everything in Twos, The Kid Who Broke His Wrist and Blissfield MI all stand out, the rest of the songs get hard to differentiate. Not in a bad way, it makes for excellent background music. This is the kind of album that might grow on me over time. It’s good, just not very unique. CASSIE HEDGER
CHRIS GIRDLER
CONNAN MOCKASIN
KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS
THE DECEMBERISTS
Forever Dolphin Love and Caramel Special Edition
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis The Third
What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World
(Warner)
(Shock)
(EMI/Capitol)
Connan Mockasin’s tantalising brand of psychedelic-pop music is characterised by its oddly seductive form: the sounds of a high-pitched, playful, near-impish voice, the lyrically obscurity and the happy-high acid trip instrumentals creating warped lullabies of sorts. Forever Dolphin Love and Caramel Special Edition is a re-release of Mockasin’s past two albums, serving as an adequate access point for new fans but offering little outside of that. The clever use of flanged guitar effortlessly brushes over ‘70s prog-rock bass hooks as each song, drawn out and unfolding slowly, provides a minimalistic aesthetic that isn’t afraid to let silence do the talking for the music. This generates a certain delicate element of spaciousness which Connan Mockasin has only half mastered, as the Caramel side of the release relies too heavily on this empty space with noticeable seconds of frustrating silence detracting from the music. The five-part song, Move Your Body, is especially guilty of this as it takes excruciatingly long to evolve into anything of substance. It’s far too boring to warrant the ridiculous move of allowing the fragments of the song to take up half of the album’s track list. The Forever Dolphin Love side of the release is when Mockasin shines, as a more humble balance between the psychedelic riffs and spacious song structure results in a brighter and simply more enjoyable album. The instruments are more involved, songs blend together much more fluidly and clever techniques such as an African folk bark, haunting offtune plucking and droning synths keep the music lively throughout its otherwise dreamy form. The unfortunate issue of Forever Dolphin Love and Caramel Special Edition is that the Caramel side of the release somewhat drags down the sum of its parts, while Forever Dolphin Love stands out as an involved and cleverly made piece of music psych-pop ± well worth the listen for any avid or curious music lover.
There are no architects, trapeze artists, revenge-seeking mariners, barrow boys, evil butchers or drowned babies on The Decemberists’ seventh studio album. That’s not to say there’s no fun to be had within it. With sword drawn, the band’s figurehead Colin Meloy is instead heading into battle with a seldom-battled foe ± himself. He views his own band from an outsider’s perspective on The Singer Addresses His Audience, recalls early notions of love on Philomena and analyses his current state of affairs on lead single and album highlight Make You Better ± and that’s all within the first half of the record. Perhaps there is more water in the proverbial well than one may have anticipated. There’ll inevitably be some listeners that will miss the quirk, whimsy and sense of adventure as found in the more fantastical moments of their earlier work. Their reservations are not entirely unwarranted ± the record feels somewhat bloated at just over an hour, and it tends to peter out towards the end rather than sprint over the finish line. With that said, there are rewards sprinkled through the track listing for those that have stuck with Meloy and co. through thick and thin. DAVID JAMES YOUNG
The title of this third studio album is not very imaginative, which is a shame because it immediately lowers your expectations from this talented young band. Even the album itself, produced by The Clash’s Mick Jones, isn’t quite as ambitious or exciting as we’d hoped. Opening track, Whenever You See Me, is one of the more energetic on the album, adding some big band piano and brass to the mix. It’s a strong start. Baby Bye Bye is the first song with older sibling Lewis on vocals. He’s like the hybrid of Jack White and C.W. Stoneking. Feeling of Wonder is a soulful ditty reminiscent of bands like Saskwatch or Blue King Brown, while No Action starts soft and slow before launching drums and a killer bass riff. Lewis returns to vocals for Good Looking Woman, a song about longdistance love affairs; a common theme the trio seem to explore this time ‘round. Turkish Delight is a bouncing beat that’s much more in tune with their previous album, 2011’s Smoking in Heaven. It Ain’t Your Business utilises the male/female vocal dynamic to nice effect, with a duelling electric guitar/ harmonica backing to complement. Ain’t Always Better Your Way lacks energy but thankfully Bitchin’ in the Kitchen makes up for it in spades, while Never Get Back packs an emotional punch. Whiskey is a sombre country ballad, featuring a sweeping acoustic rhythm and string section and the album finishes with Developer’s Disease, which keeps the Southern country vibe going strong. CHRIS BRIGHT
THOMAS BRAND
GIGS
GIGS
DeAD heIR 4Th The MInI RESIdEnCY -
wEd fEB
12Th ARCheR & BOw ThU fEB
+ Jackson Mclaren
w/ The Baudelaires + Luna Ghost
ThU fEB SUn fEB
5Th
8Th
wEd fEB
11Th
eVeRyDAy
fREE In ThE fROnT BAR
RAD NAVAJO + GUESTS
fRI fEB
13Th
hORNs Of leROy fREE In ThE fROnT BAR - doors 3:30pm
All The COlOuRs ‘SEnd Off ShOw’ w/ Gatherer + Icah
SUn fEB
KARATe BOOgAlOO fREE In ThE fROnT BAR - doors 3:30pm
SAT fEB
guNslINgeRs SInGLE LAUnCh
The DeAD heIR MInI RESIdEnCY
w/ The Bleeding flares + Magic America
15Th 21sT
CURTIN
$13 Jugs
6PM
+ On SALE nOw @ JOhnCURTInhOTEL.COM
13 feB - All The COlOuRs (RELOCATInG TO ThE USA, SEnd Off) 22 feB - hIND (fORMERLY dEERS, SPAIn ) 26 feB - The COuRTNeys (VAnCOUVER, BC) feB 28 - hOw yA gARN? yeAh NOT BAD! #2 A MusIC fesTIVAl fT. gAy PARIs / COlONel VIPeRs whIPsTICK BAND / gRINDhOuse / sheRIff + TOnS MORE 21 MAR - PeARls ‘PRETEnd YOU’RE MInE’ RECORd LAUnCh 11 APR - The KIll DeVIl hIlls (wA) 29 LYGOn ST, CARLTOn / T: 9663 6350 ‘lIKe’ fACEBOOk.COM/ThECURTIn TO kEEP UP wITh ThE LATEST!
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 43
GIG GUIDE
WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK
For all the latest gigs check out beat.com.au
WEDNESDAY FEB 4 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS • ABABCD FILMING - FEAT: BRITISH INDIA +
SCOTDRAKULA + BARO + FLYYING COLOURS Gasometer
Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm.
• ADMIT ONE + SNARK + FOR PLUTO Elephant & Wheelbarrow, St Kilda. 8:00pm.
• ANGEL OLSEN + ELLA THOMPSON Howler, Brunswick.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC • BOHJASS 303, Northcote. 8:30pm. • BOPSTRETCH Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. • HUANCHACO Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. • MICHAEL COOK & PUGSLEY BUZZARD Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $20.00.
• PETER HEARNE & DIZZY’S BIG BAND WITH JANICE
ALEXANDER Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14.00.
8:00pm.
• SOUL SAFARI + KINGSTON CROWN + HEY FRANKIE +
Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $5.00.
• ST KILDA GAMMARAYS + SAMSKARA RADIO + BEYOND
Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm.
• STATES OF PLAY Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd.
Collingwood. 8:30pm.
• THE OUTFIT Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd.
• CLOSET STRAIGHTS + PLEBS + COOL SOUNDS Toff In • COQ ROQ WEDNESDAYS - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Lucky • FALCONIO + MICHAEL CERATOPS + KOLLAPS Tote Hotel, • HIGHASAKITE + JAPANESE WALLPAPER Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $44.00.
CLAUDYKNIGHT Veludo Bar & Restaurant, St Kilda. 8:00pm. VEGAS Gh Hotel, St Kilda. 8:00pm.
9:00pm. $20.00.
8:30pm. $18.00.
• JAMES BAY + SINEAD BURGESS Northcote Social Club,
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
• JUNGLE + OSCAR KEY SUNG 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd.
• SARAH MCLACHLAN Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne),
• KASHMERE CLUB + THE STRANGE + SIX SHOOTER + DJ
• FREIDA LE BJORN + JANE MCARTHUR Drunken Poet,
Northcote. 7:30pm.
8:00pm. $43.50.
MERMAID Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $5.00. • MAC DEMARCO + SCOTT & CHARLENE’S WEDDING + THE MURLOCS The Hi-Fi, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $54.00. • MIDNIGHT SHIFTER + FREE BURN + CINDY LOU KRAMME Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. • SEASLOTH + THE ESSENTIALS + DEL BOCA VISTA Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $5.00.
• SLIM JEFFRIES + HOLLOW HOUNDS + ARIELA JACOBS Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00.
Southbank. 7:30pm.
West Melbourne. 8:00pm.
• JOHN FLANANGAN + BUFFALO NICKEL Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm.
• MANDY CONNELL + TOM CICCONE Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:30pm.
• OPEN MIC Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 7:00pm. • OPEN MIC Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:30pm. • OPEN MIC Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. • OPEN MIC/JAM Musicland, Fawkner. 7:00pm. • REBECCA BARNARD & BILLY MILLER’S SINGALONG
• SOOKI KARAOKE Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8:00pm. • THE DEAD HEIR + BAUDELAIRES + LUNA GHOST John
• THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL’S OPEN MIC Brunswick Hotel,
• THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM + CHRIS FARREN Prince
• THE HAMMOND ORGAN NIGHTS Musicland, Fawkner.
