Beat Magazine #1463 by Furst Media

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LIVE MUSIC: Thursday March 5

Saturday March 7 5PM

Kerri SimpSon &’ band” (SMh) – “a uStralia S own blueS diva gutSy, Soulful, JoPlin-eSque blueS.

Saturday March 7 9PM

bacKwood creatureS u , , -

Pbeat guitar driven SwaMP blueS trio led by Jeb cardwell.

Sunday March 8 3.30PM

LariSSa tandy a ’

naMed aS one of uStralia S toP 10 eMerging SongwriterS in 2014 (telStra road to diScovery), She deliverS a Mix of Southern rock, 90S alternative, vintage goSPel and country Soul.

Sunday March 8 5PM

the handSome baStardS h , ’,

ot diggity thoSe twangin Singin’ inbredS are back: Suzannah eSPie, Sarah carroll, ruSty berther and greg field.

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ERECT presents Music #Melbourne (Originals) 7.30PM

Friday March 6

Archers Velvet (Indie Folk) 9PM

Sunday March 8

My M.U.F Exhibiton Pimp Music by Julz Evans & Then Some,

The Invisible Dears, Eaglemont, Josh Traum 6PM Thursday March 12

Acoustic Sessions

w/ Nardia B. feat Paul Vergara & Thomas Byrne (jazz, soul & blues originals) 8PM Friday March 13

Eastwood Gary (Rock covers) 9PM

Saturday March 14

KRIS SCHROEDER (THE BASICS) (rock covers & originals) 9PM

Sunday March 15

& Ebony Roach Adam (blues & rock covers/originals) 5PM

Free Wrangler x Temple ToWn BarBer CuTs w i t h e v e ry p u r c h a s e

w w w. g l u e s t o r e . c o m . a u TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY

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MELBOURNE

PUBLIC

HOLIDAY MONDAY

ADRIAN BOHM PRESENTS

“Stand up of the first order” THE TIMES “A masterclass in stand up” TELEGRAPH.CO.UK

MONDAY 27 JULY STATE THEATRE BOOK AT ARTS CENTRE BOX OFFICE 1300 182 183 ARTSCENTREMELBOURNE.COM.AU OR TICKETMASTER 136 100 TICKETMASTER.COM.AU DYLANMORAN.COM ABPRESENTS.COM.AU

ON SALE TUESDAY 10 MARCH

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M OW E A Ê @ LÊ & ÊW ÊC W ON W CE .O R NE T SP AC

ONESPACE

PRESENTS

ONESPACE

ÊN

PRESENTS

ANÊ INTIMATEÊ EVENINGÊ WITH

M A R K A N D E YA VISIONARY POP ROOTS REGGAE FROM SWEDEN

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Dinner, concert & community TACOʼS & DRINK @ LET ME BE FRANK CAFE

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ONE SPIRIT TRIBE WITH DUSTIN THOMAS PA D D I N G T O N U N I T I N G C H U R C H

B Y R O N S P I R I T F E S T I VA L MULLUMBIMBY

CHURCH OF TRINITY, CLARENCE PARK

MARCH 14

MARCH 26

MARCH 21-22

M E L BO U RN E MARCH 20

WITH NIKKI BOMBA S T P E T E R ’ S & PA U L H A L L SOUTH MELBOURNE

G O L D Ê C OA S T Ê MARCH 23

G O S FO RD MARCH 29

T H E R H Y T H M H U T, G O S F O R D

T H E C H U R C H , S O U T H P O RT

BA L I

APRIL 1–5 B A L I S P I R I T F E S T I VA L , U B U D

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life is noise by arrangement with Artist Voice presents

Saturday 30 May Corner Hotel, Melbourne Tickets $44+BF from lifeisnoise.com, oztix and the venue

thursday 5th march soft launch party

50% off everything food + cocktails + craft beers saturday 14th march

HARDRIVE COSMOĂ&#x2022; S MIDNIGHT

W / ONE PUF, ALL GOOD AND EIGHTY NINE

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in this issue

hot talk

tourinG

kinGswood

whats on, dePth oF Field

art oF the city, the comic striP, calendar

meetinG

out oF the closet

alabama shakes, sÓley

balkan beat box

rodriGo y Gabriela, the PoP GrouP

Parquet courts, First aid kit

Post oFFice hotel, Port Fairy Folk Festival

Purity rinG, naylorPalooZa

al abama shakes page 34

rodriGo y Gabriel a page 36

the beards, luca brasi

core/crunch, hinGe

music news

live

album oF the week, sinGles, charts

Parquet courts page 37 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

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HOT TALK

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

FREE SHIT BLACK SABBATH TRIBUTE

It’s been 45 years since the release of Black Sabbath’s self-titled debut album and it’s still blaring out of speakers everywhere. If you didn’t get your metal fix from Soundwave or you wanna live the original tribute show all over again because it was that fucking good, then you needa be at the Black Sabbath Tribute encore show. You can party on into the night and into what is sure to be a very black Sabbath with your favourite hard-hitting Melbourne musicians. Wizards play tribute to Black Sabbath on Saturday March 14 at The Corner Hotel with Child and Fuck the Fitzroy Doom Scene in a special encore performance. We’ve got some double passes to giveaway. Snap ‘em up quick at beat.com.au/freeshit.

BONJAH

Those Bonjah lads just can’t keep still. They’ve announced a brand new single Burn, produced by Jan Skubiszewski (Dan Sultan, John Butler Trio) as well as a run of Australian tour dates before the band head overseas to play at Canadian Music Week in May. In the nine years they’ve been together, Bonjah have sold tens of thousands of records independently, sold out shows around the world, had over 750,000 views of their triple j Like a Version, played many major festivals, released three acclaimed records that topped the indie charts, toured with The Who and enjoyed multiple award nominations. Don’t miss out when they play Howler in Melbourne Friday April 24. Tickets through the venue.

MARCS LANEWAY FESTIVAL

A new laneway festival – Melbourne Art Restaurant Cocktail Sound (MARCS) – is set to take over AC/ DC Lane and Duckboard Place. The festival will be held in March as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, and will feature hawker-style street food, street artists and live music. Food will be served by Papa Goose, Pastuso, Terra Rossa and The Swiss Club, while Eau De Vie will be serving up Monkey Shoulder whiskey cocktails. Cherry Bar will provide the entertainment for the day, with live performances by Zevon and the Werewolves, Kimba and the Wild Ones, Lucky Moore and DJ Dave Juric. MARCS will take place on Sunday March 8 from 12pm to 7pm. Visit the MARCS website for more information.

BORIS

Japanese experimental rockers Boris will return to Australia this year for their Live Noise Alive tour. With 19 albums in 19 years, Boris is one of the most prolific bands to emerge from Japan. The trio were last in Australia in 2012 and will return with three new albums under their belt, including last year’s Noise. Catch Boris at The Corner Hotel on Saturday May 30. Visit The Corner website for tickets.

BAR

1st Year

CELEBRATIONS THURSDAY 5 MARCH

GWYN ASHTON

(AMC Music HALL OF FAME Inductee)

+ special guests FRIDAY 6 MARCH

CHARLIE LANE

STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks will perform some super exclusive shows this week. Fresh from performing at the Melbourne Zoo and ahead of their performance at Golden Plains, the band will give Melbourne fans a second chance to witness their latest album Wig Out at Jagbags in the flesh. They’ll hit up the Gasometer on Thursday March 4 with Dan Kelly and his Dream Band, and again on Friday March 5 at The Toff In Town with The Ocean Party.

w/ Girl Friday + Chris Commerford Band SATURDAY 7 MARCH

STRANGERS IN TOWN + Calamity Lane + SheWolf + Agents Of Rock + Kill TV SUNDAY 8 MARCH

WINTER SUN

Bronwyn Adams & Lisa Wood MONDAY 9 MARCH

MONDAY PUNK DAY

Flangipanis (BRIS), Skinpin (SYD), Strawberry Fist Cake, Sarge & The Nuked, NMA, & Beyond Contempt. AFTER WORK HAPPY HOUR FROM 4PM:

$5 DRINKS, WED, THURS, FRI 160 HODDLE ST ABBOTSFORD BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 18

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MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S THE DAMNATION OF FAUST

In one of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s most epic stage productions of the year, Sir Andrew Davis returns to lead a huge cast of international stars, choirs and musicians in Berlioz’s legendary dramatic work, The Damnation of Faust this March. Based on Goethe’s play Faust, about a man who sells his soul to the devil, this rare performance of Berlioz’s masterpiece will feature international superstar Bryn Terfel as the demon Méphistophélès. Berlioz’s The Damnation of Faust will come to Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne on Friday March 20 and Saturday March 21. Bookings are available through Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

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Q&A

Songwriters’ Secrets

Katie Noonan YOU ME AT SIX

British rockers You Me At Six will continue their love affair with Australia, announcing a four-date tour this April and May. After dropping their latest album Cavalier Youth in early 2014 and selling out shows at London’s Wembley Arena, the Surrey five-piece will make a return Down Under in the coming months. You Me At Six last toured here in September with Tonight Alive. Catch ‘em on Thursday April 30 at The Hi-Fi.

DANCE GAVIN DANCE

Post-hardcore outfit Dance Gavin Dance will return to Australian shores this May. Fresh from releasing their sixth album Instant Gratification, the experimental rockers are set to stop in at The Corner Hotel on Sunday May 17. Tickets are available through the Corner website.

1. The First Song I Wrote The first proper song I wrote was a song called Homebrew - it was a song reflecting on an uneasy feeling I was having around the time Pauline Hanson was elected into Federal Parliament. It was interesting to observe how fear could make people say truly awful and ignorant things. 2. The Last Song I Released I’ve been busy working away on my new album and am very excited about the direction it’s going in. My new EP, Peace Is A Drug, is a song I wrote with Michael Leunig - one of my very favourite Australian poets and artists. 3. Songwriting Secrets Every song is different. For me, it’s about setting

definite time aside for songwriting as too often the to-do lists of life get in the way and seem more pressing. Other times it’s about being around my favourite co-writers. 4. The Song That Makes Me Proud The song Special Ones is a significant song for me as I’ve had a lot of women come up to me and tell it has empowered them to get away from an abusive relationship. That’s so totally amazing to be a small part of that woman’s journey into her power and I feel deeply honoured. 5. The Song That Changed My Life The first album I ever bought was Crowded House’s debut self-titled record and it absolutely changed my life. I was eight years old and I had never heard anything like it. KATIE NOONAN is playing The Toff In Town on Thursday March 12.

THE ESPLANADE HOTEL 11 THE ESPLANADE ST KILDA PHONE: (03) 9534 0211

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05 MAR FRI

06 MAR SAT

07 MAR SUN

08 MAR

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FRIDAY 20 MARCH

FRIDAY 10 APRIL

+ MOSÉ & MARCUS + THE PSYDE PROJECTS

+ SHOWTIME QUINTET + COCOA NOIRE (CONDENSED MILK) + DJ MS BUTT

THE CUBAN BROTHERS LADI 6 & PARKS (NZ)

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MONDAYS

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UNSIGNED MUSO NITE 7.30PM

‘BRIGHTSIDE’ ‘COLLAGE’

RATTLIN’ BONES BLACKWOOD

SATURDAY 11 FEB

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+ MOTLEY & CROWNED CARTEL + MISTRESS OF CEREMONY + SINKS + DJ DISCOURSE

SATURDAY 14 MARCH

SATURDAYS

ST KILDA FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB SEASON LAUNCH

+ SPECIAL GUESTS FROM 6PM

+ BILLY MILLER + THE LARGE NUMBER 12’S + BURN IN HELL + MC & COMEDIAN MATT HARDY

PHIL PARA

tex perkins & the ape

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 19

HOT TALK

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

CHERRYROCK015

CherryRock015 have gone ahead and locked in their monumental full lineup, with Californian stoner rock lords The Shrine smashing the stage alongside the likes of Clowns, Warped and The Ugly Kings. It’s all killer, no filler and fucking huge. It all goes down on Sunday May 10. Visit www.cherrybar.com.au for tickets and more info.

BLACK SABBATH TRIBUTE SHOW

After slaying the stage at The Yarraville Hotel on Friday February 13, local supergroup Wizards have announced a special encore performance on Saturday March 14 at The Corner Hotel, where they’ll perform the entire Black Sabbath debut album live. If you missed out on this show the first time around, your loss. These guys seriously fucking nailed it. Don’t take our word for it though - get your arse to The Corner Hotel on Saturday March 14 and celebrate the 45th anniversary of this seminal album with local rock’n’roll lords. Tickets are available through the venue’s website.

DALLAS FRASCA

Australian riff rock trio Dallas Frasca are celebrating the upcoming release of their highly anticipated third studio album Love Army, due April 17, by announcing a nationwide tour in support. Recently signing with Aussie indie label Social Family Records, the announcement comes as a culmination of almost a decade of the band recording and performing live shows. The Love Army tour sees them hitting all major cities across the nation this March. Catch Dallas Frasca perform at Howler on Sunday March 31. Tickets are available through moshtix.

Q&A

LENNON: THROUGH A GLASS ONION

Unit 10, 59-61 Hudsons Road, Spotswood

Call 03 9391 3444 SATURDAY 7th march

Saturday 28Th MARCH

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FRIday 13Th MARCH From 8Pm $10 ENTRY

WISHFULL with

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FRIday 20Th MARCH From 8Pm $10 ENTRY

CRIMSONETTES Saturday 21ST MARCH From 8Pm $10 ENTRY

From 8Pm $10 ENTRY

Saturday 11th April

FROM 8PM $22 ENTRY + BOOKING FEE

JACKSON THOMAS (THE VOICE) with

ANGUS LEGG / JOEY CIRILLO

Saturday 18Th APRIL

From 8Pm $22 ENTRY + BOOKING FEE

JOHNNY ROLLINS (THE VOICE) with MELWONDERLAND

FRIDAY 24Th APRIL

From 8Pm $27 ENTRY + BOOKING FEE

MICHAEL SPIBY +

THE ENGAGEMENT with TONY FEATHERSTON OK SURE (BADLOVES) featuring

FRIday 27ST MARCH From 8Pm $10 ENTRY

JOSH GOODREM with THE BEAN PROJECT / BRETT FRANKIE

MARK SPANO

Saturday 9TH MAY

From 8Pm $27 ENTRY + BOOKING FEE

ELLA HOOPER with

LAYLA / FRIDA

All tickets available through www.soundcitymelbournelive.com or www.oztix.com.au

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 20

Q&A with...

Z-Star

Hello! Who are we speaking with and what do you do in the band? I’m Zee, the frontwoman, songwriter/producer, I put the band together, crack the whip and kick some arse. Your live sets have amazing energy. Is that easy to achieve gig after gig? That’s the challenge of being a true live musician. No matter what drama’s been going before the gig, you walk onstage and you get the chance to ride the superhighway, direct channelling from the source through oneself towards the audience. It’s the purest high, and most rewarding and fulfilling to shake the room. Was funding your latest EP 16 Tons through crowdsourcing a rewarding way to connect with your fanbase? My label, Muthastar Records, funded the latest EP 16 Tons, then we ran a fan-funded campaign for the new album 16 Tons of Love. It was incredible, we smashed our target and the process led me down a whole other creative path (designing bags, screen-printing tees, personalised ringtones, painting, creating Z-Mala beads.) Tell us what we should expect from your upcoming Melbourne shows. Some deep delta acoustic blues psyche soul rock at The Wesley Anne, a more intimate stripped back experience. And then full shebang high octane rock’n’roll show at the Thornbury Theatre. Orgasmic energy all the way. Check out Z-STAR at The Wesley Anne this Friday March 6, Chillout Festival on Sunday March 8, Baha Tacos in Rye on Thursday March 19, Suttons House of Music on Friday March 20, Thornbury Theatre on Saturday March 21 and Barwon Club on Thursday March 26.

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

Following a sold out season of 122 performances in New York, Lennon: Through a Glass Onion will return to Australia. Created and performed by renowned Australian actor/musician John Waters and esteemed singer/pianist Stewart D’Arrietta, the part concert and part biography show reveals the essence of the life and astonishing talent of one of the most admired icons of the past century with a story and 31 songs. It will be performed at Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse from Wednesday May 13 - Saturday May 16.

BY THE MEADOW FESTIVAL

Now in its second year, this killer boutique music festival in Victoria’s Otway Hinterlands celebrates local musicians in a breathtaking landscape. Their lineup is nothing to scoff at, either. Dorsal Fins, Foreign/National, Ali Barter, Jim Lawrie, Sunbeam Sound Machine, Mose + The Family and will round out the home-grown lineup. This two day, one night camping festival has only 500 tickets on sale, so ya better get in quick. By The Meadow will be held over Saturday April 11 and Sunday April 12. Visit www. bythemeadow.com for more info.

ANDY BULL

Australia’s rising pop maestro Andy Bull has announced a series of shows for his nationwide tour across this April and May. The Talk Too Much tour follows 2014’s Sea Of Approval LP, which saw him break into triple j’s Hottest 100. Nominated for three ARIA awards, and acclaimed as one of the surprise hits of Laneway Festival, Andy Bull is one of the country’s most promising songwriters. Andy will bring along supports Cub Sport for all performances. He performs Friday April 17 at 170 Russell. Tickets available through the venue.

HOT TALK

Q&A

THE BIGGEST IN INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL NEWS

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The Quick and the Dead

EVERCLEAR

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of their Sparkle and Fade LP, Everclear are coming back to Australia to play the album in its entirety, along with a bunch of your favourite singles. Led by founder and main songwriter Art Alexakis, Everclear blazed a trail through the ‘90s with their infectious hooks and articulate lyrical content, scoring multiple smash hits and galvanising a generation of long-time fans. The release of Everclear’s second album Sparkle and Fade in 1995 heralded the arrival of the band as a hit making machine, with the songs Heroin Girl and Santa Monica in particular shooting off into the stratosphere of the planet’s music charts. Now, Everclear are heading back to Australia this May, promising a new album later on in 2015. Catch them at The Corner Hotel on Friday May 8. Tickets available through the venue’s website.

MONTGOMERY

Montgomery has announced that she will be taking her ethereal, soulful sound on the road, playing her first ever live shows down the east coast of Australia this May. Montgomery’s New Clear War EP was released in October 2014, and received acclaim from tastemakers around the world including HillyDilly, DIY Mag, Pop Justice, Neon Gold, Mostly Junkfood, Alfitude, Fringe Music Fix and Pilerats. Don’t miss your chance to catch Montgomery live for the very first time at Shebeen on Friday May 8.

BOOGIE 2015

Boogie’s ninth lineup has expanded even further after the addition of this year’s DJ recruits. Heading to Tallarook all the way from the UK will be Miles Cleret in his only Australian appearance. Joining Cleret will be local acts CC Disco!, DJ Manchild, Andee Frost, The Madhatter, Ginger Light and Pierre Baroni, BT’s Country Moanings and Larry Kronick Jr. Head on down to Bruzzy’s Farm, Tallarook from Friday April 3 to Sunday April 5 for Boogie 2015. Tickets are available through the Boogie website.

LIA MICE

France-based Australian experimental pop artist Lia Mice is set to embark on a tour of Australia. Fresh from album release tours in France, Japan and U.S.A, these will be Lia’s first Australian shows since her debut at BIGSOUND 2014, and follows her recent success in sophomore LP I Love You. Lia Mice performs in Melbourne Saturday April 18 at The Grace Darling Bandroom, tickets are available through moshtix.

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Hi there! Who are we speaking with and what do you do in your band? Rhys D, drummer and vocalist for The Quick and the Dead. Describe your sound in five words. Three piece blues rock’n’roll. How would you describe your experience in FReeZa’s Push Start Battle of the Bands competition so far? We’ve had a lot of fun listening/playing with a bunch of bands that are at a similar stage to us. It’s been a great opportunity to play for some new faces and make new connections. Tell us about your journey. What or who do you believe helped you the most to get where you are? We’ve spent the last two years playing anywhere an opportunity turned up, which in rural Victoria can be tough. In June we released our debut with Nado from Kane Audio so he’s been a big help, but definitely our friends and family are the most to blame for us still being around. What big goals do you have after the competition finishes? We head off on our first tour a few weeks after Moomba and we’re releasing Folk’n’Flight (live acoustic) EP in April, so that’s taking most of our time at the moment. We’re also talking about recording our second full length later this year. THE QUICK AND THE DEAD are performing at the FReeZa Push Start Battle of the Bands Grand Final at Moomba on Saturday March 7.

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 21

TOURING

WHO'S ON TOUR, WHERE AND WHEN

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

INTERNATIONAL BRUNSWICK MUSIC FESTIVAL Various Venues, Brunswick March 4 – 15 RUTH MOODY Bell Union Trades Hall March 4, Caravan Club March 5 DIE ANTWOORD Trak Lounge March 4 SHOVELS & ROPE AND SHAKEY GRAVES Corner Hotel March 4 SINEAD O’CONNOR Hamer Hall March 4 RUFUS WAINWRIGHT Palais Theatre March 4 TOUMANI & SIDIKI Hamer Hall March 5 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 STEVE SMYTH Port Fairy Folk Festival March 7 – 8, Howler April 11, Karova Lounge April 12 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 JACKSON FREEBIRD The Workers Club March 14 MAE Corner Hotel March 14 FOREST SWORDS Howler March 14 HTRK Shadow Electric March 15 JESSIE J Margaret Court Arena March 17 MARTA PACEK & THE JESSICA STUART FEW March 18 The Espy, March 19 Beav’s Bar, Geelong, March 22 Elwood Food & Wine, March 23 Retreat Hotel, March 26 The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine, March 27 The Vine Hotel, Wangaratta. 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 INNER VARNIKA TBA, Victoria April 3 – 5 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 HUNTER HAYES Prince Bandroom 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 JEFF MARTIN The Espy April 9 DONAVON FRANKENREITER Corner Hotel April 10 NORMA JEAN Evelyn Hotel April 10 JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE Northcote Social Club April 10 THE GIPSY KINGS Palais Theatre April 10 MOBB DEEP The Espy April 11 IRON REAGAN The Tote April 11

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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 YOU ME AT SIX The Hi-Fi April 30 SAM SMITH Margaret Court Arena April 30 PEACE Ding Dong Lounge April 30 A WILHELM SCREAM The Evelyn Hotel May 1 CHARLI XCX Corner Hotel May 1 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 EVERCLEAR Corner Hotel May 8 MARY OCHER Dane Certificate’s Magic Tricks, Gags and Theatre May 8 THE BACKSTREET BOYS Rod Laver Arena May 8 SILVERSTEIN 170 Russell May 8 SUFFOCATION & DECAPITATED Corner Hotel May 9 CHERRY ROCK AC/DC Lane May 10 ALT-J Rod Laver Arena May 10 MOTLEY CRUE & ALICE COOPER Rod Laver Arena May 12 LENNON: THROUGH A GLASS ONION Playhouse May 13 – 16 THE HAUNTED & INSOMNIUM The Hi-Fi May 15 NICKELBACK Rod Laver Arena May 15 DANCE GAVIN DANCE Corner Hotel May 17 HERBIE HANCOCK & CHICK COREA Hamer Hall May 28 BORIS Corner Hotel May 30 BAD MANNERS Corner Hotel June 4 AGAINST ME! Corner Hotel June 6 MACHINE HEAD 170 Russell June 22 YELLOWCARD Margaret Court Arena July 11 JOHNNY MARR The Forum July 22 MAROON 5 Rod Laver Arena September 26 NEIL DIAMOND Rod Laver Arena October 27 AUDRA MCDONALD Hamer Hall October 31 EARTHCORE Pyalong, Victoria November 26 – 30 TAYLOR SWIFT AAMI Park December 11

Red Fang

MAY

MAR

CHERRYROCK015 AC/DC Lane

BALKAN BEAT BOx Prince Bandroom

NATIONAL SOMETHING FOR KATE Howler March 4 STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS Gasometer Hotel March 4 BRARSEY SUNDAYS The Spotted Mallard March 4 – April 26 ECCA VANDAL The Gasometer March 4, 11, 18, 25 ADALITA The Gasometer March 4, 11, 18, 25 RUTH MOODY Bella Union March 4, Caravan Club March 5 DAN SULTAN Melbourne Zoo March 5 LARISSA TANDY Northcote Social Club March 6 JESSE DAVIDSON Shebeen Bandroom March 6 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) MOOMBA BATTLE OF THE BANDS Birrarung Marr Park March 7 HOT WAVE MUSIC FESTIVAL Docklands March 7 HARTS The Espy March 7, Hills Are Alive Festival March 27 MARCS LANEWAY FESTIVAL AC/DC Lane and Duckboard Place March 8 ASHLEY NAYLOR Yarra Hotel March 9 – 15 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 THE GIN CLUB John Curtin March 13 BLACK SABBATH TRIBUTE SHOW Corner Hotel March 14 COME TOGETHER FESTIVAL Edendale Farm, Eltham March 14 WINTERBOURNE Wrangler Studios March 14 (U18), Shebeen Bandroom March 14 LUCA BRASI Northcote Social Club March 14, Wrangler Studios March 15 DEAN RAY Corner Hotel March 15 KYLIE MINOGUE Rod Laver Arena March 18 MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S THE DAMNATION OF FAUST Hamer Hall March 20 – 21 NORTHEAST PARTY HOUSE Hi-Fi Bar March 20, Northcote Social Club April 25 CLIENT LIASON 170 Russell March 20 INCA ROADS Ballarat March 20 - March 22 DAVID BOWIE TRIBUTE SHOW Yarraville Club March 21 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 LOON LAKE Shebeen March 26 THE HILLS ARE ALIVE The Farm March 27 – 29 TIMBERWOLF Shebeen Bandroom March 27 LISA MITCHELL Howler March 27 THE CONTROLLERS The Worker Club March 28 SKYSCRAPER STAN AND THE COMMISSION FLATS The Gasometer March 28 PENINSULA PICNIC Mornington Racecource March 29 DALLAS FRASCA Howler March31

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 22

PROUDLY PRESENTS

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APR

THE OCEAN The Evelyn

THE WAIFS Thornbury Theatre April 1 BOOGIE 9 Bruzzy’s Farm, Tallarook April 3 – 5 ROLLING GREEN FESTIVAL Rochford Wines Yarra Valley April 5 THE GOOD MORROWS Ding Dong Lounge April 10 BENNY WALKER Thornbury Theatre April 10 BY THE MEADOW FESTIVAL Bambra, Victoria April 11 – 12 THEM BRUINS Workers Club April 11 CLINT BOGE The Evelyn Hotel April 11 THEM BRUINS The Workers Club April 11 IRON RAEGAN The Tote April 11 AUGIE MARCH Melbourne Recital Centre April 15 ANDY BULL 170 Russell April 17 CALLING ALL CARS Ding Dong Lounge April 17 DARREN HANLON Corner Hotel April 17 BABAGANOUJ The Grace Darling April 17 LIA MICE The Grace Darling April 18 JORDIE LANE The Toff In Town April 18, 19 MELBOURNE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S ANZAC TRIBUTE CONCERT Hamer Hall April 23, 24 BONJAH Howler April 24 TKAY MAIDZA Northcote Social Club April 24 THUNDAMENTALS Corner Hotel April 24 MONTAIGNE Wesley Anne April 25 ONE DAY Prince Bandroom May 1 MONTGOMERY Shebeen May 8 CHERRYROCK015 featuring Red Fang, Beastwars, Child and more, AC/DC Lane Sunday May 10 COURTNEY BARNETT The Forum May 15 SAN CISCO 170 Russell May 22, Hi-Fi Bar May 23 (U18) THE GETAWAY PLAN Corner Hotel May 22 SUPERSUCKERS & THE BELLRAYS Corner Hotel May 29 SHE WHO ROCKS TOUR Hi-Fi Bar May 29 HOT DUB TIME MACHINE Hi-Fi Bar June 5 TITLE FIGHT Corner Hotel June 26 DARREN COGGAN The Palms July 3 MSO BACK TO THE FUTURE LIVE The Plenary November 6, 7

RUMOURS: THE CRIBS, CHRIS CORNELL, GERI HALLIWELL = NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 23

KINGSWOOD RISING T HROUGH T HE RANKS By Christine Lan

Micro Wars is the rousing anthem that helped propel Kingswood’s debut album, Microscopic Wars, to number six on the ARIA Albums Chart, but the story behind the song is both personal and solemn. “The sister of a very close friend of Alex [Laska – lead guitarist/ chief songwriter] had a brain aneurism and passed away, and [the phrase] Microscopic Wars came to him from that microscopic war that went on inside her body that eventually took her life,” explains lead singer Fergus Linacre. “On a grander scale, that song is about making the most of the time you have and looking after each other. [Laska] also wrote it about my older brother who passed away as well, so it’s a really beautiful song for all of us. Every song is a little war that we’ve had in our lives. The album is a collaboration of different battles in the years leading up to writing these songs.”

The strength of Kingswood’s Change of Heart EP – released in 2012, but re-released in a deluxe edition with Ohio in 2013 – saw the band playing the country’s biggest festivals (Big Day Out, Splendour in the Grass, Pyramid Rock) and supporting Aerosmith (“I didn’t realise how badarse they were. Steven Tyler swore more than any young band I’ve seen”). All this before releasing their first full-length record. Unleashed last August, Kingswood’s debut album Microscopic Wars showcases the band’s versatility and shifts effortlessly from invigorating QOTSAsummoning rock to soulful piano ballads while abounding in bluesy grooves and soaring melodies. It’s no surprise Microscopic Wars was nominated for Best Rock Album at the 2014 ARIA Awards. Despite an early passion for music, Linacre lacked confidence that it could turn into a career. “No one told me that I could,” he says. “I had a nice moment when I saw Midnight Oil at The Forum and I went backstage afterwards. I think I would’ve been 15 or 16 and Rob Hirst said, ‘If you want to do music, then that’s what you got to do. If you have music on the side or hope that something works out, you’re never ever going to make it. You have to say, ‘This is what I’m going to do’.’ That was an inspiring moment. And now we’ll be playing The Forum, so it’s a nice full circle. I might try to invite him along… I haven’t spoken to him since, so he’d probably forget that story.” Although Linacre grew up singing a lot of Aerosmith and hearing “all these big, wailing guys,” he regards Otis Redding and Ella Fitzgerald as his favourite singers of all time and reveres Queens of the Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys and Tame Impala. “I like bands that are really good musicians as well,” states Linacre. “You can be in a thrashy rock band and have a catchy song and it might be fun to dance to, but it’s not my thing. I like people who take a lot of care with being creative, recording and getting really interesting sounds. It’s really intricate behind it all.” Before the formation of Kingswood, Linacre immersed himself in the local punk rock scene (playing in bands with drummer Justin Debrincat) while Laska studied piano, classical and jazz at the Victorian College of the Arts (bassist Jeremy ‘Mango’ Hunter played in a jazz band with Laska). “Alex is one of those really talented musicians and I feel very lucky to be in the band with him and the other guys,” says Linacre. “There’s no straight way of writing songs in Kingswood. Every song is different, but the common one would be Alex bringing in an idea for a song and we’ll bust it out together. I know he’s been working on some new stuff as well, so I’m really excited to hear what he’s come up with when we get back into rehearsal and writing songs.” BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 24

Kingswood always wanted to work with awardwinning producer/sound engineer Vance Powell ( Jack White, The Raconteurs), mostly due to their shared love of Jack White’s Blunderbuss, which Powell engineered and mixed. Fortunately, Powell heard their EP and got in touch with them. “We all grew a lot from being in the studio with him,” says Linacre of recording their debut album with Powell at Blackbird Studio in Nashville. “Whatever musicians and creators we were before we went over there, we left as if we had years and years of experience in just three months. He has this ability to make you feel fearless and be able

“YOU CAN BE IN A THrASHY rOCK BAND AND HAvE A CATCHY SONG AND IT MIGHT BE fUN TO DANCE TO, BUT IT’S NOT MY THING. I lIKE PEOPlE WHO TAKE A lOT Of CArE WITH BEING CrEATIvE, rECOrDING AND GETTING rEAllY INTErESTING SOUNDS” to take an idea to its extreme and to feel comfortable doing that. We made a far more diverse and creative album than we would have without him because we didn’t know what to expect. Because we’ve been around for a while and we’ve done big festivals before we had an album out, we wanted to make something really interesting and creative. “If a song sounded great and normal, Vance would be like, ‘Okay, that’s been done before, let’s turn it into a banjo and a synth.’ He’d say, ‘This song’s cool, but you guys need to channel a little bit more and figure something out, so I’m going to have lunch,’ and then we’d be forced to try and come up with something, so that when he came back he’d be like, ‘Yeah, let’s do that.’ So we’d try to take it into areas we hadn’t been to before, and that’s how our songs ended up on grand piano. It’s a diverse, interesting album to listen to and not just a thrashy rock album.” Linacre recalls some of the most memorable experiences during the creation of Microscopic Wars: “I

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remember singing the high note in Micro Wars and we were having so much fun, and Vance would go, ‘Let’s go higher,’ and I’d be like, ‘I don’t know if I can.’ And eventually, we did that big note and now I have to sing that big note every night, which is a pain in the arse, but it’s all right,” he laughs. “I really loved how we put Eye of the Storm on piano. It was the most emotional thing for me to sing because it’s kind of about a breakup that I’ve just had, and I deliberately allowed myself to get into the emotions of what was happening and think about it a lot before we sung it. So when I was singing it, I was welling up, which is a good way to do it, but it was a pretty full on experience. But you’ve got to remember you’re in the studio, so you could do this really emotional take and be almost in tears, and they’re like, ‘Nah, don’t like that one – do it again,’ and you ruin the moment. We’re going to be playing it live for the rest of the tour now.” Linacre is surprised the band weren’t more terrified going into Blackbird Studio with Powell, but it was Powell who didn’t want the band to feel unsettled or daunted. “You’re singing into the same microphone that Buddy Guy and Jack White sang into,” he contemplates. “People would come to Vance’s birthday and all these people would come in and drop off these bottles of bourbon for him and wish him happy birthday, and these people recorded with Queen and one guy was the last person to talk to John Lennon before he was shot. The thing is, we didn’t feel intimidated at all or feel the pressure; we had the most relaxed, fun experience recording and that’s a credit to Vance to get a young Australian band who’s taken a leap coming over there, and he wanted us to feel at home and he did that.” Touring is what Linacre thrives off the most (“I hate not being on tour,”). What Kingswood plan to do next may very well be their boldest move yet. “After the tour, we’re moving to America,” Linacre enthuses. “We don’t really have a ticket back at this stage – we’ll see what happens. We’re going to start in LA, but that’s to get our feet on the ground; our wishes might change, but we all love New York and we’ve been there a couple of times and played there, so we would love to live there. It’s all very new, but we’re going to be starting again and living off rice and tuna and touring in a van and playing to ten people, and that’d be great – we can’t wait.” KINGSWOOD play at The Forum on Friday March 13, supported by Lurch & Chief and The Belligerents. Their debut album, Microscopic Wars, is out now through Dew Process.

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 11

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.

Since 2008, Ukraine’s bare-breasted feminist movement, ‘Femen’, have caused media and political frenzies around Europe. Ukraine Is Not A Brothel is a documentary film about the movement trying to prove just that: that Ukrainian women are not for sale. The doco gives unprecedented access to leaders of Femen’s naked war; one that’s fast gaining notoriety and momentum across the continent. Shot in a country where Femen claim 99 per cent of women – let alone men – can’t explain what ‘feminism’ means, the film presents a provocative and powerful statement to a world where “no one wants to listen to a woman, but everyone wants to look” It will screen tonight Wednesday March 4 at The Shadow Electric.

there must be a challenge in taking a work outdoors while keeping the dancers safe. Van Dijk has it covered. “They all have special gear and they wear it at rehearsal time,” she says. “They have special footwear, padding on knees, elbows, jackets; they can strip it off when they get too hot. They look like characters from Mad Max, although that’s not the aesthetic we’re going with. They also have special sunglasses to keep out the sun’s rays – we are fully embracing the circumstances, in terms of what we’re making, in terms of physical language we’re embracing the environment. It looks fearless.” Van Dijk has developed a technique of her own for the Chunky Move company, giving her dancers added protection from injury. “Counter-technique is a training method I developed,” she explains. “The dancers can work recklessly on site without getting hurt.” Recklessly? “It will look like they are moving recklessly. It means they can hit the ground without getting hurt. They distribute their weight, so the impact is very little. It looks like they’re flying, sliding or skimming. The skills they learn they can take into rehearsal and into performance.”

V-Day Melbourne and Artsman are presenting a staged reading of Eve Ensler’s, The Vagina Monologues for three nights only. V-Day Melbourne is a community group comprised entirely of volunteers with the purpose of raising funds to support safe steps Family Violence Response Centre (formerly Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service). Written by Eve Ensler in 1996, The Vagina Monologues is based on hundreds of interviews with women, who shared their most intimate desires and fears in a backdrop of humour, heartbreak and sometimes violence. The production is being held in the Sacred Heart Oratory at the Abbotsford Convent from Thursday March 5 - Saturday March 7. Toumani Diabate and his eldest son Sidiki will perform a rare one night only performance this week. The Grammy Award-winning kora (21-string Malian harp) virtuoso and his son, a griot (a member of a West African musical hereditary caste), master kora player and hip hop star are part of a family line made up of 71 continuous generations of kora players. Toumani wowed WOMADelaide audiences in 2008, performing with his Symmetric Orchestra, but this year will be joined by his eldest son Sidiki. Toumani Diabate’s influences are sourced from many cultures including Indian classical music, Spanish flamenco, and radical free jazz. He has played with Bjork, Gorillaz/Blur frontman Damon Albarn, bluesman Taj Mahal, and guitar wizard Ali Farka Touré. Diabaté received a Grammy award for best traditional world music album in 2011 for his joint album with Ali Farka Toure’s. The duo’s first album together, also won a Grammy following its 2005 release. In 2008 Toumani was appointed UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador in for using his music to spread awareness on HIV and AIDS. Toumani & Sidiki Diabate will perform at Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne on Thursday March 5.

PICK OF THE WEEK Dance Massive is back for 2015 with a, err, massive program. The 2015 Dance Massive will feature 19 productions – 14 of which are world premieres – from some of Australia’s finest contemporary dancers and choreographers, including Chunky Move, Lucy Guerin Inc, Phillip Adams BalletLab, Shelley Lasica, Force Majeure, RAWCUS, Antony Hamilton and more, all presenting work in a program curated by the Dance Massive consortium: Arts House, Dancehouse and Malthouse Theatre in association with Ausdance Victoria. Combining three different artistic visions, Dance Massive is the only contemporary dance festival in the country specifically dedicated to Australian makers and with a national and international reach. Some highlights of the 2015 program include Antony Hamilton with 64 robotic percussion instruments; large-scale theatrical works along with performances on basketball courts and in playgrounds, ensembles and solo performances; and a duet between a female contemporary dancer and a male professional bodybuilder. Dance Massive 2015 will take place from Tuesday March 10 until Sunday March 22. Head to dancemassive. com.au for more information.

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 26

Depth of Field

By Liza Dezfouli

Depth of Field is the new work from Anouk Van Dijk, Artistic Director of Chunky Move, inspired by the gloriously soft balmy weather we enjoy here in the autumn months. “Autumn in Melbourne is the most beautiful time of the year,” says Netherlands native Van Dijk. “The colour of the sky, the mildness of the air…I come from a county where those sorts of days are rare, so to have that is such a pleasure. You see it all around you, it’s uplifting.” As well as the soft weather in autumn, the season’s relative predictability allows her the opportunity to choreograph a dance to be performed outdoors. “I’ve wanted to create a work for outdoors for a long time,” she says. “My first show in Melbourne, Act of Now, was part of the Melbourne Festival; it was performed at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. For that time of year it was the perfect place: October is a capricious time of year so the audience had the sense of being outdoors but it was also was sheltered. March is a much more stable time of year – if it’s possible for weather in Melbourne to be stable. March is the most stable month so here’s my chance to really go outside.” The performance, by Chunky Move dancers James Vu Anh Pham, Niharika Senapati and Tara Jade Samaya, will take place outside in the Coopers Malthouse Forecourt. Van Dijk hopes that the work will encourage audiences to notice the small, seemingly insignificant things from everyday life on the city streets, to take a longer look, as it were. “We can see the movement of the city,” she explains. “From the point of view of the audience, where the dance will be performed, the depth of field means you can see the high-rises in the distance, closer, you can see a construction site, there’s traffic on foot, traffic in the distance, from the forecourt you can see people walking dogs, people jogging, movement from co-incidental by-passers. The time of the performance is close to sunset, that moment where the light on the highways pops on, that happens during the show. Depending on the weather, whether it’s overcast or not, you get that little bit of the last

sunlight. Things are different depending on whether it’s a windy or cloudy day, there’s a different atmosphere – so the dance will have its own life determined by the elements. There can be a change of sky, from blinding sunlight to the grey city environment, so the scope of our perception can change, you will look at things that otherwise you might not have noticed and that’s part of the experience. These changes will affect our dance, the dancers juggle with these elements, with the gravel, with dust, with co-incidental by passers. The chosen spot is to warm up your eye. The eye will wander, the eye asks ‘where’s the action? What is/is not, the performance?’” Beat recalls seeing a dance performance that took place on the Federation Square carpark, the asphalt black and slippery on a rainy night. You couldn’t help but worry about the danger of injury to the performers. For dancers used to performing on special floors in studios,

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“From the point of view of the audience, where the dance will be performed, the depth of field means you can see the high-rises in the distance, closer, you can see a construction site, there’s traffic on foot, traffic in the distance, from the forecourt you can see people walking dogs, people jogging, movement from coincidental by-passers.” Although in an open public space, audiences will get to enjoy a sense of intimacy in Depth of Field. “The audience works with headsets so it enables them to come very close and have private experiences, it doesn’t disturb by-passers on the street. There’s no sound blaring out at pedestrians,” Van Dijk explains. “The sound system is designed by Marco Cher-Gibard, a great sound designer, and the music is by composer Ben Frost, we’re using some of his tracks to create the sound environment. The sound will help you navigate the depth of field as well.” As well as movement, location, sound and light all are given weight in Depth of Field. “Twilight – it’s really otherworldly,” continues Van Dijk. “As the sun sets the wind often settles too. Or the cloud dissipates, and for a second the sun reappears. The birds start up then calm down. Around 7pm to 7.45pm I notice ‘hungry cars.’ People are hungry, on their way home from work, they’re edgy, they need to go home. At around 7.23pm, the cars slow down; it’s a different kind of traffic. In the arts precinct, you’re seeing a different kind of street traffic, there’s shift in perspective, different behavior. People are visiting friends, walking dogs, playing with their kids. It’s a special time of the day to savour and we allow the audience to savour it too.” As part of Dance Massive, Depth of Field will run from Friday March 6 to Saturday March 14 at the Coopers Malthouse Forecourt.

Arts House Season One, 2015 Presented by Arts House in association with Dance Massive

Rawcus

Vicki Van Hout

Antony Hamilton & Alisdair Macindoe

10 – 14 March

Rebecca Jensen & Sarah Aiken

Rosalind Crisp / Omeo Dance

Lucy Guerin Inc

Catalogue

Long Grass

MEETING

OVERWORLD

The Boom Project

Motion Picture

10 – 14 March

13 – 21 March

17 – 22 March

Phillip Adams BalletLab

Kingdom

Melanie Lane

Merge

Tim Darbyshire

18 – 22 March

Stampede the Stampede

Tickets now on sale! Save up to 15% - visit the website for details.

artshouse.com.au  /artshousemelbourne  @artshousemelb  @artshouse CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 27

THE COMIC STRIP DYLAN MORAN

For more arts news, reviews and interviews visit beat.com.au The Zoey Louise Moonbeam Dawson Shakespeare Company’s Calamity

Laundry Bar Call Out

NEON

NEON will return for a third incarnation at the Melbourne Theatre Company later. The five independent companies that will be showcasing new works include MKA: Theatre of New Writing, The Zoey Louise Moonbeam Dawson Shakespeare Company, Dirty Pretty Theatre, Dee & Cornelius and Elbow Room. All will commandeer the Lawler at Southbank Theatre to each present a work of their choice for a ten-day season. Furthermore, Rawcus will take up the inaugural NEON Residency, The Last Tuesday Society will host a special NEON closing night event while there will also be a broad range of workshops, readings, masterclasses and conversations as part of NEON EXTRA. NEON will take place from Thursday May 14 to Sunday July 25.

Calling all Melbourne artists, Laundry Bar is currently on the lookout for some new work for their gallery. An upcoming collaborative display, set to run on Saturday nights in March to May, will see local artwork exhibited at the venue during a series of pre-parties. The nights will feature free alcohol from local sponsors and will give artists the chance to display their work in a distinctive creative space. If you’re interested in exhibiting your work as part of the display, head to laundrybar.com.au. Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case

The star and co-writer of Black Books has announced an Australian tour. A regular performer at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Just for Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the Kilkenny Comedy Festival, Dylan Moran is constantly voted as one of the greatest stand-ups in the world, and has also been involved in films such as Shaun of the Dead, Run Fatboy Run and Good Vibrations. Catch him on Monday July 27 at the Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre.

PORTLAND HOTEL COMEDY

Human Rights Arts and Film Festival

Ballet Revolución

Direct from Cuba, Ballet Revolución will return to Australia for a national tour this winter. The show features Cuban dancers, who incorporate everything from ballet to street dance into an energetic routine set to live Latin American music with hip hop and R&B. Ballet Revolución will run in Melbourne from Wednesday July 1 to Sunday July 5 at the State Theatre.

Meme Girls

Self-confessed pop-culture addict Ash Flanders will turn his attention to the online world in his latest work for the Malthouse Theatre. Described as “a love letter to the women of YouTube,” Meme Girls explores our social-media obsessed society with tongue-in-cheek humour and essences of performance art, cabaret and drag. Meme Girls will run from Wednesday April 8 to Saturday May 2.

Now in its eighth year, the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival (HRAFF) has announced the highlights of their 2015 event. The national festival, which kicks off in Melbourne in May, will seek to drive the conversation on human rights through its engaging program of films, arts and forums. This year’s festival includes documentaries Ai Weiwei: The Fake Case and Ivory Tower, along with Difret, which explores the traditional practice of marriage abduction in Ethiopia. This year’s art program will feature exhibitions by Christian Thompson and Rushdi Anwar. The Human Rights Arts and Film Festival will run in Melbourne from Thursday May 7 to Thursday May 21 at various venues around the city.

Randy headlines Portland Hotel Comedy this Thursday. He’s the purple puppet and one half of the immensely successful comedy duo Sammy J and Randy, and he’s still just as hilarious on his own. Plus they’ve got Xavier Michelides, Daniel Connell, Jack Druce and special guests (they’ve had Wil Anderson, Dave Hughes and Ronny Chieng as special guests in the last month). It’s all happening this Thursday March 5 at 8.30pm, at Portland Hotel Comedy, 127 Russell Street (upstairs), CBD, all for only $12.

COMEDY AT SPLEEN

Monday nights in the city are chockers full of comedy yet again, thanks to Comedy at Spleen. This week, there’s the usual surprise guests plus acts like Adam Richard, Don Tran, Peter Jones, Steele Saunders, Tom McLean and more. It’s this Monday March 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 The Ocean Film Festival Australia Wednesday March 11 - Thursday March 12 Village Crown Cinemas & Village Rivoli Giselle Friday March 13 - Monday March 23 Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre MSO: The Damnation of Faust Friday March 20 - Saturday March 21 Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne Melbourne International Comedy Festival Wednesday March 25 - Sunday April 29 Various Venues

Wet House

Endgame

Melbourne Theatre Company will bring Samuel Beckett’s modernist masterpiece Endgame back to the mainstage next month. The one-act, four-character play tells the story of Hamm (Colin Friels), a blind man who cannot stand; Clov (Luke Mullins), his servant who cannot sit; and Hamm’s parents Nagg (Rhys McConnochie) and Nell ( Julie Forsyth), who have no legs and live in dustbins. Endgame will run from Saturday March 21 to Saturday April 25 at Southbank Theatre.

Red Stitch Actor’s Theatre will present the Australian premiere of Wet House next month. Wet House is the debut play from Patty Campbell and provides an insight into life in a homeless alcoholics shelter. The play is based on Campbell’s own experience working in a Wet House in the UK and tells the story of Andy, a young graduate who finds work in a Wet House and is plunged into a world where normal rules and expectations are turned on their head. Wet House will run from Friday March 20 to Saturday April 18.

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

The Golden Age of China: Qianlong Emperor Friday March 27 - Sunday June 21 National Gallery of Victoria A Moon Safari By Steam Bicycle Tuesday April 7 - Sunday April 1 ACMI MSO: Back To The Future Live In Concert Friday November 6 - Saturday November 7 The Plenary

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 28

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

MEETING By Liza Dezfouli Body, space, robots and percussion. MEETING, a new dance work for Dance Massive by Antony Hamilton and Alisdair Macindoe, is described as ‘an articulation of mind and body in motion by 64 robotic percussion instruments’. MEETING, the result of the two working together on developing a singular approach to dance, is a performance which departs from expression of artistic concerns and creates something veering towards the scientific. Beat spoke to choreographer Antony Hamilton about the creative collaboration he shares with Macindoe, which led to the creation of MEETING: “Over the past six years or so we’ve developed a choreographic language, a unique, specific, unusual, choreographic vocabulary, involving creating quite random counting patterns. We call it ‘nerdy dance’.” MEETING is a natural melding of the dancers’ respective skills. “Alisdair designed the percussion bots and I created the choreography,” continues Hamilton.

“It’s a good collaboration – we do feed off each other and trigger new ideas. We work rapidly together and we work well to support each other – we’re on an equal footing.”

Musicians work with metronomes to maintain a regular beat while composing or playing; considering this led the two to explore dance where the choreography is governed by pure rhythm imposed on the dancer’s body, rather than the other way round. In other words, the dancers have to do what the machines tell them. “It presents us as dancers with an incredible challenge, says Hamilton. “It’s like a duet almost – that sense of the machine forcing us to stay up to speed. It’s mathematical. These pieces can be as long as you want them to be. It sounds more scientific than artistic. Macindoe confirms the physical demands involved in performing MEETING. “We’re not using normal phrases. This work is very challenging to the performer. There’s a distinct right and wrong. The machines are programmed with numeric codes. In the performances, there are hundreds of beats in the piece, and there is an assigned activity to each beat – and we have to keep up.” The machines are 64 small robotic percussion boxes which tap out rhythms using pencils. Yes, pencils. “They’re called percussion bots,” says Macindoe, the inventor, who confesses that his machine making practice is obsessive. “They are simple looking wooden boxes, little drums with a wireless computer inside. And they work like someone is tapping a pencil on the table, something we all often do unconsciously. With that rhythm there is no common down beat; I liked the sound. They’ve got a domestic human rhythm, outside the traditional musical time signature, whereas with a metronome there is a downbeat.” Much of the tension in MEETING comes from bodies moving to a seemingly familiar tapping noise that could almost be generated by humans but which, unlike music created by living musicians, is impervious to the demands on the dancers. The two performers have made things hard for themselves. “It’s a fantastic starting point. We have programmed them but they pull us physically,” says Hamilton. “The dance is more difficult than what we usually do because we are driven by this sound. The percussion bots are not slowing or stopping, they’re relentless – the sound is like repetitive music but there is no conductor. And we are trying to cover as many variations of the rhythmic structure in our movements. They are very, very sensitive with

different speeds, interstices, the sounds are almost human. The really great thing is that you empathise with them almost,” adds Hamilton.” The work, says Hamilton, is more like a music recital than a contemporary dance performance. “It creates a study of choreographic style. There is the sense of machine controlling the body, a sense of body percussion – we are ‘slaves to the rhythm’. We don’t have much agency. The score creates a slow burn for the arc to work, there’s a combination of activity between two different performers with so many different possibilities. How do we show everyone everything? It’s limitless.” “Antony approached me and said, ‘I don’t want a sound design, no speakers, use some other idea’.” Macindoe continues. “We worked with the theme of rhythmic percussion but with a different locus of control.” How come there are 64 percussion bots? “That’s the software – it sends a wireless signal. 64 is a pragmatic choice,” answers Macindoe. “It’s a great number for this project, it’s 8x8, we work in 8 bits, and it’s a musical number. As far as the choreography is concerned we are performing in time like robots. The design of MEETING is pragmatic, it’s not abstract. It’s straightforward. Having said that, it’s crazy and bizarre, but the pieces don’t have an ulterior to them, or things that unfold – we are looking at what is accuracy, what is perfection. MEETING is more like watching a sport or a battle. It’s dance to a number of patterns, a number of codes. The dancers have to memorise them.” In case you’re wondering, the robots win. “MEETING does the opposite to what you expect,” adds Macindoe. “In dance, it’s usually the dancers that move you – this time it’s almost the other way round. At the end of the work the little robots play bells and chimes on wooden blocks and sound more like a group of percussionists. There’s a human side, with emotion, but they’re actually robots. The body begins to play a smaller role, there’s a clear cross-over, the bodies recede and the machines are left in space, still working.” As part of Dance Massive, MEETING will be performed at Arts House from Tuesday March 10 Saturday March 14.

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 29

OUT OF THECLOSET

Queer happenings around town with Anna Whitelaw.

This Saturday, when roughly 8,000 people march down Oxford Street to commemorate the 37th annual Mardi Gras parade before a crowd of up to 500,000 people, the NSW police will have their own float, and openly gay members of the police force will march in uniform. Just a few floats away, the original gay activists who marched down Oxford Street in 1978 – who are dubbed the “78ers” – find this irony bittersweet. On the one hand, it is a sign of the progress to see openly gay police officers, first responders, military personnel and politicians proudly marching in a parade that began with bloodshed. Mardi Gras was Australia’s “Stonewall” moment – the first time gay and lesbian people came out of the bars and into the streets to march for their rights and were attacked by police. 53 people were arrested by Darlinghurst police and hauled into divvy vans, in some cases beaten and later publicly outed when their full names, occupations and addresses were published by the Sydney Morning Herald, in a particularly shameful episode in that newspaper’s history. While the outrageous treatment of those activists prompted nationwide protests and eventually the charges were dropped, some of those who were involved still lost their jobs. It comes as a surprise to many people that the NSW police force have never issued a public apology for the brutality of that fateful night. Neither, it should be added, have the Sydney Morning Herald who were cleared on any wrongdoing by the Press Council at the time. This year, however, Mardi Gras organisers are pushing for a public apology on behalf of those arrested and brutalised by police. A cross-party LGBTI committee of NSW state MPs have unanimously supported the idea. We can only hope that the same police force who are happy to march are also willing to make a mea culpa. I also hope that the editors at the Herald are willing to follow suit.

They aren’t the only ones trying to right historic wrongs. In the UK, following the Alan Turning biopic The Imitation Game, a petition is gaining steam in the UK to see more than 49,000 men convicted of under anti-sodomy laws pardoned. Turing was one of the code breakers who broke the Nazi’s Engima code and created the world’s first computer, but who killed himself after being convicted under the antiquated British gross indecency laws. Last week, the petition with half a million signatures was delivered to British Prime Minister David Cameron by Turing’s relatives.

Mardi Gras, Sydney

The Victorian parliament passed a similar law for gay men with historic spent convictions had their criminal records expunged last year. NSW has indicted it plans to do the same, albeit 30 years after homosexuality was decriminalised in that state. Tasmanian gay rights activists are pushing for their state to follow suit, while WA and Queensland are yet to move on squashing their spent convictions for gay men. Before we feel too progressive, it’s worth remembering that while we don’t treat gay people like criminals anymore, you can still be fired for being a gay teacher at a religious school or you probably earn less than your straight counterparts. A recent University of Melbourne study into the disparity between wages earned by gay men and heterosexual men reveals a so called “gay pay gap”, which revealed gay men earn on average 18 per cent less than straight men in the same jobs (interestingly, lesbians actually earn more than heterosexual women – perhaps because they are perceived by employers as less likely to leave the workforce to have children). This Friday March 6, CLOSET kicks off the Labour Day Weekend with its Fifty Shades of Gay party, with Salvador Darling, Mimi and 6am At The Garage on the decks. From 10pm till late at Little & Olver and $15 on the door. Visit facebook.com/closetpartyoz for all the details.

Next Saturday March 14, long-running queer party Grouse will move to its new venue Woody’s (above Forrester’s Hall where Bar Called Barry once stood) for its Sisterhood edition. The whole DJ lineup with be sisterly DJ duos. For details, visit grouseparty.com for all the details.

Closet

For the boys, you can also snap up presale tickets to Trough XVII, now at sex-on-premises venue Club 80 on Saturday March 21. Tickets are available from troughx.com. Got tip offs, praise, complaints or cat photos? Email closetpartymelbourne@gmail.com to be included in this column.

WITH THE TARANTINOS

POP UP OR POP IN! COOL THREADS & ACCESSORIES HANDMADE STUFF, FURNITURE, ART, TAROT & MUSIC YOU CAN BOOGALOO TO. IT’S JUST TOO GROOVY TO MISS! SURFIN’ USA SUNDAY 15 MARCH 2015 THE PROVINCIAL HOTEL 299 BRUNSWICK ST, FITZROY FACEBOOK.COM/THEBOBBYDAZZLERMARKET BOBBYDAZZLERVINTAGE.COM CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 30

news tours club snaps + more

on tour

electronic + urban + club life

DIE ANTWOORD [RSA] Wednesday March 4, Trak Live Lounge Bar 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]

MARCH

Sunday March 8, Lounge FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL: DRAKE [USA], THE PRODIGY [USA] + MORE Sunday Match 9, Flemington Racecourse

talking shop with

spit & mac Give us a background lesson in Spit & Mac. How long have you been writing and performing together? Spit: We had both been solo artists before we formed Spit & Mac. I think we performed together live a few times and that was heaps of fun. We chilled a lot outside of music so the dynamic worked for us straight away, once we dropped our first song together Cold Of Winter” and it got a really good response, we made it official and started making

news

SHACKLETON [UK] Saturday March 14, The Mercat FOREST SWORDS [UK]

- head to beat .com.au for more

off the record

Saturday March 14, Howler

w i t h

AUDIOJACK [UK]

t yson

w ray

People who say ‘the world is more fucked up than ever’ have never opened a history book, huh.

Sunday March 15, Revolver Upstairs KELE [UK] Wednesday March 18, Corner Hotel BONOBO [UK] Thursday March 19, Prince Bandroom JURASSIC 5 [USA] Wednesday April 1, Festival Hall AUDIOFLY [ESP], MARTIN BUTTRICH [USA], BLOND:ISH [UK] Friday April 3, TBA INNER VARNIKA: DONATO DOZZY [ITA],

UPCOMING

TERREKE [USA] + MORE Friday April 3 - Sunday April 5, TBA MOBB DEEP [USA] Saturday April 11, The Espy JAMES ZABIELA [UK]

plans for an album. Tell us about the album The Hourglass? S: It’s the culmination of years of hard work, it has had many changing faces over the last three to four years but in the end we finally found and album we were happy to release. It’s 17 tracks, there is a range of content and crazy production on there and we worked and collaborated with some very talented people along the way.

inner varnika After a hiatus in 2014, boutique electronic festival Inner Varnika will return in April with their most starstudded lineup to date. Headlined by Italian techno stalwart Donato Dozzy, the international lineup also features DJ Fett Burger and DJ Sotofett of Sex Tags Mania fame, alongside Neel, Mr. Ties and Terekke. The bill is rounded out by an A-list local lineup, featuring Andras Fox GL, Zanzibar Chanel, Michael Ozone, Sleep D, Dan White, Pocock, Sui Zhen, Simon TK, Mosam Howieson, Moopie, Instant Peterson, Awesome Wales, Fabrice Lemoyne, Wush & Herb Powers, Luke Coleman, Eranthos, Sam Hilton, Bryce Lawrence, Louis McCoy, Unfettered, Glyn Hill and Wael Najm. Inner Varnika will take place over Friday April 3 - Sunday April 5. The festival will be limited to 1,200 patrons.

the liberty social

boogie

One of the CBD’s best shitholes will close their doors next month. Located a couple of doors down from Degraves St in the heritage listed Tomassetti House, over the past few years the dive bar and bandroom has hosted a range of international live bands and DJs, club nights and art exhibitions. Venue owner/operator Andy Kavadis provided the following statement to Beat: “It is with a heavy heart and enthusiasm for future projects that we announce the imminent closure of Melbourne’s Liberty Social. A buyout arrangement has been negotiated with our newly positioned landlords, who pursue a different concept for the building in which our batcave lies. We would like to thank all those who have got laid, spewed, and lost their marbles in our club whilst experiencing some of the greatest seminal and contemporary artists from locally and abroad. Another music loving venue closes whilst the world keeps turning, though insane memories of our glorious dive bar and bandstand will remain. The club closes with the end of March, keep an eye out for our final listings and enjoy it whilst it lasts friends.” Hit their Facebook to keep up to date on the final parties and exhibitions.

section 8

EARTHCORE: DANNY DAZE [USA], CHRIS

Thursday November 26 - Monday November 30, Pyalong

tour rumours

Bicep, Hieroglyphic Being, Container, Motor City Drum Ensemble

23 MEYERS PLACE, MELBOURNE 3000 4PM TO LATE | 7 DAYS A WEEK P: (03) 9654 0500 LOOPONLiNE.COM.AU

andy bull Andy Bull will hit the road again this autumn for a huge national tour. The tour will mark Bull’s last run of headline shows before he heads back into the studio to work on his second album. Bull’s debut album Sea of Approval was released last year. Joining him for the tour will be Brisbane band Cub Sport. Catch Andy Bull on Friday April 17 at 170 Russell.

Everyone’s favourite container bar is set to throw down a huge party to celebrate their ninth birthday. Throughout the day there will be performances from Condensed Milk, Scatter Scatter Tropical Soundsystem, Showtime Quintet, DJ Manchild and Rintrah will more to be announced, alongside a visual installation by Brendan Harwood and a popup chicken kitchen by Belleville. It’s set to go down on Sunday March 22.

March 7

March 14

ChaMpel

ResonanCe: tuned in Anthony BRain shakeR Robert Shadz Neo, Harry

Kanzo, Louis Kanzo Shun, Shunji Senda Seiji, Seiji Fujita Diagram F R E E E N T R Y, 1 0 P M

hot dub time machine On the back of yet another festival announcement with the regional Groovin’ The Moo in April/May, the unstoppable time-traveling maestro Hot Dub Time Machine has announced a huge Australian tour for 2015. Arguably one of Australia’s most popular entertainers, Hot Dub Time Machine has had an enormous 12 months with sold-out shows across the globe, headlining the 100,000 strong Hogmanay NYE Festival, appearing centre-stage in the domain for Sydney Festival, not to mention the Falls Festival and Splendour In The Grass performances. Hot Dub Time Machine performs in Melbourne on Friday June 5 at The Hi-Fi.

rabbits eat lettuce

Friday April 17, Brown Alley

LIEBING [UK], MISS KITTIN [UK] + MORE

Tell us about the process in making the album and what inspired you during the creative process, etc? S: The inspiration for the album comes from a combination of different music we have loved and been influenced by, our past present and future, pain, happiness, sadness, determination and love for creating something that represents us. Putting it all together was a massive struggle at times, there were lots of sunrises were seen while I was obsessing over making a beat or trying to get a track finished but now it’s all said and done, it was worth it. How would you like people to describe The Hourglass to their friends? Mac: I would want them to say there’s not a bad track on the album, that they relate to it and they notice the attention to detail that was taken. The album has been out for a couple of weeks now, how has it all gone so far and what are plans your plans from here? M: The response so far has been absolutely crazy, we couldn’t have hoped for anything more. At this stage we are really keen to share our music with friends and supporters and we are obviously both really looking forward to doing some live shows too. Anything you would like to add, where to purchase, shows to look out for, etc? M: If you are keen to check out our single featuring Imogen Brough you can visit the Facebook page, if you want to buy the album you can do so at spitandmac1.bandcamp.com and the album is on iTunesWe will be doing shows in a couple of months from now so keep an eye out.

Kevin Faxt & Arkohm

March 21

Qualé & El Bandido Visuals by Diego

Blotter, Teepee & Langers

F R E E E N T R Y, 1 0 P M

electronic - urban - club life

Rabbits Eat Lettuce has been running every Easter Long weekend for the past six years and has become an underground tradition. Long lost brothers and sisters travel from across the country to re-connect, dance, share stories, enjoy music and camp together in a beautiful natural environment. In 2015 Rabbits Eat Lettuce is moving to the home of the Woodford Folk Festival; Woodfordia in Queensland. This year the festival will feature performances from the likes of Aeroplane, Opiuo, Zomboy, Wild Culture, Hedflux, Jay Lumen and more. Head to rabbitseatlettuce.com. au for more details.