• THE UGLY KINGS + THE ROMEO KNIGHTS + WINTER
• TILLERMAN PETE Monarch Laneway, St Kilda. 7:00pm. • ZOE K + MITCH POWER Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.
Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 7:30pm. $8.00.
Bandroom, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $73.55.
MOON Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 7:30pm. • THE VENDETTAS + DESTRENDS + A GAZILLION ANGRY MEXICANS Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. • WILDEBEEST Catfish, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 7:00pm. $15.00.
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM
About once a week I mourn the time when you could walk into any Pizza Hut restaurant and get ‘all you can eat’ with your choice of dessert. You don’t get that kind of choice very often these days but American punk rockers The Gaslight Anthem are giving you a very special dessert of their own kind. Fans were given the chance to vote for a setlist of their choice from a huge catalogue of TGA’s releases. The ‘by request’ show will take place on Wednesday February 4 at the Prince Bandroom.
• TEQUILA MOCKINGBYRD + LAST MISTRESS + THE GIRL
FRIDAS Elephant & Wheelbarrow, St Kilda. 8:00pm. • THE GUILTS + SERI VIDA + ALEX WATTS + JOY SPARKES Public Bar, North Melbourne. 7:30pm. $7.00.
• THE HOUSE OF LIGHT + LUNA GHOST + JULES SHELDON Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $10.00.
• THE MAY RIVERS + THE DULL JOYS + THE SADULTS +
BOX CRUNCH Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. • THE PASS OUTS + THE LOVE BOMBS + LIEUTENANT JAM Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 9:00pm. • VIC MENSA + REMI Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $45.90. • WORM CROWN + THE SHABBAB + SOOKY LA LA Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC • DE LA CALLE Monarch Laneway, St Kilda. 7:00pm. • DR CRASK & HIS SWINGIN’ ELIXIR Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:30pm.
BLACK + SWAMP MOTH + SPIRAL ARM + A GAZILLION ANGRY MEXICANS + THE INSTINCTS Brunswick Hotel,
Brunswick. 9:00pm.
• AU.RA (JANES LAMENT LAUNCH) + HOLLOW EVERDAZE
+ TRULY HOLY Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm.
$10.00.
• BARE BACK TITTY SQUAD + THE BLACK ALLEYS +
DEAD SET LEDGER + DJ MAX CRAWDADDY Cherry Bar,
Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $13.00.
• BLACK NIGHT CRASH (LANEWAY FESTIVAL PARTY) Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 11:30pm.
• BLUE COUCH + MORBIDLY O’BEAT + BAILEY JONES +
SCOTTY CANDLISH Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:30pm. $8.00.
• CEMETERY URN + WINTER DELUGE + AK-11 + SARFAUST Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
• CHERRY BOMB European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. • COLD SNAP + NATHAN VARGA + BRENDAN FORWARD Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:30pm. $10.00.
• EINSTEIN TOYBOYS + BRONNIE GORDAN BELLATRIX
Brunswick. 7:00pm.
• JO LAWRY Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
7:00pm.
• JOE RUBERT TRIO Rising Sun Hotel, South Melbourne.
• EVOL WALKS + BLACK ACES + ARCANE SAINTS Yah Yah’s,
• MAREK PODSTAWEK Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm.
• FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE - FEAT: SINGLE INCOME &
• MEN IMITATING MACHINES The Vineyard, St Kilda.
• FROM OSLO + DEAR THIEVES + THE RAMSHACKLE
• MITCHELL BUTEL Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank.
• GOOCH PALMS (FAREWELL GIG) + SCOTT &
THURSDAY FEB 5
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS • A NIGHT IN TEXAS + TOMB OF DOOM + ATHENAS WAKE
+ HOLLOW WORLD + UNCLE GEEZER Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
• AIMEE VOLKOFSKY & THE MOLOTOVS + EL MONTEZ +
$25.00.
6:30pm. $14.00.
12:30pm.
8:00pm. $25.00.
• RITA SATCH & THE JOHN MONTESANTE QUINTET The Commune, East Melbourne. 6:00pm.
• SALSA THURSDAYS - FEAT: DEL BARRIO La Chinesca, Melbourne. 8:00pm.
MODESTY Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. • ANGRY SEAS + THE POST Reverence Hotel, Footscray.
• SAM APPAPOULAY Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd.
• ARBES + DREAM FATIGUE + MORPHEME + THE
• SHOL QUINTET Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. • SIMON BURKE’S MINI MELTDOWN 303, Northcote. 8:00pm.
8:30pm. $5.00.
MIDNIGHT SOL Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. • BELLA WOLF Laika Bar, St Kilda. 8:00pm. • BEN FROST The Hi-Fi, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $35.50. • BENJAMIN BOOKER + MONEY FOR ROPE Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm.
• BROOKLYN’S FINEST + THE VIBRAPHONIC ORKESTRA +
KATTIMONI Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm.
• BYO VINYL NIGHT The Bodega, West Melbourne. 7:00pm. • CARIBOU Forum Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $71.10. • CHASE CITY & SWIM SEASON + URSINE Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. $10.00.
• CONNAN MOCKASIN + THE FROWNING CLOUDS Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $40.00.
• DEAR PLASTIC + ONCE WERE WILD + BLOODHOUNDS
ON MY TRAIL Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. • FIRST LOVE LAUNCH PARTY - FEAT: THE CHERRY DOLLS + YOUNG HYSTERIA + SIX SHOOTER + BIG SMOKE Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 7:30pm. $12.00. • JJ ROME & BRENDAN FORWARD Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm.
• MAHALIA BARNES & JOE BONAMASSA + THE SOUL
7:00pm. $15.00.
$10.00.
• SOUL IN THE BASEMENT - FEAT: REVEREND FUNK &
THE HORNS OF SALVATION + DJ VINCE PEACH + DJ PIERRE BARONI Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00. • THE FABRIC Espy, St Kilda. 12:00pm. • THE GOOD EGG THURSDAYS - FEAT: HENRY WHO + TIGERFUNK + LEWIS CANCUT Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm. • THE JACK PANTAZIS GROUP Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $15.00.
• THE MELBOURNE IMPROVISERS COLLECTIVE Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
• THURSDAY GATEWAY - FEAT: ZIAH ZIAH + BEN KELLY Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 8:30pm.
• YAMAHA PIANO SERIES (JOE O’CONNOR) - FEAT: JOE
O’CONNOR Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $18.00.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK • BLUES SHOWCASE - FEAT: LLOYD SPIEGEL & SAMMY
OWEN BAND + SHAKE SHACK BOOGIE BAND Musicland,
DELSINKI RECORDS The Vineyard, St Kilda. 9:30pm. • PARTY VIBEZ + THOSE THINGS + BRITTLE BONES + OH PACIFIC Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00. • PLUGGED IN THURSDAYS - FEAT: WE ARE BUT CITIZENS + CHRIS WATTS + RIVER CLISSON Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:30pm. $7.00.
• RAD NAVAJO John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. • RATKING + DJ SILENTJAY Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $38.50.
• SILVERSTOMP (SILVERCHAIR TRIBUTE) + CALAMITY
LANE Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 8:00pm. $10.00. • SINKS + ROYALTY NOISE + SKURGE & MARS MADNESS + COZZABAGS Cushion, St Kilda. 8:00pm. • SUZI QUATRO Arts Centre, Melbourne. 8:00pm. $129.00. • TAMMY HAIDER + EMMA RUSSACK + MIA SCHOEN Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $7.00.
ARMY Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:30pm.
CHARLENE’S WEDDING + HIEROPHANTS Tote Hotel,
Collingwood. 8:30pm.
• GRADUAL + AIRWAY LANES + CAROLYN OATES Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 9:00pm.
• HAYDEN JAMES + MICKEY KOJAK Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $15.00.
• HOPKINS St Kilda Festival Site (various Stages), St Kilda. 7:00pm.
• INITIALS + THE WORLD AT A GLANCE + PURITY + SHUT
UP JACKSON + SILVER LINING Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10.00.
• JAGGERS BANQUET (AUSTRALIA’S ROLLING STONES
EXPERIENCE) Kew Sports Club, Kew. 7:30pm. $35.00.
• JOHNNY CASH & JUNE CARTER-CASH TRIBUTE SHOW
- FEAT: ALAN BOWLES Big Huey’s Diner, South Melbourne. 8:00pm.
• KAREN MORENO Laika Bar, St Kilda. 8:00pm. • KIM & LEANNE + PINK TILES + MINIJUPES Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $12.00.
• KINGSWOOD Chelsea Heights Hotel, Chelsea Heights. 8:00pm. • LANEWAVES + THE ATTRACTOR BEAMS + LOVELY
BEAST 24 Moons, Northcote. 9:00pm.
• LEPERS & CROOKS The Loft, Warrnambool. 8:00pm. • NIGHT MOOVES Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:30pm. • RED BEARD + GOD WOLF + BRITTLE BONES Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:30pm. $12.00.
• SHAKE THE DUST + DESERT DWELLERS + FILASTINE
+ AUSTERO + WHITEBEAR + KODIAK KID The Hi-Fi,
Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $30.50.
Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 10:00am. $17.00.
• NICK EVANGELOU + JANE SEA + GRACE KING +
• NO ESCAPE FOR THE KING + SAMSKARA RADIO +
EASTWOOD REVINE Pier Live, Frankston. 8:00pm. $5.00.