March 28

Metaphoenix launCh paRty

Point Zero Productions Stepping inwards

Shifty Gypsies, Squiddy Fiddler Ear Mind Eye. Visuals by Tøn F R E E E N T R Y, 1 0 P M

club guide snaps anyway

wednesday mar 4 CURIOUS TALES - FEAT: DJ WHO + TIGERFUNK + TOM SHOWTIME + FLAGRANT Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:30pm. DIE ANTWOORD Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 8:00pm. MELLOW DIAS THUMP Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. REVOLVER WEDNESDAYS - FEAT: DAN SAN Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. thursday mar 5 3181 THURSDAYS - FEAT: HANS DC WITH GET BU$Y + JESSE YOUNG + WHO & SAM GUDGE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 6:00pm. DANCE TECHNIQUE - FEAT: POST PERCY + GROOVE CONTROL + BEN RYAN New Guernica, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. FLANAGANS THURSDAYS FEAT: DJ ONTIME + COLONEL Pier Live, Frankston. 8:00pm. MIDNIGHT EXPRESS - FEAT: PREQUEL + EDD FISHER + MATT NIKO + SIMON TK Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. NIGHT FLIGHT Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. SUMMER NIGHTS Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 4:30pm. THE BEAT RAFFLE - FEAT: DJ BUICK Grumpy’s Green, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. 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.

laundry

friday mar 6 ALLEYCAT - FEAT: ELIZABETH DIXON + BRYCE LAWRENCE + CALE SEXTON + DJ MILES + DYLAN B The Mercat, Melbourne. 10:00pm. $10.00. #MASHTAG - FEAT: MALPRACTICE + AGENT 86 + BENZO + ANDRE LE VOGUE + SILVERFOX + AHAB + OLLIE Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. CAN’T SAY Platform One, Melbourne. 9:00pm. CIROQ FRIDAYS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. CLOSET Little & Olver, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. $15.00. DJ SHADOW & CUT CHEMIST Forum Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $75.49. 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. HALFNAKED (MELBOURNE LAUNCH PARTY) Brown Alley, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00. JAPEYE J SMITH Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. LUCK TRUCK FRIDAYS DOWNSTAIRS Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. OMG FRIDAYS Seven Nightclub, South Melbourne. 10:00pm. $20.00. PANORAMA FRIDAYS UPSTAIRS - FEAT: PHATO A MANO + MR.GEORGE + MATT RADD + ASH-LEE Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. POPROCKS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. REVOLVER FRIDAYS - FEAT: MIKE CALLANDER + KATIE DROVER + LEWIE DAY + WHO Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00pm. SLEAZY LISTENING - FEAT: ARKS + RICHARD KELLY + HYSTERIC + K HOOP Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. SUCK MUSIC - FEAT: NICK COLEMAN + DOAKES + LUCILLE CROFT + PETE LARGE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 11:00pm. TECH N9NE + KRIZZ KALICO + EZEKIEL OX 170 Russell, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $59.00. 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 mar 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: CHRIS MEEHAN VS JAYSON HOLDEN + BLUEMD + MISS BEHAVOUR + RACHEL ORCHARD + FREEDOM FIGHTERS My Aeon, Brunswick. 10:00pm. $10.00. CHAMPEL - FEAT: KANZO + SHUN + SHUNJI SENDA + DIAGRAM + SEIJI + SEIJI FUGITA Loop, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. CQ SATURDAYS Cq, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. ELECTRIC DREAMS Co.,

Southbank. 8:00pm. $20.00. EUROFEST CARNIVALE FEAT: NICK MISSAILIDIS + MARK PELLEGRINI + ANDREAS + KOSTA NICO + L-BROS + LIL NIK + JOHNNY G + MISSA BROS + JUMP BOYS + VITO RAMETTA Trak Lounge Bar, Toorak. 9:30pm. FAMILIAR STRANGERS The Emerson, South Yarra. 10:00pm. $20.00. GET UP SMASHES IT - FEAT: RAPID ACQUISITION + HYPER MOTIVE + DEEP ELEMENT + INTER:SPERSE + A FOREIGN OBJEKT + LIGHT FORCE + GUZTAVA Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. $12.00. HELMET + KRIS SACOIA + PHAON + WILL ELDER Ferdydurke, Melbourne Cbd. 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. MEET. EAT. BEATS - FEAT: NATE HARDING The Fitzroy Beer Garden, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. MIDNIGHT RUN (LATE NIGHT PARTY) Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 11:30pm. PLATFORM ONE SATURDAY NIGHTS Platform One, Melbourne. 9:00pm. SATURDAY MORNING - FEAT: SUNSHINE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 7:00am. SEVEN SATURDAY DISCOTHEQUE Seven Nightclub, South Melbourne. 10:00pm. $20.00. SHENANIGANS - FEAT: RADIO CHOAS Pier Live, Frankston. 8:00pm. TEXTILE SATURDAYS - FEAT: KODIAK KID + D’FRO + JENS BEAMIN Lucky Coq, Windsor. 9:00pm. THE HOUSE DEFROST - FEAT: ANDEE FROST Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 11:00pm. THE LATE SHOW - FEAT: PREQUEL + PAZ + MOONSHINE + LA POCOCK + BOOGS + RANSOM + MAT CANT + GET BU$Y + SAMMY THE BULLET Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 10:00pm. THERAPY Level 3 @ Crown, Southbank. 9:00pm. $20.00. TRAMP SATURDAYS Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. WAGAWAGA + MELT UNIT + B.I.N.T + OVE-NAXX + RIPPLE + GELIDO + SADO The Mercat, Melbourne. 10:00pm. $10.00. sunday mar 8 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. FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL - FEAT: THE PRODIGY + AFROJACK + MARTIN GARRIX + EXAMPLE + SIGMA + 2CHAINZ + KIESZA + KLINGANDE + ROBIN SCHULZ + NERO + DIE ANTWOORD + GORGON CITY + BLASTERJAXX + BASSJACKERS + TCHAMI + CARNAGE + THROTTLE + COCOON: SVEN VATH + ART DEPARTMENT + APPOLLONIA + YELLOW CLAW Flemington Racecourse, Flemington. 12:00am. $235.00. JASON KENDIG + BEN DRAYTON + DJ KITI + MISTY NIGHTS + LOUIS MCCOY Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 5:00pm. $20.00. JUNGLE - FEAT: HANDS DOWN + ZAC DEPETRO + PETE LASKIS + TRAVLOS + JOHN DOE Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00am. $15.00. LABOUR DAY EVE - FEAT: BOOGS + SPACEY SPACE + T-REK + RADIATOR + SILVERSIX + HANS DC + VIKTOR + NUTRITION Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 8:00pm. SPITROAST SUNDAYS Cushion, St Kilda. 10:00pm. SUNDAY DJ SESSIONS @ JARDIN TAN - FEAT: MIMI Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. 2:00pm. THE SUNDAY SET - FEAT: DJ ANDYBLACK & HAGGIS Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 4:00pm. WAX ON WAX OFF Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm.

tuesday mar 10 AO + MOW + MIMICRY Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:30pm. $3.00. OASIS Tramp, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY Bimbo Deluxe, Fitzroy. 7:00pm.

thursday mar 5

HIP HOP KARAOKE - FEAT: GET BUSY + MAT CANT Boney, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $5.00.

DEXTRUS + ANDRE LE VOGUE The Fitzroy Beer Garden, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. PARTY & BULLSHIT Laundry Bar, Fitzroy. 9:00pm.

Cbd. 9:00pm. $10.00. SETH SENTRY + CITIZEN KAY + COIN BANKS The Hi-fi, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $35.50.

friday mar 6

saturday mar 7

sunday mar 8

KHOKOLAT KOATED SATURDAYS FEAT: DAMION DE SILVA + K DEE + DURMY + TIMOS Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. MONGOLIAN BLING Mechanics Institute Performing Arts Centre, Brunswick. 6:00pm. $12.50. RHYTHM NATION SATURDAYS - FEAT: DJ TIMOS + DJ KAHLUA + DJ ANGE M & ANDY PALA Chaise Lounge, Melbourne

electronic - urban - club life

khokolat koated

be. at co.

monday mar 9 BEAT THE HUNGER - FEAT: DJ CHRIS ACKROYD + DJ AL MONTFORT Little & Olver, Fitzroy. 10:00pm. CALL IT IN - FEAT: JAMES TOM & DYLAN MICHEL Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. GOODLIFE (U18) - FEAT: BLISS N ESO + HAVANA BROWNAVICII + AFROJACK + MARTIN GARRIX + WILL SPARKS V TIMMY TRUMPET V JOEL FLETCHER + BLASTERJAXX + FRONTLINER + CARNAGE + TIGERLILY UBERJAK’D + SLICE N DICE Flemington Racecourse, Flemington. 1:00pm. $84.60. MONDAY STRUGGLE - FEAT: TIGER FUNK Lucky Coq, Windsor. 6:00pm.

urban club guide

BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY - FEAT: DJ RCEE + KAHLUA + DJ SHOOK + DJ ANGEL JAY Chaise Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. FAKTORY FRIDAYS - FEAT: DAMION DE SILVA + K DEE + DURMY Khokolat Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. L-FRESH THE LION + ABE NOUK Howler, Brunswick. 9:00pm. $25.00. MEET. EAT. BEATS - FEAT: DJ

snaps

PEEZO + MARQUEE MOON + 90S RD + CHARLIE THREADS The Shadow Electric, Abbotsford. 7:00pm. $8.00. BE. SUNDAYS Co., Southbank. 10:00pm. $15.00. SETH SENTRY + CITIZEN KAY + COIN BANKS The Hi-fi, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $35.50.

faktory

GORGON CITy

By Shaun Cowe

North London house duo Gorgon City have had a big last 12 months, moving towards the release last October of their first full-length studio album, Sirens. The two producers, Kye Gibbon and Matt Robson-Scott (AKA DJs Foamo and RackNRuin) have just slogged their way through a European tour ahead of Future Music Festival this month. Beat caught up with Robson-Scott midway through breakfast. “It’s been ingrained in us to make music constantly, whether we’re on tour or in the studio,” he says. “We’ve been making music for so long it’s part of who we are; we can do it anywhere. People who are the most prolific and people who make the most music are the people who can make music anywhere. Nowadays everyone’s touring constantly, so you’ve got to make music on the road.” For the release title, Sirens, Robson-Scott and Gibbon opted for a Hellenic link with the band’s name, something they haven’t done before. “We liked the idea ± obviously it’s from Greek mythology ± that sirens are this thing of beauty but they also have this twisted side to them,” Robson-Scott explains. “The album’s a bit like that; there’s a lot of lush sounds but it also has a lot of hard basslines. A lot of the songs are uplifting but they also have twisted parts, like with the FTPA song ± we thought [the name Sirens] fitted quite well for the album.” Writing songs hand-in-hand with the many feature artists on the album was a big influence on the diversity and dichotomy of its sound. Being creatively open and experimenting with style is something Gorgon City want to be known for, says Robson-Scott. “The whole album was never really planned; we experimented with it. We were hoping that people would be open to anything that we were doing. We want to make albums that stand the test of time and aren’t really just of one style or one genre or one time period. The lyrics have to mean something; the sounds have to be interesting and not generic. It has to sound unique and different and like it hasn’t been done before.” Like all producers, Robson-Scott and Gibbon have go-to sounds they’ve developed separately over their careers. Combining them for Gorgon City saw the emergence of the pair’s trademark rich, layered synth lines, something Robson-Scott says comes from their preference for analogue. “We like using analogue synths, like Rolands and analogue Korgs, things with a warm sound. We like the PolySix, which is a great synth for Korgs. Lots of soft synth for bass. We’ve built loads of sounds over the years as separate producers, so we’ve got quite a lot of stuff we’ve created ourselves that we can go back to as well.”

“yOU’D SEE PEOPLE yOU KNEW AT THE RECORD STORE, THEN yOU’D TALK TO THE GUy WORKING THERE WHO WOULD SAVE yOU A COUPLE Of TUNES yOU’D LIKE. IT WAS A VERy GOOD COMMUNITy VIBE. RECORD STORES WERE A MASSIVE PART Of THE MUSIC COMMUNITy WHEN WE WERE GROWING UP.” Part of this analogue preference comes from their history of DJing together as childhood friends. The old-school British electronic music scene was a seminal influence on both Robson-Scott and Gibbon. “I used to go to the record store every Thursday to get as many new records as we could for the weekend,” says Robson-Scott. “You’d meet people and you’d see people you knew at the record store, then you’d talk to the guy working there who would save you a couple of tunes you’d like. It was a very good community vibe. Record stores were a massive part of the music community when we were growing up.” “We used to go get our own vinyls cut, ready for the weekend. Maybe we’d make a tune during the week and then get our record cut at the local cutting house. I mean, there’s only a couple now but there used to be loads and that was always a really fun feeling. You’d spend 20 quid to get one song pressed on a vinyl so you could play it on the record player.” With music moving towards a more global, Internetbased connectivity, Robson-Scott sees the local genrespawning communities that characterised the early British dance wave as a disappearing phenomenon. While he acknowledges both the pros and cons of technology, he doubts British music will ever become too Americanised because of the Internet. “With British music, it’s always going to stay British but [America] likes to take on their own idea ± you know, like they did with EDM and dubstep. They took a European thing and gave it their own identity. I don’t know what’s going to happen next but I don’t think it’s going to be an issue for British producers or the British scene because it’s so different to what we do that it doesn’t affect us. They adapt it and it turns into their own thing.” Check out GORGON CITY at Future Music Festival on Sunday March 8. Sirens out now through Neon/EMI. WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES..... WWW.BEAT.COM.AU/TV

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 33

ALABAMA SHAKES

By Adam Norris

Goosebumps. Actual goosebumps, and I’ve yet to see them in the flesh. Since 2012’s Boys & Girls, Alabama Shakes have proven themselves to be one of those bands who make a stake for themselves very quickly, winning critics and fans with enviable ease. Their debut tracks were strong and their live performances established them as festival favourites, but it’s Brittany Howard’s seismic voice that disrupts your day and gets your toe tapping. Jump three years later and Sound & Color arrives, a further step up for a band intent on piloting music in their own way. “There wasn’t any pressure there, which is why it turned out the way it did,” Howard recalls in her breezy US drawl. “If we had pressure put on us, it would have been to do something just like Boys & Girls again. But we had a one-off deal with our label. One record and we’re out, we’re free. So we did Boys & Girls and found ourselves able to do whatever we wanted to do. Without a label there – and they can be useful, sure – now we could make the kind of record that we wanted to do. So we took our time to work out what was exciting to us, what challenged us, what did we hate and love, and where was the compromise. Where could we meet in the middle? The result is that Sound & Color is here and now, while Girls & Boys was there and then. We made that record when we were 20 years old, and now here I am at 26, knowing a lot more stuff about the world.” She pauses, then laughs, “Well, I hope so.” You quickly get the impression that not all was smooth sailing with ATO Records, which is something of a classic conundrum. Labels can be instrumental in shepherding your music to heights undreamed of for a fresh act, but hidden beneath the music can lurk the compromise of forces outside of the band having a hand in production. Most of the time, it’s to both party’s benefit. But you can’t help but note the enthusiasm with which Howard speaks of the band captaining themselves. “Sound & Color was a different experience, and because we didn’t have that pressure to produce an album, it was really just a band playing songs that they like,” she says. “[As a band] we don’t tend to hang out a bunch, though not because we don’t like each other. We live in the same town, so we get together easily to rehearse. We

have this basement with a whole rehearsal set-up there, everybody brings their amps and we try to musically figure out what we think is cool, what we’re into, show each other records. That’s how we reconnect. ‘What are you listening to?’ ‘Have you heard this?’ ‘Hell yeah, I’m into that too’.” We see each other less now, but it isn’t because we’re getting tired of playing. It’s just that after all of this time, we’re much more focused, whereas when we used to get together it was like, ‘Whatever, if we play we play, if we don’t, we don’t.’ But we’re one of those bands who just like so much stuff,” she laughs. “For this [album] we decided to try and put it all in there.” While their first album brought almost universal acclaim, a common observation was that despite their early strengths, Alabama Shakes were a band who’d yet to truly find the sound that would define them. Ostensibly a blues/soul/rock outfit, there was clearly space to stretch their wings, and as Howard explains, working out the kind of band they wanted to be was paramount. “We’re the kind of band that doesn’t have a real format at all in how we do things,” she explains. “I can’t tell where a song is going to come from. I spent a lot of time in my basement demoing songs, and then when we had rehearsal I’d show the others. And not all of them were cool, but the songs they did grab onto were also the ones that I was most excited about. A lot of songs happen that way, but then there are some that happen organically in the studio. We recorded 21 songs in total, and when it came time to cut the fat, it was easy. You could just tell that something wasn’t quite done. We have a lot of quality control between the four of us, and

if someone likes or dislikes a certain song, it’s for a good reason. We all rely on each other’s opinions because we all respect each other’s tastes. That’s important. Be open to what’s new or different. I don’t want to be a retro soul band. I want to be Alabama Shakes.” This sophomore album will likely go a long way to confirming that individuality; it’s a record of great variety (of sound and colour, you might say). Not that this is likely to be the band’s final form. Evolution is gradual, but insistent.

“The core is the four of us being musicians and helping each other through writing songs. I’m not going to sit here and say just because we had some success I’m a terrific songwriter. We’re all learning. Always learning.”

standing and no one is talking. It’s a good moment.” Sóley plays at Howler next Tuesday, which is part of the Brunswick Music Festival. Although touring has its hang-ups – separation from her one-year-old daughter being one of them – the amiable Icelander isn’t blind to the significance of traveling all the way to the antipodes to play music. “It’s going to be the farthest I’ve been, when I arrive, so I’m really looking forward to it,” she says. “It’s really nice to go to new countries to check [them off ]. You’re

like, ‘That’s done, that’s done.’ I think that’s really cool. To be able to travel so much and so far away to various places, it’s great.”

Catch ALABAMA SHAKES when they hit Bluesfest from Thursday April 2 to Monday April 6. Sound & Color is out now through Rough Trade/ Remote Control.

SÓLEY

By Augustus Welby

Sóley’s arrival into the pop music sphere wasn’t punctuated by fireworks and billboard advertisements. Much like the songs on her 2011 debut We Sink, Sóley made an understated entrance before unravelling her evocative charms. We Sink is a work of sparse composure, with Sóley’s deceptively sweet vocals sitting atop gently caressed piano and acoustic guitar. Beneath this veneer, however, exists a world of dreamlike imagery and striking notes of sadness. “It’s not very happy music,” says Sóley, with a laugh. “I make music all in minor keys, or most of it, so that’s probably the first sound of being a little sad. I like keeping the lyrics that way, being a little surreal and weird.” Prior to going solo, the Icelandic songwriter spent a few years playing piano in seven-piece indie-folk outfit Seabear. Then in 2010, Berlin’s Morr Music discovered a handful of her solo recordings, which gave rise to the Theater Island EP. We Sink followed soon after, catalysing a two-year touring campaign. It didn’t take long for Sóley to feel at home as a solo artist. “I’m kind of bossy, so it’s good for me to be solo,” she says. “It’s totally different being in a seven-piece band, where you have to share ideas and be ready if people don’t like your idea or want to change it. What I like about being solo is I can do whatever I want. But the bad part of it is that sometimes you stop seeing what you’re doing. You’re really focused on one part and you stop seeing the whole picture of it.” It’s more than three years since We Sink came out. While the record had a slow burn effect, a question mark has now emerged regarding a follow-up album. The good news is that parched palettes will be revived in May, when Sóley delivers her second LP Ask the Deep. “I was touring for more than two years without much break in between,” she says. “The first year I was touring, I was working, too – I was teaching music – so when I was at home I didn’t have time. When you’re at home, you have maybe two weeks off, you don’t rush to the studio and go and make music. It takes a lot of energy to tour so much. “Then I got pregnant, which was great but we weren’t planning on it. That was also another thing, because when I was pregnant I really didn’t feel any longing to create, which was really interesting. You give so much BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 34

to make a child, which is crazy.” Before the release of We Sink, Sóley had limited experience performing her solo compositions. Spending a couple of years on the road encouraged her to alter the sounds and instrumentation used on Ask the Deep. “I was trying to get rid of the piano being the main instrument,” says Sóley. “I was playing more organs and synths. I have a keyboard that is quite a good keyboard, but I never find live piano sounds on keyboards good. I was really tired of not being happy with the live sound of the piano. So that was the main reason. I think organs and synths, they sound better live than if I don’t have a grand piano.” In spite of the sonic remodelling, when it came to the songwriting itself, Sóley was cautious to prevent thoughts about the live show overriding her instincts. “We are three in the band ( Jón Óskar Jónsson on drums and Albert Finnbogason on keys/guitar) so I was definitely sometimes thinking, ‘I should do that instead of this,’ because it would probably work better live,” she says. “But I tried not to, because I think the album and live should be two different things. It just happens; now you know how your drummer plays, you find something that suits the band. I thought of what kind of styles we do live, but still I tried not to be like, ‘Oh I have to do this kind of song because it’s really poppy and it really works,’ or something like that.” Before the new record is released, Sóley and her twopiece band will make their first visit to Australia. The delicate and spacious nature of her songs recommends a hushed atmosphere at her shows. Fortunately, this tends to be what she gets. “I’m really lucky with the audience that come to my shows,” she says. “They really listen. Of course I like to have the space and I also really like to hear the silence. It’s nice to be on stage and have a few hundred people

DISCUSS WHAT? BEAT.COM.AU/DISCUSSION

SÓLEY is playing at WOMAdelaide on Saturday March 7 and Sunday March 8. She’s also playing at Howler as part of The Brunswick Music Festival on Tuesday March 10. Krómantík is out now through Morr Music.

BALKAN BEAT BOX

By Krissi Weiss

“It’s a beautiful, sunny day. We’ve all been able to come back out after a terrorist attack and some bombings, so I’m really glad we didn’t miss such a gorgeous sky.” These are the opening words from Tamir Muskat, founding member of gypsy punk/electronica outfit Balkan Beat Box, from his home in Tel Aviv. It’s a stock-standard interview opener: “What are you doing today?” but his response is as unique as his group’s music. I shouldn’t be surprised though, the reality of life in Israel has always been the lyrical focus of BBB’s tracks. Their life may’ve deviated through the heady streets of Brooklyn for what Muskat describes as a “musical and life education,” but their home permeates everything they do. While some of their audience might confuse their infectious beats and gypsy melodies for cultural appropriation, BBB are the real deal and their connections to their musical influences are deeply ingrained. “They say that people that love in hard places are happier, I don’t know but maybe,” he says with a laugh. “When this surrounds you, it’s like it increases life. You see how fragile everything is. But really, nothing makes sense about it. Nothing makes sense to what it sounds like when I tell you about my day.” BBB are all back in Tel Aviv now, having left America a while ago. With Muskat, a drummer with a punk background, and fellow founding member Ori Kaplan from more classically trained beginnings, the pair bonded early in Brooklyn as teenagers, finding their feet in a foreign city while still haunted by the reality of the life they’d left behind. Their music is deceptively joyful and full of explosive energy masking the stories they tell. Despite an ever-growing fanbase, the now trio (with the permanent addition of Tomer Yousef ) often appealed to a dedicated but somewhat niche crowd. Things changed in 2013 when BBB reached a massive mainstream crowd via Mac Miller’s sampling of Bulgarian Chicks on his Diplo-produced track, Goosebumpz, and Jason Derulo sampling Hermetico on his massive hit, Talk Dirty. “The main thing that always influences the music is how we were raised and where,” says Muskat. “The three of us were brought up here but then ran out for obvious reasons, so we’ve had this detour in our lives. I spent 15 years in New York and then I realised home is home and so came back. 80 per cent of the lyrics are talking about this weird life we were brought into, the conflicts and the politics – these things are in the DNA of us as people. We could write a love song if we wanted to, once in a while, but how and where we grew up is always penetrating the lyrics. We don’t think about things genre-wise, we don’t care about these things.” The collision of culture also permeates their music on a melodic level. “We don’t have a filter, so whatever music is surrounding us is more than welcome to come in,” he says. “Walking down a street in Tel Aviv, you’ll hear folk music in one street and M.I.A. in another pumping out some speakers and that is what we’re surrounded by. Death is always there as well, so that is always finding its way into our music – not to be too heavy.” Since returning to Tel Aviv, Muskat has been working hard at developing local artists. He’s taken on the role of mentor, opened up a studio – Vibromonk East – where he’s producing artists, both local and from around the world, and acting as an ambassador for Israeli talent. It would be ignorant to assume the group would simply want to stay in America forever, but of course to an outsider, Israel seems quite scary at times. “Each member would tell a different story as to why they came back home, but for me, New York was like a university with all of its art and music and of course, much less conflict,” he says. “After a while though, our families are here and it’s really sunny and the food is great and you think, ‘Fuck it, I’m going to commit to dealing with where I’m from somehow.’ It’s not an easy task. Even after six years, I still love this place and I hate it. When you run as far as you can from a place that bugs you, it’s still in you. It’s in your blood, it’s in your accent, it’s in the food and the weather you like, so you find peace with it. Balkan Beat Box started when we were free from the war zone in New York, and while we could’ve done love songs, we chose to use it to deal with where we were from. Now we are back here. It felt very natural to be here and do what we wanted to out of here.” The band are prolific tourers and constantly working on side projects, but Muskat says they have some new music coming together as well. “As a band, we’re constantly touring and constantly recording as well,” he says. “Israel is a great playground for experimenting with our music, which has been great. We do have three people who constantly have other side projects, so we are very busy, but that is what holds us together. This is our main baby and whatever else we work on always effects what we do here; we bring those influences into this space.”

BALKAN BEAT BOX will be at The Prince Bandroom Thursday March 12 supported by Dubmarine and JackJackJack. They’re also a part of the massive WOMADelaide lineup from Friday March 7 to Monday March 9. WATCH INTERVIEWS, CHATS & AWKWARD SILENCES..... WWW.BEAT.COM.AU/TV

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 35

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA

By Krissi Weiss

Some musical combinations defy all explanations as to why they work. Take Mexican duo Rodrigo y Gabriela. Growing tired of metal, they took their love of seriously heavy music and wedged it into an acoustic duo format, replete with flamenco influence and sans vocals. Instead of finding success in their home country of Mexico, it would be Ireland where the band first enjoyed commercial success, beating out Johnny Cash and Arctic Monkeys for the #1 spots on the album charts. They have all the hallmarks of a niche band, playing only to diehard fans and avant-garde music lovers, but the pair have played everywhere from Glastonbury to T in the Park. People love them. Most importantly, they’ve never veered from what they do best. Last year’s album, 9 Dead Alive, enjoyed global success (peaking at #22 on the US charts). It was a concept album, a celebration of individuals who’ve passed away but whose lives still resonate in the 21st century and with Rodrigo (Sanchez) and Gabriela (Quintero). While the duo are enjoying a little break before bringing their ineffable live show to Australia, Sanchez is acclimatising in Norway – the perfect preparation for Australia. “I’m working on a project; I’m not here for the purpose of working on it I just wanted to be here,” Sanchez chuckles. “My girlfriend lives here and I decided to begin working in the studio.” So are Rodrigo y Gabriela getting ready for another release already? “No, we’re doing a lot of different collaborations this year; I’m all over the place,” he says. “I’m trying to concentrate on a few at the moment. We have about eight coming up. It’s interesting to be working on such different styles of music.” Sanchez and Quintero have built an insular creative environment – they not only write and tour with just the two of them, but they often record on their own – so collaborating must be both a welcome relief and challenge. “It’s all a learning process but the kinds of collaborations we’re working on aren’t usually set up via our record label,” he says. “They’re friends and musicians that we know and we respect and we like each other’s work... It’s a good time for a lot of musicians to be off. I got a little too excited and contacted a lot people, but it’s great because we don’t really have any deadlines.” While Sanchez is excited about all of his collaborations,

he does have some friends in high places and a few projects are to be kept under wraps. “I don’t know if you know metal – Marty Friedman – he was part of Megadeth for a while, I’m doing some stuff with him,” he says. “There are a few things that we are not allowed to say – I know that is stupid – but they are big stars so we keep those quiet. We are also working on the soundtrack for a documentary for Jaco Pastorius that Robert Trujillo [Metallica] is working on... There are just so many different styles of music – some of them we are not so comfortable with, for example we are more comfortable with the metal – but it is really great for us.” Life on stage began on the street – busking in Dublin – infectious and insanely energetic live shows are how this duo was born and the ethos they follow to this day. They’re nothing if not an utterly brilliant lie. Nonetheless, when you’re playing in excess of 100 gigs a year, it becomes so important to remain spontaneous. With this the band’s sixth time in the country, I ask what they have planned for their live shows. “It’s funny, because when we are touring through the year we tour and then we do the festivals here,” he says. “But when we come to Australia, it is usually only once every two years and the festivals are when it feels to us to be the off season and then in the middle we’re doing some of our own so we go with the flow with it all even though it feels all a little different. We’ve played the Byron festival before so we think we will go with the flow and feel the energy of the audience. We won’t write a set

list; actually we haven’t been writing a set list for a year. It’s cool, we invite fans to tell us what they want to hear and we like the atmosphere; we feel more a part of the show. We were like that and we’ve been touring for 15 years, so you can get close to getting bored. Having a set list can send you crazy because you can over focus on what you’re playing. You know it so well that it’s like you cannot move and you’re not connecting with what you’re doing.”

THE POP GROUP

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA will be playing at The Palais on Tuesday April 7. They’re also a part of the huge Bluesfest lineup playing Saturday April 4 and Sunday April 5. 9 Dead Alive is out now through Warner.

By Cassandra Kiely

Post-punk provocateurs The Pop Group have just released their first album in 35 years. Produced by long-time fan Paul Epworth, Citizen Zombie is thick with heterogeneity; drawing on influences from the experimental avant-garde, free jazz and heavy dub. The record ebbs and flows through a synthesis of sound; where energetic highs intersect with moody nadirs of ominous terrain. The production is incisive, forming a strategic background where Mark Stewart can transmit his ideological librettos. With a political and social conscience, The Pop Group continue to provoke, further establishing their relevance as one of the most significant bands of post-punk and of today. Reforming at the behest of The Simpson’s creator Matt Groening for All Tomorrow’s Parties, The Pop Group maintained close contact throughout their three decade long sabbatical. “We were mates before the band,” says Stewart. “Bristol is a small place, you can’t really get away from each other.” The lads decided to put out some reissues and Stewart thought, “If we are going to put some old stuff out again, we should put some new stuff out for our own sanity. Then suddenly I got this phone call from Matt Groening asking us to play ATP.” Everything seemed to align in kismet, with Stewart musing; “Nowadays there’s lots of cool people from our generation in positions of power who can make things happen. It’s not really them and us anymore, there are secret Pop Group fans all over the world.” Known for pushing boundaries, The Pop Group act as critical response to the world of digital sleepwalking. Whether referencing Hermetic thought, or the Situationists, the band always strived to be an explosion in the heart of the commodity. The aim is to exist within the system as an actual pop group while subverting the principles associated with mainstream culture. In the post-Thatcher conservative government of England, these ideals are still as relevant as ever. Change is in our hands, Stewart reflects, “We are building our own structures. In the beginning when we helped build Rough Trade, I fought for these independent rights. To not be under the whip of capital: to not be censored. I don’t want to be one of those holier-than-thou experimental bands though; people will engage with the beast; but The Pop Group acts as an antidote. If the Dolls hadn’t played in England when we were young I’d still be working in a factory.” BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 36

Title track Citizen Zombie attacks these societal paradigms. “Taste is a form of personal censorship,” Stewart explains. “You should question why you’re deciding to do something because it may be the construct or conditioning you’ve got.” To reject that conditioning is of paramount importance. “We are living in a digital cave”, says Stewart. “The more people are zoning out to their screens, the less they are interacting and arguing with each other. It’s important to keep yourself on your toes and do mental agility tests: to ask yourself what you want and why you want it. Politics begins in yourself; no matter how cool or edgy you think you are, you have to keep mentally fit and agile and keep aware of other things happening in the world. Humans need to be involved with what’s happening on our planet. It’s humanity, not politics.” Stewart upholds the notion that music has the power to create change within a society. The song Mad Truth reflects this sentiment, a bouncy disco bop that acts like a call to arms to mankind, encouraging us all to stand up for what we believe in. “Music is an energy and nutrient,” states Stewart. “It gives you energy. Sometimes you can feel the atoms – we are alive.” Other parts of the record are broody and atmospheric, twinkling with soft sentimentality. Nowhere Girl was influenced by a wave of music called Isolationism; it echoes through subtle tomes, layered to create a cavernous dub effect. An excursion through light and shade, the record permeates with drama and emotion. Living in Berlin now, Stewart likens Citizen Zombie to the Turkish singers on TV there, so expressive of their art they almost cry while singing. “In England, men don’t get emotional,” reflects Stewart. “We are playing

with those emotions.” Sensation and risk are fundamentals of The Pop Group’s philosophy. Stewart employs a Dada-esque approach to his lyrics, tapping into the subconscious stream through chance procedures. Applying Brian Eno’s Oblique Strategies to break normality, Stewart sees music as a doorway into the other: “How many times can I say, ‘I love you baby’? The rock catalogue is so limiting, it’s bizarre.” Through formulating an alchemical approach to songwriting, The Pop Group enters the realm of the

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other. Stewart understands that music can be a doorway with the potential to generate new modes of thinking. “Something happens, not through trying but it really happens with this band,” he says. “You shouldn’t try to bottle that stuff and trademark it. It comes from everyone and it’s free.” THE POP GROUP will hit The Corner Hotel on Saturday March 7. Citizen Zombie is out via Freaks R Us/Rocket.