• SLIDE NIGHT - FEAT: DJ KNAVE KNIXX Spotted Mallard,
• NICK FERRETTI + JOSH ROMIG + REUBEN DUFFY AND
JULES SWINNERTON + STORM’N NORM Evelyn Hotel,
Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $13.00.
• SIMONE & GARFUNKLE + BAYOU + GOLDEN GIRLS +
• MELODY POOL Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm. • MORNING MELODIES - FEAT: BRIAN MULDOON Ferntree
Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8.00.
Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10.00.
Fawkner. 7:00pm. $15.00.
MATES Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $66.30. • NEXT - FEAT: HELLTONS Colonial Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 44
GIG OF THE WEEK!
ALEXANDRA PYE Carters Bar, Northcote. 7:30pm.
• NICK KINGSWELL + IMOGEN BROUGH Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 9:00pm.
• OPEN MIC The Wilde, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. • OPEN MIC Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm. • SHOWCASE / AUDITION NIGHT - FEAT: CYANIDE TEETH
+ MARK GARDNER + RAYNARD CREEGAN + MWANSA + TRIUMPH OVER LOGIC Musicland, Fawkner. 7:00pm. • THE ‘JOHNNY CAN’T DANCE’ CAJUN BAND Po Boy Quarter, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.
FRIDAY FEB 6
SLOW FIRES Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00.
Brunswick. 8:30pm. $5.00.
• SLOW CHASE + COLOMBIA + DJ KEZBOT Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm.
• SUZI QUATRO Arts Centre, Melbourne. 8:00pm. $129.00. • TAILOR BIRDS + NEW TIDES + HEATHER FIONA Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. $5.00.
• THE PARTY ANIMALS Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. • THE QUARTERS + PEOPLES PALACE + KILL DIRTY
YOUTH + THE OUTSIDERS Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm.
• THE TARANTINOS The LuWow, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00. • THE WRECKS + TIGERS + ORGAN DONOR + COFFIN
WOLF + DJ DAN LEWIS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
• TROPICAL ZOMBIE Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $10.00. • TWIN BEASTS + EATEN BY DOGS + SAGAMORE Gasometer
• SPLENDIDID + GLACIERS + FIELDS Grace Darling Hotel,
• WE ARE EXILE + ZUTROY + HEMY & MARSHALL +
Collingwood. 9:00pm. $8.00.
• THE FKUPS + PITT THE ELDER + BOMBS ARE FALLING +
AGENT 37 + DEAD JOE + DREXLER 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00.
• ALWAYS GREENER - FEAT: MY DYNAMITE + SIREN
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
Hotel, Collingwood. 7:00pm. $12.75.
SOUTHBOUND SNAKE CHARMER Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC • ANDREW KIMBER QUARTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $20.00.
MAC DEMARCO
Have you been looking down at your dirty, old sneakers and finally decided to invest in a new pair? How about an old pair? A really, really, old, filthy pair that will only set you back US $21,000? Last month, Canadia’s favourite ginger Mac Demarco sold an old pair of his sneakers to one ‘lucky’ fan for just that price. Perhaps you’ll snatch yourself some new (old) sneakers when Mac Demarco plays The Hi-Fi, on Tuesday February 3 and Wednesday February 4.
CARIBOU
From the humble theft of a sampler from his high school music department to being sued by a wrestler who goes by the very enviable name ‘Handsome Dick Manitoba’, Dan Snaith’s musical career has certainly been a strange one. His current project Caribou draws influences from his unique journey as well as the ‘60s indie sound and the psychedelic styles of Jefferson Airplane. Don’t miss out when he hits The Forum on Thursday February 5.
• JACK SPARROW Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. • JAMES MACAULAY QUARTET Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy.
• COLOURED CLOCKS + FIERCE MILD + THE
• JOE CHINDAMO TRIO Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm.
• DISPARO + DEBACLE + BLACK JESUS +
8:00pm. $20.00.
• LIVE JAZZ SUNDAYS Elephant & Castle Hotel, Geelong.
COMMUNISTS + FIELDS Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East.
8:00pm. $10.00.
COUNTERATTACK + CHRIST CRUSHER Public Bar, North
Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10.00.
3:00pm.
• HARM’S WAY + LEGIONS + BORN FREE & TIME CRISIS
Room, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $20.00.
• JUKAI FOREST + TRIUMP OVER LOGIC + VHS DREAM +
• MICHAEL COOK & PUGSLEY BUZZARD Ruby’s Music • MONIQUE DIMATTINA Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $20.00.
Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
SWEET DECAY + NEEKO & JOSH Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm.
• ORCHESTRA MINI Luxor Bar , Brunswick East. 7:00pm. • PAUL VAN ROSS Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm.
• JUKEBOX RACKETS The LuWow, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00. • KEBAB SHOP PUNCH UP Reverence Hotel, Footscray.
• THE GOLD STREET SOUND Catfish, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. • THE RIOT SQUAD Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. • THE SUGARCANES + UP UP AWAY The B.east, Brunswick
• KINGSWOOD Village Green Hotel, Mulgrave. 8:00pm. $27.40. • LANEWAY FESTIVAL - FEAT: AGNES DEMARCO + ANDY
$25.00.
East. 9:00pm.
• WOMEN OF SOUL - FEAT: CANDICE MONIQUE +
CHELSEA WILSON + LISA FAITHFULL + CHRISTINA ARNOLD Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 8:00pm. $20.00.
• YVETTE JOHANSSON
& THE JOE RUBERTO TRIO
Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $25.00.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK • ANDREW MCSWEENEY & THE MIDNIGHT HUNTING
CREW Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm.
• ANDY GRANT DUO European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd.
9:00pm.
BULL + ANGEL OLSEN + BANKS + BENJAMIN BOOKER + CARIBOU + CONNAN MOCKASIN + COURTNEY BARNETT + DUNE RATS + EAGULLS + EVES + FKA TWIGS + FLIGHT FACILITIES + FLYING LOTUS + FUTURE ISLANDS + HIGHASAKITE + JON HOPKINS + JUNGLE + LITTLE DRAGON + MAC DEMARCO + MANSIONAIR + PERFECT PUSSY + PETER BIBBY + POND + RATKING + RAURY + ROYAL BLOOD + RUSTIE + SEEKAE + SOHN + ST VINCENT + TKAY MAIDZA + VIC MENSA St Jeromes
Laneway Festival Site, Melbourne. 12:00pm. $160.00.
• LOTUS COURT + DREAM IN COLOUR KIDZ + BLIND MAN
DEATH STARE + MIDNIGHT SHIFTER Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $13.00.
6:00pm.
• MASSIMO JONES + HUGO COSTIN Grace Darling Hotel,
8:00pm. $8.00.
• MASSIVE + PALACE OF THE KING + MERCY KILLS Espy,
5:00pm.
• MIGHTY DUKE & THE LORDS Sooki Lounge, Belgrave.
• BONA FIDE TRAVELLERS Pascoe Vale Rsl, Pascoe Vale. • CHRIS WILSON + SPENCER P JONES Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. • FLYING ENGINE TRIO Testing Grounds, Melbourne. 7:00pm. • GEORGINA WARD The Metropol, St Kilda. 7:00pm. • KRISTA POLVERE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:30pm. • MELBOURNE ZOO TWILIGHTS - FEAT: SARAH BLASKO +
Collingwood. 9:00pm. $5.00. St Kilda. 8:00pm.
9:00pm.
• MOSE’ & THE FMLY Penny Black, Brunswick. 9:30pm. • NICK KINGSWELL + ALEX GIBSON + IMOGEN BROUGH Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:00pm. $12.00.
LULUC Melbourne Zoo, Parkville. 5:30pm. $60.00. • NEIL MURRAY + YIRRMAL Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick.
• NONG ON - FEAT: WALTER TV + YOU BEAUTY + THE
• PERRY KEYES Basement Discs, Melbourne Cbd. 12:45pm. • SPENCER P JONES Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:30pm.
• OFFICIAL LANEWAY AFTER PARTY - FEAT: FUTURE
8:30pm. $25.00.
OCEAN PARTY + LOOSE TOOTH + CHEAP PRESENT Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $27.05.
• THE CLICHES + MELISSA & ZAC Carters Bar, Northcote.
ISLANDS + MAV DEMARCO VS KING GIZZARD + MILK! RECORDS DJS The Hi-Fi, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. $55.00. • PETER COMBE WITH THE BELLYFLOP IN A PIZZA BAND
• THE EIGHTY 88S Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm. • TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION - FEAT: DAN
• PETER COMBE WITH THE BELLYFLOP IN A PIZZA BAND
$10.00.
8:00pm.
BOURKE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6:00pm. • WAITANGI DAY SPECTACULAR - FEAT: SKY SCRAPER STAN AND THE COMMISSION FLATS + SPENCER P JONES + CHARLOTTE IVEY + WILL WOOD Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 7:00pm. $5.00.
SATURDAY FEB 7
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS • HAILEY CRAMER + DUNCAN GRAHAM & HIS CO-
ACCUSED + DJ XANDER Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. • A DAY ON THE GREEN - FEAT: PAUL SIMON & STING Mt Duneed Estate , 5:00pm. $125.00.
• ATLAS + DJ SOCIAL SERVICES Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
• AUNTY DONNA + GODWOLF + THE RIMS + DJ
SWEETLOVE Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $10.00. • BAND NIGHT - FEAT: CHIMPER KIMBLAY + TAM VANTAGE + JOHNNY CAN’T DANCE + ARTY DEL RIO + 2-HAT PAT Coburg Rsl, Coburg. 7:00pm. $5.00. • BANG - FEAT: ANTAGONIST A.D + LEFT FOR WOLVES + FALSE PROPHET Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $20.00.
• BOB MARLEY BIRTHDAY BASH 2015 - FEAT: JAHKNOW
BAND + TRYHTYHM BAND. DJ STICK MAREEBO + PUPA DALTON + JESSE I + RAS CRUCIAL + ZARE DEMUS + DJ ERIC Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $20.00. • BOTTLECAPS 1ST BIRTHDAY + ADMIRAL ACKBAR’S DISHONOURABLE DISCHARGE + POSTSCRIPT + PUBLIC LIABILITY + DEAD JOE + SHORT LEASH Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 6:00pm.
• CHASE CITY The Loft, Warrnambool. 8:00pm.
Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 1:30pm. $15.00.
+ THEME TEAM + MIKE WATERS Northcote Social Club,
Northcote. 8:30pm. $22.00.
• SHENANIGANS - FEAT: RADIO CHOAS Pier Live, Frankston. 8:00pm.
• SIREN LINES + GLASS EMPIRE + KETTLESPIDER Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:30pm.
• SISTERS DOLL + PATH OF DESTRUCTION + EVOL WALKS
+ VOODOOCAIN + WILD VIOLET + STACEY-V Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 5:00pm. $15.00.
• SOPHIE ROSE & THE MANUAL BREATHING + LOVELY
BEAST Luxor Bar , Brunswick East. 7:30pm.
• SORDID ORDEAL + I AM DUCKEYE + THE
UNDERHANDED + DJ MARY M Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $13.00.
• ST KILDA MUSIC SALON Robarta, St Kilda. 2:30pm. $10.00. • SUGARFED LEOPARDS Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. $10.00.
• SUN GOD REPLICA + LITTLE DESERT + THE KREMLINGS
+ CRACKED TAPES Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm.
• SURRENDER + THE EVERCOLD + PURITY + DISASTERS
+ SHELTERED + SILVER LINING + THE GREAT CITY Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 6:00pm. $10.00.
• SUZI QUATRO Arts Centre, Melbourne. 8:00pm. $129.00. • THE BLACKBIRD COLLECTIVE + SCOTT BOYD + THE
BLACK HARRYS 303, Northcote. 7:30pm. $5.00.
• THE FRANTICS Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:30pm. • THE HYBRID NIGHTMARES + AQUILUS + ADAMUS EXUL
+ CATACOMBS + AMAROS Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $12.00.
• THE INFERNOS Catfish, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. • THE NBC + OPTICAL SCREW + GYPSY BOOTS + TRAVIS
MCCARTHY Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm.
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 45
GIG GUIDE
WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK
THE PUSH PRESENT
ACCESS ALL AGES
For all the latest gigs check out beat.com.au • THE RIFF RAIDERS Central Club Hotel, Richmond. 9:30pm. • UNDERGROUND HOUND + FORTRESS OF NARZOD +
TWISTED PISTOL Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC • 1/6 & THE PUBLIC OPINION + DJ MANCHILD The Shadow Electric, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. $14.00.
• AKOMA BEAT + AFRICAN STAR KIDS Werribee Open Range Zoo, Werribee. 4:30pm. $30.80.
• BLUE NOTE SERIES Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd.
Brunswick. 9:00pm.
• THE PUBLICAN BAND Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:30pm. • TINY C Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 8:00pm. $25.00. • VIC OLD TIME JAM SESSION - FEAT: CRAIG WOODWARD
+ WARREN ROUGH Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
SUNDAY FEB 8
7:00pm. $20.00.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
9:30pm. $20.00.
• A MONTH OF SUNDAYS - FEAT: TEX NAPALM + ANDREW
• CRAIG SMITH QUINTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. • FARHAN AKHTAR Festival Hall, West Melbourne. 8:00pm. $75.00.
MCCUBBIN + MICHAEL PLATER + CABIN INN Toff In
Town, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $8.00.
• GEOFF ALLAN & BOB SEDERGREEN Paris Cat Jazz Club,
• ALEXANDER PYE + GREG STEPS + CAILAN SMITH Whole
• GOOD MUSIC - FEAT: ETHAN MCLAREN Prince Public Bar,
• AMBER ISLES + SUNBORNE + MONIQUE SHELFORD
Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $20.00.
St Kilda . 8:00pm.
• JASPORA Eclectico, St Kilda. 7:00pm. • LAMINE SONKO & THE AFRICAN INTELLIGENCE Bar Open, Fitzroy. 10:00pm.
• MELBOURNE ZOO TWILIGHTS (MERRI SOUL
SESSIONS) - FEAT: CLAIRY BROWNE + KIRA PURU + VIKA & LINDA + HIATUS KAIYOTE Melbourne Zoo, Parkville. 5:30pm.
• MIKE FIELD & THE ROGER CLARK QUARTET Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $20.00.
• NINA FERRO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd.
Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. $10.00. Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $7.00.
• BARRIER REEF SURVIVAL PARTY - FEAT: RHYTHMIK +
MOOD MACHINE + CACTUS CHENNEL + UONE + KODIAK KID + MUSKA + GUNNAR GUESS + SEKKT Gasometer
Hotel, Collingwood. 3:00pm. $15.00.
• DISPARO + DEATHFRAMES + TERM FOUR + ATOMIC
DEATH SQUAD + THE FCK UPS + CABIN FEVER Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm.
• FLYING BISON + CHOP SQUAD + RORY MAHER Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.
8:30pm. $20.00.
• GROOVELATION Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 4:00pm. • HORNS OF LEROY John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 3:30pm. • LIVING EARTH + THE RAMBLING ROOTS + LITTLE
5:00pm.
• LOWER PLENTY + CALAMARI GIRLS Tote Hotel,
8:30pm. $35.00.
• NORIA LETTS QUINTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. • PEPPERCORN JAZZ BAND Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. • REFLEJOS Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. • RUTH ROSHAN & TANGO NOIR Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:00pm. $38.00.
• SUMMER SOUNDS - FEAT: KYLIE AULDIST & THE
GLENROY ALLSTARS + NIKITA AZZOPARDI Logan Reserve, Williamstown. 2:00pm.
• THE EAMON AND DUDI PROJECT Open Studio, Northcote. 5:00pm.
• THE LOWDOWN HOKUM ORCHESTRA Wonderland Spiegeltent, Docklands. 8:30pm. $34.50.
• THE VIBRAPHONIC ORKESTRA The B.east, Brunswick East. 9:00pm.
• TONY BUCK TRIO Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. • TRU GROOVES - FEAT: QUANTUM MILKESHAKE 24 Moons, Northcote. 10:00pm.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK • ACTION SAM European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. • BACKSLIDERS & OLD GREY MULE Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $25.00.
• DRUNKEN POACHERS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. • FRANK YAMMA + EL WITERI Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 9:00pm.
• GEORGINA WARD Fitzrovia, St Kilda. 4:00pm. • GLENN MUSTO St Kilda Branch, St Kilda. 4:00pm. • GUY PEARCE & DARREN MIDDLETON Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:30pm. $45.00.
• HORNETS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm. • HUGO RACE & THE TRUE SPIRIT Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm.
• JOEL PARNELL Old Bar, Fitzroy. 3:00pm. • JUNK HORSES DUO + BLOWN CONES Labour In Vain,
THEATRE Great Britain Hotel, Richmond. 7:00pm.
Collingwood. 4:00pm.
• MINIMUM WAGE - FEAT: TRUST + MILITARY POSITION +
EGYPT LIES Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 6:00pm. • NGV SUMMER SUNDAYS - FEAT: WORLD’S END PRESS + SLUM SOCIABLE + OH YOU DJS National Gallery Of Victoria, Melbourne. 1:00pm.
• ST KILDA FEST @ THE ESPY - FEAT: HOT DUB TIME
MACHINE + HIATUS KAIYOTE + SILENT JAY + JACE XL + SEX ON TOAST + AINSLIE WILLS + LLOYD SPIEGEL + THE HELLHOUNDS + PHIL PARA + KIM CHURCHILL + MIAMI HORROR DJ’S + COCOA JACKSON LANE + DJ MU-GEN Espy, St Kilda. 12:00pm. • ST KILDA FESTIVAL - FEAT: HOT DUB TIME MACHINE + THUNDAMENTALS + THE FABRIC + DMA’S + PASSERINE + REMI + PIERCE BROTHERS + ECHO DRAMA + BETTER THAN THE WIZARDS + THE PUBLIC OPINION AFRO ORCHESTRA + STRAYLOVE + JUDE PERL. THE CHURCH + RUSSELL MORRIS + SAN CISCO + THE BASICS + EMMA DONOVAN & THE PUTBACKS + SHAUN KIRK + PRIVATE LIFE + MORE St Kilda Festival Site (various Stages), St Kilda. 12:00pm.
• SUNDAY SCHOOL - FEAT: BARBITURATES + ELISABETH • THE FUCK FUCKS Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 4:00pm. • TOGETHERAPART + SUPREME OVERLORD +
BATTLESICK Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. • TWIN AGES Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC • ANDREW FERRELL THE WIZARD Ruby’s Music Room,
8:00pm. $25.00.
• ELISSA ROGER SEXTET Open Studio, Northcote. 5:00pm. • FAIRFIELD SUMMER SERIES - FEAT: EMPAT LIMA +
Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $15.00.