PARQUET COURTS

By Navarone Farrell

Parquet Courts, beginning in smoky dive bars, where singer Andrew Savage is adamant the band exists in its most pure form, take on the persona of the Brooklyn hipster with ease ± the next big thing in retro-revival rock and roll, even the promise of playing Coachella doesn’t impress the dark and enigmatic frontman. Parquet Courts? “It’s referencing a parquet basketball court, so outside of America it’s not a widely understood ± even in America, sometimes people don’t get it. What I’m talking about is a parquet basketball court. Unless I’m talking about a court of Parkay margarine, which is sometimes what I’m referring to,” Savage drawls, with the air of having told the story a thousand times. But it’s cool, and it’s obscure, it’s probably what piques most peoples’ interest about the band initially. Started in 2010, the oddly-named quartet produced their first cassette staying true to their oeuvre, “Cassettes are cheap… It makes more sense to make 100 cassettes for a band’s first release rather than 500 LPs.” The band’s fourth release, Content Nausea, contains a hoedown-worthy cover of These Boots, originally by Nancy Sinatra. “That’s the number one tool in my karaoke arsenal. It’s been in my repertoire for years. I’m pretty fascinated with karaoke and karaoke culture, it’s been an influence… There’s karaoke references in other Parquet Court songs, I felt like it was a good fit and I really like singing the song, I think I do a pretty good job at it.” Content Nausea, the band’s second release for 2014, was, despite what one would think, not a particularly heavy undertaking, “For the most part, we wrote and recorded it in two weeks in last October, so it was a really quick turnaround. We went in to record a 7-inch and we walked out with an LP. I don’t know if I consider it like a proper LP, it’s a little bit short… It’s about 25 minutes, [but] I wanted to get it out before I got tired of it,” Savage reflects. With almost peerless reviews from the usually finicky Pitchfork and Rolling Stone, Savage seems less impressed than ever. “A lot of the worst reviews are the ones that

are laudatory but in a blind way, where you can tell the only reason they’re writing about us is because we’re a hip band at the moment and it’s cool to be on the Parquet Courts bandwagon. I can see through that bullshit pretty easily. That’s the most annoying thing, where there’s just a lot of blind praise that doesn’t come out of any critical view. I’ve taken to heart some things that people have said about the band, but if there’s some true insight and intelligence behind it, I’m not offended. More, it’s a good lesson to learn,” Savage peters off. When questioned about the label garage rock that said websites seem to bandy about so well, Savage fires up: “I love a lot of garage bands, and I’ve been influenced by a ton of them over the years, and when I first started getting into punk music, I had a pretty heavy garage phase. I like what people call garage rock, but it’s all rock to me. I try not to focus on labels because once you start to identify yourself with a label, it’s like the tail wagging the dog and you’re writing to conform to this label, whereas if you’re just writing purely out for the sakes of creativity, maybe even new labels come out of that. I hope, as Parquet Courts continues being a band, there’ll be our own term for the kind of music we make, but I can’t really complain about being a garage band. I don’t have a garage, none of my friends have a garage, a lot of people in New York don’t even have cars.” Despite releasing Sunbathing Animal and Content Nausea, other members having children, school etc, Savage seems calmed by the potential of touring: “I love touring. It’s something I’ve been doing for years, whether it was practical or not. To me, it’s part of being in a band. It’s what bands do. It comes with the territory. It’s been a part of my life for the better part of

a decade now, so I look forward to it.” And finishing their tour by playing Coachella, is that a dream come true? “Not at all, really. Hell, what do I know about Coachella? It’s always been one of those big festivals that happen and I never really look into it. This is the first year that I’ve looked at a Coachella lineup. I’m excited to go to the desert, and I’m looking forward to the interim weekend off where I’m going to be hanging out in the desert, but big festivals like that are something I never really aspired to do. It’s cool, it’s an honour to be asked, I’m sure it’ll be fun, ‘cause those things usually are, but it’s not where Parquet Courts

exists in our true form. We exist in a bar really. That’s where rock music ought to be played… I’m sure it’ll be an experience. We’ll have some stories from it.”

headlining dates in the surrounds of some truly luscious theatres. Even after several years of visiting, the excitement and awe never seems to lose its touch for Johanna. “It’s been nothing but fantastic from the start,” she says. “We came over for the first time in 2010, just doing some really small shows, and they all sold out. We had absolutely no idea that people had even heard of us in Australia. That seemed like such a bizarre thing to us. It’s across on the other side of the world ± that felt completely unheard of. Our Australian fans and the friends that we’ve made there would have to be

some of our best in the whole world. We love triple j, we love Melbourne, we want to move there... This isn’t something that we say about every country. We really do love it so much over there.”

PARQUET COURTS are playing at The Hi-Fi this Friday March 6, then head to Golden Plains from Saturday March 7 to Monday March 9. Sunbathing Animal is out through Remote Control/Rough Trade.

FIRST AID KIT

By David James Young

“I just woke up.” Morning has broken in Stockholm, native city for sibling troubadours First Aid Kit. The elder of the two sisters, vocalist/keyboardist Johanna Söderberg, is doing the morning report; her voice hazy, occasionally mumbled, but she also seems happy and sure of herself. The band’s third studio album, Stay Gold, dropped in the middle of 2014. It received a strong critical reception and an even stronger commercial one, cracking the Top Ten in five different countries. Despite this, the Söderbergs knew it was always going to take a lot of work to follow-up their previous album, 2012’s The Lion’s Roar. The weight of expectation, says Johanna, could have broken them ± but they made a point of not letting it. “We tried not to think about it,” she says. “You’ve got to write for yourself ± if you don’t do that, you’re going to lose your creative spark. It was really tough, though ± there was a block of time where we thought there may not even be an album. We had to let go and not think too much about it ± I can’t think of a particular moment where it turned around, but it took a lot of time. We thought that if we didn’t finish it then and there, we’d never get it done ± it was something that we did for ourselves more than anything.” Stay Gold was what got the Söderbergs touring around the world again. Some of the more left-of-centre highlights of their year, however, came from more unexpected places. Having already performed on television for the big guns ± David Letterman, Jools Holland and Conan O’Brien ± there was only really one more mountain left to climb: Ellen DeGeneres. “It was amazing,” gushes Johanna on First Aid Kit’s first-ever visit to the world-famous eponymous morning talk show. “Ellen heard us on the radio in her car ± that’s how we got on the show. She asked for us to come on the show while we were on our US tour, and it all came together with really short notice. I can’t believe how sweet she was to us. She was watching our soundcheck in her pyjamas. It’s a very big show, but I think the crowd really got into it.” They all went home with a copy of Stay Gold, right? “That’s right,” she laughs. The Söderbergs have started 2015 by getting the backs of their heads licked. No, really ± just last week, the band were featured on a series of limited edition postage stamps in Sweden. It may seem a bizarre thing

to even discuss, but it’s just ± pardon the pun ± part and parcel of Swedish pop culture according to Söderberg: “We do a lot of fun stamps in Sweden ± we have soccer players and pop stars. That’s how we roll,” she says nonchalantly. “We haven’t seen the actual physical ones yet, but the designs look amazing. It’s going to be so weird to lick one of those for the first time.” Wild, the new movie starring Reese Witherspoon, has just hit cinemas here in Australia. If you do make it along to a screening, make sure you listen out for a musical appearance from First Aid Kit. As a part of the film’s soundtrack, the Söderbergs were asked to cover a relatively-obscure track from R.E.M. The song is called Walk Unafraid, which comes from the band’s 1998 album Up, a record, it must be mentioned, that was released when guitarist Klara Söderberg was all of five years old. “I hadn’t really listened to R.E.M. at all,” confesses Johanna, “but they approached us and we somehow made it work. The original version of the song has a very different feel compared to the way that we ended up doing it. It was quite a challenge, actually. It’s a tricky song, but I think we incorporated it into our style.” Surely covering the legendary Athens band would have sparked a further investigation into their 30-year-plus canon of work? “No, actually,” she replies with a nervous laugh. “I know their famous songs from when I was a kid, but I don’t really know all that much more. Maybe I should look into them?” March will see the sisters back in Australia once again. As well as appearances at Golden Plains and WOMADelaide, they’ll take in some of their biggest

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Catch FIRST AID KIT at The Palais on Friday March 6, WOMADelaide from Friday March 6 to Monday March 9 and also at Golden Plains from Saturday March 7 to Monday March 9. Stay Gold is out now via Sony. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 37

THE POST OFFICE HOTEL’S FIFTH BIRTHDAY

By Soph Goulopoulos

The Post Office Hotel is celebrating their fifth birthday this long weekend. Now a Coburg institution and the home of Coburg Lager, they’ll be opening the doors to their beloved regulars, locals and first-time visitors for their biggest birthday yet by throwing an all-day party on Sunday and everyone’s invited. Yes, that means you. As part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, The Backyard Banquet is all about celebrating five awesome years with what The PO Hotel does best: spectacular, seasonal food and rocking live music the whole family can enjoy. We caught up with The PO Hotel’s General Manager, Danial Caneva, to find out what the ride’s been like. A huge renovation in 2010 restored much of the old girl’s original art deco features, breathing new life into The Post Office Hotel. Caneva describes this demanding time as one of his personal highlights. “Opening was pretty quite a big achievement,” he says. “We renovated in a month, it was silly thing to try and do but with the help of family and friends, we got it open.” The aim of the hotel is to be ever-evolving, and family oriented: there are some great pubs around Melbourne, but they’re places you wouldn’t necessarily bring your kids to. The constantly evolving nature of The PO Hotel is something Caneva and his team pride themselves on: the menu is always changing and the wine/beer list is always rotating. This continuous transformation is partly due to the fact that the head chefs have changed rather frequently. “When you change a head chef; it changes the whole personality of the venue,” he says. “[But] it’s also exciting when these changes happen… It’s more of a family venue than a drinking venue; it’s more about making everyone eat.” Pair this with the fact that the place is owned by a range of musical people ± Tex Perkins and Pat

Bourke and Shan Vanderwert from Dallas Crane are all part owners ± and you’ve got yourself the ultimate Melbourne hybrid venue. Although, “Tex Perkins has never actually poured a beer here,” says Caneva. An epic all-day feast is planned for this Sunday so patrons can eat ‘til their heart’s content, relax and listen to some great tunes. “We’re hiring nine spits to accommodate the nine to 20 animals we’re cooking throughout the day,” Caneva enthuses. All in a day’s work, we guess. Chefs will be tending the spits in the beer garden from open to close, serving up the best produce from their local butchers, with a range of tasty, seasonal side dishes for various diets and preferences. The restaurant world is constantly at odds with the seemingly short attention span of diners, so in such a volatile hospitality landscape, how does The PO keep people coming back? Caneva emphasises that it’s important to keep both the team and the patrons interested. “We do like to mix it up,” says Caneva. “Head Chefs Taylor [Mrsich] and Julian [Bell] are heading off to Singapore over Easter to work at [Michelin-star] Bacchanalia… We will then do a dinner at The Post

PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL

Office Hotel in August with Mark Ebbels, one of the chefs doing dishes from Singapore.” In terms of music for Sunday, POH DJs will be providing the tunes to the back deck, while local favourites Spoonful, La Bastard and Mick Dog’s Bone Yard will keep the front bar rocking well into the evening. Looking forward, what does Caneva hope the

next five, ten, 15 years will be like? “To continue having fun,” he says. I’m pretty proud we’ve achieved five years, I always thought we’d do it.”

written, recited, sung and shouted forms. Special words artists who will be present at the festival include Jim Haynes, Geoffrey W. Graham, Laurie McDonald, Maggie Somerville, and Stephen Whiteside. The APRA’s AMCOS Songwriter Speaks forums, with their intriguing interview-style sessions, will provide valuable insights into the craft of songwriting. There will be superb workshops on African drumming, Irish fiddle playing, Sudanese culture, finger-picking techniques, gypsy jazz guitar, studio recording, songwriting in the blues tradition, ukulele playing, Canadian dancing, circus skills, tai chi and yoga. An incredible range of performances will take place alongside the main music program, including the Folk Circus and wonderful fringe street performers. There’s also CRAFTworX in the Children’s Arena while the INSTRUMENTworX marquee features an interactive exhibition for festival attendees to learn about an

instrument’s beautiful craftsmanship from its masterly maker.

The festivities at THE POST OFFICE HOTEL kick off at 11am on Sunday March 9 at 229-231 Sydney Road, Coburg.

By Christine Lan

The coastal town of Port Fairy features captivating Norfolk pines, 19th century cottages and old stone churches, but its famed annual festival, the Port Fairy Folk Festival, is its most charming and engaging feature. Now in its 39th year, the Port Fairy Folk Festival remains one of the country’s most enduring festivals due to its unique musical, artistic and cultural performances and workshops, which draw thousands of music fans over the Labour Day long weekend. Featuring a diverse line-up of international and local artists spanning folk, roots, jazz, blues, soul, country, bluegrass, rock, funk and world music, its musical line-up has grown from its focus on Irish music to an impressively diverse musical offering. A highlight of this year’s festival is Sudanese-Australian artist Ajak Kwai, whose deep, amazing vocals communicate her experiences as an African refugee, whether singing in Arabic, Sudanese or English. With her incredible, haunting voice and vibrant, funky soul, festival attendees must catch Kwai’s performances and workshops. Ireland’s most iconic artist Sinéad O’Connor continues to command the stage and push boundaries after 30 years. The inimitable and beguiling singer/songwriter will deliver a visceral and emotional performance at this year’s festival, which will include tracks from her latest album, I’m Not Bossy, I’m The Boss. Described by The Guardian as “one of the most successful and versatile songwriters of the last halfcentury,” Canadian artist Buffy Sainte-Marie will be a powerful and mesmerising presence at the festival. Don’t miss Frank Yamma ± one of Australia’s most important Indigenous songwriters ± who captures the heart of our country with his evocative songs. After a recent international tour and winning the ARIA for Best Blues and Roots Album, the John Butler Trio will thrill audiences with their dynamic live performance. Luluc released one of last year’s finest albums with Passerby and will enchant audiences with their wondrously tender and thoughtful folk songs. Lamine Sonko and The African Intelligence will be exhilarating with their blend of funk, Afrobeat, jazz, BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 38

soul, reggae and salsa. The festival’s theme concerts feature artists sharing the microphone and stage in unique performances with magical spontaneity. Don’t miss the Global Blues Convention, which will feature powerful soul music and the deep gospel and blues traditions from Fiona Boyes, Jan Preston, Jo Jo Smith, Christine Anu, Hat Fitz and Cara Robinson; Women Sing Out, which features Catherine Britt, Ami Williamson, Microwave Jenny, Ruth Moody, Ajak Kwai, Luluc, Chris While and Julie Matthews; and My Guitar Gently Weeps, which brings together Justin Bernasconi, Peter Fidler, Jodi Martin, Jordie Lane, Marlon Williams, The Yearlings, and Michael Fix. Special features of this year’s Port Fairy Folk Festival include ‘Farewell Angelina, A Bob Dylan and Joan Baez Tribute’ in which Suzette Herft and Patrick Evans summon the magic of the iconic folk duo; Music of Rajasthan with Maru Tarang ± Australian artists Jeff Lang and Bobby Singh met Asin Langa and Bhungar Manganiyar in the deserts of Rajasthan in India and their intertwining talents evolved into a splendour that all must witness; and Caledonia Downunder, where Fiona Ross, Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Hass and the Melbourne Scottish Fiddlers transport listeners to Scotland. The festival includes insightful events that celebrate the beauty and art of words through its spoken,

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PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL takes place at various venues across the town of Port Fairy from Friday March 6 to Monday March 9. The incredible musical line-up includes Sinéad O’Connor, Ajak Kwai, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Mark Seymour & The Undertow, The Black Sorrows, John Butler Trio, Richard Thompson, Charlie Musslewhite Band, Ruth Moody, Sharon Shannon Band, Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson, Alisdair Fraser & Natalie Hass, Marlon Williams, Jeff Lang, Jordie Lane, Frank Yamma, Christine Anu, Luluc, Edwina Hayes, Ami Williamson, The Yearlings, Wagons, Skipping Girl Vinegar, and We Two Thieves.

PURITY RING

By Keats Mulligan

When Purity Ring shifted into gaze of popular music, it was hard to avoid them; they came in with a thud. They were being featured regularly on every blog in the known universe and on every worthwhile indie festival bill in North America, but in the age of the ‘buzz-band,’ popularity is fleeting and success is measured in ‘clicks’ and ‘likes.’ There are constant and heavy swells of new content, thrusting new and unassuming faces into the limelight, and pulling them away again before they’ve had the opportunity to really announce themselves and make a discernable mark. It’s not a particularly comfortable environment for an artist to exist in. For the punter, the increasing superficiality of the music machine mightn’t be so apparent, but for artists, it’s a very real and present danger. Fortunately for Purity Ring, they’ve maintained their relevance. They’ve moved from ‘buzz-band’ to a place of more legitimacy. Still, as vocalist Megan James explains, being an artist in today’s age is a temperamental and sometimes frightening career choice. “I feel comfortable with this as a career right now, but I definitely feel like it could be taken away at any moment,” James explains from LA. “The structure that it’s based on isn’t totally there or that I don’t trust it. It might last a long time, but bands [come and go] so quickly and easily. Still, for some reason I feel, or maybe hope that it’s not going to happen to us. It’s not the easiest career path, because there are so many indiscernible risks.” While James is aware of their loose footing in the indie music scene, she reassures herself by endeavouring to make music for her and bandmate Corin Roddick before they make it for anyone else. Making music in

line with the perceived expectations of taste-making blogs or record labels is a slippery slope. James is aware of this and hesitant to make this mistake. “There are elements that are a little bit creepy or scary, but I feel like those expectations aren’t made by us, they’re made by this all encompassing and ravenous Internet music machine. We made the first record because we did have success, but the whole way, we were making music we wanted to make. We might change again, I don’t know what will happen with the next record. It’s easy to be concerned about what people’s expectations are and feel vulnerable, but right now I’m comfortable with where we are. I have no interest in

NAYLORPALOOZA

choosing to make myself feel that vulnerable. The only way I can be comfortable and confident with it is if I know that I’ve made it for myself.” The release of Purity Ring’s album is eagerly awaited. Since they first moved into the popular sphere, their every move has been celebrated. Among their most popular releases was their collaboration on Belispeak II with Danny Brown, one of modern music’s most popular ‘larger than life’ characters. While the track is a collaborative effort, they didn’t work on it together in the same physical space. As is so often the case in the technological age, ideas and material were exchanged online. “We didn’t actually write it together, we just sent each other parts. We didn’t work that closely until we shot the video, and when that day came I was really shy. He’s every bit as much of a character as how he’s portrayed... What you imagine it would be like to hang out with Danny Brown is pretty much what it is like. I like him, I’m glad he’s around, I pay attention to everything he does and I think he’s a rad artist.”

When Purity Ring last came to Australia, they were here for Golden Plains, one of Australia’s most celebrated festivals. It’s a place that doesn’t often deal with buzz bands, and ordinarily has an eclectic lineup mixing old and contemporary acts that are seemingly bound by nothing but their ingenuity. Perhaps their place on that bill speaks volumes of them, where they are now and where they’re going. We’re hoping to see them back here soon, and by the sounds of it, they’re equally excited to come back. “We loved it, I have a lot of family there and Corin [Roddick] has a sister that lives there. We went early and spent a lot of time with people we don’t really get to see much anymore. It’s very similar to Canada in a lot of ways, so it feels very familiar. We had some of the best food and best coffee we’ve ever had there. The scenery isn’t so much what reminds me of Canada; it’s the people that remind me of home.”

career. The covers shows at the start of the week will provide optimal insight into the sounds that informed Naylor’s songwriting style, which bagged Even a relatively modest but exceptionally loyal following in the twilight years of last century. “We’ve always considered ourselves a band on the fringe of every scene,” Naylor says. “We were never hip enough to be the cool band of the ’90s. I like being a fringedweller, because mainstream society’s pretty stale. “We’ve been very fortunate,” he adds. “A lot of similar bands from that era didn’t really get a shot at triple j. We got a really good run with triple j that set us up nationally, albeit on a very small scale. I try to think less about it as I get older, because none of it really matters. The only thing that matters is the music. It’s not how much money I’ve got in the bank or if I’ve got an ARIA or not. Those things don’t reflect the art.” For much of the last decade Naylor’s been a member of Paul Kelly’s touring band, and just this year he’s joined his mate Pete Luscombe in the RocKwiz Orchestra. Interestingly enough, in his younger years Naylor was reluctant to avail himself for other people’s projects.

Evidently, he’s changed his tune in recent years. “Since Even became less active, I’ve become an adaptable team player,” he says. “When Even was at its peak, I was fully focused on being the guy. But that has its pitfalls as well, because I just become so selfobsessed that I drive myself crazy. With the advent of parenthood and the extraction of my own head out of my own you-know-what, I became a little more balanced and not so egocentric. I want to be remembered as a great songwriter, sure, but I’m not going to sacrifice certain things to make that happen.” Nevertheless, Even remains his most prized outlet. “I love doing everything that I do musically, but my favourite thing in the world is making an Even album,” he says. “That’s the absolute mountaintop for me. I’m so lucky I get to do all those other things that feed that and allow it to happen. It gives me the freedom to buy myself some time to do that.”

PURITY RING’s Another Eternity is out through Remote Control.

By Augustus Welby

Some musicians simply won’t sit still. Look at Kim Salmon, Steve Albini, Matthew Dear and Al Montfort; people who’re constantly involved with a handful of projects at once. Melbourne’s Ashley Naylor is another muso whose multi-tasking proclivity makes it hard to keep track of everything he’s doing. Fortunately, the folks at The Yarra Hotel realised this and next week they’ll host the inaugural Naylorpalooza. The week worth of events will let Naylor showcase several (but not all) of his incumbent projects. Kicking off on Monday night, Naylor teams up with You Am I’s Davey Lane and drummer Brett Wolfenden (Dirty York, Davey Lane Band) to form Marshmallow Overcoat. “It’s all ‘60s covers,” says Naylor. “[Davey and I] share vocals and we share bass and guitar. Brett sings a couple of songs. It’s just pure joy.” Tuesday night brings together another all-star collective, The Underlings, which features seasoned session men Peter Luscombe on drums, Bruce Haymes on keys and Steve Hadley on bass. “I call ourselves a mature age cover band,” Naylor says. “That’s a band that plays whatever it feels like. We can play Todd Rundgren or Hall & Oates or The Beatles or Led Zeppelin or Stevie Wonder.” Wednesday night’s gig will comprise a stripped-back performance from Naylor and The Anyones’ Steve Pinkerton, alongside the rock-nerd novelty that is Solid Gold Bingo. “We did this duo thing last year at the Yarra, basically we just do ‘60s-‘70s covers,” Naylor explains. “Mick Thomas [Yarra Hotel owner/ ex-Weddings, Parties, Anything] thought it’d be great to incorporate some element of trivia into that and make it a bingo night. It was actually quite a lot of fun. We play our favourite songs but we play them in a duo format and that creates restrictions, but within those restrictions we

try to maximise the sound of two people playing.” Things begin to heat up on Thursday night thanks to a performance from The Grapes. Naylor initiated the psych-country project in the late ‘90s with fellow Melburnian songwriter Sherry Rich. In 2013, the pair released their second LP Western Sun. “It’s always a thrill to play with Sherry,” Naylor says, “and a thrill to play with a full band. Steve Pinkerton’s drumming and Doug Robertson, formerly of Ice Cream Hands, is playing bass. We’re surrounded by friends and it’s a beautiful experience playing music with all those people.” Then comes the main event; Friday and Saturday nights will encompass a double header of Even shows. Since the mid-‘90s, Naylor and his Even cohorts, bassist Wally Kempton and drummer Matthew Cotter, have released six albums. With two sets each night, they’ll have time to unearth plenty of old favourites. “We won’t repeat a song,” Naylor says. “For those supporters of the band, they’ll get two nights of different material. There’ll be absolutely no order to it. It’ll just be purely what we feel like playing at the time.” It’s only fitting for Naylorpalooza to conclude with these two gigs, as Even is the band that launched Naylor’s

ELEKTRIK DYNAMITE

Wrestlerock returns to The Corner Hotel on Labour Day Eve Sunday March 8. In an Aussie first, resident Wrestlerock’s ‘Loose Cunt’ Adam ‘Brooksy’ Brooks will be tying the knot with girlfriend/valet Kelly Anne. Yep, there will be an actual wedding in the centre of the wrestling ring. Adam and Kelly sat down with Electrik Dynamite, who will be bringing the roof down with two explosive sets of party metal. Q-Kelly Anne; I was gonna ask you how long you guys have been together but I don’t think life is about the past, it’s about the future. I know Brooksy and I will be together forever, how long do you think

youse guys will be playing together (as a band)? A-Duane (Bass): Together is forever, and a sincere rock‘n’roll congratulations from us at Electrik Dynamite. Ideally, we’ll be playing together forever as well ± whether it’s this lineup, or another lineup (we’ve gone through enough as it is). Nothing says heavy metal like old dudes still wearing spandex rocking out. I want to be that old uncle type, balding, spandex and cowboy boots scaring all the kids at my nephew’s fourth birthday. Q-Adam: So when we met, it was like the heavens opened, there were little boys floating about with harpsichords, we magically grew angel wings, Barbra

NAYLORPALOOZA is taking place at The Yarra Hotel every night from Monday March 9 to Sunday March 15.

ADAM BROOKS & KELLY ANNE Streisand was playing, so how did you guys meet? A-Duane: Holy hell, that sounds so awesome. But as Meat Loaf wasn’t the soundtrack, I’m kinda worried you didn’t get the perfect “love at first sight” moment. As for us, I’m the only original member ± I’ve known these dudes for a long time through various bands, parties, scenarios etc. The thing was though, when we all got together ± as this lineup ± and rocked that first riff, Meat Loaf started playing, and an angel squirted upon thy face. Q-Adam: I noticed you guys have been getting a bit ahead lately in the Melbourne music scene, much like me, what do you put this down to? A-Duane: I’ve been working on my Anaconda Choke, and flying Armbar, so we simply go around to promoters and intimidate them with our tight jeans and “strength in numbers” mentality, being a six-piece. If it all hits the fan, there’ll be shooting star presses off any tall objects until we walk out with a gig and lineup featuring all our friends’ bands rockin’ out with us. Q-Adam: Midnight Rider kicks some serious arse. It really struck a chord with me, besides like the chick in the song, Kel has long dark hair. It’s actually red but she has long hair and the roots are dark... Do you think

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

you’ll ever do a film clip with a chick with red hair? A-Duane: [Laughs] That chick is our good friend Michelle Minx. She’s a babe and a total legend. We’ll definitely do a clip with a chick with red hair, maybe it’ll involve a wrestling ring, and maybe a hero boyfriend who’s also a wrassla’, and then proposes to her atop a mountain of steel chairs. Q-Adam: Kel and I love music like Chisel, Barnsey and Angry Anderson, what kind of bands do you cunts love? A-Duane: The same, but you’re forgetting Farnsey. We’re always playing to win. Plus a whole lotta shit from Acca, to Maiden, Halen, through to brutal shit and even more melodic tunes. When you actually sit and listen to us, while it’s a lot of ‘80s gallops and harmonies, we definitely incorporate some of our other influence into our music. We don’t want to recreate something that was done so well in the past, we want to add to it with our own Ric Flair, and finish everything with a ‘Woo.’ Catch ELECTRIK DYNAMITE at the mighty Wrestlerock held at The Corner Hotel on Sunday March 8. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 39

THE BEARDS

By David James Young

When fans were introduced to The Beard Album, the fourth studio album from Adelaide’s premier hirsute heroes The Beards, the first song many heard was entitled All the Bearded Ladies. It’s a love song about the greatest love of all – from one beard to another – but it could well have been argued it had no base in reality. That all changed, however, when the band encountered such a character in the hairy flesh not too long ago. “We met a legitimate bearded woman on tour in Europe recently,” explains John Beardman, Jr., the band’s drummer. “It was in London, and it was this Sikh woman who had grown a full and healthy beard. We invited her to our show, and she told us that she loved it. It was a real step forward for our band – we want to make it clear that every person with a beard is very welcome at our shows.” It’s understandable to be curious about how the band handles their crowds now, who’ve expanded exponentially to the point of being an internationallyregarded phenomenon. How does the band deal with the bearded/non-bearded ratio at their shows? Should extreme measures be taken – perhaps a policy of ‘No beard = no entry’? “When we were first starting out, we used to let people with beards in for free and we wouldn’t let anyone in that didn’t have one,” says Beardman. “There came a point where we had to stop doing that, though – we came to the conclusion that we wanted to reach a broader audience. We realised that not only were we on financially unstable ground, we were preaching to the converted. People without beards needed to hear our songs more than anyone else did. It was at that point we reached a compromise. We now allow people with beards to come to our shows, but they have to stand up the back and face the other way. If any of us catch a glimpse of a beardless man, it throws us completely off our game.” Released in May last year, The Beard Album has been the band’s most successful record to date. It’s also their most bearded – quite literally, too. The entire album casing is covered in a beard, and the disc which contains the album is brimming with songs about beards – legendary beards, sexy beards, unemployed beards and even married beards. Exactly where does one go from

there in terms of making something even beardier? “A lot of people would think that after The Beard Album – and, indeed, after four albums about beards – that there was nothing left to say on the matter,” says Beardman dismissively. “For the record, I’d like to clarify that it couldn’t be further from the truth. I don’t think we’ve even begun to scratch the surface on how we feel about beards, really. We need a moment to ourselves to really get down to the heart of the matter. We’re about to go on tour one last time for this album, then we’re heading back over to Europe to do a few festivals. Once we’ve finished all that, we’re going to sit down and talk about beards, which will lead to writing about beards which will once again lead to singing about beards. The inspiration will flow from our faces, as majestically as a beard itself.” Forming on a whim in 2005 after all turning up to band practice in their previous band with beards, noone could have expected that The Beards – completed by vocalist/saxophonist/keytarist Johann Beardraven, guitarist Facey McStubblington and bassist Nathaniel Beard – would’ve evolved into the sensation you see before you today. It’s something that’s not lost on Beardman, who’s seen a lot of positive change in the world of facial hair in the land he calls home across the ten years The Beards have been active. “Ten years ago, Australia was a very different place for bearded men,” he explains. “A classic example is Woolworths – I once worked there and I’m not ashamed to admit it. When I was working there, it was against their policy to have a beard, so I couldn’t grow one. I went to my local Woolworths just yesterday, and the guy that served me in the deli had a massive beard. I was so proud. Society has come so far from a bearded perspective; it truly is an inspiration to us all.”

A national tour is coming up with party-starters The Stiffys, taking the band across the better part of the country once more before they head back over the pond to please their global beard-loving audience. Life is good for The Beards – better than it ever has been. Beardman is more than aware of this fact, and traces the reason behind it right back to where it all begins – his face, where his beard is. “The bigger that my beard has gotten, the better my life has gotten,” he testifies. “Before I had a beard, I was nothing – I wasn’t in a

band and I was working a dead-end job. Look at me now. Now, I have a beard and... Well, I don’t have a job. I probably need the money, now that I think about it.” THE BEARDS begin their Strokin’ My Beard tour with Karova Lounge in Ballarat on Wednesday March 18, then they play The Barwon Club in Geelong on Friday March 20 and The Hi-Fi on Saturday March 21. The Beard Album is out through MGM.