MIKELANGELO Fairfield Amphitheatre, 5:00pm.
• JOHN FLEMING + MORELAND CITY SOUL REVIEW Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 4:00pm.
• KEKOSON (CUBAN STREET MUSIC PARTY) The B.east, Brunswick East. 4:00pm.
• KYLIE AULDIST & THE GLENROY ALL STARS + DJ
MUSICMAN Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. • LIBOR SMOLDAS Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. WANTED BANDS/ACTS WANTED for Espy Shows. Shoot an email through to mark@gunnmusic.com.au for more details DJ COMPANY SEEKING event managers, promoters, party organizers and djs for projects. Please text 0411 024 794 for a prompt reply. JAZZ ROCK GUITARIST WANTED 0433 726 449 VOCALIST WANTED for hard rock band. Ages 19-25. Influences: Motley Crue, Guns n Roses, Van Halen, Ratt, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Alice in Chains, etc. Rehearse in Hallam Monday 6pm-midnight. For all questions or to discuss any information further, email or txt Tommy (txt 0488 613 012 or email tommyrocker8@gmail.com) SERVICES SOUNDPARK REHEARSALS NORTHCOTE. From $50. Great rooms/p.a’s. Parking/Storage/Hire. Phone Andrew 0425 706 382. Soundparkstudios.com.au SALES FREE TO A GOOD HOME I have a signed poster of Con from the series Heartbreak High. No longer needing it as he has broken my heart. Contact drazic@brokenheartschool.edu.au
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 46
ANGEL OLSEN
Have you even thought back to when the Olsen twins where young and cute only to do a quick Google search and realise they were actually kind of creepy? Never fear because Angel Olsen is bringing you Olsen new memories with her heavenly American folk and indie rock. She’ll ascend onto the stage at Howler on Wednesday February 4. The Breslin Gallery, Carnegie. 4:00pm. $20.00.
• ENGINE ROOM Penny Black, Brunswick. 5:00pm. • GOATPISS GASOLINE Bar Open, Fitzroy. 3:00pm. • GRETTA ZILLER Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. • GUY PEARCE & DARREN MIDDLETON Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 3:00pm. $35.00.
• JAM SUNDAYS Musicland, Fawkner. 6:00pm. • JARRAH THOMPSON Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. • JENNY BIDDLE Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 3:00pm. • JULIE & ANNA + IAN VANDY Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 4:00pm.
• JVG GUITAR METHOD Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. • LAURA PALMER + INITIALS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. • MATT DWYER & THE MAGNATONES + THE SCREAMIN’
HONKIES + DJ MAX CRAWDADDY Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 3:00pm. $10.00.
• NICK CHARLES & BLUE STRINGS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 5:30pm.
• RON S PENO TRIO Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 4:00pm. • SARAH CARROLL Union Hotel, Brunswick. 3:30pm. • SUNDAY SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 2:00pm.
• SUNDAY SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Lucky Coq, Windsor. 4:00pm.
• SUNDAY SONGWRITERS - FEAT: NEW TIDES + BRETT
FRANKE + ACOUSTICKY SITUATION + NICK EVANGELOU + GK STRATTON Carters Bar, Northcote. 5:00pm. • THE BEARDED GYPSY BAND Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 5:00pm.
• THE BLACKEYED SUSANS Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 4:30pm.
• THE IVY STONE ASSEMBLY Catfish, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. • THE PRAYER BABIES Royal Oak Hotel, Fitzroy North. 4:00pm.
• THE RAMSHACKLE ARMY + ANDREW SWIFT + NATHAN
SEECKTS Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 3:00pm.
• THE RECHORDS Gem Bar, Collingwood. 8:00pm. • TINY C Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 6:00pm. $25.00.
MONDAY FEB 9
+ ABSTRACT MUTATION Public Bar, North Melbourne.
4:00pm.
Fitzroy. 7:00pm.
• PERRY KEYES + BROADS Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick.
WITH RUTH MIHELCIC
• THE B-BENDERS Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 9:00pm. • THE CARTRIDGE FAMILY Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. • THE NEW SAVAGES + THE NIGHT PARTY Victoria Hotel,
8:30pm. $18.00.
• MELBOURNE ZOO TWILIGHTS (MERRI SOUL
SESSIONS) - FEAT: CLAIRY BROWNE + KIRA PURU + VIKA & LINDA + HIATUS KAIYOTE Melbourne Zoo, Parkville. 5:30pm.
• MINGUS AMONGST US Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $20.00.
• NINA FERRO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $35.00.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK • ETIENNE & THE SANKAYI 303, Northcote. 4:00pm. • BAKERSFIELD GLEE CLUB Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. • BANJO-B-QUE - FEAT: CRAIG WOODWARD The Mercat, Melbourne. 12:30pm.
• CHRIS WILSON Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 4:00pm. • CLARE BOWDITCH + VOIX D’OR Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 3:00pm. $45.00.
• DARYL ROBERTS & THE ELWOOD BLUES CLUB Gh Hotel, St Kilda. 5:00pm.
• DAVID BLYTH + JAMIE ANDERSEN + MICHAEL NEWTON
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS • CHERRY JAM Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. • HUNTLY + MARTIN KING + WABZ + LACKLUSTER
THUNDER Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00.
• JIM NOTHING Public Bar, North Melbourne. 7:00pm. $5.00. • MONDAY NIGHT MASS - FEAT: ASSAD + MARCO
FUSINATO Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 6:00pm. • MUNDANE MONDAYS - FEAT: ST MORRIS SINNERS + LEPERS & CROOKS + THE CREEPING BAM + GIRL CRAZY Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $5.00. JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC
Since the term is now well underway, it’s safe to say that FReeZa is back. It’s great to see crews across the state are meeting again and the events are rolling in. Check out the gig guide on our site to see how it’s kicked off for the year. If you want to see what your local crew are planning, or express your interest in joining, go to www.freeza.vic.gov.au and get in touch with your local worker. If you’re a musician you can also get in touch to let them know you’re available for shows. Speaking of musos, there are plenty of good opportunities for you guys this week. We’ve compiled a few below but if you want to read the full list you’ll have to head to the opportunities page of www.thepush.com.au or subscribe to our monthly newsletter to get them in your inbox. Ever wanted to do a songwriting course but didn’t have the spare change or means to? Check out the free online songwriting workshop that Coursera is running this month. You’ll learn how to use your tools to enhance your message, work compositionally, develop your ideas, working both lyrically and musically - though it’s not necessary that you either read music or play an instrument. Assignments will ask you to post something for peer review — sometimes lyric lines or sections, sometimes melodies, sometimes both. It’ll run from Monday February 2 to Friday March 20, requiring about six to eight hours per week. Sign up at www.coursera. org/course/songwriting The Right Track is a free musician’s development day which offers the opportunity for artists to gain an insight into the industry and meet experts who will share their knowledge and wisdom in navigating the music business. Drop in for one session or stay for the whole day. There’ll be time dedicated to songwriting to creating a successful album and everything else in between. Panellists and guests include Chris Johnston (The Age), Benny Walker, Meriki Hood, Stuart Mackenzie and Eric Moore (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard), Charles Jenkins, Remi, Sensible J. (Producer), and Jenny Valentish (Time Out Magazine). It’s on Saturday February 7, 11am4.30pm at The Prince Bandroom in St Kilda. More info at www.stkildafestival.com.au Secrets of Success - How to be a Successful Artist without Compromise seminar is happening on Sunday February 8 from 9.30am-5.30pm at the Auspicious Arts Theatrette, 228 Bank St, South Melbourne. It aims to help local and independent artists succeed in the competitive business landscape; taking participants through a comprehensive evaluation of their own work as entrepreneurs, offering real tools to manage their finances, time and mental attitudes towards creativity as a rewarding and lucrative asset. You can grab tickets and more info at www.artsbusinesssuccess.com Sunday is the last day to upload your tracks to triple j Unearthed to be in the running to join the massive Soundwave lineup in your state. If you haven’t done it yet, put down this magazine now and go do it at www.triplejunearthed.com Got U18 or AA news or opportunities that you wanna share? Send it to whatson@thepush.com.au.
ALL AGES GIG GUIDE
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 6 • Rainbow Dance Party w/ DJ, Wyndham Youth Resource Centre, 86 Derrimut Rd, Hoppers Crossing, 7-10pm, $5, www.youth.wyndham.vic. gov.au, U18
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7
• Pool Party w/ DJ Corey Ryan, Glenthompson Swimming Pool, Cameron St, Glenthompson, 3-7pm, Free, www.wdhs.net, AA • Barwon South - Western Skate Park Series 2015, Colac Skate Park, 10am-4pm, Free, www.facebook. com/yhhcolac, www.skatepark.ymca.org.au, AA
• KELLER, MURPHY, BROWNE TRIO + KELLER + MURPHY
+ BROWNE TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd.
8:30pm. $18.00.
• THEATRE OPEN MIC Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $15.00.
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK • SARAH MCLACHLAN Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:30pm. $89.90.
• THE MUTUAL APPRECIATION SOCIETY - FEAT: MEGAN
BERNARD + MATT DOLL Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. • WATUSSI 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. • WROKDOWN - FEAT: ROSS D WYLLIE Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $5.00.
TUESDAY FEB 10
BEAR KICK + LAWNTON BOWLS CLUB + ELEVEN Brunswick Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm.
• THE HUNTED CROWS Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. • THE TREMORS + THE FACTORY Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm.
JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC • DEXTER’S ASIAN CONNECTION Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $15.00.
• KELLER, MURPHY, BROWNE TRIO (LIVE RECORDING) Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $18.00.
• OLIVIA QI Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $15.00.
INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS
• STANDING TALL & STAN VAN HOOFT Dizzy’s Jazz Club,
• ST MORRIS SINNERS + SECRETS OF THE VENUS HORSE
ACOUSTIC/COUNTRY/BLUES/FOLK
+ TOOTH & TUSK Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $6.00. • ARTHUR PENN & THE FUNKY TEN + THE HORNS OF LEROY BRASS BAND + MITCH POWER & THE SOUL ASSASINS Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $7.00. • PAUL SIMON & STING Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne. 8:00pm. $101.85.
• THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL DISCOVERY NIGHT - FEAT:
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
Richmond. 8:00pm. $14.00.
• BEN SALTER + HAYLEY COUPER Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm.
• DARYL ROBERTS & HEY GRINGO Royal Standard Hotel, West Melbourne. 8:00pm.
• IRISH SESSIONS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. • OPEN MIC Prince Public Bar, St Kilda . 8:00pm.
Thursday 5th @ 8.30pm
ERICA SUNSHINE LEE(Way BAND (NSW) up country) Friday 6th @ 9.30 pm
SATURDAY 7TH FEBRUARY
ANDREW MCSWEENEY
JUNK HORSES DUO BLOWN CONES
& THE MIDNIGHT HUNTING CREW
SUNDAY 8TH FEBRUARY
HORNETS (Deep blues grooves)
FROM 7PM
BAKERSFIELD GLEE CLUB FROM 5PM
COMING UP:
SPENCER P JONES AND THE ESCAPE COMMITTEE 3 KINGS GOATPISS GASOLINE
DOUGY & WESTON BBQ ON THE ROOF TOP EVERY FRI, SAT & SUN
(Chunky alt-country)
Saturday 7th @ 9.30pm
Wed 4th February
WINE, WHISKEY, WOMEN 8PM: Jane McArthur 9PM: Freida Le Bjorn Thurs 5th February
OPEN MIC
Fri 6th February
Sunday 8th @ 5.30 pm
NICK CHARLES & BLUE STRINGS (Finger-pickin’ good!)
6pm: Traditional Irish Session 8.30pm - Krista Polvere
Tuesday 10th @8pm
Sat 7th February
IRISH SESSION (Fancy fiddlin’)
ALL GIGS ARE FREE EXCELLENT RESTAURANT AND BAR MEALS
LOMOND HOTEL 225 NICHOLSON STREET BRUNSWICK EAST, VIC 3057 9380 1752
9pm: The
B-Benders
Sun 8th February
4pm: Moreland
City Soul Review 6.30pm: John Fleming Tues 10th February
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 S D AY
WEDNESDAY 4TH 7PM
R O C K A N D P O P C U LT U R E T R I V I A
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 - 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 -
EVERY WEDNESDAY IT’S A WING THING
Basket of Wings for $10 - 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 -
every sunday s u n d ay b l o o dy s u n d ay d j t o p h e av y
- 4 s t y l e s o f b l o o dy m a rys a l l d ay -
T H U R S D AY 5 t h f e b ru a ry N o. 7 1
TUESDAYS
GRUMPY TRIVIA $6 CHILLI DOGS ALL NIGHT
WEDNESDAYS
OPEN MIC @7PM 2 FOR 1 MEALS THURSDAYS
THE BEAT RAFFLE
wITH POSTIe P & DJ BuICk @ 7Pm- fuNk/SOuL/PArTy JAmS & $1 wINGS $15 JuGS ALL NIGHT. DrINk DrINkS, HeAr BeATS, wIN STuff.
FRIDAY
SOUL BE IN IT
f r i d ay 6 t h f e b ru a ry
DJS PLAyING ALL yOur fAvOurITe fuNk/SOuL/DISCO/ JAmS ON wAx @ 8Pm.
swa m p f u n k
SATURDAY
Dj Nui & Co + The sugarcanes
S A T U R D AY 7 t h f e b ru a ry The Vibraphonic Orkestra pbs djs
O P E N 7 d ays a we e k 11AM TIL LATE
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
MELLOW DIAS THUMP THURSDAY 5TH 7PM
NIGHT FLIGHT CHIARA KICKDRUM BEVIN CAMPBELL + GUEST FRIDAY 6TH 7PM
GROOVE CONTROL SATURDAY 7TH 7PM
HELMET
@ 8Pm.
PHAON WILL ELDER
SUNDAY
SUNDAY 8TH 4PM - 1AM
GRUMP UP THE JAM THE FURBELOWS LIve 5 PeICe SwING BAND @ 7.30
$15 LAMB BURGER & PINT dAY
+ $20 BOTTLe Of HOuSe reD Or wHITe.
ALL free eNTry GrumPy HOur $6 PINTS AND $5 BASICS
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH FEAT. DYNAMO DREESEN
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
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 47
THE LOCAL For more information or ad bookings call Aleksei on 9428 3600
JACK LONDON AND MYSTERY BAND REVEALED
News Bites.
Jack London’s mystery band, previously referred to as Marmalade Shoes, revealed themselves to be Aussie rock’n’roll foursome Delta Riggs, at The Grace Darling Hotel last Thursday night. Joined in support by another local favourite Red Spencer, the night of drink specials and Australian sounds left Collingwood buzzing with home-grown talent.
Ferdydurke
Ferdydurke launched their new food menu about a month ago. To celebrate, they’re throwing a huge party to give everyone a free taste – nothing better than free food, eh? Even better is a free Mimosa on arrival (that’s a sparkling wine and orange juice), bottled beer for eight bucks and sangria jugs for $15. They’ll be allowing everyone to sample their new deli counter sandwiches, salads and Piroshkis – a post-Soviet fast fried doughy bun stuffed with warm, savoury fillings like meat, mushrooms or potatoes. Its brand new menu from chef Jarrod Moore (THE B.EAST, Belleville, Cirque du Soliel) owes its influence to Eastern Europe traditions, but also takes a leaf from the brilliant abstract prose of Polish Novelist Witold Gombrowicz the author of the 1937 novel that lent this bar its name. The food is part New York Jewish Delicatessen, part Polish grandma classics slathered with ex-Soviet Bonhomie and sour cream with notions of traditions turned up on their own head creating something distinctly Ferdydurke. Come and enjoy the launch of the new menu on Sunday February 8 from 2pm, Levels 1 and 2, 239 Lonsdale St.
Hemp Banned In Food
Against the advice from Australia’s food standards agency, the nation’s food ministers have rejected the idea to allow hemp to be used in foods. While hemp seeds contain almost little to no THC, their concern was centred on how foods containing hemp would affect roadside drug testing and that also “the marketing of hemp in food may send a confused message to consumers about the acceptability and safety of cannabis.” Hemp seed is made up predominantly of edible oils, containing about 80 per cent of essential fatty acids such as omega-3, and various proteins.
All of these questions are from the first in the Jurassic park franchise, because, screw you that’s why. ACROSS
Kingston City Hall Pop Up Bar
The annual Pop Up Bar is a Friday night destination to be rivalled as it brings residents and rovers together throughout February to sample the free live music, food trucks, and a range of craft beer and ciders supplied by local brewers, starting this Friday February 6 at 5pm. With a return to its original location at the Kingston City Hall forecourt, this year the Pop Up Bar will be sure to capture the attention of passers-by on the busy Nepean Highway, drawing exposure to the hype of activity at the high visibility Kingston Arts site. Last year’s event averaged around 500 people per night and they hope to make this year even bigger. 979-985 Nepean Hwy, Moorabbin.
DOWN
Mason Dixon
puzzleguy@beat.com.au
Americans know how to do a good sandwich. The newly-opened Mason Dixon is serving up authentic American sandwiches in Collins St, and Bostonborn, Georgia-raised owner Garrett Huston is a total pro: think Reuben’s, Cubanos, pulled pork rolls, pastrami sandwiches and hoagies (that’s American for baguette or long roll sandwich), along with some amazing sweets such as chocolate peanut butter and cinnamon scrolls for breakfast. Find Mason Dixon at Oaks on Collins food plaza, 7/480 Collins St. Got some gourmet gossip? Tasty twaddle? Let me know: soph@furstmedia.com.au
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 48
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
BACKSTAGE For more information or ad bookings call Aleksei on 9428 3600
v s
a
s
PA HIRE Comprehensive PA systems delivered, set up and operated with crew. Compact, easy, sound systems you can pickup and assemble yourself.Components such as microphones, speakers and effects are also available separately. Lights also available. For details phone Mark Barry on 03 9889 1999 or 0419 993 966
Vintage, new & Second Hand ampS, effectS pedalS & RigS Huge Selection – All mAjor BrAndS:
Rehearsal & Recording Studios Large Rooms $70 Medium Rooms $60 ANY NIGHT!
www.bssound.com.au bssound@bigpond.com
THIS SPACE COULD BE YOURS. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR AD BOOKINGS CALL ALEKSEI ON 9428 3600
Large Rooms $60 Medium Rooms $50 EVERY DAY!
guitaRS & ampS wanted top ca$H paid
Call for bookings
expeRt guitaR & amp RepaiRS modS & ReStoRation faSt tuRnaRound affoRdable RateS tecHnicianS on Site
9391 3444 Open 7 Days till Late Unit 10, 59-61 Hudsons Road, Spotswood 3015
1131 Burke rd, keW 3101 PHone: 03 9817 7000 WWW.eAStgAtemuSic.com.Au
www.soundcitymelbourne.com
KIndRED STuDIOS 13 REHearsal ROOMS $65 FLAT RATE*
IN YARRAVILLE
FULLY EQUIPPED
*$65 ex. deluxe rooms
LICENsed Live Venue BACKLINE for Hire STORAGE AVAILABLE Booked bands drink at HAPPY HR PRICES
kindredstudios.com.au
M A D E
B Y
M U S I C I A N S
M A D E F O R
B Y
M U S I C I A N S
GIVEAW AY! ZOOM
M U S I C I A N S
F O R
ISSU E
MIXDOWNMA
TAILS!