LUCA BRASI

By Augustus Welby

During the ‘90s alt-rock boom, the line between mainstream and underground became rather blurry. More to the point, outsiders, misfits and unruly rock’n’rollers were harvested by corporate tycoons, given stacks of money, and thrust onto pop’s big stage. However, that unlikely formula has since been scrapped – record company power isn’t what it used to be and transgressive rockers are no longer considered bringers of commercial fortune. While the business changed irrevocably, the availability of quality music didn’t concurrently dwindle. The thing is, nowadays taking the indie path isn’t so much an act of defiant rebellion as a necessary requirement for steadfast musicians to get anywhere. Without making a big brouhaha about it, Tassie fourpiece Luca Brasi are one of many crusading independent artists ruling Aussie rock at present. From small town beginnings and with punk rock as their weapon, the band are edging closer to the frontline. It’s been a steady climb rather than an overnight breakthrough, but they’ve done it with artistic integrity in tact and dedicated support from the underground community. Perhaps what’s most remarkable about Luca Brasi’s ascent is the foursome’s casual approach: “Our band’s a weird combination of trying really hard to be organised and be this well-oiled machine and also, stuff happens, we do get really lucky,” says guitarist Tom Busby. “I don’t want to cheapen our efforts – we do work really hard – but sometimes it’s like, ‘Woah, are you kidding me?’ “The more time passes, the more you learn,” he continues. “Booking a tour or whatever, you learn stuff or you know who to talk to if you have a question or if you need help. So we’re getting to be [a well-oiled machine]. I’m sure we’ll get there one day, hopefully.” This time last year, Luca Brasi released their second LP By A Thread. The record came bearing the stamp of Melbourne punk rock stable Poison City Records. Still, the outlook at the time of release was fairly modest. “We obviously had the initial plan to do a release tour, which we did with Post Blue last March,” Busby says. “Then it was like, ‘I guess we’ll do another headline tour towards the end of the year and try to get on a tour with a good band sometime in the middle of the year.’ We crossed our fingers and then we got to go on tour with Violent Soho.” Of greater significance for the band – which is completed by vocalist/bassist Tyler Richardson, guitarist Patrick Marshall and drummer Danny Flood – was the album content. Having now spent five years BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 40

together (albeit with the odd member switcheroo), it was time to broaden the width of their stylistic frame. “There was one moment when I wrote some riffs that were pretty different from what we were doing,” Busby says. “They were less punk, they were a bit more noodle-y. They were a bit more like that American Football [sound], and I like Tiny Moving Parts and those sorts of bands.” It’s no secret that fans of independent, left-of-centre bands have slightly different values than followers of mainstream acts. In the former case, fans are adamant that artists hang onto their deviant edge. However, this can give rise to a paradoxical conservatism, as any major style shifts are liable to be interpreted as a betrayal. “Someone once told me when they heard By A Thread that it’s heaps mellower,” Busby says. “Not everyone would agree with that. I wouldn’t necessarily agree with it. This was like a skate punk kid, his favourite band’s A Wilhelm Scream, so we probably sound like Mumford & Sons to him.” There are innumerable instances of bands heeding this external pressure and playing it safe, which led their music to progressively turn vapid. By A Thread is a marked step away from Extended Family, but it took some time before Luca Brasi were totally comfortable experimenting with new sounds. “Looking back, once we’d recorded By A Thread and it came out, I was like, ‘Woah this is actually a lot more different from our first album than I was expecting it to be,” Busby says. “It happened, but there was the time where we needed to run ideas past each other. I felt, ‘I don’t think anyone’s going to want to do this.’ We all had our little moments like that, but we were all like, ‘Nah that’s awesome, let’s keep doing that.’ “The song Here’s Looking At You Kid Rock, I had a demo on my computer that I didn’t even show anyone,” he elaborates. “It was two weeks before we had to go to the studio and I showed Tyler and he’s like, ‘That’s awesome.’ We’d only just got a new drummer, because Saxon [Hall] left the band, and we quickly learnt this song. It sounds nothing like we’ve ever done before, but

everyone was stoked to do it. So now it’s like, ‘If you’ve got an idea and you like it, let’s play around with it.’ It might not work out, but some of the time it does. “We still want to sound like our band,” he adds. “That punk rock drive that we’ve had from the start, we want to keep doing that, but throw a few curve balls in there maybe.”

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LUCA BRASI are hitting up Northcote Social Club on Saturday March 14 and Wrangler Studios (AA) on Sunday March 15. By A Thread is out through Poison City Records.

CORE

PUNK, SKA, HARDCORE NEWS, REVIEWS & GOSSIP

By Emily Kelly: ek1984@gmail.com Unsurprisingly, A Wilhelm Scream sold out their Melbourne show on Friday May 1, so they’ve announced a second for ya’ll on Thursday April 30 at The Evelyn. They’re on sale now and they’ll probably sell out too, especially since it was announced that you’ll be able to help choose their setlist for this show and local legends Anchors will be supporting. Yah. You heard right. Shoegaze gurus Postblue will be supporting Citizen on almost every show of their Australian tour this April. The Reverence show on Monday April 20 will also feature all star lineup Freak Wave and Tuesday April 21 all ages gig has nabbed assistance from Apart From This. Japanese noise rock band Boris have announced their return to the country. As an almost annual event now, the droney riff lords, have scheduled this lap for May and will arrive in Melbourne on Saturday May 30 to play at The Corner Hotel. Tickets for this one are available now. Melbourne’s Laura Palmer will team up with Berlin three-piece punk band Nowhere for an Australian tour this April. It’ll be Nowhere’s first visit when they arrive at The Old Bar on Saturday April 4. They’re also heading to Ballarat to smash out a Karova show on Wednesday April 8. Tickets for all shows will be available at the door and they’ll be free for the Ballarat show. If you caught Great Cynics supporting The Smith Street Band and was as impressed as I was about their performance, you’re gonna be stoked to know they’ll play a headlining date in Melbourne before they leave the country. The Reverence will host the gig on Wednesday March 4 and Freak Wave, The Union Pacific and Employment will be on hand to help. The gig will be just $10. See you there. Poison City have announced they’ve signed new Melbourne band Pale Heads for their debut album, due out on Sunday March 29. The band includes members of The Nation Blue, Batpiss, ex-The Drones and Bang! Bang! Aids! and they’ve scheduled in three shows in Melbourne over the next couple of months. See them at The Old Bar on Saturday March 28 for your first taste. Red Fang have announced their return to the country for the upcoming Cherry Rock bill. They totally blew me away on the Soundwave 2013 bill so I’m very keen to see them play this fine Melbourne tradition on Sunday May 10. Tickets are on sale now.

CRUNCH

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

With Peter Hodgson: crunchcolumn@gmail.com WEDNESDAY MARCH 4: Erica Freas, Fear Like Us, Hot Tears at Dane Certificate’s Magic Shop Great Cynics, Freak Wave, The Union Pacific, Employment at The Reverence Hotel THURSDAY MARCH 5: Little Lamb + The Rosemarys, The Girl Fridas, Theft at 24 Moons, Northcote Driven To The Verge, Ever Rest, Disaster Path, Earthender at Next Shadows At Bay, FNR, The DieCasts, Dojo Collectors at The Bendigo FRIDAY MARCH 6: From The Jam at Prince Bandroom Clowns, American Sharks at The Bendigo Hotel Heath Anthony, Ry Kemp, Maricopa Wells, Hound, Max Goes To Hollywood at Bar 303, Northcote SATURDAY MARCH 7: Erica Frears, Hot Tears at The Reverence Hotel Miles Away, Iron Mind, Apart From This, The Others, Sundial at The Reverence Hotel Foley, The Berkley Hunts, Georgia Maq, The Shadow League, Death Mountain, The Flying So High-O’s at The Old Bar Boris The Blade, Sentinel, Our Great War, Pridelands at Bang Graveyard at Ding Dong SUNDAY MARCH 8: 65daysofstatic, Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving at Northcote Social Club Clowns, American Sharks at Karova Lounge Apart From This, Have/Hold, Oh Pacific, Hound at The Reverence Miles Away, The Others, Born Free, Sundial at Wrangler Studios, West Footscray Heath Anthony, Ry Kemp at The Reverence Hotel Wrestlerock with Electrik Dynamite at The Corner Hotel MONDAY MARCH 9: 65daysofstatic, Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving at Northcote Social Club Clowns, American Sharks at The Bendigo Hotel Oblivians, Hits, Warped, The Living Eyes, The Kremlings, Hierophants at The Barwon Club TUESDAY MARCH 10: Ecca Vandal , Twinsy at The Gasometer

NEW FAITH NO MORE

Was your face melted by Faith No More’s recent Soundwave appearance? If so, you would’ve heard Superhero, a new song they’ve been playing live for a little while alongside Motherfucker and Matador. The crowd’s response to all three songs was massive and it’s so great to see fans excited by new material from a reunited, established act rather than just wanting them to be a nostalgia jukebox. Anyway, the band has just released the studio version of Superhero online initially via Marvel.com but you’ll no doubt find it everywhere by the time you read this ± and it’s utterly amazing. Track it down and check it out. It’s from their forthcoming album Sol Invictus, which is out in May.

KILL T V AT MR BOOGIE MAN BAR

Kill TV are back at Mr Boogie Man Bar at 160 Hoddle Street, Abbotsford on Saturday March 7 for their first birthday celebrations. With heaps of bands and food, it’s gonna be a great party so come on down.

20TH MAN BENEFIT AT THE BENDIGO

Head on down to Metal To My Ears at The Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood on Saturday March 7. It’s a charity event to raise money for Les Twentyman’s 20th Man Fund, with Dreadnaught, Orpheus Omega, Envenomed, Malichor, Demonhead, Bloodline and Eviscerator. Help 20th Man Fund raise much-needed funds to assist young people with the issues of depression and suicide. Bands start at 4.30pm and entry is $15.

NEW SINGLE FROM INFINIT Y BROKE

Sydney quartet Infinity Broke have just released their new single, Only the Desert Grows, from their forthcoming second album Before Before. Described by the group as “a sinister spaghetti-Western surf-scarred howl”, the song charts the feverish and exhausted collapse of a couples’ relationship as they journey deep into the heart of a nameless desert. Infinity Broke is led by ex-Bluebottle Kiss frontman Jamie Hutchings. You can catch them at The Tote in Collingwood on Friday May 15.

MASTODON TOUR

Just a reminder the mighty Mastodon are here on Friday March 27 at Festival Hall. That’s far enough away that you’ll hopefully be recovered from the arsekicking dished out at Soundwave by Killer Be Killed, featuring Mastodon bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, Soulfly/Cavalera Conspiracy’s Max Cavalera and The Dillinger Escape Plan’s Greg Puciato. Australia is Killer Be Killed’s most successful market internationally, and by all accounts, everyone who saw this powerhouse supergroup was utterly blown away. Let’s start a call for a headlining tour.

BELLUSIRA SIGN RECORD DEAL

Formerly Melbourne-based rockers Bellusira have signed a record deal with Pavement Entertainment, hot on the heels of their 21-date American tour. They’ve been living in the States for the last 12 months and have decided to permanently set up shop there. But they’ll be back for a national Australian tour this month. “We couldn’t be more excited for the future of Bellusira,” frontwoman Crystal Ignite says. “We were received with rave reviews for our first national tour and have been getting booking requests with festivals, local bands and venues ever since. Signing with Pavement is the icing on the cake for us, we have had a few labels on the table but we chose Pavement because of their great track record, and passion for our music.” Catch Bellusira in Australia 2015 for the We’ve Missed You Australia tour at The Barwon Club in Geelong on March 17, Musicman in Bendigo on March 19 and at The Prince Bandroom on March 20.

DAVID ELLEFSON TOUR THIS MONTH

Don’t forget Megadeth co-founder and bass god David Ellefson hits Melbourne on Friday March 27 at the Prince Bandroom for his My Life With Deth spoken word tour (and don’t worry, fellow muso geeks; it’ll include some bass-playing too). VIP meet-and-greet packages are also available from metropolistouring. com.

DALL AS FRASCA SIGN MULTI-ALBUM DEAL

Super big congratulations to Dallas Frasca. The Australian riff-rock trio, named after their incredibly kickarse vocalist, have signed a multi-album record deal with Social Family Records and will release their third studio album, Love Army, on April 17. They’re also heading out on tour soon. This triple announcement is the culmination of almost ten years of hard work, performing over 700 shows and seven international tours. “When SFR’s Marketing Manager Alli Hodge introduced us to Dallas Frasca’s new material, it was love at first listen,” CEO Jake Challenor says. “Rock’n’roll is part of our young DNA over here, so we’re thrilled the band is taking us on their wild ride.” Band members Dallas Frasca (vocals/ guitar), Jeff Curran (guitar), and Josh Eales (drums), are equally happy to be signed to this emerging label. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of the Social Family Records family,” Frasca says. “We’re all excited about what the future holds for the band and looking forward to a long, fruitful and creative relationship with them.” The album is available for pre-order from March 13 and you can catch them at Howler on Friday June 19.

HINGE

By Rod Whitf ield

Rock the Bay festival, now back for its sixth incarnation, is particularly notable this year for bringing together three large luminaries of mid to late 2000s Australian alternative and progressive rock, who’ve all been off the scene for a number of years. Bushido, who’re making a full blown comeback after having split a few years ago; Rook are doing the show as a one-off, but have left the door slightly ajar for something more, and finally Hinge, commonly styled as .hinge, who firmly reside in the strictly one-off ‘take your chance while it’s still there because it won’t come again’ category. Hinge frontman Glenn Johnstone explains why the band parted ways in the first place, and why it’s unlikely there’ll be any more shows after this one. “We were finished when we played the last show, before we announced that we had made our decision,” he says. “We did certainly say to each other, ‘Are we sure this is it? Because we don’t want to come back,’ and I was very much of the opinion that what’s done is done. It didn’t end in bad blood or anything, it just ended. We all went into different phases. We gave it a red hot go for 13 years, and when it became clear that go wasn’t going to be red hot any more, we decided to call it a day.” Johnstone was initially hesitant about doing any kind of ‘comeback’ show, and took a little convincing by the event organiser, and the rest of the band. “Fast forward five years, Matt [Crute, organiser] approached me and said, ‘How would you feel’?” he says. “I said, straight off the bat, my personal opinion would be ‘no,’ because of the fact that we said, ‘That was

it’... I went through my opinion with the guys, and then they gave me theirs. The vibe was the majority wanted to do it, because it would be a fun thing to do.” After consulting with his wife, who was also supportive of the idea, Johnstone agreed that he shouldn’t deny himself doing something he loves. However, he warns that fans shouldn’t get too excited: he’s adamant this is strictly an exclusive performance. “It is going to be a one off,” he emphasises. “We’re not reforming; we’ve got no plans to.” There’s a huge upside to this, as their one-off reformation for Rock the Bay has allowed Hinge to have a great time and reminisce. “It’s great, because there’s no pressure,” he says. “We don’t have to worry about bums on seats or heads through the door. It’s going to be the five of us having fun and hopefully

other people will join in along the way.” According to Johnstone, although it’s been a full five years since the band have played together, they all seemed to lock back into their groove rather naturally at rehearsals. “[During] the first rehearsal, people were like, ‘How’s this going to sound’?” he says. “But it was like riding a

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bike. Everyone was speechless after a couple of songs.” HINGE are playing at Rock the Bay along with Rook, Bushido, Chaos Divine, Hailmary and many more. It takes over The Esplanade Hotel in St Kilda on Saturday March 22. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 41

Q&A

WEDNESDAY MARCH 4

ERICA FREAS

D A N E C E R T I F I C AT E S MAGIC SHOP

American songwriter Erica Freas is back in Australia. She’ll be bringing that dreamy acoustic folk magic that makes you weak at the knees. Joining her and making their debut in the country will be Hot Tears (USA) with Molly Fischer on vocals, drums, guitar and bells (all at once) and Erica on cello, plus Fear Like Us. Gorgeous, dark, melodic metal from outer space. Doors at 8pm. $15 entry.

Greenthief

Hey! Who are we chatting with and what’s your role in Greenthief? Julian, vocals/guitar. In five adjectives, how would you describe your sound to the uninitiated? Savage, kind, brutal, exposed, wise. You toured Europe pretty extensively in 2013. What did you get out of the trip? It was one hell of an experience. It was a wild ride travelling in a 12-seater van across Europe with Hungarian band Grand Mexican Warlock, in which half of them couldn’t speak English yet seemed to possess some special Hungarian gene that denied them the need for sleep. Who are you most pumped to play alongside at Rock the Bay? Fuck the Fitzroy Doom Scene are killer and I’m always pumped to see them. Of course, Aerials and The Dead Love, who I mentioned before, they’ll be bringing the water for your boats so best get afloat. Catch GREENTHIEF at Rock the Bay on Saturday March 21.

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 42

DELANEY DAVIDSON

THE SPOT TED MALLARD

Enigmatic multi-instrumentalist Delaney Davidson defines and commands his own unique realm within the indefinable shadowy musical world some call ‘country-noir’, ‘alt-country’ or even ‘gothic Americana’. He’s stayed rather busy recently, touring Europe with a full band in tow and releasing his Swim Down Low LP in 2014.This Wednesday March 4 sees Delaney performing at The Spotted Mallard as part of The Brunswick Music Festival celebrations. He hits the stage at 8pm.

GREAT CYNICS

THE REVERENCE HOTEL

Fresh from touring the country with PUP, Apart from This and The Smith Street Band, Great Cynics are playing one last show in Australia before heading back to the UK. With a cheap-as $10 price, this Wednesday March 4 will be huge as Great Cynics hit the Reverence Hotel stage, bringing along Freak Wave, The Union Pacific and Employment. Doors open 8pm.

MISS EILEEN & KING LEAR CHERRY BAR

Brother and sister act Miss Eileen & King Lear bring their folk inspired indie roots project to Cherry Bar this week, kicking off a month-long residency, which will see them hitting the stage every Wednesday in March. They’ll be bringing a few guests along too. Doors open 6pm, with entry $5 from 8pm. Bands start 9pm, with DJ Mermaid playing afterwards till 3am.

OSCAR GALT & THE EVENTUAL SOMETHINGS THE OLD BAR

Oscar Galt and The Eventual Somethings are making their longawaited return to the stage at The Old Bar with a brand new, self-made animated video clip for their second single Fuck You I Hate Everybody And I Want To Kill Myself. Joining them will be monster garage rock duo From Oslo, who just released their own brain-busting EP, and Alma Kalorama, an incredibly fresh folk duo, who have piqued the interest of many since their inception last year. With a lineup this potent and an entry fee of only $8, the value is undeniable. Get down from 8pm.

FUELLED BY @PISTONHEADLAGERAU

THURSDAY MARCH 5

THE SONGWRITER SESSIONS HORSE BAZAAR

For the first weeknight presentation of the Songwriter Sessions, the Taste of Indie Collective and Australian Musicians Radio AMR.fm are presenting a “Nashville-style” format where three songwriters get on stage to discuss the songwriting process, and play a couple tunes too. This week’s free session features Michael Yule from MY Band, along with Paul Snowden and Acoustic Foxx, recently returning from a big interstate and regional cities tour. Get down to Horse Bazaar this Thursday March 5. The night kicks off at 8pm.

THE MARY GOLDSMITHS THE OLD BAR

While you were lathering on the coconut oil by the pool, spritz in hand, deliberating over what to wear at Rainbow this year, The Mary Goldsmiths were locked away in Josh Delaney’s chamber of secrets, stuffing their tails between their legs and laying down cuts for their debut album. They’ll have one ready for you in the coming days and to celebrate this double A-side digital release, they are throwing a launch party at The Old Bar with their good friends The Teksey Brothers and Harmony Byrne. Whether you’re pissed off about the fact you’re not headed to Golden Plains or so excited that you just can’t wait to sink your teeth into some tinnies; The Old Bar is the perfect place to let off steam and get your weekend started. 7.30pm. $8 entry.

SELAHPHONIC

T H E GRACE DARLI NG

With the ocean as a backdrop and the sun as a soundboard, Sunshine Coast five-piece Selahphonic offer a unique brand of electronic infused indie pop. Selahphonic are taking their much loved four-on-the-floor beats and sparkly guitar hook driven sounds on the road with a national tour this march to celebrate the release of new single, Heartbreak Heartbreak. Join Selahphonic for a great night at The Grace Darling, with Velvet Archers along for the ride.

COLD IRONS BOUND T H E R E T R E AT H O T E L

Cold Irons Bound have almost finished putting the final touches on their debut album, which is set to be released in the next few months. Before they finish off in the studio, they'll bring their sweet tunes to the Retreat Hotel on Thursday March 5. Can you imagine Teenage Fanclub jamming with Tom Petty? With support from the gorgeous Willow Darling and Hoy/Bowers frontman Liam Linley. All the music kicks off from 8pm.

SHADOWS AT BAY

Delivering raw, honest, pop narratives Tully on Tully have built a reputation for bringing a new distinctive flavour to the pallet of indie pop. Pop March 6 in your diary. It’s free, which means more money for beer.

THE BENDIGO HOTEL

On Thursday March 5 you need to get your arses down to The Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood. Melbourne postgrunge three-piece Shadows at Bay are headlining a big bill, featuring Follow No Rules, The DieCasts and Dojo Collectors. Doors open 8pm, with $5 entry.

JODY & THE JOY RIDERS THE REVERENCE HOTEL

If you like drinkin’ and dancin done country style, Jody & The Joy Riders is for you. Rocking a new residency at The Reverence, join in every Friday night in March for some twangin’ upbeat country flavoured songs of murder, mayhem, broken hearts and love. It’s free entry too. Forget your working week; come join this rowdy mob for a night of toe tappin’ fun from 8pm onwards.

FRIDAY MARCH 6

CLOWNS

THE BENDIGO HOTEL

Melbourne’s favourite flame-throwing scallywags Clowns are embarking on a national tour to celebrate their forthcoming album, Bad Blood. The band will play two Melbourne shows, including an all ages show on Labour Day. Catch Clowns at The Bendigo Hotel on Friday March 6 and Monday March 9. Joining them for the tour will be special guests American Sharks.

THE GROVES YA H YA H ’ S

Melbourne deep-blues act The Groves are coming to Yah Yah’s this Friday March 6, bringing their fat, thick grooves and crunchy walls of noise to local audiences, with Romeo Moon and Nicholas Symonds supporting alongside. Get in quick, last month The Groves released their Wine Dark Sea EP at a sold-out Evelyn Hotel gig. Tickets are $13 on the door, from 8pm to midnight.

OCCULTS

returning to Melbourne for a special night at The Old Bar this Friday March 6. Joining them will be their brother in arms Mr James Grim (Brothers Grim & The Blue Murders) and his new band Woodcutters, as well as Murdena. $10 at the door, things kick off at 8.30pm.

CISCO CEASER

THE DRUNKEN POET

Cisco Caesar bring their rock’n’soul blues to The Drunken Poet this Friday March 6. Sidle up to the bar from 8.30pm, get yourself sorted with a cold pint and a toastie, then brace yourself for a full bore assault of tone, vibe and vocal harmonies that sounds like it’s been beamed in from the mid-'70s. Their combination of blues, rock, country and soul is not only catchy, it’s downright viral. You will be singing their songs on the drive home and when you wake up the next morning.

THE CURTIN

L-FRESH THE LION HOWLER

L-FRESH The LION has had an incredible three years, touring Australia with international and local hip-hop greats including Horrorshow, The Herd, Hermitude and Urthboy. L-FRESH is renowned for his powerful presence, inspiring live shows and for having some of the most intelligent lyrics in Australian hip hop today. He performs this Friday March 6 at Howler, with W’Abe Nouk & guests in support. Tickets are $25+BF for concession, $28+BF full price available from moshtix.

TULLY ON TULLY

T H E R E T R E AT H O T E L

Melbourne-based five-piece Tully on Tully are off around the country with Canberra’s Slow Turismo. The two bands are playing a free show at The Retreat Hotel on Friday March 6.

Escaping Brisbane’s sweltering confines, Pleasure Symbols and Occults take confidante solace in Melbourne for the first weekend of March. Occults, having not performed in Melbourne since the cold, long sweats of 2013, are back to chug away some sad and sorry punk, for those that way inclined. They play at The Curtin from 8.30pm this Friday March 6 along with Exek, Barbiturates, Complete and Brisbane mates Pleasure Symbols. Tickets are $10 at the door.

FRANK SULTANA & THE SINISTER KIDS THE OLD BAR

As part of their Blue Light District tour, Frank Sultana & The Sinister Kids are

FOXTROT

THE PUBLIC BAR

Going on tour is sick, and Foxtrot can’t wait to head out with The Bennies in March. It can get expensive really fuckin’ quick when the dates mean you’ve gotta fly everywhere and lug bits of gear. Foxtrot are also about to record their sophomore LP and have to drop a bunch of dosh into that too. Basically they went ‘why the hell not?’ and assembled a stack of super awesome, super talented mates for an ol’ fashioned cash grab shindig. Fear Like Us, The Union Pacific, Wil Wagner and Georgia Maq are all joining in on the action. The party starts Friday March 6 from 8.30pm at The Public Bar. $10 entry.

Q&A

Dubmarine

1. Growing Up No one in my family was musical. My sister tried playing piano once but I stole it off her when I was nine. Cold blooded. Mum used to have a lot of dinner parties when I was young, and would only play four albums: Sade, Billy Ocean, Janet Jackson, and Madonna. After that, party’s over. Get out of my house. I’ve got a big day at kindy tomorrow. 2. Inspirations Prince. Anyone who can release hours upon hours upon hours of unlistenable shit and still have the best live show for 30+ years straight has got to be admired. 3. Your Band I’m only filling in after the trombone player broke his tromboning arm. You do one show and they get you on interview duty. I could start making shit up. What are they gonna do, fire me? Pfft. 4. The Music You Make As a previous audience member, I can guarantee you will dance. Expect solid dancehall, drum n bass, trap. It’s high energy. Amazing sonic landscapes with these ultra hooky choruses and bangin’ beats. 5. Music, Right Here, Right Now I like to think of the term ‘future music’ when writing or playing, because it allows me to envisage our music as something that exists outside of current trends, yet still influenced by them. It is (hopefully) what music will sound like in one/two/ ten years from now. DUBMARINE are hitting The Prince Bandroom on Thursday March 12 with Balkan Beat Box.

74 JOHNSTON ST FITZROY 9417 4155

theoldbar.com.au OPEN 4Pm - 3am mON-FRI 2Pm - 3am SaT-SuN FREE WI FI

www.ThepuBliCBar.Com.au

2 3 8 v i C T o r i a S T, n o r T h m e l B o u r n e open Til 4am Fri/SaT

$6 Pints eveRy day until 7PM $10 Jugs eveRy day until 8PM $5 Cans all the tiMe Wednesday 4th MaRCh

TallTrulyShoreS Holy 8pm. $6

thuRsday 5th MaRCh

Garry DaviD FraudBand, ToyoTa War 8pm. $8

FRiday 6th MaRCh

FoxTroT Fear like us, Tigers

MOn - FRi til 7pM - $6 pints MOndays - $15 JuGs Mt GOat sundays - $10 JuGs uniCORn laGeR $5 Cans eveRy day/niGht Wednesday 4th MaRCh

OsCaR Galt & the eventual sOMethinGs alMa KalORaMa FROM OslO

8pM $8

thuRsday 5th MaRCh

the MaRy GOldsMiths

the tesKey BROtheRs haRMOny ByRne

8.30pM $8

FRiday 6th MaRCh

Wil Wagner (smiTH sT Band), georgia maq 8pm. $10

satuRday 7th MaRCh

Them BruinS royal CHanT, ClaWs & organs del BoCa VisTa 8:30pm. $10

sunday 8th MaRCh

SunDay SChool:

ZeahorSe JaCkson Briggs & THe HeaTers lyonesse 4pm. Free

FRanK sultana & the sinisteR Kids

JaMes GRiM’s WOOdCutteRs MuRdena 8:30pM $10 satuRday 7th MaRCh

FOley - launCh

shadOW leaGue, death MOuntain, FlyinG sO hiGh-O’s, GeORGia Maq BeRKeley hunts 7pM $10 sat aRvO:

pete COnveRy, alex haMiltOn Cahil F Kelly, ROB haRROW 3pM FRee sunday 8th MaRCh

tuesday 10th MaRCh

miCK Turner (DirTy Three)

THe remoTes, Caroline no 8pm. $8 kiTCHen open:

mon - THu 5pm - 9pm, Fri - saT 12pm - 9pm sun - 12pm - 8pm www.miSSKaTieSCraBShaCK.Com

BeeRsOaKed sundays:

suMMeR BlOOd

Judas spRinGsteen sOphie OFFiCeR

8pM FRee

MOnday 9th MaRCh

Mundane MOndays:

seCRet usa Band! hOund COsMiC Kahuna

8pM $10

band bookings: bandbookings@theoldbar.com.au

FUELLED BY @PISTONHEADLAGERAU

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 43

Q&A

SATURDAY MARCH 7

BATPISS

HEATH ANTHONY & RY KEMP

CHERRY BAR

THE REVERENCE HOTEL

Sludge, stoner, hardcore, doom. Fucking Batpiss man. The heaviest of the heavy are smashing a gig this Saturday March 7, with Melbourne staples Fuck The Fitzroy Doom Scene and Zombie Motors Wrecking Yard. $13 entry. Cherry Bar. 8pm onwards. Raw.

Jackjackjack

Hey! Who are we speaking with and what do you do in JackJackJack? Hey there. You’re speaking with Maggie and I rap and sing for JackJackJack I love to rhyme, I do it all the time. I’ll stop that now. Who would you say is your biggest musical influences? All our influences are in a big melting pot of so many different artists and sounds making it difficult pinpoint an influence from each genre. We are often told that Rage Against the Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers with an additional hip hop and funk element are our most comparable bands. In five adjectives, how would you describe your sound? Layered. Solid. Epic. Different. Saxy. You’ve got some killer gigs coming up - supporting Balkan Beat Box at Prince Bandroom in March and at the Come Together Music & Arts Festival. What can we expect from these shows? We are ridiculously excited to be part of these shows, and as always you can expect high energy, fun and a sweaty room. We’ve been hard writing with the new lineup and are super excited to be testing out a few new tunes to see how they are received. Check out JACKJACKJACK when they support Balkan Beat Box on Thursday March 12 at The Prince Bandroom and at Come Together Music & Arts Festival on Saturday June 7.

THE NUREMBERG CODE YA H YA H ’ S

FIVE MILE SNIPER R E T R E AT H O T E L

From the heady 2000’s indie alt-rock scene emerges the highly anticipated Five Mile Sniper. Branded by Jeff Jenkins as “Melbourne’s indie supergroup” and featuring members from chart topping bands such as Motor Ace, Icecream Hands, Prettymess and P76, Five Mile Sniper are currently winding down a tour of the nation, in support of their newly released album The Sound of Trees. They will be appearing from 10.30pm this Saturday March 7 at the Retreat Hotel for their last Melbourne show before the tour concludes. Free entry.

METAL TO MY EARS BENDIGO HOTEL

Metal To My Ears is a fundraising function catering to people who gravitate towards the loud and the heavy. Metal heavyweights Dreadnaught are taking on the Bendigo stage this Saturday March 7 alongside Orpheus Omega, Envenomed, Malichor, Demonhead, Bloodline and Eviscerator. They’re banding together to raise some cash for the Les Twentyman youth fund, going towards assisting youths affected by depression and suicide. Good bands playing for a good cause. Music kicks off from 4.30pm, with $15 entry.

“The Nuremberg Code keep it real, the sound is real, the people are real. This is badass gangster metal without the rap.” A concoction of diverse influences has allowed The Nuremberg Code to develop a unique style, capturing part of the tough Aussie metal sound that is now internationally recognised. With their debut EP on the horizon, this is the perfect chance to catch The Nuremberg Code before they leave for a US tour (potentially) later this year. They perform this Saturday March 7 at Yah Yah’s. Tickets are $13 at the door from 8pm.

CHAMPEL LOOP BAR

After the good vibes received from New Year’s party Shinnenkai, MGA are bringing their regular event Champel to Loop Bar. Spanning house, techno, electronica and bass music, DJ’s Diagram, Seiji, Shun and Kanzo will be moving the dance floor this Saturday March 7 from 10pm onwards, featuring visuals by Palaid. Entry is free, so get down for some Saturday night fun.

REFLEJOS

THE POST OFFICE HOTEL

Reflejos draw on many travels and collaborations to create music rich with Latin American rhythms, vocal harmonies and instrumentations, peppered with moments of Central and Eastern European folk tradition. Jose Nieto is a singer/songwriter and guitarist originating from Cali, Colombia's musical epicenter. With a deep rooted troubadour influence, his compositions are based on the daily life of his country, and South America in general, using themes that range from love to lovelessness and from the urban environment to the landscapes of his beloved South America. Don't miss them performing at The Post Office Hotel, Saturday March 7.