FREE!
NEW WEB SITE! MIXDOWNMAG.COM .AU
.COM.AU
24 7
ER 2014
G.COM.AU
M U S IC
salE
NE OBLIV ISCARIS
IN
COLDRSTO RES AIN
NOW
on now!
VISIT YAMAH
GMuSICYAMAH
A.COM.Au
for particIpa ting stor es &
ABACK STAGE
HS
SPEC
IA
ARIAL PINK L
DREAM THEATE R
MESHU GGAH
.COM. AU
FOR MORE
INFO AND
THE ANTLERS
PLUS: KILLE R BE KILLE TED: Eleven D, TH Rack, Zoom Iq7 Ms E GRA Electric Guita TES, r, Keely Neutr Microphone, Tc Electronic DAMIE ino Envelope Bh800 Bass STEVEN N GER Filter Effects Head, Samson WILSON ARD & Pedal, Gibso Auro X12d n Bill Kellih TONS er Halycon Lp Active Speakers, Steinberg MORE Electric Guita Ur12 Usb Audio r,
ROAD TES
GODSMACK
COLLARBONES Apogee Ensem
voxam
Interface
ps.com
Studio
visit LIVIN
-T
NT
IO
UR22
USB Au dio
Y M-AUDIO AWA M
STUD
INTERVIE FUCK BU WED: TTONS DEVIN TO WNSENDANBERLIN PR PG. 38 SNAKAD OJECT AKTAL THE BASIC S
FALL OU T BOY
VE
S INTERFAC E
AWAY! M-AUDIO OX GIVE YGE
GI
PLU
C ALTER AVID DUET EGO V2 EFFECTS PEDA DV MARK JAZZRECORDING INTER L FACE 12 GUITA FISHMAN FLUENR AMPLIFIER NOCS NS90 CE PICKUPS STRAUSS SUPECUSACK TAP-A-DELA 0 HEADPHONES Y EFFEC SHURE QLXDRBLUES SSB-30 GUITA TS PEDAL R AMPLIFIER /BETA 58 WIRE MATON 808 LESS MIC SYSTEM PREMIER GENIS ACOUSTIC GUITA PRESONUS TA BIRCH DRUM KITR E5 STUDIO MONITORS VOX AMPLUGS
THIS MO
TC ELECTRONI
CK RA
A dalita
THE GASLIGHIN FLAMES T ANT PERFECT PUSHEM SY HUS THE SMITH STREET KY EDUCATION SPECIAL FEATBAND URE
IDI CONTROLLER K4 M 5M N2
For more information on Mixdown Magazine contact: Aleksei on (03) 9428 3600 or email mixdown@beat.com.au
PG.6 FOR DE
FREE
MADE BY MUSICIANS, FOR MUSICIANS MARCH ISSUE #251 DEADLINE AND STREET DATES: STREET AND ONLINE DATE: WEDNESDAY MARCH 4 AD BOOKING DEADLINE: MONDAY FEBRUARY 23 EDITORIAL DEADLINE: TUESDAY FEBRUARY 24 ARTWORK DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25
RDER SEE
JANUARY 2015 / ISSUE 249
SE P 20233
FREE13
ISS UE
H5 HAND Y RECO
M U S I C I A N S
MIXDOWNMAG
NOVEMB
03 9687 0233
Monitor
Speak
FuLL CATA
LOGUE
CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU
NEARE ST
STOCK IST
DUNERATS
Interface, Tokai Surftone St-St lt Audio Inter yle face.
ers AP2-MT
TO FIND YOUR
ble Thunderbo
AP2-AC AP2-CR AP2-BS
FULLY ANALOG UE CIRC GUITAR UIT MODELS NOW BASS HAVE MODEL IN BUIL T EFFE HAS IN CTS BUILT FOLDING RHYTHM PLUG PATTERN MECHAN AUX INPU S ISM TO T - JAM FIT ANY WITH GUIT
AR YOUR *The prices FAVO set out in for Vox dealers URITE this to comply advertisement are SONGS with this recomme recomme nded retail ndation. Errors and prices (RRP) only omission and there s excepted is no obligation .
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 49
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH
MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP
With Christie Eliezer * Stuff for this column to be emailed to <celiezer@netspace.net.au> by Friday 5pm
NEW SIGNINGS #1: KAGU LANDS EUROPEAN DEAL
Former Snakadaktal member Sean Heathcliff’s solo project Kagu has signed a European deal with Berlinbased Humming Records. Humming also released Snakadaktal as well as Cloud Control and DZ Deathrays. Kagu’s debut EP is released in Australia on March 6 through Liberation Music. His new single Human has picked up triple j support. Snakadaktal’s album Sleep In The Water had a Top Ten debut on the ARIA chart.
NEW SIGNINGS #2: ALI BARTER AT NATIVE TONGUE
Native Tongue announced Melbourne singer/ songwriter Ali Barter to a worldwide publishing deal. Barter has enjoyed triple j and community radio support since the release late last year of the Community EP. On her social media pages, she declared: “Let’s write some #1s.”
LIL’ WAYNE TO LEAVE CASH MONEY WITH DRAKE, NICKI MINAJ?
The feud between Lil’ Wayne and Cash Money owner and producer Birdman has worsened. Lil’ Wayne refuses to hand over Tha Carter V album until he gets a US$8 million advance he says he was promised. Unless he is paid, he’ll sue for US$51 million, and take his Young Money roster with him which includes Drake, Nicki Minaj and Christina Milian.
SONY DROPS MUSIC UNLIMITED FOR PLAYSTATION MUSIC
Sony Network Entertainment International has dropped its Music Unlimited service, and will introduce Playstation Music for Playstation consoles and Xperia devices next month. Australia is one of 41 countries where this takes place. Playstation Music will have Spotify as its primary partner. The Playstation Network has a global user base of 64 million. Existing subscribers to Music Unlimited will be given one free month from Saturday February 28 until Sunday March 29, and will be offered the Spotify Premium trial once it is launched.
VEVO GOES TO RADIO IN AUSTRALIA
In a world first, music video platform Vevo has gone to radio on Today’s Hit Network. Broadcast on Sundays 2-5pm, Planet Vevo will include Vevo brands as LIFT (new artists) and Certified (acts whose videos hit one million views). Another new Hit program is The Drop aimed at EDM fans on Fridays 10pm-1am and Saturday 6pm to midnight. A third show will be announced shortly.
NINE AUSSIE ACTS FOR THE GREAT ESCAPE
Nine Aussie acts were in the first 150 names unveiled for the UK’s The Great Escape (Thursday May 14 to 16).They are Remi, Bad//Dreems, Saskwatch, Twerps, Apes, Fraser A. Gorman, Flyying Colours, Little May and Pierce Bros.
STRONG SALES FOR SXSW
The Australian and NZ dollars are at their lowest against the US buck in over five years, but it hasn’t affected registrations to SXSW in Texas in March. They’ve kept pace with last year, says Oz, NZ and Hawaii rep, Phil Tripp. 500 have registered and paid from the three regions (465 from Oz). 22 of these are speakers. Last year, there were 750 delegates and 45 acts (with 50,000 attending from 150 countries). Tripp is confident this year will beat the 2014 tally. A far cry from when he started as SXSW’s local rep in 2003 when only 20 delegates and five bands went. Five from the region are having exhibition stands: Sounds Australia, MBIE NZ (Ministry of Business, Industry and Employment), Tactify Group, NZ Music Commission and 99 Designs.
THUNDAMENTALS TO LAUNCH OWN LABEL VIA UNIVERSAL
NSW hip hop crossover act Thundamentals will launch their own (as still untitled) label via a worldwide deal with Island Records Australia/Universal Music Australia. DJ Morgs, Tuka and Jeswon come off a strong 12 months after their multi-nominated So We Can Remember album, culminating in three spots on the triple j Hottest 100 and the upcoming Elephant In The Room tour. Island Records MG Michael Taylor said, “Thundamentals are one of the most exciting artists making music today. They push the envelope - sonically, lyrically and conceptually.” They’re in the studio writing their next album.
BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 50
THINGS WE HEAR
• Which music identity has such a busy schedule he doesn’t remember being interviewed for a TV profile of a major music act? • Which venue looks like closing after injections of funds from a rival operator fell through at the last minute? • Is Prince performing at this weekend’s Grammys alongside Pharrell Williams, AC/DC, Sia and Madonna? • Are police investigating to what extent YG and Ty Dolla $ign themselves were involved in an incident at the Eve club in Melbourne where a dude was thrown out of the VIP enclosure after their show? • Mötley Crüe and Alice Cooper look like they’re here in May. • In the wake of winning the triple j Hottest 100, Chet Faker’s Talk Is Cheap jumped from #52 to #6 on the ARIA chart (his first Top Ten, and beating its previous peak of #31 last December) has gone platinum (70,000 sales). Angus & Julia Stone’s self titled album went gold (35,000 units). • Aussie grindcorists Blood Duster have parted with guitarist Scott Pritchard and Dave Haley due to, yes, our old friend, Mr. Musical Differences. • Taylor Swift trademarked the phrase “This Sick Beat” from her hit Shake It Off so it can’t be used by others on merchandising or advertising. • The makers of UK’s Tennent’s lager offered Noel Gallagher a lifetime supply of free beer after he was pictured with the drink during a night out with Kate Moss and other friends. They offered to set up a bar inside his home and set up a hotline so deliveries can be made when he runs out. • Melbourne Zoo Twilights Series is selling out some of its shows. The Cat Empire’s closing event has sold out, following Paul Kelly’s The Merri Soul Sessions hitting capacity. Dan Sultan’s show is also selling so quickly it’s also expected to hang out the No More Tickets sign.
UNIFY “A MASSIVE SUCCESS”
Organisers hailed the inaugural heavy music camping festival UNIFY as “a massive success.” It sold out in three hours and received many positive reviews. The all-Australian all metal/hardcore 17 band lineup included The Amity Affliction, Northlane, In Hearts Wake, Deez Nuts and Thy Art Is Murder. It was held in Tarwin Lower, two hours south-east of Melbourne. Punters were also offered mini-golf, a cinema, massive board games around the site, food carts, band-themes novelty cocktails and a BYO policy. The overall themed and mantra for the weekend was “PMA” (Positive Mental Attitude), a song name/phrase made by popular by Bad Brains in the early ‘80s. Plans are already underway for UNIFY to return next year.
USA’S HARMAN BUYS MELBOURNE’S SM PRO AUDIO
California-based Harman Professional acquired Melbourne’s SM Pro Audio for an undisclosed price. It will incorporate the Australian company into its Professional Division as an innovation hub for a wide range of pro audio and musical instrument (MI) technologies across its professional product brands in early 2015. Two Soundcraft mixing products were previewed at NAMM 2015.
PBS OFFERS ‘EXPOSE YOUR SOUND’
PBS FM has an ‘Expose Your Sound’ initiative for its performer subscribers this month as part of a membership drive. Performers go in the running for a Launch Party Pack, which includes 50 t-shirts printed for your band (from SoundMerch), 50 tea towels with your band design (While You Sleep), CD duplication (Implant Media), production of a music video (Fully Sick Film Clips) and ten cases of Coopers for the wrap party.
‘SECRETS OF SUCCESS’ SEMINAR
Secrets of Success is a seminar for independent artists and small-medium arts organisations presented by John Paul Fischbach, founder and CEO of Australia’s Auspicious Arts Incubator. It’s on Sunday February 8 at Auspicious Arts Theatrette at, 228 Bank St, South Melbourne. Since 2007, the Incubator has helped hundreds of artist with business advice and development training.
• Melbourne-based world music label Wantok Musik teams with Multicultural Arts Victoria and SILP Productions will present the 90-minute Thai documentary October 14. It’s about the popular uprising on October 14, 1973, which ended the rule of Thailand’s military dictatorship and flexed the student movement’s muscle. The free event is held on Friday February 27 at the South Melbourne Town Hall Theatrette from 5.30pm to 8.30pm. The young Thai director Chartchai Ketnust (Nat) will do a Q&A to discuss the movie. • Music Victoria’s board is meeting in a week to draft a new strategic plan that will act as a roadmap for the next few years. • A thousand people thronged to Sydney’s Martin Place for a candlelight vigil to call for the sparing of the lives of Bali Nine’s Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan and watched sets by Megan Washington, Josh Pyke and Paul Mac. • The late Johnny Ramone’s Red 1965 Mosrite Ventures V1 guitar was sold for US$71,875 (AUD$ 92,320) at an auction in Boston. • More Sydney acts play Asia. Death metal five piece Daemon Pyre, head to Indonesia in June. They just released their debut album, produced by Shane Edwards with Psycroptic’s Jason Peppiatt on one track. Christine Anu is just back from a week in Vietnam, playing shows, conducting workshops with music students and visiting a charity supporting victims of domestic violence.
TRIPLE J, MUSHROOM’S IAN JAMES, FOR INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
triple j and Mushroom Publishing’s Managing Director Ian James are nominated for International Music Industry Awards on Wednesday April 29 in Hollywood. They recognise the “vision, inspiration and ingenuity” of execs. triple j is up for Best Radio Station in the World against UK’s BBC Radio 1, Holland’s 3FM and America’s SiriusXM. James vies against Jody Gerson, Chairman/ CEO, Universal Music Publishing Group; Ron Perry, President and Head of A&R, SONGS Music; and Willard Ahdritz, founder/CEO, Kobalt Music Group.
LEPERS & CROOKS LIGHT UP PETROL
INXS’s creative consultant CM Murphy who scooped up Sydney band Lepers and Crooks to his Murphy Rights Academy, has also signed them to his Petrol Records. It’s the label’s first major signing since INXS five years ago. The band is on a 50-date 25,000km national tour behind their Her Kiss EP.
APRA ANNOUNCES NZ SONGWRITER POSTCODES
A month after releasing which suburbs had the most Australian songwriters, APRA unveiled similar data for New Zealand. Auckland’s Grey Lynn/ Kingsland were the number one spot in the country for songwriters. They have the most writers for seven genres: electronic, dance/techno, pop/rock, alternative, urban, metal and music for screen. 15 of the top 20 songwriting postcodes are in Auckland. Mangere/ Mangere Bridge tops gospel. Second most popular postcodes were Wellington’s Newtown/Brooklyn, which also top the most jazz, classical, country and blues writers. Te Aro and Mount Victoria lead in the number of folk, new age and children’s music.
24 MOONS SEEKING TALENT
Live music and comedy venue 24 Moons, which has resurfaced in Northcote’s Arthurton Rd after leaving AC/DC Lane, is looking for artists, DJs and club promoters. The 300-capacity room has a 3am opening on Fridays and 5am on Saturdays and Sundays. Email info@24moons.com.au.
WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES... BEAT.COM.AU/TV
LIFELINES Expecting: Justin Timberlake and wife Jessica Biel, their first. Born: a son to Shakira and footballer Gerard Pique, their second child. Stepping Out: radio’s Andy Lee and PR graduate Rebecca Harding. He was with Megan Gale for four years. Injured: House DJ Lil Louis may have been ‘permanently deafened’ after an idiot blew an air horn in the DJ booth inches from his left ear during sound check at a nightclub in Manchester. He went to hospital, is light headed, can’t walk straight, and posted his career may be over. Charged: rap mogul Suge Knight was behind the wheel of a fatal hit and run incident on the set of in Compton for NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton. In Court: a 44-year old Windsor man faces court this month over charges he set fire to the former music venue Jolly Frog last January. The venue, hosted major acts, has been dilapidated and empty for years. There’s a move to urge local council to give it heritage listing to stop it from being pulled down. In Court: Ballarat Magistrates Court heard that visiting Israeli restaurant owner, Shimon Kaduri, 34, who allegedly crept into a tent and indecently assaulted a sleeping woman at the Rainbow Serpent Festival, was found with 279 LSD tabs, and Special K. He faces court again on Thursday February 26. In Court: US funk legend Sly Stone was awarded $5 million after a suit which claimed his business partners and his own company cheated him of royalties. Arrested: singer/songwriter Luke O’Shea, after locking himself for three hours to a water pump to disrupt work at multinational Whitehaven Coal’s controversial Maules Creek mine, which he said used precious water to wash the coal. He was joined by his 71-year old father Rick, a local farmer. Arrested: Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler after a bar brawl in Death Valley, Cali, during which someone was punched and a window broken. Fined: a 49-year old Canberra woman $500 after being apprehended with a cannabis-laced cake (a birthday gift from a friend she said) while she was on her way to last year’s Dragon Dreaming Festival at Wee Jasper near Yass. Sued: Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer on claims the Solomon Northup theme from Oscar-winning 12 Years a Slave is from a 2004 composition To Our Fallen by Donald Sterling, which was part of a work called American Heart, made in the same studio where the soundtrack was recorded. Died: Melbourne singer Margot Cesario nee Moir, 55, due to complications from long-term diabetes. Emerging in the ‘70s with the Moir Sisters (Good Morning How Are You) who were signed to EMI in Australia and Elton John’s Rocket in the UK, she released a solo album Strong & Mighty, did backup vocals on John Farnham’s Whispering Jack tour and recorded and performed with the bands Raymalane and Celtic Spirit for ten years. Died: US songwriter and best selling poet Rod McKuen (Jean, If You Go Away, Seasons in the Sun, Love’s Been Good to Me), 81, from pneumonia. He visited Australia a number of times. Arrested: a 22-year old man from Florida for manslaughter for accidentally shooting and killing a 17-year old friend. He was acting out the lyrics to rapper Waka Flocka Flame song, Bustin at Em which has gunshots throughout and has lyrics as “Shoot first, ask questions last” with what he thought was an unloaded gun.