Heath Anthony & Ry Kemp are taking their acoustic folk punk storytelling on the road this March with the Hit The Road tour. Touring in support of their split release, set to release this month through Open Grave Records, Heath and Ry are playing in Newcastle, Canberra and Launceston, before settling down at the Rev this Sunday March 8. Acoustic stars Georgia Maq & Anna Jeavons are on the bill too. Come down to The Reverence Hotel from 3pm onwards, entry is free.

DESECRATOR CHERRY BAR

Triple M Distortion and Cherry Thrash are presenting Higgo’s Heavy Cherry Two, featuring headliners Desecrator fundraising for their upcoming European tour. Not only are there some sick bands lined up (Party Vibez, Decimatus and Harlott all confirmed), there’ll also be Soundwave raffle prizes, a Desecrator rarities auction and 100 free jager shots. Doors open 8pm, tickets are $15 from the venue.

BRARSEY SUNDAYS

THE SPOT TED MALLARD

Shake your tookus to the tempo and get your booty to the bar, it’s Brarsey Sundays at The Spotted Mallard. Featuring a rotating cast of the most ‘kick-brarse’ big bands bohemian Melbourne has to offer, this weekly celebration of swing culture will be running from 4.30pm every Sunday through March and April. This week’s instalment sees headliners The Jack Earle Big Band hit the stage for two sets. With delectable edibles and big booze for small coin, this free entry event is the hot ticket back to a bygone era of hot-jazz and second line swingin’ hip cats.

APART FROM THIS

THE BENDIGO HOTEL

SUNDAY MARCH 8

THE POST OFFICE HOTEL FIFTH BIRTHDAY THE POST OFFICE HOTEL

Gosh, they grow up so fast, don’t they? On Sunday March 8, The Post Office Hotel in Coburg is turning five. Naaaaw. To celebrate this milestone occasion, they’re throwing an all day bash, full of spectacular food and a range of live music. Part of Melbourne’s Food and Wine Festival, the Backyard Banquet promises the best produce from local butchers, with a range of tasty, seasonal side dishes for various diets. Mick Dog’s Bone Yard, La Bastard and Spoonful are ready to hit the front bar stage, with DJ’s O-Train, Oritone and SJ Christmas spinning tracks on the deck out back. All day unlimited dining for $40, kids $20. Get down there and check it out.

SOULCLASH HOWLER

Northside Records is throwing a huge party this Sunday March 8 at Howler. From 8pm onwards, Soulclash: The Underground Showcase will be bringing together some of Melbourne’s finest and funkiest for your dancing pleasure. Joining the Northside DJs will be party emcee Remi fresh from releasing his debut record Raw x Infinity on vinyl, and seven-piece afrofunk powerhouse The Seven Ups. Tickets are $18+BF from moshtix.

Currently trekking across the country supporting The Smith Street Band and Canada’s Pup, Apart From This will continue to destroy 2015 by headlining a Labour Day Eve show at The Bendigo this Sunday March 8, a mere week after the tour finishes. Kicking it on stage alongside them are Have/Hold, Oh Pacific and Hound. Doors open 8pm, with $10 entry. It’s Labour Day Eve, you don’t have work the next day, so what’s the excuse?

PHEASANT PLUCKERS THE RAINBOW HOTEL

The Pheasant Pluckers have been treating audiences to their unique brand of home grown original alt country bluegrass for a while now. The music is unmistakably Australian, high energy and fresher than ever. Featuring fine emotive singing bass and top-notch song writing, including a sprinkling of classic Australian covers, The Pheasant Pluckers are settling into The Rainbow Hotel this Sunday March 8 from 4pm. Free entry, don’t miss it.

TAILOR BIRDS & THE SHOTGUN WEDDING THE DRUNKEN POET

As a special celebration of women in music on International Women’s Day, The Drunken Poet will host live music full of female artists this Sunday March 8. With electronic folk from Tailor Birds at 4pm and country harmonies from the ladies of The Shotgun Wedding at 6.30pm, the live music never stops at the Poet. Free entry.

THE RAINBOW HOTEL'S

BEER OF THE WEEK Barrow Boys, Pedlars Pale Ale (brewed in Melbourne) The Barrow Boys are relatively new to the craft beer scene, this is the second beer from the lads, who at the moment are gypsy brewing while looking for a place to call home. The Pedlars Pale Ale is an abundantly hopped beer, that's light in colour with lots of flavour. Well balanced with malt and dry hopped, adding tropical fruit and a resinous character.

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 44

FUELLED BY @PISTONHEADLAGERAU

MONDAY MARCH 9

ALEX CAMERON

SHADOW ELECTRIC

Alex Cameron is one third of Sydney electronic outfit Seekae, a deliveryman and a clerk. Let’s just say he’s been around the block. He has played shows in Paris as part of the Pitchfork Music Festival, Sydney Festival, the Art Centre of NSW and now he is coming to Melbourne to play alongside Kirkis’ side project 0.1, Martin King and Zayd Thring for a very special one-off daytime show on Labour Day, this Monday March 9. Come down to the Shadow Electric Bandroom to catch these eclectic artists, doors open 3pm. TUESDAY MARCH 10

SÓLEY

HOWLER

Icelandic wonder Sóley brings her atmospheric dreamscapes to Melbourne audiences this week, locking in a show at Howler for Tuesday March 10. The bespectacled multi-instrumentalist and composer from Iceland had already been around the world and back with her band Seabear, before she discovered her own voice. Celebrated for her intricate, spellbinding vocals, Sóley has re-emerged as a charismatic story-teller who has created her own dream-like wonderland. Since the release of her debut album We Sink, Sóley’s notoriety has skyrocketed as she wows audiences with her shimmering songs. Catch her at Howler from 8pm onwards; tickets are $38+BF concession, $42+BF full price available from moshtix.

TOBY ROBINSON

T H E R E T R E AT H O T E L

Toby Robinson has been playing music all his life. Immersed in Melbourne’s music scene for the last seven years, Toby was a founding member of The Promises, whose highly regarded selftitled debut album was received regular airtime nationwide. Toby has toured and appeared at festivals across Australia, playing alongside the likes of Jen Cloher, Missy Higgins and Jordie Lane. Reinvigorated as a solo artist, Toby is returning to his love of folk and roots with a free show this Tuesday March 10 at The Retreat. The night starts at 7.30pm with local folk/pop act Open Swimmer, with Toby taking to the stage at 8.30pm.

MICK TURNER

THE PUBLIC BAR

Melbourne music legend Mick Turner (Venom P Stinger, Dirty Three) will be playing a rare solo show at The Public Bar this Tuesday March 10, probably playing a couple of tracks from his latest album Don’t Tell The Driver. In support will be Caroline No featuring Caroline Kennedy (The Plums, Deadstar) and The Remotes featuring Ollie Browne (Art of Fighting) and Kristian Brenchley (S:Bahn). The Public Bar. 8pm. $8. Don’t miss this one.

LOOKING FORWARD BOMBINO

Wednesday March 11 Howler

ARCTIC RHYTHMS BY PAUL D. MILLER (DJ SPOOKY)

Thursday March 12 Howler

THE SOUL CONTENTION

Thursday March 12 The Gasometer Hotel

J M S HARRISON/ MECHANICAL PTERODACTYL

Thursday March 12 The Post Office Hotel

DAY RAVIES

Thursday March 12 John Curtin Bandroom

THE GUN BARREL STRAIGHTS

Friday March 13 The Post Office Hotel

THE GIN CLUB

Q&A

Friday March 13 John Curtin Bandroom

GRIM FAWKNER

Friday March 13 The Gasometer Hotel

SUMERU

Friday March 13 The Bendigo Hotel

WET (USA)

Friday March 13 Howler

VILLENETTES

Friday March 13 The LuWow

KINGSWOOD

Friday March 13 The Forum

FRANK JALOPY’S DEMONS

Saturday March 14 The Post Office Hotel

LUCA BRASI

Saturday March 14 Northcote Social Club Sunday March 15 Wrangler Studios

WARMTH CRASHES IN

Saturday March 14 John Curtin Hotel

DEAN RAY

Sunday March 15 The Corner Hotel

FUELLED BY @PISTONHEADLAGERAU

Peezo

How did you land on the name Peezo? My last name is Peters and my friends used to call me ‘Peezy’ before I was really trying to rap for a career. I was in love with this girl who wanted to be a tattoo artist, so I let her tattoo my nickname on my toes and it really stuck. I added the ‘o’ instead of the ‘y’ cause it sounded cooler. You’re launching your new single Here Now at the Shadow Electric on Sunday, March 8. How does Here Now differ from your other releases? It’s a little bit bigger than my other songs. The hook is huge and I really worked on what I was saying and how I was saying it, plus how the music made you feel. How would you describe the atmosphere you generate when performing live? When I’m performing live, my DJ (Northside) and I try to create a fun and entertaining action packed experience. I definitely love owning the space and try not to do the chill Jay Z or Eminem approach, I get really into it. Who are your biggest musical influences in the Australian hip hop scene? My biggest influences in the Australian hip hop scene would be my friends like Allday, Cam Bluff, Griffin Brain, Baro Cherie Threads and Northside. PEEZO is launching his single Here, Now at The Shadow Electric on Sunday March 8.

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 45

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 46

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LIVE

REPORTS FROM THE FRONT ROW

For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews THE WOMBATS Shebeen, Monday February 23

FOO FIGHTERS Etihad Stadium, Saturday February 28 Photo by Ian Laidlaw

Photo by Emily Day

Liverpudlian three-piece The Wombats took myself and about 250 other people on a trip down memory lane, with a few quick glances to the future, at an exclusive secret show put on by Jack Daniel Future Legends: an initiative where the whiskey manufacturer uses its wealth to give competition winners and industry folk an intimate experience with a band who’ve moved well beyond small club shows. Being a bit of a lefty, I ostensibly have a bit of a problem suckling at the teat of capitalism, but when it involves being able to see a pretty massive international act in an cozy environment, I’m happy to subscribe to the concept. Although this was billed as a preview show for The Wombats’ forthcoming third album Glitterbug (due April 10) I didn’t want to have to listen to a bunch of new songs I didn’t know yet. And despite opening with new song Your Body Is A Weapon, the rest of the set was pretty much a best-of. The band’s set up for the new songs saw main vocalist Matthew Murphy mainly with a guitar, the awesomely named Norwegian expat Tord Øverland Knudsen on bass and Daniel Haggis on drums. This garage rock set-up and the sound of the new songs implied the band has ‘gone back to basics’ with Glitterbug. While this visceral approach was lapped up by the fans when Murphy turned to his synth and started creating those warm, absorbing tones of the opening to 1996, the vibe in the small, low ceiling basement band room of Shebeen was heightened. The sixth single from 2011’s This Modern Glitch is one of those introspective bangers where one can either dance like a mad person or show-gaze wistfully. Another crowd favourite that had the all hands in the air was the first single from the aforementioned 2011 release, Tokyo. Murphy’s ability to write such specific narratives yet create access points for fans to personally relate to equates to a true mastery of the zeitgeist, as well as writing damn catchy melodies. The final song of the night was where it all began for The Wombats: the 2007 indie hit Let’s Dance To Joy Division LOVED: The unpretentiousness of the band. – I still don’t get the irony but it’s still a lot of fun to HATED: The Instagram competition to meet the dance to. band after the show… Guess what? A hot chick DENVER MAXX

won #sleazy. DRANK: JD and dry.

SOUNDGARDEN Festival Hall, Tuesday February 24 Photo by Phoebe Powell

Four years since they last graced our shores, the biggest and most enduring rock band of the last two decades brought their Sonic Highways tour to Australia to support their eighth studio album. Melbourne’s The Delta Riggs kicked off proceedings, and what a way to do it. For a band who most of the crowd that had assembled at that point had never heard of, they took to the big stage like a duck to water. They tore their way through six or seven choice rock cuts including the brilliant single The Record’s Flawed. The much more well known support Rise Against arrived onstage not too long after and had a great reception from their existing fans, particularly up the front. They shared some great thoughts on the importance of supporting rock music but overall didn’t appear to win over any new fans. Half an hour later, the lights vanished and Etihad Stadium gave a roar tenfold, that simmilar what greets a matchwinning goal from outside 50. Dave Grohl appeared first and sprinted down the long catwalk into the crowd in a fashion belying his 46 years, followed by his remaining bandmates. They launched into Something From Nothing which sounds good live but was the first song to expose the awful sound that would barely resonate around the stadium for the next few hours. However, this song and the other two from the new album sounded great alongside older material, even if they didn’t get a great response from the crowd. Older tracks like My Hero, Learn To Fly, Monkey Wrench and All My Life were highlights, except many of these tracks were elongated so much they doubled in length, which did start to get a little tedious. Half way through the show, Grohl took to the end of the catwalk and did a brilliant acoustic version of Wheels, involving a massive scale sing-along from the crowd. He was then joined up on the catwalk by the whole band to play Times Like These, followed by four straight covers. Under Pressure was sublime and showed off drummer Taylor Hawkins’ vocal ability. The final six songs were performed back on the regular stage and they left the best for last. Finishing with Best of You and then the hauntingly epic Everlong. Witnessing Everlong live with 55,000 people is a truly special experience everybody needs to do at least once in their lives. The gig lasted two hours and 45 minutes despite only being 25 songs in length. Losing most of the covers, keeping the songs closer to their original length and playing for an hour less would’ve made the gig pack more of a punch and feel less like a marathon. It seems the band just really enjoy playing. No one in the crowd seemed to mind LOVED: Everlong sing-along live. and appeared to be left wanting more. HATED: Grohl screeching the vocals too much. DRANK: The cheap stuff. ALEXANDER CROWDEN

Die Line

ot Print Does N

Soundwave was like a throwback to Big Day Out 1994 with The Smashing Pumpkins and Soundgarden headlining two stages, plus another ‘90s headliner in Faith No More. It wasn’t surprising then, that this Sidewave (as with Pumpkins’ on Monday) was full of older rockers with faded black tees desperately trying to keep the long weekend of alternative rock alive. Just don’t say ‘grunge.’ There were a few grumbles as last minute soundchecks were made. It was a school night, after all. Soundgarden started half an hour after their scheduled time of 8pm. The sound stayed washy for the first few songs and there was some finger-pointing, but they soon hit their stride with Outshined. Most of the set was dominated by older songs from Badmotorfinger (the highlight being Jesus Christ Pose) and they played ten songs from Superunknown. Most epic were My Wave and the dirty, churning, ‘90s sleaze of Mailman, featuring Chris Cornell shrieking, “I’m ridin’ you all the way,” like a man half his age couldn’t. The flannies may’ve gone, but they all still wear jeans and nondescript tees. Sure, they look a little older, especially blackhatted lead guitarist KimThayil,whose beard has gone white,but he always was the matured guru.However,Soundgarden’s songwriting prowess and quality of musicianship has gone nowhere and if anything, has only gotten stronger. With plenty of additions, the set was very similar to the one at Soundwave and they again played stomping oldie Birth Ritual, a song Cornell said they hadn’t played for 23 years until Sunday. Another rare blast was Hunted Down, which Thayil apparently texted as his request from Screaming Life when the set list was been made earlier that day via TweetFace. Cornell thanked the crowd on behalf of the band on more than one occasion, saying Australian fans’ dedication wasn’t lost on them: “A festival didn’t bring us here. YOU brought us here.” Rusty Cage closed out the set in style, followed by an encore of Limo Wreck and sludgy Slaves And Bulldozers to end proceedings entirely. The squall of droning feedback resonated through the cheers for a good few minutes as Ben Shepherd threw his bass down and Chris Cornell violently ripped the strings from his guitar. Thayil was gentler, eventually laying his guitar down on top of his amp after wringing every last drop of sound he LOVED: Watching Soundgarden twice in three could from it. He tipped his black hat and held one arm in the air in triumph as he walked from the stage. An elated, days. Superunknown performed in almost its entirety. sweaty, bearded fella in the crowd next to me put a hand HATED: To be really picky. No Blood On The Valley on my shoulder and said: “They were just as good as when Floor (favourite track from King Animal) or much I first saw them in 1994.” from Down On The Upside. DRANK: Not stranger’s urine. JAMES RIDLEY CHECK OUT ALL THE LATEST NEWS, REVIEWS AND FREE SHIT AT BEAT.COM.AU

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 47

THIS WEEK AT

THURSDAY 5TH MARCH

ALBUM OF THE WEEK FATHER JOHN MISTY

TRIVIA

I Love You, Honeybear

FRIDAY 6TH MARCH

I Love You, Honeybear has hidden inside a small booklet titled ‘Exercises for Listening,’ which details a set of instructions for how to listen to each song on the album. Instructions range from a recipe with supplies such as one blazing hot August morning, one moment of clarity (subject to availability) and the desert, to drawing then erasing a portrait of yourself, recording the sound of your ears ringing and walking in the opposite direction of someone you love for six weeks. It’s bizarre and completely sarcastic, which makes it the perfect accompaniment to the record it shares a case with. I Love You, Honeybear is the second release for Father John Misty, the alter ego of former Fleet Foxes’ drummer Josh Tillman, and Tillman’s first release since getting hitched to wife Emma in 2013. Despite its title, the album is far from a gooey, blissful love story. It’s love at its stark, unglamorous, lustful best – covering everything from the near overdose of a onenight stand to meeting his now wife for the first time. You won’t find any Hallmark-worthy sentiments here. Instead you’ll find musings such as “Maybe love is just an economy based on resource scarcity,” “How many people rise and think, ‘Oh good, the stranger’s body’s still here, our arrangement hasn’t changed,” or “Insert here, a sentiment re: our golden years.” Tillman is equal parts cynical and sarcastic as he’s sincere and brutally honest. His dry, self-depreciating storytelling ranges from that of a stand-up comedy routine (The Night Josh Tillman Came To Our Apt.), to

MAIN BAR FROM 9.30PM

LITTLE EARTHQUAKES PLUS GUESTS

SATURDAY 7TH MARCH MAIN BAR FROM 9.30PM

THE SNAKE EYED ROLLERS JUSTIN YAP BAND IN THE BEER GARDEN 5PM -

THE UNDERSCORE ORKESTRA

(Sup Pop Records/Inertia)

+ FREE WORKSHOPS – Call venue for details TUESDAY 10TH MARCH

FREE MOVIE NIGHT: THE GODFATHER

Screening in the beer garden at 8:30pm

WEEKLY FOOD SPECIALS

$4 PIZZAS

Monday - Thursday ALL DAY & NIGHT, Friday 12pm to 5pm

$12 STEAKS

Wednesday: from 5pm

$12 BURGERS 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 48

DEATH

3. Punk USA: The Rise And Fall of Lookout!

Records book KEVIN PRESTED

4. Disco Volante LP MR BUNGLE 5. III CD SKEPTICS 6. An Unending Pathway CD ATRIARCH 7. Back From The Grave Vol 9 CD/LP

VARIOUS

8. Glass Boys CD FUCKED UP a scathing journal entry (The Ideal Husband) and pure poetry and reflection (Holy Shit). The songs themselves are equally as enjoyable as their lyrics, with layers of Americana folk, soaring string harmonies and jangling acoustic guitar. Tillman bellows out his twisted romanticisms with a sublime tortured passion – best exhibited in album standouts Strange Encounter and Bored In The USA. Even in all its cynicism and humour, I Love You, Honeybear is inexplicably touching and far more genuine and captivating than most of its traditionally romantic musical counterparts. It captures all the highs and lows that go along with love, right up until the closing line of the album, when Tillman first approaches Emma to ask, “I’ve seen you around, what’s your name?”. KELSEY BERRY

9. Messiah CD GODFLESH 10. Sound The Underground CD KING OF

THE NORTH

RECORD PARADISE TOP TEN RECORDS 1.

About Time CHOOK RACE

2. Lucklaster THE FINKS 3. Gon’boogaloo C.W.STONEKING 4. Bad Blood CLOWNS 5. Head In A Vice WYMYNS PRYSYN 6. I Love You Honeybear FATHER JOHN

MISTY

7. Range Anxiety TWERPS 8. Scotdrakula SCOTDRAKULA 9. Lost Themes JOHN CARPENTER

AUSTRALIA’S FAVOURITE SINGLES BLOCK PARTY:

$10 LONGNECKS $4 PIZZA & FREE POOL

Setting Sun CD TAM VANTAGE

2. Only Theatre Of Pain LP CHRISTIAN

FROM 1PM

MONDAYS

COLLECTOR’S CORNER MISSING LINK RECORDS TOP TEN 1.

SUNDAY 8TH MARCH

ONE DAY SUNDAY

TOP TENS:

BY LACHLAN

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

Dunno how old mate can say he’s tough on border protection when there have been THREE tours by The Wombats since the last election. Shame on us.

KANYE WEST

All Day (Def Jam) After being leaked in various primitive forms in the past six months, All Day finally had its debut at the Brit Awards last week. I wasn’t ready. The world wasn’t ready. It was so good it gave me goosebumps and made me shit my pants and then my shit had goosebumps. I went to the doctor for it and was diagnosed with Yeezy Seasonal Affective Disorder. Scary thing is, Ye is only getting started. New album So Help Me God is set to drop any moment now. So help me, Yeezus.

FAITH NO MORE

Superhero (Reclamation) I’m a sucker for rolling toms, so Superhero had me from the get-go, despite my trepidations. The return of Faith No More is big and dumb, meaty and sweaty. I wanna hate it, but I can’t. Undeniable, even the breakdown featuring tandem screams of “go,” among restrained arpeggio piano tones.

SUFJAN STEVENS

No Shade In The Shadow Of The Cross (Asthmatic Kitty) Dreamboat of the century Sufjan returns like he never left, cry smiles all round in the first single from Carrie & Lowell. Pristine, lovely. Imagine hearing this at the Supernatural Amphitheatre in December, maybe.

I’LLS

Phiphti (Solitaire) Melbourne outfit I’lls build a long tease on Phiphti, the payoff worth it, sparkling into breakbeat-y grooves akin to +Dome era Seekae. Tastefully refined, highly danceable.

THE MURLOCS

Adolescence (Flightless/Remote Control) Invoking a spag bol Western within the mind, The Murlocs breeze through Adolescence, strutting with gun firmly in holster. It’s a snappy brand of introspection: “My only nemesis / Is incompetence,” before drifting into an upbeat kinda chorus. New full-length, title TBA, due to drop mid-year.

BEST COAST

TULLY ON TULLY

All These Words (Independent) A formidable vocal talent gets lost in a gross overload of production elements, throwing everything plus the kitchen sink into the mix, which might’ve worked if there was a greater spotlight on a singular hook. It’s all there, and it’s all big, and I’m not interested.

HEARTLAND RECORDS TOP TEN 1.

Physical Graffiti DELUXE BOX LED

ZEPPELIN

2. Grind Madness LP CARCASS/

GODFLESH

4. Music Industry 3 LP MOGWAI 5. Natural Born Killers 2LP SOUNDTRACK 6. Hellbilly Deluxe LP ROB ZOMBIE 7. Sacred Warpath 10” SODOM 8. Young Americans 7” DAVID BOWIE 9. Archive Series 2LP IRON & WINE 10. Restarter LP TORCHE

PBS TOP TEN 1. Lost and Found BUENA VISTA SOCIAL

A$AP FERG

6. Wet is Best WET LIPS

Dope Walk (RCA) A simple hook, dope beat, gimmicky dance – Dope Walk is gonna be a club staple this year. Would be a viral smash if done by an unknown artist. Nearly overstays its welcome, but instead blows up the bpm with a ridic outro. Catchy as hell.

No Such Thing As A View (Special Award) The insouciant syncopation on No Such Thing As A View feels like a drunken embrace. Falsetto feathers into a register that feels beyond human, before dipping down to earth, emboldened by a timeless acumen reminiscent of the most daring golden era greats. I can’t bear any distinction between this and international successes like Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Brilliantly rewarding on each and every listen. Taken from upcoming album Thank God For My Body.

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

CLUB

2. Music in Exile SONGHOY BLUES 3. Suspicion THE TANGO SALOON 4. Heavy Love DUKE GARWOOD 5. Heigh Ho BLAKE MILLS 7. Live Knots OREN AMBARCHI 8. Sour Soul BADBADNOTGOOD AND

GHOSTFACE KILLAH

9. Child CHILD 10. The Unified Field Reconstructed PIANO

SINGLE OF THE WEEK LEHMAN B SMITH

3. BBC Sessions LP THE CHILLS

California Nights (EMI) Best Coast emerges from a chrysalis, leaving behind the image of scrappy garage pop song about California, embracing tailor-made festival-scope songs about California. California withstanding, the lyrics are still pretty shit. Sounds alright though.

SKEPTA

Shutdown (Independent) Grime never went anywhere, but there’s a renewed focus on the UK currently, (Skepta appeared onstage with Yeezy at the Brit Awards, “Yo Skepta: thank you,”). Striking while the iron’s hot, Skepta drops Shutdown, sampling both an offhand Vine quote from Drizzy and an apparent complaint about the Brit Awards performance, going in on a grimey-as-hell beat. Makings of a club hit, truss mi daddi.

10. Tropical Oceans D.D DUMBO

INTERRUPTED

BEAT’S TOP TEN SONGS ABOUT CARS 1. Cars GARY NUMAN 2. Canyonero HANK WILLIAMS JR. 3. Life is a Highway TOM COCHRANE 4. Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car

BILLY OCEAN

5. Little Red Corvette PRINCE 6. Passenger Side WILCO 7. Mercedes Benz JANIS JOPLIN 8. Mustang Sally WILSON PICKETT 9. I’m In Love With My Car QUEEN 10. Drive My Car THE BEATLES

ALBUMS BC CAMPLIGHT

New music in review this week - For more reviews go to beat.com.au/reviews

DARREN HANLON

How To Die In The North (PIAS/Bella Union)

THE SUNNYBOYS

Individuals/Get Some Fun (Feel)

Where Did You Come From? (Flippin Yeah/Yep Roc Records)

BC Camplight’s How To Die In The North is 41 minutes of sophisticated yet classic pop music that fractures off into the ether just before it gets predictable. This is really good music that has depth and texture, dually, in its construction and lyrical themes. ‘BC’ is UK-based American expat Brian Christinzio. When BC is suffixed by Camplight, the name elicits thoughts of the first men chanting around the campfire, as well as Plato’s Allegory Of The Cave. This duality of primordial allusions is captured on the ostensibly lightweight doo-wop pop of the song Just Because I Love You. The sickly sweet and seemingly inane chorus of this song, the album’s buzz single, is “Just because I love you, doesn’t mean I love you / And I mean ‘love you’,” which gives way to a verse that reveals this is actually a love story between an incestuous brother and sister: “Such an ugly girl for a brother to do.” One could infer this song is a hat tip to the secretly brutal 1962 doo-wop track by The Crystals, He Hit Me But It Felt Like A Kiss. The following song Grim Cinema replaces implied depth with actual freak-out. This hella’ good tune is driven by an exhilarating falsetto and surf rock rhythm. The song’s flow is regularly interrupted by a moog that bubbles over, like a drinking fountain with a twig stuffed down its spout. In other phases, like the epic Good Morning Headache, BC Camplights music takes the folk-orchestral approach of Grizzly Bear on that band’s epic sophomore release Yellow House. Listen to this record as soon as you can.

One of Australia’s favourite folkies has given his fans good reason to be happy – it’s been five years since Hanlon’s last album, and new offering Where Did You Come From? has proven to be well worth the wait. All through this collection, there are the clever turns of phrase and snappy melodies we’ve come to expect, but also enough depth in the songwriting for those who prefer lyricism over the smart stuff. Second track and lead single, When You Go, is something of an instant classic, and very much in the mould of vintage Hanlon with its understated delivery and sparse instrumentation. This album’s no one-trick pony though, instead taking a few twists and turns through varying sonic palettes and genres, like the spooky blues of opener Salvation Army and the lovely Halley’s Comet, 1986, which sounds like Paul Kelly singing a lullaby in a cardigan. The only criticism is that I wasn’t really surprised by much, but it’s more because of Hanlon’s uniquely recognisable style than any lack of inspiration on his part. And with songwriting this good, why bother to re-invent the wheel? Dazza’s delivered a catchy, intelligent record with enough detail in its meanderings to keep your interest on repeated listens. He’s been carving his own niche in the Oz music landscape for quite some time now, and this new addition will please the long-time fans and probably garner a few new ones too. iVA bOEhNEr

DENVEr MAXX

The Sunnyboys’ debut album had catapulted the band into Australian popular musical consciousness. 1982 saw the release of The Sunnyboys’ second album, Individuals. Like the band’s first album, Individuals was produced and mixed by Lobby Loyde. This time around, the record company was keen to create a hit international record; as a consequence, Individuals suffered from ‘80s production-itis, Loyde’s embrace of plastic LA production values hiding the quality of Oxley’s new batch of songs. With the exception of the title track and This Is Real (the first single taken from the album), we now get to hear the original mixes of the tracks. The passage of time has treated Individuals well: there’s a complex pop sensibility in the title track and It’s A Sunny Day; Leaf On A Tree is bristling with the pop whimsy of Ray Davies. You Need A Friend is a lost classic crying out for revisionist celebration, No Love Around is the surf rock love child of The Hitmen and Colour of Love is where Radio Birdman might’ve found themselves had they not imploded under the weight of competing egos a couple of years before The Sunnyboys burst onto the scene. The re-releases of Individuals and Get Some Fun both come with bonus material, including live tracks recorded for triple j’s Rockarama and five songs from The Sunnyboys’ set at the rain-soaked 1984 Narara festival in regional New South Wales, as well as the original 7” releases of Show Me Some Discipline and a live recording of the last song the band ever wrote, Strange Cohesion. The Sunnyboys were, and remain, one of Australia’s greatest ever power pop bands. PATriCK EMErY

FALLING IN REVERSE

LUPE FIASCO

RICKY MARTIN

Tetsuo & Youth

A Quien Quiera Escuchar

(Atlantic Records / Warner)

Just Like You

(Sony Music Australia)

(Epitaph)

Falling In Reverse’s latest album Just Like You is unapologetic and proud of it. Just Like You is a mixture of post-hardcore, pop-punk and metalcore. The latest release from Falling in Reverse is a great improvement from Fashionably Late (2013). Despite the fact that Just Like You is politically incorrect, the album is the band’s best work to date, returning to the musical stylings of their debut album The Drug In Me Is You, with post-hardcore songs that contain pop stylised choruses. Just Like You explores Ronnie Radke’s personal life, from his struggle with substance abuse to his disassociation from the world. Chemical Prisoner and Stay Away detail Radke’s struggle to remain sober and the devastating effect that his addiction had on his life: “Watch this rip apart my family / I take another pill so I won’t feel the pain.” On the other hand, Wait and See depicts the madness that Radke believes is entrenched in society, with lyrics such as, “We teach out children to kill, instead of teaching them wisdom / politicians waging wars and blaming our religions.” Despite a few generic songs, the beginning of Wait and See sounds very similar to Fallout Boy’s song, My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark, Just Like You is certainly worth the listen. Ronnie Radke’s vocals are unique and lead guitarist, Jack Vincent, is a standout performer. JACK LACY

Almost nine years since Lupe Fiasco first skated onto the scene with Kick, Push, the release of Tetsuo & Youth shows a mature, considered side to Fiasco’s infectious hip hop. The album is free from the usual sample-heavy, hook-laden, radio ready songs. Instead, it’s a darker, heavier rap album – focused on storytelling. Lupe’s strength has always been his creative tongue-twisters, and this album is no different. Tetsuo & Youth is interspersed with string interludes named after seasons. Dots & Lines opens with a country blue-grass intro before turning into a sexy R&B discussion of materialism: “To make gold from garbage is not the alchemical point of this math / But truth be told it’s the pursuit of gold that turns the goals of men into trash.” A standout moment of the album is the ambitious Prisoners 1 & 2 (feat. Ayesha Jaco). Opening and closing with a collect call from an unnamed correctional centre, this two part song discusses the institutional violence and racism of the American prison system. Fiasco raps from the perspective of different characters, including a prison guard who feels as trapped as the people locked up around him. The album does have a few lighter moments – Australian Idol alumni Guy Sebastian’s pop-R&B vocals feature nicely on one of the more radio ready songs, Blur My Hands. The strength of this album is Fiasco’s incredible ability to weave stories and characters into his lyrics, however, he is sometimes held back by the flatness of the musical production. That being said, Tetsuo & Youth proves that rebel with a cause Lupe Fiasco still firmly holds his ground as one of rap music’s most interesting artists. MiA AbrAhAMs

Oh Ricky you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind, hey Ricky! Hey Ricky! OK. Now that’s out of my system, firstly I want to declare, I’m not a middle-aged woman looking for love in the bottom of her gin and tonic, but I do admit to hip gyrating to Ricky Martin at a wedding once. I was probably dancing to songs off his Greatest Hits record like Livin’ la Vida Loca, She Bangs, Shake your Bon Bon, or sipping from the eternal Cup of Life. That’s the Ricky I know. But post releasing his best of in 2013, the Puerto Rican superstar Ricky Martin is milking out his first studio album in four years, the entirely Spanish affair, A Quien Quiera Escuchar (To Whoever Wants to Listen). If your Spanish vocabulary is as expansive as mine, and limited to, no Nintendo, grassy arse, and dos cerveza por favor, don’t throw away the record just yet, lather yourself and your lover in salsa and dance around on your living room floor to some sensual Latino beats. Afterwards, you can make sweet, sweet nachos together. As the big Rick says, “This is baby making music.” He isn’t wrong. There are two distinct sides to this record, the vertical dancing foreplays – Adiós, Isla Bella, Náufrago, Cuanto Me Acuerdo de Ti; and the horizontal two step finishers – Disparo Al Corazón, Perdóname, La Mordidita, Mátame Otra Vez. The two tango almost interchangeably, from dance floor banger to bedroom banger. The million-dollar question is, do I turn my chair around in a dramatic Voice style fashion? No. Maybe if I wanted to get drunk on Sangria and relive the Johnston St Latin Fiesta. All jokes aside, if A Quien Quiera Escuchar is not enough Ricky for you, spin the deluxe edition with three extra acoustic tracks. Better still, slip on the track-by-track commentary – if you can speak Spanish. LEE sPENCEr-MiChAELEN

GIGS

GIGS THu mAr

5TH

HEY FRANKIE + Papa g and the Starcats + Trickdog Syndicate

THu mAr

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oN SALE NoW

OCCULTS (BRIS) + PLEASURE SYMBOLS (BRIS) fri mAr 6TH + EXEK + BARBITURATES + COMPLETE 13TH

fri mAr SuN mAr

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comEdy AT THE curTiN

NICK CODY, MC BEN RUSSELL + Bart freebairn (Something for The drive Home) + kelly fastuca + karl Woodberry + Nellie White + chimp cop oN SALE NoW

SAT mAr

14TH

EVERYDAY

DAY ‘Hickford RAVIES (SYD) Wizz’ 7” Tour

CURTIN

+ The Ancients + White Walls oN SALE NoW

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21 MAR - PEARLS ‘PRETEND YOU’RE MINE’ RECORD LAUNCH w. TENDRILS ( feat. Joel Silbersher & charlie owen) 10 APR - 2ND ANNUAL HOBBLEDEHOY RECORDS SHOWCASE fEAT. SHOW + carolineNo (caroline kennedy - ex dead Star) IN 2 YEARS! + FOURTEEN NIGHTS AT CERES + CHARGE GROUP fIRST oN SALE NoW SEA + JAMIE HAY & LIAM WHITE + LUKE HOWARD 11 APR - KILL DEVIL HILLS (WA) 16 APR - ROLLS BAYCE ‘ON MY OWN’ NAT. TOUR ‘rELENTLESS drEAmTimE’ 10” ViNyL LAuNcH 29 Lygon ST, CarLTon / T: 9663 6350 + w. ESc + crimsonettes + dowser ‘LIKE’ fAcEBook.com/THEcurTiN To kEEP uP WiTH THE LATEST!

WARMTH CRASHES IN

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 49

GIG GUIDE

WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK

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

WEDNESDAY MAR 4 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••ADALITA + GHOSTLY Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $20.00. ••BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE + LOU BENNETT Brunswick Town Hall, Brunswick. 8:00pm. ••COQ ROQ WEDNESDAYS - FEAT: VARIOUS DJS Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm. ••GREAT CYNICS + FREAK WAVE + THE UNION PACIFIC + EMPLOYMENT Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $10.00. ••MISS EILEEN & KING LEAR + DJ MERMAID Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $5.00. ••OSCAR GALT & THE EVENTUAL SOMETHINGS + ALMA KALORAMA + FROM OSLO Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $8.00. ••OUR MAN IN BERLIN + KALACOMA + DXHEAVEN + JACK RUNAWAY Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $10.00. ••RICHARD THOMPSON Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:30pm. ••RUFUS WAINWRIGHT + LUCY WAINWRIGHTROCHE Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:00pm. $99.00. ••SHAKEY GRAVES Basement Discs, Melbourne Cbd. 12:45pm. ••SINEAD O’CONNOR Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne), Southbank. 8:00pm. $80.00. ••SOMETHING FOR KATE + WIL WAGNER Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $28.00. ••TALL SHORES + TRULY HOLY Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:00pm. $6.00. ••THE NUREMBERG CODE Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. ••VAMPILLIA + TROLDHAUGEN Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $20.00.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••30/70 + SWOOPING DUCK + JAMIL ZACHARIA Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00. ••BOPSTRETCH Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ••CORY JACKSON Grumpy’s Green, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. ••DIZZY’S BIG BAND Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14.00.

••EUGENE BALL QUARTET Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $18.00. ••FERELLA’S FIGHT CLUB - FEAT: REUBEN LEWIS & SONNY IGUSTI 303, Northcote. 8:30pm. ••GL + HARVEY SUTHERLAND + SUI ZHEN +

SILENTJAY & JACE XL + SIMON TK + EDD FISHER + JIMMY DAWG Hugs & Kisses, Melbourne. 8:00pm. ••THE ISHS/ALLEN PROJECT Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $15.00. ••THE ROOKIES The Rooks Return, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ••TRACEY BARNETT Open Studio, Northcote. 6:00pm. ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK ••BEN WRIGHT SMITH + MIA WRAY Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. ••DELANEY DAVIDSON Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:00pm. ••LAGOON HILL ZYDECO Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. ••MUDDY’S BLUES ROULETTE Catfish, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ••OPEN MIC Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 7:00pm. ••OPEN MIC Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:00pm. ••OPEN MIC/JAM Musicland, Fawkner. 7:00pm. ••REBECCA BARNARD & BILLY MILLER’S SINGALONG Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 7:00pm. $15.00. ••ROBYN HITCHCOCK & THE ABBOTSFORD 3 + EMMA SWIFT Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm. ••ROUGH RIVER + HEATHER FIONA Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm. ••RUTH MOODY Bella Union Bar, Carlton. 8:00pm. $30.00. ••SHOVELS & ROPE, SHAKEY GRAVES + SHOVELS & ROPE + SHAKEY GRAVES + RUBY BOOTS Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:00pm. $54.90. ••THE ACOUSTIC SESSIONS - FEAT: KRISTA POLVERE + LACHY MOORE Revolver Upstairs, Prahran. 6:30pm. ••THE HAMMOND ORGAN NIGHTS Musicland, Fawkner. 7:00pm.

THURSDAY MAR 5

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••SELAHPHONIC + I KNOW THE CHIEF + VELVET ARCHERS Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $10.00. ••ABORTO NATURAL + INFRA GHOSTS + CURE MOTEL + G.T. ARPE Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. ••AIMEE FRANCIS + BONEZ + BAREFOOT ALLEY + LAZARUS MODE Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. ••ANIMAUX + THE FABRIC + BIDDLEWOOD Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. ••AUDITION NIGHT - FEAT: GATEWAY TO THE

SKY + JOHN HUNTER + SOLSTICE + FEED MY FRANKENSTEIN + DES CHIO Musicland, Fawkner.

7:00pm. ••BOBBY ALU + FUTURE ROOTS AFRO DUB SYSTEM Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $15.00. ••BRANDO’S ISLAND + ITALIANZ + THE SHIFTERS + FRUIT & NUT Bar Open, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. ••BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE Brunswick Town Hall, Brunswick. 1:00pm. $30.00. ••BYO VINYL NIGHT The Bodega, West Melbourne. 7:00pm. ••CHET FAKER + ROLAND TINGS + GL Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:00pm. ••COLD IRONS BOUND + WILLOW DARLING + LIAM LINLEY Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:30pm. ••DEAN RAY Commercial Hotel, Morang South. 8:00pm. ••EZEKIEL OX + JAMES MANGOHIG + SEEKA Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. ••GARRY DAVID + FRAUDBAND + TOYOTA WAR Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:00pm. $8.00. ••GRUFF RHYS + TOM LARK + WILDING Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $28.00. ••HEY FRANKIE + PAPA G & THE STARCATS + TRICKDOG SYNDICATE John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 7:30pm. $7.00. ••JULIAN SIMONSZ + JOHN LINGARD + CHACHI Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $15.00. ••MATTY VEHL + SUNMOONSTAR Longplay, Fitzroy North. 8:00pm. ••MISS EILEEN & KING LEAR + DJ MERMAID Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 6:00pm. ••NEXT - FEAT: DRIVEN TO THE VERGE + DISASTER PATH + EVER REST + EARTHENDER Colonial Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00. ••PABLO NARANJO + SIRI Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $8.00. ••PRISON + MASSES + SHINY COIN Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $10.00. ••SHADOWS AT BAY + FNR + THE DIECASTS + DOJO COLLECTORS Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $5.00. ••SING OUT SISTER - FEAT: IALANNA & ALICIA EGAN Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8:30pm. BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 50

GIG OF THE WEEK!

CLOWNS

Last Sunday Clowns played a gig in Sydney at Frankie’s Pizza that somehow turned into the Soundwave festival unofficial after party. Stevie from Clowns explained his experience on Facey: “We played to a few hundred people which included people like Marilyn Manson, Millencolin, Mayhem and many of the people responsible for making the Soundwave Festival happen. Still through all of this, I still think my highest musical achievement to date will be watching the singer of Papa Roach moshing out 100% at the front of the stage. 8 year old me would be stoked.” Go see what all the fuss is about and catch Clowns at The Bendigo Hotel this Friday March 6 and Monday March 9 (AA).

••SOUL IN THE BASEMENT - FEAT: THE

SWEETHEARTS + DJ VINCE PEACH & PIERRE BARONI Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $10.00. ••STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS + DAN KELLY Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $50.00. ••SUNNYBOYS + THE NEW CHRISTS Forum Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $71.20. ••SUPER UNSIGNED MUSIC FESTIVAL - FEAT: THE

REASON WHY + POETIC KAOS + D.R. MALONE + VERNA + LITTLE JEZ + TERRA + REGGIE & WILLO + BEHOLD THE DEFIANT + CHUCK + AZTX + CONCEALING FATE + MORBIDLY O’BEAT + KYLIE CHIRUNGA + AMY LOUISE MCLELLAN + KISS THE VYPER Corner Hotel, Richmond. 6:30pm. $15.00. ••THE FROLIC LOUNGE + AURORA + DOLORES DAI QUIRI + MIMI LE NOIRE & SIMON + JASPER JEWEL + CATERINA VITT + ADELAIDE EVERHEART Workers Club, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $20.00. ••THE GIRL FRIDAS 24 Moons, Northcote. 8:00pm. $5.00. ••THE MARY GOLDSMITHS + THE TESKEY BROTHERS + HARMONY BYRNE Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $8.00. ••VAMPILLIA + TROLDHAUGEN Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $20.00. ••ZEAHORSE + DEAD Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. $12.00. JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••JOHN MORRISON & JACKI COOPER QUARTET Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $20.00. ••ANNA GILKISON & THE JOHN MONTESANTE QUINTET The Commune, East Melbourne. 6:00pm. ••DIG WE MUST Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. $14.00. ••GLOBAL ROAMING Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 6:00pm. ••GWYN ASHTON Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:30pm. $20.00. ••SAM COPE & THE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $10.00. ••THE GOOD EGG THURSDAYS - FEAT: HENRY WHO + TIGERFUNK + LEWIS CANCUT Lucky Coq, Windsor. 7:00pm. ••THE MELBOURNE IMPROVISERS COLLECTIVE Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ••THE SIXTEEN Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:30pm. $55.00. ••TOUMANI & SIDIKI DIABATE Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne), Southbank. 8:00pm. $69.27. ••YAMAHA PIANO SERIES - FEAT: JEX SAARELAHT Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $18.00.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK ••#MELBOURNE MUSIC Carters Bar, Northcote. 7:30pm. ••CRAIG WILLIAMS + PAUL SNOWDEN + MICHAEL YULE Horse Bazaar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. ••CYNDI BOSTE & PETE FIDLER Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 8:00pm. ••DEAN RAY Commercial Hotel, Morang South. 8:00pm. ••GORDIE TENTREES Thornbury Theatre, Thornbury. 7:30pm. $15.00. ••HUME BLUES CLUB - FEAT: GEOFF ACHISON

+ SHAKE SHACK BOOGIE BAND + JLS & CO

Musicland, Fawkner. 7:00pm. ••MORNING MELODIES - FEAT: IAN CASTLES Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 10:00am. $17.00. ••NAOMI KEYTE + NADIA REID + FENN WILSON Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. ••OPEN MIC The Wilde, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. ••OPEN MIC Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:00pm. ••PAPER FLOWERS Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm.

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

••RUTH MOODY + THE MAE TRIO Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $28.00. ••SHARON SHANNON WITH TOLKA Brunswick Town Hall, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $50.00. ••THE ANNUAL LOUIS MCMANUS MEMORIAL

COCERT - FEAT: THE PURPLE DENTISTS + MAIREAD HURLEY + KAVISHA MAZZELLA Spotted

Mallard, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $18.00. ••THE NEW SAVAGES + BRENDAN FORWARD Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm.

FRIDAY MAR 6

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••MAX GOES TO HOLLYWOOD + MARICOPA WELLS + HOUND + HEATH ANTHONY + RY KEMP 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $8.00. ••BLACK NIGHT CRASH Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 11:30pm. ••CHARLIE LANE + GIRL FRIDAY + CHRIS COMMERFORD BAND Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 7:30pm. $10.00. ••CHERRY BOMB European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. ••CISCO CEASER Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 8:30pm. ••CLAWS & ORGANS + ROYAL CHANT + FAULTY PROJECTOR + THE BURNING ROACHES Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. ••CLICK + LOTUS COURT + LUKE SEYMOUP + MIHRA Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. ••CLOWNS + AMERICAN SHARKS + FLOUR + BODIES Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $15.00. ••EINSTEIN TOYBOYS + BRONNIE GORDON + BELLATRIX Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $10.00. ••EMPAT LIMA + THE BEEGLES Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm. ••FIRST AID KIT + LULUC Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:30pm. $69.00. ••FOXTROT + FEAR LIKE US + TIGERS + WIL WAGNER + GEORGIA MAQ Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:00pm. $10.00. ••FRANK SULTANA & THE SINISTER KIDS + JAMES GRIM’S WOODCUTTERS + MURDENA Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $10.00. ••FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE - FEAT: SINGLE INCOME & EASTWOOD REVINE Pier Live, Frankston. 8:00pm. $5.00. ••FROM THE JAM Prince Bandroom, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $44.90. ••GRUPA DAMA Musicland, Fawkner. 7:30pm. $20.00. ••JACK OBLIVIAN + ERIC OBLIVIAN + POWER Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $26.00. ••JESSE DAVIDSON + TOM LARK + EDWARD R Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $10.00. ••KATTIMONI Catfish, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. ••KIT CONVICT & THEE TERRIBLE TWO + LABRETTA SEUDE + THE MOTEL 6 The Luwow, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. ••LARISSA TANDY & STRINE SINGERS + TOBIAS HENGEVELD + AMARILLO Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $15.00. ••MELBOURNE ZOO TWILIGHTS - FEAT: VILLAGE PEOPLE + DJ ANDEE FROST Melbourne Zoo, Parkville. 5:30pm. $65.00. ••MOOMBA 2015 - FEAT: JEBEDIAH + YOU AM I

+ HOODOO GURUS + THE BROW + THE JOHN STEEL SINGERS + PERCH CREEK Birrarung Marr ,

Melbourne. 12:00pm. ••MOTOR CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL - FEAT: AC/DSHE +

AMBER LAWRENCE + CHRIS WILSON + CHRISTIE LAMB + CANYON + APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION + CLAUDE HAY + COOPER LOWER + CHUBBY RAE & THE ELEVATORS + ELECTRIC MARY + FAMOUS WILL + DEFRY ME + GRASSHOPPER Geelong

PARQUET COURTS

Need time to get a little more exercise into your schedule this week? Andrew Savage, one of the singers and guitar players in American rock group Parquet Courts chooses jump rope as his exercise of choice. Hailing from Brooklyn this somehow creates imagery of him jumping in the streets with all the school kids playing clap games and singing rhymes to the soundtrack of Parquet Courts. If you want to get some decent exercise this week, try the jump rope or even better, jump around in the mosh at Parquet Courts. They play The Hi-Fi on Friday March 6 and Golden Plains which runs over the Labour Day weekend March 7 – 9. Showgrounds, Geelong. 12:00am. $39.00. ••NENEH CHERRY + ROCKETNUMBERNINE Hamer Hall (Arts Centre Melbourne), Southbank. 8:00pm. $79.00. ••NICE TYPES Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:30pm. ••OCCULTS + PLEASURE SYMBOLS + EXEK + BARBITURATES + COMPLETE John Curtin Hotel, Carlton. 8:00pm. $10.00. ••ORB + SCHLAGER MUSIC + WET BLANKETS + WATERFALL PERSON Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $5.00. ••PARQUET COURTS + UV RACE + THE STEVENS The Hi-Fi, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $50.00. ••PETER COMBE Brunswick Town Hall, Brunswick. 10:30am. $15.00. ••POISON FISH + DIECASTS + THE NBC + BAILEY JONES Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. ••RESIDUAL + WIRE BIRD + RIVER CLISSON + ELLIOT CLINE 24 Moons, Northcote. 8:00pm. ••SIM-SAL-ABIM - FEAT: SIM MARTIN + RICK PETROPOULOS + RICHIE MAWYER Big Huey’s Diner, South Melbourne. 8:00pm. ••SPIRAL ARM + PINK HARVEST + FIERCE MILD + COASTBUSTERS Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. $10.00. ••THE NEW CHRISTS + HITS + THE GATWICK HIGHLIFE + DJ MAX CRAWDADDY Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $20.00. ••TULLY ON TULLY + SLOW TURISMO + DJ FEE FEE Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 9:30pm. ••WOMAD JAMAICAN SHOWCASE - FEAT: RANDY

VALENTINE + PRINCE ALLA + MISTA SAVONA + CHANT DOWN SOUND + SISTA ITATIONS + DI APPRENTICE + KODIAK KID Corner Hotel,

Richmond. 8:30pm. $25.00.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••CRAIG SCHNEIDER TRIO Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $20.00. ••JAZZ PARTY Brunswick Town Hall, Brunswick. 10:00pm. $15.00. ••JOHN MONTESANTE DECTET + RITA SATCH + JOSHUA KYLE Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:00pm. $23.00. ••MISS JUGO Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. ••MOVEMENT 9 Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $25.00. ••RUTH ROSHAN & TANGO NOIR Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $20.00. ••SOUL BE IN IT Grumpy’s Green, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ••STEVE MAGNUSSON TRIO Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ••SUGARFOOT RAMBLERS JAZZ BAND Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $25.00. ••THE MELBOURNE RHYTHM PROJECT Brunswick Town Hall, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $30.00. ••WAYFARE Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $15.00. ••YVETTE JOHANSSON & JOE RUBERTO TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $25.00.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK ••ALEISTER JAMES BLUES ASSEMBLY The B.east, Brunswick East. 9:00pm. ••ANDY BAYLOR & THE BANKSIA BAND Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm. ••ANDY GRANT DUO European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. ••CAM MINEO Open Studio, Northcote. 6:00pm. ••CHRIS WILSON Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. ••FLYING ENGINE TRIO Testing Grounds, Melbourne. 7:00pm. ••GARY PARKMAN BAND + GARRY DAVID + ANDREW MCCUBBIN Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. ••JODY & THE JOY RIDERS Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. ••KEVIN BENNETT + THE DISTANCE Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $26.00. ••MALCOLM HILL Mechanics Institute Performing Arts Centre, Brunswick. 8:00pm. ••MALCOLM HILL & THIS IS THE SHOW Mechanics

Institute Performing Arts Centre, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $10.00. ••PORT FAIRY FOLK FESTIVAL - FEAT: CHRISTINE

ANU + JOHN BUTLER TRIO + CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE + SHARON SHANNON BAND + AMI WILLIAMSON + ASH & BLOOM + STEVE POLTZ + THE BLACK SORROWS + ALL OUR EXES LIVE IN TEXAS + BOBBY & THE PINS + CATHERINE BRITT + CHRIS WHILE & JULIE MATTHEWS + HAT FITZ & CARA ROBINSON + HIMMERLAND + JAN PRESTON’S BOOGIE CIRCUS + JEFF LANG + JORDIE LANE + LAKE STREET DIVE + MARK SYMOUR & THE UNDERTOW + MARLON WILLIAMS + MARU TARANG + THE CHIPOLATAS + THE ORBWEAVERS + THE YEARLINGS Port Fairy Folk

Festival Site, Port Fairy. 12:00am. ••SHADOWS AT BAY Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. $5.00. ••SMALL TOWN ROMANCE Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm. ••SPENCER P JONES Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 5:30pm. ••THE GROVES + ROMEO MOON + NICHOLAS SYMONDS Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $13.00. ••TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC SESSION - FEAT: DAN BOURKE Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 6:00pm. ••VELVET ARCHERS Carters Bar, Northcote. 9:00pm. ••WAYNE HANCOCK + THE RECHORDS Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $45.00.

SATURDAY MAR 7

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••ANGRY MULES + ENCENDEDORES + WACO SOCIAL

CLUB + THE INTERCEPTORS + TEENAGE HEAD

Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. ••BANG - FEAT: BORIS THE BLADE + SENTINEL + OUR GREAT WAR + PRIDELANDS Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 7:00pm. $20.00. ••BATPISS + FUCK THE FITZROY DOOM SCENE

+ ZOMBIE MOTORS WRECKING YARD + DJ MERMAID Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm.

$13.00. ••BONEZ Catfish, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. ••CHET FAKER + ROLAND TINGS + GL Palais Theatre, St Kilda. 7:00pm. ••ERICA FREAS + HOT TEARS + KT SPIT + DIECUT + PHILLIPA OMEGA Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $12.00. ••FIVE MILE SNIPER + THE HORNETS + DJ XANDER Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. ••FOLEY + SHADOW LEAGUE + DEATH MOUNTAIN +

FLYING SO HIGH-O’S + GEORGIA MAQ + BERKELEY HUNTS Old Bar, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $10.00. ••GOLDEN PLAINS - FEAT: ALDOUS HARDING + BANOFFEE + BLACK VANILLA + BOMBINO + CONOR OBERST + COURTNEY BARNETT + DJ SHADOW + FELICE BROTHERS + FIRST AID KIT + GRAVEYARD + HITS + LA POCOCK + MILWAUKEE BANKS + NENEH CHERRY WITH ROCKETNUMBERNINE+ + NICK WATERHOUSE + OBLIVIANS + PARQUET COURTS + RADIO BIRDMAN + SHARON VAN ETTEN + SLEEP D + SOIL & “PIMP” + SOMETHING FOR KATE + STEPHEN MALKMUS AND THE JICKS + THEO PARRISH + THE BENNIES + THE MEANIES + TOTAL GIOVANNI + TWERPS Meredith Supernatural Amphitheatre, Meredith. 12:00am. ••GRAVEYARD + JACKSON FIREBIRD Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne Cbd. 9:00pm. $40.00. ••GREG CARTWRIGHT + LOWER PLENTY + JEMMA & THE CLIFTON HILLBILLIES Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $25.00. ••HARTS + WHITE SUMMER + SINGLES + GWYN ASHTON + PHIL PARA BAND Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. ••HOT WAVE - FEAT: MARKIA + DAN WOOD Hot Wave Music Festival Site, 11:00am. ••MACY GRAY Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $79.00.

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

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 51

GIG GUIDE

WHAT'S ON AROUND MELBOURNE THIS WEEK

For all the latest gigs check out beat.com.au ••MELBOURNE ZOO TWILIGHTS - FEAT: THE CAT EMPIRE + DORSAL FINS Melbourne Zoo, Parkville. 5:30pm. $70.00. ••METAL TO MY EARS - FEAT: DREADNAUGHT

+ ORPHEUS + ENVENOMED + MALICHOR + DEMONHEAD + BLOODLINE + EVISCERATOR

Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 4:30pm. $15.00. ••MILES AWAY + IRON MIND + APART FROM THIS + THE OTHERS + SUNDIAL Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 8:00pm. $18.00. ••NIGHT SOIL - FEAT: BOOMBAP Grumpy’s Green, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ••PLEASURE SYMBOLS + OCCULTS + GENTLEMEN Grace Darling Hotel, Collingwood. 9:00pm. $5.00. ••RONNIE CHARLES & THE SLICK LIX BAND Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:00pm. $18.00. ••SANDRA BERNHARD + THE FLAWLESS ZIRCONS Forum Theatre, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $71.10. ••SMASH BROTHERS + SIERRA LEONE + MEDICINE DOG Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. ••SOUL-A-GO-GO - FEAT: DJ LADY SOUL + MISS

GOLDIE + VINCE PEACH + RICHIE 1250 + DJ MANCHILD + MATT MCFETERIDGE Shebeen,

Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $15.00. ••STRANGERS IN TOWN + CALAMITY LANE + SHEWOLF + AGENTS OF ROCK + KILL TV Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 5:00pm. $15.00. ••THE ENGAGEMENT Sooki Lounge, Belgrave. 10:00pm. ••THE KARMENS + SWIM SEASON + PARKS DEPARTMENT + DJ ROY Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $8.00. ••THE NUREMBERG CODE + CROSSBONE CARNIVAL + SARSPELL + ETHEREAL Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $13.00. ••THE PAUL KIDNEY EXPERIENCE + GARRY DAVID + JAMES MCCANN + THE NEW VINDICTIVES Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. ••THE POP GROUP + THE POP GROUP +

AUSMUTEANTS + HARRY HOWARD & THE NDE

Corner Hotel, Richmond. 8:30pm. $55.00. ••THEM BRUINS + ROYAL CHANT + CLAWS & ORGANS + DEL BOCA VISTA Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:30pm. $10.00. ••THROTTLE The Shadow Electric, Abbotsford. 7:00pm. $22.50. ••WAYNE STATIC TRIBUTE + NUMERATOR + THE

GREY FILE + MOKOAN + THE DEAD PHARAOHS + STRIDOR Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. $10.00. ••WENDY RULE 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $20.00. ••Z-STAR + LUNA DEVILLE Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 8:30pm. $12.00. ••ZOND + BRANDO’S ISLAND + FREEJACK + TOMMY T & THE CASUAL MISHAPS Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 8:30pm. JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••MEL SEARLE Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $20.00. ••TAMARA KULDIN’S DIRTY MARTINI Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 9:30pm. $25.00. ••BARA ZMEKOVA Open Studio, Northcote. 5:00pm. ••CEM & BAND Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. ••HANDEL (HEAVEN & HARMONY) - FEAT:

AUSTRALIAN BRANDENBURG ORCHESTRA

Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:00pm. $31.00. ••IVY STONE ASSEMBLY Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 9:30pm. ••KIM SALMON Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:30pm. ••PANORAMA BRASIL Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $25.00. ••POWERHOUSE Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 3:00pm. $97.00. ••POWERHOUSE Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 6:00pm. $97.00. ••SOIL & PIMP SESSIONS Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $35.00. ••STEVE SEDERGREEN Ruby’s Music Room,

WANTED BANDS/ACTS WANTED for Espy Shows. Shoot an email through to mark@gunnmusic.com.au for more details NEW WAVE GUITARIST WANTED 0433 726 449 EMPLOYMENT SOMEONE TO COOK PIKELETS when the band Pikelet plays because that would be tasty. Email: aintnopartylikeapikeletparty@pancakesaretoosavoury.com BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 52

Melbourne Cbd. 1:00pm. $25.00. ••THE GLASS MOON Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 9:00pm. $20.00. ••THE GROOVETONES Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 9:00pm. ••THE LAGERPHONES Cross Street , East Brunswick. 6:00pm. $20.00. ••THE TED VINING TRIO Uptown Jazz Cafe, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ••TRU GROOVES - FEAT: QUANTUM MILKSHAKE 24 Moons, Northcote. 10:00pm. ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK ••ACTION SAM European Bier Cafe, Melbourne Cbd. 10:00pm. ••AMISTAT + SAM BRITTAIN + OLIVER FRIEND Toff In Town, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $15.00. ••BACKWOOD CREATURES Union Hotel, Brunswick. 9:00pm. ••BLUEGRASS FLIES Two By Two, Northcote. 3:30pm. ••DEAN RAY Gateway Hotel, 8:00pm. ••DOUBLESHOT BLUES Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 8:30pm. ••KERRI SIMPSON Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. ••MARCH FOR THE YARRA GLEN ARTS EXHIBITION

- FEAT: RAY SMITH + EDWARD NASS + MARK GARDENER Yarra Glen Memorial Hall, Yarra Glen.

3:00pm. ••MOONEE VALLEY DRIFTERS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:30pm. ••PETE CONVERY + ALEX HAMILTON + CAHIL F KELLY + ROB HARROW Old Bar, Fitzroy. 3:00pm. ••PHOEBE DAICOS & THE SIMMER DOWNS + MICK DOG’S BONE YARD The B.east, Brunswick East. 9:00pm. ••REBETIKO TRAGOUDI Brunswick Town Hall, Brunswick. 5:00pm. $25.00. ••REFLEJOS + JOSE NIETO Post Office Hotel, Coburg. 9:30pm. ••STELLA ANGELICO Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. ••TANK T Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 9:00pm. ••TESS MCKENNA & THE SHAPIROS + MADDY MAC & COBRA SNAKE Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. ••VIC OLD TIME JAM SESSION - FEAT: CRAIG WOODWARD + WARREN ROUGH Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. ••VOODOO CANE + TWO HEADED DOG Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. $10.00. ••WAYNE ‘THE TRAIN’ HANCOCK + THE RECHORDS Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 8:00pm. $40.00.

SUNDAY MAR 8

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••65DAYSOFSTATIC + TANGLED THOUGHTS OF LEAVING + THE RED PAINTINGS Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:30pm. $55.00. ••APART FROM THIS + HAVE / HOLD + OH PACIFIC + HOUND Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $10.00. ••BILLY & EDDIE MILLER Big Huey’s Diner, South Melbourne. 4:00pm. ••BLACK VANILLA + HABITS + CLUB_ESC Shebeen, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $10.00. ••BOB ‘BONGO’ STARKIE Flying Saucer Club, Elsternwick. 8:00pm. $25.00. ••ELECTRIC MARY + MASSIVE + THE DROP BEARS + THE BRONSONS Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. ••F*CK THE FITZROY DOOM SCENE + BATPISS + FLOUR + ZOMBIE MOTORS WRECKING YARD Yah Yah’s, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $13.00. ••HIGGO’S HEAVY CHERRY II - FEAT: DESECRATOR + PARTY VIBEZ + DECIMATUS + HARLOTT Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $15.00. ••HOLLOW HOUNDS + BALTER VADA + DEAN 303, Northcote. 7:00pm. $5.00. ••PLASTIC - FEAT: CAPTURE THE CROWN + TO THE AIRSHIP + POLARIS + ATHENA’S WAKE Royal Melbourne Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $20.00. ••PLASTIC - FEAT: D AT SEA + DAY BREAK + THIS FIASCO + INVENTIONS Colonial Hotel, Melbourne Cbd. 8:00pm. $20.00. ••PORK CHOP PARTY Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. 4:00pm. ••SHOTGUN WEDDING + TAILOR BIRDS Drunken Poet, West Melbourne. 4:00pm. ••STACKHOUSE + RATTLIN’ BONES BLACKWOOD + ME-GRAINES Espy, St Kilda. 9:00pm. ••SUMMER BLOOD + JUDAS SPRINGSTEEN + SOPHIE OFFICER Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ••SUNDAY SCHOOL - FEAT: ZEAHORSE + JACKSON BRIGGS & THE HEATERS + LYONESSE Public Bar, North Melbourne. 4:00pm. ••THE DOORS SHOW + WHOLE LOTTA ZEP + AUS ROLLING STONES SHOW Espy, St Kilda. 8:00pm. ••THE POH 5TH BIRTHDAY - FEAT: LA BASTARD

+ MICK DOG’S BONE YARD + SPOONFUL + DJ D-TRAIN + DJ ORITONE + SJ CHRISTMASS Post

Office Hotel, Coburg. 11:00am. ••WRESTLEROCK + ELECTRIK DYNAMITE Corner Hotel, Richmond. 7:30pm. $25.00.

STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS

For the last month or so there’s been the cutest fucking kittens ever sleeping under my car. I’ve devised a plan to feed them enough times that they will have to love me. Unfortunately my plans are being foiled by my housemate who is allergic to cats and subsequently scares them away. Stephen Malkamus has a kitten called Lucky which he named after a Daft Punk song. Continuing this theme, if I catch a kitten I’ve decided to also name it after a song. The current list is Milkshake after the Kelis song or Antichrist Superstar after the Marilyn Manson song. If you’re up all night to get lucky, catch Stephen Malkamus & The Jicks when they play The Gasometer Hotel this Wednesday March 4. ••Y LISTEN - FEAT: MISS DESTINY + LITTLE DESERT

+ PIKELET + STATIONS + SARAH MARY CHADWICK + SUMMER FLAKE + PLEASURE SYMBOLS + MILITARY POSITIONS + PARADISE + BRANDO’S ISLAND + FREEJACK + TOMMY T & THE CASUAL MISHAPS Tote Hotel, Collingwood. 4:00pm. $15.00. ••ZEVON & THE WEREWOLVES OF MELBOURNE + LUCKY MOORE + DJ MAX CRAWDADDY Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 12:00pm.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••BAKERSFIELD GLEE CLUB Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 4:00pm. ••BARA ZMEKOVA Open Studio, Northcote. 8:00pm. ••BRARSEY SUNDAYS - FEAT: JACK EARLE BIG BAND Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 4:30pm. ••COCO DE MER Brunswick Town Hall, Brunswick. 1:00pm. $35.00. ••FESTA DI PIAZZA Brunswick Town Hall, Brunswick. 5:00pm. $25.00. ••GIANNI MARINUCCI TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $18.00. ••HANDEL (HEAVEN & HARMONY) - FEAT:

AUSTRALIAN BRANDENBURG ORCHESTRA

Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 5:00pm. $31.00. ••MUSIC ON CROSS STREET - FEAT: BIG BAND BLOWOUT Cross Street , East Brunswick. 3:00pm. $20.00. ••SOULCLASH - FEAT: REMI + THE SEVEN UPS + DJ

MANCHILD + MS BUTT + LEWIS CAN CUT + MISTA REX Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $18.00. ••THE GOLD STREET SOUND The B.east, Brunswick East. 9:00pm. ••WINTER SUN + BRONWYN ADAMS + PHILIPPA SINGS Mr Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 4:00pm. $5.00. ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK ••IAN VANDY & KEEPING TIME Ascot Vale Hotel, Ascot Vale. 4:00pm. ••ANDY BAYLORS BANKSIA BAND Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 5:30pm. ••BACKWOOD CREATURES Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. ••BANJO-B-QUE - FEAT: CRAIG WOODWARD The Mercat, Melbourne. 12:30pm. ••CHRIS SCHROEDER Catfish, Fitzroy. 5:00pm. ••CIDER SUNDAYS The Loft, Warrnambool. 8:00pm. ••DAVE WARNER’S BIG SUNDAY BBQ - FEAT: PAUL

MADIGAN + ROSS HANNAFORD + JEX SAARELAHT

Caravan Music Club, Oakleigh. 3:00pm. $23.00. ••DEAN RAY Hallam Hotel, Hallam. 8:00pm. ••GEORGIA MAQ + HEATH ANTHONY + RY KEMP + ANNA JEAVONS Reverence Hotel, Footscray. 3:00pm. ••HOLLOW DRUMS Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. ••INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY - FEAT: VAN

WALKER + JAMES KENYON + VICTORIANA GAYE

Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 8:00pm. ••JACK HOWARD & THE LONG LOST BROTHERS Standard Hotel, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. ••JAM SUNDAYS Musicland, Fawkner. 6:00pm. ••KEN MAHER, AL WRIGHT & TONY HARGREAVES Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 9:00pm. ••LARISSA TANDY Union Hotel, Brunswick. 3:30pm. ••NATHAN KAYE Panton Hill Hotel, Panton Hill. 3:00pm. ••PHEASANT PLUCKERS Rainbow Hotel, Fitzroy. 4:00pm. ••PIMP MY M.U.F GALLERY EXHIBITION - FEAT:

JULZ EVANS & THEN SOME + THE INVISIBLE DEARS + EAGLEMONT + JOSH TRAUM Carters Bar,

Northcote. 6:00pm. ••SUNDAY SESSIONS - FEAT: BONEZ Lucky Coq, Windsor. 4:00pm. ••SUNDAY SESSIONS - FEAT: VARIOUS ARTISTS Ferntree Gully Hotel, Ferntree Gully. 2:00pm. ••THE HANDSOME BASTARDS Union Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm. ••THE LUAU COWBOYS Victoria Hotel, Brunswick. 5:00pm.

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

MONDAY MAR 9 INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••DZIA 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. ••65DAYSOFSTATIC + TANGLED THOUGHTS OF LEAVING + THE RED PAINTINGS Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 7:30pm. $55.00. ••CHERRY JAM Cherry Bar, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. ••CLOWNS + AMERICAN SHARKS + WOLFPACK + ROCKENSPIELE + HUGUR DYR Bendigo Hotel, Collingwood. 8:00pm. $15.00. ••HALT EVER + PRISON + STATIONS + DIECUT Bar Open, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. ••MELBOURNE PUNK DAY - FEAT: FLANGIPANIS

+ SKINPIN + STRAWBERRY FIST CAKE + SARGE & THE NUKED + NMA + BEYOND CONTEMPT Mr

Boogie Man Bar, Abbottsford. 1:00pm. $10.00. ••MOSE & THE FAMILY Espy, St Kilda. 7:00pm. ••MUNDANE MONDAYS - FEAT: SECRET BAND + HOUND + COSMIC KAHUNA Old Bar, Fitzroy. 8:00pm. $10.00. ••THE SUGARFOOT RAMBLERS Bar Open, Fitzroy. 4:00pm. ••THEE MARSHMALLOW OVERCOAT Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC

••ALLAN BROWNE TRIO Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne Cbd. 8:30pm. $18.00. ••LALIC + MONNONE ALONE + CAROLINE NO + MILK TEDDY JAMS Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy. 8:30pm. $5.00. ••LES ARTS FLORISSANTS Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:30pm. $70.00. ••TROUBLE IN THE KITCHEN Brunswick Town Hall, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $35.00.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK ••ALEX CAMERON The Shadow Electric, Abbotsford. 7:00pm. ••LOST RAGAS Labour In Vain, Fitzroy. 5:00pm.

TUESDAY MAR 10

INDIE, ROCK, POP, METAL, PUNK & COVERS ••ASH NAYLOR Yarra Hotel, Abbotsford. 8:00pm. ••ECCA VANDAL + TWINSY Gasometer Hotel, Collingwood. 7:30pm. ••FITZROYAL - FEAT: BROADS + JEMMA NICOLE Little & Olver, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. ••MICK TURNER + THE REMOTES + CAROLINE NO Public Bar, North Melbourne. 8:00pm. $8.00. ••PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING + SLUM SOCIABLE Northcote Social Club, Northcote. 8:00pm. $39.00. ••SOLEY + PIKELET Howler, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $42.00. ••THE SPIRIT OF DUB + TINY HORSE + 30/70 Workers Club, Fitzroy. 7:00pm. $8.00.

JAZZ, SOUL, FUNK, LATIN & WORLD MUSIC ••APOCALYPSO Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Richmond. 8:00pm. ••AROWE 303, Northcote. 8:00pm. $5.00. ••DEPEDRO + OSCAR JIMENEZ Spotted Mallard, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $40.00. ••DEXTER’S ASIAN CONNECTION + OLIVIA QI Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 7:30pm. $15.00. ••LES ARTS FLORISSANTS Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 7:30pm. $70.00. ••OLIVIA QI Ruby’s Music Room, Melbourne Cbd. 6:00pm. $15.00. ••POSTCARDS FROM PRAGUE - FEAT: THE SONG COMPANY Melbourne Recital Centre, Southbank. 6:00pm. $100.00.

ACOUSTIC, COUNTRY, BLUES & FOLK ••AARTI & THE COSMIC BUFFALO Open Studio, Northcote. 8:30pm. ••ALASDAIR FRASER & NATALIE HAAS WITH MELBOURNE SCOTTISH FIDDLE CLUB Brunswick Town Hall, Brunswick. 8:00pm. $46.50. ••IRISH SESSIONS Lomond Hotel, Brunswick East. 8:00pm. ••OPEN SWIMMER + TOBY ROBINSON Retreat Hotel, Brunswick. 7:30pm. ••WHITETOP MOUNTAINEERS Mechanics Institute Performing Arts Centre, Brunswick. 7:30pm. $35.00.

Thursday 5th @ 8.30pm

“SING OUT SISTER”

(Int. Womens Day) with Alanna & Alicia Egan + Guests (Alt-pop songsters)

Wed 4th March

Friday 6th @ 9.30 pm

SATURDAY 7TH MARCH

STELLA ANGELICO FROM 7PM

BACKWOOD CREATURES SUNDAY 8TH MARCH

FROM 5PM

LOST RAGAS MONDAY 9TH MARCH

FROM 5PM

COMING UP

THE BLUEBOTTLES MICHAEL MEEKING DOUGY & WESTON BBQ ON THE ROOF TOP ALL WEEKEND

SMALL TOWN ROMANCE

(Hot-to-trot Tex-Mex)

Saturday 7th @ 9.30pm

MOONEE VALLEY DRIFTERS (Western Swing thing)

Sunday 8th @ 5.30 pm

ANDY BAYLORS BANKSIA BAND (Rootsy shrubbery)

Sunday 8th @ 9pm

KEN MAHER, AL WRIGHT & TONY HARGREAVES (Acoustic roots)

Tuesday 10th @8pm

IRISH SESSION (Fancy fiddlin’)

ALL GIGS ARE FREE EXCELLENT RESTAURANT AND BAR MEALS

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

WINE, WHISKEY, WOMEN

Heather Fiona Rough River Thurs 5th March 8pm - OPEN MIC

8pm 9pm -

Fri 6th March

6pm: Traditional Irish Session 8.30pm -

Cisco Ceaser Sat 7th March 9pm - Slim Dime & The Prairie Kings Sun 8th March 4pm: Tailor Birds 6.30pm: The Shotgun Wedding Tues 10th March 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 WEDNESDAY 4TH 7PM

MELLOW DIAS THUMP THURSDAY 5TH 7PM

NIGHT FLIGHT FRIDAY 6TH 7PM

JAPEYE J SMITH SATURDAY 7TH 7PM

HELMET KRIS SAVOIA PHAON WILL ELDER SUNDAY 8TH 12PM - 1AM

SPECIAL GUESTS TBA

E VE R Y T U E S D AY TUESDAYS

GRUMPY TRIVIA $6 CHILLI DOGS ALL NIGHT

WEDNESDAY 4th MARCH

CORY JACKSON LIVE REGGAE

2 FOR 1 MEALS / $12 JUGS THURSDAY 5TH MARCH

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 6TH MARCH

SOUL.Be IN IT

fuNk/DISCO/RAREGROOVE DJ’S ON 4 TuRNTABLES

Saturday 7th march

NIGHT SOIL BOOmBAP & 90’S JAmS

SUNDAYS

LAMB BURGER & PINT - $15 ALL fREE ENTRy

GRumPy HOuR $6 PINTS AND $5 BASICS Tues-Fri from 4-7pm.125 Smith Street, Fitzroy.

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

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 + k e ko s o n

- 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 m a r c h dj mermaid

f r i d ay 6 t h m a r c h swa m p f u n k Dj Nui & Co + blues party

S A T U R D AY 7 t h m a r c h D j T o p H e av y + That Gold Street Sound

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

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 53

THE LOCAL For more information or ad bookings call Aleksei on 9428 3600

News Bites. Little & Olver Free Food Mondays

Say whaaaat? No, you’re not going crazy. Copresented by Beat (hey, that’s us), Little and Olver will be bringing you free food on Mondays. 100 per cent free food. They’ll even have sweet DJs for you, too. Monday March 9 brings DJ Al Montford of The UV Race. Get down to 393 Brunswick Street Fitzroy.

Post Office Hotel Celebrate Fifth Birthday

The Post Office Hotel is celebrating its fifth birthday with a huge all-day eating, drinking and being merry party on Sunday this long weekend, and everyone’s invited. Chefs will be tending the nine to 20 animals on the spits in the beer garden from open to close, serving up the best produce from their local butchers, with a range of tasty, seasonal side dishes for various diets and preferences. Festivities kick off at 11am at 229-231 Sydney Road, Coburg.

Q&A Fromage A Trois: Jayne Cook The second installment of Fromage A Trois will feature more than 60 exhibitors with an emphasis on ‘meeting the makers.’ Patrons will be able to sample local and international ciders and wines, watch live cooking demonstrations, witness fresh mozzarella stretching, and indulge in local and imported cheeses. We had a little chat with Event Coordinator Jayne Cook about the festival. How’s the organisation going? Very good, we’re counting down the weeks now. We can’t wait. It’s the second year this year, what’s changed? It’s the first time we’ve been accepted as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, we’re the last event of the festival this year. I assume this year’s going to be bigger and better than the last one? Very true. We’ve got an amazing list of exhibitors of cheese and cider and other products. We’ve also got a heap of Melbourne’s favourite food trucks on board. We also have the demonstrations which is a new addition, so it involves industry experts teaching how to stretch mozzarella live, we’ve got our major sponsors of The Park Hotel, their head chef is doing a few sessions There’s also lots for the kids to do on the day including a cute little photo booth outdoors and there’ll also be some fun lawn games like croquet. It’s not just for cheese and cider enthusiasts. It’s a fun day out for the whole family. What’s included in the entry price? $35, and that includes your official Fromage glass that you can take home and the official event guide will be handed out. It’s always been cheese and wine, why have you chosen cider? We found there was a need in the market and there are cheese and wine events throughout the year and we thought, what’s our favourite thing? And we decided the two were so beautifully paired and that it should be another option, as well as wine. Do you have a favourite cheese? That’s so hard. I’d be going against the grain when I say St Agur, which is a blue cheese. The stinkier the better, right? Exactly. Is any time a good time for cheese? Absolutely.

MUSICLAND MUSIC COMPLEX

Tell us about Musicland. Musicland consists of two live music stages: the main stage which holds up to 350 people and backstage which holds approx 80. We have a music shop, live recording facilities, rehearsal rooms, music school, licensed bar, beer garden and food available. It was built by muso’s for musicians, and has an authentic vibe about it. We are an inclusive venue, from metal to blues from young to old, everyone is included. What are your opening hours? The Music Store is open Tuesday to Friday 11am to 5pm, Saturday 11am to 3pm and Tues to Sunday evenings from 7pm to midnight. So if you ever need a packet of strings at 10pm, you can get them from Musicland Fawkner, we’ll be open. We also buy, put on consignment and have new stock at hand, and if we haven’t got it, we can get it. We have a couple of repair technicians, so we can fix your gear, and even if it’s as simple as changing over strings, we can do that, too. Come in and speak to George, he will help you out. Also, we have just had a huge consignment of Vintage Amps come into our shop, so it’s definitely worth a look. Tell us about your rehearsal rooms. We have three large rehearsal rooms in use at the moment. All of them have PA’s, great sound and are available for the whole night if needed, prices start from $60. We also hire out drum kits if you don’t want to bring your own. What about live recording facilities? We are fast becoming known as a high quality live recording venue, with a number of TV shows already being filmed at Musicland, and numerous music clips. Wrokdown, Band Wars and Evivoo all tape out of Musicland’s facilities. We have live switching with

our four cameras, plus roving if needed, separate booth audio mixing, as well as professional outside audio mixing, but if you want to keep it simple, we can give you the ProTools files and you can mix it all down yourselves. Do you have a music school? Yes, we also do music lessons, with some great teachers and friendly atmosphere. We also look at stage and performance technique and teach young and old alike. Do you do any live gigs? We’re working towards keeping live music alive in Melbourne, so six nights a week we have bands playing live. Mondays are when Wrokdown record, you are more than welcome to come and have a look. Tuesdays are for Evivoo recording night where five live acts get recorded for Evivoo. It’s always great quality and again, free entry. Wednesdays is our open mic/jam night. Thursdays is our showcase/audition night, where bands we haven’t heard get a chance to play on the Musicland stage, and even have a chance to be picked for one of the shows being filmed. On Thursdays, we have our Hume Blues Club, which has special guest artists as well as a Jam. Fridays is our classic covers night, so come on down and dance to the music of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Saturday is our showcase events, depending on what’s on, it can range from metal to country, so check out our gig guide or get our free app (search Musicland Melbourne). Sundays we are back to Jam Nights, and of course all ages gigs pop up through the week. Find MUSICLAND MUSIC COMPLEX at 1359 Sydney Road, Fawkner. Directions: Just off the Western Ring Road, before the Cemetery, and five minutes from Gowrie Station.

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 are all confirmed as part of the fourth and final lineup release of the second Motor City Music Festival 2015. The live and local lineup is a perfect mix of the best talent in Geelong, the Bellarine, the Surf Coast and beyond. With a great Geelong musical heritage that stretches from Grasshopper through to Brooklyn Blue, The Tiny Giants and Fenn Wilson, Motor City Music Festival continues to celebrate what’s great about the city by the bay. The Geelong Showgrounds will rock out over three big days of the Labour Day long weekend, and the Live and Local acts are a part of the over 40 acts across five stages (four undercover and one open-air stage under the giant Southern Cross Windmill). Friday night is roots and rock; Saturday is blues and tributes; Sunday is Fun Day (kids are free) with a who’s who of Australian country music, as well as a dedicated children’s entertainment stage and a celebration of Australian contemporary music. There’ll be free carnival rides, free parking, a craft beer hall, cider and wine bars and the famous food trucks will rock the showgrounds while you groove to the sounds of the three-day festival, culminating with the huge Motor City Music Festival fireworks. MOTOR CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL is taking place from Friday March 6 to Sunday March 8 at Geelong Showgrounds.

Hey nerdlingers, this week its all crazy ducks, casual sexism and occasional racisim... That’s right, the decline of Australian produced television itself: Hey,hey, it’s Saturday. This crossword is dedicated to Matthew Sheppard, cheers mate. ACROSS

DOWN

puzzleguy@beat.com.au

FROMAGE A TROIS takes place at Werribee Park on Sunday March 15.

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 54

MOTOR CITY MUSIC FESTIVAL

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

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MADE BY MUSICIANS, FOR MUSICIANS MARCH ISSUE #252 DEADLINE AND STREET DATES: STREET AND ONLINE DATE: WEDNESDAY APRIL 1 AD BOOKING DEADLINE: MONDAY MARCH 23 EDITORIAL DEADLINE: TUESDAY MARCH 24 ARTWORK DEADLINE: WEDNESDAY MARCH 25

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BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 55

INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH

MUSIC INDUSTRY NEWS & GOSSIP

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

MEG MAC SIGNS TO AMERICA’S 300 ENTERTAINMENT

On the eve of her first US tour (starting at SXSW this month), Melbourne singer/songwriter Meg Mac signed with former Warner Music Group chairman and CEO Lyor Cohen’s New York-based 300 Entertainment label. The world deal excludes Australia and NZ. The 24-year old buzz artist issues her Megmac EP there on Tuesday April 7. Cohen says 300 “fell in love” with Mac after hearing Roll Up Your Sleeves. “She is a true artist of immense talent.”

LURCH & CHIEF GET ILLUSIVE

Melbourne stoner-psych-swirl-rock six-piece Lurch & Chief, currently on Kingswood’s national tour, have signed to Illusive and have their Breathe EP out on Friday March 27. They formed in late 2012 after Alexander Trevisan (Lurch) and Hayden Somerville (Chief ) cut some demos and rounded up Lilibeth Hall, Brendan Anderson, Joel Rennison and Josh Lane to make their live debut at a packed out warehouse. Last year their single Keep It Together was played on triple j and community radio and they toured hard. Their new single is Fading Out.

BELLUSIRA SCORE US DEAL, EXTENDING AMERICAN STAY

Melbourne band Bellusira, who’ve been in America for the last 12 months, have decided to stay on there after their career has taken off. They’ve just signed a record deal with hard rock/metal label Pavement Entertainment which has Black Tide, (Hed) P.E., Tantric and Dark New Day. Last August, they joined with M7 booking agency and since they've done a 21-date US run with Oh. They’re currently back in Australia (Friday March 6 to 22) before returning for a 40-date tour. They’ll play five to six nights a week in the US for the rest of 2015.

DALLAS FRASCA INKS MULTI-ALBUM SFR DEAL

Hard rockin’ trio Dallas Frasca release their third album through a deal with Social Family Records. CEO Jake Challenor said, “When SFR’s Marketing Manager Alli Hodge introduced us to Dallas Frasca’s new material, it was love at first listen. Rock’n’roll is part of our young DNA over here.” The album Love Army is out on Friday April 17 with a national tour through 123 Agency

GEELONG'S THE LIVING EYES LAND RECORD DEAL

Geelong garage outfit The Living Eyes signed a record deal with Flightless/Remote Control Records, and release their second album Living Large this week. It was recorded over one and a half days with Owen Penglis (Straight Arrows) at Goliath studio, finished off in members’ bedrooms and then mixed by Mikey Young.

WARNER MUSIC SIGNS BEN LEE

Warner Music has signed Ben Lee to Warner Bros. Records, and will release his album Love is the Great Rebellion this year. Meantime, Lee has self-released online A Mix Tape From Ben Lee, a project in the works for ten years. It was produced by Sam Spiegel (Squeak E Clean) with collabs from Zooey Deschanel, Ben Folds, Sean Lennon, Neil Finn, Sally Seltmann and Angie Hart. All proceeds go to the Q’ero Project which aids the lost tribe of the Q’ero people of Peru who became known to the world in 1949.

BEATPORT LAUNCHES FREE STREAMING SERVICE

SFX Entertainment introduced a no-cost ad-free streaming service on its EDM platform Beatport in a revamp. Its 50 million prof DJs and EDM heads can now discover new music as well as download and buy SFX events tickets in one go. They also get more EDM news, videos and a platform able to cope with lengthy DJ sets. It’s expected to expand Beatport’s user base to 80 million.

SKIPPING GIRL VINEGAR BACK IN STEP

After a lengthy silence, Skipping Girl Vinegar return from the US to launch their third album The Great Wave at Bluesfest next month. Two years ago, they put their career on hold after singer/songwriter Mark Lang’s wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She’s in recovery, and Lang says his priorities have changed, “affecting the very core of how I wanted to communicate through music.” The Great Wave was recorded with Nashville producer Brad Jones (Josh Rouse, Missy Higgins) who heard the demos and flew out to Australia to record in sheds and abandoned halls along the Victorian coast.

BEAT MAGAZINE PAGE 56

DOT DASH/REMOTE CONTROL SNIFF METHYL ETHEL

Dot Dash/Remote Control have signed Perth trio Methyl Ethel and will release their debut album Oh Inhuman Spectacle in May. First single Rogues was recorded over 24 hours in a doorless room of an old Fremantle shopfront.

THINGS WE HEAR

• Which music editor began an interview with an internationally famous singer reminiscing how 20 years ago they had cameos in a movie – and the muso accidentally punched the scribbler on the nose during a scene? • Which venue staffer had to take time off after a brawl between two men? One threw a chair at the other, but hit her in the face. • Johnny Depp was spotted at Foo Fighters’ Brisbane show. He turned up to Marilyn Manson’s Tivoli show and joined them for The Beautiful People. After the Foos’ Brissie show, the band had a steak dinner at Moo Moos in Broadbeach where they proved to be great guys. They spoke to anyone there. When the restaurant asked Grohl to snap a photo sitting astride their statue bull Kobe, he obliged immediately. In Sydney, Brad Wilk of Rage Against The Machine joined for a version of Van Halen’s Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout’ Love. • Oh dear. YouTube has one billion active users per month and $4 billion in revenue but has still not turned a profit. • Adele’s 21 achieved another milestone. It’s just spent 208 weeks (four years) on the US Billboard 200 album chart. It’s sold ten million there. • Lenny Kravitz cancelled his Bluesfest and Australian dates in April due to “scheduling conflicts” while Nightmare Music announced that “due to potentially verboten artist demands” it cancelled the Wayne Hancock tour. • The tree in California’s Mojave Desert featured on the artwork for U2’s 1987 album The Joshua Tree had one of its branches chopped off by vandals. • Hoax story of the week: Sugar Ray’s Mark McGrath was “killed on set” by a “masked gunman” while filming an action TV show. • At a Flight Facilities show in LA, Reggie Watts joined them for Sunshine. The Flights tour the US with Touch Sensitive and Seattle’s Beat Connection. • They Might Be Giants’ new live album, given away for free on their website, was recorded over a number of shows in Australia – where they toured after a long absence, and discovered they still had a huge following. • Native Tongue America secured a deal for Clairy Browne & The Bangin’ Rackettes’ Love Letter for US department store JC Penney. The ad, about its latest men’s clothing, will be shown through North America. Love Letter was last year used in the US market by Heineken beer.

MAN GETS DISABILITY BENEFITS BECAUSE OF METAL “ADDICTION”

HOLDEN HOSTS QUEEN OF THE DESERT FOR CANCER CHARITY

Blue September, the charity for men suffering cancer, has announced the inaugural Queen of the Desert festival and will be hosted by its ambassador Mark Holden. The festival (Wednesday April 1 to Saturday April 4) is a 720km outback 4WD charity adventure along the Oodnadatta Track from Marree to Coober Pedy via William Creek, Oodnadatta and the Painted Desert. The festival celebrates the films made in the South Australian outback. At each stop, Holden will talk about Blue September’s work. The public is invited to assemble a team, dress up and decorate their 4WDs with an Aussie film theme and join in. The entry cost per vehicle is $375 (additional passenger costs $50 each) and encouraged to start a donation drive. Blue September wants to raise $30,000. For further details for entry, visit www.everydayhero.com.au/ event/QOTD15 and enquiries go to Pat Katnich at pkatnich@bigpond.com. After the festival, Holden heads to Adelaide to be inducted into the SA Hall of Fame on Friday April 10.

LIVE MUSIC PERMANENT AT MARGARET COURT ARENA

Tennis stadium Margaret Court Arena, which last year began testing live music, has now been made a permanent venue. It holds 6,500, with options for gigs with smaller crowds. Owner of Melbourne and Olympic Parks’ Greg George said, “We can now target more niche and diverse acts as demonstrated by our current lineup of artists. It means we now have a venue to cater for certain genres that have probably been beyond our reach in the past.”

POZIBLE x DITTO WORKSHOP

Crowdfunding platform Pozible and digital distribution agency Ditto Music team up for Friday Residency and After Party. It’s free, and offers indie musicians the chance to see live sets, workshops on self-promotion, distribution, fundraising and networking. It’s on Friday March 13 at Pozible HQ in Collingwood. Register at www.eventbrite.com.au/e/music-workshop-andafter-party-tickets-15706608890.

STEVE LANE & THE AUTOCRATS CROWD-FUND FOR CANADA

Bendigo-based Steve Lane & The Autocrats started a Pozible campaign (pozi.be/autocrats) to get to the ten-day Canada Music Week in May to boost career prospects. Graham Ashton of Footstomp Music is a speaker at CMW and will talk to industry folk there on their behalf. Lane says, “Over the years they have had many industry people suggest that Canada would be a great second home for the Autocrats. We feel the time is right to test the waters.”

MELBOURNE TAKES DOCUMENTARY CONF. FROM ADELAIDE

Melbourne will host the Australian International Documentary Conference next year, taking it from Adelaide after seven years. It’s now rebranded NetWork-Play and partners with Film Victoria and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). The SA government stopped its funding of $330,000 in despite a 40 per cent increase in attendance and a $3 million contribution to SA.

BIG DAY OUT BOSS: WHAT THEY DID WRONG

A Swedish man got disability benefits after proving an obsession with heavy metal music was such an “addiction” that he couldn’t hold down a job. This was because Roger Tullgren, 42, attended 300 concerts a year and couldn’t work unless he has music blaring and sported his tatts and long hair. Three psychologists declared it would be “discriminatory” if he didn’t get the benefits.

Charles Attal of Big Day Out’s new owner C3 Live, told The Austin Chronicle the mistake they made when they took over was to continue its “touring festival” format, which already started waning for their Lollapalooza festival. “We should have gone into Melbourne and Sydney, probably, and branded it that way,” he mused. “Maybe flip-flopped the weekends like Reading and Leeds in England. I don’t know exactly what we should’ve done, but it shouldn’t have been a touring festival. Those days, I think, are moving on.”

JANE GAZZO RETURNS FROM UK FOR TRIPLE M

FUTURE BRIGHT FOR GRANTS WINNER WRIGHT SMITH

Jane Gazzo, who’s been working in the UK for the BBC, ITV, Capital FM and MTV (not to mention a stint as Courtney Love’s personal assistant), is returning to Melbourne in April to presenting the morning shift on Triple M. Gazzo began her media career at 16 at Triple R before moving on to triple j and ABC-TV’s Recovery. In 1999 moved to London to work in radio television (with unknowns Ricky Gervais and Russell Brand). She returned in 2007 for MAX and Channel [V] before heading back to London.

Things have been moving along for Melbourne songwriter Ben Wright Smith since he won the Australia Council Nashville Songwriting Residency grant last year. It helped him travel to Nashville for three months to play gigs and work with expatriate producer Mark Moffatt. On his return, he was picked to participate in the APRA 50 Songs In 5 Days Songwriting Sessions, which saw him co-write songs with M-Phases, Asta and Chance Waters. This year, new single No One instantly got picked up by triple j, and he does ten shows along the east coast between Friday April 24 to Monday May 18.

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

LIFELINES Expecting: Nova Entertainment Group CD Paul Jackson and partner Emily Symons. Ill: Rod Stewart’s guitarist Jim Cregan, 69, is battling prostate cancer. Injured: Madonna reveals she suffered whiplash after she tripped on her cloak and fell off the stage during her performance on the BRIT awards. In Court: Daniel Johns disqualified from driving and fined $880 at Newcastle Local Court for mid-range drink driving. Warned: Scarlett Johansson and Este Haim’s new power pop band The Singles have been sent a cease-and-desist letter by another LA band of same name. Jailed: ‘70s pop singer Gary Glitter for 16 years for molesting three girls. In Court: an arrest warrant for former Pearl Jam drummer Dave Abbruzzese was issued last September in Texas for drug charges. In Court: a lawsuit that Ariana Grande took bits of The Jimmy Castor Bunch’s Troglodyte for 2013 hit The Way was settled amicably. In Court: the Gold Coast magistrate hearing a case against local nightclub owner Jamie Pickering (Sin City, Vanity) which alleges he supplied cocaine to teenage girls, called the police case “sloppy” when they couldn’t find their key witness despite searching on social media and trying to find his mobile number. Died: documentary film director Bruce Sinofsky, who worked on the 2004 Metallica doco Some Kind of Monster, 58, from diabetes. Died: one-time Yngwie Malmsteen keyboardist Mats Olausson, 54, found in a hotel room in Thailand, among empty whisky bottles and beer cans. Died: US country musician and songwriter Bobby Emmons, 72. He wrote hits for Waylon Jennings and George Strait and played on 120 Memphis-made tracks including Elvis Presley’s Suspicious Minds, Dusty Springfield’s Son of a Preacher Man, Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, Merrilee Rush’s Angel of the Morning, B.J. Thomas’ Hooked on a Feeling, Joe Tex’s Gotcha and Bobby Womack’s Fly Me To The Moon.

HELP RESEARCH ON ENTERTAINMENT BIZ PROBLEMS

Entertainment Assist’s research into the pitfalls and challenges of working in entertainment is in its second phase. After interviews with music execs, it’s now looking at dancers, musicians, actors, comedians, directors, producers, technicians and backstage workers. They’ll ask about pitfalls, how you cope and what support is needed. Phase three will use the data for support and prevention programs. See http:// entertainmentassist.org.au/. An early report of the findings, published by The Age, revealed such is the stress, competition and jealousy in the local music industry, those involved are more likely to suffer from mental problems and have a higher rate of suicide. This reflects a 2012 report from the Australian Road Crew Association that 70 roadies “died prematurely,” mostly from suicide. Much of the music industry earns less than the average Australian: performers about $44,600 per year, support workers $39,300 and equipment operators and roadies $64,440.

WANNA PLAY AWME

The roots music conference and showcase AWME in Melbourne (Thursday November 12 to Sunday November 15) is looking for showcasing artists from around the country and the Asia Pacific region. Go to www.awme.com.au.